Hey everyone! Thanks SO much for your reviews and patience! Sorry it took so long! enjoy!
Torn
Chapter Nine: Telling
Kouga gently set the unconscious Ayame on the bed in his room, lifting the covers over her and tucking them tenderly around her so she was warm. He then knelt beside the bed and took a warm washcloth to her face, gently rubbing the drying blood.
What happened to her? He wondered, brushing a bit of loose hair from her face, smirking slightly. What did she mean when she said…she was on my side?
"Is she going to be okay Kouga?" Hakaku asked, he and Ginta entering the room quietly.
Kouga nodded. "Yeah, I'm sure she will. But…whatever happened, she can't go back to that apartment."
"We'll go back and get her stuff." Ginta said.
Kouga smiled and nodded. "Sure. But be careful will you?"
The two nodded and turned, walking from the room.
Kouga turned back to Ayame, who was still peacefully asleep.
She's beautiful. Kouga couldn't help but think, staring down at her soft face. She looks so…sad. Like she hadn't had a happy day for a long time.
"What happened to you?" He breathed, sitting on the floor, his back leaning against the bed. "That man before…I recognized him."
But no…Ayame couldn't possibly know Naraku, could she? I mean…that man looked so much like Menomaru…but a little older. Though I guess I haven't seen Menomaru in a long time. Not since…that night.
His mind flashed back to that rainy night when he'd betrayed Naraku, seemingly sealing his fate.
When I held Ayame, Kouga thought. It was almost as if I was holding Akki again. But…there's no way in hell that Ayame is really Akki.
But he remembered, from the night before, when he'd held Akki out of impulse to comfort her, he remembered her perfume…exactly like Ayame's.
She even felt the same.
Kouga shook his head and got to his feet. "No…that's impossible!"
He was about to leave the room when he heard a soft groan from behind him.
He turned to find Ayame sitting up slowly, her hand pressed against her forehead, her eyes glazed over, confused.
"W-Where am…I?" She mumbled, looking around the room, not noticing Kouga standing there.
But finally, her blue gaze rested on him and her eyes widened. "K-Kouga? What am I doing here? Where is here?"
Kouga smirked and walked over to the side of the bed. "You're at my house. You passed out and I figured you couldn't stay in that apartment anymore."
"Apartment…" Ayame said softly, as if trying to remember something. Her hand lifted slowly to her lips. She looked shocked. "That…boy."
"What happened Ayame?" Kouga asked. "You said…for me to stay away, that he…you were on my side now. What did you mean? What boy?"
"I was…attacked." Ayame said softly. "I didn't want him to come after you too…but he'd left."
Kouga stared blankly at her. He sunk down onto the bed beside her. "Did you know who he was?"
She shook her head. "No…I mean, I just met him today. I came home and he was there."
"Do you know why?"
She looked up at him, her eyes were filled with something…worry.
"Ayame tell me." Kouga said, taking her hand in his and gripping it tightly. "Please, tell me. I can help you, I can protect you."
He heard her breath stop slightly and her grip on his hand suddenly tightened, tears springing to her eyes. "W-Why?"
"What?" Kouga asked. "What do you mean, why?"
"Why do you care?" Ayame asked, she didn't sound angry, she sounded astonished. "No one has cared about me…since…my parents died."
"I…I'm sorry, about your parents." Kouga said. "But…I do care, I want to help you."
Ayame let go of his hand then and covered her face with her hands, her shoulders shaking with sobs. "I…made a mistake…a big mistake."
"What? You can tell me Ayame." Kouga said, hesitantly wrapping his arms around her, holding her shaking body against his chest.
She didn't pull away, as he thought she would.
"He…I betrayed him." She whispered. "He sent that boy after me, to kill me…then to kill you."
And as if she'd said it aloud, he knew who she was.
"Akki?" Kouga said softly.
Ayame pulled away from him, nodding slightly. "No one knows who I am…but you. Please…don't tell."
He smiled. Normally he'd been angry to know that she had been hired to kill him, but not now. He was just happy to know that she was on his side…and what he was up against now.
"Naraku, you're talking about Naraku, aren't you?" He asked.
She nodded. "He hired me a few days ago to kill you. I said I would but…last night."
"I told you about Naraku and Atashi." Kouga said. "And you?"
"I went to Naraku this morning." Ayame said sadly. "I asked him, I wanted to know the truth. I promised myself that I wouldn't…hurt you if you were telling the truth. That if you were right…I'd join you and get revenge on Naraku."
"And?"
"He told me." Ayame breathed. "He told me that he was the one behind Atashi…that I'd killed him for no reason, that I should have killed him instead. I quit and went back to my apartment to get my things and then I was going to find another place to stay and try to contact you. But…that boy was there and he attacked me. I'm so sorry!"
"Why are you sorry?"
"You're neck." She said, brushing her hand along the thin cut on his neck.
"Oh, that." He laughed. "It's nothing, it's okay, really"
"But still." Ayame sighed, lowering her head. "I shouldn't be here…Naraku will come after me again…that boy will come"
Kouga shook his head. "And if you stay alone he'll kill you sooner. No, you're staying here"
"But-"
"No buts." Kouga smiled, cupping his hand over her mouth, preventing the girl from talking. "Now, are you hungry? There's some leftover food in the fridge if you want."
Ayame smiled and broke free of his hand, wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her face in his shoulder. "Thank you!"
One Month Later…
"So, class." Ms. Hitachi said, smiling at the class in front of her. "History projects."
The class groaned in unison.
"She always gives the worst assignments." Kouga whispered to Ayame, who was sitting beside him. Her wound had healed nicely, only a faint scar to where the boy had cut her neck slightly.
It had been one month since the incident and Ayame had, as Kouga had said, stayed with Kouga for that time. She'd really gotten to know him over the month, going with him to school, practice, games, everything. They were like a couple…but without the romance part.
And the boy who'd attacked her had not been seen, either. Ayame wondered if Naraku had gotten frustrated with him and killed him.
But somehow she knew that wasn't true.
Every time, however, Ayame looked at Inuyasha, she thought of the boy. Inuyasha had his eyes. It creeped her out.
"Now I'm going to pair you up." Ms. Hitachi smiled. "Kagome with Miroku. Sango with Hojo. Shippou with Mina. Kouga with Ginta. Hakaku with Amy. And Ayame with…Inuyasha."
Ayame turned and smiled at the silver-haired boy, who smiled back.
Kouga smirked at Ginta. "Geeze, and we'll have to meet at each other's houses and everything."
Ayame laughed and punched him lightly on the shoulder. "Smart ass."
Kagome smirked over at Ayame and elbowed her in the ribs, passing her a note.
It read: So, you and Kouga going to go out or what?
Ayame glared at Kagome and mouthed. "Shut up!"
Kagome giggled and whispered. "You so like him! He likes you too!"
"Shut up." Ayame mouthed again, turning away from the raven-haired girl.
The bell rang then, signaling the end of class.
"Now I want those projects in by Friday!" Ms. Hitachi grinned. "Two days! I suggest you get working"
"What?" Miroku groaned. "No"
"Want to come over Ayame?" Inuyasha asked. "We can work on some stuff"
"Sure." Ayame smiled, turning to Kouga. "I'm going with Inuyasha okay?"
Kouga nodded. "I'll pick you up after okay?"
Ayame nodded. "I'll call you"
With that she and Inuyasha left the room, chatting about their project.
It didn't take long to get to Inuyasha's house, for he, like Ayame and Kouga, lived only a few blocks away, but in the other direction.
"So is ancient Japan a good topic?" Inuyasha asked, he and Ayame walking up the steps towards the house.
Ayame nodded. "Yeah, that'd be great actually. We could write it on the Shogun and stuff like that"
"Perfect." Inuyasha grinned, pulling open the door to his house and shouting. "I'm home! Brought a friend! Homework!"
"Is it Kagome?" A cheerful voice said from the kitchen.
"No, mom, Ayame. You remember, I told you about her?" He said.
Inuyasha's mother walked out into the hallway. She was beautiful. Long black hair and bright cheerful eyes, a soft and caring face. "Oh yes!" She smiled. "Kouga's girl"
Ayame's face turned ten shades of red. "N-No! It's not l-like that with us"
"Not yet anyways." Inuyasha smirked.
Ayame punched him, hard, on the shoulder.
"Ow!" The boy growled. "It was a joke"
"Not, funny." Ayame smirked.
Inuyasha stuck his tongue out at her. "I'll get drinks you set up in the living room, will you?"
Ayame nodded, gripping her books in her hand and heading off towards the living room.
Inuyasha's house was, in Ayame's opinion, totally adorable. Tapestries of Japanese art hung on the walls, vases of flowers were set on the floor. It was clean, neat, and homey.
Ayame walked into the living room and set her things on the coffee table, opening her binder.
When she heard someone walking into the room behind her.
"Oh good, what'd you get?" She asked, assuming it was Inuyasha, turning around.
As soon as she saw who it was, however, Ayame dropped the books in her hands, her eyes wide.
"You!" She growled, pointing at the boy across the room. Those familiar amber eyes, straight silver hair, cold, emotionless face.
"You." He said back, some surprise in his voice. "What are you doing here?"
"I should be asking you the same thing!" Ayame snapped angrily. "What are you doing in Inuyasha's house?"
"I…live here." He said, looking at her as if she were a moron.
Ayame's heart stopped. I-Inuyasha's brother…is an assassin? Why did he tell me?
"You're an assassin…why wasn't I notified Inuyasha even had a brother?" She growled to herself.
As soon as she'd finished talking, the boy was suddenly in front of her, his hand gripping her neck tightly.
"Don't, say a word." He snarled.
Ayame smirked at him. "Just like old times huh? So, dear Inuyasha doesn't know the truth about his brother huh?"
"And he doesn't know about you either, Akki." He growled.
"Well then I think we'd better come to an agreement." Ayame said. "And my name, my real name, is Ayame, so I suggest you call me it around Inuyasha and anyone else"
The boy smirked at her, his amber eyes falling to her lips.
"Don't even think about it." Ayame said acidly.
"Why not?" The boy said seductively. "You kissed me before"
"To stop you from choking me." Ayame said, hitting his hand away from her neck and backing away from him, her glare intense. "And it worked, I'm still here. Naraku really has to get some better help"
"You wouldn't be here if Kouga hadn't interrupted." The boy snapped.
"Well I'm-" Ayame said, but was cut off by Inuyasha in the doorway.
"Sesshomaru? What are you doing here? I thought you had things to do." He said. "Ayame, do you know him?"
"Somewhat." Ayame said, an edge to her voice.
Inuyasha, upon seeing her glare, looked joyous. "Yes! I knew you'd hate him! I knew it! Ha! In your face Sesshomaru!"
Sesshomaru turned from Ayame and glared at his younger brother. "Shut up Inuyasha. Can't you see…Ayame, and I are having a conversation?"
"One that's over." Ayame said, walking past Sesshomaru and taking a glass of iced tea from Inuyasha. "Thanks Inu!"
Inuyasha grinned, looking like a kid at Christmas, and walked into the living room, sitting down at the coffee table and opening up some books.
"Watch yourself, Ayame." Sesshomaru said as he brushed past the girl.
"Likewise." Ayame snapped back.
oOoOo! Sesshy! Yay! I had to put him in this story somehow…Review!
And, no, this is STILL a Kouga/Ayame story…it'll show it a little more in upcoming chapters.