Chapter 35: Bonding
The Nishikuni family had holed up at the estate for a few days as members of the media snooped around, trying to get exclusive interviews and stories with them. Luckily, Tsukuyomaru's barrier held, and while there was an inordinate amount of humans walking around outside the property, there was also a proportional increase in the amount of vomit along sidewalks and nearby trash cans as they were physically repelled.
Touga had given the employees of Nishikuni Corp. leave to work from home for the time being, unless their jobs necessitated them being in the office, but he had hired extra security for the firm in case reporters got too daring. At this point, they were using the DSC for their public relations, allowing the Corps to gate interview access.
So it was on one of these summer days following the hearing that Touga, Inukimi, and Izayoi were watching the babies splash around in their kiddie pool when they received a text on their hearing preparation group chat.
Kirinmaru: In honor of our hard work these last few months and as an excuse to get away from all these reporters who are no doubt driving you as mad as they are me, I've booked each of you tickets on Eastern Sanctuary's next cruise out of Tokyo this weekend. RSVP regrets only.
"Well, that's quite the olive branch," Touga murmured. While Kirinmaru hadn't lied to the House committee by saying he was an investor in P Cruises, the oldest human-run cruise in the world, he also hadn't mentioned that he had his own demon-only cruise line that operated as an arm of Eastern Sanctuary. Kirinmaru had gone all-in on the hospitality industry, whereas Touga had chosen to diversify. As business rivals, receiving such a gift was unheard of. "Looks like we're going on a cruise, ladies," Touga announced.
"That sounds positively dreadful," Inukimi replied, tapping away at her phone. "Why would we willingly leave the quiet of our home to mingle with lesser demons on a boat?"
"Kimi, don't be like that," Touga replied. "This could be fun!"
"I do like the idea of having a getaway," Izayoi answered. "It's been a while since we went on a cruise." She smiled at him, and Touga recalled their trip to Hawaii, which had been a romantic highlight for both of them.
"And never as just the three of us," Touga added, his eyes lighting up with realization. "And that's just what we need!"
"Is it?" Inukimi retorted, and even Izayoi looked unsure.
"Of course it is! If we're going to give this relationship a real shot, the three of us need to spend more time together." He had done his damndest this year to adhere to his "separate but equal" policy concerning his wives. He had worked out problems with both of them, but he still felt their was something missing.
It wasn't enough to just resolve their problems and live out the rest of their lives peacefully. They had to come together if they were going to harmonize.
I know how to interact with each of them individually, but it could be a whole other dynamic if we're all together. And it was a dynamic he was itching to see.
"Regardless, it would be rude to refuse Kirinmaru's very generous gift," Izayoi said.
Inukimi scrolled on her phone. "The ship appears acceptable, I suppose. If nothing else, we at least have an opportunity to spy on the competition."
"Then it's settled," Touga said, firing off a reply to Kirinmaru. "Let's get packing."
Kirinmaru had given the three of them a deluxe two-bedroom suite with a balcony, though Inukimi wasn't sure that they would even need the second bedroom. Izayoi was the only one with a need to sleep, but she supposed Kirinmaru was just being respectful of their circumstances.
They had just settled into the room when someone rapped on the door to the suite. Touga opened the door, revealing Kirinmaru, Tsukuyomaru, Shiori, and Kohaku.
"Welcome," Kirinmaru said, shaking Touga's hand. "I wanted to personally give you a tour of the ship. She's the newest to our fleet, actually."
"Is she now?" Touga asked. Inukimi and Izayoi followed him out of the room.
Kirinmaru gave them an extensive tour, even taking them in certain behind-the-scenes areas normal guests would not have access to. He introduced them to their captain, and then led them to a private dining room, where they were served a multi-course meal.
"Thank you again for inviting us, Kirinmaru," Izayoi said once the meal was concluding. "What a splendid idea it was to get us all away from the hullaballoo, even for just a few days."
"It was my pleasure, Izayoi. Although, I might be able to recoup my investment after I fleece your husband here at cards."
"Is that a fact?" Touga asked.
"Well yes, given that Tsukuyomaru has the best poker face of all of us," Kirinmaru replied. Tsukuyomaru just gave one of his mysterious smiles.
Then the bat demon turned to Kohaku and put a hand on his shoulder. "What say you join us, Kohaku? The night is young, and you are, as yet, an unknown opponent."
"Just how young is the night?" Kohaku asked, glancing at his watch with a slightly panicked expression. "I was planning to turn in soon…."
"In your own room, of course, which my daughter will not be escaping to," Tsukuyomaru answered with a wide smile that bared his fangs. "But of course, you need only stay one round," he said, pulling the lad up and all but pushing him towards the door. Touga and Kirinmaru followed, the lot of them heading for the casino and leaving the women behind glancing at each other.
Shiori sighed. "Poor Kohaku. Father's going to keep him out all night. I'd say he's trying to turn him nocturnal like us, but I know he's just being overprotective." The girl rolled her eyes.
Izayoi chuckled. "Well, speaking as a parent, I can understand…although I'm sure having a daughter rather than a son changes things."
"Father's really done a wonderful job of accepting my relationship with Kohaku. But he's still…adjusting to the fact that I have a man in my life. I suppose I'm lucky he hasn't stayed completely feudal and insisted on chaperoning my every date."
"Well, I'm sure it helps that Kohaku is such a decent man."
Shiori blushed, running her hands over a lock of her hair in an embarrassed fashion. "He is. I feel so lucky to have found him. I…I think he's the one."
"That's so wonderful!" Izayoi exclaimed, clapping. "Do you know if he feels the same way?"
"Well, we have talked about getting married, so that's a good sign."
"I would say so!"
Inukimi listened as Izayoi and Shiori continued to talk about the girl's relationship until Izayoi's yawns became too numerous to ignore.
"I should let you get some rest," Shiori said as they all stood. "I'll probably go outside and stargaze for a while. Maybe check on Father and Kohaku, although I don't want to interrupt male bonding time." She chuckled.
"Nor am I sure you would wish to see what it looks like," Inukimi drawled. The three of them bid each other farewell, and then Inukimi returned with Izayoi to their cabin. Izayoi went to bed while Inukimi sat on their balcony, enjoying the night air and reading on her tablet.
When Izayoi woke up the next morning, Touga had still not returned.
"Typical," Inukimi scoffed when Izayoi remarked upon this. "After all that talk about 'bringing the three of us together,' he opts for guy time instead."
Izayoi sighed. "He's always been competitive like that." And it's nothing for a demon to stay out all night partying. I'll be surprised if he even leaves that spot for three days. The cruise will be half over by that point! Honestly, that man.
She looked around the small cabin, then started fishing around in her bag. "Well, if he's not planning on doing anything with us, I suppose I'll just go up on the deck and sunbathe with a book. Today's a day at sea anyway, so there's not much else to do until the shows tonight."
"Actually, we have an appointment," Inukimi announced, striding for the door.
Izayoi blinked at her. "For what?"
Inukimi opened the door and gave her a pointed look. "We're going to do as Touga wished and…bond."
Izayoi frowned in confusion. That doesn't sound like Inukimi at all. "Should I be concerned?"
Inukimi gave her a small, guileless smile. "Not at all. Come along then."
Yes, I think I should be worried. But curiosity overrode her apprehension, so Izayoi hurried after her.
Inukimi led them to the top deck at the aft of the ship, and when the elevator doors opened, a mixture of soothing scents hit her nose.
They were at the spa.
Inukimi strode up to the desk, and the attendant looked at her with a smile. "Do you have an appointment?" she asked.
"Yes. Inukimi Nishikuni."
The attendant typed on her computer. "One couple's massage, deep tissue for you, Swedish for your companion, and Thalasso seaweed wraps for both of you. Is that correct?" The attendant glanced at Izayoi, her gaze zeroing in on her neck.
A what now?
"Yes," Inukimi answered.
The attendant wiped off any trace of concern on her face and smiled. "Very well. Please fill out these forms, and Kinka and Ginka will be with you shortly." In a whisper, she added, "You won't get another couple's massage like this anywhere. Those brothers work a unique miracle on the body."
"I did ask for the best, after all," Inukimi answered, taking the clipboards and handing one to Izayoi as she went to sit on one of the padded chairs in the lobby.
"A couple's massage?" Izayoi hissed as soon as she sat, looking at Inukimi like she had lost it.
"Well, that's what we are, after all. Or at least…two-thirds of one, I suppose. In theory."
Izayoi rolled her eyes. "At the very least, could we switch mine to a female masseuse?"
Inukimi gave her a strange look. "Why?"
"Because I'm not sure that I'm comfortable with a male…touching me like that."
Inukimi shook her head and looked back down at her paperwork as she filled it out. "You've had a male's hands all over you for seven hundred years, yet you don't feel comfortable with a male masseuse? He'll be completely professional, Izayoi. It's not like I've hired gigolos for us. …Although I've been tempted, this year."
Izayoi stared at her. "I'm sorry, what?"
Inukimi sighed and looked up at the ceiling, as if seeking patience. "Izayoi, when men come for massages, they demand women masseuses, even when they're committed. They want to be touched by the opposite sex—and they think nothing of it. So why should women feel any differently?"
"Because men have so often taken advantage of us in the past that it feels uncomfortable to give a stranger such free reign?"
Inukimi gave her an exasperated look. "You are more than capable of fending off a handsy man, Izayoi. And even if you weren't, I am. But these demons are professionals, and they will treat you in a like manner." She turned back to her form. "Just relax and enjoy it. It's not like they're going to manhandle you."
"I suppose you're right…" Izayoi murmured, starting to fill out her form.
"Of course I am."
Izayoi rolled her eyes. But the words "manhandle" and "gigolo" were still swirling around in her hand, and that's when something occurred to her. "Inukimi…male hands are going to be all over us."
"Yes."
"…And Touga's going to smell that."
Inukimi smirked. "Yes."
Izayoi's mouth dropped open. "You're doing this on purpose."
"A harmless joke meant to show him exactly what we are willing to do when left to our own devices, despite promises of…attention. And really, you of all people should be most approving of that."
Izayoi flushed. "W-What do you mean?" She can't be talking about me strapping Touga to the bed. How would she have heard about that? Did Touga tell her? No, he wouldn't have told her something so embarrassing to him.
"Kagome forgets that she's living with demons when she gossips with her sister," Inukimi remarked.
Dang it. I forgot I told Kagome. She was so focused on labor at the time, I didn't think she'd remember.
"But I must admit, I was impressed when I heard. I didn't think you had it in you," Inukimi continued.
"…Thank you?" Izayoi answered, unsure how to feel about such a compliment coming from Inukimi.
"Still, that was months ago, and there's no reason we should let him grow complacent. He's gotten off easy, and he knows it. The least he can do is suffer another male's scent on us."
"You know? You're right," Izayoi said, signing the form with a flourish. "Bring on the men and the pampering."
Inukimi grinned, showing off her fangs. "That's the spirit."
Having been in a bath with Inukimi before, it wasn't nearly as awkward being naked in the same room with her for a second time, but even so, Izayoi kept her back turned until Inukimi was under the sheet on her massage table. A quick glance showed that the demon's eyes were closed, so Izayoi took her chance to undress and slide under her own sheet.
After a knock on the door, Kinka and Ginka entered. Izayoi's eyes widened, for she hadn't seen their manner of demon in ages.
Kinka and Ginka had the torsos of humans and yet no legs. Instead, they had two snake tails intertwined with each other, making them something like Siamese twins, except that Kinka's skin and scales were gold while Ginka's were silver.
After going over the ladies' forms, the demons started massaging the women's backs, working in tandem and switching off with each other. Kinka's hands pushed heat deep into Izayoi's tense muscles like hot stones, and Ginka's seemed to electrify her nerves, sending a pleasant tingle along her skin.
"I'm curious," Izayoi murmured in a relaxed voice. "How did you two manage to evade human notice for so long?" She recognized their kind. Inuyasha had had a run-in with them centuries ago. They belonged to the Ka Tribe—demons who were all born as conjoined snake twins. However, just after hatching, they would fight each other until one devoured the other to become the sole survivor. It was strange enough to see both of them still whole and quite another to see demons only half humanoid in this day and age.
"Our birth battle was never decided," Kinka said as he massaged Izayoi's neck. "We constantly fought, except when we had to hunt or defend ourselves. Even so, we seemed doomed to live the rest of our lives fighting each other. Then suddenly, humans became such a threat that we had a choice: continue to fight our other half and be torn apart by humans or work together and survive. So we did what we had to do."
"The Ka tribe had always been allies with Kirinmaru-sama, and at the start of the Meiji era, when everyone was going into hiding, we too sought refuge in his sanctuary," Ginka continued. "Many of our brethren work in Eastern Sanctuary, but when he founded a demon-only cruise line, Kinka and I decided that we wanted to see the world—or what we could of it. After all, we had spent so long fighting each other that we hadn't done anything noteworthy with our lives. So that's how we've kept safe from human eyes, for the most part."
Izayoi smiled as one of Ginka's hands was replaced by Kinka's, melding both the electrifying and heated feeling on her skin. "It's wonderful that you were able to work out your differences for the better."
"Mightn't the same be said for you and Inukimi-dono?" Kinka asked. "I'm not sure what shocked demon society more when the news of the Demon Resolution hearing came out: that demons were finally outing themselves publicly or that Touga-dono's demon wife and human mate were working together to promote the cause."
"Aren't massages supposed to be silent to promote relaxation?" Inukimi grumbled.
"Our apologies," the demon brothers replied. But Izayoi opened her eyes and caught Kinka's glance, winking at him. Inukimi wasn't upset—just embarrassed.
They're right though. Look at how much we were able to do together in such a short time compared to all those years we spent living on the same estate but trying to ignore each other unless needed.
It made her wonder: If they had entered into this arrangement from the start, as Izayoi had originally suggested, would they have settled their own issues in a matter of years instead of centuries? Would they have been able to solve the issue of demon-human reconciliation quicker?
Well, it's not use dwelling on what ifs. What's done is done, and now we just have to make the best of it.
Yes, in an ideal world, she would have been able to keep Touga to herself and still work side-by-side with Inukimi to bring about a new age of coexistence between humans and demons. But she was certain Inukimi felt the same in regards to herself and Touga, so such ideals could not coexist, and their compromise was the best solution.
Honestly, I'm already blessed to have been with Touga as long as I have been. In the beginning, we thought we might have a few decades, if that. And if Takemaru had had his way, we wouldn't have even had that much. So I suppose I should look on the bright side: I've gained a friend—or perhaps even a sister—while still keeping the part of my mate's heart that he's always gifted me.
Inukimi might balk over being called a sister-wife, but if she did, Izayoi would have no choice but to remind her that she had ordered the couple's massage, and only a sister or a friend (or a lover, which they certainly were not) would dare to do so.
And sisters, after all, were bound to get into trouble together.
I wonder what Touga's face will look like when he comes back and gets that first whiff?
Izayoi stretched as she and Inukimi left the spa. "Okay, I admit it—those two were amazing. I was having a difficult time not falling asleep." She yawned, blinking her eyes like a sun-sleepy cat. "In fact…I think I'm going to go back to the suite and pass out for a bit."
"As you wish," Inukimi said as they took the elevator back down to their level.
"You don't have to accompany me. I know the way back to the room. Go hang out on the deck or something."
Inukimi gave her a bland look. "Why would I subject myself to the stares of others when I could rest in peace on our own balcony and still enjoy the outdoors?"
"Suit yourself."
The two returned to the room, and unsurprisingly, Touga still hadn't returned. In fact, given that his scent had faded considerably, he hadn't even been back while they were gone. Inukimi grabbed her tablet and went onto the balcony. Sure enough, barely two minutes passed between the time Izayoi's head touched the pillow and her breathing evened out into deep sleep.
Inukimi hadn't been outside for long before the door to the room clicked open. It was a testament to Izayoi's tiredness that she didn't budge. The demoness got to her feet and reentered the room just as Touga did.
Curiously, he didn't balk when he entered. Then again, the scent of seaweed and massage oils was still rather strong. She'd have to get closer for him to scent Kinka and Ginka on her.
Touga came over and smiled, whispering. "You smell delightfully of sea spray and sunshine. Along with…." He gave a subtle sniff. "Seaweed? Don't tell me you took an unauthorized dip in the ocean."
"Hardly. I have no desire to smell like wet dog."
"Then what were you doing?"
Inukimi shrugged, stepping away as she started the game. "Who's to say? Had you been here, you might have been able to join in on the fun. Alas, you left your wives by their lonesome, and so we had to seek out…other company. You did say you wanted us to grow closer on this cruise. We just had to go and do that without you."
Touga's eyes narrowed in suspicion as he closed the gap she had opened between them. "What sort of company?"
Inukimi just smirked at him guilelessly.
"You're going to make me sniff the answer off you, aren't you?" he asked, grabbing her waist and pulling her against him.
Touga leaned in and sniffed just behind her ear. "Sea salt, seaweed, sunshine…." He moved lower, running his nose along her neck and then taking a deep whiff at its crook. "Eucalyptus…and…." He froze, his claws digging into her hips as he growled against her neck. "And reptilian male."
"Males," Inukimi corrected, trying to keep the glee out of her voice, and then Touga was sniffing her again in a mad frenzy.
"Two of them," he muttered, finally looking up to meet his wife's eyes. "Their scents are all over you."
"Yes. Izayoi and I agreed—they were quite good."
Red flashed in his eyes, and suddenly he whirled away from her, stepping in silence over to Izayoi's prone form. He bent over her like the grim reaper and snipped along her bare arm. He reared back in affront. Then he sniffed again, and he huffed a laugh.
"Massage oils. I should have guessed," he murmured, standing back up. "You do enjoy teasing me."
"What can I say? You're so easy to rile up. It's irresistible."
Touga tried to affect a look of calm, but she could see right through him. "Well, you've had your fun. No go wash them off. I won't have my wives stinking of snake demons."
"No."
Touga stared at her in shock—with a glint of amusement in his eye. He had caught onto her game—and he wanted to play. "No?"
"I like the smell of this oil. If you can't handle it, then just go back to your man-toy," Inukimi said, sitting down on the couch and waving him off.
"My man-toy?" Touga asked, prowling forward until he was caging Inukimi on the couch. "I seem to recall you used Kirinmaru like a tool to make me jealous."
Inukimi scooted back, lifting her leg and pushing against his chest with her foot as he followed. "Well, when you're as possessive as you are, you make it so easy."
Touga gripped her calf to stop her. "And when you're as naughty as you are, you make me want to force you into submission."
"Naughty? Since when is getting a massage considered naughty?"
His fingers slid up and down her calf in a slow, maddening way reminiscent of the massage she had just gotten. "Since I know you specifically asked for those male masseuses. Izayoi would have asked for a female. And now, you won't even heed your alpha in cleansing yourself."
Inukimi smiled, raising her foot so that her toes connected with the underside of his chin and tilted it up. "And what are you going to do about it?"
Touga growled, taking her foot in his hand and pressing a kiss into her arch. His eyes were molten gold as his gaze burned into her. "If you're not going to wash their scents off yourself…I'm going to have to do it for you." Then he flicked out a slightly lengthened, jagged tongue and licked her sole from heel to toe.
Inukimi shivered—and she wasn't even ticklish.
That wicked tongue lashed it way over her foot, around her ankle and up her calf. His hands cleared the way for his head, pushing back the hem of her dress until it was bunched around her waist. When he reached the crux of her thighs, he bit the fleshy inner part, dangerously near her sex.
"Touga," Inukimi half whined, half hissed. "Stop. What if Izayoi wakes?"
"She sleeps like the dead," Touga answered at a volume only demons could hear. He flicked his eyes back up to her. "Unless…you don't think you can stay quiet?"
Inukimi sucked in a breath. A challenge, is it? I don't even smell like snake down there. Well, she wouldn't turn down free service. She smirked. "Do your worst."
Touga promptly pulled down her panties and stuck his face into her mound, licking through every silken fold. Inukimi bucked against his mouth, sliding down the back of the couch as Touga's tongue dug deeper and deeper into her well and lapped from it. Inukimi bit her fist to keep from crying out as each wave crashed into her heart, setting it pounding so hard, she feared it would break free of her chest. The taste of her poison blood flooded her mouth, but she didn't care as she bit down harder.
The couch creaked as they moved, and Izayoi's breathing hitched. Touga and Inukimi froze.
No, damn it, I'm so close! She yanked on Touga's hair, urging him silently to finish her off. He nipped her clit in response, and that gave her the kick she needed to come.
Inukimi let her legs fall away from him as he sat up. He stood and rubbed his mouth, then leaned over and kissed her, filling her tongue with the taste of her pleasure.
"Go shower. Now," he whispered as Izayoi shifted on the bed.
Inukimi clicked her tongue but did as she was told. After a thorough licking like that, she could afford to obey her alpha once.
Izayoi rolled over, suddenly feeling hot. But she was still so groggy, she didn't open her eyes.
The bed shifted, and suddenly there was a warm body spooning her from behind, and Touga's comforting scent enveloped her.
"You're back," she murmured, struggling to open her eyes.
"I am. …And you've been naughty."
Izayoi frowned, still half asleep. "I have?" What had she done? She couldn't remember.
Touga slid the strap of her sundress over her shoulder and pressed his nose into the fleshy bit near her underarm, running the tip of his nose across the smooth skin there. "Everywhere I sniff, you smell of other males."
Izayoi's eyes shot open. Oh, right.
She turned over then, taking the opportunity to arrange her befuddled expression into one of disaffectedness. "Yes, and?"
"And now I need to mark you, so everyone remembers you're mine," he growled, burying his nose into her neck. "Those males' goddamn scents are everywhere. Everywhere…except…here," he breathed, nosing his way along the cut of her sundress and down into the cleft of her breasts.
He pulled the strap of her sundress lower, revealing her breast to him. He then peeled off her stick-on bra, popping her nipple free and laving it. Izayoi moaned, arching to bring him closer, but that just allowed him to snake the other strap off her shoulder and pull down the entire top of her dress. He grabbed her other breast and squeezed, and she finally got the massage on that part of her body she had been wanting since the Ka brothers had loosened up the rest of her. Touga sucked on that first nipple, and Izayoi writhed, sliding her hands under his shirt and tracing the dip of his spine with her fingers and the rippling muscles along his ribs with her thumbs.
When Touga slid his hand off her breast, she whimpered, and he chuckled. "I was going to continue this massage…elsewhere," he murmured, skimming his fingers down her belly and then rapping them along her core as he hiked up her dress. She sucked in a breath of anticipation as he finally pulled back the curtain on his prize. He didn't even bother taking off her underwear, choosing instead to slip his fingers beneath the hem and hook them inside her cleft.
Izayoi bucked her hips at the intrusion, then slid further down the bed, trying to push those wicked digits deeper inside her. Touga obliged, putting his thumb on her clit and proceeding to rub the area between his fingers both inside and out. With double stimulation such as that, it didn't take long for her to crest. Izayoi's limbs puddled as she rode out the wave of her climax. Twice in one day now, she had been reduced to little more than a limp noodle. She hoped no one expected her to do anything later.
She was in such a euphoric haze that it took her a moment to realize that the rushing noise that had been in the background the entire time had vanished. She was just trying to puzzle out what it could be when a knock sounded from the bathroom door.
"Are you finished yet? You have thirty seconds to make yourselves decent."
Izayoi shot up into a sitting position, all languidness forgotten. "Inukimi's still here?!"
"Yes," the aforementioned demon said from within the bathroom.
Izayoi scrambled to put her dress to rights, and then she swatted Touga. "What were you thinking?" she hissed.
Inukimi opened the door and strode into the room wearing a bathrobe and a towel over her hair. "Not much thinking happens when instinct takes over," she said, going to the closet to pick a new dress.
"Now it's your turn to wash off the stench of snake," Touga said to Izayoi, nodding at the shower.
Izayoi narrowed her eyes, looking back and forth between the two of them and considering what Touga had just done with her. And then she recalled waking up all hot and bothered.
Oh my gods. They fooled around right in front of me, and I didn't even wake up?
She leveled a finger at Touga, knowing it was all his fault—no matter that teasing him had been Inukimi's idea. "You are getting dangerously close to crossing the line."
"And what line is that, my dear?" he asked, his face the picture of innocence.
She pushed that smug face of his away and strode towards the bathroom. "Don't push your luck. I think Inukimi and I have had enough skinship on this trip."
"Does that mean you two are going to behave yourselves from here on out?" Touga asked.
Inukimi gave him an arch look. "I'm not entirely sure what you mean, Touga. But if you're that worried, you're just going to have to keep a close eye on us, aren't you?"
And so the three of them were nigh inseparable for the rest of the trip, but they never crossed that line.
Reiwa Era, 4th Year (December 2022 CE)
This year, the Nishikuni family had decided to gather as a whole at the sanctuary for the holidays. They had decorated the suite with a small Christmas tree, which was dwarfed by giant boxes of presents, almost all of which were for the babies. Even so, there were a few smaller ones sprinkled in for the adults.
Though of those, Touga appeared to have the biggest one.
As he tore the paper off a joint gift from his sons and their wives, his heart melted. "Truly, this is the best Christmas present I've ever received." He held up a framed canvas of his favorite photo: Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha each on all fours, dressed in puppy onesies, and staring up at the camera with bright smiles. Kagome had had to take about a million shots in order to get it, but she had managed. "It'll go in my office, so I can look at my precious puppies every day."
"Hard to believe how much they've grown just since that photo was taken," Rin remarked. Towa and Setsuna toddled around the house now, and Moroha was usually right behind them. For being just a quarter demon, she had learned to walk a month earlier than the girls had because she had them as role models.
Touga then handed Izayoi a small, wrapped box. "Merry Christmas, my love."
She gasped, her eyes lighting up with recognition even before she tore off the paper. "That's right! It's been so long, I almost forgot about them!"
"Forgot about what?" Inuyasha asked, making sure Moroha didn't stuff the wrapping paper she sloooowly tore off into her mouth.
Izayoi smiled, unwrapping the gift to reveal a velvet ring box. When she opened the cover, her and Touga's wedding rings lay inside, now inlaid with two halves of a single pearl. She pulled them out to show the rest of the family. "Mating rings."
Sesshoumaru's brows furrowed, even as he glanced at Inukimi. "That took longer than expected." Meanwhile, Inuyasha blanched, and Moroha stuffed a bow in her mouth.
"That's because your order depleted poor Hosenki's power reserves," Touga tutted. "To even get it this quickly, the old clamshell raked my wallet over the coals."
Meanwhile, Kagome was watching Inuyasha's sweating face and started looking more closely at her pile of presents. When she didn't see any of a suspiciously small and boxy nature, she narrowed her eyes at him. "Inuyasha…."
"Kagome, wait—!"
"We've been married for over a year and a half, and you still haven't remembered to go place an order? Your brother went and freakin' got those rings done for a shotgun wedding."
"Hey!" Rin protested.
"What's stopping you?!" Kagome continued.
"Kagome, it's not a race," Rin rebuked as she cleaned up the debris of her daughters' present-opening frenzy.
"It's not just my fault—you've forgotten too! Otherwise, you would have dragged me there," Inuyasha retorted.
"I was pregnant or post-partum for most of that! Did you really expect my baby brain to remember that kind of detail? And now what, it's going to take even longer for Hosenki to make them for us?"
Touga sighed, putting his head in his hands. I knew I should have just given it to her in private. How could his family turn such a miracle gift into such a pain?
Izayoi leaned over and whispered in his ear, "We can put them on later." He nodded. That moment at least would be special for them.
"I don't see your gift for Mother," Sesshoumaru interrupted, bringing Touga's head back up. Inukimi sat quietly on the far edge of the couch, her attention apparently drawn to Towa and Setsuna as they played with the boxes their new toys had come in and not the toys themselves. Now, however, she spoke up.
"Your father and I will be exchanging gifts in a few days. You needn't worry yourself over something like this, son."
Sesshoumaru glanced between the two of them and nodded. Touga sighed. Looks like their son had accepted their relationship after all.
Later that evening, after the family had hosted the Sanctuary's annual Christmas dinner, Touga and Izayoi returned to their room. Inukimi had left, claiming she wished to take a flight, but he knew she was being considerate of them.
Izayoi brought out the box with their rings in them. Touga took Izayoi's and held it up.
"Izayoi, how can I begin to count all the blessings you have given me? For seven hundred years, you've stayed by my side, even when I've messed up and made decisions that could have cost you your life and even our marriage. And I hope you'll be beside me for seven hundred more—as my guiding light and my lover. You are the reason I am who I am today. What we accomplished this year with the DSC and the Diet was all possible because of you. Had I not met you, fell in love with you, lived my life with you, I might never have gotten behind such a cause—and I can guarantee Inukimi and Sesshoumaru wouldn't have either. So, my love, with this ring, I pledge my continued love to you. Come the changes that may, never doubt the place you hold in my heart. It is yours and yours alone."
He slipped the ring on her finger, and though it was mostly symbolic, since she could already feel what he felt, tears still slipped down her cheeks anyway. Hopefully that meant that she felt the truth of every word as it resonated through his being.
"Touga, my love," she began, taking up his ring and holding his hand. His heart stuttered and the pulse in his wrist throbbed where she held it. Finally, after seven centuries, he was going to be able to feel his mate as he had always wanted. "You rescued me from a mundane life and gifted me with one of adventure. I cannot imagine my life without you in it, for you have been there for nearly every day. You have always pushed me to fulfill my potential and to stand my ground in the face of those who would deem me lesser. Because of you, I've become a woman I could never have dreamed of being. Because of you, I know what it is to feel loved and accepted by someone who did not lead to my birth. Because of you, I have lived a life of miracles. And now…let me give this miracle to you."
Izayoi slipped the ring onto Touga's finger, and he held his breath.
Izayoi closed her eyes and clasped his hand. A furrow appeared between her brows, and he could hear her heart thumping in quick, short bursts.
And he could feel a wave of fervent desire filling in like a dammed reservoir behind the emotions in his own heart.
"My darling," he murmured, tears coming to his eyes as she opened hers and locked gazes with him, another outpouring of love sweeping in from her. He kissed her then, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. "I love you," he murmured, kissing her jaw just below her ear. "I love you, I love you, I love you." He clasped her to him, as if he could pull her body into his along with her emotions.
That night, their joining felt like the first time to him, for he finally got to experience their pleasure as his mate did.
"Hmph, has it been a year already?" Bokusenou asked gruffly as Touga, Izayoi, and Inukimi stood before him.
"Indeed. It's hard to believe, isn't it?" Touga asked.
"And? How do you intend to proceed?" Bokusenou continued.
Inukimi straightened at her husband. "Touga will take my mark."
Touga nodded and took her hand. "And then we will proceed…." He looked over at Izayoi and laced his left hand—the one with their wedding ring on it—with hers. "Together."
Bokusenou cast an assessing gaze over the three of them, his eyes finally landing on Inukimi. "Are you sure about this, my lady? You still have a chance to look anew and find another male to bond with. With Touga, you will never feel the full effects of it. His emotions will be lost to you."
"As if I need a bond to know his emotions," Inukimi responded. "The dog is an open book."
Touga grinned ruefully. "Nevertheless, Hosenki has crafted rings that replicate the feeling of a bond." He held up his hand, and Izayoi raised hers. "As of a few days ago, I can confirm that it works. In time, I wish to get myself and Inukimi a pair as well."
Bokusenou peered at the golden bands. "Hmph. So the young shellfish is finding his own way to surpass his father. Good for him." Then the demon magnolia looked to Izayoi. "And? How do you feel about all this? You and Touga have essentially just completed your bond. And now he looks to create another."
Touga scowled at his friend. He could have found a better way to word that. One that didn't make me sound like a scoundrel.
Of course the irony wasn't lost on him. But at the same time, it also felt right that he should form new beginnings with each of his wives around the same time.
"We came to this agreement together," Izayoi said. "I admit that in the beginning, I found it…difficult…to share my husband. But happily, I feel that this arrangement has brought Inukimi and me closer together than we ever could have been had things stayed the way they were. I've never had a sister. I…didn't even realize I wanted one. But I am glad to call her that now."
Touga's eyes widened, and he looked over at Inukimi to gauge her reaction. Even she watched Izayoi with mild surprise.
Bokusenou's ghostly hand came out to stroke his chin. "Do you indeed? And how do you feel about that, Inukimi-dono?"
Inukimi glanced away from them. After a moment, she said, "It has been more entertaining to conspire with you than to be at odds."
Touga tried to hide his smile. It was such an Inukimi thing to say, and yet a look at Izayoi showed that she was pleased with the sentiment.
"Hm. Then it seems my work here is done," Bokuseno said. "And if I never here anymore relationship drama from the lot of you, it will be too soon."
Izayoi had chosen to return to Tokyo with the children to celebrate New Year's Eve with the Higurashis.
"You have an important night ahead of you, and you deserve to have it all to yourselves," she had told Touga and Inukimi. "I wouldn't want to be a distraction."
Inukimi had been quite pleased with the gesture. Touga, however, appeared to be struggling with it.
Despite the fact that Inukimi was straddling Touga's waist and making out with him, he was not nearly as enthusiastic as she felt he should be upon the prospect of both having sex and mating her.
She pulled away and looked him in the eye. "Are you having doubts?"
It would break her heart if he was, but she was used that by now. She would get over it again.
She hoped.
Touga shook his head, as if clearing away a fog, and cupped her face. "No, my queen. I'm just…." He put a hand to his chest, and Inukimi caught a flash of the ring on his finger.
"You're distracted. That is easily remedied." She reached out and fingered the ring, attempting to shimmy it off his finger. "Take this off for tonight. Let it just be us…as it should be."
Touga clenched his hand to stop her. "No, Inukimi. I…I need to keep this on."
Inukimi frowned. "Why? Don't I deserve to have you all to myself on this night of all nights?"
It's hard to explain, knowing you don't understand how a mating bond feels."
"Yet," Inukimi stressed.
"Yet," Touga allowed. He caressed her cheek in an attempt to soothe her, although she wasn't feeling very soothed. "Izayoi is trapped feeling everything I feel when I'm with you. Even though she's removed herself from the vicinity, there's no way I can separate her from what we do tonight. So I find it only fair that I feel those rebounding emotions. Besides," he added, slipping one of her pigtails out of its elastic, "I'm going to have to get used to feeling both of your emotions on top of mine." He paused, undoing her other pigtail. "It's…already a strange sensation to feel another's emotions, and I've only had a few days to adjust to Izayoi's. Perhaps I'm a little…overwhelmed at the thought of feeling yours on top of hers as well as my own."
"I can appreciate that that would be…confusing," Inukimi said.
Touga kissed her. "To have the love of you both, it is a price I'll willingly pay."
"Yes, well, you should be paying something, since you're getting quite a lot of benefits out of this arrangement," Inukimi remarked, grinding her sex onto his. Touga groaned.
"You know…there was a time when I desired to mate you…primarily because I just wanted to understand you," Touga admitted through strangled tones as Inukimi continued to gyrate. "I couldn't figure out your feelings…and so I wanted to feel them too. But now…now I don't need the surety of a mating bond to know what you're feeling, my love." Inukimi came to a stop to better gaze into her husband's eyes and understand him. "You have come so far, and I love you all the more for it. I'm sorry I was not patient enough to wait for you."
"Hm, yes, well, not all of us can have the patience of Akuru. A heredity trait, I believe. But does this mean you don't want my mark anymore?" At one time, she would have bitten down those words, hating the vulnerability that leaked through them. But she was not that demon anymore, and with Touga, she knew she was safe from cruel judgment.
"Just because I don't need it doesn't mean I don't want it, my love. I do want this bond with you. I only wish I could return it to you the way a demon should."
"Stop dwelling on the past." His eyes widened in shock, and Inukimi glanced away, twisting her lips. "Yes, I am aware of the irony. But…for once I need you to stop thinking with this head," she said, tapping his noggin, "and start thinking with this one." She reached down and stroked the length beneath her. Her eyes glinted with sudden inspiration. "In fact…."
Inukimi pushed him back and rolled them over so he was now on top of her. She pulled apart the tie of her juban, pulling apart the folds of the robe to reveal her bare chest. "Even if you cannot leave a mating mark on me, you can leave your mark. I want your scent on me, Touga." She grabbed her breasts and pushed them together.
Touga's eyes widened in understanding. And then they blazed with lust. He removed his underwear, freeing his semihard erection. Inukimi pulled her breasts apart just enough to let him slide his cock along her breastbone until it was nestled between the globes. She pushed them together, and then Touga began to pump along her body. She massaged her breasts around him, and the sight of his head pulling back and forth along her sent a painful need straight to her core. But she would have him soon. She just need to get his head—or heads, rather—in the game.
Luckily, men were simple, visual creatures that could fall apart with a touch, and it didn't take long for him to spray his release across her neck and collarbones. He knelt above her, breathing hard as he stared down at his essence coating her body.
"Mine," he murmured in the barest growl.
Inukimi ran a finger through the seed upon her and licked it off. She smirked at him. "Mine."
Then she tossed him off her and ran for the balcony doors.
Touga roared, but by the time he had gotten to his feet, Inukimi had leapt off the balcony railing and transformed into a ball of light, spiraling up into the sky. Touga followed, and as soon as both of them had transformed, Inukimi flew back towards him and nipped his ear in passing.
As if he needed another reason to go after her.
Inukimi flew over the Sanctuary forest, allowing him to get just close enough to her before darting out of his way again as she engaged in their primal chase. Finally, Touga caught up to her and pounced, sending them tumbling into a meadow. Touga held her down, trying to mount her, and as she didn't sense anyone around them, she allowed it.
When he entered her, she howled, for dear gods, how long had it been since they had coupled in their natural way? Though it was simple and rough, it had none of the awkwardness of their first time, and it riled up her demonic blood just as she wanted.
And it had allowed Touga to tap into his instincts, which was what he needed.
When she felt his knot bulge within her, she knew it was now or never. A hint of poison wet her teeth in anticipation, and she turned her head, clamping her jaws down on Touga's furred shoulder. She bit through the mass of fur, breaking into his skin. Touga howled beneath the waxing gibbous moon, releasing himself inside her as she sealed their union with her mating mark. Touga's whine wavered, dropping into a passionate growl as he trembled above her, and she knew he was trying to twist off her in the manner that dogs do, but her jaws held firm. She couldn't—wouldn't—let him go.
He was hers, now and forever.
After a moment, Touga calmed down and yipped, licking the side of her face, and after a few more licks, she let go of his neck. He didn't twist off her this time, though his knot still kept them connected. They stared at each other the entire time they waited for him to deflate. And when he finally did, Touga barked, signaling to her that he was ready to transform.
In a glow of light, the two of them shrank back down to their human forms, a tangle of naked limbs. Inukimi stared at the fresh bite mark on his shoulder, the darker veins spiderwebbing out from it due to her poison. She reached up, brushing the barest tip of her fingers across the mark.
Touga shuddered.
"Does that hurt?" she asked.
He shook his head. "No. It's sensitive to your touch, my love. My…my mate."
Inukimi's heart swelled upon hearing those words, and Touga sucked in a breath, as if he had been punched in the gut. His eyes welled with tears, and he cupped her cheek.
"You have the most beautiful feelings, Inukimi. This love you feel for me…I can't believe I've been missing out on it all this time."
She clasped the hand against her cheek and brought their entwined hands to rest against her stampeding heart. "I'm not sure it would have felt this way had you mated me when you first asked. So perhaps the saying is true: better late than never."
Touga kissed her. "And how do you feel?"
"Like I want to kill anyone who looks at you."
Touga looked at her appraisingly. "Do I need to keep you away from Izayoi for the time being?"
Inukimi's vision flashed red. She took a deep breath, trying to keep her head straight. "That…might be for the best."
He brought their hands over his heart then. "Even if I could not feel your possessiveness, my queen, I know what you are going through. I will stay right here with you for the time being. You need never doubt my love for you again—and soon, I will get us the rings to prove it."
"You don't need to prove it to me, Touga," Inukimi said, reaching up and tracing the jagged blue mark across his cheek. "I trust you."
And how good it felt to finally utter those words.