Spider, Part Sixteen
"Pride "
by Vega
When morning came, Kouga shook the Miko girl Kagome awake and hauled her out of the cave without so much as a 'how are you feeling today?' in my direction. It felt a little bothersome, being shoved down to the position of the second person he thought of every morning.
I was beginning to like the man, you see, for his kind attention. It was nice to be the object of someone's interest without a death threat being suspended over your head. Where Naraku's fascination with me had been creepy, Kouga's was endearing.
All around me the other wolves began to awaken and I could see Ginta giving me looks out of the corner of his eyes, patting down and grooming his funny skunk-like hair. He attempted a weak smile when he caught me looking at him, and I quickly looked away.
Ew. No. My great-great-great-grandfather did NOT have a crush on me.
Kabau whined at me when I looked away, and I could see that he was asking me a question by the tilt of his head. A wagered at it's meaning and answered: "You wouldn't believe me if I told you the whole story, buddy, but I can't be with Ginta. He's destined for someone better."
The wolf looked apprehensive but shook his ruff in a form of a shrug and lay his head back down on his paws.
I watched with captivation as the wolf men around me strapped on their armour, cooked and ate what they could kill in those few hours of morning, and sharpened weapons. My god, it looked like the wolves were preparing for war.
When mohawk-ed Hakkaku came over to hand me a share of the meat and water he said, "Are you comfortable, sister?" When I replied that I was, but I was curious as to what was going on, he answered, "Well, the Kouga-sama took the Miko to find the leader of the Gokurakuchou, and get his Shikon Shards. Word's come back that we're going to have to infiltrate their nesting territory."
"So you're preparing for battle?"
He nodded, then looked over his shoulder at Ginta, who smiled hopefully at me when he caught me looking as well. "He likes you, you know," Hakkaku said, turning his eyes back to mine. "Thinks you're really pretty."
"Huh," is all I said, not sure how to respond.
"Any one of us would be happy to be your mate," Hakkaku insisted, and I stared at him. If he saw the shocked horror that I was sure had to be in my eyes, he ignored it. "Despite your mixed blood. Our numbers are quickly diminishing. We need a good strong female like you."
"...what?"
Hakkaku shook his head. "Don't tell me you're that dense, sister. You seem pretty intelligent for being a girl. The only reason Kouga has let you stay here, the only reason we're expending precious resources on you," here he gestured to indicate the food in my hands, and the pelts I was covered with, "is because we need pups if our tribe is to flourish."
I felt like being sick.
"Ginta offered up his pallet for you, you know," Hakkaku continued, "because he wanted you for himself. Kouga has agreed that he can take you to mate as soon as you are well enough. He said so after laying a claim on the Miko."
I felt my skin crawling, as if trying to get away from the futon of furs that I sat on.
Hakkaku straightened and reached out to pat my head, scratching behind my ears as if I really were a wolf and would enjoy it. It made me feel like he was treating me like an idiot child.
Then he turned and walked away, his tail switching back and forth behind him. He went straight to Ginta and they began to talk.
Not wanting to have any indication as to what they were saying, I turned away and lay down, closing my eyes tightly. I didn't open them when I heard footsteps approaching. I didn't open them when I heard Ginta's voice say, "Sister? Sister... oh, well, ... I guess you're asleep..." I didn't open them when I felt his calloused knuckles brush over the smooth skin of my intact cheek. I didn't open them when I heard the call for the wolf warriors to move out and the pound of their feet on rock, and their howls rending the air.
Only when complete silence descended did I open my eyes.
And then I bent over my knees and began to cry.
~~~
I spent the next few hours reliving the dream of the night before, deliberately clawing for the fading images and emotions, and most of all, the information.
So the dog Hanyou and that Miko girl were destined to marry, as were that poor Sango and the strange attractive man in indigo. And their children's child would marry Shippou. THAT's where I had known the name from.
Shippou.
That squeaky, whiney little red-headed kid was my great-great-great-great-grandfather, and would one day grow up to be the leader of the Kitsune Youkai.
I drank the willow tea that Ginta had left beside me when he had come to check up on me, despite it's being cold, and spent the daylight hours in restless fits of healing repose.
By the time I woke I was more exhausted than when I fell asleep. Perhaps I had been sleeping too much, and that was the problem. But my bruises were mostly gone and the various cuts and gashes were starting to scab over. The broken ribs weren't quite so tender any more and although I no longer had the mirror to look into, I could tell by feel that the swelling and bruising around my eye had gone down as well, although I was sure that the whites of it were still bloody.
My right arm was starting to heal nicely too. The punctures in my upper arm had stopped pussing, which sounds far less gross than it actually was, and the inflamation around them had vanished, which meant no more infection, and YAY, no need to chop the whole limb off. The punctures on my wrist from Naraku's teeth hadn't healed yet, which worried me.
I wondered if I was still somehow connected to the Demon that way, if he someone knew where I was and that I was still alive. Was I endangering the pack just be existing?
I shook my head clear of that thought - no, I couldn't worry about that. If I did, then I would sink into a depression even lower than the funk I was already in.
How exactly was I going to tell Ginta that I couldn't mate with him? Especially since the reason was that I was one of his own kids.
Or, 'pups' as Hakkaku had said.
Maybe I could convince Hakkaku to mate with me instead - surely Ginta would bow to another wolf that I chose? I mean, if it was for the continued existence of the Pack I could...
I could what?
Stay here forever and become part of history?
Have mountains of little furballs for a bunch of men that I felt like a prisoner of? Would they ever let me leave this cave, especially if I was a frail hanoyou who couldn't defend herself, and I was such a precious commodity?
And then what? My mother would be shattered if I vanished. I'm the last person she has left on the face of the Earth. And my great-grandmother said that I somehow had to get this shard out of me and back to the Miko girl Kagome.
No, I couldn't give up.
I had to find a way to get out of here.
I had to find a way to get home.
~~~
It was nightfall before what remained of the tribe came limping back.
I had been left entirely alone, save for Kabau who, as far as I could tell, had spent the day pacing the entrance of the dwelling, on guard. The door to the den was hidden by a vast and noisy waterfall, so when the warriors returned their fur was matted with blood and water and they looked like a pack of drowned, depressed rats.
Worse off of the bunch of them was Kouga.
He was exhausted, I could tell, just from the way he leaned on Ginta. And his right arm was nearly torn apart - I could see a flash of white bone under all the ragged flesh. I made me gag.
They set him down on his pallet and the tribe's healer quickly went to work on their leader, before attending to everyone else. I did a quick mental calculation and discovered that less than half of the tribe had returned unscathed. And it looked like over twenty of them had not returned at all.
And where was the Miko? Kagome was missing.
All of a sudden I heard a great roiling echo cut across the mountains. It was Kagome's voice screaming, "FOOL!"
I winced, just like everyone else in the den, and silently wondered if it was Kouga she was referring to. The rest of the night passed in quiet, punctuated only by the pained whimpers of the injured, or the silent congratulations on the defeat of the enemy.
It took me a while but I finally heard enough to realize that despite their depressed silence, the wolves had won. They were tiptoeing on eggshells, however, because not only had Kouga lost one of his powerful Shikon Shards to Kagome, who was apparently collecting and protecting them, but because Kagome had humiliated him by refusing to allow him to duel with her other suitor for her hand, once the leader of the Gokurakuchou was dead, THEN turned around and told him that she would not, under no uncertain terms, be 'his woman'.
His pride, I gathered, was more bruised than his flesh.
Well, I thought, what did he expect? She already told him that she was in love with Inu Yasha and I knew for a fact, as the living proof of it, that she was meant to be with him. Around midnight, when most of the others were curled on their pallets, lost in battle-worn slumber, Kouga was still awake and licking his wounds.
In the case of his arm, quite literally.
I pulled myself painfully to my feet and stumbled over to him as quietly as I could. I saw the yellow flash of eyes and Kabau watched my progress, and a flash of blue and green as both Hakkaku and Ginta's gaze followed me as well. I ignored them and went straight over to Kouga and without asking permission first, flopped down onto the Prince's pallet.
"Don't do that," I said, and pulled his arm away gently, "You'll open it up and start bleeding."
"Fuck off, woman," he snapped. "I don't need your help."
"Oh, no?" I deliberately dug my nails into the scrape and he yipped in pain. "Shut up and let me bind it for you, you baby."
He glowered but held out his hand and let me apply the ointment that was sitting on the floor nearby and re-bind the wound with the bandages he had torn off earlier to get at it. That finished he sat back against he back wall of the open-faced chamber and intentionally looked away from me. I sighed and pulled myself over to sit beside him.
"I notice that Kagome isn't here," I said softly, trying to disguise the 'I-told-you-so' tone in my voice with kindness. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"There's nothing to talk about," he growled back. "She chose to go with that god-dammed half-breed mutt instead of ME, the Prince of the Wolves."
I sighed and shook my head. "I don't think your pedigree has anything to do with it. She loves him, and not you, that's all."
I watched as his fist flexed and tightened. "She can't love him if he's dead."
"Don't go after them." Against my better judgement I let slip a bit of what I had found out in my dream the night before. "They're meant for each other. You should just let it go."
"No! I will not 'let it go'!" he said, and I was reminded of a whiney kindergartener. "It's an insult to my honour and my pack! I have laid claim to that woman and she is MINE."
"Does she WANT to be 'yours', though?" I said gently, and I reached out to put a hand on his knee. He batted it away with an annoyed flick of his tail. "Did she ever actually agree, Kouga?"
He snarled and I thought I saw a pout touch his lips briefly. "No, not really. But I figured that since I was the stronger one, she'd have to say yes."
I shook my head again, suppressing a chuckle.
He turned his head and narrowed those bright blue eyes of his at me.
"Humans aren't like wolves," I said softly. "The alpha male doesn't win the woman. Humans fall in love - they choose their mates by their kindness, their devotion, their dedication. Not by who can beat the shit out of who."
"But..." he started, "I'm a Prince!"
"If I remember correctly," I smiled, "so is Inu Yasha."
Kouga snarled and slammed a fist into the floor between us. "But I LAID CLAIM FIRST."
"Geeze, Kouga," I said, and I could feel the ire growing inside. Alright - no more trying to be delicate with his hurt pride. "What did you expect the Miko to say? 'Why Yes, I think I will be your wife, even though I have no idea who you are and you only want me for what I can do for you, and you even tried to kill my best friends. Let's get married and have a cart load of puppies right now!' " I snorted and shook my head. "You're a right idiot, aren't you?"
The snarl that followed my tirade I'd expected. The hard shove that sent me crashing into the hard rocky cave wall behind me I did not.
"Don't you mock me!" Kouga snarled, and I felt his claws digging into my shoulders.
I said nothing and stared at him, determined to win this battle of wills, wincing only slightly when a few fingers squeezed and my flesh was cut. The sudden smell of my blood must have distracted him, for his eyes slid down my face and neck to his hands. He let go slowly, fingers curling back, until he found the index finger that was stained crimson.
Slowly he brought it to his lips and his soft pink tongue darted out to lap away the substance.
I flinched when he pressed closer to me, nose snuffling at the seepage. He lapped at that, too, and when a panicky whine escape my lips - for I had visions of him either raping me or tearing a huge chunk of my shoulder out - he started and pulled away.
The eyes that looked back into mine were wide, and confused. Thankfully, they were also clear.
"I'm sorry," he muttered before getting up and walking out of the den.
After a few moments of shocked silence, I pulled myself to my feet as well and stumbled back over to my own pallet.
As I passed by Ginta I felt his gaze on the wounds on the back of my shoulder, but did my best to ignore both him and them.
I didn't fall asleep until dawn.
~~~
Author's Notes:
It's almost sad how this fic now has 80 reviews, my best record ever, and my NaNoWriMo entry "Radu" has less, and "Across Time" has none! *sob*.
Reviews:
Raylee: Glad you're not grounded any more - enjoy the TV. I'm a university student and I have niether the time nor money to have tv! I'm reading that this chapter was confusing to a lot of people, so I'll see what I can do to clear it up.
ellie: Strange enough, this review popped up just as I had finished answering everyone's. Isn't it cool that you were reading just as I was writing? Anyway, glad you enjoyed it - onto chapter 16!
Seb: Tell you?! Aww... come now, after that BIG FAT HINT in chapter 15...?
Sorrow: .... 0__0... Wow. Just.. WOW. Thank you SO MUCH. It means a lot to me that you've taken teh time to study my characters and and let me know that you enjoy them so much. I first strated writing fanfic when I got annoyed with the lack of depth and foresight in the writing I'd found ('cept for Trinsan, Icegaze, Scribe, Ponderosa... a few others... *g* My Heros...). I wanted to create people that were REAL out of people who weren't. I wanted to study waht made them do what they did. That's why I write Fanfic - to figure out people. "Relief" is a strong sentiment to use in refernece to my writing, but I beleive that it is the single most flattering thing anyone has ever said about my work, and I thank you for it. And I do "care for" my babies - my little fan-ficcies and stories. Thank you for noticing. *snicker* If you think I'm being motherly with these ones, wait until my novels come out! Ha! Thank you again for yoru kind words. I hope you enjoy everything else by me that you may read, and give me feedback again on those, as well.
WhiteMagic2: As I just said above, it touches me how much people are enjoying this fanfic. Thank you so much for your kind words.
anime-luvver: Nope, you didn't misunderstand. You got it in one, mate. They ARE one big family! *hands you glue-dissolver* That's kinda messy, I'd imagine... ^_^
Kataionna: Wai! You got it! AS for that family...! My own mother can attest - I spent a good hour or so sitting at my desk with a thick red sharpie and a bristol board scribbling away, trying to create a bloody family tree! On top of that I had to invent names and occupations for everyone. Blarg! But, just because everyone's been so helpful and encouraging, you all can find a copy of it BELOW. ^_~ As for wether she finds him again in the present ... well... we'll see, now won't we?
Pallas Athena: It's all coming together now...
Sailor-armitage: You're welcome. Sleep Sweet!
BaboonRider: *snickersnerk* LOVE THE NAME. Well, if I inspired the story, you absolutely HAVE to let me read it! You rea dthe whole thing in one night, eh? Does your brain hurt yet? ^_^ I'm glad that you're loving it. So far there are no plans to re-introduce Naraku in the fic, but there is still more story to be told, so who knows what may pop into my brain? I've written the last chapter but nothing between this one, 15, and it. So, we'll see where the merry-chase leads me. That's the way it is with all my fics. And sure, feel free to visit everyday - I don't update QUITE that frequently, but I think the story will be finished by the end of the week, maybe a bit more. I try to be regular when I work on a story because a) it usually wants to slither out of my brain all at once anyway and b) I know how annoying it is when people don't update an amazing fic. (glares pointedly at "The Red Hunger" and "Child of the Night".)
Neo-Genesis: It is a bit confusing. It sure confused ME and I WROTE it. Do re-read it, it may help. AS may the chart below. And like I said to Seb, you're asking me where the romance is after my BIG FAT CHAPTER 15 HINT? *sigh* Also, cute kitty. Look, here's Kirby! -- (*-*)
NIGHTSCREAM: Of COURSE it's downright creepy! That's the idea! You know, it started as a nightmare I had, eh? The whole "my right arm is a freakign mess" thing is more or less true, too... I have second degree carpel tunnel syndrome in there and repetative stress syndrome in my right shoulder and elbow. It feels like I've had red-hot spikes driven thru all my joints.... and yet I continue to write. *sigh* operation, here I come... if I don't end up in a sling again first... ^_^ I spent a lot of the second half of my second year at University in a sling (I started usign pretty handkerchiefs after a while, and an Art-Major friend drew me on my canvas one with a sword saying "I may be a gimp but I can STILL KICK YOUR ASS!") and taking notes with my left hand. *groan* I can barely read those ones now... I also like to pay attention to detail in my fics, as you pointed out, as so many ficcers SKIP that sort of thing. It's so important to create a FULL ENVIORMENT for your characters. The sights, the sounds, the texture and scent and taste... more than just "HIs shirt was black, his hahir a dusting curtain of silver" I mean, COME ON! Can't anyone describe things without resorting to CLISHE?! *ahem* There's my rant for the day. Also, I learned to write by reading P.N Elrod, Anne Rice, Niel Gaimon, and Piers Antony. So yes... LOTS OF DETAIL.
sashlea: Who said this was over yet?! After everyone's great input and ideas, at least another two chapters have begun to form in my mind...
~~~
Author's note #2
Okay, I lied. No family tree. I looked at it on ff.n and it looks CRAPPY. So deleted it.
When I post this on my website, I'll add it then, okay?
"Pride "
by Vega
When morning came, Kouga shook the Miko girl Kagome awake and hauled her out of the cave without so much as a 'how are you feeling today?' in my direction. It felt a little bothersome, being shoved down to the position of the second person he thought of every morning.
I was beginning to like the man, you see, for his kind attention. It was nice to be the object of someone's interest without a death threat being suspended over your head. Where Naraku's fascination with me had been creepy, Kouga's was endearing.
All around me the other wolves began to awaken and I could see Ginta giving me looks out of the corner of his eyes, patting down and grooming his funny skunk-like hair. He attempted a weak smile when he caught me looking at him, and I quickly looked away.
Ew. No. My great-great-great-grandfather did NOT have a crush on me.
Kabau whined at me when I looked away, and I could see that he was asking me a question by the tilt of his head. A wagered at it's meaning and answered: "You wouldn't believe me if I told you the whole story, buddy, but I can't be with Ginta. He's destined for someone better."
The wolf looked apprehensive but shook his ruff in a form of a shrug and lay his head back down on his paws.
I watched with captivation as the wolf men around me strapped on their armour, cooked and ate what they could kill in those few hours of morning, and sharpened weapons. My god, it looked like the wolves were preparing for war.
When mohawk-ed Hakkaku came over to hand me a share of the meat and water he said, "Are you comfortable, sister?" When I replied that I was, but I was curious as to what was going on, he answered, "Well, the Kouga-sama took the Miko to find the leader of the Gokurakuchou, and get his Shikon Shards. Word's come back that we're going to have to infiltrate their nesting territory."
"So you're preparing for battle?"
He nodded, then looked over his shoulder at Ginta, who smiled hopefully at me when he caught me looking as well. "He likes you, you know," Hakkaku said, turning his eyes back to mine. "Thinks you're really pretty."
"Huh," is all I said, not sure how to respond.
"Any one of us would be happy to be your mate," Hakkaku insisted, and I stared at him. If he saw the shocked horror that I was sure had to be in my eyes, he ignored it. "Despite your mixed blood. Our numbers are quickly diminishing. We need a good strong female like you."
"...what?"
Hakkaku shook his head. "Don't tell me you're that dense, sister. You seem pretty intelligent for being a girl. The only reason Kouga has let you stay here, the only reason we're expending precious resources on you," here he gestured to indicate the food in my hands, and the pelts I was covered with, "is because we need pups if our tribe is to flourish."
I felt like being sick.
"Ginta offered up his pallet for you, you know," Hakkaku continued, "because he wanted you for himself. Kouga has agreed that he can take you to mate as soon as you are well enough. He said so after laying a claim on the Miko."
I felt my skin crawling, as if trying to get away from the futon of furs that I sat on.
Hakkaku straightened and reached out to pat my head, scratching behind my ears as if I really were a wolf and would enjoy it. It made me feel like he was treating me like an idiot child.
Then he turned and walked away, his tail switching back and forth behind him. He went straight to Ginta and they began to talk.
Not wanting to have any indication as to what they were saying, I turned away and lay down, closing my eyes tightly. I didn't open them when I heard footsteps approaching. I didn't open them when I heard Ginta's voice say, "Sister? Sister... oh, well, ... I guess you're asleep..." I didn't open them when I felt his calloused knuckles brush over the smooth skin of my intact cheek. I didn't open them when I heard the call for the wolf warriors to move out and the pound of their feet on rock, and their howls rending the air.
Only when complete silence descended did I open my eyes.
And then I bent over my knees and began to cry.
~~~
I spent the next few hours reliving the dream of the night before, deliberately clawing for the fading images and emotions, and most of all, the information.
So the dog Hanyou and that Miko girl were destined to marry, as were that poor Sango and the strange attractive man in indigo. And their children's child would marry Shippou. THAT's where I had known the name from.
Shippou.
That squeaky, whiney little red-headed kid was my great-great-great-great-grandfather, and would one day grow up to be the leader of the Kitsune Youkai.
I drank the willow tea that Ginta had left beside me when he had come to check up on me, despite it's being cold, and spent the daylight hours in restless fits of healing repose.
By the time I woke I was more exhausted than when I fell asleep. Perhaps I had been sleeping too much, and that was the problem. But my bruises were mostly gone and the various cuts and gashes were starting to scab over. The broken ribs weren't quite so tender any more and although I no longer had the mirror to look into, I could tell by feel that the swelling and bruising around my eye had gone down as well, although I was sure that the whites of it were still bloody.
My right arm was starting to heal nicely too. The punctures in my upper arm had stopped pussing, which sounds far less gross than it actually was, and the inflamation around them had vanished, which meant no more infection, and YAY, no need to chop the whole limb off. The punctures on my wrist from Naraku's teeth hadn't healed yet, which worried me.
I wondered if I was still somehow connected to the Demon that way, if he someone knew where I was and that I was still alive. Was I endangering the pack just be existing?
I shook my head clear of that thought - no, I couldn't worry about that. If I did, then I would sink into a depression even lower than the funk I was already in.
How exactly was I going to tell Ginta that I couldn't mate with him? Especially since the reason was that I was one of his own kids.
Or, 'pups' as Hakkaku had said.
Maybe I could convince Hakkaku to mate with me instead - surely Ginta would bow to another wolf that I chose? I mean, if it was for the continued existence of the Pack I could...
I could what?
Stay here forever and become part of history?
Have mountains of little furballs for a bunch of men that I felt like a prisoner of? Would they ever let me leave this cave, especially if I was a frail hanoyou who couldn't defend herself, and I was such a precious commodity?
And then what? My mother would be shattered if I vanished. I'm the last person she has left on the face of the Earth. And my great-grandmother said that I somehow had to get this shard out of me and back to the Miko girl Kagome.
No, I couldn't give up.
I had to find a way to get out of here.
I had to find a way to get home.
~~~
It was nightfall before what remained of the tribe came limping back.
I had been left entirely alone, save for Kabau who, as far as I could tell, had spent the day pacing the entrance of the dwelling, on guard. The door to the den was hidden by a vast and noisy waterfall, so when the warriors returned their fur was matted with blood and water and they looked like a pack of drowned, depressed rats.
Worse off of the bunch of them was Kouga.
He was exhausted, I could tell, just from the way he leaned on Ginta. And his right arm was nearly torn apart - I could see a flash of white bone under all the ragged flesh. I made me gag.
They set him down on his pallet and the tribe's healer quickly went to work on their leader, before attending to everyone else. I did a quick mental calculation and discovered that less than half of the tribe had returned unscathed. And it looked like over twenty of them had not returned at all.
And where was the Miko? Kagome was missing.
All of a sudden I heard a great roiling echo cut across the mountains. It was Kagome's voice screaming, "FOOL!"
I winced, just like everyone else in the den, and silently wondered if it was Kouga she was referring to. The rest of the night passed in quiet, punctuated only by the pained whimpers of the injured, or the silent congratulations on the defeat of the enemy.
It took me a while but I finally heard enough to realize that despite their depressed silence, the wolves had won. They were tiptoeing on eggshells, however, because not only had Kouga lost one of his powerful Shikon Shards to Kagome, who was apparently collecting and protecting them, but because Kagome had humiliated him by refusing to allow him to duel with her other suitor for her hand, once the leader of the Gokurakuchou was dead, THEN turned around and told him that she would not, under no uncertain terms, be 'his woman'.
His pride, I gathered, was more bruised than his flesh.
Well, I thought, what did he expect? She already told him that she was in love with Inu Yasha and I knew for a fact, as the living proof of it, that she was meant to be with him. Around midnight, when most of the others were curled on their pallets, lost in battle-worn slumber, Kouga was still awake and licking his wounds.
In the case of his arm, quite literally.
I pulled myself painfully to my feet and stumbled over to him as quietly as I could. I saw the yellow flash of eyes and Kabau watched my progress, and a flash of blue and green as both Hakkaku and Ginta's gaze followed me as well. I ignored them and went straight over to Kouga and without asking permission first, flopped down onto the Prince's pallet.
"Don't do that," I said, and pulled his arm away gently, "You'll open it up and start bleeding."
"Fuck off, woman," he snapped. "I don't need your help."
"Oh, no?" I deliberately dug my nails into the scrape and he yipped in pain. "Shut up and let me bind it for you, you baby."
He glowered but held out his hand and let me apply the ointment that was sitting on the floor nearby and re-bind the wound with the bandages he had torn off earlier to get at it. That finished he sat back against he back wall of the open-faced chamber and intentionally looked away from me. I sighed and pulled myself over to sit beside him.
"I notice that Kagome isn't here," I said softly, trying to disguise the 'I-told-you-so' tone in my voice with kindness. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"There's nothing to talk about," he growled back. "She chose to go with that god-dammed half-breed mutt instead of ME, the Prince of the Wolves."
I sighed and shook my head. "I don't think your pedigree has anything to do with it. She loves him, and not you, that's all."
I watched as his fist flexed and tightened. "She can't love him if he's dead."
"Don't go after them." Against my better judgement I let slip a bit of what I had found out in my dream the night before. "They're meant for each other. You should just let it go."
"No! I will not 'let it go'!" he said, and I was reminded of a whiney kindergartener. "It's an insult to my honour and my pack! I have laid claim to that woman and she is MINE."
"Does she WANT to be 'yours', though?" I said gently, and I reached out to put a hand on his knee. He batted it away with an annoyed flick of his tail. "Did she ever actually agree, Kouga?"
He snarled and I thought I saw a pout touch his lips briefly. "No, not really. But I figured that since I was the stronger one, she'd have to say yes."
I shook my head again, suppressing a chuckle.
He turned his head and narrowed those bright blue eyes of his at me.
"Humans aren't like wolves," I said softly. "The alpha male doesn't win the woman. Humans fall in love - they choose their mates by their kindness, their devotion, their dedication. Not by who can beat the shit out of who."
"But..." he started, "I'm a Prince!"
"If I remember correctly," I smiled, "so is Inu Yasha."
Kouga snarled and slammed a fist into the floor between us. "But I LAID CLAIM FIRST."
"Geeze, Kouga," I said, and I could feel the ire growing inside. Alright - no more trying to be delicate with his hurt pride. "What did you expect the Miko to say? 'Why Yes, I think I will be your wife, even though I have no idea who you are and you only want me for what I can do for you, and you even tried to kill my best friends. Let's get married and have a cart load of puppies right now!' " I snorted and shook my head. "You're a right idiot, aren't you?"
The snarl that followed my tirade I'd expected. The hard shove that sent me crashing into the hard rocky cave wall behind me I did not.
"Don't you mock me!" Kouga snarled, and I felt his claws digging into my shoulders.
I said nothing and stared at him, determined to win this battle of wills, wincing only slightly when a few fingers squeezed and my flesh was cut. The sudden smell of my blood must have distracted him, for his eyes slid down my face and neck to his hands. He let go slowly, fingers curling back, until he found the index finger that was stained crimson.
Slowly he brought it to his lips and his soft pink tongue darted out to lap away the substance.
I flinched when he pressed closer to me, nose snuffling at the seepage. He lapped at that, too, and when a panicky whine escape my lips - for I had visions of him either raping me or tearing a huge chunk of my shoulder out - he started and pulled away.
The eyes that looked back into mine were wide, and confused. Thankfully, they were also clear.
"I'm sorry," he muttered before getting up and walking out of the den.
After a few moments of shocked silence, I pulled myself to my feet as well and stumbled back over to my own pallet.
As I passed by Ginta I felt his gaze on the wounds on the back of my shoulder, but did my best to ignore both him and them.
I didn't fall asleep until dawn.
~~~
Author's Notes:
It's almost sad how this fic now has 80 reviews, my best record ever, and my NaNoWriMo entry "Radu" has less, and "Across Time" has none! *sob*.
Reviews:
Raylee: Glad you're not grounded any more - enjoy the TV. I'm a university student and I have niether the time nor money to have tv! I'm reading that this chapter was confusing to a lot of people, so I'll see what I can do to clear it up.
ellie: Strange enough, this review popped up just as I had finished answering everyone's. Isn't it cool that you were reading just as I was writing? Anyway, glad you enjoyed it - onto chapter 16!
Seb: Tell you?! Aww... come now, after that BIG FAT HINT in chapter 15...?
Sorrow: .... 0__0... Wow. Just.. WOW. Thank you SO MUCH. It means a lot to me that you've taken teh time to study my characters and and let me know that you enjoy them so much. I first strated writing fanfic when I got annoyed with the lack of depth and foresight in the writing I'd found ('cept for Trinsan, Icegaze, Scribe, Ponderosa... a few others... *g* My Heros...). I wanted to create people that were REAL out of people who weren't. I wanted to study waht made them do what they did. That's why I write Fanfic - to figure out people. "Relief" is a strong sentiment to use in refernece to my writing, but I beleive that it is the single most flattering thing anyone has ever said about my work, and I thank you for it. And I do "care for" my babies - my little fan-ficcies and stories. Thank you for noticing. *snicker* If you think I'm being motherly with these ones, wait until my novels come out! Ha! Thank you again for yoru kind words. I hope you enjoy everything else by me that you may read, and give me feedback again on those, as well.
WhiteMagic2: As I just said above, it touches me how much people are enjoying this fanfic. Thank you so much for your kind words.
anime-luvver: Nope, you didn't misunderstand. You got it in one, mate. They ARE one big family! *hands you glue-dissolver* That's kinda messy, I'd imagine... ^_^
Kataionna: Wai! You got it! AS for that family...! My own mother can attest - I spent a good hour or so sitting at my desk with a thick red sharpie and a bristol board scribbling away, trying to create a bloody family tree! On top of that I had to invent names and occupations for everyone. Blarg! But, just because everyone's been so helpful and encouraging, you all can find a copy of it BELOW. ^_~ As for wether she finds him again in the present ... well... we'll see, now won't we?
Pallas Athena: It's all coming together now...
Sailor-armitage: You're welcome. Sleep Sweet!
BaboonRider: *snickersnerk* LOVE THE NAME. Well, if I inspired the story, you absolutely HAVE to let me read it! You rea dthe whole thing in one night, eh? Does your brain hurt yet? ^_^ I'm glad that you're loving it. So far there are no plans to re-introduce Naraku in the fic, but there is still more story to be told, so who knows what may pop into my brain? I've written the last chapter but nothing between this one, 15, and it. So, we'll see where the merry-chase leads me. That's the way it is with all my fics. And sure, feel free to visit everyday - I don't update QUITE that frequently, but I think the story will be finished by the end of the week, maybe a bit more. I try to be regular when I work on a story because a) it usually wants to slither out of my brain all at once anyway and b) I know how annoying it is when people don't update an amazing fic. (glares pointedly at "The Red Hunger" and "Child of the Night".)
Neo-Genesis: It is a bit confusing. It sure confused ME and I WROTE it. Do re-read it, it may help. AS may the chart below. And like I said to Seb, you're asking me where the romance is after my BIG FAT CHAPTER 15 HINT? *sigh* Also, cute kitty. Look, here's Kirby! -- (*-*)
NIGHTSCREAM: Of COURSE it's downright creepy! That's the idea! You know, it started as a nightmare I had, eh? The whole "my right arm is a freakign mess" thing is more or less true, too... I have second degree carpel tunnel syndrome in there and repetative stress syndrome in my right shoulder and elbow. It feels like I've had red-hot spikes driven thru all my joints.... and yet I continue to write. *sigh* operation, here I come... if I don't end up in a sling again first... ^_^ I spent a lot of the second half of my second year at University in a sling (I started usign pretty handkerchiefs after a while, and an Art-Major friend drew me on my canvas one with a sword saying "I may be a gimp but I can STILL KICK YOUR ASS!") and taking notes with my left hand. *groan* I can barely read those ones now... I also like to pay attention to detail in my fics, as you pointed out, as so many ficcers SKIP that sort of thing. It's so important to create a FULL ENVIORMENT for your characters. The sights, the sounds, the texture and scent and taste... more than just "HIs shirt was black, his hahir a dusting curtain of silver" I mean, COME ON! Can't anyone describe things without resorting to CLISHE?! *ahem* There's my rant for the day. Also, I learned to write by reading P.N Elrod, Anne Rice, Niel Gaimon, and Piers Antony. So yes... LOTS OF DETAIL.
sashlea: Who said this was over yet?! After everyone's great input and ideas, at least another two chapters have begun to form in my mind...
~~~
Author's note #2
Okay, I lied. No family tree. I looked at it on ff.n and it looks CRAPPY. So deleted it.
When I post this on my website, I'll add it then, okay?