Of Claws And Fangs
Episode 77

Inu Yasha felt a youkai nearing, handing Arashi to Rin he moved to meet the threat. When Kanchou appeared he relaxed. "How are you mouse?"

"I am well Inu Yasha-sama. I bring greetings from Keikan-sama for Shakaku-sama." The mouse said his whiskers twitching.

Nabikasu was puzzled, the hanyou had made no further advance on Ori in two days. Not since that night. He was not exactly ignoring the ningen but neither was he seeking her out. Just then she saw him walk out and leap the wall. With a frown she went to find Ori.

Keikan walked into the shrine, the sun had just set. Kanchou would be just arriving at Edo. Sitting on the single bench he relaxed his mind. 'Mika?'

Sesshomaru moved outside as Kanchou and Inu Yasha entered the village. "Ah Kanchou, it is good to see you again."

Shakaku too greeted the mouse warmly, "How are things at the castle?"

Mika heard Keikan's questioning voice as Shakaku rose to investigate with Sesshomaru the presence he had sensed approaching the village. 'Hello Keikan.'

Ori walked slowly through the halls in hope of running into Keikan. Instead she saw her companion.

'You ready, little sister?' He asked. He was exited as a pup. Mika, Kanchou and he had cooked up this little surprise to test her abilities.

Akisame sat beside Mika, ready to reinforce the link if needed.

Kenchou bowed low, "Shakaku-sama, I bring a request from your mate. Would you please take Mika-sama's hand."

Nabikasu walked up to Ori, "What is going on? Two nights ago, the hanyou looked like he was ready to take you. Since then he has avoided you and I." Her eyes narrowed, "What did you do this time to ruin it."

Ori blinked in surprise. "I did nothing I swear! I don't know what is going on. I am so confused. Should I go to him?"

Shakaku looked at Mika, who smiled up at her and held out her hand. She shrugged at the unusual request and placed her hand in Mika's.

As soon as their fingers touched, the tora heard the girl's crystal voice in her mind. 'It's all right joudama ... Keikan? Go ahead.'

'Hello, beautiful.' He thought 'Are you well? You taking care of yourself?'

"No." Nabikasu hissed, "Let him chase you, that is arousing to Inu youkai. Even if this one is not acting like one."

"Keikan?" Shakaku heard Sesshomaru chuckle as the young tora turned her head, searching the room. Then Mika's voice again. 'Just speak with him in your thoughts, joudama.'

Amazed, Shakaku attempted what she was instructed. 'Keikan...oh I can't wait to come home. I have the most wonderful news for you.'

Keikan heard Mika's instructions and chuckled. 'I'll bet. You didn't answer my questions.'

"What do you mean he's not acting like one?" Ori was curious. She wished Nanshokagai had seen fit to school them on inu youkai. It would have helped her immensely, she was sure.

"Inu youkai once mated don't make overtures like he did. They are almost violent when touched by someone other than their mate." Nabikasu answered, "I don't know a lot about inu youkai. I'm not surprised he warmed more to you than I. I am after all a snake youkai."

Ori felt anger bubble within her. "He is half ningen after all. Maybe he has realized that his first choice of mate was the wrong one."

"Right or wrong," Nabikasu hissed "He chose and he will stay with her. Get your heads out of the clouds girl. You are not here to fall in love with him. You are here to destroy him and his happiness. He is to be left miserable and broken. So our Lord can defeat West. Remember your place."

Ori lowered her head. "Hai Nabikasu, I will remember." 'Damn Reiketsu to hell, she thought, I don't care. He will be mine.'

She was elated to hear his voice but wanted even more to feel him in her arms. 'Hai, hai, I am well. Your parents are very gracious hosts. Arashi is adorable...he peed on Sesshomaru-sama.' She heard Mika snort. 'And you are you well? Is everything all right?'

Keikan chuckled. 'I am well. Everything is as well as it can be. Arashi peed on Chichioya?' Biting his lip he asked the question he didn't want the answer to, but kept his thoughts light, 'How long were you planning on staying?'

'Two maybe three more days,' she replied, 'As wonderful as it is to be here I want to see you again.'

Mika felt the beginnings of strain and reached her other hand to take her mother's drawing upon her strength, not really needing it yet but not wanting to pass out again.

Nabikasu's hand struck out grasping the ningen's chin. Lifting Ori's face she forced their eyes to meet. "You had best not."

Ori jerked her head out of Nabikasu's grasp, angrily and spun on her heel, returning to her room.

'Stay as long as you want. I don't want you pushing yourself.' Keikan answered. 'Mika how you holding up?'

Shakaku looked down at the girl, as the response danced in her mind, 'I'm fine nee-san, you can keep talking.'

'Why the sudden concern for my health?' Shakaku asked, tail twitching in agitation.

'Damn it you baka tora wench, can't I worry about my mates health?' Keikan fumed.

She shook her head, laughing unable to maintain her anger, 'Hai, I suppose you can,' Mika's hand tightened around her own.

'I can't hold it much longer,' the girl's voice interrupted, sounding strained.

'Aishiteru, Shakaku Aishiteru.' Keikan waited for her reply.

‘Aishiteru, always Keikan,’ Shakaku replied, then listened as brother and sister said their good-byes. Mika’s hand slipped from hers and the tora looked at the young hanyou with a grateful smile. “Arigatou Mika.”

“You’re welcome, joudama,” Mika said, returning the smile.

Shakaku felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up into the golden eyes of her father-in-law. “Did that alleviate some of your worry?”

“Hai, Sesshomaru-sama, hai,” she said, pushing away the nagging feeling of danger that still tickled the back of her mind.

Keikan's shoulders slumped forward as the connection broke. He left the shrine, not wanting to return to the castles and the vipers within it he started walking. Soon his pace picked up and he was running, before he had consciously realized it he had transformed. His speed increasing as he raced towards something.

Haya was patrolling the village as she had every night since Nanshokagai's attack. Hearing a noise she turned in time to see a small inu youkai break through the trees and into the village. She watched as the demon slowed it's pace and walked towards Sesshomaru and Akisame's hut. As the youkai took his humanoid form, the taijai fell hard.

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