Amber and Gold

Chapter 9: Bunch o' pups

"TAG! Your it Aki!!"

The little boy hollered running into the bushes with a huge smile. Leaping over roots, logs and rocks, the small wolf demon fled faster from his sister, gaining speed as he hopped over the stream cutting through the dense forest. After a few moments of full out sprinting, the small boy turned around to see if his 'attacker' had gained any ground.

Before he knew it, a red blur had tackled him, both bodies tumbling to the ground in a heap of grunts and growls. A small girls laugh could be heard from the entangled mass of the two children, her squeals of joy from catching her brother loud and victorious.

"GOTCHA!"

Kouga watched the twins tumble for a bit, surprised at how his daughter was more dominant over the whole 'match' then his son was. Giving a smirk when the little boy yelled out a 'mommy' from his sister's sharp teeth grazing his arm a bit to closely, the older ookami stepped out from his place behind them.

"What did I tell you about being rough?"

His voice was stern yet calm as he crossed his arms and gave a frown at both wolf pups. Kenji took on his father's expression turning and pushing away his sister, saying with malice,

"YEAH! Akina! What did father tell you?!"

The little girl's face suddenly turned to anger when looking at both males, her small growl very much like her mothers.

"We was playin' tag daddy! Kenji started it!"

Sticking her tongue out at the little boy she continued with the same attitude.

"He just don’t like it when I win!"

Kouga lifted his eyebrow when listening to her brazen remark, again being reminded of their mother. Giving a sigh when they went at it again, Kenji lunging toward his sister for saying that, and Aki trying to bite anything in sight, Kouga growled low suddenly gaining their attention.

Big blue and jade eyes slowly turned upward to connect with his own, their movement's hesitant as they slowly broke apart. His daughter's small whimper broke his heart, her big blue eyes doing the same. Losing his scowl, the larger ookami shook his head going to them with crossed arms.

"I told BOTH of you not to be rough Kenji, not just Akina. So knock it off."

Akina leaped up from her spot, running to her father and extending her arms wanting to be held. Kouga gave a smile as he watched the runt try and run up his leg, her eyes sparkling with joy.

"Did jya' see daddy! I ranned so fast, I caught Kenji fast huh daddy?!"

Picking the little red head up he smirked and said with pride to no one in particular,

"Yep, you’re almost as fast as me."

The little girl grinned at this and puffed out her chest in proudness that he'd said such a thing. Kenji was now at his other leg looking up at his sister with a frown.

"Then I'm fastest then Aki! Cause I ranned faster huh dad!?"

The ookami sighed giving a 'ugh' when a feminine voice was heard behind him.

"Oh I think I know who's the fastest in this family."

Turning Kouga saw his mate, her jade green eyes upbeat and happy as she spoke. Kenji smiled as his mother approached, running to her instead.

"Mommy! I'm the faster-ist huh mommy!?" He questioned extending his hands wanting to be held just like his sister.

Ayame laughed giving a grin. Picking her son up, the she-wolf tapped his nose with a finger and replied with cockiness,

"Oh I'm faster then even daddy, so that makes me the faster-ist."

She mimicked the small child’s made up word giving a tickle to the boy's sides. Kenji laughed in delight, trying to squiggle from his mother's arms. Kouga walked up to her quirking a brow,

"Faster then even daddy hm?"

Ayame grinned, wrinkling her nose at him.

"Oh I think we both know that's a yes."

He cleared his throat and swished his tail saying after a moment,

"We'll just have to race and see later then...Just to make sure you're right that is."

He gave a smirk at the little insinuation, liking the way she blushed despite the fact that no one other then himself knew what they were talking about. Turning away from him she smiled to herself and put the little boy down saying,

"Yes we should."

Aki gave a giggle clapping her hands together.

"Auntie Kagome's! We gonna see Auntie Kagome today!"

Kenji suddenly remembered as well, for his eyes lit up and he hopped up and down recalling the raven haired woman and her 'sweet treats' that no one else had.

"Auntie Kagome! We'll see her now right!?"

Putting Aki down Kouga smiled at their excitement shaking his head yes. With that they were off in the direction of Inuyasha's village, which wasn’t very far now. Ayame watched their disappearing forms giving a holler to stay in hearing distance. Laughs were the only response making both parents give a grin.

Kouga walked along his mates side enjoying the morning air, remembering the last time he'd seen their friends. It had been a few weeks before in helping the ex-monk in cutting down trees for their 'add on' to the small hut they had. It seemed the lecher had gotten his wife pregnant again in no time and needed room for the large family they were planning on having.

He soon felt Ayame's fingers linking with his; the small squeeze of her hand symbolizing she was enjoying the scenery and surrounding's as well. Letting his icy blue eyes go to her form the wolf youkai felt his heart swell with love and pride for her and the pup's she'd given them both.

Before the defeat of Naraku, Kouga had come to the realization that Kagome was in love with the dog turd and that he really...truly didn’t love her like THAT. He still loved her, yet more in a 'pack member' kind of way. By that time Ayame had given up on tracking and trying to force him to become her mate, yet when they all came together in hunting the disgusting villain down, the wolf prince saw what he'd been missing.

With a few curse words, attempted slaps, punches and even kicks (some of which did succeed in hitting) the young she-wolf started talking to him again. Then one night after a fight in which Kouga had saved her from a deadly attack from some of Naraku's minions, the young woman growled out how 'despicable, idiotic, and even conceded' she thought he was. With the retort of 'your crazy, I just saved you!' The wolf prince followed her pissed off form into the woods where she tried to let off steam from the rest of the group. After more arguing, the wolf demon had had enough and pinned her against a tree showing her how wrong she was.

Jade eyes met his, a small smile joining it as she commented,

"It's so pretty today."

Shaking his head in agreement, Kouga gave a slight smirk when keeping his eyes on her, recalling her face after he'd claimed her first kiss. Shock, overwhelmingly took over her features yet it soon turned into love...and finally lust. All of which he absolutely craved seeing her express. Ayame saw his stare and felt her cheeks heat up, her brow furrowing in question as she nudged him.

"What?…"

Picking her up quickly, the wolf prince nuzzled her neck and said in a husky voice,

"We should...race...now."

Ayame went stiff for a moment before sighing and melting into her mates touch, loving the way he held her as if...well, as if nothing else mattered in the world. Sighing in content, the redhead smiled and let her claws run down the length of his arm before saying,

"Soon you cocky wolf. "

Kouga gave a wolfish grin, giving a light lick to her neck before continuing on.

~***~

The soft chirping of birds were the first thing she heard, slowly opening her eyes adjusting to the bright sunlight, Rin gave a yawn.

"Good morning."

Blinking after these quiet words met her ears, the young woman recalled the events of the night before.
She'd thought she'd dreamt it...she'd thought it hadn't happened. Yet here she was in her lords arms just as she'd remembered it.

Hazel eyes shifted to his own, their inner depths deep with emotion. Confusion, surprise and finally hopeful joy pooled within them creating the demon lord to give a slight smirk. HE'D been the one to put those feeling's there...and how he loved the way she showed them.

The couple still sat in the tree from before, it's dark green leaves and soft pink blossom's surrounding their bodies; creating a beautiful scene. The suns bright ray's shown through each little leaf and flower, showering them in a comfortable heat.

The hazel-eyed teen sat up in his lap, giving a stretch and another yawn, looking at where she'd been situated the whole night. Sesshomaru had his legs crossed indian style, where between them she was now sitting. Looking over the side, the young woman saw how far up they were and gave a blink in surprise. Going back to their position, Rin suddenly felt bad that she'd used him as...well a pillow all night.

Giving a slight blush, Rin crossed her ankles together watching them as they dangled over the side of his white clothed thigh. Her fingers weaved together as she greeted back, finding herself feeling like a child.

"Good Morning my lord."

She said this in a meek voice, embarrassed that she'd revealed so much about her feelings for him only hours ago, yet now...found herself retreating back into the shell she'd been so used to going in when being around the great taiyoukai.

Sesshomaru saw her actions, slightly...worried to say the least. He waited for a moment, trying to find what to say or what to do. It was seemingly uncomfortable for her, this silence a dead giveaway. Raising his eyebrow, the dog demon questioned honestly,

"Do you wish not to speak with me now Rin?"

The young woman's eyes went wide at that, her head snapping to look him in the eye.

"No! No my lord, I..."

Swallowing hard, Rin was caught in those magnificent gold eyes...Those eyes in which she had feared for so long. Yet not the kind of fear that could be harmful to the body, but the soul. She found herself wanting to fall into that spiral of fear again, but those eyes.... Those golden depths held promise, loyalty, and most of all...love. She could trust those amber eyes.

Her hazel eyes softened when seeing this, these unspoken words in which she knew Sesshomaru felt making her heart swell with understanding again. A soft smile came to her lips, her irises going over his features as if seeing him for the first time.

"No…I do."

The tiayoukai observed her quick changing emotions, marveling at how someone...could show such feelings.

Snapping from her thoughts, Rin shifted and looked to his lap then his face again.

"I apologize for...sleeping on you all night Sesshomaru-sama."

She gave a smile and a blush continuing,

"I've never slept better though!"

The silver haired demon let these pondering thoughts slide, feeling his lips lift in an almost non-existent smile of his own.

"I see. You've never slept this late before."

Rin kept that pink blush yet shook her head, prying her eyes away from his own. Looking to the tree they were now in, she gasped when finally coming to realize its beauty.

"Oh wow...I didn’t even pay attention to what kind of tree we were in. This is wonderful."

Her face lit up with admiration for the large tree and all its glory, the young woman's attitude bright and cheery. Sesshomaru watched her look up the to the large branches, her head tilting this way and that, undoubtedly wondering how tall it was...how many flowers were in it...how long it would stay here.

Looking next to him, Sesshomaru saw a fully bloomed cherry blossom, it's petals pink, darker and richer in color then the others which hadn't matured such as this. Reaching over, the taiyoukai slit it from its place with a sharp claw, bringing it to the young woman's nose. Rin had been marveling at their surroundings, assaulted with the potent scent of the most wonderfully colored blossom she'd every seen.

Her eyes took in its soft color, going to the fair skin of his arm, up to the fuchsia markings that she'd always remember. Before she knew it, her fingers came up to wrap around his wrist, their small digits tracing along the demonic markings she'd longed to touch for so many years.

Sesshomaru's skin tingled with every little caress of her hand, its sensation something he'd never encountered before...as if he craved it. Not a word was exchanged this entire time, the young woman letting her hands take over in running along the soft light colored arm of her lord while his eyes studied her facial expressions as well as her small fingers. An almost amazement filled her as she continued, never dreaming to have this opportunity to do this. To touch her lord.

Rin suddenly felt his arm pulling away, making her panic. Had she done something wrong? Cursing herself for taking it that far, the chestnut haired girl brought wide eyes to connect with his own in a silent question. Yet as she met them, the dog demon enabled the back of his own fingers to move up the curve of her cheek slowly, his amber irises dark with something she'd never seen before...

Gently moving silky strands of light brown hair behind her ear, Sesshomaru placed the dark pink blossom there also, its color accenting the creamy skin of her angelic face. His long claws moved down her jaw barley touching her perfection, settling on the young woman's chin.

She was...surprised to say the least. But her lord’s touches brought a kind of tingling fire that ignited something deep within herself, her body. Something never before touched, let alone seen. A slight shiver ran down her spine, her eyelids drooping in response as well as her tension and worry melting away. A sigh escaped her lips and she suddenly found herself leaning into his touch even more. The young woman's mind fell into a haze, the only thing even remotely important to her was...well, not falling from the tree.

Her eyes went wide when she suddenly saw his own face only inches from her own, his breath mingling with hers as their eyes locked in silent request. Leaning his head down that last little bit, Sesshomaru kissed his intended mate, feeling that tingling increase even more.

That feather soft touch from the night before was now a growing fire of want for both of them, their inner hesitation the only leash holding back the beast that reined in both their bodies.

"KYAAA!!!"

A loud holler broke them apart, Rin jumping back into place when she realized...SHE had been the one to ask for such a kiss. Blushing furiously, the young woman covered her lips and looked around as if she'd been caught red handed.

Another yell, this time much higher came from down below, its high pitched squeal like a little girls.

"KKEEENNJJII!!!!NOO!!!"

Laughing resided after that, the tree shaking as if someone had bumped into it. Leaves and blossoms shook again as Aki growled out another 'nooo' to her big brother.

"Stop it!! NOO!!"

Kenji hopped up and down in a fit of laughter as he held the green frog out to his sister who was now clinging to a branch high above the ground. The teary eyed redhead whined giving a growl.

"KEENnnjiii!!! NOOOooo! DAAAaaadyyy!!!"

Sesshomaru felt himself frown visibly...This was not planned. Looking over the side like Rin was now doing, the dog demon could make out a small figure prancing up and down as if he'd just gotten a charge out of something or other.

Kenji laughed even more as his sister whined, their forms going stiff when a low growl came from the tall tree. Akina's eyes went wide as she looked up, a tall demon who had white flowing hair holding a ningen growled again, standing in the same branch she was sitting in.

Before Rin could even say anything, her lord had picked her up and silently leaped down to the...disturbance. Her hazel eyes moved to both children, who were both in fur that resembled the wolf clan. Both were in gray, yet she did notice right off the bat that they had...tails. The little boy growled back, his body shaking from fear. The little red head only stared with wide blue eyes at both of them, not moving an inch.

"S-s-stay a-a-w-way!"

The black haired little boy growled out, to afraid to run, yet not wanting to leave the other wolf pup. The tall dog demon narrowed his eyes at the green eyed little wolf, surprised at his brave words and 'warning' growls.

Rin placed her palm on the irritated taiyoukai’s chest, greeting the small children with a bright smile.

“Hello…Who are you?”

Aki blinked stupidly after a few moments, her weariness dying when seeing the pretty ladies smile. Giving a fanged grin back, Akina swished her tail turning to the young woman.

“Hi!”

Wiggling from her lord’s grasp, Rin kneeled next to the little girl trying not to fall from the branch. Her welcoming, warm smile of trust never faded as she introduced herself.

“I’m Rin, and this is Sesshomaru-sama, who are you?”

She asked this again, knowing the small child wasn’t afraid this time. Aki let her little legs dangle over the side of the tree keeping her own smile on as well. Pointing to her brother, who was still shivering with fear, she stated confidently,

“My name is Akina, and that over there’s my big brother.”

Rin nodded glancing toward the dark haired boy giving a small wave. She couldn’t help but giggle at the way he still put on the brave front despite the fact his little sister was smiling at the ‘enemy’. Kenji just about jumped out of his skin when Sesshomaru stepped from his place and gracefully landed on the grassy ground. Soon after the ookami parents emerged from behind Kenji, their forms froze when seeing the two foreign people. Ayame’s eyes went wide when suddenly realizing her baby girl was near a powerful dog demon…and the lord of the west to match. Unable to fight back the loud threatening growl, she bared her fangs and got in a combat pose, ready to protect her kin. Kouga simply blinked in surprise, wondering how they hadn’t sensed them from far away.

His mate’s growl snapped him from his thoughts, making him place a hand on her shoulder.

“Sesshomaru, it’s been a while.”

The dog demon narrowed his eyes if only slightly at the two, feeling a bit more agitated by the bitch’s low threat. He didn’t say anything only taking his attention to the young woman still in the tree. Rin smiled at the two while her lord helped her down, giving a slight bow feeling embarrassed when noticing she was still in her bathing kimono.

“Kouga hello, Ayame it’s nice to see you again.”

The she wolf had calmed to the point of acting civil again, standing straight when remembering the two were allies. Proven by the fight against Naraku years before.

“Rin-chan uh…Hello.”

The redhead blushed slightly going to the tree her young daughter was still in, plucking her from the large branch.

“I didn’t know you had a family…the both of you.”

Rin said this with a smile, letting her eyes go to each child noticing how much like their parents they truly did resemble. Kouga cleared his throat and stood a bit higher then usual, bringing his son before him to ‘show off’.

“Yes, we’ve been in the mountains with our pack Rin-chan.”

Nodding in understanding, her attention went to the little girl who was now tugging at her hand.

“Rin-chan! We gonna go and visit Auntie Kagome and Baka Yasha and kawaii Kimi today!”

Blinking at the nicknames she’d given them all, she couldn’t help but giggle at Inuyasha’s. Sesshomaru only lifted an eyebrow at the whelps understanding of the family, having to agree mentally with the description of his little brother.

“Will you two be going there as well?”

Ayame asked reassuring Kenji who was clinging to her leg with large green eyes glued to the scary, stoic demon lord of the west. Rin replied with the other runt jumping up and down in excitement as she held her hand,

“Well…I’m staying there for a few days, yes.”

Aki yelled a ‘yay’ running to the bushes and gesturing her big brother to follow.

“Shippo-chan might be here too!”

Disappearing into the brush, the two youngsters headed for…’Baka Yasha’s’ house. Kouga grinned as they left, grasping his mates hand again. They gave a glance and followed the exuberant children, making sure this time to be a little more alert instead of making the same mistake. For instead of their allies, next time could be a hungry youkai. Giving a slight sigh he looked down to find Rin’s smiling face.

“Lets go then!”

Sesshomaru lifted his eyebrow at the family as they left being reminded that he was stuck with more then just these pups. Inuyasha included.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

^^; Hiiii....uh yeah sorry for such a long wait for an update. Been up to alot of things lately, so had a hard time to get back to this story. Thought this little part was sweet, so hope you enjoyed it. Next chapter...

~Sneak peek~

Shippo will be a bit to...interested in Rin!

...yeah thought i'd throw that in since you've all been so patient. Please tell me what you think

~Suketchi