A/N: First on the lists...Shout-outs!
HPAngel589: lol, yeah, if they started doing that right in the middle of everything...yikes! Anyway sorry about the man-eating snakes!!! I didn't know snake-likers were in the crowd!
Sliver: Yeah; that was just the first chapter; apologies!
Titan6: Well thank-you!!
Seida02: Thanx, and really, it's the only one? I doubt that but still yay!
littleolmee: Yeah, Kouga deserves someone! And nah, I'm over that one reviewer, it was easy with so much other great reviewers!
Purplefr0g: Thx; I'm updating each chapter as soon as I can!
snowecat: Aw, thx, I'm glad others have faith in this story!
mirokuluver's friend: Okay, I'm updating; I want my cookie!!
inuyashafreak32: lol, wow! Thx for putting it on your fave stories list! :)
AlixMM: Thx for the support; hopefully I can keep it interesting!
Hpfreak2: lol, you do really like this fic! Thx for all those comments I appreciate them!
And thx to Jennifer & ktn for your comments too. Huggles to everyone!!!!! XXX Munches on cookie XXXX Peace, people! Enjoy Chapter Nine!
Dislaimer: Inuyasha? Nope, not mine.
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An hour later, Kouga ripped away the last rock and peered into the crater sized hole. Kagome and Inuyasha were sleeping upon the floor, held in each other's arms. He sniffed the air and his eyes widened. The marking was complete. He shook his head and walked away from them all.
"Kouga?""I'm leaving now, I've helped enough," Kouga answered quickly, then raced away before anything could be explained.Kouga ran out of the tunnels as fast as his legs would allow. The realization that he really, truly had lost nothing, if he had anything in the first place, with Kagome had hit him a tad bit harder than he would have thought. Inuyasha's claim on her is complete...and she would bear his cubs. Kouga thought miserably as the woods met him and the cave became a dot in the distance.Yume swam into his mind. The way she had stuck up to him that day in the village seemed to stick more visibly and he could easily remember her eyes, brilliant forest green, almost neon in the light. That made a small smile sneak it's way to his face. Yume. Just keep thinking of Yume.
And he did keep thinking of Yume. From the cave until almost to his own den he continued to think of, mostly, her deep green eyes. Suddenly, a wild smell filled his nose and he was reminded of the snake's repulsive odor when he had found Yume on the brink of death.He spun around in mid leap and looked for the creature that was making his nose burn horribly. A moment later, with no sign of the creature, he smashed into a tree carelessly. Shit!
Kouga picked himself up swiftly and swung his head from side to side. He was within three bounds of his own tribe, he was in his own territory now, and that meant something had the nerve to travel straight into his own territory with no warning. That thought caused his neck hairs to raise and a snarl to leap from his throat.The
odor became stronger, strong enough to choke that snarl a second
after it was uttered. He almost passed out, it was that strong. But
what the hell was it?! He thought savagely, one eye cringed from the
stench. His hands, involintarily, had gone to his nose and covered
it. What the hell is this damn thing?!
It made itself known a
moment later with a huge crash and it's jaws wrapped around Kouga's
midsection. What-
XXXXXXXXXX
Yume woke up slowly and carefully. The very act of making her eye lids move upwards caused enough of her precious energy to drain away and make her wish she had never moved them in the first place. But she had to know where she was. The smell of this place was different, it had a familiar scent but it was different.Slowly, her head stopped swimming and things became clearer. She could distinguish one scent from another now.
Slow and steady... She muttered to herself. Just take it slow. When she took another, deeper breath through her sensitive nose she flung herself upwards in surprise.
OWOWOWOWOWOW! She screamed to herself as every bone, tendon, and muscle gave way to instant pain in protest to her violently sudden movements. But, now that she was up, she couldn't lay herself back down without going through the same excruisiating pain.
Woozily, her vision blackening for a few seconds, she tried to make sure she was correct. Yes, she could smell the wolves, a lot of them. But she could also smell a different scent, a scent that was now on herself as well as in the stone walls around her. She was in the den of a demon she knew, laying on his hay bed for Kami-sama's sake! But she couldn't quite place who it was, it was right on the tip of her tongue, right on the tip of her nose in better sense.Kouga.
It came so suddenly that she thought someone had spoken it to her. But no one was in the shallow cave with her, it was just her and a single wolf lying asleep a few feet away from her. That was right, she was in Kouga's den!So where was the Brown Wolf? And how had he found her? Actually, she wanted to know the whole damn story, right from where she had passed out.
Confused and slightly suspicious, she drove herself to stand up. Her strength had returned somewhat, perhaps enough to actually get to her feet and move, but she knew it would slowly ebb away the moment she put one foot in front of the other.She glanced down shortly at her body and wasn't surprised to find every wound was wrapped in cloth. Indifferently she wondered if it was a man who wrapped her body, then dropped the thought as quickly as it had come and walked out of the den.
The wolf that had been snoozing instantly woke up and trotted next to her.The wolf had been given the job of watching over her, just in case she relapsed from the poison she had taken when the snake bit into her side. Now that she was awake, the wolf also had the job of making sure she didn't run off anywhere; Kouga wanted her right where she was. Panting slightly from the mid-day heat, the wolf followed
Yume out towards the edge of the cliff."Where is Kouga?" She asked, mostly to herself.
The wolf looked up at her, then sneezed violently. There was a nasty scent on the air, a scent that made the wolf cringe and wimper, though it also caused the wolf's hackles to rise. Something was out there. Yume could also smell it. Something repulsive, something she hadn't quite smelt before. And it was rather close, probably wasn't even on the border of Kouga's tribe's territory.Yume glanced down at the wolf beside her, the bones in her neck snapping back into place while the ones in her back did the same. It was painful, but she was too used to the pain. Besides, as long as she was healing properly, she didn't care."You smell it too, boy?" She asked the wolf and it wimpered in response. "Nasty smelling, isn't it?"
Another scent floated on the air, but this time it was coming from behind her. She turned her head and the rest of her body followed. Ginta, though Yume didn't know that was his name, came running down the slope waving his hand in the air. Yume raised her eyebrow and smiled tiltedly."Hello." She said softly.The wolf jumped all over Ginta happily before sitting beside him. Ginta grinned and placed his hand on the wolf's head before returning to the girl before him.He almost fell over. He hadn't really gotten a good look at Yume until now, lit by the sun, awake and walking. Her hair, which had been in a french braid until one of the others washed it for her while she slept, was loose and flowing all around her body. Her sun kissed skin glowed slightly but it wasn't those two things that stunned him. It was her eyes, a brilliant forest green, that entranced him and made his jaw almost fall to the ground. No wonder Kouga wanted her protected! Geesh, he has good tastes!"Eh...hello..."
Yume chuckled heartily despite the pain it caused in her ribs. "Do you happen to know where Kouga is?" She asked and fixed him again with her green eyes."Kouga?" Ginta almost forgot who Kouga was. "Oh! Kouga! Yeah, he went back to help Inuyasha and Kagome with the cave in-""What cave in?" Yume asked worriedly, her face set.Ginta shrugged. "Kouga said that Kagome and Inuyasha were trapped in a cave in. He went back into the cave to help them because the others weren't doing so hot alone."
Yume felt fidgety.
Inuyasha and Kagome caved in? For how long? She growled impatiently and her tail flicked back and forth. It hurt to do so, but, in her aggitation, she hardly felt it. Were they all right?
Without warning, Yume jumped off the cliff. Ginta, completely caught off guard, ran to the edge of the cliff and watched her touch down, then leap off again with renewed strength. He was amazed that she would be able to move after her injuries, but the thought had vanished when he remembered Kouga's threats.If she got hurt, left the den, left the tribe itself, it would be his head.
"WAIT! YUME YOU CAN'T LEAVE!" But Ginta might as well have been talking to the air, for Yume wasn't in sight anymore. "Erm...well boys...I guess I might as well come up with a good excuse...heh.."XXXXXXXXX
Kouga placed his hands between the demons jaws and pushed hard. He heard a grotesque snap and then found himself laying on his back, on the ground with saliva dripping all around him. Kami-sama, what the-!Again, he couldn't finish his thoughts. His eyes widened at the demon before him. It was another wolf, a wolf higher up on the chain than he. Silver fur that sparkled at him in the afternoon light, brilliant golden yellow eyes, and seven inch teeth shone down at him in a snarl.
A Silver Wolf. He thought with a hint of fear.
Indeed it was a Silver Wolf, perhaps even a Silver Lord, and it seemed to be very very pissed off over something. It's huge body rippled in it's rage and the golden eyes turned deadly. Kouga knew that look, the look of death and...jealousy. Jealousy? Of what?! Kouga thought frantically to himself, jumping up to his feet and facing the Wolf.The Wolf opened it's mouth and let out that putrid odor. Kouga knew what it was now and instantly wished he was someplace else. That was the horrible scent of death; rotting and intollerant.
Scraps of what could only be the Wolf's helpless victims dangled from his fangs and the saliva that dripped down was pink and green with blood and gore.
That was enough for Kouga. One seemingly deranged Silver Wolf could rip just about anything to shreds in as much time as it took to tackle a rabbit. With the help of the two jewel shards embedded in Kouga's legs, he raced off in a cyclone of wind.The Silver Wolf raced after him. It's ham sized pink tongue lolled out of it's mouth with strands of saliva dripping off of it. It's golden eyes turned red in it's rage and Kouga was once again reminded of the way Inuyasha had once looked, crazed and in demonic form. So the beast was wild and not just wild...it was on a bloodthirsty trip like a hound from hell."Kouga!"Kouga almost stopped dead in his tracks with the Wolf two bounds behind him. The voice, at first, had been band music to his ears, then the band seemed to drop dead. Yume, get away, now!He thought frantically, continuing his own race. But he could hear now her own foot falls and knew she was getting closer, right on the war path, a direct cross road between them. She would intersect them and then the Wolf would-
What Wolf?
The thought struck him hard and he tripped suddenly. The Wolf was no longer following him. Instead, it had chosen a new path with enough fallen debri to show exactly which way it was heading. Kouga back tracked quickly, his eyes set ahead of him. The Wolf...why had it gone away? Then he remembered Yume. Damnit! Kami-sama, damnit!He took off again at full speed, following the Wolf's debri path, and it led exactly where he knew it would lead. Directly to Yume.Yume froze.There was no other way to describe it. Her whole body had frozen. Every joint stiffened, every tendon pulled taunt, ever muscle cramped tight, every bone locked the way she had been standing.
Ice seemed to replace her blood in their veins, thick freezing ice. There was a Wolf in front of her, a Wolf with maddening red eyes and a hanging jaw that was reparing itself quickly. A Wolf with silver fur dancing in the light. A Wolf she knew.
A Wolf she knew from so long ago.No words would utter from her throat, no thought passed through her mind, everything seemed foggy and surreal. This couldn't be, never, it definatly couldn't be. And yet, there the great Silver Wolf stood, mad eyes rolling and focusing on her, growl trembling the very Earth beneath her.But that wasn't what snapped her out of herself. It was the other Wolf standing behind the Silver Wolf. The Wolf that, even if he was lower, had a snarl in his throat and his eyes growling in retribution.
"K-Kouga." She stated softly.All the ice seemed to melt slowly and be replaced with normal blood. All the tension went out of her body and she was once again herself, herself with her own injuries and her own mind. Surreal or not, she couldn't let a fight break out here, not between them.Though,
unknown to her, the two were already challenging each other-
-and
the Silver Wolf had leapt.
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Inuyasha had woken up quickly. The dream, the nightmare, he had been having only a few moments before continued to sit in his mind. The creature he had been forced to use the Kaze No Kitsu on was strangling Kagome, strangling himself, and he could feel both of their pain, their fear. All because he had finished the mark.
And now he woke with the shadow of that dream still haunting him, still in the back of his mind. He could now hear hushed voices and could feel himself being carried out into the light, into a light so intense it made his hands go up to his eyes and cover them."Inuyasha?" A voice spoke above him and the sense of being carried stopped.Unreasonable terror rose up in him and he threw out his right fist.
The
creature! It had to be above him, it had to be the thing taunting
him, taunting him while it strangled Kagome right in front of him, it
had to be-
-it had to be Miroku?
"Don't
try to wake me again and that won't happen, priest!" Inuyasha
yelled at him.
Then it dawned on him, very quickly. He was out in
the open, not in a cave where a cave-in had happened. Kagome was
outside as well. They were both alive. Kagome, he could tell, was
hurting, but she was fine too. And that reminded him of what had
taken place in the cave.
Her feelings more specificly. And he'd be able to take her pain, if she had any at all, and make it his own. Of course, if he had finished the entire marking, Kagome wouldn't look as she did now. Something...would have changed to put it lightly. And he needed to talk to Kagome about that, make sure she was completely ready for it.
No wonder Yume wanted them to finish it at her den...
Inuyasha slowly made his way over to Kagome's side, worry etched into his features. He knew she was fine, could tell by the way she slept so soundly, but he had to make sure. He had to reassure himself. Gently he placed a hand on Kagome's face, a move so blandly outfront that Sango almost dropped Kagome's limp form.Sango knew that something had happened within the cave. She knew it deep in her heart and deep in her mind. Something had changed in the way Inuyasha was treating her with so much care, the gentle carress of his hand and the overly worried look on his face just made everything so plain.And the blood on Kagome's back...that scared her to the seventh hell when she had seen it. Kagome had been hurt, but by what? The cave in?
Or Inuyasha?XXXXXXXXX
Kouga jumped out of the way with a swiftness that was entirely knew to him. He dodged another swipe of the Wolf's thick and very powerful claws. The Wolf was in a rage, he knew, and it had to do with something about Yume.
Maybe
it was Yume herself, the way she had stared in shock at the Silver
Wolf towering above her.
But now he knew he was fighting for her.
When she had grown stock still, he took on the challenge she herself
didn't. Even if it got him killed, or mortally wounded, he would
fight to-
-to what? Keep her safe? Or fight for the right to claim
her? What in the world was he fighting for? This Wolf had a scent
about him, a very jealous and possessive scent underneath the rage.
And all of that possessiveness seemed to be placed right upon
Yume.
Yume was the object the Silver Wolf wanted to possess and that had driven Kouga mad, mad with....rage? It had to have been that, he had seen Yume first. Or did he? Confusion muddled his head for a moment, then he dropped every thought he had and continued to fight. He'd figure it all out later, when a Silver Wolf wasn't trying to rip his head off.
The Wolf closed in again. Kouga dodged. The huge paw came out of nowhere and slapped Kouga silly. Yume watched this as if in a dream, or a trance. She could hardly believe Kouga was fighting the Silver Wolf, but didn't dare disbelieve it. The Silver Wolf...she knew him so well. Why was he here, raging and feasting on other Wolves and Villages? For her? His claim on her ended when he had walked off with another she-wolf....or had it?
Her fingers instantly went up to her nose. He had marked her, but the mark had faded and they had not finished the marking. If they had, there wouldn't be any doubt swimming in her head. They wouldn't have been apart and none of this would have been happening. He wouldn't have run off with another she-wolf. But...now he was back, but for what?And seeing Kouga.....seeing Kouga fighting for her-(Was she sure it was for her?)-tearing at the Silver Wolf in a mad rage made her heart leap into her throat. What in the world? Had her heart stolen to another? She was sure that that was impossible; as with Inuyasha, she had a past love to deal with.And now, standing before her and
fighting someone her heart seemed to struggle over, was that lost
love.
And she was standing there, letting them fight it out,
instinctively letting them fight it out. That's when she knew, that's
when she was possitive, that her instincts weren't kidding her. Her
heart now belonged to them both and, the winner, would surely recieve
it.
Old love or...newer love?....would take the heart that had once been bound and...bind it again.
XXXXXXX
Inuyasha and company looked down the tiny slope of the hill they were standing upon. Inuyasha let out a huge sigh of relief.
They had left the cave that very afternoon and they seemed to have found a place that might take them. Or, at least, it seemed to be a very accomodating looking place. All around the village down below were what seemed like human-looking demons and humans alike. Both traveled to and fro on the roads, stopping to acknowledge old friends or new aquaintences before tarrying on.
Miroku's eyes had widened to a point where Inuyasha thought they would roll clear out of his head. He had never seen such a thing, humans and demons alike! Oh the fights they must get into at times... He thought, his eyes skipping from one human-like demon to the human beside it.Though...hadn't he heard that there must have been a village somewhere like this? But he had dismissed it as fairy tale; humans and demons just couldn't live together. Well, what to say of Inuyasha's mother and father, then? He placed his face into both hands and rubbed, hard.
Sango shook her head slightly. She wasn't in the least bit surprised herself, she had heard of the village and even passed by it on her travels. It was well known to her own village, when it was still standing. This village was the only one that could easily defend itself against almost every demon attack for it also had a very powerful Miko guarding a temple that stood out above all the other huts.Kagome smiled to herself. Finally, people that actually knew what it was like to be with demons and respect them as equals. And a place where demons did the same. She looked up at Inuyasha and Inuyasha looked down at her. They both smiled before continuing their walk down to the village, possibly the only village Inuyasha would not be driven out of for being what he was.
As the company started down, Shippo let out a sigh. He was the only one that seemed relatively worried about when Yume would be back. He had told them all very quickly, for Inuyasha's hands had been around the fox-kit's throat, that Kouga's friend Ginta had taken Yume because she was very injured.
He also told them what he thought about the matter and excaped the clutching hands mercifully. Though there was something weird about the dog-demon. His heart hadn't been in strangling him, he seemed to do it half-heartedly, like it was expected of him. Even his growling seemed off.
Kagome had changed her shirt before they left the cave. Sango had asked silently, more with looks, about Kagome's large cuts on her back but Kagome just smiled and turned away. The marks haven't, and didn't still, hurt since Inuyasha's nails had been relieved of the wounds. Actually, she felt much much better, better in fact than she did in years.And it was strange the way the mark tingled sometimes and she could feel other emotions that was not hers to begin with. It was weird, like being totally angry and then, feeling it as if from far off, would be the unmistakable feeling of delight, someone else's delight. She even had a clue as to who's delight she would be feeling, the one person that gave her the marks.Inuyasha. She could feel everything Inuyasha was feeling.
The village grew closer and Kagome looked up once again at Inuyasha. "Am I right? This village...both human and demons?" She asked.
Inuyasha nodded. "Yeah. This is the only village that accepts demons, besides Kaede."Miroku looked around as they entered the village by gates and were given a very good welcome. "Seems they also like traveling groups that travel with demons. Or demons that travel with humans."If Inuyasha had something to say, he didn't say it. He was awed once again on how different the village had become, how more demon-like. He had only been in the village once with Yume as a child, but it still made his heart wrench to think about leaving it again.This was the only place he could be accepted as human and demon, this was a place where him being a mixed breed was an honor, not a put-down.
Of course, Kagome had accepted him from day one, but this village had been the very first to accept him. The very first.
And it was great to be back, even if for only a day."This is where anyone can belong..." Kagome whispered quietly and Inuyasha looked down at her.She smiled.Inuyasha smiled one of his rare smiles, one only reserved for her.A pretty, human looking cat demon walked up to them and offered them a place to stay their weary bones. They accepted heartily and were told a festival was starting, a festival only this village has every year."Your all lucky to have come today," She said happily with a flick of her, long bushy tail. "The festival will be starting the moment the sun goes down." She smiled a toothy, grinning smile.
The smile seemed to be aimed at Inuyasha and Kagome. "This is the festival of Marks. In other words, for those who don't know, it's to celebrate those who are newly life-mates and those that have been for a year or more. It's a demon festival, but most of the humans enjoy it too. Have fun."
Inuyasha and Kagome blushed and felt each others embarrassed pleasure.
XXXXXXXXXX
While Inuyasha and the others left the cave that afternoon, Yume and Kouga were still with the Silver Wolf. Kouga had driven the huge Wolf back into it's more human like form and Yume almost fell over. She was right, it was the Silver Wolf from her past clan. The one that left her for another she-wolf before the marking could be completed.
"Takashi...." She gasped.
Kouga looked over at her, then back at the figure before him. Now that the demon wasn't in natural form he looked like a push over. He came to about Kouga's height with a long mane of silver hair held back in a high pony tail. Around his waist was a katana, hardly used from the look of it.Armor wrapped protectively around his chest while silver tuffs of fur were seen on his legs, his arms and his shoulders. Much like Kouga and Yume, only the fur color was different. He growled at Kouga and pierced him with bright golden eyes.
"Do you know this Wolf, Yume?" Kouga asked, wiping his bleeding brow with the back of his hand.Yume nodded and the Wolf, Takashi, tossed some of his hair back over his shoulder defiantly. "He...he...his name is Takashi of the Silver Clan." She muttered in response though her eyes never left Takashi's form. "We were...together once. But then he ran with a different Wolf."
Kouga raised an eyebrow and looked back at Takashi. Takashi's jaw comically hit the ground."What do you mean, I ran with a different Wolf?" He growled nastily at her and she whimpered slightly.Kouga almost passed out. This was a Yume he wasn't used to, a Yume he hadn't seen before. She was normally tall and dignified, holding her head high or laughing with her hair tossed back on her neck. She was good natured and honest, fun to be with. But now, this Wolf had reduced her to nothing more than a whimpering puppy with it's tail between it's legs.
Kouga wasn't going to stand for that, oh no, Yume was not going to be reduced by some other Wolf. Even if it was a Silver Wolf and him a meer Brown Wolf, he would not stand to see Yume degrated.
"You ran with Kairi. I watched you the entire time and the mark vanished, which meant you were with someone else," She seemed to stand taller now and her eyes were raising higher. "I watched you run with her for weeks. You finished your marking with her. So don't lie to me."Takashi seemed to have forgotten Kouga momentarily and made himself menacing, approaching Yume with his claws raised as if to strike her.
Yume whimpered again slightly, but did not back down. She stood up tall despite the nervous twitching of her tail and locked eyes with the demon that meant to strike her, meant to knock her down.
That was it, Kouga would take no more. A demon yelling at a long ago mate may have been enough, but, going to stike her? That was against the Wolves morals. The women, the she-wolves, were to be treated with as much respect as you would treat yourself. That was law, not just a moral, it was law. She-wolves fought with other she-wolves. Male-wolves fought with other male-wolves. Rarely did a fight break out between male and female, and, if it did, it was over territory or pups. The male would slink off for the she-wolf normally would start the tussel or would be driven off with tail between legs, whimpering. That's just how it was.
And now, Yume stood tall and took the strike this bastard laid upon her.Yume was cuffed so hard she was knocked off her feet and tumbled all the way to the base of a tree, where she sat up groaning
A split second later Kouga was all over Takashi, knocking him through a loop with a hit to the face, deadly acurate and with as much strength as Kouga could muster. Snarling in rage, Kouga leapt into the air and bicycle kicked the Wolf, knocking him once again off his newly gained feet.
Takashi got over the surprise of the first two hits and finally gained enough footing to block one of Kouga's attacks, but Kouga was hitting hard, harder than he ever hit before, and Takashi's blocking ceased to exist. Kouga now had free access to stomach, chest, neck, and face. He hit all of them repeatively."Bastard. Flea biting bastard, don't you ever touch a woman again, hear me? I'll rip your damn hands off and shove them clear up your ASS!" He snarled directly into Takashi's face, clutching his shoulders and shaking him hard. "Do you hear me?!"Takashi nodded painfully. Kouga dropped him and kicked him one last time before Takashi stood up and made his way back into the woods. With his tail between his legs. He stopped though, for a moment, and spit on the ground in front of Kouga before taking off once again. Kouga thought about catching him and ridding the Earth of his presence forever, but then thought better of it. He should see how Yume was."K-Kouga," Yume stuttered, a hand pressed to the cheek Takashi had struck. "You...you d-drove him off."Kouga nodded, though the growl hadn't left his chest. He was still pissed off to holy hell that a male-wolf struck Yume. His Yume. He thought slowly. Yeah, that sounds right. HIS Yume. With a grin at the thought, he walked over to Yume and helped her stand."He had it coming to him. Never in my life did I expect to see someone hitting a woman, and it didn't bode well." He looked at Yume's face carefully and watched her turn slightly red.Kouga hadn't let go of her hand the entire time he was speaking. His hand was clutching hers lightly, bearing in mind of both their claws, and his other hand was coming up to cup itself over the other two. He grew hot and his face grew slightly red as well and his hand slipped out of hers. Now it was his turn to stutter."E-Er...um...I-I guess you want to g-go see the others?" he suggested, though with a small scowl.
Yume nodded energetically. "Yes! I have to make sure they're alright, Inuyasha and Kagome I mean. I heard their was a cave-in! Do you know if they're all right?"
Kouga nodded. "Yeah, they're fine. I bet they went to a village thats close by too." He grinned now. "The village of Demons and Humans. I bet you know of that village."Yume brightened considerably and Takashi was out of her mind for the moment being. "Yes! I used to live there, sort of. Before I got my own den! Oh, I can't wait to see it, do you really think Inuyasha and the others will go there?""Oh, I'm sure. Even if they were on the other side of the mountain, Inuyasha would make them go there. The Marked Festival is tonight."Yume's eyes glazed over dreamily. "The Marks Festival...oh I went their once....it was so much fun." She let out a sigh. "Alright, lets get going then!""Are you sure you'll be able to run? You look...a little pale." Kouga said worriedly, but she just shook her head at the words."Oh, I'll be fine, don't worry," She grinned. "I actually feel much better.""Alright, but, if you start feeling faint...""I'll tell you."
Kagome gazed around the village in wonder. Children, demon and human alike, were racing around the village playing a bunch of games. The human children were fast, they were running faster than Kagome herself could run.
They seemed to be right up near the demon children's league, for they even outran some of the demons at times. It must be from growing up with them, they're speed is much greater because it has to be. Kagome thought with a smile. Or they'd lose each time they played tag!
While Kagome was watching the children race around the dirt streets, Inuyasha was looking at some land on the outskirts of the town. With a mumbled 'be back later', Inuyasha ran off and dissappeared around the corner. Kagome didn't think anything of it and had actually been asked to play a game with some of the children. She readily accept and they blindfolded her.
Blind Mans Bluff, Kagome thought with a giggle. Oh, this is going to be fun. I'll look like an idiot running into things, a regular zombie. Her thoughts seemed bad, but they were in good nature and she even giggled some more.
Miroku and Sango had taken off. No one knew where they had gone, no one ever knew. Sango and Miroku had actually gone back to the tavern in which they were staying the night. Miroku stole whatever he could find, good old Miroku, and Sango sat waiting for him in one of the big rooms filled with many bed rolls. When he returned, they sat and talked. What they talked about would stay between them for the time being.Shippo and Kirara ran off to play with Kagome, laughing with her as she walked around with her arms raised, touching other people that weren't in the game and sheepishly appologizing.
The children were clustered around her legs and feet, dancing around her, calling out shrilly and racing up to touch her legs only to jump away again when she spun around. It all ended when she tripped and landed amid the group of demon kids, who had tried to save her fall, and they all collapsed in laughter.
Inuyasha watched Kagome while talking to a human. His heart swelled in the way she was playing with the children and his mind swam. She was beautiful, lovely even, walking around with her arms outstretched, yelping each time she would be touched by another child, racing towards where she thought they had gone and tagging a different person, an adult none the less.
He loved the way she blushed and muttered sorrys under her breath. Hell, he loved her, everything about her and everything she did or said. The human chuckled lightly at the goofy grin planted on Inuyasha's face.
"Newly mated?" he asked conversationally and Inuyasha nodded. "Ah, no wonder....no wonder..""Yes, but....shh. Keep it quiet. I want to surprise her," Inuyasha growled.The man chuckled again. "Of course, of course! Sayamori would not be a man who would go off and tell anothers mate a big surprise." The man who called himself Sayamori walked off, continuing to chuckle.
Inuyasha growled lightly, but it was half-heartedly. His Kagome had finished the game by falling and was now laughing the laugh he could listen to for ages. And he planned to do just that, as long as that was what she wanted.With surprise in hand, and more to come, he walked over to his Kagome and helped her up. He smiled down at the kids, hugged Kagome tight, then whisked her away.
"Bye, you guys! I'll see you later!" Kagome called back over Inuyasha's shoulder.
"Bye, Kagome! Bye!" the children, demon and human alike, yelled back, waving hands in the air. "Come play later!""I will!""Your good with them," Inuyasha observed after they left the rag tag group and came near the tavern they were staying at.Kagome looked at him innocently. "I am? I always thought I wouldn't have the patience."Inuyasha
shook his head. "You have the patience. You had the patience
with me."
Kagome went silent, then nodded. "Yeah, I
guess your right."
All this would have happened a year ago, when Kagome was fifteen. Now, her birthday three days away, she was close to being sixteen. That age in the Sengoku Jidai meant she had come of age. In her world it meant getting your permit, heading into High School.
Speaking of her world, Kagome thought suddenly, maybe a day there might be nice. For everyone, not just Inuyasha this time. I bet Miroku and Sango would like to look around, both with their own reasons... She added with a bit of silent chuckling. Shippo would like the candy store, I'm sure of that.Yume...well, if Yume gets back soon from where ever she is, she could come too. I doubt anyone would think twice about them coming, maybe Shippo with his fluffy tail, but those little things could be taken care of....
Ideas swam through Kagome's head and, with a smile, she thought about the movie theatures. They could watch a movie....but I doubt they'd sit still enough or quiet enough for one.
Still...
When the tavern loomed into view, Inuyasha's hand slipped out of her own. A little dissappointed, and Inuyasha felt it as sure as he felt his own heart beating, Kagome looked down. With a smile, Inuyasha wrapped his arm around her waist and nuzzled her for a moment. Oh, he couldn't wait till her birthday.He hoped she'd enjoy it, they had already talked about it. And Kagome had made her decision. Good, Inuyasha thought, now...now all it'll take is time. And Naraku..
No more thoughts now, not until after tonight. Inuyasha thought savagely, the old Inuyasha resurfacing. Not until after tonight! Tonight is their night, as long as the festival goes. His heart soared lightly. After tonight, Kagome will look different. After tonight, all after tonight.Yume looked upon her village once more, smiling widly. The villagers were crowding the street, the kids were moving between legs, everyones arms were filled with things. People were already drinking sake. The atmosphere was energetic; tonight was a festival. Kouga was standing beside her, satisfied of the look on her face. She's happy to be here. He thought with a grin. Maybe the festival will be as good as it was a few years ago."Come on, lets go see Inuyasha and the others!" Yume said, taking his hand without thinking about it and racing through the village.Man it's been so long! All the people, getting ready for the festival, made her feel giddy, like a child again. All responsiblity seemed to just lift off her shoulders, all the pain from her wounds and all of her fatigue seemed to just float away.She was ten again, racing along at speeds she couldn't possibly reach now, with energy rising instead of depleting in every bound. Playing games, watching fireworks, playing with the other children, it was so much fun. She was glad to be back.
Kouga ran behind her, well, was dragged behind her. His face was set in a comical surprised look and his eyes kept moving from his hand clasped in hers to the back of her head.
With a smile, he ran faster, his hand gently squeezing hers, and moved beside her. Now they ran together, grinning, until they reached the tavern Yume was sure everyone was staying at.
She kept hold of his hand. For some reason, it felt right. Everything felt right now. Smiling happily, she walked up to the tavern and stepped inside. Inuyasha, Kagome, Shippo, Miroku, and Sango sat on the floor. Sango and Kagome seemed to be chatting endlessly away, smiling, while the men drank a little sake.It was strange what a festival could do to you. It totally transforms people into better people, more energetic and with a better personality. Kagome and the others seemed to be feeling it.
"Hey everyone!" Yume said happily."Yume!"Everyone but Miroku and Inuyasha stood up to greet her. Inuyasha was staring at Kouga and Yume, then at their united hands. He raised an eyebrow, but Kouga didn't say nor do anything. He just went back to Yume and squeezed her hand briefly before letting go and sitting down on the floor."Pass the sake, mutt." Kouga said good naturedly for once and Inuyasha passed the sake."So, what's with you and Yume?" Miroku asked as Kouga took a sip, grimising at the grass-like taste."None of your buisness, priest!" Kouga muttered, taking yet another sip.Inuyasha grinned and leaned back. Kouga could tell Inuyasha had had a few too many sake's for the hanyou's face was slightly red and his eyes seemed glassy. No more for you... Kouga thought with a grin. Or you won't make the festival."Aww, but there must be something between you two! You were clutching hands and you seem happier." Inuyasha said, his grin growing wider.Kouga growled now, though sipped some more at his sake. Inuyasha's tongue had been loosened enough to be annoying and Kouga was going to be sure he didn't drink that much. With a sigh, he handed the bottle to Miroku.
The
monk drunk half the bottle and Kouga sighed again. Festival spirit...
He grumbled to himself.
"I think you two should hold off on
the sake until the festival is over with." Kouga muttered,
taking the bottle and their saucers.
"You might want to keep them away from it."
"And since when have you cared?" Sango asked in surprise.
"Since Inuyasha became Kagome's mate." He growled back before leaving the tavern in a huff.
Sango sighed, but then turned back to Yume. Yume's bandages had been taken off and, not all that surprisingly, the wounds were pretty much healed. A few left some scars that would be gone by night fall, but that was about it. Yume looked around for Kouga and watched him walk out with a sigh."I'll be right back, okay?" She told Kagome and Sango.They nodded and she exited the tavern. Putting on a tilted smile, she sat down next to Kouga in the dirt and looked up at the bloodred sky. Surprisingly, it was already becoming night fall and the village was in an uproar. The sky had turned the color of blood with a mix of purple and a few of the brighter stars were peeking through the color. Her smile widened.Kouga glanced over at Yume the moment she sat down. Her head was tilted up to the sky and she was watching the stars. The color seemed to reflect in her eyes while a faint wind blew about her loose hair. A smile touched his lips softly. She look gorgeous just sitting there with the darkness pressing in upon them."Yume?" Kouga started softly.Yume perked up and looked his way. "Hm?""Er....nothing." Kouga said and put his head down.Yume smiled and then looked back up at the sky. The festival would be starting soon, the sun had almost set completely and the demons seemed the be tensing with excitment. The festival was a time for the newly marked, or, in human words, the newly wed.
An arm came around Yume's shoulders and pulled her close. She, a little surprised, went without objection, then smiled as her head rested at Kouga's shoulder. She looked up and smiled when she saw him looking down at her. He smiled toothily back.
She snuggled up against him and closed her eyes momentarily, taking in his musty, forest scent. Little did she know, he was doing the same, but he thought she smelt more like the rain, sweet and pure.While Yume's eyes were closed, Kouga bent down and set a little kiss on her nose. Her eyes instantly flew open and her heart fluttered like a bird trapped in a cage.
"K-Kouga?" she asked stutteringly, but he shook his head.
His eyes locked on hers and instinct forced her to look away. Almost instantly, Kouga's hand came up and knocked her gently under her chin, forcing her eyes to stay on his.
Her heart pounded more. This wasn't new to her, she knew exactly what it would mean. And on the night of the festival too. Her eyes couldn't mask what she was thinking and Kouga smiled before gently, very gently, nipping her on the bridge of her nose.
Her eyes closed as he did so and she accepted the begining of the marking, a new marking with someone her heart pounding with, not against.
"Kouga...""Shh...the festival is starting soon. And now...I can share it with someone I can truly call my woman."XXXXXX
Awwwww! There's your fluff, people! Read & Review!
