Chapter II – The Spell
Kouga dug at his ear, cursing while Kagome watched with folded arms. They stood outside, alone in the growing cool of evening.
She sighed, staring over at the well-house. "Is it coming off?"
Kouga swore again, gripping the small stud and tugging hard. More profanity spilled as the earring grew hot. His skin began to sizzle, and he let go. "No," he stuck burned fingers in his mouth.
"Great," she started moving down the tiled path, and a hand shot out, circling her elbow.
"Where are you going?" He stepped to her side. "You need to give a bit of warning before walking away."
Kagome looked to the claws pressed lightly into her skin, longer than she remembered and tense with restrained strength. A sudden realization hit—he always held back when he touched her. "We're still fighting," she tried not to think of her own frailty. "I don't have to do anything."
Kouga released her, returning fingers to his mouth as she drew her arm close, staying put despite the declaration.
"So," he spoke through wet knuckle. "Are you going to tell me what's really bugging you?"
"What're you talking about?"
He quirked a brow.
"No," she said firmly.
Kouga plucked his hand out. "Why?"
Pushing away the empty forest and restless trees of Sengoku Jidai, she frowned, "It's nothing."
"It is," he edged closer, hovering just beyond her shoulder. "You were yelling at me," his eyes searched hers. "Something's wrong."
Kagome squirmed under his gaze. "I yell at Inu-Yasha all the time."
"But he gets to hear why," he said, keeping the fact that he was not Inu-Yasha to himself.
"I just…," she stared at his collar, missing a familiar string of subduing beads. "I don't want to go over it again."
"With me you mean."
"I didn't say that."
Kouga studied her. Discomfort marred her features, creasing lines in her forehead and mouth, and she stood with her weight on one foot, an elbow protectively across her stomach. He usually found the human habit of hers endearing, as if two skinny forearm bones could shield her torso from malignant forces, but today it caused him alarm. He was making her nervous. Her scent gave away as much as her stance – she wanted to step back and put space between them. "Are we friends?" He asked quietly.
Kagome brought her other elbow over the first. "What?"
Confusion added to her anxiety. She obviously wasn't used to being around full youkai; she had no practice masking the way emotion changed her unseen signature, and he wasn't about to teach her. "Are we?"
She glanced up. A crust of dried blood rimmed the earring, and Kouga's ears quivered in her silence. Broad shoulders hunched inward as his tail went limp; piercing eyes, usually bright blue, looked dark in the fading light. She cleared her throat. "Yes."
"That took you a minute," rejection sunk his shoulders further. "I get it. I'm not like that monk or kitsune," he said softly. "We're 'friends' because you think I need your pity. I show up, pouring my heart out, and you smile and nod to be nice."
It was his first reference to the fact that she didn't reciprocate his feelings. That he knew.
The air changed, growing thick and tense.
Kagome tried clearing her throat again, but this time it stuck.
They never spoke like this.
Her gaze dropped back down to his collar. "That's not true."
"Isn't it?" Kouga reached out and brazenly took her cheek, cupping soft skin with callused fingers. "Do you all laugh at me after I leave?"
His touch doubled the confusion in her scent. For all his past declarations of devotion, he'd never been so candid.
Kagome let him lift her face, too taken aback to pull away. "I-I shouldn't have to answer that," she stammered. "No, of course we don't," her heart sped of its own volition. "I don't pity you. And I don't laugh like you're some lost cause."
Kouga's thumb moved to the corner of her mouth. "What is it then? Why do you keep me at such a distance?" She shied away as he ran a claw over her cheek, and he snorted. "See? You wall me out at the slightest thing."
Ignoring her heart, now hammering, Kagome took his hand and drew it down. She had very little experience with men aside from Inu-Yasha – he had been her only other tutor – and while the youkai claimed her face in earnestness, Inu-Yasha had only doled such affection under duress. Kouga's touch now made her chest heave in unfamiliar flip-flops, and she wanted the discomfort it caused to end. "You don't know me at all," she managed.
"Whose fault is that?" Kouga countered, hearing the racing thump in her chest and feeling frustrated. She quelled its beating because he wasn't Inu-Yasha, and surely only he could make her heart do unexpected things. "Don't you think I'd like to be the one you told your problems to? That I knew your favorite color, or food, or who told the only joke that made you laugh?"
Kagome tensed. "Why are you talking like this?"
"Why not?" He asked. "It's been three years of showing up just to hold your hand, and that's not enough anymore."
Regret flooded her, and Kouga palmed the air before she could speak.
"Don't worry about it," he dropped his eyes. "I know where you stand."
"I'm sorry," she half-whispered. "I—."
Kouga shook his head. "Ready to tell me what's really bothering you?" He forced his voice brighter. "Why I got my head bitten off just for trying to look out for you?"
Kagome flushed. "Sorry," she mumbled again. "I wasn't really mad at you."
No kidding, he thought.
The last rays of fading pink were being snuffed by deep blues and purples on the horizon. A wind started in the dying twilight, swirling Kagome's hair about her shoulders, mingling the air between them. She shivered from more than chill.
"Kouga… I…," she didn't know what to say. She'd spent so long being kind, honesty was proving hard. "It's tough letting you in… when you want more than friendship," she managed.
Kouga turned to watch the sky. "I could settle for friend," he offered. "But you've never given me the chance."
"Neither have you," now Kagome was the one reaching for his face, fingers firm at his jaw. "You decided I'd be your woman and that was that. You never asked me my favorite color or food."
He didn't yield, keeping his eyes aloft.
"You know," she brought her other hand to the back of his head, pushing and tugging with both. "This is more fair when you at least pretend to have to work against me."
Kouga sniffed. She was getting overwhelmed. This whole exchange was far more personal than any they'd shared. It held a warning note of danger she didn't like, she, the girl who thought of everyone else's feelings. She needed it lighter.
He made a face, hissing through gritted teeth. "Oh. The pain. It's so hard fighting such intense strength. My neck's about to give."
"That's better," a smile started. "Now look at me."
Kouga glanced down. "Only because I'm scared of your muscle power," he turned serious. "What is your favorite color?"
"You're missing the point."
"Humor me."
Kagome dropped her arms, fingering the hem of her school uniform. "Green, I guess."
"Huh. I thought it'd be a particular shade of white or red. The kind that parades at your side acting like it owns you."
Her smile faltered. "That came out sounding bitter."
"A lot in me to go around."
"Well tone it down," she countered. "I'm not some extension of Inu-Yasha. His hair and haori aren't on some special color list."
Kouga forced himself to oblige again. "Women have color lists?"
She sighed exasperatedly. "You know what I mean."
"Fair enough," he looked down at himself. "How do you feel about brown?"
"Not an extension of you either sir."
"Just checking."
"Hey," she stepped up next to him. "Want to try being friends?" The question was guileless, sincere as only she could be. "For real, I mean?"
This entire conversation was new territory for him too. He'd never argued or flirted or touched Kagome as much as he had here, in her world. His breath hitched. "Is this because of the old male's spell, or just so you can have someone to exert more of that incredible strength on?"
"Aha."
She felt better, and his nose twitched.
Kagome's stare turned curious. "Why do you keep smelling me?"
"What?"
She pointed at his nose. "That thing is working overtime."
"Psh," Kouga pulled on a scoff. "It's not you. It's this world. Everything smells stringent and strong. Your grandfather just took off his shoes, for example."
She laughed, breaking the ebbing tension, brushing away forced jokes and unsaid things. "Don't let him hear you. I'm sure he has more hexes buried in his shelves."
"Worse than this one?" Her amusement charmed out his own. "I doubt it," he scratched his ear. "Though I wonder how powerful this earring really is."
Kagome looked to the inches between them. "It's not like we're giving it an opportunity to remind us of its range," her finger flicked back and forth. "We couldn't be standing closer if we tried."
Kouga grinned at the trap she'd made without meaning to. "Is that a challenge?" He leaned forward, pressing his chest against hers.
She gently palmed him back. "No."
"Do you want to test it?" He asked. "The chikai's range I mean?"
Kagome glanced over her shoulder at the well-house – wrapped in shadows, it looked ominous.
"And then I promise we'll go investigate the Bone Eaters Well."
She gave a half-shrug. "Sure. Why not?"
"Really?"
Kagome nodded. "You stay here, and I'll start walking."
"Why do I have to stay?" Kouga's tail brushed her hip. "Maybe it works both ways. You might crash into me if you go too far."
She tapped her ear. "I don't have an earring."
He frowned.
"Oh come on," she took a step back. "It'll be good to know the distance."
"On your terms."
"It was your suggestion," she pointed out with a smile. "Just stand there," she extended an arm. "We'll count until you feel a pull."
"And then go flying," he said dryly.
"Again – your idea," Kagome started walking. "One…," the wind lifted Kouga's tail. "Two…, she looked back, already off the tiled stoop leading to the house. "Three—."
The air left him as unseen force, strong and overpowering, shoved from behind. He sailed ahead, tripping over his own feet.
Kagome turned, lifting her hands. "No! Wait!" He toppled into her, hooking his chin on her shoulder and tumbled down on top of her. Falling hard, he bent his leg between hers to brace his weight, not wanting to hurt her. Dust rose around them, filling their mouths as they gasped for breath.
Kagome was on her back; Kouga's cheek pressed against hers. She could feel his clenched jaw.
A heavy exhale hit her ear. "You okay?"
"Worst idea ever," she grumbled, expecting pain from her shoulder blades, but finding only an uncomfortable lump, like she was lying on something. The back of her head didn't hurt either. It rested, almost cradled, in warm dirt. No, not dirt. Hand.
Kagome looked down and saw Kouga's broad frame over hers. She took a tentative inhale, seeing how heavy he was. Despite the seamless line of their bodies, her breath came easily.
"Are you okay?" He asked again, lifting his head and grazing the corner of her mouth with ponytail as he craned his neck back.
"Yeah," surprise filled the word. "Fine."
Kouga withdrew his hands, and the warmth left her back and head. Palming the ground on either side, he lifted his chest from hers, giving Kagome a full view.
Fur-wrapped hips had found hers, and a knee had landed high between her legs. A sheepish smile spread across her face. "I can't believe my grandfather is responsible for this," she laughed. "This is his most indecent spell yet."
Kouga carefully withdrew his knee and rose so that he was on all-fours over her. "To be fair," he glanced back at the stoop by the house. "We were the ones who tested."
"Details, details," Kagome propped herself up on elbows, almost bumping his face with her nose. They shared air, and she hastily backed up. "Sorry."
"What?" Kouga stood. Dusting his knees, he reached a hand down. "Sorry about that, or our fights in front of your pack? I recall only one apology. Those beasts were definitely worth another."
Kagome took the offered hand. "What fights?" She mocked innocence. "On the Wrath Scale, they were only twos. We didn't even come to blows," despite their compromising fall, it was easier to talk to him now – their words were lighter, offhand, and harmless. She wondered if he was steering them that way on purpose.
"Fight scales? Color lists? He pulled her to her feet. "Do you measure everything?"
Kagome released his hand, letting her palms settle to her hips. "I could say something very bad right now."
Kouga grinned. "Only if it's embarrassingly inappropriate," he looked at her in approval. "It's a shame I'm so slow. I could've saved you from a concussion just now."
Her head came up to his breastbone, and she stared at him in gratitude. He was doing it on purpose. "Thanks," she said softly.
"You're welcome."
They shared a look, covered in dust and evening shadows, and Kagome remembered herself, jerking back and putting distance between them. "Okay," the warmth and affection in his eyes made her stomach somersault, and the unpleasant sensation quickly evaporating her newly-reclaimed ease. "Now we know how far apart we can get.
"Yeah," Kouga's smile turned rueful. "About five paces."
"That's not much," she tapped her chin, trying to keep up the banter. Anything to avoid intimacy. "We'll have to be careful."
Kouga reached out and brushed dust from her sleeve, aware of her turmoil. Her emotions were easy to taste – he didn't even have to hunt for them. "Do you think we'd get more if you ran?"
She contemplated for a moment. "Or if a wall separated us?"
He shook his head. "I'm making an executive decision on not testing that one."
"Bringing out the prince influence now?"
"I tend to when it concerns me vaulting through solid stone."
"Fair enough," thought sparked in her eyes. "I'd like to try the running though."
"You would?" Kouga's brows hiked high.
Kagome shrugged. Her stomach flipped again as she thought of him over her. "It wasn't so bad," she said lightly.
The youkai's eyes bugged. "Because of me!"
"Well…," Kagome's voice warmed with teasing. "If you don't think you can do it again…."
Kouga crossed his arms over his chest. "Woman!"
Her smile fell a bit, and she looked over with big eyes.
He exhaled loudly, knowing he was being coerced and unable to resist anyway. "Alright, alright," he appraised the courtyard. "We could each go in different directions," he said. "It's a pretty open space, so we could potentially get far."
Kagome fought to keep the triumph from her grin. "You should find something to grab onto though," she motioned to Goshinboku. "To anchor yourself when the spell kicks in."
"Good idea," Kouga rubbed his palms together before extending his claws.
"Okay then," she crouched. "Ready?"
He smiled. "Why are we doing this again? I think that 'worst idea' title is about to be trounced."
"Tenacity is good for the soul."
"So says the girl who knows I'll take the brunt of our fall."
"Yep," Kagome sprung. "Go!"
They sprinted in opposite directions, crossing the square. Kouga lunged for the large tree by the shrine, wrapping his arms around it and digging in deep. He heard her steps, and the pull returned. Snarling, he clung tighter. His legs lifted off the ground in her direction, and a wail erupted in the darkness. Kouga looked over his shoulder, spotting the outline of a shape sailing toward him.
He released Goshinboku, turning to catch the girl mid-air. Kagome's shoulder hit him square in the chest, and they crashed back against the great tree. Strong arms wrapped around her, and they thudded to the ground in an unceremonious heap.
Kagome gasped for breath, trying to get back her wind, and Kouga rested his forehead in her hair. "You're really dumb," he mumbled.
She nodded mutely.
"The kind of dumb that lives throughout the ages."
"No arguments here," she said.
They sat, regaining feeling in their abused frames.
"Jii-chan's vindictiveness is intense," Kagome muttered. "I must have been really unpleasant."
Kouga pulled back his arms. "You were."
They both got to their feet.
"I'm realizing that," she reached behind her, palming the top of her tailbone. "This spell is saying a lot."
Kouga watched her, measuring how hurt she was. "Ready to go dig in the dirt?"
She stopped rubbing her backside. "You'll help me search the well?"
Clawed fingers stayed at her arm. "I don't have much choice. I go where you go. Besides," he grinned again, finding she was fine. "With this spell, you think I want you mad at me? The less storming off you do, the better," he gestured for the well-house. "Lead the way."
Kagome joined his smile. They had shared the expression more in the last thirty minutes than they had in all her time in ancient Japan. "It's not a power I enjoy," she quipped, obviously feeling otherwise. "You're a suffocating radiator on impact, and I promise not to pout my way out of a room again – too many overheated collisions are bound to do me in."
The continued playfulness was a surprise they both felt.
"Did we just agree on something?" Kouga spun to an imaginary audience. "Did you all hear that? We both don't want to crash together at bone-breaking speeds!"
"Yeah, yeah," Kagome waved him away. "Let's go."
They fell into step, walking slowly as the last of evening melted to night.
"Hey," Kouga didn't break his stride. "What's a ray-dee-ator?"
Kagome laughed, feeling sudden gratitude at having him in her time, and flushed thinking of her disparaging comments from earlier. "It generates heat."
"Oh," Kouga gave a half-smile. "So you don't like it hot?"
Kagome's mouth dropped open in mock indignation, and good humor swallowed her regret. "Are you trying to flirt with me Kouga-kun?"
"I'd never dream."
"Uh-huh."
Despite the dipping temperature, she was warm walking beside the wolf. He seemed to know exactly how close to stay so she wouldn't get cold.
They had made amends from their afternoon battles without any more needing to be said. The archway of the well-house emerged in the darkness, and Kouga stepped forward to lead, holding out a hand. "You'll need me to see."
Kagome made a face. "I've been here at night before."
"Bet you stumbled the whole way," he flexed his fingers. "Don't be stubborn."
"I'll be fine," she lifted her chin and walked past, shouldering him aside.
"Suit yourself."
She heard a smile in his voice and entered, feeling a whole new darkness surround her. She slowed, toeing the ground before them tentatively.
Kouga followed. "You sure?" He offered again.
She moved deeper inside. "Very."
He chuckled, watching her hold out both hands for the railing. "Three…," he said under his breath as her toe touched a warped board. "Two…."
Her shoe snagged.
"One."
The girl tripped over a bulge of bloated wood. She wobbled, clinging to her balance, and began to fall.
Strong arms cuffed in fur came from behind and grabbed her waist. "Really?" A laugh touched her neck.
Kagome scowled, swiveling around. "You saw me headed right for that," her eyes had adjusted to the new black, but Kouga was still only a faint outline.
He shrugged and slid one of the hands at her waist to her wrist. "Want help?"
"Psh," she let his fingers circle hers. "Don't sound so smug," the palm still at her side clutched gently, making a blush start in her cheeks.
Kouga grinned, hearing and smelling her embarrassment through the coverless shadows. "Can't help it. I found a better use for counting than judging spell distance," he dropped hold of her hip and shifted ahead. "Come on."
He led her down the shrine stairs, pulling her close so their feet stepped in tandem. Hard-packed earth lay at the bottom, and they crossed the room with slow, purposeful steps. Kagome concentrated so hard on following, she almost missed when he stopped, bumping her forehead into his armor.
"Easy," he whispered, tickling her thigh with his tail. "We're here."
She felt his hand guide hers, moving her palm to the lip of the well. Cupping its familiar wood, the jewel began to glow instantly, lighting the darkness and illuminating them in a circle of banished shadow.
The chain around her neck grew heavy, and Kagome recoiled, drawing her arm back. Pulling her fingers from the well made the light and weight vanished. "K-Kouga?" She whispered.
His warmth shifted closer. "I'm here."
She groped for him, feeling the fur at his waist, and clutching handfuls, drawing him close. "I want answers."
Air around his face moved as he nodded, and he swept her from her feet, plucking her off the floor. "Hold on."
Kagome felt his legs tense and slid arms around his neck. He crouched low, preparing to spring. "Don't let go," his claws tightened at her waist and thigh. "If anything happens, I want to get you out quickly."
She nodded into his chest, not trusting her voice.
Something was wrong.
Something with the only passage between her and Sengoku Jidai.
