Byakuya was bored. Just as he'd been told, he observed Inuyasha from a well-placed distance. His detached eye floated above them, recording all he witnessed. As predicted, the Inu-hanyou was indeed moping over Kikyo's death but his friends were pestering him about saving Koga..

Kagome in particular was worried. Which was odd considering Byakuya had never sensed anything romantic between her and the wolf. From what he'd gathered she had feelings for Inuyasha. The moth quickly figured it was a way to get the half demon out of his funk and his mind off her dead rival.

"Koga's our friend, we can't just leave him hanging. I know you're hurting, we all are but we can't let Naraku kill him."

Little did they know the wolf was probably wishing for just that right now. Naraku wouldn't be able to stay away for long. He was probably breeding the unfortunate thing as Byakuya yet thought.

He is certainly fond of mounting him.

Byakuya had been assigned to observe the entire time. From the initial mating to the numerous times while Koga had been passed out in recovery. It seemed mating took a lot out of a demon especially when it was a forced bond. His body needed to adjust, to accept the youki Naraku had planted within him. To accept Naraku as a new part of him.

Before long Koga would become immune to the miasma that had weakened him enough to enable his taking. He would begin to bend to his new alpha's will, seek to please him. Eventually he'd be volunteering to bend over for him, dropping to his hands and knees willingly. At least that was what Naraku had said during one of his sessions. Taunting his sleeping mate with every stroke.

What a cruel fate for the proud wolf.

"I know, I know. Kagome just get off my back okay?" Inuyasha's outburst didn't hold its usual bite.

The half-demon really was depressed. Naraku was going to enjoy this.

But not as much as he enjoys spoiling Koga.

The moth still didn't understand the endgame. So he would acquire the wolf's lands. He would still end up stuck with a fruitless mate, unable to bear heirs. He would eventually grow bored of rutting him constantly. Then what?

None of that is my concern, he reminded himself.

His lord had made that quite clear before sending him off earlier.

As if drummed up by his thoughts, Byakuya felt Naraku summoning him back to the castle. Relieved, he brought his eye back to himself. Watching Inuyasha's troop paled in comparison to watching Koga.

Byakuya paused.

He should definitely keep that thought to himself. Always the obedient servant, he started back home wondering what state he'd find his lord's mate in when he arrived.

Naraku was in a foul mood upon his servant's he return. The spider hanyou was pacing his study, brows knit tightly as he frowned. Without looking up to acknowledge his subordinate, he barked his orders.

"See to my mate. I want him bathed and groomed and fed. And for kami sake don't ever leave him in such an unkempt state again. It's beneath his stature."

The moth blinked at his reprimand but merely bowed in response. Beneath his stature? Since when did Naraku care about Koga's stature?

Dismissed by the wave of an impatient hand, Byakuya made his way to his lord's chambers. He recalled the wolf's hair had been undone last but his bandages had been clean and secure. And since the first mating he wore no clothes, only the pelt Naraku had spread across the bed to keep him warm. His lord had been perfectly fine with his mate's appearance all this time. Apparently that wasn't good enough anymore.

I'm sure that wolf will claw me again when I attempt to bathe him.

The moth sighed in resignation. Oh well. It wasn't like he wouldn't heal...Before he approached the room he could already smell the now familiar scent of Koga's release. Naraku had been playing with him. No surprise there. But he also smelled something else that made the moth pause. Salty. Water. Was Koga...?

Curious, Byakuya loosened his eye again, sending it out ahead of him to spy on the ookami. Sure not to be noticed, his eye floated silently into the room to spot the angry wolf lying in bed gritting his teeth. The pelt was bunched at his side, his seed slowly drying into it. Apparently he'd attempted to clean his own mess.

Really Naraku, that was rather classless of you to leave him in such a state.

Koga's fists were clenched, so tightly that his knuckles were sheer white. His chest was moving rapidly with each breath, almost huffing. But his eyes, those brilliant prideful blue eyes were narrowed into the most loathsome of glares. A clear path of wetness leaked from them down his cheeks.

Crying. The wolf was crying. Hot angry tears. But they were tears nonetheless. The incarnation stared, thoroughly fascinated by what he was seeing.

Should he relay this observation to Naraku? That his mate was so unhappy he'd been driven to weep? Byakuya found himself perplexed as to what to do. His job was to watch. To report.

But witnessing the wolf's private vulnerability felt like a secret he'd stumbled upon. Something only he should see. It felt special in a way, to share such a moment with the wolf. Even if the wolf was unaware of it being shared.

He watched Koga for a while until he remembered his orders and alas had to retract his eye. Wishing to leave the wolf some form of his dignity, Byakuya made a point to announce his approach as he made his way into the chamber.

Koga had enough time to wipe his face and put on a scowl before he entered.

"The hell are you doing here?" he snarled.

If I hadn't seen your tears for myself I'd never know they'd fallen.

"Naraku has asked me to bathe and groom you. Then you shall eat."

Koga tensed.

"Don't touch me."

"I assure you, I have no lecherous intent. Though even if I had I would never entertain it as my lord is your mate."

Koga glared distrustfully.

"Besides, you would probably claw my face off and ruin these perfectly crisp sheets. Which I would end up tasked to wash. If you can't tell I am not a fan of domestic labor."

"You're not a fan of anything. You never react."

So the wolf had made observations of him.

"I'm not prone to dramatics, no."

"Well you still aren't touching me," Koga vowed.

To reinforce the threat he drew his claws. The moth sighed patiently.

"So you don't mind smelling of Naraku's semen and sweat then?"

His question hit the mark. Koga slowly lowered his hand. But his eyes still glared.

"His stench is stuck on me now."

Byakuya went about finding the necessary items to clean him. Because of his injuries, he couldn't be lifted. So the moth would have to settle on a bucket from the hot spring within the castle.

"You will get used to it."

Even come to love it. It was the scent of his mate after all.

"I'll rip off my nose and drown in my own blood before I ever accept his foul odor!"

Bravado. Stubborn bravado. But that was the wolf's way. Still try as he might, there was no way to fight demon instinct. He was bonded now in youki, blood and physical intimacy. He and Naraku were one.

"Very well. I'll be back with the bucket."

It wasn't long before he was running a warm soapy cloth over the ookami's tense body. He could tell Koga was uncomfortable being touched but there was no other way to clean him. Initially he'd tried to snatch the cloth and do it himself but the movement required stressed his hips and Koga had to give up.

"I must move downward," Byakuya warned before taking his efforts below the wolf's waist.

Again his charge tensed, sending a growl in response.

"I'll be as quick as possible."

Though he still had to be thorough. Making sure to reach every crevice of the injured wolf's body, he worked silently. Lifting his thighs lightly, reaching between them-

"No!"

He paused, turning his eyes to the anxious wolf.

"You missed some spots. If I don't get it up it'll crust in your hair."

The embarrassed blush covered more than Koga's face. He turned away, his silence a consent to continue.

Cute.

Byakuya was careful with him as he tended to his personal area, sure not to handle him roughly. Should the ookami bruise or even gain a scratch Naraku would surely have his head. His master might not have consideration for his new mate but the wolf was still his property. Only Naraku was allowed to damage his own property.

Once finished, Byakuya went to Koga's hair.

"When you're healed enough to leave this bed I'll give your hair a decent washing. For now I'm afraid you'll have to settle for a brushing."

The wolf didn't even glance up. It would be tricky to get his hair in acceptable condition from this position but Byakuya was confident in his own skills. Naraku had created him with one purpose: to fulfill the spider's every command. And if that command was to make a matted mane glow then he would get the job done.

It took some gentle prodding, but he was able to prop Koga's head up for a better angle. Again he did his best not to hurt him as he ran first his fingers then the brush through. Somewhere along the grooming the wolf visibly relaxed. Byakuya noted the reaction and logged it for later usage. Playing in his hair calmed him.

He concluded the session with a secure braid down the back of Koga's head. Because of his position, it was tossed over the wolf's shoulder.

This will keep his hair out of the way should my lord come to play with him again.

Though from Naraku's mood he couldn't be sure if he would.

Strange usually rutting his mate improves his mood.

The mess on the pelt confirmed that he'd been in to see Koga.

Perhaps he didn't reach his own completion.

Save the stale scent of their previous encounters, there had been no indication that he had released on the ookami's body. No ripe scent of spider seed in the air. The hanyou was probably just frustrated that his mate's hip injuries prevented a good coupling.

"All done. Now that wasn't so bad was it?" he spoke to the wolf.

Koga growled half-heartedly.

"Would you like to see how you look?"

Byakuya started for a small mirror. It was no bigger than Kanna's had been.

"The fuck do I care what I look like," the wolf prince snarled.

"I'm not some girl trying to be pretty."

"You are aware that males can care about our appearance too."

Koga folded his arms angrily.

"I don't even want to be here so why should I care? For Naraku?"

Yes he should because Naraku was his alpha.

"It is only natural that you do. He is your ma-"

"Say that one more time and your tongue is going to be bleeding on the floor," the wolf prince growled.

Remembering the clawing earlier, Byakuya refrained from speaking his thought. Instead he collected his items to leave.

"I'll be back with your supper," he saluted him before removing the bucket and rags from the chambers.

He heard Koga grumble under his breath how he wouldn't touch a bite but paid it no mind. The wolf would eat if for no other reason than to regain his strength. Despite his bond he was still deluding himself to think that he could actually battle Naraku. Much less defeat the spider.

Poor ookami. You will only entice him further.

If he kept that up, there would be much more breeding in his very near future.

O_O

"Your mate has been prepared for you."

Naraku glanced up from his thoughts to Byakuya standing at the doorway. The spider had abandoned his study for his throne not too long after his incarnation's return. It was always on his throne that he had his darkest plots and schemes. After earlier he needed that darkness.

"Very well. And he's eaten?"

He told himself it only mattered so that he could continue to have his way with the wolf. Couldn't have him dying of starvation and malnourishment.

"Hai. With the meats I gave him he should be up and healed in a day or so."

Naraku was pleased with that. Again, he told himself for rutting purposes only.

"And the other situation. Do you have anything to report?"

His servant nodded.

"Inuyasha is depressed. His miko keeps pushing him to come for the wolf but he's not in the proper state to do so. Killing him now in his time of bereavement would be like taking sweets from a pup."

The spider was relieved with the pleasure he felt at his enemy's pain. Good, he hadn't been completely compromised. He was still himself.

Whatever that was earlier was just a fluke.

But the memory of Koga's shame-filled eyes still caused an uncomfortable twinge in his chest. He tried to shake it off.

"The monk is weakened but he isn't dead yet. Your miasma is traveling within him though. He can't have much longer," Byakuya continued.

More good news.

"The demonslayer is distraught between him and worry for her brother, the carrier of the final jewel shard. She fears you will hunt him down and kill him."

That brought a smile to the spider's face.

"Her fears are warranted. I will have that jewel shard."

And once the jewel was complete he would have his deepest desires. It only took one wish.

"And if Inuyasha does come for the wolf?"

A surge of possessiveness had Naraku ready to decimate the inu-hanyou if he came anywhere near his ookami mate.

"Then Inuyasha will die."

Byakuya simply nodded his understanding.

"Anything else?"

The moth shook his head, his expression as emotionless as ever.

"That is all I had time to witness, my lord."

It was enough for now.

"Well done. Keep an eye over them should anything else develop. But stick around the castle as well in case my mate is need of your services."

Byakuya left with another nod of subservience.

My mate.

Naraku rested his chin in his hand, still perplexed at his emotions toward the wolf prince..