The pups were getting larger with each day, tier bodies were growing just as swiftly as their young minds. Venom was amazed everyday how incredible they were, she knew that having pups would be quite the struggle but she hadn’t realized what a gift they would be. Venom and Hattori had to put in an incredible amount of effort into raising the little bundles but they took all of their efforts and gave it back ten fold. There was no doubt that their children could and would do anything their hearts desired, but she hoped their efforts would indeed expand the Empire as originally envisioned.

As always the future couldn’t be predicted no matter their efforts but Venom had no doubts in her offspring. The roughness around the edges would smooth, they would grow into incredible wolves that would further carve the mark of the Ashen Empire. At her side she and Hattori would watch and guide them to where their paths led them. The young mother also held an incredible devotion to the man who she made their family with. Hattori completed her like no other wolf did, he was strength and propriety, everything she needed in a mate and husband. She couldn’t have asked for a better father to her children.

White gloved paws carried her through the empty palace, a rare occurrence these days. All of the children were out training with Sirius, and Venom found an opportunity to steal away some time alone with her Shogun. Anko directed her master to where Hattori lingered and Venom slipped under the thick hide that was the entrance to the main hall. Along with her own selfish reasons to want him alone they needed to speak about the Akita pups born not so long after their own.

”My love,” she greeted affectionately in their moments alone, and made no hesitation to offer a sweet nuzzle to his cheek.

Sitting by the fire in the great hall, Hattori stared down at his rough makeshift map made out with tanned hide and the lines etched with his talons dipped in ink. Reliable food sources were getting scarce, herds were not where they ought to be and the few scouting missions he'd ordered only granted him limited information. He drew a kanji symbol marking the south as mostly barren, serving as a reminder that they needed to start looking further afield, that much needed to be done and with due consideration if Ashen would continue to grow and flourish as it ought to. It was not impossible, far from it, but with winter as biting as cold as it was it would no doubt be an uphill battle from here on out. Good thing the Shogun liked a challenge then.

He looked up from the map as his Empress entered the room and was quick to climb to his paws. As always and with an enduring sense of reverence he dropped down into a bow, only to rise to meet her gentle touch. Some things did not change, even with the birth of their children he adored her far more than he could ever say. Not that he'd ever tried to, old habits died hard.

"What do you need?"

As she drew more near the supplies at his paws reminded her of their oldest daughter sitting here not so very long ago. Like father like daughter the two of them were the spitting image minus coat coloration. Ikigai certainly showed off her koi heritage, but in ways that were not so similar to her father and siblings. She was unique as they all were and Venom adored them all the more for it. Hattori was swift to notice her presence and offered a humble bow as she approached. He straightened as she offered him a bit of affection. His adoration was felt much more than was heard, and she reveled in his attention before he swiftly sought after her needs.

”Some alone time with my husband.” She teased him lightly, always more at ease with her words while they were alone. Venom aimed to steal a more real kiss, something she refrained from in their usual day to day.

Seriousness returned as she pulled away however. ”And a few words with my Shogun.” Venom continued as she made herself comfortable, eager to lay beside him next to the fire as they discussed the goings on of their Empire. ”Have you gotten a chance to see the akita puppies?” They were right behind the royals heirs in development, and likely would find their forever partners in the young wolves.

If that was what she wanted then Hattori was more than eager to provide, but he'd been right in assuming something else was on her mind as she soon addressed him as Ashen's Shogun. To business then. Hattori was very much aware of the new akita arrivals and to say that he'd been displeased a bit of an understatement. Hattori was not the sort of master who kept an ever vigilant eye on his companions, he trusted them-for the most part- to do what needed to be done. But the fact his hound had crept off behind his back to mate with Venom's hound left an awfully sour taste in his mouth. The dog had of course received a reprimand, harsh an biting, the sort that sunk into the skin and left the dog unable to meet Hattori's gaze.

"I have not." He admitted, a hint of disapproval lingered in his tone. No doubt Venom knew his feelings on the matter. He assumed though that the puppies were alive and well, even if they shouldn't have been born Hattori would not see them harmed. He could be cold but not that cold, needlessly.  "Do you have a purpose in mind for them?" He could think of no other reason Venom would bring them up.

There were even fewer moments they shared together that did not have to do with the Empire, this was no different. Duty was first and personal came after, which made their private moments all the more dear and special. Responsibilities were the number one priority and the Empress was swift to jump to them. She was very much aware of Hattori’s displeasure in the product of their companion’s union. Venom had been far less harsh on Anko. The dogs had obviously suffered through their time apart, and she also saw the added blessing of having puppies.

Hattori confessed to not having seen them, his displeasure evident. ”Perhaps I can sway your mind,” she returned softly before he asked if she had an intended purpose. ”We have a severe lack in adult dogs to pair with our children.” Venom suggested softly. Really the puppies were not so much younger than the princes and princesses they bore. The dogs must have reunited very soon after Kiyo was welcomed home. ”Perhaps we should give them their very own akitas.”

It probably wouldn't take a lot to change Hattori's mind. It was true he did not approve and had told his hound as much but Venom always had a certain way with words and if she didn't mind the union well...There were bigger, more important things for the Shogun to dwell on. He had no intention of wasting energy on worrying over something he couldn't really change at this point-drastic measures aside. The Empress was quick to suggest they put the puppies to use and make them their children's companions and even Hattori took pause to see the value in it. He grew up alongside his akita, through thick and thin he'd been a loyal ally. Mostly, recent transgressions aside.

"I see." He rumbled, thinking about it still as he shifted a touch. He'd never been a fidgeter and wouldn't start now. "They would require a degree of training...but that is something their parents are capable of managing. He sat up a little straight, twisting his neck to catch and hold her gaze. "If you think it best then I agree."  

It was an easy thing to give, not even something he would consider a sacrifice but he wanted to give her whatever she desired all the same.

Honestly she thought that her husband would come to the same conclusion that she had, but he paused suddenly at her suggestion. He did have a way of putting blinders on once he had come to a decision, she was thankful for his willingness to listen to what she had to say. With only a word she could turn his attitude around as she showed him the silver lining to his dark cloud. Venom offered him a sly smile as he spoke up once more, realizing the value of her suggestion. Yes the puppies would need training, but their parents would be perfectly qualified. Their children would receive companions for a lifetime, and add another connection to their parent’s position.

”I do think it best,” she chuckled lightly as she relaxed further against his form. Now that most business had been taken care of the young Empress was reminded of her ulterior motives. She leaned against him, shoulder to shoulder, and closed her eyes blissfully for just a moment. The pair of them were always putting duty first, but every now and then Venom had the desire to put herself and their personal relationship at the forefront.

Her sly grin turned into a suggestive smirk as she leaned into him and aimed to steal a deep kiss. Pressing her lips to his as she wrapped one slender arm around Hattroi’s well muscled limb. She wanted to pull him closer as she allowed her desire for him at the forefront of her mind. They were alone and Venom wanted to take full advantage.

Then it would be so. Venom was quick to push such formal affairs aside as she settled neatly into his side, pressing the greyish-black of her pelt into the blue of his. For a while he'd found her new markings to be quite the mystery, he didn't know what they meant or if anything at all but now that he looked upon her with a hint of warmth in his gaze he couldn't imagine her any other way. Nor would he ever want to. The Shogun would always struggle to admit such things aloud but it was no doubt obvious enough to Venom, in the way he sighed a little as he leaned further into his touch. Pushing so that very few parts of their forms weren't touching, connected in some way.

She was quick to take advantage of his lowered guard and snuck in for a kiss. It always surprised him how she managed to touch him with such pronounced gentleness, he'd seen her wield tooth and claw before, knew of the damage she could inflict and yet she cared. Held him as though he was something to be cherished and treasured, as though looking beyond his cold exterior was simply in her nature. Perhaps it had been too long since they'd last held one another, had he been neglecting her and his duties as a husband? Surely she would have told him as much, right?

He pressed in close, allowing the moment of reprieve to linger on as the warmth of her form soon overtook that of the fire. Raising his paw, his talon gently caught the edge of her ear and slid down the length of it. In a rare, if not playful touch.

Despite the oddities of their relationship Venom felt that Hattori truly was her perfect compliment. They fit together well and understood one another in a way that couldn’t make sense to anyone else. She fit beside his massive frame perfectly and Hattori made no hesitation to surround her with his own embrace. There weren’t often soft words between them, but actions spoke louder than words anyway and Venom was assured over and over again the deep adoration and devotion the Shogun had for her. Whether he could verbalize that fact or not, she knew it in her heart.

She smiled into their kiss as he leaned into her affection and carefully returned her gentle touch as his dangerous talon caressed the form of her ear. She lifted herself to her back paws so her white gloved arms could wrap around his neck and she could press her belly against his chest. Her lithe body had once again returned to pre pregnancy form. If not for a little more curve to her hips. Maybe too much time had passed since they’d allowed themselves a moment to be intimate together, but that made spontaneous instances like this so much more special.

There wasn’t much effort in fanning the flames of desire, Venom was very much attracted to the handsome man she chose as hers. Fire lit beneath her skin, Hattori was receptive to her advances so the young Empress did not slow her efforts. She renewed her efforts in a passionate kiss, withholding little of herself in the short time they were alone together. She craved his touch and attention, and wanted nothing but to be selfish with him.

Venom had always been and would always be Hattori's better half, softer and able to bridge the gaps he could not.  He understood her warmth and passion and rose to the occasion with a soft, rumbling hum in the back of his throat. Only to pause when he heard the distant click of paws in a distant corridor, no doubt a hound tending to it's daily duties. The Shogun let out a noise of discontent and pulled back a little to detangle himself from his wife's embrace. They could continue this later if need be, it was steering a little too close to PDA for his personal tastes, to be frank. He was sure Venom would understand, would know this wasn't a rebuttal of any kind.

He cleared his throat and gestured to his work in progress with a sweep of his paw.

"When the children are old enough, I want them to be in charge of charting prey and tracking their locations." He explained, wondering how they would take so such a task.

Venom wore a half grin as she pressed forward and Hattori returned her kisses just as eagerly. She took his head into her paws, and very nearly allowed herself to fully get lost in him when he groaned lightly and not in a good way. She heard the sound of dog claws on stone and suddenly they were no longer alone. The Empress sighed heavily as he pulled away and her resolve to get him alone only sharpened. She disentangled her limbs but leaned more heavily against his shoulder, refusing to give up that closeness and the constant reminder of her desires.

Hattori gestured lightly and Venom’s attention shifted from his lips to his words as he brought up an idea to her. The children were getting older, they’d been in their lived for nearly half a year now. They were growing like weeds and needed to be given more responsibility. ”That’s a good task for our young heirs to see to.” She agreed easily, her mind slipping into the future as well. ”I’ve started to send them on ‘patrols’ around Inu.” She gestured lightly. The forests had their danger, but the beaches surrounding the palace were pristine and as safe as the rest of pack lands. ”Once they’re introduced they can bring their puppies with them.” On their prey scouting missions too. Venom knew she was going to feel better knowing the children would always have another pair of eyes with them.

Hattori rumbled in acknowledgement, he suspected as much as he'd seen the boys wandering around with a sense of purpose and pride in their steps. As small as it seemed, the Shogun believed they were off to a good start, that to coddle them would only be a detriment to their development. He was glad Venom did not think he was being too hard or unfair, ultimately they were both on the same page as they wanted the best for their offspring even if their methods were a little different.  Maybe a lot, that was yet to be seen.

"Then I will make it so. Is there anything else you need me to do? He asked with a slight tilt of his head, allowing the side of his muzzle to press into her. "And speaking of children, what do you make of Hela's litter? He'd certainly had enough time to form his own opinions. Ones which weren't too kind.

Venom had started young, younger than her mother ever intended. As soon as she could walk it felt like, Venom had been training with Sirius. She wanted the same for her children, learning young. Gaining responsibility early and not being coddled in the face of adversity. The earlier they learned the longer they would have to master their skills. Venom had always been a serious child, especially after the loss of her father. She grew up very fast, and expected no different from her children.

What else did she need from him? Well, nothing he was willing to do here in the relatively public hall. ”You always do so much for me,” she told him softly, slipping a little affection into her voice between the serious subjects. Hattori went on to ask about the young wolves Hela’s pups were turning into. ”I have little one on one interaction with them,” None of them had really achieved any greatness or failure in her mind, she had seen both Malachai and Panic at the hunt, that added to their favor. ”What’s on your mind?” She asked with a tilt of her head.

And Hattori always would. It was second nature to him at this point, and to not serve her best interests would go against his own as well. He was so intrinsically tied to her that sometimes he struggled to recall how it had come to this, when he stopped being his own Shinobi. Not that it really mattered, not any more. But he did have a thought or two about Hela's pups. The one's who'd vanished from pack life were of little concern to him, he'd made an attempt to track them down but once the trail went cold he decided it wasn't worth the effort. If their own Mother did not care to look for them, then why should he?  As for those who remained, they were pulling their weight well enough, though there was always room for improvement.

"I do not believe she should be allowed to breed again. She seemed very disinterested in raising her children and her duty as a Klein has been fufilled, no? He paused to think about them as individuals. "The boy shows promise, but I believe the girl has too much of her mother in her. She wants things she does not deserve."

She was entwined in Hattori and it was hard to think about a time when she didn’t have him to back her up. The whole empire was better for him and his presence beside her. Hattori was the close support and trusted confidant she needed as well, on a professional and personal level. Hattori balanced her out, he was the blunt edge, her discipline, the critical eye. He spoke his words of wisdom, and she couldn’t find herself arguing against them. They had other Abraxas Klein stock to see their own offspring. ”I can’t disagree with you.” She returned lightly, thinking about their words. ”They are about to come of age. Perhaps a test when they go to take their adult rank. We should also check in with their mentors.” Had Viper and Raijin been doing their due diligence for the pups? Or were the youngsters to blame for skipping lessons and shirking duties.

She was a little gentler in her conclusion, but they both knew Hattori's words to be true. But even then it was too soon to completely write them off as a waste of time and resources. There was merit in giving them a chance to prove themselves and Hattori imagined they would like to rise to the challenge. He paused a moment, his brows furrowing in thought as he began to gather ideas in his mind, things that would truly show their worth. Perhaps they could lead a lesson and teach the heirs, or throw themselves into some shinobi work outside the pack. That had been severely lacking as of late, due to outside circumstances.

Either way, Hattori nodded.

"I will see it done." He nodded to himself, as though it was already a given. Fact. He settled again, leaning into his wife's side and let a comfortable silence fall between them. They could talk more later, for now he just wanted her company.