A/N: Before I forget, DO NOT OWN (sadly). Also, sorry if I misspell some of the more Japanese words- I'm kind of just guessing based on what I've seen in other writers' works; thank you for your patience! If I do misspell something like that, please let me know in a review! :)
Brother Trouble
Chapter 1: Souta POV
I've been running for days, sleeping in high trees at night, when all of a sudden I collide into someone. I look up at who I ran into and realize it's a youkai. I cry out, "Please don't eat me!" as the youkai stares at me blankly.
"I'm not gonna eat ya, kid." He barks gruffly. He's turning to leave when I scramble up and grab his arm in desperation.
"If you're not going to eat me, will you maybe help me instead?" The youkai raises an eyebrow at me. "Please?" I plea.
He looks at me critically, shakes me off, and demands even as his eyes look softer than before, "What? What do you need help with? That will determine if I help."
"Please, I-I'm trying to find my sister! I'm lost, and-and youkai can typically find people really fast, right?" I'm crying as a I speak and quickly wipe my face on my arms, but it isn't very successful because I just keep crying.
His eyes are even softer, and this time, his voice has a kind edge as he says, "Why would I know your sister?" I just cry harder, and he sighs rubbing his face wearily, "Fine, kid, describe your sister, tell me anything you can about her, and I'll tell you if I know her, if I don't, I won't be able to help you. I will instead bring you to a human village where you can be taken care of, alright?"
I nod and hiccup. He chuckles and cleans my face off gently, then he looks at me expectantly. "My neechan is the best! She's a Priestess and can shoot a bow! She's strong and kind. She's so nice! She is the best nee-chan on the planet! I miss her so much, all the time!" I can see that he's annoyed, so I continue in a more subdued voice, "He-her name is Kagome. Higurashi Kagome. She travels with a half demon named Inuyasha, a demon slayer named Sango, a monk named Miroku, a cat demon named Kirara, and a fox demon child named Shippo." I noticed that he froze when I said her name and was getting hopeful. After a moment's pause of him just starting at me, "D-do you know her? If you don't, maybe you know one of her friends! She has a friend that she's told me all about, his name is Kouga; he's a super-duper strong wolf demon, er leader?" His eyebrows shot up in surprise, so I just keep going. "He has two friends who call her sister because he, er, likes her? She told me he told her he loved her really soon after he met her. She talked to Okaa-san about him saying that it was confusing or something. But, she talks about him a lot, so I bet if you know him, he'd help me! She said that he's brave, strong, loyal, and honorable! Surely he'd help me find her! Oh maybe you don't know him, but maybe you know his two friends," I beat my fist on my head, "Oh! What are their names?!" I scrunch up my face, "OH! Ginta and Hakkaku! Do you know any of the people I mentioned?"
He's still staring at me, but so are the two others that came into the clearing while I was talking. After a brief pause, he clears his throat and tells me, "Yes, I know Kagome and all the others you mentioned. I am Kouga, your neechan's friend. Yeah, I'll help you kid. I didn't know she had a brother, though. Do you have any proof that you are who you say you are?" He asks with suspicion. I stare at him shocked, "How do I know you didn't just eavesdrop? How do I know you aren't Naraku's minion who was told this information just to get to me?"
"Oh, oh! Naraku, he's that big scary half spider dude 'Gome is trying to stop, right?" He nods tightly. "Oh, I can see the problem; I guess... Um..." I search my pockets and find a picture of us. "Here! A picture of me and nee-chan!" I pass it to him. He looks at it closely before he nods.
"Alright, I'll help you find her. What's your name anyway, kid?"
"Oh! Sorry! Higurashi Souta, nice to meet you Kouga." I grin at him widely. He gestures for me to follow, so I do.
"Tell me how exactly you got lost, Souta."
"Oh, well, I was just, just waiting for my sister when I... fell. When I... got up, I noticed whe- where I must be and started to try to go to the village my nee-chan told me about when I noticed I was being followed. I ran and didn't pay attention to direction. When it got dark, I climbed up a tree as high as I could. I did this every day, only stopping to drink water from the river because I was panicked. I'm actually really hungry, maybe nee-chan has some yummy food from home."
"Souta, I know about the well. I know you and Kagome are from the future, so there's no need to watch your words with me." He chuckles.
"O-oh. Well, how far is she?"
"I don't have her scent yet, so it may be a few days. I will take care of you, don't worry about it. I hope for you to be my brother one day, so of course I'll take care of you."
I look at him wide-eyed, "Really? I thought she was joking!" I run around him, plant myself in front of him, and glare up at him, trying to be intimidating but shaking like a leaf, "If you hurt my nee-chan like Inutrasha, I will find a way to hurt you. Do you understand me?" He looks shocked and amused, so I angrily continue, "I may be small now, but one day I'll be big and strong like my nee-chan! One day, I'll be able to protect her, like she's always protected me, so-so you better watch yourself, mister!" He looks like he's contemplating me as I stand there trying to minimize my shaking and keep my glare.
He then sighs and crouches to my height, "Souta, I never, ever plan to hurt your nee-chan. I love her, kid. If she ever does decide she likes me too, she'll be treated like a warrior queen, alright?" I lose all my gusto and breathe a sigh of relief. "Souta," He smiles at me, "that took a lot of guts, standing up to me like that. I gotta say, I'm impressed. No matter what happens with Kagome and I, can I consider you my Otouto?"
I'm stunned into silence for a moment before I leap onto him, giving him a hug. "I'd love to have a big brother like you!" He hugs me back without hesitation.
"Welcome to the pack, brother!" Ginta and Hakkaku call as one.
I sniff into Kouga's neck rubbing my tear stained cheek on his shoulder. I whisper, "Will you protect my nee-chan?" I can feel Kouga nod as he rubs my hair. I pull back and smile at him. "I've always liked you more than Inutrasha from what 'Gome's told me about you. I think I can stop worrying about her while she's here. You watch after her, don't you?" He nods again, smiling softly. "Good, let's go find her!"
"Actually, there's a spring nearby; I was going to ask if you wanted a bath. I know Kagome loves them, so I figured you may be the same. I have some soap for you to use if you want? I will hunt while Ginta and Hakkaku watch over you." I nod and grin excitedly, I love baths. The next morning, we continue trekking through the woods at a pace I can keep up with. In the evening, Kouga stops near a water source, so I can bathe. We do this for a couple days talking about random things throughout the days; we play games together too. After the first night, before my bath, Kouga also starts to train me in hand-to-hand combat. After four days, he stops in the middle of the day and says, "Get on my back Souta and hold on tightly! I can smell her!" I clamber on his back, and we're off in a whirlwind, leaving Ginta and Hakkaku in the dust. After a few hours, I fall asleep on his back. I'm woken sometime in the night when he stops suddenly and says, "Hey Kagome, I've brought you someone."
I'm still shaking off sleep when I hear her say, "Hey Kouga, oh who-"
I am clambering off his back and into her while crying out and interrupting her, "Nee-chan!" We both topple into the dirt. I cry into her chest where she's holding me tightly; I can feel her tears in my hair.
After a few moments, she pulls back and begins to check me over, running her hands all over searching for injury, not bothering to get off the ground as I sit in her lap wrapped around her and her legs are wrapped around me too, keeping me as close as possible, "Souta, baby, are you hurt? Are you hungry? How'd you get here? Why aren't you at home? How'd you find Kouga? Oh, I'm so glad to see you my Otouto!" She then straightens my hair, putting it back in place.
I notice she has tears on her face still and wipe them away, "I'm okay, nee-chan! I ran into Kouga, and he made sure to keep me safe! He's really nice, 'Gome!" She nods a little shakily as she pulls me back in for another hug, her chin on my head this time.
I can only guess she's looking up at Kouga when she says, "Thank you, thank you so much for helping my baby brother. I'll- I'll never forget this, Kouga." I can tell she smiles at him.
"No problem, Kagome. Your family is my family after all." She laughs at this. I can feel her pulling back again and pull back too. She smiles at me before planting a kiss on my forehead with her eyes closed. I close my eyes too.
"I'm glad you're okay, Souta."
"I'm glad I found you!" She laughs softly and unhooks my legs from behind her; I take the hint and get up. I reach a hand to her and help her up too.
"Thanks." She smiles at me then walks over to Kouga and gives his stunned figure a hug. He slowly wraps his arms around her too. "Seriously, thank you, Kouga." She pulls back but stays in his arms with hers around his neck, smiling at him. She leans up on her tiptoes and gives him a soft kiss on the cheek, both of them blush heavily. "I don't know how I'll ever repay you." She whispers. He gives her a quick peck on the forehead.
"No need to repay." He gives a small grin back to her, still blushing. She nods and steps away after a moment of lingering eye contact.
