A Wolf's Honor
Chapter 7 (concluding chapter)

Dawn broke.

Inuyasha continued to crawl towards the village. Shippou, now conscious and alert, walked at his side ready to catch Inuyasha if he fell.

They arrived at the village terrified. Keade and Miroku lay on the ground. Inuyasha, wanting answers, picked up Miroku.

"Miroku? Miroku!"

"Ugh…Inuyasha?"

"Miroku…what happened? Where's Kouga?" He was afraid of the answer he might receive.

"Inuyasha….I'm sorry. He got through. We tried."

Inuyasha somehow had enough energy to stand up and run towards the hut. Shippou followed.

Inuyasha hurriedly drew open the entrance. To his right, Kirara lay in pain with the sword through her leg. Inuyasha drew the sword. Shippou took a piece of his own clothing and rubbed the wound gently. To the back, Sango was unconscious and the wall stayed on her back. Inuyasha lifted the wall and she moaned, eyes closed. To his left, he almost died at the sight. Kouga and Kagome lay with Kouga's arm over her, both breathing heavily. Inuyasha did nothing but stare as well as Shippou. He fell to his knees.

"No....I...don't..."

"Inuyasha," said Shippou, "maybe nothing happened."

"MAYBE?! Shippou, open your eyes! What do you see?!" he shouted pointing at the scene. Kagome's eyes opened unaware of what happened...until her eyes lay on Kouga next to her.

"AAAAAUUUUUGGGGGHHHHH!"

Kouga's eyes opened. He was back to normal, but he didn't expect to be next to Kagome.

AAAAAUUUUUGGGGGHHHHH!" he screamed.

"AAAAAAAUUUUUGGGGGHHHHH!" she screamed at the same time.

Kagome stood up at an instant, as so did Kouga. They both looked around in deep shock, then back at one another.

"Kagome…?" started Kouga. "Wha—Wha—?"

"Kouga, what did you do to me?"

"I don't…remember. I could've done anything."

"I——Inuyasha?"

His shoulders raised up and down so much that you could see them at a distance.

"Inuyasha?" said Shippou. Shippou was not stupid. He knew when Inuyasha was angry. He took several steps back.

"Kouga…I can't believe you." That was all Inuyasha said before turning his back and continuing to breathe heavily out of anger.

Kagome's eyes watered and she ran out of the hut hitting Inuyasha on the way out. Inuyasha kept his place with his eyes closed. He almost cried, but what good would that do?

Kouga bowed his head in shame. 'What have I done? What did I do to her? Oh…Kagome...I'm sorry.'

Kouga walked towards the door in shame. Inuyasha sensed this and grabbed Kouga's arm so hard, blood dripped from Inuyasha' claws.

"Kouga…what I said to you before… all of it, I know you remember what I said even though you don't remember what exactly you did to her. Allow me to explain."

Kouga stood motionless ready for the inevitable.

"You chased her through the forest scaring her half to death, you almost killed me in the process, you deliberately injured her brutally to get what you wanted, you hurt her other friends, and in the end…I guess you got what you wanted."

"Inuyasha…" Inuyasha took a step back in surprise. Having no other name from Kouga other than dog turd, he didn't know what to say.

Inuyasha, you don't understand. I never meant to hurt her in the beginning. I only wanted to protect her, but what I didn't know was that her smell was so intense and it drove me mad. What could I do?"

"Kouga, you disgust me." And leaving Kouga to chew on that, he picked up Sango and walked out the door.

"I—Inuyasha?"

"Sango?! You're okay!" said Shippou who carried Kirara in her regular form out with Inuyasha.

"Inuyasha…nothing happened between them….I was there for only a split second. It was only seconds before dawn. Nothing could've happened to Kagome. She's fine."

Inuyasha took this into deep thought. He placed her down near Miroku who was treating his own wounds and walked to Kagome who sat leaning next to a nearby tree. He sat down at first not saying a word and letting Kagome get a good cry out.

"Kagome?"

"Huh?" she quickly wiped away tears.

"Sango said nothing happened, and she doesn't lie."

"I know nothing happened. Kouga is strong enough to stop himself from doing a thing like that. I just…I'm crying because I'm afraid of what this might do to our friendship. I mean, he didn't mean any harm, Inuyasha. Can't you understand? Also 'cause…he kissed me when you weren't here. I wasn't ready for something like that. But still, it wasn't his fault. Like I said…can't you understand?"

"Kagome…you don't understand how much it hurts me when he says that I purposely put you in danger. And…well…you heard the conversation. It just bothered me. And also, he hurt you. Don't you think it bothers me?"

"Inuyasha…"

"Kagome…I don't want to see you hurt at all. You have no idea how scared I was. Heh. Me. Scared. Isn't that something?"

"Thank you, Inuyasha." She hugged what she could of the demon and he returned it relieved that she was okay. 'Kagome…I can't let anything ever happen to you again.'

"Kagome?"

They broke their hug and turned towards Kouga. Inuyasha growled and held back Kagome away from Kouga.

"Inuyasha...it's okay."

"I don't trust him for anything, Kagome. Are you sure."

"Just go stand by Miroku and see if they're okay."

Inuyasha sighed in defeat and walked towards his friends.

"Kagome…" he never pulled his head up to look at her. "Kagome…you know that I would never hurt you on purpose. I really did try to protect you from my tribe. Please, can you ever trust me again?"

"Kouga…it will take time, but yes…I will forgive you like I forgive Inuyasha for his own mistakes."

"Kagome, whatever I did to you, I will make it up to you somehow. But right now, I have to find myself again. Inuyasha was right. How can I bear myself after I just did something I am unaware of? I won't kill myself….I just need to find myself again."

And with those last words, he ran off. Kagome waved slightly. And Inuyasha came back to her.

"Kagome?"

"I have to forgive him. I believe him. Inuyasha, so should you." Inuyasha sighed.

"Fine…but it will take time before I every look at him again."

"That's good. I'm glad you have a heart left."

"Hey!"

"Just kidding around. sigh"

"Oh and Kagome?"

"Hhmm?"

"Before…um…I mean...."

"What?"

"Well, I just…wanted to…um…say that I was sorry for not being there to help you."

"Oh, Inuyasha, that's okay. You were hurt."

"Oh, yeah, that's right."

"Come on, we gotta help the others."

Inuyasha slowly walked behind. He was relieved that nothing result in Kouga's canine encounter with Kagome. Nothing. But Inuyasha still had a question, did Kouga still love Kagome after this?

Far away Kouga sat by his cave late at night. 'Kagome…when I get myself together. Please forgive me. I still love you, but I can't love someone that hates me.' He lay down and frowned, but soon, smiled knowing that even though he had done something monstrous to her, and even though he regretted it, he had gotten the best of Inuyasha.

The End

Inusgurl: well there it is i really hope you liked it i enjoyed writing it i hope you enjoyed reading it as much