Of Gold and Adamant

Who am I?

(An ode to the exoskeleton)

When I look in the mirror
I wonder what I see
Is that really my image?
The thing I am to be?
I question myself
Each and every day
On why I am here
What is the best thing to say?
Who is this being?
Looking back at me
A mirror cannot show
How I long to be free
What I look upon
When I see my face
Is not the me inside
The one they can’t replace
So why ask such a question
Something that I cannot explain
I know this creation
I should know my own name
The conveyer belt is moving
Creating more it seems
As the arms start to move
Building my strength with steel beams
There are many looking
At my empty frame
I bet they are also wondering
Who there is to blame
Making us a wonder
For all eyes to see
Each one of us is a little different
They don’t hold the same bolts as me
Does it make me special?
What am I to know?
I watch them build my body
And paint me so I glow
Still I wander and wonder
Of my own accord
What I will be in the future
A Chevy or a Ford?
Does it really matter?
What people will think
When I am out on the lot
With a sale sign of bright ink
I come off of the line
First one to take the street
I wake up saying hello world
This place is pretty neat
Still do I know who I am?
Am I the only one?
Who wonders from beginning to end?
How I had become
To be this thing that moves around
From place to place I go
Still wondering to myself
Am I just for show?
My character is built by hand
My chasse ain’t to shabby
Still I will drive about wondering
Who was my daddy?
Did I have a mother once?
Like all these people do
Or am I to be thrown away
Like the sole of an old shoe?
So tell me my dear family
Will I ever grow?
Like your children do every day
Will I lose my glow?
I am getting older
My value has gone down
Still I am shined and catered to
My owner doesn’t frown
I wonder does he ever
Think like I do see
We are not that different
My old man and me
I think I might know who I am
I’m fifty five you see
Built to last hopefully
For another century
Clean me up and buff me
I know where to go
My engine runs real smoothly
Not too fast or too slow
Who are you today son
I’m your brand new friend
A character that was built years ago
With care from end to end

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

Shippo tried to fight off his cousin who soon knocked him out cold. The world seemed to spin when he awoke inside his chambers fully clothed with Choukichi sitting across from him.

“You know I decided that I hate you.”

Choukichi stated angrily.

“What the hell is your problem?”

Shippo roared.

Choukichi stripped off his clothing.

“Is this not attractive to you?”

Shippo realized he couldn’t move. He was tied somehow to the bed.

“What does that have to do with anything Choukichi?”

Choukichi rushed to the bed and slapped Shippo.

“Everything. You have forced me to become a beta. You see unlike you I was willing to give up Alpha to be with you. I was willing to give up everything. Yet when I try to talk to you all you do is walk away with cold indifference. Well not this time damn it! This time you will shut up and listen to me.”

Shippo growled.

“If you wanted to talk to me then you could do so you idiot. Now untie me. This is ridiculous.”

Choukichi shook his head no.

“Shippo I used to love you. I practically worshiped you and you turned away from me. Now you will watch and learn what it is like to be helpless and lost. I told my Father I was giving up my Alpha rights and so now I am just a burden. Without you I am nothing……….”

Agony choked Choukichi as he took a knife and gutted himself. The pain was horrible, but nothing compared to what his heart felt.

“This is how it feels……..to die for love……..”

Shippo roared trying to break his bonds as Choukichi fell to the floor. Sven rushed in hearing Shippo’s cries and saw the scene running to go get Sesshoumaru.

“You idiot! You stubborn Idiot!”

Shippo cried as he pulled and tried to burn his bonds.

Choukichi choked out blood smiling….

“I wish I could hate you………Shippo…….”

With that he blacked out falling to the floor.

Sesshoumaru came in with Lin and the healer.

“What is going on here?”

Shippo struggled on the bed.

“I don’t know. Choukichi went crazy, attacked me, tied me up, and then did that to himself.”

Shippo stated through his tears. The healer stayed with the boy pulling the knife away. Then using her powers she healed the wound.

“If we would have been any later he would not have made it.”

She stated as Lord Lin looked down at his son not sure what to think or say. Once Shippo was freed however by Sven he rushed over to his cousin picking him up off the floor.

“Idiot! Bastard……”

Cuddling his cousin he looked at Lin accusingly.

“Why did you let him become a beta?”

Sesshoumaru frowned and looked at Lin also. Betas were not supposed to be around Alphas especially during this season. It made them irrational.

“He didn’t tell me.”

Lin stated with a frown. He went to touch his son, but Shippo snapped at him.

“Mine…….”

Shippo’s eyes went red as he pulled Sven behind him and held Choukichi firmly in his arms.

Sesshoumaru allowed his eyes to glow a bit pink and growled back at the lesser Alpha who whimpered as Choukichi was taken away.

“He chose this without your permission. He must be dealt with accordingly. Sven come with us. Lin deal with this pup.”

Lin growled lowly bringing Shippo back to reality.

“Uncle…..he never told you? Why would he lie?”

Shippo stated in frustration.

“He never wanted to shame his family. I am assuming that is why he never said anything Shippo. I consider you a son more than a nephew so if he really wanted to be a beta he could have told me. It is you who has to take over for me. It was your Father’s wish for you to rule the Southern lands.”

Shippo sat down on the bed looking at his hands in frustration.

“What will happen to Choukichi?”

Lin frowned a bit.

“He will be punished for his lie, but you have claimed him Shippo. Politically there is nothing we can do other then hope that the other Lords do not start a war over this incident. You now have three mates and most have only two.”

Shippo knew he had no choice. He had to mate his stupid cousin now, but this was not good. He was still young and required to gain an heir.

“Uncle Lin, before you leave perhaps I have a solution. Since Sven is training to be a Lady could we not do the same to Choukichi? It would be a fitting punishment and it could be established that I mate both Sven and Choukichi after the first litter. Would that not suffice to quell any uprising?”

Lin nodded and smiled.

“Now that is thinking like a Lord. It is you however who has to keep your paws to yourself when it comes to both the males. Question is can you do so? Do you have the self control?”

Shippo swallowed hard thinking of Sven, naked in his arms. Man was Choukichi going to get it for this shit.

“I must do what is best for our people Uncle.”

Lin chuckled and nodded.

“We shall see if you last so long. You may have inherited some of Lord Sesshoumaru’s patience and cunning, but you have not mastered his control.”

Shippo nodded knowing this was true. He just got hard thinking about Sven, naked. Sven didn’t even have to be in the room for him to imagine the things he wanted to do to that body.

Then there was Choukichi who stood there vulnerable, naked, begging, and it was beautiful. Seeing his weakness…..but at such a cost.

“Shippo, Choukichi will be flogged for his behavior. There is nothing I can do about that.”

Shippo nodded.

“I want to see him and be there for him when it is done.”

Lin figured as much as he smiled.

Shippo in fact wanted to do the flogging himself, but that would have to wait for later.