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The view from the cliffs was breathtaking: the moon rose arrogantly above the sky, casting its vibrant reflection upon the waters of a nearby lake. The wind howled gently, making leaves and flower petals whirl around the surroundings. A magnificent bonfire blazed before the entrance of a cave, while men and wolves howled in a frenzied lupine symphony.
In the middle of this festive atmosphere stood a young wolf with short, silvery hair, seemingly embracing the overflowing joy that swept through his kin. Hakkaku, the comrade who was always by his side, insisted that something was off about him, but Ginta stubbornly denied it. Even his closest friend couldn’t understand what was really brewing in his mind.
The jubilation escalated as a lovely maiden with emerald eyes emerged from the deep darkness of the refuge, her fiery hair adorned with freshly plucked lilies. For a few seconds, words got stuck in his throat. How could he look away? Must he look away?
The remnants of the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western tribes had all congregated only to witness the solemn ceremony taking place. The bride beamed radiantly; her gaze unwaveringly fixed on the man-wolf who was to become her husband. Although the groom’s nervousness was quite notorious, she chose to overlook it.
Ginta knew very well that, deep down, Koga’s heart didn’t truly belong to her; his affections were reserved for the human named Kagome, the priestess from a strange land and time. And even if he’d lost that battle to the half-demon Inuyasha, his superior was known for his determination. It would take decades for his infatuation to wane.
He couldn’t remember the exact moment he had fallen for Ayame, for it didn’t matter in the end. Ever since they were pups, Ginta and Hakkaku had walked behind Koga’s every step. And during the time their young leader was in possession of Shikon shards, they had sprinted until they were out of breath. But they could never catch up to him.
Today, it seemed that routine was intact. Ginta cherished his bond with his leader, but he couldn’t help the bitter flavor taking over his tongue as he thought of how unfortunate his position was at the moment. Always behind, always in the shadows.
“United, we the Wolf Tribe stand!” An elder shouted. Soon, the wedding attendants all joined him in a frantic chorus.
This was a marriage that honored a promise, a union between the pride of the Northern cave and an apt warrior. This was a marriage about to be constructed in the shaky foundations of unrequited love and duty.
Ginta was aware of all this, and so was Ayame. And yet her wide smile shone almost as bright as the giant rock in the sky, her eyes proclaiming a silent prayer for the future. Those same eyes that wouldn’t stare back at him.