Anika

Chapter 15

The next day Touga almost tripped five times; Anika clung to his leg like a barnacle to a whale. Sesshomaru found the scene quite comical though he would never openly admit it.

"Anika go play with your brother please." Touga looked down at the pup that grasped his pant leg and refused to let go. Anika only tightened her grip and didn't budge from her spot. Touga understood Anika's clingy behavior but wished she would cling to Sesshomaru and not him.

"Father, do you want me to take Anika to the dojo to train?" Sesshomaru looked at his father's annoyed scowl.

"Yes pup that would be great." Touga nodded at his son.

"Come on Anika. It's okay no one is going to hurt you." Sesshomaru spoke in a gentle voice trying to pry Anika off of his father's leg. Anika chirped in annoyance but eventually let go only to latch onto her brother. Sesshomaru tried to reposition Anika but she didn't move afraid of being put down on the ground. Once Sesshomaru went into the dojo Anika loosened her death grip around her brother's neck but refused to be put on the ground.

"Anika it's okay. No one is going to hurt you; not when I'm here with you." Sesshomaru knelt on the ground as he tried to coax Anika to let go. Anika slowly looked around the room before she took her time getting down on the ground and timidly stood on her own two feet. Snarling playfully Sesshomaru tried to engage Anika into hand to hand combat. Anika finally relaxed and joined her brother and leaped at him her wings now fully healed catching air as they flapped. Anika dove at her brother and soon had to back pedal as he leaped up to catch her. Anika yelped in surprise when her brother's arms wrapped around her body as he caught her. Chirping happily Anika nuzzled her brother's chest as he snarled protectively.

"Sesshomaru take Anika and go to your room and don't come out until I come and get you two!" Touga was suddenly at the dojo doorway looking a little worried.

"What's wrong father?" Sesshomaru asked in a serious voice.

"Nothing pup just get your sister and yourself to your room now!" Touga gave his son a stern look. Anika's head tilted to the left in question as she watched the confrontation between her father and her brother. Sesshomaru didn't argue with his father and using his demon speed was in his room in seconds. Anika leaped out of her brother's arms and onto his bed where she began to jump up and down.

"Anika you relies that I have to sleep on that right?" Sesshomaru had a predatory look in his eyes as he watched his sister. Leaping forward Sesshomaru pounced on his sister wrapping her in a big hug. Anika snarled playfully as she held some of her brother's shirt in her little mouth and was tugging on it. Just then Anika gave a loud warning yelp as she flew up to the window resting on the window sill that was above her brother's bed. Looking out the window Sesshomaru saw some of the dragon tribe flying towards the castle. Anika's pleasant scent smelt of a mixture of fear and excitement. Kneading the wooden window sill Anika whimpered lightly as her wings tucked in tightly on her back.

"It's okay your safe here." Sesshomaru ran his hand over his sister's velvety wings. As the dragon's approached closer Anika seemed to slink further down until just her glowing green eyes and the top of her head shown above the window sill. Sesshomaru knew that the dragon tribe and his father didn't like each other very much but Anika didn't and yet here she was hiding from them as though she knew that they were dangerous.

"Papa danger. Bad danger papa." Anika tried to explain to her brother.

"No pup our father is not in danger and can fend for himself no problem." Sesshomaru reassured his sister after he understood what she was trying to say. Anika stayed silent after that only whimpering quietly to herself. Sesshomaru felt his father's youkai warning him of danger and that he needed to escape with his sister. Anika began to yelp lightly as she felt her father's youkai. Grabbing his sister Sesshomaru leaped out of the window and flew away in his demon form with his sister sitting on his back just between his shoulder blades. Sesshomaru knew where to go but was unsure if his sister would be welcomed.