I do not own Inuyasha or the songs used in this story.

Please refer to Chapter 1 for trigger warnings.

INUYASHA

Why the fuck is Derick Shepherd such a tool?

McDreamy my ass. More like McDipshit.

Meredith could do so much better than this fucking punk.

We've been sitting here for around two hours watching this show. Well, Sango and Miroku have been watching it. I've been staring at the door almost every 15 minutes waiting for Kagome to get back.

I admit, however, one ear has been poised at the trainwreck of a medical romance drama coming from the T.V.

After my confession earlier, Sango gave me a long talk about Kagome, the usual "if you hurt my best friend, I'll kill you" speech. When I asked about her ex, the only thing she'd tell me was that he was a full-blooded okami named Kouga. She refused to tell me what he did or why Kagome was so scared of him, saying it was up to Kagome to tell me those things.

I decided to stay here at Sango's and make sure Kagome came back safely from the club. Then I'd catch a ride with Miroku back home.

Currently, Sango is in the kitchen making popcorn while Miroku uses the restroom. I'm still sitting in the recliner opposite the couch with my eyes glued to the door.

As if manifesting her arrival, the door swings open with a crash.

Kagome races inside, slamming the door with such force that it shakes the floorboards. After locking it, she turns around, her body shaking and her eyes frenzied. I'm out of my seat and in front of her in a second. The strong smell of her fear makes my stomach roll and my eyes bleed red as I look at her. She looked so scared, so helpless.

"Inu-Inuyasha," She's panting, calling my name like she… like she needs me. She reaches out and grabs the sleeves of my shirt on both sides, her hands trembling so hard I feel the vibration in my bones and my arms instinctively circle around her.

She starts stammering, speaking so fast, that I can't fully understand her. "He-he found me, he found me! I-I didn't know what to-to do, I just ran. He-he-he-"

"Kagome, you need to slow down," I speak slowly, hoping to calm her. "Who found you? Where? What happened?" Despite my best efforts, I can hear the panic in my own voice, knowing the answers to my questions but not wanting to believe them.

She squeezes her eyes shut and shakes her head over and over again. "No, no, no. He was in the alley, he was right-he was right there, I couldn't, I couldn't-"

Her breathing is becoming more and more labored like she just ran a marathon uphill. Her fingers dig into my shirt until her knuckles turn white. Her eyes are still shut, her cheeks drenched in tears. Before I know it, her knees buckle with a sob and I catch her on the way down.

"Kagome?!" I hear Sango's worried cry somewhere above me.

"Kagome, open your eyes, baby, look at me." I use my softest voice, barely louder than a whisper. My legs circle around her as she curls herself into a ball between them. My hands cup both sides of her face to stop her from shaking it in the negative. My thumbs graze the apples of her cheeks to wipe away the onslaught of tears. "Baby, look at me. You're okay, you're safe, no one's going to hurt you."

Miroku and Sango hover close by, but far enough away to not crowd. I can't focus on them, on anyone, or anything but the small, fragile, woman in my arms in the throes of a panic attack.

Her breathing is more and more erratic. She's on the brink of passing out soon.

"Kagome, you have to calm down and breathe. Can you do that for me? Baby, you have to breathe. Come on," I pry one of her hands from my sleeve and press her flattened palm to my chest. "Breathe in time with me, okay? In for 5, out for 5. Ready?" I inhale deeply, letting her feel my chest rise, and count 5 seconds, then exhale and count another 5. It takes a few repetitions, but she finally starts breathing in rhythm with me.

I rub her back and whisper soft reassuring words as she begins to come back to me. "Good job, baby, just breathe for me. I'm here. You're safe, baby, I'm right here."

Keeping her hand on my chest, I use my other to continue wiping away tears on her soft cheeks. I cup her jaw to tilt her head up to look at me, but her eyes are still closed.

"Kagome?" I whisper. "Look at me, baby girl, open your eyes for me."

My heart soars with the first sign of her fluttering eyelashes. So slowly, she opens her eyes and looks at me. They're a storm of color and emotions, the deepest darkest parts of the ocean staring back at me. Faint traces of fear and panic, but those are null compared to the relief shining in her depths.

Once she fully sees me, she collapses into my chest, sobs ripping from her throat and fat tears streaming down her face once again, soaking my shirt. Whines leave my throat at the sight of her so… broken.

My legs and arms circle around her body tighter and I rock her on the floor of Sango's apartment. My chest emits a calming purr, slowly lulling her to sleep.

"You're safe, baby, you're safe. I won't let anyone hurt you." I whisper in her ear. I keep murmuring reassurances as her breathing starts to even out. Eventually, exhaustion takes her and she falls asleep in my arms.

I don't know how long we stayed like that. It could've been 5 minutes, it could've been 5 hours. At one point, Sango tries to reach out and touch Kagome. A menacing growl tears itself from my throat on instinct and I curl my body tighter around Kagome's, as if I'm trying to completely absorb her, take her inside my own body and keep her safe. The whites of my eyes are almost completely red-tinted, the golden irises bleeding azure. Purple jagged lines crest my cheeks and I can feel my fangs poking out of my mouth. This is different from my transformations though. I'm in complete control, completely conscious of my surroundings and choices.

My demon and I are on the same exact page.

"Protect mate."

With asleep in my arms, so many emotions bloom in my chest before I can stop them. And if I'm honest with myself, I don't want to stop them. Possessiveness, pride, adoration, dare I say love?

She rubs her cheek on my chest and my heart leaps at the innocent action. Even in her sleep, she seeks comfort from me and it's a fucking honor.

I carry her into Sango's room, lay her on the bed, and tuck her in. She stirs slightly, missing my warmth, but settles quickly. I watch her parted lips sigh, her chest rise and fall in even breaths, then slip out of the room.

As much as I want her to stay wrapped in the safety of my arms, I need answers.

I close the door with the softest click, then turn all of my attention to the two people sitting on the couch in the small living room. They watch my every move, tension filling every muscle in our bodies. Miroku looks about ready to leap from the couch and hold me back and it probably doesn't help that I can't take my eyes off of Sango. She looks like she's having a battle raging in her mind as she meets my gaze. She either wants to scream at me or run far, far away. Her nervousness assaults my nose and I'm certain she was ready to bolt.

I don't give her the chance to decide as I speak in a low, stern voice, my eyes boring holes into hers.

"I'm only going to ask once," I say, trying to keep a leash on my control as I bite out the next question. "What did he do to her?"

Sango breaks our eye contact to favor the floor. Miroku sighs heavily and stands up from the couch, but doesn't approach me. "Inuyasha, I don't think now is the time to-"

"No," Sango says softly, but loud enough to cut him off. "He's her mate even if she doesn't know it yet. He has a right to know. By demon law, he's the only one that can go after Kouga without penalty if she's threatened." Without another word, she stands up from the couch and stalks towards a small end table. She opens the drawer and pulls out a manilla envelope. Her eyes finally meet mine as she walks toward me. They're full of fire, pleading for vengeance.

"Promise me you won't do anything stupid." She extends the envelope towards me. Without answering, I grab the manilla envelope. When my clawed fingers undo the tongs, her next words send a shiver down my spine. "You might want to sit down before you read what's in there."

Fuck, how bad is it?

Taking her advice, I sit on the Lazy Boy chair across from the couch where Miroku and Sango retake their seats, staring at me pensively.

"Inuyasha…" Miroku mutters nervously. "I should probably get Tetsusaiga."

I shook my head. "No, I'll be fine."

To that, he sighs. "You almost bit Sango's arm off earlier when she tried to reach for Kagome. Man, you were almost-"

"I said I'm good, Miroku. Even if I do transform, my demon would never hurt Kagome and he already sees you as pack, and Sango is saturated in your scent. I promise, if I go nuclear, you can sutra my ass."

At that dismissal, I pull the contents of the envelope out and start reading.

The first document is a police report with the mugshot of the fucker responsible for my girl's pain and fear. His lightning blue eyes are empty. No emotion, no recognition, nothing. His long dark ponytail is mussed and disheveled as if he had gotten into a fight. Red blotches of burned skin mark parts of his neck.

He looks every bit like an egotistical asshole I can already tell he is. Entitled and about as shallow as a puddle.

I skim the information below his mugshot.

Name: Kouga Sokudo

Species: Okami

Sex: M

Hair: Dark Brown

Eyes: Blue

Height: 6'4

Weight: 180lbs

Locking his image and information into my memory, I move down the page where it describes the report and charges.

My blood immediately runs cold.

Charges Description:

Battery Domestic Abuse - 1 Count

Attempted Sexual Assault - 1 Count

Attempted Force Mating (Okami) - 1 Count

Misuse of Demonic Abilities on Human - 1 Count

The growl that rips from my throat is loud and menacing, making Sango and Miroku shutter. They're watching my every move. Miroku scoots to the edge of his seat, hands out and palms facing me.

"Inuyasha, I really think I should go get Tetsusaiga-"

"No, I'm fine." I can't keep the snarl out of my voice. My demon is too close to the surface, too ready to strike, but I can't lose focus. For the sake of the two in front of me, but most importantly, for the angel sleeping in the next room. I need to know what he did to make her have a panic attack just by the sight of him.

"Hurt mate. Tried to take what's mine."

My demon may hate me now for not setting him loose on this asshole, but I'll sink my claws into his mangy fur soon enough. I just need all of the information first, the information I refuse to ask Kagome for.

I can't bring myself to put her through this trauma again. I need to do this on my own, no matter how loud my demon growls and roars in my chest.

Report:

On 02/13/22 at approximately 11:43pm, first responders arrived at the residence of Higurashi, Kagome in response to a 911 call placed by the victim's friend, Tajiya, Sango. Upon arrival, Higurashi had already removed herself from the residence and sought safety. The defendant, Sudoku, Kouga, remained on the scene, unconscious, suffering mild purification burns on the upper torso and neck where the victim used her miko abilities in an act of self-defense to escape. Sudoku was brought in for processing and booking at approximately 12:32am on 02/14/22. Higurashi was questioned on scene.

According to Higurashi, Sudoku instigated an argument after arriving at her residence at approximately 10:00pm. Although Higurashi was consistent in her refusal of consent to sexual activities, Sudoku pursued sexual contact in an attempt to force Higurashi to undergo mating without proper knowledge or consent to or from Higurashi. (Refer to Demonic Mating Laws - Okami - Customs and Regulations, Section 4). Upon resistance, Sudoku struck Higurashi and proceeded to physically and verbally assault her. (Refer to medical records). Higurashi used her reiki to push away Sudoku, knocking him unconscious, and escaping to the Tajiya residence where emergency services were contacted.

Sudoku was put in holding at approximately 1:45am on 02/14/22 after refusing interrogation and practicing his 6th Amendment Right.

Bile lodges in my throat and my growl has only gotten louder the more I read. I'm gripping the papers so hard, they crinkle under pressure. Seeing red around the rims of my vision, I close my eyes tight, taking a deep breath. My demon is roaring deep and low in my head and chest, rising to the surface with my rage.

"Hurt mate!"

He hit her.

He fucking beat her.

He tried to rape her.

"Kill him! Kill him!"

I can't breathe at the thought of her being hurt. My muscles ache with how tense I have become upon reading the report. I'm not sure I can turn the page to see the medical records. I know it's bad. The piece of shit is a full-blooded demon, Gods knows how much damage he did to her. I know my demon is coming out, I can feel the blood rage rising higher and higher.

Taking a few deep breaths to calm my demon, who was roaring a guttural sound inside my head, chest, and soul, I look up at Sango and Miroku.

Sango looks more nervous than before and Miroku is holding her hand to ground her or himself, probably both. I catch Sango's gaze as she shifts uncomfortably. Her eyes take in the purple marking adorning my cheeks before she speaks slowly as to not set me off.

"Inuyasha," She says. "I know you want to know what he did, but Inuyasha… those pictures… there's nothing good that can come from seeing her like that. You read the report. You know what he tried to do… you don't need to see her like that."

That alone lights my blood on fire.

Ignoring her, I turn the page.

It was only a glimpse, but it was enough.

Sango was right. What I see decimates my entire fucking world.

Purple and blue bruises mark her soft, beautiful cheek.

Her right eye so swollen you can't see the oceanic scene in her iris.

A bloody split lip, bruised torso, jagged scratches covering her arms and legs.

The last image in the file is the last thing I see before my vision is engulfed in a red haze and my demon breaks the reins on all the control I have left.

Teeth marks on her thigh.