Standard disclaimer applies.

Otousan (touchan) = father
Okaasan (kaachan) = mother
xx-nii = older brother/respective term for a close older male
okaeri nasai = welcome home
gomen nasai = sorry/I apologize
tadaima = I'm back

A/N: Some original characters are introduced for the story's sake. Just to reiterate, I am taking liberty at Japanese folklore/mythology regarding these creatures/species. While we're at it, I'm trying to keep our Fairy Tail gang in character as much as possible, but please do allow me to twist and turn some of their personalities. Without further ado, please enjoy!


The Inugami Heir

The higher-status inuyoukai, called the inugami are proud creatures, even superior among all youkai species. The range of abilities an inugami can possess surpasses others. They're highly territorial and possessive, but they exude incredible loyalty and dignity. Once they stake a claim at something — be it land, treasure, or mate — they would make sure none can covet.

When inuyoukai are 'in heat', their violent nature arises; no reasoning reaches their mind. The inugami take being 'in heat' to a higher notch. Many youkai know that when an inugami enters its mating cycle, it becomes dangerous territory. Hence, inugami find their mate at a young age to prevent the threat of ravishing victims, be it youkai or human.

The duration of mating varies for different youkai species; some could last for five days, others only just a day. The inugami are an exception. Their mating lasts longer, with a minimum of seven days. The younger the inugami is, the longer the duration goes.

Male inugami begin their mating phase at the age of sixteen, while the female at eighteen. This is one of the reasons that the heir of the Inugami of the Blue Emblem needs to be mated.

Seventeen-year-old Gray Fullbuster paced back and forth in his room. The majestic full moon decorated the night sky, its luminous light shining brightly into his room. He had officially entered the first day of his mating phase.

That meant six more days of gruelling pain, raging carnal desires, and fiery hormones. But, it could be longer, which really dampened the teen youkai's mood.

For a young, unmated inugami, Gray was aware that he's a walking danger to females, with the exception of those in his immediate family. His nose would hunt for a particular scent, and no matter how the unsuspecting victim would fight him off, Gray knew his strength would overpower anyone. He already had the experience last year, where he had to be restrained and locked inside the room, heavily guarded.

And that was where he found himself, with two youkai guards stationed outside his bedroom.

A knock on his door disturbed Gray's pacing. He didn't need to ask the identity of his unwanted guest; he already knew it was his mother. He walked to the door with heavy footsteps, sliding the shoji in a rough manner.

He scratched the side of his head in annoyance. "I know what you're going to say," he grumbled at her. The mother gave him a sad, pitiful look, and it further irritated the younger youkai. "Stop that. Stop looking at me with sympathetic eyes. It's annoying!" he nearly bellowed at her, his eyes kept flashing red then back to its original colour.

"Your father is attending to a few important errands. He and Metallicana will accompany you to the north," Mika gently informed him, cupping his cheek. She then patted him on the shoulder and left his room.

The said incident was something Gray would like to expunge from his memory. How could he lose control like that? Granted, he was still very brand new at this mating cycle. They said it was one of the most uncomfortable periods in a youkai's life; yet, it was also the most pleasurable stage the moment one gives in to their feral desires.

But for his inner youkai to choose her? Disgusting! Not to mention, he felt humiliated being almost beaten by the inferior dragon youkai who would be his future bodyguard. It offended the pride of this ice inugami!

Gray thought back to the events that led to his detention. He arrived home from school with a clouded mind and disturbing, raging emotions. His inner youkai wanted out after a certain encounter at school with a fellow youkai.

It was that meek, presence-lacking female youkai with blue hair. Gray knew of her — the daughter of his father's secretary and steward, Jule Lockser. She was nothing but an inferior youkai who had no right to stand in front of the future heir of the clan. Gray could tell her aura was weak, and it seemed her abilities were very lacking.

When he bumped into her at their classroom, she had the audacity to speak his name. Her admission that she couldn't even detect his presence was enough to disgust him. How can a youkai, a superior class amongst all species, appear more incompetent and inept than a human male? She was abominable!

Yet, his inner youkai reacted to her presence. He had a whiff of her scent and something in him pulsated. It was even bizarre that when his girlfriend Ultear approached him, Gray felt nauseous. Her spicy vanilla aroma suddenly became a pungent stench, and he couldn't wait to get away from her.

Gray rushed home as soon as he realized he was transforming. It took all his willpower to calm himself down, holding his inugami form at bay. When his mother was informed of his 'crisis', the lady of the mansion quickly contacted her husband to report of their son's predicament. The patriarch decided to send Gray to the northern mansion for isolation. So the matriarch of the clan instructed her son to stay put inside his room, wait for his father, and the guard who would accompany him.

Everything was fine and dandy until that same intoxicating scent filled his nostrils. Soon it travelled inside his system, rousing the hungry demon that somewhat stayed dormant for a few hours. The next thing Gray knew... he was at the courtyard garden hunting for his prey.

The scent somewhat dissipated as it mixed with the winter air. Yet, the prey herself approached him. The young teen could no longer control the craving beast as he felt himself lunging for his victim. She felt soft in his arms, fragile and smooth. Her shocked gaze only enticed his youkai form. And when she tried to rebuff him, it sealed the deal for the libidinous inugami. It drove him to madness when he tasted blood on her lips. He knew he needed more.

Her fair porcelain-like complexion invited him for a meal. Gray felt his fangs grow sharper. Imagining those sharp canine teeth embedded into her delicate skin made him loudly growl. She gave up resisting, as expected, and Gray knew he would have her right then and there.

As he was about to completely mark her, Gray felt a heavy pressure on his left side, as if someone had kicked him. He staggered sideways but managed to keep his feet stable on the ground. His burning scarlet eyes watched as his prey with blue hair was snatched away from him. The youkai heir roared when he saw his attacker encircle strong arms around his prey. She is mine!

With an agile movement, Gray gripped the neck of the intruder — long dark hair, burly arms, and inches taller than him.

"GAJEEL," Gray gnarled, recognizing the warrior youkai, his future protector and bodyguard.

Gajeel's face remained impassive, but he had also transformed into his youkai form. His red eyes glowed and strange markings appeared above his eyebrows like his other piercings. His long hair appeared like spikes behind his back. It took all of the dragon youkai's strength to constrain the wild inugami. But Gray was stronger. He managed to overthrow Gajeel, and the latter landed a few feet away. This left Gray's blue-haired prey unsafe. But as he was about to hurl the now-unconscious female youkai from the ground, he felt his mother's presence. Mika's movement was a blur and she was kneeling beside Juvia within a millisecond. Though Gray's youkai side was wild and uncontrollable, he could recognize a stronger youkai aura. He took a few steps back as he sensed his mother's aura grew heavy. The teen youkai almost cowered.

"Calm down, Gray," he heard his mother firmly instructed. "Calm down and revert back."

He tried to obey; but when he saw Gajeel standing up, Gray's offensive part took over. He faced Gajeel, ready to deliver another blow. The other teen youkai was already in defensive stance. Yet in just a blink of an eye, Gray's father stood in front of him. Gajeel, as well, was being deterred by the head of the warrior clan, Metallicana — Gajeel's father.

What transpired was hazy to Gray. He faintly recalled his father pressing his fingers on Gray's forehead — an ability to put someone unconscious. The next thing he knew he was back in his room, locked from the outside with two patrolling guards. He could tell that soon he would be taken out of the house and transported to the northern mansion.


The healing process for a youkai is akin to the skin being sewed with an invisible thread and needle. The sensation it delivers is a mixture of itch and sting; it was enough to rouse Juvia from unconsciousness.

The bluenette moaned in discomfort, too dazed to grasp her situation. Was she floating? That was how it felt before she slowly opened her eyes. She wasn't exactly floating; someone was giving her a piggyback ride. Juvia groaned once more, her voice barely escaping from her lips.

"Oi... Are ya awake? I gotta put you down; you're too heavy," the grumpy voice of Gajeel completely snatched her from grogginess.

"Wha-what happened?"

"Something you should just forget about," Gajeel snapped.

Juvia blinked, nuzzling her nose on Gajeel's shoulder which elicited a whining sound from him. "Juvia just had a nightmare?" The question wasn't exactly for Gajeel.

A vision of ferociousness. An image of brutal desires. Raven locks mixed with silver strands. Glowing scarlet eyes and fangs ready to devour a prey.

Juvia shivered as she recalled what just transpired. She held onto Gajeel tightly, scared that if he let go, the danger would pounce on her instantly. Her best friend realized the fear wrapping around her body. The night air was cold, but droplets of sweat formed on the forehead of the blue-haired youkai.

"Now you know why I'm forcing you to train to fight," grunted Gajeel. He mentally cursed at himself for leaving Juvia at her own devices. He was already aware of the Inugami heir's condition, and yet he failed to anticipate such an event. While at school, his father had contacted and informed him that he would be accompanying Gray Fullbuster to the northern mansion. Gajeel himself had gone through the mating cycle earlier that year. If it weren't for his strict training and rigid conditioning, the dragon youkai would've lost control as well. For safety measures, his father brought him to their clan's summer lodge.

Juvia sighed out loud. "Even if Juvia knew how to fight, Gray-sama would still overpower Juvia," she reasoned.

"Gray-sama? You're going on a first-name basis now since he nearly marked you?" Gajeel scoffed. Unknown to Juvia, Gajeel had always been aware of the former's admiration towards the Inugami heir, much, much to his disapproval. "Don't put that bastard on such a pedestal."

"Juvia's just being respectful, that's all," she mumbled, flinching as she recalled that Gray had indeed nearly marked her. What would her parents do if that actually happened? "Gajeel-kun, please promise Juvia you won't tell Kaachan and Touchan about it," she begged, desiring to spare her parents of the troubling crisis that transpired.

Gajeel re-positioned Juvia on his back as the latter was nearly slipping off. "They should know," he retorted. But when he felt Juvia shaking him out of persistence, he added, "But I won't be the bearer of the fucking bad news!"

Releasing a sigh of relief, Juvia placed a gentle peck on his cheek. "Thank you for being my saviour today." Her only response was a grunt. They spent the rest of the walk-to-home in silence. As soon as they arrived at Juvia's house, the bluenette once again profusely thanked Gajeel.

"Okay, Puddle. I gotta go. I'm still not sure if I'm going with that asshole heir, but I have to still report back to the mansion," he told her as he closed the gate behind him.

"Hey! Was that Gajeel-nii?" a boisterous voice made Juvia jump, the main door of the Lockser house was opened with a bang. The bluenette turned around to a disappointed expression of a thirteen-year-old teenage youkai with spiky brown hair. Val Lockser, Juvia's younger brother, scowled that his greatest idol left without saying goodbye to him. "You're so stupid, nee-chan! You didn't even invite him inside?"

Juvia folded her arms across her chest. The only time she would show her sassy self would be in front of Gajeel and her often-times annoying, spoiled brother. She hit him on top of the head with a chop-like action. "Gajeel-kun has more important business to attend to than hang around a fawning boy!" she scoffed, rolling her eyes at her only brother.

Val dismissed his sister with a wave of hand. "Whatever. I'm going after him," he grumbled making his way towards the front gate. The boy simply praised the ground Gajeel walked on. Juvia held tightly onto the collar of his shirt before the young youkai teleported.

This was the ability that Val inherited from their father — teleporting within short distances. Hence, the Lockser clan was the best candidate to be stewards. They can reach a place (especially around a large mansion) within seconds. Juvia somewhat envied her brother for developing his youkai ability like any normal youkai would.

"You're not going anywhere. Juvia already told you Gajeel-kun is busy. He's needed at the Inugami mansion," she informed the shorter youkai with a firm voice. Val glared at his sister. They were almost at an eye level. Just a few more full moons and he would soon tower over the older bluenette. Not planning to back down, Juvia fixed her brown eyes directly at his emerald green eyes. "Don't give Juvia that look!" she chided him, still resolute to play the elderly-sibling card.

The boy gave up resisting. He might idolize Gajeel, but he disliked being near the Inugami mansion. Even at his young age, it had already been ingrained in Val that he could be the future head steward of the Inugami clan. The young youkai hated the very idea of being a subordinate. But before Val can say something sarcastic towards his sister, the front door slid open; the matriarch of the Lockser household appeared with her usual strict expression.

"Okaeri nasai, Juvia," the mother, Vivian Lockser, greeted her daughter with her regular cool tone.

Juvia bowed her head in respect. "Tadaima, okaachan. Gomen nasai I was late," she apologized.

Their mother stepped aside to make way for her children. "We are still waiting for your father's return. We'll have dinner once he arrived," she informed Juvia. Hearing this, Juvia couldn't help but feel anxious. She prayed to the goddess of the moon that her father wasn't around the Inugami mansion when the incident occurred. "Is there something wrong Juvia?" her mother asked but the younger youkai shook her head.

Juvia proceeded to make her way to her bedroom, leaving behind her brother who was being scolded for being brusque towards his elder sibling. The blue-haired youkai took one last peek at Val, who promptly stuck out his tongue at her. Once Juvia was in the safety of her room, the young youkai took off her sweater and checked her neck.

The cut was barely visible, as if it was never even there in the first place, as if it was an injury conceived by her highly imaginative mind. As she stared back at herself in the mirror, Juvia could visualize a sharp fang grazing the surface on her neck. The scarlet droplet of blood staining the milky white skin. Juvia flinched at the memory, yet at the same time couldn't help but blush.

She had admired Gray Fullbuster for a long time, ever since that day they met during childhood. Gray, she learned, left for a few years to train with a highly respectable youkai, known as the yuki-onna, Ur. He returned to Magnolia during first year of high school and became Juvia's classmate earlier that year. It made Juvia happy and anxious at the same time. The young female youkai knew that her future could lead her as the handmaiden of the Inugami's wife, whoever Gray would be betrothed. In fact, her mother was supposed to be Mika-sama's handmaiden, but certain circumstances (unknown to Juvia) hindered that duty to be carried out.

Speaking of that, Juvia heard a knock on the door. "Come in, kaachan," she rushed to open the door, ensuring that her neck was covered up, just in case.

"Did you go to the Inugami mansion?"

Despite the refreshing temperature inside her room, Juvia felt sweat forming in all her limbs. "Umm, yes. Gajeel-kun needed to stop by there, so Juvia accompanied him to visit the library," she told her. She wasn't lying anyway; she was just cutting the story short. "I met Mika-sama as well."

"I see," her mother curtly nodded in approval. "Next week, you'll be going for training there."

"Training?"

Vivian strode closer to her daughter, brushing the strands away from her face. "It's just formalities. We live in a modern world now but still practice traditional routines. Basically, it's a training to be a court lady or a handmaiden to females in a royal household. You are expected to learn it," Vivian gave Juvia a rare smile, "But it doesn't mean that will be your future."

Juvia nodded. The way of the youkai — their lifestyle — could be quite complicated. Powerful clans, such as the Inugami of the Blue Emblem, always employed traditional living. Some members of the allied clans, those of lower status, became as attendants or servants. Those belonging to the upper class were free to engage in the "modern" world by gaining a specific career and entering into a job profession.

The Locksers had served the Inugami clan for centuries as stewards, but they were not considered lower in status. In fact, tracing back their ancestry, their bloodline had a semblance of youkai nobility. Hence, Juvia was aware that she would be free to gain a career if she so chooses.

If she were to be a handmaiden to Mika Fullbuster, or even the future Mrs. Gray Fullbuster, Juvia would consider it an honour. Still, the dream to become a pre-school teacher was more enticing.

They heard the patriarch of the house cheerfully announced his presence, and Juvia giddily went out of her room to greet her father. She was, after all, the typical daddy's girl.


Gray could sense the colour of his eyes alternating from the colour of obsidian to red. He could feel his fangs reverting from sharp to dull. He could imagine his demon marks travelling down the side of his right face fading in and out.

But years of training since childhood kept his youkai at bay. It was nearing midnight, and yet he was still stuck inside his room. He wasn't exactly eager to leave, just to be completely isolated in a desolate mansion filled with only male youkai. Of course not. However, Gray was just ready to be spared of the madness — away from the enticing smell of female youkai that kept inviting him for mating. As well, a part of him really hated to even admit, but Gray was worried that his unmated youkai self might seek for that particular scent. The last thing he would want was to be bound with someone he dislikes.

So, yes, in a way, Gray was in a hurry to leave.

An abrupt knock snapped him out of reflection. He grunted as a response, and then regretted that he gave permission for the 'visitor' to enter. It was Gajeel.

"What are you doing here, Redfox?" he snapped, his voice was a mixture of demon growl and a human snarl.

The young dragon youkai stood stiffly without looking directly at Gray. His voice was cold and hard that it was enough to scare a lowly youkai. Gray wasn't at all intimidated. "Your father has arranged for your transportation. I will accompany you to the Northern Manor," was the apt response he gave the heir.

He stood up from his lounging position on his bed. He took huge steps to stand face to face with Gajeel. And though the latter was taller and bulkier, Gray carried a more menacing aura.

"I command you to stay away from me."

This time Gajeel focused his piercing glare at Gray's eyes, without blinking and cowering. "If I'm not bound by duty and loyalty to the clan, I would've done damage to you earlier," he stated in a low, hoarse voice. "For what you did to my best friend," he added through gritted teeth.

With his quick reflex, Gray's firm grip was around Gajeel's thick neck. His hand shook in anger and Gajeel tried to pry the heir's hand away. But to no avail, the dragon youkai was battling a young, strong inugami. The guards outside scrambled to put a stop to the fight, but Gray was too strong. With one push, the two guards found themselves thrown against the wall of Gray's room. One got up and ran to request for assistance.

It was taking all of Gajeel's strength to keep the heir from choking him. The inugami heir released growling sounds. His mind had been invaded by his full demon persona.

"Take me to Blue," he gnarled ferociously. Gray sensed the weakening of the dragon youkai before him. His demonic aura was haunting, terrorizing. If Gajeel were an inuyoukai, he would be whimpering at the moment. Yet, Gray retracted quickly once he felt two imposing presences approaching, one belonging to a more superior and stronger individual.

"Let him go, Gray," Silver Fullbuster calmly ordered his son. He didn't want to resort putting the boy into unconsciousness like earlier. Fortunately, his draconian tone was enough for Gray to heed his command.

An older, taller dragon youkai knelt beside Gajeel, who faltered on the floor to catch his breath. When Silver apologized to his trusted bodyguard, Metallicana bowed his head in reverence. "Do not mind it, Silver-sama. Gajeel is trained for this kind of situation." He helped his son up. The younger dragon youkai immediately stood upright and rigid, even though he was still struggling to gain his breath.

Gray's eyes flickered from red to onyx; it took minutes for it to settle on its original, untransformed colour. Silver sighed, patting his son's back who turned around, not wanting to face the two dragon youkai. "Perhaps Gajeel shouldn't accompany him..." Silver mused out loud. He could predict another confrontation between the two might occur.

"With all due respect, Silver-sama," it was Gajeel who spoke up, signalling his father to give him the opportunity. "I am trained to guard and protect Gray," he stated, forgoing the honorific entitled to the young heir. Gray turned around to glare at him, which Gajeel ignored. "It will be an excellent practice as a future bodyguard and warrior of the clan," he declared to the head of the clan. Silver could only nod.

The young heir wanted to voice out his protest. The intimidating aura of the two older youkai prevented Gray from going full demon on him. He wasn't looking forward to this mini-vacation. There was a reason why the northern manor would be his refuge during his mating cycle. It would serve as a stronghold location that would prevent him from escaping, lest he lost complete control. Some kind of ritualistic runes set in place or something... Gray had no clue. Frankly, he couldn't care less. Yet, these were details he needed to know once he takes full leadership for the clan.

But that could wait. He's still young. Part of his still craved to enjoy his teenage life. Truly, what a fruitful life for an inugami heir!


A/N: Thank you to those who left a comment. Please, to all readers, let me know how the story is going so far, especially if there are any confusing sections. It'll help me map out the story outline I have in my head. Feedback are greatly appreciated.

also, agirlworthfighting4, hopefully this chapter gives you that answer. but to explicitly state it, no, Gray was unable to mark her because Gajeel got there in time! See you next chapter!