Chapter 03: Wolf Den
After a short ride Kagome and Sango arrived at the wolves' den. Kouga reluctantly released Kagome from his clutches. He really didn't want to, but it was beneath him to show anything less than strength before his tribe. A demon with a heart weakened by infatuation was a dangerous liability. He could not afford to seem weak if he wanted to return as the leader of this tribe after his little quest.
Sango was eased to her feet and yanked Kirara away from Ginta. She stood beside Kagome waiting for her to come to grips with reality. In the mean while Kagome was entranced with the beauty of the den. It was built into the side of magnificent mountain with a view of a waterfall and lagoon. It reminded her of what paradise looked like in her imagination.
Kouga noticed her look and smirked. "Like what you see?"
Silently Kagome nodded her head. The beauty was beyond words. "I can't believe you live here. It's so beautiful."
Kouga agreed completely. "We just recently moved here. Before I became leader we lived further north. One day when I was hunting I discovered this land and I vowed that if I ever ruled we would live here."
Speaking of hunger, Sango's belly gave an angry growl at being ignored. Ginta looked over at her. "I think your stomach is trying to tell you something."
"You interrupted our dinner. We have not eaten since early this morning and are travel weary." Sango defended herself. She was just slightly embarrassed that her stomach betrayed her. Truth be told, she was hungry.
"Ginta will take you inside the den. Make yourselves comfortable. You can sleep on my bed. Which would you prefer, a boar or rabbits?"
Kagome just stared at him. 'Did he just say that were sleeping in his bed?'
"Okay, well then, I guess I'll just get both!" In less than a second Kouga was replaced by a whirlwind and was lost to sight.
Ginta began to lead the women to his boss' quarters. However, Sango had the same thoughts at Kagome and wasn't willing to remain quiet.
"Excuse me, but we are NOT sleeping in Kouga's bed."
The wolf demon looked at both women with a perplexed expression. Then comprehension marked his features. "No, I'm afraid you do not understand. Did you think he meant to bed the two of you?" He barely suppressed his laughter at the look of mortification that came across the two faces as they realized their brash assumptions.
"Well, where is he going to sleep then?" Kagome asked meekly.
"He's a demon. Youkai do not need to sleep like you humans do. Besides the idea of a youkai prince mating a human is simply preposterous. No offense, but the hanyou that would come of the union would be an abomination shunned by both races." Ginta shook his head at the mortals' stupidity.
"There is nothing wrong with a hanyou," Kagome argued vehemently.
"Why? You know one that is worth respecting?" Ginta challenged the human who dared question him.
"As a matter of fact I do. But something created out of love should not be viewed as an abomination. You have no right to make such a judgment. You are not God."
Ginta considered her words. She did have a point. However, she simply didn't understand how things were. Everybody knew that hanyous were abominations. They were a disgrace of youkai blood and a freak among humans. "Perhaps; follow me."
No sooner had Kagome and Sango entered Kouga's chambers had the wolf prince returned. He carried gifts of boar and rabbit. He dumped them on the floor near the fire that another wolf brother had begun.
"Eat." He told the humans. He then proceeded to rip off the leg of the boar and eat it raw. However, he stopped after his first bite when he saw the look of disgust that came across Kagome's face. "What?" he asked with his mouth full of bloody raw meat.
"Why are you eating it raw?"
"How else do you eat it? Here," he said as he ripped off another leg and handed the bloody mess to her. He watched in amazement when she poked a stick through the flesh and held it over the fire. "What are you doing? You're going to ruin it!" He pulled the leg out of the flames.
"I'm cooking it you baka."
"But it will be all dry if you do that!"
"I'm cooking it because you don't eat food RAW!" She stuck the pig's leg back into the flames. "Have you ever tried to eat it this way before?" He shook his head no. "Then let me do this and then you can taste it. You will see that it is better."
"Fine."
Sango and the other wolf demon watched the exchange in silence. Sango was surprised at the gall that Kagome possessed. She just told a very powerful youkai what to do. The wolf demon was shocked because not only did the human tell his leader what to do, but Kouga was actually doing it!
After a few minutes of silence where everyone was intently watching Kagome she pulled the freshly cooked meat out of the flames. She handed it to Kouga. He sniffed it and then took a big bite out of it. A strange expression crossed his face. He took another bite and then another. He had to forcefully stop himself from inhaling the whole wondrous food. He reminded himself that it was actually Kagome's share. He handed it back to her smiling.
"I take it you liked it then." She received the leg back from him and then began to eat away at it while keeping her eyes locked on Kouga's blue orbs. Sango had been roasting her food as well. She had decided upon the rabbit. Shortly after dinner concluded Kagome was bothered. "Kouga?"
"Yes?" He hopped down from his perch on a ledge of the cave wall.
"I don't feel right about kicking you out of your bed for the night. Sango and I could sleep outside. That's what we intended on doing in the first place."
"No. I don't need to sleep. You'll be sleeping outside soon enough. You might as well enjoy the comforts of indoors one more night." He climbed back up to his perch. He liked that ledge. He could hide in the shadows and watch Kagome as she slept. He needed some time to figure her out.
"Okay. Good night." Kagome lied back down on the wolf leader's bed. Sango was sound asleep already. Kagome stared up at the roof of the cave for a few moments before exhaustion overcame her. She had one last conscious thought. 'This has been the longest two days ever.'
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(Scene: Village outside Inuyasha's Forest where the Shikon no Tama was being protected)
Kaede was not happy. Her sister asked her to bring that bad man Onigumo his meal that afternoon. The man was creepy and she did not trust him.
Cautiously she approached the dwelling that Kikyou had set up for the burn victim. He was on the threshold of death. He heard her approach.
"Young Kaede, what brings you here?"
"My sister requested I bring your meal."
"Ah yes, I remember what day it is now. She thinks I am foolish. She doesn't realize I know."
"What are you talking about, Onigumo?"
"Child, your sister is foolish."
"No she's not!" The seven year old Kaede rushed over to the taunting man.
"Do not worry little one. You will see exactly how foolish she is in the morning."
Kaede left the food near him on the floor. She refused to serve it to him. It served him right to be able to smell it and unable to eat it. She stormed out of the dwelling with tears in her eyes. That mean man always upset her.
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(Scene: The next morning at the wolves' den)
Kouga decided to go for a hunt while the two women slept. He decided that roasted boar was a good way to start off the morning. After the newly discovered use of flame to broil the meat his entire tribe devoured what was left of his previous hunt.
When he returned to his cave he noticed his guests had woken up. Kagome was teaching some of the pups an odd game. He gave his kill to one of his wolf brothers and told him to set to work cooking it. Then he decided to investigate this strange game that Kagome was teaching the youth of his tribe.
"Okay, Simon says hop on your left foot." The children proceeded to hop. "Now sit down!" All but two of the children sat down. "I didn't say Simon says!"
"Kagome?"
"Yes Kouga?"
"What are you doing? Who is this Simon?"
"Oh, it's a game from my village. You only do the actions that Simon tells you to do. If you do something that Simon didn't say to do then you are out of the game." She smiled at his confused expression.
"I see. I need to talk to you and your friend." He led her away from the wolf children who all groaned in protest. They sat near the fire where their breakfast was being prepared.
Sango joined them as well. She had been polishing her boomerang and was receiving a multitude of nervous glances from the tribe members.
"After breakfast we will began towards this Miroku. It will take about two days to get there from here if you rest at night. However, if we go straight then it would take a day and a half."
"What do you want to do Kagome?" Sango questioned the girl. She wasn't in any hurry to return to her village.
"It won't make much of a difference. I think we should go for the two day route. I mean, I've been gone since my birthday. Tomorrow is my party. There is no way I can return before then. My family and friends must be so worried." A far-away look came unto her eyes. Kouga was captivated by her eyes but the sadness in them made him upset.
He took her hands in his and looked her deeply in the eyes. He wanted to bring her comfort. He hated seeing this strange woman saddened. "Is there anything I can do for you Kagome? If you can think of anything I will gladly do it. My service is at your disposal."
She smiled kindly at the generous wolf prince. "Arigato Kouga-kun. I can ask nothing more of you than what you have already done."
Breakfast was soon ready. The three enjoyed a nice hot, fully cooked meal and then began to head towards the village of the monk.
Kouga was pleased with the way things were turning out. Previously he had been afraid that this week was going to be as boring as the last couple had been. Now he was looking forward to the promise of adventure that seemed to follow these mysterious women. The three were walking at a brisk pace with the smaller version of Kirara riding Sango's shoulder.
There were the occasional contests of speed now and then. Kagome was determined that she would be able to beat him in a race eventually. She was her high school's track star. It just wasn't fair because his youkai strength gave him the advantage. However, no matter how many times he beat her she always flashed him a winning smile.
"Next time, I'll beat you for sure!" She confidently would boast to him even though every time he beat her. He could only smile at her and her good natured competitions.
So their first day of traveling together was spent in ease. No attacks from power hungry youkai. Apparently the local youkai feared Kouga. Either that or something else was going on that they didn't know about.
They would be finding out sooner than they would prefer where all the youkai had been going.
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Miroku sighed once again. There just were no beautiful women in his village. Sure some were pretty, but he was hoping that there would be beauty among them. Once again he sighed as he continued with his Buddhist studies.
That's when he saw the angel. She was radiant. Her hair, her body, her eyes, her everything was simply stunning. He felt an overwhelming urge to meet this goddess.
He would regret meeting this devil in disguise.
"Excuse me, I am but a humble monk, is there something I can do for you?" Miroku innocently asked the mysterious beauty.
She smiled at him. His heart melted at her smile. "Yes. Do you think you could listen to my confession? I am in desperate need of priest."
"Well technically I'm a monk, not a priest. But for you I would be willing to hear you out. Follow me into the temple." He took her hand in his and led her into his temple. He sat on the ground with legs crossed looking to be in a meditative stance.
She stood before him. She made no move to sit down. He looked back up at her in surprise.
"Why do you stand? Please, have a seat." Then he noticed that her beautiful violet eyes of moments ago had turned blood red. He swallowed thickly. Something was not right about this woman.
"Kukukuku, you really are foolish, monk. Tell me what you know of the foreigner! I know that she seeks you."
"I , I don't know who you are talking about. I have met no foreigner other than yourself my dear." She wasn't looking so beautiful now. Miroku nervously ran his fingers through his pony tail. He tried to give his most charming smile to the woman, hoping to dispel her anger.
It didn't work. She just started to get angrier. "You lie! I know she was coming to see you! Perhaps she has not made it this far. In that case, I think I should leave her a gift, don't you?"
Miroku lost his voice. Fear had overcome his ability to speak. This was no woman before him. This was some sort of evil demon.
"I curse you monk. I curse you and all of your children with an air void in your right hand. Eventually it shall consume you. The curse will only result in your death. Unless you kill me that is." The being began to emit a black mist and suddenly a great pain rushed to Miroku's right hand.
In shock he watched as a hole formed in his palm and began to suck in his surroundings. The woman vanished. Quickly he pulled the rosary he had been using moments before in his prayers over the cursed hole. The winds died down.
Stunned, he rose to his feet and left his temple. He stared into the distance. The woman was gone. The curse remained. All he knew was that soon he would have important visitors at his door step.
He looked down into his palm. This Kazanna would take his life. He could only pray that those seeking him would hold the answers he now sought. Or at least that they would be able to help him defeat this horrible entity that cursed him.
"I always wanted to have children. But, how can I love someone knowing the whole time that I will die."
After a short ride Kagome and Sango arrived at the wolves' den. Kouga reluctantly released Kagome from his clutches. He really didn't want to, but it was beneath him to show anything less than strength before his tribe. A demon with a heart weakened by infatuation was a dangerous liability. He could not afford to seem weak if he wanted to return as the leader of this tribe after his little quest.
Sango was eased to her feet and yanked Kirara away from Ginta. She stood beside Kagome waiting for her to come to grips with reality. In the mean while Kagome was entranced with the beauty of the den. It was built into the side of magnificent mountain with a view of a waterfall and lagoon. It reminded her of what paradise looked like in her imagination.
Kouga noticed her look and smirked. "Like what you see?"
Silently Kagome nodded her head. The beauty was beyond words. "I can't believe you live here. It's so beautiful."
Kouga agreed completely. "We just recently moved here. Before I became leader we lived further north. One day when I was hunting I discovered this land and I vowed that if I ever ruled we would live here."
Speaking of hunger, Sango's belly gave an angry growl at being ignored. Ginta looked over at her. "I think your stomach is trying to tell you something."
"You interrupted our dinner. We have not eaten since early this morning and are travel weary." Sango defended herself. She was just slightly embarrassed that her stomach betrayed her. Truth be told, she was hungry.
"Ginta will take you inside the den. Make yourselves comfortable. You can sleep on my bed. Which would you prefer, a boar or rabbits?"
Kagome just stared at him. 'Did he just say that were sleeping in his bed?'
"Okay, well then, I guess I'll just get both!" In less than a second Kouga was replaced by a whirlwind and was lost to sight.
Ginta began to lead the women to his boss' quarters. However, Sango had the same thoughts at Kagome and wasn't willing to remain quiet.
"Excuse me, but we are NOT sleeping in Kouga's bed."
The wolf demon looked at both women with a perplexed expression. Then comprehension marked his features. "No, I'm afraid you do not understand. Did you think he meant to bed the two of you?" He barely suppressed his laughter at the look of mortification that came across the two faces as they realized their brash assumptions.
"Well, where is he going to sleep then?" Kagome asked meekly.
"He's a demon. Youkai do not need to sleep like you humans do. Besides the idea of a youkai prince mating a human is simply preposterous. No offense, but the hanyou that would come of the union would be an abomination shunned by both races." Ginta shook his head at the mortals' stupidity.
"There is nothing wrong with a hanyou," Kagome argued vehemently.
"Why? You know one that is worth respecting?" Ginta challenged the human who dared question him.
"As a matter of fact I do. But something created out of love should not be viewed as an abomination. You have no right to make such a judgment. You are not God."
Ginta considered her words. She did have a point. However, she simply didn't understand how things were. Everybody knew that hanyous were abominations. They were a disgrace of youkai blood and a freak among humans. "Perhaps; follow me."
No sooner had Kagome and Sango entered Kouga's chambers had the wolf prince returned. He carried gifts of boar and rabbit. He dumped them on the floor near the fire that another wolf brother had begun.
"Eat." He told the humans. He then proceeded to rip off the leg of the boar and eat it raw. However, he stopped after his first bite when he saw the look of disgust that came across Kagome's face. "What?" he asked with his mouth full of bloody raw meat.
"Why are you eating it raw?"
"How else do you eat it? Here," he said as he ripped off another leg and handed the bloody mess to her. He watched in amazement when she poked a stick through the flesh and held it over the fire. "What are you doing? You're going to ruin it!" He pulled the leg out of the flames.
"I'm cooking it you baka."
"But it will be all dry if you do that!"
"I'm cooking it because you don't eat food RAW!" She stuck the pig's leg back into the flames. "Have you ever tried to eat it this way before?" He shook his head no. "Then let me do this and then you can taste it. You will see that it is better."
"Fine."
Sango and the other wolf demon watched the exchange in silence. Sango was surprised at the gall that Kagome possessed. She just told a very powerful youkai what to do. The wolf demon was shocked because not only did the human tell his leader what to do, but Kouga was actually doing it!
After a few minutes of silence where everyone was intently watching Kagome she pulled the freshly cooked meat out of the flames. She handed it to Kouga. He sniffed it and then took a big bite out of it. A strange expression crossed his face. He took another bite and then another. He had to forcefully stop himself from inhaling the whole wondrous food. He reminded himself that it was actually Kagome's share. He handed it back to her smiling.
"I take it you liked it then." She received the leg back from him and then began to eat away at it while keeping her eyes locked on Kouga's blue orbs. Sango had been roasting her food as well. She had decided upon the rabbit. Shortly after dinner concluded Kagome was bothered. "Kouga?"
"Yes?" He hopped down from his perch on a ledge of the cave wall.
"I don't feel right about kicking you out of your bed for the night. Sango and I could sleep outside. That's what we intended on doing in the first place."
"No. I don't need to sleep. You'll be sleeping outside soon enough. You might as well enjoy the comforts of indoors one more night." He climbed back up to his perch. He liked that ledge. He could hide in the shadows and watch Kagome as she slept. He needed some time to figure her out.
"Okay. Good night." Kagome lied back down on the wolf leader's bed. Sango was sound asleep already. Kagome stared up at the roof of the cave for a few moments before exhaustion overcame her. She had one last conscious thought. 'This has been the longest two days ever.'
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(Scene: Village outside Inuyasha's Forest where the Shikon no Tama was being protected)
Kaede was not happy. Her sister asked her to bring that bad man Onigumo his meal that afternoon. The man was creepy and she did not trust him.
Cautiously she approached the dwelling that Kikyou had set up for the burn victim. He was on the threshold of death. He heard her approach.
"Young Kaede, what brings you here?"
"My sister requested I bring your meal."
"Ah yes, I remember what day it is now. She thinks I am foolish. She doesn't realize I know."
"What are you talking about, Onigumo?"
"Child, your sister is foolish."
"No she's not!" The seven year old Kaede rushed over to the taunting man.
"Do not worry little one. You will see exactly how foolish she is in the morning."
Kaede left the food near him on the floor. She refused to serve it to him. It served him right to be able to smell it and unable to eat it. She stormed out of the dwelling with tears in her eyes. That mean man always upset her.
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(Scene: The next morning at the wolves' den)
Kouga decided to go for a hunt while the two women slept. He decided that roasted boar was a good way to start off the morning. After the newly discovered use of flame to broil the meat his entire tribe devoured what was left of his previous hunt.
When he returned to his cave he noticed his guests had woken up. Kagome was teaching some of the pups an odd game. He gave his kill to one of his wolf brothers and told him to set to work cooking it. Then he decided to investigate this strange game that Kagome was teaching the youth of his tribe.
"Okay, Simon says hop on your left foot." The children proceeded to hop. "Now sit down!" All but two of the children sat down. "I didn't say Simon says!"
"Kagome?"
"Yes Kouga?"
"What are you doing? Who is this Simon?"
"Oh, it's a game from my village. You only do the actions that Simon tells you to do. If you do something that Simon didn't say to do then you are out of the game." She smiled at his confused expression.
"I see. I need to talk to you and your friend." He led her away from the wolf children who all groaned in protest. They sat near the fire where their breakfast was being prepared.
Sango joined them as well. She had been polishing her boomerang and was receiving a multitude of nervous glances from the tribe members.
"After breakfast we will began towards this Miroku. It will take about two days to get there from here if you rest at night. However, if we go straight then it would take a day and a half."
"What do you want to do Kagome?" Sango questioned the girl. She wasn't in any hurry to return to her village.
"It won't make much of a difference. I think we should go for the two day route. I mean, I've been gone since my birthday. Tomorrow is my party. There is no way I can return before then. My family and friends must be so worried." A far-away look came unto her eyes. Kouga was captivated by her eyes but the sadness in them made him upset.
He took her hands in his and looked her deeply in the eyes. He wanted to bring her comfort. He hated seeing this strange woman saddened. "Is there anything I can do for you Kagome? If you can think of anything I will gladly do it. My service is at your disposal."
She smiled kindly at the generous wolf prince. "Arigato Kouga-kun. I can ask nothing more of you than what you have already done."
Breakfast was soon ready. The three enjoyed a nice hot, fully cooked meal and then began to head towards the village of the monk.
Kouga was pleased with the way things were turning out. Previously he had been afraid that this week was going to be as boring as the last couple had been. Now he was looking forward to the promise of adventure that seemed to follow these mysterious women. The three were walking at a brisk pace with the smaller version of Kirara riding Sango's shoulder.
There were the occasional contests of speed now and then. Kagome was determined that she would be able to beat him in a race eventually. She was her high school's track star. It just wasn't fair because his youkai strength gave him the advantage. However, no matter how many times he beat her she always flashed him a winning smile.
"Next time, I'll beat you for sure!" She confidently would boast to him even though every time he beat her. He could only smile at her and her good natured competitions.
So their first day of traveling together was spent in ease. No attacks from power hungry youkai. Apparently the local youkai feared Kouga. Either that or something else was going on that they didn't know about.
They would be finding out sooner than they would prefer where all the youkai had been going.
######################
Miroku sighed once again. There just were no beautiful women in his village. Sure some were pretty, but he was hoping that there would be beauty among them. Once again he sighed as he continued with his Buddhist studies.
That's when he saw the angel. She was radiant. Her hair, her body, her eyes, her everything was simply stunning. He felt an overwhelming urge to meet this goddess.
He would regret meeting this devil in disguise.
"Excuse me, I am but a humble monk, is there something I can do for you?" Miroku innocently asked the mysterious beauty.
She smiled at him. His heart melted at her smile. "Yes. Do you think you could listen to my confession? I am in desperate need of priest."
"Well technically I'm a monk, not a priest. But for you I would be willing to hear you out. Follow me into the temple." He took her hand in his and led her into his temple. He sat on the ground with legs crossed looking to be in a meditative stance.
She stood before him. She made no move to sit down. He looked back up at her in surprise.
"Why do you stand? Please, have a seat." Then he noticed that her beautiful violet eyes of moments ago had turned blood red. He swallowed thickly. Something was not right about this woman.
"Kukukuku, you really are foolish, monk. Tell me what you know of the foreigner! I know that she seeks you."
"I , I don't know who you are talking about. I have met no foreigner other than yourself my dear." She wasn't looking so beautiful now. Miroku nervously ran his fingers through his pony tail. He tried to give his most charming smile to the woman, hoping to dispel her anger.
It didn't work. She just started to get angrier. "You lie! I know she was coming to see you! Perhaps she has not made it this far. In that case, I think I should leave her a gift, don't you?"
Miroku lost his voice. Fear had overcome his ability to speak. This was no woman before him. This was some sort of evil demon.
"I curse you monk. I curse you and all of your children with an air void in your right hand. Eventually it shall consume you. The curse will only result in your death. Unless you kill me that is." The being began to emit a black mist and suddenly a great pain rushed to Miroku's right hand.
In shock he watched as a hole formed in his palm and began to suck in his surroundings. The woman vanished. Quickly he pulled the rosary he had been using moments before in his prayers over the cursed hole. The winds died down.
Stunned, he rose to his feet and left his temple. He stared into the distance. The woman was gone. The curse remained. All he knew was that soon he would have important visitors at his door step.
He looked down into his palm. This Kazanna would take his life. He could only pray that those seeking him would hold the answers he now sought. Or at least that they would be able to help him defeat this horrible entity that cursed him.
"I always wanted to have children. But, how can I love someone knowing the whole time that I will die."