InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Just Say You Love Me ❯ Chapter 3

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Merkamou blinked, certain he had misunderstood the kitsune. “She was what?”

“Kidnapped! That mangy wolf kidnapped Yuriko!”

Merkamou saw red. The door in his hand cracked as his talons punched through. “You are certain of this?”

“She's gone, and Koga just took off. I know that bastard has her.” Shippou had his hand on his sword, growling. “I'm going to kill him very slowly for this.”

The dark voice coming from the kitsune caught Merkamou's attention. Shippou barely sounded like himself. “We will hunt him down.”

“I can't believe he would pull something like this.”

An odd thought flashed across the hawk's mind. “Well, I guess that answers the question of what kind of a pair he has.”

Shippou stared. “With all due respect, what the hell are you talking about?”

“I truly thought he would barge into a meeting and make a grand announcement. I did not think he would be this rash.” Merkamou's eyes flashed again before he started to force himself to calm, hearing the conversation with his sister in his mind. He moved back into his room. “Care for a drink?”

“Maybe you didn't hear me. Your only daughter is gone!”

“I heard you, and I will be setting out after them in a rage very soon. First I must decide how to handle this. In order to do this, I will need at least one strong drink. Probably several.”

“How to handle this?” Shippou followed his lord into his room. “We hunt the wolf down and slaughter him! This is Yuriko we're talking about! We have to save her!”

“I can hear you, Shippou-san. There is no need to yell.” Merkamou poured a drink and handed it to the kitsune. “I am starting to believe you will need this more then me.”

“She could be in danger! Why would he kidnap her? Is Hideaki looking to use her as leverage?”

“Nothing that nefarious. It looks like the wolf has kidnapped Yuriko for himself.”

“No. It can't be that. I know he's been looking at her, but I never thought he would pull something like this.” Shippou downed his drink in one shot. “You'd think he'd grow out of this one day.”

“He has done this before?”

“He kidnapped Kagome-chan after he first met her.”

“He does have excellent taste.” Merkamou downed his own drink. “Did he hurt Kagome?”

“No, just announced she was his woman and took off with her.”

“Then he may live through this.”

“Nani? It doesn't matter why he grabbed her, or that he's done it before, or that he's got great taste! We're still going to hunt him down and kill him for touching her!”

“Shippou-san?”

“What?”

“Do you have feelings for my daughter?”

“What?!” Shippou choked on his second drink. “N-no, my lord! She's my best friend!”

“You strike me as being rather jealous.”

“Can we focus on the wolf? Who kidnapped your daughter?”

“Hai, hai. The fool will make it rather difficult for me to handle this without a major incident. He is very quick, and I doubt we will reach him before he can reach the Northern lands. That will involve Hideaki. If I slaughter Koga in the North, Hideaki can take offense and use that as an excuse to cause problems. And Yuriko would probably never talk to me again.”

“Yuriko is a prisoner. You're supposed to go save her.”

“Unless, of course, she does not wish to be saved.”

“You can't possibly be suggesting that she wants to be his mate. Are you?”

Merkamou laughed. “Do you honestly think he could have gotten my daughter out of the palace if she truly did not want to go? He succeeded because she does not wish to hurt him.”

“He doesn't know about her new trick, does he?”

“I doubt it. She only recently mastered that skill, and it is not widely known.”

“So, can we go kill him now?”

“We will go after them, of course. Most likely I will have to challenge him. I can win without killing him and then give the choice to Yuriko. I have that right as her father so long as they have not sealed their relationship.”

“Sealed?”

“You know perfectly well what I am referring to.”

“He better not put his filthy paws on her.” Shippou growled to himself, slamming his cup down. “Can we go yet?”

“Let me tell Akane what has happened. Then we hunt.”

----

“Please, Koga, can we stop?”

“You're just trying to let your father catch up.” Koga gave her a bit of a glare, but came to a stop in a clearing. “Like it or not, I think we both need to take a break. Can I get a promise that you're not gonna' take off? I don't want to try to keep a grip on you.”

“I promise I will not take off, Koga. I would not be able to find my way back, anyways. I could not see or hear anything for this entire trip.” Yuriko was relieved to let her feet touch the ground again. She slowly stretched, working out all of the muscles that had cramped during the hours of being hauled across Japan. “Please, just leave me here. Papa will find me, and there does not have to be an incident.”

“No. I'm not leaving you here by yourself, I don't care if your Papa's chasing us, and I'm not letting you go back to finish wasting away.” Koga moved Yuriko so that she was sitting on a rock next to the stream. “This is for your own good.”

“Or is it because this is what you want?”

“Oh, there's that, too. Mostly it's because you need it. Otherwise I could've waited.”

“Are you certain that this is a good idea?”

“Why do you keep asking me that? Would I go through all of this shit if it wasn't?”

“I want to make sure that you are not making a huge mistake just on a whim.”

“I don't think that's it. I think you've got an issue with me being the one to grab you. Have you got an issue with me?”

“I did not say that.”

“Afraid of what your family will say if you live with those barbarian wolves? My ears are better then they think, and I know what they're saying when they think I'm not listening.” The wolf's eyes narrowed. “Or maybe you were looking to get grabbed by a kitsune.”

“It is not that, Koga!”

“Then what's the problem?”

“You kidnapped me!”

“And? What do hawks do when they see something they want and they're pretty sure that Papa isn't going to give her up?”

“You are being a selfish bastard! When do I get a say in this?”

Koga went nose to nose with the hawk, his eyes dark. “You think I'd force you, don't you. You really think I'd do something like that to you. Damn it, Yuriko, I thought you knew me better then that.”

“You kidnapped me. You are supposed to be my friend.”

“I don't feel like this for my friends.” The wolf gave Yuriko a slow once over. “Hell, I don't feel like this for much of anyone.”

Yuriko blushed.

“Do you trust me or not?”

“That is a very difficult question just now.”

“Answer the damn question, Yuriko.”

She swallowed hard. “I do trust you, Koga. Whether or not that is a good idea is up for debate right now.”

“Then you know I'm not going to attack you or rape you or anything like that. I'm taking you north, and you get no choice on that part. You need a break. I'm not going to do nothing while you waste away.”

“You are exaggerating again.”

“Really? Did your overprotective Papa notice this?” Koga ran a finger over Yuriko's cheek. “You've lost weight. Did he notice that little tremble in your hands from not sleeping for too damn long? No. Hell, you're so tired I got you out of your room and over the wall before you even reacted. Did any of your family notice? No. I did. And I'm going to take care of you.”

“This is not Papa's fault!”

“I don't give a damn whose fault it is! You're my woman, and I'm taking care of you.”

“I am not your woman!”

“Until I hear you say that you don't want me.” Koga slapped a hand over Yuriko's mouth before she could break in. “And you have to mean it, little hawk. Until then, you're my woman.”

As soon as he let her, Yuriko was protesting. “I cannot . . . “

“Don't bother saying no now. You're still heading north. No matter what, you're my friend and you need help. Whether you like it or not.”

“You could have handled this better. Papa will obliterate your entire cave. There had to be another way.”

Koga ran his hand over her cheek again. “I handled it my way. I don't want to waste time arguing and negotiating and all of that crap. I just want to take care of you, Yuriko.”

Yuriko bit her lip and turned away. He was right on the important parts. She did not have a choice on heading north, and she was exhausted. For the time being, it did look like she was `his woman'. Her throat was aching from the yelling and the long run, and the stream was starting to look very appealing. She took a long drink, and washed some of the dust off of her arms and face. `Almost as fast as flying, but much dustier.'

She turned around to find Koga watching her intently. “Hai, Koga?”

“Just enjoying the sights.” Koga knelt down next to her, brushing away a stray drop of water on her arm. “That's allowed, right?”

“Koga, this is not . . .”

When Koga brushed his lips against hers, Yuriko fought with herself to not react. `This is wrong. He has kidnapped me. I cannot enjoy this. I am furious with him.'

It was a losing battle. She ended up leaning into him, letting him wrap one arm around her waist and bury his other hand in her hair. For someone so rough and demanding, he could certainly be quite gentle. His eyes were practically dancing when they broke apart. “Better finish stretching. I really want to get home.”

----

“Hey, does that look like Koga?”

“I don't know, it's hard to tell from that far away . . . “

“Oh, come on, who else has a tornado like that?”

“Well . . . “ Ginta trailed off, scratching at his head.

Hakkaku threw his hands up. “No one, that's who. It's got to be Koga.”

“Good point. Damn, he's back fast. Wonder if somethin' went wrong?”

“Nah. What's gonna' go wrong with Yuriko around to watch him? Wonder if he brought anything back for us.”

“Maybe. He forgot last time, though.”

“He better have remembered this time, then.” Hakkaku waved his hands over his head. “Oy! Koga!”

The tornado changed directions and blew up to them. When the wind and dust settled, the wolf prince was revealed, along with his very cranky passenger.

“Hey, I guess he remembered!”

Ginta elbowed Hakkaku. “I don't think he brought Yuriko for us. How've you been, Yuriko?”

“I have had better days.” The hawk glared at the wolf, who still had a death grip on her. She was covered in dust, and very aware that she had been wearing the same clothing for two days. “I do not suppose the wolves have built an army in my absence?”

“Army? Nope, no army.” Hakkaku scratched at his head. “What'd we want with one of those, anyways?”

“My Papa is on his way, and he is going to kill everyone.”

“Huh?” Both of the wolves looked to their prince. “Why's Merkamou coming to kill us?”

“Long story. And he's not gonna' kill us, Yuriko.”

“Really?” Yuriko desperately wished her arms were free so she could cross them. “I am certain that he knows what you have done by now, and that he is right behind us.”

“Uh, Koga? What'd you do to Merkamou?”

“I didn't do a thing.” Koga gave the hawk another glare.

Yuriko ignored the dark look. “He has kidnapped me.”

“Shit, Koga! You kidnapped Merkamou's daughter?”

“Yeah, so?”

Ginta looked like he was preparing to bolt. “Ya know, we're not talking about some mangy dog here, we're talkin' about the Southern Lord.”

Koga stuck his nose up in the air. “It's not a problem.”

“Not a problem?” Hakkaku gave his friend a flabbergasted look before looking back to his prince. “Uh, he's gonna' blow up the den!”

“You sound like her.”

“Then it is a sign that he has more common sense then you do!” Yuriko managed to pinch one of Koga's arms.

“Ow! Watch it!”

Hakkaku turned to his partner. “Should we run now or later?”

“Now sounds good. Merkamou can't be far behind them, since he can fly.”

“No one's running!” Koga glared at the two wolves, wishing his arms were free so he could knock their heads together. “We're heading back to the den!”

“I think we should head north, since he's coming from the south.”

Ginta nodded. “Good plan. I'm gonna grab my mate and the littles. Meet you out front?”

“Sure.”

“Both of you, shut up!” Koga's eyes had a glint of red to them. “No. One. Is. Leaving!”

“Uh, Koga, do you know what you've done? We're not talking about Inuyasha coming in here to grab his miko back. We're talking about one pissed off taiyoukai coming back for his daughter.” Hakkaku fidgeted. “We've gotta run!”

Yuriko sighed, glaring up at the sky. “Too late.”

“Huh?” All three wolves looked at her, then snapped their eyes up to the sky.

A giant red hawk and a smaller eagle were hurtling out of the sky.

Hakkaku and Ginta both started backing up. “Oh, crap.”

-----

Shippou knew they were getting close. He had never visited Koga's den, but Merkamou had, and the hawk had gotten noticeably tenser after he passed a certain river. The kitsune was relieved for multiple reasons, not the least of which being that it was absolutely exhausting chasing his lord while holding on to the form of an eagle.

As soon as Merkamou had walked out of his room in the palace, he had transformed into the irate lord that Shippou had been expecting from the beginning.

It had not helped the situation when Akane had started laughing so hard that tears ran down her face.

----

“Oh, heavens, I cannot believe that this has actually happened. Do give my compliments to the wolf for pure nerve before you kill him.”

“This is not an occasion for laughing, Akane.”

“No, it is not, but I am simply too amazed at this prince to do anything else. He may very well make a lovely match for your daughter.”

“Akane-sama!” Shippou had to fight to keep from snarling at the lady.

“Go on, little brother. I will tend to things here while you rush to your daughter's rescue. Just remember what we talked about.”

“I will, Akane.”

Shippou looked between the two hawks, wondering what they were talking about. `Is that why Merkamou didn't just take off after Koga? What did Akane say to him?'

----

`Two days of this. I think my arms are going to fall off. Please, please, please let us be close. It's going to be so much harder to rip the wolf a new asshole with no arms.' Shippou kept searching the countryside, looking for any sign of his friend or her captor.

When Merkamou's scream cut across the sky, Shippou knew that Koga had been spotted. Even in the form of an eagle, he had the eyes of a kitsune. The true hawk spotted their prey well before the fox.

The red hawk dove, leaving the eagle to struggle along behind him. `Sure, easy for him to do. He's been doing this his whole life. Damn it all!' Shippou struggled to keep up while keeping enough control to avoid plowing into the ground. That was not the entrance he wanted to make.

Merkamou came to rest on a rise, mantling his wings and hissing at the three wolves that had his daughter. The two underlings were backing away, their hands up, while Koga stood his ground. Yuriko was quietly waiting in the wolf's arms, her expression unreadable. Shippou settled next to his lord, exhaustion forgotten when he finally saw Koga and Yuriko. He echoed his lord's hiss.

“I wasn't expecting you quite this soon, Merkamou-sama. Your guards must have run right to you when I left.” Koga kept his cocky smirk, even as he tried to think of how he was going to get out of this one

The hawk disappeared, replaced by a very pissed off taiyoukai with a kitsune at his side. “Release my daughter before I destroy your clan.”

Yuriko could not resist. “Told you so.”

“Not now, hawk.” Koga hissed at her out of the corner of his mouth.

“You do not have long to live, so I might as well get it in now.”

“You're confidence in me is just fucking amazing.”

Ginta hissed from behind them. “She's right, you know.”

“Hey, pay attention!” Shippou's hands were clenched into fists. “Give her back right now, you mangy wolf!”

Koga snorted, tightening his grip on Yuriko. “I knew that dog rubbed off on you, runt.”

“Runt?” The kitsune started to march over but was stopped by Merkamou.

Merkamou kept his eyes trained on the wolf. “This is no joke, Koga. Give me my daughter immediately.”

“Not happening, Merkamou! She's my woman now!”

“Uh oh.” Ginta and Hakkaku started to back up again.

“Oh, hell.” Yuriko took advantage of Koga's distraction to smack her self in the forehead. “Not a good idea, Koga.”

“Your woman?” Merkamou was rather glad that he knew this was coming, so it did not throw his control completely over the edge. Images of the wolf being dismembered danced in front of his eyes. “You dare to claim her?”

“No one else has, she said so herself. She's fair game, and you know it!”

Shippou's control snapped. “No, she's not! I'll challenge you for her!”

Koga blinked. “Huh?”

Three voices echoed, “Nani?”

Merkamou smacked himself in the forehead. “Oh, hell.”

The kitsune was practically bristling as he glared at the wolf. “You heard me, shit for brains!”

`Must remember, do not bring the impulsive and jealous kitsune along on delicate matters.' Merkamou grabbed Shippou and hissed in his ear. “And what, exactly, do you think you are doing?”

“I'm not letting Koga claim her!”

“I believe the plan was to have me challenge him, so that Yuriko could make the choice on her own.”

“He'll never give up, Merkamou-sama.”

“You do realize that if you win, you will have Yuriko for a mate.”

Shippou blinked, but his jaw tightened. “I know.”

“You had your chance, kitsune. You turned her down.” Koga pulled Yuriko tighter against his chest. “I'm not letting you hurt her again just `cause you can't stand the idea of me having her.”

“I'm not the one that snatched her in the middle of the night. She trusted you, jack ass!”

Merkamou hauled the kitsune behind him. “Regardless of what else has happened, if you wish to claim her you must defeat me, Koga.”

“So you're gonna' challenge my claim, huh?” Koga eased his grip on Yuriko, letting her feet touch the ground. “Somehow I knew this was gonna' happen. Not good enough for your little princess. Yuriko, get out of here. I don't want to worry about you getting hit.”

“Excuse me? The last time I checked you were in more danger of being hit by me. I am not going to just stand here and watch while you fight Papa.” Yuriko grabbed onto one of his arms. “Stop this!”

“And I told you, you're worth fighting for.”

“But I am not worth dying for!” The young hawk grabbed onto both of Koga's shoulders, forgetting about their audience. “Please, listen to me. I do not want you to get killed.”

“It's not your damn choice on whether or not you're worth dying for.” Koga ducked down to press a quick, passionate kiss on Yuriko's lips. “Ginta, Hakkaku, make sure she stays out of the way.”

“Nani? Let go of me!” Ginta was kicked in the gut and Hakkaku was thrown to the ground, but they managed to drag her with them off to the side.

Merkamou had missed nothing of their exchange. He had seen the rather desperate expression in his daughter's eyes when he had challenged the wolf. The kiss had been of the utmost interest, especially since his daughter and leaned into it so willingly. `It looks as though the wolf must live.'

“Merkamou-sama, let me fight him. He doesn't deserve to fight you.” Shippou was still growling under his breath.

“If you fight him, then you will face me.” The Southern Lord gave the kitsune a small glare. “I will not let you take the choice away from her anymore then I will let him.”

Shippou had the good sense to back up. “I didn't mean it that way! Honestly, Merkamou-sama!”

“Your arms are still attached, so I must believe you.” Flashing a quick smile, Merkamou drew his sword. “I will be right back.”

Koga was waiting, his usual cocky expression in place and his sword in his hand. Behind him, Yuriko was still struggling with Ginta and Hakkaku. From the sounds of it, the wolves would have several injuries to show from their part in this.

It was no shock to Merkamou when the wolf charged him, using his speed to close the distance between them. Sparks flew as their blades met again and again, the wolf striving to push him back. It was nice to see that Koga was not helpless, and was actually a skilled fighter. Merkamou tossed him back, willing to drag the fight out in order to see what this wolf was capable of.

“Don't fucking toy with me!” Koga charged in again, fully aware that Merkamou was holding back. “Let's do this!”

The hawk smiled, and put his sword away. “You truly wish to do this, Koga?”

“You think I'm talking to hear my head rattle?”

The wind picked up, making Yuriko hit the grass and drag the wolves down with her. “Trust me, you wish to be as close to the ground as possible right now.”

“You are a selfish, cocky bastard. You abused my hospitality and my daughter's trust.” Merkamou's voice had a hiss to it, his anger threatening to take over. “How dare you put my daughter at risk, or take her against her will?”

“It's for her own good, because you were too damn busy to notice what she was doing!” Koga growled as the wind whipped at him, the debris cutting at his skin. `This is worse then dealing with Kagura.'

“And what was she doing?” Whirlwinds were forming around the wolf, threatening to rip the skin from his body.

“She's killing herself! She's not sleeping or eating! And you didn't even notice!”

The wind died down to just tossing the wolf's hair around. Merkamou's eyes searched out his daughter. “Yuriko, what is he talking about?”

“Nothing, Papa!”

“Nothing, my ass! Take a good look at your little princess, Merkamou!”

Koga was tossed aside with a gesture, the winds tearing at his skin.

“Yuriko-chan, come here.”

Ginta and Hakkaku had not been holding on to her for awhile now, and did not even attempt to stop her when she rose and walked to her father.

The hawk carefully examined her, for the first time noticing the shadows around her eyes that she had kept hidden. “Yuriko.”

“Hai, Papa?”

“What have you done to yourself, aijou?”

“I am only helping you, Papa. There is just so much that needs to be done . . . “

“I am blind.” Merkamou trailed his fingers over his daughter's hair. “He is right.”

Yuriko bit her lip.

“That does not mean that I will not punish him, though.”

“Papa . . . “

The hawk leaned down to whisper in his daughter's ear. “But I will not kill him.”

“Arigato.”

“And where was I.” Merkamou turned, looking towards the wolf that was stumbling towards them. “Ah, yes. I remember now.”

Koga was snarling, ignoring the many gashes that were leaking blood. “Yeah, that's right, you've still got to deal with me.”

Merkamou found himself backing up rapidly, rather surprised when the injured wolf charged him. Koga was right on top of him, and the hawk could not shake him off. The wind would do him no good at this range, and the prince had figured that out. The hawk's sword flashed into existence, trying to drive the crazed wolf back. Koga was having none of it.

“Just let her go, Merkamou!”

The hawk hissed, knocking Koga to his knees. “She is my daughter.”

“It's my turn to take care of her now.” The wolf struggled to his feet, slowly pushing his opponent back. “You can't hide her forever.”

“It is not your choice.”

“No, it's her fucking choice. At least I'm giving her one!”

Merkamou saw red, hauling back to go straight through the wolf's sword and into his heart.

“Papa!”

The winds suddenly changed direction, knocking Merkamou back. He did not even have to look up to know that Yuriko would be on her knees, shaking. “Stop that, Yuriko.”

Yuriko collapsed onto her side, holding her head. “That was stupid.”

“Hai.”

Koga was completely distracted, turning his back to Merkamou when he heard Yuriko fall over. “Oy, hawk! What's the matter?”

“She should know better then to try to start a windstorm when exhausted.” Merkamou shook his head and put his sword away. He had managed two steps towards his daughter before Koga was at her side.

“What the hell were you thinking?” Koga peered into her eyes, concern obvious in his expression. “I'm hauling your ass to the den, then I can deal with your Papa.”

“You do realize he is right behind you, correct?”

Koga looked back over his shoulder, meeting Merkamou's eyes. “I think we can agree to deal with this after you're somewhere safe. Right?”

Merkamou gave a slight nod. He did not even protest when Koga scooped his daughter up and took off for the den. Ginta and Hakkaku looked at each other, bowed to the taiyoukai, then took off after their fearless leader.

“Wait for us, Koga!”

“You're just going to let him take off with her again?” Shippou was still bristling.

“Hai.”

“Why, Merkamou-sama? Why are you letting that pathetic excuse for a wolf haul her around?”

“Because I saw the way she looked at him.” The hawk smiled as he started to walk to the wolves' den.

“I think you've finally lost your mind, my lord.”