Creatures of the Moon
Chapter Eight
"Hmm, day."
"Night."
"Sun."
"Moon."
"Pillow."
"Fight."
"Miroku."
"Pervert."
"Oh, I'm sorry the answer we were going for was lecher. Yes, lecher was the correct answer," Kagome responded, answering as though she were a cheesy game show host.
Sango tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "I thought there were no answers in this game," Sango said dryly, glancing at Kagome as they walked home from school, "you're just suppose to say the first thing that comes to mind."
Kagome shrugged. "Well, yeah, but with Miroku, there's only that word that always comes to mind where he's involved. It's like a reflex thought."
"Ah, I see, oh wise teacher. I still have much to learn from you," Sango replied nodding, then laughed when Kagome stuck her tongue out at her, "why suddenly bring him up anyway?"
Kagome gave her a lopsided-smile that Sango couldn't see because she was watching the ground as they walked. "Because he's standing twenty feet away from us, looking this way."
"Huh?"
Sango abruptly stopped and looked up, Kagome stopping with her. Damn, she should have noticed him, even if he was upwind of her. That's what she gets for letting her guard down for a second, the enemy sneaks up on her. …Even if he had an odd way of being her enemy.
Kagome beckoned him over, making Sango send a glare her way. True, she could walk away to avoid Miroku, but she didn't think she'd get that far before Kagome dragged her back over. If Kagome saw the look, she ignored it. And hey… what was with the smile of Kagome's face? Did she enjoy Sango's discomfort! Some friend I have, she thought darkly.
Miroku was upon them in no time, his normal charming smile on his face. "Is there something I could do for you lovely ladies?"
Sango wanted to snort at his innocent seeming words. Innocent, right.
Kagome, however, didn't want to talk pleasantries; she got right down to business. Her face was very serious and worried, which made his smile falter. She hadn't wanted to ask before when Inuyasha was around, not sure if Miroku wanted Inuyasha to know. Because of that, the subject had worried her all day.
"Is he alright?" Kagome asked quietly.
Miroku knew who she meant right away. The smile was gone, but his face was kind as he put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "He's fine, he woke up yesterday night," he told her gently.
She looked relieved and smiled. "Good," she said while nodding. Kagome had been worried when Miroku had suddenly taken Shippo away the night before, but if Miroku said he was fine and she trusted his words.
Sango felt a little out of the loop, not sure who or what they were discussing. She was slightly behind the two, not going the few feet that Kagome had to greet him. Miroku suddenly looked passed Kagome and to Sango, where she stood motionless.
He walked toward her slowly, not making any sudden movements that she could view as a threat. However, he didn't stop until he was inches from her. Kagome watched the exchange curiously. Something told her not to interfere, for this wasn't about her. Nevertheless, she wanted to watch the exchange.
A low rumbling came from Sango's throat, but it wasn't menacing. "You're invading my personal space again."
His hand came up, touching the small band-aid on her cheek and at the same time, caressing her cheek. He didn't respond to her words though, only spoke his own. "Our little defender of justice."
She took a step back and his hand dropped away.. "More like stopping two idiots from fighting which didn't, by the way, work."
Miroku shook his head, as though he understood something she didn't. He began to walk past her, their shoulders and arms brushing lightly as he did. "Just when I think I hate all of you, someone does something that reminds me differently."
Was that a compliment or an insult?
"Kouga did it because he had to uphold the truce on school grounds, you did it because you wanted to," he continued.
His hand trailed against her body, brushing against first her side and then… her ass. Her eyebrow twitched in annoyance. "Miroku!" she yelled, spinning around. Miroku, however, was already moving away at a very fast pace. Smart boy, or rather, wolf.
Sango turned back around, but couldn't help the small smile on her face.
Kagome crossed her arms. "I saw that, you know."
Sango started. She had forgotten Kagome was there. "What, it was all him, not me," she said in defense.
"Yes, but I also saw the look on your face," she informed her. Sango's face began to heat up. "And look, now you're all red."
She touched her heated cheeks where her fingertips brushed against the band-aid on her cheek as well, reminding her of what happened a few hours ago.
Sango leaned back against the tree, her eyes closing as she yawned. Lunchtime, the perfect time to catch up on some sleep—besides class time, that is. She would've liked to lay in the sun where it was warmer, but under the shade of the tree kept her from view as she rested.
The wind made her cold, but it also brought her sounds from all over. Gossip between girls, rumors being spread and changing rapidly as they went along, like a bad case of the game telephone. She began to relax more and more, her breathing becoming deep and even, when menacing growls reached her ears.
She opened her eyes reluctantly and dragged herself to her feet, more than a little curious. Following what she could hear, she moved toward the sounds, but didn't even need to listen after awhile. The big group of people surrounding something they must have found interesting in its center was a big enough hint of where to go.
Two werewolves, each from different packs, were found in the middle of the spectators, exchanging insults with other wolves and humans alike surrounding them. The humans and a few of the wolves chanted "fight" while some of the werewolves looked unsure. They knew there was no fighting on school ground. It was suppose to be a safe haven between the two packs.
Seeing that no one else was willing to do anything, Sango pushed her way through the crowd to the two in the center. Maybe because she was new to the whole being a werewolf thing she was willing to do something, she didn't know for certain, but the rest only watched, doing nothing. Some help they were.
Sango didn't recognize either wolf, but from the slight difference in scent, she could tell which was of her pack and which was Inuyasha's. Kouga's wolf was about to take a swing at the other, but Sango caught his arm. "Knock it off you guys," Sango told them firmly.
The wolf she held onto, her own ally, turned toward her, giving her a fierce look, before he threw her violently away from him. Surprised, she stumbled backwards and would have fallen to the ground if a few wolves in the crowd surrounding them hadn't caught her before she could. "This doesn't concern you, bitch," he snarled at her.
Now, she knew technically that she was a bitch, as was classified as a female of their species, but the way he said it made her blood boil. "It does concern me when you're about to do something idiotic, that'll probably get you in trouble later anyway."
The enemy looked at a loss of what to do. He wanted to fight the other wolf, true, but with Sango's interference and the two allies fighting, he was lost. So, wisely, he kept his mouth shut.
Kouga's wolf barred his teeth at her when she stepped closer to him again. He swatted a hand at her face quickly, something she wasn't expecting. Her face flew to the side with the force of it, her hair covering her face and when she looked back to him, he saw with satisfaction that there were two long, but swallow cuts on her cheek. Her teeth were clenched together tightly.
She was about to open her mouth to say something, when Kouga pushed his way through the crowd. When his wolf caught sight of his leader, Sango saw him visibly cringe, the human way of trying to make himself seem as small and unthreatening as possible. Kouga was having none of it.
He didn't even pause for a second as he took the wolf by the collar in one hand and punched him with the other. The teen fell to the floor with the force of it and some of the crowd let out muffled gasps. The wolf didn't even try to get up, keeping his head down. The only movement he made was to spit out the blood that was welling in his mouth. Sango nearly cringed herself when she thought she saw a tooth be spit out with the thick liquid.
"You know the rules," Kouga said to his wolf lowly, his voice deep.
A second powerful wolf made its way through the crowd, the silver hair unmistakable. "What the hell is going on?" Inuyasha asked. He caught sight of Kouga and his golden eyes narrowed. "Feh, you here explains everything."
Kouga met his gaze that was supposed to be intimating with one of his own. "Why don't you ask him," he began, nodding toward Inuyasha's wolf, "why he was picking a fight with my wo—friend here," he finished, for a moment there forgetting they were surrounded by both humans and wolves.
A murmur went through the humans, many asking themselves or others, "why did he just hit one of his friends?" The others kept quiet, some knowing the reason.
Inuyasha's wolf shrunk away and tried to fade into the crowd, but Inuyasha grabbed him before he could. He began to spit more insults out at Kouga, but Kouga seemed not to notice for once. He closed his eyes, trying to keep himself under control as the scent of blood surrounded him. It was too close to the full moon and the scent of the metallic-tasting liquid was getting to him. If his control was being tested, what of his wolves with less willpower then him?
He snapped his eyes open and looked toward the source, finding himself looking at his newest wolf, blood covering her entire right cheek and fresh blood still surfacing. For just a flash as he looked at her, so quick that no one else noticed but Sango, his eyes changed to those of a wolf.
"Leave," he told her, his voice low and commanding.
Sango didn't move for a second, then turned and left through the crowd, ignoring their gasps when they saw her face. She didn't need this, didn't have to interfere. And what did she get for it? Scratched up.
Let's see if I help someone again soon, Sango thought bitterly.
Kagome had found her not minutes later and immediately rushed Sango to the nurse to get the cuts cleaned and bandaged, but what Kagome didn't know at that time was that the cuts would be entirely healed only a few hours later. The only reason she still wore the bandage now was because it would be abnormal for a human to have healed so fast.
It was true that wolves healed amazing fast, but damage from another wolf did take longer to heal than from somewhere else. Something as shallow as the cuts she had would take a few minutes to heal, but by another wolf, it might take so long as an hour or two.
"Sango?"
She snapped out of her daze, letting the hand that touched the band-aid fall to her side. "Sorry, I was daydreaming there for a few minutes."
Kagome smiled wickedly. "About Miroku?"
"No," was Sango's automatic, firm response.
Kagome laughed a bit before saying, "alright, then let's continue our game." The two began walking again as Kagome thought. "Alright, home."
"Alone," was Sango's quick response.
Kagome nodded. "Good movie. Umm, movie!"
A smile lit her lips. "The Call of the Wild."
Kouga sat in his chair in front of his entire pack, all of them crowded into one room, in either animal or human form, whichever they preferred. It was like a king sitting in front of all his subjects, all of them entirely silent, waiting to see what he had to say.
"Last night," he started, his voice ringing throughout the quiet room. His voice had a growl-like quality to it, meaning he wasn't very happy. "One of the Pack of Longwood's pups was attacked and wounded."
Some of the pack cheered or growled in approval, depending on which form they were in. Others were wise enough to keep quiet, noticing Kouga's foul mood.
"I didn't give this command," he growled fiercely at them. Those that had applauded, immediately shut up. "I'm the one that rules this pack, you only obey my commands."
Sango only partially listened after that as he lectured the pack on obedience. She understand his need to have control when their pack wasn't too functional and kind to one another, as the cut on her cheek that afternoon proved. He was trying to bring the pack together, stopping the violence within it. If they could ever actually function like a normal pack should, they'd be able to defeat Inuyasha's pack once and for. After all, their type of wolf was stronger, but they weren't as cunning or as trusting of one another.
When it came down to it, their pack was corrupted and deficient. Longwood's was strong in their trusting and caring with no plots against one another. In the end, who would win? The answer seemed painfully obvious to her.
Kouga continued to threaten because that was the only thing that kept his wolves in line, that and actually violent action. He tried to get those that executed the plan to come forth, but quite obviously, no one did. Sango shook her head, wondering if she would have been better off without a pack.
Kouga snarled at them all before commanding, "leave now and get out of my sight."
The wolves quickly left, wanting to get out before Kouga decided to take his anger out on one of them. One werewolf that Kagura recognized as the one that had not wanted to go hunting with her, tried to stay behind. She glared at him, her eyes turning into those of a wolf, and he more or less literally, ran out of the room. Had he been in wolf form, he would have had his tail between his legs.
Kagura stood a few feet away from Kouga, her head tilted as she gazed at him. "There was a time when you'd praise us for nearly killing one of their wolves."
Sango had stayed behind, lingering in the shadows, curious to what Kagura had stayed behind for when Kouga seemed like he'd rip the head off the next person who talked to him. At Kagura's words, she narrowed her eyes. He'd said the wolf was wounded, never that he was nearly killed. Kouga, however, did not notice this slip.
"They're not allowed to act without my word. Wolves should know their place," Kouga informed her sharply. But was that the real reason? Memories of Kagome's pained and worried expression as she tended to the pup… those wolves, at least some of them, were truly her friends. He didn't like seeing her in any kind of pain.
He closed his eyes and leaned back. He looked relaxed, but his nails digging into the wood of the chair told differently.
"And what would you do to those that harmed this wolf?" she asked, one eyebrow raised, her tone mocking. "Give them over to Inuyasha and his pack so justice could be served?" She sneered. "They only do what you've taught them. Attack the enemy." Kouga's nails dug deeper into the wood, his hands changing involuntarily so that they were half-wolf. Kagura enjoyed the display. "But you've been spending time with the enemy, haven't you? At least, you've spent time with the enemy's bitch. I smelt that human on you last night, Kouga."
And it had pissed her off, too. Why would he need to be around a human wench when he had many potential mates here? Mainly, her. He wouldn't let him be taken by some human bitch. That girl would run everything.
In the blink of an eye, Kouga was suddenly in front of her, his hand closed around her throat. "That's enough," he told her through gritted teeth. He squeezed tighter and droplets of blood fell where his piercing nails touched her skin. She clawed at his hand, trying to make him let go. "I already told you to leave." He threw her to the floor. "Don't make me say it again."
Her neck was burning with pain and she touched it, then immediately took her hand down. She wouldn't show him weakness. Her eyes filled with rage as she glared at him, Kagura spun around and began storming out of the room.
Seeing that Kagura was leaving, Sango stepped out of the shadows and began moving forward toward Kouga. She wanted to ask him about certain things Kagura said, but suddenly the wolf in question blocked her way.
Perfect,Kagura thought. Something to release her anger on. If she couldn't hurt Kouga…
Besides, what was she staying behind for anyway? In the position just below Kouga, Kagura had some rights that she had given herself so that she didn't always obey Kouga's word. What was this newly turned still doing? Her eyes narrowed.
While she was in thought, Sango tried to go around her, taking a step to the left, but Kagura only responded instinctively by taking a step to her right. She didn't like this dancing around. She'd rather Kagura just spit out whatever was making her stay in Sango's way. Finally, Kagura spoke.
"You won't replace me as his second," she growled at the new werewolf.
Sango stared at her as though she were crazy. Where did she get the idea that she wanted to be in the second best position in this insane pack? Instead, she insulted, "if it means chasing after Kouga, trying to get him to sleep with me, no thanks, I'd rather not."
That was it, the last bit of Kagura's control broke and she launched herself at Sango. Not expecting it, Sango barely had time to move away and Kagura wound up getting hold of her arm. She twisted, bringing Sango to her knees with a muffled cry.
"Whoever said I wanted to, anyway?" Sango asked, angrily.
Kagura responded by bringing Sango's arm painfully behind her back, twisting it once more. Having enough, Sango lifted her leg and used her foot to kick Kagura, causing her to lose balance and drop Sango's arm. She stood up and avoided when Kagura tried to catch her again, not going to be caught the same way twice. She smiled, and not a nice smile, at Kagura, which caused her eyes to narrow.
"What?"
"You want to dominate Kouga by sleeping with him, so that you can lead this pack because you're not strong enough to all out beat him. But…" Sango finished in her mind, it just amuses me that Kagome, a non-wolf, could dominate Kouga without using any physical force—at least not the fighting kind—and you'd never even be able to come close doing that. Even by sex, you couldn't control him.
Anger showing clear on her face, Kagura swept the feet out from under Sango, making Sango fall onto her back with a yelp. She recovered quickly and saw Kagura standing over her with a satisfied smile.
Idiot, you left yourself vulnerable, Sango thought before lifting her leg and with all her might kicked Kagura in the kneecap. A sickening crunch was heard.
Kagura let out something between a scream and howl, before falling to her knees in pain—which only made it hurt worse. "You bitch!" she screamed, "You'll pay for that!"
With Sango still lying on the floor, Kagura lunged forward, landing on her better side. She took hold of Sango's throat, much the same way Kouga did to her and squeezed. And squeezed. Sango gagged, grabbing onto her wrists, trying to take her hands away. Her vision was starting to fade around the edges. She couldn't breathe.
Oh God, she couldn't breathe.
"Kagura, stop," Kouga commanded. Kagura didn't even flinch at his tone. "Stop."
Her grip only got tighter.
A few moments after Sango was certain she would die, Kagura let go and Sango rolled away, coughing and gasping for breath. Kouga made a loud bark-like noise and someone came into the room.
"Help Kagura to her room. Don't bring her to Ayame, her injuries are her own fault. She'll heal them normally," Kouga instructed.
When the boy reached Kagura, she let out a soft growl, not wanting help. He tried to aid her, but she pushed him away roughly. She tried to get up, but couldn't do it using only one leg and stay on her feet, much to her annoyance. In the end, she required his assistance and he helped her limp out of the room, however she didn't leave without a final death glare at Sango.
When she could breath normally again, Sango got to her knees and looked up at Kouga, who was standing a foot away after he had tried to help get Kagura off her. He hadn't interfered beforehand because it would have made Sango look weak, him fighting her battles for her—never mind the fact that he had hoped Sango would get the better of her. But in the end he had had to stop the fight before one of them was senselessly killed. Mainly, Sango.
Kouga looked thoughtful (a surprise to Sango since he usually followed the patterns of 'do now, think later') as he gazed at the door Kagura had just exited from.
"I wouldn't care if you were my second, don't care who it is as long as they know their place under me. You'd probably be better than Kagura there. She doesn't listen to anybody. You can't beat her now, but in time, you'll probably be able to. But if you ever beat Kagura to get that status, she'd fight you constantly, trying to get it back. …unless you killed her during a match." He looked her in the eyes. "But you aren't willing to do that."
Sango shook her head. "It doesn't matter anyway. I still don't know much about being a wolf, a lot of the 'rules' are still unknown or puzzle me. I don't even understand how I'm this strong when I'm hardly just turned. Strong enough to be your second."
"You and Kagura were both once human." From Sango's shocked face—she hadn't known Kagura had been once human—Kouga nodded. "Yes, Kagura wasn't born a wolf. In high school she had a wolf… lover. She knew he was a wolf and knew what could happen, but didn't care. She got bit during sex and has changed every full moon since." He shook his head. "Even though you were both human, I'm guessing were physical strong and knew how to fight before you were turned." She nodded. "Kagura wasn't strong and couldn't fight much, but she's cunning and doesn't always play fair. That's what keeps her at my side. Other wolves in this pack are much stronger than her, but can't beat her to take her status away because 'something'," he scoffed at the word, "would happen to them, and they were too afraid or too injured to fight. Or if they do beat her, they don't stay alive to keep it very long."
She took all that Kouga said and put it in a box labeled 'reasons not to piss off Kagura' in the back of her mind for further consideration later. This was one nasty bitch they were dealing with.
"I'm not so sure I'd want Kagura's position," Sango admitted, then realizing what it might have sounded like, she hoped he didn't take offense.
However, he just shrugged. "Just saying, once you get use to all the ways to fight as a wolf, you'll be strong and cunning. You could take her down. But only if you last long enough in this war. Wolves of all different strengths have been killed by the other pack over the years."
He looked back at the door once more, making Sango look as well, but she saw nothing interesting. But Kouga's mind was focused on Kagura's words from before. If others thought like Kagura, if they thought he was going soft with being upset about the enemy being hurt… he'd have to do something about it.
Which is exactly why they'd fight tonight. After the incident that afternoon with the two lower wolves fighting, Kouga and Inuyasha had traded insults for some time until they'd decided on a fight between packs that night. It wasn't usually declared so openly, mostly trying sneak attacks, but both had been agitated lately and this was a good way to be relieved of the tension. Kouga needed it; that much was obvious.
Kouga looked down at Sango, a devilish smile on his face. "Go tell the other wolves we fight tonight. Have them spread the news."
Sango looked startled, but nodded before swiftly leaving the room.
The breeze blew Sango's hair as she stared up at the nearly full moon. Just the thought of it made a shiver of excitement, yet apprehension run up and down her skin. On the full moon, her kind of werewolf would go crazy and their minds would be gone, fully giving into instinct and losing all human traits for those of an animal. The only thing they did know was to stay away from town, but that was a given. Wolves generally didn't like people anyway. But other than that fact, there were no limits to what they might do. It was a wonderful feeling being free, not having to worry about anything, but at the same time, she was scared. Who knows what she would do when she didn't have her wits about her?
She felt a tap on her shoulder. "Sango? It's time."
She growled at the interruption as she turned around. The teen werewolf didn't even look the least bit startled to see her eyes were wolfish and her teeth were long and sharp. This close to the full moon… it was getting to her. She was beginning the change.
Sango glanced around her to see the rest of her pack either in wolf form, in the middle of shifting, or getting undressed so they wouldn't wreck their clothing. Still feeling uncomfortable about being nude around them, Sango chose to change and then wriggle out of the loose clothes, no matter how odd it looked.
Kouga then came to the front and began leading them, while many of the wolves that followed yipped and barked in anticipation. Even if some of them didn't really want to fight, the excitement of an upcoming battle did not go unfelt by anyone. Sango noticed, with certain satisfaction, that Kagura was not among their numbers.
The teen that brought her to her senses somewhat—Ginta, she remembered was his name—stayed by her side. Not that she really minded, but…
"You don't have to look after me, you know," Sango told him, turning her wolf head toward him.
Ginta looked over at the chocolate brown wolf. "This is your first big fight, right?" She bobbed her head in response. "I'm here to advise you, for now. If you have any questions, ask."
Yeah, how about, can I go home? Sango thought, but kept it to herself. Out loud, she said, "nothing comes to mind."
Her body was tense as she trotted with her pack through the forest, trying her best to calm her nerves. Abruptly, something fell across her back, causing her to yelp and jump away. However, the wolves were too close together to jump far, making her run into Ginta.
He panted, the wolf's way of laughing, as Sango spun around and crunched down, ready to pounce on whatever had fell on her. Instead she came face to face with a wolf not much bigger than a pup with brown fur only slighter darker than her own.
"Loosen up!" the young wolf told her, her tail moving ecstatically.
"We're off to war, how can I loosen up?" Sango asked.
The girl pup dodged forward playfully and then back again, dancing around Sango's feet but getting away quick, just in case Sango decided to snap at her. Sango jumped about, trying to get her to stop while trying not to step on her. A few werewolves nearby laughed at the scene.
"Alright, stop now," Sango instructed, a whine quality to her wolf voice. She was getting dizzy from going around in circles while trying to follow her movement. The pup only yipped, crouching down on its front legs, tail wagging teasingly.
"Rin," Ginta said in a warning tone. Her ears pulled back as her way of sulking, Rin bound away, looking for someone else to play with.
"What is she doing here? She's too young to fight," Sango inquired, one ear raised, the other against her head.
"She's here to help injured wolves get back to Ayame, if needed. She'll stay away from the fighting…" he ended there, though the unspoken "hopefully" was there. He sniffed the air before telling her, "we're almost there. There's one thing you should know. Whatever you do, don't hesitate, it'll get you killed."
She glanced over at him. "Why would I hesitate?" she questioned, slightly offended.
"It's just something that I'm suppose to warn you about. Look, this town isn't all too big and there are two wolf packs in it. I'm not saying friends haven't been made between the packs, they have. But the second the battle starts and you hesitate, the wolves you think are your friends on the other side won't be as indecisive you. They'll go after your throat in that moment of uncertainty and you'll end up dead." He sighed, which Sango didn't even know was possible in this form. "Both sides have lost a lot of wolves that way, through the trickery of 'friendship'. Anyone you think is your friend, once you start the battle, isn't. Remember that."
She was about to say something—what, she wasn't sure, maybe something along the lines of arguing with him or questioning him—when the strong scent of the other pack assaulted her. Sango looked away from Ginta abruptly and saw them not a hundred yards away, waiting for them.
Moonlight pooled the other pack, while leaving theirs in shadow as clouds paused over the nearly full moon. Thunder boomed and rain began to pour, but no one seemed to notice.
Then, without a word, though certainly with growls, the battle began.
It was total chaos, Sango had no idea what to do. The wolves just threw themselves at each other, biting, scratching, growling, howling. The scent of blood was strong in the air and getting stronger by the minute, giving the fighters even more motivation to attack. With hackles raised and lips curled back, there seemed to be no end to the senseless fight.
Sango jumped away when two fighting wolves suddenly sprang forward, going unknowingly toward her. She tried to get further away, but was surrounded by werewolves on all sides. She was near the center, not a good place to be and from the look of it, she was the only wolf that had yet to have blood splattered on her muzzle.
She tried to wade her way out of the sea of violence with no such luck, though she did manage to get herself to an area with less wolves around. Looking still for a way out, she failed to notice the enemy that had set her eyes on her.
The she-wolf slammed full bodily into Sango, making her fall to the ground unexpectedly. She scrambled to her feet and dodged out of the way of the enemy's next attack, making the she-wolf snarl in annoyance. Sango stayed on the defensive, only dodging the attacks, nothing more, which annoyed the wolf still. Why wouldn't she fight back?
A slip on the wet ground caused Sango to fall when she tried to move away and the other wolf let out a bark of triumph over getting the upper hand. She launched forward for an attack—
—only to have a gray and white wolf take the blow for her.
Miroku, Sango thought, shocked.
The attacking wolf whined and backed off, looking from Miroku to Sango, confused at what had just happened. Sango herself looked a bit lost. Miroku bared his teeth, his ears straight upward, and she stalked away, looking for a new fight.
Miroku turned to Sango, looking down at her as she lay on the ground, concern in his eyes. "Are you alright?" he inquired. He butted his nose lightly under her chin in an affectionate touch, trying to help her up.
…Anyone you think is your friend, once you start the battle, isn't. Remember that.
Sango got up and jumped away, the fur on her back sticking up like needles. "I can take care of myself," she informed him sharply.
He tried to take a step forward, though Sango snapped at the raised paw just fast enough so that he'd be able to remove it before she struck. "Sango…"
"When will you get it through your thick skull that we're enemies? You can't keep doing this Miroku!" Sango said.
She got in a crouched position and jumped at him, but he easily jumped to the side. She was attacking out of anger, making her movements reckless. She slid once again after she'd missed, causing her to get mud all over her fur. A low growl escaped her as she got up and turned back to Miroku.
"You don't have to protect me!"
He tried to respond, but Sango ran from him, not wanting to hear it. She didn't get far, however, before the she-wolf from before attacked her again, now that Miroku wasn't there to stop her attack. She stood in her path, obviously not going to let Sango pass.
If Sango could've sighed, she would have. "Move. I don't want to fight you."
The she-wolf's furry face looked confused for a second, then she shook it off as her lips curled back. "You won't trick me that way," she commented as she lunged forward.
Sango took the hit, then when she was close enough, rammed into the other with her body. She knocked the she-wolf to the ground, making her sprawl across the mud. Before she could get back up, Sango took hold of her neck, one of her most vulnerable parts, and the she-wolf froze.
Her life was her own to control now. Her entire fate rested within Sango's hands, or more correctly, her teeth.
The wolf's breath was quick, her heart beating rapidly, but other than that she didn't struggle, knowing it was useless. Sango growled, her wolf instincts taking over, and the she-wolf tensed further. She could feel the pulsing of her heart from where she held the wolf, felt every beat as if it were her own. She wanted to take that last bite, feel the blood gush forward as she crushed the other wolf's neck. She wanted to feel her enemy's blood drain.
Then abruptly, the image of Kagura holding her neck came into Sango's mind.
Sango let go and jumped back, away from the she-wolf. She didn't want to be like Kagura. She didn't want to kill anyone, or hurt them for that matter. She didn't want any of this.
The wolf watched her with confusion, slowly getting up, but Sango only took a step backward before fleeing.
"Three were killed, many were injured, but only two severely and Ayame is with them now," the wolf told Kouga. Kouga paced around the room before sitting on the bed, exhausted. The fight had been long and tiring that night, but eventually both packs retreated as the storm outside got worse. And like always, nothing was resolved. Kouga luckily wasn't hurt that bad, only a few scratches that would be healed up by the following day. Though with any of his wolves killed… not good, not good at all.
The wolf continued, "there is also one of Inuyasha's that was taken captive."
Kouga looked up at him sharply. "We don't take captives. We kill."
"He was unconscious and they were about to kill him, but one of the wolves suggested to have him taken for torturing before sending him back in pieces as a message to Inuyasha."
Kouga might have smirked at the thought of Inuyasha's face when he discovered his wolf, but was too tired to even do such a small thing as that, not to mention do anything concerning the captive. "Have Kagura deal with." He just wanted this night to be over. He was tired. Very tired, and not entirely in the physically way. What he wouldn't give to be with Kagome just then. She had such a soothing presence…
The wolf nodded, then was gone.
Sango took deep breaths as she leaned against the wall, surrounded by the rest of her pack. She could have gone home but, somehow, covered in mud and blood, she wasn't sure she'd be entirely welcomed. Closing her eyes, she was about to sleep when she heard someone sit down next to her. She cracked open one eye.
"I saw your reluctance to kill," Ginta commented. Startled, she sat up straighter, both eyes wide and about to make an excuse when he continued, "It's okay. You'll learn differently when that wolf you let live attacks you all the same next time or attacks and kills one of your friends."
His eyes looked haunted after he spoke, leaving Sango curious. "Did that happen to you?" Realizing what she just said, she said quickly, "sorry, I shouldn't have asked."
He shook his head. "I had a younger sister once… let's just leave it at that."
Her face took on a sympathetic look, while she wondered. Would that happen to her? Would she regret not killing another being? She didn't want to believe it, but… Ginta's words stuck to her, worrying her.
Sango might have said more if another wolf had not come to stand in front of her. "You have guard duty to the captive." Captive? Sango wondered. "Kagura's orders." Just when she was about to respond that she didn't have to listen to that bitch, the wolf seemed to already know what she was about to say. "Kouga put her in charge of it, so disobeying her now would be like disobeying Kouga." He gave her a knowing look, understanding what a pain it was to listen to Kagura.
Sighing, Sango stood and with some directions from the wolf and Ginta, she found her way to the captive's whereabouts. It was actually a small shed apart from the old apartment building the wolves used as their den, presumably used for wolves that got out of line or were too violent after changing on full moon.
The door creaked open and she hurriedly got in, drenched from the rain that seemed never ending. Shaking herself, she sent water flying while she shivered. The room was dark with no light whatsoever, only a small window letting in the smallest bit of moonlight every now and then when the moon wasn't shielded.
Curious, she took a look of the prisoner through the bars that held him. She saw that, indeed, he was a male, but that's all she could tell in the dark.
The scent, however… it was familiar…
She sharpened her sight, making use of their ability that made her eyes wolf–like, to see the prisoner. But it turned out she didn't have to as a bolt of lightning striking in the distance lit up the room for an instance.
Miroku.
Sango cursed inwardly. Miroku, you fool, how could you let yourself be captured! she thought.
He was sitting leaned up against the wall, but was out cold now. He must have been awake at some time though, since he was in his human form, probably forced into it by the other wolves. She noticed a nasty looking wound on his right leg, cutting through his calf muscle, but it didn't look like it was healing at all. In fact, it looked like something had been put in the wound…?
She bit her lip in thought as she watched him for a few minutes, then disappeared from the shed.
Miroku woke up to the throbbing in his leg; the pain had not lessened at all. He should have at least started to heal by now, but he understood what Kouga and his pack must have done.
His whole body ached and it didn't take him long to notice many new bruises on him. Still, even through the pain, he slowly sat up straighter, only to collapse and have his back hit the wall. He whimpered softly.
He was about to let unconsciousness take him again when he noticed a familiar scent. The sweet scent surrounded him and jolted him back into awareness.
And there she was a few feet away, sitting in the dark watching him, only a few annoying metal bars between them.
"Sango…"
She, however, looked away. "Save your breath. I can't—I'm not helping you." She pushed a tray of food under the bars and toward him, though he noticed she kept the drink near her. "Here. Eat."
He ignored the food, never taking his eyes from her, which made her extremely uncomfortable. She shifted uneasily before turning away from him. They stayed like that for a long time, neither moving nor talking until finally, the door to the shed opened, redirecting both their attention.
Hakkaku walked into the room, ignoring Miroku completely. "Your shifts up, you can go," he told her.
Sango nodded and gracefully got to her feet, quickly heading for the door and was gone in a second. But even from outside, Miroku could hear her pause and let out a long, shaky breath.
Hakkaku shrugged off the tension that had been in the room and he sat down where Sango had been, taking a sip from the drink she had left behind.
Miroku feigned sleep as the minutes that felt like hours slowly went by. He had acted recklessly that night, getting himself captured. And now he wasn't sure if he was lucky or ill fated to still be alive. What would Kouga do to him now?
Only when he heard a loud 'thump' did Miroku come back to himself. His eyes opened and he saw the guard that was supposed to be watching him had fallen to the ground. He couldn't be asleep… what had happened?
Almost an hour later, the door opened slowly, cautiously. Sango looked in before coming in, closing the door firmly behind her. She stepped over the unconscious wolf's body, murmuring, "sorry, Hakkaku," before standing in front of the bars of Miroku's prison. Then she slammed her body into it.
Miroku looked at her like she was crazy. "What are you doing?"
Her arm was throbbing, she ignored it. She backed up before slamming into it again, giving him the same look. What do you think I'm doing? "Getting you out of here. Keep back."
A small, very small, smile lit his lips as she continued to hit the bars. When the entire side of her body became numb, she began kicking the bar instead for awhile, then switched back.
She couldn't help him before because they would have known it was her since it was her watch and her scent in the shed, but now with Hakkaku unconscious on his watch, it'll lead them to the conclusion that he'd someone broken himself out when the wolf wasn't paying attention.
"What did you do to him?" Miroku asked, nodding toward the fallen wolf, as much humor in his voice as he could manage in his current situation.
She gave him a half-smile. "It's a drug. Odorless and tasteless." Slam. "He'll be knocked out for a few hours."
"And how did you come by a drug like that?" his amused voice inquired.
"My dad's a doctor so I know a thing or two." She stopped for a second. "Alright, watch out." Sango stepped to the other side of the room and with all her might, ran into the bars that made up the door. They gave way and fell into the cell, along with herself.
"Ow," Sango groaned, while getting up.
Miroku used the wall to help him get up, but almost fell again when he let go. Sango caught him in time and kept an arm around him to steady him.
"What did they do to you?" whispered Sango, more to herself than to him.
He looked down to his wounded leg. "Liquid silver… in the wound. My legs won't hold me for awhile. It will take a human's time to heal, unless I can remove the silver they poured into the wound."
Sango shook her head in distaste as she helped Miroku walk out of the shed, kicking the drugged drink over before they left. She had planned to just let him escape on his own, but with his injury he wouldn't get far. He needed her to help him now.
As they moved, for the first time that night, she was thankful it was raining so hard. That way, it would wash away their scent, mostly, hers. If they found their scent together… let's just say Kouga wouldn't be stopping Kagura next time she went for her throat.
Sango hurried them away from the pack's den and into the forest where they could be somewhat concealed. They traveled for a long time and as swiftly as they could, the lightning lighting their way every so often. They had been long since drenched by the time Sango stopped, two-thirds of the way to Miroku's home.
She let go of him and took a step away, letting him stand on his own. "I'll have to leave you here. I have to get back so I'm not suspicious when they find you gone," Sango explained, then thought, plus I don't think getting too close to Inuyasha is a good idea.
She turned away, but Miroku caught her arm. "Come with me," he told her, his face serious.
Looking at him incredulously, she responded, "I can't."
"Won't," he corrected.
She yanked her arm away. "Neither, both! I… I don't know what I mean! But it's impossible."
"Stay on their side and it'll change you."
His voice was solemn to the point where she knew the memory of it would stay in her mind. "I don't have any other choice," she replied, "I was on my own and I learned that I needed a pack." I only wish that I'd found one that wasn't at war… but I can't ask my dad and brother to just leave everything again for me and move just when they got settled in…
Miroku took a step forward. "You don't belong on their side. You're kind and compassionate. Care about others even if they aren't like you."
"I can't help what I am. You and I, we're different and nothing can change that," she informed him.
She took another step back to keep them apart, but the ground proved to be too slippery as she began to fall. Miroku caught her just in time. He had his arms around her, though he closed his eyes and clenched his teeth as he supported them with his injured leg.
Slowly he opened his eyes and took one arm from her so that he could brush her cheek softly. "But different in such a small way."
Her breath caught. "…even if I wanted to… Inuyasha would kill me before letting me into your pack. Or Kouga and all his wolves would kill me for leaving, betraying them." She put a hand to his chest and pushed away from him while pushing him back as well. "You're trying to go against what has to be. We'll always be enemies."
If it had been anyone else, he could've dealt with it, but… "I don't want to be your enemy, Sango."
She rubbed her temples, getting a headache from dealing with him, her annoyance growing. "Deal with it. I'm going back now, before they realize you're missing or if they already have, I can't be near here. Don't expect me to help you again, because I won't. It was a once in a lifetime event, so get over whatever connection you think there is between us because—"
Miroku's lips met hers, abruptly cutting off the rest of her words. Her eyes widened and she squeaked in surprise while trying to push him off her. However, as his lips brushed insistently against hers, her eyes fluttered closed and her arms went limp at her sides. He moved her back until she was pressed up against the tree behind her, never letting his lips leave hers.
The kiss was sweet and just this side of rough with an undertone of hunger, neediness. His teeth nipped at her bottom lip and he growled softly before moving away. She opened unfocused eyes.
"I won't stay away," he told her, his voice a soft growl.
With that he left her in the pouring rain, limping as he did his best to run, ignoring the pain. She watched him until he disappeared out of sight, then began running toward her home, leaving her to ponder about their conversation.