Inuyasha: The Prophecies
By: Guardian Angel
Chapter Seventeen
Nina squirmed nervously in her seat causing Inukai to look towards the young girl.
What’s up with her? he thought as he took a bite out of his toast.
Nina looked at her food not feeling a bit hungry. She then noticed Inukai was looking at her and couldn’t help blushing. Inukai smirked while Koga growled.
“She’s my woman, you damn mutt!” Koga shouted standing up.
“No, she’s not!” Inukai cried standing up as well.
The two glared into each other’s eyes growling.
Nina watched the two, but turned her attention back to her food.
“Will you two please sit down,” Seth said dully. He had already finished eating and had been reading a magazine that he had found quite interesting.
“Stay out of this!” Koga snarled.
“Yeah!” Inukai said.
Seth sighed and stood up as he put his magazine down. “Koga, I suggest you quit trying to claim Nina.”
“And who are you to be telling me anything?!” Koga demanded.
Seth glared at him as well and if looks could kill, Koga would be dead by now. “I am telling you to keep your hands off Nina because she is my brother’s mate, now back off!”
Koga looked towards Nina while her face began turning as red as a tomato. The wolf demon sniffed the air, snarled, growled, and turned back around to glare at Seth.
“She’s not his mate… yet. He hasn’t even claimed her yet!” Koga said. He then shot Inukai a glare. “And don’t you even think of claiming her!”
Nina raised her head still blushing, but looked towards Inukai somewhat confused. Okay. Just what do they mean by “claim”?
Inukai growled, but couldn’t help feeling somewhat lost. Claim? What’s that supposed to mean?
Seth frowned when he saw that both Nina and Inukai were confused. You’d think two half-dog demons would have at least a bit of knowledge of what claiming your mate means.
Koga smiled when he saw Inukai’s puzzled expression. He began laughing. “You say he’s my woman’s mate and yet he doesn’t even know what the hell he’s supposed to do to claim her.” He continued laughing. “This is just too funny!”
Nina began getting angry at that last comment and quickly stood up. She then went over to Koga and slapped him. Everyone stopped everything they were doing and looked towards Nina and Koga with wide shocked eyes.
“Just who do you think you are?! It’s not his fault he doesn’t know what the heck you’re all talking about! I don’t even know what the heck you all mean by ‘claiming’! And I’d rather be Inukai’s mate than yours anyway! At least he doesn’t two time me!” Nina shouted. Of course, there was that whole Kayko thing, but he said he did it for me when he told me she died, so… She shook her head.
Everyone’s eyes widened even more including Inukai’s.
Inukai began turning as red as a beet, but slightly smiled as well as held a shock look in his eyes. She… wants to be my mate? She wants to be my mate. She wants to be my mate! His smile widened and his shock disappeared.
By then, Kagome and Inuyasha had entered the dining room and had witnessed everything.
Kagome smiled. “Ahh, isn’t that sweet?”
Inuyasha smiled and also nodded. “And I approve of it.”
Max got over his shock and went over to Nina and Inukai. “Well, if you two would really like to know about to how ‘claim’ your mate this is how.”
Inukai and Nina watched Max while Anna shot him a glare swearing to punch him so hard that it would send him flying off into space if he tried anything or said anything.
“Well, you see, it’s mainly common knowledge to many demons when it comes to officially claiming your mate,” Max said in a wise tone of voice. “When a man and a woman get together, you see, and they love each other with all their heart and are willing to die with them side by side and are willing to live their whole life together, they become bonded when they have-”
Before Max could say anything else, Inuyasha had grabbed the young wolf demon by his shirt and glared at him his eyes saying everything he had to say which plainly said, “Don’t say it or they’ll get ideas. They’re too young to be thinking about that. Got it?”
Max slowly nodded while Koga glared at Inuyasha.
“Get your hands off him,” Koga said growling.
Inuyasha did and then turned to face Koga. “One thing’s for sure. You had better stay away from Nina because she’s not your mate and is Inukai’s. And, don’t worry; they’ll be bonded when the right time arises. Until then, I suggest you stay away from Inukai and Nina or I’ll personally come to kill you.” At this, he cracked his knuckles.
Koga grunted and turned to leave. “Fine, mutt, but I’ll be back to come for my woman and…” He looked towards Inukai. “If I find out you did claim her, I’ll come back to kill you then take her back with me to my home.” He then left.
Nina frowned and Inukai growled.
Nina shook her head then turned to face Inuyasha. “So, just what do you guys mean by ‘claiming your mate’?”
“Yeah,” Inukai said crossing his arms.
Kagome smiled at the two. “Oh, don’t worry about it for now. We’ll tell you when you’re older.”
Seth frowned and looked off towards the dessert when he saw a girl that looked oddly familiar. He got up and, after muttering that he’d be back; he went over to the girl.
“Hmm, cheesecake sounds good, but cherry pie does, too,” The girl said while looking at the desserts.
“I recommend cheesecake,” Seth muttered hoping that’d get the girl’s attention so he could get a better look at the girl’s face.
“Yeah. I guess you’re right,” The girl said turning to face Seth. Both of their eyes widened in surprise.
“You!” the two cried out in unison.
“Then it is you, Alendria,” Seth said his eyes softening. He shook his head then said, “What are you doing here?!”
“What am I doing here?! What are you doing here?!” Alendria asked.
“I’m watching over my little brother to make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid!” Seth said.
“Well, I’m here to make sure you don’t do anything stupid!” Alendria said putting her hands on her hips.
Seth grunted crossing his arms and looking away.
“And you say I’m immature,” a voice muttered.
“Inukai! You didn’t have to interrupt them!” another voice cried.
Seth and Alendria turned around clearly annoyed with the two who had spoken to them.
“Well, it’s not like they were talking about anything important!” Inukai cried.
“I know! But it’s still rude!” Nina cried. She then muttered, “Besides, that was so a Kodak moment.”
Alendria and Seth frowned and began walking away to join Inuyasha and the others.
Inukai grunted, crossed his arms, and closed his eyes. “Feh. Fine. Whatever. I don’t care.”
Nina frowned. “Fine. I don’t care if you don’t care. It just proves…” Nina looked up at him smiling.
Inukai looked down at her beginning to seriously think he was in trouble and should’ve kept his mouth shut.
Nina’s smile disappeared and it appeared as though a volcano had just exploded when she began yelling at him. “THAT YOU ARE SUCH AN IMMATURE, ARROGANT, INSENSITIVE, INCONSIDERATE JERK!!!”
Inukai flinched, stared at her with wide fearful eyes, and then ran off hiding behind Seth.
Seth looked at his younger brother from the corner of his eye. “What?”
“N-nothing,” Inukai said and flinched when he saw Nina give him a glare.
Nina sighed and began leaving the restaurant. “You’re exhausting.” With that, she was gone.
Inukai calmed down then remembered her last two words.
“You’re exhausting.”
You heard her, mutt, a woman’s voice said.
You’re exhausting. She hates you, an old lady’s voice said.
You two were never meant to be mates.
You are, but a hanyou while she is one as well, but also a priestess.
She might as well be a full demon.
Inukai growled, but couldn’t help thinking that maybe the voices were right and that he was going crazy, too.
Nina sighed as she began walking down the streets. Why do I put up with him? Why? All he does is act like he cares and then gets into an argument with me.
Maybe that’s the only way he knows how to show he loves you, a kind gentle woman’s voice said.
Nina felt a light breeze go pass her, making her hair fly back as the wind softly caressed her skin. She felt a strange, and yet, familiar warmth begin to spread through her body.
Otherwise, why would he make you his mate? the voice asked.
Nina slightly smiled and nodded. Yeah. He doesn’t know how to show it because he’s always been alone. Her eyes then filled with sadness. But if that’s true, then why was he able to show it to Kayko, but not me?
He loves you more than he does Kayko. He and her never even got close to kissing, the voice said. You should not have any doubts about your love.
What?! My love?! Nina thought as she began turning as red as a tomato.
The voice let out a sigh. Why do you still get embarrassed about such things? The whole world now knows how you two feel about each other.
Yeah, but-but… Nina looked down at the ground annoyed with herself for not thinking of anything to defend herself with. She then felt a hand on her shoulder and turned around to see Inukai.
“Nina…” Inukai said his gaze on the ground.
“Yeah?” Nina asked in a concerned voice sensing something was wrong.
“Do you…. really hate me?” Inukai asked his bangs and hair covering all sides of his face forbidding Nina from seeing his hurt expression.
“What-what?” Nina asked becoming puzzled. “Inukai, what are you talking about?”
Inukai let out a low growl and looked up at her. Nina gasped when she saw his face. His eyes were blood red, a little beneath his eyes were two purple stripes, his fangs were longer and sharper. Nina felt a shiver go down her spine when she saw that his claws were longer and sharper as well and saw that his muscles were bigger.
“I-Inukai?” Nina asked uncertainly backing up in fear.
Inukai let out another growl and lifted up a clawed hand.
Nina shivered again seeing that his eyes were only filled with blood lust and nothing more. This isn’t Inukai. This is a monster! She turned around and began making a run for it.
Inukai let out another growl then cried out, “Get back here, wench. We have business to take care of.”
Nina felt tears begin to form in her eyes and continued running ignoring the pain that she was beginning to feel deep down within her heart. She turned a corner and found herself running down a long empty alley wishing for once, that’d Inukai would just leave her alone right then and there. I’m his mate. I can’t leave him! That would hurt him. I don’t care if he’s not himself right now. His full demon form should be able to recognize me as his mate as well!
Inukai let out another growl. “Quit being unfaithful to me and come here!”
Nina ignored him and continued running. She then stopped once she reached a dead end and spun around to see Inukai just mere feet away from her. She closed her eyes, counted to ten, then said, “Inukai, I am your mate and I’m not being unfaithful to you. Now, quit this nonsense and…” She looked down at the ground.
Inukai growled again and seized her by the throat lifting her up into the air with her feet dangling. “You are being very unfaithful to me, mate. A mate must listen to everything they are told and must obey the alpha male. That means, you listen and obey everything I say. And, you are also going out with that wimpy wolf, aren’t you?”
Nina closed her eyes no longer able to hold back her tears as they began to roll down her cheeks. “In-ukai, p-please, let me go. I’m not being unfaithful to you at all. I… do listen to you… when you’re not like this, anyway. And… I do obey you when it’s nothing stupid that could get us all killed.” She then opened her eyes to meet Inukai’s. “And I would never go out with Koga.” She smiled sadly. “In fact, you are the only one I love… Inukai….” Nina swore then and there that she saw a flash of gold within Inukai’s eyes. She blinked then saw that the gold was gone. She squeezed her eyes shut as Inukai began to tighten his grip around her throat suffocating her.
“Liar,” Inukai hissed.
Nina felt her lungs begin to burn, desperate for air. He’s going to kill me, I know he is. I just wish he’d do it faster and in a less painful way. “I’m… not a liar. I… feel nothing for you but love. Inukai… Please…” She looked back down at the ground as she began sobbing ignoring the pain it was causing her. “…Come back to me.” She swore she felt Inukai’s grip around her throat loosen. She opened on eye to see Inukai’s eyes were now a mix of red and gold. She then opened both eyes, which were now filled with hope.
Inukai lowered her down to the ground as his eyes then turned from the mix of red and gold to just gold. He looked at Nina then his hands. His expression was that of someone that had just realized that someone they loved very dearly had died. “What-what have I done? I almost killed you.”
Nina began biting her lower lip and put a hand on Inukai’s arm. “You’re back to normal. I’m so relieved.” She gave Inukai a small smile.
Sharon frowned as Anna began yelling at Max for being a hentai. Just after Nina had left and Inukai had gone after her, Anna and Sharon had asked Max just what it was he was going to tell Nina and Inukai. Once he had told the two girls, Anna had hit Max upside the head so hard, Sharon thought that the wolf demon would have a headache for more than one week. She sighed and turned around to see Reiji also watching the two. Reiji crossed his arms and Sharon slightly blushed when he looked her way.
“Do those two always fight like this?” Reiji asked.
Sharon nodded. “Yeah. You get used to it after a while.”
Reiji nodded. “Those two are as hopeless as Nina and Inukai.”
Sharon gave him a puzzled look. “What do you mean?
“I mean, Anna and Max obviously have a thing for each other even though the two of them won’t admit it,” Reiji said.
Sharon gave Reiji a puzzled look. She knew Max had a thing for Anna, but didn’t he have a thing for every girl? She had no idea that Anna had a thing for Max, though. She sort of guessed that the two would end up together anyway since Anna’s family came from a long line of falling in love with lechers (plus the fact that she was the descendant of Sango as well as her reincarnation).
“Sharon?” Reiji asked.
“Yeah?” Sharon asked beginning to blush. She mentally cursed for the way she was acting. Why AM I acting this way?! I’m acting like-like-like a-
“Do you believe in love at first sight?” Reiji asked not taking any note of the expression that was on Sharon’s face.
“Uhh-well-uhh-that is to say-Why do you ask?” Sharon asked trying to hide her blush and mentally cursing again for stuttering.
“Just wondering,” Reiji said. He looked towards Anna and Max again to see Anna was now just giving the wolf demon glares that would kill anyone if looks could kill and Max was giving her a nervous smile that said “I’m innocent. I really am.” Reiji let out a sigh and looked towards Sharon smiling causing her to blush once again. “Hey! You want to go find the arcade around here and hang out?”
“Huh? Uhh, sure,” Sharon said smiling nervously. She then spotted Talon giving her a look. She gave her brother a puzzled look and saw him quickly avert his gaze away from her and looked off towards the distance.
Inukai put a hand over Nina’s and looked into her eyes that were now full of regret. “I’m sorry if I hurt you.” He looked away. “I…should leave. I might hurt you next time. Even worse, that is. I might even kill you.”
Nina looked at him not wanting to see him like this. Wanting to see his dog-ears not drooping down, but perking up. She wanted to make him smile, not be sad. At the same time, she wanted to yell at him for being an idiot to think he should leave because of his full demon side. And so, she settled for making his ears perk up and yelling at him for being an idiot. “You moron! How do you think it would make me feel if you left me here all alone?! And right after you came just to get to me, too! You act all heroic and stuff and then when your demon side is about to kill me, you instantly want to leave?! Right after I tell you I want to be your mate?!” Though, I didn’t exactly say it like that, but… “Inukai, right after mates, well, become bonded or whatever, they can’t live without the other, right? Right?!”
Inukai slowly nodded.
“Well, that may be true for those who already bonded, but we might as well be bonded already! I mean, you couldn’t stand being away from me and came after me and, well…” Nina looked down at the ground. “I wanted you to come to me. I wanted you to come get me.” She felt tears begin to fill her eyes and didn’t bother holding them back. “In fact, I was beginning to think what you said was true.”
Inukai then remembered what he had said to Nina back in his room.
~*Flashback*~
“The kiss, did you mean it? Was it supposed to happen? Or was it a mistake because you were thinking of Kayko?” Nina asked looking down at her feet, her hair hiding the tears that began to go down her face.
I don’t want to hurt her. But the only way to drive her away maybe just to lie to her, Inukai thought. “No, I didn’t mean to kiss you. It wasn’t supposed to happen. It was a mistake. I-I was thinking of Kayko. Sorry.”
“I-it’s okay,” Nina said still looking down at the ground. Right then and there, she wanted to curl up and cry. She couldn’t believe what Inukai had told her. “I-I gotta go.”
“Yeah,” Inukai said looking down at the ground.
Nina left Inukai’s room.
Inukai let out a sigh as soon as Nina left closing the door behind her. He went over to his bed and lied down on it. He closed his eyes. I’m such an idiot. I can’t believe I got rid of the one person that I love the most. Inukai growled, sat up, and punched his lamp causing it to break. Idiot! Idiot! IDIOT!
~* End Flashback*~
Inukai’s eyes softened and he wrapped both of his arms around her waist and drew her closer to him, resting his head on her shoulder. He then began stroking her hair as he softly began speaking. “Nina, I never meant to hurt you and the way I thought it was best to not hurt you was to get rid of you, but that just ended up causing both of us to feel great pain.”
Nina closed her eyes, resting her head against Inukai’s chest. “It’s…okay. Just don’t ever do it again, okay?”
Inukai smiled and drew Nina even closer to him, inhaling her scent that smelled of vanilla and strawberries. “I’ll always protect you, no matter what. I promise.”
Nina only nodded. “And I will always love you. Even if you turn out to be working for Naraku, I’d still love you. Even if you ran back to Kayko, I’d love you.”
Inukai looked down at her as he slightly loosened his grip on her to look into her eyes. “Nina…I’d never work for Naraku and Kayko…She’s-well-you’re not her replacement. I wouldn’t go after her because you’re my mate and not her. I-”
Nina didn’t let him finish his sentence and kissed him causing his eyes to go wide in surprise. He was about to accept it when Nina pulled away giggling.
“Now, will you just be quiet about the whole thing? I know you won’t hurt me,” Nina said smiling. At least, intentionally hurting me.
Inukai smiled as a glint lit his eyes and he quickly kissed Nina.
Sharon and Reiji began walking down the roads of Japan in search of an arcade.
“So, what do you like about Japan so far?” Reiji asked looking up at the morning sky.
“They make the best anime ever!” Sharon cried out.
Reiji looked towards her and nodded. “Yeah. They do, don’t they?” He looked back up at the sky.
Sharon gave him a puzzled look and followed his gaze to see what he was looking at, but only saw the sky, sun, and a few clouds.
“You know, I’ve been thinking, we’re all after Naraku, right?” Reiji asked looking towards Sharon again.
Sharon nodded.
“Well, most of us have the same reasons, right?” Reiji asked.
Sharon nodded again. “I suppose so.”
“Sharon, what’s your reason for going after Naraku?” Reiji asked.
“To kill him so he won’t cause anymore suffering. To protect my friends and family from him. To have all humans be free again,” Sharon said.
Reiji nodded and looked back up at the sky.
Sharon frowned and softly asked, “How about you?”
“I fight…because I must. I must defeat Naraku so there may be peace once again. So humans, demons, and half demons can live peacefully side by side,” Reiji said.
Sharon nodded and asked softly, “Do you…like half demons?”
Reiji looked down at her and saw she was looking down at the ground. “Yeah. I do like half demons.”
Sharon looked up at him.
Reiji looked away. “In fact, I’m half dragon demon.”
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