{The Road Between Souls}

{chapter 12 - pain and revival}

~~~

"Ow! Kouga-kun!" Kagome yelped out as Kouga dragged her by her hair into a smaller cave. They were back at "home sweet home", and Kouga was pissed off. More than pissed off.

"Stop it, Kouga-kun! That hurts!"

"I don't care," Kouga snarled. "You are mine, whether you think so or not, and I'm going to prove it!" Kagome's eyes widened. Kouga yanked back the makeshift door to his private little cave and all but threw Kagome in. The little light that seeped in served only to make the youkai wolf prince seem even more terrifying. He's worked himself into a frenzy, Kagome realized in a flash. Right now, it doesn't matter whether or not he hurts or kills me...he's jealous.

She whimpered as Kouga grabbed her yukata, growling at her, his face very close to hers. "This was from him," he stated. "And here I'm going to start the process of breaking your bond with that bastard." So saying, he shredded the beautiful silk, yanking it off her. That done, he began to wriggle out of his own clothing.

"Okaeri nasai, Kagome-chan," he taunted sadistically as he pinned her to the ground with his body, having already removed her white under robe. Kagome closed her eyes.

I'm scared...Inuyasha...help me, please...

That night, the tribe members shuddered as they heard the pained screams of their leader's mate. They felt sorry for her, but what good was it to reprimand Kouga? He was far stronger, and the demonic gleam in his eyes signified that he was beyond all reason. All they could do was pray that Kagome enured the torture she was going to be sumbitted to.

~~~

"What's wrong with Inuyasha-sama?" Miroku asked as he and Tsuraiuta stepped into the hanyou's room.

"I don't know. Whatever he has, it's not good. After he was wounded in that battle with Kouga, he didn't even bother to have his wounds healed, or anything. He won't eat, he won't sleep, all he'll do is sit there and stare off into space. It's unnerving."

"Has he said anything?"

"All he'll say is that we have to let him die in peace?"

"He's dying?" Miroku asked, alarm seeping into his normally steady voice.

"He is, but he shouldn't be," Tsuraiuta said sadly. "It's not fair. He's dying because Kagome won't betray those who live in that village! It's just wrong!" She burst into tears, scrubbing violently at her face.

"It's more than just the village residents," Miroku whispered. "Have you heard of the Shikon no Tama? Kagome-san used to guard the jewel. Right now, if she returns to Inuyasha-sama, the jewel will be without protection, and disaster will come upon this world."

"I don't give a damn about the Shikon no Tama," Sango said angrily. "I care about Kagome-chan, not some stupid jewel!"

Miroku blinked. "Where did you come from?"

"Does it matter? What's important here is Kagome-chan and Inuyasha-sama. And since nobody else seems to have the brain cells to snap some sense into that arrogant bastard, it's my job. I've lost too much to lose Kagome-chan now!"

And with that, Sango threw the door open and strode in, looking fit to kill.

As she entered, the ex-taiji-ya realized how dangerous what she was about to do was. She was prepared to pound upon Inuyasha as much as necessary. The punishment for that would be death, at the very least. Sango quashed those quickly. So I'll die...big deal. Who cares anymore? Right now, all I have to do is make sure that Kagome-chan's life actually goes right for a change.

Sango stomped over to where Inuyasha sat, his eyes open but glazed over and unresponsive. "Okay, you dog-breathed moron," she began. "I'm gonna blame you if you can't get Kagome-chan back. I don't care what you have to do to return her to us, so long as you do." She groaned in frustration at Inuyasha's unresponsiveness. "Wake up!" she yelled, leaning forward to slap the hanyou as hard as she could. When that didn't work, she switched from left hand to right, across his other cheek.

"You do not appear to grasp the situation," she roared out, ignoring the gaspes of horror from the collected youkai. "You insist on wallowing in self-pity, and being all melodramatic. Well I WILL NOT GO ALONG WITH THAT!" At her yell, Inuyasha's eyes came into focus momentarily. "That wasn't enough to wake you up? Okay, then, I'll dredge up Kagome-chan. Do you know what she said every single time we got onto the subject of you? She said that she would rather have one day with you than a million days in Paradise. But guess what? It's been two weeks, and I was close to Kagome - I know when she's in pain. And let me tell you, she's in pain. My guess is that Kouga realized you two were mated, and it didn't go over well with him, so he forced himself on Kagome. It's up to you to save her, and you sure as hell can't do that in the state you're in now." Inuyasha's eyes had slowly began to focus as Kagome's name was mentioned. Now he looked fully aware, and madder than he had ever been.

"That bastard," he breathed out furiously. "I am going to make him pay." Sango smiled, satisfied.

"Yeah, that's all well and good, but you need a day to recuperate," she said.

"I do not," Inuyasha muttered. As he said so, his stomach growled loudly.

"Do too," Shirobou stated firmly, closing the matter. Inuyasha grumbled, but crammed enough food down his throat to overstuff an army.

"Happy now?" he asked through a mouthful of noodles.

"Yes," Shuuraishi replied calmly. "But I think it's time for you to go now...to retrieve your mate. Good luck." Inuyasha nodded.

"I think I'm gonna need it." And with that, he picked up Tetsusaiga from its resting place on the floor and strode out of the palace.

~~~

Houjou walked boldly towards the cave of the wolf-youkai, wanting nothing more than to sit down and talk with his sister. Well, if the tribe would let him. As he approached the cave, he saw Kagome limping out of another cave, wearing nothing but some fur wrapped around her body and an expression of pain.

"Kagome!" He called out, shocked at her beaten appearance.

Kagome lifted her slumping head at the call. "Houjou-kun?"

"What happened!?" Houjou cried out, running up to help his stumbling sister. "Is this what he's been putting you through for three years?"

Weakly, Kagome shook her head. "No. Kouga-kun usually treats me like I'm made of glass...but, well...he got a little jealous. Don't worry, I'll be fine."

"Why is he jealous?" Houjou asked as Kagome eased herself to the ground in a sitting position.

"About a month ago, right after I found out I was pregnant, we were attacked by a band of youkai slave traders. I was stolen, and they used a spell of some sort to get rid of the baby. I was given as a gift to Shuuraishi-sama's younger son, Inuyasha." Houjou noticed that the bitterness in his sister's voice faded into fondness as she mentioned Inuyasha.

"Anyway, one thing led to another and we fell in love. A little more than two weeks ago, he married me in the youkai way. We were happy. But it was not to be." Here, anger and sadness began seeping into her voice. "Kouga-kun discovered my location and went to Shuuraishi-sama's palace to reclaim me. Shuuraishi-sama said it was my choice to stay with Inuyasha or return to Kouga-kun." she paused. "So here I am. I didn't think Kouga-kun would go berserk, but it wouldn't have affected my decision. You know, of course, why I chose to return." She lapsed into silence, closing her eyes in apparent pain.

"What about Inuyasha?" Houjou queried, his own anger building.

"He came to get me right after Kouga-kun took me back. He fought and won. However, Kouga-kun used the village as a threat again, and...I just can't let the Shikon no Tama fall into the hands of youkai, even if it means sacrificing myself. I wish to every god there is that we could just give the stupid thing back to the taiji-ya town."

"We tried. But it seems that they were attacked by a horde of minor youkai - the village was totally destroyed."

Kagome laughed, though no humor or joy entered the sound. "One of the slaves was my friend, Sango was her name. She was from the village...and she doesn't even think they're in danger."

"Get the fuck away from my mate, bastard." Houjou stood and spun around to face the angry snarl.

"Who are you?" he asked in surprise. There before him stood a mostly naked man with pointed ears and an expression of pure hate and jealousy.

"I'm the prince of the youkai wolf tribe," he snapped out. "Leave before I kill you."

"You should go, Houjou-san." she said quietly. Houjou's eyes widened at the less familiar way she addressed him in Kouga's presence.

"Fine," he said, holding his hands up in surrender.

Kouga spat in his general direction as Houjou retreated, his back to the happy little couple. Kouga reached out, grabbed Kagome, and dragged her by her arm back to the cave.

This time, Kagome's screams were louder and more painful than ever.

~~~

And in the shadow of the forest, a man in red hurried as fast as he could to save his beloved...

~~~

Phew! That took forever, because I had to write it in notepad, instead of FrontPage 2000. Real HTML, I almost died.

By the way, for those wondering about that potato dude I mentioned a while back, he preaches the virtues of potatoes. That's why he's a potato freak. ^^ So nice we are.

Well, hope you enjoyed! Next one'll be longer and won't take as long...I hope. Meep.

-Katra Winner