InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Cerulean Skies ❯ Challenge ( Chapter 12 )

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Chapter 12

 

Challenge

 

 

 

 

 

“No way!” gasped Ginta after managing to pull up his dropped jaw.

 

“You heard him,” scolded Hakkaku.

 

“But, but…”

 

“Oh, shut your trap,” scowled Hakkaku.

 

“But, it's never happened in the pack before!” Ginta exclaimed.

 

“That's why I'm appointing a council to represent the major families. There will be a vote,” Kouga sternly informed them.

 

“That sounds fair,” said Ginta, creasing his brow in thought.

 

“Go, summon the others to the mount and tell their families that they may witness the meeting,” ordered Kouga.

 

“As you command,” the two said, simultaneously backing away from Kouga.

 

“He's serious isn't he?” whispered Ginta once they were outside.

 

“You think he would joke about something like that?” retorted Hakkaku, knocking Ginta upside the head.

 

“Whadja do that for?” whined Ginta, rubbing the knot on his head.

 

“For being so stupid,” scowled Hakkaku.

 

A meeting on the mount was always a serious affair and the families hurried to find out what could be so important. Kouga paced the one flat area large enough to have a meeting and audience. Small, carefully placed boulders provided seating around a fire pit. Kouga decided to work off his nervous energy by building a fire. This meeting could last well into the night and he didn't care for any interruptions until a decision had been made. The fire was roaring well before the chosen from his pack began to arrive. He prayed to whatever gods might be listening that this would all work out. He couldn't bear to be forbidden to see Sesshoumaru. Not that he would abide by that. He simply wouldn't be allowed to make the vow. The pack would try to force him to choose a dominant female from their own people. That simply was not going to happen. Sesshoumaru was his chosen.

 

As his pack filed in and took their places, he sat on the highest boulder. He acknowledged each family leader before presenting them with his request, though it wasn't quite worded as such.

 

“I have chosen a mate…Sesshoumaru, Lord of the Western Lands.”

 

For long moments, silence ruled the clearing. All at once, many voices burst forth, decrying Kouga's decision. Though, he did have some supporters. The soldiers of the group argued the benefits of having such a powerful ally. Others argued that Sesshoumaru wasn't a wolf and should not be admitted as a ruler. Through it all, Kouga sat silent and listened, pondering the arguments he would make. Then someone raised the issue of heirs, and as if on cue, there was a small voice from the back of the crowd.

 

“You promised to mate with me, Kouga,” a proud, feminine voice declared.

 

Far in the distance, Sesshoumaru stood staring up at the sky, awaiting Kouga's return. For the first time in his long memory, impatience was pushing past his solid walls of control. This was important, nothing like he had ever encountered. It would change the course of his life forever. Perhaps patience wasn't a virtue in this instance. He made his decision. Kouga should not be alone. They should be standing side by side.

 

Silence filled the area as the crowd parted for Ayame, a female from the northern pack. There was no reason for her not to mate with a powerful leader. She was strong. And, she wasn't just another pretty face. Exotic was a better word. Large emerald green eyes were contrasted in a frame of thick bright red hair that she kept up in pigtails. Her figure was nothing to scoff at either. She had the hips of a female that could bear children easily and her breasts matched the proportioning of her hips. Even with a slender waist, one could see the strength in her upper body and legs. Though feminine in every way, she was not one to be trifled with. Her attacks were lightening fast, precise, and deadly. No one with any common sense would dare challenge her.

 

She came to stand in front of Kouga as he stood in shocked silence. “You promised, Kouga.”

 

Once Kouga finally found the ability to speak, his voice was soft and gentle. “Ayame, we were young. I was trying to comfort you and never thought you would take me seriously.”

 

Tears were forming in her eyes as anger added to the flush in her face. “A promise is a promise and I have waited for many years. I came to hold you to that promise, yet, here I stand in the middle of this…” She waved her hand to indicate those gathered. “…this gathering to hear your request for permission to mate with another. Do you have any idea how much that hurts?”

 

“Ayame, I never meant to hurt you. I thought you understood,” said Kouga, reaching out to brush a single tear from her cheek.

 

“You sonofabitch!” she screamed, slapping his hand away, her lips thinning and eyes glaring at him. “You will not break your promise to me. I won't let you.”

 

“You are challenging me openly, Ayame,” Kouga growled, his youki rising in his anger.

 

Ayame felt his power prickle along her skin and narrowed her eyes at him. “Don`t you dare go all beasty on me, Kouga! I have a right to my claim.”

 

“So be it. You know you must first pass the tests,” growled Kouga, his patience wearing thin.

 

“I am more than ready.” Her voice held the confidence that no one should have when faced with the ultimate test to become lupa, the female leader of the pack.

 

“Raise your beast, Ayame,” demanded Kouga, determination written in every line of his features.

 

Ayame took a deep breath, the aura of her power flaring as her beast crawled its way up her body. Kouga called his beast then grabbed both her arms. There was no hesitation. Their youki attacked each other with ferocity, clawing, biting, trying to destroy one another.

 

“Stop, stop!” came a distant voice.

 

Kouga's power slipped back into his body and he realized that he and Ayame were on the ground. He pulled her up and noticed her wince. “I did not mean to hurt you, Ayame, but it had to be tested.”

 

“My beast may not recognize yours and I can't be your life mate, but I can still earn the right to be lupa and bear children to my alpha,” she panted.

 

“You realize that it means you can never make the vow to anyone else, and you would forfeit your right to mate with another, unless I give my approval. And, you know that the only one allowed would be Sesshoumaru?”

 

“Yes,” she answered with defiance. “One way or another, I will have you, Kouga.”

 

“Then you want the second test? You still want to be lupa?” Kouga gazed at her, surprised at her determination.

 

“Yes,” she said, without reservation, knowing that no other female in the pack could pass this test and she could damn well do it with ease.

 

A sudden breeze washed across the area and Sesshoumaru appeared, landing beside Kouga. Ayame glared at him and growled. Sesshoumaru simply raised an indifferent eyebrow at her. He looked down at Kouga.

 

“Of what concern is this to the woman?” he demanded, jealousy lighting in his gleaming, golden stare.

 

“She challenged my right to take you as mate, claiming a prior commitment. However, she has failed the test. She has petitioned to be lupa, as is her right. If she passes, she is lupa,” Kouga informed him.

 

Sesshoumaru furrowed his brow. Slowly his expression morphed to one of a predatory, confident in the demise of its prey. Kouga got a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach when Sesshoumaru turned that knowing gaze on him.

 

`What the hell is he up to now?' thought Kouga with a frown on his face.

 

“I am merely a spectator. Proceed,” he carelessly instructed as though he had nothing invested in the outcome.

 

“Now, the true test.” Kouga sighed as he unsheathed his sword. He had never had to do this before and it tied his stomach into knots. Ayame held her breath and bared the center of her chest, but did not take her eyes off Kouga. She watched as he raised his sword. Quicker than her eyes could follow, the sword swept down slicing through her delicate skin. She staggered as blood poured out of the wound. Kouga caught her and held her until she regained her balance.

 

“Heal yourself,” whispered Kouga, stepping away from her.

 

While she transformed as easily as Kouga was able, hair sprouted from her skin, becoming a shining coat of shimmering white fur. She stood on her hind legs, allowing Kouga to inspect the wound. A raw pink scar was all that was left.

 

“You know what comes next. You must be able to make the change without a period of rest.”

 

“I am aware of that,” she growled as her fur receded and she stood before him, the scar no longer visible.

 

She had passed the test. Hiding his disappointment, Kouga turned to the audience.

 

“Will anyone challenge her right to be lupa?” he shouted.

 

Heads turned, searching for any who might rise to the challenge. After long moments, Ayame let out a breath she hadn't been aware she'd been holding. It was over. She was lupa, and Kouga couldn't do a damn thing about it. She had him now. Admittedly, not in the way she expected.

 

Kouga took her hand, formally presenting her to the crowd.

 

“Your new lupa stands before you,” he declared. `Gods, I'm going to have to sleep with her,' he moaned to himself.

 

Cheering rose from the crowd. Sesshoumaru leaned down and whispered into Kouga's ear, his words lost in the clamor of clapping hands and raised voices.

 

“The question of an heir has been answered, my wolf.”

 

“I don't know if I can do it. I just…don't know, and it doesn't seem fair that Ayame can't share herself with anyone else,” said Kouga, stopping himself from shaking his head.

 

“It was her choice, was it not? And, if you cannot please her, I can.”

 

“You are mine,” growled Kouga. Sesshoumaru simply chuckled.

 

As the cheering died down, the arguments between the council members began anew, some still arguing that a dog demon should not share the same level of power over the pack as a wolf. The arguments began to grate on Sesshoumaru's nerves.

 

“Silence,” he boomed, sending out an energy ribbon, slicing through a nearby tree.

 

Retracting his ribbon, he allowed acid to drip from his hand, melting the earth and stone at his feet. Quicker than was possible for Kouga or Ayame, he took his full dog demon form, towering above the audience, then just as quickly disappeared in a ball of light, only to reappear at Kouga's side.

 

“You will have my protection. Is that not enough?” he questioned the stunned audience.

 

“You cannot deny me his bed,” Ayame broke in before anyone had a chance to respond.

 

“Of course not. You have proven yourself worthy to bear his heirs,” replied Sesshoumaru with a smug grin.

 

Kouga cursed under his breath. He was being put in a very difficult position, one that there was no running from. The worst part of it was; it was no one's fault but his own.

 

At least, he had the balls to admit it.

 

 

 

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Thank you for reading, rating, and reviewing. It is a great encouragement.

 

 

MM.ORG

 

JokEr

Glad to have made your day. I know that this is a fairly boring chapter, but I'm sure that you will like the next. ^_^

 

Gen 50

^_^ Thanks for the long list of stuff that you liked. It helps! . Yeah, I like doing snippets, hints at something more sometimes. So, what do you think of the pairing now, huh? You had a hard time wrapping your mind around it at first. ^_^

 

Life's untold stories

Heheh, yeah, my guys really need to adjust. Glad you liked the lemon so much. ^_^

 

Heartstar

Heheh, glad that so many like the pelt! ^_^ Thanks for the review!

 

Sesshy's numba1 gurl

Wow. Eh, best one that you've read? I hope that you are able to read more fics because I know that there are writers out there that are much better than me. You should check out AmberRose. There are many authors that do great jobs. Thanks for such a great compliment!

 

yellowkiwi

So glad that you gave the story a try. I wrote it as a favor to a friend and by writing this fic, I've gained more respect for Kouga. His ego sometimes gives readers/viewers the impression that there isn't much of a brain in his head, but he is more three dimensional than he is given credit for. Glad you liked it and thanks for the review!

 

 

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*Disclaimer*

 

Inuyasha and all associated characters are owned by Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, Sunrise, and Viz. I do not own Inuyasha and 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 android to use and abuse at will.

 

 

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