A/N: You all seem horribly overjoyed that poor Inu-chan has gone crackers. Cruel people! But then, I have to include myself in that category seeing as how I'M the one who did it to him in the first place…
Disclaimer: Running out of original ways to say this. Okay – I don't own Inuyasha. At all.
Tempting Fate
Chapter 12: Breaking Point
At the same time as Inuyasha was going out of his mind, Kagome had only one thing on her mind. Breakfast.
"Mizumi, can't we stop for a second?" she pleaded, giving her best 'puppy-dog eyes' to back up her request. Unfortunately her friend seemed to be immune to such tricks – she looked at Kagome's face and started laughing. "You have no idea how ridiculous that looks!" she gasped in between laughs. Kagome pouted.
"It works just fine on Inuyasha!" 'These days,' she added under her breath. Mizumi frowned, her good mood completely gone.
"Didn't I tell you not to mention that name?" Indeed, she had told Kagome not to talk about the hanyou after the girl had casually brought him into their conversation for the thousandth time. Growling, the wolf pushed ahead through the dense foliage, leaving Kagome struggling to keep up. She was about to protest this abandonment when when her stomach decided to remind her in no uncertain terms that she was hungry.
"Mizumi, can we eat some of this?" Kagome called, giving her basket of fruit a shake. "They won't miss a few pieces back at the den, will they? I'm starving!"
One of the more senior females of the tribe had noticed a lack of fresh food when she woke up that morning, and had sent the chatterbox Mizumi out to forage for some food before she could eat. Out of sympathy Kagome had volunteered to come along, earning her some looks of respect from the other females. A short time later, however, Kagome was seriously regretting the loss of an early breakfast.
"Mizumi?" she called again. When she received no answer, the miko dumped her full basket on the ground and sat down beside it. "Well," she muttered, picking up a ripe fruit, "if she's not going to reply, I'm staying right here!" She bit into her prize, slurping slightly as the tangy juices threatened to dribble down her chin. "Mm, delicious!" she moaned in delight, licking her fingers to get every last drop. "This beats vegetable stew any day…no offense, Kaede!" Just as she was reaching out a hand to take a second morsel, a familiar tingle tugged at her senses.
A youkai was approaching.
She jumped to her feet, upsetting the basket in her haste. "Great! A youkai, and me with no bow!" she berated herself. "When are you going to learn, Kagome? It's the Sengoku Jidai – don't let your guard down!" Wishing Mizumi were still within earshot, she prepared herself for a fight. As the youkai drew nearer, another sense flared to life. "A shikon shard? But that means…oh, just wonderful. What a way to start the day."
She fixed a petulant glare on her face as Kouga came into view, her hands on her hips. "You wouldn't be stalking me by any chance, would you?
***
Kouga had to admit that he was slightly taken aback by Kagome's words, but he was reassured in the same instant by the tiny twist of her lips that showed she wasn't completely serious. "I'm just drawn to your presence," he joked in return. "I can't seem to help but follow you!" He breathed an inward sigh of relief when the last of her sudden irritation melted away. She giggled and walked over to him. The wolf youkai instinctively inhaled deeply as she drew closer. The scent she carried was almost as mystifyingly alluring as the woman herself, and he found that he was fast becoming addicted to the unique aroma.
To his embarrassment she noticed his actions and looked at him curiously. "What are you doing?" Sprung, he fumbled for an answer.
"You…smell good," he finally admitted with a slight blush. Kagome was astonished. He was blushing? Kouga?!
'Oh, how cute,' she thought, amused. Then it was her turn to blush when she recalled Inuyasha saying almost the exact same thing once, a long time ago. 'It must be a youkai thing,' she concluded silently. "Well, sniffer-dog," – he snorted incredulously at the name – "as long as you're not doing anything more useful, you can help me pick up this mess you caused." He raised his eyebrows at her.
"I caused?"
"Yes, you caused. I wouldn't have dropped everything if you had told me you were coming, instead of trying to sneak up on me like that!" Kouga laughed as Kagome flipped her hair over her shoulder and marched away from him.
"Wait! Wait, Kagome, I'll help." She looked back at him in surprise.
"You will?"
"Of course. Why does that shock you? Ah – I guess Inukkoro never thought to ever lend you a hand in two years, did he? Makes sense that you wouldn't expect it." She narrowed her eyes at him.
"Kouga…"
"Eh, sorry. It slipped out."
***
From his hiding spot in the surrounding bushes, Inuyasha stared fixedly at the couple visible through the leaves. Every time the wolf's hands came near his mate a ragged growl escaped his throat, fists clenching tighter by the minute. It was taking every ounce of self control that he had left not to spring out and tear his rival down.
His youkai senses told him that the others were only a short way behind him. 'They don't understand,' he snarled to himself. 'They don't see what I can see!' The lucid part of his mind was still in control enough to keep the red rage from completely overriding his senses, but it was a very close thing. From time to time his eyes would become tinged with scarlet, then fade back to their usual shade of amber. One hand clutched Tetsusaiga as though it were a talisman to ward off evil – it was clearly the only thing that was keeping him in place.
One ear flicked back as he registered the arrival of his fellow travellers, but he made no move to go to them. All his attention was on the sight right in front of him. Then something happened to make his whole body quiver with fury.
***
Kouga and Kagome were just picking up the last of the fallen fruits when the girl felt a strong pair of arms wrap around her unexpectedly. "Wha-? Kouga, what are you doing?! Let go of me!" To her shock, and not a little anger, the wolf simply refused to let go.
"Kagome," he murmured in her ear, "are you certain that you won't stay here with me? And Mizumi, and Namako? They will miss you if you leave." He held her a little tighter. "I'll miss you if you leave." His voice sent shivers down her spine. Before she quite knew what was happening, he was kissing her possessively.
"Mmpf!" she tried to cry out, but he just wasn't letting up. And then…she didn't want him to let up. Her mind was screaming at her to get away, kick him in the shins, yell for help; but her traitorous body had decided not to take orders from her brain, and was determined to stay right where it was. In a way it was nice to be held so tightly by this man – this kind, protective, usually considerate man… Almost of their own will, her arms came up to encircle his neck, seeking to deepen the kiss.
An inarticulate howl was the only warning given before Kagome suddenly found herself flung away, rolling over and over in the grass until she finally stopped. Dizzily she struggled to her feet, looking wildly to see what was going on. To her horror she saw what had attacked them. And she had no doubt it was because of what he had seen.
"Inuyasha!" He whirled to look at her, and she backed away in a hurry at the sight of glowing red eyes. Tetsusaiga was absent from his side, and he was in the grip of an enormous rage. He was full youkai.
"Inuyasha, NO!"
***
Sango, Miroku, Shippo and Kohaku forced their way through the undergrowth frantically at the sound of Kagome's scream, desperately afraid that they were too late to avert disaster. When they finally burst into the clearing, a terrifying sight met them. Kouga was pinned to the ground, fighting to get free. Inuyasha was transformed and clearly mindless, snarling down at his captive in a manner that left no doubt as to what he wanted to do to the wolf. Kagome was standing to the side, stiff with tension, screaming at them to stop.
Miroku picked up Inuyasha's discarded weapon. "He must have dropped it when he charged Kouga," he surmised grimly. Sango nodded in reply, unslinging Hiraikotsu in preparation for a fight. Shippo and Kohaku looked more than slightly intimidated, but they also readied their own weapons. But before any counter attack could be launched, Kouga made his move. In a lightning-quick motion he flipped Inuyasha up over his head to come crashing down on the ground behind him, jumping to his feet and racing over to stand by Kagome.
"What the hell is your problem, Inukkoro? You trying to get Kagome killed?" The maddened youkai simply snarled at his opponent, his long fangs glinting wickedly in the sunlight.
"You are my problem, wolf." He charged at his target, and the fight was on.
A/N: And so it begins…
Reviewer replies – gah, so many! *bounces happily*
Stripe – Eh, I'm not sure what malice looks like, but I think it would be kind of like that black miasma stuff of Naraku's…
ShadowHeart – Yeah, I thought some insight into the 'other characters' would be interesting. And Kanna and Kagura's viewpoints will actually tie into my next project *hint*. Thanks for the compliment. And yes, he's gone mad.
Minty – Hmm, does she love Kouga?…well, according to what I've just written, maybe even I don't know!
KawaiiChica – Hey, don't worry about not reviewing every day. I've broken 150 reviews! I still can't quite believe it.
Aamalie - I agree, you can't steal Namako yet, or I might stop updating in retaliation. A ransom – the cub for the chapters….
Shikon-Siren – Thanks for reviewing! Glad you like the comic relief I thought up. The pairing is I/K, even if it might not look like it right now.
Inuyasha-kodocha21 – Interesting name you've got there. Thanks for reading, hope you like the update.
Time's mortal enemy – Does that answer your last question? And yes, I will tell you what happens at the interview tomorrow. Inuyasha's hold on reality has now officially snapped.
Poohsbestfriend – Yes, I look at Iridescent Dreams quite often. Such good stories! I nearly gave Kouga a previous mate, but decided to give him a sister instead. Lucky me – I would have had fans screaming for my blood, otherwise! Thanks for your suggestions, I'll keep them in mind for when I rewrite this thing. Which I will do eventually.
Darkinuyasha – Hmm. He's kind of sane one minute, then seeing things the next. A bit schizo, if you know what I mean.
Rogueandkurt – I'm glad you found my story, and you like it! Whee! Hope you enjoy the update, even if it is a horrible cliffy…
Mvdiva – These daily updates are a lot of work, but fun at the same time. I guess you'll have to wait and see how Naraku meets his end. But I promise, you'll like it.
Rushyuo – Nope, not K/K, even if you don't believe me right now…
Lady Tiger Lily – To be honest, that's an angle I hadn't really thought of. She's kind of small for him, isn't she? I already have a pairing in mind for Sess, actually…you'll just have to wait and see what I mean by that, 'cos I ain't telling!
Miztikal-Dragon – Don't fall off your chair – that hurts. And I should know. Hope you liked the update, and don't kill me for the cliffy, please! Or you won't get any more story, and wouldn't that be a shame?
A/N: I have a job interview tomorrow, so the update might (might) not be here. So, you have been warned. But, all being well, the story will go on as planned. See you then!