Anika

Chapter 32

"Father when are we going to mothers?" Sesshomaru asked his father one night.

"When Saber gets better pup. I cannot leave Anika and my mate unprotected." Touga replied. Suddenly down the hallway they heard Anika's angry snarl. Rushing to her side Touga and Sesshomaru went to investigate the cause.

"Come out." Anika had taken a defensive stance in front of Saber's slumbering form on her bed. Touga could sense nothing different in the room and was startled when he saw a strange little creature crawl out of the darkened corner that Anika was facing.

"Why are you still alive when I killed him?" Anika demanded in a threatening voice.

"My master and I did not have a very strong connection so when he died so did our remaining bond but it had no effect on me. I came here to offer my apologies for his actions. I also would like to make a proposition for you as well. If I were to be bonded with you, you would have a second chance at life so to speak. If anything was to happen to current guardian pet then I would keep you alive and vice versa." The creature responded.

"I did not know that we could have more than one guardian animal." Anika replied slightly less hostile.

"Anika what did it say?" Touga asked as he eyed the small creature.

"He wants to be bonded with me and in turn give me a back up guardian animal." Anika replied as she studied the creature.

"Creature how do I know that your mind is not corrupted like your master's was?" Anika asked a good question.

"Me being alive is proof of that. He never shared his thoughts with me so I was never involved in any of his schemes. He treated me like a normal feral animal not like a guardian animal." The creature replied.

"How do I bond with you if I so chose to?" Anika slyly asked.

"You will have to place one of your hands on my head and give me a name." The creature replied.

"Very well then creature come closer." Anika instructed so that she could fully see the mongoose in the light.

"Fang." Anika gave the mongoose a name as she placed her right hand on his head. Suddenly the drab grey mongoose grew in size as big as Saber and his fur turned into an inky black while bright red striped appeared on his back and down the length of his long bushy tail while he sprouted two golden wings on his back as well as a silvery swirly tattoo on his right flank signifying the bond that just formed. Just then all heads turned in the direction of Saber as she let out a groan as she began to wake up from her long slumber.

"Saber how do you feel?" Anika anxiously asked as she rushed to her side.

"Little one I feel fine just a bit drowsy." Saber yawned revealing her enormous canines.

"Sesshomaru we leave tomorrow at dawn." Touga informed his son later that night. Sesshomaru nodded as he left to go to his room to get some sleep. Anika began to sing to Saber again and her voice carried down the hall where Sesshomaru could hear it as he was lulled to sleep by her beautiful singing.

"What happened?" Fang meekly asked as his narrow face came into view of the bed.

"She took a hit that was meant for me." Anika responded in a whisper.

"I can tell that you two have a very strong bond to be this concerned over her well being and for her to take such a lethal hit for you." Fang speculated as he wrapped his long glossy tail around the little girl trying to comfort her.

"Fang can you tell me about my homeland? I have no recollection of the place but Saber has told me that it is very beautiful." Anika stroked the soft inky black fur with bright red stripes that was on Fang's tail.

"She is correct Anika, Africa is very hot and the sun is always shinning brightly in the sky and there are many prey and predatory animals of different sizes and color. The savannah is beautiful with the occasional shimmering water hole. There is always something happening it is never a dull moment." Fang spoke lovingly as he recalled his memories of his recent homeland.

"Wow that sounds nice I think when I get older I would like to visit it sometime." Anika replied with dreamy eyes as she pictured what the landscape would look like. The first rays of the sun began to rise greeting the land with its radiance. Anika had finally fallen asleep nestled in Fang's side as he draped his wing over her like a blanket. However down the hall way two Inu youkai were preparing to leave.

"Fang look after her and Saber and if a human pops by it would be my mate she has a soft spot for Anika so I am sure that she will be visiting later today." Touga instructed the mongoose before he left leaving a kiss on his pup's brow as she slept peacefully for the moment.

"Sesshomaru are you sure you want to come with me?" Touga asked Sesshomaru one last time giving him opportunity to back out one last time.

"I am positive father." Sesshomaru firmly stated as he straightened his shoulders looking very regal and very determined at the moment. Touga knew that Ritza was not going to like what was about to come to gates for an unexpected visit.