Chronicles of the West

Chapter Six
The next few days were tense to be sure, Aislin was coming to terms with the full scope of what this news meant. All the whispered comments that had reached her ears before seemed to echo back a thousand times louder. He was a demon, a damn demi-god and he'd kept that from her.

After their travels and trials she would have thought he'd be more open to her. The fact that he hadn't hurt her on many levels. She wanted to lash out and him, tell him in no uncertain terms what she thought of him, but she held her tongue. He must have had his reasons and so she waited for him to tell them to her.

Toga was unsure as to why his ward had suddenly grown so quiet towards him. He had initially believed that it was because of his heritage, however she was warm enough with Ippiku. On the other hand, while respectful, she was downright frosty to him at times. Women. Strange creatures.

After three days of almost constant silence, his inu was growing impatient. How dare a female under his protection act so? His golden eyes strayed to where she sat, Ippiku now perched upon her shoulder. The little imp had sensed the chill between them, he was beginning to think that they were colder than he was.

With a low growl, Toga snapped a log in two, tossing half of the thick wood into the fire. The light dancing in his eyes as he regarded his situation. His temperamental ward stood a moment later, "Ippiku please direct me to the stream. I wish to bathe before bed" she said quietly.

Toga glared at the imp. He stood and moved to where Aislin stood, "Come. I'll take you" he grumbled. Aislin said nothing, but allowed him to tug her along. She could hear the gentle bubbling of water and then Toga released her. "You didn't have to" she told him.

He grunted. "I usually bring you woman, just be quick about it". He turned and strode a few feet away, leaning against a tree and listening to her sounds as she shed her clothing and he could almost imagine her dipping her toe into the water, before slowly easing her way in.

"Aislin why have you used silence against me?" he asked. She didn't pause in her bathing when she answered smartly, "I would think that was obvious. Besides, you aren't the most persistent conversationalist". He sighed, that was true. He preferred to speak when he had something to say, like his father. Talking for talking's sake was pointless to him.

He had, however become accustomed to her soft voice over the years and now that it no longer was directed at him, well….. He was displeased. "Mind your tone" he cautioned. His inu was very much the alpha and while perhaps more lenient than others, he refused to be challenged. Not even by her.

From the water Aislin grunted. Sounding very much like him. He almost smiled. Almost. Aislin scrubbed with the fragrant soaps he'd given her. Lather smoothing over soft flesh, his keen ears and nose taking it all in. "How long have we been together?" she suddenly demanded of him. He blinked up at the red sky. "A long time" he said.

An angry splash sounded and he almost turned to see if she was unharmed. "Yet in all that time you couldn't even tell me the truth. Have you ever been truthful with me about anything?". Her voice was filled with anger and hurt. He wanted to soothe her, but her words were grievously insulting to him.

"Aislin" he growled in warning. She didn't seem to notice. "Well?" she shot back. Toga rumbled loudly at her, "This Toga does not lie" he barked at her. She grunted and muttered under her breath. If course he heard every word. "Ha. Like I believe that". His growls were louder now and he was resisting the urge to enter the water and shake some sense into her.
"Aislin you must stop. You tread dangerous ground here" he warned again. She laughed, a high bitter sound, "Is that so? Any more dangerous than keeping company with two demons?" Toga's claws dug into the tree closest to him, bits of bark shredding and curling under his grip.

"So what kind of demon are you?" she asked, "Ippiku is ice, he told me". Toga growled softly, "I am an inu". She blinked, "Inu? Oh! A dog?". He grunted in answer. She huffed a little, "I thought dog were faithful" she mused and his pointed ear flickered at it. Just what the hell was that supposed to mean?

"A faithful companion would have trusted me enough to speak up. Would have cared enough" she went on. She was moving from the water now, her fingers reaching to brush against her clothing. "You don't care though, do you?" Her voice almost wistful.

Toga leapt on her before she even knew he might. He pinned her to the soft grass beneath him, her eyes snapping wide as she cried out at the sudden motion. His hand clamped down over her mouth, "Be silent you damn frustrating woman" he growled at her.

Aislin relaxed slightly realizing that it was Toga who held her down and not some random attacker. "Get off of me" she panted out. Toga growled softly again, his nose at her temple. He drank in her soft, damp scent and became more than aware of the softness beneath him. She wriggled but his rumblings took on a more dangerous tinge and she fell still.

"I am the master here" he told her in dark, soft tones, "And I need not explain myself to you". Her breath was little more than a tumultuous shiver between them. "You are mine and so I protect you. If I didn't care then I would have left you in some human village to take your chances".

Tears stood in her unseeing eyes and he hated them. As much as he hated the fact that to her, he was nothing more than a voice in a dark world. "I would never harm you Aislin, in any way, you insult me deeply by suggesting it. I have not lied to you, I have kept my lack of humanity from you, true but for good reason. Your kind and my kind do not mix well".

She turned her head to the side, those clear droplets escaping her dark lashes to slide down her cheeks. Like diamonds. He tracked their progress before wiping them away. "Being your protector is no easy task Aislin" he whispered and she stiffened under him.

"Then let me go if I am such a burden to you" she whispered. She hatred saying those words, didn't mean them. But he'd saved her far too many times and she wanted his happiness, even though she knew she could not make it on her own.

Toga dropped his head, to press against the curve of her shoulder. Instinct told him to comfort and his lips pressed against the fluttering pulse point of her throat. ""You are no burden" he murmured, lifting his head. His clawed hand traced over her lovely face. Slowly he lowered his head, until his warmth breath passed against her cheeks and she was aware of his proximity. "And I shall not let you go" he said.

Aislin panted lightly for breath and then she felt the softest of caresses against her lips. Toga captured her lips lightly, scenting her, soothing her. A tender brush of lips and that made her heart rate accelerate and the demon hunger for more. Slowly, he deepened his kiss, drinking in her taste and leaving his own behind.

He closed his eyes as he feasted on her sweet softness, his inu clamoring for release. It growled and snarled that she was his and he must have her. Toga slowly broke the kiss and lifted his head, to stare down at the peaceful expression that lit her face. Her lashes fluttered and lifted, her lips rosy and not nearly as swollen as he'd like. But, he dared not take her kiss again. He'd already taken far too great a risk and he rose from her, helping her up. He turned from her as she dressed, her shaky breath echoing in his ears. Her scent of want seeping through the air to cling to the inside of his nose.

He led her back to the camp, determined to put much needed distance between them. He looked down at her where she was now settled with Ippiku. The imp was no fool, the inu's blood was up and that likely wouldn't end well. Toga glared at him coldly, silently reminding him to mind his business.

His eyes went back to Aislin, who still flushed from his kisses. "Do not question me again woman" he growled before stalking off into the surrounding shadows. He'd keep watch from the darkness tonight.