{The Road Between Souls}
{chapter 13 - to love and to lose}
Kagome quietly wrapped a long pice of fur around her body, trying to not wake Kouga, who slept next to her. She dragged herself out of the cave as silently as she could, heading for the hot springs. Just a little further...
Carefully, she slid herself into the healing waters of the spring, attempting to wash the sickening sensation of being pawed over like some sort of whore. She winced as she leaned back against a rock, the rough surface irritating the light claw marks on her back - courtesy of Kouga, of course.
Slowly, so as to not hurt herself even more than she already was, Kagome pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her ankles. Tears began to form in her eyes, and her vision blurred. Why me? It's not so bad that he...he raped me, it's that he acted like it was natural...an everyday occurance...
It wasn't like this was the first time. But it was different in that before she had been sold, he had stroked her body lovingly, treating her like a beautiful, fragile statue. He had restrained himself.
Now, Kouga didn't care how much he hurt her. Kagome was bruised over almost every inch of her body. It felt that way, anyway. And the worst part was that he had treated her like she was a whore. "'Touch me there,'" he ordered, then, "'do that'". It scared her. The marks on her back were from him desperately clawing at her last night, screaming for more even as she felt like passing out.
Her soft tears turned to loud sobs that wracked her whole body as she realized that her life would probably resemble that until she died. Abused, mistreated, used...
"Kagome?" She turned her head. There was Inuyasha, a look of utter disbelief on his gaunt face. He looked like hell. She looked worse. "What happened?" he breathed out.
"Kouga-kun got jealous," she replied dejectedly. "It's not your fault." she added hurriedly, seeing the shock on his face shift to fear, then anger.
He waded into the water, not worried about getting his clothes wet. Inuyasha removed his shirt, then draped it over Kagome's shoulders, then gently wrapping it tighter around her small soft-skinned form.
"I want you wearing my clothes, not his." he said firmly. "And I'm going to fight him again."
Kagome tried to move to wrap his arms around her, but found her tortured body too tired. "Inuyasha..."
"It's okay," he said, then gently took her into his arms. "I love you, you crazy bitch."
"I love you too." she murmured, letting him support her.
"I'm going to take you back to the palace - everybody's worried about you. Then after I kill the wimpy wolf, I'll return to you. I promise."
Out of nowhere, Kouga appeared, an angry snarl on his face, and slammed his fist into Inuyasha's side.
"Inuyasha-a!" Kagome screamed, collapsing due to the lack of support.
"So once wasn't enough, bastard? Want me to kick your scrawny half-breed ass again?"
Inuyasha spat. "I beat you last time, stupid."
"You won't this time."
"What makes you so sure?" That polite little conversation ceased when Kouga crouched down, then used all his speed to slam his knee into Inuyasha's stomach.
Or he would have, if Inuyasha hadn't dodged at the last second, and rammed his elbow right on Kouga's neck. Kouga choked and fell, then rolled on his back and thrust his foot into Inuyasha's stomach. Inuyasha grunted, then unsheathed Tetsusaiga. "Prepare to die, bastard!"
"Like hell!" Kouga jumped backwards, preparing to attack Inuyasha. As he rushed forward, Kouga snapped his leg up in a jumping front kick, then, upon landing, flew into a barrage of punches, most of which were blocked haphazardly. Kouga's hands flew up in an effort to block swipes from Tetsusaiga as Inuyasha took the offensive. Seeing a weak spot, he reached out and whacked the side of Inuyasha's neck with his hand in a chopping motion. Inuyasha went flying in the other direction, stopping only when he crashed into a tree.
Inuyasha stood, seemingly unaware of the myraid of cuts that bled all over his white undershirt. He lunged forward suddenly, preparing to finish the fight.
Kouga edged backwards, anticipating the Kaze no Kizu that headed his way. What he didn't foresee was how powerful Inuyasha was when he was truly pissed off. The destructive blades ripped at his flesh, nearly removing his head. Only Kouga's distance and guard prevented a painful bloody death. Even so, he was badly torn up, and lying in a pool of blood.
"Told you," Inuyasha said coldly, then raised Tetsusaiga to perform the finishing blow.
"Don't!" Kagome cried out, desperately trying to pull herself to the fallen prince.
"What?" Inuyasha was so shocked that she was trying to protect Kouga that his sword slid out of his now-loose hand. "You still want to protect this bastard, even after all he's done to you!?" Kouga, barely conscious, laughed weakly.
"Yeah, you better believe it." After he forced the words out, Kouga's head lolled over and he was silent.
"Is he dead?" Kagome asked softly.
"No. Not yet, anyway." Inuyasha glared at her. "Why don't you want me to kill him? He raped you, threatened your home, and forced you away from me."
"That wasn't the Kouga I knew. He never would have forced me into anything."
Inuyasha felt his temper getting the best of him, but he didn't care. "Look, it doesn't matter if you want to stay with him or not! I own you! I've defeated him in combat twice now, and if I have to carry you back, you'll return with me!
Kagome rolled her eyes. "I never said I wanted to be with Kouga, moron! I'm going back with you! I just don't think he deserves to die!"
Blink-blink-blink. "Oh."
"We should at least get him back to the cave and bind his wounds," Kagome said gently.
Inuyasha snorted. "Fine." He reached down and hoisted Kouga onto his back, then lifted Kagome into his arms. "You can't walk either," he informed her. "so I'm going to carry you."
Kagome smiled and snuggled up to his chest. "Okay by me."
When Kouga awoke, he felt Kagome tying up his wounds, a cool cloth in his forhead. He tried to sit up, but Kagome pushed him back down, wincing slightly as she was forced to exert herself.
"You need to rest," she ordered calmly.
"Where's the dog-turd?" Kagome stiffened.
"Getting more water."
"Why are you trying to heal me? After what I did to you?" Kouga asked, staring at her.
"That wasn't you."
"Yes, it was. That was what I wanted to do that first night." He shivered slightly. "And what's worse was that I liked it."
"You don't deserve to die because you messed up for two weeks, after being wonderful for three years," Kagome insisted.
"Thank you, though."
"For what?"
"For deciding to stay with me, instead of return to him."
Kagome opened her mouth to reply, but was cut off by the clatter of a bamboo flute being dropped, then water splashing. She turned to see Inuyasha standing at the mouth of the cave, his eyes narrowed with the hurt of betrayel.
"You almost fooled me," he said angrily, his voice soft. "I hope you have a good life."
And with that, he spun on his bare heel and flew off as fast as he could.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome screamed, tears pouring down her cheeks. She fell in a sobbing heap on the floor, beating the ground with her fists, ignoring the pain that flooded her senses. "Don't go..." she whispered, laying her head on her arms. "I love you..." Kouga's eyes slid closed as he realized his assumption was wrong.
"How can you say that?" he asked quietly. "How can you say you love him after loving me?"
Kagome lifted her head to look at Kouga, who had somehow managed to pull himself into a sitting position. "I never told you that I loved you. You assumed I did."
Kouga's memory raced over three years of life, realizing - never once in three years did she say those three words.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Kagome snorted as his inquiry.
"Gods, Kouga-kun! I was a piece of property! If I told you that I only thought of you as a big brother of sorts-"
"A brother you have sex with?" he interrupted.
Kagome sighed. "Kouga-kun. Realize that I cared for you. I still do. But I could never love you the way I love Inuyasha."
"Then go to him. I'll make sure the village is protected."
"What?"
"I'd only be torturing you - and me. You need to be with the one you love."
Kouga closed his eyes again. "Go already! You're making this harder than it is to begin with!""Thank you," Kagome said sweetly. "I'll never forget you, Kouga-kun." She picked herself up, still wearing Inuyasha's coat, then began the long walk back to the palace...to return to whom she loved.
Grrrr...CHEESY-NESS!!! Growl. Well, this chapter is dedicated to Crystalite, whom I've been horribly rude to, and to my online tomodachi-chan Lazuli, for being so nice and such to me. I'd tell you to read her new story "Shared Blood", but hers is already far more popular than TRBS! *green with envy*
Oh well. And for those wondering how Kouga said "Okaeri nasai" in the last chapter, that means "Welcome home" in a very polite way. Augh...only one chapter to go!
Yeah, I think next is the last one...now, you're all prolly going "WTF?? What about Naraku-tachi!?" Well, here's your answer: there's a sequel comming to a FFNet near you!!! Yeah, whatever. Anyshit, the sequel is nameless as of this writing (12:12 on december 5, 2001), so submit suggestions if you love me ^.~
-Katra Winner
