A demonic roar echoed through the eastern military camp. All eyes looked to the canvas tent where the Western Lord was residing; the sound of wood shattering and ceramic cracking put all the soldiers on edge. None dared approach the raging dog demon, and many quickly vacated the area. Maybe not everyone, Lord Haruto, was approaching the chaos.

The Eastern Lord entered through the canvas flap and was greeted by Lord Sesshoumaru's back, standing in the middle of the butchered remains of his furniture. Spiked battle armor lay on the smashed desk with scrolls and maps scattered around it. What appeared to be the carcass of many floor cushions surrounded the demon as snow-white feathers floated in the air.

"I see the negotiations with Lord Raika went well." The bear's sarcastic remark was met with a turn of a head and an icy glare from Sesshoumaru. Unfortunately, the effects did not land since the dog demons' hair and clothing were covered in feathers. "What ridiculous demands did the dragon have this time?"

Sesshoumaru could barely tolerate Lord Haruto on a good day. Fully turning to face the bear demon, he felt something was off about him. The Eastern Lord had a stocky, broad build and wore dark blue haori and hakama. His long black hair was pulled back in a high ponytail away from his tan face and onyx eyes. Each low cheekbone was marked with three deep purple circular dots in a horizontal row. His sardonic smirk brought focus to the purple vertical line that started under his bottom lip and ended at the base of his throat.

There wasn't anything different about his usually annoying appearance. The dog demon quickly sniffed, and the scent of rain was mixed with Lord Haruto's natural cedar and woodsy smell. Sesshoumaru's eyes widened when he noticed the small envelope the bear held at his side.

Seeing the dog demon's reaction to the missive in his hand, Haruto teased, "Ah, your imp Jaken delivered some correspondence while you were meeting with Lord Raika. You never mentioned courting a female back West." He lifted the letter to his nose, and his eyes became feral, "Does she look as decadent as she smells?"

In an instant, Sesshoumaru had snatched the letter from the bear demon's hand and was tucking it into the collar of his plain white haori. Walking past Lord Haruto, he pulled open the flap to his tent. "This One will give the war council a full report on the meeting with Lord Raika tomorrow."

With a pout, the bear took the hint and left the large yurt. He knew better than to push the Western Lord too far, but deep down, he was dying to learn more about this mystery female. She must be extraordinary if the stodgy dog accepted mail from only her and his human ward while turning away more important missives from the Western Shiro for his servant imp to oversee.

Finally, alone, Sesshoumaru erected a demonic barrier over his makeshift quarters. In a sign of exhaustion, he ran his hand over his face and sighed. It had been weeks since he last wrote to the priestess, and he was beginning to fear she would never respond. Each day, after her scent had entirely faded from her letter, had been torture for Sesshoumaru. He became more agitated and moodier as his beast paced in its cage, desiring more of the female's calming fragrance. The meeting he attended with the Southern Dragon Lord only fueled his ire.

Sesshoumaru wasn't sure if Lord Raika thought he was being clever or purposely sabotaged their negotiations by offering an absurd request. Dragging his feet over to his futon that survived the slaughter, Sesshoumaru fell back first on top and thought back to their meeting.

They had agreed to discuss terms for a possible truce within the valley to which both opposing lords laid claim. The rendezvous was to only be with Lord Raika and Lord Sesshoumaru, yet the dragon arrived with an unknown female. Paying her no mind, the dog demon focused solely on the southern lord.

Like Sesshoumaru, Lord Raika was dressed in his battle attire of shoulder and chest armor covered in blood-red dragon scales to match his narrow, ruby eyes. His pale face was framed by wavy scarlet hair; the only marking he bore to show his royal lineage was the single black strip that stretched across his thin nose and hollow cheeks. Where Lord Sesshoumaru gave off the impression of pure fallen snow, Lord Raika was bloody earth after a massacre.

After introductions, it was revealed that the female accompanying the southern lord was his daughter, Lady Dokugiri. Like her father, the girl was not beautiful and lacked any notable features. The reason for her presence was made clear when the dragon lord offered a mating contract between Sesshoumaru and the female. He wished to merge their houses in exchange for dropping the threat of war on the East, even hinting at joining forces and overthrowing Lord Haruto together in the future. To refrain from killing the dragon lord and his daughter right then and there, Sesshoumaru declined the delusional offer and quickly exited when no other alternative was agreed upon. As satisfying as it would have been to plunge Tokijin into the bastard's throat, that honor belonged to Lord Haruto.

The demon lord kept his cool, impassive mask on until he returned to camp. The request to mate the dragon's daughter had pushed him over the edge, resulting in the maiming of his décor. As a high-born dog demon, Sesshoumaru was very sensitive to smells. When he scented Lady Dokugiri, he nearly gagged. The female smelt of sulfur and ash.

He took a deep breath and was reminded of the letter pressed against his chest. Using his right arm to sit up slightly and lean against a wooden headboard, Sesshoumaru pulled out the envelope using his fangs and tore open the top. Clawed fingers removed the parchment inside, letting the pouch that held it fall to his lap. Right now, he didn't care what the letter read; he only wanted to know if the priestess had followed his instructions.

Sesshoumaru shoved the paper to his nose and took a deep inhale. Kagome's light floral scent and rainstorms were strong, with undertones of his own musk mingled in. A long groan passed through the demon lord's lips while his beast purred excitedly. Had he known going months without the woman's scent would bother him this much, he would have taken something of hers with him. Maybe he could persuade the priestess to send him a swatch of her clothing.

The beast within him agreed with a deep growl. An image of the small priestess stretched out under him entered his mind, but this time, she was wearing only his haori and lying on his futon. Ink black hair haloed her flushed face, and hooded cetacean-colored eyes looked up at him while her swollen pink lips were slightly parted. Sesshoumaru felt himself begin to harden, causing his hakama to become uncomfortably tight. Setting the letter aside, he reached down and began to stroke his covered erection. He needed more.

Abandoning his stiff cock Sesshoumaru reached for the envelope the letter had arrived in and placed it to his nose, needing to smell his own scent mixed with hers. But this time, it was something else that assaulted his senses; it was the scent of that fucking bear. Snarling at the paper in his hand, Sesshoumaru called forth his poison and melted the offending object. Green mist flowed through his fist as he felt his cock soften.

Long ago, he had accepted that he enjoyed the priestess's exquisite scent just as much as his primitive side did. But now, the beast was conjuring erotic visions of the woman, and he wasn't sure how he felt about it. Agitated by being cock blocked from his little fantasy by Lord Haruto, Sesshoumaru grabbed Kagome's letter to read it this time.

Dear Sesshoumaru,

I'm afraid I have been encouraging Rin's writing, so I do not see them shortening anytime soon. They have become her creative outlet and help her cope with your absence. If you truly wish her to keep the letters short, write to her yourself; Rin would love to hear from you.

The haori you sent was unnecessary. You have done enough to see to Rin's protection and, by extension, mine, but I appreciate the gesture.

Masaru has been a big help to us. He even finished building my chicken coop and said he would see about having someone from the Shiro bring some chicks for Rin and me to raise! It will make a fun lesson on how to maintain livestock.

Summer is nearly over already marking one year since you left. Stay safe and try not to kill everyone that annoys you.

Kagome H.

Sesshoumaru grinned to himself. The priestess was still unaware why he had sent her a garment soaked in his scent. Lieutenant Masaru must have been smart enough to keep his mouth shut this time after educating the woman on why male dog demons bit their females.

He laid back entirely on his bed while keeping the parchment close and allowed himself to drift off to sleep cocooned in Kagome's soothing aroma.