InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Just Say You Love Me ❯ Chapter 5

A/N: Hey, there are still people reading. Cool! I'm not sure what's set my muse off, but I'm not questioning it at all. I'm tempted to think that it's because I started doing some of those theme contests on Live Journal. Kind of knocked her loose. Anyways, here's another chapter. Should be just one more after this. Told you this was a short story. And, for those of you asking (you know who you are), Kags, Sesshy, and those guys are not putting in an appearance in this story. They've got their own story in the works.

 

I still don't own them. Wish I did, but I don't. I'll cope.

 

----

 

“So, no shit, there we are. There's about six of us, and about twenty of them. And them were some of the biggest damn youkai I've ever seen. Ginta's got the damn scroll hidden in his furs, next to a really sensitive spot, the idiot, and these big guys just know it. They've got us surrounded. Koga looks over at me and says, `Just let me handle this.' He walks over to the biggest bastard out there. Koga barely comes up to his waist. Our prince leans his head way back and yells, `Do you know who I am?'”

 

Yuriko had an arm wrapped around her middle, trying to stop laughing long enough to breathe. “This was his great plan?”

 

“Oh, yeah.” Ginta sucked in a breath between fits of laughter. “Of course, the big bastard says `Nope'. Koga turns bright red and starts swearing up a storm. `Whadda ya mean, you don't know who the fuck I am?' The whole time he's got his head cranked all the way back, since he's looking the guy in the crotch.”

 

The hanyou looked over at Koga. “And you thought this was a good idea?”

 

“It sounded like a good idea at the time!”

 

The wolves howled with laughter as they lounged around a massive fire under a nearly full moon. It was no surprise that many of Koga's stories ended in the exact same way. Yuriko was wheezing with laughter, leaning against one of the four legged wolves for support. “Stop! I cannot take anymore!”

 

“Oh, no, princess. We're just getting started.” A different wolf sat up and waved his hand. “I've known Koga since he just a little pup, and he went and got into a fight with the biggest of the four-legs, Shino. Shino delivered him to his mother, hauling him by the scruff of his neck like a runaway pup.”

 

Koga groaned from the pile of furs his pack had set up for him by the fire. “Why are you still telling everyone about that, Haru? That was centuries ago!”

 

“Come on, it's a great story. Not like it was just one time, either. Shino was hauling you back to your mother until you got so big he had to drag you on the ground.”

 

A large, grizzled wolf rolled onto his back and stretched out at Koga's side. The prince ruffled the old wolf's hair.

 

“Shino, correct?” Yuriko stretched over to help Koga scratch the wolf. “Are you still available for work?”

 

Shino twisted so that he was looking up at the hawk with a lopsided wolf grin.

 

“I think we will become excellent friends, Shino.”

 

Koga leaned over to give Shino a long look. “Aren't you supposed to be on my side, mutt?”

 

“You know Shino wants what's best for you, Koga.” Hakkaku tossed his daughter in the air and caught her, despite his mate's protests.

 

“The hell he does. Anyone can buy him with a hunk of venison.”

 

Merkamou grinned from the other side of the fire. “If my daughter does not have work for you, Shino, I do have some nobles that I would to love to have disciplined. Your price sounds quite reasonable.”

 

Shino sat up, with his ears perked.

 

One of the wolves snorted. “He's gone mercenary!”

 

“Mangy wolves.”

 

Yuriko gave the kitsune a long look. “Behave yourself, Shippou-kun.”

 

Shippou mumbled something unintelligible and looked away, arms crossed.

 

“Okay, then. Some one is up past their bed time.” Yuriko pushed herself to her feet, giving the four-leg she had been sitting with one last pat. “Come on, Shippou-kun. Let us get you settled for the night.”

 

“I'm not a little kid, Yuriko-chan.”

 

“I know, but you still look very tired after flying here with Papa and all of today's excitement.” The hanyou held out her hand with a smile. “Please?”

 

Shippou groaned. “You know I can't say no when you use those eyes.”

 

“I know, which is why I use them.”

 

The kitsune was easily pulled to his feet, and Yuriko herded him inside. The wolves asked if he was getting a bed time story as well, and she had to grab her friend by the scruff of the neck and haul him inside. “Why do you let them get to you like that?”

 

“I didn't start it. They're just looking for a chance to fight with me.”

 

“You are being absurd. You are usually the friendliest being I have ever met.”

 

“Wolves are annoying.”

 

With barely a thought, Yuriko tripped her friend and set him none too gently in a pile of furs. “Shippou-kun, you are my best friend, but I am telling you just this once to grow up.”

 

The hawk found herself flat on her back, tossed and pinned by Shippou. “I taught you that trick. What makes you think it's going to work on me?”

 

Yuriko bucked and knocked him off, laughing. “It did catch you off guard.”

 

Shippou caught her around the waist and pinned her arms to her sides, kneeling on the floor behind her. “You're just too devious for your own good.”

 

“You only say that when it is turned against you.”

 

“Hell yes. I taught you everything you know. How dare you turn against your master?”

 

“Master?” Yuriko broke his grip and tossed him over her shoulder, putting him back on the furs again with a loud thud. “Remind me that we need to establish who the master is and who the student is tomorrow. I will not have you complaining that you were too tired, Shippou-sensei.”

 

“We shall see, my student.” Shippou snatched one of Yuriko's legs out from underneath her, sending her to the ground. Panting, he looked down at her flushed, smiling face. “Yuriko-chan, you can't stay here.”

 

She let one eyebrow pop up. “And why not?”

 

“What am I going to do without you around? Are you really going to leave me to my own devices? We've been together forever! Who's going to wrestle with me and help me figure out new moves, or raid the kitchens after everyone's asleep, or stay up all night making up constellations with me?”

 

“You are overreacting. You go to visit Katsuro, and I go on trips with Papa. We do fine apart, and it is not as though I am dying.”

 

“But it's always been the two of us in the end!”

 

“Shippou-kun . . . “

 

“You have to come home.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Purely selfish reasons.”

 

Yuriko's eyes flew wide in shock when Shippou's lips touched hers. He was pressed against her, his hair escaping to fall around her. After so many years, Shippou was kissing her. Her hands tightened around his arms as her eyes betrayed her and closed. His lips moved in a soft, inviting motion against her own, and her world tilted to the side so sharply she thought she would fall off.

 

Suddenly Yuriko jerked away, leaving Shippou alone in a tangle of limbs. She tore out of the cave, through the startled wolves, and on into the night. Too much had changed. Her mind could not keep up and her heart was aching. `Why now? Why is he doing this when I had finally let him go? Just a few years ago I would have thrown myself into his arms and lived happily ever after. Now . . . `

 

Thoughts of Koga danced through her head. There was no doubt to what he wanted, or his intentions. He wanted Yuriko in a way that she had never experienced before. `Why do I have to choose?'

 

Hidden in the trees, Yuriko looked down at the still lake. The moon shone on the black water. It was a picture of perfect tranquility. She wanted to tear it all apart with her talons. `Damn them both for their timing!'

 

“Aijou?”

 

`Of course he followed me.' Yuriko turned to look at her father. “Hai, Papa?”

 

“Do not `Hai, Papa' me. What happened.” Merkamou walked up to her, looking her over carefully.

 

“I had a talk with Shippou.”

 

“A talk?” Merkamou leaned in close to his daughter. “I do not have the nose that Sesshoumaru has, but I can tell that you did not just talk.”

 

“Papa, when have you ever known me and Shippou to have an argument without it turning physical?”

 

“True.” Merkamou backed away. “Then explain why you ran out.”

 

Yuriko turned away, toying with the ends of her hair. “He does not want me to stay.”

 

“Not surprising. You two are quite close.”

 

“Oh, this is awkward. Papa, were you aware that I had feelings for Shippou?”

 

“Of course.” Merkamou gave her hair a tug. “I am not blind, aijou.”

 

“And he did not return my feelings.” Yuriko sighed, letting go of her hair. “Until now.”

 

“Nani?” Merkamou paused, then grinned. “I knew that he was jealous!”

 

“Focus, Papa.”

 

“Of course. Continue.”

 

“He wants to be with me now. After he said that he did not see me that way, now he wants me to leave Koga and be with him!”

 

“And what did you say?”

 

“The first time I told him that he could not just change his mind like that. Just now I said nothing.” Yuriko sank to the ground and wrapped her arms around her knees. “I ran away.”

 

Merkamou sat next to her, his shoulder barely brushing against her as they both looked at the lake. Silence stretched between them for several long minutes while he scrambled for a way to help her. “What do you wish for, aijou?”

 

“A few years ago, I would have said Shippou. Two days ago, I would have said Koga. Now I do not know.”

 

“What does your heart want?”

 

Yuriko paused. “I am not sure.”

 

The Southern Lord chuckled and gave his daughter a poke. “Always charging in to a fight, even when you do not know what it is you are fighting for.”

 

“Papa, this is serious!”

 

“Precisely, my dearest. I suspect that your heart has already made a choice. You have been too busy trying to make things as complicated as possible to even hear what that choice is.”

 

“None of this is my fault.” Yuriko threw a rock, expertly skipping it across the lake.

 

“But it is your choice.”

 

“And why is it that you are suddenly so eager to see me settled after keeping the males away for so long?”

 

Merkamou pointed up to the sky. “See the moon?”

 

“Hai.”

 

“If you wished for it, I would present the moon to you on a silver chain. Whatever you wish for, aijou.” Merkamou let his hand drop and turned his face towards his daughter. “But you have to know what you want, first. When you do not, I simply keep you safe. Or, perhaps I should say, I attempt to.”

 

“Papa . . . “

 

“No. You should not have worked that hard, and I should have noticed. I am so sorry, Yuriko-chan.”

 

“Papa, it was my choice.”

 

“Never again. Do you hear me?”

 

Yuriko rolled her eyes, but smiled. “Hai, Papa.”

 

“Excellent. Now the only thing left for you to do is to choose between the two lords fighting for your affections.”

 

“Ugh. Do I have to think about them?”

 

Merkamou have his daughter another poke. “I thought the point was to not think anymore. I thought the point was to find out what your heart wants.”

 

“Whichever way I choose, I lose.” Yuriko sagged against her father's shoulder. “What would you do, Papa?”

 

“I would not be interested in either of them, daughter.”

 

“Eww!” Bolting upright, Yuriko gave her father a solid smack. “Papa!”

 

“Oh, so you wish for advice now. Damn, I wish my merlin was here to deal with this one.”

 

“Me too.”

 

Merkamou sighed, tugging his daughter back to rest against his shoulder. “I suppose you will have to make do with me. How do you feel for Shippou now?”

 

“I am . . . confused. He is my best friend. I wanted to be more for most of my life, but he never saw me. I think I gave up on him.”

 

“And Koga?”

 

Yuriko blushed, ducking her head to hide behind hair and feathers. “He is rash, demanding, arrogant, rude . . . and fun, exciting, supportive. He always seems to be proud of me. I am not even sure why, but he is so proud of the way I fight. And he is the first male to dare your wrath so that he can be with me.”

 

“He knew I would kill him. He was expecting to die for taking you, but he did it anyways. He said that you were worth dying for.”

 

A tear slid down Yuriko's cheek. “He said that?”

 

“Hai.”

 

“I thought he was truly expecting to win.”

 

“No, aijou. He was expecting to be killed, but if there was a chance he wanted to take it.” Merkamou hissed, clenching one hand into a fist. “And I so wanted to kill him until he said that.”

 

“Arigato, Papa.”

 

“He reminded me a bit too much of myself for a moment.”

 

Yuriko giggled, wiping away the moisture on her face. “You did not kidnap Mama.”

 

“I did not have to. Kagome was more then willing to assist.” Merkamou hugged his daughter's shoulders. “He loves you, Yuriko-chan.”

 

“And Shippou?”

 

“I think he loves you, too, but I doubt even he knows what he is feeling. I am beginning to think that he is too young for you.”

 

“Papa, he is older then me.”

 

“In years, perhaps, but you have always been so very mature. Your best friend has a lot of catching up to do.”

 

Yuriko nodded, letting her head return to its previous position on her father's shoulder. “Perhaps. Can we stay here for awhile? It is so peaceful.”

 

“Of course, aijou.”

 

----

 

“What the hell?”

 

Koga watched Yuriko go running by, her face hidden by her hair. “How the hell am I supposed to chase her when I'm fucked up like this?”

 

The Southern Lord turned into a ball of flame and took off after his daughter.

 

“Guess that takes care of that.” Haru looked back towards the cave, his expression dark. “What set her off?”

 

Koga growled, and it was echoed by Shino. “I'll give you one guess.”

 

“Where'd Yuriko go?” Shippou skid to halt, suddenly faced with an unhappy wolf pack.

 

The prince sat up, a hand pressed to his chest. “She's with her precious Papa. What the fuck did you do?”

 

Shippou stuck his nose in the air. “Nothing.”

 

“The hell you didn't. Something happened with you and Yuriko, and I want to know what!”

 

A female voice cut in. “So do I, for that matter.”

 

Koga fell back into the furs. “Your timing sucks, Ayame!”

 

“Well, when one of my princes sends a message that he's taking a mate, I come out to see him.” Ayame jumped down from the top of the cave, landing in the circle of light around the fire. “Unless I'm really confused, shouldn't your mate be with you, and not flirting with other males?”

 

“She's not his mate!” Shippou stepped closer to the red headed wolf. “Hang on a second. Ayame?”

 

The wolf in question looked Shippou over. “And who are you?”

 

“It's you! Perfect! Koga's kidnapped a new mate. Get him!”

 

There was dead silence, then the wolves started to howl with laughter. Koga was trying to stop, his hands against the hole in his chest, but he was still wheezing. “You are so behind, runt.”

 

Ayame shook her head. “I gave up on Koga a long time ago. And good riddance.”

 

“Hey!”

 

“Turns out that I can rule the wolf tribes on my own, no male needed.” The wolf queen tossed her long, red hair back behind her shoulder. “Which brings me right back to the part where you said you have a mate, Koga.”

 

“Well . . . “ Koga squirmed under his queen's glare. “I might have been a bit quick on that one.”

 

Shippou advanced on Koga again. “She's not yours, so just shut the hell up!”

 

Ayame walked over to Koga, concern in her eyes. “You look like you got run over by a herd of horses. What the hell happened to you?”

 

“Long story.” Koga let his head fall back and his eyes slide closed.

 

“Is this about your mate again?”

 

“Damn right it is.” The kitsune was standing over Koga now, clenching his fists. He never even noticed it when Ayame moved. He was thrown through the air and slammed into the side of the cave.

 

“Don't threaten one of my wolves, kitsune.” Ayame was advancing on Shippou, her fangs flashing in the fire light. “Who the hell are you, anyways? How do you know me?”

 

“I'm Shippou. I was there when Koga was courting Kagome, the miko.” He carefully pulled away from the rock wall he had landed against. “I'm a Southern lord.”

 

“Really. Remind me to talk to Merkamou about keeping his lords in line while in my territory.” Ayame turned away, clearly dismissing the kitsune. “So, when are we expecting your possible mate back?”

 

Koga opened his eyes, none too thrilled that this conversation was still going. “How the hell would I know? No one's got control of her, least of all me.”

 

Ayame knelt down next to her prince, raising one eyebrow. “I think I like her already.”

 

“You would. She'll probably be the only one who gives me more headaches then you.”

 

“You sound like a wolf in love, Koga.”

 

Ginta gave a quick bow, but did not even attempt to hide his mischievous grin. “It better be love, Ayame-sama. Just look at what her father did to him!”

 

“It is impressive work. I like the part with the cheekbone in particular.” Ayame's taunting voice belied the gentle fingers that turned Koga's head in the firelight. “Are there any injuries I should actually worry about? Should I be looking for a replacement? Perhaps Ginta and Hakkaku are ready to take the tribe on.”

 

“Hey, I'll give it a try!” Ginta's declaration was met with a chorus of hisses and some thrown rocks, including one from Hakkaku. “It was her idea, what's everyone getting mad at me for?”

 

“'Cause they have too much sense to follow your dumb ass.” Koga tugged his chin away from the red headed wolf. “I'll be up by tomorrow. No reason to get their hopes up, Ayame.”

 

“I'll hold you to that.” Settling in to an empty spot closer to the fire, Ayame looked around the lounging wolves. “So, I guess this means I'm stuck waiting for your lovely mate.”

 

“She's not his . . .” Shippou trailed off when he noticed the nasty glare being directed at him from Ayame.

 

“That's what I thought.” The queen's glare evaporated, to be replaced by a friendly smile. “So long as I'm here, how are things in the plains, Koga?”

 

----

 

“Aijou.”

 

“Not yet, Papa. I will be up soon. Promise.”

 

“Aijou.”

 

“Oh, just let me sleep in some more. And who left the windows open, it is bright in here.”

 

“And what windows would those be, Yuriko-chan?”

 

Gold eyes slowly opened. Her vision was obscured by a screen of black hair and feathers, but she could see enough to notice she was most definitely not in her room. “Huh?”

 

“You may wake up earlier then me by habit, but you still take quite a while to truly become aware of your surroundings.” Merkamou's shoulder shook as he laughed. “Up, daughter. The wolves will begin to think that we have been eaten. While they may say good riddance to me, I think they would grieve for you.”

 

“Did I sleep through the whole night out here?”

 

“Evidently, you did. Do you feel better?”

 

Yuriko slowly took stock of her body, and realized that she had more energy then she had felt in quite some time. “Hai, Papa. Despite the fact that I slept on the ground, I do feel better.”

 

“Wonderful. Up you go, little one. I do not want to be responsible for Koga doing something rash and making his injuries worse.” Merkamou stood and easily pulled his daughter along with him.

 

“And you still do not feel bad for injuring him so badly?”

 

“No. Why, should I?”

 

“You are impossible, Papa.”

 

The hawk lord gave his daughter an injured look. “Whatever do you mean?”

 

“You know quite well what I mean.”

 

Yuriko squealed when her father tossed her up over his shoulder and set off through the trees.

 

“Put me down, Papa! You put me down right now! I am over two hundred years old! Do not haul me around like I'm sixty again! Are you listening to me?”

 

“Of course not, but I am impossible. Or so I am told.”

 

“You would not dare. You would not dare carry me back like this!”

 

Merkamou continued to walk towards the den where the wolves were starting to move about. “And why not?”

 

“Put me down!”

 

“Ah, it looks like Koga is back on his feet.” Merkamou spotted the wolf prince standing outside of the den, looking rather amused, and talking to a red headed female. One that looked quite familiar. “Looks as though your prince has company.”

 

“Nani?” Yuriko struggled to peek around her father's side. “Who is that?”

 

“An old friend. I should not be surprised she is here, since her prince has been causing problems.”

 

Ayame, for her part, was standing with her mouth hanging open. “Her? You kidnapped that Yuriko? Have you lost your mind?! Merkamou-sama, thank you for not killing my idiot prince. I had no idea that he was talking about your daughter when he said the name Yuriko.”

 

“Of course, Ayame-san. I would never suspect you of being involved in something that could have so easily become a political disaster. It is not your style. How have you been? I have not seen you in many years.” Merkamou easily swung his daughter down so that she was standing on her own feet, hair standing on end and borrowed kimono rumpled. “I do not believe you have had the opportunity to meet my daughter, Yuriko.”

 

`I am either still asleep and having a nightmare, or I am in hell. What else could explain the fact that I just met the wolf queen like this?' Remembering her manners, Yuriko bowed politely. “Ayame-sama.”

 

“Yuriko-san.” Ayame was not even subtle in her examination of the Southern Lord's only daughter. “I'll admit, she's not what I expected for you, Koga. Who would've thought you would pick a Southern princess?”

 

The hanyou's eyes narrowed. Ayame was too clever to say anything that Yuriko could openly protest, but there was something about the way she called her princess that set her on edge.

 

Koga ignored the red head and walked over to Yuriko. She was struggling to make her hair lie down neatly again, and he reached up to assist her with a smile. Leaning close to her ear, he whispered, “Are you okay now? Did Papa take care of everything?”

 

Yuriko whispered back, “Hai, Koga-kun. Arigato.”

 

Merkamou gave Ayame his most charming smile. “I am hoping that there is still the opportunity for breakfast. Would you care to join me? I would enjoy the opportunity to share the latest scandals of the Northern court.”

 

“That sounds like a wonderful idea, Merkamou-sama.” Ayame returned his smile, falling into step with him. “When did we last see each other? Was it just after that rebellion, about fifty years ago?”

 

Yuriko watched them walk away, remembering the rather cold look she had gotten from the red head. “I do not think that your queen likes me.”

 

“That's just because she doesn't know you. She's got this thing against females that grow up in royal families. Thinks they're all worthless. Most of the time she's right, but you know you never follow the rules.” Koga smoothed the last lock into place. “Your hair's all set now, princess. Feeling up for some food?”

 

“Certainly.” Yuriko started to follow after her father, but paused when Koga faltered and stopped. “Koga-kun?”

 

“I'm just gonna say this, even though I'm probably going to regret it. Whatever you do, I'll be here for you. Even if you pick that annoying, selfish brat, you'll always be a part of this pack. Okay? I don't want you to feel like . . . I don't know. I'm not good at this shit.”

 

Yuriko turned back around, and gave him a small smile. “Arigato, Koga-kun. It means more then you will ever know to hear that.”

 

Koga's heart lurched. He was not sure how to take that. “So, uh, are you going to straighten things out with the kitsune? You know, one way or the other? He's kind of making the pack nuts with his pacing and mumbling.”

 

“Hai. I will straighten out everything today.”

 

“Made your choice then, huh?”

 

“Hai.”

 

Heart pounding in his chest, Koga started to inch towards her, watching her expression closely. “I'm not trying to push. I'm really not. But, am I getting good news or bad news?”

 

“Which do you think you are getting?”

 

“I'm having a hell of a time guessing right now, Yuriko-chan. I mean, you didn't take off in the night with your Papa and the kitsune, so I think I'm still in the running, but you're really hard to predict. I'm hoping that it means something that you're standing here talking to me and not off looking for him.”

 

Yuriko started to close the distance between them. “You are nervous, Koga-kun.”

 

“I am not!” Koga saw the expression on the hawk's face, and sighed. “Oh, fine, I am. You'd be nervous too if you were in my spot.”

 

“Stop being nervous.”

 

“Not until I know that you're staying right here where you belong.”

 

“Stop being nervous.”

 

“Arguing with me isn't going to help, Yuriko-chan. I can be just as damn nervous as I want until I know . . . “

 

Yuriko grabbed onto Koga's shoulders and shook him. Hard. “Listen to me. Stop. Being. Nervous.”

 

Koga stared at her, then his eyes slowly lit up. “Really?”

 

“Really.”

 

“Woohoo!”

 

Yuriko found herself being tossed into the air, then caught and spun around by a delighted wolf. “Koga-kun!”

 

The wolf pulled her up tight against him, burying her face in his hair. “I'll make sure you never regret this, Yuriko-chan. I'll promise on anything you want. I'll make damn sure you're happy.”

 

“Because wolves know how to take care of a woman, right?”

 

“Damn right they do.” Koga pulled her chin up with his index finger, looking into her eyes. “And you're my woman.”

 

Yuriko snuggled into his chest. “Hai, Koga-kun. I am your woman.”

 

“Yuriko-chan!”

 

The hanyou thumped her head against Koga's chest. “He really is a bit over protective, ne?”

 

“What, you're just now figuring this out?”

 

“I was a bit suspicious.” Yuriko turned her head away from Koga's sensitive ears. “Hai, Papa!”

 

“Quit messing around with the wolf and come get something to eat!” Merkamou grinned at them from the den, surrounded by the pack who had been blatantly staring at the scene unfolding.

 

Koga leaned down to whisper in her ear. “If we ignore him, will he go away?”

 

Yuriko shook her head. “No. He is far too stubborn for that. It will be for the best if we just go in now. We can finish this conversation later.”

 

“Damn it. Okay, okay, we can go in.” Koga caught Yuriko's hand and tugged her along. The pack was disappearing back into the cave now, probably helping themselves to breakfast before the hunting and foraging parties when out for the day. Left alone in the entrance was Shippou. “Ah, hell. This isn't going to end well.”

 

The hanyou took a deep breath next to him, worrying her lip.

 

“I can take care of him, if you want, Yuriko-chan.”

 

“No.” Yuriko gave Koga's hand a squeeze before releasing it. “I will talk to him.”

 

“Are you sure?”

 

Yuriko made shooing gestures with her hands. Koga walked past Shippou, giving the kitsune a warning glare, before disappearing inside. Slowly, the kitsune walked up to his best friend.

 

“Shippou-kun, we need to talk.”

 

----