Long Walks
Sometime after Ch 8
Inuyasha lounged in a tree as usual, just beyond the southern castle, his eyes gently shut. He relished the tranquility, free from tasks and the urge to fight. Yet, there was one nagging sensation that unsettled him—an irritating intuition that his mate might be on the verge of causing trouble.
After ten minutes of grappling with that feeling, he opened his eyes and shot a glare. Below him, Nya perched, her eyes wide as she hesitated, fingers poised to reach for his ears. "Nya... What exactly do you think you're doing?"
She lowered her arms in mock disappointment, her full lips forming a pout. "I wanted to touch them..."
He released a deep breath, choosing to remain quiet as he skillfully drew her onto his lap. Even with his mixed emotions regarding her soft fox tail, he took comfort in the closeness of their embrace, the heat of her body nestled against his.
Nya looked at him with wide, shimmering eyes that mirrored her astonishment, and a gentle laugh bubbled up from her. "What are you thinking about, Inu?"
"Not much, to be honest..." he murmured softly, shutting his eyes for a fleeting moment and gently resting his chin against her delicate shoulder, fully embracing the tranquility of the moment.
She slowly raised her hand, her fingertips lightly gliding over his cheek in a soft, affectionate motion. "How about we take a stroll together?"
After a brief moment of reflection, he finally responded, "Absolutely. A stroll with you sounds delightful."
Her laughter rang out like a melody, filling the atmosphere with joy. "You typically prefer roughhousing with Heei or Sinta, but I truly treasure these moments we share."
Inuyasha let out a soft, resigned sigh. "And here we are, following your lead, Nya."
"I know," she replied, gracefully slipping from his embrace and landing softly on the ground, the sound barely a whisper.
He jumped down after her, intertwining his larger hand with her smaller one. "So, where are we off to?"
"Hmmm..." Nya pondered, her brow furrowing in thought for a brief moment before a playful grin lit up her face. "How about we go nowhere in particular?"
Inuyasha raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering in his gaze, though he felt a slight twitch as delicate fingers danced across his ears.
"Inu, Nya, why not wander through the southern lands? You could keep an eye on things while enjoying each other's company," a serene yet intriguingly cool voice suggested.
Nya turned toward the voice, her face glowing with excitement. "Sure thing, Princess~"
Inuyasha sighed softly, muttering under his breath, "Alright, Myra..." as he felt the lingering sensation on his ears from her gentle touch.
Myra smiled warmly, withdrawing her hands from his ears, a gesture that inexplicably brought him both a sense of relief and an undercurrent of tension. "Thank you," she said softly before retreating back inside.
While Inuyasha held a deep affection for his princess, her unexpected appearances often stirred a restlessness within him—a yearning to engage in a brawl with someone, perhaps even Heei.
He inhaled deeply, starting to walk as his ears twitched, still tingling from her earlier touch. Nya walked beside him, her playful giggles wafting through the air as her silvery fox tail brushed teasingly against his leg. Noticing a flicker of distraction in his demeanor, she decided to poke fun at him. "Does my mate not enjoy the princess's touch~?" she asked, mischief sparkling in her eyes.
He glanced sideways at her, his expression a blend of annoyance and honesty. "I don’t really dislike it, nor am I particularly fond of it... I’d just prefer it if it was you touching them."
Her eyes widened with surprise, a soft blush blooming on her cheeks. "Oh, really? Did you tell the princess that?"
"Nope."
"Why not?" she pressed, intrigue bubbling in her voice.
"I didn’t want her to sulk. Sinta mentioned she has a weakness for soft things..."
Nya's laughter echoed once more, bright and melodic. "Oh, poor Inu. You and Sinta are both in for it."
A smirk crept onto his lips as he brought them to a halt, pulling her to a stop as well. "Well, my mate has soft ears too," he teased, leaning in to place a tender kiss on her lips.
She eagerly reciprocated, a wave of warmth flooding her cheeks a deep crimson as her ears shyly lowered against her silvery hair. While she sometimes found his assumptions irksome, the love she felt for him overshadowed any annoyance. After all, she cherished the sweetness of his kisses, savoring every precious moment they shared together.