InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Cerulean Skies ❯ Debt Paid ( Chapter 3 )

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Chapter 3

 

Debt Paid

 

(Many thanks to my wonderful beta, Kogas Hentai Luver)

 

 

 

From the large head of the bear youkai, dead eyes stared at Kouga. He shivered shifting his gaze to Sesshoumaru.

 

“Are you capable of walking, wolf prince?” asked the usually uncaring assassin.

 

A bit surprised at the great lord's concern, Kouga didn't immediately respond. Was it really concern or was there a hidden motive? While testing the strength in his limbs, Kouga kept a watchful eye on Sesshoumaru as one would an enemy.

 

`What does he care?' thought Kouga, wary of Sesshoumaru's presence.

 

Finally, he managed to get to his knees, but that was as far as he was going to get.

 

“Not without help and my name is Kouga.”

 

`I can't very well leave him here, and I refuse to sit doing nothing while he heals,' thought the impatient Sesshoumaru.

 

“Your pack could watch over you while you heal. I offer to take you there.”

 

“Not necessary. A couple of hours in wolf form will be enough and I will be able to move in the meantime.”

 

Suddenly, Sesshoumaru stooped down and sniffed behind Kouga's ear.

 

“Are you certain…Kouga?” he murmured into Kouga's ear.

 

Kouga's throat tightened and he had to swallow. Too close for comfort, too…strange. If Sesshoumaru wasn't planning to tear his throat out, what was he doing?

 

“When was the last time you transformed, Sesshoumaru,” asked the wolf prince, trying to distract him.

 

Sesshoumaru pulled away, keeping his face within an inch of Kouga's.

 

“A very long time. I don't quite recall.” Anything to stay close to that wonderful smell of the forest, even answering mundane questions.

 

“You know what happens if you wait too long,” commented Kouga quiet and low, not breaking the gaze into those fiery amber eyes.

 

“Tell me, wolf prince. Tell me what happens,” whispered Sesshoumaru, even though he knew the answer.

 

Kouga swallowed again as Sesshoumaru seemed to move closer as if to kiss him.

 

“You will lose your ability to transform, your acute hearing, sight and smell,” said Kouga with a shaky voice.

 

“And who informed you of this?” Sesshoumaru broke the gaze, his eyes wandering to Kouga's lips.

 

“I have seen it happen. I have also seen more than one of my pack spend so much time in wolf form that he was unable to transform back and another stuck in a form between,” answered Kouga, breathless, his heart thumping harder than it should have.

 

“And what do you propose, wolf?” Sesshoumaru asked, barely able to hold back the smirk that threatened to give away the fact that he knew what was happening to Kouga's body.

 

“Um…nothing.” Kouga had completely lost his train of thought as he felt Sesshoumaru's warm breath fan across his face.

 

“Do you wish for me to transform and run with you…wolf?” A smile barely touched the corner of Sesshoumaru's lips.

 

“Oh…yeah. That's what I was going to suggest,” replied Kouga, finally remembering the destination of his train of thought.

 

“I will take it into consideration,” spoke Sesshoumaru nearly brushing Kouga's lips.

 

Moments passed, neither saying a word as Sesshoumaru's eyes explored Kouga's face.

 

Kouga's discomfort finally spurred him to question Sesshoumaru. “What…do you want, Sesshoumaru?”

 

“Why did you help me, wolf?” Sesshoumaru's voice and gaze became serious completely distracting Kouga, while he ignored the question and posed one of his own.

 

“Well…um…I'm not really sure. I couldn't just leave you there like that.”

 

“Why?”

 

“I don't know.”

 

“Did you want my shard?” The question resonated through Sesshoumaru's chest, sounding a warning.

 

Kouga's eyes narrowed. `That sonofabitch!'

 

“What shard? I didn't even…” Kouga's sentence trailed off as he remembered Kagome shouting that Sesshoumaru had a shard attaching the human arm. “The thought never crossed my mind!”

 

That was hard to believe, particularly since Kouga sought Kagome for the fact that she could detect the shards.

 

“Why should I believe you?”

 

“Screw you. I try to do you a favor and this is the thanks I get?” Kouga could feel the heat of his anger rising in his cheeks and ears, swelling his chest and tightening his belly.

 

“Favors have a price, wolf. What do you want from me?” Sesshoumaru was nearly growling now, but still couldn't bring himself to move away from Kouga.

 

“Nothing! How about you just kill Inuyasha? That would be fair enough. You want to anyway.”

 

“Is that all? You ask me to do something that I fully intend to do?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

Sesshoumaru regarded Kouga for a moment.

 

“Are you sure that is all?” asked Sesshoumaru, reaching out to lift Kouga's face with a crooked finger under his chin. “There was no other reason?”

 

“No,” stammered Kouga.

 

“You lie. I can smell it.” Sesshoumaru dropped his hand to rest on the hilt of Tokijin. He may be attracted to Kouga, but would not suffer a liar.

 

Kouga stared at him. There was no getting away. He couldn't transform fast enough and even if he could, his injured body would not be able to outrun Sesshoumaru. He had no choice. Kouga studied a clump of dirt on the ground as if it held all his interest.

 

“You were hurting and would die unless I helped. You're too beautiful to die, too good of a warrior. I would never see you fight again.”

 

Kouga's words came out soft and low. Embarrassing is what it was. Kouga is a man's man. His only softer thoughts should be of Kagome.

 

It was not what Sesshoumaru expected to hear, yet he was very pleased to say the least.

 

“You speak the truth, wolf.”

 

Kouga let out a shuddering breath.

 

“Let us run then. Together, Kouga, Prince of Wolves,” said Sesshoumaru before leaning forward to place a gentle kiss on Kouga's lips.

 

Kouga was startled for only a moment then pissed at Sesshoumaru's boldness. Youki power burst from him, rolling over Sesshoumaru, raising goosebumps on Sesshoumaru's flesh. Sesshoumaru gasped eyes slightly widening as he stood and stepped away.

 

“I am alpha,” rumbled Kouga's voice from deep within his chest as hair began to sprout and thicken all over his body.

 

His face elongated while his eyes lightened to an ice blue, much like those of a Siberian husky. His hands and feet became large clawed paws while his spine rolled and lengthened. A monumental black-haired wolf soon stood before Sesshoumaru. Yes, he was large, but had reserved enough of his size to remain camouflaged by the trees.

 

“Such power, Kouga. How well you have hidden it,” commented Sesshoumaru, obviously impressed.

 

The show now over, Sesshoumaru began his own transformation, eyes glowing crimson, face elongating, white fur shoving its way out of his skin. His pelt became a mauve mane, the markings on his wrists and ankles becoming mauve fur flaring above his ankles. Understanding Kouga's choice to limit his size, Sesshoumaru did the same. They stood facing each other, black to white, ice blue to crimson red, powers mingling together.

 

Kouga set the pace as he was the injured and slower of the two. They melted into the trees, flowing like water, disturbing nothing. Either the trees and brush moved aside for them or they were just that good. Mingling with the life around them, their power reached out and drew strength from it.

 

They ran in silence, Kouga gathering healing strength from Sesshoumaru. With each stride, the muscles, stiff from healing, stretched then coiled back. Kouga could feel the burn, but flexing the muscles would make them heal faster.

 

Sesshoumaru couldn't remember the last time he had freed himself from the bonds of his tedious life, his human-like form. The rush of the wind on his face was joyous. He reveled in the clarity of his vision, the crystalline view of the life around him. There were no blurred lines, everything distinct, even the scents surrounding him. And the sounds, so many birds compared to the life on the forest floor. The abundance of the clamoring was almost deafening.

 

`I have been careless, dulling my senses, weakening my strengths by avoiding this form.'

 

Sesshoumaru stared at the dark wolf who was weaving through the brush and moving over fallen trees with graceful ease.

 

`The wolf. It is the wolf that has made me aware of this.'

 

Sesshoumaru drew in his power and wrapped it around himself like a blanket. One could feel the air boiling around him. He shot it forward straight into Kouga. The wolf yelped and was sent tumbling into a meadow.

 

Kouga looked up to see Sesshoumaru standing over him.

 

“What the hell was that for?” growled the wolf.

 

“How do you feel now, wolf prince?” growled the white dog.

 

Kouga shifted, stretched. No burning, no aching. In fact, except for a bit of a tingling itch left behind by Sesshoumaru's burst of energy, he felt great. He stared at Sesshoumaru with curiosity.

 

`Why? Why is Sesshoumaru acting so odd?'

 

Kouga couldn't help it. Not only was the itch nagging at him, but the grass of the field felt cool and inviting after their invigorating run. He rolled, wriggled, and writhed in the grass. Sesshoumaru watched him and if one could distinguish the expression of a dog, it would have been akin to disgust.

 

“Don't knock it `til you try it, Sesshoumaru,” puffed Kouga, seeing the look on Sesshoumaru's furry face.

 

“I am no longer a pup,” growled the aristocratic lord.

 

“Your loss,” Kouga smirked as he rose to all fours shaking the grass from his fur coat.

 

“I presume that you are healed, wolf prince?” asked Sesshoumaru.

 

“Is that why you did that?”

 

“Yes. Answer my question.”

 

“Yeah. I feel great.” Kouga stretched his back, leaning down on his front legs.

 

“Now we run in truth,” rumbled Sesshoumaru, not waiting for Kouga as he bound away at full speed, nothing but a white streak. It had been too long for Sesshoumaru and he was not yet willing to return to his more human form.

 

The only thing indicating that the two were passing through was a stiff breeze. Fluid in motion, silent as a whisper, they traveled to Kouga's people.

 

Slowing to a trot, the dog and the wolf stopped and stood at the edge of the treeline bordering Kouga's territory. Sesshoumaru turned to the wolf prince, moving in close.

 

“I leave you to your pack, wolf prince,” said Sesshoumaru, laying a paw on Kouga's shoulder.

 

Kouga wasn't sure what to do. It was a sign of Sesshoumaru's dominance over him. `He is definitely more powerful, but I will never be his servant. I will not bow to him.'

 

Sesshoumaru watched as defiance slid behind the wolf's eyes. He nearly chuckled. `Leave it to a primitive wolf to take my gesture as a sign of dominance.'

 

Sesshoumaru slid his paw from Kouga's shoulder. They both stood staring at one another, Kouga waiting for Sesshoumaru to leave, Sesshoumaru simply enjoying watching the wolf, wondering if he would attempt to force him away. Kouga's ice blue eyes were just as fascinating as the cerulean blue of his human form and Sesshoumaru had no reservations concerning his obvious staring, ogling being a more accurate summation. Sesshoumaru finally gave Kouga a one-sided grin.

 

“We will meet again, wolf prince.” With that Sesshoumaru licked Kouga's face then turned and disappeared behind the foliage.

 

Kouga stared mulling over the events of the day. So strange, so very strange.

 

`Sesshoumaru doesn't help others, is not interested in their plight. Why didn't he just leave me there at the mercy of whatever came along? He kissed me, the demon lord kissed me. He can't…Does he want me? No. No, Sesshoumaru needs no one and I love Kagome.'

 

Kouga shook his head trying to fling away the thoughts. The energy from Sesshoumaru's blast of power still roiled through him and he needed to give it an outlet. He ran out from the trees howling, calling his pack, calling them to play. They arrived accompanied by their natural wolf friends. His own people transformed, and they played as onne big ball of fur bounced around in the field, rolling, nipping, yipping, sharing each other's scent and touch.

 

Touch bound them to each other, made them feel safe in each other's company, promoted trust. It was a very important part of life for a pack. This particular pack needed a lupa, a female mate for its leader, and Kouga believed he had found her.

 

`My pack needs you, Kagome,' thought Kouga as the fur of his pack members brushed along his sides. `You are already their sister. You will come to us.'

 

Sesshoumaru floated above the tree tops watching Kouga and his pack from a safe distance downwind.

 

`So primitive, yet so alive. Perhaps, even useful. They are strong and would make excellent border guards. And perchance, give me the opportunity to closely observe this fascinating Kouga.'

 

He watched as corded muscles rippled beneath the fur of the wolves. Yet, none compared to Kouga. He was obviously the strongest, not just in sheer strength, but even from this distance, Sesshoumaru could feel the power rolling off of him, lending his strength to his people.

 

`It is true. Only he deserves to be alpha. I have had many lovers over the centuries, both female and male. None compares to him. He will be a great prize.'

 

If Sesshoumaru only knew how cold and calculating were his thoughts. But, they were his guards, his defense against the baser emotions. He was attracted to Kouga in more ways than one, more ways than he was willing to admit. Was it his emotions that were a weakness, or his inability to recognize and accept them?

 

`I will have Kouga,' determined the great lord as he floated away toward his human girl and servant. `I would not tame his wild spirit. He must be wooed, courted, seduced.'

 

With that, the great Lord Sesshoumaru planned his next move.

 

 

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Reviewer Recognition

I Lurv You All

 

 

 

MM.ORG

 

Life's Untold Stories

Yep, you are my first reviewer on mm.org! Thanks so much!

 

 

 

 

AFF

 

 

Yamimi

Thanks for reading!

 

Rawben

Glad you liked the bear decapitation

 

abanchan

Fast enough for ya!? *smile*

 

Kogas Hentai Luver

I wasn't thinking funny when I wrote Sess being bored. Glad you liked it!

 

Nanaka

Thanks for the review and here is your next chappie!

 

 

 

 

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*Disclaimer*

 

Inuyasha and all associated characters are owned by Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, Sunrise, and Viz. I make no profit from this story, nor do I intend to. My only goal is to occupy my demented mind with delusions of actually owning a life-sized, anatomically correct Sesshoumaru.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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