CM: Finally summer classes are out. I'm sooo happy. Today is also the last day I have to babysit my sister's children. (sigh) so happy…Halleluiah!
Chapter 25: Is that so…?
"When do this Sesshomaru joke, Jaken?" Sesshomaru asked calmly to his misshapen servant. "Ne-ever, m-y mis-ta-take" Jaken managed to wheeze out.
Kagome was horrified at Sesshomaru's brutality while the rest of his pack, seemed practically immune to what just took place. Kagome eased down next to Rin and whispered, "Is Sesshomaru always this violent?" she asked.
To Kagome's horror, Rin nodded. "Sometimes but he never hits, me, Kohaku and Ah-Un, only Jaken"
"Oh…" Kagome said but she still felt uneasy—Sesshomaru was even more abusive than InuYasha. Suddenly the wind picked up and a small tornado came toward the group. It dissipated as the leader of the Chairoi wolf tribe skidded into a halt right in front of Kagome.
"K-Koga?!" Kagome asked surprised. Koga took hold of Kagome's hands and kissed them. "Yes Kagome?" he said soothingly. "It's been a while, how are ya?" he asked completely oblivious to his audience. Sesshomaru watched with his eyes slightly narrowed while his pack watched with wide eyes. Kagome's face contracted in slight disgust as she snatched her hands back. "What are you doing here?" she demanded.
"I got a whiff of ya on my way back to the caves and—and hell are you pregnant?!" Koga shouted suddenly as he finally took a good look at Kagome. He looked at her from head to toe, resting his eyes on Kagome's midsection. Instinctively Kagome wrapped her arms protectively around her belly. When Koga saw her reaction he went berserk.
"When the hell did this happened?!" he demanded. "Did that flea bitten mongrel InuTrasha rape you?!"
"Don't call InuYasha that and no I wasn't raped—"
"Then were you forced into submission by him?!"
Kagome was getting frustrated. "No, Koga—and InuYasha is not the father!"
"Then who's the mangy mutt that knocked you up?!" Koga demanded. "Where is he!?"
"Behind you, fool" said a low cold venomous voice. Koga turned to see Sesshomaru.
"What, you?!"
Sesshomaru didn't answer. His narrowed eyes became like slits. Koga took silence as a 'yes'. The wolf prince cracked his knuckles. "Why you spineless git!" he said in a repulsed tone. "You took advantage of a poor defenseless girl! You will pay dog!" Kouga crouched down into an attack position.
Kagome was horrified. "Kouga wait he didn't—"
"Don't worry Kagome!" he yelled over his shoulder to the miko. "I'll avenge your honor and take ya' back to my cave as my woman and your pup will be my heir!" he promised. Kagome was shocked: Kouga was willing to accept her just as she was. She was touched though rather frightened for his safety when Sesshomaru did not take Kouga's vow lightly.
At hearing Koga's words Sesshomaru's eyes flashed crimson. "You will not take her or my pup away" he snarled softly while showing his pointed fangs. He unsheathed his sword Bakusaiga. Oh Kami this was about to get ugly. "No!" Kagome said. She
flung herself between Sesshomaru and Kouga. "Sess, please let me talk to him!" she said to the enraged Dai-youkai and then she addressed Kouga. "Kouga, look I'm—hey!!"
In the blinking of an eye, Kouga had picked Kagome up and used the jewel shards in his legs to speed off super accelerated. Sesshomaru released an infuriated growl before he took off after them.
"You idiot!" Kagome yelled to Kouga. "Are you trying to get yourself killed—why are you kidnapping me!!" she shouted.
"I wanted to talk with ya' without that overgrown mutt intimidating your answers!" Kouga responded as he continued to run on. He could sense Sesshomaru hot on his tail and he had to get some distant between them. He had to hide somewhere but that hound wouldn't sniff them out easily—that's it! Kouga grinned. He knew what he had to do. He made a sharp turn and ran toward the nearest river.
The waterfall should give them an extra few minutes at least.
Taji felt uneasy as she sat aside her scroll. She was reading at her desk when suddenly a cold draft emerged in the atmosphere. It disturbed her greatly. Never has she felt a strong demonic aura filled with such immense poison and darkness—pure evil. Even without her demonic senses she knew she was in great danger.
"What do you want, Naraku?" Taji asked to the air.
A moment later she saw a face appear from the darkness. With a mischievous smirk on his face Naraku answered, "I simply wanted to know more about the child the miko Kagome carries…"
Taji hesitated before she answered. "I will not—"
"Oh, no need to be noble; I already know it's an ancient soul" Naraku said sharply cutting Taji off. "What I want is to know who is the child being reborn into this world"
Taji lowered her eyes. "I don't know—"
"Don't lie vermin" Naraku said abruptly.
Taji glared with a soft canine growl. It was less threatening in her human form but still menacing. "I will not tell you, Naraku"
"How honorable" Naraku said. "But foolish" Naraku held up his hand and his poison tentacles pierced Taji threw the heart. Once she was dead, he recoiled and let the demoness' dead body fall to the ground. Naraku sneered at her corpse. "Vermin" he said dryly before he stepped on Taji's corpse as he left the hut.
There was an awkward silence in the cave behind the waterfall. Once Koga had placed her down, Kagome proceeded to tell Koga all that has taken place through the past 6 weeks. Once she was done, Kagome had never seen the wolf prince look so soberly depressed. He was sitting on rock Indian style with his arms folded across his chest. After a few minutes he finally spoke up.
"Aw, man…" Kouga said as he slapped a hand over his face. "I'm sorry Kagome…"
Kagome looked away. "It's not your fault" she said. Another pregnant pause choked the atmosphere.
Koga then grabbed Kagome hands and knelled before her. He heaved another long sigh before he said quietly, "For the sake of your pup we can never be. Such a tragedy this must be for you…" He recited.
Kagome felt her eye twitch. "Oh alas in deed" she mumbled with hinted sarcasm of which Koga missed.
"I know…" Koga sighed. He stood up, pulled away and crossed his arms. The only sound that could be heard was the thunderous roar of the waterfall. "Hey…do you I have a shot with Ayame?" Koga asked suddenly, catching Kagome off guard.
"Huh?"
Koga looked sheepish. "I ran her off some time ago and I don't know if she's still available. She's not as beautiful as you but she's still quite hot…especially with that white fur and scarlet hair…" Koga trailed emotions of apprehension and hope plastered on his face.
Kagome smiled. "Kouga, when a person is in love, they are willing to wait for forever if they have to, ignoring other suitors just to be with the one who their heart desires" she said while thinking of InuYasha and Kikyo. "And trust me; I'm speaking from experience"
Koga nodded at her suggestion but then sighed. "Well even if she's still available—I can't be with her…" he said.
"Why?"
Koga growled. He punched the rocky wall near him causing it to quiver. "As much as I hate to admit it: I may die on the quest to avenge my kin" He covered his eyes with his bangs. So there's no point leaving her with broken dreams—not to mention pregnant if I die…"
Kagome's eyes soften. She touched his arm. "Kouga…"
Kouga shook his head and brushed off Kagome's hand with a brave smile. "Bah! No worries! I worry more for you—are you sure you want that icy bastard raising your pup?"
Kagome nodded. "Sesshomaru is not as bad as everyone think he is" she said. "Sure he's stoical, short tempered, selfish and ruthless—not to mention that he has a mean streak. But overall he does have some redeeming qualities and that'll pull me through"
Kouga sweat-dropped thinking about the long list of negatives she just gave him. "Well good luck because you're going to need it being mated to someone like that!"
Kagome unconsciously tugged at her collar of her kimono. "Well we're not really mated yet…" she said with a hint of a blush.
"Really?" Kouga asked surprised.
"I guess I'm more of a possession or responsibility to him than a mate…" Kagome said. "…InuYasha was the same way—"
"Wolf" a sudden voice said. "You have crossed me for the last time" Sesshomaru said creepily calm as he pinned Koga against the wall of the cave. It happened so fast that Kagome couldn't even catch it with her eyes. She released a horrified gasp.
Koga looked up at Sesshomaru with a smirk. "Yeah, yeah you can bark all you want dog but I have rights to Kagome!" he taunted. "I see no mating mark on her collarbone" he explained as the smirk on his face widen. "That means she's still for the taking!"
Sesshomaru tightened his grip on Koga. "No, she is not" he answered with a clenched jaw.
Koga was beginning to turn blue do to the lack of oxygen. "Then what is she to you?" he asked.
"What she is to me is no concern of yours, wolf" Sesshomaru answered coldly.
"Hell, yes it does!" Kouga barked in a raspy voice. "If Kagome can't be with me then I wanna make sure she's happy with someone else!" he coughed.
Kagome gasped. 'Oh Koga…thank you' she thought.
"So answer me Sesshomaru, what is she to you?!" Koga demanded.
Sesshomaru narrowed his golden eyes before he said, "Kagome is simply the mother of my pup and if you try to court her again, it will be your end" he threatened with a promise of death. He then released Koga. Koga gasped greedily for air as soon as the Dai-youkai released him.
Kagome meanwhile felt herself grow enraged. Her forehead throbbed with veins as her eyebrows twitched uncontrollably. After all this time she was still a just the baby's mama? 'Why Prideful son of a oh…—' Kagome paused in her thoughts. 'If Sesshomaru wants to act like he doesn't care, then I'll make him!'
Kagome brushed passed Sesshomaru and hugged the wolf prince. "Oh Koga, since Sesshomaru doesn't see me as his mate, I would just love to be yours" she said sweetly. Kagome couldn't help but smirk when she felt Sesshomaru's aura spike in anger and with a hint of jealous? Oh my…
Kouga was now officially confused. "Wha-what are you—oh…" he trailed when Kagome looked up at him and winked. He caught her drift. "Oh, ho!" Kouga laughed and he hugged Kagome closer to his body. "If that's the case, Sesshomaru: if she's the one doing the courting that means she is still for the taking!" Kouga taunted with a smirk.
Sesshomaru's eyes flashed crimson for a second before he composed himself. Sine it was Kagome doing the courting, he didn't attack. Kagome was an unmated bitch and she had the right to still seek a mate even though she was pregnant with his pup because he didn't mark her as his. But still, being a dog, he was VERY protective over his property. And as much as he hated to admit it, his only property was his unborn heir.
"However!" Kagome said, pushing Koga away. "I'm afraid I'm already seeing someone else so we can't be together!"
"What?!" Damn!" Kouga swore, forgetting it all was just an act. "How many lovers do you have, girl?!" he asked surprised. Kagome glared at him.
'My thoughts exactly' Sesshomaru thought. His impassive face turned a shade darker at the new information the miko released. He didn't know why but he felt rather envious…he shook his head slightly. 'I, Sesshomaru-sama jealous? Utterly impractical' he thought vainly.
"So anyway" Kagome said. "I have to get going. I have a date to keep. I hope I see yah around Koga!"
"Okay, take care Kagome" Kouga said. He leaned over and whispered in her ear. "I really hope you find your true mate"
A whirlwind picked up and in an instant, Kouga was gone.
The atmosphere was filled with an awkward silence as Kagome and Sesshomaru left the waterfall cave. On their way back to the pack, Kagome and Sesshomaru ran into Koga's comrades, Ginta, Hakkaku and the wolves. The wolf kin skidded to a halt and fell to their knees panting. Once they recovered their breath they greeted Kagome warmly.
"H-Hi, Kagome!" Hakkaku said.
"Hey sis, where's Koga?" Ginta asked breathlessly.
Kagome jabbed her thumb in the direction the wolf prince went. "You just missed him. He went north—"
"Whoa!" Hakkaku yelped when he really looked at Kagome. Ginta gasped too when he noticed Kagome's swollen form. "Are you pregnant!?" he asked.
"Yep" Kagome said shamelessly. Gee, it was getting easier and easier to answer that question.
Ginta and Hakkaku exchanged nervous looks. "Oh, I bet Koga was not happy…" Ginta mused.
"Well he wasn't at first" Kagome agreed. "But then he gave me his blessing and wished me well"
"O-okay" Hakkaku said as if he didn't expect to hear an outcome like that. Ginta just shrugged before giving Kagome a fang filled smile. "Either way you'll always be our sister, no matter what" he said. "I hope you'll be happy too"
Kagome smiled. "Thank you"
"Well we got to get going" Hakkaku said. "Congratulations, bye" The wolves turned and ran northward. "Thanks, till next time!" Kagome yelled at their retrieving backs. Kagome and Sesshomaru continued on their way.
Depending on Sesshomaru's nose to sniff out his groupies, the two found their way back quickly. "Thanks boy!" Kagome thanked as they entered the campsite. Kagome's smile turned into a smirk when she heard Sesshomaru snort.
He wanted to say something concerning his animal instinct but Kagome's attention was divided to Rin, who greeted her with hugs and a kiss on the check expressed her joy and relief. Kohaku greeted Kagome as well but Jaken sulked on the side, peering at the Miko suspiciously through silted yellow eyes.
It was almost early evening before Sesshomaru got a chance to converse with Kagome out of earshot of his pack. Jaken, Kohaku and Rin where in the river trying to catch fish for super while he and Kagome were sitting by the bank. Kagome was currently sulking because Sesshomaru had forbid her to help with the fishing.
'That old mother hen! I'm not that big yet! Ugh I hate being useless!' Kagome ranted angrily internally and was only snapped out of her thoughts when Sesshomaru spoke to her suddenly.
"Is it true…are you truly seeing another potential mate, Kagome?" Sesshomaru asked softly, not looking at the miko.
Sesshomaru's question surprised Kagome. 'Wow he sure cares a lot for someone who calls me just the baby's mama!' she thought but she still chose to toy with the Dai-youkai. Maybe if she persisted enough he would make a move out of jealousy—InuYasha was a sucker for this trick.
"Yep, in fact I have a date with when this Saturday which is oh shoot—the day after tomorrow!" Kagome shouted in realization. "But since we're not together it won't be much of a problem right?"
The Dai-youkai hesitated but then he answered slowly. "…Do as you please"
"That's all you have to say?" Kagome asked raising an eyebrow.
"You expected something else?" Sesshomaru responded coolly. "You are an unmated bitch; hence you are free to seek suitors to lay claim to you. I will not claim you…"
Kagome shoot Sesshomaru an icy glance. "Is that so, Sesshomaru?" she asked coolly. Sesshomaru stared at her from the corner of his eye in reply. "Very well!" Kagome determined. "Oh Ah-Un!" she called sweetly. The two headed dragon was in knee deep water with the children.
The dragon moaned and walked over to Kagome. Ah-Un lowered its twin heads and sniffed Kagome's belly gingerly. It bobbed its heads knowingly and knelled down. "Why thank you" Kagome told it as she seated on the dragon horse youkai's back. Slowly Ah-Un rose up.
Rin looked up from her work curious. "Where are you going, Kagome-chan?" she asked. Sesshomaru was awaiting her answer as well.
"Home" Kagome answered.
Sesshomaru's curiosity got the better of him. He had never seen the miko's world. "What business you need to conduct there?" he asked.
Kagome shot Sesshomaru the evil eye. "I got a date to keep you baka pompous fluff ball of evil!" she shouted at him. Kagome then flew up into the sky and traveled back to the forest of InuYasha. The comradeship stared dumbfounded after her.
"Wow, she's scary when she's mad!" Rin said as she back into Kohaku, nearly dropping all of her fish she caught in the process.
Kohaku's eyes were wide. "Yeah…" he gulped. "And here was I thinking she was a saint!"
Sesshomaru never moved from his place but his eyes widen a bit. After a moment of silence the Dai-youkai said, "I shall be back shortly" and disappeared into the thickets.
Jaken gagged, dropping the measly baby fish he caught back into the river. He twitched. His master's impression was shrinking right before his very eyes! Sesshomaru-sama would never tolerate anyone to yell at him and get away with it. The woman must be his mate or else she would be dead by now. Pup or not.
-TBC-