Chronicles of the West

Chapter Fifty Eight

Adus approached the western gates with a confident smile. "I've got you now Toga" he said to himself. The sentries alerted the house to the approaching visitors. Sesshoumaru stood on the battlements, his hair lifting in the morning breeze.

This was the wolf. He gave the signal to open the gates and the wolf prince was allowed entrance. He waited for a handful of minutes, growing more impatient as the time passed. A wave of power swept through the courtyard.

Sesshoumaru watched, the wolf was suitably impressed. Apparently he expected someone along the lines of his equal. Ha. That was not the case. With graceful steps, Sesshoumaru stepped into the sunlight. The pristine white of his garments and the silver of his hair making him glow. He was nearly blinding.

"Prince Adus I assume" he said, in bored tones. His face an impassive mask. The wolf held some modicum of power, laughable compared to that of his own. The wolf bowed to him, "I am Adus. And you must the Lord of Legend, Sesshoumaru". This was no ordinary demon and Adus was wise enough to know that if he wasn't proper that he might well die under that cold golden gaze.

Sesshoumaru looked down at the wolf as though he were lint to be plucked from one's person. "State your business". Adus straightened, "I had thought my missive was quite clear my lord" he responded. Sesshoumaru cocked his head, "You seek to ally with my house".

Adus frowned, "I wish to right the wrong done by your heir" he said bluntly. Sesshoumaru lifted his head and scented the air, "Your sister does not travel with you". Adus crossed his arms over his chest, "No she is a day behind" he replied.

The stoic lord pinned him with a stare, "Two" he returned. Adus blinked, "What was that?" he asked. Sesshoumaru was colder than a winter's wind, "I said she is two days behind since her attack". Adus's eyes narrowed, "What is this?" he demanded.

Sesshoumaru turned from him, "If you come seeking a marriage, it would be prudent to produce a bride. Rather than leave her in an unknown forest to fall victim to strange evils. From what I have been told her fighting skills are not highly honed".

Adus barked orders for his men to hurry and find her. He'd been in such a hurry to arrive and confront Toga that he'd not thought cautiously. He'd supposed that the dog in question would meet him and the usual fight would ensue.

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Elda was muttering fiercely to herself when she felt the approach of another. Drawing her weapon she readied herself. Madu leapt down from the branches to stand before her. She knew him at once. "You!" she growled.

A dark brow arched in question, "Still out here I see. So tell me princess where's your brother?" he asked, his emphasis on the word princess mockingly soft. She looked away from him, "I suppose that he has reached the western palace by now" she replied stiffly.

Madu eyed her closely, she wasn’t bad looking at all. "Real salt of the earth there" he muttered. Her head snapped up, "What are you implying?" she demanded. Madu folded his arms across his chest and started walking. She traipsed after him.

"Nothing" he returned, "It's just uncommon for a male to leave a female in his company alone in this part of the world". She blinked, "I have my wolves" she pointed out. He looked over his shoulder at the weary pack, "Exhausted, injured….. Great protection".

She glared at him, "So why are you here?" she wanted to know. The wolf was irritating her, handsome though he might be. Madu grunted, "Because someone has to get you to the west in one piece". She studied him carefully. "Like you, I plan to marry into that house" he told her. She blinked up at him.

Madu nodded, "Toga's sister Taisha". She recalled that name, "The twin?". Madu smiled, "Yep. That's my woman". Elda looked him up and down, somehow he didn't seem to fit the part of what she imagined the inu princess would keep. "Does she know that?" she asked him baldly. Blue green eyes locked on hers, "Does he?" he shot back.

Elda had the good graces to blush. "It's complicated" she whispered. He arched a brow, "What's so complicated? You made a decision and it brought you here". He said it so casually, as if he understood but he knew nothing.

"He loves me" she told him. Madu chuckled, oh yeah, from what he'd seen there was a whole lot of love between them. He remained silent. Elda quickened her pace to stare at him, "He does!". Madu lowered his eyes to hers, "Why are you telling me? It's not my concern".

She blushed again, it wasn't his concern. "Well at least you know your place" she snapped nastily. He grunted, "If you want to be a child, then I can leave you here. The west is about two days in that direction" he told her. Elda watched him walk away with wide eyes. She didn’t like him at all, he was arrogant and in love with himself. But he was stronger than she was and she would be safe if he remained.

Madu mentally counted in his head as he walked away. Before he'd reached five, she called out to him. "Wait!". He turned to face her, she looked embarrassed, "Well if we are going the same way" she said softly, "I suppose there is no harm in going together". Madu turned from her, a smirk playing across his face. "Come on then princess, we don't have all day ya know".

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Satoru eyed Toga closely. "Silver hair you say". Toga nodded, "And sentient". Hmm, an opponent that could think clearly. Victor thumbed through his journal in irritation. A thought, a suspicion eating away at him. Couldn't be. Can't possibly be. Toga's next comment only seemed to confirm his fears. "After striking Taisha he said he had what he'd come for. Then left".

Victor met Satoru's gaze, apparently the inu had the same idea. "It would appear that he is gathering materials" Victor said quietly, "Base materials allow him to use your cells to perfect his creatures. I am assuming that hair was the main ingredient before, but now you say he was able to gather flesh and blood?"

Toga nodded and Taisha frowned. Victor looked over at Satoru, "This is not good. With those things it is possible that he could create…an inu. Another Taisha". Taisha's eyes went wide but Satoru shook his head, "I don't think that is what he intends. He does not wish to duplicate a known being, but create a new one. I believe that the blood of the Taisho's allows him to refine his art.. And quite quickly to it seems.

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Daishi sat on the edge of the bed. This was it, tonight she'd give herself to her mate. Shippo padded softly from the bathing chamber and took in her thoughtful expression. "Daishi?" he asked. She blinked pale green eyes and looked up at him.

Gathering her wits and courage she rose from the bed and walked to him. He stood shirtless with a thin pair of sleeping pants on. A fluffy drying cloth draped around his neck, his rich red hair hanging over his shoulders in dark red falls.

He watched her progress, the way she worried her lower lip between her teeth. Like he wanted to. She stopped when she felt her toes brush his, tilting her head back so she could hold his gaze. Before he knew what had happened, she close the distance, pressing her body to his, twining her arms around his neck and stretching up to capture his lips with hers.

Shippo, to his credit recovered quickly, his arms banding around her, holding her to him as he took control of the kiss. She moaned against him and Shippo caught the scent of arousal. Her hands slid over his chest, and he dragged all the closer to him. Not even wishing air to stand between them.

His flesh, hot from his bath warmed her, even through the silk sleeping gown she wore. Her hands caressed his chest and Shippo groaned against her lips, his tongue sliding against hers. She clung to him.

Shippo pulled from her and searched her eyes, "Daishi?". She closed her eyes and pressed her forehead to his jaw, "Please…" she whispered, "I am so….afraid". Shippo stiffened slightly. "Not of you" she went on, her eyes opening as she locked eyes with him, "Of living in the shadow of my fears. I want to replace the bad with the good. I…. Want…… I want to be…..yours". The last word fell away in a whisper.

Emerald eyes bored into her, heating with such intensity, "Do you know what you are asking me?" he asked. He had to be sure. She nodded, kissing his jaw, "I am asking my husband to love me". Her words shot like hot fire to his groin.

Shippo pulled the drying cloth from himself and tossed it away. It landed in a forgotten heap on the floor. He caught her to him once more. His hands roaming over her as he kissed away any protests that she might have made.

Daishi felt him tug at the ties of her robe and then the material gave and fell away. With shaking hands, she tugged the knot of his pants, making him as bare as she. Shippo pulled her back into the warm circle of his arms. Letting her fully feel flesh on flesh.

He slowed the kiss for her, stroking his hands lightly down her sides and back. She sighed into his mouth as she began to relax. Shippo gently lifted her into his arms and strode to the bed with her. He settled her on the silken expanse and before fear could catch hold, he came down atop her.

Daishi closed her eyes as Shippo kissed along her jaw, to her finely pointed ears. As he shifted to lay beside her, one knee came up to part her legs. Shippo was determined to go slowly. His goal was not only to claim his wife but to banish fear from her heart forever.

His mouth roved over her throat, and shoulder. He lapped at his mark and her head fell to the side to allow him free access. Her throat was sensitive, he knew and he spent long moments there, wringing breathless sounds from her.

Then he trailed his hot mouth lower to press a kiss in the valley between her breasts. Daishi buried her fingers in his hair as he teased the heavy mounds. Her small pants and moans rising to his ears. His hand slid over her stomach to stroke against the already damp curls.

Daishi whimpered as he teased her to the heights of passion with his gentle fingers. Slipping one digit into her core and then slowly a second. Stretching her. Shippo wanted this to be as painless for her as it could be. She might as well have been a virgin, her body tight and he was not a small male… not at all.

His mouth flickered over her stomach, and she whimpered, knowing full well what he was up to. His tongue teased over her and she cried out his name. She was almost ready, just a little more. His tongue traced her heat, flicking over her pearl and another surge of fluid met him. With some effort he was able to insert a third finger.

Daishi whimpered at feeling so full, but she knew that more was coming. He was trying to help her. His fingers curled against the inner wall of her body, seeking the soft target within. Her eyes opened wide as he stroked that area. Again and again, until she cried out with pleasure.

Her juices spilling from her. She was ready. Shippo rose above her. He wanted this first time to be face to face as humans preferred. So that he might see any fear or pain. He caught her lips, his own breath coming rapidly now. His length painful.

Carefully he positioned himself. "This might hurt a little, since it's been a long time" he told her. A flash of fear lit in her eyes and Shippo kissed her again, "Not like that Daishi. Just relax for me". He waited long seconds as her limbs lost their tenseness.

"I don't know if I can do this" she whispered, her voice anguished. Shippo inwardly groaned, "If you can't then it's fine. We can always try again another time" he soothed. He waited, poised to claim her and she nodded slowly.

Shippo slowly pushed inside of her, inch by pulsing painful inch. When her eyes widened slightly he stilled himself. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her in any way. That would not help his cause in the least. Daishi sighed, adjusting to the feeling of hot, hard, heat filling her to the brim. It wasn't painful. Not like she remembered. Shippo's slow movements and gentle demeanor, easing her.

Shippo was almost fully sheathed, when Daishi rolled her hips up to meet him, taking him fully within her. She sucked in a breath, her eyes shutting hard. "Daishi" Shippo asked, concerned, "Are you in pain?".

A blush covered her cheeks, and when she opened her eyes, the sight nearly robbed him of sanity. Her eyes were clouded with passion, "Gods no, Shippo" she breathed. He lowered his head and licked at her bottom lip, her tongue snaked out to catch his, drawing it into her mouth.

Slowly, he began to move against her. Her legs coming up to wrap around his waist. Long, blissful minutes later, she panted to him, "Ahh, faster Shippo!". He grinned against her throat and obliged her. The bed rocking with the force of his thrusts.

His wife became a wanton vixen in his arms, writhing against him. Her mouth seeking any inch of flesh in her reach. Shippo closed his eyes against the rising tide of passion. Her body so hot, so tight around him. He wasn't going to last long.

With that in mind, he reached down between their bodies and teased the engorged pearl listening to her moans stretch and rise to full throated cries. "Come for me Daishi" he whispered to her. She called to him, to the gods, to the deity of O. Shippo felt her tighten around him and then the hot rush of her fluids against him.

Dropping his face into the nook of her neck, he lapped at his mark and bit deeply. Shippo felt his body stiffen and then the white hot rush of his seed erupted from his center and up his shaft to nestle deep within her. She cried out, clutching him close to her body and driving her own fangs deep. Shippo felt her muscles rhythmically flutter around him, milking him for every drop he had to give.

They came back to earth slowly, the scent of sex permeating the air around them. Shippo had contented himself with kissing his mark lightly. She'd bitten him. She'd marked him. He wanted to crow with pride but that would require too much energy.

Instead he rolled to his side, tucking his tired mate against his body. She nuzzled her face into his chest, "It was… wonderful Shippo" she murmured shyly. He kissed the top of her head, "Are you sore? Did I hurt you?" he asked. She shook her head, her thighs were a little tender but that would pass.

"Will you stay here with me like this?" she asked, stifling a small yawn. Shippo tugged the coverlet up and over them, "Where else would I go?" he asked her. She smiled and settled in for sleep. Shippo was satisfied, more than that. He was damn happy.