CHAPTER 7

HERE WITH YOU?

Kouga had undressed Ayame to clean out her wounds. Relief set over him at the thought that he had shooed everyone in his pack out of the his cave, but his face blushed a bright red as he slipped her armor and white skin pelts off. Though her body was bruised and torn apart, he could still see just how beautiful she was laying gently on his straw pallet on the floor. Slowly, he turned her on her stomach and let his eyes follow down the path of her body, only stopping at her back to glance at the painful reminder that she was like this for him. He felt a twinge somewhere inside of him at the thought.

"I should've protected you better", he whispered while taking a small bucket of water that was set next to him and dunking a cloth into it. Still unconscious, Ayame winced the moment Kouga's hand dripped water from the cloth onto her wounds. The twinge inside of him got bigger. He felt so horrible seeing her like this. All he could do now is wait for her to get better. Just like she waited for him.

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She batted her eyes a few times trying to get her sight to focus. Her head felt like it had been cracked open and her body throbbed in pain. Ayame slowly sat up from the pallet she laid on and looked around pushing off the dark skin pelt that covered her. The sun's ray shined brightly into the empty cave, but this cave wasn't one she recognized. Where am I, she asked when abruptly, she felt a cold breeze. As quickly as she could, she wrapped her arms around herself, but something was missing.

"MY CLOTHES!" She shrieked at the top of her lungs. Someone's gonna pay for this, she thought while taking the dark pelt and wrapping it around herself. She stood up and staggered to the cave's entrance only to be greeted by a smiling Kouga and his happy pack.

"Ayame! You're awake!"

"PERVERT!" she screamed before giving him the hardest smack she could muster up. "GIVE ME BACK MY CLOTHES!" He could feel the impression of her hand sting his cheek.

"Your clothes are right next to my bed…" He pointed back to the cave as he brought up his hand to his face. She gave him a harsh look and staggered back inside. He still couldn't hide the smile that was forming on his face. He had agonized over her for the past week and seeing her up made everything in him want to shout for joy. The pack stood behind him flabbergasted that he had taken this woman's slap as something good.

Even after he tried to explain to them that he was overjoyed because this woman had done so much for him and the least he could do is worry about her, they still didn't see how Kouga was so, obviously, infatuated with her so soon after being dumped by Kagome.

"I'm not infatuated!" They all looked at each other with a grin before bring up the fact that he hadn't left her side for any reason and he wouldn't let anyone else step with in 5 feet of her or even glance her way. Kouga gave them a huff and left them to go inside the cave to speak to Ayame.

He walked in slowly; his grin still firmly placed on his face. She was at the very end of the cave, placing the final bits of white pelts on. Ayame was so lost in her actions that she didn't notice Kouga.

"Ayame", he spoke softly, but it still startled her.

"Kouga!" After a few seconds, she finally was able to calm herself and she began sharply, "What do you want? As you can see, I already have my clothes on."

"Don't think the worst of me. I had to take your clothes off or I wouldn't have been able to treat the wounds on your back." She said nothing to him. He was right, but she still felt a bit violated at the fact that she was naked in front of him. OH, GOD, she thought as a bright blush adorned her face, I was NAKED in front of him! As the thought began to sink in, she began to feel the embarrassment even stronger. How many had seen her nude? How long had she been like that? The questions that she didn't have the nerve to ask Kouga flooded her mind. Almost as if he had been reading her mind he said, "Don't worry, this past week, no one in the pack has seen you… uh… you know", he blushed at the memory of seeing her bare. "I've made sure they didn't."

"Thank you", the words came out meekly from her lips.

"Ayame", he stopped suddenly when her green eyes met his once he called out her name. He didn't expect to feel a huge burst of emotion pull at him. Her face was soft and still a little tinged with the blush that had, moments before, graced her face. Kouga lost all track of what he was thinking. All that was on his mind was the beautiful girl standing opposite of him. Had his pack been right? Had they seen something that he hadn't?

His body began to move without his consent. Kouga was still somewhere lost with in Ayame's eyes, but his feet started moving closer to her. Then his hands. Finally, his face moved in. He could smell the scent of the flower she was named after softly perfuming the air. Which made his face linger a few moments over her shocked face.

WHAT IS HE DOING, she screamed to herself. Is he seriously trying to kiss me! Her heart was hammering within her chest and she began to twitch nervously. He had been very kind to her, but never had it even crossed her mind that his feelings toward her had changed in any way. Seeing him with a lost and dazed look, hovering over her lips and salivating at the chance to kiss her, really was freaking her out. She wasn't sure if it was real or a dream; if he was serious or just playing a trick on her.

"Wha- What are you doing?" She was able to somehow stutter out.

"Ayame… You are a remarkable woman." She turned her eyes away from him, braking the gaze that had entranced him. Still feeling the after shocks from his earth rattling moment, he took his hand and placed it on her chin; bringing her face back in to his view. He let his nose graze her's before closing his eyes and brushing his lips against her trembling mouth. Kouga let his hand trace its way to the back of her neck as he wrapped his other arm around her. Ayame finally fell into his arms and let the kiss slowly deepen.

After a few minutes, she finally pulled away from him. She had to know. "Kouga, why? Why the sudden change of heart? I thought-"

"Ayame", he interrupted her with a soft whisper. He had to tell her what he felt at that moment. "I thought I knew what love was suppose to feel like, but I was more a fool than I was in love. I chose to turn a blind eye at all the things you were willing to bring and give to me. And just when I thought I had figured you out, you opened my eyes to what love really is about. Right now, I wouldn't have anyone, but you, in my arms, Ayame."

She tried to swallow, but she couldn't even move. She was lost in his words. What was she suppose to answer?

"I always knew Kagome's heart never belonged to me, but I never really expected to survive Naraku so it all didn't seem important. I had something to finish that was so much bigger than everything else." He paused for a long moment, tracing the shape of her face with his eyes; craving to sink into another kiss, but instead he continued, "I remember the Moon's Rainbow…"

"What?" Ayame had always thought otherwise. It was a complete shock to her.

"I didn't want you waiting around for someone who, most likely, would ended up dead. Besides, I really didn't know…" He paused again and looked into her eyes with a gentle expression. "I just didn't know, Ayame. I told you I was a fool…"

"Kouga…" She tried to say something, but her tongue stop moving. Everything was coming to her a little too suddenly. She was beginning to feel her legs wobble under all the emotional stress she just got bombarded with. This was the man that she had always loved and had waited for all her life. This was the moment she had always dreamed about, but now that he wanted her and the moment was right, she had no idea what to do.

He took both his hands and cupped her face. "Stay here, Ayame… With me…" His face dove in again to kiss her mouth, but stopped when she stuttered out, "Here… w-with you?" He nodded with a smile. She said nothing; just closed her eyes and leaned forward to meet his lips. Letting her kiss be her answer.

Outside, the pack had been privy to everything that had occurred inside the cave. Mostly due to ease dropping, but they all looked at each other with smiles on their faces. The pack had gained, what they felt like, a good woman, a great warrior, and a brighter future. They felt that Kouga had followed his heart and by doing so, had done what was best for the pack.

After a while, they both came out from the cave hand in hand. A light blush tinted Ayame's face, but Kouga, with the knowledge that he had his woman, beamed as he announced to his pack what they already knew. They still tried to play it off as a surprise when he proclaimed Ayame his. She just brought her clutched hand to her mouth and smiled; obviously still a little embarrassed. He turned back to look at her and gave her a small grin.

And this is how their story began; their first chapter and their happily ever after. They were both finally happy. Kouga got the woman of his dreams and Ayame got the man she always dreamed about.