I turned around and did exactly what I said I wouldn't do. My plan, as I'm sure you've gathered now, was to write ITJOTW and Miasma equally and post chapters in turn. I got way too excited with Miasma's plot, which has heated up like crazy, and ended up just writing and writing. I'm now on chapter twelve of Miasma and way behind on chapter eight (clearly) of ITJOTW, so I really need to put Miasma down and get a wriggle on with this one so I can have pretty equal chapters again. I'm not allowed to write any more Miasma until I've caught up with ITJOTW. You guys gotta hold me to that.

On a plus note, I've finally been able to sit down and get some painting done, too. Not a lot going on with the InuYasha project (I just dont want to paint Tetsusaiga because I'm a wimp) but I'm getting some original works going on, so we good. Got a really pretty butterfly piece painted and I'm ready to start painting an irezumi dragon piece that I'm loving.

Anyway, writing of the story and stuff. Gotta do that.

In The Jaws Of The Wolf

Chapter Eight

"Ando and I are both stood there, holding these radishes, and we have no idea what to do as these tanuki start closing in on us, and-"

"What are you guys up to?" Koga's voice drowns out the sound of snickering and gasping laughter coming from Ginta and Akari, cutting my story short.

I glanced up to the Wolf, then turned my attention back to my captive audience. I was just getting to the good part, damn it. "I was just telling them a story. Anyway, so they were closing in, and we were still-"

"About what?"

I let loose a little sigh. Nothing, at this rate, Koga. "Just a time I had to fight off a group of hungry Tanuki." I waved him off, hoping to get back to the story so I could actually finish it.

Apparently Koga wasn't the only one prone to interrupting and talking mid-way through a story, though. Akari grinned, slapping his thigh. "This chick's a blast, Koga. She's done so much. I can't believe you kept her from us for so long!"

The compliment made me flushing a little pink. "Well, he's not hiding me now. I've got plenty of stories to share."

The red-head's grin was dazzling. "I hope so. I want to hear 'em all."

I smiled back at him, tucking a lock of hair behind my ear.

Ginta shot up from his spot. "Hey Koga! Let's go see what Hakkaku's doing!"

Koga looked all kinds of confused. "What do I care what Hakkaku's doing?" Still, he let himself be guided away by the excitable Wolf as he stuttered something about Hakkaku needing to talk to Koga.

"He just did that to get us alone, didn't he?" I questioned, watching the two wolves go. Koga's short fuse would blow in three... two... one... And he punched Ginta, escaping from being pushed around, but stepping on some poor snoozing wolf's tail. The wolf leapt for Koga.

Akari was also watching the spectacle. "Absolutely."

"Well," I drew my eyes away from the show, smiling up at Akari. "What should we do with our free time?"

"I wanna hear more stories, duh. What'chu got?"

I thought for a moment, trying to pick the best story to tell him. There were a lot of ridiculous situations I'd found myself in over the years. I was sure Akari would have a blast hearing them all. "Well, how about the time a fox almost found its way into my bed?"

"Almost did what now?" He was already almost wheezing, and my story hadn't even begun.

"Okay, so..."

The more I talked, the closer Akari began to get. It started with him leaning in, then scooting closer, and before I knew it, I was leaning back against his chest, telling he story of when I was certain Ando was a fox that time and had tried to catch him out.

"So yeah, actually not a fox," I said dryly, resting my head on his armoured shoulder. "He wouldn't let me near him for weeks."

Akari's whole body shook. "No wonder! If you put your fingers there, I wouldn't have let you near me ever again. That's a sacred place, Dan." I couldn't make out his expression. It was caught between amazement and horror in a really twisted mask.

"Well, what would you do if you thought someone was a fox, huh?"

He thought for a moment before leaning over.

His kiss was slow, tender, and his fingers slid up from where they'd been resting on my waist to cup my jaw. I was unashamed to say I returned his kiss without hesitation, my own hands sliding around his neck.

It wasn't adultery, right? Ando had given me the ultimatum, and I'd never see him again.

When he pulled back, he gave me his signature smirk. "Something like that. A fox can't kiss like that."

"Oh, do you have experience?"

His raised his brows but refused to answer.

"No! When did you kiss a fox?"

He kissed me again instead of answering, and I gave in and didn't ask again. For now. He would answer that question eventually. I'd make sure of it.

A cheer broke out across the cave and the two of us drew back, levelling a dull look to each other.

"Ginta planned that, didn't he?"

"He absolutely planned that," Akari agreed.

I tapped my fingers on the back of his neck slowly, a slow grin forming on my face. "Shall we go dunk him in the lake?"

His grin was back full-force. "Race ya."

I grunted when he dropped me flat on my back and ran. "Hey, no fair!" I hopped up and followed him at a sprint, frowning when Ginta howled. "Hey! Don't you dare dunk him without me!"

I was home.

That night when I had given up on sewing and was getting ready to settle down on the furs, sans Koga, who was out on the evening patrols, a bare-chested Akari swept in and just picked up my basket, walking away with it.

"What are you doing?" I asked laughingly, getting up and following him, weaving through the wolves in the many stages of sleep, and undress, that littered the cave floor. I followed the Wolf in a mission right back to the far corner of the cave. Mostly hidden by a row of stalagmites, Akari had a little nest set up. Triumphantly, he set my basket down and sat in the nest, grinning up at me. Did that boy never stop grinning?

"What's this?" I leaned against the stalagmite closest to me, waiting for his response.

I could already guess it, though. My bet was on something along the lines of: Hey, you're mine now, might as well.

"I'm saving you from Koga's evil snoring."

Or that! I laughed at his answer, reaching to the clasp of the armour I was wearing, an acceptance of his answer and offer. Koga did snore like a monster. I didn't know how he managed to be so loud.

"And, you know, who doesn't want a cuddle buddy?" he tacked on, arms wrapping around me when I laid down next to him on the little nest of furs. Okay, that sounded more like it.

"What, no foxes around?"

He pushed me away. "You go back to Koga and suffer."

Giggling, I curled up next to him again. His huffing and pouting only lasted until I planted a little kiss on his cheek.

"Fine, you can stay," he conceded. "But if you snore, you can go right back to suffering Koga, got it?"

"Got it."

We didn't manage to get a full night. Sometime in the early hours, a loud voice boomed through the cave. "Hey! Where's Dan? I told you all not to eat her!"

Groaning, dragged out of my sleep, I pressed my face into Akari's chest, hoping the racket would stop.

"Where is she?!"

Oh, that was Koga.

"Will you shut up?" another wolf growled somewhere in the cave. "The only wolf eating her is Akari."

A few tired sniggers sounded, amongst them as Akari pulled me tighter to him. I pushed myself away from him as best I could when he playfully nipped my ear. I was far too tired for playful. I just needed sleep.

"Akari? What's he done to her?" Koga was on edge.

And I was awake, against my damned wishes. "Nothing!" I growled. "I'm fine, alive, and fucking tired so shut up and let us all sleep."

Silence ran through the cave, louder than any quiet I had ever heard. The cave was full of tension. Everyone who had been asleep was definitely awake now.

Why couldn't I just get some damned sleep, huh?

"Fine, get your sleep, but we're having words in the morning."

Whatever. I didn't care when we spoke, as long as it wasn't right now.

Akari nuzzled against my temple, pulling me closer. "He's not happy," the Wolf murmured.

"Don't care. Shh. Sleep." We could deal with Koga in the morning. Right now we were sleeping and that was it. No angry Wolves, no anything but sleep and dreams and cuddles. We didn't need anything else right now.

Koga decided pretty quickly when we were awake that the words we needed to have had to be had right then.

Akari was helping me with the clasps of my armour that morning when Koga closed in on us, spitting nails. "What was that about last night, huh?" he demanded.

I looked at him over my shoulder as I held my armour in place with a firm hand on my chest. Akari was struggling with one of the clasps. "We were all tired and you overreacted because I wasn't there."

"You do not get to yell at me in front of my pack!"

Ah. Well shit. He did have a point there. I'd been out of line. I could admit as much, but boy did it rankle that he was yelling at me now. "I will yell at you whenever you are wrong." I turned to face him bodily and Akari backed up from the two of us. "You should have more faith in your men. Especially Akari. He's not going to let anything happen to me dammit. Just because I'm not by your side doesn't mean I've been eaten!"

Koga's tanned face was starting to get particularly red in his anger, and I braced myself for his likely screaming retort.

That didn't quite happen.

With all the moving around, the still only half-clasped armour had shifted and dropped from where it had been situated on my torso, landing right on my toes. "Shit!" I howled, dropping down and grabbing my aching toes. Fuck.

"Are you alright?!" Both Koga and Akari jumped forwards, knocking heads as they did.

That had me snorting and dissolving into laughter, that the two men on the floor holding onto their thick heads soon joined in with.

"Are you okay?" Koga asked again when tears streamed down my cheeks, still laughing himself.

"Fine. I'm fine," I gasped, wiping at my cheeks, holding a hand out to assure him, but just dissolved into giggles again. Fuck, my toe hurt.

Koga managed to regain himself quicker than Akari and I. He dragged himself up to his feet and helped Akari up, then myself. I ended up leaning against the red-headed Wolf when my toes smarted. "You win. Make sure she's okay. If she gets hurt, I'll have your head," Koga threatened.

"She's safe with me, Boss," Akari assured.

"Unless you're putting armour on me," I pointed out. "I think I'm going to forgo it today." I didn't need any more injuries at the hands of the thing that was supposed to protect me from getting injured. Where was the sense in that?

"Hey, you were the one that got into it with Koga halfway through me putting it on you," he pointed out defensively.

Review Corner!

Guest - I'm glad you love Dan. I'm loving her too. Hotheaded characters are difficult for me to write, but they make a real fun challenge.

Can we talk about matchmaker Ginta for a minute? That boy's a sweetheart and he would totally play wingman for his tribe boys. (Get it Akari!)

Also protective Koga. He's also a sweetheart, in a misunderstood rage-out-his-emotions way. Honestly, the similarities between him and InuYasha in that aspect are ridiculous. Though, I genuinely think InuYasha is a better choice all-in-all. If I could come up with a really good premise, I'd probably have an InuYasha fic under my belt. Now that would be fun. InuYasha is definitely in my top five. He actually beats out Koga in ranking. I just feel like I need a really good premise for an InuYasha fic, and so far its eluded me.

If you like this chapter, please take the time to let me know. I love reading what yall think about it.