"She was with Sessho-maru?!" Itnasha began in surprise.
"That's beside the point! What if any of the other vassals saw her, what if Sachiko-sama saw her?!" Fawks cried, pacing the floor of their bedroom. Though they slept in the same room to keep up appearances, the two had separate futons.
"Sho-kun isn't so stupid. If Ten-chan were to be in the castle without you, she's safest with him"
Fawks stopped pacing, crossing her arms over her chest, "That bastard…just what the hell is he planning?"
"Eh?"
"He's never shown an interest in Tensei before. He's sent her things sure, but it always seemed like an afterthought…"
"Maybe he wants to actually get to know his daughter" Itnasha shrugged.
Fawks jaw clenched, "Do you remember…when I first learned I was pregnant?"
"Yeah, you freakedout…" Itnasha snorted.
"You're right. I was terrified that others would learn about the affair, Sessho-maru was the one who calmed me, he told me everything would be alright…" she hesitated, "At the time…a small part of me hoped that…the pregnancy would make Sessho-maru realize he loved me enough to…actually make me his wife…"
Itnasha studied her slumped shoulders, "Fawks-chan…"
"…After all…I was having his first child not Sachiko…sometimes…I wonder if Ten had been a boy…" Fawks shook her head, straightening her back. "Never mind…none of that matters anymore anyway…"
"Your happiness doesn't matter?" Itnasha asked, his voice pained.
"…this is the life I chose for myself. Sessho-maru didn't force me to be his mistress, I accepted it I…just wanted to be close to him…"
Itnasha rose from his futon, coming over to her. He turned her to face him, her eyes were desolate, filled with regret and despair. He pulled her into his arms, resting her cheek against his shoulder.
"…I'm so tired, Itnasha…so sick of it all…but even now I can't refuse him. I still…I'm in love with him…"
"I know…" he sighed, burying his nose in her hair. Fawks smelled like autumn, crisp with a hint of spice. She was strong and beautiful, he could understand why his cousin was so drawn to her. Hell, he'd have to be made a stone not to react to her.
"…I can make it so you don't have to refuse him. I can make it…so he'll never be able to touch you…or hurt you again…" Itnasha sighed against her. Fawks pulled back, staring at him in shock.
He gave her a sad smile, "You're my 'mate' after all…let me help you…"
"But…I love Sessho-maru…"
"Enough to let him keep using you? Even when you know he's spending the night with another woman…"
She flinched away at this, Itnasha tilted her head back, capturing her lips with his own. As her own lips parted under the stroke of his tongue, Fawks briefly thought about how Sessho-maru never kissed her anymore. For some reason that hurt her more then anything else.
How easy it would be to let Itnasha have her, make her his mate. Sessho-maru would lose what little claim he had on her. Maybe they could even leave the stronghold and just be a regular family. Even though she wanted that will all her heart, she also knew it was an impossible dream.
He slipped her kimono down her shoulders, nipping softly at her neck, "…You're so beautiful…Fawks-chan…"
Fawks shut her eyes, letting him lower her to the bed. Even if it was impossible, she would reach for it until it finally drifted from her sight.
Itnasha wasn't like Sessho-maru, he took his time kissing her, exploring her body. He took her gently like a lover, sighing her name with every breath.
"…Fawks-chan…I love you…ugh…why can't you…just be mine…?" he growled, his thrusts becoming deeper.
"…because…" she sighed, her hands stroking the taut muscles of his back, "…I'm…in love with…Sessho-maru…"
Sessho-maru gave a tough grunt, thrusting into Sachiko one final time before filling her with his seed. Sachiko gave a breathy cry as she climaxed with him, digging her claws into the sheets beneath them. He pulled out of her rolling to his feet.
"…Sho-san…was it good for you…?" she purred.
"Hn" Sessho-maru replied, tying his robe shut. "You should rest. Shino-maru will be awake soon…" "
…What about you…?"
"There are some things I still need to take care of" He replied. "I will see you at breakfast"
Sachiko nodded, watching him go with a gentle smile.
Sessho-maru met Itnasha in his study, the scent that clung to him made Sessho-maru's stomach turn.
"Good morning, my lord" he bowed. Sessho-maru's claws were at his throat before Itnasha could blink. The stronger inu slammed him into the wall, cracking the wood, he coughed blood.
"What have you done?!" Sessho-maru snarled.
"…Dunno…what you mean…I bedded my mate…" he smirked.