"We'll call you when the meal is ready. Now get out!"
A clawed hand reached out of the wooden hut, pulling the straw mat to the side.
With a heavy sigh of defeat the wolf king walked out of old Kaedes home. His pointed ears perked slightly when he heard Kagomes voice pleading with her friend on allowing him stay inside.
The demon slayer quickly said no to her plea; saying that the wolf demon was hovering to much and was getting in the way while they cooked.
As he let the straw mat drop behind him, covering the entrance to the little home, the wolf demons face contorted into a deep frown.
The demon slayer was right, he was hovering over the miko.
He was sitting inches away from her while she prepared rice for the upcoming meal. His eyes never leaving her kneeling form as she cleaned the rice, happily chatting along with her close friend and the old priestess.
Every once in awhile his eyes would scan her silky black hair; causing a soft growl to erupt within his chest. Images of a pale clawed hand holding the strands of soft hair flooded throughout his mind.
And by that simple touch, his smell, that disgusting smell of wet dog, clung to those silken tresses.
Kagomes enticing smell of lavender and vanilla swirled with his own scent, due to him embracing her protectively as he pulled her away from the dog demon earlier.
But underneath their aroma, there was that hint of dog that still lingered upon her.
And he just couldn't take it anymore.
He reached out suddenly and grabbed a handful of the mikos long raven hair, swiftly bringing it up to his nose. His nostrils flared; desperately sniffing the strands trying to find the repulsive odor so he could quickly mask it with his own scent.
"K-k-koga?" He heard the beautiful miko stutter his name in surprise, her small form freezing under his touch as he diligently worked from one black strand to the other.
"That's it! Get out!" Shouted the angry demon slayer, "Out! Out! Out!"
So now, because of his actions... he was kicked out of the hut till dinner was ready.
With a groan, he ran a clawed hand through his hair.
In the end I still wasn't able to get rid of that revolting smell from her...
He couldn't exactly explain why, but he just didn't like that the miko smelled of another man. It made his muscles tense up underneath his skin and his stomach achingly turn every time he got a wift of that dogs scent upon her.
I'll just have to try again later when were alone...
"Back again, Kogaaa?"
Azure eyes snapped open taking in the view before him.
There sat upon decoratively placed large stones outside Kaedes hut where three young girls, patiently waiting for dinner to be done.
One dressed in a pale green kimono twirled a piece of her chin length hair with a dainty finger. Her chocolate brown eyes sparkling mischievously. "You've been visiting more and more." She sniggered.
"Oh hush, Seia." Her twin whispered, while softly elbowing her, "Come sit over here with us, Koooga!" Airi happily waved her hand in the air, her blush kimono sleeve fluttering around as she waved back and forth excitedly.
With a deep sigh, the wolf king walked over to the sitting girls.
He took a seat against the large tree in front of the hut, his back leaning against the rough bark as he faced the three sets of eyes that stared back at him.
Azure eyes scanned over the twin girls that looked almost identical to their demon slayer mother, there was no hint of the monk in their pretty features.
They often followed the wolf king around the village when he came to visit Kagome. And sometimes, to his utter annoyance, they would surprise attack him; so they could test their 'new skills' upon a demon. He of course played along with the twins, only because it seemed to make the miko happy.
His eyes shifted to the teenaged girl who sat next to them, dressed in noble attire with expensive jewelry and hair ornaments that could feed an entire human village for months.
He knew who she was when he first laid eyes upon her, immediately remembering her lily scent that was constantly masked in wet dog from the lord she traveled with.
It shocked him slightly, how fast she grew in just a few years since the last time he saw her. She was no longer a scrawny little girl covered in dirt with wild tangled hair, but now a young woman, who dressed extravagantly as if she was royalty.
The teenaged girl was the first to break the silence, her thin eyebrows raised curiously, "You come to the village often?"
"All the time." Seia sniggered.
"Oh Rin, you've been gone way to long this time and have missed all the excitement that has happened." Airi smiled warmly, "Koga comes here to visit Aunt Kagome."
Rin squinted her eyes slightly, charcoal pools looking between the twins before her. "Miss Kagome? Why?"
"Because he's in looovvveeee." Seia said mockingly, as her sister giggled next to her.
Koga rolled his eyes as a crimson blush dusted his bronze skin.
His arms crossed over his broad chest as his tail flicked wildly behind him. "You women talk to much." He grudgingly said.
All three girls quickly took notice that the wolf king didn't deny the accusation though. Two of them giggling at his reaction, while the other remained silent.
Rin squinted her eyes into slits. "In love? But, she's already taken."
"Not this again..." Airi began, her small fingers playing with the sleeves of her pink kimono, "Rin, I really don't think..."
"By who?!" Koga snapped, muscles twitching slightly under his skin from trying to restrain himself from jumping to his feet.
His mind frantically raced as to who could have possibly laid claim to the miko without him knowing.
He came to village as often as he could, sometimes visiting four times a week. And while he was here, no man even dared to approach her or even look in her direction. He also knew no man would speak to the miko while he was away from the village either, to afraid to provoke his jealous wrath upon them.
Her scent was always the same, pure and enticing, never intertwining with another scent of a man unless it was his own.
And he knew her flesh remained unmarked...
so who could it be?
Rin smirked, her head proudly lifting as the hanging flower ornaments in her hair swayed from her movements. "By Lord Sesshomaru, of course!"
"What?!" Koga roared, his fangs baring while his claws slightly dug into his flesh from anger.
"Ignore her," Seia said, placing her head within her hand as her once mischievous eyes dulled as she stared at Rin, "Lord Sesshomaru only cares for Aunt Kagome as a sister."
Charcoal eyes snapped in the direction of the twin, as thin eyebrows furrowed with annoyance. "That's not true! He always requests to speak with her when visiting the village and wishes for her to stay with us during the winter. Could you imagine? A miko staying within his court for months? It would bring uproar and chaos amongst the noble demon clans who reside within Lord Sesshomarus castle and lands. And he's willing to deal with it all just to have her by his side. If you ask me, those are stronger feelings than just for a sister."
I knew it.
I knew I wasn't imagining things.
Kogas body slightly shook with vexation as he remembered how the lord gazed at the miko earlier; his usual emotionless gold eyes were full of longing for her.
I knew my beast wasn't overreacting when I saw that dog touch her.
The wolf king felt anger rise up inside him once again as images of that tainted clawed hand reached out to touch the pure priestess.
"Rin," Airi said softly, "I also feel that Lord Sesshomaru only sees Aunt Kagome as a trusted friend and sister."
"Hmph." The teenaged girl crossed her arms over her chest defiantly, "The two of you wouldn't know because you're never around him. But, he always asks me about her when he comes to take me back to his castle. You should see how his eyes light up when I tell him about her..."
"Feh. That cold bastard actually shows emotion?" Koga sneered.
"Of course he does." Rin said, as a grin formed on her lips, "Especially when it comes to Miss Kagome."
Koga glowered at the teenaged girl before him.
"Well, if he liked her that much, then why didn't he ask for her hand years ago?" Seia asked, her twin sister nodding in agreement next to her.
"Hmmm," Rins charcoal eyes looked up at the darkening sky as she thought of the best answer. "I feel that he was dealing with a lot of inner conflict. It's expected of him to mate with a powerful demoness, and for him to want chose a human girl who is a miko... well I'm sure that bothered him. Also I believe another reason why he postponed his intentions were because of Inuyasha... Miss Kagome needed time to move on and heal."
Koga rolled his eyes at the mention of the half breed.
...Inuyasha.
The sound of that cowards name made his blood boil.
He never liked the half breed, just always tolerated him for Kagomes sake.
He bottled up jealousy, anger and hate for the hanyou in the past, just so he can see the pretty miko that he traveled with for a mere hour or two.
But, he knew if Inuyasha would some day miraculously return, he'd probably lose control of himself and rip him apart limb by limb with his bare hands for what he did to Kagome.
Kogas eyebrow twitched with annoyance when he suddenly realized something.
Now that the half breed was gone, his older brother seemed to replace him, reawakening a side of him that he thought he buried deep inside himself a long time ago...
"Sorry to break it to you, kid," Kogas azure eyes glanced over at Rin, "But, a woman like Kagome wouldn't be interested in a bastard like that."
The wolf king watched as the teenaged girl tensed up under his gaze. Her pretty face contorted in obvious rage while her painted red lips became a thin line, "Who are you calling a kid?!" She shrieked, "I am a young woman now! And you're just jealous that she likes him more than you!"
The wolf demon scoffed, "I highly doubt that."
"I'm telling you to give up." The teenaged girl said furiously, "Lord Sesshomaru always gets what he wants."
"I won't hand her over to that dog."
"Oh? Well I guess we will just have to see what happens then. Because its ultimately her choice on who she wants to be with."
The wolf king and the teenaged girl continued to glower at each other as the twin girls stared at them with boredom.
"Wouldn't it be funny if she didn't pick either of them." Seia whispered to her twin sister, causing the girl to giggle.
"Who are you talking about?" A voice asked, causing everyones head to jerk in the direction of the doorway leading into Kaedes hut.
Kagome stood in the entrance, her small hand pushing the straw mat to the side. Her hazel eyes were full of bewilderment as she stared at the bickering wolf and young teenaged girl.
Seia smiled up at the miko, "We were just talking about-"
"Nothing." Koga said, immediately interrupting Seia. "It was nothing important."
The wolf king shot a glare at the troublesome twin girl as he ran a anxious hand through his long hair, "Is the food ready? I'm starving." He quickly said, desperately trying to change the subject.
He watched as the mikos face lit up happily, "Oh yes! I was coming to let you all know that dinner is finally ready. Please hurry inside and eat while the food is still warm." The miko smiled warmly as her hazel eyes landed on the wolf king, "Koga, I hope you will enjoy this meal."
"I'm positive that I will." He smirked, causing the priestess to blush.
To be honest, the human meals were starting to grow on him.
He once forced food down his throat just to make the miko happy, always dealing with a slight stomach ache the next day.
Now after visiting the human girl all the time, he became accustomed to the cooked meals she served him.
"Ooooooo" Seia mockingly said, her chocolate eyes sparkling with mischief once again, causing the wolf demon to glower at her in warning.
Before the young girl could say anything else, her twin sister suddenly grabbed her by the hand and pulled her towards the little hut. "Come on Seia, let's eat before the food gets cold. I'm so hungry." She said ecstatically.
Kagome stepped to the side to allow the girls to enter into the home. Her hazel eyes glancing back at the still sitting demon and teenaged girl. "Hurry up you two and come eat!" She called out with a smile gracing her lips.
As soon as the priestess dropped the straw mat and disappeared within the small hut, Rin stood up, her charcoal eyes boring into the wolf king.
"Although Miss Kagome is an extremely intelligent and strong woman, she tends to be unaware and naive when someone holds strong feelings that surpass friendship towards her." Rin said, as her eyes slightly squinted down at the wolf, "So if I were you, Koga, I'd make it very clear to her on what your intentions are. Because if you wait to long, another man will soon come in and claim her as his own."
With a swoosh of her plum colored kimono, she abruptly turned and made her way towards the entrance of the hut.
As her delicate hand touched the straw mat, she suddenly glanced back at the wolf, "But, no matter what you do... you will lose against Lord Sesshomaru." She said sternly as her pink tongue darted out between red painted lips mockingly.
Koga watched as the young girl pulled back the straw mat and disappeared into the hut.
He stayed silent, not even the slightest upset at the remark she made.
Because he knew deep down that the girl was right.
Azure eyes peered down at his calloused hands remembering how they protectively embraced the miko just hours ago.
He remembered how small she felt pulled up against his broad chest.
How warm and soft she felt within his large hands as he protectively held onto her.
Her enticing scent swam around him making it extremely difficult to restrain himself from tasting her as he snuggled deeper into the crook of her neck from behind.
And he remembered how his heart stopped in that exact moment when she made that promise to him...promising she wouldn't leave him.
"Koga, are you coming?"
The wolfs eyes snapped away from his hands and widened in surprise as he looked up at the priestess standing before him.
His breathe got caught in his throat as he stared up at her, somewhat in shock that she some how managed to come this close to him without him noticing.
She was slightly bent forward, only inches away from him. Her long ink black hair cascaded over her shoulders in waves as her hazel eyes stared intently down at him.
Suddenly she outstretched a welcoming hand towards the sitting demon as a warm smile spread acrossed her pink lips, "Come on Koga, your food is getting cold."
The wolf king stared at the beautiful priestess before him, his eyes scanning over every perfect feature upon her angelic face.
Rin was right.
The king knew he had to make a decision and if he didn't, despite her recent promise to him, the miko would eventually end up in another mans arms if waited to long.
He had been a coward these last few weeks, desperately pushing back the looming decision on which path he would eventually have to choose between.
One path was to continue the treaty with the Northern Tribe and finally mate Ayame, making her his Queen.
His own tribe would benefit from the powerful alliance and he would then take hold of Ayames vast tribe and conquer the rest of the Northern territory along with the aide of her cousin, Aoki, as planned.
He would then conquer the East and eventually the Southern territory, overthrowing the Southern King in the process. And then just as the prophecy foretold, he would become the Lunar King.
As a result, Kagome would then no longer be in his life. His visits would cease and he would no longer see the girl whom he loved, out of respect for his mate.
The pretty priestess would then be a mere blissful memory inside his head for the rest of his life.
Or he could choose her.
He could take the unknown dangerous path.
If she would have him, he could take the human miko as his mate instead, making her his Queen.
The Council members would most likely revolt against his brash decision along with some of his tribe members as well.
Some, if brave enough, might even try to challenge him for his crown and title.
War would most likely break out between the East and North for canceling the treaty that was once agreed upon, causing death of many tribesmen on both sides.
He would lose northern lands and trade agreements that he spent countless hours of his time trying acquire during meetings with the council members of the Northern tribe and Aoki.
Ayame would also be heartbroken and most likely live in disgrace; since he had chosen a mere human as his mate over her and her pure blood wolf lineage.
There was also the minor issue concerning his future heir; the pup would be hanyou. Though he didn't care what his pup was, he knew others would.
But, even though this certain path seemed so bleak... there was still a ray of light; he would finally be with the woman whom he always loved and cherished. She would finally be his, and his alone.
"Koga?"
He sighed with content as the priestess softly said his name.
He knew what he wanted.
He always knew.
He didn't know why it took him this long to decide.
He warmly smiled up the human girl standing before him, azure eyes watching as the long waves of black hair swayed slightly against the cool autumn breeze.
He stretched his hand out, gently grasping her tiny hand within his own.
"Let's go eat, Kagome."
He will choose her.