Chapter 9
Kouga watched as diligently as he could over Kagome the next several months. Well, that is, he and Shippo BOTH watched over her, although it was mostly Kouga who took on that responsibility. He took her to work with him, not wanting to leave her with Sango and Miroku (who were her partners in crime) or to her own devices. Personally, knowing her as he did, he couldn't imagine which scared him more. Neither he nor Shippo wanted to let her out of their sight, especially since Kouga knew of Sesshoumaru's attempt to have Inuyasha spy on her.
During this time, Sango and Miroku were being slowly introduced into their new era. After Kagome's unsuccessful attempt to help them get used to their new world, not to mention the memory of that ear-splitting sound of Kouga's car alarm which caused them to touch nothing just in case it too would go off, they hadn't wanted to go back out for nearly a month. Shippo was usually busy with the taijiya and the monk, teaching them the ways of the world, which left Kagome alone with Kouga for most of the time.
After awhile, Kagome quickly became bored. Kouga did nothing but work ALL day and she had to stay with him, in his office, practically chained to his desk like a pet. She would lean back in a swivel chair, twirled around in circles and stared up at the ceiling while she listened to him frighten the life out of his employees over the phone.
Once, Kagome had learned quite a bit about her workaholic Kouga-kun from Shippo, when he was able to spare a minute. On this particular day, Kouga had to work through lunch (again!) and Shippo had volunteered to take Kagome out to eat. She decided to ask Shippo his account of the past 500 years during lunch.
At the restaurant, Shippo began his story.
Shippo had worked closely under Kouga for a couple of centuries. He told Kagome that after Kouga had taken him and Kirara to his den, they laid low for several months. He hadn't wanted Sesshoumaru to come looking for them. Word had it that the taiyoukai's bloodbeast was out in full transformation, scavenging the countryside looking for its mate's remaining friends.
Shippo admitted he was terrified, but Kouga told him that he had promised Kagome that he would care for him and Kirara. Nothing would befall them. All the same, Kouga relocated his tribe up in the mountains, where he eventually encountered Ayame. Shippo's face turned into a slight scowl as he poked his chicken with his fork. "Ayame was a real piece of work. What we saw of her when we first met her did not show us her true character." He finally speared a hapless piece of poultry with the fork and shoved it in his mouth. "Basically, she was a real bitch. A fucking harpy." Grabbing his glass of wine, he tossed it back and downed it in one gulp. "She tricked him into mating her. She used the fact that he was lonely without you as a weapon for her dastardly deed."
'Dastardly deed? Man, I haven't heard THAT in forever,' she thought. Kagome played with her water glass. "But she seemed so nice. Did she at least truly love Kouga-kun?" she asked a little sadly. Poor Kouga! She hoped that Ayame had at least treated him nicely.
Shippo shook his head. "No, not really. She only wanted him for his position as leader of the tribe and the fact that any children she had with him could be as powerful as he was, thereby boosting her own status."
Kagome looked down at her half-eaten plate of salad. "That's terrible. What of his children? He told me that they had three together."
Again Shippo nodded. "Their first child was a son named Taro. Next came Jiro and after him came Kohana, their only daughter. He wanted to name her after you, but Ayame screamed at him and threatened to kill the infant in front of his eyes. Obviously, he left the matter alone."
Kagome stared at Shippo in horror. "Kami! Ayame threatened to kill her own daughter over a name?" she asked, appalled. He nodded solemnly. "Poor Kouga-kun!" she exclaimed softly.
"Taro and Kohana were model wolves. They excelled at everything Kouga wished them to, always ready to protect the tribe and were two of the best hunters we had ever seen. But Jiro was another story entirely. He was alot like Ayame. At first, Kouga cared for Jiro, but that all changed as Jiro got older. He was lazy and rebellious, rude to everyone. Jiro gave Kouga a hard time. Kouga didn't know what to do about him." Shippo took a sip of water and went on. "A couple of decades later, we were attacked by a bear youkai clan. Many wolves died that day, including Ayame and Jiro. Kouga felt no emotion for either of them. He didn't even attempt to bury their bodies. Personally, I think he was relieved to be rid of them."
Kagome smiled sadly at her friend. "I don't blame him," she said.
Shippo nodded slowly. "I didn't either," he replied. "But he couldn't do anything about it beforehand. She was his mate and wolves mate for life."
"I hope he doesn't intend to ask me to be his mate then," Kagome said quietly.
Shippo stared hard at her. "He will. He's been waiting to have you for a very long time, Kagome."
Kagome's cheeks flushed a delicate pink. "But wolves mate for life," she whispered hurriedly. "He mated her, right? That would mean he couldn't ask me then."
The kitsune chuckled. "You should know how Kouga is, Kagome. What he wants, he gets. It's that simple. He could care less about the youkai mating code. You know, just like...well...you know," he finished uncertainly and mentally kicked himself. He couldn't believe he just said that.
Kagome winced and nodded. "Yeah, I know," she replied quietly, looking down at her plate.
He raised a hand, catching their waiter's attention. They ordered some dessert and as soon as the waiter left, Shippo reached out and grabbed Kagome's hand from across the table.
"I have to tell you something, Kagome. Kouga will want to tell you later on when he's ready, but I want to tell you myself."
Kagome nodded encouragingly and he went on. "Well, as you know, Kouga is quite wealthy and very powerful in business circles. After the death of Ayame and Jiro, Kouga took Kirara and myself out of Japan. We traveled into China, where he began to get involved in certain trades like silk and spices. By then, Kouga and I had already learned to read and write, and we picked up on Chinese pretty fast. He began to make money hand-over-fist, allowing the three of us to travel west.
"We reached Europe by the mid-1700s and lived in Vienna for a few years. Kouga had become a cunning businessman, making him one of the wealthiest men in Vienna. During the 1800s, we moved to London and then on to America at the end of the American Civil War. We stayed there until the late 1920s. We were lucky that the Great Depression in the United States didn't hit us very hard because by then we had moved back to Japan. We've remained here ever since. But there's a reason he had become such a power figure, Kagome. There's a reason why he has amassed so much money. He did all of this for you."
Kagome sat in her chair stunned. She hadn't even realized that her chocolate mousse had been placed before her. "But...why? I'm...I'm just a simple girl, Shippo. Why would Kouga do all of that just for...for me?"
Shippo smiled tenderly at his friend. "Because that wolf's in love with you, Kagome. He wanted to finally prove to you once and for all that he was better than Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru, that he was the better man for you. He needed to show you that he too, was considered powerful, although not in physical strength. He needed to prove to you that he could give you wealth and comfort like Sesshoumaru should have." She shook her head sadly. "Kouga didn't have to do any of those things. The very fact that he took care of you and Kirara was enough for me."
Shippo squeezed her hand and she began to eat her chocolate mousse. While she was doing that however, Shippo had a feeling someone was watching them. Politely excusing himself from the table, he walked quickly over in the direction of the restrooms. He did not go in, though. He did, however, turn around and peer around the corner into the dining room of the restaurant.
Quickly he scanned the sea of heads until he found one that was an all too familiar color of silvery white. Inuyasha.
Shippo grabbed his cell phone and dialed his driver, telling him to be waiting for them right now, with an emphasis on the 'right now'. Then he walked back to the table and returned to his seat. He was glad to see that Kagome had put away the chocolate mousse already and asked if she was ready to leave. She nodded and they rose, leaving the table.
The limo driver was waiting for them outside the restaurant. Shippo told the driver to take them back to the mansion before following Kagome inside the limo.
Kagome wondered why they had returned home and not back to Kouga's office. Shippo told her that Kouga had earliersaid she could spend the rest of the day with Miroku and Sango. Kagome smiled broadly and kissed Shippo on the nose before rushing off to find her friends.
Shippo went quickly to Kouga's study and dialed his number. "Kouga, he followed us to the restaurant."
He listened for a few minutes while Kouga ranted and raved. Finally, he told Shippo not to let Kagome leave the house for a minute. Shippo agreed and both hung up.
The kitsune sighed heavily and left the office. He hoped that Kouga would take care of this problem once and for all.
Kouga, while riding back to his office in his chauffered car, made a quick call to an old friend, requesting that they meet Kouga at his office right away. The person on the line agreed and hung up.
When Kouga arrived at his office, his secretary informed him of two visitors awaiting him in his office. He nodded briskly at her and went in, where he saw two men sitting in silence, staring daggers at each other.
Kouga smiled. "Had another fight?" he asked, shutting the double doors behind him.
The two men started and looked over at Kouga. A dark-haired man rose and went over to Kouga, hugging him briefly. "Yes. You know how Yuki is, Kouga. How are you doing?"
"I'm fine Hiro. It's been awhile, hasn't it?" Kouga asked, clapping the tall elf on the back.
Hiro nodded. Kouga marveled at how young Hiro looked. Elves, it seemed, NEVER aged. He had, Shippo had, even Inuyasha had aged somewhat. The only one from the past who hadn't was Sesshoumaru and these two.
Kouga went to where a rather angry looking blonde man sat. This one, named Yuki, rose and hugged Kouga also. "It's good to see you again, Kouga. Now please tell me WHY you dragged me out of bed at this un-kami-like hour." He sat down again.
The dark haired man snorted indelicately. "Oh, please, Yuki! It's two in the afternoon! I swear, you are the laziest elf I've ever known."
Yuki turned cat-like green eyes on the speaker. "Shut up, Hiroshi. I'm not lazy. You are just jealous because I can relax and you have that ten inch stick up your pretty little ass."
Hiro laughed and sat down again, his dark brown eyes twinkling with mirth.
Kouga grinned back at the younger of the two Elven brothers. Never had two brothers looked or acted so unlike as these two.
Hiroshi, or Hiro for short, was a tall, slender brown haired elf. He was the quiet one, studious almost, with a kind face and gentle eyes. He was just as beautiful as his brother, but it was Yuki who got all the women.
The older brother, Yukio, was just a little taller than Hiro with shining golden blond hair and emerald green eyes. He preferred to be just called Yuki, saying that adding the "o" made his name sound too long. Kouga had once told him that that was pretty silly since it was only one stinking syllable. Yuki had gotten pissed and they ended up slugging it out on the forest floor. So apparently, Yuki was not a typical elf. He smoked, drank, womanized, and cussed as often as he could just to piss off his goody-two shoes brother.
And every woman he met said he was as sexy as hell.
The elves had been called in for an important matter, Kouga explained. Hiro was excited. It had been awhile since he and Yuki had had anything to do.
Yuki yawned and stretched his legs. "Sugoi. What do we get to do? Assassinate Sesshoumaru? About fucking time. Someone needs to bring that arrogant ass down a few pegs."
Hiro glared at his older brother and Kouga sighed. "Alas, no. This assignment is far more important."
"Whoa, more important than taking his pretty ass out?" Yuki asked and cocked his beautiful, blonde, elfen head to the side. "Go on," he said, interested.
Kouga was now sitting behind his desk. It was a massive thing, carved from obsidian. He leaned back in his leather armchair and clasped his hands before him, steepling his fingers. "I need you to protect Kagome."
Yuki frowned. "Ka-go-me?"
Kouga nodded and Hiro spoke up. "Hai, Yuki. Kagome. She was that girl I helped protect a long time ago."
Yuki looked at his brother. He stared at him blankly. "What on earth are you talking about? I don't remember doing that."
Hiro groaned and rolled his eyes. "Of course you don't, Yuki. You were off doing kami-knows-what with some village chick."
When he heard this, Kouga fought the urge to chuckle. Now why did THAT sound familiar?
Yuki's face slid easily into an unfriendly smile. "What I did in my spare time is none of your business, runt."
Hiro glared at him. "You know something? You're getting more like that damned inu taiyoukai with every passing century," he snapped.
"Okay guys, calm down," Kouga said, feeling slightly like a referee. "Yuki, I want you to oversee the securing of my mansion. Hiro, you will protect Kagome directly."
Hiro nodded understanding, but Yuki spoke up. "I'll bet you can't wait to be a body guard, can you?
Hiro leaned back in his chair, his left hand tapping the hilt of the samurai sword that was attached to his left hip. "Better than being a security guard," he countered quietly.
Yuki glared at his brother. Kouga groaned. "Come on you guys. This is very important. Kagome is in danger, I just know it. I need you two to work together."
Hiro looked at Kouga. "Is it Sesshoumaru again?" he asked quietly.
Yuki turned to look at Kouga as well. Kouga nodded. "He's found Kagome. He wants her back."
"Nani? After ALL he's done to her?" Hiro cried. Yuki turned to look at his irate little brother with surprise and speculation.
Kouga nodded again. "Hai. You did a wonderful job protecting her the first time Hiro, but he will no doubt make it even more difficult to keep her safe."
"I will keep her safe, Kouga," Hiro said solemnly. "When do I begin?"
"Today. I will take you the both of you to her in a little bit." Kouga looked at Yuki's face, which held an unreadable expression. "What is it, Yuki?"
Yuki shook his head. "Oh, nothing. I am just anxious to meet the young woman who has captured so many hearts in her young life."
