Chapter 1

~Lunar Promises~

-Kouga-

The air was growing colder. His breath puffing out in harsh clouds behind clenched teeth. The female mewled under him. Arching her slender back into his chest as her own breath ushered out in soft pants of heated air. The fickle, thin planks of wood did not do a worthy job of containing gasping sounds of the pair. Each grunt and groan escaped from their lips and into the nightly air.

Bruised breasts pushed hard into his shoulders. Finger nails scraping down the lines of his back. Her body squirming and bucking against him. He held one hand on the wall above her head, one hand to steady her slender hips. He held her hard in such a way he could manipulate her form. Moving her in the ways he wanted. She was all too compliant. Huffing and moaning. Her legs wrapping around his hips pulling him deeper. He grunted low; grinding her into the floor with a hard thud. The wood creaking beneath the pair; a sound that got lost in the other noises the pair failed to conceal. Not that there was any attempt in the slightest.

The sound hardly bothered the brunette outside. Her hand tracing along the rim of a wood burning lantern. Outside of the room the pair occupied was a matted door. Finely woven. And beyond that a trail of stairs facing the mouth of the forest. Bright eyes faced it, getting lost into the darkness. A soft hum vibrating from her throat. Her attention watching the flame as it danced beyond her finger tips.

Dum-dum-dum.

A soft childhood tune ingrained into her memory. She hummed happily to herself. Not bothering to fix the silk kimono that gaped at her chest. Exposing her pale skin to the bitter air. She liked the feel of the hardened tips of her breasts against the soft material. She sighed, in between notes. Patiently waiting for the ever-ironic climax to ensue behind her. The creaks were echoing harder. The pants becoming shorter. It shouldn't be too long now.

"Didn't we discuss this babysitting bullshit?"

A soft smirk on full pouting lips the moment his voice cut through the silence. Flirtatious eyes flickering over at the half naked youkai that stood over her. She kept her attention on his features. For a moment her shade of blue clashed with his. She smiled all the more before turning her attention back to the flamed.

"Just because you can hear the sound of your voice, doesn't mean that others are listening, darling." She sighed after her velvet musings in regards to his comment; smoothing out the wrinkles in her clothes before coming to stand on her feet. "Regardless of how loyal a customer you have been my Lord. I will forever put the safety of my girls first. You understand, don't you?"

He scoffed in her direction. Muttering an insult under his breath before returning back into the room. Slinging his fur pelt back in place above his naked torso. He grasped his armored plate in one hand, slinging it over his shoulder without paying the woman a second glance. He exited the room coming to pass the brunette. As he did so he dropped the small bag of coins in her expecting hand.

"Always appreciated. Same time next week then?" She grinned, flashing him a soft bat of her big blue eyes with added flare. She tucked the bag into an inner pocket of her garb. Her skin exposing all the more as the material gaped from the sheer weight from his payment. He went to open his mouth in response before the sultry sound of her voice cut him off.

"It was the last time the visit before. As well as I recall the visit before that." She arched her eyebrows towards the heat of his face. After being called out so abruptly. "Come now darling, embarrassment doesn't suit you. Besides what's wrong with letting off a little steam now and then. You're good looking, strong, blue eyes and yet…"

She got quiet. That was new. He regarded her with a bored expression. Taking a hand to wipe off the sweat that had gathered along his hair line. "And yet what?" Was she pausing just to see if he cared enough to ask? Or was she just trying to keep herself entertained with a rather annoying conversation.

She shrugged, clearly not willing to go further into detail. "It doesn't matter; out of turn speak for a lady you know. What I was trying to get at is that you are simply too pretty for all those problems that weigh so obviously on your mind." She leaned against the railing allowing him the room to pass by.

"Tch, do you ever speak 'in turn'?"

"Not generally," she snickered, flicking her slender fingers in his direction as some sort of improper send off. "Try not to be a stranger dear. It would break poor Yua's heart if she were to hear this really was the last visit."

He bit back the words that threatened on his tongue. Deciding against the inevitably rude retort he had to counter with. He didn't look back. Instead, he pushed passed her. The tip of his arm brushing against the humans exposed flesh as he moved around her. It wasn't long before the echo of his steps against dense wood entered his ears. Up until it squished into packed down soil that inevitably led into the forest.

He could feel his legs tingle with anticipation. His hand mirroring her own motion; a soft wave in her direction. Each stride of his legs began to widen with each step he took. He had been gone for long enough. It was more than enough time for him to return home back to his den. His muscles twitching beneath him, preparing themselves for their inevitable take off. Or at least they were; before the soft evening breeze blew a scent underneath his nostrils. Breathing in through his chest and pushing out through parted lips. Hibiscus and pine.

"Oh, that reminds me Dear." Called the disgraced woman from behind his back.

"A sweet auburn-haired woman came by searing for you…"

For fuck's sake Ayame.

~Ayame~

Embarrassment.

Pure unadulterated embarrassment was the only way she could honestly describe how she felt.

First, it was arriving at the eastern den. The man she sought of course was no where to be found. She had found his lackeys instead. Bumbling buffoons whom without a doubt were quiet astonished to see her. She knew something was up the minute they started falling all over themselves trying to formulate a valid excuse as to the whereabouts of their fearless leader. They were loyal. She'd give them that. But subtilty was not a talent either of them possessed. She managed to politely withhold an eye roll before excusing herself. She'd have more luck relying on her own tracking skills than to take either of them at their word. So she took off without another thought; down the mountain following his distinctive scent.

Rain water and burning bark.

It wasn't long before she came to what looked like the out skirts of a small human village. A large manor that stood alone, with various hand-crafted huts scattered around. The murmuring of woman echoed in the air above her. Soft, sultry and flirty mixed in with intoxicated busting male sounds.

She wrinkled her nose, trying to sift through the scents to find his again. The dense smell of moistened wood and alcohol burned her nostrils. She wished at that moment she had given up. Turned on her heel and went back home. But she could never give into ignorance when her curiosity was peaked. She had kept to the trees. Trying to stay hidden while she filtered through each smell that seemed to tangle with another. It wasn't until she reached the farthest hut on the edge of the property that she found him.

She was confused at first. Hear soft muffled sounds. His voice? She thought it was. But on the whole, even with her hearing it was hard to make out. It seemed heavy. Almost like a pant. Was he in trouble? She leapt from the tree top. Landing right in the front line of the entrance.

A very beautiful woman sat on the stairs; her blue eyes batting with ease to the youkai's presence. She smiled; no hesitation or fear in her voice as she addressed the female in a low tone. Ayame barely choked out her question before a low primal groan cut her off. Green eyes snapped up towards the door. Finely woven but thin as it was about to prove. The reality of where she was, where HE was, seemed to hit her all at once as a soft breathy female tone seemed to follow the sound of his voice.

She left very quickly. All too anxious to put as much distance between the them as she could.

"Disgusting wolfish pig," she spat the words out. Stomping the white fur that wrapped around her calves into the ice-cold temperature of a continuously flowing river. She trudged forward. Using the cold touch of the water as a desperate attempt to distract herself from the way her chest seemed to tighten. Her throat and eyes burning as she attempted to swallow down her frustration. I can't believe I even bothered looking for him.

She felt embarrassed. Like she wanted to take a knife and peel off every inch of her skin.

She had heard stories among the tribes. About how sometimes the men would wander off; engaging in secret amorous activities. She just assumed it was some sort of stupid gossip the other mates and brides bothered themselves with. Or perhaps she believed that the other, lower members of the tribe, might engage in that type of debauchery.

But never someone like him. A prince. He had female youkai falling all over themselves trying to get a shred of his attention. He could have a wife at any moment if he wanted one. Hell, he could have even had HER at one point. What need would he have to disgrace himself by rolling around with such filth?

"Stupid, foolish, human loving pr-."

The last word died in her throat. She was so preoccupied with the entanglement of her own thoughts that she had failed to pick up on the male that was indeed tracking her. The sudden appearance of him caused her nose to crash hard against his naked muscled shoulder. She bounced back. Her arms flailing to catch her nose in response to the pain that throbbed through the middle of her face. "What the f-?!" The words came out before she could stop them. Her cheeks wild with red embarrassment.

"What are YOU doing here?" His tone was abrupt. Straight to the point. Typical for a man like him.

However angry she was; his voice was all it took to send her heartbeat crashing inside her own ears. Thundering over all the hateful thoughts she had of him. Her widened lime green eyes; flipping through her fingers finally setting on his person. He looked angry. Annoyed. His chest exposed to the small amount of light guided by the moon. His discarded armor hanging loosely around his left arm; down by the hem of his furs dipping low on his abdomen. She frowned. Pushing the heat away from her face as she stepped backwards in an attempt to put as much space between them as possible.

She breathed in through her nose. Out through her mouth. Trying to calm down the beat of her heart thumping loudly within her own ears. She refused to meet his gaze for fear that if she locked eyes with him he would see exactly the effect he had over her.

"What are YOU DOING HERE?" She retorted unable to contain the anger that flooded through her words. It didn't help when he snorted in response. Her eyes batted over to his briefly if only to muster up a glare. Why were men of her kind so arrogant?!

"That's a stupid question." His tone was cold; no hint of remorse. He was practically rolling his eyes in response to her voice. Typical. Always treating her like a child. Not even a hint of embarrassment for where and how she had caught him. She swallowed. Finally relenting her eyes to settle on his. His cobalt blue gaze held steady. Their tone darkened by the night. She could pick up deepened hues brought out by the silk black hair that framed his face. Usually pulled back. This time was tousled carelessly around his shoulders. Damn him.

"I was looking for you," she finally answered. Feeling each heave of her own chest as she continued to try to control her own breathing. Her fingers folded awkwardly in front of her; playing with the hem of her pelt in an attempt to ignore the cold water running over her feet. The crisp touch was becoming slightly uncomfortable as she could no longer deny the burning sensation within the tips of her toes.

"And? Ya thought it was a good idea to follow me here?" In retrospect she couldn't deny there was a certain truth to his statement. Yes. She probably shouldn't have tailored after him. She should have stayed waiting at his tribe. Or perhaps had just sent word and returned back home. However she did have a reason for seeking him out as she did. And yet he was instead fixated on pointing out her own stupidity. She frowned and glared hard at him. She couldn't handle the way he was looking at her. The way he always looked at her. Like she was a stupid child.

"I didn't know what or who you were doing! Ginta and Hakkaku; they were vague and weird and I didn't think you would… Or were into," she was fumbling. Falling over her words. Shut up Ayame. Shut up. Shut up. But she couldn't help it. She felt like she wanted to vomit. But instead, it was her words that were coming out all at once. "I just-. I needed help and I-."

Her voice was starting to shake. She was trembling. Whether it be from the cold she felt on the tops of her feet or the frustration she felt from him she didn't know. He stopped; his eyes dipping low to the part of her submerged in the ice water. Without a word he took a step forward; wrapping his fingers underneath her under arm he heaved her up. Placing her on the shore next to him and out of the cold liquid. She breathed. Her face betraying every inner emotion she had the minute her cheeks were flooded with darkened flesh. Breathe. Don't forget to breathe.

"Just come out with it already, fuck. I ain't got all night to hear ya babble on only 'cause you couldn't keep yer nose out of my business." His statement was out. Cold and hard. A tone he reserved only for those he rarely took the time to address. She practically deflated. Hearing his retort practically slapping her in the face.

She wished it would stop. These feelings that she had when it came to him. The vivid flashes; a prism of color through a darkened night sky. She shook her head. Bringing a hand to push back her reddish bangs from her face. She looked at him. Allowing a rather exasperated expression to come over her.

"I was just worried about you, you idiot," she growled low through gritted teeth. This happened every single time she tried to show him a shred of kindness. Tried to be his friend. Each time he just continued to pull away. Kept building walls. Anything to shut her out. "I heard Kagome was back and Inuya-... I just wanted to make sure…"

"You were worried? Didn't ya just fucking say ya wanted something?" He brash tone died on his tongue the minute her name was mentioned. A rather heavy silence settling across the male's shoulders. His eyes fixated on her. The corners of his lips pulling down as his frown only deepened.

"Just wanted to make sure what? That I wasn't cryin' in some corner of my fuckin' cave?" His eyes narrowed when he felt the wave of clarity washing over him the minute the true reason confessed for from her lips. Typical elders daughter. Always finding a way to but into his life. He didn't bother waiting for her to continue. He was really getting sick of everyone pussy footing around Kagome and that stupid hanyou. He was also getting really fucking tired of babysitting the precious tribal princess only because it was expected of him. It was bullshit.

"Well, I ain't. Now go home. Ya can find someone there to help you. I got better things to fuckin' do."

"Like HER?!" Jealousy was something she couldn't contain. Her voice practically screeching as she was unable to keep quiet any longer. He was deflecting. She knew he was. But she didn't deserve this. This cruel cold treatment. For what? Trying to be patient. Trying to be a friend to him. "All I ever do is care about you! And you can't even be nice to me?!"

"Yeah. Like her."

That sentence was enough to buy her silence. Shutting the female up even before the last syllable fell from his tongue.

"This ain't anything new Ayame. Ya just think it is, because that brain of yours is fucked up." He growled his retort raising an echo among the trees. He was being mean. Meaner than he had ever been when it came to her. Part of him knew that he would regret the way he spoke to her. And at the moment a larger part of him didn't care. He was angry. All he wanted was some peace and nobody could seem to leave him the hell alone. So there he was, angry and frustrated. And she was his outlet. More of one than the whore had been.

"I can't be fuckin' nice to ya otherwise, ya will fucking go around thinking I wanna marry you or some shit."

Perhaps in another universe, there was a version of him that was having this same exact argument. A version of him where he had actually stopped talking when he knew that his anger was misdirected at her. One where he acknowledged that she didn't deserve the treatment he was giving her. The words he was saying.

Another universe where they would just stop there. Parting ways angry and frustrated as always. Eventually she stubbornly would insert herself into his life like she did. And he would accept it, become mildly annoyed by it like he did. But unfortunately he didn't live in another universe.

He lived in this one.

He chose not to stop it. Her hand raking her fingertips across his face. The echo of her slap hanging in the stillness of the midnight air. He stood there. The dull ache in his flesh did nothing against the haunting glare she held poised in his direction. Lime eyes clouded over when she held his gaze. Blinking if only to hold back the tears that threatened to fall. How could he.

"Ayame I-."

"Fuck you."

He stopped. Watching every emotion break through her eyes. Frustration. Longing. Betrayal. Hurt. He had been upset. Had wanted to be left alone. She didn't deserve what he said. And yet any sort of apology died on his tongue. His attention unable to sway from the way she was staring at him. How disgusted she looked at him. He didn't just step over the line. He obliterated it.

"You think all of this is because I want to marry you? To be your stupid little WIFE?!I just wanted your stupid idiot help! But you can't even get over yourself long enough to pick that up." Her voice was thunderous, loud, quivering as it attempted to hold strong. But even still it could not stop the pain and heartbreak that leaked through every word. Hatred. She hated him for making her feel this way.

"I tried to be your friend. I tried to be there for you. But it's never enough. I was never enough. I am done. Officially done trying to be ANYTHING to you!"

She was shaking. Her voice cracking with each broken word. She only had one intention now; and that was getting him to feel if only a fraction of the pain that she had felt.

"You didn't deserve Kagome. You don't deserve me. And frankly, I would rather die alone than ever be your wife."

Her words started to fade then. Her voice falling into the background of his mind. You didn't deserve her. He'd never show how deep her words cut through him. How much they had affected him. He just stood silently. Letting her scream. Letting her say all of the hateful things that would make it easier to leave him. To not return. She would be better this way. Better if she hated him.

Before he knew it, she was gone. The shadow of darkened soil from where she stood was the only thing that remained.

That. And a wilted iris that had fallen from her twin tails tied perfectly to her head.

Everything in him screamed to go after her. Perhaps if he knew... he would have.

But he didn't.

And she never even looked back.

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights for these characters.

All intents are for entertainment only.

A rewrite of A Princes Promise.

Hope you enjoy.