Chapter 11: Kouga's Tribe
The jewel shard hunters awoke early the next morning to begin their trek back to Kouga's tribe. Inuyasha seemed annoyed and Sesshoumaru was as distant as always.
"Why are we wasting time going to that wolf's dirty cave?" Inuyasha complained for at least the fiftieth time that morning.
Miroku hit his hanyou friend upside the head with his staff. "You should not complain when Kagome-sama feels the need to aid a friend. If she did not feel such needs you would still be stuck to that cursed tree."
Inuyasha glared at the monk with his golden eyes ablaze with silent threats. "Do not use your staff on me again." He warned quietly.
Miroku flashed his companion a carefree smile. "Okay, next time I'll make sure Kagome-sama can hear you and then she can utilize that wonderful necklace of yours."
"Keh." Inuyasha answered as he crossed his arms to sulk moving to the rear of the group.
Sesshoumaru glanced back towards his brother briefly. He too was annoyed with the detour of the wolf den. He offered to aid in the destruction of Naraku, but a social visit to a pack of smelly wolves was not high on his agenda.
"Kagome." Sesshoumaru broke the silence while addressing the young woman walking beside him on his left.
She looked up at him with her eyes piercing his own. "Yes, Lord Sesshoumaru?"
"I have matters that need to be attended to in my lands. I shall return in a few days time. A casual visit to the wolf den is simply not something I can afford the time to do." Sesshoumaru told her in his steely voice that could either strike terror into one's heart or send shivers down the spine.
Kagome nodded at him. "I understand. We shall miss you and I hope for your safe return."
Sesshoumaru stopped walking and Kagome halted as well. He leaned over and whispered into her ear, his warm breath making her aware of their proximity. "I shall return soon. After all, I do owe you for the hot spring and I really should return the favor to you." Like the dog that he was, quick as lightning he whipped out his tongue and licked her ear before vanishing faster than she could react.
Kagome just stood motionless for a moment processing the chill on her ear that he created in his burst of speed it's winds created by it contacted the moisture. Kouga growled softly because although he was leading the group he had noticed Kagome's pause. He saw it all.
Kouga quickly walked towards the bewildered Kagome. "We need to hurry. Sango, Miroku can you ride Kirara?"
The two humans nodded and Kirara transformed.
"How am I to keep up? I may be fast, but compared to a youkai, I am slow." Kagome frowned.
Before Kouga could reply, Inuyasha perked up in the back. "Kagome, you can ride my back."
"Okay." Kagome smiled at him and walked towards him and climbed upon his back. She didn't catch the look on Kouga's face as for the first time he was too slow.
Inuyasha smirked. "Alright, wrap your arms tight around my neck." He tucked his arms under her thighs and looked at Kouga triumphantly.
Kouga turned away and faced the front once more. "Follow me."
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Once back in his lands, Sesshoumaru began to patrol his borders looking for anything amiss. He stopped near a forest grove that seemed to be eerily quiet. Suddenly a sultry giggle could be heard.
"My my, Sesshoumaru, your hair is still so beautiful." The voice replied.
Sesshoumaru fought the urge to rip the throat from the annoyance. "What do you want Yura?" He demanded facing the villainess that left the darkness of the forest walking towards him.
"You know what I want, Sesshoumaru-sama." She replied winking at him suggestively. She flipped her short black hair out of her eyes.
"I'm not interested in anything from you. Now leave my lands before I must kill you." He answered coldly with his golden orbs not hinting at any emotion whatsoever.
Yura looked at him closely and approached him with an accusatory look. "You have been cheating on me!"
Sesshoumaru cocked an eyebrow. "What are you babbling about woman? You are nothing to me, how could I cheat?"
Yura's lip quivered. "But you have the most beautiful hair; it's only natural that you are supposed to be mine!" She pouted as she stomped her foot.
"Yura, I am not interested. I never have been nor will I ever be. Now leave." Sesshoumaru told her in the coldest, most venomous tone he could manage.
Yura simply pointed towards his chest. "So who have you gotten to replace me? Who does this black hair belong too?" She walked towards him and picked it off his clothes. He simply stared at her, curious as to her bantering and deciding to kill her later.
Sesshoumaru looked at the offending hair and noticed it to be that of Kagome. He smirked inwardly. He hadn't realized how close they had to have been for one of her hairs to end up on his person. He plucked the hair from Yura's hands. "That is none of your concern."
Yura glared at him hatefully. "That was a human hair! I shall find that weakling and rid this world of her filth!" She turned to leave and track the owner of the hair but a sudden piercing in her shoulder and the subsequent melting that ensued put an end to that objective.
She turned to face her death. "But why?"
"It is none of your concern." Sesshoumaru told her while watching the poison from his claws melt the hair obsessed youkai.
Sesshoumaru emitted a silent sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose. One would think that by now others would know not to annoy him.
He turned away from the mess that was once Yura and continued strolling his lands while absently wrapping the raven strand around his finger.
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"This is where you live?" Inuyasha asked Kouga as they reached the waterfalls.
"Yes." Kouga answered. "Impressed?"
Inuyasha allowed Kagome to slide off his back. "Actually, I am." Inuyasha answered honestly.
Kouga smiled briefly. "Well thank you. And welcome." Kouga led the group towards the falls as several wolf demons arrived to greet them.
"Kouga!"
"You have returned! Did you find a mate?"
"Where is she? I do not see another wolf-youkai with you?"
Kouga looked at them while trying to process the barrage of questions. "You have met her before. Kagome has agreed to be my mate."
"But sir, she's a demon slayer." One of the wolf men told him with hatred dripping off in waves from his voice.
"No she's the friend of the demon slayer. Actually, she's a miko." Kouga answered proudly.
"Are you insane? You realize that mikos and youkai are mortal enemies!"
"But she's human." Ginta muttered. He had a feeling that this woman would lead to the undoing of his friend and leader.
Kouga ignored the other wolf demons and directed a glare towards Ginta. "Yes, Ginta, she is human."
"Your pups would be hanyous." Another wolf replied spitting out the word hanyou as if it were poison.
Inuyasha bristled with anger and Kouga put a hand on his shoulder. "There is nothing dishonorable about that." Kouga answered. Inuyasha looked at him in disbelief for a moment. Okay, maybe he didn't hate the wolf-demon completely.
"I must see the elder and introduce him to my future-mate." Kouga told the assembly as he led his travel companions towards the caves where Ayame's grandfather was.
Murmurs could be heard through out the tribe about the disgrace of a human serving as the alpha female.
Ayame and her grandfather were having a discussion about her joining with Kouga when he and his friends entered and interrupted.
"If you don't mind; I have chosen my mate. And it is not you, Ayame." Kouga answered coldly astonishing his friends with his tone.
The elder wolf looked at the young leader skeptically. "All I sense in your presence are three humans and a hanyou. Hardly anyone worth acknowledging. Where is this mate of yours?"
Kouga wrapped an arm tightly around Kagome's slender waist. "Kagome has agreed to be my mate."
"But Kouga! You can't mate her! She's human! You would dishonor this tribe with hanyous?" Ayame screamed at him mortified at losing to a mere human.
"I am no mere human. I am a miko. And I happen to know at least one hanyou that is more honorable than you could ever hope to be." Kagome told her with fire blazing in her eyes.
Sango had to stifle a laugh at the look upon the female youkai's face upon hearing Kagome's retort.
"Kouga, you realize how dangerous a miko is." The elder wolf kept his attention upon Kouga. "Choosing a human as a mate is foolish. But to choose a miko is suicide. No one will follow you."
"If they do not wish to follow me, so be it. They may challenge me." Kouga answered and he gripped Kagome a little tighter around the waist subconsciously as he tried to remain composed.
Kagome had to bite her bottom lip to prevent an undignified whimper from the painful pressure. Kouga suddenly sensed her unease and loosened his death grip.
"Very well. I am sure you shall be challenged before the day is over." The elder wolf told him.
"My friends and I shall be waiting near the falls." Kouga then led the group outside of the caves and back towards the falls.
"I'm sorry Kouga." Kagome told him while he still had his arm around her waist.
Kouga looked at her curious. "What for?"
"I'm sorry for causing you so much grief. If Sango and I had never come through your lands then you would not be involved and would not have these problems." Kagome told him solemnly while watching her feet as they walked.
Kouga stopped walking and grabbed both of her shoulders and forced her to look into his icy eyes. "Do not apologize. If I had not met you or your friends my life would be miserable right now. At least now, I have some hope." He smiled at her in a teasing way, "you wouldn't condemn me to be with Ayame now would you?"
"I guess not!" Kagome replied cheerfully.
They all sat near the water falls and were relaxing from their journeys as a boar roasted on a nearby fire. Hakkaku had caught it and presented the group with it as he joined them.
"Kouga? I just wanted to thank you for what you said." Inuyasha told Kouga quietly as he leaned past Kagome to talk to him.
Kouga smiled at him. "Inuyasha, as much as we can't stand each other. You truly are honorable. There is nothing to thank for I merely spoke the truth."
Ginta came to the group and sat beside Hakkaku. He glanced at the demon slayer a little warily then to the monk beside her.
"I see that you have found the monk that you searched for." He told Sango.
Sango nodded. "That we did."
"Kouga, several of the tribe members have decided to fight against you." Ginta informed.
"I see. It is not unexpected." Kouga answered calmly.
"Perhaps it is not. But, they are in search of shards to a jewel that is said to increase one's power ten-fold. A large group left a while ago and vowed to return after obtaining a few." Ginta continued.
"I see."
"That sounds like the Shikon no Tama." Miroku answered after rubbing his head. Sango had whacked him upside the head after his hands traveled too far south.
"We can't allow them to use pieces of the shard! They'll taint them or something." Inuyasha told the group.
Kouga looked slightly indecisive. "I suppose you are right. I am not supposed to interfere when I am being challenged. It is dishonorable to try and prevent the challenge."
"You're not preventing it, they'll just have to fight you on their own." Inuyasha told him stubbornly.
Kouga still looked unsure.
"He's right, Kouga-kun. We can not allow the shards to fall into their hands. They are filled with hate right now. They will taint the shards. Only evil can come of this." Kagome answered quietly.
"Do you know where they went?" Sango asked Ginta.
Ginta shook his head. But Hakkaku looked up from his meal of boar meat.
"I head a rumor of a powerful being found at a castle to the north of here. Perhaps that is where."
Inuyasha stood up. "Then that is where we'll go. Let's go." He bent down before Kagome and she climbed upon his back.
Kouga looked at him. "Don't you think, that I should be the one to carry her?"
Inuyasha looked at him with all the seriousness he could muster and suppressing the childish whoop that he wanted to shout. "You are the wolf tribe leader, you should not be subjected to serving as a mule."
"But you are touching my mate." Kouga ground out through clenched teeth, temporarily forgetting the urgent matter at hand.
"Kouga." Kagome interrupted him. He looked up and sighed.
"Fine. Let's go." The group, including Hakkaku and Ginta took to the north in the direction of the rumored castle.
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"That was too easy." Kagura grumbled as she closed up her fans. She looked at her handiwork. At least fifty wolf-youkai lay across the ground. She wondered why Naraku wanted her to kill all these wolves. It wasn't like they served as a threat to him.
She noticed a change in the winds coming from the south. She smiled wickedly. 'Looks like I'm about to have some guests.'
The jewel shard hunters awoke early the next morning to begin their trek back to Kouga's tribe. Inuyasha seemed annoyed and Sesshoumaru was as distant as always.
"Why are we wasting time going to that wolf's dirty cave?" Inuyasha complained for at least the fiftieth time that morning.
Miroku hit his hanyou friend upside the head with his staff. "You should not complain when Kagome-sama feels the need to aid a friend. If she did not feel such needs you would still be stuck to that cursed tree."
Inuyasha glared at the monk with his golden eyes ablaze with silent threats. "Do not use your staff on me again." He warned quietly.
Miroku flashed his companion a carefree smile. "Okay, next time I'll make sure Kagome-sama can hear you and then she can utilize that wonderful necklace of yours."
"Keh." Inuyasha answered as he crossed his arms to sulk moving to the rear of the group.
Sesshoumaru glanced back towards his brother briefly. He too was annoyed with the detour of the wolf den. He offered to aid in the destruction of Naraku, but a social visit to a pack of smelly wolves was not high on his agenda.
"Kagome." Sesshoumaru broke the silence while addressing the young woman walking beside him on his left.
She looked up at him with her eyes piercing his own. "Yes, Lord Sesshoumaru?"
"I have matters that need to be attended to in my lands. I shall return in a few days time. A casual visit to the wolf den is simply not something I can afford the time to do." Sesshoumaru told her in his steely voice that could either strike terror into one's heart or send shivers down the spine.
Kagome nodded at him. "I understand. We shall miss you and I hope for your safe return."
Sesshoumaru stopped walking and Kagome halted as well. He leaned over and whispered into her ear, his warm breath making her aware of their proximity. "I shall return soon. After all, I do owe you for the hot spring and I really should return the favor to you." Like the dog that he was, quick as lightning he whipped out his tongue and licked her ear before vanishing faster than she could react.
Kagome just stood motionless for a moment processing the chill on her ear that he created in his burst of speed it's winds created by it contacted the moisture. Kouga growled softly because although he was leading the group he had noticed Kagome's pause. He saw it all.
Kouga quickly walked towards the bewildered Kagome. "We need to hurry. Sango, Miroku can you ride Kirara?"
The two humans nodded and Kirara transformed.
"How am I to keep up? I may be fast, but compared to a youkai, I am slow." Kagome frowned.
Before Kouga could reply, Inuyasha perked up in the back. "Kagome, you can ride my back."
"Okay." Kagome smiled at him and walked towards him and climbed upon his back. She didn't catch the look on Kouga's face as for the first time he was too slow.
Inuyasha smirked. "Alright, wrap your arms tight around my neck." He tucked his arms under her thighs and looked at Kouga triumphantly.
Kouga turned away and faced the front once more. "Follow me."
##################
Once back in his lands, Sesshoumaru began to patrol his borders looking for anything amiss. He stopped near a forest grove that seemed to be eerily quiet. Suddenly a sultry giggle could be heard.
"My my, Sesshoumaru, your hair is still so beautiful." The voice replied.
Sesshoumaru fought the urge to rip the throat from the annoyance. "What do you want Yura?" He demanded facing the villainess that left the darkness of the forest walking towards him.
"You know what I want, Sesshoumaru-sama." She replied winking at him suggestively. She flipped her short black hair out of her eyes.
"I'm not interested in anything from you. Now leave my lands before I must kill you." He answered coldly with his golden orbs not hinting at any emotion whatsoever.
Yura looked at him closely and approached him with an accusatory look. "You have been cheating on me!"
Sesshoumaru cocked an eyebrow. "What are you babbling about woman? You are nothing to me, how could I cheat?"
Yura's lip quivered. "But you have the most beautiful hair; it's only natural that you are supposed to be mine!" She pouted as she stomped her foot.
"Yura, I am not interested. I never have been nor will I ever be. Now leave." Sesshoumaru told her in the coldest, most venomous tone he could manage.
Yura simply pointed towards his chest. "So who have you gotten to replace me? Who does this black hair belong too?" She walked towards him and picked it off his clothes. He simply stared at her, curious as to her bantering and deciding to kill her later.
Sesshoumaru looked at the offending hair and noticed it to be that of Kagome. He smirked inwardly. He hadn't realized how close they had to have been for one of her hairs to end up on his person. He plucked the hair from Yura's hands. "That is none of your concern."
Yura glared at him hatefully. "That was a human hair! I shall find that weakling and rid this world of her filth!" She turned to leave and track the owner of the hair but a sudden piercing in her shoulder and the subsequent melting that ensued put an end to that objective.
She turned to face her death. "But why?"
"It is none of your concern." Sesshoumaru told her while watching the poison from his claws melt the hair obsessed youkai.
Sesshoumaru emitted a silent sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose. One would think that by now others would know not to annoy him.
He turned away from the mess that was once Yura and continued strolling his lands while absently wrapping the raven strand around his finger.
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"This is where you live?" Inuyasha asked Kouga as they reached the waterfalls.
"Yes." Kouga answered. "Impressed?"
Inuyasha allowed Kagome to slide off his back. "Actually, I am." Inuyasha answered honestly.
Kouga smiled briefly. "Well thank you. And welcome." Kouga led the group towards the falls as several wolf demons arrived to greet them.
"Kouga!"
"You have returned! Did you find a mate?"
"Where is she? I do not see another wolf-youkai with you?"
Kouga looked at them while trying to process the barrage of questions. "You have met her before. Kagome has agreed to be my mate."
"But sir, she's a demon slayer." One of the wolf men told him with hatred dripping off in waves from his voice.
"No she's the friend of the demon slayer. Actually, she's a miko." Kouga answered proudly.
"Are you insane? You realize that mikos and youkai are mortal enemies!"
"But she's human." Ginta muttered. He had a feeling that this woman would lead to the undoing of his friend and leader.
Kouga ignored the other wolf demons and directed a glare towards Ginta. "Yes, Ginta, she is human."
"Your pups would be hanyous." Another wolf replied spitting out the word hanyou as if it were poison.
Inuyasha bristled with anger and Kouga put a hand on his shoulder. "There is nothing dishonorable about that." Kouga answered. Inuyasha looked at him in disbelief for a moment. Okay, maybe he didn't hate the wolf-demon completely.
"I must see the elder and introduce him to my future-mate." Kouga told the assembly as he led his travel companions towards the caves where Ayame's grandfather was.
Murmurs could be heard through out the tribe about the disgrace of a human serving as the alpha female.
Ayame and her grandfather were having a discussion about her joining with Kouga when he and his friends entered and interrupted.
"If you don't mind; I have chosen my mate. And it is not you, Ayame." Kouga answered coldly astonishing his friends with his tone.
The elder wolf looked at the young leader skeptically. "All I sense in your presence are three humans and a hanyou. Hardly anyone worth acknowledging. Where is this mate of yours?"
Kouga wrapped an arm tightly around Kagome's slender waist. "Kagome has agreed to be my mate."
"But Kouga! You can't mate her! She's human! You would dishonor this tribe with hanyous?" Ayame screamed at him mortified at losing to a mere human.
"I am no mere human. I am a miko. And I happen to know at least one hanyou that is more honorable than you could ever hope to be." Kagome told her with fire blazing in her eyes.
Sango had to stifle a laugh at the look upon the female youkai's face upon hearing Kagome's retort.
"Kouga, you realize how dangerous a miko is." The elder wolf kept his attention upon Kouga. "Choosing a human as a mate is foolish. But to choose a miko is suicide. No one will follow you."
"If they do not wish to follow me, so be it. They may challenge me." Kouga answered and he gripped Kagome a little tighter around the waist subconsciously as he tried to remain composed.
Kagome had to bite her bottom lip to prevent an undignified whimper from the painful pressure. Kouga suddenly sensed her unease and loosened his death grip.
"Very well. I am sure you shall be challenged before the day is over." The elder wolf told him.
"My friends and I shall be waiting near the falls." Kouga then led the group outside of the caves and back towards the falls.
"I'm sorry Kouga." Kagome told him while he still had his arm around her waist.
Kouga looked at her curious. "What for?"
"I'm sorry for causing you so much grief. If Sango and I had never come through your lands then you would not be involved and would not have these problems." Kagome told him solemnly while watching her feet as they walked.
Kouga stopped walking and grabbed both of her shoulders and forced her to look into his icy eyes. "Do not apologize. If I had not met you or your friends my life would be miserable right now. At least now, I have some hope." He smiled at her in a teasing way, "you wouldn't condemn me to be with Ayame now would you?"
"I guess not!" Kagome replied cheerfully.
They all sat near the water falls and were relaxing from their journeys as a boar roasted on a nearby fire. Hakkaku had caught it and presented the group with it as he joined them.
"Kouga? I just wanted to thank you for what you said." Inuyasha told Kouga quietly as he leaned past Kagome to talk to him.
Kouga smiled at him. "Inuyasha, as much as we can't stand each other. You truly are honorable. There is nothing to thank for I merely spoke the truth."
Ginta came to the group and sat beside Hakkaku. He glanced at the demon slayer a little warily then to the monk beside her.
"I see that you have found the monk that you searched for." He told Sango.
Sango nodded. "That we did."
"Kouga, several of the tribe members have decided to fight against you." Ginta informed.
"I see. It is not unexpected." Kouga answered calmly.
"Perhaps it is not. But, they are in search of shards to a jewel that is said to increase one's power ten-fold. A large group left a while ago and vowed to return after obtaining a few." Ginta continued.
"I see."
"That sounds like the Shikon no Tama." Miroku answered after rubbing his head. Sango had whacked him upside the head after his hands traveled too far south.
"We can't allow them to use pieces of the shard! They'll taint them or something." Inuyasha told the group.
Kouga looked slightly indecisive. "I suppose you are right. I am not supposed to interfere when I am being challenged. It is dishonorable to try and prevent the challenge."
"You're not preventing it, they'll just have to fight you on their own." Inuyasha told him stubbornly.
Kouga still looked unsure.
"He's right, Kouga-kun. We can not allow the shards to fall into their hands. They are filled with hate right now. They will taint the shards. Only evil can come of this." Kagome answered quietly.
"Do you know where they went?" Sango asked Ginta.
Ginta shook his head. But Hakkaku looked up from his meal of boar meat.
"I head a rumor of a powerful being found at a castle to the north of here. Perhaps that is where."
Inuyasha stood up. "Then that is where we'll go. Let's go." He bent down before Kagome and she climbed upon his back.
Kouga looked at him. "Don't you think, that I should be the one to carry her?"
Inuyasha looked at him with all the seriousness he could muster and suppressing the childish whoop that he wanted to shout. "You are the wolf tribe leader, you should not be subjected to serving as a mule."
"But you are touching my mate." Kouga ground out through clenched teeth, temporarily forgetting the urgent matter at hand.
"Kouga." Kagome interrupted him. He looked up and sighed.
"Fine. Let's go." The group, including Hakkaku and Ginta took to the north in the direction of the rumored castle.
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"That was too easy." Kagura grumbled as she closed up her fans. She looked at her handiwork. At least fifty wolf-youkai lay across the ground. She wondered why Naraku wanted her to kill all these wolves. It wasn't like they served as a threat to him.
She noticed a change in the winds coming from the south. She smiled wickedly. 'Looks like I'm about to have some guests.'