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Chapter Twenty
"I think I killed her…my Kagome, I think I killed her!"
It took everything in Naraku Yamanashi to remain composed and not throttle the idiot wolf who paced, once again, back and forth in his office. The night had started off perfect. His plan to rid himself of the Taishos was coming together smoothly, and he would be able to take action very soon. Until Kouga burst in, covered in blood and repeating "I think I killed her". The spider sighed. Must he do everything himself?
"I suggest you stop right now and gather yourself together, before you stain my carpeting even further. Now, calmly tell me what happened, and why you thought it was a good idea to come here, of all places."
The wolf stopped abruptly, as if just remembering where he was. He remained standing, judging by the look Naraku was sending him.
"I…I didn't mean to go that far! Seeing pictures of that damn human all over her living room… and then Sesshomaru's bastard…I just… snapped! If Kagome dies…how will I live with myself?"
"Isn't that what you wanted? To make her pay for betraying you."
Kouga hung his head and stared as his blood-stained claws. "Well, yeah, I did, but I never intended to actually kill her. She was screaming…and… I just couldn't stop! I thought of that human putting his hands on my woman, as if he had any right, and I… lost control." His head hung in shame as his shoulders shook from the effort to calm his breathing down.
Naraku sighed. The wolf having a conscience and feeling regret was not part of the plan. The only good thing to come of this was that the miko was most likely dead and couldn't interfere with his plans any longer.
Now all he had to do was administer the concoction Tsubaki gave him, and the little hanyou would either be biologically Kagura's, or better yet, dead. The spider had no intention of playing grandpa to some halfbreed if he could help it.
"You have to remember: she did this to herself. She denied your valid claim as your mate, and you had every right to punish her for it. What of the child?"
"Don't you think I know that? I love her! I only wanted to teach her a lesson, to remind her of what happens when a claim is denied. I never..." Kouga trailed off and put his head in his hands. "I don't know about the brat and I don't care. Why is it so important to you? What matters is the fact that I may have killed my mate!"
Naraku narrowed his eyes and flared his aura. The wolf immediately submitted.
"Remember whom you speak with, wolf. First off, if you killed the miko, it does not matter, as it justified your so-called revenge. Second, the little bastard is crucial to my plans. Finally, I do not care at all about your twisted little fantasy of love. Did you really think that by coming back here there wouldn't be any consequences? Did you think that by doing so I wouldn't be incriminated?"
Miasma mixed with the spider's aura, suffocating the wolf.
"You were merely a pawn, wolf. A means to an end. A tool I used to rid myself of the miko, without dirtying my own hands. Now, with her out of the picture, my plans to wipe out the Taishos can commence."
Kouga fell to his knees; miasma burned his eyes and throat as he struggled to breath. What had he done? How could he have trusted this monster? How had he allowed himself to be manipulated?
"Kagome…she…didn't deserve it! K-Kenji...what…will you do to him?"
Naraku laughed at the dying wolf, malice lacing his words. "I thought you didn't care, Kouga. Did you not say yourself that he would be better off dead? Did you not want to rid Kagome of the mistake she'd made? Don't worry; you will be with your precious miko soon." The spider loomed over the dying wolf and continued. "As for the boy, he will serve his purpose, one way or another."
As the spider cruelly laughed in Kouga's face once more, the wolf uttered his final words before succumbing to the poison.
"Forgive me, my love."
Naraku scoffed at the pathetic wolf demon and called in someone to remove the body. He would wait and see if the miko was truly dead or not. If she wasn't, then he would kill her himself. Then the boy was free reign. Kagura may not like it, but she really had no choice. She was going to mate Sesshomaru, blood-adopt the half-breed (if the potion worked), and that was final.
Sesshomaru… The Taiyoukai was a whole other story. Tsubaki had created another potion that would permanently alter his psyche, forcing him to accept Kagura and believe that his bastard child was theirs together. Naraku didn't care about the consequences; people could easily be disposed of. The only problem was how to get the demon alone? He had cut off all ties to Kagura, and he was too smart for his own good for Naraku to pull one over on him.
Ah well. Looks like that whore cousin of the miko, Kikyou, would have to play her part again. Why she hated her cousin so much, he'd never understand, but it made her useful to him. She had Inuyasha wrapped around her disgusting little finger. Surely she could use him somehow to get to Sesshomaru?
The spider always got what he wanted. This time would be no different. He would make sure that the name Taisho was permanently removed from history.
Pain. That was the first thing that hit Kagome when she came to in the hospital. She could barely move. Panic began to set in, before she realized where she was. She felt broken and angry. How she could let this happen? Kagome knew that she wasn't at fault, that sadly Kouga would have had made a move somehow sooner or later, but her son had been in danger, because of her. Sesshomaru had more than enough ammunition now to usurp her rights and take custody of Kenji. All because of a stupid, jealous demon who couldn't take no for an answer.
What would Bankotsu think? Kagome knew that Kouga hadn't…touched her, but would her boyfriend believe her? Would he still want her after this? She knew that the braided man wasn't shallow, but the drama that was her life and now this…she wouldn't blame him if he'd decided enough was enough. It would break her heart, but one person can only handle so much.
The miko was so lost in her musings, she didn't realize someone had walked in and sat by her bed until they held her had. Startled, she looked over to see none other than the man she loved. She turned away, tears in her eyes, only for Bankotsu to gently grab her face and stare into her eyes.
"It's okay, baby. Everything is okay now. You're safe."
Kagome, barely able to speak above a whisper, responded through her tears. "Oh Ban! I'm so stupid…how can you even stand to look at me?"
Tenderly grabbing her hands, her boyfriend replied. "Babe, this isn't your fault. Don't think that for one second! You protected your son, and he's safe. You're a fighter and you're alive. Don't let that bastard have control, or power over you. One way or another he is going to pay, I promise you that."
"Kenji is safe?" The man nodded and Kagome breathed a small sigh of relief. "When can I see him?"
"What do you mean? He's been here with your mom, waiting for you to wake up. You can see him whenever you want," Bankotsu replied, confused.
"Sesshomaru hasn't…he didn't take fully custody of him?"
Realization dawned on him. She thought the demon lord took Kenji away from her! Granted, he had every right too, since the boy had been in a dangerous situation, even if it wasn't his mother's fault.
"No babe, for the time being he actually handed his parental rights over to your mom, until you're released from the hospital. He even offered to pay for everything. His only request was to have visitation with Kenji. Sesshomaru may be a prick, but he wouldn't demand full rights to your son because of the situation. He was, however, upset that Kenji reached out to me for help over him."
Kagome was comforted in the thought that Sesshoumaru wouldn't sink that low. She'd believed it all along, and thankfully for once she was proven right. She was, however, stunned. He was going to cover her medical bills? Why? Out of guilt? Regret? Pity? Either way, it surprised her that he would even offer. Maybe it was because of what Bankotsu had said.
"Sesshoumaru was upset that Kenji didn't call him?"
Bankotsu sneered a bit before answering. "Yes. I believe for moment he was actually jealous that I was contacted first. I called him out on it, unable to believe he was more concerned about that, than your well being. He didn't respond and I threatened that if anything happened to you or Kenji, that the Taishos would regret ever having met me."
Irritation rose in the miko for a split second. How typical of the demon lord to put himself first. She didn't want his pity money. Then again, he had temporarily given up his rights to his own son in favor of her. She understood he was hurt, but Kenji had been around Bankotsu more and trusted him better. That may have been her fault, but she had good reason.
"I don't want my son to see me like this. but I need to see him, to know he's okay and unharmed."
"I understand, baby. I promise you, he is safe and sound. You…your power protected him, nearly at the cost of your own life. Please don't ever scare me like that again. I don't know what I would do without you, or Kenji."
Of course Kenji was alright. She knew her power would keep him safe; she would do anything to protect her son. Waves of love and adoration poured off the man in front of her. She had never seen him so vulnerable, so out of character. Kagome knew then that Bankotsu would do anything for her and Kenji, no matter the cost.
Inuyasha may have liked her, but that was it. Sesshoumaru was a one time thing, even if she had tried pursuing something, the demon lord would never value or appreciate her the way Bankotsu did.
"What happened? If you're not ready to talk about it, I understand."
Kagome squeezed his hand before replying. "It's okay, Ban. He didn't touch me, if that's what you're worried about. I'd die before I let that happen! Somehow Kouga got my address and someone let him into the building. Why I don't know. He banged on the door, demanding I let him in. I would've been able to keep him at bay, but I had to protect Kenji…I feared what Kouga would do to my son; Sesshoumaru's son."
Kagome had just put on a movie for Kenji and had settled down with a bowl of popcorn for them, when a furious knocking sounded at her door. The miko scowled at whoever it could be. It was normal for one of her neighbors to be too curious for their own good, but this was unusual. She was about to give the demon a piece of her mind when the voice that spoke made her freeze in her steps.
"KAGOME! OPEN THIS FUCKING DOOR! OPEN IT OR I'LL BREAK IT OUT DOWN!"
Kouga. How in the name of Kami did he find out where she lived? She started to panic when Kenji cried, but calmed herself down for her son's sake. Hopefully she could make the idiot wolf go away without having to purify him. She didn't want to do it, but Kenji's safety came first and Kouga had harassed her for the last time.
Kagome yelled at Kenji over the thunderous banging. "Kenji, honey, go to your room and lock the door. I'll come get you when it's safe."
The little hanyou, however, wouldn't leave his mother's side. "No mommy. I pwotect you!"
"Mommy will be fine, baby. I need you to go to your room right now. Please don't make me ask you again." She handed him her phone. "If I don't knock on the door three times, call for help and stay put."
Reluctantly the toddler nodded and ran to his room. Once she knew he was out of harm's way, she threw up a barrier around his door and faced the front door.
"GOD DAMN IT, KAGOME! I SWEAR I WILL BREAK THIS FUCKING DOOR DOWN IF YOU DON'T LET ME IN!"
Raising her voice, the miko replied. "Kouga, I don't know why you are here, or what you think you're doing, but I suggest you back off if you know what's good for you."
Her response only enraged him more. Her resolve faltered when the frame of the door started cracking. She threw more power into the barrier to Kenji's room.
"YOU THINK I'M SCARED OF THAT WEAKLING HUMAN YOU'RE FUCKING? YOU THINK I'M SCARED OF YOU? I'LL TEACH BOTH OF YOU A LESSON YOU'LL NEVER FORGET!"
"I don't want to hurt you, Kouga, but I will if I have to. I am NOT your mate. I will NEVER be your mate. You need to get that through your thick skull and move on with your life."
Kagome knew that she had gone too far, when with a ferocious roar, Kouga obliterated the door and stood there, eyes blood red and teeth and claws elongated. She stood her ground. She didn't fear him. Her only concern was protecting her son.
Breathing heavily, Kouga spoke in a low voice. "You're right, you little bitch. You won't be my mate. Why would I want someone else's leftovers? After fucking Sesshomaru, having his bastard, and now fucking some weak human, why would I want a whore like you?"
The words stung, but Kagome knew it was only to hurt her. She was above Kouga and his petty words did nothing. His aura however was suffocating and for a split second she wished Bankotsu was here. Increasing Kenji's barrier, Kagome responded, thus sealing her fate.
In spite of the situation, the miko laughed. "Oh Kouga. You really are deluded, aren't you? I've been called everything under the sun by both demons and humans. Your words don't mean a thing to me, sweetie. I would choose a human mate over you any day. You see, Bankotsu treats like me a person, not a possession. You, and everyone else who thinks they have any control or say over my life, can all burn in hell. Go fuck yourself!"
Before Kagome could even blink, Kouga snarled and launched himself at her. She barely had to throw up a barrier, though weak, as he did everything in his power to make her suffer.
Blinded by his anger and fury, Kouga clawed everything in sight, whether it be furniture or Kagome herself. He briefly registered that she was hardly protecting herself, but it was just that-barely. Above her screaming he growled at her.
"You fucking bitch! How DARE you speak to me like that? How DARE you choose a HUMAN over me? If I can't have you, NO ONE will!"
Through her pain, the miko focused only on the barrier keeping Kenji safe. It broke her heart knowing her son was privy to this, privy to his mother's torture. If she survived the wolf's attack, she would make him pay. She would make him suffer in ways that even in her weakened state made her cringe. Her last thought before passing out from blood loss, was why no one in the entire building came for help.
By the time Kouga came to his senses, he was horrified. The room was a mess and covered in blood. He was covered in blood. And his Kagome…he bit back a yelp when he realized what he had done. Not even thinking, he ran from the apartment to the one person he knew could help him.
As Kagome finished her tale, Bankotsu sat there completely stunned. He knew his miko was strong, but this…to survive an attack from a demon with in complete loss of control was unheard of. It made him respect and love her even more. To know she chose him, him, in the face of her own death spoke volumes. He was going to marry this girl. He chuckled in his mind. Kami he was becoming such a sap.
Kagome worried about her boyfriend's lack of response. "Bankotsu, please say something."
Coming back to his senses, Bankotsu got up and hugged his girlfriend as close as he could without hurting her. "Kagome, the fact that you're alive, and still here with me and Kenji, says everything. I love you, babe. You're my girl, my future, and I'm never letting you go." He laid her back down and chuckled. "Listen to me, getting all mushy and shit. Don't tell anyone though; it'll ruin my reputation. Now, how's about we get that boy of yours? He's been anxiously waiting for his momma to wake up."
Tears in her eyes and a smile on her face, the miko simply nodded. After everything, the man she loved still wanted her; wanted a future with her. She knew Kouga would be dealt with, but she couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding about the whole situation. How did he get her address? What provoked him to attack her like that?
Kagome knew this wasn't over. She knew her attack had only been the calm before the storm, and, as much as it pained her, she also knew whatever came next had to do with Kenji, Sesshoumaru, and herself. She would heal for now, but still prepare for the bigger threat.
Author's Note: Hello my faithful readers! I hope this update is worth the wait. My son is going on 7 months now! Love being a mom but I promise I haven't abandoned you all! I don't know how many more chapters are left in this; I'm honestly working as I go, but I do know that it's almost nearing the end. Thanks everyone for sticking with me! Hope y'all like this and please let me know what you think. Beta'd by the lovely Tempest78.