Chronicles of the West

Chapter Forty Nine


Sesshoumaru went to his chambers, several hours later. He expected to find Ayeka sleeping and was not surprised to see her laying on her stomach, face turned from him. She was bare beneath the silken sheets, but only the creamy expanse of her shoulders was visible above them.

He shrugged from his clothing and set his weaponry aside before striding to the bed and lifting the coverlet. He'd just settled in and was preparing to tug his wife into his arms when she rolled against him, cuddling against his warmth.

He chuckled softly and anchored her to him, her small feet slid up to tuck between his muscled calves and he groaned. "Gods woman you have the coldest feet in all of creation". Vivid green eyes blinked up at him, "Well, if someone had come to bed earlier, I would not have gotten cold" she pointed out.

It was the duty of her mate to see to her comfort and so Sesshoumaru set about warming his wife up. He did a magnificent job of it, he made her burn.

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Shippo stood inside the dimly lit chamber. Daishi was not in the bed, rather she stood near the tall window, staring out into the night. She had sensed him coming and also sensed his inner turmoil. "Something troubles you" she said softly.

Shippo crossed the room, to stand behind her. Close enough that she could feel the heat of his body. "Only court matters" he replied. Daishi leaned backwards until her shoulder blades touched his chest. Shippo understood that action and wrapped his arms around her.

"The court will whisper that you have a wife who is impure" she speculated. He shook his head, his fluffy tail twitching. Her own was still. "They know nothing" he assured her, "But they will speculate as to why you are not taken".

She stiffened slightly in his arms. The kitsune male sighed softly, "It was my intent to wait until you came to me Daishi, I would never force such things upon you. Still, the court will not recognize you as truly being mine until the fact is consummated".

She trembled lightly in his arms, and his clawed hands stoked her sides gently. "I need you to consider that" he finished. Daishi swallowed hard, "I am sorry Shippo. If not for me you would not be stuck in this mess" she told him.

Shippo growled softly, "That is nonsense Daishi. I did not mark you out of some protective sense. I told you before, my offer for your hand was for my own selfish reasons. I want you, I know on some level you want me, and it is my hope that in time you will want me, enough to give yourself to me wholly".

Daishi wanted to believe that his words were true. That in his eyes she had become something more than a friend. That she had become something precious that he wanted to keep near him. However, she was nothing, if not a realist.

He had done this because he felt it honorable, to save her from an unhappy match. And in doing so, he had sacrificed his own. That thought made her want to weep. She, who would have been content to remain in the halls of Satoru's academy until the end of time, had tried to repair the damaged family spirit of her clan and had failed. Not only failed, but implicated Shippo.

She wanted to at least be the kind of wife he wanted, or needed. She did not want the court to mutter things about him and from what she knew of them… they would. Satoru had been the cause of much gossip in the court until his father had threatened nearly every member. She had no wish to see such things firsthand.

Shippo felt her unease and her sorrow. Pressing his cheek to hers, he followed her gaze to the moon. "Am I such a terrible choice?" he asked her. A tear fell unbidden over her pale cheek, "No Shippo. I just wish that your reasons had been different. That I could have spared you this".

He turned her slowly in his embrace, "My reasons are good. I wish I could make you understand that I would have offered for you sooner, if I thought you would leave Satoru's side" he murmured to her. Her pale green eyes went wide for a moment.

Of course. Of course he would say such things to ease her. She slowly lifted her hand to cup his cheek. "I want to make this easier for you" she told him, "I do not know if I can be the kind of mate you need or want but I can try. I am not…. Afraid of you".

He gave her a small smile, "And you never have to be Daishi. I will protect you". She smiled sadly and stepped back from him. He watched her hands move to her robes and she tugged the ties. Shippo watched as the silk slid, seemingly in slow motion over her shoulders.

Clawed hands caught it before she had fully exposed herself. Daishi blinked up at him in confusion, "But why?" she asked, "this is what you wanted isn't it?". Her heart was racing and he suspected that fear lingered in her heart.

He pressed a kiss to her brow. "Is it" he agreed, "But not like this. I want your heart to pound with excitement not fear and I want you to ache for my touch, as I ache for yours". She blinked up at him, "You ache?". He nodded, his gaze somber and serious.

"I want you to come to me on your own, though time is an issue now" he told her, "I want to slowly awaken you to the pleasure that my body can bring you. I want to erase the pain and fear from your memory. I wish to replace it".

She trembled at his words, feeling a strange, lethargic warmth spread slowly through her. "I don't know if you can do that" she replied in a strained whisper. Shippo smirked slightly, "I can" he assured her.

She blushed under his hot gaze and she turned away to press her heated hands against the cool glass of the window. "Will you let me begin tonight? Teaching you my touch?" he asked hoarsely. Her heart hammered in the cavity of her chest, like a frightened bird beating it's wings against a cage.

How could she let him? How could she deny him? With a single, firm nod she granted him permission. She closed her eyes tightly, not sure what to expect. Shippo, she was certain would not harm her, however her mind knew only fear and pain. Was there anything different?

Her tense expression was reflected back to him in the glass and he was determined to change it. His heart ached to see her this way. With one arm at her waist, he used his free hand to gently sweep her hair from the side of her neck, exposing the bite he'd given her.

He brushed his nose against the pointed tip of her ear, breathing softly against her. The back of his knuckles brushed over her cheek and he saw her brow furrow in question but her eyes remained tightly shut. Angling his head, he pressed a kiss to her bite, and then lapped his tongue against the slightly raised flesh.

Her eyes opened at the gentle touch. As he worked his way upward, her body warmed in his hands. He ran his tongue over the shell of her delicate ear and then lightly nipped the tip. Her intake of breath encouraged him.

Shippo worked slowly, methodically. He'd go no lower than her breasts tonight. He promised himself that. When he pressed a kiss behind her ear, her head tilted offering him better access. Slowly, ever so slowly, he turned her to face him and captured her lips.

She felt his tongue brush against her bottom lip and she cautiously parted her lips to him. Shippo lightly brushed her tongue with his own, coaxing it to come and play. As she began to respond, he felt her hands slide over his chest and clutch in his silk haori.

His hand slid over her bare back, claws trailing lightly, tiny bumps prickling her flesh as he moved. She moaned softly against him and Shippo, deepened the kiss, dominating her mouth. She let him, feeling herself become lost in the waves of shimmering sensation.

He walked her back against the window, lifting her to sit her on the stone sill. Her shoulders met the glass and he swallowed her gasp at the cold contact. He lifted his hands to cup her face, sliding down to caress her throat and then her shoulders.

Butterfly caresses followed by more pressure, as she felt his hands glide over her. Hands that comforted and inflamed. Hands that didn't hurt. Clawed fingertips traced over her fluted collarbone. Tracing patterns over the thin flesh.

Shippo broke the kiss, listening to her draw in greedy, panting breaths, his mouth moved over her jaw, and then he bent his head to press fanged kisses to her shoulders and across her collar. Her hand slid into his hair and drew him closer to her flesh.

Shippo wanted to crow at that small victory. He instead focused on his task. His hands moved to her waist and he moved to stand between her legs, his lower half brushing against hers through the layers of clothing, he gave her no time to worry.

His mouth ravaged her own again, before his hands moved upwards to brush against her breasts. She stiffened ever so slightly. "It's ok" he whispered to her, as his hands caressed her flesh and then returned to her breasts.

Her body on fire, Daishi arched into his hands as he filled his palms with her soft mounds. Shippo felt her shiver and brushed his thumbs over the peaks, feeling them pebbled under his touch. He growled softly to her, soothing her worries.

A tight coil was forming in her lower stomach and she became restless in his arms, wanting more of …something. She didn't know, only knew that he did. "Shippo…please" she breathed and her airy words shot right to his groin. Keeping hold of one breast he pressed kisses over the mound of her other.

Daishi felt her eyes roll back as his tongue slithered and curled around one nipple. Shippo slowly rocked against her, his covered length brushing over the apex of her thighs. There were so many things he wished to do with her, to her, But alas, they would have to wait.

She moaned out loud when his mouth fastened onto her breast, suckling like a newborn. His lips and fangs tugging lightly, the sensation echoing to her lower belly and she felt a heated liquid rush. Her arousal was powerful now in the air. Shippo fused their lips together, rumbling to let her know that he was pleased with her. He had only one goal now, to bring her to release without venturing lower. Not impossible, he'd done it before…granted not with her.

Pushing her breasts together, he dragged his tongue across both peaks, listening to her pant and moan. "You like this don't you?" he asked against her flesh. Her answer was to bury her hands in his bright hair and cuddle him against her.

Shippo dragged his fangs carefully over the swollen and heavy mounds. Raised red lines appearing, and he soothed them with his tongue. Nipping sharply to heighten her sensation level, she cried out. His mouth was there to suckle and ease the bright flesh.

His hand slid around her waist drawing their lower halves a little closer. He stroked her back as he rocked into her. Her head fell back and he attacked her throat with wet kisses and suckling caresses, even as his hands returned to pluck at her rosy nipples.

She writhed against him, wanting more of what he could give her. Leaning up to whisper in her ear, he spoke, "My hands are hands that comfort, my hands are hands that please. These are hands that move on your body, like my mouth, like my heart. They are for you". Her body tightened as the coil twisted tightly.

Shippo tugged at her lobe as he pinched her nipples, "Now I want something from you Daishi. I want you to come for me". His words, the soft breath on her ear, the tug of his fangs and fingers, she wasn't sure what it was, but her body tightened almost painfully, her core throbbing.

She cried out against him as unknown and powerful sensations swept through her like liquid fire. Her throat constricting, her toes curling, her knees drawing up ever so slightly. Her hands fisting in his hair and she sobbed her release into his shoulder.

He smelled it. The release that had taken her. Delighted in it, though it pained him to have no relief himself. He rumbled to her, kissing her ear and jaw as he held her tightly to him. Her body trembling and flushed.

Long minutes passed and he listened to the galloping of her heart slow to a steady cadence and her breaths came easier to her. His hand stroked her back, and teased the soft curls at her nape. She relaxed against him then. "What was that?" she asked shyly, a long while later.

Shippo pressed a kiss to the crown of her head, "Release" he told her, "Something I wish to give you many times over". She tucked her face beneath his chin as he drew her clothing up and over her shoulders. "It didn't hurt" she whispered, her voice almost awed.

Shippo smiled gently and lifted her chin to lock eyes with her. "I told you that these hands, this body will never intentionally bring you pain. I want your pleasure and your happiness Daishi" he told her. She nodded and moved to stand but her legs were still a bit unsteady.

Shippo smiled at her and lifted her before moving her to the large bed and placing her in it. "I will be back, I have to bathe" he told her. He of course left out the fact that he had some rather personal matters to attend to as well. She nodded and her eyes were already closing as he kissed her brow and lifted the coverlet over her.

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Elda shifted in her cart yet again. She hated traveling but this was well worth it. She was not pleased with her brother's meddling in her private life but this could very well work out to her benefit. Toga, prince of the west and Taiyoukai of the north.

She supposed he might be angry with her for arriving at his father's home. The missive her brother Adus had sent was far from friendly. He had outlined in no uncertain terms for the lord of the west what had occurred and what he expected.

The demon court in this odd land was nothing like her own. It was more organized and though the basic laws were the same, the dealings and formality were not. Adus had of course ridden on ahead, eager to meet the father of the dog. She'd paid no heed, and settled back against her silk pillows and furs.

A loud, jarring crack had roused her later that day. She'd let her defenses down and drifted to sleep, secure in the knowledge that her wolves would not fail her. A sudden rush of power took her by surprise and she blinked her eyes, clearing sleep from them.

There was a demonic presence outside and not a weak one. Throwing the coverings aside, she leapt from the cart, ready to fight. Her wolves were already engaging the threat. Shadows seemed to unfasten themselves from the earth and trees to swarm around her fighters, drawing ever closer to her.

She braced herself and leapt into a sunny patch, trying to avoid the shadows at all cost. She barked similar orders to her remaining men. Her wolves were being slaughtered before her every eyes. This was unthinkable, unheard of!

Behind her, unseen, her shadow bubbled and rose up, dark spikes shooting towards her body. "Watch out!" came a gruff voice and then she was hit hard and rolled across the ground to see a dark haired male grappling with the creature. He landed a series of swift kicks to it, and his claws tore deeply into the shadowy thing.

Dark droplets of blood flew from his fingertips as he gave an impatient flick. Wolves, unknown wolves were streaming through the brush, entering the fight. They seemed to know the opponent well and fought savagely.

Elda shrank against a tree, taking in the scent of blood and death and her eyes bled red. She lunged into the fray slashing and falling back. From the corner of his eye the strange male watched her move. She was not a weak demoness, but her fighting skills were not highly developed.

Working his way towards her, he slew shadow demons as he moved. Tossing them here and there, blood flying, claws flashing, cries rising in the melee. Elda's gaze snapped to him, and she snarled. Her beast in control of her and this powerful male was a threat not only to her authority but her very person.

His wolves finished the duty of killing as he stalked towards her. She was lovely really. He growled at her low in his throat, a command to accept his leadership. She snarled in response and the wolf narrowed his blue-green eyes. "Not smart bitch" he told her.

She eyed him coldly, the red in her gaze giving way to her usual color. "Do not presume to speak to me in such a way" she growled at him, using the language of their people. His jaw clenched in reaction. "You rule nothing here" he pointed here. She laughed at him, "But soon I will, for I am going to marry the prince of the west" she said boldly. The wolf snorted, "I'd love to see that" . His mirth gave her pause, "What do you mean by that?" she demanded. Before she had a chance to gauge his actions, the wolf had her pinned against a tree.

She struggled but he was far too strong and in her struggling, she realized that. He was sniffing her, taking in her scent. His own filling her nose, like sun warmed leaves and man. She wrinkled her nose, much preferring the cooler, cleaner tones of the dog.

His nose touched the junction of her neck and she stiffened, he growled as he committed her scent to memory. Like fall berries and soft wood smoke. Odd combination but pleasing nonetheless. Pressing his fangs against her flesh, he demanded her submission and Elda growled viciously until his mouth opened and his fangs closed firmly over her throat.

The message was clear. Submit or die. She didn't know him and had no reason to doubt him. Swallowing hard, she slowly turned her head to the side. He grunted with approval and released her. "You aren't his type" he told her baldly, "You lack the fire of the females of that line".

Her eyes went wide at his words before narrowing in contempt, "How dare you?" she demanded, straightening her hair and clothing, "Just who the hell do you think you are?". The wolf grinned at her, before striding away, "I am the Prince of the East. Madu".

She growled, "Don't you even care who I am?" she wanted to know. He laughed and waved over his shoulder, "I know you. You’re the brat who thinks she can catch a dog". While she sputtered with indignation, he called to his wolves, "Oh and you are most welcome" he added, pointing out her lack of manners.

She was just about to let loose with a tangent of insults when she realized that the arrogant male was gone. She closed her mouth and looked around the clearing. She'd lost half of her wolves. Some dead, some injured, too injured to continue right away.

With a sigh, the wolf princess knelt and began to see to them. Muttering under her breath about the damn wolf who'd swept in like he owned the world. A wolf with pretty eyes, but an ass just the same. Unseen and unsensed, those pretty eyes watched her for the duration of the night.