Chapter 6
An Unusual Visit, Romance, and a Friendship Almost Broken
Inuyasha rubbed his still sore cheek. Kagome, Sango, and Miroku looked at him with amused eyes. 2 days and the handprint was still there.
"She didn't have to smack me that hard!" Inuyasha grumbled. The 3 humans started to chuckle. Aiybou sent him a glare over her shoulder and went back to listening to Shippo, who was telling her all about their adventures. Inuyasha sighed. Little brat always got the best treatment from everyone. Especially Kagome. He looked at her through the curtain of hair that was hanging in his face. She was talking animatedly with Sango about something that had happened in her time. He blushed. He felt the wind shift and then took a sniff at the air. He smelled the hated scent that always brought trouble. Up ahead he saw Aiybou sniff and turn around. She had a look of utmost joy on her face.
"Inuyasha, I sense Shikon shards. Close by and coming fast." Kagome said.
"I know, I can smell him. It's that fucking bastard…"
"KOUGA!!" Aiybou shouted. Everyone looked at her in surprise. A whirlwind appeared in camp right behind Aiybou. It stopped showing the wolf youkai. He looked around spotting 2 people that he liked. One, which he saw every now and then, and one he saw once every blue moon.
"Aiybou?" he asked in a soft voice. She turned around, eyes sparkling. Shippo scampered out of her grasp and ran to hide behind Kagome.
"KOUGA!" Aiybou jumped and flung her arms around Kouga's neck. He put his arms around her waist and spun around laughing. Everyone else who was watching this event had their mouths open and question marks all over their heads.
"What are you doing with them Aiybou?" Kouga asked once they had stopped spinning.
"They're helping me find my bother!" She said excitedly.
"You're still looking?"
"I know it's been a long time, but I have a feeling I'm getting closer."
"That's good."
"What are you doing here. Last time I saw you was….. when we were still just children. I was 16 you were 18! No that wasn't the last time…… it was about 50 years ago. Wasn't it? Oh well! Were together now!" Aiybou said very fast. Kouga grinned good-naturedly. He then noticed Kagome. He ran over to her very fast taking her hands in his. Kagome was still too shocked to register anything, especially Inuyasha's low-pitched growl.
"The reason I'm here is to take my woman!" He declared proudly. Aiybou squealed.
"YAY! You finally decided on a mate! I thought you would never get to having pups! Kagome is a very good choice. You are very lucky Kagome!" Aiybou went over and hugged Kagome and then Kouga. Kagome blushed fiercely at the thought of mating Kouga. Everyone else had sweat drops and was backing away from the steaming hanyou who had surprisingly kept quite until now. Aiybou noticed this and looked between Kagome and then Inuyasha. What she had just done clicked in her head, and she backed up for the explosion. Inuyasha reached forward and jerked Kagome out of Kouga's grasp so fast that it was blurred. Kagome blinked, and then blushed when she felt herself pressed against Inuyasha's chest. She turned around in his grasp to see everyone gaping at them and Aiybou looking apologetic.
"Keep your fucking hands off of her you bastard!" Inuyasha shouted. Kouga looked at Aiybou who looked at him with an almost desperation in them.
"She's mine dog turd."
"Like hell." Inuyasha said as he pulled her closer.
"Well you haven't mated her yet meaning that she isn't yours. Meaning I can take her." Kouga said. Kagome turned an even deeper shade of red. She looked at Inuyasha's face, which had turned a light shade of pink.
"She's too young." Inuyasha said in a soft voice. Kagome gasped, but didn't pull away. Sango and Miroku grinned at each other. Shippo tilted his head and looked confused.
"Kouga…" Aiybou said from behind their backs. They turned around.
"What is it?" he asked. Aiybou smiled and took his hand.
"Umm… instead of fighting Inuyasha why don't you just hang around us for a little while so you and I can talk. I… uh… have to tell you something." She stuttered. Everyone looked at her in surprise. It was like she was trying to prevent the 2 men from fighting over Kagome.
"But you know if someone challenges my claim over a woman that I have to fight them." Kouga said looking confused. Why was his friend telling him to not fight his enemy. Aiybou looked at him with guilty eyes and then flicked her gaze over to where Inuyasha and Kagome were standing. Kagome was looking at her gratefully and Inuyasha with confusion.
"I know that…. I… uh… just… don't think that.. uh Kagome wants you to fight! Yeah that's it. Kagome doesn't like fighting. Especially when it involves her. And….. umm…. I don't like it when you fight either. I… uh get worried." Aiybou said trying to make an excuse. Kouga looked to Kagome for some sort of reassurance in those words. Kagome's eyes flicked to Aiybou, who was making gestures behind Kouga's head to make her say yes. Kagome flicked her eyes to Inuyasha who just shrugged. She looked back at Kouga and nodded.
"Well then I guess I could just hang around for awhile. I have to make sure dog turd doesn't touch her." Kouga said grinning self assuredly. Aiybou rolled her eyes, but took Kouga's hand and pulled him away from the group so they could talk. The others stared after them in confused shock.
"What was that?" Shippo squeaked out. Sango and Miroku looked at each other but redirected their attention to Kagome and Inuyasha, who had still not let her go. They were staring after the to youkai that had just them. Sango made a motion that they should give them some privacy. He nodded and grabbed Shippo and walked away, much to the kits disappointment. Inuyasha finally noticed that he was still holding Kagome and broke apart from her abruptly. She looked at him with a slight blush on her cheeks.
"Umm…I…that is.." Inuyasha stumbled over his words. He remembered what he said very clearly and he couldn't take it back without hurting Kagome.
"Did you mean it?" Kagome asked suddenly, cutting off his rambling. He blushed a deep red and looked away.
"Mean what?" he asked trying to put this conversation off as long as possible.
"That the only reason you and I weren't…..mated….was because I was too young?" She stuttered out. Inuyasha turned a brilliant shade of red and found the sky very interesting. Kagome got tired of waiting and placed a hand on his cheek. His eyes shot towards hers.
"Did you or did you not mean it?" she asked softly. Inuyasha placed his hand on hers on his cheek. Not trusting his voice he nodded yes. Kagome's eyes lighted up with happiness and see stood on tiptoe to bring her lips in contact with his. Inuyasha just stood there for a minute and then wound his arms around her waist. He pulled her up higher lifting her off her feet. That increased the deepness of the kiss. Inuyasha licked the rim of her lips asking for entrance. Kagome obliged darting her tongue to meet his. Inuyasha broke off the kiss with a gasp, running a claw lightly down Kagome's cheek. She stared at him through heavy lidded eyes with happiness adoration and….love?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"So what did you need to tell me?" Kouga asked as they sat by a stream not to far off from where they had been before. Aiybou looked into the water at her reflection.
"Kouga what's it like being a full youkai?" Aiybou asked in a soft voice. Kouga was taken aback. Whatever he had thought she wanted to talk about, it certainly wasn't this.
"What do you mean?"
"Like is it any different from what I am now. I mean I've the power of speed, smell, hearing, healing, and all that stuff that a youkai have. I also have all the human emotions, love, fear, hate, and sadness. I was wondering if it was any different being a full youkai." Aiybou said not meeting his gaze. Kouga put a clawed hand on her cheek and turned her face so she was forced to look at him.
"What's wrong with you. You've never acted like this before. Are you upset by being a half youkai?" Kouga asked in a gruff voice. Aiybou pulled away from his grasp.
"Of course not. I just asked a simple question." She huffed getting angry.
"It's the way you asked it!" Kouga rising to meet the challenge in her voice.
"How did I ask it Kouga!" Aiybou shouted.
"You were all depressed and looked all stupid and sappy. Not acting tough at all!" Kouga stood up. Aiybou followed the suite, both getting in each other's faces.
"I AM TOUGH!"
"YOU AREN'T ACTING LIKE IT!"
"DON'T YOU DARE YELL AT ME!"
"YOUR YELLING AT ME!"
"JUST SHUT UP!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Back at the camp that Miroku, Sango, and Shippo set up Inuyasha and Kagome walked in holding hands. The 2 humans shared a small private smile. Suddenly they heard yelling.
"I AM TOUGH!" they heard Aiybou shout.
"YOU AREN'T ACTING LIKE IT!" they heard Kouga shout back. They all winced. Looked like the short-lived peace was going to be destroyed.
"I thought they were friends?" Shippo said in a confused voice.
"Looks like Kouga did something to piss her off." Inuyasha said pulling Kagome closer.
"DON'T YOU DARE YELL AT ME!"
"YOUR YELLING AT ME!"
"JUST SHUT UP!"
"Sounds like Inuyasha and Kagome when they're fighting." Sango thought out loud. Everyone chuckled.
"I DON'T HAVE TO LISTEN TO SOMEONE WEAKER THAN ME!" Everyone grimaced when they heard a smack vibrating off the forest. Then they all grinned at each other. Kouga got smacked.
"I've never said that before." Inuyasha commented. Kagome gave him a look.
"You've come pretty close." She said shooting him a halfhearted glare. She stopped though when she saw Aiybou come running back into camp. She had her hands in her face. She grabbed her bag, and ran back out of camp.
"Aiybou!" Kagome shouted after her, but she was already gone. Kouga rushed into the camp about 5 seconds later. He looked around wide-eyed.
"I didn't mean to. It was an accident. I just got angry." He whispered. Then he took off in the direction of Aiybou's scent. The group looked at each other in confusion.
"What do you think could have made Aiybou cry?" Miroku asked. Everyone shrugged.
"I didn't see a handprint on Kouga's face." Shippo commented. Everyone looked at each other.
"Now that you mention it I didn't see one either. You don't think…." Kagome's voice trailed off.
"That Kouga smacked her?" Sango finished.
"That would explain the crying" Inuyasha said in an angry voice.
He smelled Aiybou coming fast in his direction. He put Kagome to the side quickly so she wouldn't get hurt. Aiybou burst into the camp with Kouga hot on her heels. To there surprise Kouga couldn't seem to catch her. Aiybou ran right into Inuyasha, not looking where she was going. She looked up, and he was surprised to see that her eyes were red rimed with tears pouring out. Her face was all blotchy from crying and there was a light red handprint on her cheek. She thought it safe in Inuyasha's arms and proceeded to cry her eyes out on his haori. He looked at Kagome desperately, who made a motion for him to comfort her. Inuyasha tentatively put his arms around her and patted her back soothingly. Kouga looked outraged.
"LET GO OF HER YOU STUPID ASSHOLE!" he shouted. He made an attempt to pull her out of his arms. Inuyasha pulled her out of Kouga's reach and put her with Kagome, where the girl promptly started crying into Kagome's shirt. Inuyasha turned to Kouga.
"It's obvious she can't talk to you right now. Whatever you said or did was bad enough that she can even outrun you. Go away. Come back later. I don't care. Just leave her alone and us." Inuyasha said. Kouga opened his mouth to reply, but Aiybou cut him off.
"He's right! I can't even look at you right now. Just go away Kouga!" Aiybou sobbed. Kouga looked at her and then at everyone who looked ready to defend the girl. He sighed and slumped his shoulders.
"I'm sorry Aiybou. I didn't mean to hit you. I just got so angry. You know where to find me if you ever stop being angry." Kouga said. He turned around and got ready to run, but Aiybou made a sound in her throat that made stop.
"I'll see you later Kouga." He turned around and saw Aiybou smiling at him. He smiled a small smile back, but then got his high and mighty act back together, and ran off leaving a dust pile in back of him. Everyone stared at Aiybou. Hadn't she just said she couldn't even look at him. She looked up at them and wiped her tears away. She got up and brushed herself off. She jumped up into the nearest tree on a low branch so she could still watch them. She sighed and settled down for a nap. Her eyes fluttered shut, but before she fell asleep she said…
"All I wanted him to do was apologize."
An Unusual Visit, Romance, and a Friendship Almost Broken
Inuyasha rubbed his still sore cheek. Kagome, Sango, and Miroku looked at him with amused eyes. 2 days and the handprint was still there.
"She didn't have to smack me that hard!" Inuyasha grumbled. The 3 humans started to chuckle. Aiybou sent him a glare over her shoulder and went back to listening to Shippo, who was telling her all about their adventures. Inuyasha sighed. Little brat always got the best treatment from everyone. Especially Kagome. He looked at her through the curtain of hair that was hanging in his face. She was talking animatedly with Sango about something that had happened in her time. He blushed. He felt the wind shift and then took a sniff at the air. He smelled the hated scent that always brought trouble. Up ahead he saw Aiybou sniff and turn around. She had a look of utmost joy on her face.
"Inuyasha, I sense Shikon shards. Close by and coming fast." Kagome said.
"I know, I can smell him. It's that fucking bastard…"
"KOUGA!!" Aiybou shouted. Everyone looked at her in surprise. A whirlwind appeared in camp right behind Aiybou. It stopped showing the wolf youkai. He looked around spotting 2 people that he liked. One, which he saw every now and then, and one he saw once every blue moon.
"Aiybou?" he asked in a soft voice. She turned around, eyes sparkling. Shippo scampered out of her grasp and ran to hide behind Kagome.
"KOUGA!" Aiybou jumped and flung her arms around Kouga's neck. He put his arms around her waist and spun around laughing. Everyone else who was watching this event had their mouths open and question marks all over their heads.
"What are you doing with them Aiybou?" Kouga asked once they had stopped spinning.
"They're helping me find my bother!" She said excitedly.
"You're still looking?"
"I know it's been a long time, but I have a feeling I'm getting closer."
"That's good."
"What are you doing here. Last time I saw you was….. when we were still just children. I was 16 you were 18! No that wasn't the last time…… it was about 50 years ago. Wasn't it? Oh well! Were together now!" Aiybou said very fast. Kouga grinned good-naturedly. He then noticed Kagome. He ran over to her very fast taking her hands in his. Kagome was still too shocked to register anything, especially Inuyasha's low-pitched growl.
"The reason I'm here is to take my woman!" He declared proudly. Aiybou squealed.
"YAY! You finally decided on a mate! I thought you would never get to having pups! Kagome is a very good choice. You are very lucky Kagome!" Aiybou went over and hugged Kagome and then Kouga. Kagome blushed fiercely at the thought of mating Kouga. Everyone else had sweat drops and was backing away from the steaming hanyou who had surprisingly kept quite until now. Aiybou noticed this and looked between Kagome and then Inuyasha. What she had just done clicked in her head, and she backed up for the explosion. Inuyasha reached forward and jerked Kagome out of Kouga's grasp so fast that it was blurred. Kagome blinked, and then blushed when she felt herself pressed against Inuyasha's chest. She turned around in his grasp to see everyone gaping at them and Aiybou looking apologetic.
"Keep your fucking hands off of her you bastard!" Inuyasha shouted. Kouga looked at Aiybou who looked at him with an almost desperation in them.
"She's mine dog turd."
"Like hell." Inuyasha said as he pulled her closer.
"Well you haven't mated her yet meaning that she isn't yours. Meaning I can take her." Kouga said. Kagome turned an even deeper shade of red. She looked at Inuyasha's face, which had turned a light shade of pink.
"She's too young." Inuyasha said in a soft voice. Kagome gasped, but didn't pull away. Sango and Miroku grinned at each other. Shippo tilted his head and looked confused.
"Kouga…" Aiybou said from behind their backs. They turned around.
"What is it?" he asked. Aiybou smiled and took his hand.
"Umm… instead of fighting Inuyasha why don't you just hang around us for a little while so you and I can talk. I… uh… have to tell you something." She stuttered. Everyone looked at her in surprise. It was like she was trying to prevent the 2 men from fighting over Kagome.
"But you know if someone challenges my claim over a woman that I have to fight them." Kouga said looking confused. Why was his friend telling him to not fight his enemy. Aiybou looked at him with guilty eyes and then flicked her gaze over to where Inuyasha and Kagome were standing. Kagome was looking at her gratefully and Inuyasha with confusion.
"I know that…. I… uh… just… don't think that.. uh Kagome wants you to fight! Yeah that's it. Kagome doesn't like fighting. Especially when it involves her. And….. umm…. I don't like it when you fight either. I… uh get worried." Aiybou said trying to make an excuse. Kouga looked to Kagome for some sort of reassurance in those words. Kagome's eyes flicked to Aiybou, who was making gestures behind Kouga's head to make her say yes. Kagome flicked her eyes to Inuyasha who just shrugged. She looked back at Kouga and nodded.
"Well then I guess I could just hang around for awhile. I have to make sure dog turd doesn't touch her." Kouga said grinning self assuredly. Aiybou rolled her eyes, but took Kouga's hand and pulled him away from the group so they could talk. The others stared after them in confused shock.
"What was that?" Shippo squeaked out. Sango and Miroku looked at each other but redirected their attention to Kagome and Inuyasha, who had still not let her go. They were staring after the to youkai that had just them. Sango made a motion that they should give them some privacy. He nodded and grabbed Shippo and walked away, much to the kits disappointment. Inuyasha finally noticed that he was still holding Kagome and broke apart from her abruptly. She looked at him with a slight blush on her cheeks.
"Umm…I…that is.." Inuyasha stumbled over his words. He remembered what he said very clearly and he couldn't take it back without hurting Kagome.
"Did you mean it?" Kagome asked suddenly, cutting off his rambling. He blushed a deep red and looked away.
"Mean what?" he asked trying to put this conversation off as long as possible.
"That the only reason you and I weren't…..mated….was because I was too young?" She stuttered out. Inuyasha turned a brilliant shade of red and found the sky very interesting. Kagome got tired of waiting and placed a hand on his cheek. His eyes shot towards hers.
"Did you or did you not mean it?" she asked softly. Inuyasha placed his hand on hers on his cheek. Not trusting his voice he nodded yes. Kagome's eyes lighted up with happiness and see stood on tiptoe to bring her lips in contact with his. Inuyasha just stood there for a minute and then wound his arms around her waist. He pulled her up higher lifting her off her feet. That increased the deepness of the kiss. Inuyasha licked the rim of her lips asking for entrance. Kagome obliged darting her tongue to meet his. Inuyasha broke off the kiss with a gasp, running a claw lightly down Kagome's cheek. She stared at him through heavy lidded eyes with happiness adoration and….love?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"So what did you need to tell me?" Kouga asked as they sat by a stream not to far off from where they had been before. Aiybou looked into the water at her reflection.
"Kouga what's it like being a full youkai?" Aiybou asked in a soft voice. Kouga was taken aback. Whatever he had thought she wanted to talk about, it certainly wasn't this.
"What do you mean?"
"Like is it any different from what I am now. I mean I've the power of speed, smell, hearing, healing, and all that stuff that a youkai have. I also have all the human emotions, love, fear, hate, and sadness. I was wondering if it was any different being a full youkai." Aiybou said not meeting his gaze. Kouga put a clawed hand on her cheek and turned her face so she was forced to look at him.
"What's wrong with you. You've never acted like this before. Are you upset by being a half youkai?" Kouga asked in a gruff voice. Aiybou pulled away from his grasp.
"Of course not. I just asked a simple question." She huffed getting angry.
"It's the way you asked it!" Kouga rising to meet the challenge in her voice.
"How did I ask it Kouga!" Aiybou shouted.
"You were all depressed and looked all stupid and sappy. Not acting tough at all!" Kouga stood up. Aiybou followed the suite, both getting in each other's faces.
"I AM TOUGH!"
"YOU AREN'T ACTING LIKE IT!"
"DON'T YOU DARE YELL AT ME!"
"YOUR YELLING AT ME!"
"JUST SHUT UP!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Back at the camp that Miroku, Sango, and Shippo set up Inuyasha and Kagome walked in holding hands. The 2 humans shared a small private smile. Suddenly they heard yelling.
"I AM TOUGH!" they heard Aiybou shout.
"YOU AREN'T ACTING LIKE IT!" they heard Kouga shout back. They all winced. Looked like the short-lived peace was going to be destroyed.
"I thought they were friends?" Shippo said in a confused voice.
"Looks like Kouga did something to piss her off." Inuyasha said pulling Kagome closer.
"DON'T YOU DARE YELL AT ME!"
"YOUR YELLING AT ME!"
"JUST SHUT UP!"
"Sounds like Inuyasha and Kagome when they're fighting." Sango thought out loud. Everyone chuckled.
"I DON'T HAVE TO LISTEN TO SOMEONE WEAKER THAN ME!" Everyone grimaced when they heard a smack vibrating off the forest. Then they all grinned at each other. Kouga got smacked.
"I've never said that before." Inuyasha commented. Kagome gave him a look.
"You've come pretty close." She said shooting him a halfhearted glare. She stopped though when she saw Aiybou come running back into camp. She had her hands in her face. She grabbed her bag, and ran back out of camp.
"Aiybou!" Kagome shouted after her, but she was already gone. Kouga rushed into the camp about 5 seconds later. He looked around wide-eyed.
"I didn't mean to. It was an accident. I just got angry." He whispered. Then he took off in the direction of Aiybou's scent. The group looked at each other in confusion.
"What do you think could have made Aiybou cry?" Miroku asked. Everyone shrugged.
"I didn't see a handprint on Kouga's face." Shippo commented. Everyone looked at each other.
"Now that you mention it I didn't see one either. You don't think…." Kagome's voice trailed off.
"That Kouga smacked her?" Sango finished.
"That would explain the crying" Inuyasha said in an angry voice.
He smelled Aiybou coming fast in his direction. He put Kagome to the side quickly so she wouldn't get hurt. Aiybou burst into the camp with Kouga hot on her heels. To there surprise Kouga couldn't seem to catch her. Aiybou ran right into Inuyasha, not looking where she was going. She looked up, and he was surprised to see that her eyes were red rimed with tears pouring out. Her face was all blotchy from crying and there was a light red handprint on her cheek. She thought it safe in Inuyasha's arms and proceeded to cry her eyes out on his haori. He looked at Kagome desperately, who made a motion for him to comfort her. Inuyasha tentatively put his arms around her and patted her back soothingly. Kouga looked outraged.
"LET GO OF HER YOU STUPID ASSHOLE!" he shouted. He made an attempt to pull her out of his arms. Inuyasha pulled her out of Kouga's reach and put her with Kagome, where the girl promptly started crying into Kagome's shirt. Inuyasha turned to Kouga.
"It's obvious she can't talk to you right now. Whatever you said or did was bad enough that she can even outrun you. Go away. Come back later. I don't care. Just leave her alone and us." Inuyasha said. Kouga opened his mouth to reply, but Aiybou cut him off.
"He's right! I can't even look at you right now. Just go away Kouga!" Aiybou sobbed. Kouga looked at her and then at everyone who looked ready to defend the girl. He sighed and slumped his shoulders.
"I'm sorry Aiybou. I didn't mean to hit you. I just got so angry. You know where to find me if you ever stop being angry." Kouga said. He turned around and got ready to run, but Aiybou made a sound in her throat that made stop.
"I'll see you later Kouga." He turned around and saw Aiybou smiling at him. He smiled a small smile back, but then got his high and mighty act back together, and ran off leaving a dust pile in back of him. Everyone stared at Aiybou. Hadn't she just said she couldn't even look at him. She looked up at them and wiped her tears away. She got up and brushed herself off. She jumped up into the nearest tree on a low branch so she could still watch them. She sighed and settled down for a nap. Her eyes fluttered shut, but before she fell asleep she said…
"All I wanted him to do was apologize."