A/N: Inuyasha and its original characters were the creation of Rumiko Takahashi. I do not claim them as mine. The characters Masahiro, Haru, Sune-ku and Ryotaro were my original creations.
Warning: Profanity abounds as well as a rape scene.
CHAPTER 14"Hello beautiful."
Kouga's presence had made itself known even before Kagome heard his deep rough voice. When she senses him his aura could be compared to a knight in shining armor, well, albeit an amorous one but strangely all his declarations of making her his woman has not come to reality.
Now the Ookami radiates joy and a little bit of arousal in seeing her again and probably due to the fact that viewing the expanse of her bared back affected him. Nevertheless her smile of happiness at seeing the Ookami lord once more almost took his breath away. He draped a pelt like cape around her bare shoulders to shield her from the cool air and the prying eyes of the gawking villagers and to stop him for doing something stupid to the girl just because he saw a little bit of skin.
Damn, if that smile didn't make my day! Who's that kid with her now? Can't be hers, though that's for sure.
The villagers had exclaimed in surprise when the Ookami lord entered the town and stepped near the miko. The wolf lord was quite different from the refined looking Western lords; he was more rugged looking, looking more like a nature spirit than the two silver-haired dog demons. He was imposing in appearance as well with his tall muscled stature and brawny arms, long dark hair up on ponytail, dark clothing and his blazing blue eyes. They were further baffled when the Ookami lord was greeted joyfully by the woman, who they were told, was a miko. The woman's behavior wasn't natural towards the youkai and vice versa. Youkai do not generally behave respectfully to humans but these two daiyoukai's had exhibited affection and protectiveness towards her, not to mention the youkai child clinging to the miko's neck like she's his mother.
"Oh, thank you so much, Kouga-sama!" Kagome noticed that the pelt was the Ookami lord's own vest. It was still warm from his body and the material was very soft to the touch. Kagome carefully slid her arms inside the armholes careful not to accidentally show too much skin for as it is Kouga's eyes were always drifting down to her back or to her partially exposed chest. It took all her concentration just to hold Ryo and keep her modesty at the same time. It was a relief when the vest covered what it needed to be covered.
"Kagome, how is it that other men could take off your clothes but I couldn't, hm?" Kouga jokingly murmured and chuckled at Kagome's fiery blush, the play of color on her alabaster skin was a breathtaking sight for the Ookami lord. Kagome couldn't help but give a nervous laugh.
"Kouga-sama, shame on you!" Kagome remembered the Ookami lord's fondness for teasing her just to see her blush. She didn't fail to notice how his hand lingered on her shoulders or how his eyes caressed her bare back before he covered her with his pelt. Despite of his behavior Kagome felt a thrill run through her body at his appreciation of her femininity.
If there's one thing about Kouga is that he's easy to read. He doesn't hide his feelings and he shows it, sometimes too much. But he doesn't have any hidden agendas up his sleeves and he lets you know that he's pursuing you. He's very verbose about it too but there's no other person or youkai that she's more comfortable with than Kouga. Now Sesshoumaru…that's another matter all together.
"Hm. Something has changed…" Kouga looked at her intently and then clicked his fingers. "Uh-huh! You got your memory back!" He smiled that incredible smile of his and Kagome felt her blush deepen.
"That's right, Kouga-sama…eh, Kouga." Kagome amended with a bright smile when Kouga mock glared at her.
"That's better. I'm happy for you, Kagome." Kouga peered closer to the boy hiding his face in Kagome's neck. " And who's this?"
"This is Ryotaro, Lord Kouga. He's a fire dragon. Say 'hi' to Kouga-sama, baby. Come on." The boy shyly took a peek at the wolf lord and promptly went back into hiding in Kagome's hair. Kagome and Kouga chuckled as she bounced the boy a little to comfort him. "He's shy and scared of people."
"Cute little fella.'" The Ookami lord smiled then glanced at the silver haired half-brothers confronting the headman, he clapped his hand once and rubbed it as if he had decided on something. "Well, since they are still busy with them I think we should find a nice place to camp…" Without much ado the Ookami lord swung Kagome in his arms, dragon boy and all and raced out of the village.
"Wait! Where are you taking us Kouga?" Kagome patted Ryo's back when the boy began to growl softly in confusion at the new face but he wasn't showing any hostile actions toward the Ookami lord, yet.
"Getting you out of there. Don't tell me that you're worried about that Takemaru guy! I'm gonna be jealous!"
"No, that's not it! But we need to go back!" The trees were passing by them in a blur, the wind sweeping Kagome's hair like a dark banner.
"Nah, don't worry about those two pups. They can take care of themselves." Kouga raced down to a narrow gulch and Kagome's stomach lurched at the steep incline but Kouga traversed it so easily. She couldn't even hear his breath change as he run.
"I'm more worried for the villagers. You know, Inuyasha might hurt them." Kagome tightened her hold on Ryo but the boy's eyes looked thrilled at Kouga's speed as the ground sped past them, his lips open in a smile, his eyes bright.
"Nah, Sesshoumaru won't let him do that." Kouga leapt at a boulder and used it to speed up his momentum to jump across a ravine.
The boy clapped and yelled a "whee!" at how high they were from the ground but Kagome closed her eyes when she saw what's below them, clutching the boy a little tighter; not she doesn't trust Kouga's strength but she hate heights.
Kouga laughed at the youkai boy. "You like that pup, eh?" Ryo nodded enthusiastically, his eyes twinkling.
"Kouga, they might look for us." Kagome was so glad when Kouga's feet touched ground, he didn't even pause as if he didn't just jump over a chasm but raced ahead kicking up dust behind him.
"Keh! They could easily find us. Don't worry!" Then Kouga looked down at her. "Why, are you scared that I might take you off somewhere and ravish you?" Kouga lowered his head at Kagome's hair and smelled her fantastic scent. He had missed her all these weeks and it felt like months!
"You know," Kagome smiled as she looked up at the handsome Ookami lord. "this reminded me why I need my knife with me all the time!" The miko and the Ookami lord shared a laugh, their easy banter coming back as if it was like yesterday.
Kouga's heart felt his chest would burst with happiness hearing Kagome's laughter again and at having the miko back in his life, and for now, in his arms. He had half the mind to whisk her away back to his fortress and mate her, if she would have him, that is. But he couldn't do that to her, he respects her too much to force her into mating him or making her do something she's not ready to. The Ookami lord almost smirked when he imagined the fury in Sesshoumaru's face when he finds out that Kouga's gone and swept Kagome away right under his grimy two-timing hands. Tempting…very tempting.
Kouga was almost driven insane when the miko vanished inside that cave and Sesshoumaru wasn't any help for the damned dog was out cold for days! He wanted to tear apart the entire place to find Kagome. Ginta and Hakkaku were equally useless since they were inside that barrier and couldn't give any answers.
When they had settled down to their new camp the wolf tribe was shocked and awed when Ginta regaled them about Kagome's challenge and how she protected them from the Inu lord's wrath. They never knew she could fight that well and knows how to use weapons with deadly accuracy, everyone was left open mouthed when they had come upon the duel in that clearing.
Then it took his betas (Ginta, Hakkaku and Kozaku) to drag him back to their own camp because he almost went into a berserker rage after he heard from Ginta and Hakkaku about Sesshoumaru's 'conditions' to force Kagome to become his woman. That damned dog doesn't even know how to properly proposition a woman! How crass! How dare he insult Kagome with that 'condition', my ass! If the arrogant bastard weren't unconscious already he would have slashed the idiot to bits!
Maybe that dog had been dropped on his head when he was a pup if he thinks that his ideas were brilliant! He took consolation that when she faced Sesshoumaru on the duel she trounced the Inu youkai hands down with her strange fighting style
Come to think of it, the Ookami thought, he had never seen Kagome use that skill the whole time she was in his keep or hear what those metal things she called 'guns' could do. Kouga was more enamored of the miko now that she had displayed those devastating talents of hers. Who would have thought that within that drop dead gorgeous package is a lethal weapon?
Kouga was a great admirer of strong women. That's his weakness. He care not of pretty faces or fantastic bodies that could bore you to tears in minutes or, heaven forbid, cling to you and whine all day about trivial things, what he wants is a woman who could fight her way out of any form of adversity.
That's why his heart was filled with pride when he saw Kagome standing in the middle of the dirt road in that village, the shoulder of her yukata torn down to her back but she proudly stood her ground against that village headman as fearless as a warrior on a battle field. Yup, his kind of woman.
As Kouga skidded to a stop near a river they were met by the ecstatic Ginta and Hakkaku who dropped everything they were doing to meet their lord and his precious bundle.
"Kagome-neechan!" They chorused and jumped up and down in delight.
Kagome had to put Ryo down on a log to dash to the pair of wolf youkai who had been like her brothers. The two might be way older than her, perhaps by fifty years or so, but from their behavior she sounded and acted more mature than them. But it doesn't matter, for family could be found in the unlikely places and in this place and with these people she felt at home and accepted.
"Oh!" Kagome gushed as she hugged the two wolves in both arms. "I missed you both!"
Ginta and Hakkaku almost choked to death in the boa constrictor tight hug. Kami! Neechan was as strong as a youkai! "Nee…ack! Neechan!" Ginta and Hakkaku could feel they were getting quite blue in the face and going cross-eyed.
"Oh!" Kagome quickly released the two. "He-he-he! Sorry boys!" But she took them back in her arms and gave them a far less fatal hug. The three looked silly locked in each other's arms, laughing while bouncing up and down.
Kouga chuckled at the scene and turned to survey the camp pleased to see that it was done to his specifications; nodding with approval at the arrangement the two betas had set up under a tree. This is the reason why he was delayed because he decided to prepare for Kagome's return and surprise her. He doesn't want Kagome to return to the dog demon's camp just yet. Kagome would be comfortable here with him where he calls the shots.
"I am glad that you're back with us, Kagome-sama."
Kagome turned with a gasp when she recognized the voice. "Haru!" She opened her arms wide to enclose the boar youkai who was putting down some kindling for the fire. The young youkai smiled and stepped into her embrace.
"Come here, you!" Kagome grabbed the boy, sniffed a little and the youkai smelled her tears. "I missed you, Haru!"
"I as well, Kagome-sama" Haru patted his ward's shoulder and noticed the frayed cloth peeking below the hem of the wolf pelt cape. "Were you hurt, Kagome-sama?"
"Uh no, why Haru?" Kagome followed Haru's eyes and realized with a jolt that she's half naked under the pelt. "Oh, that…uh, I had an accident…." she finished lamely as her cheeks got redder again.
"Would you like to change clothes Kagome?" Kouga came up behind her saving her from further embarrassment. "You will find your things inside." The Ookami lord escorted the woman to the tent, Haru automatically taking up his role as her bodyguard again and was right behind her. "This is yours." He pointed with an open hand at the tent.
"Really? Oh…Kouga thank you so much!" Kagome felt fresh tears well from her eyes at the thoughtful gesture from the Ookami lord as she embraced him tightly.
It was unknown to the miko if the emotional travails of the past months had finally caught up with her but she was horrified when she felt something snap inside her heart and tears ran unchecked quietly on her cheeks. Without Kouga's support she would have sunk down to the ground and wet the earth with her tears. Haru stepped away from the pair to give his ward some privacy.
Ginta and Hakkaku stopped preparing dinner when they smelled the salty tears but Kouga motioned for them to relax. Even Ryo stayed away after seeing that his surrogate mother is trusting with the Ookami lord. Instead, the boy trotted on chubby legs to the two wolf youkai his mother hugged before. He only trust who his mother trusts.
Kouga wrapped his arms around the waist of the crying woman and kissed the top of her head tenderly, his hand cupping the base of her neck happy that he had done the right thing. It was so easy to make her happy. But he was also sad to see her cry; he knew the reason of her tears but it tore his heart so. She'd been so brave surviving on her wits and knew how terrifying it was to be lost on your own in youkai territory.
He felt her hot tears soaking his haori, glad that he'd forgone his armor so he could feel her womanly softness and warmth through the fabric. They stayed like that for a few minutes, letting her vent her pent up emotions.
"Hey." Kouga softly said as he lifted Kagome's chin and stroked the tears away with his thumb. "If you'd cry like this every time you're thankful I'm not gonna do it again!" he said with mock irritation.
Kagome gave a shaky laugh at his words and the Ookami lord was glad that he was successful at getting her out of a potential super long crying jag. Not that it made him uncomfortable, but dwelling on the past isn't healthy for anybody and he wouldn't let his Kagome sink into that deep pit of depression.
"Now, personally I'm so happy that you're back in my arms, you know." He sighed, while tightening his hold on her. "And if you don't release me I might think that you're ready to be my woman…"
"Oh! You're impossible!" Kagome pulled away a little, sniffling and weakly swatted the wolf lord's arm. "You're just looking for a way to take advantage of me!"
"Me? Take advantage of you? I think it's the other way around! What could a helpless youkai like me do?" He shrugged his shoulder theatrically. "You always accost me…I couldn't fight you, you know." When he looked at Kagome with a 'woe-is-me' expression the woman began to giggle helplessly.
"Stop, you!" Swatting at him again. Then she took a deep steadying breath and looked at him straight and serious. "Thank you, Kouga."
"You're more than welcome, Kagome." He murmured. His thumb caressed the smooth chin and when he looked at her eyes he felt helplessly drawn in…
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"Rin!" Shippo grabbed the woman's shoulders and shook her; Rin's dark locks tumbled over her face and shoulders like a dark shroud. The action stopped the laughter. "Why?" Shippo ground out, he was afraid of her answer but he wanted to know, he had to know.
The advisor sighed, her voice sounding broken and dejected. "Stupidity. What else?"
"Are you in love with him?" Rin averted her eyes. Shippo clenched his fists.
Shippo looked at the woman he loved, the woman he had been promised with and realized that he didn't know her. The kitsune suddenly pounced on her when she didn't answer but the silence was damning enough.
"Get off me, Shippo!" Rin's small hands tried to push away the heavy kitsune general on top of her but with her petite frame she felt like a kitten pushing an iron muscled 6-foot tall tiger. She could feel his hot breath on her neck as he latched his lips on them. She swung her hand to slap the kitsune but his free hand caught both her hands and held them immobile above her head. The woman snarled in anger at her puny attempts to free herself from Shippo's iron grip.
Rin tried to scoot away from him but his other hand swept her back under him. She grunted when her ribs smacked against the armor, she curved her body in reflex against the pain, grimacing. She got a jolt when the kitsune pushed aside the haori to cup and squeeze her breast. Rin caught her breath when his touch burned a path down to her core. It would have been a pleasurable sensation if the fear had not been foremost. Her cries of protests were muffled when his hand grabbed her chin and succeeded in capturing her mouth, his tongue probing and conquering her objection.
Shippo nudged Rin's flailing legs apart and the advisor felt a rush of fear as she felt his hardness through his clothes. Her heart was hammering against her ribs when he ground himself against her a sob of helplessness was torn from her lips.
"You are mine Rin, hear me?" Shippo's voice was shaking with his movements as he hurried to untie his obi and dispose of his garments. As his armor was freed he tossed it aside with a clang beside the futon. The obi fell away followed swiftly by his hakama. When Rin glimpsed him untying his fundoshi a fresh burst of fear made her panic.
"No!" Rin snarled and twisted against his hands and got successful in freeing herself. She quickly rolled out from under him and struggled to stand but he caught her ankle and she went down hard again. She winced as his other hand scraped the tender skin of her leg as he held her tight.
Her other foot lashed out and hit Shippo in the face but he just batted it away. Shippo half dragged Rin back to him by her ankle, the loose haori bunching under her and displaying her naked body fully to him.
Rin cursed her stupidity for the second time that night as she remembered that she had nothing on under Sesshoumaru's haori.
The sight of her tiny form like a delicate statue excited him and he didn't notice her tears at first as he aligned himself to her. Rin realized it was hopeless to fight his superior strength. She could not fight him like Kagome and burn youkai with her holy power. She was just an ordinary weak human, no fighting skills, no weapons at her disposal there's nothing for her to do but admit defeat.
"Go ahead."
The flat soft words were more effective than a cold bucket of water to a blazing fire. Shippo's ardor fizzled out when he realized what he was about to do. He looked down at the woman under him and saw Rin's blank look. He felt his cooling blood drain from his face in shame. Shippo had often seen that expression enough in his practice opponents or enemies in actual battle: it was a look of resignation bowing to an inevitable fate in death or degradation.
Shippo sat back and away from the woman avoiding her gaze. He almost took back his hand when she flinched but he was just going to cover her with the haori. Rin was puzzled as Shippo gathered the haori and began to cover her with it but she remained still.
"So, aren't you going to finish what you started?" Rin's voice was full of fury and recrimination at his actions. Shippo could hear her teeth grounding at each other in rage.
Shippo leaned back and covered himself with his own haori. He couldn't form any answer for her, he was just too disgusted with himself. He didn't know what came over him.
"Come on!" Rin sat up. "Here! Take it!" With angry jerky movements Rin opened the haori and bared herself to him. "You want it, right?"
"Stop Rin." Shippo closed his eyes and turned his head away.
"Stop? Why? Didn't you want it a while ago? So you get your kicks raping? You like it when you have to take by force? Is that it?"
"No…" Shippo flinched each time she hurled the accusation at him.
"So what?"
"I got jealous…."
Rin felt her breath still in her chest. "Why would you be? We do not have a…."
"You were promised to me."
"I was what? What do you mean by that?" With those words Rin felt cold running down her spine and she began to pull back the haori around her shoulders and backing away from Shippo.
"Sesshoumaru-dono…." Shippo found it hard to tell her what he and her guardian had agreed upon.
"He what? Tell me!"
"Sesshoumaru-dono promised that you be mated to me."
"When did he say that?"
"Before the last battle."
That long ago…that long ago and he never said anything to her. Rin felt more abused now that she did a few minutes ago. She felt like a commodity to be wrapped and sent away to its new owner…just like that. She hung her head in despair.
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