Life with Koga
Chapter 3
By Alicia Maxwell
"Aren't you going to sleep?" Koga asked
"I could ask you the same Koga. I didn't ask you to stay up with me," I replied.
"Heh. You're nervous aren't you?" he played with my hair.
"Me? Nervous? Never!" I laughed softly.
"It's okay, you know. There's nothing wrong with being nervous about telling them," he said. "I'd be nervous if I had to tell my actual brothers, who are gods, that not only am I getting married, but I also told an entire wolf tribe about it before telling them."
"Do you think Heroki and Akira will be mad at me?" I bit my lip.
"It's going to be alright. Don't worry. They'll understand."
"I suppose you're right," I sat up. "Come on. Let's go to bed."
"No, let's stay out here. Lay your head back down on my lap and we'll sleep out here under the stars," he smiled.
"Sounds like fun," I laid my head down on his lap again. We talked for a little while longer, and then we fell asleep.
The next day went as planned. All morning long we received congratulations from the other wolves and in the afternoon Hakkaku and Ginta came forward with their condolences. As you can imagine, Koga popped them both for doing such a thing and then the four of us laughed. After that, I headed into the village alone and bought the cattle from the farmer. He seemed a bit hesitant when I said I was from the wolf demon tribe but his opinion of me softened once I gave him double the price he had asked. That being done, I drove the cattle up the mountainside and made it back to the den by dinner time. The feast went about how I had expected it to and, at the end, Hakkaku and Ginta got up and gave a toast. One that I'll never forget….
"To Alicia and Koga," Ginta raised his glass.
"May they not kill each other before the honeymoon!" Hakkaku finished.
"Oh come on Koga-kun. Lighten up," I nudged him when he became the only person in the den to not be laughing.
"They think we're gonna kill each other before the honeymoon!" Koga objected.
"First of all, they're just kidding. Second, like we're really going on a honeymoon," I smiled.
"You don't want to go anywhere?" Koga blinked.
"No," I shook my head. "Plus, it's not like we could anyway. We're the tribe leaders. Anywhere we go, they go."
"Good point," Koga sighed.
Early the next morning the two of us set out for the west. We left Hakkaku and Ginta in charge and hurried toward the west, bringing the remaining hundred cattle along with us. No offense to the Eastern Tribe intended, but my tribe was made up of much better hunters, so the hundred remaining cattle were more than enough for a feast. We arrived around noon at the den of my tribe. I then introduced Koga to a few of my closest comrades and left him behind with them. After that, I sought out Heroki and Akira up at Moro Megami Jinja.
"Oniichan! Niichan! Where are you guys!?" I called out once I reached the temple.
"Sister?" Heroki stepped out of the temple. "Sister! How have you been?"
"Niichan! Oh it's so good to see you again! I've got great news!" I smiled.
"What is it Alicia?"
"I've agreed to become Koga's mate and join our tribes," I answered. "We might actually have a bloodline successor now!"
"That's great!" Heroki smirked.
"But are you doing it for love or for the tribe?" Akira appeared.
"I'm doing this for myself," I replied harshly. "I may give up my life for the tribe one day but I'll never give up my chance at finding true love."
"That's good…," Akira averted his gaze. "I smell cattle. Is this your doing?"
"Yep! Tonight we feast!" I grinned madly.
"Yay!" Heroki cheered.
The feast went well and Heroki even took on a humanoid form just so he could hold up a glass and propose a toast. It was short sweet and to the point- "To the happy new couple!" After the feast, Koga and I left the tribal den to go to my personal den. Halfway there we were stopped by my sister San.
"Let me take a look at you," San said, an angry look on her face. She took Koga's face in her hands and turned it from side to side. "You don't look too bad. Your name translates to 'Steel Fang' does it not? Do you live up to the standard set by your name?"
"Who are you to be talking, human?" Koga demanded.
SLAP!
"I'm a WOLF you hear me!?" San shouted after laying a bright red handprint across Koga's cheek. "Now tell me! Do you have what it takes to protect my sister!?"
"Sister?" Koga blinked and looked back at me. "She mean you?"
"San is Moro's daughter as am I," I answered.
"Don't worry 'bout her kiddo," he ruffled San's hair. "She's in good hands now." With that, Koga started to lead me away.
"Really? Word in the den is that you lost to a lousy half-breed mutt with a big flashy sword," San smirked, causing Koga to stop. "I can't approve of a man that weak becoming my sister's mate."
"San, do you realize who you sound like now?" I asked. "You sound like Mother when she tried to force you away from Ashitaka!"
"You can't blame me," she said. "You're my only sister. I can't keep you from doing what you will though. Be good to her, Koga," San retreated to the main den.
"What was that all about?" Koga blinked.
"She worries. She thinks a man should be stronger than his woman so that he can protect her when she can't protect herself. But I'm a half-goddess. No man can ever be stronger than me," I said. "Come on. Let's go."
I led Koga off to my den where we curled up together and went to bed. How sweet I anticipated life with Koga would be! And how wrong I was!