First off, a thousand pardons for the lateness of this. Cecil, my beloved computer, is still on his sabbatical and it is hard to write fics in cubicles at work, computer labs, and on vacation in Florida.
Thank you to the response I've received on and off the comments section. We are nearing the end… eventually…
A special thanks to my beta for this and previous chapters, Shar and Eloy.
Kagura watched the wisps of wind she controlled feed the campfire, causing it to blossom quickly from a few sparks into a roaring fire. Rin crouched nearby, flint in hand and a pleased expression on her face. Jaken-sama usually didn't let her help make a fire but Kagura-sama did.
"Why do I have to fish?" Jaken whined loudly from his miserable location in the middle of the freezing shallow stream as he groped around.
"I told you. We're too close to the mountains and the water is too cold for Rin. Do you want to deal with a sick child?" Kagura yelled back. Kagura didn't need to add that *she* wasn't going to get into that frigid water. No child was that cute.
"No," Jaken glumly responded, since he had been on laundry and cleaning duty last time Rin got the flu. He still couldn't see how so much fluid could come out of one, small human. He quietly went back to grumbling that no one loved or respected him.
"But I love and respect you, Jaken-sama." Rin said from the stream bank, feeling a bit sorry for the short, green youkai catching her lunch.
"That doesn't count." Jaken said harshly and turned his back to her so she wouldn't see him smile.
Kagura finished with the fire setup, and then turned to go. "See ya later, kid." Kagura walked past Sesshoumaru, nodding to him briefly in acknowledgement. She was startled as he suddenly reached out to grasp her hand as she walked by.
Her breath caught as he gently pulled her back to face him. Staring back into his steady gaze the whole world seemed to stop and Kagura would have believed it, if she couldn't hear the sound of her heart galloping insistantly.
"Kagura." Sesshoumaru glanced down at their entwined hands, his thumb gently carressing her knuckles. "It's going to be nearly a full moon tonight," he said, alluding to the fact that they wouldn't be setting up camp that night.
Normally, the group would stop for the night, but for a couple of days around the full moon they didn't have to worry about Rin twisting her ankle on a tree root. Even Rin was excited and full of energy on nights like this. Once dinner was done, the group would pack up again and continue moving. Later on, Rin would be bedded down on folded blankets on Ah-Un's back when she was finally ready to sleep.
"I'll pick you up when we are ready to go," he said, looking back to her face to see her nod. He reluctantly let her hand go and watched as she left.
~*~*~
"We are done for today," Kagura said, slumping to the ground.
"I'll get you next time." Kouga couldn't help but smile as he panted and slid off his armor. Their fight had lasted several hours, and the late summer sunshine that had been beaming down mercilessly on the scarred meadow where that day's battle had taken place had been long replaced by starlight. Kouga lay back on the soft grass, thankful for the cool evening breeze that lapped at the beads of sweat on his frame.
Together they stared at the distant mountain range to the east. The clouds clinging to the peak were beginning to glow as the moon began its ascent. A moment or two of quiet repast lasted, then Kagura gasped. "Damn! I didn't know it was this late. I have to go." She hurried and made a slight effort of straightening her clothes and hair. "See ya later. Sesshoumaru is waiting and tonight we're supposed to-"
"You should leave him," Kouga said, sitting up and looking away.
"What? Excuse me?" Kagura glanced back, surprised.
"You heard me," Kouga quietly growled. "You don't need him. He's just a cold arrogant unfeeling bastard! And- and. . ." he started then angrily settled into silence.
Kagura was shocked, but still curious to hear what he was going to say. "And what?"
"And- You're just being stupid! Going after a stupid DOG! Their stink is terrible," Kouga finished lamely.
"Oh please." Kagura turned her back on him and untucked the feather from her hair. As if she could care less about a canine youkai pissing contest that Kouga sounded like he wanted to start.
"Oh no you don't." Kouga growled. He was not going to be just dismissed. He grabbed Kagura's ankles and pulled them out from beneath her. Flipping her onto her back, he pinned her arms above her head and used his lower half to pin her legs down so she wouldn't rack him.
"Dammit Kouga! What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Kagura struggled against the heavier, more muscular Kouga, both surprised and annoyed at his sudden, dominant behavior.
"I'm making you listen to me for once! Why are you staying with him?" Kouga demanded.
Kagura scowled, not liking the fact she wouldn't even have an answer for herself if she dared ask that same question. It was just too complex. So she settled on growling, "What I do with my own life is none of your business!"
"Do you really want to be a tag-a-long? All he does can survey his own lands and look for ways to expand his own power!" Kouga couldn't fathom why a capricious strong willed woman, who seemed to value freedom over all else, would stay tied down to youkai like Sesshoumaru.
"And what's wrong with that! That's basically the job description for a youkai lord!" Kagura replied, trying to keep her mind on arguing with Kouga, instead of the increasingly distracting feeling of his weight on her. Part of her mind buzzed that it was an easy matter to get him off her by using her powers but somehow that was an unwelcome bit of logic.
"Yes, but that doesn't explain why you stay! There can't be anything that you're getting from him!" Kouga's voice got quiet as he continued, concerned. "If you need a place to go, you can run with my pack if you want."
Kagura's breath caught for a split second as she stared up into Kouga's azure eyes, only inches from her own. *Is he...?* There was no lie in his sincere face, and Kagura felt her heart speed up. *He couldn't... Nah...* "Now you're just being stupid. I'm happy where I am."
"Well I'm not! I'm tired of sulking around like a scavenger! I'm not some dirty little secret, Kagura! I am a man!"
Kagura blinked and paused before being compelled to retort, "You are? When did this happen?"
"Kagura, I'm being serious!" Kouga pleaded, with passion that perplexed Kagura.
"Well dammit Kouga! What am I supposed to say! You're there babbling about being a man and being tired of meeting me! If you really don't want to duel with me, then go back to your pack!" Kagura challenged, silently hoping he wouldn't leave.
"I'm not tired of that," Kouga sighed. "I'm sick of being embarrassed by you following that damned dog like a lovesick puppy!He's a cold, arrogant, vain dog, who'll never feel a flicker of emotion for anyone, and you're acting like a complete idiot by being in that fan club he calls a party!"
"Kouga, get off me now," Kagura said darkly. This situation was starting to scare her. "It's none of your business."
"Yes, it is!" Kouga yelled at his captive audience. "You don't get it! You are mine! And... well..."Kouga's words sputtered out. It never was this hard to proclaim his feelings for Kagome. Why was this time different? Then again, Kagome always just sweetly smiled to his proclamations of devotion, while Kagura just made cynical comebacks. What could he do to prove that he was serious?
"Kouga, you're just being silly. There is no way that you can..."Kagura's eyes widened as Kouga kissed her. First, it was almost not even a kiss, merely his crusing his lips against hers in an attempt to finally shut her mouth for once. Kouga pulled back, taking a deep breath. He then kissed her again, tenderly, as he tried to convey every ounce of his conflicting emotions: desperation, attraction, confusion, passion, care... all were poured into this soft meeting of lips. Finally, he withdrew, though not before nibbling gently on her bottom lip.
Kouga hesitantly lifted his weight off her, regarding her for any responce.
Kagura lay flat on her back, blinking up at the sky in shock.
Kouga didn't know how to interpret her reaction, or lack thereof. The last of his nerve gone, he once again fell back on the plan that worked in the past when things got too complicated. Without a single word, Kouga got up and a retreating funnel of a dust devil was all that remained of the wolf youkai as he rushed back to his own camp.
~*~*~
Kagura was still reeling as she walked back to camp as Kouga's words and actions echoed in her head. Did he really believe the stuff he was spouting earlier? Was he just confused or did he really want to kiss her?
Kagura looked up as she approached the one place of stability in her life: Sesshoumaru's party. Kouga and the panic he caused could wait until later.
In the camp, Rin held Ah-un's reins and patted its head as Jaken hurried about tying their packs to the burden beast.
Kagura walked up to the tall, regal youkai overlooking the scene.
"Sesshoumaru, I'm back," Kagura good-naturedly called out. She was startled to find that Sesshoumaru ignored her.
Sesshoumaru wasn't one to greet anyone warmly with exclamations of joy, or even polite inquiries or salutations. But Kagura always liked the way his gaze would connect to hers in acknowledgement. Even back when they were on opposing side of the Shikon no Tama conflict, he seemed to go out of his way (well, as much as Sesshoumaru would ever go) to give her his utmost attention.
Sesshoumaru knew she was there, just wouldn't look at her. "Jaken, get moving," he ordered, pointedly ignoring Kagura, opting instead to glare and lash out at Jaken.
"Oh, yeah! We're moving tonight. I forgot. How 'bout I just run and get my bath in and catch up with you guys later?" Kagura spoke up, wondering why she felt so nervous. Feeling her lips dry, she reflexively licked them, instantly alerting herself to Kouga's lingering taste. Gasping, she wondered if that was in connection to Sesshoumaru's sudden sour mood.
He always did hate it when she came back smelling of Kouga. After Kouga's behavior that day, she must reek of him. But this still seemed a bit extreme for Sesshoumaru.
"Do what you will." came Sesshoumaru's cold, ambiguous reply as he walked off, leaving Jaken and Rin to scramble after him.
~*~*~
Sesshoumaru's jaw clenched as he stalked through the forest. He had left the others behind that morning.
After a whole night of tense feelings in the group, Kagura had finally blown up. She accused him of 'Sulking' of all undignified things and wanted to know what was his problem.
He wasn't the one with the problem or being a problem. She should have apologized or at least acted guilty about it! She knew what she did. And now he did too.
Sesshoumaru had gone to the meadow the previous night. He wasn't spying on her, or anything. She was late and he wanted to retrieve her because they needed to get under way. One could imagine his surprise to find Kagura in a heated embrace with that interloping wolf.
He was the one that allowed her to travel with him and she repaid him by going off to roll around in the dirt with a wolf. What was she!? A human peasant!?
She had actually had the gall to call that training!
It was impossible talking to her at this point. She would get defensive about being told what to do and not listen to reason.
Furthermore, Sesshoumaru wouldn't give her the satisfaction of knowing that the situation was dwelling upon his mind. Because it wasn't on his mind at all!
And would be even less on his mind once he reached the wolf camp.
~*~*~
Ooo. Conflict. Confrontation. Cliffhanger.
Cross your fingers that all your lovely reviews will motivate me to get out another chapter quickly.
And now…
OMAKE TIME! (You didn't think I would forget did you?)
I WANT TO CHANGE THE WORD
(The author is aware of how bad an IY song joke that is.)
Kagura's breath caught for a split second as she stared up into Kouga's azure eyes, only inches from her own. *Is he...?* There was no lie in his sincere face, and Kagura felt her heart speed up. *He couldn't... Nah...* "Now you're just being stupid. I'm happy where I am."
"Well I'm not! I'm tired of sulking around like a scavenger! I'm not some dirty little secret, Kagura! I am a... a WOMAN!"
Kagura's widened. She must have misheard him. "Er... I just lost you. What the hell are you saying?"
Kouga sat up and nodded solemnly. "Deep down, I'm a woman, Kagura. I'm just trapped in a man's body."
"Bbbb-but..." Kagura's head was swimming. Weren't they just having a deep, passionate moment a second ago?
He smiled, with tears in his eyes, as he clasped her hand to his chest. "That's the reason I want you to go away with me. You're my inspiration on how to truly be a wild and free woman!"
"This can't be happening..." Kagura mumbled, numbly as she stared at his face in horror.
Kouga didn't notice her daze though as he continued to pour out his heart. "I guess I finally figured out that something was different with me when I was a little kid..."
Meanwhile, in a darkened room, a menacing figure huddled around the glow of the author's computer...
"Kukuku. This will teach them not to write me out of fanfics. Ack, stupid typos..."