The First Night [Merodi/Ookami]

[Aiko]

The pain in his finger was instantly forgotten.

The earth stopped breathing for a moment, the night frozen in time. The waving grasses danced in silence, the fire dimmed and quieted. In fact, everything else in the little makeshift camp seemed to darken at the edges and become less distinct. The stars themselves seemed to fade out of existence as Koga’s attention was drawn by the soft pinkish glow, the light tinkling sound, the falling of the jewel shard as the chain on which it was held slipped off the neck of its bearer.

The wolf demon watched with something that was almost hunger as Ookami quickly stuffed the shard-laden necklace back. Blinking, Koga broke himself out of his dazed, absorbed reverie, and turned his icy azure gaze to the half-demon. “Wh… where did you get that?” he stammered hoarsely, hardly able to believe his own eyes. Could a piece of the jewel really have been under his nose all day, without him even having the slightest clue? His body tensed at the thought of it.

Then another thought came, one that sent cold realization tingling down the wolf demon’s spine. He could not take Ookami with him on his quest for Naraku. Knowing not how well she could fight, how could he possibly risk yet another shard falling into the hands of this abominable antagonist? Clenching his fists and grinding his teeth in irritation, Koga knew that he couldn’t have her help on this mission. How could he tell her that? Or maybe…

What if Koga just took the shard, then and there? That would be the end of all discrepancies over what to do with Ookami. Of course, there was no way she would just hand it over to him; if he was to pursue getting that particular shard, it would come to a fight, and though the wolf demon was confident in his abilities to win, the only real reason that he would need to take the shard from her was if she insisted on helping him find Naraku, and if they fought, she wasn’t likely to help out any more, was she?

Well, this was certainly troublesome. Koga couldn’t think of a solution to this mess. At least, at the moment he couldn’t.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

For most of the time, Merodi had been lost in her own little world. She felt content with Koga-sama and Ookami. And Akki, of course. Though, she held back the urge to throw up when Ookami fed her wolf friend. She was glad she was barely paying attention. Though, just knowing that it had been meat made her stomach churn.

It was forgotten...just like the pain in Koga's finger as Merodi's eyes caught on the sparkle of the sliver that was the jewel shard. She was shocked to know that Ookami had a jewel shard! It seemed unreal, more then a coincedince that her best friend would also own the sliver of the jewel just like her.

Merodi continued to watch when Ookami hid it. Though, she knew it was too late. It had also caught the eye of Koga-sama, who had asked her a question. He seemed rather shocked as she. But it seemed in a different way. And after a few seconds, she could sense the anger, and the urge of a fight that surged through him.

Merodi shivered, but turned her head toward Ookami. Gulping, she smiled and leaned toward her friend, keeping leverage on her right arm, and her left hand resting on the shard that hid underneath the fur and flesh of that same right arm.

"You have one too Ookami?" she asked, unknowing on asking such a thing would affect Koga-sama, or her friend for that matter.

[ookami]

Despite her frantic attempt to hide it, there was no secret in the fact that both Merodi, and of course the wolf, had seen the sliver. Ookami's eyes looked to the wolf, and she spotted the almost...hungry look in his eye. This, of course, instantly raised her guard, and her hand drifted almost unknowingly towards the hilt of her trust weapon. "My mother gave it to me before she left me. I've had it for a few years now." She said, keeping her voice calm, fighting down the rising suspicion.

She hardly blinked, even when Merodi spoke. Her friend, at least, did not seem so anxious about the whole ordeal. Simply curious, it seemed. Of course, it was a short moment before Ookami realized just what words had come from Merodi's mouth. "Too?" She asked, turning her head to gaze at the Shika. Hers, too, was only curiosity. She hadn't realized the deer was carrying a sibling to her own shard. Not that it really mattered to Ookami. What was so important about them, anyway?

No, she wasn't naive nor ignorant. She knew of the stories...of the true orgin of the full jewel. But, to her, having more then one shard was excessive, -she did not know of Koga's two- and there was no reason to have excessive anything. "Yeah. I've got one. Like said, it was from my mother." She repeated, still looking at Merodi. However, every now and then her gaze flitted back over to Koga. What was running through the pure's mind?

[Aiko]

”Too?!?!” What in all the hells was this? The deer demon had a shard as well? Koga sat with his mouth agape at the thought. His impulse to take the shard was suppressed, if only to make it harder for Naraku to get them. Troubled, he got to his feet, his gaze that was filled with myriad emotions shifting between the two female demons. If they took any heed of him, they would see his bewilderment, his fury, his melancholy, and his angst all tangled in one great knot in those blue eyes, a much more complicated look than the wolf demon was accustomed to wearing.

With a strange pang of regret that shook him in the depths of his heart, Koga realized that neither of them would be any help in finding Naraku. For one, that Ookami was slow-footed, and would easily be caught by that ugly bastard and his minions. And then Merodi… Well, he’d put it this way: If that foul spawn of all that was putrid asked her to give her shard to him, he felt that she would without question, or worse, die of fright at the first trace of his lethal miasma. The jewels would fall into the hands of he who was the cause of so much wolf-slaughter, and the demon would not stand for that.

And yet, there was that clinging unhappiness that refused to leave his heart. Koga knew he should just run off and leave these two behind, finding Naraku on his own. That had been his plan from the start, right? But for some strange reason, he didn’t want to leave the company of this motley little bunch. He had been a wolf alone for so long; was he falling back into a sociality so quickly? No, he couldn’t be that weak. He wasn’t! He glared at the two below him, defiant of them telling him he was weak!

Acting with the usual rash impulsiveness that gripped him, he angrily began to pace off, throwing a glare over his shoulder to dissuade them from even thinking of following him. He would find Naraku himself, and obliterate him, scattering whatever remained of his filth across the land until he was indistinguishable from dust. And after that…

Perhaps he would return.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

From her mother, Ookami had said. She looked in curiosity at the hanyou. That was really nice. Merodi, on the other hand, could not remember where she had recieved her shard. If anything, she had been there when it fell from the sky at the base of her feet. She had picked it up, thinking it a luck charm brought to her by the heavens themselves, and kept it. Protecting it with her life. It was something that belonged to her. Though she did not know the extent of it's power.

Though, the whole happiness of having something in common with Ookami faded when she glanced at Koga. The smile dissapeared immediately, in return was replaced with a frown. Confused, sad, and fearful, she did not understand what was the matter with Koga-sama.

If anything, she at least could get the hint that it was from the jewels that she and Ookami owned. Was it because they had kept it a secret? Or was it something else? She didn't know. And as she watched him, biting down on her lower lip she wished that she could do something to make him not so angry, and all the other mixed emotions that swirled inside those narrowed blue orbs.

When it came to her, it was too late. He had already turned and was beginning to leave. Immediately she opened her mouth, almost getting to her feet. But she was stopped with his side glare. Her mouth clicked closed and she sat back down. Watching him sadly and anxiously. Where was he going? Was he going to come back?

Would he leave them behind? Of course, it didn't seem like it would matter. She still had Ookami. But the whole point was that Koga-sama was supposed to help her overcome her fears. Even if he didn't know this. She had started with a big leap when being so near to the wolf demon.

Once he was out of sight, she turned and looked at Ookami, determination in her large brown orbs. "Do you have a knife? Anything sharp?" Yes, it was perfect. This was Koga-sama would not be mad at her. If anything, it would make him happier! But...only if he came back...she would do anything to make sure he didn't leave...

[ookami]

Ookami, too, watched the full wolf curiously, and wearily. He seemed so nervous, so...well, odd all of the sudden. And when she caught a glance of his sky-colored orbs, they were filled with many emotions. And the heat, which she could feel because of her fire self, changed constantly. He was confused about something....but about what? Was it really that big of a deal that Ookami, and Merodi, carried the shards? Apperantly it was, for Koga seemed to settle on a single thought, and began to walk away.

Like Merodi, Ookami was quickly on her feet, extended forward slightly, as though to follow the demon. When he glanced back, his eyes narrowed in glaring slits, she paused. She did not return to a sitting position, but she did not make to follow him. However, she felt as though Koga could not have the last say....which, at the moment, he had, even though he hadn't said a word. "Is it really that big of a deal?" She called, her voice almost hoarse.

Despite herself, despite his temper, and the fact that the two really didn't get along, Ookami had started to at least enjoy the company the wolf gave. She enjoyed Merodi too, of course, but each of them had their own perks. Merodi was quiet, never judging...but Koga was not as timid as the Shika, and he was less unnerving to have around. Ookami frowned, leaning back slightly, as though something had hit her. Why was he leaving, now? And why without a word? Was he angry, worried, upset? Somehow, she guessed that even the wolf himself hadn't a clue.

She glanced at Merodi as she spoke, and blinked at her question. "Something sharp?" Why did Merodi want to know such a thing? Did she mean she wanted a weapon, or was she simply looking for something to use to cut something? "Well, I have my sword, of course, but nothing extra, if thats what you mean..." She said, frowning slightly.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

The sudden anxiety of maybe Koga never coming back filled the shika's heart, and she felt her chest ache. No, no, no, no, no, no! Her only hope of getting rid of her fears. It was leaving! Was vanishing right in front of her eyes. She couldn't let that happen. And so, as Ookami spoke of her sword, she leaned forward, seeing the sword in it's sheath at her hip. She glanced up at Ookami as her hand reached out toward it. She hesitated. Asking silently to take the sword before slowly bringing it out of it's sheath.

To hold something used to wound and murder other sent a shiver down her spine. But she needed it at the moment. Closing her eyes tightly she brought the sharp edge to her right arm, doing a quick jab; a shiny object falling to the floor. The pain of cutting herself brought tears to her eyes, and she dropped the sword and grasped at the small jewel.

Feeling the blood cascade down her arm, she felt like she was going to feint. She felt light headed and the blood began to drain from her face. She took in deep breaths as slowly stood to her feet. Wobbly, but surely she turned and began to follow the scent of Koga, and the trail he left behind.

One arm seemed useless, and the other held the jewel shard. She walked his path little by little.

"Koga-sama!" she called out, her voice a little hoarse. She still felt as if she was going to feint. But she paid attention to the pain instead, which gave her a bit of adrenaline.

Merodi could not allow him to leave them. If it was the jewel that had made him leave, then...then she would give it to him. If it would be better in his hands...if giving it to him kept him from being angry with her. She didn't know why she was so desperate to keep the wolf from leaving them. From leaving her.

Oh god, he was going to be so mad at her to know that she had followed him...

[Aiko]

“Stay back!” That was the snarl of a reply, the only reply, that Koga had to offer to the innocent deer demon. With her jewel shard, coupled with that incredibly naïve, timid aura that she exuded, she would be the first target of Naraku’s. He would kill her and take her jewel shard, and then he would have become even more powerful. The wolf demon hadn’t even turned to acknowledge the presence of Merodi, and his face away from her was serious, and determined, and yet, he was biting his lip, as though something was bothering him.

Of course he was only worried for the sake of the jewel shard! If Merodi died, then Naraku would become more powerful; that was a given. And that was all! Koga just didn’t want the other demon to become more powerful. There was no other reason for his telling the other three demons to stay back. It wasn’t like he felt even the tiniest shred of responsibility for the others. Of course not! Why would someone think that? It was absolutely laughable! He felt nothing for the others. It was… it was…

It was the thought that was running constantly through the wolf demon’s mind.

But Koga just gritted his teeth and told himself that over and over again. So why was he looking forward to when Naraku was killed, when he could return to his homeland and live in the peaceable company of other demons, hunting wild and free as they were always meant to? There was no easy answer to that nagging question, and the wolf demon did his best to ignore it, to act with that energetic impulsiveness that usually compelled him. Wondering was not something he was accustomed to. He acted on the here, on the now.

But what of the future? How the hell did he even know he had a future? He might end up dying trying to defeat Naraku! Koga realized then that that was why he liked to avoid thinking; it brought to mind thoughts of failure. Thinking was bad, and action was good. The best thing to do was to ignore the other three, to go and kill that plague upon the land, and that was that. There would be no failure.

Breaking into a run, Koga prepared to let go of those that held him from behind.

OOC: Just a note, but he’s not gone totally yet.

[ookami]

It was a moment before Merodi cut her arm that Ookami realized what she had intended to do. And although she felt as if she should, Ookami made no move to stop her. It was Merodi's choice, afterall. If she was that desperate for the other wolf to stay...then, well, she was probably right in thinking that was the only way to stay him. As the shika followed in Koga's foot steps, Ookami leaned down and swept up her sword, returning to to its sheath, after, of course, wiping the blood clean.

Then the hanyou watched with curious, almost hopeful eyes as Merodi followed the wolf. Koga obviously didn't want them to come along, with possession of the shards. And, well, Ookami was about to hand hers over, not like Merodi was. And so, she planned, that she would watch to see if Koga accepted Merodi's obvious gesture. If he did, then Ookami would leave. She knew Merodi would be fine with the other demon.

However, Koga barely noticed the shika following him, and Ookami frowned. Couldn't he see how desperate Merodi was? She obviously wanted to keep traveling with him, for some reason unknown except to her. "Don't give up, Merodi." She whispered to herself, her voice so low that she was sure neither ahead had heard it. She began to slip into a concentration so deep that when her wolf partner, Akki, butted her hand, she jumped.

"Yes, I suppose we should go. But I want to make sure everything turns out alright here. Prehaps it was a mistake, agreeing to travel with this demon, asking to. If he continues to ignore Merodi...then prehaps she will continue to travel with us. But if she goes with the wolf...well, then we can leave." She told Akki, patting him on the head.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Merodi stopped in her tracks as Koga barked out his command. She looked at him, saddened. He said nothing more. And yet the young shika stood, the pain in her arm forgotten, and the jewel shard held in her hand. Without words she pleaded with him. She just wanted to be able to speak. To give her her jewel shard. And if he accepted it or not was up to him. He could take her jewel shard and still leave.

Please just give her this chance.

Merodi opened her mouth, giving herself the chance to speak when she realized there was nothing more Koga was going to say. But then suddenly he broke out in a sprint. Immediately she found herself following Koga. It almost seemed intinct now. Something tugged at her to follow.

In seconds she found herself panting when she tried to get close enough for him to look at her. But even so, she had to yell. "Koga-sama! Please stop!" she panted, feeling the wound on her arm open more as blood flowed down it. Oh god, she was going to feint any second.

"Take my damn shard!!" now she was mad, about to feint knowing that there was blood flowing down her arm, and her legs already felt like jello. Another breath and she collapsed. Though she had not feinted just yet, trying to race against Koga left her completely drained.

Merodi only now realized that Ookami and Akki had been left behind. And immediately she felt horrible for leaving with no explanation. She wanted to go back, to explain, and hope that her friend was waiting for her back at camp.

She had no idea about Ookami's plans on leaving....

[Aiko]

At Merodi’s curse, Koga stopped instantly, dust swirling around him. His heart was pounding against his ribcage, as though it intended to escape from his body, and he wasn’t entirely sure that it was just his running that had done so, though a part of him argued that it definitely was just that. Half-turning, he stopped himself just in time to not look at the collapsed deer demon. She’d just be a nuisance, anyway, an inner voice argued, the same one that held firm with the thought that he was just getting tired. Leave her there. Her other wolf friend will take care of her. Don’t even go back to take the shard from her.

For what was probably the first time in his life, Koga ignored that obstinate voice, despite its protests. The reason for this, though, was a wave of a warm, slightly salty scent that sent sharks into feeding frenzies. Blood! Whose blood? Could it be Merodi’s? Had she cut into her very skin to get her shard out? Impossible! That was not something he expected from the timid, cowering shika that he had most likely mentally tormented for the better part of the day. An emotion he decided was curiosity sent him trotting back to her.

He stared down at her collapsed body, arms crossed and an eyebrow raised quizzically. To have gone to all this trouble to follow him, when he obviously did not want to be followed, was… well, if he was honest, something he would probably do. In any case, it wasn’t something expected of a deer demon. Grinning a bit, Koga had to admit that Merodi was gutsier than he had been giving her credit for, even if she wasn’t very strong.

“Hey,” he said suddenly, announcing his presence. “You know, if you’re so determined to give me your jewel shard, why not just chuck it after me, eh? Or were you hoping to curry favor by giving me a little gift and then hoping I’d let you tag along for the ride?” Not waiting for an answer, Koga turned his crystalline eyes to the matter of Merodi’s wound, which was bleeding freely.

“I see you’re not that great with a blade, eh Merodi?” he suggested, with the slightest hint of teasing. “Come on, you’re not gonna die from that. Do you have any bandages or medicines?”

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Even as she laid there. Well, not laying, she was more on her knees and hands. She didn't want to be lying on the dirt making herself think she was dead. No, she tried to get herself as much leverage as possible. Her mouth parted, she took in heavy pants, her shoulder moving up and down with her breathing. She stared at the ground, but forced her eyes close when she saw blood flow down her arm to drip onto the dirt floor.

Oh god she was going to be sick.

Merodi stopped breathing when she throught she heard foot steps toward her. By that time, she had expected Koga to be long gone. She held in her breath to hear the noise over her pounding heartbeat and loud pants. She gulped; her throat feeling dry, and looked up to the other's presence.

She was relieved to see it was Koga. To see that he wasn't angry at her brought even more relief, and she took in a deep breath before her panting stopped completely. Though, she frowned when he spoke. And when he spoke of gaining his favor from giving him her jewel shard she had to look away, almost emberassed from being read so easily.

Was it that obvious?

Merodi slowly brought herself to a sitting position, the sudden move made her head spin, and she had to close her eyes for a moment to get the feeling to leave. She smiled shyly with his teasing. Yes...she didn't know how to use a blade...

But she hoped to learn soon. Maybe Koga-sama could teach her.

Merodi frowned, looking down at her wound but having to look away before getting sick. She looked apologetically up at him. "No, I don't have any of those. This is the first time I've been wounded." she said simply, her hand moving to the wound, trying to stop the bleeding. But feeling the warm liquid running through her finger made her face pale.

With actually knowing what to do when almost about to feint she fell over on her back to allow the blood to rush back into her head.

[Aiko]

Koga struggled not to look appalled. Never been wounded?!? The prospect was mind-boggling! Now he was certain; Merodi couldn’t go anywhere near Naraku, jewel shard or not. She’d either get in the way or just be killed then and there. Not that I have that much of an issue with her being killed, the wolf demon argued inwardly, but that would give that bastard Naraku something else to gloat about. That being perhaps an even lamer excuse, the demon mentally dropped the issue of “why.” She couldn’t come, and that was that.

Now turning his attention once again to the misshapen cut, Koga frowned. No bandages, eh? That was going to make the healing process considerably less comfortable. He knew that, unless Merodi had stupidly sliced something important, ripping a tendon or something of the like, she would probably be better in a day or two, under the impression that the blade that made the cut was just an ordinary blade. Forehead furrowed, the wolf demon looked like mulling over the healing was something that was a puzzling problem, something serious.

Suddenly, his countenance relaxed, and Koga shrugged his powerful shoulders. “Eh, you’ll live,” he informed her, taking his eyes away from her and staring back towards their makeshift “camp.” “You should probably head back to Ookami. You two look like you’re pretty tight.” Stretching in an effort to look nonchalant, the wolf demon closed his eyes, hiding the mixed emotions within him. Part of him was secretly proud of being “subtle,” but the other part still felt dully bruised, upset that he would have to make his journey alone.

A sudden, new idea crossed his mind, partially because the scent of blood from Merodi was interfering with his planning. “Kagome!” he exclaimed suddenly. “Okay, new plan,” he told the deer demon, turning to her with eyes agleam. “I’ll stick around for a bit, to see whether or not that wound of yours gets better. If it doesn’t, there’s a miko that might be able to help. She helped my wounds heal, and maybe she’ll help you.”

Of course, this was partly just an excuse for Koga to take a side-trip to see Kagome.

“Alright, come on, back to camp with you,” Koga announced, not giving Merodi a chance to reply to his idea. He offered his hand, though he had half a mind just to drag her back in a new burst of enthusiasm. Funny that he hardly noticed she was lying on her back.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Okay...it wasn't that Merodi had never been wounded before. It was that she had never been wounded since she had started her travels. The first time she had been wounded and had no one to heal her as when she had been only a fawn, and when she had been an entertainer for the human lord. She hated to think on past events and so put it behind her.

Merodi looked up at Koga thoughtfully as he spoke. She agreed. She would live...it wasn't that much of a big deal. She guessed. Though it hurt like hell. She looked toward the path she had taken to where she had left Ookami. She frowned as Koga spoke. Did he mean to continue to travel with her and not him? No. She would not do it. She was going to help him, she was going to travel with him, and she was going to be useful!

She turned her head to look up at him, determination in her eyes. She was about to speak when he spoke up before her. Her mouth closed, and she looked up at him curiously. New plan? Kagome? Who was Kagome? She was happy that he was going to stay. Including just to make sure she healed. But she was also sad because he had said that he would not stay forever. Only until she healed. Then he would be gone.

When he spoke and held out his hand, Merodi knew that she couldn't just go on and not tell him what she was going to do. She had to make it clear that she was traveling with him and that was that!...After she got off the ground. Her eyes landed on his hand, looking at it warily at first.

This would be the first contact she would have with Koga-sama besides that time when she hugged his arm...

Merodi gulped nervously, but found that she trusted him enough to place her hand in his so he could help her up. Once she was back on her feet, and she looked shyly at the ground she finally found it in herself to speak.

"Koga-sama...I really wish to travel with you...I know I won't be much use, but I know I can't be so scared anymore..."

[Aiko]

Koga rolled his eyes. This deer demon, wounded as she was, timid as he had seen her, seemed determined to tag along for the ride. Hadn’t he made it clear that she was not going to come with him? Of course, he couldn’t help but feel a reluctant admiration for her determination, even if her stubbornness was already ticking him off. But she was not coming with him to find Naraku, and that was that. Crossing his arms stubbornly, he fixed his most imperious glare on her, though it was ruined by the twitching at the corner of his mouth, the amused smile that was threatening.

“Okay, first of all, what’s with the sama? It’s flattering, but it’s annoying, alright? If you must call me something, just say Koga-san or something like that.”

Okay. That was it. Koga had to look away. If he kept glaring at this defiant little shika youkai, he was going to burst out in laughter. To think that a deer was attempting to order a wolf around, even if they were both demons! Anyone, he reasoned, would find it funny. Funny or not, he had to make it clear that company was not welcome on this expedition, wayward as it was. His amusement evaporated.

“And look, the point isn’t whether you wish to travel with me or not. It’s whether you can. And you can’t. That’s all. So don’t try tagging along. You’re gonna get yourself killed out there.”

Oh great, now it sounded like the wolf demon was feeling protective. Was he? Of course he wasn’t! He’d deliver one hell of a roundhouse kick to anyone who so much as suggested it! Come on! He barely even knew Merodi, and she was a crazy weakling deer demon of all things! Why would he feel protective over that?

Of course, the very thought was embarrassing, and the discomfiture of it was plain on Koga’s face. Merodi would probably read him like a book. Reddening, he growled a bit, a wordless muttering, looking acutely self-conscious. Deciding that he had to let Merodi know just why he didn’t want her to tag along, he informed her, “Where I’m going, you’re definitely gonna die, and then Naraku’s gonna get his greasy little hands on your precious jewel shard. I won’t let that happen.” The look the wolf demon gave the deer demon then was one of two emotions: a little bit of anger, and a hell of a lot of awkwardness.

Now he’d said too much. Koga was embarrassing himself more and more by the second! Hell, didn’t he have any pride? Frowning defiantly, he began to stalk back in the direction of the camp, looking stiff and agitated. Oh, come on! He was making a huge fool of himself, over and over again!

Without looking over his shoulder, he yelled, impulsive as usual, “I don’t care what happens to you! Got that?”