No Running {Aiko}

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Soothsayer found himself very annoyed. It was easy for him to learn that a certain wolf demon was out to get him. He would never admit to himself that he was slightly afraid. The more mortal instincts of the body he was now harbored in. The deer demon could do nothing but wait for the wolves arrival, after admittedly running away for a bit. Shameful to admit that when he had first heard of the wolf coming after him, he had traveled intentionally to avoid the other demon. He laughed nervously now, sitting at the base of a tree and hoping that things wouldn't go too badly. He didn't know why Koga would be coming after him anyway. He hadn't taken away Merodi so everything should be fine. Or did the demon still suspect him of doing such a thing? He would never do it secretly. How insulting!

Soothsayer sighed, trying to forget the wolf for a moment as he concentrated on the calming and peaceful meadow he had decided to stay at for the time being.

((wah, short))

[Aiko]

With legs that were just beginning to feel the effects of travel-weariness, Koga trotted along, spring air floating past his cheeks. At first, the traveling had left him uneasy, constantly afraid for his mate and daughter, left at home under the care of a questionable ally. He was still uneasy, but his body was falling into the familiar patterns he had followed before he had met Merodi, when he had wandered the lands alone. Questing had a feel of familiarity to it that was quite comfortable for the wolf demon, though his mind often strayed back to his small family. How was Merodi faring? Was she doing alright without him there? He hoped Tempa wasn’t being too much of a terror…

A fresh scent! It was carried to the wolf demon’s nostrils by the perfumed air. Koga halted, his head cocked slightly. He stood at the edge of a rolling meadow, the soft green grasses swaying softly. Overladen by the heady smell of foliage, though, was that other smell, the muskier, fleshier smell of deer demon.

Immediately, Koga’s lips began to curl as he clenched his jaw together. The muscles all down his body tightened, coiled, ready to fling him forward. The purpose of his quest, this journey that had taken him more days than he had hoped, was to have this very scent fresh in his nostrils. He’d set off to search for the demon-god Soothsayer, the one who thought he held power over Koga and his family. The one who, apparently, had stolen away Merodi’s ability to sing. It was Soothsayer who had brought misery upon his family, who had made Tempa stay awake at night because she couldn’t be sung to sleep, who filled Merodi with such grief! The scent of the deer male made the wolf demon’s blood burn beneath his flesh like an acid. Koga should rip the bastard limb from limb for what he’d done! He should—

--but he couldn’t. He couldn’t, because if he killed Soothsayer, who knew? Merodi could lose her voice forever. Koga had concocted a plan already. And he hated it. It tweaked his every nerve with a sensation of disgust, but it was the only way that he could think of to help Merodi without putting any further risk on her.

Mastering his blazing emotions, Koga forced himself to take a step forward, approaching his goal at a relatively slow pace. He could feel, though, how his steps jerked, lacking the smoothness his gait usually possessed. His jaw was still taught, his mouth set in a grim line. Soft grasses, brushing against his legs, only served to irritate his skin. With each sharp inhale through his nose, the wolf demon had the scent of Soothsayer blasted into him. Koga’s brow twitched with tension.

The wolf demon walked until he saw Soothsayer’s deerish form sitting beneath a tree, exuding an air of frustrating calm. Koga resisted the urge to race over and slug him where he sat, and it was quite an urge! He clung to the image of Merodi’s face in his mind, and he instantly remembered his purpose, and knew why he couldn’t hurt Soothsayer, no matter how good it would feel.

Koga strode over to the deer god, coming to stand before him and stare down at his ugly face. [brown]“I found you,”[/brown] he told Soothsayer, wondering if he had the control to do or say anything else.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Soothsayer watched Koga approach. Unsure of what was to come. Such a rash and violent wolf! Filled with volatility that unnerved the deer. Soothsayer didn't like Koga. But what he did with that disliking could send his world into suffering or toleration. With a deep breathe of control and overwhelming confidence that he wouldn't die today, the deer male smiled.

"I am assuming that Merodi is in capable hands? " he asked, his demeanor as if he was talking about the weather. But this was so much more serious. Why? Why did Koga decide to leave Merodi now? When she needed him the most? The thought made him more serious and he was unable to keep the smile.

[Aiko]

Soothsayer was so infuriatingly calm about everything when he asked his question it made Koga’s anger spike again. His taught jaw was working over a reply when the false smile faded from the deer demon’s face. That was it. He’d pushed it too far. The wolf demon snapped.

[brown]“Stop acting so damn pompous! Your holier-than-thou attitude is really pissing me off!”[/brown] Koga bellowed. His teeth flashed as all muscles in his body coiled, tensed, ready to throw him forward to tackle the deer god. But with a shaky intake of breath, the wolf demon forced his taught muscles to uncoil, and he straightened out of the crouch that he’d dropped into. He settled for glaring down at Soothsayer, a terrific grimace yanking at his features and turning his eyes to chips of blue eyes. He stepped away from the deer god, like that would help him maintain self-control, and crossed his arms over his chest.

[brown]“Of course I left Merodi in capable hands,”[/brown] the wolf demon snorted. His eyes flashed as he glanced away from Soothsayer for a moment. [brown]You idiot! You don’t even know how hard it is for me to leave her, no matter how safe I hope she is,[/brown] he thought to himself, but then his eyes flickered back to the deer god.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Soothsayer frowned, seeming hurt and surprised by the wolves outburst. "Sheesh, you're so mean, I truly don't see how Merodi puts up with it." he sighed leaning his head back as he moved a few bangs away from his face. "Of course, she puts up with a lot of things, most females have to." he nibbled his lower lip as he thought over many examples in his head, easily forgetting the wolf that was nearby for the short moment.

Soon though he returned his attention onto Koga. Maybe he was pushing his luck on the way he talked to the wolf. But Soothsayer wouldn't allow his fear to change his self. His personality, who he was. Many deer formed themselves around their fears, but a god like himself shouldn't have to. Merodi has, and maybe a bit too much.

[Aiko]

Koga bristled. Still, that damned Soothsayer was acting absolutely nonchalant! How could he? And how could he say such things about Koga, and about Merodi? A growl ripped through his chest and into his throat, tearing its way out between his clenched teeth. The wolf demon crouched, hands clenched into fists that shook with intensity. A tick went off in his cheek. How dare he? How dare that heartless, spineless prey animal say such things?

And he was wrong! Koga could be damned mean if he wanted to, but never to Merodi. Never, ever to his gentle mate. But Koga wasn’t going to explain anything to Soothsayer, no. He wasn’t going to prove him wrong, tell him how he’d always let Merodi be free to choose whether or not she stayed with him.

The wolf demon prowled forward on bowed knees, until he stood directly before the deer demon. He bent low, close to Soothsayer’s face, so close that he could count his lashes, could smell the puffs of heady breath. Koga trembled, barely reigning in his aggression as he longed to beat what he wanted out of the deer god. Instead, the wolf demon hissed his words right into Soothsayer’s face. [brown]“You hurt Merodi,”[/brown] he accused. His shaking intensified. [brown]“You hurt her! You took away her ability to sing, didn’t you? You took away her singing, which is the thing that made her happier than anything!”[/brown] He barked out a harsh laugh, straightening and throwing his head back. [brown]Even I’m not worth more than her ability,[/brown] he thought ruefully, and his abrasive laughter continued. And then, with a snap of his teeth, he cut off all sounds of his dark amusement and snapped his chin down to glare at Soothsayer.

[brown]“She’s miserable now,”[/brown] he snarled. Whipping around, he took to pacing back in forth in front of Soothsayer, like the caged wolf he felt to be. Caged, because he himself didn’t have the power to restore Merodi’s gift. [brown] “It’s like she can’t be happy without her song.” [/brown] He shook his head, then returned his hard stare to Soothsayer.

[brown]“Give it back!”[/brown] Koga demanded.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Soothsayer could see the anger in Koga. He could feel it burning himself on the inside. Every fiber of his deer being told him the great danger he was in. The deer noticed every time the wolves muscles tensed, the boiling blood of rage and knew that, well, he couldn't stand a chance in the position he was in. God or not this body was mortal as much as a demon could be. And he could be killed just as easily as any deer. Then it came to the moment of Koga's reason to be here. Something Soothsayer already guessed.

Merodi's songs. The deer male frowned, and took note to what he was accused of, which he realized he was guilty of doing. He did hurt Merodi, but it was nothing she couldn't survive without. She could survive. She's survived time and time again and she was so much stronger then the deer god had ever given her credit for. And that laugh. That horrifying laugh of a true brutal and vicious wolf. And the fear in him intensified. What was that laugh for? What kind of sickening and twisted thing could that wolf find amusing in this predicament?

Soothsayer was silent throughout this talk, his ears were pulled back with the accusations and statement of Merodi's unhappiness. And then the demand that was given to him. A wolf, demaning a deer god. Still, he was too afraid and saddened to feel insulted. Not the time for that.

"I can't give it back," he said simply, turning his gaze away from the wolf's. "It's too dangerous for her to have it."

[Aiko]

While it did not quell the wolf demon’s wrath, Soothsayer’s response was enough to make Koga falter in his raging. He stared down at the deer god, still furious but perplexed at the same time. His brow knotted in furrows as he puzzled for a moment over the deer demon’s words. He stepped slightly to the side, trying to catch Soothsayer’s eye. [brown]“What do you mean?”[/brown] he demanded. [brown]“How’s it dangerous for her to sing? It’s not--”[/brown] But like a meteor had come crashing out of the sky and into Koga’s skull, he understood.

Without another word to Soothsayer, the wolf demon whipped around and stalked several paces away, into the swaying depths of the grass. He placed his hands on his hips and tilted his chin up, staring skyward. Nostrils flared with heavy breathing. And Koga understood. He remembered Merodi telling him, once, of the lord who had imprisoned her, forced her to sing for him. He remembered that there was one who apparently had threatened her, more recently, because of her voice. He understood what Soothsayer meant, how the deer female’s voice was a danger to her. And, though he loathed the realization, he understood that Soothsayer was trying to protect Merodi.

Maybe Soothsayer wasn’t really the bad guy here. And yet…

Koga turned and plodded back to the deer god, his eyes still angry and his aggression still up, but with a different element altogether to his bearing. His back was erect, and his trembling had stilled. When he reached Soothsayer, Koga said, [brown]“I understand.”[/brown] He passed a hand over his eyes, and when he dropped it, his face had smoothed slightly, become calmer. It kept Soothsayer from seeing the uncertainty that had flared in his gaze for a moment.

[brown]“I still say give it back.”[/brown]

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Soothsayer sighed, trying to keep his gaze away from the wolf. Still unsure on how Koga would react to anything he said. One moment he'd be angry, on moment he'd be calm, and the next he was kicking out of the cave! His eyes narrowed but he said nothing, thinking himself of the dangers Merodi had been put through because she had carelessly sung in different areas. Of course, he had never known that the deer's songs would be a harm to others. Which he thought was very awsome. If he could somehow impower her songs she could have that affect on anyone if necessary for defense whenever she wanted!

As awsome as that would be, songs didn't have that great a power. Soothsayer turned his attention back to Koga, who seemed to be catching his drift on the dangerous part. The deer sighed, "I will not. Not when I don't think you could protect her with your unstable emotions." Soothsayer brought himself to his feet and stepped away from the tree. Completely serious and hiding his fear of the wolf's reaction. "You are violent, stubborn, and irrational. You don't listen to Merodi, and you don't think."

[Aiko]

[brown]“I am not!”[/brown]

The reply was instantaneous, that childishly defensive denial of any accusation. As soon as the words left Koga’s mouth, he scowled, and he turned and strutted away again, as much to not start hitting Soothsayer as to think about what he’d had to say.

[brown]I am not violent or stubborn or irrational! Well… actually, I am violent and stubborn, but I’m not irrational! And I do think! I’m thinking right now, aren’t I?[/brown] Koga snorted and plopped himself down on the grass, feeling the tips of the blades tickle his legs. Absently, he plucked a strand and started ripping it apart between his fingers. [brown]And I listen to Merodi, too! Don’t I?[/brown] He wondered for a moment. He was pretty sure he did, anyway. What had been the last thing Merodi had said to him? With a jolt, he realized he couldn’t remember. He couldn’t remember! He dug into the recesses of his brain, trying to remember if she had tried to tell him something recently, but after a week on the road, he only really thought about her face, and her apparent misery at not being able to sing. [brown]Hell![/brown] he thought, grinding his teeth and ripping up more blades of grass. [brown]I do so listen to her! Right? Right?[/brown]

[brown]“Shit!”[/brown] he swore, throwing the pieces of grass to the wind.

Koga kept ripping up grass until he realized he’d created a bald patch of earth around himself. There was nothing else to take out his frustration on. With a low growl, he flung himself backwards, and found himself laying on his back, staring skyward. Fat, lazy clouds crawled along above his head. The wolf demon’s eyes, the same color as the sky, searched the clouds for answers, but he had to blink as his gaze met the sun. The brightness made his eyes water. He closed his eyes resolutely, but they kept watering, making his lashes sticky. [brown]“Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit!”[/brown] He sat up and, scowling, wiped the moisture away from his eyes with the back of his hand.

Breathing heavily, Koga fixed his gaze on a flower trembling in the breeze, several feet in front of him. [brown]“I love her, though,”[/brown] he told the flower. [brown]“I can protect her!”[/brown] His voice faltered, though. [brown]“I think I can, anyway. I want to. I want her to be happy, too!”[/brown] He pressed his fingers to his temple, closing his eyes. [brown]“So why the hell do I keep screwing up?”[/brown] His eyes still felt faintly moist, so he waited until they didn’t feel that way any more, and he rose.

He didn’t want to deal with Soothsayer any more. He started walking away, planning to head back to his territory. He couldn’t let the deer god see him like this. Hell no!

Koga hadn’t taken more than ten steps when he stopped. Hadn’t he come to a decision before he ever left his lands? Hadn’t he promised that he would make this right? He’d admitted to himself it was probably going to be hard. He knew that it would probably hurt somehow. So now, even though his cheeks flushed crimson with shame, the wolf demon turned slowly, facing the place he had left Soothsayer. He wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but he hoped the deer god hadn’t left. He plodded back, seeking out Soothsayer for a second time. There was a sick feeling in his gut, and he wanted very much to turn around, but he wasn’t going to. He wasn’t going to screw things up this time.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Expecting a form of deniable in action then words, what Soothsayer recieved was a relief. Still a denial, but at least the deer demon wasn't injured in the process. The deer watched the wolf, who had began to actually consider what the god was saying. At least, that's what Soothsayer assumed Koga was doing. Which was fine with him, not sure what he'd do with himself while the wolf sulked. Not sure what to do with himself, the deer demon wandered a bit aways, and scratched the top of his head. The serious facade he had placed on in the dangerous situation slipped away and he found himself more carefree and relaxed about the situation. Even having the nerve to hum a bit.

The cursing made Soothsayer pause for a moment. More realization? Yes, maybe. He turned his attention back to humming, looking out to the tree line and wondering what Merodi was doing now with Koga being here. Not only had she lost one thing, but two things. He hoped that someone had explained well what Koga was doing. Or else she might overdramtize it. It's not like Koga was far away, and in fact Soothsayer made a note to stay close by. Waiting for the realization to end and the compromising to begin. So in fact, when Koga seemingly spoke to a lone flower, the deer god thought Koga was talking to him. He didn't dare say anything yet, not sure on how to talk to the wolf at that moment. He was too busy humming.

So busy in fact, Soothsayer hadn't noticed the wolf leaving. He was still humming, his fingers up and down as if on an invisible instrument but his hands were at his sides, and only moved slightly. The lyrics formed in his mind and his eyes closed. And he blocked out the surroundings and the person that had left, but had already returned. That would be how Koga found him, transfixed on a song in his head.

[Aiko]

Koga found Soothsayer standing around, looking distracted and disgustingly calm still. The wolf demon approached the deer god with his head drooping down, his step dragging. His eyes, which had focused on the ground, peered up, only to find that Soothsayer was apparently distracted and didn’t notice him. Or was he being deliberately ignored? The wolf demon’s face crumpled in a grimace, his cheeks still stained with redness out of shame, and he cleared his throat loudly, trying to get the deer god’s attention.

[brown]“Maybe I am,”[/brown] he muttered. Louder, he said, [brown]“Maybe I am violent and stubborn and irrational.” [/brown] Unable to hold Soothsayer’s gaze, Koga looked away again, his pale blue gaze fixated on the ground. [brown] “I… I really might not be… might not be right. Might not be safe for Merodi. Maybe I’m not the best person to protect her.”[/brown] The wolf demon’s breath hissed in his throat, and he squeezed his eyes shut. It hurt, it really hurt, to acknowledge something like that. The sickness in his stomach intensified, disgust churning in the pit of his being.

[brown]“But…”[/brown]

Koga raised his eyes again, and his heart pounded hard against the inside of his chest as he sought out Soothsayer’s gaze. [brown] “But I’ll do the best I can. I’ll keep trying to be better. To be a better mate. To be a better man, who Merodi can always count on.” [/brown] Koga swallowed, and the tremor which had run through his voice during these last few words died. [brown]“I really love her,”[/brown] the wolf demon told Soothsayer. It was the calmest, most certain, least angry, most unafraid and most unashamed thing he’d said the entire day.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Soothsayer blinked, the song still buzzing in his head but he forced himself to turn his attention to Koga. He frowned, unsure of how he felt toward the wolf admitting such things and being so...vulnerable. But he listened with intent and did try to avoid the others gaze. Because whatever Koga was trying to do it was working. Slowly he sighed, finding himself unhappy to have been swept into the personal talk of Koga.

"Then you'll be the one to give Merodi her blessing back." Soothsayer said, pointing toward Koga with a hooved finger. "You will sing to her."

[Aiko]

The sigh and the unhappy look in Soothsayer’s eyes were not lost on Koga. The wolf demon swallowed, his eyes losing some of their severity and shame as a hopefulness entered them.

Koga had humbled himself before one of his enemies, at a time when he normally would have thrown his weight around. He’d admitted to his deficiencies, much as every cell of his being rejected the thought of doing so. He opened himself up, made him vulnerable, in hopes of… what exactly had he been hoping for? He hadn’t had anything in particular in mind. Perhaps it was because of how, when he did what felt right to him, he jeopardized the one he loved. So perhaps the counterintuitive would help her somehow, undo what had happened to her, gain her back her gift of voice. Had Koga’s sacrifice of pride been worth it?

Apparently, though, it hadn’t. Soothsayer wasn’t even taking Koga seriously! The hope dimmed from the wolf demon’s eyes as he scowled. [brown] “I’m not joking around!”[/brown] he protested, the hurt in his voice very plain. [brown]“I don’t sing. Return her ability to her… please.” [/brown] It was especially hard to ask nicely when the person Koga asked was being an ass.

[ooc: Heh… sorry for excessive cursing, if it bothers you, I’ll stop.]

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Soothsayer smiled. He tapped his hip a bit with his fingers as he still went over the tune in his head. "I'm not joking either. And yes, you don't sing, I'm the one to know this. But can you imagine how happy she would be if it was you who returned her ability?" He grinned, imagining such a sweet and romantic moment. He shouldn't be grinning about it, but he was starting to warm up to Koga. Noone couldn't after he pulled all the cards on the table like that. Maybe this was how the wolf really acted with Merodi. With those please and thank yous, and consideration and sincerity that he had not seen.

Soothsayer grinned, stepping closer to Koga. "Don't worry, you won't make a fool of yourself unless you decide to do a serenade in front of everyone. I'll help you out. I'll tweak your voice a bit to make you sound at least decent, and give you the song." He hummed to himself, turning away from Koga and thinking in his head how it would turn out. "I've had this song stuck in my head for so long, I want her to hear it."