Hanyou and Miko: One Shots

Chapter 4: Among the Wolves

Akina rolled onto her stomach, propping her head on her fists and staring out into the empty field. She was waiting for Makoto in their usual place just inside the wolves' territory. Her father hadn't been happy at all about her and the hanyou's courtship, but had put the responsibility off on Kigai instead of outright refusing the two their rights. For that Akina was happy, and the last two months had proved to be wonderful enough, though members of the tribe had been giving her a lot of trouble. Except for Yasuo, the wolf that still seemed to like Akina despite being dropped like a sack, and they had become close friends. He was good at keeping the others at bay and allowing Akina to have her moment of peace, which had become harder and harder for Akina to come across since Makoto started calling for her at the den. She sniffed the air and let out a low growl as a couple of the males from her tribe approached. It was Ryuichi and his brother Shoichi, the first two Akina had dumped. They were the biggest trouble of them all.

"Well, well Shoichi, look what the dog dragged in. I knew I smelled something that reeked." The brothers stopped a few feet away from Akina, who rose to her feet and did her best to ignore them.

"She's even starting to smell like that half-breed mutt of hers. You know Akina, if you wanted a pet I'm sure your dad would have gotten you a real dog."

Akina turned and glared at the two. "Makoto's a bigger man then the two of you combined."

The brothers laughed, Ryuichi stepping forward and roughly cupping Akina's chin in his hand. "That's the point." He said in a low voice. "His human blood. He's only half of what I am. And you chose him over me? That just proves that all trash ends up in the same place."

"That's enough, Ryuichi." Yasuo had come across the three in the field and decided to step in. "The two of you better leave, now. Kouga will be very angry after I tell him what you both have been saying about his daughter."

Ryuichi let go of Akina and stepped back, a smirk still across his lips. "We haven't said anything that isn't true."

"Just get out of here!" Yasuo yelled, pulling Akina into his arms and turning her out of their sight. The brothers left, laughing all the way. When they were well out of range, Yasuo sat Akina on the ground and took a position next to her. They sat in silence until Akina threw her head on Yasuo's shoulder and started to cry.

"Maybe I made a mistake, Yasuo. I…I don't know what to do anymore."

"Akina, I've never asked anymore of you then to follow your own heart. It'll never lie to you; just listen to it when it speaks."

"How do I know? How do I know if it's my heart speaking to me, or just something else?"

Yasuo smiled. "You'll have to figure that out on your own. If I told you, it would be like taking from you your own experiences."

"You must think I'm pretty pathetic, not even knowing what I want for myself." The two fell silent, sitting in the open field together. The tall grass whipped around them in the wind as the birds sang their evening songs. "I've got to fix things, you know. Maybe if I fix things I won't be have so many problems in the tribe. Kigai had to stop those two the other day from hunting down Makoto. If he gets hurt it'd be my fault."

"What are you going to do?"

"I don't know." She sighed and leaned back into the grass. "I'm going to cut it off with Makoto. That's what started all these problems anyway, right?" there was an eerie silence followed by a low whine. The inu-hanyou stood at the edge of the field with a hurt look on his face, his ears drooped as low as Akina had ever seen them. "Ma-makoto, I didn't mean…" the hanyou turned his back and left just as silently as he had come. "Yasuo, I didn't mean it like that! I just meant…with the tribe…and Makoto…"

"I know what you meant, Akina."

"I should go after him."

"No. Let him have a bit of time alone. I think you need to have a few moments alone as well. Maybe him overhearing you was all for the best." Akina nodded in agreement as the male wolf stood, giving her a sympathetic grin before leaving her to herself.

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Makoto was in an excellent mood as he leapt and ran through the forest, using his quick hanyou reflexes his feet barley touched the ground as he bounded off to the wolves' den. He had left early in the morning, after promising Kagome and InuYasha that he would return sometime the next day early so he wouldn't be late for Mai's wedding. Soon his nose picked up on several wolf scents and he slowed down his run slightly. The field wasn't that far now, and he would be there in the matter of minutes. Two of the scents he didn't know, but he did know they were a part of Akina's pack.

The others he recognized as Akina and Yasuo. He had met Yasuo on several occasions when he went to the den to see Akina, but didn't like him that much at all. There was just something that rubbed him the wrong way with that wolf. As he came upon the field, he froze in place. Akina was lying in the tall grass; Yasuo was sitting right next to her. They seemed to be in a deep conversation. Wanting to know what was going on and sure Akina wouldn't mind, Makoto flicked his ears forward to here better.

"I'm going to cut it off with Makoto. That's what started all these problems anyway, right?" Makoto nearly fell over his own feet. He was shocked, hurt. He didn't want to believe what his ears had told him, but the equally shocked look on Akina's face when she finally noticed him standing there told him he had heard right. "Ma-makoto, I didn't mean…" he stared at her and slowly shook his head, turning around and leaving quietly. He felt like a dog that had just been kicked by its owner. He felt lower than a dog, he felt like dirt on a beaten path that was abused by its travelers. Akina…why? Okaa and Oyaji tried to warn me. They told me to be careful around you, but I didn't listen. I trusted you, why did you betray me? He continued moving, letting his feet guide him where ever they willed.

"So, she dropped you too mutt?" Makoto skidded to a stop and came face to face with Ryuichi and Shoichi. Ryuichi's lips were curled into his malicious grin, his brother mocking the same look behind him.

"Keh. Out of my way wolf. I don't know who you are but I'll shred you to bits just the same."

"Temper. Are all dogs as hot-headed as you? Truly, we are brothers, of a sort; class not an issue. That wench has thrown us all for a loop; you are just her latest victim."

"I said out of my way." Makoto cracked his knuckles and flexed his claws. He really didn't feel like having this kind of aggravation at the moment, though it would feel a bit better to shred something living. Of course, it would be fair to warn them first. "I'm not in too good of a mood right now; crossing me would not be a good idea."

Ryuichi narrowed his eyes and lost his smirk. Shoichi let out a low cackle as to mock the hanyou's threat and shrugged it off as nothing just as quickly. "You are either a fool or someone who desperately wishes to die, half-breed. I am not one to tolerate such threats from lower life forms. It wouldn't be good for my reputation as a high-ranking wolf-youkai to let such an insult be left unpunished."

"If you think you can beat me, go ahead and try. You underestimate me and that will be your downfall." All thoughts of Akina aside, Makoto's cocked grin spread across his face. It had been awhile since he had had a decent fight, he and his father's sparring excluded, and spilling a bit of wolf blood would be welcome. He growled a warning and the wolf snarled back at him. The moment was tense, both sliding their feet into a fighting stance. Makoto flicked his ears back to show his aggression better, curling back his lips to reveal his long fangs. Ryuichi glared intently at his opponent. They were both tuned into every sound and every movement around them. The leaves rustling in the light breeze, a small animal of some sorts scurrying away, the birds becoming quite with the sense of danger lingering in the air like a thick fog over the forest.

Shoichi stepped back, snapping a twig on the ground behind him. Makoto's ears flicked with the sound and before Shoichi even knew what was happening Makoto and Ryuichi were locked in combat. Their hands were locked, each pushing the other back with their individual strength. Sweat drops formed on Makoto's brow as he called on more of his strength, pushing Ryuichi even farther back. Ryuichi released his grip, leaping backwards to avoid a blow. Makoto took the moment to move to the right, dashing up to the wolf from the side with claws extended. Ryuichi maneuvered away, but not before his haori was caught in the hanyou's claws and ripped from the shoulder to the elbow. The fur from the garment fluttered in the air in front of the smirking Makoto.

"Don't say I didn't warn you." He said in a husky voice.

Ryuichi glared at the rip with a blank expression on his face. When a drip of blood dampened the remaining cloth his eyes averted back to Makoto, flaring in a crimson red. "Shoichi." He called. His brother moved next to him and nodded.

Now it was two against one. Makoto had no problems with this. If they wanted to get their butts kicked together, he was the one to do it. Without warning the brothers both ran in different directions; Shoichi to the left, Ryuichi to the right. Makoto widened his stance and growled, averting his eyes from one brother to the other. He mainly kept his eyes on Ryuichi. He was the stronger of the two and seemingly the sneakiest. Makoto was right. As soon as he looked away to check on the other brother, Ryuichi attacked, slicing a gash in Makoto's back. Makoto howled in pain and as he turned to face one opponent, the other attacked him again from behind.

After receiving blow after blow, Makoto was no longer able to track the movements of both wolves. His nose wouldn't help him, being clogged with the strong smell of his own blood. He had to take out the weakest first. At least then it would be a fair fight. A shoulder came in contact with Makoto's stomach, sending him doubling over to one knee. He started to breathe hard, blood trickling from the corner of his lips. The attacks stopped for the moment, Ryuichi and Shoichi admiring their work.

"See half-breed! You are nothing! You can never even being to imagine having the strength of a true youkai." Ryuichi gloated. He looked to Shoichi and jerked his head in Makoto's direction. Shoichi nodded and walked toward the hanyou, an eager expression across his face. Makoto threw his head forward, his long silver/black hair covering the smirk forming. Shoichi reached out to grab his dog-like ears, but ended up screaming in agony. There was a loud crack as Makoto broke the wolf's wrist with his bare hand, standing to his feet and unceremoniously tossing Shoichi into the nearest truck, the tree cracking under the pressure of the throw and crashing down in a heap.

Makoto's expression was covered by his flowing hair that was still drenched in his own blood. "I can never even being to imagine having the strength of a true youkai." He repeated Ryuichi's words. "Because I can never sink that low. I'm a hanyou, both youkai and human. My youkai blood gives me strength. My human emotions give me reason. Right now, I have more that enough reason to kill you and ample strength to do the same. The only reason you're not dead right now, I don't believe in killing the helpless or the hopeless. Lucky for you, I consider you both. You have one more chance to turn away and run. After that, I can't promise you you'll return with your life."

Ryuichi looked to his unmoving brother with a snarl. "I don't need mercy from a half-breed. I'm a youkai, from the strongest wolf pack in this land!"

"Keh. Strongest wolf pack. That's not saying very much considering there's only one wolf pack in these lands. The rest were either killed off or have moved on." Makoto could tell his words were getting to the wolf. The smell of anger lingered thick in the air around him. He could also sense the wolf's willingness to fight, which was fine with him. He felt like fighting even more then he had before.

"You mutt…" he mumbled between clinched teeth before leaping toward Makoto with claws drawn. Makoto side stepped out of the way, allowing the wolf to skip past him nearly losing his balance. He was letting his rage take control of his movements. That's one thing Makoto had learned at an early age not to do. InuYasha had told him what would happen if he let his youkai blood take control, and so far he had never transformed as InuYasha had. His Oyaji had trained him well in self-control. But nonetheless, he decided to go ahead and end the fight before he started having too much fun.

Makoto slipped behind Ryuichi, locking his arms around the wolf's and pulling back hard. He could feel it through the wolf's furs as one of the bones slid out of its socket. Ryuichi slipped through Makoto's grasp and jerked his shoulder back in place with a 'pop' and a grimace. Not waiting for him to recover, Makoto slashed the wolf's face with one claw, dropping to the ground and sweeping his feet out from under him and kicking his side as he fell all in one fluid motion. Ryuichi was quick getting back to his feet and lunged himself at Makoto again. This time his strike was true, coming down on the hanyou's forearm, but not without a heavy price. Makoto jerked the wolf back with his other arm, digging his claws into Ryuichi's side deep. That was the final blow.

Ryuichi gripped his bleeding side with both hands, swearing under his breath. He looked to Makoto, then to his still unconscious brother before snarling and running back toward the den. Makoto sat down cross legged and breathing heavily. His wounds had stopped bleeding almost completely, but he didn't feel like traveling anymore that afternoon. The weight of the days events were still heavy on his brain, and his heart. He thought about going to a nearby river to clean up and maybe catch some fish, but decided against it. He wasn't hungry at all and cleaning up won't make him feel any less like dirt. Instead, he found a nice sized tree and made himself as comfortable as possible.

He, like his Oyaji, had always found some sort of comfort sitting in the trees, mostly Goshinboku. Maybe it was the cool breeze that always seemed to blow at just the right moment, or maybe it was being so close to the stars and moon at night, or the sky in general. Or maybe it was the silence, the unspoken request of peace fulfilled just by sitting in its branches. Whatever it was, Makoto more than welcomed it. In the morning he would set off for the village again.

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"Miroku, I don't want to hear anymore from you. This is Mai's day and you're not going to ruin it for her." Sango was half dragging her husband by the ear up to the shrine.

"Sango, darling, you cannot blame me for looking after the welfare of my eldest daughter." Miroku replied between clinched teeth as he stumbled along behind the exterminator. Mai's wedding was mere hours away and it was time for the parents to show their approval of the union in the shrine with the priest.

"No, I wouldn't blame you if that's what you were doing. But really, Miroku, scaring Kisho like that wasn't for the welfare of your daughter."

"I merely threatened to perform a simple curse on him if I found he wasn't treating Mai with the respect and care that I see fit."

"Miroku, you told him that your 'curse' would remove his reason of calling himself a man. You don't even know a curse like that."

Miroku gave an evil grin. "I know." Sango tugged harder on his ear. "Ah, ah, ah! Sango, my darling, that is attached!"

"Right now it is, but who knows for how long."

A few hours later, just before the ceremony was to being, Kagome looked around franticly for her hanyou son. It was getting time for Mia's wedding and the boy was nowhere to be found. InuYasha stood beside her with his arms crossed and an angry glare across his face which only intensified as the ceremony started. Makoto had been going to Akina's den three times a week whenever possible for the past two months, but he had promised to be back in the village for Mai's wedding. Now it looked like he wasn't going to make it to the shrine in time.

Miroku was standing with Sango by Mia's side. He had refused to marry them, not that a fallen monk as himself would be allowed to, and had called for a priest from a neighboring village to do the deed. Kisho and his father, the village headman, were already bowing to the priest, soon to be joined by Mai and Miroku. Hana, Cho, and Yumi stood close to the front to watch the proceedings. After everything was over and done, the new couple off on their honeymoon, InuYasha and Kagome went back to their hut. Makoto had never shown up for the wedding and InuYasha was furious.

"When I get my hands on him and that wolf…"

"InuYasha, you don't know the circumstances. I'm worried; Makoto would never miss Mia's wedding without good reason, something must have happened. He and Mia are too close for him just to forget." Kagome's plea softened InuYasha's features, as always.

"Kagome…" he sighed. "I'll go look for him. He's not a little pup anymore, you know. There are some things he has to learn on his own."

"I know, but we can help him out, too you know."

True to his word, InuYasha set off to look for his missing son. Using his hanyou senses he sniffed out the path Makoto had been taking to the wolves den. The trail was cold, telling InuYasha that his son had not used the path that day, but InuYasha's nose was telling him his son was somewhere nearby. He took a bigger whiff. Goshinboku. Makoto was at Goshinboku, and he had blood on him. Not enough blood to worry InuYasha much, but something must have been wrong if his son skipped Mai's wedding just to sit in Goshinboku, it was their thinking place.

As InuYasha came to the tree he spotted Makoto in one of the higher branches. His Haori was ripped to shreds, his eyes closed and concentrated. His senses told him Makoto wasn't hurt that badly, but the feeling of sadness was almost enough to overwhelm him. He sighed as he figured out what must have happened, and wondered for a moment what he should say, if anything.

"You were right, Oyaji." Makoto's eyes were now open, but looking up to the sky. "Akina,…she…was everything you said."

"Come down here if you want to talk, will ya?" Makoto leaped down and staggered to face InuYasha. "Yes, I warned you, and yes, I was right. But you followed what you thought was right. I'm proud of that."

"But all it did was break me! Yea, I followed what I thought was right, but I was wrong. Akina betrayed me, just like Kikyou did to you."

"Listen pup, this isn't about me or Kikyou. It's not even about Akina. This is about you. You're growing up Makoto. You need to make your own decisions and be able to take the consequences if you're wrong. You got hurt and you came back to your family even though you knew you would have to face us with the truth. It's going to freakin hurt, but you didn't run." He put his arm on Makoto's shoulder. "Now do you mind telling me why you smell like wolf blood?" he smirked, as did Makoto.

"As long as you promise not to tell Okaa-san."

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A/N:

The battle scene in this chapter is dedicated to SlummyRedDragon. I hope you enjoyed it!

This is most likely the last one-shot for Hanyou and Miko, I'm not quite sure yet. The sequal takes place roughly around 8-10 months after this point. See ya then!