"Talking"
'Thinking'
StressedShippo had been up for at least an hour. His emerald eyes took in the waterfall with excitement. He was a Kitsune and therefore by nature a trickster and trouble starter. Since he was a trouble starter, it was his job to enjoy any type of good-natured trouble. He knew that when Kouga was around that there was bound to be some entertainment. Shippo jumped out of Kagome's arm and stretched. They had reached the den and waited to properly be greeted. Shippo smelt the approaching wolves and still tensed. Tachi took on his humanoid form and patiently waited.
Kagome smiled as she watched the two wolves run up to her. She heard them yell at each other as they raced to greet her. The one with the mohawk tripped the one with the gray strip and they pulled each other to the ground. Ginta finally grinned and took off towards Kagome as Hakaku rolled down the slope. Ginta frowned as Hakaku rolled past him and landed at Kagome's feet.
"Are you sure you can trust Kouga?" Shippo asked. Kagome smiled and nodded her head as Shippo gave her a doubtful look.
"SISTER!" They both yelled and Kagome winced from the volume.
"Ginta, Hakaku, are you both?" Kagome asked with a smile.
"I'm getting mated!" Ginta shouted with a smile.
"I'm going to the North to discuss some things with the other packs," Hakaku proudly said.
"Congratulations to both of you," Kagome happily said.
"Are you here to see Kouga?" Ginta asked.
"Yep," Kagome chirped. Ginta gave her a grin and Hakaku smiled.
"Not like that you perverts," Shippo mumbled.
"I never promised that!" Kagome heard Kouga yell.
"Ayame's here," Hakaku explained.
"You promised!" Ayame yelled back.
"Maybe this is a bad time," Kagome mumbled.
"What's going on?" Tachi asked. Shippo climbed up on his shoulder and leaned over to whisper in his ear.
"Kouga loves Kagome but he promised to mate Ayame a long time ago. Kagome doesn't love Kouga, and Ayame does. Kouga's dense," Shippo explained.
"My WOMAN!" Kouga yelled as he pulled Kagome into a hug.
"Here's the fun part," Shippo whispered as Tachi raised an eyebrow.
"Hey Kouga-kun," Kagome greeted as she struggled for breathe.
"Kouga!" Ayame yelled as Kouga grimaced. "Why are you desecrating a Miko?"
"Miko?" Kouga asked as he pulled away and looked at Ayame like she was stupid.
"Your woman's a Miko," Ayame pointed out.
"Definitely a Miko," Ginta agreed as he looked at Kagome's Chihaya.
"Kagome, when did you become a Miko?" Kouga asked as he stared at her.
"Since we first met," Kagome answered. Kouga took her hands in his and seriously stared into her eyes.
"It doesn't matter…I still love you," Kouga announced.
"Thanks…but we're just friends," Kagome meekly said.
"I don't care what it takes, you'll love me…eventually," Kouga proclaimed.
"He is dense," Tachi agreed as Shippo nodded his head.
Ayame's face was turning a pure red as she began to growl. Kagome pulled her hands out of Kouga's and sheepishly grinned.
"Kouga I have some business with you," Kagome declared as she soon as she stopped feeling dizzy.
"Anything for you," Kouga announced as he draped his arm around her shoulder and guided her into his cave.
"I smell a Kamaitachi," Ayame bluntly announced. Kouga stiffened and sniffed the air. He turned around and glared at Tachi.
"What's that doing here?" Kouga growled as he glared at Tachi. Shippo jumped off of Tachi and ran over to Kagome.
'Traitor,' Tachi thought.
"I'm going to be speaking on behalf of the Kamaitachi," Kagome quickly said. Kouga's anger turned to surprise as he looked down at Kagome.
"Why?" Kouga asked.
"They're just food and mindless brutes," Hakaku voiced.
"They same could be said for you," Ayame mumbled.
"If I speak for them at the youkai council I could gain an alliance with them," Kagome mentioned.
"And?" Kouga added.
"And I trust the leader but not the people," Kagome finished.
"Afraid they'll eat ya?" Ginta asked.
"Idiot," Hakaku mumbled as he smacked Ginta.
"Sort of," Kagome agreed.
"I'll go with you then," Kouga suggested.
'I need to get away from Ayame,' Kouga thought.
"What about your pack?" Kagome asked and then grimaced. Most of the pack was dead or scattered.
"Ginta and Hakaku can look after them while I'm gone," Kouga waived off.
"Kagome gets a personal bodyguard," Shippo sang.
'Oh Kami,' Kagome thought as she blushed.
"I'll guard any part of your body that you want," Kouga assured with a grin.
'I feel like little red ridding hood. Damn American fables!' Kagome thought.
"Thanks Kouga, I appreciate that," Kagome thanked with a small bow.
Kouga nodded to Kagome with a wolfish smile before he stared at Tachi. He looked the weasel up in down before he nodded. Tachi stared back at Kouga before he nodded in turn. Kagome and Ayame rolled their eyes at the facade.
'Men…no matter what species they're all the same,' Kagome thought.
'Adults are so weird,' Shippo thought.
"This is Kouga of the Eastern wolf pack," Kagome introduced, "and this is Tachi of the Eastern Kamaitachi clan."
They both raised an eyebrow and looked at Kagome.
"What? I can't talk for you," Kagome growled as she raised an eyebrow.
"When do we leave?" Kouga asked.
"Right now," Kagome dryly said.
Tachi nodded and transformed back into his youkai form. Shippo jumped on and smiled. Kagome walked over and went to sit behind Shippo. Kouga grabbed her arm and spun her onto his back. Kagome rolled her eyes as Tachi took off and Kouga followed.
'At least I'm not slung over his shoulder,' Kagome thought with a scowl.
"How long do you plan on staying?" Kouga asked as he ran.
"Until I'm satisfied," Kagome answered normally. She knew his hearing could pick out her voice in the rushing wind.
"You never stay that long with me," Kouga mumbled. Kagome frowned and pulled his ponytail. He grinned and went faster as she squeaked and held on tighter.
"I'm a Miko, I can't have a physical relationship unless I step down from my duties," Kagome explained.
"And your not willing to do that for me," Kouga said with his own frown.
"Kouga," Kagome sighed, "I love you, but I'm not in love with you."
"You could never fall in love with me?" Kouga asked.
"I'm sorry," Kagome whispered.
"Don't be sorry, I'll be happy as a friend," Kouga tried to comfort.
"Really?" Kagome asked.
"I will do my job as a friend and intimidate potential mates," Kouga assured with a grin.
"Go ahead," Kagome offered with a smile.
They ran until the sun began to sink into the horizon. Tachi slowed down and transformed into his human form. Kouga slowed down and Kagome got off and took Shippo from Tachi.
"It'll take another day for us to reach my clan," Tachi said.
"Then I'm going to find a river," Kagome muttered as she handed Shippo to Kouga. Kouga took Shippo but had a helpless look on his face. Tachi knowingly smiled as Kagome giggled.
"What do I do with it?" Kouga asked.
"It's a him and just let him sleep till I get back," Kagome advised.
"Never held a kit or pup?" Tachi asked.
"My pack doesn't have many pups," Kouga roughly responded.
Kagome left her Hami-Yumi at the small camp and took her beads and clothes with her. When she heard the sound of running water she walked over to the river and grinned in triumph. She removed her Tabi and Zori first. Her foot skimmed the top of the water and she shivered. Kagome quickly removed the rest of her clothes before she jumped into the river and popped out chanting cold. She grabbed her soap and began to wash her body as her teeth chattered.
"Maybe my body will go numb from the cold," Kagome hoped.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" A voice asked. Kagome sunk into the river and glared at the intruder.
"YOU!" Kagome yelled.
"We have to stop meeting like this," Bankotsu sighed as he walked over to the river.
"Go away!" Kagome growled.
"What do we have here," Bankotsu mused as he walked over to her clothes.
"Leave those alone," Kagome ordered.
He grinned and leaned the Banryuu against a tree before he crouched by her clothes. Kagome glared at him before she splashed water at him. Her clothes got soaked as he dodged the water with a laugh. Kagome growled as she resorted to glaring at him some more.
"See something you like?" Bankotsu teased.
"Nothing at all," Kagome assured with a heated glare.
"Then why do you keep staring?" Bankotsu challenged.
"I'm hoping to glare you to death," Kagome angrily answered.
"You wouldn't kill me," Bankotsu assured.
"And why not?" Kagome asked.
"It's because you think I'm hot," Bankotsu admitted with prideful smirk. Kagome growled as she began to blush.
"You as hot as horse dung," Kagome agreed.
"Then why do I keep meeting you naked?" Bankotsu asked.
"You're a reanimated stalker," Kagome explained.
"You're such a bore," Bankotsu baited.
"I'm not boring!" Kagome whined.
"Yes you are," Bankotsu baited some more.
"I am not," Kagome mumbled.
"All you do is order people around, take your duty to seriously, and you can't have fun," Bankotsu listed as he counted off on his fingers.
"I suppose you know what fun is." Kagome dully said.
"Of course I know what fun is! I lived life to the fullest!" Bankotsu proudly said.
"You lived life so fast that you were killed at a young age," Kagome stated as he frowned.
"Least I won't die old and regretful," Bankotsu mumbled.
"Now that we've had another talk…please leave," Kagome shooed with a serious expression.
"I got an idea," Bankotsu muttered as his smile turned into a grin.
'Please let him leave,' Kagome silently begged.
"I challenge you to do something that you normally wouldn't do," Bankotsu challenged.
"That is the stupidest-"
"I guess you're to old and afraid," Bankotsu taunted.
"That's it you little punk! I accept!" Kagome shouted.
"Great!" Bankotsu grinned. "What's a punk?"
"I'll be staying at with the Eastern Kamaitachi clan. Stay away from their village and I'll find you in two nights," Kagome growled as she ignored his question.
"See ya later…and a bit of advice," Bankotsu began.
"What?" Kagome suspiciously asked.
"You should try staying in the water…not that I'm complaining," Bankotsu advised before he took off.
Kagome glared at him before she looked down. She had indeed stood up during her ranting. Kagome looked up to the sky and asked why me. She got out of the river and dried off.
'I'll show him,' Kagome thought as she walked back to the small camp.
"So your village has a law system?" Kouga asked Tachi.
"We have one, but it needs to fixed," Tachi admitted.
"What about pack structure?" Kouga asked.
"We fight in a set area with witnesses when we take positions or move up," Tachi answered.
Kagome heard their talk and smiled. She hoped that Kouga would also agree to speak with her. He was a lord; his word would be even better. Kagome sat by the fire and began to brush her hair. She let her eyes stray to Shippo; he was curled up in Kouga's lap. Kagome grinned as she watched Kouga's tail hit the ground in nervousness. Kagome stood up and took Shippo from him. Shippo immediately snuggled into her stomach for warmth.
"Nervous with kids?" Kagome joked.
"Yeah," Kouga admitted as he scratched the back of his head.
"Don't be, you're a good youkai," Kagome assured.
"I won't be much of a father," Kouga stated.
"If you're as persistent with the kids as you are with me, then you'll be a wonderful father," Kagome seriously said.
"I guess, the pack does need more pups," Kouga admitted.
"After Naraku," Kagome whispered.
"It's not safe with that bastard around," Kouga growled.
The rest of the night they all remained silent, as Kagome got ready for bed. She didn't bring a sleeping bag; hers had torn long ago. Kouga noticed this and rolled his eyes. He pulled Kagome over to him and moved her so her head rested on his thigh. Kagome blushed and protested. Kouga grinned and shook his head as he rested against the fallen log.
"Kouga! I can't!" Kagome protested.
"You're a pack sister, it's safe," Kouga assured.
"It doesn't look right," Kagome hissed.
"What dirty things are on your mind?" Kouga asked.
Kagome's face turned red and she shifted so her head faced his feet. She closed her eyes and held Shippo close to her. She was surround by perverts, or maybe she was the pervert.
Author's Note:
Sigh, at last another chapter...I've got up to chapter 9 written and then my mind went dead. I think I blew something while trying to think. I'm trying to decide how I'm going to play this out.
Thanks to all the reviewers for reading the story! I'm always open to comments!