So it has been a few years readers. I hope to come back with a vengeance with all my stories. This is step one to completing these ideas in my head. Hopefully since I've grown and matured that my writing style will be better. I have plans to write over my old stories and fix mistakes and change the way things are told. So if you haven't noticed, I did some tuning on this story as well. It will be a decent refresher for some who haven't read it in a while. I hope to try to get new chapters out as frequently as life will let me as well.

-Sesshy-sama

Takahiro POV

It hurt so badly. The connection with Mai had broken as I searched for her. The emotions were so strong, it was hard to keep a decent frame of mind as I mulled over everything.

"How could she, why would she run from us. Those cubs are ours, she had no right to run. Mai would have been safe at home in the fortress. She knew that she was weakened by this litter and yet she left."

My beast snarled at that thought. Feeling the pain and betrayal coursing through my veins. I needed to find my cubs before anything happened to them. The scent was going into the Western lands. Though there was a truce between the North and the West, there were times that the western lord and I butted heads. We were stubborn to a fault and lately we did not exactly see eye to eye.

"Why would she go to the western lands, there are too many questions and no answers", I almost couldn't keep up with my thoughts. I was at least closer to the destination. That was when I felt two auras, one a small demon and the other...a miko?

A small burst of panic hit as I thought the worse for my cubs. Until I came upon a human and demon child with my cubs in a basket. They were jotting off to a location away from the cave. I minded the cave, thinking to wonder back after I procured my cubs from this measly miko. With that I darted past and gained on them, before slowing down and prowling around to watch them. Curiosity filled me partly, I would kill them if they did anything harmful towards my cubs.

They ended in a small clearing to make camp. At that moment I decided to perch in a tree, hiding my aura and scent from the area. The human woman left the small demon child with my cubs. He was tinkering with the camp, pulling out unusual items from a frumpy and god-awful yellow bag. He then went over to my cubs and was talking to himself. Seemingly naming them as he held them. I felt tense as he lifted them each time. He did not seem to want to hurt them.

The human had come back, supposedly water was in the oddly colored jugs. The small demon child was mentioning the names of my cubs. The human seemed happy with the names.

"Is she this demon child's mother figure, how odd?", I thought to myself. It was not common to see full demon children reared by mikos ever. This miko was interesting, just observing her. Pitch black hair, vividly blue eyes, a slender but curvy form. The clothing was very odd to look at as well, it was hard not to look at her toned legs. I was brought back to attention, the young demon came back with more sticks for the fire. Along with a dog, an oddly familiar dog. I pondered it and sniffed the air. This dog they named had no scent, like it was masking itself. Those golden eyes were familiar too.

I was taken away from my musing when the miko started talking about food. That is right Mai was no longer here, she could not feed our cubs. A feeling of anger and sorrow filled my being. This should have never happened in the first place.

"Those cubs need to live, there has not been a tiger cub in a few hundred years. There are no longer any wet nurses that can care for the cubs at the fortress since Mai wanted to do things by herself", I felt so much anger, it truly felt unfair. The mention of a herb perked my ears, changing my perspective.

"Yes, that is it, I can find this herb and she can nurse my cubs. I will allow her to become my cubs wet nurse till they mature", I thought with a gleam of hope. I took off and started searching. Not noticing golden eyes observing me from my perch. Eventually I found one along a stream about a mile away from the designated camp. I trailed back quickly feeling anxious to give it to the miko. All while thinking that my cubs may have hope in this world.

I eventually found the miko wandering the forest as the sun started to set. I gave myself some time to actually observe her while she wandered. Her hair was rather long and full. It looked well cared for compared to most villagers. Her skin was tanned and contrasted well with the darkness of her hair and vivid blue eyes. Her outfit was worse than a concubine, very revealing and not modest at all. Though trailing over her legs again, they were pleasing to look at. Her scent was very clean, nothing like a villager. They tended to fear water for some reason, bathing would do them some good honestly.

All in all this miko was rather beautiful for a human. Most of the lords found him to be a flirt when it came to females, even mated. I wouldn't say that I loved my mate entirely. It was more for political gain and a need to continue the royal tiger lineage than anything. I was more enraptured in the idea of becoming a father than continuing my relationship with Mai. There was a small part of me that liked Mai and the only reason that the feeling of pain and betrayal occurred was because the connection was severed when she died. Also, partly because she decided to keep the cubs from me.

Upon my pondering I also noticed that the miko was lost. I needed her to get back to the cubs soon though so they could feed. I decided to throw a nearby rock at a branch to rustle the leaves. That seemed to surprise her and she turned in a different direction. The wrong way from camp. With a sigh I continued to prowl after her, eventually making myself comfortable on a large rock. She seemed to be looking around, every so often we made eye contact.

Then she stilled and looked back at me. The look of fear and panic struck deep into her eyes. She managed to steal herself and proceeded to ask who was there.

"If I come closer onna, you will not attack...I have something for you", I told her, she seemed skeptical at first.

"Fine but slowly come out, no funny business either", she said, taking a step back.

I proceeded slowly forward...ever so slowly, I did not want to provoke the miko. Coming out of the shadows, the miko seemed to be admiring me for a moment as I had done to her earlier. This observation almost made me preen at the attention. I knew that I needed to finish the task at hand though.

"What do you have for me?", she asked him, keeping her distance. I looked her in the eyes and raised my hand slowly so she wouldn't run. I opened my hand, palm up showing the herb that she needed.

"Why...why do you have that", she asked.

Without a stutter he said ," for the cubs miko".

"Ah, but what does that have to do with you?"

I could feel every emotion fill my being, taking a deep inhale.

"Those cubs are mine", I said short and simple.

"Oh, so that...that youkai female was your...?", she asked, leaving the question open.

"Yes miko, she was this one's mate", I said, feeling overwhelmed with my beast's emotions.

"Would...um, would you like to come back to my camp and see your cubs?", she asked, looking away from his eyes and toward the dark forest.

"Yes miko, that is most kind of you".

"Kagome".

"Hmm?"

"My name, I would prefer it if you called me Kagome rather than miko".

"Hn, then you shall call me Takahiro".

After pleasantries were made, I made my way in the direction of camp. The miko...Kagome followed behind a few paces back. "Such a small creature, she barely comes up to my chest plate".

We eventually made it to the camp. After asking a few questions on the way over. The kit, known as Shippo, greeted Kagome upon her arrival with worry. He seemed somewhat skeptical but accepting of me. Potentially understanding that I was the father of the cubs. I did feel relieved knowing that the cubs were well protected. The dog that they brought in though was staring at Kagome as she puttered about in her bag.

"This dog, Arata, seems too familiar", I thought as Kagome noticed him staring. Eventually Arata ran over towards Shippo and I. He looked directly at me, with a knowing look. It was odd seeing that look.

While I contemplated Arata, Kagome must have finished her mixture. I looked towards her as I sat across the fire. This was the first time I had witnessed a female using this specific herb. My curiosity was definitely quipped. She was part way through drinking when I noticed that her bosom had grown considerably. They seemed to weigh heavy in her top, stretching the material till skin and some cleavage could be seen through the parts. It was a rather erotic site to behold, added to the fact that she would be nourishing my cubs with those lovely breasts.

I couldn't help but stare and my jaw was somewhat unhinged. This was such a fascinating sight to behold was until that little rascal Shippo spoke up.

"Mama look".

Kagome finally realized the condition she was in, it appeared. She must have panicked and ended up attempting to cover her oversized breasts. This only made them look all the more appetizing to me. I smelled blood, why was there blood? Arata must have felt some sort of way because he fainted next to me as well.

"Mama turn around, go feed the cubs", Shippo said, giving me and the dog a stink eye.

"Right...right go feed the cubs", I heard her mutter, crawling over towards the cubs. It would be too much, the thought of her feeding my cubs was arousing to me. I needed to leave, get my mind off of this. Maybe I could find clues in the cave. Growling in frustration I left the camp ground placing an aura shield around them for safety.

"This will be hell if she continues as my wet nurse."

End Note-

I feel like as a feline Takahiro has his mind in the clouds a lot. He thinks, contemplates, and definitely prowls/hunts plenty just like any predatory feline before they capture their prey. I hope to convey that, he may seem stand offish in person but of course when cats warm up to people they can be the most loving of creatures. We shall see how this character goes.

Ja ne