Disclaimer: I don't own Inu-Yasha
It was around midnight when Kagome woke up, she looked around the campsite. Shippo was curled up next to her, looking in all the world like a cute little puppy, Sango was lying across the fire from Miroku and his wandering hands, 'A smart move,' thought Kagome wryly.
She gazed toward Inu-Yasha's tree expecting to see him sitting there facing the full moon, his hair blowing in the slight night air...but he wasn't there. Kagome frowned, puzzled, 'Where could he be?' She slowly got out of her sleeping bag-- careful not to awaken Shippo-- then tiptoed across the camp and headed toward Inu-Yasha's tree, expecting maybe to find him sitting at the base of it on the opposite side. 'I'll tell him tonight,' she thought, 'I'll tell him what I've been meaning to say for a long time...That I lo---'
As she rounded the tree she didn't see Inu-Yasha, but 'Oh no! One of Kikyo's soul gatherers! That means she must be here somewhere! I've got to find Inu-Yasha!' She ran after the Soul Gatherer, who was rapidly making its way to the forest, oblivious to the branches and leaves hitting her as she ran. She only slowed down when she saw the dim glow of Kikyo's souls.
She slowly walked up to the clearing, steeling herself for the worst...But nothing she did could have prepared her for what she saw in that clearing. Inu-Yasha had his arms, wrapped tenderly around Kikyo's slender form, his red haori blending with her white priestess robes, whispering words of love so profound it hurt Kagome to even see it.
Then, as she stood frozen in place, Kikyo noticed her and sent her a look so full of hatred it made her shudder; but what she did next was much worse: she slowly looked into Inu-Yasha's eyes and pulled him down for a passionate kiss. Kagome's felt as if her heart would break, not only was Inu-Yasha giving in to Kikyyo's kiss, but he was enjoying himself!! She turned and fled from that horrid place, hardly making a sound as she sobbed.
Inu-Yasha being so wrapped up in Kikyo he didn't notice the smell of Kagome's tears or hear her stumbling footsteps—he never knew she had even been there. Someone did though, someone who took great triumph in Kagome's tears. As she watched Kagome run away, Kikyo slowly smiled to herself.
Kagome ran blindly through the woods, all thoughts of demons or anything dangerous pushed out of her mind by the burning image of the embrace she had just witnessed. 'I knew it' she thought 'how could I pretend it was true that he ever had any feelings for me, I'm just a shard collector to him, nothing more.' She ran until she could not run any more, then she collapsed at the base of a large tree, sobbing uncontrollably. She thought of all the time when Inu-Yasha ignored her for Kikyo, all the times he had pushed her to second place.
Kouga raced through the woods, Kagome scent was thick on the air. As he got closer he sensed something was wrong, terribly wrong. He came to a skidding halt at a small clearing surrounded by trees, and in the middle, a figure crumpled at the base of a large tree.
Kagome was so hurt inside that she did not feel the shards approaching; she didn't sense it when, as they got closer to her, they slowed down. She didn't even hear the footsteps as they slowly came up to her. She did notice, however, when gentle hand reached down and comfortingly rubbed her back.
She gave a small yelp and flinched away from the reassuring touch.
"Whoa, whoa, Kagome, calm down! It's just me, Kouga." He grinned at her, then frowned as he saw her tearstained face. "Hey what's the matter? I caught your scent so I came to....hey wait a sec Dog Shit didn't do this to you did he?"
His tone had a slight edge to it with these last words. Kagome didn't respond, only dropped her head, two more tears sliding down her already tear ravaged cheeks.
"That bastard!" Kouga growled, half to himself, "How dare he do this to MY woman, I'll kill him!
"No!" Kagome yelled, "Don't kill him! Please, Kouga..."
"Even after what he has done to you?" Kouga narrowed his eyes, confused.
"You can't kill him Kouga, really, he doesn't deserve to die because of me, it's not his fault that he...that he doesn't lo.. care for me."
The last words came out in a rush followed by more sobbing. Kouga sat down next to her, not quite sure what to do. Kagome surprised him by curling into him, crying on his shoulder. He put his arm awkwardly around her shoulder, relaxing as she accepted his embrace.
"It's okay Kagome," Kouga whispered, cradling her in his arms, "I'm here now, don't worry. I'll protect you from that worthless hanyou." He held her tenderly until she sobbed herself to sleep in his arms. Kouga looked down at the woman he loved so much. 'I'll always be here for you Kagome, no matter what.' He thought as he slowly drifted off to sleep, with Kagome still wrapped in his muscled arms, warmed by the furs he wore.
Author's Note: Okay this is my first story so give me lots of good ideas in your reviews!! Thanx
VangieGirl
