Tender Love

Disclaimer-i do not own any of the characters from Inuyasha.

Chapter 14

As Inuyasha and Ayame made their way through the crowd, Inuyasha saw her mate talking to a demoness with long green hair. Inuyasha felt her first stab of jealousy as she watched this strange woman cling to her mate's arm and whispering in his ear.

"Inuyasha," said Ayame trying to snap her out of staring at the couple.

Maybe jealousy wasn't a strong enough word to describe the emotions boiling inside Inuyasha as her eyes flashed from gold to red. She could still hear Ayame calling to her but the wolf demoness voice sounded as though she were miles away. Inuyasha's eyes had a murderous tint in them as she glared at the cheap whore that clung to her mate. 'Why that disgracful little bitch! How dare she place her vile hands on my mate. I should rip her arms off for even looking at him.' She was just about to do just that when she overheard a group of demons mentioning her Sesshomaru's name and it snapped her out of her bloodlust. They had their backs to her as they spoke about her mate and the demoness. She edged closer to the demons.

“Inu . . .” Ayame whispered but Inuyasha raised a hand to her lips silencing her.

"Isn’t that Ryuukotsusei's eldest daughter, Riku?" said a large boar demon.

"Yes it is," said a young kitsune. "You know that she and Sesshomaru was once an item. I’m surprise she's even talking to him after he up and mated with the hanyou from China."

"Imagine my surprise also. I thought for sure he would have taken Riku as his mate,” said a bear demon.

"I'm pretty sure Riku thought so as well." The boar demon snorted. "But I guess it wouldn't have worked since Ryuukotsusei hates Inutaisho."

"True but imagine the power he would have had if his daughter was the lady of the west. Both the west and south would be ruled by dragons," said the swan demon and then he leaned close to the others as he whispered for them alone to hear. "And I’m sure Lord Sesshomaru would have met an untimely end."

"I have to say one thing though Sesshomaru sure is treading on thin ice around here." The bear demon took a sip of his sake.

"What do you mean?" asked the panther demon.

The fox demon snorted. "His mate is here and do you think any woman in her right mind will stand by and let their mate hang around his mistress. He is going to get himself killed."

"Surely not by the hanyou," said a swan demon. "If it is anyone that will kill him it will be Ryuukotsusei. I mean that is his daughter he was sleeping with." The five demons chuckled.

"Oh well, it is his funeral," laughed the bear demon. "Uh oh, they’re leaving and his mate is no where in sight."

The panther demon snickered. "That's a dog demon for you. They will rut with any female that spreads her legs for them. Guess the hanyou wasn't enough for him if he has to sneak off to be with his mistress."

Suddenly the demons turned with a start when they heard an angry growl behind them. Their eyes widened in shock at the angry dog demoness standing behind them. The demons stepped back as her eyes flashed a crimson red and her claws became long and deadly. “Oh shit,” said the kitsune feeling fear as he felt the hanyou’s demonic aura smother him with rage. “Lady Inuyasha, please forgive . . .”

But Inuyasha was not paying attention to the demons any longer. Her eyes were on her lying deceitful mate and that scaly dragon whore.

Everyone sensing the rage of a pissed off dog demoness turned to see the long silver tresses of Inuyasha swirling around her as her demonic aura rose to almost a blinding light as it became visible. The demons quickly cleared a path for the enraged hanyou.

“What is the meaning of this,” demanded Ryuukotsusei as he stormed over to the furious Inuyasha. “I order . . .” The dragon fell silent as he stared into the blood-red orbs that were turned upon him.

“Shut the hell up,” she said in a deep guttural voice that promised death if he came any nearer to her. "or you may find yourself one daughter short."

Ryuukotsusei stood flabbergasted at the threat. Looking in those murderous eyes, he had no doubt that she would carry out her threat. Damn Riku for getting involved with those mangy mutts. He tried to warn her that dealing with them would only lead to heartache and pain but like all children, they will not listen to their elders. Still, Riku was his child and he was not about to let this hanyou dog hurt his daughter. Just as he was about to speak a jagged violet stripe appeared on her each side of her cheek as her crimson eyes seemed to get darker than they already were. The dragon lord didn't think it was possible for the hanyou to get even madder but he was mistaken.

"Do not preceive to tell me what I can and cannot do." Her deep gravelly voice sent chills of terror down the spines of everyone in the room. "Where I come from dragons are strong and noble creatures and they would never lowering themselves to sleeping with another demon or demoness' mate. Not only would it be an insult to their clan and to them, but it is an insult to spouse of the demon they were sleeping with. By law, your daughter would be excuted for her insult to me. And I'm sure you can see, I do not like insults."

Inuyasha turned those piercing eyes back to the door that her mate and that dragon whore walked out of. Stomping her way through the gawking demons, she followed them to one of the rooms upstairs. Ayame was following way behind her trying to get Inuyasha to calm down. But she was too far gone to hear the fear in her friend's voice. Ryuukotsusei followed as well.

All she could think of was that her mate was with another woman. Sesshomaru was hers. How dare that . . . that lizard bitch think she can take her mate from her. Inuyasha followed their scent to a room at the end of the hall. She could hear moans and panting coming from behind the door. Bursting into the room, she saw a sight that made her sick. The dragon princess was completely naked kissing Sesshomaru and stripping him of his haori.

"Inuyasha," Sesshomaru said shocked as his eyes widened.

"Riku!" growled the dragon lord appearing a second behind the hanyou.

"Father," said the dragon princess mortified as she picked up her kimono and used it to cover her naked body.

"You bitch!" snarled Inuyasha lunging at the demoness with claws raised. She would have gouged the dragon's eyes out and then torn her limb from limb if Sesshomaru hadn't stepped in the way grabbing her by the wrist. "You bastard!" She glared at him. "Are you protecting your whore now?!"

"How dare you speak to me in that manner, you filthy hanyou," roared Riku as her aqua colored eyes flashed in anger. Inuyasha tried to break free to claw out the bitch's eyes. Even in her demon state, Sesshomaru was still powerful enough to keep her from attacking.

"If you say one more word. I shall cut your tongue out myself," Sesshomaru snarled angrily at the dragon demoness. Then he turned back to his angry mate. "Inuyasha calm down, you will hurt the baby."

"Let me go!"

"Not until you calm down." He tightened his hold on her wrists.

“No! That bitch dare to put her filthy scaly paws on you. I should tear out your heart and shove it down your throat!” yelled the angry hanyou.

Sesshomaru could see there was no calming her. She was in a state of bloodlust and the only thing that would satisfy her now would be to feel the dragon demoness’ blood on her claws. He could not let that happen. Besides, all her rage is not good for the baby. There was only one thing he could do to calm her, and he hoped Inuyasha will forgive him. Raising one hand, he brought it down across her cheek. Ayame gasped. Ryuukotsusei arched a dark brow and Riku looked on smugly.

That did it as her eyes returned to normal. Inuyasha stood as though turned to stone as stinging heat flowed across her cheek. She raised her hand cradling the burning flesh. “Yasha, are you calm now?” he asked still holding her wrist.

"I said let me go." She yanked her wrist free and turned to leave. She will not give him or these filthy dragons the satisfaction of seeing her cry in front of him and his whore.

Sesshomaru ran after her grabbing her by the arm and yanking her around to face him. Without thinking her hand came up and she raked her claws across his face. Blood oozed from the marks. "Don’t you ever touch me again!" she said with such loathing that it made Ayame shiver with fear. "Why don't you stay here and fuck your whore. I’m sure she won't turn you away." Inuyasha turned on her heels and stormed out of the room followed by Ayame.

Ryuukotsusei stared at his daughter as he shook his head in disgust. "You have truly dishonored our family this day, Riku. I suggest you pack your things. Come morning, I am sending you to your cousins up north."

"But father." She was about to argue but he silence her.

"You have already done enough damage for the night. I suggest you keep your mouth closed for the remainder of your sister's mating ceremony." Then he turned his back to them. "As for you, Lord Sesshomaru," he sneered out the name in disgust, "I'm sure you know the way out." And he walked out of the room.

Suddenly Koga appeared at the foot of the stairs. "Hey, I leave the party for a few minutes and all hell breaks loose when I return. What’s going on, Ayame?” He frowned, staring at the enraged dog demoness. “Yuma is in there crying. The other demons are saying the lord of the west is dead or maimed if his mate gets a hold of him.”

"I’ll tell you later," said Ayame. "Inuyasha, you're coming with us. It’s not good for you to be alone in your condition." Then she turned to her mate. "Let's go home."

Feeling that something bad has just happened, Koga quickly lead the women outside to where he transformed into a huge gray wolf. Ayame and Inuyasha quickly mounted his back and the huge wolf sprints off towards the north.

xxxxx

Sesshomaru watched from a tall mulberry tree that stood at the edge of the garden as his mate left with his friends. It was for the best. He knew that if he tried to stop her Inuyasha would go into a fit of rage again and might lose the baby. He did not want that to happen. So, he will wait until she calmed down and then go collect her.

He sniffed the air and smelt Riku come out into the garden. He snarled in disgust as he turned to glare down at her. "So, is the little woman gone?" She said smugly. “You really need to teach your pet some manners.”

Sesshomaru said nothing as he jumped down from the tree. He was about to walk by her when she jumped in front of him.

"Why are you treating me this way?" she asked desperately. "You were never this cold to me before. Has that hanyou changed you so much that you have forgotten what it feels like to be in my arms?" She wrapped her heavily perfumed arms around his neck. His nose twitched and itched from the overpowering scent. "Do her kisses make you moan in bliss as my does? Does her touch make your body burn to join in love making as mine does?"

Sesshomaru said nothing. Staring into her eyes, he began to wonder exactly what it was he saw in her to begin with. She was pretty and . . . Well, that seems to be all. Was he really that shallow? Was beauty all he saw in her? Beauty and a good lay. And most of the time, not even that was exciting.

"Well, does she?" demanded Riku angrily.

But with Inuyasha, her beauty is not only on the outside but on the inside as well. Not many demons would take in an orphaned kitsune and treat him as though he was her own. She was kind and gentle but also fierce and passionate. She would curse and rage one minute and be as gentle as a lamb the next. Her explosive personality was so refreshing. And like being struck by lightning, he began to see he has missed a lot of wonderful things in his life. A slight smile touched his lips. 'She has changed me in so many ways. Where I use to be cold. She has warmed me. Where I use to show indifference. She taught me to show interest and concern to those I use to consider beneath me, like humans and hanyous.' As he raised his gaze up to the fuming dragon, he let's the smile fall from his face. 'My Yasha, is a demoness of respect and integrity. Unlike this creature that stands before me.'

"I will not dignify those questions with an answer," Sesshomaru said expressionlessly and emotionlessly.

"Which means she doesn't." She said smiling. "Come back with me to my room and I shall make you forget all about that little whore." She pressed her lips against his but he did not respond to her kiss. There was no fire or passion in the kiss. He did not feel his groin ache to be inside her. His heart does not beat against his chest. Infact, his youkai is physically sick from the kiss.

Riku tried to lead him back to her room but Sesshomaru remained rooted to the spot like a tree.

Sesshomaru pulled himself out of the kiss to glare at her. "You misunderstand my reasons for not answering you, Riku," he said in a voice that was deadpan. "I didn't answer because it is none of your business what I and my mate do in our bedroom. But since it is obvious you do not understand than I shall set you straight." He pulled her arms from around his neck and shoved her away. "Yes her kisses does make me moan and even now I yearn to make love to her and only her. Inuyasha is my hope and joy. She is my life and I will do whatever it takes to make her happy." He turned his head away from her.

"No, I will not accept that." Riku grabbed a handful of his haori. "You love me. I know you do. We would have been mated if your father hadn't arranged for her to be your mate."

"Is that what you think Riku?" He turned icy amber eyes upon her. "I never once said I loved you neither did I say I wanted you as my mate." He looked down his nose at her as though she was a dirty street urchin. "Did you seriously believe that I, a dog demon of royal blood, would mate myself to a dragon? Your father and my father would never have allowed it and I never would have asked you. You were merely a source for relief."

"No, I don't believe you." Her talons began to rip into his haori leaving little holes in it as tears fell from her aqua colored eyes. "You love me."

"Love! You? What a fool you are. I told you. You meant nothing to me. The only person I love is Inuyasha."

"You're lying." She became angry. "If all you wanted was someone to warm your bed at night you could have gone to Nagasaki and bought a prostitute. Instead, you came to me. If you did not love me then why did you spend all those nights with me."

He smirked evilly at her as those icy orbs raked over her body. "Why should I go to the brothels of Nagasaki to buy sex when you were offering it for free?"

Riku felt her heart drop into the pit of her stomach as her world fell apart. She fell to her knees covering her face and cried. Sesshomaru said nothing as he stepped around the weeping demoness and went inside. He gave Yuma and her mate his apologies and left also. Instead of heading home, he turned north and headed toward his friend's home. He was going to be there for his mate no matter what she said.

xxxxx

When Sesshomaru arrived at the wolf den, he did not go up to his friend's cave. Instead he patrolled the surrounding area making sure it was safe. Although Koga had his wolves to patrol his land, the dog lord felt better if he did it himself. He was not going to risk the life of his mate and unborn child because someone fell asleep on patrol.

After his patrol, he leaped up into a tree and settled down on its thick branch for the night. He was just about to doze off when he smelt his friend coming toward him.

"You know you can come inside," said Koga sitting at the bottom of the tree.

"It's better this way," said Sesshomaru. "Did Ayame tell you what happened?"

"Yes."

The two of them were silent for a few minutes until Sesshomaru's patience gave out. "Well, aren't going rant and rave at me?"

"From what Ayame told me, Inuyasha already tore into you," Koga said smiling. Then he leaned back resting his head against the tree trunk and sighed. "What possessed you to go with Riku?"

"She said if I didn't she would make a scene in front of everyone." He sighed staring up at the night sky. "I did not want Inuyasha to know about my past with Riku."

Koga snorted and said under his breath. "A lot of good that did you." He did not mean for his dog friend to hear that but with Sesshomaru's hearing, he heard the comment and growled at his friend.

"So, what are you going to do now?"

"I am going to wait until she calms down and then take her home," said Sesshomaru.

"What if she doesn't want to go?" asked Koga.

"Then I’ll just make her. I am her mate. She has no choice but to obey me whether she wants to or not."

Koga stood up chuckling. "Well my friend, I wish you luck. Are you sure you will not come inside?"

"I’m fine out here."

"Well, good night." Koga bade and went back to his cave.

The next day Sesshomaru asked Koga if he could send some of his wolves' to the west to bring back a change of clothes for himself and Inuyasha. It took the small pack no more than four hours to go to the west and return with the change of clothes and a letter from Jaken telling him that all was well in the west. Mina had sent enough clothes for several days. An entire week had passed and Inuyasha still wasn't talking to Sesshomaru.

She would go down to the river with Ayame and help wash out some of Koji’s clothes. Sesshomaru would be in the trees watching. Inuyasha would take a walk along the river bank. Sesshomaru would follow. Koga was finally able to get his friend to come inside and have dinner with them but Inuyasha ignored him the entire time he was there. This went on the entire time they were there.

While she was with her friend, she played with little Koji and watched him when Ayame went to visit her grandfather in the mountains. And no one dare near Inuyasha while her angry mate loomed in the background.

It was going into the second week when Ayame decided to talk with her friend. "Inuyasha," she said sitting Koji on the ground and then sat beside the hanyou. "About Sesshomaru. Surely you do not believe he would be unfaithful to you? I will admit that we did try to talk him out of hanging around the dragon but every since he met you . . ." Ayame sighed. "I don't believe he was returning any of Riku's advances."

"Oh I know," said Inuyasha picking up Koji and tickling him on the nose with the fur blanket.

"What was that?"

"I know he wasn’t going to . . . you know with the dragon."

"You did? When?" Ayame asked shocked.

"The first night," said Inuyasha giggling at Ayame as the wolf demoness' eyes were bulging out of her head. "See, after I had time to calm down and think about what I saw. I realized that she might have been kissing him but he was not kissing her back."

"If you knew why are you avoiding him and refusing to go home?"

"Two reasons, one, once I get back, he will not let me leave the palace. I can't even go out to the garden any more since I’ve become pregnant. You know how boring it is to be cooped up inside on bright beautiful days like today."

Ayame smiled at her new friend. "But he's doing it because he cares and worries about you."

"I know and I understand, but a little walk in the garden can't hurt," said Inuyasha sighing. "And second, I’m doing this to teach him a lesson. I do not care how many women he had before he became my mate. I will not tolerate him letting some cheap whore place her nasty lips upon what is rightfully my property."

Ayame bursted out laughing. "You sound just like Sesshomaru, overly possessive."

"Well, I’m just stating a fact and if it hadn't been for Sess stopping me I would have clawed that bitch's eyes out for daring to touch what is mine." Then she smiled and winked at her friend. "Also, it doesn't hurt to make him suffer a little. It will make him appreciate me more."

"You are bad," said Ayame smiling. "You realize if he finds out you knew all this time he will pay you back."

"I know but it was well worth it." The two bursted out laughing as they continued to talk.

Unbeknownst to the two females Koga was listening in on their little conversation. He quietly slipped away without them hearing him and went to find his friend. He found Sesshomaru still perched in his tree. Koga looked at the expressionless face and burst out laughing.

"What might I ask is so funny?"

He snickered. "I overheard your mate and Ayame talking. It seems that she has known from the beginning that you were not having an affair with Riku."

He sat up. "Why that little minx," he said without anger. Then he jumped down from the branch.

"You’re not going to hurt her, are you?" asked Koga frowning at his friend.

"Of course not, what sort of beast do you take me for?" Sesshomaru turned to glare in outrage at such an accusation. "I'm sure she will say I deserved it and she would be right. I should never have let Riku kiss me."

"So, what now?"

"Now, I go and collect my mate, and we go home," he said sighing. "I'm sure my work has probably piled up by now."

So, Koga lead Sesshomaru to his cave where the two women and the cub were now playing.

Inuyasha stopped to stare up at her mate. She felt her heart speed up just at the sight of this magnificent figure. As he smiled at her and held a hand out to help her up, Inuyasha wished she was not pregnant. He was to her the most handsomest demon in all of Japan and what made her truly happy was that he was all hers.

"It is time to go home, Inuyasha. Say your good byes and let's be on our way," said Sesshomaru helping her to her feet.

Inuyasha sighed and hugged Ayame. She kissed little Koji and went to stand by her mate. Thanking Koga for letting Inuyasha stay, he scooped her up into his arms and changed into a golden glowing ball of light, and exited the cave.