A/N: So, chapter 11. Here we are. This is gonna be an eventful chapter. I don't want to spoil too much for you but needless to say, I think you'll really enjoy this chapter. I don't think I put in the last chapter though that the previous chapter was in tribute to Lynn's grandmother, so I'll say it here: Chapter 10 of Sesshomaru Loves a Fox? is dedicated to Lynn's grandma, may she rest in peace. I love you Granny!
Angel-Thanks for your continued support. I really appreciate it. I hope you enjoy this chapter. I'm sure it won't quite be what you are hoping, but it's getting there!
On with the chappie. Love you guys! And thanks for all your support/likes/ favs/ etc. It makes me really happy!
Previously: Crinkling his nose in disgust, Sesshomaru turned on his heel and headed towards the sleeping female, his eyes taking in her pained features and felt a twinge of regret that he was part of the reason that she was in pain. Sighing softly, his beast whimpering in his head, he knelt down and scooped her still form into his arms, cradling her close to his chest after allowing his tail to wrap around her, to both keep her warm and to protect her from his hard armor. After a few moments of staring down at her, he turned yet again and headed back towards Takai, Kurama and Fury. He could only hope that he would be given another chance to win her heart. Regardless, he knew he couldn't allow her to mate with that coward that called himself a fox.
Sesshomaru sighed inaudibly for what he could swear was the tenth time. Or the ten thousandth, he couldn't keep up. Takai was chattering behind him, mostly spouting comments about Feara's human form and how fetching she was as a human and 'I can see why you didn't kill her right off the bat' and various other comments along the same line. He tried to tune it out but Takai wasn't one for leaving well enough alone. Along with the unnecessary commentary, he continuously got up in Sesshomaru's personal space trying to look at the currently human Feara and trying to move his tail, which only wrapped itself further and further around Feara to keep her hidden.
Takai of course wasn't put off in the least by Sesshomaru's attempts at hiding the girl from him. Though he finally stopped when the smell of Kurama and Furys' scent hit their sensitive noses moments before they came bursting through the bushes in front of them. At seeing him with the bundle in his arms that was obviously Feara, Kurama held a hand over his heart at the relief he felt from seeing his precious cousin still there before panicking thinking something had happened to her which caused her to be still, while Fury immediately stepped over to Sesshomuaru, scooping Feara from his reluctant arms and looking her over. "She isn't hurt physically as far as I'm aware, Lord Fury," Sesshomaru said softly, his words causing Kurama to calm some and move to examine his cousin.
"Where was she?" Fury asked, though suspected he already knew the answer. Sesshomaru frowned a bit, knowing that his answer was likely to upset Fury and Kurama both, though they already suspected what she had planned. "She was in the field where this Sesshomaru originally met her." As expected, a pained look crossed both Kurama and Furys' face, neither of them needing further explanation. Fury growled to himself, cursing himself for his stupidity. "Let us return to the village," he said, his voice strained. Turning with his daughter tucked to his chest, he began making his way back to the village, Takai and Kurama looking at his disappearing form with pity, Sesshomaru feeling the same but not showing it as usual.
Kurama sighed, moving to follow his uncle but was startled as Takai put a friendly arm around his shoulders, squeezing in reassurance, before moving on. Even Sesshomaru was startled by Takais' sudden show of affection towards anyone other than himself or Feara or Rin, but brushed it off as the stress of the day. Sesshomaru allowed Fury and Kurama to lead the way, choosing to stay at the rear of the makeshift group so that he could be alone with his thoughts. Though of course, Takai was pestering him with his knowing glances before finally falling back so that he could walk and talk with him. "What are you planning?" he asked, not beating around the bush at all.
Sesshomaru withheld a sigh as he answered, "This Sesshomaru is not planning anything. The only thing that I can do is let it play out and see how it ends. She isn't too enthused with me and neither is her father." Takai scowled and was about to say something in response when they suddenly heard a new voice. Sesshomaru growled lowly as he recognized the voice as belonging to the fox Taka and barely withheld a snarl as he watched said fox move to take Feara from Fury, smirking when Fury merely turned away from his reaching arms and continued around him as if he hadn't said anything or tried to take Feara from him.
"Seems Fury isn't too happy with her chosen either," Takai muttered so only Sesshomaru would hear, smirking a bit as the petulant fox followed after Kurama and Fury, sulking. "So it would seem," Sesshomaru replied, more to himself than Takai. He tilted his head in curiosity. 'I wonder if it's the situation that causes him to not want that infuriating fox to touch her, or if he didn't really like him to begin with and is only now showing it,' Sesshomaru thought to himself. Takai busied himself with thoughts of how to help Sesshomaru stop this mating and win Feara's heart.
At some point during their long trek back to the village, Lynn woke up and found herself moving. Confused, she opened her eyes, only to have her eyes met by silver and white. Blinking, her sleepy drunken and upset mind recognized it as hair and clothes. Looking up, she saw the stressed face of her father looking straight ahead, though his gaze was far off, as if he was immersed in his thoughts. Lynn stared at him for a few moments, trying to piece together what was going on, but gasped softly when she saw a look of pure pain cross her fathers' face and tears glisten in his eyes at whatever he was thinking about. "Father," she said softly, startling Fury out of his thoughts, his gaze jerking to her.
Fury had been walking silently, fuming at his own stupidity at how he handled the situation with Feara. He tried not to think about the fact that she was so upset with him and the situation that she fled the village to try to return to her own time, but no matter how he turned his thoughts away from that topic, it always seemed to lead right back to it, until finally it got to him and he felt a sharp pain in his heart, his eyes tearing up. Of course, if he hadn't been so lost in his owns misery, he'd have noticed that Lynn was awake and staring at him and could read the emotions that he didn't bother to hide crossing his face. It wasn't until he heard the whispered "Father" that he was jerked back to reality.
Looking down at his sleepy daughter, he felt tears welling up, though he refused to let them fall. Not saying anything, he merely shifted her closer and buried his face in her hair, hugging her tightly to him. Lynn felt tears welling in her own eyes at her father's tears and wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged close to him as well, nuzzling under his chin in a soothing manner to try to show she was sorry for upsetting him. She of course was still angry with him, but she was never one to deal well with tears, and seeing them from her normally composed father made it all that much worse.
Kurama watched quietly, happy that they had finally somewhat made up. It had been stressful walking on eggshells around the two of them, though it was mostly Feara who he had to be careful with; Fury had merely chosen to give her the cold shoulder which only served to piss her off. Taka on the other hand, fumed at Fury not allowing him to take care of his future mate, father or not, and was jealously staring at the arms wrapped around Furys' neck that he felt should have been wrapped around his own. The whole situation with her pissed him off to no end. He knew he was good looking, he'd been told by many demonness' that he was, but Feara held no such attraction for him. If anything, she acted like he had the plague.
She was beautiful in her own right, but this human form of hers was a shock. The only reason he'd known it was her was because there was no way that Fury would be cuddling a human if his daughter was missing, nor would Kurama have been following quietly beside him if it was anyone other than his precious cousin. He winced when he realized that he had effectively ignored his Lord again, but since nothing was said, he didn't worry about it at the moment. He was more worried with the fact that he was being ignored by Feara.
Lynn allowed her Youkai to come back out, changing her back into her Fox form, snuggling close to her father sleepily. She didn't know how long they had been walking and cuddling like they had, all she knew was she was tired and her 'chosen' was emitting some odd waves that oddly enough felt like jealousy or something of the like the whole time he sulked behind her father. She had even sensed Kurama's aura spike in aggravation at one point, assuming that it was towards Taka and his childishness, but she wasn't sure, nor did she care overmuch if the Black Fox was pissed or upset. She wished he'd find a burrow to crawl in and leave her alone.
The rest of the trip back to the village was made in silence. Lynn had fallen back asleep, though the tension from the group didn't lessen any. It was morning by the time they reached the village. The tired group trudged to Furys' hut, though he stopped outside of it as the villagers watched and turned to Taka, Takai and Sesshomaru. "Taka, I suggest you return to your hut to get some rest for the Mating Ceremony tonight. My Lords Sesshomaru and Takai, if it would please you, I will have the guest hall in the Council building prepared for you so that you may rest and get something to eat. It has been a long day and I think Feara and I will be retiring until it is near time for the Ceremony. Kurama will show you the way there," he said softly before turning into his hut, not noticing the looks on Sesshomaru or Taka's faces.
Taka himself was merely pissed that he couldn't spend a night, or day in this case, however unethical it was, with his betrothed. Sesshomaru was repressing a snarl as his beast lashed out at his mental cage at the mere thought of the fox touching what was his. Kurama sighed tiredly before giving his attention to the males before him. "Taka," he said firmly, his gut feeling towards the Black Fox taking a turn for the worst more and more, "Go get some sleep. My Lords, if you'll follow me." He swept his hand out to his right in the direction of the council hall and glared at Taka, who didn't notice, who was still standing where he had stopped, gazing after his cousin with an indecipherable look on his face. "Taka!" Kurama growled out after a few moments, quickly losing patience with the fox who still hadn't moved though Kurama and Fury had told him to.
Kurama bared his teeth when Taka merely gave him a look that said 'You really think you can tell me what to do?' before looking after Fury and Feara again, wondering if he could get away with sneaking into the hut to sleep with Feara. Kurama was about to lash out at Taka when a vicious growl sounded from Sesshomaru. "Fox!" he barked out, startling all in the vicinity, including the debating Taka. Taka turned to Sesshomaru and quickly bowed when he saw the rage plastered on his Lords' face. "I'm sorry, My Lord Sesshomaru, did you need something from me?" Sesshomaru was about to leap forward and rip Taka's head off when Takai grasped his elbow, giving him a look that more or less said 'calm down' before stepping ahead of him. "Lord Sesshomaru doesn't need anything from you, dear Taka. However, it was suggested to you, by both your future cousin and father-in-law, that you should get some rest. I believe you should take their advice and head to your own bed," Takai said, putting emphasis on the word 'own' to show that he was pressing his luck.
Taka looked between Sesshomaru and Takai, evidentially seeing that Sesshomaru approved of the words that left the Southern Lords' lips because he bowed again and finally headed off towards his own hut to rest. Kurama glared after the retreating fox, and, not trusting him to stay in his own makeshift temporary home, he walked over to his uncles hut and dropped a few seeds from his hair to the ground in front of the hut, feeding it his Youkai until it grew large enough to cover the entire house with protective vines, ordering to move for no one other than himself, his uncle or Feara, before walking away and heading towards the Council Hall.
They walked for a few moments of tense silence before Takai decided to break it. "I have to say, Lord Kurama, that your powers over the fauna is quiet extraordinary. I noticed though that the Lady Feara has control over them as well." Kurama smiled a bit at that. "Thank you, My Lord. And she does. She and I are the only ones that I am aware of at the moment with control over plants. It is very rare amongst our race, even more so amongst our clan. I'm sure that you've noticed that there are various different powers amongst our kind. My Lord Sesshomaru harnesses power of poison. You, fire. Uncle is rather quick and cunning, but his power is more of own mind. He is more intelligent than most, and learns quickly. He knows many different things, from fighting to healing and the like. Though I'm sure you already knew that. At any rate, her mother Lady Keera knew how to control plants too. Unfortunately, Feara and I are the only ones who know how to do so."
"I'm sorry to hear that. I assume the Lady Keera is no longer with us?" Takai asked, having not already known this. Kurama shook his head, stopping at the door to the Council Hall. "No, My Lord. She passed over twenty years ago, shortly after Feara was born. Though I'm sure she's keeping watch of Feara from wherever she is." He gestured to the doorway. "The guest room is one of the rooms on this hallway. Unfortunately, the Council members like to switch rooms every once in a while, to kind of spice things up, so it'd be better of you to ask one of them to direct you to the current guest room, as I am unsure of where it is."
Sesshomaru nodded while Takai politely thanked Kurama, before they both headed inside, more than ready for a bit of food and rest at this point. Kurama sighed and rubbed the back of his neck as he headed back towards his uncles hut. He frowned as he watched Taka eyeing the vines that he ordered to surround the hut, looking as if he wanted to rip them to pieces but knew better than to mess with any plant of Kuramas'. "Taka," he growled out. "This is a little extreme, is it not, cousin?" he asked, a sneer lacing the last word. "I am not your cousin," he growled out, itching to hit Taka, "and no, it is not. Apparently I was not wrong in thinking that you couldn't take a hint and go rest and leave my cousin be. She's been through enough for one day without you crowding her while she's trying to sleep. Not only that, Feara and even uncle himself wouldn't like for you to sleep with her, being as you're not mated yet and it is not proper."
Taka merely smirked at Kurama. "Tonight I will be both her mate and your cousin, so we should get along better. After all, I'll be here for quite a while before going to live with my own clan for a while. As far as proper, I meant sleep as in rest, not sleep as in sex. Though it's not like she hasn't already been taken, so I doubt it'd bother her overmuch if I was wanting that." Kurama just barely refrained from hitting Taka, instead growling out "Leave" before brushing past him and into the hut through the opening the vines gave him, grinning as the vines quickly closed behind him and listening to Taka curse as he wasn't able to get through in time.
He walked over to his uncles' bed, smiling at the sight that greeted him. Fury was curled around Feara protectively, hugging her close to him as they slept. He wasn't sure who did it, but somehow Feara was in sleeping clothes. He jumped a bit as Fury muttered out softly, "He has gotten a bit more persistent in his advances of late." "No kidding," Kurama growled out, stripping out of his clothes to put on an extra pair of his uncles, crawling into the bed on the other side of Feara, snuggling close. It wasn't long before Kurama and Fury slipped off into sleep, both confident that Kurama's pet would keep Taka out.
Lynn woke up mid-afternoon, rubbing her eyes sleepily. Sitting up, she winced a bit at the massive headache that was beginning to brew behind her eyes. 'Damn…drunk too much and didn't do anything to keep myself from being hung over,' she thought to herself, groaning softly as she rubbed her forehead. "You'll have to take something for the headache. I imagine Namine has something for hangovers," Fury said softly, tugging on her arm to get her to lay back down. "Father?" she asked, confused, momentarily forgetting what had happened. Fury smiled a bit. "Forgot already? Silly thing. Lay back down for a while. We'll get up in a couple of hours to get ready for the Ceremony."
Lynn sighed. She didn't want to marry Taka, that was why she had left. "Feara," Fury said softly, still keeping his grasp on her arm but avoiding her gaze. "I know this isn't what you want, but it really is for the best. He's a good person, I believe. He will make a good mate for you." Lynn frowned, pulling away from her father. "Do you even care how I feel about this, Father?" she asked softly. She didn't move as she felt Kurama sitting up behind her and hugging her close to him, most likely afraid that she'd run away again. "Of course I do, Feara. I know you want to chose. However, demon law as well as human laws here dictate that you should have been mated long ago. I realize that it is not your fault, but I am trying to fix that and restore your honor."
"My honor, or yours, Father? You seem to be the only one who cares about my unmated status. Kurama is much older than me, in both human years and demon, and he isn't mated, nor do I see you forcing him to mate. Don't tell me that this is some sexist bullshit where any female in this era after a certain age has to be mated. If that is the case, then I wish even more so that I could have returned home, where things like that no longer matter." Fury frowned at her observations, but flinched when she voiced her wish to return to her own time. "Feara…" he said softly, pain lacing his voice at his fear of losing her.
"Feara, dear. It may be for Uncle's honor that he is choosing your mate, but it is also for your own. Unmated females are frowned at in human and demon society. They are considered…what's the word I'm looking for?" Kurama thought for a moment for the appropriate word, only able to come up with one that he knew she wouldn't like. "…Spinsters. They are considered spinsters. And while you aren't quite past the age you would be called that, it is still a worry, especially when it'll only be a few years you'll be considered that. He's just looking out for you, dear." Lynn looked away, understanding but still upset about it. She didn't resist when Kurama pulled her down with him, sighing softly as he held her from behind, nuzzling her hair gently. Fury laid still near them, not touching her figuring she didn't want to be touched by him at the moment.
Lynn sighed and reached out a hand to her Father, using his long silver hair to tug him closer to her before snuggling close sleepily. Fury wrapped his arms around Lynn and hugged her tightly. "I love you, my daughter," he whispered softly into her hair. She hugged him back gently. "Love you, too. But you two are asses." Kurama chuckled while Fury just smirked. "Sleep, Feara," Fury said softly, kissing her forehead. Lynn nuzzled her Fathers' neck gently in understanding before falling back asleep with a small smile on her face, happy that her Father was no longer ignoring her.
Kurama, Feara and Fury slept till a couple of hours before sunset, though Lynn didn't want to get up. She was better as far as a hangover goes, but she wasn't all that enthused with what tonight was as Kurama helped her dress into her wedding kimono. Kurama and Fury had offered to let her create her own, but she refused. She had told them that she didn't want to ruin tradition, but in reality, this mating just didn't matter to her and she felt that she should only chose a dress if it meant something to her. And this mating sure as hell didn't.
She sighed and headed outside with Kurama. She didn't really care if Taka saw her or not. She made her way over to the fire, grabbing a bottle of sake and started chugging. She continued to chug it. After a few moments of chugging, it was snatched from her hand. She looked around, a growl on her lips. Taka had been the one to snatch her bottle away, she realized, and she snarled. "How dare you-" she started only to be cut off by a sudden pain to her cheek, catching herself before she fell. "I dare because my mate should not be drinking, let alone getting drunk before her own mating ceremony," Taka growled out. She had just comprehended that he had hit her, granted it was the open palm of his hand in a slap, when she growled loudly, her eyes bleeding red and plants erupting around Takas' feet, but before she could leap at him and tear him to pieces, she was grabbed and pulled back into a pair of arms and a white blur passing her, a feral snarl falling from whatever it was.
She looked up to see who had grabbed her and was surprised to see Takai holding her, giving her a small smile and wiping something off of her chin. She was a bit surprised to see red staining his fingers. She blinked and licked at her lip that she had just realized was torn from being slapped. Then she realized who was holding her. 'If he's holding me then…' She quickly turned and looked to see what had flown past her towards Taka. She blinked as she saw a gasping for breath Taka in a small crater in the ground with a feral Sesshomaru on top of him, poisoned claws hissing at the pale neck beneath of his grasp. "Sesshomaru," she said softly. "You dare hit a female that you proclaim to be your future mate?" a guttural snarl came from Sesshomaru's mouth, jagged marks gracing his pale cheeks and at his wrists, red completely taking over his eyes.
Takai rubbed Lynn's back softly as Sesshomaru kept Taka pinned to the ground. "What's going on?" Fury asked, coming up behind Takai but stopped short when he saw who was in his arms, and more specifically, what was on her face. "What happened?" Fury growled out as Kurama came up on the other side of Takai, who had grasped her by the chin and looked at the cut on her lip. "Are you ok?" Kurama asked softly, fury burning in his golden eyes. "I'm fine," she said softly, watching her father carefully. "Sesshomaru and I were taking a walk when we saw Feara coming over to the fire and grab some sake, apparently wanting to have something to sooth her nerves, when the fox came up and snatched the bottle from her. It didn't look as if she had seen who had done it and before she could react to it, he slapped her, for what, I am uncertain."
Fury growled loudly, his eyes flashing pure red before he grit his teeth and fought it back. Clenching his fists, he walked over towards Sesshomaru and the choking Taka, glaring down at Taka, a growl brewing in the back of his throat. "My Lord," he growled out, much as he tried to hold it back. Sesshomaru didn't even look up from the male he was inches from killing. "My Lord Sesshomaru, I will take care of this tripe." Sesshomaru ignored him as Taka tried to talk around the crushing hand around his throat. "My…Lord…please…" he scraped and bowed. Sesshomaru snarled and tightened his hold. "You have no right to hit anyone let alone a female. That is despicable, you piece of trash!" Sesshomaru snarled out, his beast seeping into his voice. Taka wheezed as tried to breath around Sesshomaru's hand.
"My…Lord…she's…she's…just a…a woman…a-and…not a-a p-pure one…at that…a filthy half-breed…" Lynn's eyes widened as did everyone's with hearing range. The only movement after that proclamation was Furys' sudden leap at Taka and Sesshomarus' surge to his feet and his mighty throw into the nearest hut (or huts in this case) and through the forest behind. Sesshomaru snarled and hauled ass after the fallen fox, his body morphing into that of his full demon form, surprising all there. "My Lord, don't kill him!" Fury yelled out, but had no real hopes of Sesshomaru really listened to his plea. He had to say that he wasn't all for Taka being alive at that moment, but he didn't want him dead either.
"Feara, I'm sorry," Kurama said softly, pulling her into his arms. "I had been having feelings lately that there was something off about him, but I didn't think it would be this. I knew I should have listened to my gut instincts. Are you alright?" Fury turned to them as she nodded. "I'm fine. But I don't care what you say, Father. I will never mate with someone who would willingly hit me and feel no remorse. I just can't do it. I'm sorry." Fury shook his head. "No, Feara. I will not make you mate him. I am just glad that he showed how he really was right before the mating, before it was too late for me to do anything about it. Come here," he said softly, holding out a hand towards her. She walked over to him and winced a little as he ran a finger softly over her newly acquired wound.
"If Lord Sesshomaru doesn't kill the whelp, I certainly will make him wish he had," Fury growled out, turning to go after Sesshomaru and Taka, following the loud snarls from Sesshomaru, though the path of destruction was pretty clear and easy to follow. It wasn't until moments later that Lynn calmed down enough from the initial shock of being struck by someone as worthless as Taka that she finally felt the need to cry. And it took a lot to make her cry. Though the stress from her father giving her the cold shoulder, nearly forcing her to mate that bastard Taka, and then Sesshomaru showing up suddenly to Taka hitting her, it was more than she wanted to handle right then. So she bolted straight into the forest.
Takai went to follow after her, but Kurama stopped him. "It'll be alright. She's probably going to her hideaway that I have yet to find to cool off. She doesn't like for people to see her cry." "You aren't concerned for her well being at all?" Takai asked incredulously. "Not in this instance, no. She knows how to take care of herself should she get into trouble, and it would be foolish of anyone to try to attack her near her hideaway. I'm sure she's got some kind of plant sentries posted within quite a few feet in all directions from where she went, and I can tell you they will be quite vicious to any who mean her harm."
Takai frowned, but stayed put, waiting for Sesshomaru to return. He wasn't stupid enough to stop Sesshomaru from taking his kill of the bastard fox who had dared to hit Feara. He was rather surprised though, when Kurama picked up a sake bottle from beside the fire and took a good swill of it. "Lord Kurama, is it wise to be drinking that much when your uncle is out being suicidal and your cousin is hurt?" Taka asked, eyed the bottle as it tilted back up to Kurama's soft looking lips. "Uncle isn't foolish enough to jump in front of Lord Sesshomaru while he's feral. More than likely, he's trying to talk him down from his killing rage. Feara will come back when she is ready. Until they get back, I think I deserve something to calm my overly wired nerves from this stressful month," Kurama quipped, taking another large swig.
Takai arched a brow. Either Kurama was fairly certain of his tolerance level, or he was deliberately trying to get shit faced. Which judging by the glassy sheen that almost instantly entered Kuramas' eyes and the slight swaying of the foxes' body, he guessed it was the latter. Not to mention he must have been a light weight. Takai sat next to Kurama, keeping an eye on him as they awaited the return of either Fury and Sesshomaru or Lynn or both. However, it wasn't long before Kurama was into his second bottle of sake, and by that point it was quite evident that he was drunk off his ass, if his swaying body and slurred words and even his sudden urge for affection was anything to go by. And still neither showed up.
An hour later found him stumbling off towards the Lord Furys' hut with a drunk Kurama, trying to keep his advances to himself. Granted, he was pretty sure Kurama was unaware of just who he was hitting on, let alone what sex, cause last he heard was that he was into females. Though it could be his promiscuous fox nature coming out to play. It had been quite a few centuries since he had been with someone. He helped him into bed, covering him up, but was startled when he was yanked into the bed with him. "W'ere you goin'?" he slurred out. "To wait for Sesshomaru and your uncle and the Lady Feara," he said, tiredly. "'Ncle will tal' 'im down…it'll be a'right. Feara is a'right too…stay…" Kurama tugged Takai down and snuggled close sleepily. Takai sighed but laid down anyway. Kurama didn't try anything further but snuggling closer, so he stayed. It wasn't long before he was asleep.
Several hours later found him asleep aside Kurama when Fury came in, Sesshomaru trailing behind him. Fury blinked when he saw Kurama snuggled up to Takai, but shrugged it off and walked towards Lynn's room to see if she was ok, only to frown. Sesshomaru on the other hand stopped and looked at Takai, wondering what the hell was going on. As far as he knew he wasn't interested in males, though it could be just a thing of it wasn't what it looked like. He nudged Takai with his foot just as Fury was coming out of the Lynn's room and looked at him. Takai jerked awake when Sesshomaru nudged him again with his foot. "Is she alright?" Sesshomaru asked, directing his question to Fury.
"I haven't the slightest clue, My Lord. She isn't in there." "If you're talking about the Lady Feara," Takai began, covering his yawn with a hand, forgetting the fox snuggled into his side as he sat up. Or tried to anyway. Kurama murmured in his sleep and draped himself further over Takai, surprising all three currently awake males in the room. Sighing, Takai gave up, and just laid there. "She ran out of the village, I don't know how long ago, but Kurama insisted that she would be alright and that she went to her secret hideout or something." Fury sighed, rubbing his eyes. "And what happened to him?"
Takai sighed and rubbed his own eyes. "He drank too much. I tried to get him to stop but he wanted to drink. From the looks of things, he's not used to drinking, let alone the big swallows that he was taking. So I brought him here, but you see where I am. He didn't want me to move. I assume he gets rather…clingy…at moments like this," Takai murmured, stifling another yawn. Furys' lips twitched in amusement. He imagined Kurama might be a bit horrified at waking up and finding himself wrapped around Takai. But he worried for Feara and how she was faring. He already almost lost for a second time. He didn't think he could handle a third.
"This Sesshomaru knows where she is," Sesshomaru said softly after a few moments of silence where Takai almost fell asleep again. Fury blinked and looked at him. "My Lord?" he questioned in confusion. "I know where she is," he repeated with a frown. He didn't like repeating himself, but he sensed that Fury hadn't done it to make him angry. He was genuinely confused as to how he could know whereas he and Kurama didn't. Fury looked even more confused for a moment before he recalled the night before and Sesshomaru telling them he had stumbled across her in her hide away.
"My Lord, if you wouldn't mind, would you please check on her? I'd go myself, but I imagine she doesn't like the fact that you know, and anyone else knowing would probably upset her. I think she built that to get away from me when I was giving her the cold shoulder before." Sesshomaru nodded and turned to leave, stopping when heard a rustling come from the bed. Though what stopped him wasn't the sound of the movement, but the words from Kurama that were murmured in sleep. "'Kai, stop moving," Kurama growled out softly. Takai looked at the still slumbering Kurama in shock. Sesshomaru looked over his shoulder, a small smirk gracing his lips though none could see it. Fury himself tried to stifle his laughter.
"You won't be able to move, My Lord Takai. Even sober, when he's in those moods, he won't let go until he's ready." Takai blushed furiously, a squeaky "What?" falling from his lips. "Like you said, he is in a clingy mood. When he gets that way, he doesn't let go until he is ready to." Sesshomaru felt a genuine, though rather smug, smile cross his face. "Takai," he murmured, still not turning towards him. He gave the most smug smile he could manage when Takai turned to him and felt his beast purr with suppressed laughter when Takai paled at the look on Sesshomarus' face. Then words that neither male had thought they would never hear from the stoic, humorless, prideful demon fell from his sinfully full lips. "Karma is a bitch."
Leaving the stunned males to their shocked silence, Sesshomaru left the hut and began making his way to find Feara, grinning when he heard full out raucous laughter following him. Apparently Fury had recovered enough from the shock to register the words finally and that, combined with he imagined the very horrified shocked look on Takais' face, caused him to fall into laughter. He heard it up until he passed the barrier around the village, but the smile still stayed on his face. Normally he would never say such things, but the opportunity had arisen so perfectly and suited the situation so well that he couldn't just pass up the opportunity to throw it back into his face. He had been such a nuisance with the whole Feara thing that a little karma was in order.
He continued to think about other things to return the favor to Takai as he made his way to Fearas' hideaway that he hadn't even noticed that he was standing at the base of the tree it was in until the vines shifted a bit. Startled from his musings, he watched them shift again. Either they were at unease because of him just standing there for long moments with his mind wandering, or they were uneasy because Feara was upset. Either way, he jumped up onto the limb, nimbly making his way towards the makeshift house. Surprisingly, the vines weren't covering the window. He peered in and found Feara laying on the bed of furs that she had situated against one wall, hugging herself tightly curled into a tight ball on the bed with her eyes closed. He was about to tap on the window to get her attention when the vines suddenly shifted again, this time revealing a door.
To say he was surprised was an understatement. He stepped towards the door cautiously, almost expecting the vines to suddenly close upon the door as he approached, but it did no such thing as he reached forward and knocked gently on the door. There was no reply, though he suspected she knew he was there and probably had from the moment that he reached the tree, if not before. He went to knock again and blinked when the door suddenly opened, though he had heard no movement from within. Looking down, he saw a vine retreating away from what he assumed was a handle meant to open the door with. Mentally shrugging, he pushed the door open wider gently and stepped in.
Lynn made no move to show that she heard or sensed him come in. He quietly walked over to the bed and kneeled down before it, reaching a gentle hand forward to caress the injured lip that had already healed but was still sensitive. Lynn jumped but made no other movement. "Are you alright?" Sesshomaru asked after a few moments, pulling his hand back, shivering at the tingle that lingered in them from touching her lips. "I'm fine," she replied softly. "Your father is worried about you," he said after a few minutes of struggling to find something to say that would cause some kind of reaction in her.
She opened her eyes and looked at him. "I'm surprised Father and Kurama didn't come with you," she murmured, eyeing him warily. Sesshomaru smiled, shocking her a little with the fact that he did so when it was well known that he only smiled if he was anticipating your beheading or some other such thing that had to do with killing someone and he could derive some form of enjoyment out of it. Though the smile he gave her was an amused friendly one. "Your cousin, I am afraid, is rather…indisposed at the moment and-" "Indisposed? What the hell does that mean? Did something happen to Kurama?" she asked, sitting up suddenly, worry written in her features.
"No, no, not at all. That isn't what this Sesshomaru meant, Lady Feara," Sesshomaru hurried to say, hoping it would calm her. "Then what did you mean?" she asked, growing a little agitated at being left in the dark. "I simply meant that your cousin decided he wanted to drink…and as I understand it, he isn't one for drinking and was rather drunk by the time your father and I returned to the village." "Kurama got drunk?" Lynn asked incredulously. Sesshomaru nodded. "And it would seem," Sesshomaru continued, humor in his voice and eyes, "that he has gotten rather…clingy…and has chosen Takai to be clung to." Lynn felt herself begin to laugh at that, surprised that after the month she'd been having that she could laugh anymore. "I bet Takai is freaking out. And I bet Kurama will too when he wakes up. He's told me before he wasn't into men, so I can only imagine what he'll think upon waking up glued to Takai," she snickered out. "Indeed," Sesshomaru murmured, a small smirk upon his lips.
"And my Father?" she asked after a few moments of giggling at the mental pictures going through her head. "He didn't wish to upset you. He said that you built this to have refuge away from him mostly and that you probably wouldn't appreciate someone else knowing its location." Lynn nodded. At least her father was considerate in that. She would have been upset but she would have gotten over it eventually. For now, this could still be her sanctuary when she needed to vent. Mostly she just came and listened to her music to help her calm down. She had accidentally learned how to harness her Youkai into her palm which gave like an instant charge to the dying phone that happened to be in her hand at the time.
She had been angry at her father that day, she recalled, and was so furious at the fact that he had chosen someone for her to mate and was more or less forcing her to do his bidding that she had left. She had never wanted to hit someone so badly as she did that day, and the worst part was, she would never ever dare to hit her parents, be it her human father and mother or her demon father, but boy had she wanted to that day. She had wanted to punch him so badly that she could just imagine it in her mind and hadn't realized that she had gathered Youkai into her fist until she felt it tingling with all the power running through it.
She had looked down at her phone then, which had been on its last legs at the time, only to find it fully charged. She remembered that her anger had instantly fled her that day only to be replaced by confusion and wonder at what she had done. It had taken her a while, and a completely dead battery later, but she finally had figured out what she had done, and once she had figured it out, she had no problem recharging her phone when it died.
"There's something I'm confused about though," Lynn said after a few moments of silent thought. Sesshomaru tilted his head a bit in curiosity. "And what is it that you are confused about, Lady Feara?" he asked gently. Lynn looked at him, confusion evident in her gaze. "Why are you and Takai here? My father told me what you said to him. So I assumed that you didn't care for me. Then all of a sudden you show up when I'm about to be mated. It doesn't make any sense." Sesshomaru winced a little at the fact that she knew what he had stupidly said to her father, and he was sure that she could see the regret at those words in his eyes, so he made himself speak. "Forgive me, My Lady. It is not often that this Sesshomaru feels regret, but I must say that those words spoken to your father have caused me much regret. Though this is no excuse, they were spoken out of pride and because I did not want to have to deal with the council members and their incessant prattling. I am sorry for that. As to why I am here, I am not surprised your father did not tell you."
"Tell me what?" she asked, her eyes narrowing. Sesshomaru didn't answer. He merely stood and offered her his hand. "Come, Lady Feara. Let us return to the village and I will explain all on the way." She eyed his hand warily, shivering as she recalled that same hand clenched around Taka's throat, hissing with poison. When she thought about it, she hadn't stuck around to find out what happened to him. "And what happened to Taka?" Sesshomaru's lip curled in a snarl, a brief flash entering his eyes at the thought of the bastard fox, but he quickly controlled it. "I will explain that too, if you would come with me?" he asked again, being surprisingly considerate for one who gave orders for most of his life and expected them to be followed or the person given the orders would suffer his wrath, which would most likely cause them to end up dead. Lynn looked at him for a few moments, trying to decide what to do. She finally decided that her father might need help with the drunken Kurama and took his hand and allowed him to help her to her feet. She waited until they were on the ground and her sanctuary safely hidden before asking about Taka again. "So what did you do with Taka?" Sesshomaru smirked.
A/N: WHEW! Well, not really. This chapter was surprisingly easy to write. But then again, I already had this sorta planed out from when I finally finished the previous chapter. Two chapters in one week? After a month of absence? I'm sure you guys are all probably clutching your chest in heart attacks right now lol. This chapter I worked mostly on my own ideas, though I had the hardest time trying to figure out what powers to give to Fury that wouldn't be overworked. The intelligence thing is kinda worn out, but that was the only thing I could think of that would suit him well. If you guys have any thoughts I'll be glad to hear them and possibly add them in. So, what did you think? Good? Bad? I know you guys are patiently waiting for Sesshomaru and Lynn to get together and I promise its coming! And no, there will be no man smex/relationship in this story…(though I might be persuaded to write a story purely for them though I haven't really decided that that's how I want it to go…those scenes were merely for a good laugh…hopefully anyway lol). Things to look forward to: Taka vs Sesshomaru vs Fury flashback-though it was mostly Sesshomaru pounding the hell out of Taka than it was a full on match; Sesshomaru reveals his feelings (what?! XD); and I haven't figured out what else yet. I'll let you know more when I know lol. So, hope you enjoyed the fourteen pages of this chapter! MUAH! Love you guys!
P.S.-I am not abandoning this story and do not plan on any more month long hiatuses. Besides that, Lynn will continually poke at me with a straw until I see this story through to the end so no worries. She'll poke me into writing when I get into a slump. XD