Anika
Chapter 8
Sesshomaru woke up in the middle of the night to feel a very small body cuddling up under his chin. Leaning back Sesshomaru was able to see that it was only Anika and settled back down enjoying the purring rumbles emitted from his new sister. As curious as Sesshomaru was about the sudden change in Anika's attitude he was also grateful for it as well. Sesshomaru was a pack creature and being accepted by all his pack members was very important to the young prince. In the morning Touga frantically searched his bedroom for Anika but couldn't find her anywhere. Sending out his youkai Touga beckoned Sesshomaru to him. Sesshomaru came rushing into his father's room holding Anika to his chest.
"How is it that you have her?" Touga calmed down upon seeing that Anika wasn't hurt and safe in her brother's arms.
"She came to me in the middle of the night so I just let her stay." Sesshomaru explained to his father.
"Dragolf's do sleep with their littermates so I guess she has finally accepted you." Touga was glad with the change in Anika's interactions. Anika excitedly flew into her father's arms upon seeing him and nuzzled her way to his mokomoko clad shoulder where she prepared to doze for the rest of the day.
"Oh no you don't little one! We are going to change those sleeping habits of yours so that I may get a good night's rest tonight." Touga plucked Anika off of his shoulder and handed her to his oldest pup.
"Stay here I'll get her breakfast ready." Touga told his pup as he left the room. Coming back five minutes later Touga fed Anika and ordered Sesshomaru to take her to the gardens and play with her and to make sure that she did not go to sleep. Touga went to his office and worked on paper work for the majority of the morning and afternoon. Touga dreaded writing a letter to the council telling them of his new pup. Touga hoped that the council would accept Anika because if they didn't then he would have to give her away. Touga loathed such a thing and just the thought made his eyes tinge dangerously red in anger. Looking out his office window Touga watched his pups playing in the gardens chasing one another in the air. Touga was worried that his eldest pup being an only child would grow up to be a cold self-centered being but seeing Anika break down his defenses so easily just made his worries fade away. Seeing his cold-withdrawn pup actually smile and laugh like a normal pup did Touga's heart good. At noon Touga brought in both pups and had their lunches waiting for them at the large mahogany dining table. Touga was glad to see that Anika looked tired. After lunch Sesshomaru wanted to go to the dojo to practice his swordsmanship so Touga let Anika nap for an hour before he got her up again to go play with Sesshomaru in the gardens. By nightfall Anika looked like she was about to drop from exhaustion. When Sesshomaru brought Anika in from outside she was draped over his arm barely awake. Dinner was a very quiet affair that evening seeing as how everyone seemed to be tired. Anika made no fuss when Sesshomaru handed her off to his father but when Sesshomaru went to leave after saying goodnight to his father Anika chirped loudly as she tried to fly over to Sesshomaru with very little success.
"Oh fine then pup, but if you wake me up in the middle of the night I'm going to kick you out of my room." Sesshomaru gently took Anika out of his father's arms and cradled her to his chest as he went to his room. Finally Touga could have the sleep he had been dreaming of ever since Anika had showed up.