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The day is just past breaking, the fire's glow all but spent when Kouga hears the rustle of the cloth across the old miko's hut moving and sees the demon slayer with her fire cat snuggled asleep in her arms, followed by Rosario, exiting the hut. Both looking worn and exhausted. Nor does Kouga miss their worried expressions, or the anxiousness in their scents as they make their way towards him. He stands quickly, the pile of wolves that have slept around him in the night protesting his movements as Kouga extricates himself from the mound of fur and limbs, his gaze never wavering from Rosario's.
The she-wolf sighs deeply as she approaches the powerful wolf lord, brought so low with despair it pains her heart just to look at him. There was only so much information that she and Sango were able to share with the miko's regarding what knowledge they each possessed of youkai mating. Exploring ancient legends and lore, and anything else that might help solve the mystery of what has befallen Kagome, and how she might best be helped. In the end, for all their efforts, they had not discovered much.
"Tell me," Kouga moves forward swiftly as he grips Rosario firmly by the shoulders. His panic and worry blazes through the hum of his youkai and the tight, nearly painful, grip on the she-wolf's shoulders.
Rosario looks away, steeling herself before meeting Kouga's gaze. "I'm sorry, my Lord, t-there . . . there is nothing we know to do." He heart crumbles to dust as anguish rolls into Kouga's scent, or is that hers? "We have told the miko's what we know," she glances to Sango that stands quietly nearby, clutching Kirara almost painfully to her chest as the slayer struggles to fight back her own tears. "But we do not understand why sister Kagome is locked in battle with your youkai," Rosario's heart breaks open with despair. "She . . . I'm afraid the damage being done," she blinks her eyes close needing a reprieve from the pain bleeding through the Alpha's eyes. "If no help can be found, I'm afraid Kagome will . . ." Rosario drops her heard, casting her gaze to the ground, her words almost a whisper, "not survive the mating rites."
Kouga releases her roughly, his face a blank slate as he shoots quickly past her and a silent Sango, bolting for the huts entrance. His heart races, his mind refusing to hear or accept anything that's being said to him. His only thought to be at Kagome's side, and if anyone tries to stop him he'll make sure they live to regret it. Storming into the small hut he tears the cloth from its hangings, watching as the old and undead priestess sit quietly near a small fire, apparently not surprised by his arrival, and for once, not getting in his way. Kouga growls angrily when he doesn't see Kagome at first, following his nose and the old woman's gaze he moves towards the connecting room partially concealed by another hung cloth. Pushing it roughly out of the way, Kouga enters and kneels at his woman's side.
He can feel his heart swelling and breaking at the site of Kagome's face contorted in pain. Tears burn his eyes as Kouga takes in the paleness of her skin, her trembling limbs, and ragged breaths. A damp cloth rests on her forehead that smells faintly of herbs, noting that she is still naked under the thick warm coverings they've wrapped her in and tucked high around her chest. The small kitsune is curled up exhausted and asleep next to her. The cubs tiny feet and hands grip and over lock each other, his soft bushy tail wrapped tightly around him with the fluffy tip covering his face.
"Kagome," he whispers softly. Bending low, he's careful not to disturb the sleeping pup. It's strange, but he's starting to feel rather protective of him, the little kit being the only male presence he can tolerate being around his injured mate, almost as if the fox were one of his own pups. Kouga strokes the side of Kagome's face gently. Her skin is scorching hot and it tingles beneath his touch as he carefully adjusts the cool cloth at her head.
Fighting back another wave of despair, he gazes at Kagome's unconscious, whimpering form. Watching helpless as her arms tremble in whatever nightmare she's having, her eyes rolling and moving under her closed lids. A nightmare he is powerless to save her from. Kouga swallows the rush of anger and fury that overcomes him when his eyes fall on his dark glowing mark, pulsating an angry black-red at her neck, the curse he'd laid on her. Kouga strokes his finger lightly over the pulsing mark and yelps, snapping his hand back in a grimace, fuck that hurt.
"Ye must be careful, wolf," Kaede stands near the doorway as she watches Kouga intently. "If Kagome's powers be at war with your youkai, it may not be safe for ye to touch her at this time," her gaze falling kindly on him.
Kaede had been pleasantly, but not overly surprised, upon hearing that Kagome and the wolf had somehow found their way to each other. That Kouga himself had saved the young miko from her strange, frozen fate was somehow even less surprising to the old woman. For years, Kaede watched in the background as Kagome fought with InuYasha, chased after shards, and battled incredible foes at the hanyou's side, but through it all was the ever present and persistent presence of the young proud wolf lord. Kouga the wolf demon whom Kaede noticed went out of his way to make sure that he was always there should Kagome ever need him and not in just in battle either.
It had surprised Kaede the first time she had stumbled upon the young miko and the wolf demon walking and talking together in the forest. Remembering that it had been on a day that Kagome had been particularly upset, and she had gone to check on her, to make sure she really was okay. She'd been surprised to sense the demonic aura, and even more surprised to find Kouga speaking so gently with Kagome who was smiling, laughing even as she wiped tears from her cheek. The wolf had presented her with a pretty sea shell that Kagome accepted with glowing eyes. It had been nearly three years since that day, but Kaede had known then, had seen the love spark between them in that moment even if no one else had. Over the years there would be a scattering of those visits with the wolf demon, especially whenever InuYasha was absent from the village, but Kaede had noticed the increasingly frequent presence of Kouga's demonic aura over the last year or so.
Kouga grimaces under the old woman's soft gaze, he doesn't deserve her kindness. He knows that Kagome thinks of her almost like a grandmother that no doubt feels the same towards Kagome; the grandchild the old priestess would never have, brought to her from the future as much as Kagome had been brought to him. Or had she? Kouga's insides twists with agony at the thought that their love may have just been a big cosmic oops, something that had not been meant to happen. After all, wouldn't the delicate creature before him have been better off if it hadn't? Kagome certainly wouldn't be going through this now if she had chosen the hanyou that seemed to have successfully mated his own priestess in the past. Yet somehow, after all the years of dreaming, waiting, and hoping, Kagome had finally seen him, had finally chosen him – their love had found a way.
"But how . . . why?" Kouga's tone betrays his anger, his impatience, his guilt. It isn't supposed to happen like this!
Kaede shakes her head. "I am sorry, wolf. This I do not know," she sighs, looking forlornly away. "Little experience have we with youkai mating's. Less so, ye must know, with youkai human mating's, and the experiences we have had . . ." Kaede glances briefly at a slightly blushing Kikyo in the other room that looks quickly away, pretending not to hear, "did not these results bring." Kaede wishes more than anything that she had more information to give so she can help the strange child that has come into her life and filled it with more joy and love then she could ever have hoped for.
A howl goes up outside, catching Kouga's attention as his ears twitch under his bandanna. Glancing down at Kagome's pale, haunted face his eyes swim with thought. He silently rises, striding from the room and past the melancholy gaze of the old miko. Exiting the hut, the Sun is shining bright and clear when Kouga spies the monk near the smoldering fire and speaking animatedly with a silver-haired hanyou that is bent over his knees, gasping for breath as he takes in deep lungfuls of air.
"InuYasha, I can't believe you made that distance and back in one night!" Miroku exclaims, watching as Sango brings the hanyou a bowl of water he greedily drinks back, panting for breath. "I must say, InuYasha," the monk's amazement warms his voice, "you must have flown as if you had Shikon shards in your legs!" earning him a hard glare from the dog demon.
"What's going on?" Kouga barks approaching the small group, his eyes narrowing on the mutt. Where had he gone? And where is this person InuYasha was supposed to have brought back that can help Kagome? The Alpha notes with growing impatience that there is no one with the hanyou. "Where's this help you promised, mutt?" Kouga growls, his lips curling back. Had the dog not even been able to accomplish that one simple task?
"Give me a second you scrawny wolf!" InuYasha's seesawing breaths overlay his gruff tone. "I've been running all . . . -swallows breath- . . . fucking night!" Taking another lungful of air and a deep drink InuYasha passes the water back to Sango. "Here," he reaches a hand into his hair, extending a small dark speck clasped between two fingered claws that he holds out towards the confused looking wolf demon. "Like I promised, wolf breath," InuYasha gives his hand a little wave, indicating the speck.
"What are you talking about, mutt?" Kouga growls with agitation when he still doesn't understand.
"Lord Kouga," a tiny voice calls from InuYasha's now upturned palm.
Kouga's eyes widen at the tiny demon flea. Bending low, his nose almost touches the youkai. "You know me tiny demon?" Kouga's brow lifts. His hand suddenly smacks at his face and the flattened flea drops in a groan back into InuYasha's outstretched palm.
"Keh, he does that a lot," InuYasha smirks. "This is Myoga, my retainer." Kouga rubs at his nose, straitening as he looks down at the now plump little demon flea. What does mutt face need a retainer for?
"My pardon, Lord Kouga," Myoga's bow is low and deeply respectful as he bends at the waist. "It has been centuries since I've tasted of your ancient and powerful blood lines, I could not help myself," he blushes, two sets of arms rubbing at the back of his small head.
"How do you know me, flea? And how can you help Kagome?" Kouga asks with rising heat. His patience wearing as thin as the breeze.
"Please, please, all in good time, but I must see Kagome right away!" Myoga hops from InuYasha's hand onto the Alpha's shoulder. Kouga gazes at him with uncertainty for a moment before finally turning and striding back into the hut.
Kaede and Kikyo stand nearby the huts entrance, having heard the conversation unfold as they watch the flea and the wolf enter the dwelling, quickly following the demons inside. InuYasha, Sango, and Miroku pause on the threshold as they share a questioning glance with each other, uncertain if they should follow. InuYasha growls softly before letting out a huffed breath and striding inside. Sango and Miroku glance at each other, nodding, following their silver-haired friend. Kagome may be mated to Kouga now, but she is still a part of their small, unusual family, and they will be there to know what is happening to her. Maybe there is something they can do to help her.
"What do you say, Roz?" Hozo approaches the pensive she-wolf as they watch the humans and hanyou enter with Kouga. The omega's worry over his new sister and the eastern clans new female Alpha has been gnawing at and torturing the young youkai, wishing there was something he could do to help her.
Rosario draws in a long breath as she walks back towards the dying embers of the fire. "We must leave our lord to his duty." She sits next to Ginta and Hakkaku that are propped against the busted boulder Kouga had vacated, immersed in the bodies of the still slumbering wolves. "If Kouga needs us, he shall call us."
Hozo takes a seat next to his clan sister, whining at the back of his throat. Hoping that something can be done to help Kagome.
The silence that hangs in the air above the little group inside the hut is awkward and oppressing as Kouga, InuYasha, and the rest of the humans sit around the small fire in the main room. Kirara perches on Sango's shoulder as they wait for Myoga to return from his visit with Kagome. Shippou is still asleep at Kagome's side and they feel it best to leave him there. At least in sleep the little kitsune is not crying, and their conversation will undoubtedly be inappropriate for his young ears.
Kouga wonders just who exactly this little demon flea is and what the hell his connection to the mutt is, but mostly he wants to know what the demon can do to help Kagome. He tries hard not to growl his impatience as he waits for the tiny youkai, not liking the idea of a strange male so close to his sick mate, but the circumstances are unusual and Kouga finds himself having to stretch his patience and his trust farther then he would have ever done before.
"Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear," Myoga hops into the room. InuYasha growls softly at the back of his throat when he sees the flea looks bigger than when he first went in to see Kagome. Not having to think very hard about what Myoga must have been doing. The flea hops over to InuYasha's shoulder, not noticing the hanyou's agitation before turning and staring back at the wolf demon.
"So, talk already!" Kouga barks, getting increasingly more agitated with all the delays. He needs to do something to help his mate before he loses his grasp on his control and starts tearing everyone in here into bloody fucking shreds! A low growl starts at the back of his throat at the thought.
"Forgive me, of course," Myoga bows low. "My name as you know is Myoga, and I was once the servant to the great Dog General of the Western Lands, Lord Inu no Taisho." Kouga's face lights up in surprise at the name. "Ah, I see my Lord is familiar with this name?"
Kouga's mind races with old dredged up memories. "Well, some," thinking back to the stories his father had told him as a pup. "My father told me a lot of stories of the great Dog General and the battles they fought and won together over the millennia. He was one of my father's closest friends when he died, but I don't know what happened to him, my father never spoke of it." It had not been long after that Kouga's own father had mysteriously perished. The memories stirring old wounds in his heart better left forgotten.
InuYasha's eyes widen at this new information, having never heard his father spoken of by anyone other than Myoga or Sesshoumaru. That his own father might have actually fought side by side with Kouga's own sire is blowing a hole at the back of his head.
"Ah, yes, the great Lord Takeshi would have been most distraught, the two were quite close." Myoga's voice takes on a faraway tone as the flea reflects back over the centuries. "It was the great Lord Takeshi himself that ruled over all of Edo before the mass arrival of the other demon races, and who first gave the western lands to Lord Taisho, making him his general all those millennia ago," reciting the histories he knows so well.
That much Kouga knows from his own personal history, but after the Dog General had died and Kouga's own father had been killed in battle not long after, Kouga had left everything to do with the kingdoms and the many betrayals that would haunt him for centuries, to to be managed by an elder brother he continues to despise. Having wanted nothing more to do with that part of his life, a young, grief stricken Kouga had broken from his pack and home, and taken out into the world for the next few centuries; living and fighting as he chose for himself alone until fate had led him to the discovery of the powerful shards that had ultimately led Kouga back to his heart, and to his Kagome.
"What few people knew at the time," Myoga continues, crossing two sets of arms over his chest, "is that Lord Taisho fell in love with and mated a mortal woman of noble birth, giving his life in sacrifice to protect his mate and infant child."
Kouga's gaze widens at the revelation. He had not known that the great dog had taken a human for a mate.
Myoga dips his head in respect of his old master's memory, a small hand patting gingerly against the hanyou's shoulder. "Lady Izayoi was beautiful and kind, and she loved the dog general and the son she had given him. Lord InuYasha's mother was a noble princess in her own right."
InuYasha closes his eyes as a wave of old memories overtake him.
"Excuse me?" Kouga's eyes narrow on the tiny demon, is he hearing right? "What are you talking about, flea?" his soft growls affirming his need for clear and precise answers.
"Lord Kouga?" Myoga questions a bit hesitantly, clearly confused.
"Flea, are you telling me that the great Dog General, my father's closest friend is . . . was . . ." Kouga can barely stomach the words, his whole view of life suddenly tilting. "Are you saying mutt face here is his son?!"
"Keh, watch it you brainless wolf! I don't have to sit here and listen to you talk shit about me!" InuYasha growls, crossing his arms into his haori. He turns to glare at the wall, but otherwise makes no motion to move.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I . . . I thought you knew." Myoga knows that InuYasha and Kouga are not the greatest of allies given their mutual love over the priestess Kagome, but still, he finds it rather amusing the way fate has dealt her cards to the two sons of some of the greatest youkai in history.
Kouga feels like he's been hit in the head with a sack of hammers. Never in his wildest dreams would he have ever guessed that the great Dog General had taken a mortal for a mate, and InuYasha's own mother to boot! Fate and the kami really do seem to have it in for him, don't they? Kouga shakes his head, fingers squeezing between the bridge of his nose as though he might actually be able to push back the incoming headache.
"Okay, so dog breath's parental history aside," ignoring the growl that issues forth from said dog demon. "What can you tell me about . . ." Kouga gestures a hand towards Kagome's unconscious form in the next room, "this."
"Of course, I was just getting to that," Myoga sits on InuYasha's shoulder as everyone leans closer. The miko's and humans all very much intrigued with the mysterious demon history being recounted before them.
"When Lord Taisho mated Lady Izayoi who was mortal, the youkai part of the mating did not take to her as Lady Izayoi had no demon or holy power for the youkai to draw from. Therefore InuYasha's mother did not undergo any of the usual dog mating symptoms. Which of course, are a little different then in wolves."
InuYasha can't hide the red in his cheeks as his face heats. It's hard listening to them speak of his mother, especially in this manner, but this is for Kagome. And like it or not, Kagome is mated to the wolf, and no matter how much it rages and breaks his heart, he's not going to let Kagome suffer if there's anything he can do to help her.
"But Kagome's a miko," Kouga's voice is soft and low, full of whirling, contrasting thoughts all tinged by his greatest fears.
"That is correct," Myoga nods thoughtfully. "It is incredibly rare you must understand, for a priestess and a full-blooded youkai to mate. It has happened only a few times in the ancient histories that I know of." Myoga's voice takes on a fatherly tone as he recounts the oldest of antiquities. "I spent several centuries in the bowels of the youkai's greatest libraries as I had been intrigued in my youth with the incredible legends and feats performed by the miko's and demons of old. Fascinated by their incredible, contrasting powers." He rubs his chin thoughtfully, "I discovered that the priestess was in fact created as the counter balance to the youkai's massive power, a light to counter the darkness so to speak. Both two sides of a similar, yet different coin."
Kaede and Kikyo share quiet glances with each other. It's as they had always suspected, but no humans had histories that had survived as far back as those of the demons whose life spans in the ancient days could span tens of thousands of years.
"One of the ancient scrolls I uncovered at the time spoke of a mortal priestess named Hikari that fell in love with a powerful demon Lord that had also fallen in love with her," Myoga recounts thoughtfully. "However, upon their mating, the miko's powers raged against the demonic energy that attempted to claim her and purified the demonic power instead, consequently destroying her greatest love. So distraught and devastated by what she had done, priestess Hikari took her own life in hopes that she would be reunited with her demon lover again in death." Kouga can't help but flinch at the telling.
"Yes," Myoga stares knowingly at the wolf lord. "That Kagome's powers did not succeed in purifying you is both a mystery and a blessing." His eyes bore into Kouga's, desiring to understand just how the wolf had accomplished such a feat.
Kouga's mind races with his thoughts. Why didn't Kagome's powers purify him? And what about the mutt? He had mated the undead miko in the past, and she obviously hadn't purified him. But the flea seems to read his mind as he answers.
"When Lord InuYasha and Lady Kikyo mated over 50 years ago," InuYasha and Kikyo both glance away, their faces burning molten hot as the flea speaks, totally oblivious of their discomfort. "InuYasha's part mortal blood prevented Kikyo from purifying him, and so her priestess powers, not viewing Lord InuYasha less powerful youkai as a threat, allowed the mating to occur."
Kikyo and InuYasha share a quick, awkward glance with each other. Their blushing cheeks and heated gaze showing the swirling of memories as they each think back to that long ago night. Myoga continues speaking, unaware of the heated and flushed faces around him.
"The symptoms and gifts exchanged are of course different among dogs than wolves, as all the youkai races differ, but none seem to cut so deep as a wolf's mated bond. Their mating rites period being unusually long and lasting several days."
Sango is fascinated by what she's hearing as she scratches thoughtfully under Kirara's chin that purrs softly. Growing up, it was important for her to know as much as possible about youkai customs and behaviors, and there is still that part of her that digests the information hungrily.
"Is it very important, this mating rites period?" Sango asks unable to help herself.
Myoga nods his tiny head before speaking. "For higher level demons, their youkai is passive, lying mostly dormant within them, being drawn or called upon when needed. For wolf demons, their youkai becomes active during this time as it seeks to merge and connect with their new mates, claiming them as their own. Both dogs and wolves mark their mates by changing her scent, but only wolves possess a permanent link to their mates, exchanging a part of each other's essence through their mating that allows them to sense and gain a deeper understanding of the other's emotions."
Sango and Kaede share thoughtful nods at the information. It's incredible to be receiving such intimate knowledge on youkai mating customs which are rarely spoken of outside of demonic circles.
Miroku sits quietly with his eyes half closed, arms crossed into his kimono as he listens intently, wondering if the information being shared can really help find a solution for Kagome's . . . dilemma. Kouga, InuYasha, and Kikyo on the other hand, stare off into space, their faces crimson. It's incredibly embarrassing for Kouga in particular to have his demon clans most private matters being discussed so candidly before mortals, but knowing also that there is no helping it.
"Me thinks perhaps I know what may have kept Kagome from purifying the wolf," Kaede speaks softly, her mind raveling and unraveling a million different scenarios as she processes the flea's words. She turns her attention to Kouga, "I was told that Kagome had saved ye wolf, with her powers on the journey back, is this true?"
Kouga meets the old miko's gaze, blinking in thought as he recalls that day in the forest with the snake youkai. The day his incredible woman had clawed him back from the abyss, refusing to let him die.
"Is this true, Lord Kouga?" Myoga asks with piqued interest.
Kouga crosses his arms before him, nodding. "I was poisoned, I almost died," his head hangs as he thinks back to what his brave beautiful woman had done to save his worthless, wretched life. "She . . . she said she . . ." he thinks back on Kagome's words carefully, not wanting to make a mistake. "Kagome said she put my youkai in a protective barrier, and then blasted everything else out." His forehead furrows as he recalls the memory, his gaze meeting the open-mouthed expression on the flea's tiny face.
"Indeed," Myoga tugs thoughtfully at one of his long gray whiskers. "That must be it then," he states to no one in particular.
"Make some sense, flea!" Kouga growls, brandishing an angry frustrated fist before him.
"Oh, yes, of course. Let me explain," Myoga sputters, bowing indulgently at the wolf. "This is good news, Lord Kouga. It gives us a clue as to what is happening," relieved when he sees the wolf relax slightly. "When Lady Kagome shielded you with her holy powers, it recognized you as something to defend not to destroy. So when the mating occurred, Kagome's powers recognized your demonic energy as something to protect, not annihilate."
Everyone hums in whispered tones. What a lucky break it had been for Kouga that he had almost died at the hands of the snake youkai forcing Kagome to heal him, otherwise he would surely have died at the hands of his mate. Kouga swallows thickly.
"That would explain why she is now locked in battle," Myoga shakes his head thoughtfully. Amazed at the turn of events.
"Locked in battle?" InuYasha's hesitant voice expresses the wolf's own thoughts.
"Yes, Lord InuYasha. It is hardwired in Lady Kagome's most basic instinctual nature to purify youkai. It is what the miko was created for, and Lord Kouga's bloodlines are particularly ancient and powerful making the battle more potent as the war rages inside her. Even as Kagome's power seeks to protect the powerful youkai energy within her, another part of her also seeks to destroy it, attempting to purify it. The more Kagome fights, the more energy she expends, and the more pain and suffering her body will endure as the powers clash inside her."
Kouga's mind feels like its stopped working. How much worse can this nightmare possibly get?
Myoga shakes his head thoughtfully. "From what I can read of the energies within the blood, the battle will endure for as long as the youkai is actively trying to merge with its mate, but whether Kagome will be able to survive the assault on her body and spirit for that long is uncertain." The little flea hangs his head as low gasps of worry go up around him.
"But surely if Kagome can make it past the period of the mating rites she will be alright?" Miroku asks with concern. "She will recover, yes?" The monks usual passive expression betrays his worry and fear.
"I'm afraid, Master Miroku, that when Kouga's youkai goes dormant at the end of the mating rites, and if it is still at war with Kagome's spirit, it will . . ." Myoga pauses, not able to bring himself to say the words, but the text had been very clear on those records he could find where couples had not survived their mating rites. "I'm afraid if Kagome's power does not succeed in purifying Kouga's energy, nor submit to his youkai, then it will mark her as an unsuitable mate, and in her weakened state, will most surely kill her."
Kouga's eyes close, his breath rushing out. So that much worse.