Of Claws And Fangs
Episode 80

Ori made her way once again to Keikan's office with a tray of food. The hanyou had been in there all day. When no response came to her light knock she opened the door, in curiosity. She had not thought he left. Her heart fluttered at the sight before her. He looked so peaceful in sleep. Ori sat the tray down and knelt beside him. She ached to run her fingers through the thick silver white hair. Her fingers itched to scratch the adorable furry ears.

"That would be the wise course." He agreed standing beside her. "I would be honored." Miroku smiled.

Keikan watched Shakaku hold the pup to her, her green gold eyes full of love and happiness. A soft smile curving her lips, her striped tail twitching lazily. A smile grew on his face as he started towards his mate and pup.

'What are you dreaming Keikan?' she asked herself as a smile grew on his face. 'Are you dreaming of her?' With a small sigh she reached for one of the light blankets nearby and pulled it to cover the sleeping hanyou.

He awoke at the feel of blanket being laid over him. Cracking his eyes open he saw someone, lifting a tray full of food, his nose told him it was rabbit. "Leave it." He mumbled sitting up. Still half asleep he rubbed his eyes with a fist and yawned.

"As you wish, my Lord," Ori said, setting the tray down once again, "Forgive me, I did not wish to disturb you."

Lifting the tea cup with one hand he continued to rub his eyes with the other. "Don't worry about it. I shouldn't have fallen asleep anyway. How late is it?"

She smiled gently at him. He was being more kind to her, at least for now. "The household has retired for the night, my Lord and...I have made certain Shizuka obeyed your wishes. She is resting comfortably."

Not thinking clearly Keikan reached up with a foot and scratched at his ear. "Good, she works too hard sometimes." realizing what he was doing he put his foot back on the ground.

Ori put a hand over her mouth covering her giggle at his actions. "I'm am off to bed as well, my Lord. Might I join you for breakfast?"

"If you want. Do me a favor, don't ever mention you saw me do that." He requested embarrassed. He hadn't slipped like that since he was a young pup. He winced as he thought what his Chichioya would say.

She bowed low, grin still in place. "As you wish my Lord. Good night."

"Night." He replied picking up the next scroll. As the sun rose Keikan finished the last reply. "Reminder to self, never let this go for a week again." He muttered.

Far from the castle the sun rose on the small village of Edo. Akisame stretched and smiled down at her still sleeping mate. Moving quietly she roused and fed Kaiya. Then woke the two girls. Handing Kaiya to Shakaku she pushed both of them out the door, "Go bug Haya for breakfast." Dropping the curtain she crawled back into the futon next to her mate. "Sesshomaru?" she called softly, her hand drawing patterns on his chest.

He shivered as his mates fingers danced over his flesh. "Hai love?" he teased, cracking open one eye, "What is it?"

Haya stepped out as the three girls reached her porch. "Come on in. I'll fix us all some breakfast. Guess it's safe to assume we will not be seeing Sesshomaru or Akisame for most of the day."

In the kitchen the cook was fussing at Ori, who was desperately trying to help. "Finally get rid of one insistent female only to have another take her place. This is my kitchen. You sit!" Shizuka was just bringing bread and fruit from the storage cellar.

Shakaku laughed, "I would think that assumption is very safe, sister. What can I do to help?"

"How about you start the soup. Mika why don't you go and get some fish," She tossed the girl a small pouch. "You are excellent at it."

Mika beamed at her sister-in-law, catching the pouch deftly. "I won't be long," she said, bounding out the door.

Standing in the courtyard, Keikan looked at the statue of his Uncle's second love. Shortly one of his personal bodyguards ran in.

Walking up to his lord, the guard bowed low and handed the Western Lord the scroll. He waited as the lord read it. When the scroll was once again rolled up and tied. The guard asked, "Is there any reply?"

"Hai, tell your captain that I am well pleased."

Smiling at him, Akisame leaned in and whispered, "The girls have gone to Haya and Keishou's for the morning."

"Oh they have, have they?" Sesshomaru replied in a low voice. He lifted his arms wrapping them around his mate, pulling her closer. "Whatever shall we do all alone in this hut?"

"Well," she teased "I can think of a few things."

Ori watched from the shadows of the doorway. She wished she could hear what he was saying. Could that be a message from his mate? If she could only find out where the tora was hiding.

Handing the scroll back to the very surprised guard he softly instructed, "Burn this. Tell your Lieutenant who wrote this, that all messages to me should be voice only."

"Hai My Lord." The guard answered taking the scroll he quietly left.

"You can come out." He called loudly turning to pin Ori with his gaze.

Ori jumped. 'Damn,' she cursed. He had known she was there. Would he throw her out again. She stepped out into the sunshine. "I was just coming out for a walk in the gardens, My Lord. I saw you with your guard and did not want to disturb you."

'Not likely.' He heard the voice again and smiled at it. 'Well, pup? Do you take the walk or slap her away again? If you wish to be a loyal mate, I recommend the slap. If you wish to discover the truth then take the walk.' The voice instructed then was silent. "Hai, I think I will join you." Moving to her side he started towards the garden, standing closer than proper but not within an intimate range. "My Chichiue (honored father) designed these gardens for my Okufuro." As they entered he began telling of his parents journey, leaving out the other world stuff and that their enemy had been Naraku.

Her heart soared when he said he would join her. His nearness made her want to tremble with delight. She listened to his story, sighing as they reached the end. "How very romantic. I think it would be wonderful to be a part of your family," she blurted before she could stop herself, "Oh I...what I meant was...um..."

He chuckled at her, thinking 'Like that is going to happen.' "A concubine, is not family." He muttered softly knowing she would hear then continued louder, "Would you not prefer to find someone near your home village? Someone who could devote themselves entirely to you? Someone not torn by the duties of his position and a ma... er wife all ready."

'I would be happier no where else and you will not have your mate soon,' she thought. Ori shook her head. "There is no reason for me to go home. I have no attachment to it. I am much happier here, unless that is you wish me to leave," she replied, looking up at him, eye sparkling with tears.

"Did I say that?" He asked. Gods, he was going to strangle her, if she didn't stop with the weepy eyes... He was glad Shakaku first instinct was anger not tears. Such a weak woman would never appeal to him.

"No," she said, smiling up at him, "No you did not. So when is your...mate returning? I would very much like to meet her." 'And strangle her.'

"She is as I have previously said attending to family business. As for when she is returning, she will return when said business is completed." 'And her business is keeping our pup safe from you.' Glad when the reached the main door of the castle, "I must visit the family shrine, if you will excuse me." He didn't wait for her answer put moved away, leaping the wall. Once he was in the wilds of the woods surrounding the castle he let fall his deceptions. The scent of a buck caught his nose, quickly he stripped down to his hakama. Allowing his youki rule he began to hunt the buck.

Mika knelt on the floor before her mother, eyes closed, meditating. It was their practice time and after only a week of it Mika had better control over her growing abilities. The rustling of cloth caught her attention. She cracked open an eye and looked over at Shakaku who had stood and begun pacing the room. The tora was muttering to herself. The hanyou listened closely and discovered her sister-in-law was once again contemplating a return home.

Keikan sat in Keishou's old tree. Unlike his Uncle and brother he had never been one to sit in trees to think, preferring to run. However after Ori's late night visit to his quarters two nights ago, he'd taken to sleeping in the tree. It had been five days since he'd seen his mate and then only for a few short hours. How, he wondered, had his Chichioya survived five months without seeing his mate? He wanted his family, his Chichioya, his Hahaoya, Uncle, Rin, Haya, Daibo and the Houshi, Mika, Kaiya but mostly he wanted Shakaku. He hung his head. His instincts at war with his head. With a nod, he stood and leapt out of the tree, the greatest danger had been destroyed when he killed the snake. Standing still for a moment, he called to his demon blood. With a powerful leap he leapt out of the castle grounds. His galloping feet, moved with a confidence and sureness of purpose he hadn't felt in days.

Hours later he reached the small village, following his nose he made his way to a small hut separated from the rest. A voice from above him stopped his movements.

"Keikan, what are you doing here?"

Looking up he smiled at his Uncle. "I needed a couple of things." At the questioning amber gaze he continued. "One, my mate. Two, my family near. Uncle will you and Rin come back to the castle with us? I can not guard Shakaku and keep an eye on the other one."

Inu Yasha leapt easily to the ground, his hand coming up to rest on the pups shoulder. "You didn't need to ask. I am your Kyoufu and your uncle and your neesan's mate."

"Arigatou, I need to go get Keishou and Haya, before I retrieve my mate. I look forward to meeting Arashi." He moved towards his brothers hut. Not bothering to call he waited for his twin to come out.

Keishou scented his brother and moved to the porch, seeing Keikan standing at the bottom of the steps. "Well brother...it's about time you came back. You're mate was getting anxious again."

Mika searched for Shakaku but could not find her. She found her father quickly. "Chichioya? Have you seen Shakaku?"

Sesshomaru looked at his daughter and shook his head. He spread out his senses searching for the young tora but did not find her. The inu taiyoukai did however find his eldest's presence in the village and quickly moved towards it.

"Anxious?" Keikan questioned. "Actually I came to ask the family to come back for a while. The snake youkai wench is dead. She tried to eat Komori. I sent her head back to Reiketsu." Turning he saw Sesshomaru moving towards him, the expression on his father's face worried him. "Chichioya?"

"Your mate is not in the village." Sesshomaru said simply.

Shakaku ran towards the castle. She didn't care if he thought it was for her own good, she wasn't staying away from her mate any longer. She was going home.

Keikan stared at his father for a moment. "Shit!" Turning to his brother he said "Come to the castle as soon as you can." He started running changing with in two strides. He began to chase the scent of his mate.

Haya watched as her brother-in-law took his canine form. She frowned. Last time it had been the size of a draft horse, now it seemed larger. "Keishou? Is his demon form larger?"

Keikan ran, he had only once before run with this speed. The day Shakaku had come to the castle for the first time. He didn't notice the ground flying beneath his feet, or that at some point he had taken to the air and was now flying above the treetops. Finally the castle came into view. He watched as the tawny striped gold tora leapt into the courtyard. He landed before her, scenting Ori near but he didn't care. Not changing back he landed before the tora, growling, his hackles raised. As she shifted back, he did as well. "You baka tora wench! Did you not think for one moment about the pup? Fuck no. I get to Edo to bring you back and Chichioya comes telling me you're gone. Is it your life's mission to make me go crazy? Damn it Shakaku.. I asked you to stay in Edo. To put the pup first. To fucking TRUST me. Why do you have to be so damn hard headed?"

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