This, as it was the first time, is still the hardest chapter for me to write or edit. I went back over with a fine-tooth comb as I noticed when I was rereading it, there were some discrepancies in description among other things in this chapter specifically. Feel free to point out what needs to be altered more if you will, that way I can go back and look at it more if need be. Thank you guys for your continued support and love for this fiction. Side note, gestation period for wolves is around 62-75 days. I fudged around with it a little seeing as they are in humanoid forms. I am well aware that humans are with child for longer than four months, as some sought to mention when I posted this chapter previously.
Disclaimer: All original characters are owned by Rumiko Takahashi. Any events taking place are of my own imagination. Any similarities to actual people or events are strictly coincidental.
Chapter Four: Heartbreak
Midnight was not when Kouga was expecting to be awoken from his pallet by the door of his den. It was where he had subjected himself to keep Kagome's honor, in the eyes of his pack, intact. As well as to allow her some privacy and the comfort of his bed that she currently slept in.
Ginta had, moments earlier, roused him, from a particularly deep sleep, to inform him that the females were pupping.
It was customary for all female ookami, who were close in birthing dates, to do so at the same time, and it just so happened that six female ookami were delivering at this moment. It was tradition to awaken the alpha to tell him of such news; however, Kouga would have been more appreciative if they had decided to deliver hours earlier or later.
With half-lidded eyes, he entered the main chamber of the den to see...utter chaos. Den mothers were flying around from one ookami to the next trying to care for them all. There were five den mothers; they were short one. Kouga's eyes narrowed. This could cause a problem.
Youkai birthings were complicated and needed constant vigilance to ensure the health of both mother and cub during the process. It was a risky situation. One moment gone wrong and it could turn fatal for either youkai.
He looked over his shoulder at Ginta his blue eyes flashing, "Go wake Kagome."
Ginta blinked, "Kouga are you sure?"
"Now," he barked which sent both he and Hakkaku scrambling.
It had to be a female. Any male trying to assist the birthing could possibly be killed by the male mate. It was for a simple reason, really: Ookami youkai were incredibly protective and possessive over their mates. This was only heightened by the pregnancy since she now also carried his rightful heir. Any other male looking upon her in an indecent state would be slaughtered. However, a miko could also be in the same predicament.
Kagome could be attacked if the other male perceived her as a threat to his mate, but at this point, Kouga was running out of options. The other females in Kouga's pack were too inexperienced and young to know what to do. He had to have someone he trusted to deliver their future. As a miko, Kagome had probably assisted in human birthings. He trusted her. His fist tightened at his side. He had to.
Kagome shifted in her sleep. Something was loud. Extremely loud. She opened a sapphire eye to peer about the pitch-black den. Youru and Hikari were still on either side of her, but they were alert. Kouga was also gone.
She raised up on her hands slightly wincing at the pain she received from her right shoulder. What was going on?
Seconds later, Ginta and Hakkaku came bolting into the den. Kagome's eyes widened and her whole body tensed as her aura pulsed to scan her surroundings for enemies. Their next words did nothing to settle her unease.
"Sis you have to come with us now," Ginta said urgently. She'd never heard that tone in his voice before.
"What is-" She started before Hakkaku silenced her.
"There's no time to explain," he said grabbing her left arm. She slightly winced at his grip but she followed them nonetheless.
Youru and Hikari rose and followed quickly on their heels. Hikari issued a warning growl from her left side, his amber eyes boring into Hakkaku's back.
Kagome was brought to the main area of the den and was promptly blinded by the orange light of the multiple fires against the cave walls. The refraction made the space unbearably bright, but her eyes quickly adjusted and what she saw left her mouth gaping: Multiple female ookami were in labor.
She continued to blink before being brought to Kouga's side. She could practically feel the stress rolling off of his aura in waves.
"Kagome," he said uncrossing his arms as he turned toward her. He took one of her hands in two of his and looked into her eyes, "I need your help."
Kagome looked from his hands to his eyes. There was nothing flirtatious about his actions. The desperation in his eyes was apparent. Something was wrong.
Fixing her gaze into one of determination, she gently squeezed his hand, "What do you need me to do?"
A smile broke out on his face. Atta girl. "We are short a den mother. Have you assisted in human births before," he asked as he released her hand and she followed behind him quickly.
"I have but Kouga," she said looking into his blue eyes that met hers, "I've never done a youkai birth."
Kouga nodded curtly, "They aren't too much different. Except for the actual birth. There is a space of time where you must focus solely on the cub. There is no placenta. The cub gets his nutrition directly from the umbilical cord and forms directly from it. It will have to be cut a specific way. If you can get a youkai to that point, then a den mother will come and assist you."
"Right," Kagome said her nervousness rising. She'd never done this before. Kaede had her assist on several human births, but there were no youkai to birth. Inuyasha's pup was going to be the first in the village. It was supposed to be her first. She had no experience in this area. What if she messed up? What if someone died because of her?
Kouga smelled the smoky tinge of worry mar her scent. He couldn't blame her but she had to focus, "Kagome," he said placing his hand on her left shoulder. His blue eyes fixed on hers and she could practically feel him staring into her soul, "I know you can do this."
Kagome just nodded as she was steered in the direction of an auburn-haired male with..amber eyes. Her eyes narrowed slightly wondering if these were the eyes from hours earlier. Upon coming closer she could see the malintent held in them for her and knew they were.
"What is she doing here," he growled deeply baring his fangs to her presence. Kouga's eyes held Izuma's, his own fangs bared, not wanting nor daring to look anywhere else while his mate was in such a state.
"She is going to assist in the birthing of your cub," he stated firmly.
Izuma growled deeply in his chest, "She touches Yuri and I'll kill her." Kagome could feel her aura rise to match his, but she pulled it tightly around her not wanting to anger him further or hurt the mother cradled to his chest.
"Izuma, please," Yuri spoke from in front of him. Her hand laid gently over her mate's in a comforting fashion. "It...hurts.." Amber eyes softened significantly as he looked down at her quivering state. It was their first cub and she was scared. Izuma gritted his teeth and his gaze hardened as he looked at the miko. "You hurt her and I'll kill you," he warned threateningly.
"I understand," Kagome responded seriously as she went to her knees before the female youkai.
Kouga stood nearby with his back turned. He wasn't going to invade their privacy, but he knew that Izuma could lunge at Kagome, at any moment, if the way his aura thrashing around was any indication. He was extremely displeased and, while he knew that Kagome could defend herself, he knew she wouldn't in the presence of the mother or cub. She'd be more concerned with their safety than hers. He trusted in his ability to restrain Izuma in the case that he had to, which was more impending than he expected it to be.
"Ginta, Hakkaku bring me water and towels," Kagome ordered as she lifted Yuri's legs to bend at a forty-five-degree angle on either side of her. Her eyes never left Izuma's.
"But-" Ginta started hesitantly knowing full well what might happen if he approached the female youkai.
Kagome glared back at them and hissed, "Now!"
The bite to her tone sent them scampering. Kouga couldn't help the smirk that adorned his features. She would make a great alpha.
With the boys off to get what she needed, she focused back on Yuri. She hadn't meant to yell at them, but her stress levels were through the roof. It didn't help that Izuma was watching her like a hawk, analyzing her every move.
Her blue eyes softened as she met Yuri's emerald green orbs. She had black hair and soft features. She really was very beautiful. Her eyes traveled back to amber orbs, "This next step is going to be very difficult. Are you sure you want to stay here Izuma?"
Izuma lifted his lip near his fangs and growled out, "Unlike ningen, Ookami never leave their mates in uncomfortable or desperate circumstances."
A deep warning growl resonated from Kouga's direction that caused Izuma to look at his back. Kagome felt like she'd been hit in the face with cold water. Izuma really did hate her but why? "I wouldn't know. I've never been in a relationship with a human," Kagome said recovering slightly.
Izuma's eyes narrowed back on her, but her gaze was now on Yuri. "I am going to check to see how far along you are, okay?" Her eyes flickered to Izuma's for understanding and his consent. He nodded curtly. Six and a half centimeters. She needed to be nine in order to begin. She was farther along than Kagome expected.
The soft footfalls of Ginta and Hakkaku neared and Izuma's growls began. "Just set it down behind me," Kagome said trying to sate Izuma's possessive drive.
Ginta and Hakkaku turned with their backs to the scene and placed the towels and bucket down two feet behind Kagome before walking away. They moved to stand next to Youru and Hikari. A good ten feet away.
Kagome replaced the bottom of Yuri's dress before turning to retrieve the towels and water. She placed the bucket to her right and smiled when she noticed that Ginta and Hakkaku had the mind to bring her more than one towel.
"Alright raise up Yuri, I am going to place a towel beneath you so when the cub comes he won't be laying on the floor of the den," she said comfortingly. Yuri nodded and shifted her hips but it made her hiss in pain. Izuma growled lowly at Kagome. Her eyes narrowed into his amber hues. "It is to benefit your cub, Izuma. I do not do things unnecessarily."
She heard him scoff but she didn't care. She was doing what needed to be done for the health and safety of both cub and mother.
Taking a second towel she placed it in the water and wrung it out before handing it to Izuma who was braced against Yuri's back. "This is for her forehead. It will calm the fever she takes once labor starts." Izuma nodded, his fangs ever-present, as he took the towel and lovingly laid it against his mate's forehead after brushing her bangs back.
Her emerald eyes looked into his amber hues. He could smell and sense her fear through the bond. Dropping his nose against hers he nuzzled her lovingly to comfort her rumbling soft growls the entire time.
Kagome felt her chest tighten at the affectionate display. Ookami youkai really were wonderful lovers. She could see the dedication he held for Yuri in his eyes, and Yuri's intense love and trust in her mate. It was something she'd never experienced before. Something foreign to her, but she'd always dreamt about.
Blinking, she brought her mind away from those thoughts and back at the task at hand. She had a birthing mother and an angry mate to deal with. Losing focus because of her silly daydreams was not an option.
Kouga had detected the shift in her scent moments ago. It was akin to yearning. She was longing for something..but what? He cursed the fact that he couldn't turn, and see what had affected her like that. He was curious but not audacious enough to sate that curiosity currently.
"Okay," Kagome said feeling her confidence boost. Everything was going according to plan and schedule. She had everything she needed, and the mother was two millimeters from beginning the birthing process.
It was then that Yuri cried out and grabbed her mate's hand tightly. Izuma growled and looked at Kagome accusingly. "Izuma, these are contractions. She had some before to start the birthing process so her canal would widen to accommodate the cub. These are muscle spasms to set the cub in motion. It will now be traveling down that canal. These are normal," her hands were on Yuri's legs rubbing them comfortingly as her eyes bore into Izuma's. He didn't move toward her but growled deeply nonetheless.
"Okay. Yuri," she spoke comfortingly capturing the female ookami's eyes with her own," I am going to need you to start pushing, okay? It will help the baby move faster. I need you to push in time with the contractions to start moving the cub." She noticed Yuri nod her head as her breathing came in and out in short bursts.
Yuri looked up into Izuma's eyes fear and excitement swirling in them. They'd been waiting on their cub for four months, but in those four months, she'd grown to love it just as he had. Izuma's other hand rested on her belly lovingly. He pulsed his youki into her stomach to assure both his mate and his cub.
Kagome didn't know if this was normal, but she didn't say anything against it. Youkai birthings were different than human birthings after all.
She looked back at Yuri and smiled comfortingly at her, "You're doing great Yuri."
Izuma growled comfortingly to his mate as she pushed again with a contraction. Every time she braced against his chest and squeezed his hand. He'd nearly lost circulation in his right hand by this point but he didn't care. He'd be there for her, no matter what.
Kagome could almost see the crown of the cub's head. A smile graced her face. "Good Yuri. I can see his head," she said looking up at Izuma, as tufts of black hair with auburn streaks became apparent, who, for once, wasn't baring his fangs.
His body had relaxed. He looked excited and was even smiling. Kagome smiled back at him warmly.
Kouga was standing peacefully, calm from his post. He was glad that everything was going so smoothly. Typically, ookami births weren't as uneventful, or so he'd noticed from the sounds from other ookami females nearby.
He closed his eyes. Kagome's aura was happy, calm, even excited. He could feel the muscles in his shoulders relax slightly. Everything was okay.
Kagome's eyes were on the cub as Yuri gave another push clearing the head and shoulders. That was when the world stopped.
The umbilical cord was wrapped around the cub's neck..and its face was blue. Kagome's heart stopped. No.
Kagome's eyes widened as she looked up at Izuma and Yuri, "Yuri, I need you to push now!"
Izuma's face hardened instantly and a look of terror overtook Yuri's features. The Miko's aura had changed. She was terrified. Something was wrong.
"Miko, what is wrong," Izuma growled angrily.
"The..umbilical cord is wrapped around his neck. Push!" Kagome demanded her eyes boring into Yuki's commandingly.
Yuri's eyes widened as she gritted her teeth, red seeping into the rims of her eyes, as she pushed again. The cub came halfway out with that push. "One more Yuri," Kagome called as she took the cub's upper half into her hands.
Kouga was on alert. His muscles tensed. He could feel Izuma's beast rising. Once the cub was delivered he was going to kill Kagome.
Kouga issued a loud growl from his position turning his head to look at Izuma who met his stare. Amber eyes stayed on him for mere seconds before returning to Kagome's form. He had hoped to draw his attention by looking back in the direction of his mate, but he was too far gone and didn't care. He was out for blood.
Kagome knew if she could get the cub out she could try to resuscitate him with her miko abilities. It had to work. "Push, Yuri," she demanded. Yuri complied and the cub was out.
Kouga ran to Izuma's side. He could see red bleeding into his amber orbs and he growled out, "Wait." He glanced back at Kagome who cradled the cub as a den mother came by to cut the umbilical cord. He knew she was going to try to save it. It was her nature. He just hoped it would work. If not for the parent's sake then for hers.
It seemed as if the whole den had stopped to watch this moment. Nearby Ookami mates, den mothers; no one dared to breathe.
Kagome held the cub in a towel and rubbed him hoping the stimulation would jump-start his system. Nothing. She laid him gently on the ground before her and put her fingers to his chest as they began to glow pink. She heard a growl from Izuma's direction but paid it no mind.
Seconds went by. Nothing. Kagome's heart began to sink. "No," Kagome whispered. A knot began to form in her throat as she gritted her teeth, "Come on. I know you can do it," she said encouragingly, "Come on," Kagome said her voice breaking. She could feel her heart begin to constrict painfully in her chest, but she refused to give up. "You can't die like this," she whispered, "You are going to grow up and become a strong youkai one day," she said softly. She could feel the warm tears forming in the brims of her eyes. The fingers on her hands trembled as her voice quivered but she continued, "You're going to love your mother, learn from your father. Learn to fight, learn to hunt and track food," she nearly choked, "You're supposed to grow up and find your mate, the love of your life...be happy...have cubs of your own...You aren't supposed to die here. Please," she begged.
A single tear fell from her eyes and landed on an unmoving chest of the cub. Her lower lip trembled as she lifted the bangs of the cub gently caressing his tanned skin. He was so beautiful, but the red marks that marred the perfect skin around his neck were telling: He'd been dead long before he was delivered.
Kagome's body trembled as she took her hand off of the cub's chest. A wave of anguish and sorrow rolled off of her aura. Her teeth were gritted and her bangs hung low covering her face as her fists balled on her knees. In a moment of rage, she slammed her right fist into the floor of the den. She had failed. Finally, two years after Naraku's demise when she was fully trained. When someone really needed her, a helpless cub no less, she had failed.
Time, at that moment, decided to resume, and all hell broke loose with it.
Izuma roared from behind her causing Kagome to look to her left. His eyes were fully red and dilated with a black pupil.
Kouga growled coming in between them. He knew he could subdue him eventually, but he needed to get Kagome out of here.
"Ginta, Hakkaku! Get her out of here!" He roared as his voice began to mesh with his inner youkai's.
They had already started for Kagome when he yelled out to them. Grabbing her by either arm not daring to look back, they brought her to the entrance of Kouga's den with Hikari and Youru trailing behind.
She could see the snow from outside from here. "Please, let me go," she begged.
"What?" Ginta said questioningly. They could smell her grief and desperation.
"Let me go," she pleaded jerking against their hold on her.
"But Sis we-" Hakkaku was cut off when she applied just enough reiki to sting them slightly.
They did release her and she bolted for the outside world. Hikari and Youru took off after her as she ran recklessly through the valley and into the treeline. Tears blurred her vision. She didn't know where she was going but she had to get out.
Not too long after, her foot caught a log hidden by the snow and she collapsed on the ground kicking snow up all around her. It was cold, extremely cold, but her body didn't register it. Her breathing started coming in gasps. She'd killed a newborn cub.
It's all my fault.
The voices inside her head, some that sounded like Inuyasha, began berating her for her weaknesses, insulting her prowess as a miko, and degrading her morality.
It wasn't long before the two ookami caught up with her. Hikari stopped short of the scene as did Youru beside him. The amber eyed canine took in her visage for a few moments before deciding to approach her. She was going to freeze like this. He glanced over his shoulder at his brother who also looked unsure, but his emotions were more easily displayed in the way that his ears slanted to either side. He could feel her pain.
Hikari slowly walked up to her and nudged her hand with his black nose. She didn't respond. He tried it once more. This time her eyes moved to his form. He wasn't a very affectionate ookami, but he wasn't immune to emotions. He could feel, sense, pain, and she was harboring a lot of it.
He sat down before her his figure looming over her laying form. He knew what she needed.
Kagome could barely make out the white ookami from the snow with her eyes so blurred with tears. The sight of him only brought back memories of the cub and her heart clenched once more in her chest. "I-I'm s-so so-rry," she managed as her fist balled into the snow. "I couldn't…" New tears fell as she tried to explain her emotional state to a creature that she wasn't even sure was capable of understanding her.
She gritted her teeth against the emotional pain. All she could see was the lifeless body of the cub before her.
She looked back up into the ookami's eyes. His normally stoic amber hues were marred with something. An emotion. One she knew all too well: It was sorrow.
Her body had collapsed due to fatigue from being emotionally drained and running, but she managed to find the strength to pull herself up into a sitting position. She raised her sapphire orbs to his amber hues that regarded her for a few more seconds.
Flashes of thoughts coursed through her mind. The playful, lively cubs from yesterday to the stillborn one she'd delivered not ten minutes ago. He would never play, he would never bite her nose or nuzzle her chin, he would never grow strong or learn to hunt. He would never even take his first breath.
She knew these feelings of grief were selfish at best. She wasn't his mother, but she loved this ookami tribe. She felt at home with them. Maybe not at first but they accepted her in a way that no other youkai would.
She laid a hand over her heart as tears streamed down her face. It hurt so much. She closed her eyes and saw the cub clearly. Her shoulders shook as she felt something warm press into her face. She opened her eyes slightly to see it was Hikari's face. He was nuzzling her and a soft, deep whine emanated from his chest. That was when she broke.
The first sob was a half gasp as her fingers threaded through his white fur. She felt another presence behind her but didn't bother to look. It was a warmth she recognized. Youru. Her chest quivered at the deeply seated pain in her heart. How could she ever go back after this? How could they ever accept her again?
Kouga slammed Izuma against the den wall. Both of their eyes bled red and each of their beasts rose to the challenge, but Kouga was stronger.
"Submit!" Kouga growled baring his fangs at his brethren. Izuma growled deeply in his chest. The look of anguish in his eyes was almost unbearable, "I know you hurt, but the cub was dead in the womb. You know this is not an uncommon thing for ookami youkai," he growled again trying to reach him.
Izuma sank his claws into Kouga's hand and he let him. He needed him to calm down. Yuri was on the floor silent and still. "Your mate needs you, Izuma."
It was then that recognition flooded his wild looking eyes. He glanced over to Yuri's form on the floor and something inside of him connected. The redness in his eyes receded, his fangs and claws reverted to normal, and his eyes regained their amber hues.
"Release me," Izuma said not looking into Kouga's eyes. It was a sign of submission. It was good enough for him.
Kouga gently released Izuma's shoulder. He couldn't blame him for how he reacted. In the same situation, he probably would have done the same. He knew he would have done the same. Thinking about who his mate was in those thoughts brought him back to reality. Kagome.
He left his pack to comfort each other over their loss. It was felt deeply by them all through their connection as a pack. Each member would grieve differently. Kagome, he knew, would be no exception to that.
He ran to where Ginta and Hakkaku stood before the entrance to his den. "How is she?" He asked not hearing a sound from within.
"Well," Ginta started staring at the cave entrance, "she.."
"She ran," Hakkaku finished glancing at the snowy expanse outside.
"What do you mean she ran," Kouga said angrily. He looked over his shoulder at the outside world. This was bad. She could die out there. "Damn," he cursed as he took off into the icy world.
He could still make out her footprints and noted two sets of ookami prints on either side.
Good. They'll keep her warm until I get there.
He released a breath he didn't know he'd been holding that came out in white puffs. She was okay for now, and with that in mind he hastened his pace.
A few minutes later he came upon a clearing and the sight within tugged at his heart. She was trembling. Youru was curled around her body that was leaned against Hikari like he was her lifeline. He could smell the heavy scent of salt that hung in the air like incense.
Youru raised his head at Kouga's appearance. His blue eyes were sad and worried. A soft whine came from him as he peered a Kouga like he could fix it. Like he could fix her.
Kouga knelt by Youru's side and scratched his head comfortingly about a foot away from Kagome. She hadn't noticed him yet, and the last thing he wanted to do was frighten her. Gently he pulsed his youki hoping for her aura to pick up on his.
He heard her gasp softly. She pulled back from Hikari with wide eyes and she stared at him a multiitude of emotions crossing her face.
"Kouga...I-I...I'm sorry I couldn't-I didn't mean to…" She tried to apologize stumbling over her words as fresh tears brimmed in her eyes. Her left hand was clutched over her heart.
He wanted to take her into his arms. He wanted to comfort her. To cure the ache in her heart that he felt echoing inside his own chest. He could practically feel her pain with how it was rolling off of her in waves. Her anguish. He knew she would blame herself, but these emotions were crippling.
"Kagome," he said gently reaching toward her, but she backed away like a frightened animal. It hurt him. "I promise, Kagome, I'm not mad. I know..," he said trying again, "the cub was stillborn. He wasn't alive even when inside the womb. It wasn't your fault," he said locking her sapphire eyes with his light-blue orbs. She stopped moving away from him and he moved slowly toward her before sitting down directly in front of her and repeated, "It wasn't your fault."
Those words resounded inside of her head and hearts echoing continuously. Somewhere, in the logical part of her mind, she knew that the cub had been dead already, but the emotional side of her refused to think that she couldn't have saved him. However, hearing the words out loud was a semi-release for her.
Kouga took her trembling hand as tears filled her eyes. He wasn't going to try and woo her right now. His touch was suppose to be comforting and reassuring. Slowly, she leaned her head forward and rested it on his left shoulder. A small smile graced his, previously, sullen features. She was going to be okay. Gently he stroked circles on her hand with his thumb.
Several moments passed before she spoke, "Do you think they'll hate me?"
Kouga's brow furrowed, "Izuma and Yuri?" He questioned tilting his head to the side to look at her, but her hair curtained around her face hiding it from him.
"The pack, them, everyone," she said softly. He knew the weight of the question. He couldn't lie. The pack would be depressed for awhile. The death of a cub was no light matter to them, but they didn't blame her for it. It was a natural part of life.
"They don't hate you, Kagome," he said softly as he raised his left hand and cautiously placed it on the middle of her back where he rubbed circles soothingly, "they are all saddened. It is hard when a cub dies. Especially at birth, but I know they won't blame you for it. Sadly, since cubs are born the way they are with the umbilical cord...what happened tonight...is not an uncommon thing."
She was quiet for a couple of minutes, and Kouga was afraid she'd fallen asleep with how slow her breathing was. Then she replied, "He's going to hate me."
Kouga's gaze hardened. Izuma. He knew he would be the one to act on his animosity toward her. He would have to be more watchful now. Izuma wasn't one to let things lie. Even if Yuri forgave Kagome, which he thought she would, Izuma would not. He restrained a growl from forming in his throat at the thought. "We will handle that when it happens. I promise. He won't hurt you," Kouga said leaning his head against hers. He felt her nod against his shoulder.
They stayed there for a few more minutes, but the temperature was dropping drastically by the minute. He was even beginning to feel the sting of the snow against his skin. It was time to get her back to the den.
"Kagome, we need to go back now," he said softly. He felt her tense against him. "You don't have to talk to anyone. I'll just take you back to the den, and you can come out when you feel like it." She was tense for a few more minutes before he felt her shoulders slump in defeat.
"Okay," her voice sounded broken and hoarse from tears. He never wanted it to sound like this again.
He rose from the ground slowly allowing her to stand with him. Her feet were bare and very red. Silently he cursed himself for not getting to her sooner. Kagome swayed against him once she was on her feet. Apparently the circulation wasn't as it should be. Wasting no time he swept her off of her feet and dashed back toward the den at an incredible speed. Youru and Hikari sprinted behind him, but still were nearly nine feet or so in trailing him.
The relieved faces of Ginta and Hakkaku met them at the cave entrance. Sometime during the trip back Kagome had passed out in his arms. Kouga stopped short before them as she curled into his chest, toward warmth. He couldn't help the swell in his chest. She'd felt safe enough in his arms to fall asleep. A ghost of a smile turned his lips as he glanced down at her. Her raven tresses spilled over his arms in waves.
Blinking, he tore his gaze from her to look up at his second and good friend. Both of them wore sly smirks on their face in spite of the night's events. Kouga's eyes narrowed.
"What," he growled softly looking from one to the other.
"Oh nothing," Ginta said scratching the back of his neck, smile still in place, "just haven't seen that look in awhile."
"What look," Kouga asked raising an eyebrow.
"Oh, you know," Hakkaku said not even trying to act sheepish about it, "the look you only get when Sis is around."
Kouga glared at the ookami youkai but it was a half hearted endeavor. "I don't know what you're talking about," Kouga spat attempting to disregard his remark, but Hakkaku pushed it.
"As if," he said glancing down at the sleeping woman, "you look like the love-bug bit ya."
A loud thwack was heard in the cave. The noise resounded off of the walls and then there was silence. Kouga's fist was raised slightly and Hakkaku was grabbing his head while his eyes watered.
"I was only saying the truth," Hakkaku whined rubbing his head tenderly.
"Be quiet," Kouga grumbled, "you'll wake her up," he said moving toward his den his hair and tail swaying slightly with his movement. He glanced back over his shoulder at the duo before he spoke again, "Don't let anyone bother her tomorrow," he glanced down at her sleeping form and could still see the tear stains on her face, "She's beaten herself up enough as it is. She doesn't need any more help."
Ginta and Hakkaku nodded. Even they could still smell the sour scent of anguish and salt from her tears. It was strong. She'd cried a lot...and hurt more.
With a nod, Kouga disappeared into the darkness of his den with both Youru and Hikari trailing behind him.