Conflicting Instinct

A/N(or warning): This story is yoai and contains M-preg. Just so you know. There is a lemon in this chapter, so if you're offended by that please do not read this. As always, I welcome construstive critism and praise. Also, I'm sick as a dog right now, but I really tried to edit this to best of my ability. If there's any mistakes, please forgive me.

A big thank you to those who reviewed. You make my world a better place.

Disclaimer: No one belongs to me except for Molochai, he's mine. Very big thank you to my Lunastarwind for the name.

One last thing (Because I'm such a livejournal freak): The music for this chapter is Forfeit by Chevelle.

I'm done now. Enjoy.


Chapter Two: Challenge and Claim

He was in pain. It felt as though he was burning from the inside out, that his skin would blister and peel away with the intensity of it. Sweat poured down his body and plastered his bangs to his face. Deadly claws dug into the earth, dripping poison into the soil, causing the grass around his hands to whither and die. Sesshoumaru pulled his hands back, clenching them into fists. He wanted to scream, to kill something, anything to relieve the tension that pulled his body taunt as a bow string. Instead he forcibly relaxed his tense muscles and attempted to regulate his breathing, his whole frame trembling violently.

Despite his best efforts, his breath still came out in short, almost sobbing, pants. The inuyoukai squeezed his fists tighter, feeling the sharp bite of his claws digging into the fleshy part of his palm. He felt restlessness like something crawling beneath his skin and he had to stop himself from clawing into his own flesh to stop it.

Sensitive ears twitched as Sesshoumaru heard the soft, rapid fall of footsteps coming toward him. He lifted his head and tried to catch any scent but his clouded senses made it almost impossible. Whoever it was, they must be close for him to be able to hear them at all. The strong musk of a male demon permeated the air of the clearing and Sesshoumaru turned to focus hazy vision on the source. Amber eyes widened slightly in surprise as he saw who had come. Off to his right stood a bronzed skinned, ebony haired demon, panting lightly from the long run that had brought him here. It was that wolf that Inuyasha occasionally kept company with, but the male’s name escaped him at the moment.

Feral, red tinged amber locked with narrowed azure and they stared at each other in silence. Kouga took a step forward but a fierce snarl from Sesshoumaru stopped him in his tracks. He cocked his head to the side and studied the silver-haired youkai in front of him. The wolf still didn’t really know what had compelled him to come here. The spicy scent flooded his senses, making it difficult to focus on anything besides the beautiful powerful inuyoukai crouching across the clearing from him, poised as if to attack, his long silken locks draped around him like a mantle and glowing like the finest silver. Kouga could hear the daiyoukai’s soft breath hissing out through his clenched teeth and he could smell his intoxicating scent. All he could think about was claiming him.

A soft malicious laugh ripped both demons’ gazes to the far end of the clearing. They had been so focused on each other that neither noticed the newcomer. Sesshoumaru’s eyes narrowed to amber slits at the sight of the youkai. A small sneer appeared on his face in response to the small condescending nod he got from the male.

Kouga studied the new demon, trying to figure out who he was. His instincts screamed rival and he tensed at the threat. Judging by his scent this one was also an inuyoukai. He had cruel amber eyes and strong, striking features. Two jagged navy blue markings adorned his right cheek, and the silver tips of his ink black hair shined like polished metal in the moonlight. Sesshoumaru was obviously not pleased to see him. He made that clear by the vicious growl that left him as the other approached.

A dangerous razor sharp smile traced across the dark inuyoukai’s lips at Sesshoumaru’s growl, “That wasn’t a very warm welcome, Sesshoumaru.”

Kouga frowned, put off by someone daring to address the Lord of the Western Lands so familiarly. “Who the fuck are you?” he snarled, shifting into a defensive stance.

The youkai ignored him, his attention solely focused on the silver-haired inuyoukai.

“Molochai,” Sesshoumaru growled, his lips pulled back in a small snarl. “What are you doing here?”

“Well I thought that would be obvious, my lord,” Molochai answered, delivering the title sarcastically.

“Then you are a fool,” the daiyoukai stated mildly. “I should think that the last time you were punished for your insolence would have been enough. My father was too lenient in sparing your life. This time you will not be so fortunate.”

Molochai’s soft, cruel laughter filled the clearing for a few moments. Then all amusement left him as quickly as it had come. “You’re bluffing,” he whispered mockingly. “You can barely stand and you expect me to fear you?”

Sesshoumaru bristled at that. No one mocked him and lived. And he never bluffed. This insolent fool was asking for death. Heat or no, he would have Molochai’s head.

Azure eyes narrowed at the exchange between the two inuyoukai. Something about this didn’t sit well with Kouga. He could sense that this guy was powerful, but not nearly as powerful as Sesshoumaru. He must be suicidal to bait him like that. The wolf also didn’t like the way that bastard spoke to the youkai lord. It made him angry.

“Hey asshole,” he drawled, drawing both sets of amber eyes to him. He placed his hands on his hips and put on his best smug grin. “In case you didn’t notice I was here first. Go find your own.”

Molochai looked mildly surprised, but he recovered quickly. “You presume to challenge me?” He chuckled softly, addressing Kouga as one might a particularly slow child. “Run along, wolf pup. It wouldn’t be in your best interests to get in between your betters.”

Kouga’s cerulean eyes darkened in fury and he growled deeply. Sesshoumaru raised one fine silver brow. Surely the wolf didn’t intend to challenge Molochai for him. He was under the impression that Kouga harbored feelings for Inuyasha’s human wench.

“You’re damn right I am, you worthless cur,” Kouga hissed. This pompous piece of shit was asking for it now. “We’ll see who’s stronger when I send you running home with your tail between your legs.”

Molochai’s eyes narrowed dangerously, but his self righteous smirk didn’t falter. “Very well, pup, if you long for death that much, I’ll grant your wish.” He went into a defensive stance and his amber eyes flashed red. “You will not interfere.”

Dark cerulean eyes bled a dangerous shade of crimson. “You talk too much, asshole.”

The two youkai rushed each other, vicious snarls and deep growls of challenge disturbing the quiet air. The clash of claws seemed almost deafening to Sesshouamru as he tried to focus on them, but all his hazy vision could make out was blurs of black and brown and silver.

He wanted to stop them. He had to stop them, but every instinct he had was telling him to stay where he was, to see which one was stronger, and it was getting increasingly difficult to control his demon side. More red bled into his amber eyes and he felt himself slipping. If he had been anyone else, he would have been cursing. Damn that wolf for coming here. Damn Molochai for not knowing his place. Now he had no choice but to wait for the victor and accept that one as his mate. His instincts demanded it.

Vaguely Sesshoumaru wondered which one he should be rooting for. He hated Molochai with a passion, but he was also an inuyoukai, and he was strong. But Molochai was a power-hungry upstart who only wanted Sesshoumaru for his status and his lands. The daiyoukai would fall on his own sword before he allowed himself to be used like that.

And the wolf was just that, a wolf. Wolf demons were little better than animals in most upper class demons’ eyes. And as powerful as Kouga was, he was still beneath Sesshoumaru in status and power. They both were. But being mated to the wolf was better than being tied to someone he despised as much as he did Molochai.

A pained snarl and the pungent smell of fresh blood pulled Sesshoumaru out of his musings. Molochai crouched at the opposite end of the clearing from Kouga, his arm held protectively at his side. Blood oozed from four deep gashes on his upper arm, dripping down his fingers into the dirt.

With a fierce growl, he struggled to his feet. Kouga advanced on him, shaking the blood off his claws and grinning with feral amusement. They ran at each other again. Molochai’s claws glanced off Kouga’s armor and slashed through his forearm. The wolf snarled, swinging his arm out and grazing the inuyoukai’s chest as he jumped back.

They went at each other again and again, too far gone to use anything but claws and fangs, until both were bleeding profusely numerous cuts. Most of Kouga’s were superficial, but the blood loss was slowing him down. Molochai was having trouble standing upright, and the ground at his feet was littered with droplets of blood.

Kouga made one final charge at Molochai. The inuyoukai couldn’t block in time and he howled in agony as the wolf’s claws sunk to the second knuckle into his shoulder. Kouga ripped his hand down as he freed it from the other’s body. Molochai made a choked gasping sound and blood painted his lips red as claws punctured one of his lungs. He fell to his knees before the wolf, head bowed in defeat. Kouga growled deep in his chest, baring his fangs, displaying his supremacy. A weak, wet sounding whine left Molochai and he slunk out of the clearing, leaving the victor standing on the blood splattered grass.

Sesshoumaru struggled to his feet, eyes completely red, markings gone jagged, fully under the control of his demon. He growled softly, bringing the winner’s attention to him. The heat raging through his body threatened to consume him, forcing an agitated snarl from his lips. The wolf had to prove his strength one last time.

The daiyoukai’s snarl was met with a pleased rumbling growl from the ebony haired youkai. He had defeated the challenger, now he had to prove that strength to his mate, to claim him. The spicy tang of the inuyoukai’s heat and the thick cloying smell of blood shot through his body, shutting down any coherent thought. He was acting completely on instinct.

He advanced on the silver-haired youkai, dodging the claws that slashed at him as he got closer. He grabbed one pale wrist and yanked forward, throwing Sesshoumaru off balance and sending him crashing to the ground. Kouga was on him before he had time to react, pushing his wrists to the ground and pinning him.

Sesshoumaru struggled against the wolf’s hold, snarling and snapping at him. A low growl left Kouga’s lips and he snapped once at the other’s throat, his teeth clicking together just short of the vulnerable flesh. The inuyoukai recognized it as the warning it was and went still. He couldn’t break the hold.

The wolf waited to see if there would be anymore resistance. He dipped his head down and nuzzled the pale throat, pressing his chest to the heaving one beneath him. Sesshoumaru let out a high pitched whine and arched his body in acceptance.

A pleased rumble sounded from Kouga. He released his hold on the inuyoukai’s wrists and moved to get rid of the cloth that separated him from his mate. The frail silk clothing gave way easily under his claws, and he pulled the unresisting fabric away, tossing it behind him. He divested himself of his own clothing with practiced ease, throwing it in the same general direction of Sesshoumaru’s white silk.

Long pale fingers fisted in ebony locks as Kouga was pulled back. Fangs clicked against each other and soft flesh of lips gave way as mouths met in a harsh, bruising kiss. Their blood mixed and flowed between them, sending shocks through both their bodies, spiking their desire. Kouga thrust his tongue into Sesshoumaru’s mouth, brushing against his fangs and tongue, absorbing his taste. His claws raked down the inuyoukai’s sides, leaving red welts in their wake. Sesshoumaru broke the kiss with a soft hiss, his own claws digging into the wolf’s shoulders.

Kouga made a sound that mated a groan with a growl and began nipping at the silver haired demon’s neck, leaving dark purple marks on the white flesh. Sesshoumaru’s claws caught in Kouga’s ponytail, slicing through the leather tie. Long ebony locks tailed down around the wolf’s face, teasing over the inuyoukai’s sensitized skin. Kouga forced open long pale thighs and settled between them, hissing when their erections rubbed together.

With a soft growling cry, Sesshoumaru threw his head back, arching his body into the wolf’s. He was on fire, every nerve ending alive with sensation, his senses taking on an almost painful clarity. A keening sound left him and he wrapped his legs around the other, tilting his head farther to the side, silently beckoning for the ebony haired wolf to take him. He growled encouragingly as Kouga pressed against him.

A low possessive snarl left Kouga as he buried himself to the hilt inside Sesshoumaru’s body in one hard thrust. A short howling scream left the inuyoukai’s throat and the sharp scent of his blood laced the air around them. It hurt and he could feel the warm wetness sliding down his thighs, but the pain meant nothing in the face of the intense pleasure shooting through his body at the claiming. Any damage would be healed by tomorrow, but Kouga’s claim on him would be there forever.

The wolf’s fangs brushed against the daiyoukai’s pale neck with every thrust, sending violent tremors through the lithe body. Sesshouamru rose to meet him, sharp claws raking down Kouga’s back, spiking the wolf’s desire further. The scent of their blood and arousal filled the air, the stillness of the clearing broken by sharp pants and deep growls.

Every one of Kouga’s thrusts jerked Sesshoumaru’s body and tore a pleasured sound from his lips. The tension in them coiled tighter and tighter with every passing moment, threatening to break. Every movement brought them closer to the edge until there was no choice but to spiral into the abyss. Sesshoumaru’s vision flashed white and his body bowed, a guttural yell accompanying his completion. Kouga snarled against his neck, sharp fangs sinking into the pale flesh, and with one final harsh thrust spilled his seed deep into the inuyoukai’s body, marking him inside and out.

A shudder passed through Sesshoumaru’s form as Kouga’s fangs left his neck and the wolf’s spent member left his body. A deep contented purr sound from the ebony haired youkai and he nuzzled his face into the other’s neck, licking the wounds there clean of blood. The action exposed his neck to Sesshoumaru and the symbolism was not lost on the inuyoukai. It was a gesture of trust and equality. If the silver haired demon chose to accept Kouga as his mate he would place his mark there.

Still under the control of his instincts, Sesshoumaru sank his fangs into the wolf’s neck, returning the mark, binding them together. Kouga shuddered and groaned as he felt the inuyoukai mark him, pleased he had been accepted.

Sesshoumaru released his hold on the other and let his head fall back against the grass. The strain had taken a toll on his body and he closed his eyes, letting the darkness of unconsciousness take him. Kouga rolled off his new mate, throwing a possessive arm over him as he too gave into the call of sleep.

tbc
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Well there you go. I do have a plot, I promise. It'll just take me a while to get there. From now on I'm shooting for a lemon every chapter so we'll see how it goes.

And please, let me know what you think. I would like to know if anyone actually wants to read this.