Chapter 2
"Jaken" Sesshomaru looked down at him, glaring.
"Yes Lord Sesshomaru?"
"Go find A-Un."
"Wouldn't it be faster if you were to look for him my lord? I-I mean, you can fly, my lord…" Jaken trembled, his arms over his head, and waited for Sesshomaru firm foot to find his face. Sesshomaru said nothing, and continued to look out over the cliff face, watching large thunder cloud roll over the distant mountains.
Taking a hint, Jaken turned around and started his way into the forest.
"After you find A-Un, Jaken, go back to the castle and take care of Rin."
"But my lord!"
Sesshomaru's glare shot daggers into Jaken, and he immediately regretted opening his mouth. "Y-yes my lord." Jaken hung his head and then waddled into the forest to begin his search.
-break-
"K-Koga?" Kagome's eyes widened with surprise. She quickly ran up to him and embraced him in her arms. "I don't understand. Why are you here?"
"I've been looking for you, Kagome. I'm relieved to see you're alive." Koga continued to hold Kagome close to him, not wanting to let go.
"Alive? What do you mean?"
"Haven't you been in Keade's village? It's completely empty, but there's something weird about it all."
"How is it weird?"
"There's no trace of anybody. I couldn't even smell that filthy mutt of yours" Koga scowled "I couldn't smell any blood or sense any demon presence around either. It's like they just vanished." He looked deeply into Kagome's eyes and hugged her tightly once more.
"Has it only happened in Keade's village?"
Koga finally released Kagome from his grip "Yes, I haven't come across anywhere else like it."
Kagome frowned, "What can we do?"
"I don't know, Kagome, but I'm here for you." He caressed her face lightly with his fingers, and gently kissed her on the forehead.
"Koga…" Kagome's face turned red and she took a step back, feeling slightly perturbed.
"What's wrong Kagome?"
"It's just…" She turned her head to side, looking away.
"Just what?"
"You've never been so…passionate with me before. I'm married to Inuyasha, Koga, and it feels a bit…wrong for another man to act so close." Kagome scratched the back of her head, feeling ashamed. Koga was extremely attractive, and every moment she looked at him, she wished it were a moment she could be spending with Inuyasha, partaking in a more 'adult' activity. "Plus, you're married Ayame, what would that be saying to her, seeing you with me like this?"
Koga rolled his eyes and sneered at Kagome's observation. He went on to tell her how Ayame soon grew uninterested in their relationship and started a new wolf pack with another man. This hadn't surprised him as he was never truly engrossed in her, he just couldn't stand to listen to her bitch about the promise he made. The only woman he ever truly loved, and still does is Kagome. She was like a parasite in his brain. No matter how hard he tried, he could never get her out. He told her about the fantasies he had had about her, and how even if they didn't marry, he wants just wants one opportunity to realize those fantasies.
Koga embraced Kagome and passionately kissed her on the lips. She felt faint in his arms. Closing her eyes, she laid her hands on his chest, and kissed him back. She too has had surreptitious fantasies about the young wolf demon. It's not as if she had loved him, as he did her, but she at least wanted to experience the rush of being with a man that didn't conceal his feelings out of discomfiture; such as Inuyasha had done.
"I-I don't know what to say, Koga."
"You don't have to say anything."
"I really need to find Inuyasha, Koga. I'm sorry" She pulled away from him one more time "please, will you help me?"
His heart sank in his chest and he closed his eyes, sighing, wishing she wouldn't dote on that mutt of hers so much. "If it makes you happy Kagome, I'll do anything for you." He gave her a quick smile, and then looked out the window. "Still looks like it'll be awhile till morning."
"And I'm exhausted, do you mind if I catch a few hours rest?"
"Not at all" Koga shook his head, then jumped out the window and looked back at her once more "I'll be waiting out here for you in the morning." He started to make his way to a tree in the distance.
"Koga" Kagome lifted a hand to her mouth "um, would you mind, maybe…"
"Yes?" Koga smirked.
"I would really like it if you stayed in here with me…maybe." Kagome couldn't help but turn red, she knew it wasn't right, but she didn't want to be alone. Without saying a word, Koga came back into the room, took Kagome by the hand, and joined her under her blanket.
-break-
Jaken dragged his feet, feeling like no more than a mere errand boy, doing his masters bidding. This was in truth, all he was. He never felt he ever repaid his master for saving his life from that horrid demon, so even though he hated almost every moment of it, he did it for his lord, for whom he was forever grateful. Though nobody ever said he couldn't complain about Rin, and Sesshomaru's beast of burden; A-Un.
The hours seemed to drag on as Jaken fumbled through the brush, not really looking for A-Un, just wasting his time.
"Why did that stupid beast have to run off anyways? And why do I have to be the one to go out and find him? Sesshomaru-sama and I both know that it would be much easier and faster if he were to just fly around the valley. Sometimes I think he does this to toy with me." Jaken's mind wandered, imagining Sesshomaru playing with him like a puppet on strings as Sesshomaru laughed contemptuously. No! Lord Sesshomaru would never use me as a mere puppet. I'm sure that I am just as important to Lord Sesshomaru as Rin is. At least, that's what Jaken hoped, but deep inside, he knew that he was nothing in the eyes of his great lord.
As Jaken thought to himself how he could be of more use to Sesshomaru, he didn't recognize how far he had walked, or where to, specifically, but one thing he did recognize were the large footprints left in the mud. He recognized them to be A-Un's footprints, and they seemed to be fresh.
"When I get my hands on that stupid beast, I'll make sure he'll never run off again." Jaken smirked, and then quickened his pace in attempt to catch up with the beast.
Jaken hastily approached a small river, but still didn't see any sight of A-Un. "Oh damn it all. Where could he have gotten off too? It's not like he could have gone very far." Feeling almost defeated, Jaken sighed and hung his head. What Jaken didn't know is that A-Un was nowhere around the footprints he had been following, but at that moment, he saw something unexpected coming down the river.
Oh no, it's that horrible Inuyasha! If he sees me, I'll surely get beaten to a pulp. Thinking quick, Jaken ducked into some nearby bushes and watched the hanyou floating down the river in a small boat. He soon noticed that Inuyasha wasn't alone on the boat; he appeared to be with a woman. Who is that woman, surely that isn't Kagome, and it looks nothing like her. Jaken listened carefully to their conversation, and tried getting a better look at the woman.
Finally Jaken heard Inuyasha speaking to the youthful woman, and what he heard, he did not believe. He swiftly ran off in the direction he came from, wanting to notify his lord of what he had just overheard.
-break-
Kagome awoke from her deep sleep. It was almost midday by the time she awoke, and Koga was nowhere to be found. She almost felt sad that she had woken up alone; she had grown used to having someone by her side, night after night.
Not worrying about the missing wolf demon, Kagome got ready for the day, and began to pack her things. It hadn't taken her long, since she didn't really unpack anything but her pajamas. After eating a simple apple for breakfast, she walked outside with her bag on her back and a smile on her face. Her smile quickly disappeared when she saw Koga sitting under a tree in front of the inn.
"Way to wake me up!"
Hearing Kagome, Koga looked up at her, his face turned red. "I-um, sorry, you seemed to tired last night, I wanted to make sure you got your rest." He rubbed the back of his head and stood up to greet her.
"That's ok, I guess. Could you please wake me up next time though?"
"Are you saying there will be a next time?" Koga approached Kagome, took her bag from her hands, and with his free hand, caressed one of her cheeks.
"I um…"
"It's ok Kagome, I'm just teasing you." Koga laughed. "We should get going. I caught a whiff of Inuyasha earlier this morning; he shouldn't be too far away."
Kagome wanted to find Inuyasha as soon as possible, and to do so, rode on Koga's back. It wasn't long before they ran into a familiar face.
