Happy Bath Ending

A/N: I am extremely sorry for making you all wait this long. I will alternate between updating this story and my Bleach fic. Merry X-mas everyone.

Kagome sat and looked around the wolf cave, sighing. Kouga had convinced another wolf tribe to take him, Hakkaku, and Ginta in after Naraku had their original brood slain, and although the wolves were nice to her, she missed her old traveling group. Strangely, when Ginta and Hakkaku brought her back from the woods, Kouga didn’t really flirt with her. She knew of his relationship with Ayame, and knew that she had been killed not too long ago by a group of bear youkai. Kouga mourned her, but more because it was the right thing for him to do since they were mates. He had seemed quite benign and quiet until he laid eyes on Sakura. In the days since then he had become more playful and talkative, engaging himself more in his tribe’s activities.

“Miko, are you alright today? You look very pale,” Junko called to her as she came into the cave. Junko was a young female wolf demon that Kouga assigned to make Kagome’s stay with them as pleasant as possible. Kagome sighed and smiled, nodding her head.

“I’m fine, Junko, just a bit tired.” She smiled at the little girl and ruffled her dark brown hair, making the girl giggle shyly. Kagome sighed again, refolding her legs. She really had no idea of what to make of the situation regarding Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru. It still hurt deeply that after all the fights and after all this time that he went to the demon that was supposedly his arch nemesis, aside from Naraku. Maybe it hurt more that she wasn’t the one he wanted. Her brow furrowed and she sat hand in chin, wondering what, if anything she should do.

“Leave it alone.”

Kagome whirled around to see Junko on her knees bowing and Kouga in the doorway picking at his nails. Kouga nodded and gestured for Junko to leave, patting the girl on the head as she scooted away.

“Leave what alone, Kouga?” Kagome’s faux innocent voice made the wolf snarl in anger.

“You know what I mean. Inuyasha is mated to Sesshoumaru. And I can smell your anger and confusion. Leave it alone, we were lucky to leave the Inu palace with our asses still attached to us.” Kouga walked into the cave and plopped moodily down beside Kagome, his tail coming dangerously close to slapping her in the face.

“Whatever. You haven’t been right since we left the palace. Did you leave something there? Maybe we should go back,” Kagome teased, remembering the attraction between him and Sakura.

“You know what? No wonder Inuyasha didn’t want you. You are annoying as hell!” He yelled, wishing Kagome was a guy so he could knock her out. Her laughter at him didn’t diffuse the situation.

“Get out.”

Kagome sneered at him. “This is my cave, fool! You leave!” She karate chopped his tail, making him scream and sending him whimpering out of the cave, literally with his tail between his legs.

*************************

Sakura kicked a rock with her foot. Inuyasha had went through some fairly severe cramps during the night, and had ran out of the herbs Kagome had given to him, so Sesshoumaru had sent her and Suzuka to see Jimenji about getting more. They had left just before daybreak, and had pushed the pace hard and were almost there. Sakura had been unusually quiet, not complaining, not chattering, nothing but sullen silence.

“I suppose it would be a bit insulting to ask if you are okay, correct?” Suzuka asked softly, gently touching her sister’s arm. Sakura shrugged her sister’s hand off of her, violet eyes refusing to meet their twin.

“It’s that ookami, isn’t it? We aren’t far from his den. Would you like to go and see him?”

Sakura turned to her sister and snarled. “Yeah right! Why would I want to go see him?”

Suzuka smiled. “You would know why better than me.” Her sister smirked and turned a path toward the wolf cave.

“That flea bitten bastard spit in my face. I should at the very least return the favor.”

She turned when Suzuka hesitated. “I don’t think its your spit you want on his face,” She said wryly, confirmation coming in Sakura’s scarlet blush.

“Well? Are you coming or what?” Sakura yelled, hoping her sister wouldn’t back out on her.

“Or what,” Suzuka said dryly, sighing and following behind her sister.

*****************

Kouga lay on his back and stared at the top of his cave. He never had taken rejection very well. He replayed every nanosecond of his meeting with Sakura, and cursed himself for the things he did wrong. He had never seen eyes such a beautiful shade of lavender, and as he thought harder, he had never seen that shade before period. She was easily the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Kouga placed his hands behind his head and closed his eyes, sighing.

“Prince Kouga?”

Kouga’s eyes snapped open and he glanced toward the enterance. He recognized Junko’s voice and sighed. She probably wanted to summon him to a council meeting or something, and he didn’t really feel like being bothered.

“Not now, Juni.”

“But Prince Kouga, you have guests.”

Kouga rolled his eyes and made his voice more firm. “I said not now, Junko. Whoever it is needs to come back later.”

“Well that’s ironic. You sure were eager the other day to see me.”

Kouga sat straight up, mouth gaping open. He stood and ran to the enterance to see Junko standing between Suzuka and Sakura. Sakura took his breath away, and he stared at her in awe, breathing shallowly.

“So…how are you, Kouga?” Sakura said, nervously playing with a loose strand of hair.

“I’m doing alright…uh,” He stammered, grabbing at his ponytail and turning to Junko, “Could you give us a moment? I’d like to talk to Sakura alone.”

Junko nodded and smiled. “Of course, to talk. Yes, Prince Kouga.”

Suzuka grinned wickedly. “Yes…and to talk alone at that. Play nicely,” She directed at her sister, pulling at her sleeve before walking away with Junko.

Both girls out of sight, Kouga nodded and smiled at Sakura. “Why can’t I smell you?” He asked, sounding slightly disappointed.

Sakura laughed and pulled a small bottle from her bag. “It cloaks scent. It makes it easier to travel, enemies will only attack if they see or smell you. We just took away one of their senses.” She placed the small vial back in her bag and genuinely smiled.

Kouga looked flirtatious. “So I can’t attack you then?” His smile waned when Sakura’s expression didn’t change. Without warning, Sakura snorted and spit a thick wad of mucus into Kouga’s eyes.

“What the hell!” He screamed, trying to wipe the ick off his face and flailing around. By the time he had cleared the slime from his face, Sakura was gone.
***************

“Yeah, Prince Kouga has been very lonely since Lady Ayame was murdered. He has been less grouchy since he came back from seeing the pretty Inu demon! But he brought that smelly miko with him,” Junko prattled on, at times making Suzuka laugh with her comments.

“I don’t like the smelly miko either,” She said, smiling genuinely at the young girl. Junko smiled back and offered her more tea.

“Hey, let’s go.” Sakura was walking briskly toward them and grabbed Suzuka’s sleeve, not missing a beat.

“Oh! Well, thanks for the tea!” Suzuka called and waved at Junko as her sister dragged her away.

“Bye!” Junko called waving back. She turned around to see Kouga running down the hill in a black rage.

“Where the hell did they go?!!” He screamed, still wiping the stinging saliva off his face.

“Um. They left,” Junko said, handing Kouga a cloth. The wolf snatched the cloth and sighed.

“Damn.” He turned and walked back to his cave, throwing the cloth onto the ground.
********************
“Sakura! Sakura, stop!” Suzuka yelled once they had left the wolf domain. Sakura had practically dragged her sister halfway back to the Inu castle before losing her grip on her.

“What is the meaning of all this? Why were we practically running from him? Sakura! Stop!!!” Suzuka yelled again, wrenching herself from her sister’s sweaty fist. Sakura walked around in a circle, rubbing her neck before punching a tree hard.

“I got scared.”

“Did he do something to you?” Suzuka asked, unsheathing her tanto.

Sakura raised an eyebrow. “No, I just froze up. And spit in his face.”

Suzuka made an ‘o’ with her mouth. “That was not very nice. Why did you do that?”

“He spit on me first!”

Suzuka sighed and wrapped her arms around her sister. “I suppose that was fair.” She stroked Sakura’s hair and cooed softly, feeling her shoulders quiver.

“What am I going to do? I really think I like him, but I just got scared! How am I gonna fix this?”

“An apology is a start.”

Both girls looked up to see Kouga standing there in the clearing, flushed from his run. He walked a few steps toward them and then paused.

“I’m sorry, Sakura. May I please talk with you?” His words were slow and careful, and one could easily see that those words were not normal ones said by the wolf prince.

Sakura cast a frightened look at her sister, who smiled in return. “I’ll leave you two alone…and you will be fine, Saku.” Suzuka smiled again and nodded her head toward Kouga, who nodded back gratefully. She took the medicine bag from her sister and rumpled her hair before heading back to the Inu castle. She trusted Kouga with her sister; she saw the look in his eye when he glanced at Sakura, and it was the same look Miroku gave her when he would wake up beside her in the morning. It was a look of unconditional love.
*********************

Suzuka carefully knocked on the huge oak doors leading to Seshoumaru and Inuyasha’s suite. She carried the roots and herbs bundled by Jimenji and also a cup of warm water to seep them in.

“Enter,” a voice that had to be from Sesshoumaru boomed from inside. Suzuka slowly opened the door and saw Inuyasha wincing with pain and head buried in Sesshoumaru’s lap. A thin film of sweat was over his body and he was only wearing a pair of thin shorts. He was whimpering and panting, clearly in a fit.

“Oh, Master Inuyasha! There, there,” Suzuka cooed, coming over to the side of the bed and stroking damp silver strands. She ignored when Sesshoumaru growled at her, and reasoned his inner youkai was jealous of her touching him, and honestly if either of them were hers she would feel possessive also.

“Here, drink this,” She said, putting some shredded ginger roots in the glass of warm water she had brought with her. She handed the cup to Sesshoumaru, and he cradled his brother’s head gently as Inuyasha sipped at the liquid and closed his eyes. The warmth seemed to immediately quell his cramps and a clawed hand over his stomach reassured the baby she wasn’t alone. She stopped trying to claw her way out of Inuyasha and kicking his bladder and rested, her foot secure under his ribcage.

“Look!” Suzuka exclaimed at the bulge in the usual smooth stomach. There was a small bump, and when Sesshoumaru pushed at it, the bulge disappeared only to reappear a few inches away from where it was before.

“She is moving…developing rapidly,” Sesshoumaru breathed, amazed at his daughter. “She is brilliant too.” He followed Hime’s movements, gently pressing down and making her shift. Inuyasha’s neck felt stiff, and he could only tell what was going on by the lights going off in his brothers eyes. He sleepily smiled, as neither of them had gotten much rest, and after drinking more of the liquid, he fell indo a deep, dreamless sleep.

Sesshoumaru gently laid Inuyasha on his chest and straightened him out the best he could without waking him and pulled cover up on the naked shoulders. He caressed Inuyasha’s cheek lovingly and kissed him, making Suzuka smile.

“Where is Sakura? And why did you go to the wolf caves?” Sesshoumaru’s voice was gentle, and Suzuka could tell he was not mad, just curious.

“She had been thinking about that ookami since she first laid eyes on him, Lord Sesshoumaru. She won’t tarry long, I promise. I shall go fetch her for you if you desire,” Suzuka said and started to walk toward the door before Sesshoumaru raised his hand and shook his head.

“There is no need. Love affairs concern me not. Same as with you and the houshi, as long as she does her chores about the castle, she is permitted to have a romantic life. All I ask is that the both of you is be cognizant of my daughter’s arrival and that you are readily available to service both her and Inuyasha. Is that understood?”

Suzuka bit back her smile and nodded. “Yes, Lord Sesshoumaru. And thank you, thank you ever so much.”

Sesshoumaru nodded back, not smiling. “Prepare a basket for Jimenji for his goodwill. You are dismissed.” He turned his attention back to fawning over Inuyasha, who was cutely twitching in his sleep. Suzuka nodded and eased out of the room, pleased with her benevolent employer.
**********************

Sakura looked shyly at Kouga. They had waited until Suzuka ha left the vicinity before stepping closer to one another, Kouga stepping closer than Sakura. The intense blue of his eyes was making her lightheaded, and she made a huge mistake in fixating her gaze on his mouth. All kinds of thoughts ran through her head, and she was sure he could smell her arousal.

“Sakura.” The voice was low and washed over her like warm water. Kouga closed the space between them and ignored her heaving chest, although he contemplated placing his hand inside her yukata. He stilled his trembling hand and took her chin in his thumb and forefinger and gazed into her eyes. “Why did you spit in my face and run away?”

Sakura blushed. “I guess it was because you spit in my face first.” Her eyes were half lidded, and her chest rattled with the low breaths she was taking. Kouga could smell her arousal, her desire, and it turned him on immensely. She was beautiful, didn’t take crap, and was irrefutably irresitable. He smiled at her, his light blue eyes flashing. Sakura closed her eyes and tilted her head, waiting for him to kiss her.

Instead, he laughed.

Sakura’s eyes snapped open and glared at the chuckling wolf. “Why are you laughing?!!” She snipped, placing her hands on her hips. Kouga tried to regain his composure, but began backing away, laughing even harder. Sakura’s mouth dropped open and she ran toward him, fists bared ready to give him what for. She beat on his back and tail, him balled up laughing. She managed to beat him to the ground, where he lay crying and laughing.

“Stupid fucking wolf!” She snapped, giving him a mean kick in the ribs. Kouga jumped up as she started to walk away and wrapped his arms around her. “You don’t play fair, Sakura. I wasn’t ready to kiss you. But now I am.” The final words caught her off guard as she was spun around, and warm lips were placed on hers.

She forgot why she was so mad. She was so involved in kissing Kouga, neither of them noticed the approaching demon, who was staring at them incredulously.

“Does my son know you are out here kissing on this dirty wolf?”

Sakura tore her mouth away from Kouga and stared at the face of Chisato. She immediately went down on her knees in a submissive pose, bowing her head.

“No, Chisato-sama. I can explain, I was-”

“No excuses. I am coming to reside in the castle until the baby is born. Both of my sons are idiots as you know, and heavens know what will happen to my granddaughter.” She cast a disgusted look at Kouga and stepped past them.

“I will not be seeing you at the castle. Understand?” Sakura looked up hopelessly at Kouga, but was comforted by the mischievous look on his face.

“That is correct. You will not be seeing me at the castle. Good day, ladies.” Kouga smiled at Sakura before whirling away back toward his village. Chisato snorted and gathered Sakura up, making her carry the quilts and swaddling for the baby.


A/N: Mama is moving in...whomp whomp