For The Love Of A Woman [Merodi/Tempa/Hiroshi?]

[Aiko]

It had been too long since Koga’s arms had been wrapped around the soft body of his deer demon mate, too long since her lovely form had swum in the clear depths of his vision. In place of her voice, a song was throbbing in the wolf demon’s subconscious, and it was about time that was replaced. Now, Koga’s arms pumped as he shot across the greened terrain, and a blur of late spring on the land swam in his vision. He hadn’t slept since leaving Soothsayer. He had run. And he was still running, his enthusiasm at the homecoming hastening his step. Along with the lyrics he had learned, the man’s heart sang a single word, a name.

[brown]Merodi.[/brown]

Koga raced into his homeland, his feet crunching against familiar ground. He threw himself into the range he called his own, a grin splitting his face into a look of absolute joy. A laugh rippled out his throat, full of brass and bright sunlight, like that which was just pouring over the mountains as the morning extended itself across the land. [brown]“I’m home!”[/brown] he shouted for anybody who could hear. He sped along as he rarely had before, carried along by his desire to behold his dearest Merodi and sweet little Tempa once again. Mere moments passed and he flashed down familiar paths, plunging through woodland and charging over plains, an arrow flying true for its living target. It wasn’t long before Koga was flying down a path that followed the meandering way of a river, and he dove past a curtain of water that cascaded over the entrance to his cavernous home.

The wolf demons who had been left behind barely had time to notice that someone had entered as Koga strode past them, going from top speed to a confident walk almost instantaneously. [brown]“Merodi!”[/brown] he cried excitedly. [brown]“Tempa!”[/brown]

[Lord Sesshomaru]

The disappearance of Koga was really starting to get to the deer demon. Tempa and Hiroshi could only distract her so much. She had to be strong; she couldn’t break down, not in front of Tempa. What if he didn’t come back…? And then Koga was suddenly there, barging through the waterfall like he normally did. As if he never left.

Tempa was squealing, dropping all her toys and rushing toward her father. Merodi couldn’t find a reaction, she just stared, frowning. A very slow reaction and she tried to control herself, not wanting to break down in front of Tempa. Slowly she stepped forward, afraid to speak in case she did in fact lose it. She swallowed hard, her throat tightening up as she looked at her mate, who had left without warning. Those blue eyes that were the same as the jewel on her necklace which she had spent many hours staring at in his absence.

[Aiko]

[brown]“Tempa! My little girl!”[/brown] His brassy laugh ringing out through the cave, Koga bent down to scoop his daughter into his strong arms. He swung her around in a gentle curve like he always did, as energetic as if he didn’t have shadows darkly ringing his eyes. As he brought her full circle, her comfortable weight dragging at his limbs, the loving father brought the girl close to his chest. He pressed her close, ruffling her auburn hair with the tips of his fingers before pressing his cheek against the top of her head. [brown]“How’ve you been, princess?”[/brown] He kissed her on the top of her head as he crouched, setting her on the ground while keeping his arms wrapped around her petite body. He kissed her soft forehead, his smile stretching his lips. Like the ever-flowing water of the waterfall, his love for his daughter gushed out of his heart, and he was sure she would be swept away by it if he didn’t hold on to his little Tempa.

[ooc: I’m waiting for a reply from Tempa before I write any more. ]

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Merodi watched and couldn't help but smile. He had missed them, that much was certain. That was good. And Tempa seemed so happy. The girl was easily distracted and hadn't seemed sad in her father's disappearance. Or maybe she was just stronger then her mother. She watched the two, Tempa going on and on about what happened while he was gone. Of Hiroshi coming to play, and all the games, and how much food she's been eating and the dreams she had had. All of it coming out of the little girl's mouth in such speed she seemed to forget to breathe. And when she did she was quick to continue her stories. She was panting by the time that she was gone and grinning from ear to ear.

OOC: Cute!!!

[Naraku]

Hiroshi said nothing as he turns and begins walking away. He did as he was asked, and now that it was all back to normal he was no longer needed. His wings wraps around his body only leaving his face revealed. Beside there was no point for him to stay and get in the way.

OOC: Sorry small post mind preoccupied.

[Aiko]

Koga listened to Tempa’s tales of the past week, grinning down at her enthusiastic face. With her words, he was assured that she hadn’t been too greatly affected by her father’s absence. He was a little jealous, in that strange way that people have, that she hadn’t missed him more, but he was happy. His joy stemmed from the homecoming combined with the simple fact that his daughter, his little princess, was joyful. He pulled her tighter for a brief moment before, a little reluctantly, he released her, running his fingers down the back of her head. He made a mental note to thank Hiroshi later, but it was something he pushed to the bottom of his mind. While he didn’t want to leave his daughter, she was content, and would remain content a while longer. There was something else, something important, that he had to address now.

The wolf demon father rose to his full height, wrapping his large hand around Tempa’s tiny fingers. Dimly he was aware that the other wolf demons were greeting him raucously, and they crowded to within a couple feet of their leader. He looked around at them, acknowledging them with his wide smile and nods of his head. Even as he did, though, his feet were leading him to a very specific individual, and his eyes always flitted back to center on her face.

Merodi.

Her smile smoothly stretched her mouth, bunching up her soft, velvety cheeks. Her familiar and well-missed features came into sharper relief with every step closer that Koga took. And then, when he was close enough to count her eyelashes, he stopped, still grasping Tempa with one hand.

[brown]“Merodi,” [/brown]he murmured, his voice still full of joy but gentled to a soft rumble, [brown]“I’m home. I’m with you.” [/brown] After his absence, he didn’t care what his oftentimes-overly masculine pack members thought of such a statement. His free hand lifted, cupped the deer demon’s cheek in a rough, battle-worn palm. Closing his eyes, Koga let his forehead rest against Merodi’s, and he breathed deep, his nostrils flaring slightly. Her familiar scent warmed him to the tips of his toes. He moved his face, nuzzling her like a friendly dog, until his lips were by her ear. [brown] “I missed you most of all,” [/brown]he breathed in a voice that wouldn’t carry any farther than it needed.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Merodi frowned when Koga brought his attention to her. She didn't want him to look at her like that. She must not break down, she had an image to uphold. An image she couldn't keep if he got any closer. Too close, too close, she wouldn't be able to stand it. Those eyes, and that voice. He was here with her again. She had been so afraid. She thought she might have lost him. Hiroshi wouldn't tell her anything. She was so afraid to lose him like her singing. But he was back now. No, no, don't cry. Don't cry.

Merodi gasped, he got even closer. Her eyes widened. Her face started to get red, the first stages of a good cry. She was tense, trying not to. No no, she would not. She choked on her voice to hear him so close to her. Don't say that in front of everyone. She'll cry. She'll definitely cry.

"No!" Merodi suddenly blurted, lightly pushing him away from her. She blinked, biting her lip. "No, um...I-I need to go outside." she said, keeping her eyes away from Koga as she quickly side stepped him and rushed outside of the cave. "I'm sorry..." she muttered, rushing out of the waterfall and breathing deeply to calm herself.

[Aiko]

Merodi was breaking away from him, walking away from her mate. Koga moved back when she pushed him, not because she was forceful, but because she wanted him away from her. A stunned look crossed his features, shown in the widening of his pale blue eyes and a slight parting of his lips. The clamoring wolf demons hushed, looking at their leader’s mate in amazement. Koga turned as the deer demon rushed past him, following her retreat with his gaze. He swallowed a lump that was threatening to form in his throat, and turned away briefly to bend down by his daughter’s side. [brown]“Be good for a bit, won’t you, Tempa?”[/brown] He stroked her head with his hand, then straightened and strode after Merodi.

Halfway through the cave, Koga picked up his pace, alarm prickling down in his toes and lending him speed. He walked out through the curtain of waterfall, pausing long enough for it to soak through his hair and drip down his face, before fully following Merodi. He stepped out from underneath the water, blinking as rivulets of liquid streamed into his eyes, and walked towards his mate, wondering if she would reject him again. But again, he knew he’d follow.

[brown]“Merodi?”[/brown] he said, the word turned into a question. He stopped a few feet from her, his hand partially raised from before he realized that perhaps he shouldn’t touch her. Koga was quiet for a moment, then asked, [brown]“Are you angry with me?” [/brown] He took another hesitant step towards the deer demon. [brown] “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”[/brown]

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Merodi breathed in the fresh air deeply. She allowed herself to be lost in all the scents around her and the feeling of the slight breeze against her fur. Slowly she turned to look at Koga. She frowned, shaking her head. She wasn't sure if she had wanted him to follow or not, but in the end she glad he did. She let in another breathe, this one much more shaky and she brought her hands up to slightly hug herself.

"I was afraid..." Merodi began, a whimper or sorts escaped her lips as she continued to try and get past the sobs that were trying to force through. "I was scared that you wouldn't come back. You left me all alone, I didn't know what to do! Hitoshi wouldn't tell me anything!" she wiped at her eyes before the tears had the chance to appear. "It's hard to be strong when you're not with me!"

[Aiko]

Koga stepped closer as the deer demon spoke, his eyes searching her face. She was really, really upset about all of this! He could see the light sheen in her eyes, that telltale sign of tears that wanted to escape. He swallowed, hard. Guilt welled up in the pit of his stomach as he moved even closer to Merodi, his gaze settling on her sad eyes. Regret swelled in his own vision, but he forced it down. No. He had to go. But perhaps he should have told his mate that he was leaving. No, no “perhaps.” He definitely should have. The tears that threatened her sweet brown eyes were enough to tell him that.

His hand, which had wanted to do this so badly before, was back against her face. His thumb was pressed against her fuzzy cheek, moving to remove any tears that threatened to spill out of her eyes. Koga pressed his lips together, but he felt the song welling up behind them. And he felt that it was time to give Merodi her gift back. He shouldn’t make her wait. So he wouldn’t. With a quiet, uncertain, yet blessedly melodious voice, the wolf demon began to sing.

[brown] Good night, my angel, time to close your eyes
And save these questions for another day.
I think I know what you've been asking me,
I think you know what I've been trying to say.

I promised I would never leave you
And you should always know,
Where ever you may go,
No matter where you are,
I never will be far away.

Good night, my angel, now it's time to sleep,
And still so many things I want to say.
Remember all the songs you sang for me
When we went sailing on an emerald bay.

And like a boat out on the ocean,
I'm rocking you to sleep.
The water's dark and deep
Inside this ancient heart,
You'll always be a part of me. [/brown]

The song drifted off for a moment and Koga looked down into her eyes expectantly, not sure if he was getting to her.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Merodi bit on her lip, staring up at him as he touched her face. She had missed him so much. Why did he have to leave her? Where did he go? And why was she about to cry?! She wanted to run away, to get away before she emberassed herself in front of Koga. Koga was so strong, he'd never break down and cry like her.

Ready to run at any minute, the deer was glued in place at the sound of his voice and the song that flowed out of his mouth. Her eyes widened as she stared at him in awe. She forgot how to breathe for a moment as she listened to him. That song...

Soothsayer must have taught Koga that song. And things started to make sense. But Merodi couldn't really think on that now, she was staring and listening, and comprehending all the lyrics and how she was so easily able to remember the song. She hadn't been able to remember any of the songs her daughter sang to her.

And oh, that song...

Slowly the song began to pause. Merodi knew the song wasn't over, it must not have been over yet. But she couldn't contain herself anymore. She allowed herself to cry, as she moved forward, wrapping her arms around his neck as he pulled him toward her and kissed him. She wanted to do that all week. And seeing his mouth move while he sang. That song...Soothsayer had good choices in songs. She would have to thank him later. Merodi smiled against his lips and pulled him closer.

[Aiko]

The sheen of tears in Merodi’s eyes finally developed into real droplets of water as the deer demon began to cry. Koga was alarmed for a moment, but only a moment, because then his beloved woman was wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him down to kiss him. The familiar feel of his mate’s lips against his made something within the wolf demon swell up with relief and overpowering love. He felt that he was being filled up, like where Merodi’s lips touched him, something flowed out of her and into him, something warm and bright that he had missed for a week. The wolf demon snaked his arms around his mate’s waist, pulling her closer, until the only thing between them was a few layers of clothing. Koga imagined that his mate’s heart must be pounding just as hard and just as fast as his was at that very moment, twice the speed of the song that paused patiently on his tongue, scooting away to give his mate room to kiss him, but wanted to be sung.

Finally, when Koga felt as if he could kiss Merodi no more for now or he’d lose his mind and his heart would explode out of his chest, he pulled away, his lips lingering for a brief moment on his mate’s. As soon as they were free, he inhaled a deep well of breath, and the song reasserted itself, imploring the singer to continue. But all the wolf demon could do for a short while was hum the tune. It wasn’t as if there were real words to sing here, anyway. But soon the true words filled him with the need to complete the song, so he did, his face inches from his mate’s, and he felt that these words must have the power to grant Merodi her old gift.

[brown]

Goodnight, my angel, now it's time to dream,
And dream how wonderful your life will be.
Someday your child may cry, and if you sing this lullaby,
Then in your heart there will always be a part of me.

Someday we'll all be gone,
But lullabies go on and on.
They never die. That's how you and I will be.

[/brown]

When the song finally ended, Koga rested his forehead against his mate’s, his pale eyes gently shut. He appreciated the heat that transferred from Merodi’s skin to his, and its velvety texture. She was already as close to him as physically possible, and if she hadn’t been, he most certainly would have pulled her closer. He wanted to pour out every word of love that he knew must exist in the world, but his mind was emptied of words for this moment. There was no distinct, verbal thought that he possessed. He only had an emotion, and that emotion was not so much an emotion but a deep truth that he could feel within the current of his being.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Merodi missed kissing him, she truly did. She missed having him so close, she missed cocky grin and his brash actions and how he was so quick to make her happy. Just like now. He had learned a song just for her, just to make her happy, didn't he? She kept her arms tightly around him, wishing to continue kissing him but wanting him to continue the song. She listened, remembering every single lyric, every single note and every movement of his mouth as he sang. And then, as fast as he began again, it was over. And she already wanted to hear it again. She smiled up at him, keeping her arms around him. "I love that song." she breathed out, closing her eyes as he did.

Suddenly everything was flooding back to Merodi. The songs she had known for years up to the last weeks song. And now this one. This one was the one she would cherish the most. She smiled, silent tears running down her face. "Thank you."

[Aiko]

Something ached within Koga’s chest, and he was sure it was his worried heart mending. The wolf demon nuzzled his mate gently as she spoke. He pressed his nose against her cheek, and realized that it was damp. With what? Tears? But her cheek was also bunched up, like it did whenever Merodi smiled. What an unexpected combination, crying with a smile. The wolf demon tilted his head slightly, and he kissed his beloved’s tear-streaked face. He could taste the salty water on his lips when he pulled away, and he kissed her cheek again. He couldn’t resist.

His hands were moving, exploring the curvature of a well-known but much-missed back. Koga’s heart was thumping like it was the first time he had kissed Merodi all over again. So, to go with the theme, he returned his lips to hers, kissing her deeply, the feel of her mouth so familiar with his. When he pulled away a moment later, he felt the words that had eluded him for several seconds after he stopped singing return to his mind, and he could speak again. [brown] “I sang for you,”[/brown] he stated, but even he seemed vaguely surprised by the notion. He had never sung before, unless it was some battle or hunting lyrics from his youth. He never dreamed, though, he would sing a song of love. And yet, he did. He could still taste the lyrics in his mouth.

With a wondering smile on his face, Koga pressed his cheek against Merodi’s damp one. [brown]“I never could have sung for anybody else,”[/brown] he whispered, knowing that what he said was true. [brown] “I wouldn’t want to. It’s only for you, Merodi. I love you.” [/brown]She should know that, should have trusted in that all along and known he would always return to her. No quest could possibly keep Koga away from the one he loved for long. Wherever he went, after all, he would have left a little piece of his heart with Merodi.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Merodi's smile grew. I sang for you. No one's ever said that before. Or actually do it. She had never known anyone that could. But he had learned that one song just for her. It made her so happy.

So, so happy. "I love you too. Thank you so much." she replied, giving him a peck on the lips. She couldn't be any happier. She moved her head, placing it on his shoulder as she exhaled, closing her eyes. She blinked, suddenly remembering something very, very important.

Merodi pulled away, looking up at him as she frowned. "Hiroshi, I know why he's been so fond of Tempa!" she wiped at her cheeks where they were still wet from her tears. She was done crying though. "I don't really know what to think of it."