Disclaimer: I know how it feels to lose someone you love, to death pr someone else. I have lost Inuyasha to Rumiko Takahashi.

A/N: A special thanks to Crisco for clarifying that little tidbit that had me bothered for a while. I love the reviews, keep 'em coming.

Chapter 4: Hypocrite

"Agreed."

Kagome took out her bow and arrows. Ok, she said to herself, how do I win without dying in the process?

"Kagome," Miroku ran and stood in front of her, "get back, I'll fight him."

"Don't be stupid, what damage can you do without your Wind Tunnel? You won't even scratch him."

"Then let me fight," Sango interrupted.

"I am getting tired of this." Sesshomarou said matter-of-factly, "This is agitating me."

"Yes, Sesshomarou. And no Sango, I'll fight." Kagome left little room for argument.

"So I believe we should begin," Sesshomarou said curtly and took out Tokijin, "don't expect me to go easy on you because you are a woman."

"I never expected you to," Kagome answered bravely while at the same time reprimanding herself for getting herself into such a situation.

Miroku looked like he is about pick up Kagome and make a run-for it, but one look from Kagome confirmed that he is not to move and not to interfere in the battle.

"Let's take this into the forest where no one will get hurt."

Sesshomarou nodded his head slightly and started leading the way, refusing to be lead by a human female. A little further away from the village, they found a clearing and Kagome was still taking in their location when she barely heard the sound of feet lightly touching the ground, instinctively, she ducked and Sesshomarou's sword missed her head by inches taking a few strands of her hair with it. She was painfully reminded of the first time she had met Inuyasha, only that time she had survived because she was clumsy, not because she had very strong battle instincts.

Well, maybe she was still a little clumsy. The close proximity of the sword had made her very uncomfortable and in an attempt to get away from the demon wielding the glowing sword she stumbled and landed painfully on her hip.

Sesshomarou held the Tokijin to her throat, another inch and the blade would pierce her throat. She closed her eyes and waited for the pain to begin. She felt the blade move and braced herself for the cold blade; instead there was a thump and heavy breathing.

He opened one eye gingerly and then the other to fully take in the scene before her. Sesshomarou was standing a few metres in front of her and his sword was to her right, embedded deep into the earth.

She looked up to see who her saviour was and was greeted by kind blue eyes and a warm hand. He helped her up and briskly told her stand back.

"Kouga?" Kagome whispered, "What are you doing here?"

"We'll talk later," and then he increased his volume, "I will be fighting on Kagome's behalf."

"Very well," Sesshomarou answered, he summoned his whip of demon energy and swung it threateningly.

Kouga was ready; he spread his legs apart to give himself better ground and extended his claws. Sesshomarou was strong; he'll have to rely on his speed and agility to win this battle.

Sesshomarou struck first, in one gently movement he was right beside Kouga and he swung the whip to slice Kouga in half. Kouga expected such an attack and he pushed back with amazing speed and found an opening. Sesshomarou's missing arm provided a very big opening for an attack. While Sesshomarou was still returning from the shock of watching his opponent dodge every slash, Kouga had struck him with his claws. Kouga jumped back and watched him as his clothes turned red and his armour that covered his chest fell to the ground.

Kouga saw Sesshomarou eye the Tokijin, if he got that sword Kouga would be toast. Kouga and Sesshomarou made a dash for the sword. Kouga was faster than Sesshomarou and Sesshomarou was closer to the sword. They both reached the sword together.

"Why do you fight for the human girl?" Sesshomarou inquired, in hopes of distracting his opponent long enough to grab the sword.

Kouga was ready for such a strategy; he kept his eyes on Sesshomarou as he answered, "Because she's my woman."

Sesshomarou was very interested, still keeping an eye on Kouga and Tokijin, he said, "But I thought she was my brother's woman."

He saw Kouga turn an unnatural shade of red, Jealous?

"She's not his woman, she's my woman. He merely protects her for me."

The two warriors were too far from the rest of the gang to here what they were saying. Kagome say Kouga turn red and wondered what exactly was going on between the two of them. Whatever it was, it wasn't good.

Sesshomarou was now very interested, his opponent was getting more and more agitated and if he keeps it up he won't remember anything about the sword.

"I don't think that is the case. I believe you are not familiar with the deal on this fight we are having."

Kouga stood straight and looked at Sesshomarou straight in the eye, "What deal?"

"Aah, I see. You do not know of the wager."

"What wager?" he was now very irritated and Sesshomarou knew better than to push him. The three humans watched Kouga get angrier by the second and the tension in the air increased. They were still circling the sword but it seemed like they were only doing it because they were supposed to be doing that. They seemed deep in conversation. What would Sesshomarou and Kouga have to talk about? They all wondered.

"If I defeat you, I get the tetsusaiga. End of story."

"And what if I win?"

"I bring Inuyasha back."

Kouga stopped circling the sword and clenched his fists so hard his claws pierced his skin and blood ran seeped through his fists and dripped onto the ground.

"Kouga?" Kagome was worried about him; she started to make her way to him. Kouga turned his head ever so slightly to indicate that he has seen her move but kept his eyes constantly on Sesshomarou.

"Stay there Kagome," He shot at her. Kagome stopped dead in her tracks and strained her ears to catch what they were saying. It was hard, actually impossible to hear anything in the hushed tones he was using.

"You lie." Kouga hissed at Sesshomarou Temporarily forgetting about the sword, he jumped over it and kicked Sesshomarou in the jaw. Sesshomarou stepped back but realized that Kouga was too fast even if he didn't match it in strength. He had to do something to guarantee his possession of the legendary sword.

"Why else would Kagome be willing to fight for a sword owned by a dead man?"

Kouga stopped. Why would she?

"I'll tell you why, because she loves him and wants him back." Sesshomarou answered calmly.

"She doesn't love him." Kouga's eyes flashed red as his claws extended in length, "she is my woman. MINE!!!"

All Kagome heard was Kouga yell 'mine' and then launch into a series of attacks, which Sesshomarou dodged although with some difficulty but he avoided them all the same.

Sesshomarou noticed an opening and used his only arm to grab the wolf- demon's neck and pin him to a tree.

"QUIET!" he hissed at Kouga before he could retaliate, "how about this, you let me win. I get my sword, and you get your woman. All you lose a small amount of ego."

Kouga thought about it while still keeping the pretence of struggling under the grip. Sesshomarou let him go, pretending to be hurt by Kouga's swiping claws.

"Deal." With that said, Kouga swung a large punch at Sesshomarou which he readily dodged and made a run for the Tokijin. Kouga didn't use all his speed when he saw Sesshomarou grab the sword and heave it into the air.

Kouga didn't have time to take cover as Sesshomarou swung the sword once more in the air and waves of light shot out from it. Immediately, Kouga was surrounded by red light and he felt piercing pain shoot through his limbs and make his way to his heart.

The shards embedded in his limbs were the only things that allowed Kouga to escape with his life. His extraordinary speed allowed him to take minimal damage as he dashed into the forest and avoided the real blow.

Sesshomarou had clearly won as the trees in the forest fell apart to reveal a battered Kouga. They were still watching as Kouga fell to the ground, blood seeping from his injured arms and legs.

Kagome ran to him to tend to his injuries. Kouga had lost. She had to give Sesshomarou Inuyasha's sword. Kouga had lost. Sesshomarou had nearly killed Kouga because of her. At that moment, she felt like the most worthless piece of junk that ever existed. Not to mention, the worthless piece of junk that lets everybody die in front of her. STOP! Kagome scolded herself Kouga's not dying.

"I believe I have won your wager. You are to keep your end of the bargain. The sword?" Sesshomarou came behind her.

"I don't have it with me," Kagome said quietly. Then noticing the murderous glare Sesshomarou was sending in her direction she hastily added, "right now. I don't have it with me right now."

"When can you retrieve it?" He asked impatiently.

"I'll tell you when I get it."

"And how will you manage that?"

"I..." Kagome rethought her answer, "come back tomorrow morning, I'll have it then." "Very well, let's go Jaken. Our work here is done."

Sango moved to stop Sesshomarou, death intent clear in her eyes, but a small shake of Kagome's head halted her footsteps. She respected Kagome far too much to go against her wishes. She had already lost her family and Kagome was now like a sister to her. Reluctantly, she let him glide past her.

Kouga was in bad shape, and Kagome couldn't stop blaming herself for it.

Meanwhile, all Kouga could think about was, "That bastard, traitor. He HAD to hit me that hard?"

-----------X--------------

Back at the village, Kouga was asleep and Miroku and Sango were giving Kagome a piece of their minds.

"But Kagome...How could you stake so much?" Miroku inquired, "You could have died had Kouga not showed up."

"Kagome?" Sango moved forward and rested one hand on Kagome's shoulder, "you really didn't care did you?"

Kagome looked up at the exterminator, she had always looked at her like a big sister and sisters had a way of making you open your heart to them. She couldn't stop the small sob that escaped her and Sango pulled her into her arms as a steady stream of tears assaulted Kagome's eyes.

"You took the chance, however tiny that may be, that you could bring him back." Kagome nodded her head slightly in agreement.

"I love him." Her confession broke Sango's heart and Miroku moved to embrace both the exterminator and the miko in a huge bear hug. He didn't know it that time, but it helped Kagome massively to know there are people who would be affected of she died.

Then again, it might not hurt so much if she was all cold and hard and buried deep in the earth rotting away...

"Kagome?" Kouga's weak voice brought Kagome out of her dark thoughts of what death could possibly feel like.

"Yeah Kouga?" Kagome knelt next to him, noting with irony that this is exactly where she had sat not a week ago next to her protector and love who was being consumed from the inside by the venom that had been so viciously injected into his beautiful strong body.

"Why are you crying?" Kagome smiled at the straight out question. Leave it to Kouga to be discrete. The first time she had met him, he had confessed his love for her after barely a day. Yeah...leave it to him to be discrete.

"Just crying Kouga. Sometimes it feels better after crying."

"What are those bandages on your wrists?"

"I hurt myself Kouga, don't worry about them."

"I don't like it when you're hurt Kagome." Kagome looked into his bright blue eyes and saw pure honesty. He really did care about her, he didn't just rant about something he had set his eyes on. He didn't want her; he needed her.

Behind them, Sango lifted her chin slightly in the direction of the door and walked out. Miroku taking the hint, and thinking some pretty perverted thoughts, followed her out of the hut leaving Kouga and Kagome alone.

As soon as they had left, Kouga suddenly sat up. He groaned when he did though for his whole body ached from practically taking the blast head on.

"Did you really love him Kagome?"

"Kouga...I..." Kagome was at a loss for words. She knew how it felt to lose someone you love, whether to death or another person, "I...I don't know."

"But you do, you just told Sango that." Kagome looked to up in surprise. He had heard them, "and don't ever lie to me Kagome. I don't like it when people lie to me."

His words sounded harsh but the voice was gentle. Inside, Kouga was mentally punishing himself for sounding like a hypocrite. Here he was telling Kagome to be truthful to him when he had just betrayed her by letting Sesshomarou an easy victory.

He was such a damned hypocrite.

"I'm sorry I lied, Kouga," Kagome reached out her hand to hold his in a very friendly way. The touch however sent a tiny series of electric currents issuing from the point of contact going all the way to his spine, "and yes, I do love him."

"But how can you love that mutt-face?" Kouga wrapped his fingers around Kagome's small warm hand, "But that's what makes you Kagome I guess."

Kagome's face lit up in a smile. It was small but it came from inside. Kouga knew this and was especially happy at cheering Kagome up.

No matter how many people said that he was a fool for falling in love with a human, she was his everything. And to see her happy, he would willingly give up everything. Such a damned hypocrite he was.

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Just so you people know, it's not a Kagome/ Kouga...I think. Let me know what you think. I could have Inuyasha come back and practically kill Kouga for his treachery or I could let him slumber in the cold dark earth while Kouga has it off with his girl. What do you say????? Third option you say?? I could have Inuyasha come and not care what Kouga and the others did, give him something like amnesia. None of these ideas are developed enough, so I'll develop the one that gets the most votes. See ya soon.

P.S. Love the reviews.