Chapter 44

Miroku leaned down, kissing Kagome's temple. She had fallen asleep on the couch in the bar. He had been putting up the finishing touches so they could reopen the next night. Her laptop was on the floor, and Miroku picked it up, closing it. She had been working hard since she enrolled in school, and as always, he was proud of her.

Setting her laptop on the table, he focused on her belly, kneeling down beside her. His hands rested over his son, rubbing gently. A smile broke on his face as he felt his son move, his heart swelling in fatherly pride. "You're going to be strong, aren't you?" Voice soft, he kissed her belly tenderly.

After a moment, he stood, making his way around the bar and once more checking over everything. He was ready for Safe Haven to be back open. He had already informed everyone that he was opening the next night, giving them all time to get back on a nightly schedule. Sango had even agreed to be his manager, though the first few nights he would be there to make sure things ran as they once did, if not better.

Because everything had been destroyed, Miroku went ahead and upgraded what he could. He should be bringing in more money than he was before. Everything was ready for him to finally hand the reins over to Sango. He had a family to care for now, and that was what was important.

Feeling his phone vibrate, he pulled it out of his pocket, walking from Kagome and answered it. It was Souta, calling to make sure the rooms and apartment were ready for the girls and him to come back. Yura had finally contacted Miroku, and he willingly agreed that she can once again move in if she wanted to, but that she would have to start working with Naomi once more on the finances for the bar.

Agreeing that they could come in that night and get their things settled, Miroku made his way back to the main area in the bar and froze. His heart dropped into his stomach, his lungs seizing. Kouga was there, inside of the bar. He was standing just behind Kagome, gently running a hand over her cheek.

"Get the fuck away from my wife." Miroku lunged forward, determined to get that vile man away from Kagome. He never wanted Kouga near her again.

Kouga smirked, raising his other hand to his lips in a shushing motion. The hand that was on Kagome's cheek, moved to rest on the baby, and Miroku froze, eyes wide. Once again he was put into a predicament he didn't want to be in. He wanted to get Kouga away from Kagome, but if he moved, he risked Kouga hurting his son.

"Don't want to wake her, do you?" Kouga smiled down at Kagome, the look on his face wicked and sinister. "I came to talk to you anyway. It's good that she is asleep. So, let's keep it down." He didn't take his hand off of Kagome's belly, raising an eyebrow as he felt the baby move. "He is active isn't he. Disgusting."

"Don't hurt them." Miroku swallowed, motioning towards a table set far away from Kagome. "We can sit down. Talk. Man, to man."

"You think I'm stupid. The moment I move away from Kagome, you are going to attack me." Kouga chuckled, taking glee in the tightening of Miroku's lips. "We will talk right here.

"Then talk, and leave." Miroku's hands were clenched into fist, his heart racing in his chest.

"I'll give you money. As much as you want. Just divorce her and send her back to me." Kouga was looking at Miroku, actually believing money would tempt Miroku away from Kagome.

"You lost more than half of your assets in the divorce. Your business was parted out, your house sold to the highest bidder, your money given to charities. How exactly do you expect to pay me? If I needed money that desperately, I would go to my father, who has three times the money you do." Miroku smirked, noticing Kouga's rage at the reminder of how Kagome screwed him over. She made it to where he would never be rich again. At least not without starting over from the beginning. "Besides, my wife means more to me than all the money in the world."

"What about your family? Does she mean more than them?" Kouga was no longer playing around, anger taking over. He wouldn't be humiliated by the man that fucked his wife. Miroku would pay for what he did. Miroku narrowed his eyes at Kouga, not answering, and Kouga knew he hit a sore spot. "I'll go after them. You know I will. Ask Kagome's grandfather."

"You really did kill him?" Miroku felt his stomach roll. They had suspected Kouga had done something so devious, but actually realizing that they were dealing with a killer was another thing all together. Kouga was dangerous. He could really harm those that Miroku cared about.

"Maybe, I did, maybe I didn't." The smile Kouga gave said exactly what he did. "I had a talk with your father a week ago as well. Interesting man."

The air in Miroku's lungs froze as he realized the meaning behind Kouga's words. "Did you kill him too?" Kouga was far more dangerous than any of them had ever realized.

"I simply talked to him. Did you know that he was thinking of harming Kagome? He rambled about it all the time, claiming it would save you. I told him that was a very big mistake. The only one that will hurt Kagome is me, and I will take so much enjoyment in it." Kouga chuckled softly, once more looking at Kagome. He lifted his gaze back to Miroku. "What happened after I left wasn't my fault."

"Why Kagome? You have hundreds of thousands of women to choose from, but you won't let her go. Why?" Miroku looked to his wife, his jaw tight. "Is there anything I can do that will make you leave? What will it take for you to walk away, and never come back?"

"Nothing. Kagome is a rare collectible that I won't give up. She is pure and innocent, and I was so close to tainting her, breaking her. You ruined that, built her back up, and now I will have to start over again. You refuse to give her up, and so do I. We are at an impasse, so where do we go from here?"

Miroku rolled his head, frustration tightening his jaw, all the way down to his shoulders. He just wanted Kagome to be safe. He wanted his son safe, and once again he was pushed into a corner, forced to let Kouga do as he pleased. He wanted to keep them safe, but the only way to do that was to stay back and let Kouga be near her until the bastard decided he was ready to go.

On top of that, Kouga was a killer. He killed Kagome's grandfather. He potentially killed Mattaki. A killer had his hands on Miroku's wife, over their son, and Miroku was forced to allow it to keep them both safe. At that moment, if given the chance, he would have killed Kouga.

For a moment, Miroku thought of the fake identities Sesshomaru had made before Kagome's divorce. They were starting to seem like a good idea, but Miroku didn't want Kagome to have to give up everything that she had built. She was taking classes, finally had a family that loved her. She would lose all of that if they left. However, they may not have a choice. If Kouga doesn't back down, Miroku may have to move them just to keep Kagome and their son safe.

"She will be mine eventually, Miroku. It's only a matter of time." Kouga lifted his hand from Kagome's belly, backing away from the couch. With every step Kouga made, Miroku took forward, waiting on Kouga to get far enough away from Kagome that he could take him down.

"She will never be yours. She is mine, protected by me and my family. You won't touch her again." Miroku's steps quickened, as did Kouga's who was getting closer to the front door. Just a little bit more, and he would be far enough away from Kagome.

"Your family won't be a problem much longer." Kouga smiled, his feet stopping suddenly making Miroku stop. "Nice car you have by the way. All shiny and perfect. It would be a shame if someone destroyed it." Kouga laughed, turning on his heel and running out the front door.

Miroku ran after him, exiting the bar a few seconds after Kouga. The evil bastard had already managed to climb into a waiting car, and it was speeding off with Kouga's hand out the window waving. A promise that he would return.

Turning and making his way back inside, Miroku ran to Kagome, skidding on his knees to look her over. As he wrapped her in his arms, she awoke, startled by his reaction. He ignored her questions, instead holding her tightly to him. Again, Kouga had put his hands on Kagome, and Miroku had been forced to watch.

"Miroku, what's wrong?" Kagome grabbed his face, forcing him to look at her. He shook his head, not wanting to tell her how close Kouga had come to her. Instead he pressed his lips to her, thrusting his tongue into her mouth in need.

She was still tense, worried by the way he was acting, but she could feel he needed the reassurance that being intimate could bring him. She moved herself off the couch, her body heating as he shared his want with her.

She reached between them, pulling open his pants and reaching inside. She could tell something was really bothering him, because he wasn't as stiff as he normally was. Calling his name, she tried to ask him again, but he shook his head once more, moving to kiss down her neck.

He was an expert at seduction, even with his mind clouded. He heated up her body, got her as needy as he always did, and before long, she was removing her own pants, turning around and sitting in his lap. He helped guide her, pressing himself into her core. Her back was against his chest, his hands moving over every part of her.

She moaned, crying out into the club as he thrusted into her, bringing her pleasure. He brought her to multiple orgasms, each one feeling that she was okay, that Kouga hadn't hurt her. Only when she couldn't handle anymore, her body shaking did he bring her to one last release, letting her rest against him as she panted.

"What about you?" Kagome ran a hand over his face after a few minutes of him not moving. He hadn't released, focusing on nothing but her. She looked up to him, seeing the fear in his eyes. "What happened Miroku?"

He swallowed, moving her hair behind her ear. He kissed her gently one last time, and then pulled his member from her. When they were both dressed again, Kagome sat across from him, holding his hands, once more asking him what was wrong.

"Kouga came." He hadn't wanted to tell her, but there was no way she was going to let this go. "He basically admitted to killing your grandfather. He hinted at killing Mattaki. We thought we were just dealing with an abusive manipulator, but he is a killer, Kagome, and he wants you. He isn't going to let you go."

Kagome didn't say anything, a fissure of fear going through her. She wanted to cry, to tremble, but in that moment, Miroku needed her. So, she bit back her fear, and pulled him to her. He was scared, scared that Kouga would hurt her. It explained his behavior before, his need to make sure she was okay.

They had let themselves forget Kouga while he laid low. They pushed away the fact that he was there, at large, and now Kouga had forcefully reminded them. He wasn't going away, and now they needed to sit down and figure out what to do from here. First, they needed to find Mattaki, then they needed to decide what to do next. Kouga was a threat, and one that wasn't going to go anywhere.