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Now that the tension was diffused somewhat, Hisoka felt it was safe to just watch again. He had no doubt that the outcome would be interesting, at least.
"Kris likes being in charge," Aura reminded. "She doesn't like having to listen to anyone." |
"Well, then. We'll have to come up with a solution." He looked at Hisoka, quirking an eyebrow to see if the cat had any objections.
Kris grumped but nodded after a moment. She could already tell that Sesshomaru wanted to ask for Aura. And she wasn't entirely pleased about it. "She is stubborn. But even stubbornness can be dealt with." Sesshomaru shrugged. "In varying ways." |
Hisoka shook his head slightly to indicate that he had no objections. He knew very well that Kris wouldn't take well to the thought of being in someone else's pack, and she wouldn't want to think about it on top of having to deal with Sesshoumaru wanting to ask for Aura.
"I don't want her unhappy," Aura said. She wanted to accept his offer, she really did, but not at the cost of Kris. |
Inutaisho nodded. "Very well, then. Dinner will be in half an hour." He left, not quite closing the door behind him.
Kris glowered after him before she shook herself, her tails poofing out briefly before she soothed herself. Sesshomaru frowned just a little. "Perhaps we can speak to her and find a comprimise?" he suggested. |
"That went better than I expected," Hisoka commented, sitting back down on the bed again. He gestured for Kris to join him.
"It's worth a shot," Aura replied. She looked at him. "I can try to talk to her first, if you want...?" |
Kris looked at him. "Better than you thought?" she repeated, although she moved over to him again. "He all but tried to actually pull rank on me!"
"If you want," Sesshomaru agreed. "If you think it will help." He had some things he could still pull with Kris if he had to. But he'd rather obtain her cooperation. |
"No he didn't," Hisoka replied. "If he was going to, he would have. One objection from me wouldn't have stopped him. I suspect he was just trying to see how you would react." That, and Hisoka had the sneaking suspicion that his lordship had just come from talking with Sesshoumaru and Aura. The lord seemed to be looking forward to his son's mating, and talking with them had probably put him into a good mood.
"I'll see if I can talk to her first, then," Aura decided. For the moment, though, she was content to be snuggled into his arms. |
Kris huffed and sank down next to him. "I don't see how you live with him," she grumbled moodily.
Sesshomaru nodded and kept her there, quite content with life for the moment. He tracked his father down the stairs and outside and shook his head a little. Briefly he wished he'd seen that showdown. But he contented himself with the thought that it was likely to happen again. |
"Practice," Hisoka replied with a bit of a grin. "His lordship has actually mellowed out over the recent decades." He put an arm around Kris and pulled her close again.
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Kris just snorted and shook her head, but allowed him to pull her close again. After a few moments she cuddled into him again. "This is going to get complicated."
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"Perhaps," Hisoka agreed as he let her cuddle closer. "But it will force you to ask yourself if it is worth the trouble to get what you want." He had already decided it would be: he wanted her with him, and happy, so he would gladly make it so no matter what.
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Kris huffed but didn't say anything for a few moments. She already knew that Sesshomaru wanted Aura, and she didn't want to give her friend up. But she couldn't just deny Aura, either.
And there was no way she was calling any dog her alpha. That just wasn't going to happen. |
Aura was glad when the time came to exchange gifts; she'd kind of been looking forward to it. She sat next to Sesshoumaru, leaning against him as she waited for the gifts to be handed out.
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Kris settled herself across from the other two, deciding that the kids better get their presents first. So she slipped a present to Inuyasha and Shippou first. Shippou and Inuyasha both tore through the wrapping; Inuyasha got a stuffed plush toy, although it was made from youkai cloth so he couldn't destroy it. And Shippou got a few puzzles.
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Once the kids were occupied with their gifts (Aura had ended up getting them similar things to Kris, oddly enough), it was time to give the rest of the gifts. Of the ones that Aura was giving, she hesitated for a moment, not sure whether to give Kris or Sesshoumaru their gift first.
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Kris was quiet for a moment before she slid a gift over to Sesshomaru. Well. One of two. She had another gift for him, but that would be the last one.
Sesshomaru blinked and took it, opening it and looking down for a moment to hide his smile. She'd gotten him a button that said "Cat Wrangler" and had a coppery-colored cat sprawled out. He smirked. |
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Kris grinned and slipped her necklace on over her head, settling it there easily before she hugged Aura. "Thanks," she said quietly.
Sesshomaru snorted and looked at the mug. Yes, he'd definitely have to use this. He graced Aura with a smile. Kris slid Hisoka's gift over to him, the dagger she'd gotten him back at the festival, before she handed one necklace and one card to Aura, and a card to Sesshomaru. Both cards said the same thing: You have my permission. |
As soon as Aura read the card, she leaned over and hugged Kris.
"Thank you," she murmured to the hanyou. Hisoka blinked in surprise when he opened his gift and looked at the dagger. It was beautifully made and felt balanced well. Before he would let himself get distracted studying it, he handed Kris the gift he'd gotten for her. |
Kris smiled a little and rumpled her hair playfully.
"Just get me permission to come visit whenever I want," she said quietly. Then she blinked at Hisoka's gift and smiled slowly, settling that one around her neck so it settled against her collarbone. Sesshomaru looked at the card for a few moments before he looked at Kris, clearly astonished. Then he looked at Aura, a calculating gleam in his eyes before he got up, walking over to her. He'd give her another three seconds before he scooped her up and vanished with her into his room. |
Aura squeaked as she was scooped up, but she wasn't given the change to protest as he carried her off. She hadn't even had a chance to finish giving her gifts yet!
That move didn't surprise Hisoka at all. He knew that Sesshoumaru had only been waiting on Kris's permission to act, and he'd clearly gotten it. He raised an eyebrow slightly when he saw two more gifts remaining: one with his name on it, and another for Inutaishou, both in Aura's handwriting. |
Sesshomaru took her up to his room and shut and locked the doors. They weren't going to be out for a while.
Kris snorted and picked up the two gifts, depositing Hisoka's in his lap. Inutaisho had meandered into the room when he noticed two of them gone. He blinked and looked at Kris. "You..." "Gave them permission. Yeah. Get over it." Kris shrugged. It hadn't been an easy decision, but she was not going to regret it. "Aura left this for you." She shoved his gift at him. Inutaisho blinked several times before he took it, looking at it carefully. |
Hisoka was already opening the one addressed to him. When he did, he just paused for a moment, unsure of whether to be appalled or highly, highly amused. 'Keep Calm and Carry Yarn' was emblazoned across the red mug in white letters, and a gray ball of yarn was snuggly jammed into the mug itself.
"She seems to have a taste for novelty gifts," he commented, a grin tugging at his lips as he pulled the yarn out of the mug. |
Kris laughed outright at that, tempted to start dangling the yawn in front of him. But she decided against it.
At least as long as Inutaisho was around. Inutaisho looked at his own mug, "I Decorate With Cats", and snorted, looking at Hisoka. "Indeed. And apparently you're a decoration." |
"I find myself the inspiration for a few gifts given this year," Hisoka replied evenly. He sent a pointed look at the 'Cat Wrangler' pin.
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