Disclaimer: See Chapter One. By the way this chapter is where the mpreg (mpreg = male pregnant) warning I gave earlier becomes valid. If this offends you please don't read. If you don't mind read on. ^_^
Legend:
'……' thoughts
"……" speech
Enter the Wolf's Den
By: wolf demoness
Chapter Thirteen: The Birth of a Legend
When the demon bird landed Koga ran forward and helped the aged priestess from her perch on the hawk's back. When the woman was safely on the ground and all her things had been retrieved Koga addressed the hawk, "Send my thanks to your King. Tell him the debt between us is repaid." With a bow of its regal head the hawk agreed to relay the message and took flight toward its nest. The hawk lifted to the air and circled once over the wolves and human woman before ascending above the clouds and disappearing from sight.
"Lady, thank you for making the journey," Koga began.
"I've come to minister to your friend Koga, but I will require answers from ye," Kaede said to the wolf.
"Answers?" the wolf said flatly, displeased with the woman's manner and the time they were wasting.
"Why have ye banned Kagome from these lands?" the priestess asked, her voice strong and passionate, filled with concern for the young girl who'd become as dear to her as her sister had ever been and as loved by her as though she were the woman's only child. "I thought ye loved the child," Kaede pressed, the gaze of her single eye boring into the wolf with such intensity that a lesser man would have ducked his head and turned from her. But Koga was tired. He was worried, he hadn't slept in a little over two days and at the moment Kagome was a problem that didn't bear thinking on. There were much larger matters at hand and the wolf felt that there was only so much sympathy he had to give, right now he had no emotion to spare for the old woman or her apprentice.
Koga looked tiredly at the priestess and motioned for her to walk with him. "I can not mate with someone who has no sense of pack loyalty," he said.
"What do ye mean?" the priestess asked Koga as she followed him toward his home. "Kagome is a caring and goodly child. I can see no wrong that she has done ye, Koga."
The Alpha kept his voice neutral as he replied, trying not to show the old woman the burning rage he felt toward Kagome for harming Inuyasha. "She has not wronged me, Lady. You will shortly see her handiwork then you can judge her loyalty for yourself." Koga drew back the sliding door to Inuyasha's room giving the priestess a view of the feverish hanyou.
"Inuyasha!" the old woman yelled and ran forward into the room. She dropped down on her knees next to the sleeping hanyou, "How can this be? What has happened to him?"
"He defended your village from a demon boar and was left to die," the Alpha snapped, inadvertently letting his temper slip, showing the priestess his rancor in the venom of his words.
"She couldn't have known! Kagome would not do such a thing!" the human cried out in horror.
Koga took a deep breath while he inwardly castigated himself over his loss of control. He knelt beside the distraught old woman. Placing a hand on the woman's shoulder he said, "he needs your help now, Lady. I will tell you everything I know later, but you must help him."
The old woman seemed to shrink into herself for a minute before sighing heavily and becoming a woman defined by her profession. She turned to the demon and said, "I need boiling water."
Koga nodded. "Hakkaku!"
"Yes, sir!" Hakkaku ran out to fetch the water.
Turning to the other demon in the room Koga gave another order, "Ginta, get the priestess some clean towels and bandages."
Koga glanced at the elderly woman, seeing the lines of strain on her brow. It had been a hard journey for her and now he'd laid this burden on her as well. Instantly Koga reminded himself that it was no fault of his that troubled the old woman before him. He had no cause to feel guilty, though he did; the blame lay with Kagome. The wolf just wished that he hadn't been the one to bear this bad news to the old woman. It must hurt her beyond reason to see what the folly of the child she so obviously loves has brought on another that she cares for, the blue eyed wolf reasoned. He touched to woman's shoulder and gave her a small smile, hardly more than a lifting of his lips at the corners. "I won't have you depleting your stores if we can prevent it," Koga said to the priestess.
"Thank ye, young man. Kagome told me ye were courteous and well mannered, for a demon," the old woman gave the wolf a small sly smile as she began to check Inuyasha's temperature and pulse. "Where is the wound, child?" Kaede began to blush when the wolf made to remove the hanyou's pants. Koga pulled the fabric back and partially unwrapped the bandage on Inuyasha's thigh to display the half demon's open wound while keeping the fabric over certain parts and avoiding some embarrassment on the old woman's part. At that moment Ginta returned with the items Koga had asked for.
Ginta set the basket of towels and bandages down next to the old woman. "I have some training, Lady. Can I assist you in any way?" Ginta asked.
"Thank ye, child. When the water has arrived take these herbs," Kaede handed the wolf a bundle of dried herbs, "And place them in a small bowl of water. We'll use it as an astringent to clean the wound." Kaede turned back to the half demon's leg and continued inspecting the wound. "When did he acquire these wounds?"
"On the night your village was celebrating your birthday, Lady," Koga replied.
"I see," the priestess said. "And they were given by a demon boar?"
"Yes."
"The poison must yet be in his blood for such wounds to remain for such a length of time. It will have to been drawn out."
"My healer treated his wounds for the poison," Koga said.
"Yuuka's very thorough," Ginta agreed.
"Inuyasha heals so quickly that it's possible a small scratch might have healed over sealing the poison inside. Your healer would not have seen it," Kaede said.
"Wouldn't those wounds take as long to heal as these, Lady? If they were poisoned," Ginta asked softly.
"Nay, child," the old woman shook her head. "These wounds are healing slowly because of the great amount of poison that was in his blood. His body is tired from battling the boar's venom and so the wounds knit together at a much slower pace." The old priestess gently prodded the edges of the open wound on the hanyou's thigh. "If he were first given a small injury and some time passed before more poison was added to his blood a small wound might heal," the gray haired woman straightened and sat up from where she'd bent to inspect the demon's wounds. "Child, what is your name?" she said turning toward Ginta.
"Ginta, Lady."
"Ginta. Do ye know how to make an ointment from these herbs?" Kaede held up a new bundle she'd taken from her satchel.
"Yes, Lady." Ginta received the herbs from the healer and went to find where Hakkaku was with that water.
"Koga, I will prepare some fresh linen. Will you please remove these soiled bandages?" she asked politely, showing respect for the powerful demon, as she waved a hand in the direction of the half demon's prone body.
Koga moved toward the hanyou and began to gently unwrap the linen from his thigh. The angry red wound marring the hanyou's soft and pale flesh seemed to mock him. How long ago was it that he'd been admiring the healthy glow of the demon's limb? Yes, the leg was injured at the time, but overlooking that small imperfection the half demon's limb had been smooth and strong. The skin had had a hearty pink coloration that was incomparable to the red swollen tissue that suffered now as bacteria ravaged it. Koga angled the half demon's knee up and rested it against his chest to give him better access to the bindings of Inuyasha's bandages. He then gave the utmost care and attention to unwrapping the soiled and reeking linen from the seeping wound. Ever so gently he uncovered the pale line of scar tissue left from the portions of the original wound that had healed wholly and completely. It was only where the boar's horns had nicked the bones of the hanyou's hip that the skin remained open and troubled the silver haired demon lord. The Alpha wolf took special pains to ensure that his claws did not accidentally brush the tender flesh. From time to time he glanced at the sleeping hanyou's face, checking to reassure himself that there had been no change in the sleeping demon's breathing that could have been caused by the pain of this movement or the wolf's roving hands. Koga was unaccountably upset to see the hanyou lying there, obviously suffering, and he was only beginning to suspect why. Silently and unbeknownst to the Alpha Kaede observed him for several long moments before turning back to her medicines.
"Lady?" Koga asked in a strangled voice.
"What is it, child?" Kaede turned toward the wolf demon. The Alpha, ignoring what the priestess had just called him, pointed a clawed finger at the mark on the hanyou's thigh. "Is this what I think it is?" The mark that the wolves had assumed was a bruise had clarified into three swirls that began in the center and extended out of a thinly etched and wavering circle. At that moment, before Kaede could move to inspect what was causing the demon wolf such agitation, Ginta returned. "Ginta, close the door!" Koga snapped conveying some urgency by his tone. Ginta promptly obeyed.
"How is it that Inuyasha can bear such a mark?" Kaede wondered aloud, reaching out curiously to touch the mark as if to assure herself that it was indeed there. She drew her hand back quickly when a warning growl emanated from the wolf kneeling next to her, who'd seen the hanyou flinch in his sleep as the human laid her fingers to his fevered flesh.
"I've never seen this before." Koga growled. "Why would it show up now?"
Ginta, curiosity piqued by Koga's odd behavior and the human's sudden quiet shock, moved closer to see what all the fuss was about. "But he's only a half demon, how can he have that mark!" Ginta shouted in shock when he saw the mark on the hanyou's upper thigh.
"Quiet, Ginta!" Koga yelled back.
"Inuyasha has never spoken of this to me. Perhaps he is not aware?" Kaede mused to herself.
"Why would this just show up now?" Koga demanded of the priestess.
"There are only three ways for that mark to arise," Ginta began to explain his voice taking on the singsong quality of a person reciting a lesson learned by wrote. "The mark of a Harbinger arises when the demon goes through the ritual of identification on their fiftieth birthday, upon mating to another male, or upon prolonged exposure to an all male community."
"There are women here," Koga pointed out, cutting off his underling's recitation.
"Yes, but has Inuyasha gotten close enough to touch any of them?" Ginta replied. "A Harbinger's body senses when there are too few women in a population. When there aren't enough women to sustain the population the mark rises and the Harbinger's, umm," Ginta thought for a moment trying to find the right words, "…special ability becomes active?"
"What is this ability that ye speak of? I know only that such a mark denotes powerful demons and bearers of this mark are sought after by other demons who seek to gain their power." Kaede asked the two wolves as she took the prepared astringent from Ginta and began to clean the wound on the hanyou's thigh.
Koga took over the explanation from Ginta; "Harbingers are male demons that can bear children. In legends they're often referred to as Bearers. Demons seek them out because the children they produce are extremely powerful," Koga looked at the startled priestess and then shifted his gaze to Ginta, who guessing what he would say nodded his head in tacit agreement while he worked on the ointment the priestess had asked him to make. "We can't let anyone know of this. If this information were to get out every demon in the world would try to get their hands on him."
"Demons truly are strange creatures," Kaede said. She sat back on her haunches and sighed deeply before reaching out to brush the half demon's bangs from his face, "He already has so much to bear. The poor child."
Ginta moved forward handing the Lady the medicine she'd asked for, "We won't let anything happen to him, Lady."
"No, we won't," Koga agreed.
******
There was a light shining in his eyes. It was annoying. He was trying to sleep. Inuyasha turned to the side and was brought a little closer to the waking world by a dull throbbing originating in his left leg. 'I'm hungry,' the half demon thought struggling to open his eyes.
"Inuyasha?" a voice called him.
He opened one eye partway in response. "Old woman," the hanyou greeted giving a wide yawn and stretching his arms in waking. "What're you doing here?"
"I came to help ye, Inuyasha. Ye gave the wolves here quite a scare, child."
"Ahh, it's good for them," Inuyasha said gingerly sitting up on the futon, careful not to jar his leg. "Keeps 'em on their toes."
Kaede chuckled at the demon, "How are you feeling, child?"
"Hungry. And I ain't a child," the half demon smiled wide displaying his razor sharp fangs.
"No, indeed ye are not. Here," the priestess pulled some bread from a nearby basket and gave it to the demon who eagerly began to devour it, breaking off large chunks of the loaf and quickly swallowing them. "I'm pleased to see ye have an appetite, child." Inuyasha waved a clawed hand dismissively while he continued to consume the bread. When the demon finished the priestess came forward to check his bandages. The priestess looked up at the light blush covering the silver haired hanyou's cheeks as he allowed her to undress him enough so that she could expose his wounds. "Do ye see this, Inuyasha?" she said calling his attention to the discovery of the previous night.
The hanyou looked down at the design on his thigh. It looked as if someone had painted the symbol on with deep blue ink. He raised a finger to poke at the patterned flesh. "Is it…why is it…" he trailed off again. Kaede cleared her throat and began to explain the significance of the mark to the hanyou. "I know what it is," the hanyou interrupted. "Father's father had one. But why do I have it? I'm not a purebred."
"Did ye never go through the ritual testing?" the priestess asked gently.
"No, I'm a half breed. Only purebreds can carry the mark. I remember Sesshomaru was tested, when I was still little. He was really upset when he failed the test. I think that was the only time I ever saw him really angry. Kaede?" the hanyou looked up at the priestess questioningly.
"Ye bear the mark, child. More than that I cannot tell you. I know so little myself," the priestess took the demon's hand in hers and smiled encouragingly.
Inuyasha crinkled his brow in thought then shook his head. After a moment he asked, "Kaede?"
"Yes, child?"
"Do I have to stay in the bed?"
"Ye cannot yet walk by yourself, Inuyasha."
"Then get Koga in here. I'll lean on him," the demon said casually. Kaede was stunned by the suggestion, believing that the half demon was jesting, but he looked very serious. "Please, Kaede? I'm starting to hate this room," the hanyou gave the flabbergasted priestess a crooked smile.
The priestess rose and sought out the wolf demon. She found him just outside the front doorway speaking in hushed tones to his second in command. He turned and looked at her attentively as she approached. "Inuyasha wishes to come outside."
"Is he allowed?" the Alpha wolf asked. The priestess nodded and to her stunned disbelief the wolf began to walk past her into the house and returned moments later with Inuyasha. The two walked past Kaede and Ginta quietly talking to each other as they continued down to the cliff edge that Inuyasha seemed to favor. Inuyasha had an arm wrapped around Koga's neck and Koga's right arm was firmly around the hanyou's waist as he supported him to the boulder.
"They've been doing this since he was well enough to get out of the bed," Ginta said to the priestess.
"I hope Inuyasha's not rushing in too hurriedly," the priestess sighed deeply, fearing for the young hanyou. He'd had such a hard life and been betrayed far too often. It seemed that just when the demon was learning to trust others, those who purported to be his friends again played him false.
"I don't think that you have to worry about Koga, Lady."
"Do ye think…" Kaede began to ask.
"Let's just see where this goes," Ginta interrupted as he watched Koga carefully set the demon down on the knee height end of a convenient boulder.
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A/N:
1) Look Ma! I think I see a plot! ;-)
2) Big gold stars go to evilchild2 and Tsu-chan who, besides being extremely complementary *smiles,* both made very valid points. I am integrating Inuyasha into the wolf tribe, kudos for noticing evilchild2! I hope you were serious about liking drawn out stories because according to my outline we're only about a third of the way through! And Tsu-chan, you know what? Inuyasha's almost total detachment from Kikyo's death has bothered me too! I sure hope that wasn't in the manga because in the anime Inuyasha seemed to almost ignore her death and "betrayal." Sure he seems a bit sad now and then and it's obviously a recurring theme, but it just doesn't get the exposure and time that I think the problem warrants.
3) Happy belated birthday Tsu-chan! I'm so sorry, but FF.net was having issues and I didn't get your review in time to post anything on your b-day. Hope it was a good one!
4) Lychee2: Thanks for the review as always, and I did really well on my midterms thanks for asking. You brought up a few good points in your review that I wanted to adress, so I'll just get started, shall I? You're right I did type Ginta instead of Hakkaku! Oops! Also Inuyasha is running a fever because in his human body he's not able to fight the boar's poison as well and heals that much slower. I said something to that effect in chapter ten, but I probably should have reiterated that point. Lastly, Inu and Koga weren't naked in the bed together. Koga just checked his bandages and they both fell asleep with their clothes on. I haven't gotten to that yet. ~_^