~Scene Three~

Kagome groaned and rubbed her head as she sat up.

There was a wild, overbearing aura pushing against her and making it harder to breathe. She could feel a jumble of emotions mixed in it but the one that stood out the most was rage. With rising fear, she shuffled around to see Kouga lying just across from her, completely still. 'The spell; it's still in effect!' Heart jumping into her throat, she scrambled for the ladder and tried to climb up but was too late. A hand grabbed the hem of her kimono and pulled harshly, very near to choking her. She let go, gasping as she fell backwards into a pair of arms. They curled around her form immediately.

Making a noise in the back of her throat that was similar to that of a wounded animal, she started to struggle against his grip and clawed at his arms. She would have opened her mouth to say the word again but teeth brushed the artery in her neck, a clear warning. Her body stilled instinctively.

"K-Kou-" The growl that reverberated through his chest and through her back bounced off the walls and stilled her voice. He was pissed.

"Quiet, bitch! You will not trick me this time and if you dare say that word again, I will force you to submit and prove that I am your dominant!" He snarled, breath fanning oppressively against her ear. "You run from me, fight me, and trick me; did you think there would be no repercussions for it?"

"Please don't." She gasped, fingers curling into his arms.

"I said quiet!" His voice was rougher, more feral but he let her go if not a bit forcefully. "Walk over to the wall and place your hands on it, palm down."

"B-"

"Now."

Kagome hesitated then did what he said. Her pulse was loud as it pounded in her ears. She felt so vulnerable and exposed like this but couldn't figure out why. The top half of her kimono tightened noticeably before ripping cloth sounded. Her nipples hardened at the cool temperature when her bra was also ripped off. The muscles in her neck twitched when he skimmed a finger along the flesh, brushing hair out of the way.

The miko was just about to turn when there was a brief moment of hot breath before a sharp pain ripped through her neck. Eyes widening, she shrieked at the feeling of his fangs piercing her and tried to move but his hands were gripping her waist and shoulder. Lips trembling, she tried not to think about the blood that was running down her collarbone. She made a quiet, shuddering sob when he pulled out and began to lick at the wound, the texture of his tongue rough against her skin.

Her hands shook against the wall when he pulled away and she slowly turned around, relaxing a little when he made no objection. His eyes were closed and he was breathing heavily. She covered her exposed chest, feeling humiliated.

Kagome tensed when he looked at her and pressed herself back into the wall. "Kou-"

He gave a soft growl and stepped towards her, pausing when a voice spoke from above them.

"Sis?" It echoed through the recesses of the well, soft and hesitant.

Panic and relief both flooded through her. "Souta?"

"Is something wrong? I thought I heard a scream; do you need me to get a flashlight?"

"Ie; I'm fine." She tried not to pay attention when Kouga got closer to her while she was talking. He was glaring down at her, hands clenched and shoulders rigid. "I just hit myself on the ladder. I'll be up in a few minutes."

"Alright." A creak of the step and she heard the slide of well house door open then close before it was silent again. Tentatively, she took a peek up at the wolf demon and winced when she saw the murderous scowl still on his face. "Please don't; I won't try to run and-and," The stress from the past two days caught up with her and she hiccupped, tears beginning to run down her cheeks.

There was a sigh and she was suddenly being scooped up into his arms. He sat down and hugged her to him, hand trailing a soft caress against her raw – and throbbing – neck. He reached out with his other to pull her bag closer to them but didn't open it.

"I should apologize. I let my anger and instincts get the better of me. There are times when I tend to forget that you're a human and you can't be treated as roughly as a demoness." His palm was lying flat against the flesh now, kneading it and she calmed down some. His words and what he was doing made her feel better but she only curled against his chest. Exhausted, she let him reposition her so that she was straddling him and just lay there. The feel of him untying the knot in her obi had her rearing back and staring at him, wide-eyed though she didn't move her hands.

He gave a small quirk of his lips but she could see the slight irritation returning in the cerulean depths. After a moment's indecision and a recall of what just happened, she relaxed and let him rid her of her the rest of her clothing. Goosebumps decorated her body from the cool air and she moved to get to her knees so he could take off her underwear but was surprised when he shook his head and just brought her closer to his body again.

Kouga stared at her, taking in every scar that littered her body though his fingers trailed the one that ran from her left shoulder to her lower back. He remembered the day she had gotten that as well as the torment and despair she had gone through afterwards. Yet as he looked at her now, only pride ran through him and he let a real smile cross his lips. His mate was strong, beautiful, and powerful. Pleased, he reached for the bag again and pulled out some of her clothes, handing them to her.

She hesitated for only second and stood, quietly looking at him. When he made no move and just relaxed further against the wall, she began to dress again. The way his eyes followed each movement of her hands made her uncomfortable but she said nothing. He stood when she buttoned her jeans and wrapped an arm around her waist, tightening just a little then jumped. Kagome gave a small squeak but didn't fight. He squeezed her reassuringly as they landed softly on the ground. With only a quick side-glance at the door, he looked at her expectantly.

The miko licked her lips and led him up the small set of stairs to slide it open. It was sunny outside but something told her that this day would not end in any way that she would have preferred.

'Just like yesterday.'

Fin.