Caught Off Guard

Ch.4

Pain and Problems

Sorry it took so long. I cleaned out my computer and redid EVERYTHING! So yeah it's taken while. So sorry once again, but better late then never right?

Disclaimer- I counted the money and I'm sorry to say I don't even have enough for a hair off Inuyasha's head. So I own nothing at all!

With the Inuyasha Gang

Sango and Miroku had finally managed settled Inuyasha down, basically they promised to convince Kagome to give him ramen every night for a week. So now Inuyasha sat back in his tree scowling at the back of the wolf princes head as if to bore holes in it. Kouga, Miroku, Sango, and Shippo sat around a small fire where some newly caught fish were roasting. The smell teased Kouga's sensitive nose, he had never actually eaten a "cooked" fish before. He usually would have just tore the thing apart eating through bones and all. Miroku and Sango had explained that Kagome had gone home and would return by sundown. They had no further elaborated on the subject and simply gone on with the day. So Kouga had said he would wait for her return with them.

Kouga currently sat in front of a small kitsune kit telling him all about the beating he had given a bear demon the previous week before. Shippo gawked, giggled and gasped at every other word but Kouga didn't really mind having an audience. When he finished Shippo was going insane yelling things like "Will you tell me another one please?" and "One more! Please?" Kouga just chuckled and said he'd tell him one more later that night before patting the kit on the head.

"How long do you plan to stay here Kouga?" Miroku asked from across the fire. Sango looked up from her place petting Kirara.

"Just long enough to chat with Kagome, maybe two days. Besides, I kind of want to get back and find out what that girl was doing on my turf," Kouga said re-crossing his half-asleep legs. Inuyasha had heard enough, he opened his golden eyes wider and growled. Kouga heard this and smirked.

"Then why don't you go back to your pack already? Instead of sitting around here?" Inuyasha spat out. Kouga gritted his teeth and scowled.

"I haven't seen Kagome since she pounded that thick skull of yours into the ground. I'm just here to talk not to fight," Kouga said in an overly calm voice. Inuyasha stood up on the thick branch he had been lying on.

"What!" Inuyasha yelled as he leapt to the ground, "Are you looking for a fight, ya mangy pup?" Kouga stood and spun around and was 2" from Inuyasha's face in a second. Inuyasha's eyes went wide, as he stood glued to the spot.

" I told you I don't want to fight today. Plus, Kagome wouldn't like it if she came back to a pile of old dog bones." Kouga stared into the hanyou's eyes as he said every word and smirked when he saw anger flash into them. Inuyasha leapt backwards mumbling something about cocky wolves and idiotic comebacks. Kouga watched the hanyou run off into the forest and smirked. Well that was easy enough he really is too easy to tick off. No wonder he's always in some sort of fight. Kouga thought.

A few minutes later Kouga was just about to take a bite into his first cooked fish when screams came from the village. He stood up fish still in hand and looked at the village. The women screamed ushering their small children inside and men stood looking out through windows, a random weapon at hand. Ginta and Hakkaku were running through out the village their heads turning every which way looking for their leader and calling his name.

"Hey! Over here!" Kouga shouted to the two demons. Hakkaku's head turned and he grinned running toward his leader. "What are you two doing here?" Kouga asked as they tried to regain their breath. Hakkaku was first to speak.

"You…. You told us to come if anything happened to the girl," Hakkaku barely managed out before collapsing to his knees.

"She awoken while you were gone but…but she passed out again before," Ginta panted, "We could come get you." Ginta sat down on an old log. Kouga walked over and sat beside him looking at his shaking body as he tried to regain his breath. They must have run all the way from the den here none stop.

When the two had each eaten and got a good drink of water, Kouga finally decided to speak. "I want to know everything that has happened since I left this morning." Ginta looked up and sighed. Hakkaku popped his neck from looking up so fast.

Ginta and Hakkaku took turns explaining what had happened. Kouga nodded respectfully here and there but never interrupted. Inuyasha had returned from his run in the forest and had sat back in his tree without anyone's notice. His eyes remained closed but he listened intently to the tale. When Ginta and Hakkaku had finished Kouga sat with his eyebrows knitted together and his eyes scrunched closed. The sun was beginning to set painting the sky with the reds and purples of dusk. "Are you going to come back to the den before seeing Sister Kagome, Kouga?" Hakkaku finally asked breaking the silence. Kouga's right eyebrow twitched slightly and he folded his arms tighter across his chest.

Minutes later Inuyasha finally spoke, "Well, Kouga? Are you going to get out of here or what? You know Kagome is always late right? Yup, knowing her she'll be back long after sundown." Inuyasha smirked. Kouga's eyebrows suddenly became two again and his icy blue eyes opened.

"I'm going back to the den," Kouga said standing and brushing himself off. Ginta and Hakkaku stood wearing their usual stupid grins. Kouga started to run off but before he was completely out of sight he turned and called back, "Oh yeah. Hey, Mutt-face!" Inuyasha flinched and turned.

"What do you want, Wolf?" Kouga grinned while Ginta and Hakkaku ran up.

"If you take off after the jewel shards before I can see my Kagome, I'll track you down and kill you on the spot." Kouga called back before dashing off leaving a fuming hanyou in his tracks.

At the Den

Kelum looked around the empty den as he paced outside the entrance to Likio's den. Ginta and Hakkaku had left hours ago and the sun had just disappeared from sight. Kelum had hoped Kouga would be there soon. Tala hadn't grown any better since they had left, she had in fact grown worse. Tala no longer lied still now she thrashed about as if in battle and calling out weird names. According to Likio she was in a state of reliving the battle in her mind, keeping her body in a panicked state. Her animosity and dread was thick in the air like an angry cloud. The regular wolves whimpered and left the den soon followed by the other pack members to escape the suffocating aura.

Kelum stopped pacing as the sound of happy wolves floated into the den. They were alerting the approach of their leader. Kelum sighed in relief. Many of the wolves bound toward him but Kouga ran right past his underlings right into the den where the redheaded Kelum stood. "What is going on here?" Kouga asked looking around the empty den.

"Tala's screams of pain and aura have driven everyone out," Kelum began. Kouga's nose crumpled up.

"I can understand why it's like being suffocated in here," Kouga said looking down the long passage way into Likio's den, "The air is warm and thick with her anger. It's enough to drive most out." Kelum nodded locking his gray eyes with Kouga's icy blue orbs.

"It's even worse in Likio's den, I really don't know how she stands it," Kelum added shaking his head.

"How long have you been out here, Kelum?" Kouga asked taking a step past him.

"Ever since you left," Kelum said with pride, "Why?" Kouga didn't look back at him.

"The air is crushing you to, is it not?" Kouga asked in a trance like voice.

"I've grown a bit used to it," Kelum stated folding his arms across his heavily armored chest.

"Go get some fresh air, Kelum," Kouga said turning to the proud demon. Kelum's face fell as he began to protest but was interrupted before he got a chance. "You might be stuck outside Likio's den for a while so I'll need you in tip top condition again soon. Go get some fresh air and take a good rest," Kouga added looking at the lightly tinted bags forming under Kelum's slate gray eyes. Kelum nodded and started to walk toward the den entrance. "Oh and Kelum?" Kelum turned. "Inform everyone if anyone walks two feet into Likio's den they will answer to me." Kouga said in an unusually cold voice. Kelum walked out and announced Kouga's message as Kouga walked into Likio's den.

This was definitely the longest 20 feet Kouga had ever walked in his life. The few torches mounted on the back wall of Likio's den gave off the only light making the tunnel exceptionally dark. Likio had forced Kouga to allow her the torches instead of taking up valuable working space on the small den's floor. Suddenly a spine-shivering scream rang through the small tunnel. Kouga's overly sensitive ears caused his head to pound. His hands instinctively flew to cover his ears as the sound dispersed. A crashing sound soon followed. Kouga loosened his grip over his ears and started walking again. Another crash. Kouga turned the corner and analyzed the situation.

Likio was trying her best to try to restrain the thrashing Tala and failing at that. (Ok, just go with all of this.) Shelves of herbs had been knocked over. She was covered in brightly colored liquids and powered herbs. Her hair was now practically glued to her head with a bright green liquid. Her clothes were splattered with a few different ones and she was toped head to toe with a yellow powder. The liquids that weren't on the pair were pooled in low spots in the floor. Kouga stepped over a hissing pool of blue liquid, as it pooled into a green one, over to Tala and Likio. Likio had restrained Tala at the waist and Kouga quickly pinned Tala's shoulders with one arm and held her wrists together above her head with the other.

"Kouga, finally some help," Likio breathed. Tala thrashed for a while longer but slowly fell into a deeper state of sleep. Kouga and Likio slowly removed there weight as Likio reached up and felt Tala's forehead. "Her fever is breaking!" Likio gaped wide-eyed, "She was on the brick of death but an hour ago." Likio smirked to her self. What a remarkable young woman! Likio thought.

Huh, so she still has a chance. Kouga thought watching Tala's face as she began to squirm again. Likio flinched as Tala wriggled around, but was just as easily relieved when she stopped. Likio sighed. Her face even asleep held a certain determination, a willingness to live. Realizing he would not get any answers any time soon Kouga decided to leave the den. He smirked to Likio signaling he was leaving and left. Not only to get some air but to get some help for Likio in cleaning her den. Kouga walked over to his own private den to think over the day's occurrences. He lied down on his pallet of luxurious furs as he heard Ginta and Hakkaku enter the den gasping for air and began talking to Kelum. He felt his eyes grow heavy and his sore muscles relax. His eyes drooped finally as he fell into a deep slumber.

"Kouga!" Someone shouted in an urgent voice awakening the dazed wolf prince. Kouga shot up realizing his name was what had been called.

Lupe- Well there you all go. Chapter 4 is done at last. Tala is Native American for stalking wolf. I thought it sort of fit. Read and please review. The more reviews I get the faster chappies will be posted!