Chapter 9 - The Bond Strengthens

"I will not give up on Inuyasha, Kikyo. You can't make me." Kagome cries with the thought I can't live without him playing at the back of her mind.

"There is nothing you can do about it, Kagome. I have found a way to come back, but for it to work I have to kill you." She repeats. "Inuyasha may lose his new found affection. In the process he will gain his life long love. Is that not something you think he would want?"

"He would never allow you to kill me. He proved that earlier when he would rather pull out Tetsuigai on you than to let you harm me. Have you forgotten what he said? He said 'I will never let you harm Kagome.' Or did you not hear him?"

"The more you push me, Kagome, the more likely I am to have Inuyasha watch you suffer. What makes you think that the moment he realizes I'm here he won't run to my defense? What makes you think he won't declare his love for me?"

I better keep my mouth shut or she just might kill me now. Wait a moment, that means she can't sense the bond between me and Inuyasha. She doesn't know what has happened.

Suddenly the room fills with a musky odor that reminds Kagome of Inuyasha. Then it changes to match that of Kagome, lilacs. Kikyo stares around the room trying to pinpoint the source of the smell. She stops while looking at Kagome. Her eyes widen.

"I smelled Inuyasha, and now all I can smell is you. Why? What have you done to tie him to that pathetic little soul of yours?"

"Don't forget, Kikyo, that this pathetic soul I have was once yours."

Kikyo, consumed by her hate, charges at Kagome and is knocked backwards by an invisible barrier that has erected itself around Kagome. The smell of musk and pine trees fills the room once more.

"Why is he using his energy to protect you instead of battling Kouga? He should be focused on not dying right now, but he seems to be more interested in saving you."

Oh no. This cannot be a good thing. Inuyasha should be focused on staying on alive, not saving me.

Kagome directs all her thoughts toward Inuyasha. Inuyasha, if you can hear me send me a sign

The smell in the room grows stronger. Not like that, and thanks. You need to start focusing on defeating, but not killing, Kouga. Remember that he did save me a few times

At this, the room suddenly grows hot. Don't get jealous just avoid killing him, okay. I'll handle Kikyo

The smell fades slowly from the room, and all that is left is Kagome and Kikyo.

OUTSIDE

Inuyasha had been losing ground against Kouga while he attempted to protect Kagome inside. Kouga had taken advantage of this by seriously hurting Inuyasha and cornering him at the Tree of Ages. Kouga had notices how Inuyasha scent had changed a few times. He had come to smell like Kagome, and Kouga was deeply disturbed by this.

If Mutt-face has already claimed Kagome and she accepted than there is no way for me to get her back. That is unless he dies.

"Hey, Mutt-face. Why do you smell like Kagome?"

Inuyasha replies with a smug grin, "Well, you did walk in on us sleeping together, right? So put the pieces together. I claimed her as mine and consented whether she knows it or not."

This cannot be. The baka laid claim to my woman, and she may not even know it.

"What's the matter, Kouga?" Asks Inuyasha as he steps away from the tree leaving a bloody impression behind. "Are you afraid that Kagome had no clue she was tying herself to me? Well, let me clear things up for you. She never has and never will love you. She willingly accepted becoming mine. The rights have yet to be performed, but that's only a matter of time. You've lost her for good."

"Shut up!" Shouts Kouga as he charges yet again at Inuyasha. Inuyasha suddenly smells like and Kagome, and Kouga falters in his assault. Inuyasha hits him sharply in the back of the head at the base of the skull with the flat end of his sword knocking the wolf demon unconscious.

It's all up to Kagome now Thinks Inuyasha as he collapses against the Sacred Tree and surrenders to the darkness.