Chapter 22

Koga's nose perked up away from the attention was before. His ears flattened. It smelled like they'd been waiting for awhile.

"Hmm?" Val sat up. "What's wrong Koga?"

He sighed. "This will have to be cut short," he grumbled. "We have company."

"Company?"

"Kagome and Mutt face," he stated. "Looks like they've been waiting outside for awhile."

Val stood up and put on her clothing. "Well, let's not keep them waiting." She put her shirt over here head. "I haven't seen either one of them in a long time. It would be enjoyable to have their company."

Koga sighed. "And what if they're here for my jewel shards?" he gave her a look.

"And what if they are?" she questioned back, handing him his things. "Koga, I, I can't help but think that those shards have been more than a.. . ." She stopped her sentence right there. She didn't want to get into it right then.

"More than a what?" he blinked a few time, confused.

"Forget it," she smiled. "Which shouldn't be much of a problem for you."

Koga shrugged. "Alright." Then he dressed fully. He went out the cave so that Mutt-face knew it was safe to come to the cave now.

Inu Yasha took the sign and he came jumping through the trees with Kagome on his back.

"Oi, what do you want mutt face?" Koga growled. "If you couldn't tell I was a little busy."

"Ha," Inu Yasha barked. "I well knew how busy you were." He let Kagome down, who was looking around, obviously looking for Val.

"Kagome-chan, she's inside," Koga said pointing his thumb behind him. "Go ahead, she'll be happy to see you."

Kagome smiled and nodded. "Arigatou, Koga-kun," she jogged past the two.

Koga narrowed his eyes and looked up Inu Yasha. "Alright, dog, what is this about anyway."

Inu Yasha narrowed his eyes. "Jarra."

Koga's body tensed at the sound of his name. "Where?"

"Kagome and I encountered him at the bone eater's well," he said. "There's a few things you need to. . . Hey, where are you going?"

"Kill him," Koga said.

"Hold up a minute, Koga, there's still some things you should know."

Koga turned around and looked at him.

"He told us some things," Inu Yasha stated. "He said, he can't hurt Val anymore. Her sister put a spell on him. If he even thinks of harming her, he'll die."

Koga didn't say anything.

"Also we believe that he might go after Kikyo for betraying him."

"I don't care," Koga said.

"Enn?"

"So what if he can't hurt her anymore," he growled. "He hurt her enough as it is. He took something away from Val that she can't have back. You can see it in her eyes. She'll never be herself ever again. It's all because of his fault. He doesn't need to try it again. He did enough to her to where he does deserve to die." He looked away. "Bone eater's well you say? You stay here and look after Val for me." He took off with tremendous speed.

Inu Yasha shielded his eyes from the dust. He turned around and saw the two women standing there.

"Jarra, huh?" Val questioned, holding her hand to her heart. Her body hurt the moment she heard of his name.

Inu Yasha expected her to follow Koga immediately. Val wasn't the kind of person that would let someone like Jarra get away with what he did, or the kind that would let Koga have all the fun. But, she didn't move.

"Enn?" Inu Yasha looked up at her. He looked at her eyes. Her color was back, but Koga was right, something was gone. Something was missing from her. She was missing that fire she had. Inu Yasha remembered the first time he met the raptor. Here eyes were full of fire. Her spunk was over whelming and she was someone that could send your blood rushing just for the fact of her challenge.

That fire wasn't there anymore though. That purge had created a deeper wound than anything any of them have ever known. Val, though her body was healed, her soul was still shattered.

Valdrianth sat down and put her knees to her chest. She was in deep thought and concentration. Jarra.

Kagome sat down next to her. "Don't worry, Val, Koga-kun will be alright."

"I'm not worried about him," Val admitted. "It's just.... it's just. I don't know anymore."

Inu Yasha walked over. "Well, I hope you do know eventually for everyone's sake."

"Enn?" Val looked up.

"I understand that you're still trying to heal inside," Inu Yasha said. "But you can't stay moping around forever, ya' know? You'll be the alpha female of this pack once it's back together. Those wolves will need a good strong female to look up to. And, besides, what kind of mother would it make you if you kept wallowing in self pity?"

Val looked up at him and then away smiling. "I know, I know. I'm causing people pain the way I am now. I'll get over it eventually. You know though, I don't think any of it has to do with Jarra anyway."

"Enn?"

"That beast was me, Inu Yasha," she said, still smiling. "Whether I willed it out of me or not, it was still me. Knowing I can do that again, if I truly willed it. It frightens me. I frighten myself. I frighten what would happen if it ever came to be again. Especially sense I'm becoming a mother. Will that same cursed blood flow through the veins of my children? It's frightening, Inu Yasha."

"But you will, get over it, Val," he stated. "You will. Because, Val, you are strong, and Val, you're so very brave."

Valdrianth looked up at him. "I am, brave, aren't I?" She started to laugh under her breath.

"Enn, what's so funny?" Inu Yasha questioned.

"It's funny," she said. "It just it." She shook her head. "I've been told that my entire life. But, I've never believed it. And, I still don't." She stood up. "I haven't yet proved bravery." She narrowed her eyes.

"Val what are. . . ." Kagome began.

"I am weak," she said. "I am weak at the heart. My body is strong, but I let little things weaken my soul and immobilize me. Things, such as emotions." She looked on ahead. "I am a demon. I am more demon that any creature on this planet." Her fist clinched together. "And I will not be pushed around by some damn hybrid who has a grudge against the family I never knew. And, I will not let a wolf do the dirty work that is meant for me."

Inu Yasha stared at her in awe. What was she saying? What was she babbling? She was snarling as she looked ahead. No, she wasn't snarling, she was smirking.

"Valdrianth. . ."

She acted as if she was about to take off, but Inu Yasha grabbed her wrist. "Don't you dare." He narrower her eyes at her. "I know how you feel, Val, but this is no time for you to do something like this."

"Let go of me you stupid hanyou!" she yelled, trying to jerk away.

"Val, Kouga isn't doing this because he believes your weak," Kagome said. "He just wants to protect you. He wants to protect you because he loves you."

Val lowered her head and looked away.

"Feh, Kagome's right, woman," Inu Yasha scolded. "Besides, I'm not one to stand around and watch you do something stupid while you're carrying pups. Even if those pups are half of the wimpy wolf, they're half you too."

"Enn. . ." The raptor girl tensed down and Inu Yasha let go of her wrist. "He asked me to stay here and keep an eye on you. I don't blame him though. If I had a bitch with pups I wouldn't leave her alone either. If I was desperate enough I'd let the stupid wolf watch over them while I did the damage that needed to be done."

"Oh, Inu Yasha, Koga-kun isn't at all that bad," Kagome scolded. "Especially if Val loves him."

Inu Yasha tilted his head to the side and gave the intentional "Merf?" "Well, I guess you're half right on that part. Val does have better judgment than anyone I know."

"Hai, that's right," Kagome said. "And she's very brave. She may be the one of the bravest people I've ever known."

"Hai, true true, that she is."

Valdrianth smiled at her two friends. "Arigato."

Koga ran through the forest for the bone eater's well. It wasn't a long trip for him, especially with the jewel shards in his legs. Sure, if he didn't have the shards, he'd still be fast, but it helped to have. Having these shards helped him protect his pack. His pack. . . .

The only ones left of his pack were he, Ginta, Hakkaku, Val, and himself. Of course he suspected the two lesser males to bring back mates as well. He expected that each female would be pregnant with at least two pups. That's six pups. Six pups and three breeding bitches he have to watch out for. Rebuilding a pack was tougher than he suspected.

Feh, with the jewel shards he wouldn't have to worry though. And besides, when his first pups got older, they'd sure to be the strongest in the pack. He was hoping that the first litter wasn't all girls. He wanted to have his first born son right away. So he could start training him to be his heir.

Hmm, I better start thinking of names, he thought. It is the father's right to name the children. Though, I'll make sure Val likes them to. Ah, but first thing is first. That damn raptor needs to die.

He stopped as soon as he reached the well. He could tell the raptor wasn't there of course. He sniffed the air. However, he was there no too long ago. All Koga had to do was follow his scent. That wasn't too hard. He'd never forget that damn raptor's scent.

He followed it, until he came to the river bank, and looked around. "Jarra!" he yelled. "Show your face you coward!"

"Behind you."

Koga spun around and stared coldly entire the raptor's blood red eyes. Completely different from Val's eyes. He noticed the look though. They were the same color as before. Yet, he too lost his fire. "Jarra, prepare to die."

The raptor looked away. "I would be happy to let you kill me," Jarra said. "Afterall, Lilith will send someone after me anyway once she here's that I've failed." He looked back at the wolf. "However, you minding waiting a while? I still have something I need to take care of."

"Let me guess, you want to get rid of that dead Miko for betraying you?"

"Ah, so you've come in contact with Inu Yasha," Jarra chuckled. "That's how you found me so quickly. Yes, I want to get rid of her. I want to rip out the little bitch's throat." He clutched his fist together. "The same way you want to Rip mine out." He looked up at the wolf.

"Forget it," Koga spat. "I ain't letting you live another second. You've caused Val enough harm already. You deserve to rot in hell!" He charged for the raptor, but Jarra dodged him as well. "Geh?"

"You can't kill me, unless I let you," Jarra said. "You see, I can't hurt Valdrianth, but this spell has nothing to do with you." He retracted his claws. "The fact still remains, I am still a raptor, and you are just a wolf."

Koga turned and growled at Jarra.

"Even with your jewel shards you have no chance against me," he said. "None of these youkai and hanyou of this world have the ability to take me down. Well, maybe except Val. But she isn't a so called 'demon.'"

"I already know she's mortal," Koga growled. "But that makes you mortal too."

Jarra laughed. "Correction, I've already passed that stage."

Koga's eyes widened.

"I'm sure those little relatives of Valdrianth already told you." He lifted an eyebrow. "Oh, so they haven't," he laughed. "Well, you see, our bodies are mortal while our soul isn't. When this body dies, our soul gets a new one, it looks exactly like the old one of course. You see, our ancestors are the angelic and demonic creatures of heaven in hell. In Ancient scriptures it is said that they came to Earth and bred with the human women, creating our race. A race of freaks. Ask that that little human friend about us, she can tell you all sorts of things, concerning our type of demon." He narrowed his eyes. "But honestly, I don't have time to play you right now, Koga, I have business to settle after all. I promise to let you kill me later."

And with that he vanished as if he was a shadow.

"Geh?!" Koga ran to where Jarra was last standing and looked around frantically. "Jarra!" he yelled. "Show your cowardly face back here! Jarra!"