Title: Inu Tarzan

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha and all credit for the anime should be directed to the Inuyasha corp. I also do not own Tarzan or anything related to the name, characters or storyline.

Music: The song I have selected for this chapter is: "Tarzan OST: The Death of Kerchak." You are welcome to listen along if you want. It is not required to follow along with the story. When you see these marks (***) that means to begin to play the selected song. When you see these marks (xxx) this means to stop playing the music. It is important to pay attention to these markings, as there is often more than one song per chapter. I do not have credit for these recordings or channels.

Rated: M – Mature language, violence, and adult content in various chapters.

Inu Tarzan: Always

(Recap)

"Will your pack promise to not attack the men anymore?" Professor Porter asked as the men behind him watched the negotiations unfold.

"Only if the humans no hunt no more." Inu-Tarzan said. "No hunt, not attack."

"Well men? Do you think we can survive on our dried meat and left over canned goods until the boat arrives?" Professor Porter asked as he turned to face the men. "Or do you wish to battle it out once again and risk never seeing your families?"

"I think I can spare being a vegetarian for a few days. I've had enough meat to last me a good while. What about you boys? Are you ready to go back to camp?" Jones asked as he looked at everyone.

"Yeah, I'm tired of this shit. I came to hunt; not start a fuckin war." Snipes said, earning grunts and nods in agreement from the other men.

"You're giving up?" Mr. Hojo yelled, making everyone turn to look at him in confusion. "You're really going to let those beasts win? They're lying to us! They want revenge for what we've done! They won't sleep until we're all dead! They'll hunt us down one by one, come into our tents when it's dark and kill us!"

"Let it go Hojo. You're just being paranoid." Jones scoffed as the other men began to walk back towards camp. "I'm tired, got mud in my shoes, I'm hungry and cold from the rain. I got my thrill of the hunt, now I'm ready for bed. We can come back tomorrow and get their furs."

"No! I will not let it go!" Mr. Hojo snapped as he ripped Snipes' gun from his hands and pointed it at Inu-Tarzan. "I will not be leaving without what is MINE!"

"Mr. Hojo no!" Professor Porter shouted.

BANG!

(Reconvene)

Inu-Tarzan didn't understand. He'd braced for the impact by closing his eyes and tightening all the muscles in his body, but it never came. Wasn't the bullet supposed to hurt? When he'd been shot in his arm he thought he was on fire! Why did he feel exactly the same? No pain, just cold and angry as hell. Everything was dark and the silence seemed to last forever. Wait... why could he still hear his racing heart in his chest? Was this what death was supposed to feel like?

"KAGOME!" Professor Porter screamed, causing Inu-Tarzan's eyes to snap open.

Following the old man with his intense gaze he watched him huddle down at his feet. He stared in shock at the tiny figure crumpled on the ground.

"K-Kago…me?" Inu-Tarzan stammered in shock as he watched the old man frantically check over the eerily silent girl. When the old man turned her over revealing a large patch of blood beginning to spread on her shirt he sank to his knees and cried, "KAGOME!"

"Oh Kagome!" Professor Porter wailed as he frantically fretted over his bleeding granddaughter.

"You idiot!" Jones yelled as Mr. Hojo stared in shock at the dying girl on the ground. "Look what you've done! You've killed her!"

"I-I didn't mean to!" Mr. Hojo stuttered as he tried backing away towards the jungle. "I didn't mean to kill her! She jumped right in front of him! I wasn't trying to get her! It's his fault!"

"That doesn't matter! We called a truce and you were still out for blood!" Snipes shouted, causing the other men to start yelling at him.

"If you hadn't tricked us into thinking war was the only answer we wouldn't be in this mess!" Jones yelled.

"Arrest him!" Professor Porter demanded as he applied pressure to Kagome's heavily bleeding wound. "He will be tried back in London for his sins!"

"No! It wasn't my fault! It wasn't my fault!" Mr. Hojo denied as he shoved off the other men and raced off into the jungle.

"Sessho…" Inu-Tarzan growled through clenched teeth.

"Yes, little brother?" Sessho asked as he watched his brother tenderly pick up his dying mate in his arms and curl her close to his chest.

"You have my permission to take my kill." Inu-Tarzan said.

"As you wish." Sessho said as he and his pack mates raced off into the jungle to hunt down their prey. The sounds of their howling and barking soon disappeared in the darkness as the cries of Mr. Hojo's misery died on the wind.

(*** Tarzan OST: The Death of Kerchak ***)

"Inu.. t Tar…zan" whispered a very weak voice.

"Kagome!" Inu-Tarzan gasped as he watched his pale faced mate's eyes flicker open to look into his own.

""I'm so… gl-glad you're… ok." Kagome whispered as everyone gathered closer to listen.

"Why did you move? Why you not stay away?" Inu-Tarzan wailed as his eyes welled with tears and his chest constricted his breathing.

"You're always… ss… saving me…" Kagome whispered as she reached up a trembling hand and cupped his cheek. She smiled softly when he leaned into her touch and nuzzled his damp cheek into her palm. "It's about time… I r-return the fa... vor."

"Kagome!" Inu-Tarzan shouted as she lost consciousness. "Kagome wake up!"

"Quick men! We must get her back to camp now!" Professor Porter commanded as Inu-Tarzan carefully raced back towards the beach.

"Kagome!" Inu-Tarzan sobbed as the scent of her blood grew stronger.

"Please don't die!"

As soon as they arrived at camp Professor Porter and Inu-Tarzan quickly went to work on digging out the bullet in her side and stopping the bleeding. It took longer than they expected but by the time the sun rose the following morning Kagome was in stable condition. Having lost too much blood and the rising fever beginning to spread in her veins from infection they knew it was only a matter of time before she died. It was later that day that hope dwelled on the horizon. Not wanting the ship to miss their location the men frantically shot off two more flares into the sky and burned a massive bonfire on the beach. When the ship blew its horn and continued to grow closer they knew they'd been spotted.

"We must get her aboard the ship." Professor Porter commanded as the men frantically packed up their tents and supplies. "It's her only hope of survival."

"Inu-Tarzan come with you." Inu-Tarzan said as he helped to toss Kagome's items into her travelers trunk.

"No, Inu-Tarzan. You belong here in the jungle with your pack. They need you here." Professor Porter said.

"No! Inu-Tarzan not leave mate!" Inu-Tarzan growled just as Kagome stirred on the cot. "Kagome?!"

"Ow…" Kagome moaned as the pain in her side stopped her from sitting up.

"Do not move, child. You've been shot." Professor Porter commanded as he grabbed a cool cloth off of the table and handed it to Inu-Tarzan. "Here, place this on her forehead."

"Oh yeah…" Kagome sighed as she struggled to open her eyes. Feeling the cool cloth on her brow she turned to face her mate. "Inu…"

"Sh… No speak." Inu-Tarzan soothed as he knelt down to nuzzle into her neck. Kissing along her jaw he said, "Rest. Save energy. Leave soon."

"Leave?" Kagome asked as she closed her eyes and enjoyed his tender touches.

"The boat's returned child." Professor Porter said as he loaded the last of her art supplies into her trunk. "It's time to go home."

"Home?" Kagome asked uncertain. "But this is my home."

"No, child." Professor Porter sighed as he came to sit by her bedside. Rocking the sleeping Shippo in his arms he said, "If you stay here, you will die."

"But I can't leave him!" Kagome began to cry as she realized what was happening. "Please! I don't want to leave him! What about Shippo? He needs me too!"

"Let me come. I protect Kagome." Inu-Tarzan growled not understanding why he couldn't just go with them.

"No, Inu-Tarzan. London is no place for a half human dog or a baby monkey. The stress, diseases and dangers will kill you both. The only place you might survive is in a zoo or laboratory and I will not let that happen. You cannot go home with us. You both belong here in the jungle. I saw your brother's leg. He'll need you more than ever now that our men have killed more of his stronger warriors." Professor Porter said.

"Grandpa's right." Kagome sniffled as Inu-Tarzan's golden eyes widened with understanding. "If I stay, I'll die and if you go, you'll die."

"but… you go, you may live." Inu-Tarzan grit his teeth as he tried to fight back the sting in his eyes.

"Yes." Kagome hiccuped as Inu-Tarzan cupped her cheek in his hand. "but I don't want to leave you."

"You never will." Inu-Tarzan promised as he placed her palm over his heart. "In my heart… always."

"Always." Kagome sobbed before he claimed her lips in a farewell kiss.

Knowing their time together was coming to an end they held each other close and kissed passionately until their lungs could no longer bare it. Even then they remained close and cried together. When everything was finally loaded onto the ship and only one lifeboat remained on the beach Professor Porter passed the crying Shippo over to Inu-Tarzan and two other seamen came to collect his granddaughter.

"The time has come to say goodbye." Professor Porter said as he looked down at the grieving lovers.

"I will miss you Kagome." Inu-Tarzan said as he looked down at her with sad eyes.

"I'll miss you too… Inu…T-Tar...zan." Kagome hiccupped as she struggled to hold back her tears. "Nalingi yo"

"Nalingi yo…" Inu-Tarzan choked out as he kissed her lips one final time.

When they broke apart the men lifted her cot up to walk towards the boat. As they carried her towards the surf Inu-Tarzan took hold of her hand in his and looked into her eyes in despair. As the men were getting into the boat he placed her hand palm to palm with his own.

"Goodbye… mate." Inu-Tarzan whispered just as the men shoved off the beach. Kagome heartbroken at the unfortunate turn of events broke down into unconsolable sobs. As the men took her farther and farther away from him she looked longingly into his eyes.

"Goodbye Inu-Tarzan! Goodbye Shippo!" Professor Porter shouted as he watched the grief stricken dog man sink to his knees on the beach. Taking hold of Kagome's hand he gently squeezed it and said, "I'm going to miss those boys."

After Inu-Tarzan watched Kagome's cot get loaded onto the Tortuga he raced back into the jungle towards his mother's house. With Shippo holding onto his back they soared through the treetops at record speed. By the time they arrived on the tallest branch of the tree house the ship was pulling up its anchor. When the boat sounded its horn and began sailing north along the African coast Inu-Tarzan lifted his face towards the heavens and howled his mournful song to the world.

[End of Chapter 36]