Chapter 3
At first he told himself that it wasn't possible, but the smell of the charm mixed with the familiar scent of wild flowers, left little room for doubt.
It was Kagome.
Koga watched through one of his wolves' eyes as the carriage transporting Kagome made its way to Sesshomaru's lair. He kept his wolves far enough to not alert the mutts nose, but close enough to not lose sight of them, as he pondered over the situation. Out of all the people. Out of all the demons. Out of all the seasons. Why Kagome? Why the demon lord Sesshomaru? Why during their hardest winter?
It had been years since the day he saved her from drowning, since the day he left, many things has changed. He was suddenly and unexpectedly given the positions of pack leader and was now burdened with the responsibilities for insuring his clan's survival. Time and distant changes people, but that didn't mean he had forgotten her either.
Truth be told when he rescued her he had darker intentions then saving a human child. That night He had ventured out alone to look for a kill to take back to the pack. The rest of the cubs had already made their initiation kill with the help from the other supporting members and he had yet to strike a human down. He needed to prove to his father he was worthy of being part of the pack and to show the others he didn't need anyone's help. So while the other's slept sheltering themselves from the storm, he sought out an opportunity, and found one when he heard her cries for help.
When he got to her—after almost drowning himself, pulling her to the shore line, he prepared to strike her down. He focused his eyes to see through the whirling storm and extended his claws raising them into the air. Their eye locked, he expected her to cry wolf, and was prepared to silence her.
But she didn't.
To his surprise she reached out to him, wrapped her arms around his stomach, and buried her head in his chest.
His body froze as the rain and wind whipped against their bodies. His hands that which where once ready to pierce her, waivered, and hovered over the shivering child afraid to even touch her. The ocean water swelled crashing on shore threatening to lose his balance and pull them back into its dark waters. His muscles twitched with adrenaline and for the anticipation of blood. He had done it so many times with deer's and elk—slicing them open, it shouldn't have been any different for a human. He had imagined his father's voice speaking words of pride, but at that moment the only thing louder than the thunder ripping through the sky, was her voice begging him not to let her go. His body and instinct suddenly felt disconnected and confused by the hesitation.
Demon's and humans were each other's enemies.
It was law, it was code, it was in their nature to hate and kill each other.
She is just food.
She is just a kill.
She is just a human.
He repeated this to himself over and over again as her cries ringed in his ears and her tiny hands clutched his back. Suddenly a powerful wave swept him off his feet and he went under. His lunges chocked from the salty ocean water and when he came up she was gone. A new feeling over took him as he plunged his hands into the water searching desperately for the little girl. He caught a gurgling sound a few feet away, dove, and came back up with her in his arms. The next thing he knew he was carrying her away from the beach on piggy-back and sheltering her from the slanted rain in a hollow tree.
When the storm and dawn broke he left her where she would be found and returned ashamed back to his pack. He swore to himself he would never return or speak of this again. Still, he was just a cub, and curiosity got the better of him. He returned one day and learned that she had caught a horrible fever which impaired her memory of that night. When they did meet again she had forgotten that he was a demon. A demon and a human—anything other than kill or be killed, was taboo. Yet, that summer he spent his days tucking away his tail and ears to visit her every day.
Then he became pack leader and left without saying a word.
He was gone, but his thought stayed with her, deciding that their relationship would be best kept in the memories of innocent childhood. Koga would never imagine that years later, during a hunt with his brethren he would stumble upon her again, and again face the same decision he had to make back then.
Save her or let her die.
"Koga…why are you so bent out of shape about that carriage?" Ginta was the first to speak and break the awkward silence.
"We're hungry…can't we go back to hunting food instead of chasing a box with wheels?" Hakkaku complained.
His two trusted advisors, born from the same litter, they were so close they practically completed each other's sentences one piggy-backing the other. It was annoying at times, but they were the only ones besides Kagome who understood, even after he rose to alpha they stayed when so many left.
"Koga?" They both questioned him in unison.
He growled deep in his throat, part to tell them to be quite, part to push himself to make a decision already.
What his pack needed now was a strong leader, not someone who was sentimental over the past, especially over a human. This situation couldn't have come at a worse time. His clan was starving and everyday there was less food to hunt—especially during the winter. Their territory has steadily been taken over and his pack was growing restless with rebellion. He could sense the fat Northern wolfs laughing at his leadership skills. Now was not the time to play hero. He shouldn't be concerned over a human. The past was the past and he was different now. Besides, she has probably forgotten all about him.
But she didn't.
The charm he gave her when he left, she still had it on her, she hadn't forgotten.
"Is there food in the carriage?"
"All I smell is the Inu-mutt and some girl and she's hardily enough to feed—"
"She's not food!" He barked, sending the two shriveling back and surprising even himself. He quickly turned away, crossing his arms over his chest as he tried to regain his composure.
No, she wasn't just food, or just someone from his childhood memories, or just some human.
She was Kagome and if it wasn't for her he would be dead instead of alpha.
He looked back at his two brethren who were confused but silently waiting for his explanation. Koga decided for now it was best that they know as little as possible. Still, he couldn't be reckless and go against Sesshomaru, not without a plan that is.
"I am in debt to that girl." Was all he said and the two of them looked at him in shock.
"You know that human girl!?"
"From where!?"
"Detail aren't important." Koga brushed their questions aside as he again used his wolf's eyes to spy on the carriage only to see it pass through the castle gate.
"You're not thinking of going after her are you?"
"That's Sesshomaur's castle!"
"Heh! He hasn't moved an inch for almost a hundred years—his practically a fossil, besides I'm not so easily defeated."
In other words, yes, he was going. Could be read off of the expression on his brethren's faces.
He walked to the edge of the steep embankment as he planned his assault on the castle, his two comrades stumbling in the snow behind him, worried over his mental state.
"We're coming with you!"
"You must be crazy if you think we're letting you go in there alone!"
"No," He sharply rejected them, turning away from the wolf's eye, just as Kagome was steeping out of the carriage to face his comrades." I need you two to stay behind and watch over the pack. If anything happens to me you know what to do."
"But Koga—"
"You can't—"
"That's an order." He didn't like using his status on them but he would to keep them safe. He left them with hurt looks on their faces as he made his way to the castle. This time he wouldn't abandon her, this time he wouldn't hesitate, and he will not let her slip away from his grasp. He had a plan—a reckless one like always, but it was a plan. It would insure the survival of his pack through another winter and Kagome's safety. It was the least he could do for his pack and for Kagome. He owed them that much.
