Chapter Six: Confidant
Inuyasha made sure to stay close to Sango, Miroku, and Shippou as they traveled. They still kept on course for the village because they needed to resupply themselves and sleep indoors for a little while. Inuyasha would be thankful for familiar surroundings as well, but it wouldn't be the same without Kagome.
Inuyasha had also discovered that Miroku, Sango, and Shippou decided they were boycotting him. Hurt, he had to fight the urge to keep his ears lowered close to his head. He still had to keep an eye out for youkai, as well as Kagome and Kouga, after all. He couldn't let his hurt feelings get his friends killed; then they would really dislike him. Quite frankly, he didn't think he could live with anymore deaths being his fault.
The sun began to set and the others found a suitable place to sleep. Silently, Inuyasha helped them prepare camp and sat out by the river, electing not to eat. He wasn't hungry. His mind wouldn't let him acknowledge if he was hungry anyway because he was too worried about Kagome and Kouga. She had looked pretty serious when she said she chose Kouga the day before. Thoughts whirling, he leapt up into a tree, darkness upon the camp. Unconciously, he noted when everyone went to sleep, watching the fire out of the corner of his eye. At least they trusted him enough to still watch the fire while they slept.
"Inuyasha?"
The hanyou jumped. "Shit, Miroku, you scared me."
"I apologize," Miroku commented flippantly. "May I speak with you for a moment?"
Inuyasha dropped out of the tree. "You want to talk to me? You were all ignoring me today though..."
Shaking his head, the priest led Inuyasha over to the river again. "Shippou and Sango wanted me to. They have no idea that I intended to talk with you this evening." With a bare hand that once bore the Kazaana, Miroku motioned to their sleeping forms. "I apologize for the way that they have treated you. As well, please forgive me for the way I have treated you lately."
Inuyasha nodded. "No harm done, except when you hit me, but that didn't hurt."
"All right. Very well," Miroku set his staff against a rock. "Inuyasha, there's a reason I wanted to speak with you, other than apologizing. Did you stop and try to think why Kagome-sama saw Sesshoumaru? Obviously, Kouga took advantage of your inherent absence. Kagome-sama is a very kind woman, Inuyasha. Perhaps she doing a favor for Sesshoumaru, or perhaps a favor for Sesshoumaru's little human girl?"
Inuyasha remained silent until Miroku grabbed his staff and started heading back to camp. "You think it's possible?" he asked.
"I know it's possible," Miroku answered. "Sleep well, Inuyasha."
In the morning, Miroku, Sango, and Shippou woke to find Inuyasha had made them breakfast. "It might not be very good," he apologized as they all took seats around the fire. "But I wanted to make sure you ate before I left."
"You're leaving?" Sango sounded surprised as Miroku ladeled out the food.
"Yes," nodded Inuyasha. "I'm going to get Kagome back and tell her I'm sorry." To himself he added, If I don't, I will probably lose her to Kouga or Sesshoumaru, and I can't let that happen. Especially not Sesshoumaru.
"YAY! Thank you, Inuyasha!" Shippou cried, clinging to Inuyasha's leg.
Awkwardly, Inuyasha patted him on the head. "You're welcome, brat. Now eat. I'm leaving now. If I don't come back by lunchtime, go ahead and get to the village. I'll meet you there."
With that said, Inuyasha left.
It only took him two and a half hours to reach Kouga's den. He had thought it would take longer because of the amount of walking they had done over the course of the past day. He wasn't ungrateful for the traveling time, though.
When he approached Kouga's den, he made sure he was in plain sight. The last thing he needed was Kouga trying to attack him. "Oi, Kouga!" he called. Kouga looked up and saw Inuyasha. "Where's Kagome?"
Kouga leapt to his feet, waving his hands wildly. "I know nothing! Nothing, you hear? Nothing!"
His eyebrows raised, Inuyasha turned to Hakkaku. Kouga seemed to be acting weirder than usual. "Where's Kagome?"
"Some guy that looked kinda like you came and took her yesterday morning. He had a little girl and a toad following him too," Hakkaku explained.
"Sesshoumaru," Inuyasha growled immediately. He shot a dirty look at Kouga. "What the hell were you thinking, you stupid wimpy wolf!"
Kouga glared. "I told you, I know nothing about it!"
"I left her in your care! You were supposed to protect her and keep your damn eyes on her to keep her from things like Sesshoumaru!" Inuyasha shouted, storming over to the wolf. He cracked his knuckles threateningly. "How did you let this happen?"
Bristling, Kouga tried to make himself look bigger than he actually was. "I didn't let it happen. Your brother happens to be a very big, very strong youkai!"
The picture of Rin, Sesshoumaru, and Kagome flashed in his mind. Kouga shuddered and tried to get it to disappear, but he kept hearing Rin call Kagome "mama" in his head.
How had that happened? Kouga saw Kagome nearly every month...either she hid her pregnancy well, or she didn't show.
"Oi! Are you listening!" Inuyasha knocked Kouga upside the head. "Kagome isn't here to protect you from me now, so I'll do whatever I damn well please. What happened!"
Should I tell him? Kouga wondered. No...I shouldn't. If he doesn't know, then Kagome doesn't want him to know. Unless he found out on his own and that's why he was so angry with her. But he wouldn't be looking for her now. Hm...I don't think I'll tell him, just to play it safe.
"Keh," Inuyasha muttered. "I don't have time to play with you, wimpy wolf. I have to go save my Kagome!"
Kouga stared as Inuyasha took off after Sesshoumaru's day-old scent.
"She's not yours!" Kouga called belatedly after him.
"Yes she is!" echoed Inuyasha's cry.
"She's my woman!" he shouted back.
"But she's my mate!"
Snarling, Kouga turned and plopped down at the trunk of a tree, arms crossed over his chest, and pouting.
"Kouga?" Ginta asked hesitantly.
"What?" snapped Kouga.
"Aren't you going to go get Kagome-neechan?" Ginta wanted to know.
"No," Kouga sighed. "Inukkuro's in for a nasty surprise when he finds her."