Waahh! Okay people, if you are reading this fic, sorry about the long wait for an update. My life went from crazy to utterly impossible over the last few weeks, hence the delay. So, please forgive, and hopefully the next one won't be so long in coming. (This one was hard to write, anyway…) This should make up for the wait – it's a more than decent length – not bad for having been written during various lunch breaks! To all, um, 6 of my reviewers so far – thank you! On with the story….

You know the drill – " for speaking, ' for thinking and italics for dreams, flashbacks, etc.

Disclaimer: *sighs * if you didn't know before, you do now – I don't own Inuyasha etc.!!!

Choice and Consequence

Chapter 4: Unwanted Rescue

There it was again. The far-off sounds of battle, smoke filling the air. And she was still unable to move – but WHY?

Something had changed. There was no choked-off scream from the hanyou, no earth-shattering explosion. When the smoke finally cleared, she saw…herself, lying still upon the ground. A few metres away, Inuyasha was walking away from her body, head hanging low. She watched in horror as her body faded slowly into nothing.

As though she had never even been there.

Flames roared through her vision, and with them came the presence that haunted her. 'Such power…'

Kikyou.

"Do you understand?"

Kagome shook herself awake, anxious to rid her mind of that hideous image. She was certain she would never be able to look at their campfire in quite the same way again. As she groggily made her way from deep sleep to wakefulness, she silently took note of her unfamiliar surroundings.

'Strange,' she mused, 'I don't remember any caves near our camp –' Her thoughts broke off in confusion. Her miko senses (which according to Miroku should have been getting steadily stronger) told her that she was literally surrounded by youkai. It wasn't a comforting notion, given the fact that she had obviously been fast asleep for some time before that dream woke her up. It was then that she picked up on a well-known aura in the vicinity. While she didn't exactly sigh in relief, she did relax her guard somewhat. This particular youkai would never harm her – not intentionally, that is. How long had she been asleep? And how did she get here in the first place? Kagome tried to get up and have a better look around, but was forced to fall back onto the furs she was lying on, biting back a cry of pain. The conversation outside the cave entrance stopped at the pitiful sound – someone moved quickly to Kagome's side to see what was the matter. There it was again, that pesky aura…

"Hello, Kouga-kun."


Miroku sighed for the umpteenth time that day. Tapping the base of his shakujou impatiently against the ground, he glared up into the tree he was standing next to.

"We have to look for her, you know."

Anyone not familiar with this odd band of travelers could be forgiven for thinking that it was a rather strange sight; a houshi talking to a tree. But people acquainted with the inuhanyou would know better.

Though it didn't stop Sango from smiling at the scene it made.

The houshi continued explaining his point to the tree, but he got no immediate reply. Apparently the tree (or whoever was in the tree) was not in a talkative mood. Eventually Miroku admitted defeat and moved over to where Sango and Shippo were sitting. They looked at him questioningly, but all he could do was regretfully shake his head.

"It's certainly a change from him tearing the place apart," Miroku commented dryly, "but I'm not sure I like the apathy either. He just sits there, not saying a word. It's like he's a statue."

"He must be worried sick about her," Sango said sadly, "but why won't he go looking for her? She'll need his help soon enough – we don't even know for certain if she's healed up after that fight…" Her low voice trailed off uncertainly at the mention of their recent battle. It wasn't the attack itself that haunted her; she had seen Inuyasha's face as he had realized that he was too late to save the girl he had sworn to protect. It was his terrified expression that refused to leave her mind's eye.

Shippo broke the uneasy silence with a high-pitched whisper. "You know, maybe he thinks she doesn't want him to come get her." The two adults looked at the little kitsune disbelievingly. Shippo fluffed his tail nervously, glancing once or twice at the tree Miroku had been talking to. 'I hope it's not in hearing range…'

"Where on earth would he get that crazy idea?" Sango demanded. She knew it was impossible for her best friend to stay away from Inuyasha for long; she always forgave him eventually.

Shippo huffed in exasperation. 'Humans…'

"It's like Kouga said – Inuyasha is Kagome's protector. When she gets hurt, the protector is, er, um…" - a quick look at the tree; still no movement – "it means that the protector has failed. Youkai have rules about that sort of thing."

Sango drew in her breath as she caught up to what Shippo was trying to get at. "So when Kouga challenged Inuyasha about not protecting Kagome-chan, by youkai standards it meant that he had no right to hold her back from a potentially better protector?" She shook her head in bewilderment. Miroku, who had been sitting in contemplative silence during the conversation, now added his thoughts to the mix. "As confusing as the idea seems to be, it does make a certain kind of sense. There could have been a few reasons, though, for Inuyasha allowing Kagome-sama to…leave." The other two sat forward, curious. "Protecting someone is a high privilege – and Inuyasha may have felt like he forfeited that right when he was unable to prevent Kagome-sama from being injured," said Miroku, in full 'righteous-houshi' mode. "Perhaps, also, he felt that Kagome-sama would be happier with Kouga than with him." Two mouths gaped open – their owners struck momentarily dumb. But that soon wore off…

"WHAT?! That's insane! Kouga is annoying, stupid –"

"Eeww! Kagome happy with Kouga?" Gagging sounds followed.

The houshi grinned at the ruckus his statement had caused. "Considering the events of these last few days, I would say it's quite plausible. I know," he added hastily, raising a hand in self-defense, "that this would naturally be quite impossible, but think of it from Inuyasha's viewpoint. The simple facts: Kagome has been injured many times despite being under his protection. And he actually harmed her himself just the other day – unforgivable in his eyes"

"Not just in his…" Shippo muttered. The houshi ignored the interruption.

"In addition, ever since then Kagome has been moody, cross, quite snappish at times…all indications of being unhappy, either with where she was or who she was with. And she hasn't been talking to him. That's really got to hurt. So, when Kouga arrived, Inuyasha may have figured that Kagome would prefer to get away – from him."

Sango nodded slowly. "When you say it like that, houshi-sama, I can see what you mean. It's stupid, but Kouga was never anything but nice to Kagome-chan, while Inuyasha knew perfectly well that he was always rude, boorish, impatient…" The list went on.

Over the way, a certain tree started rustling.

Oblivious to her second audience, Sango finished her list and went on. "She was always so sad because of that – she deserves someone nice!"

Unobserved, the tree rustled sharply once, a branch swaying wildly, and then was still.

His hasty departure meant that Inuyasha missed Sango's next comment.

"But no matter what he does, she'll always come back. Because she loves him. I don't believe she could ever really be happy with anyone else." Sango grimaced.

"ESPECIALLY Kouga!"


Inuyasha ran, not caring where he went. He just had to get away from those words…

Sticks caught at his feet, hands and face, scratching him as he barged through the forest. He didn't feel them.

'Inadequate protector…'

'Have no right…'

'She hates me anyway, so…'

'Maybe she's happy?'

'She wouldn't want me…'

His thoughts continued to plague him mercilessly as he crashed on through the trees.

Unknown to him, he was being watched.


Kouga gazed down at the young girl by his side.

'Ha! In MY bed!' he congratulated himself, not for the first time in the last two days she had been there. He was willing to bet that the annoying hanyou had never had that particular honour. But as he though of Inuyasha, he remembered that dog's failure to protect his woman. He didn't have to look closely to see that her brow was beaded with sweat, or that her normally clear eyes were now glassy and dull. Damn that hanyou!

He gently rested a hand on Kagome's arm. He bowed his head in remorse, then raised his eyes to meet hers. "I'm sorry."

She blinked. 'Come again?'

"I should have taken you under MY protection long before this could happen. Can you forgive me?"


Kagome stared at him for a few seconds while her brain caught up with what the wolf-youkai had said.

Understanding, when it finally came, had much the same effect as a ton of bricks slamming into her.

She sat bolt upright, this time ignoring the pain. "Where are the others?" And more specifically, "Where's Inuyasha?!" Her eyes darted wildly around the dark cave, seeking some sign that her friends had been there. Upon finding none, she sank back down onto her makeshift bed, impatiently awaiting an answer. Kouga, interpreting her return to repose as acceptance, growled slightly with satisfaction. Deep in self-congratulation, he didn't see her hands repeatedly clenching in irritation (or was it apprehension?) in the furs she was lying on. Ignoring the obvious warning signs, he shifted slightly so that, if possible, he was even closer to his new 'companion'. "You are MY concern now – don't make yourself worry about that Inukorro."

Her reaction was not what he expected. In his wolfish (and importantly, male) mind, he figured that his chosen mate would be grateful, even relieved, that her true protector had taken care of her.

He didn't expect…anger?

"What do you mean, YOUR concern?! I want to know WHERE INUYASHA IS!" Her voice rose in volume as she went on, bringing a curious audience of wolf-youkai from the adjoining caves. Heads poked cautiously around the cave entrance – but both of the cave's occupants ignored them.

"He's far away! He'll never find you here!"

"Why you –"

"He let you get hurt! That should never happen!"

"He doesn't let me, you oaf, it's accidental – "

"He wasn't worthy to be your protector!"

"He did just fine for two years!"

"Ha!" He grabbed her uninjured arm, pointing angrily at the white scars that marred her skin. "What about these?"

"It's not like he lets it happen on purpose, you dolt! Some things are beyond our control!"

He folded his arms stubbornly. "Shouldn't happen."

"Aargh!" she groaned, shaking her head. "You youkai just don't give up, do you?"

He grinned. "Nope."

She gave up their erstwhile argument, too tired to force the issue. "He'll come for me soon, and then you'll see how good a protector he is." To her amazement, Kouga chuckled. "What's so funny?"

"He won't come. I didn't just take you – he let you go."

Kagome felt like someone had kicked her in the stomach. 'He…let me go?' Images flowed unbidden across her mind's eye.

Inuyasha walking away from her, not looking back…

Her body fading into nothing, leaving no sign that she'd ever been there in the first place…

Kikyou's presence…

She rubbed a shaky hand across her eyes, willing the pictures to disappear. "No, it was just a dream...it must have been! Just a dream –'

She stopped her rambling when Kouga suddenly shuffled closer, taking both of her hands in his. There was an annoyingly 'sincere' look in his eyes. 'Which means he's going to go all 'mushy' again. Ugh.'

True to form, Kouga's next words were suitably 'mushy'.

"Kagome," he began warmly, "I saw what you went through with those people. You're a shadow of what you used to be – I hate to see you looking so worn and sad. I promise, I will protect you so well that you'll never have to worry again!" He stopped, obviously waiting for some kind of reaction from her.

He got one.

"Kouga," Kagome gritted out through clenched teeth, "I am NOT your woman, and I'm NOT staying here. I have to go back – they need my help!"

'What about Kikyou?' her mind asked quietly.

'She's not a true human now – she may be able to see the shards, but there's still something missing.'

Kouga's face, meanwhile, had fallen. "But you'd be safer here!" Kagome didn't seem to hear him. Her thoughts were too loud.

'It's just a dream…not real.'

'It felt awful, though…'

'He has NOT turned away from me!'

'I have NOT been replaced. HE DID NOT LET ME GO!' But that felt a little too much like denial.

Finally she turned her eyes on Kouga once more. "You should have left me where I was. I have a job to do there." He shook his head impatiently, long hair waving wildly.

"If that's all you're worried about, we can find the shards together! I'm just as good as Inukkoro –"

She had her doubts on that score.

"-so we could just finish that quest that you're on! Then you'll be free to stay with me, with our pack – it'd be a good life, Kagome." In his desire to convince her, his hands had relinquished their hold on hers and moved up to grasp her shoulders instead. Almost against her will, she noticed the gentleness of his touch. He had never been anything but gentle with her. For a moment she wondered what her life could have been with someone like this – if she hadn't first met Inuyasha…

Inuyasha. Amazing how much hurt a simple name could hold.

And she had promised. Not to him directly, but to herself – she would stay with him until the shards were found. For an instant her dream flashed in her mind, but she ruthlessly banished it. She had promised, and to stay here, now, was impossible.

"Kouga-kun…do you love me?"

His eyes brightened, a hopeful smile spreading across his features. Inwardly she regretted what was going to happen, but it was just like she had told her mother all those days ago. It wasn't about what she wanted now – it was simply what she had to do.

"Kagome – you know I do!" Then, immeasurably tender, "You know I do."

She bowed her head. 'It might have been so different.'

"Then promise me this. As soon as I am well enough to leave, you won't stop me." The shock – and pain – on his face was like a knife to her heart. But she was determined.

"Please. If you love me at all, don't stop me. I have to go back. I promised. I won't be able to live with myself if I break that promise." Silently, 'Although, actually going back will be hard enough.'

Kouga growled low in his throat in protest. His woman wanted to leave? A sense of obligation, of duty unfulfilled…he was a youkai, he understood these things. It didn't mean he had to like them, though.

"I won't stop you."

Sighing in relief, she settled back down onto the furs. Finally she allowed her concentration to slip, the pain from her injuries sweeping her away in a black flood.

Inuyasha walked away from her, head bowed. He didn't look back.

Kouga had to dig his claws into his palms to stop himself from going to comfort the dreaming girl. Her soft cries were slowly driving him mad. But he didn't go to her.

She had placed herself far beyond his reach.


Inuyasha had finally stopped running. Ironically, he had stopped because all of that running had gotten him absolutely nowhere. He had ended up right where he had started – without Kagome.

'What an idiot you are – YOU LET HER GO! You could've stopped him…yeah, too easy. But no. You had to get all noble.' He sighed, leaning back into the trunk of the tree he was in. From his high vantage point he could see over the forest for miles. Too bad he couldn't see past his current problem…

"GAH!!" He whacked his head sharply against the wood in anger. If only that voice in his head would just go away. No such luck, though.

'She is likely better off now – you know that. Right?'

'RIGHT?'

Hmm. Sounded like a losing battle. But as anyone knows, you can tell yourself something until you're blue in the face – but that doesn't make you believe what you're saying.

'Admit it, dog-boy – you're sunk without her…better off or not.'

His amber eyes went round as he realized something. 'It's been a week! Ugh – I've been like THIS for a week? Feh.' High time he went to find her – although who knew if she'd be happy to see him?


Lost in thought, the hanyou missed seeing a blurred shape enter the area.

"Let me down here, Kouga-kun. I don't think you'd better let Inuyasha see you right now. I can walk the rest of the way." Kagome patted Kouga's arm in thanks and moved away silently. He watched her go, his face unreadable. Then he turned and left at a run.

'Inuyasha – would you still want me back after all this?' Kagome wondered uneasily. Abruptly she stopped in her tracks, senses flaring wildly. And what she felt – "Oh, no…"


"Inuyasha?" That voice…he just about fell out of the tree.

"Kagome? You're here?" 'Oh, please tell me you're alright…' He jumped to the ground and looked for the owner of the voice. He blinked in surprise.

"No…not Kagome. Disappointed, Inuyasha?"


Hum – 3 guesses who sounds like Kagome? Not hard, but no epic is complete without this, er, 'person'. And just in case you're wondering – this fic is Inu/Kag! Not Inu/Kik, not Kou/Kag – no, no, no! The plot is twisting, so keep reading! Chappie 5 is all planned out, just has to be written. Reviews will definitely help…J .

Next Chapter; Invisible Audience