Sly as a Fox

A/n:: I am sorry for my lack of updating AGAIN. I have a bad habit of becoming distracted by writing other fics. >< I also am sorry that this chapter is short. But, I had to force myself to push this one out. The next will be longer and will contain a Lemon.

Warnings: Language, violence, Lime-aid!! Nothing too bad yet.

Shippou slunk across the ground toward the inu youkai on all fours, his sleek body looking positively feral as his eyes took on an iridescent tone of blue that signaled his slow transition into his demonic state of mind. He was losing himself within the rush of sheer adrenaline and excitement that a good fight gave him. He had lost his fear entirely to this feeling and he reveled in it, drowning out the thousands of beating hearts and intent eyes in favor of one single form. The fur of his tail stood out wildly in all directions and flicked erratically as he took in everything about his opponent. The other's scent filled him with its dizzying intoxication and he felt himself letting out a soft purr-like growl.

The boy looked unbelievably edible. It was that simple. And for some strange, unfathomable reason, Sesshoumaru felt himself becoming slightly aroused by the sight the boy presented. That had not happened in centuries. Many many many centuries. More centuries then he could accurately state, actually. Sesshoumaru inhaled the fox's scent deeply and was nearly knocked unconcious by its drastic change. The southern lord was not aroused, but rather, highly excited and aggression was pouring from the kit in waves. Make that tsunamis. Sesshoumaru noted as he glanced about the crowd that many of them were shifting uncomfortably and breathing in that heady scent deeply. The boy was radiating some strange hormone of some sort that was seeping its way into the senses of any who inhaled it and intoxicating them with its addictive spice. This sort of scent was not something that all demons had. It was incredibly sweet and rich, laced heavily with some form of dark creaminess that he could not name and of some sort of flower. Even the kit's followers were entranced by it and it seemed that the only thing keeping them from rushing to him was the fact that he was fighting. Sesshoumaru snorted softly to repel the smell and drew his blade. It was at this moment that Shippou attacked. Blue fire encased his body as he lashed out violently as the dog, striking the sword harshly and causing a deep hum to ring from it in protest. The evil sword cried out in agony as Kitsune fire crawled over its surface and bombarded the darkness within it to the point of sending small cracks along the edges.

Sesshoumaru growled deeply and his own eyes began to glow, however his flashed a bloody red. With a snarl he flicked his blade away from the flames and struck out at Shippou. The brat had all but eliminated the power of his sword. And then a blinding flash overtook his senses and his sword fell away from him.

Shippou locked his clawed hands with Sesshoumaru's in a grappling stance as he activated his illusion. His pupils dilated entirely and soon he found himself spinning away at his little game.

The lord of the west had gone completely still and as his mind slowly returned to him, so did the world. The area had been abandoned and he was alone. Apparently he had been there for some time considering how dark it was now, thousands of stars twinkling overhead. That damn fox would die. And then he heard the soft footsteps of someone approaching. The silver haired man turned slowly to come face to face with the fox himself although, he was dressed far simpler then he had been previously. His long hair was freed from its binding and it danced upon the light breeze about his frail figure, the simple pale green kimono partway open at his chest before being cinched shut at his waist by a thin white tie. It looked to be far too large for him and for some strange reason, he looked akin to a birthday present in the dog. The boy smiled in a sort of seductive way and moved closer to him until they were only mere inches apart. Once again, Sesshoumaru breathed in that wonderfully arousing scent and his eyes nearly rolled back into his skull as a soft groan escaped his lips.

Shippou smiled in amusement and a faint blush tinted his cheeks, his tail flicking wildly. Moving faster then the kit had expected, the dog grabbed the fox and spun him around, earning a squeak from him in the process. Sesshoumaru buried his nose in that cream colored tail and inhaled deeply. This was where that damn smell was coming from. The western lord could not help but grind his hips against the boy's backside as he held him firmly in place. Shippou yelped in surprise and flinched slightly in response, but the older male ignored him. The silver haired man stroked the base of that tail slowly and delighted in the loud moan that freed itself from the fox as he fell into Sesshoumaru's chest. Touching a fox's tail in such a way always brought about such a powerful reaction. The scent changed drastically, becoming spicier and filled with arousal. The dog ran his tongue along the fox's neck and continued to move against the other demandingly while stroking that soft tail teasingly. Apparently, allowing one's contact with others to die off for such a long period of time had interesting effects on a demon. Shippou arched into the other with yet another moan and closed his eyes tightly. He had not planned on things turning this way at all! And yet, he could not remove the illusion. Not yet. This felt far too...good!

"Nnh, Sesshoumaru..." He purred softly, his hands moving to tangle in the other demon's hair in a desperate attempt at finding something to hang onto. The silver haired man hissed darkly at the sound a bucked hard against Shippou while biting lightly at the sensitive flesh that was bared to him. He wanted this boy. He wanted the boy badly. In an instant, he had the boy facing him, his large hands lifting the fox by his rear.

"Mine..." He growled out before crushing his lips to Shippou's. The fox's eyes went impossibly wide as the dog plundered his mouth hungrily until a muffled groan came from him and he found his eyes falling shut unwillingly. He tried to pull away, tried to fight it off, but his body disobeyed and he wound his legs around Sesshoumaru's waist. His arms went about the taller man's neck and he fell into the kiss. And then he felt one of Sesshoumaru's hands touch his erection.

" NO!" Shippou yelled out, the illusion shattering instantly as his fist connected against Sesshoumaru's face, sending the startled lord crashing to the ground some feet away. The fox panted heavily, his face scarlet, and his brow lined in sweat. He watched as the other lord slowly and elegantly picked himself up, dusting off his clothes. The golden eyed male turned again locking that intense gaze on the trembling fox. Shippou found himself shrinking beneath the lust and anger in those depths, but he also found himself becoming highly aroused by it as well. He swallowed hard as the silver haired dog approached slowly, frozen in place. A clawed hand gently lifted the boy's chin and Shippou found himself unconsciously leaning into that touch.

"You have your treaty...now get the hell out of my lands." Sesshoumaru stated softly, his own breathing slightly erratic. Shippou's heart sank immediately at the dog's words. The silver haired man pulled away from him and began striding off, leaving the fox behind to collapse on the ground.

Takai was at his side instantly, quickly lifting the small boy into his arms and holding his lord close. His enraged glare focused on Sesshoumaru's retreating form before he turned and began striding into the worried group of kitsune warriors.

----------

It was almost nightfall when Shippou regained consciousness. All at once several things registered in his mind, causing him to jerk upward with a cry. His eyes were wide in fear and his chest rose and fell quickly with each breath. Strong hands went about his trembling form and he fought to escape those hands, clawing violently at them as he squirmed.

"My Lord...shhh...it's alright." The soothing tenor of his most trusted friend sounded in his sensitive ears and the fox instantly went slack. Takai cradled the still shaking kit in his lap, his large plume tail coiling about the boy protectively. The black furred fox was pissed. No, beyond pissed. That bastard dog had frightened his adorable little lord to the point of even shying away from Takai's touch. The fearful eyes that looked up at him were swelling with tears and that sight alone was nearly enough to shatter the old warrior's heart. With a soft growl, Takai embraced the other tightly, his body and plume tail hiding the smaller fox almost entirely from the world.

"I'm scared, Takai..." The kit whimpered, clinging to his protector. His small hands fisted in the thick material of the older fox's robes and he buried his face in his chest.

"What did he do to you?" Takai all but hissed, his eyes flashing blue dangerously as he forced the confused kit to look at him. Shippou stared at the other's murderous glare worriedly and bit his lower lip. He had only seen the man look so angry one other time and it had been when the younger male had almost been killed in the battle for his throne.

" I... I just don't understand. I felt like I was losing control." Shippou stammered, too embarrassed to just come out and say what he was feeling. He had wanted the other lord to kiss him, to hold him, to...well, he wasn't sure what he wanted. He knew that there was something burning within him that he could not fight and it terrified him. The lord did not want to lose himself to it for fear of never being able to find himself. What had happened in that illusion had not been what he had wanted, or at least, expected. Shippou had hoped to distract the dog while in reality he formed his powerful kitsune bi to strike. Apparently, Sesshoumaru had other ideas. The fox was baffled as to how or why the man had done such a thing.

"Shippou-sama...have you noticed anything strange about yourself lately?" Takai asked almost sheepishly, earning a confused look from the fox. Shippou pondered the question for a long moment while he wiped his brow with his arm. He was feeling very very hot. Far hotter then usual. The younger fox shifted slightly in the others grasp and doing so rubbed slightly against one of the sensitive places on Shippou's over heated body. Once again the fur on his tail bristled outward and that intoxicating scent filled the roomy tent that the duo occupied. He felt Takai's body shiver slightly beneath that scent that wove about them. Shippou himself was unaware of it, but Takai was overwhelmed by it.

"I...I feel really hot...and kind of anxious. This is going to sound really dumb, but I really want to be touched..." Shippou mumbled softly, red tingeing his features faintly. He swallowed hard and looked up at the other nervously. " He...when I put the illusion on us...He kissed me. I think I wanted it but I was afraid so I ran. Taka, I am so confused!"

A dark snarl escaped Takai at the other's admission and he pulled the smaller fox flush against him, stroking Shippou's hair gently as he mentally crushed Sesshoumaru over and over again.

"That bastard...I'll kill him!" The black haired man spat.

"No!" Shippou yelped in surprise, clutching at Takai's loose haori. "I mean...don't...we have the alliance don't we? We can just forget that it happened."

The lord didn't seem so convinced in his mind. His general cupped the red head's face, stroking Shippou's cheek with his thumb.

"I cannot forget so easily that this mutt has stolen away your first kiss." Takai murmured lowly. "My lord...we must return home as soon as possible. You will be very vulnerable in the next few weeks and you will not be safe here."

"Why? What is going on with me, Takai?" The kit demanded, fear evident in those large green eyes.

"You are in heat, My lord. Others will be drawn to you whenever you release a special smell and they will want to mate you." His teacher answered without hesitation. It had to be said. Shippou bit his lower lip hard and turned his gaze away.

"Am I releasing that smell now?" He asked softly as he suddenly became aware of the firm body he was pressed against. Takai swallowed hard and stared down at the fox in his lap almost hungrily.

"Yes."

Shippou allowed his body to fall against Takai with a weak groan of annoyance, his tail flicking wildly. He hated this already.

" What do I do about it?" The kit asked after a moment of simply breathing in his dear friend's scent. Takai went entirely still beneath him. And with a soft squeak, Shippou found himself on the floor, cradled by the other's large tail and the furs that lined the floor. His general leaned over him slightly and traced the fox's lips lightly, barely touching the startled boy.

" You either hide out for the period or..." The blue eyed demon began, inhaling that scent that had increased its potency tenfold. "You allow a demon to have you."

Takai leaned forward slightly and stopped a short distance from Shippou's lips, his warm breath sending shivers through the kit's form. Shippou's lips twitched slightly and his eyes fell to half mast, staring up at his general with a look that was innocent and yet enticing all at once. The kit's heart was in his throat as the man leaned closer to him, but rather then kiss him, Takai ran his tongue affectionately across Shippou's cheek, stealing a gasp from the shocked male. An instant later Takai was gone from the tent, leaving the stunned Shippou alone and on the verge of a heart attack.

" GAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!" He screamed after a long moment of laying motionless on the floor and he pounded the earth in frustration. Was everyone in the fucking universe trying to get a piece of him now!? Needless to say, the kitsune was ready to kill something. In his near blind confusion and need for clarification, the fox fled. His steps were nearly silent as his eyes once again took on the glowing blue hue and with a speed that no demon could easily match, the Lord of the South sped off into the forest.