Creatures of the Moon

Chapter Five

"Kouga?" the sweet voiced girl next to him said, inquiringly. One of her legs was off the side, skimming over the water, creating small ripples.

"Yeah?" the fourteen-year-old asked gruffly. He lay on his back, his hands behind his head looking up at the darkening sky. Night was coming fast and it was his most hated day. There would be a full moon that night, the night where his kind of werewolf went crazy.

She fell back on the grass and turned to face him, though he wasn't looking at her. She let out a small sigh before lifting herself up just enough to kiss his lips tenderly. He reacted instantly putting a hand to the back of her neck, not letting her escape.

Finally, he let her go and she lay back down, leaning her head against his chest.

"Will you stay with me forever?" she asked softly.

He let a smile come to his lips. "Yeah," he responded, then looking at the darkening sky, "but I have to go now."

He got up forcing her to get up as well. She frowned prettily. "But why?"

Standing, he stretched then looked down at her. "I'll tell you one day," he murmured, but not loud enough for her to hear.

He began sprinting away, letting the change come as he ran. He ran with all his strength, getting as far away from her as he could. He couldn't let himself change while he was near her, it was too risky. Once a certain time came at night, he wouldn't be able to control his own actions, he would be completely wild and he couldn't be near her when that happened. He wouldn't be able to stop anything that he did, wouldn't want

Oh, how fast he ran.

He growled in his sleep, his legs twitching as he remembered the speed at which he ran. Kouga's tail began pounding wildly against the ground and he whimpered before he sprung up, suddenly fully awake. His heart was raced in his chest and he attempted to slow it down, to no prevail.

It had been a long time since he'd dreamed of her and he wished he hadn't. No matter how sweet the dream, it always left him in a bitter mood.

Yawning, showing his large, razor-sharp teeth, Kouga padded softly across the room, his paws making a faint sound as he walked. Though it was still very early Saturday morning, around two or so, Kouga knew he wouldn't be able to go back to sleep after his dream.

Kouga only took two steps out of the room before he sensed something was wrong. Growling, his pace quickened into a run, heading for the entrance of the apartment building his pack inhabited, just as Hakkaku came bursting through the door.

"Kouga!" he said, slightly breathless.

What's happening? Kouga inquired, stopping only when he was in front of his wolf.

"It's… it's Inuyasha," he blurted out

His black fur bristled and just the thought of the enemy leader and his hackles raised. Where is he? Kouga asked.

"He's far off… but we can smell him since he's downwind of us. He's… been there for awhile, pacing back and forth, as though… waiting for someone," his wolf responded, though slightly hesitant.

Kouga snarled and moved around Hakkaku to quickly head toward the exit only to be stopped as a reddish-brown wolf stepped in front of him.

Stand down, Kouga commanded of the other wolf.

He could smell her nervousness but except for one paw taking a small step back, she still stayed in his way.

It could be a trap, Ayame told him, her green eyes pleading with him.

Kagura, who had been lurking in the shadows, stepped forward next to Ayame. "She's right, you know," Kagura commented. He showed her his glistening fangs and she had to laugh. "Whether you like it or not, it might be a trap. You don't know how many wolves could be out there waiting to attack you."

Inuyasha's not the type to have others fight his battles, Kouga commented, then glanced at Hakkaku. How many?

No use in being foolish though. He didn't think Inuyasha would bring anyone else (though it was stupid on his part, since he was near his enemy's pack that greatly outnumbered him) but he could ask to make sure. But Inuyasha was like him, neither would have anyone else fight their battles and they wanted to win against the other, one on one. Call them both idiots. They were, in their own right.

"We've only smelt Inuyasha, but no one on watch has dared go near him," Hakkaku said truthfully.

Kouga made his way around Ayame but she caught up with him. Please, she begged.

Kouga, fed up, growled and snapped at the air in front of her face in warning, showing that if she stopped him again, there would be consequences. Ayame backed off, her tail between her legs as she lowered her body to the ground. Her green eyes still pleaded with him not to go alone, but he looked away before sprinting toward the exit.

He could do whatever the hell he wanted.

"Don't get yourself killed," Kagura called out nonchalantly with a mocking edge.

Kouga pretended like he hadn't heard. One day, he'd really have to deal with the bitch.

It was unusual for a wolf to fight alone, but he wasn't a wolf in true and their human sides could be either hazardous or helpful. In this case, it was unsure which it was.

He was outside and running through the woods in a manner of minutes. Inuyasha's scent started out slight to the point where Kouga could hardly sense his enemy, but it grew stronger quickly. The cold fall breeze nipped at him, but his black fur was able to withstand the night's cold.

Not too far away, Kouga found him, a bit uphill from him. The silver wolf looked down at him, his teeth bared and glistening as a growl deep in his throat began. His wolf form was smaller than Kouga's and was not as strong, which put Inuyasha at a disadvantage, yet he was always able to keep up with Kouga.

Kouga, the silver wolf snarled as he walked down the hill, swerving around the trees. When he reached the ground, the two began walking in a circle, always watching the enemy and searching for weakness.

Inuyasha, Kouga growled in turn. Noticing the furious look in the other wolf's amber eyes, Kouga couldn't help but give a toothy smile, having some idea why he was so angry.

The silver wolf's eyes narrowed and he let out a bark-like noise before he sprung at Kouga.

Kagome sprung up into a sitting position on the couch, the blanket that was covering her tumbling to her lap. Her stomach knotted and she had a horrible feeling deep inside. Her face turned to the dark night outside the apartment window.

"Something's wrong," she whispered into the dark room.

Something wet touched her hand that was draped over the couch and she yanked it back with a small yelp. Realizing it was only Inuyasha's dog, Kagome relaxed, lying back down as she pet him. She closed her eyes, trying to fight away the bad feeling as she tried to go back to sleep, but the feeling wouldn't leave.

Sensing her uneasiness, Miroku jumped up on the couch next to her.

Might as well get as much out of this as I can, were Miroku's lecherous thoughts.

He nuzzled his face against hers before she yawned sleepily and her mind began drifting away. She turned on her side, snuggling against the back of the couch. Miroku sighed silently before curling against her back and resting his chin on her side, making her feel secure and safe.

Kouga jumped back and away from Inuyasha's assault just in time. Inuyasha continued to attack but Kouga only danced back from each and every one with ease and still wearing that same toothy smile. Inuyasha's anger made him careless and made him much easier to dodge, but Kouga played along. He would until he finally got annoyed enough to attack Inuyasha on his own.

And what do I owe this honor? Kouga asked mockingly as he once again yanked his leg away when the silver wolf tried to bite him.

Inuyasha growled and pounced on top of Kouga. Stay away from her.

Kouga wriggled away from under Inuyasha after the smaller wolf had swatted a paw at him, giving Kouga a small flesh wound, so small that it would heal in a manner of minutes.

Kouga felt a flicker of anger at his words and barked back, I can do what I want.

Not with her, you can't, Inuyasha informed the mostly black wolf as he made another jump for him. He missed and quickly focused on remaining on his feet as he felt off-balance.

The two began circling each other once again as Kouga responded. She's not a wolf and I see no marks on her that make her yours. That means she can do what she pleases with whoever she pleases.

And I don't care who she's with! Inuyasha lied, just as long as it's not you!

Inuyasha ran forward, Kouga moved effortlessly to the side.

I'll claim her as mine, the black wolf taunted.

You won't, growled the smaller of the two. Kouga grinned which infuriated Inuyasha further. You can't if you're not alive to!

won't, growled the smaller of the two. Kouga grinned which infuriated Inuyasha further. Inuyasha threw in all his strength and speed in to an attack as he ran at Kouga, catching the bigger wolf by surprise. He grabbed Kouga by the neck, using his teeth in a death grip. Kouga went up on his hind legs and thrashed around, using his paws to push Inuyasha backward, but he was reluctant to give up his hold on his neck until he was forced to as Kouga's clawed at his eye.

Their bodies dodging and rolling about the ground, blood was drawn and thrown all over the place. A snap here, a batted paw there, they both threw everything they had into the fight, no more playing around on either side. Each one wanted to send the other into an eternal sleep, no matter what it took.

"Is it alright to let her sleep that long? Her mom's probably already wondering where she is by now since she was suppose to be home last night." Deep voice, close by.

"Then perhaps you should wake her up." Female, distant.

Somewhere in her mind she registered the voices, but she was still more than half-asleep and it didn't completely connect for her. Someone nudged her shoulder.

"Kagome."

Another nudge.

"Kagome, wake up."

Letting out a soft moan, she slowly blinked open her eyes until the world was in focus once again.

What she saw was Miroku's face only a few inches from hers.

SMACK!

Kagome sat up abruptly, her hand held to her chest, above her heart. "Don't do that, you scared me!"

Miroku was kneeling on the floor with his eyes closed and a huge red welt on his cheek, his eyebrow twitching in an annoyed fashion.

Kagome continued, "to wake up with a perv like you only inches away… I thought you might be doing something, well, lecherous."

Miroku turned to Kaede, who stood in the doorway giving him a 'you-get-what-you-deserve' look. Miroku made a noise that sounded like a whimper, but Kagome knew he was faking. "You see how she treats me? Especially when I was trying to be nice…."

Kaede shook her head and walked back into the kitchen.

Kagome rolled her eyes. "You're never nice to a girl without an alternative motive."

Miroku pretended to look offended as he clasped her hands in his. "Why, Kagome! I would never…"

Kagome took her hands back. "Sure, you wouldn't…" she said dryly. Miroku grinned. She looked around the room, then noticing a few things missing asked, "where's Inuyasha and Marco?"

"Marco's… in the back room," Miroku said hastily. He got up from his kneeling position and sat on the edge of the coffee table before handing her the note next to him. "From Inuyasha," he explained.

She read it over quickly, it explaining how he had to leave, before setting it down again. Catching a glance at the clock she suddenly stood up. "Ah, it's nearly noon! I have to get home! Why didn't anyone wake me!"

Miroku glared at her. "I did wake you! And got slapped for it, I might add."

Kagome stuck her tongue out at him before quickly rushing toward the door but stopped as she reached it. "Oh, I should say goodbye to Kaede and Marco.…"

Miroku abruptly stood up and ushered her out of the room. "No—no need for that! You have to hurry home, remember? I'll go with you to keep away troublesome youths."

You are one of those troublesome youth, Kagome thought dryly. "Troublesome youths at noon?" Kagome questioned before shaking her head with a smile. "What were you doing at Inuyasha's anyway?"

"I… came this morning, looking for Inuyasha," he lied, "then I saw a sleeping beauty and decided to stay awhile longer…"

Kagome hit him gently in the back of the head, but smiled at his comment nonetheless. Being friends with Miroku for so long, she was use to his antics by now and knew how to ignore them.

They walked in comfortable silence, which was only interrupted once when Kagome had complained about the cold and Miroku had offered a way to warm her up. That earned him a kick in the shin.

They were halfway to Kagome's home, taking the shortcut through the woods, when Miroku abruptly stopped. His face was turned upward and his nostrils flared as though smelling the area around them. His head snapped to the side, his eyes suddenly intense before looking down at Kagome.

"I have to go," he said seriously. His usually teasing or light tone was gone.

"O-Okay," Kagome said uncertainly.

Miroku nodded to her before taking off in the direction he had looked in, moving so fast that Kagome was having trouble following his movements.

Why was he in such a hurry?

Miroku hurried, running as fast as he dared, only slowly down for a second to catch a whiff of the smell and change his direction slightly. When he was with Kagome he could faintly make out the aroma… but he knew what it was immediately.

Blood. Inuyasha's blood.

It started to mix with someone else's who he could only guess was Kouga and he immediately could already guess what had happened. Following the scent of blood as it got stronger, he finally reached Inuyasha.

He lay on the floor, hardly moving and still in his wolf form, which was a good sign since werewolves nine times out of ten reverted back to their human form after they die. His usual silver fur was coated with a brown color from the dried blood as well as the dark red blood that continued to flow from his wounds. Hardly any of his fur was still it's original color. The ground was stained with both their blood, but the other wolf was nowhere in sight.

Miroku quickly crouched down next to his leader and friend. "Inuyasha?"

The wolf slowly opened his golden eyes to look at Miroku.

"Are you alright? Where's Kouga?" Miroku asked.

I gave him… a fatal neck wound… he must have went back… to his… healer, Inuyasha told him. He had lifted his head up slightly to talk to Miroku, but it suddenly dropped to the ground as his eyes closed and he was absolutely still.

Miroku could hear his swallow breathing and his erratic heartbeat, so wasn't too alarmed when he was still because he knew he wasn't dead. He was still worried though.

The only reason that Miroku could conclude of why Kouga would ever leave Inuyasha in this condition without killing him was that he was almost positive the silver wolf would die on his own. He could've sent one of his wolves to finish Inuyasha off for good when he went back, but he'd never let anyone else take his glory of killing the other leader from him. So assuming Inuyasha would die, he had left to tend to his own deadly wound before he too died.

Hauling Inuyasha up in his arms, he took off running toward their pack's 'den' and their healer.

The healer's hands shook just the smallest bit as she worked on Kouga's wound. When he arrived he had been minutes away from dying. That was too close, Ayame thought grimly. If he had died… Ayame didn't know what she would do or what would happen to the pack. Packs were suppose to be as close as family, but their's had never been so and right now the only thing that kept them together without (too much) fighting in the ranks, was Kouga. If he had died…

Ayame did all she could to heal him, but there was still a wound in his neck that she had to keep bandaged. She would have healed his neck completely, but she had wanted to keep some of her energy to heal the various wounds all over the rest of his body, so for the moment, he'd have to live with still being a bit wounded. Not that he would be for long with how fast werewolves healed.

Kagura, who sat on the edge on the bed with her arms crossed, glared at their foolish leader. "Don't say we didn't warn you."

Kouga growled, even though it hurt his wounded throat. An vibration in his voice cords hurt at the moment, and that included all sound.

"At least he's in worse shape then I am, he'll be dying an moment now if his wolves haven't found him. And even if they did, probably not in enough time to save him," Kouga sneered.

Ayame washed her bloody hands before turning back to him. "You," Ayame said, tapping one finger lightly on the bandages on Kouga's wounded neck. It sent a small shock of pain through him and he glared. She continued, "should be more careful."

"Don't tell him that, it's not like he's actually going to listen. He's the leader, so he thinks he's all power, invincible even," Kagura said. She stared intensely into his eyes. "And what would you have done if Ayame wasn't here? Die, most likely," she sneered.

"Kouga, please don't try something like that again. Bring someone with you next time," Ayame told him.

"That fight was just between me and Inuyasha," he told her roughly.

Kagura shook her head and left the room and Ayame, seeing this, was not far behind. Kouga narrowed his eyes. He didn't like how faithfully Ayame had followed her out of the room.

Now he had just one thing to do…. He saw someone else pass by the door and called out to her before she disappeared.

"New girl," he called out.

The girl abruptly stopped and moved to the doorway, leaning against it. She crossed her arms, while saying, "I do have a name, you know."

She wasn't even sure why she was at the den in the first place. Well, actually, she did, but she wasn't happy about it. Her father had thought it would better if she learned to 'socialize' with her own kind since she was hardly with her own pack. If only he knew what really went on….

Kouga raised an eyebrow. "And what might that be?"

"Sango," she said as she walked further into the room.

"I need you to do something for me."

That was it. A commanding tone from her superior, leaving no room for argument.

"What kind of 'something'?" she asked suspiciously.

Her eyes fell to the bandage around his neck and a question must have formed in her eyes, because he answered as he touched his neck, "a gift from Inuyasha." He put his hand down and looked intently at Sango. "I can't go out like this, or humans, with their curious nature, will be suspicious especially with the smaller wounds all over too. So I need you to give someone a message for me."

"Why me? Why not someone else?" Sango inquired.

"Because I trust you not to tell anyone," he said with a rough edge to it.

Ah, a threat. He was hoping she would be too intimated by him to tell anyone about it, but, of course, she wasn't. It was stupid of him to pick someone he had barely met to do something for him because he couldn't possible know what type of person she was. It didn't really matter to her though, she wasn't close enough to any of the other wolves to tell them anything.

She tried to school her expression and asked who it was with as little emotion in it as possible.

"I had plans with someone tonight—" he began, trying to avoid saying the name as long as possible. He didn't know if he trusted the wolf to keep her silence and wasn't sure he wanted the rest of the pack to know just yet.

Then as she thought about it and the phone conversation she had with her friend last night, before she could answer, she abruptly said, "it's Kagome, isn't it?"

After talking with Kagome on the phone the day before, she had gotten certain unintentional hints from her about going out that Saturday….

From his surprised face, she continued, "it is, it's Kagome."

"How do you know her?" he asked. It was surprising that she would know something like that, especially when she was surrounded by Inuyasha or his wolves most of the time.

"We're… friends," Sango told her.

"Good, then you can tell her I can't go out with her tonight," Kouga told her.

"So you make me out me to be the bad guy," Sango grumbled to herself, then to him said, "what do you want me to say? I need to give her a reason."

"I don't know, make up an excuse," he informed her.

Sango put a hand to her forehead as she paced around the room for a second, then turned back to Kouga. "Alright, I'll do it. But only because she's my friend and I don't want her to think she's been stood up," Sango told him, emphasizing the word only, as though telling him he wasn't in charge of her. He, however, didn't get the implication and Kouga grinned while Sango narrowed her eyes at him. "But that doesn't mean she won't be angry at you for not going out or coming yourself."

With that, she turned and walked out the door, heading toward Kagome's house to tell her friend that her date couldn't make it that night.

A task every best friend wanted to perform. Riight.