A/N: Sorry it took me so long to update. I was avoiding this chapter like the plague. I really didn't want to have to kill Kouga, and I physically cry every time I write this because it's very personal to me, and it's very hard to get it all down. Also, due to a lot of recent personal drama and incidents, it took me a long time to write. I have midterms this coming week so I'll be indisposed for chapters. Please put up with me! *sigh* Okay, I hope this chapter keeps up the morbid attitude for you.
Silver Magiccraft: I had to kill Kouga because it was in the plot! Lol. Actually, it was more of a motivational tool. Now, because he kill Kouga, the hatred of Naraku will burn even more for my heroine. I'm happy that you like the story. I hope you like the rest of it too!
KireiHanyou Ko: Yes, I know. Made myself cry because I aced my favorite character, lol. I actually based Kouga on my best friend--in real life, he's just that cute, lol. Yes, well, I only write AUs. I'm not the glorious authoress of Inuyasha, therefore, I can not depict what Kouga will do or say in real life. Yes, I too, yell at the TV because that idiot needs a little reality check. Thanks for the luck for my lemon--never written one before so it prolly won't be that good. Oh well, thanks for reading!
LilNezumi LilInu: Thanks for reading, lol. Glad you liked it. Yes, I too am sad that I aced Kouga. But it had to be done. As for Naraku, you'll just have to see what happens to him.
Blackdragonrider: Yes, had to be done, but it was still sad. *sniffle* Kouga will be nice in all of my stories, you'll see. I think of Kouga as an intelligent, romantic person--if a bit of a loser and not very good at taking hints. But Inuyasha is not the brightest crayon in the box either. So there! Thanks for reading, lol.
Michi-Chan6: Thanks for reading the fic. Yes, sorry I killed Kouga. If you'll read my future fics, you'll see that Kouga is a non-possessive baka in all of my fics. He's such a nice guy! Here's the update, sorry for the delay!
Miko Sakura-sama: *hands you a Kleenex* Sorry to make you cry. Thanks for the love, I give it back just as much. The story had to have a dramatic climax here and another one later on, for effect and to spur the characters. In all of my stories, Kouga is a good guy. I'm trying to dispel the universal prejudice against my wolf lover! (Girl on a mission *cough*)
Sierra: Thanks for not being angry. I know a lot of people are sad, but I needed to do it! Thanks for the review and the support. Here is the long-awaited update, heh.
Rumi ai no Pocky: *hands you a box of tissues* I'm so sorry that I had to kill him off, but I needed the dramatic effect. Here is my update, dedicated to you, so cheer up, ne?
Rome34: And he will! Thanks for the review, lol.
Leomae: I needed to off someone and he was just luck of the draw--or rather, unlucky sacrifice in the name of drama. Pocky is a snack food that's like crunchy and sweet and *drools* Anyway, thanks for the dedication, love you lots! There will be retribution and hell will be paid in full, so don't worry!
Zonza: I'd rather you not hate me, lol. I'm more than happy to be loved still. I just don't want anyone sad that I had to kill him off. Sad, but needed. Thanks for reading! *beams*
Enchantr3ss: It's supposed to make you hate Naraku, and it's supposed to make our heroine loathe him too! I'm honored to grace your favorite's list. Thanks so much!
Josie: Yes, he is a creep, but that is how he always is… Yes, I tried to make it sad because I was crying, lol. I hated to do it, I really did, but I just had to. Here is your update!
Peanut Gallery - Alaska's Own: Go for it! LOL, I have it! How about at the end of the fic, I just let all of my angry readers do whatever they want to Naraku? Will that make everyone happy? I know it'd make me happy! Thanks for the review!
Geminia: Yes, he will.
Amberescence: I didn't kill him, I just killed him off. There is a difference. Thanks for the review!
Angelwarrior1: Lol, yes, it is only fan fiction, but I was still crying because this story is very real to me…I'm a sad person, aren't I? Yes, I did make Kouga pretty cool, didn't I? I'm honored to have a chapter named to me! Now I have two, I'm so proud! *beams*
Sizzlinghotcat: I'm grateful that you've read my story, and delighted that you like it. Here is what happends next, enjoy!
Crystal Jade2: Yes, I know, I'm sorry. *hands you a tissue* You'll see how I deal with Naraku. I've got it all planned out, trust me!
Sweet little country girl: Ha! No Kouga hater can withstand my Kouga! I'm glad you like the chapter, here is an update!
Pinky4: I'm glad you like it! He was a good friend, he will be missed. Thanks for the support and here is another chapter for you.
Pain: Sorry? I would have made her, but you see, Naraku would have just killed her as well, and this is not the time to kill the heroine! Forgiveness is divine, remember that!
AngelGurl2: Yes, bad Naraku. Kouga!! *cries* Sorry, it's sad! *gives you a baseball bat and points to Naraku* Have fun!
Lover: Sorry! Had to be done. Forgiveness is always welcome. Thanks for reading!
Sniffles: Sorry! Had to be done, it just did! Yes, he was nice, we'll miss him!
Lilo: *gives you a box of tissues* I'm sorry, it had to be done and I had the resources. Never fear, Naraku will get his in the end.
Chibilee: *hands you some tissues* Yes, decent dead guys…I keep killing the good guys in this story! Don't worry, I'm working on a series of other Inuyasha AUs and Kouga is also nice in them. If you want, you can see him there--and he won't die. Here is your update. The tournament is pretty much the rest of the story--but if there is a sequel it will be later.
Sakura onto Hitomi: I'm sorry, but it had to be done. Yeah well, I was trying to think of a poetic title for that chapter and requiem sounded right. Yes, you'll all have to strap down for the final match! I'm flattered that you think I'm a good writer, lol. Thanks for reading!
Sparrow of the Damned: Thanks, I wanted it to be sad but moving. I hope that message came across. Thanks for reading!
Blondechik736: Thanks again. Like I said, you'll have to give me the link to your website, but feel free to use my stuff.
Witchchild425: Here! Now! Thanks for loving it, lol.
Angel81: Thank you!
Calendar: Yes, I'm sorry, he killed Kouga. I wanted it to catch everyone by surprise because I needed the dramatic effect. Thanks for reading!
Jschu25: Thanks so much for reading my story! Kagome actually can't file an appeal since she was banned directly from the board themselves. Who would she file to? Sorry if you thought Kouga was too much of a fairy, I like him mature. *shrug* Too each their own I guess. The sequel for All I want for Christmas won't be out until Spring break, but keep an eye out. Thanks for the review.
Star0704: You'll see what she does, never fear my friend. I couldn't have her jump in and kill Naraku just yet. Yes, drama is always great. What can I say, I'm a rebel. My brother blushes and says thanks--he's such a dork, lol. Thanks for reading!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything, just a few volumes of manga and the clothes on my back.
A Fighter's Story
Chapter 13
For a long while, she sat on the hill and looked down as the world around her darkened. Tears had stopped, but now that they were gone, she didn't know how to feel. Kagome's entire being was numb. It was surprising really. She had lost two people that meant much to her in her lifetime, but even after that, she didn't know how to feel. Her mother had gone when she was barely a child. When Hojo had gone, it was a steady loss that left her feeling lost and consumed with grief. But she had known Kouga only a few days. In that time, he had become important to her. He didn't deserve to die, not at the hands of that monster.
It was unfair. But life was unfair, a rational part of her soothed. Things happen. What has happened can never be changed and things had now been set in motion. Logic was telling her these truths, but her heart was still weeping. Not for the first time in her life, Kagome considered the possibility that maybe she just wasn't meant to be around men. It seemed that every man she ever loved, apart from her father, she caused nothing but pain and anguish. Inuyasha might be alive, but he wasn't much better off then Kouga right now. That made her thoughts darken even more.
It was going to be an exceedingly long night.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Inuyasha would have gone after her, he should have gone after her, he wanted to go after her, but he didn't. He was an idiot, that fact he was well aware of, but he was also very familiar with grief. Kagome was the kind of person who needed grief in solitude. She would mourn where no eyes would spy her, where no comments would follow her, where no one could see her cry. He knew just how much she hated people to see her cry. That was just another reason on the already long list he was making to kill that bastard Naraku.
Inuyasha walked back to the cabin alone. He sighed when he saw the building dark. She wasn't there, but he hadn't expected her to be there anyway. He walked in, flipped on a few lights, and went about business. Kagome was a woman who enjoyed cooking to sooth her nerves, even if she wasn't a culinary genius. He figured she'd want something ready for her so she could just eat and sleep, so he cooked. He also figured that she'd like to get into bed as soon as she was finished, so he had the sheets turned down and ready. Then he took a shower and changed, knowing that she'd probably like to get clean before bed and not wanting to keep her.
When he was dressed, fed, and clothed--and Kagome still wasn't home--he sat up on the couch and waited for her. Inuyasha Dai straightened his shoulders and held up his head. He would be awake when she got home. He'd do anything he could for her. But he would be waiting when she came back to him.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kagome stood and stretched. It had to have been at least an hour since she perched herself upon the hill. Her muscles were sore and her back was hurting. She was also getting tired. Gritty eyes were half-closed as she walked down the hill and back toward her cabin. While on the path, however, she made a turn and went toward the arena. It was closed, but she looked inside.
It was empty. The lights were still burning, but all sights and sounds were dead and gone. Kouga had already been taken away. His father was probably with his body, ready to be taken home. That thought made the tears rise in her eyes once more until she had to turn away and go toward the temple. The torches were always burning at the temple, and the soft scent of incense filled the air as she stepped inside the warm building.
It was empty, apart from the Dovon, seated on his dais, and Yusan, who was seated beside him. They nodded as she walked in. Kagome dropped to her knees and bowed before the Dovon before moving toward the shrine in the far corner. She almost stopped when she saw someone was already there. Mr. Ataris. Kouga's father.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
He was kneeling before the shrine, a burning stick of incense in his hand. It was aloft just above a candle, like he was trying to light it, but the stick was shaking badly and he would not lower his arm to the wick. Silent tears streamed down his face as she looked at his unsteady hand. How? How had his life come to this? How could he have lost his son, the one thing in his life that he lived for? How could Kouga be gone?
A hand glided up from behind him and covered his own. The soft hand wrapped around his fingers and lowered them to his side easily. That was when she kneeled beside him. First she bowed, out of respect, then she turned to face him. Her face a mask of serenity, but her eyes as sorrowful as any he had ever seen. Kouga's friend, the American coach. Kagome Higurashi.
"Hello Mr. Ataris," she said quietly.
"Hello, Miss Higurashi," he responded. He looked back at the incense in his hand. "I just can't do it," he whispered as a fresh trail of tears wept from his weathered blue eyes. "Lighting this candle would be like admitting he was really gone."
"I know," she comforted.
"How could you know?" he asked her, but there was no heat or blame in his words. There was only the empty sorrow that came from grief.
"I buried my husband four years ago," she said with a sad smile.
"I'm sorry," he said, bowing his head.
"It never gets easier, does it?" she inquired thoughtfully. "When my husband died, it took me months before I could light a candle in his honor. Now I do one every week. But it never gets easier to light a new one."
"It just means that another person we love is gone, and we are left behind."
"True," Kagome said with a sigh. "They have gone on and we must wait before we can follow."
"He was so young," Tekkai Ataris said with all the anguish in his soul. "He had so much to give. He would have been the leader of our family." Bitter memories rose in his mind's eye. Sights of Kouga saying he didn't want to be a leader, saying he didn't want anything his father had to give him. Kouga had always been willful, so full of life and spirit. He was...no longer is...he was. Now and forever. "A parent should never have to bury their child."
Suddenly, Tekkai was brought out of his memories when the girl beside him wrapped her arms lighting around him. It wasn't a hard embrace, or possessive or passionate, it was a tentative hug. A slight, warm gesture meant to give and receive comfort in a grieving time. Tekkai felt something in him that had previously been untouched, jolt in this action. He returned her embrace with one of his own.
For long moments, the pair of them sat on the floor before the alter of the shrine, in full view of the Dovon and his grandson, but they grieved and they received comfort from one another. Finally, Tekkai released the girl and rose to his feet. Kagome rose with him. She reached into the pocket of her jacket and pulled out a brown length of cloth--Kouga's headband. She handed it to Tekkai.
"I took this from him, in the arena," Kagome said, tears falling from her eyes in a slow rhythm even while she smiled. "You should have it."
Tekkai's hands moved above hers, but then he dropped them to her fingers and curled them around the band. "I have a lifetime of memories," he said quietly. "You only have two days. Keep it."
"Are you sure?" Kagome asked, her eyes innocent as she watched him.
Tekkai nodded and smiled. "I must bring him home and I must grieve. In this world of pain, Kouga was my only joy. He will forever be the light in my life. Perhaps this small piece of him will give you comfort." Kagome smiled gratefully and hugged him once more. When they broke apart, Tekkai bowed to the shrine, to the Dovon, and was about to leave when Kagome stopped him one final time.
"Take this," she said, handing him a slip of paper. "This is my phone number. If you ever need anything, just call me."
Tekkai nodded and placed the paper in his pocket. He leaned forward and kissed Kagome on her forehead. "You are a kind soul, Kagome Higurashi."
"I'm familiar with pain," she said, choking a little on the end.
"That only means you will have greater joy. Suffering means compassion, and you have both in abundance." Then he left the temple, and the grounds, never to return there again.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kagome watched him leave, and then she returned to the shrine. She kneeled, taking up the incense in her hand and closing her eyes as she mumbled a little prayer. Then she lit a candle. "Take care Kouga," she whispered. "May your soul find peace and happiness in the world beyond." She smiled and wiped the tears from her eyes.
"That did sound too formal, didn't it?" she laughed a little. "You'd probably say something like 'I stayed on your good side for this?'." She let out another watery chuckle before it turned into a soft sob. "You gave me so much these last few days, and all I ever did was ask you for more. I was selfish to you, wasn't I?" Kagome covered her face as she cried. "I was so wrapped up in my own problems, I never thought about what could have happened to you. Kouga, you were the greatest friend a girl like me could have ever asked for." She looked up at the burning candle, eyes red and blue. "That's the truth."
"It is never easy," a voice behind her said. Kagome turned to see Yusan behind her, holding a blanket in his arms. "To see our fighters perish."
"Then why do you allow killing?" Kagome asked.
"Because our laws are old," Yusan explained. "We have lived by this code for hundreds of years. They were placed there for a good reason."
"But they can't remain forever," Kagome said venomously. "Nothing ever stays the same forever."
"They won't remain always," Yusan said, unfolding the blanket in his arms and draping it around her shoulders. "When I become the Dovon, not for a few years though, I plan on changing some things."
Kagome pulled the folds of cloth around her. "Thank you," she said sincerely. Yusan smiled and bowed, then departed from the temple. The Dovon was already gone.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Inuyasha woke up alone. It wasn't surprising since he normally woke up alone, but he was alone in the house as well as in bed. When he lifted his head from the pillow on the couch, he looked around and noticed that it was morning. Kagome must have already come home and gone to bed, but the room was empty and her bed was un-slept in. At this, Inuyasha began to panic. He quickly dressed and was ready to rush out of the cabin to go look for her, but when he opened the door, he saw she was walking slowly up the hill as if facing certain death.
Inuyasha wasn't so sure that she wouldn't be facing certain death--by his hand.
"Where the fuck have you been?" he howled at her. She looked up at him, her eyes hollow, and she walked right past him into the house. "Kagome?" he called, trailing after her. "Kag, come on, talk to me!" Kagome didn't turn around, she only pulled the blanket that hung around her shoulders tighter around herself and flopped into bed.
"Leave me alone," she said quietly, so quietly he almost didn't hear her.
"Come on Kagome, just talk to me," he pleaded, sitting down beside her. He reached out to touch her shoulder, but she flinched away.
"Please Inuyasha," she said, and he heard the tears in the back of her throat. "You'll be late for your first match. I'll go to the second one. I just...need to sleep."
He couldn't very well argue with that, especially when she sounded and looked so emotionally and physically drained. He just wasn't sure he's wouldn't do something with her not there to chaperone. With a sigh, Inuyasha got to his feet. First, he removed Kagome's shoes and pulled the covers up around her, tucking her in gently and kissing her cheek before getting breakfast ready for himself.
Inuyasha was worried, he'd make no qualms about saying that he wasn't. But she was in pain and he had to let her rest if she'd been out all night doing God knows what. He'd let her in peace right now, but when he got back, so help him God, he'd get some answers. So after her drained the coffee in his cup, he went down to the arena for his first match of the day. There were only a few competitors left. The first two rounds had been pretty brutal, and left three fighters too wounded to continue. There would only be three more rounds, if all went according to plan. This one, the semi-finals, and the final bout between the remaining two. Inuyasha would be in that remaining two, guaranteed.
His match was first, versus some Brazilian martial artist. Inuyasha was not in the mood to be merciful, so the match was over pretty quickly. The fighter was small and fast. His blows were weak on the left side, so Inuyasha took advantage of that fact, feigning left often to absorb the impacted attacks. The fighter also had an impressive illusionary trick that made him seem as if he was in two places at once. Inuyasha took three good hits before he discovered the trick behind that move. After the spell was broken, Inuyasha took him down in five good blows. He was the winner and went back to brooding in his corner. And brood he did.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When the break between rounds was over, Inuyasha left the arena without another look. He was in the semi-finals, two rounds from the Shikon Jewel and getting the hell outta Japan. He had a headache the size of Montana and he truly wanted to curl up in bed now. When he got to the cabin, he found it silent and he was scared that Kagome had left again, but she was still there. He found her curled up in bed, the same place she had been in when he left.
"Kagome?" he called, seeing if she was awake more than trying to wake her.
"I'm up," she called back, rolling over to face him. He walked into the room and climbed into bed beside her, stretching out as he kicked off his shoes. "Sorry I worried you," she said.
"Where were you last night?" he asked, resting his head on his elbow as he looked over at her.
"I slept in the temple," Kagome said with a sigh. "I was talking with Kouga's father, and then Yusan, and I was tired and it was late...so I just curled up and went to sleep."
"So you'd rather sleep on the floor than with me?" he said. Then he paused as a blush crept across his face. "That sounded much different in my head."
Kagome smiled. "A bad joke, but thanks for the effort," she yawned, snuggling closer to him for warmth. "Did you win?"
"As if there was any doubt," he snorted.
"I forgot," she laughed. "The cleverness of you."
"Better believe it," he snorted. "We've got a little less than an hour before the semi-finals start. Are you coming, or would you rather stay here?"
"I'll come," she said with a sigh. "I don't want to stay here more then I have to. It's so quiet."
Inuyasha put an arm around her. "It's ok love," he said with a smirk. "You can be my cheerleader again."
"Yay," she said sarcastically, but laughed afterwards. Inuyasha was happy about that.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The gong signaled the start of Inuyasha's second match of the day. The one that determined whether he'd fight Naraku in the final round the next morning. It would be for everything then, the prize, the honor, and for vengeance. His opponent was a very difficult one, a highly trained mercenary from Europe. He had traveled around the world for the past ten years, taking up jobs and fighting in the underground for pay. It made him tough and raw, not as refined as Inuyasha's training, but it made him more dangerous.
Inuyasha bowed to his opponent, then to the Dovon, then took his stance. The mercenary leapt into action just after Inuyasha had finished. He was caught off guard, barely blocking a strong uppercut meant for his jaw. He was able to flip out of the way and recollect himself long enough to launch a sweeper move. The other fighter jumped over it, and the chaser, then tried to kick Inuyasha as he got back to his feet.
The martial artist dodged, just barely. They went into a pattern of blow-to-blow. Inuyasha would through a punch, then the mercenary. They felt each other out once, twice, and continued. Both launched advanced assault combos of kicks an punches and intricate attacks. Both of them were skilled enough to withstand the un-dodge-able hits and flee from the rest.
After long minutes of touch and go, and even longer sets of attempts of kill-moves, they both had had enough. The mercenary moved in, getting into Inuyasha's circle. He struck the martial artist a dangerous hit. Inuyasha retaliated quickly, blood pouring from the wound under his eye. The mercenary's lip bled and a bruise would soon appear on his abdomen. Inuyasha went for a second kick to the stomach, trying to get his opposition on his back, but missed. When he placed his leg back down, the mercenary positioned his own leg to intercept. Inuyasha couldn't move quick enough, and there was a loud crack as the back of his leg connected with the blow.
Inuyasha yelped, but fell to the mat and rolled away to escape further injury. When he got to his leg, he was unable to put any weight on his right leg. His knee had begun to swell and the throbbing pain was making his dizzy. The mercenary moved in for the kill--or the win, in this case--but the martial artist was not yet down. He gritted his teeth, wiped the blood from his face with the back of his hand, and delivered a round house kick to his opponent, using his wounded leg. The pain was horrible, but it got it's desired effect. The mercenary was on his back and at his mercy.
Inuyasha hobbled over and elbowed the man back to the mat when he would have gotten back to his feet. "No so fast," he said, jaw clenched in repressed pain. "This fight is mine." The mercenary cursed at him in German, but Inuyasha only smirked as the gong dubbed him the winner.
Kagome jumped the divider and ran to his aid. "Oh my God, Inuyasha!" she cried. "We've got to get you back to the cabin before your leg swells more."
"Sure babe," he said with a smile. "Give me a hand?" Kagome shook her head, but smiled anyway, as she tossed his arm around her shoulders. He leaned into her just enough where he could walk without using his bad leg. Together, the two made it back to their cabin without incident. Kagome helped Inuyasha into the bedroom and on to the bed. Then she pulled down his pants. "Eager huh?" he laughed.
Kagome rolled her eyes. "All perverted thoughts aside," she ordered. "I have to get a good look at that knee of yours."
It was a bad sight and Kagome winced. The bone was unbroken, but there was a lot of muscle damage. At least half of the tendons had been pulled and his calf bone was fractured. Of course, Kagome was just guessing at this as she examined his leg.
"What's the diagnosis, doc?" Inuyasha jested, trying to keep his mind off the pain.
"You're screwed," she smiled before going to the kitchen to get some ice. The fact that his leg was broken was not what bothered Kagome. Injury was commonplace in their profession. What scared her was the fact that in less than 24 hours, Inuyasha was going to have to fight Naraku...and he couldn't even walk.
A/N: Ooooo, what do you think fans, that a good enough cliffie? The next chapter is already written, I'll have to revise and post it this weekend. Going to get really dramatic now! Thanks for putting up with me!