Picturesque [Merodi]

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Merodi knew what she had expected. It was still surprising to hear. Her eyes wandered to the side, as if to see if her face was as red as she thought it was. She knew it was red, she could feel the heat radiating from her cheeks and practically her whole face. To be his mate. The mate of a wolf. That would be hard, very hard. How would that work? How different were the marrying rituals, the mating rituals? She didn't know. For a moment she was glad that she had been kidnapped when she was young so she wasn't so keen to the differences. She had been too young to be taught of those things yet.

Merodi glanced downward, her hands fiddling with the end up her clothes, cursing her own nervous habbit when a loose thread appeared. "How exactly does that work?" she asked him curiosly. Did he just proclaim it and suddenly they were mates? Was there more to it? How would she know? Deers and wolves were so different she didn't have any idea on how anything worked. It was coming up again, what worried her so much. This true difference between them. How people would react to it. Would their children be mutated because of the too different differences?

How could she state her worries where he could understand? She didn't know. Speaking her mind wasn't her specialties. It was his, and although he stated them in a confusing way sometimes, at least he could. Why she couldn't, she had yet to figure out that answer.

((sorry, I'm making things complicated, I can't think of anything at the moment))

[Aiko]

The more he stood there, looking self-assured, the more he felt certain that this was really quite simple. This was the way the world worked; a male chose a female, and that was that. True, it was a bit… unconventional for different types of demons to intermarry, but hey, they wouldn’t be the strangest couple. And the more he thought about it, the more Koga thought, Why not? He was perfectly eligible for her, since she accepted him. If Merodi had a problem with this, that would be a different story, but she didn’t, did she?

So what was the problem? What did she mean, how did that work? Well, Koga could have sat her down and explained in overly simplified terms about the birds and the bees, but, thankfully, he went the other route in telling her how it “worked,” the way that she had intended. “I’ll introduce you to the tribe, and tell them that I’ve chosen you, and… well, what more is there?” He wasn’t very well schooled in more sophisticated, humanized wedding ceremonies, and even if he was, he preferred these simple methods (after all, he’s the type who would probably disprove of the use of “big words” in any posts that some random roleplayer made about him).

But there was one additional piece of the wedding puzzle: presents. But he wasn’t about to tell Merodi that. Though impulsively he would have, some part of him recognized the thrill of showering her with a grand old surprise. Still, as this thought fluttered in his mind, he made a face that was more fox than wolf; his face plainly said, “I’m up to something, even though I’m trying (and failing miserably, mind you) to be sneaky about it.” For now, he just sidled up alongside her, and grinned broadly down at her with an expression that attempted “cunning.”

Yet, obviously, he couldn’t resist it; the thought of seeing her face when he presented her gift was too exciting. Even though he had no idea what his gift to Merodi was going to be, he was quite positive that it was going to be much more awesome than a heap of mud and rock. “I’m going to give you something that you’re gonna love,” he declared, winking in a further attempt at the stereotypical craftiness. I just don’t know what it is quite yet, he added silently. Still, he draped an arm in a friendly way over her shoulder, beaming with a smile that was just too transparent.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Merodi wasn't sure what to expect. Once again, she had phrased her words wrong. She really need to work on that. Luckily, though, Koga happened to understand her odd way of saying what was in her head that made much more sense in there. She would have to work on that. His answer actually calmed her worries for a moment. Introduction to the tribe. Wolves were much more simpler then she had believed. Deer were so much more into rituals and although she had never seen such rituals for mates she remembered her mother speaking about it. She couldn't remember a word her mother had told her, but she knew it was much more complicated then what Koga just told her.

Merodi frowned in curiosity with the sudden look that had creeped its way across his face. What was he thinking for such a face? Was there something more to the wolf mating ritual then he was letting on? Something to surprise her? She didn't know, but what she did know was that he was planning something. If it was good or bad was what she didn't know. It made her nervous. Everything suspiciouse made her nervous. Such was the way of a deer.

Merodi finally realized what he was speaking about when he spoke. Give her something? She stared up at him confused for a moment until it seemed to dawn on her. She glanced at the arm draped over her shoulder, then at the smile that was on his face. She blinked for a moment before a realization smile appeared on her face. "We give gifts, then?" she asked, more as a statement then a question. That must be apart of the mate ritual. Even her mother had told her about a gift. She only remembered this now that something had been said about gifts. She frowned suddenly, this time her worry showing through as she looked down at the ground. "The tribe isn't going to like me, will they?"

[Aiko]

Dang, how’d she guess? It wasn’t that obvious that he’d planned on giving her a special gift, was it? No, impossible… Koga had made a special point of NOT letting her know what was going on in his head, while hinting that he was planning something. No… she must have known something about the gift-giving that was part of most mating and marriage rituals.

Merodi’s second question took Koga by surprise. “What?” the wolf demon blurted, incredulity spreading over his face. His arm, conveniently draped across her shoulder, pulled her around so that she faced him. He gently held her face, cradling her cheeks in calloused palms, and lifted her head so that he could see into her transparently troubled eyes. With a voice clear, even, and confident in all he would say, the demon said, “Merodi, they will love you. And if they don’t initially, because some of them won’t, they’ll grow to love you, like me. You’re the most wonderful demon – no, not just demon: woman – who’s ever come into my life. And I’ve got reasons for it. They’ll grow to love you for the same reasons I love you. You’ll be like their sister, because you’re my mate.” The my. Hearing it, and knowing that the deer demon, too, accepted this, and was happy with it, made him feel like his heart would explode with delight.

On top of that, that was probably the longest string of words that Koga had said, completely with a straight face, in his entire life.

He’d spilled all of the thoughts he’d had into that, but beyond that, everything he knew and believed about wolves; they would be loyal to him, and through him, to Merodi. And on top of that, he knew they’d love her eventually. It would be impossible to join their family, and be as winning as her, without everyone falling in love with their new addition.

This said, he half leaned forward and half pulled her head up, but, with a little but of clumsiness, he kissed her full on the lips. The explosion of pleasure tingled in his face, in his lips, in every cell inside him. With soft, fuzzy cheeks beneath his palms, he held her tightly, practically pulling her closer, begging her to prolong this amazing sensation that, if not better, was just as good as the first time.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Merodi wondered what she could get Koga. She wondered what he would be getting her. He must already know with his statement. That was something she couldn't ponder over for long since she was still worried about meeting the tribe. It wouldn't go very well, she knew. He would take her there and they would immediately think of her as food. She didn't like the idea, not at all. They would probably have a fire going to cook her even before Koga explained anything. She looked up at him only because she was forced to. She was worried, very worried about the whole ordeal.

Merodi didn't know what to expect. She didn't think he would find anything to say that could get rid of her worry. His words didn happen to comfort her. Sadly, it didn't get rid of her worry. It was only ignored for a moment as she payed attention to his words. He seemed pretty confident that they would grow to like her. How long it would have to grow, she didn't know. She didn't like the idea. How long would she have to live through hateful glares, doubting opinions...oh, she didn't like it. She didn't like it at all. Mostly, she was afraid of waking up and having one of the wolves trying to eat her. At the end of his words, she smiled. Knowing her worry would be hers and hers alone. Being their sister. Seemed interesting enough. A deer being the sister of wolves. That would get a lot of attention from a lot of different people.

Merodi wished to get away from her worry. But it probably wasn't going to happen. She was plaqued by worry and fear as it had always been. She hadn't expected to suddenly be pulled forward in a clumsy and yet warming kiss. Immediately her worries were forgotten, if only for the moment. She was happy to find something that could distract her so quickly and succesfully from her worry. Her arms moved around his shoulders, having no rush in ending the kiss. No, not when it made her stomach flutter so, and made her forget all her worries and fears.

[Aiko]

There was a feeling stoked inside Koga’s soul. As his hands slid down her face and wrapped around her, he felt something that was more. More than what? The wolf demon didn’t understand it. There were a few things that registered, though.

One, Merodi must have somehow reached inside his soul, because he could swear he felt her soft touch lingering on his emotions.

Two, he would never be able to describe the beautiful thing that was flowering in his heart that rang with meaning and purpose.

Three, this beautiful thing evoked some sort of awe that he could barely comprehend, as he’d never felt truly awestruck before.

Four, he liked this strange, beautiful feeling.

Though his feelings weren’t exactly happiness (he couldn’t really explain it properly, as there are few words in any language that can really describe the simplest of emotions), he did feel a sort of excitement inside him, an innocent eagerness. All this, while they were exchanging a clumsy, impromptu kiss, which mixed up the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual. And though he undeniably wanted to spend an eternity filled with this emotion, it was just too much for his simple body to contain. He felt like he’d over flow at any moment, so he pulled away, body buzzing with heat and heart swirling with emotion.

And here that eagerness comes in. “I want you to meet them!” he declared, feeling brilliant and fiery like he never had before, not even when he was showing off. There was something about the finality of his decisions, and Merodi’s acceptance of them, that brought about this kindling of emotion in him. “I want everybody to know about us!” His arms were still wrapped around her shoulders, but, since he obviously couldn’t drag her to meet the wolves who made up his family like this, he had to let go. He grabbed her hand confidently, holding it firmly but not squeezing. “Come with me!” he invited.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Merodi forgot all her worries of meeting the tribe. Easy enough when she was being kissed. Sadly that was easily broken as the kiss was. It still lingered, she could still taste him on her lips and she was still in a daze. She didn't think she would ever get used to such a simple act. She stared at him, for a moment, confused on why he pulled away. Her heart stopped as he spoke. Oh, this again. She had just stopped worrying about that! Why oh why must he torture her so? She frowned, very against that idea. She knew she had to meet them, but she hand't meant now, or even soon. He did, however.

And who was she to deny him that? Sure, she'd probably hate every minute of it but he wanted it really badly it seemed. Besides, she shouldn't come to conclusions about his tribe. If he could accept her, couldn't they? Or was she just fooling herself? It seemed to be working because she was suddenly not completely against the idea. Sure, they would want to eat her but if Koga is the leader, he was the leader for a purpose. He had been good at protecting her, she was sure he could make sure those wolves didn't eat her. Although she hated the opinions they would have.

Koga, literally playing with his food. This thought made her queasy. Suddenly her hand was being grabbed, and she looked down on the hold he had on her. Come with him, he says. She bit her lower lip nervously, not knowing what to say. "I'm scared." Okay, maybe she hadn't gone with the first thing that came to mind. When did she ever speak her mind?

[Aiko]

Koga, all the while looking at Merodi, felt his eager look fading. He looked at her dumbly as he echoed her. “Scared? Like afraid?” Well, look at Captain Obvious. But he couldn’t help himself. She was scared? Of what? That they weren’t going to accept her? That’s the only thing Koga could think of for his bride-to-be to fear. What else could she possibly be even nervous about? “Like I said, they’ll love you. And you’ll love them, trust me.” A bit of self-assurance was coming back to him, as he concluded that she must just be nervous of meeting them for the first time. Well, she was pretty timid. “We’re a real tight-knit family. And if you’re with me, you’re one of us. Automatically.” He squeezed Merodi’s hand gently, because he was with her as much as she was with him. And with a big strong Koga by her side, no girl had to be afraid.

But clearly, Merodi was. Even this wolf demon could see it, in the way she looked down away from him. A new thought came to be thought: was she ashamed of being afraid? That’s what her body language suggested, and Koga could speak Body better than he could speak flat-out Words.

Koga took the deer demon’s other hand in his, pulled her around to face him, then knelt before her. There, looking up into her eyes and clasping her hands in his, he felt gentle. Not the normal powerful feeling he had over everyone else, but more… he didn’t even have the word to describe it, but softer. Soft enough for this soft and lovely creature whose happiness and smiles he treasured. And so his voice turned soft, not smooth or velvety like somebody who was trying to seduce her, but genuine, and genuinely desperate to reassure this soft being before him. “It’s alright if you’re a little nervous, but you don’t have to be. Come on; I’ll be here with you the whole time. I’d carry you to my tribe like a bride if you asked me to.”

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Merodi was scared for many reasons. Scared they would hate her. Scared they would hate him for loving her. And scared they would kill her and chop her up in a deer stew! The wolf and deer...the differences would blind them to see anything besides that.

Merodi looked up at Koga, a worried frown marring her face. Would they, could they really love her? Could they accept her even when she was a deer? But she could trust him, right? Besides, it didn't truly matter if they liked her or not. But it did matter if she ruined his reputation because he decided to be in a relationship with a deer demon.

Sad that Merodi was so negative. But what could she do? She couldn't stop them form meeting Koga's friends and family. He really wanted this, and who was she to hold him back from what he was so excited about?

Merodi didn't expect him to be so gentle with her and how she felt. She had expected the normal Koga. The normal loud and rough (but still sweet) Koga. But here he was, kneeling before her with her hands in his. His gentle voice and his comforting words taking her off gaurd.

The deer demon swore she had just fallen more in love with him. Being carried actually sounded like a good offer. They would be able to get there fast without her lagging behind, and he would be able to keep her protected from being eaten. She was exaggerating a bit. They wouldn't try and eat her, not with Koga there. Or so she thought. Such a thought was normal when she believed he was the strongest demon ever known. Well, to her.

Even so, she declined the offer. "I-I do not think I need to be carried." she said with a small smile. Her nervousness still showed in that smile, but it was better then before. "How far is it? To see your tribe?" she asked. She assumed it would be in this area since this was his territory. "We won't stay long, will we?" oh, she hoped not.

The last thing she wanted was to be killed in her sleep.

[Aiko]

Koga smiled warmly up at Merodi. Clearly, she trusted him. This made him feel, mixed in with the gentleness, a warm, glowing feeling, that pulsated gently like a puddle made of light. It was that warm and fuzzy feeling that sounds so corny to anybody who hasn’t really felt it before. She trusted him, and it made him feel something that he did not quite recognize as honor; he was almost humbled by the transparency of the way he made her feel.

Rising, his voice still held that strangely gentle tone that hardly fit his usual character. “They are my family, Merodi. I haven’t seen them for a long time. You can leave if you want, but I need to stay with them awhile. I am their leader.” He smiled warmly as he said it, but he did feel a little sad. Clearly, Merodi was uncertain about seeing all of these new faces. Perhaps it would be too much for her, but he wanted everyone to know about them. He also wanted, as he said, to spend time with them, not necessarily alone, but if Merodi didn’t want to be near them, he would.

But there was a solution, of course. “Like I said, this meadow here is your new home. If I order it, none of my men will bother you here, and you can come here to be alone.” And, of course, Koga would come to visit her, but that went without being said. Of course he would come to see her, as often as he could while still giving time to his tribe; the thought of being away from her made his heart ache.

“It’s not far,” he said, turning to face the forest and releasing one of Merodi’s hands. “We’ll be there very soon.” If they walked briskly, they would reach the cave within half an hour; that was where most of his tribe would be. The rest would soon come in as soon as word got to them that Koga had come home. His grip on Merodi’s hand was tight as he began to walk forward; this wouldn’t be too painful. She’d see, soon enough. This would work.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Merodi trusted him. Of course she trusted him! She couldn't be his true mate if she did not. She trusted him a hundred percent. Trusted him with the decisions, trusted him with her own life, for that matter. She smiled, his gentleness giving her heart the reassurance it needed.

There was no way he would allow her to get eaten. Or hated.

Still, Merodi wished there was another way. As if there could be some spell to hide her true difference. How odd would it be, having a spell to change her into a wolf demon. Rediculous. She could not change herself just for acceptance.

They would be staying longer then she wanted. She had hoped they would say hello then turn around and leave. Which was rediculous, now that she thought about it. She might have not been around family for a while, but it was only obvious he would want to stay. He had been with her for a long time, he hadn't visited since then she would guess. At least her gave her the chance to decide if she wanted to leave. Hell, the last thing she wanted was to be alone. She would do nothing but cling to him the whole entire time.

Merodi frowned as he continued to talk about her being able to be alone. Sure, alone time seemed nice. But not for a long time. She would end up scaring herself. She hadn't been alone for a while and wouldn't be used to it as she once had. "Thank you Koga." she smiled, a warm feeling overcoming her to know he was doing so many things for her. He was so considerate. Every time it surprised her for it wasn't the usual way he acted. The confessions of love changed everything, didn't it?

"I'm sure it will be fine though...right?" still hesitant, it was getting better bit by bit. Sadly, that went away quickly when he said they would be there soon. Soon. She wasn't ready! She was nervous again. Very nervous. Her heart pounded rapidly and she took in deep breaths to calm herself.

"Oh, kami." she muttered, her grip on his hand tightening.