Chapter 53
Kagome sat up against the wall of Keade's hut, still shaking from her dream. Keade had offered her some more stew, but she had lost her appetite. Would Koga really … no, he wouldn't. Her stomach felt bruised on the inside from where the baby threw a fit. She needed Inuyasha, if she was to keep her sanity. Standing up with the dull pain still inside her belly, she thanked Keade and decided to walk around to stretch her legs. It was getting harder and harder to even be on her feet, swollen as they were. She bent over as Koga's face flashed into her mind, the contents of her stomach spilling out on to the dirt. Wiping the sweat from her lip, she glanced up at the sky. She sighed in relief when she spotted her mate and daughter, enter the village.
Izuma looked at her pale face. "Wow Mom, you look sick."
Inuyasha saw his mate's terrified expression and ran forward. He caught her just as she fainted into his arms. Her pulse was racing and he could feel her heart fluttering. Without another word he gathered her in his arms and ran off into the woods. She buried her face in his chest and cried as he sat under the Sacred Tree with her in his arms.
He lifted her chin with his hand and wiped her tears away with frantic fingers. "Kagome, Kagome! Please, look at me! Are you okay? What's wrong? Is the pup coming?"
Kagome sniffed and touched his face. "No, no it's not that."
"Tell me if something is wrong stupid!" he said a little too harshly.
Kagome looked at him, more tears streaming down her face. "I had a nightmare where Koga …"
"What Kagome? Tell me! Please!" he pleaded.
She swallowed before she spoke. "Where he attacked us … killed us both."
Inuyasha crushed her to his chest. "I won't let him Kagome! I won't let that bastard touch you!"
She sobbed into his chest for the longest time. The sun turned a warm shade of orange as it began to sink lower and lower. Inuyasha held her as she got the last of her tears out. When she had fallen asleep in his arms, he kissed her gently and stood up, being careful not disturb her. Her still shaking hands grabbed handfuls of his rob as he raced back to the village. Without giving any relief to the others that she was alright, he sped into their hut. Placing her gently on their futon, he tied the door shut and went to her. Blowing out the flickering candle next to them, he encircled his arms around her and breathed in her sweet, addictive aroma. She was still shaking, but not as much as before. He traced his claws over her face and sighed to himself.
He would let that damn wolf touch his Kagome. She'd choose to be his mate and if that revolting bastard could not take it then he could go to hell. He was so glad she had mated with him, relieved. He could not see her and that piece of trash … being together. Holding hands, kissing, ma … He shook the disgusting image from his head and growled.
He could feel his demon blood boil with anger. He had learned to control it more but still was under the influence of it. Kagome helped him, made him feel alive. Taught him to smile, laugh a lot, to trust people again. He had never been more thankful to her for … for saving his soul. If he ever hurt her, inside or out, he would never forgive himself.
Kagome stirred and touched his face. "Are you okay Inuyasha? I heard you growl."
"Yeah I'm fine, go back to sleep." He said kissing her deeply.
Izuma said goodnight to everyone and walked with Shippo at her side. Neither one of them spoke until he broke the silence at the bottom of the hill the hut sat on.
"I hope Kagome is okay. It looked like she just saw a ghost." He said.
Izuma looked to him and nodded. "Mom? Yeah, she did look pretty scared."
She kissed him as they approached the wheat flap of the hut. As the kitsune's lips met hers, his nose caught wind of Komaru inside. Why was he still here? Hell was going to break loose if Koga found out he was hiding here. He turned his attention back to Izuma, who still had her mouth locked with his. He pressed his tongue against her teeth and she sighed. Her kisses were so warm and comforting. She pulled back and put her forehead to his. He frowned at her with disappointment on his face. Her kisses were so warm and comforting.
She laughed when a piece of his orange tickled her nose. "I'm going inside to relax. Swinging Osanti really did a number on my shoulder. I love you."
He smiled at her. "Love you." He put his hands in the sleeves of his kimono and walked back down to the village.
Izuma trudged inside and pulled her hair out of the messy pony tail it was in. She took a soda from the cooler, clicked it open and gulped down a few swigs. Then the scent of wolf entered her nose. She turned and jumped when she spotted Komaru sitting quietly in the corner. Why hadn't she scented him before? This kid freaked her out more and more every day.
"Man … you really need to learn to be more social. You're lucky I didn't attack you." She snapped at him.
He laughed and pulled some of hair out of his eyes. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you."
"I was not scared, I was surprised! There's a difference! Don't push me Balto!" she said as her face turned a bright shade of red.
He did not believe her in the slightest. "Sure, so … how was battle training?"
She finished the last of her Cola. "Fine, not that it's any of your business."
"No need to bite my head off, I was just asking." He said.
"Whatever, I'm going to bed." She said. Not taking another look at him, she stalked to her room, mumbling to herself. What did he know about her? He needed to shut his mouth before she tore it off. Despite him being a jerk, she never would be able to repay him for getting her out of the wolf tribe.
She tossed her hairband on to her desk and flopped down on to her soft futon. It seemed a little colder now than when she was outside but she ignored it. Her eyes drifted to her window which framed the perfectly round moon. She watched a few shooting stars streak across the sky and slowly drifted off to sleep.
