A/N: Meh... sorry for the horrendous, tedious, long, dull delay! Sadly, Lily moved away, so I suppose that was the main reason my brain shut down against this story, but I realized later how much I actually liked this, so... And thank all of you, so so so so much, for the reviews! They were great, and though this seems corny enough, kept me coming back to this fic, a little bit at a time. Thanks so much again, and hopefully all of you can forgive me for such a long wait!

Golden Eyes
Natsue Arishima

Chapter Five

There was a soft crunch as he paced forward slowly, his gaze never leaving mine. His azure eyes were cold, lifeless and indifferent to the world around him, no longer warm or alive. Eyes of the dead… Reflected flames danced over their glassy surface, and the light of the moon lit his face. The familiar posture, straight black hair, and the armor…

But at the same time, it wasn't him. His skin was paler, and there was a lean look about him, like there was nothing besides skin, muscle and bones. His very scent was different, a scent that I still hated, but it was intensified with power. And Shikon shards.

I refused to believe it. I admit, I hated the bastard. He was my rival, my enemy. But to see him like this, a walking wraith, was too much.

Damn that wolf.

Kagome shivered besides me, her large eyes glistening with tears. She was shaking, I could sense it, her small hand tangled tightly into my sleeve. "K-Kouga-kun…"

His icy eyes flickered towards Kagome. There was something behind them, a mixture of lust and fury, and my hands balled into fists. "You fucking wolf, you'd better leave her alone!" I could feel myself shaking with anger, eyeing him. There was something wrong. Something obviously wrong. He smirked, and started to head towards her, revealing a single canine. His tail swished out behind him.

That was it.

I snapped, lunging forward, Tetsusaiga raised. I had had enough of his shit. There was hot fury within me, raging through my entire body, just from looking at him. It was always about Kagome for him, and he seemed to find fucking amusement to see me angry about it. He didn't even have a thing for her — I wasn't so stupid as to not figure that out. Because of him, Kagome was always doubting my emotions. Why else would he have even thought of…

Dammit! Don't think about that…

My sudden movement seemed to spur the stupid being into action. I cursed as he sprang towards me with godly speed. There was a rush in my ears, and he appeared inches from my face, the same cold smile lighting his features. I could feel his breath, faint and cool.

"You smell like wolf, mutt," he whispered…

… Before his fist connected with my stomach.

Pain shot through my already injured ribs, lancing pitilessly through my mind. I was flung backwards as easily as a doll, mentally cursing him. But in that split second, right before I hit the ground, I noticed his eyes. They were clouded and misty, blank. Lost. They betrayed the bitterness in his voice, the hate.

And the lightest whiff, another demon aura that I knew well. But… it wasn't possible… not fucking possible…

He smelled like Naraku.

Then my body hit the ground hard, and I was sent into a daze. Fuck! How the hell was he so damn powerful? My breath hitched unevenly in my throat, pressing my broken ribs. I could taste blood on my tongue. Tetsusaiga clattered onto the ground behind me, transforming back into a rusty blade.

I stared at the night sky, stunned. The stars twinkled innocently above me, denying pain to the world. I suddenly hated them, hated the wolf even more. I would kill him.

Kill him.

Over the cracking of the fire, there was a gasp close by, and someone crying, "Kagome-sama!" I jerked up immediately, growling at the pain and wincing. My head throbbed but I ignored it, forcing myself to my feet. Kagome… She needed me…

There she was, trembling as her knees dropped onto the ground, staring up into the lifeless eyes of the demon who had once strived for anything to please her. Now he just stared down coldly, a finger under her chin and forcing her to look into his eyes. A trail of crimson flowed down her neck.

New fury exploded within me, blinding my eyes and destroying my senses. That bastard… that fucking bastard… I had never felt this way before… Sure, I had wanted to kill him. Just kill him, not mash him into a pulp. I had never imagined shredding his skin into pieces, letting him watch helplessly as I tortured him, ripping his innards out. I'd never pictured him screaming in agony, writhing and glaring at me with eyes that slowly lost their shine. And I'd just stare back, letting his blood slowly drain from his body, let him die from the pain…

"Kagome," the man was whispering. His voice was hollow and cold. "You can sense them, can't you? My shards? How many to I have, Kagome? How many? Or are you just going to sit there and cry?"

I sprang forward, snarling, and he looked up, dodging my wild attack. The force of my lunge caused me to keep flying forward, straight past him, and I hissed, spinning around as I hit the ground and lunging again, wildly. I felt blind, trapped, wanting nothing except to feel his flesh on my hands, watch his blood drip lifelessly off of them…

To my horror, the demon was standing behind a silently crying Kagome. My claws stopped inches from her face.

She looked up at me, sniffing. Her message was clear: Please don't hurt him.

The wolf suddenly laughed, the sound sending chills down my spine. I twitched, a slight twinge of fear flooding through me. Fear for him, something that I had never thought possible. He was pathetically weak, a horrible excuse for a youkai.

Had been weak.

Before I knew what had happened, he had jumped up and threw Kagome towards me. She screamed, terrified, and I caught her before she could hit the ground.

Please don't hurt him my ass.

Hiraikotsu darted past me, cutting swiftly through the air. I watched as he easily dodged it and sent the weapon flying back towards its owner with a flick of the fingers. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Miroku pull Sango out of the way, pressing her close to him. Her boomerang crashed into the ground seconds after, exactly where she previously stood.

"Where're you looking, mutt?"

There was a blur of blue and brown and my right arm began to throb and sting. Cursing, I stumbled backwards, shielding Kagome as the wolf slowly straightened from his crouch, eyes glinting as he licked blood off his claws. My blood.

I unconsciously shivered as his eyes locked onto mine again. He was smiling, grinning his wolfish smirk as his tongue darted out to clean the crimson off his lips. I was suddenly breathless and didn't know why. What the fuck was he going at? I snarled, my right arm hanging uselessly at my side, the pain now numb to me. I could hear steady dripping as cool liquid slid down my wrist.

I don't know how long I stood there like that, staring. My eyes were fixed on him, narrowed in dislike, but strangely couldn't shift their gaze. And the hatred… was it hatred? It was different though, slightly…

Why couldn't I move my eyes off his face? What the hell was wrong with me? He smirked, just standing there, slowly lapping at the blood with a pink tongue. Cold, cerulean eyes gazing at me, framed by smooth hair…

God dammit! I couldn't think straight anymore. Fuck fuck fuck. What the hell was I doing? Hello! Stop it, Inuyasha! Why was I so entranced by a madman who was currently out to kill me? Inuyasha, you dumb, dumb bastard…

It was Kagome's scream that jerked me back to life. I spun around, feeling her violent shakes of fear as she clutched my clothes, her bow lifeless in her hands. That damn wolf was no where in sight. I couldn't believe I had just zoned out. There was really something wrong with me. It was the effects of that stupid encounter. Nothing more.

There better be nothing more to it.

The silence stretched on. The only sound was of my harsh breathing and the cackling of the fire. But I knew he was still close, somewhere in the shadows… I could smell his fucking scent. The hair on my neck pricked as I continued to turn. Where? The suspense was killing me.

"God dammit, stop hiding!"

A flock of birds exploded from a distant tree and I jumped. God I was getting so fucking paranoid. Behind me, there were crunches of dried leaves and twigs as Miroku and Sango slowly inched towards us. Shippou was shaking violently in the monk's arms, while Kirara snarled, fur raised. The dancing flames of the fire lighted the abandoned boomerang. A few feet from it, Tetsusaiga gleamed. I swallowed.

If I could just get closer to it…

Looking down at Kagome, I swallowed, hating the fact that she had to be here. She didn't deserve this shit, not from anyone… At least she was safe. To see her hurt… I wouldn't be able to bear it. As she trembled within my arms, I couldn't help but smile, hoping that it would help cool her nerves. Almost as if out of a trance, she gazed up at me, terrified eyes calming.

Seconds passed, yet I didn't dare break away from her stare, questions and silent words forming behind my eyes. Just for a moment, and then everything would be okay… It was the only way.

She caught on to my message, eyes flashing with fear before slow understandment. Taking a shaky breath, she nodded, though I could sense her slight uncertainty. I knew she didn't want to hurt him, but it was either kill or be killed. And I wouldn't possibly let her die.

And besides, it was my chance to get rid of the bastard once and for all.

Though…

What the fuck was this? This… faint restraint… Like I didn't really want to kill him. For a moment, I stood immobile, confused at the faint prick of… What? I didn't know.

Dammit!

I had had enough.

Turning, I lunged towards the fire, hand outstretched for Tetsusaiga, thankful for the moment of bliss, where all I had to think about was merely grabbing the familiar handle and nothing else. Even if it was for just a second… Damn my fucking emotions, especially one that I couldn't even describe.

Behind me, Kagome turned, notching an arrow as she pointed her bow towards a lush evergreen. I could see her shaking from here, almost see herself force stationary fingers to let go. Her gaze flickered towards me, and I smiled.

There was the familiar burst of energy, unfathomable power, and she released her arrow, shutting her eyes tightly and turning away.

Tears.

Within the blinding, flushed glow, I gripped Tetsusaiga and swung it in front of me as it shifted back into its deadly form. Another burst of light and there was a deafening crack as the tree fell, shuddering when it collided into the ground. There was a curse and a burst of green as blur of brown erupted from its tip.

There.

You're dead, wolf.

Raising my sword over my head, I was surprised at how empty I felt. This was it… I wouldn't be bothered by that shitty nuisance anymore. And yet… There was no triumph in me. Nothing, except the strange feeling again. I cursed. What the fuck.

"Kaze no kizu!"

As I completed the swing, I secretly knew that he would make it, all because of my hesitation. But even so, just maybe… And then, suddenly, a new emotion flooded through my senses, leaving me deaf and dumb in its wake.

Regret. Concern.

Fuck! Why was I so bothered by this?

Through the haze of blue and gray, I was distinctly aware of a dull throb in my head, pounding mercilessly at my skull. There was wind everywhere, stirring through the trees, slicing through stone. Behind me, the fire died, and everything was suddenly cold.

Kagome… where was she? Miroku and Sango, Shippo, Kirara… Dammit, if something happened to them… If something happened to her…

My thoughts were scrambled, mixed together with confusion that only that damn wolf could bring. My grip loosened and Tetsusaiga fell from my fingers. Kikyo flared within my mind, so perfect and untouchable, and then Kagome, with her gentle smile…

And then a tanned face, bright eyes gleaming. A curtain of dark hair, that strange yet intoxicating scent… Of surprisingly soft lips, the annoying smirk. A pink tongue darting out to lap at bright crimson…

Oh shit.

I would have pounded my head had I been able to move. Around me, the blue swirled endlessly, locking away all light. It was like a prison, or was it hell? I felt limp, light, indifferent to the world around me…

Until a hand slammed into my neck, cutting off air, and I was sent flying backwards, the grip never ceasing its deathlike hold. My back was driven onto solid ground, stray stones digging sharply into my back, all thoughts dissipating in my sudden desperation for oxygen.

Looking up, I swallowed, meeting deadened cerulean eyes.

He was smirking at me, though his eyes remained empty and blank. Dark hair had spilled out of its prison, hanging in smooth tresses over his face and torso. There was a small cut on his cheek, the scarlet mingling with black strands. My mind was blank, unconsciously examining his every feature. I suddenly felt breathless again.

Dammit all! Inuyasha, you bastard! Think of Kagome…

"Liking what you see?" he whispered, lacing every syllable with venom, and yet… so dark and low… I swallowed, licking my lips.

Fuck!

My first instinct was to shred him to bits, but my hands had been pinned under his knees. Cursing him, I squirmed, snarling, desperately trying to escape, but he just gazed down at me with that infuriating smirk. One thing was for sure: I sure as hell didn't want a guy straddling me. The wolf, no less! That bastard…

He cut my struggles short by slamming his fist into my stomach. I choked and gasped, eyes wide, pain flickering wildly, and he leaned closer, silky strands brushing my face. Another hand came up and caressed my cheek.

Don't touch me…

"You're dead, mutt."

I cursed, struggling, spiting, snarling, though I knew it was pointless. One punch and it was all over. And damn it all, there he was, taking his fucking sweet time, grinning and licking his lips. I screamed at him, swearing all that I knew, and I could tell he was enjoying this. He was enjoying watching me suffer.

This wasn't Kouga.

A fist was pulled back.

It couldn't be.

Rush of wind. It was over.

I shut my eyes, heart jumping to my throat.

Silence.

The hit never came.

I choked on my breath, waiting, ears strained. Damn the suspense. I couldn't take it. Above me, I could sense the bastard was still there, but he wasn't moving. Wasn't even breathing. Was this supposed to be a joke? Well, fuck, it wasn't funny.

I couldn't wait anymore.

Opening my eyes, I froze. His fist was inches away from my face. And it was shaking.

My gaze traveled up his arm, over ebony hair, past a pale face. I met his eyes and almost cursed at the conflicting emotions within them. They were still dull, blank, but no longer cold, the old hue of perfect blue flickering in them. And then I understood.

He was fighting with himself.

All this, for me.

There was a rustle and a snap of twig, and I turned, ears pricked. Kagome.

She had an arrow notched.

"K-Kouga…" she whispered, voice trembling but firm. "Kouga, don't make me do this."

For a second, I didn't know what he was going to do. The brief shadow of life had faded from his stare. He merely gaped, as if suddenly surprised, confused, and a new anger burst up within me. How dare he look so lost and disconcerted? That bastard had nearly killed Kagome; he had no right to look that way.

Growling, I lunged upwards again, catching him off guard and swiping at his face. There was a crack as bone met bone, and I smirked. Finally. First good shot of the night.

He hissed as his feet found contact with the ground again, a hand reaching up to rub the forming bruise on his face. Before I could snap at him again, or challenge him to another fight, he had disappeared.