Unexpected Love: Chapter Three; Seeing the Truth for the First Time.
Kouga had stuck around, calling his wolf brethren to the village to keep watch for Inuyasha while Kagome rested. He had made sure that the village had been ok with his wolves being around the village before calling them. He knew Kaede and Kagome both appreciated that little courtesy. He had been keeping a slight distance from the hurt Kagome, knowing, at least thinking, that if he stayed close but was not totally near her, she would recover faster.
Kagome in turn did not press Kouga to be near her. She wanted to have him close by incase Inuyasha decided he wanted to come back. Kagome had never thought in a million years that she'd find herself bandaged up from a sword cutting her back, much less that the wound was caused by the man she loved. Kagome sat by herself on a large flat stone, her feet skimming the water's surface as she swung them back and forth. Her head was bent to look down at her feet; her large blue grey eyes stared at the moving water as it flowed smoothly beneath her feet. Leaning back on her palms, Kagome looked skyward, her mind was a mess and she couldn't put things in order. She was in pain over Inuyasha, but then when Kouga was around she was at peace again.
However, she couldn't figure out why. Why did Kouga giver her such peace when she wanted to scream and cry so desperately? She had felt this peace with Inuyasha that she was sure of; now, now she felt the same peace with Kouga, how could she be so fickle? How could her heart change so quickly from pain from Inuyasha to holding affection for Kouga?
"I don't get it, why am I so cursed to be so fickle; why do I always put myself in these situations?"Kagome asked herself as she closed her eyes and lay back against the warm rock. Her back itched and burned against the rock and its warmth. Even thought Kaedehad come back and gave her pain medication, her back continued to hurt and burn. When the pain finally subsided, Kagome laid fully against the rock. Raking her hands through her hair, she spread her thick strands of hair across the rock. Her eyes were closed with the sun beating down on her skin, warming the cold feeling from her body. She loved the sun, loved the warmth it filled her with as she laid still on the rock.
Lifting her arm to shield her eyes Kagome peered up at the sky. The blueness of the sky hurt at first then ebbed away. "Kouga's eyes are that same color."Kagome thought softly, Kouga's image flashed through her mind. That soft, sexy smile of his, and his blue eyes that seemed to care for others so well; Kagome couldn't help but think of the first time she saw his eyes.
She had been startled at the pure blue of his eyes. They were so cold and hard, Kagome had to force herself to stop shivering. She could tell that those were the eyes of a killer, a cold blooded killer that had no remorse. Those eyes though, had changed for the better; they became softer and showed a kind heart and a genuine want to help people.
"Sister Kagome? Kouga asked us to check on you, make sure you're doing ok." Ginta said stepping into the ray of sun light. Kagome smiled up at Ginta and Hakkaku when he appeared next to Ginta. Kagome smiled at the two when she saw their faces.
"Ginta-Kun, Hakkaku-Kun, I'm fine, but if you could keep me company that would be great." Kagome said sitting up, her back stung and the two wolf demons could see it. Grabbing her arms the two helped her up off the rock to a sitting position. "Thank You. I'm fine, thank you for coming up to see me though. How is Kouga doing? What has he been up to?" Kagome asked glancing between Ginta and Hakkaku. She could see that the two were trying to hide something from her.
"Kouga had been busy with things, making sure the village is Inuyasha free and that you're comfortable." Ginta said giving Hakkaku a side glance; they were hiding something for sure. Kagome giggled at the fact they were hiding something from her.
"What are you two hiding from me?"Kagome asked in a laughing tone. She was surprisingly happy these past few days, as if a weight had been lifted off her chest and soul.
"Kouga wants to send you back to your time. He said that you're mother and family will be worried about you." Hakkaku said quickly before Ginta punched his shoulder. Kagome stared from one to the other. Kouga really wanted her gone too?
"Wh-What? He wants…me gone too?" Kagome asked her broken heart was aching once again. Another man in her life did not want her around anymore. Ginta and Hakkaku glanced at each other worried about Kagome's mental state. Kagome smiled at Ginta and Hakkaku, her blue gray eyes pained the two. Turning away Kagome stared down at the water, wondering if it would be better to just float down the river far, far away from Kouga and Inuyasha. She hadn't realized that Kouga had come to check up on her and his two fellow demons.
"Kagome, Ginta, and Hakkaku, are you all ok out here?" Kouga asked with a bright smile, a small bouquet in his hands. Kagome turned around to quickly in a jerky motion, her back instantly sent pain coursing through her slender body. Her broken eyes filled with pain as tears ran down her face and her body curled forward. Kouga, Ginta, and Hakkaku instantly were holding her up, so that she did not move anymore than she had. "Kagome! You shouldn't move so quickly! Ginta, Hakkaku go get Kaede!" Kouga ordered as the two nodded and ran off to the village, leaving Kagome and Kouga alone. Kagome clung to Kouga as the pain rode through her body.
"Do you not want me here anymore?" Kagomeasked when a wave of pain finished. She looked up at Kouga, her gray blue eyes were sad as she looked into Kouga's pure blue eyes.
"What are you talking about?" Kouga asked softly, his eyes showing the confusion he felt.
"Ginta and Hakkaku said you wanted me to go home! Is that true? Do you not want me around too?" Kagome asked franticly. Kouga chuckled softly before running his hand through Kagome's black hair.
"I wanted you to be somewhere you felt safe and so that your mother would not be worried about you. I know my mother would be so worried about me if I did not check in." Kouga said softly. Kagome stared at his blue eyes and smiled, she realized how ridiculous she must have sounded to Kouga. Turning her face away from Kouga, Kagome couldn't look at Kouga's kind smile and soft caring eyes. "Kagome?" Kouga asked softly, his hand catching her chin and lifting her eyes to meet his. "Kagome, I know you're hurting right know, and I don't blame you for worrying about such things, but I will not leave your side if you do not want me to." Kouga said with his kind, sexy as sin smile.
"You alone have my heart and I will not allow you to hurt because of me. So smile and allow me to worry about the little things. Sangoand the pervert are waiting for you in the village, they are worried as well. Once the old witch has come to give you your medicine shall we go to see them?" Kouga asked softly. Kagome smiled at him and nodded, she knew she was worrying way too much about such silly things.
"Kouga, how can you look so calm and collected?" Kagome asked. She could hear Ginta and Hakkaku tell Kaedewhat she had done to give herself pain. "They're back." Kagome said aloud to herself. Kouga smiled down at Kagome, he couldn't believe how beautiful she was. He couldn't resist himself; Kouga leaned down and captured Kagome's lips, kissing her. Kagome stared wide-eyed at Kouga; he had surprised her with the sudden kiss. He pulled away as Kaede and the two wolf demons at her sides.
"Kagome, child are ye alright?" Kaede asked looking over Kagome's bright red face then to the happy wolf demon in front of her.
"I'm fine Kaede. I just hit my sore spot a little." Kagome replied quietly her eyes averted from Kaede to the ground. Kaede glance from Kagome to the overly happy wolf demon beside her.
"Would you like ointment?" Kaede asked with a soft happy sigh. Kagome nodded and Kaede applied some ointment to Kagome's bare back before turning to the two wolf demons at her side. "Ginta, Hakkaku please take me back to the village. Kagome, ye and Kouga should return soon, Sango is becoming restless as is Shippo." Kaede added with a kind smile to Kagome and Kouga.
"Of course Kaede, I will take Kagome back in a few minutes. First I'd like her to rest for a second before moving again." Kouga said to Kaede.
"Aye, of course." Kaede answered with a quick smile to Kagome before walking with Ginta and Hakkaku back to the village, leaving Kagome and her wolfish protector alone by the small river.
When the two were alone Kouga sat down next to Kagome, his back against the rock with his hands behind his head. His eyes closed against the harsh sun, a wide smile on his lips. Kagome looked down at him, her back no longer hurt but her heart was throbbing with pain and hope. Leaning over Kouga, Kagome rested her hand on his chest, shaking him slightly.
"Kouga." Kagome said softly, her eyes waiting for his to open. "Kouga, why did you kiss me?" Kagome asked shaking Kouga slightly again. Kouga smile widened, peeking up at Kagome through one eye.
"Kagome I've told you before; I love you. I just couldn't hold back when you looked at me with those large beautiful eyes of yours." Kouga replied reaching up to cup Kagome's cheek, watching her face burn an even brighter red. "Kagome, I'm with you always; whether you want me or not, I will always love you." Kouga added smiling at Kagome.
"I always thought you were just trying to piss off Inuyasha," Kagome murmured as her mind began to go over every time Kouga had visited. She could seen now that he had never purposefully tried to anger Inuyasha unless there was a conflict between herself and Inuyasha. He always saw to her needs before dealing with Inuyasha. Looking down at Kouga, Kagome stared into his blue eyes. "Kouga, I never really thought that someone like you existed in this time. It just seemed so out of place and unusual that it never really became a possibility for it to be reality." Kagome whispered sitting back on her rear. She looked at Kouga before looking to the sky.
"Kagome, I don't want you to feel as if you're obligated to think about this. You just need to rest and get better. Okay?" Kouga said suddenly as he sat up and looked at Kagome's thoughtful face. Kagome looked at him with kind eyes.
"What I think about Kouga, is of my own choice. Don't worry about me not resting and getting better, ok? I think I know how I'll balance everything out in the end." Kagome replied brushing her hair behind her ears. She had allowed her hair to grow out now that she didn't really care anymore. She decided to go home and see her mother for a few days and think over everything that dealt with Kouga and herself. She didn't know if she never really thought of Kouga like she had of Inuyasha. The thought of trying to love again, even giving just a little bit of her shattered heart to the wolf prince frightened her.
"Perhaps we should get back to the village. I don't want Sango and Shippo to worry about me anymore." Kagome suggested needing Sango and Shippo with her instead of being alone with Kouga and his unexpected kisses. Kougastood up, his arms stretched above his head before offering his hand to Kagome. Kagome took his hand allowed him to carry her to the village and back to her waiting friends. She's announce that she'd been going home for awhile the next day after a good night's sleep. For the time being, Kagome would just allow herself to be comforted by her friends and those she considered family. She didn't know how long she'd stay in her time but she knew no one would be angry if she didn't return instantly.
'At least, not anymore.'Kagome thought sadly just before they entered the village. Kouga took her directly to Kaede's hut and set her down to be inspected by Sango's worried gaze. Kagome smiled at her best friend before walking off with the demon slayer and small kitsune demon. She glance once over her shoulder to look at Kouga, but he was gone with the wind, or in his case a cloud of dust and twigs. Turning back to Sango, Kagome allowed herself to loosen up and enjoy her time with other humans.
