Disclaimer: For the record, I don't own Inu-Yasha... but you already knew that :)
Now onto Chapter three:
Chapter Three: The New Moon and An Old Friend
A evanescent white haired figure dashed violently through the dull shadows of the forest, dry leaves rising and dancing from the force of his steady sprint. Behind his silver bangs shone two glistening golden eyes, eyes that narrowed in concentration as he focused on the task at hand…finding Kagome.
(Flashback)
"Kouga! Where are you…taking me?!"
Kagome's shrill cry echoed throughout the campsite as billows of scarlet clay and dust were swept from the floor of the clearing. The dying bonfire of the campsite was extinguished immediately by a waves of earth and sod, the occupants of the encampment awakening and shielding their eyes from the wind force.
"Wha…What is happening?!"
A young man called out into the outer banks of the camp, which was now engulfed in wind and soil. He shielded his eyes and leaned on his staff for stability, the brass ringlets jingling aggressively in the current. He was joined by a young woman armed with a large boomerang weapon.
"Sangoooo! Take my hand!", he cried through the blustery winds that whipped around them. She complied, stabbing the earth with her Hiraikotsu to stand against the squalls of wind and soil that spun relentlessly around her lithe form. They clung to each other until the raging gusts subsided.
On the edge of camp sat a solitary figure, clothed in red and covered in a blanket of dark soil. The figure lowered it's arm, which until then had been reaching forward to empty air.
"Inu-Yasha…", Miroku inquired in shock after scanning the grounds, "Where is Lady Kagome?"
There was an discomfited silence. The figure stood and shook the clay and soil from it's haori, it's back facing it's concerned comrades. The mist surrounding the camp had dissipated and hues of gold and deep crimson shone brightly over the horizon as the sun rose. A few sparrows flitted across the brightening sky, their twittering breaking the silence and echoing overhead.
"Is she…", Sango whispered hesitantly, "Has she gone back to her time?"
Miroku shrugged and shook the loose dirt from his robes eyeing the disgruntled hanyou, who still had his back to them. Dust and soil fell from the coarse fabric of his humble garments like rain, drifting in the wind and settling by Inu-Yasha's feet.
"If…If she's gone…", Sango whispered again to no one in particular, "Then why did she leave so suddenly without…"
She jumped slightly as Inu-Yasha whipped around to face them. His bangs hung over his face, casting a dark shadow over his amber eyes, which were narrowed in frustration. His answer came through gritted fangs in a low hiss.
"It was that mangy wolf…"
Miroku nodded thoughtfully and stabbed his brass staff into a patch of uncultivated grass, the shaft shining brightly in the intensity of the rising sun. He turned his gaze to Inu-Yasha, then Sango before answering.
"I see…So it was Kouga. I'm afraid there is no time to waste then… Let us go in search of her."
Sango pitched her bone Hiraikotsu over her backside and gave a solemn nod of agreement, her weapon giving a hollow thud as it hit her back.
" I agree…the sooner we leave the better."
"I'll do it by myself."
Miroku pushed Sango behind him and stepped forward, shielding his eyes from the intensity of the rising sun. He leaned on his staff and ambled towards Inu-Yasha's silhouette, which was outlined in bold contrast to the radiance of the blinding sunrise.
"I know how concerned you are for Lady Kagome's safety…but It would be unwise to search for her alone." He reached a gloved hand to his companion, who quickly slapped it away, causing Miroku to stagger back in surprise.
"FOOL! Do you think I need help from the likes of you two?!"
"Well…as a matter of fact…" He was cut off by another deafening outburst.
"Listen Monk… Dragging the two of you along will only slow me down… and anyway, I can do this ALONE!"
Inu-Yasha turned from his allies before any words of protest could be said and leapt steadily into the dark shadows of the forest, lifting his nose slightly to catch the aroma of the wind as he quickened his pace.
"It's there. I can smell them… If I just follow their scent trail… I'll find Kagome."
(End Flashback)
He clenched a fist as he darted through the forest, drawing blood from his own claws burrowing into the soft flesh of his palm, pain having no affect on him in his infuriated state of mind. He increased his pace until the woods around him passed in opaque blurs of color, the noon sun beating down on him through the trees.
"I'll find that rabid wolf… and I'll make him pay."
Kagome recoiled in horror as she lay helpless on her stomach, the dull throbbing pain of her wound causing her to grimace. She took ragged breaths, the humid air that filled her lungs slowly overpowering her…but it wasn't the tenderness of her wounds, or the moisture of the air that made her feel like drowning, or her current helpless state that troubled her…It was Kouga…or rather, what he had just said that made her pulse race in alarm.
"That half-breed did this to you…If he ever comes near you again…I'll kill him."
She lifted her head and strained her eyes in the dim light to look at him. He sat on his haunches, the flickering light of the lantern radiating around his seated form, his shadow stretching long and distorted over the rock wall behind him. He narrowed his eyes at her in concern and reached forward to pull her up.
"Don't… Don't touch me! Just stay back!"
Her vision became hazy as warm salty tears filled her eyes, nearly spilling over her cheeks. He just said that he…would kill Inu-Yasha… Her mind flashed with images that made her stomach churn. She blinked back her tears and stared at Kouga, every muscle in her body trembling in angst.
"That look on his face… He meant it… I can't let him hurt Inu-Yasha… I have to tell him the truth!"
"That night…", She began, choking nervously for words, "What I mean is… The night I got like this… It wasn't Inu-Yasha's fault… It was mine."
Kouga narrowed his eyes and leaned forward, tracing her left cheek lightly with a clawed finger.
"What you mean to tell me is…", he mused, "That you did this to yourself?"
He stifled a laugh and gently pulled her up by her shoulders until she sat upright, his expression becoming stern.
"You expect me to believe…", he began in a low growl, "That you broke your own ribs?" He leaned forward, his breath warming her face. "You don't have to cover up for that mutt… I smell him all over your wounds and that can only mean one thing…"
Kagome sighed and cast a downtrodden glare at the coarse fur mat below her. Reasoning with him obviously wouldn't work…but what other choice did she have? She felt her eyes well up with tears again, the warm droplets tracing her face as they fell. Her breathing became labored as her emotions poured out of her in floods, Kouga pulling back in bewilderment.
"Hard to talk about, huh?", Kouga muttered once recovering from the initial shock of seeing her shed tears. He wrapped his arms around her shivering body without hesitation and pulled her to his chest. "Don't cry because of him… That dog-turd isn't worth it… and he'll get what's coming to him soon enough."
Kagome ran her palm along the fur clad armor of his chest and gripped a tuft, pulling him down to eye level while tears poured from her eyes in downpours.
"Crying…because of…Inu-Yasha?!", she spat angrily as he stared at her in surprise, " It's because of you! You…You won't even listen to me!! Why are you….Why are you doing this?!"
She felt him grab her wrists and pull her close, locking his cerulean eyes onto her watery russet ones.
"Because I'm in love with you, Kagome… You're my woman… and I won't stand by while anyone causes you harm!"
She gasped and pulled at her wrists but to no avail. Here he was…Kouga, owning up to his feelings so openly… and Inu-Yasha couldn't even give her a complement without using sarcasm. She smiled at this but felt her face grow flustered as Kouga smiled back at her.
"Oh no…That's not why I was smiling…"
She jerked away from his grasp, surprising herself by being able to do so. Kouga gave her another baffled stare as she backed away from him nervously.
"He can't…he can't be in love with me! He doesn't know me! And I'm…I'm already in love with…"
She blushed and shook the thought from her head as she found herself thinking about Inu-Yasha. The interior of the cavern had grown darker and an icy breeze blew in from the entrance, causing her to wrap her arms around herself and shiver.
"Kouga…", she began, growing impatient with his possessiveness over her, "You may think it's love…but It's not…"
"It's what I feel!"
"But your feeling is wrong! It's… It's infatuation…", she whispered as she remembered... "It's an illusion…What you're feeling isn't real."
Her expressions became listless as she considered what her mother had said in her dream…
(Flashback)
Her mother nodded and brushed Kagome's tears away. "So you see…for a while those faux pearls made the girl happy…she loved them, but they were only an illusion. Even thought it hurt…she had to give them up for something real." Kagome gaped at her mother's words. What did she mean by all of this?
"I too, had to give up an illusion to obtain something real…and it hurt.", she continued, her smile fading.
Kagome cringed and felt her emotions boil inside of her. "So you mean…", she choked, "That Daddy was an illusion?" She brushed her mother's arm away, her dark brown eyes full of hurt. "What's….What's real to you, mama?"
She lowered her head and felt her mother lift her up onto her lap, her mother's arm wrapping tightly around her. Her last word's came out as a low whisper.
"You are, Kagome. You are what's real."
(End Flashback)
"Kouga…", Kagome began slowly. This time she was the one who clutched his callous hands in her own. "It's going to hurt but…you have to realize that this isn't real…what you feel about me, I mean."
Another chill draft blew in from the cavern's aperture, blowing his long bangs from his face to reveal a blank stare. Resolute in her mind, she continued.
"My mother told me a story once…It was about a girl living with a illusion instead of something real. It hurt, but she eventually had to give it up for something better." Kagome sighed as he gave her another puzzled look. "The same is true in love…Don't you see? The way you 'feel' isn't true…It's going to hurt when you realize that but…you have to."
Kouga nodded slowly as Kagome released his hands and smiled.
"So we understand each other now, right?"
She crossed her arms and gave him a chiding look as he stalled in answering her question. She continued to smile nervously as he stared at her vacantly.
"Why is he just…sitting there?"
She blinked and he was sitting in front of her again, his face inches away from her own. She felt her rapid breath mingle with his and gasped as his arms wrapped around her fragile waist.
"You think what I want isn't real?", he gushed as he seized her body tightly in his arms. "I'll prove it to you if I have to…"
Before she could utter another word, he pushed forward and nuzzled into the curve of her neck, tracing her skin with his long canines. Kagome squeaked and shut her eyes as his hot breath caressed her exposed flesh.
"I'll take you for my mate… Then you won't have any reason to doubt it!"
Light from the setting sun penetrated the twisted canopy of the forest, casting dancing shadows over Inu-Yasha's racing form. The muscles in his legs contracted with each rapid sprint and he furrowed his brow in determination. He would find Kagome, he was sure of it…It was just a matter of how soon…
"Bastard…"
He narrowed his amber eyes and concentrated. Kagome's gentle scent had dissipated, as did the stronger scent of the wolf demon. He could smell him coming but was too slow to react in time…The musky aroma of that wolf still stung his nose, causing him to grimace inwardly.
"Curse him and his jewel shards…", he growled as he continued to dash through trees and twisted undergrowth.
"If he didn't have those shards on his legs, I'd have caught up with him or there'd at least be a fresher scent trail to follow…"
The looming shadows of the forest grew opaque the sky continued to darken. He cursed under his breath and continued to dash toward the vanishing odor that lingered in the wind, his thoughts focused on one thing… Kagome.
(Flashback)
"I was a fool to trust you with Kagome! You'd put her in danger so easily…"
Kouga stood over Inu-Yasha after knocking into him, which had sent him sprawling into a patch of shrubbery. He clenched his fists in ferocity and continued.
"And you swung your sword right behind me with no regard for my life…You could have killed me mutt-face!"
"Kill you? My pleasure!"
Inu-Yasha dove at Kouga with his Tetsusaiga, but it was still too unbearably heavy to brandish. He missed his target, the blow from his sword tearing the earth apart in gaping rifts. Clods of earth and rocks flew from the force of his blow, a voice rising above the uproar.
"Stop it!"
Kagome ran between them and pushed them apart, all the while Inu-Yasha and Kouga glared at each other with obvious hatred.
"If it wasn't for my attack earlier…", Inu-Yasha hissed through his fangs as Kagome stepped in front of him, "Kagero-maru would've feasted on your entrails…but I will thank you for one thing, you cur…You did help me protect Kagome."
Kouga smirked at his words and turned to Kagome, taking her hands in his own, which caused Inu-Yasha to glow with rage.
"Kagome, Whenever you need someone to protect you… I'll always be there. Remember that."
She forced a smile and responded. "Yes…Thank you for your help. We couldn't have done it without you."
She felt a swift breeze behind her as Inu-Yasha leapt forward to attack the wolf demon head on.
"Inu-Yasha! SIT BOY!"
(End Flashback)
"Feh!", he snarled as similar memories invaded this thoughts. "She never knew when to quit…Never knew when to stop flirting with that stray wolf…" He continued with his pace as light sheets of rain fell from the darkening sky.
"It was only a matter of time before he ran off with her…", he muttered to himself as he felt a twinge of jealousy tug at his heart. The sky above the forest canopy continued to darken with storm clouds, the rain beginning to descend in torrents, a thunderous roar reverberating throughout the forest as it struck the foliage above him
.
"What that bastard needs to realize is that she doesn't belong to him!"
He narrowed his tawny amber eyes to focus them, but found his vision amiss. The sun had set and he was left in darkness, unable to focus his eyes or even smell the slightest scents of the wooded area around him…and it wasn't the rain that had disrupted his sense of smell, his hearing and eye sight…something was very wrong.
Inu-Yasha spotted a stout branch that was suspended eleven feet above the forest floor. He attempted to reach it in one bound, leaping off the ground at an unimpressive height before back landing into a shallow puddle. He shook his wet hair from his eyes and cursed, raising a hand to wipe his bangs from his face…before realizing that his claws had been replaced by short, human nails. He shook in disbelief and turned his hand to examine it. His claws were gone, and his hair that now hung disheveled in his eyes…it was no longer a fair shade of silver but rather, a deep rich black. He strained his eyes…his deep brown eyes, through the rain to review his surroundings, the occasional flash of lightening revealing a cleared forest path.
"No…", he thought to himself while stumbling to his feet, "Is it possible that…I forgot tonight was the new moon…"
He ran forward, shielding his eyes from the streaming downpour. A high branch, heavy with rain cracked and fell, causing him to dive into a shallow millpond to avoid it.
"This is why I don't want a human body…", he spat in frustration as he pulled himself up from the sodden forest floor.
A few fallen branches raked at his arms as he pulled himself up, grazing his feeble human skin, spots of blood flowing from the wounds and mixing with the falling rain. He stood and shivered, cursing his humanity…or rather, his half humanity.
"I won't give up…not until I find her…"
"I'll take you for my mate… Then you won't have any reason to doubt it!"
His long fangs grazed the delicate flesh of her neck and traced her naked shoulder, scratching her lightly, leaving slightly swollen abrasions across her fair complexion. His heated breathing brushed the sensitive area above her collarbone, causing her to shudder as a reflex. She felt his incisors press against the pulsing artery in her neck, her pulse rising as her body broke in a cold sweat. He paused and lowered his nose to her shoulder…inhaling her scent, letting her feminine aroma intoxicate his senses, his mind retreating into a state of euphoria. Kagome flinched weakly, paralyzed in his grasp. She wanted to scream at him but found her voice frozen in shock. Outside the cave she heard the wolves nattering to each other…they found something outside entertaining…but that was the least of her concerns. She let out a small cry…one that echoed through the cave as she struggled to remain conscious.
"INU-YAAAASHAAA!"
Inu-Yasha brushed the blood from his arms and shuddered as the wind blew sheets of rainwater at an angle, stinging him. He shielded his eyes to look about and felt his heart leap in his chest. Eyes. Glowing demons eyes surrounded him at all angles, flashing metallic with each bolt of lightening that struck. Apparently the scent of his blood had attracted hungry youkai…wolves.
"What do you think, Ginta?", one of the shadows growled in a low inhuman tone. "Looks a little scrawny to me, but he probably has a good sized liver for a human."
Another demon eyed shadow began to laugh, reaching forward to grab Inu-Yasha by the hair and pull him forcefully from the ground.
"I dunno…", he pondered aloud while inspecting his dangling prey, his sharp green irises narrowed in reflection, "I guess as a snack, he'll do…at least until Kouga leads us to find something better."
"You think so?", another wolf snarled in amusement while shaking rain from his back, "Remember that villiage we raided last week? I ate ten men his size and found myself hungry again an hour later."
As the demons talked, Inu-Yasha struggled to free himself, blinded by the rain and his anger that was welling up inside. These wolves were Kouga's pack…but where was Kagome? He gritted his teeth and glared over his captor's shoulder. Torrents of rain fell from the night sky, a violet explosion of lightening revealing a cave…
"So that's where they're hiding her…"
"So it's decided then! I eat the liver, Ginta gets the heart and Kyo the rest of the entrails."
The wolves had finished splitting him up. Inu-Yasha felt his stomach turn as the large wolf that held him by the hair licked his lips hungrily. They were going to eat him.
"Well human…", he growled merrily, "Rest assured that no part of you will go unwasted!"
"INU-YAAAASHAAA!"
He gasped as he heard Kagome call his name…despite his human hearing…the wolves, lightening, rain and howling wind…he heard her voice. Whether it was real or imagined didn't matter. Kagome was in that cave.
"Who are you calling…", Inu-Yasha growled in a non-threatening mortal tone, "HUMAN!"
The large wolf demon dropped him in surprise as a mortal fist pounded him forcefully in the jaw, causing his neck to snap back from the force. The other wolves circled around him in bewilderment…their youkai brother had been injured by a human blow…
"What sort of man are you?! You'd face a pack of wolves alone?", The demon sneered while stroking his jaw. "What is your name, human? What name should I attribute to my next meal?"
A dull sheen shone in the darkness as Inu-Yasha pulled his untransformed blade from it's scabbard, stepping forward to brandish it in his opponent's face.
"Remember this name, as it is the last thing you'll hear, cur!" He lowered his head and glared, baring his human teeth menacingly. "Inu-Yasha."
"Did he…did he just say…his name is…", a smaller demon gasped as a flash of lightening cracked behind him, revealing the fright in his eyes. The other wolves backed away as Inu-Yasha aimed his sword at the largest of the pack and advanced forward. The wolf demon chuckled in amusement and stood his ground.
"Impossible… Inu-Yasha is a half demon, not a human."
Inu-Yasha scowled and advanced forward while all but one demon retreated swiftly into the shadowed, rain engulfed woods. He lowered his head, his soaked black bangs slapping his face. Even with his insensitive human nose he could smell wet wolf…and it sickened him.
"You should follow your friend's examples, wolf.", Inu-Yasha growled as the demon continued to block his path. "Because if I have to, I'll kill you where you stand."
The forest roared with the wolf's laughter, his crude fangs glistening with another lightening flash. He stepped toward the poised human, who held his untransformed Tetsusaiga assertively.
"Fool. I am Kyo…the strongest in my pack next to the leader. I've cowered before no man and I'll make no exception with you."
A gust of wind blew a wave of rain over the two standing figures and Inu-Yasha shielded his eyes to see his opponent, his other hand gripping the Tetusaiga firmly. Kyo glowered at him in the darkness, the chilling sheen of his demon pupils and the dark shadow of his body the only features visible.
"But you are a spirited one… so I'll give you a head start to your death.", the wolf rumbled, taunting him. "Come at me, human."
Inu-Yasha gripped the handle of his sword tightly and clenched his jaw in anger. Kagome…He'd heard her call out to him, he was sure of it…she was in that cave. The only thing that kept him from rescuing her was this pitiful wolf. He lifted his sword over his shoulder and dove forward, crying out his response with blazing passion.
"I don't have time for this! OUTTA MY WAY!"
He jumped forward, his opponent moving with astonishing speed to avoid his attack. Inu-Yasha gasped as he felt his arm twist behind him, a clawed hand wrap around his neck, crushing his windpipe as he dropped his sword. He gasped for air, the bones in his neck cracking under the vice grip of the demon that held him. Through the rain that fell on his upturned face, he saw the wolf's eyes, glowing red and dancing in sadistic pleasure as he gradually squeezed the life from him.
"Ka…go…me", Inu-Yasha wheezed as his free hand felt for the scabbard tucked into his haori. He brushed the smooth wax of the sheath and pulled it up slowly, eyeing his enemy with raging hatred…He lifted the scabbard up to Kyo's abdomen and chocked weakly, the metallic taste of blood in his mouth.
"Tet…su…saiga….come…to me."
A glint flashed abruptly, slashing through the belly of the unsuspecting wolf. He cried out in pain and released Inu-Yasha's throat, letting him fall limply into a shallow patch of mud. The handle of the sword stuck out from his back, the point of the blade poking from his abdomen, dripping generously with scarlet blood.
"You…You'd DARE!", the demon roared while pulling out the rusted blade, crimson blood pouring from his injured stomach like a flowing waterfall. He threw the sword to the ground in disgust and charged at the fallen Inu-Yasha, who sputtered curses and rubbed his tender throat.
Inu-Yasha rolled to his side as the demon crashed into the soaked earth with his fists, mud and water rising in torrents from the force of his strike. Inu-Yasha winced and crawled towards his sword, the dull sheen of it's blade gleaming in the rain. He wrapped his hand around the handle and staggered to his feet, aiming it at his assailant valiantly.
"…I…won't let you…stop me.", he coughed feebly. "Get out…of my way."
The demon's shadow loomed over him and he craned his neck to point his sword at him. Cold drops of rain splattered against his face as he squinted his dark russet eyes into focus.
"You are strong in spirit", Kyo chuckled, "But weak in body, human." A dark trail of blood ran down his front, mixing with the rain and running to his feet. "I won't let you pass… Kouga is with his mate and you won't disturb them." His canines flashed mockingly at Inu-Yasha who began to shake in anger.
"His…mate?!"
Kyo charged at him without responding, laughing loudly at his human opponent's outburst. Inu-Yasha felt his heart pound relentlessly in his chest and raised his sword, the blade coming into contact with the wolf's throat as he rushed forward. The sickening crack of bone and the severing of flesh sounded in his ear as Inu-Yasha sliced the blade into Kyo's neck cleanly, decapitating him in one sweep. Warm blood splattered on his shoulder, burning his exposed skin, the rain pouring over him as the wolf's head fell to the ground. His jade eyes widened in horror before clouding over, his headless body tumbling after.
"Kagome…I'm here. Just hang in there.."
Kouga paused and lowered his nose to her shoulder…inhaling her scent, letting her feminine aroma intoxicate his senses, his mind retreating into a state of euphoria. Kagome flinched weakly, paralyzed in his grasp. She let out a small cry as his warm rough tongue stroked her sensitive neck, tasting her. She cracked her eyes open and gasped as his sharp fangs poked at the delicate tissue of her flesh, nearly breaking through. The rock walls of the cave towered around her, the eerie flickering light of the paper lantern causing their warped shadows to dance.
A light scuffling sound came from the caves entrance, which she couldn't see. A dark figure crept into the light slowly, revealing a dark blood stained haori.
"Inu-Yasha…"
The figure stepped closer and she saw his face. Sodden black hair hung in is eyes, his long mane soiled with blood and dirt. He widened his eyes in horror and lowered his sword at the sight of her…at the sight of her gripped in Kouga's arm's…the sight of him marking her as his mate. She cringed and shut her eyes as the fangs stung her…driving deep into her neck. She felt her blood flow from her neckline and the smoldering pain from the bond…she felt her body weaken…her mind slip away…
To be continued…..
A/N : Sorry for the cliff hanger and the long chapter…Well there's chapter three. In case you're wondering, Inu-Yasha's flashback with him and Kouga is from episode 46, titled: Juromaru and Kageromaru. Also, the Tetsusaiga is Inu-Yasha's steel cleaving fang sword and the Hiraikotsu is Sango's boomerang weapon.
In the meantime, thanks goes out to my reviewers! Here's a few asked questions that I thought I'd answer:
Kagome's Angel- This a really good story. How do you make thought speech? please answer.
Answer: When it comes to making thought speech in fan fictions…there are a lot of different methods people use. I put it in a quotation and italicize it.
FukashiOni- How did Inuyasha hurt her so much? At first, you made it sound as though Inuyasha were possessed--which would have made more sense than him just grabbing her without putting her on his back.
Answer: I'll be explaining that more thoroughly in a future chapter to clear it up. Some of the injuries, such as the claw injuries were explained a little (though not thoroughly) in chapter one.
"Inu-Yasha hadn't mean to…hurt her. His claws had cut through trees…and demons. Even the lightest grip on her arm could easily break skin. She remembered the rough trip to the well shrine…The lightening…the storm…He avoided getting hit but it was rough on her ribs…her lungs. With each bound, her body weight cracked her chest against his shoulder…hurting her…if she had said something he would have let her ride on his back, or held her in his arms…but she didn't say a word…she was petrified."
As for Inu-Yasha throwing her over his shoulder and running off…It's faster than standing there and arguing with her on whether or not she'd go or not…Not to mention that he also had a rather violent storm to run through, so he was in a hurry.
[ I'll definitely Give further explanation later =) ]
Hope I didn't disappoint anyone
-Kawaii-Ryosei