Chapter Sixteen
Deludedfreak: Thank you for your review, here is the next chapter. I thank you for your complements, I hope you enjoy this next chapter as well, let me know, please.
EternalAffliction: Thank you for the review, here is your update, enjoy.
Kalei: Lol, don't worry about it, I'm just glad you reviewed again. No, Inu-Yasha didn't go after Miroku, as you will find out in this next chapter, but it also wasn't a flashback. (evil little grin) You'll have to tell me if you still like how Koga and Kagome are after this chapter…but you can't blame me for what happens, they decided this, not me. (wink) Anywho, hope you enjoy chapter sixteen, let me know, ok?
iNuQTpIe: Lol, are those good faces? I sure hope so, thank you for your review, enjoy chapter sixteen.
Angela: Too long you say? I try to update on Fridays, but sometimes I am a little late, but those times are out of my control, so please forgive any of those times. I'm glad you enjoyed reading some of my other fics, as well as this one. Thank you for your review, and please enjoy chapter sixteen.
Minako Miharu: Thank you for the complements, you make me very happy. Well, don't let those ideas stop running, that's what makes a great author, as well as critic, and heaven knows I need all of the critics I can find to make my writing better for all of you. Lol, well, Koga plays a large part in this next chapter, so please let me know how that goes. Well, thank you for your review, and hope you enjoy chapter sixteen.
Disclaimer: This would be the same as all of my other chapters, so Inu gang, not mine, anybody else, mine, alright?
Hana stood in the clearing, her gaze lowered to the youkai corpse at her feet. She had done it; she had finally exterminated a youkai all by herself. A hand rested on her shoulder. "You did a good job, Hana." Sango said softly.
"Thank you, Sensei." The girl's head didn't lift.
"We need to bring this back to the village, its scales will make good armor." The woman reached down, taking hold of the youkai, and put the corpse over her shoulder. "Let's get back, dinner smells like it's ready."
"Yes, Sensei." Hana slid her weapons into her belt again and followed Sango back to the village. There was something burning in the teen's chest that was unfamiliar to her. It couldn't be pride, could it? This new feeling that made her smile uncontrollably to hear her Sensei praise her hard work? Another smile. Hey, maybe it was.
As the two reached the main square of the village, it was obvious that they were late. All of the others were already sitting around, eating the food Kagura was handing out. "I'm going to put this in the armor shed, go get something to eat." The older Taijiya said with a smile. Hana nodded as they parted.
The teen was met by hot stares as she reached the fire. Kagura smiled as she handed Hana a stick with roasted fish on it. The younger girl smiled back and moved to sit down. "How was it!" Kai whispered excitedly. Hana chewed her mouthful of fish slowly.
"It was a rush." She finally answered. Kai smiled in excitement.
"That's—"
"MAMA!" Aijou's voice suddenly screamed. All of the people present instantly jumped to their feet, some grabbing the weapons on their bodies, others following Hana to the crying child. "Mama, Mama!" Aijou continued to scream as Kagura fell to her knees coughing.
"What's going on?" Sango asked as she suddenly appeared at the shadow's other side. Kagura's hand shook as she covered her mouth. "Kagura?" The Taijiya reached to pull the woman's hand from her face. Sango's face hardened as she saw the bright red blood on the shadow's palm.
"Mama!" Aijou's voice was shrill.
"Hana, take Aijou and the others away." Sango gritted out.
"But, Sensei—"
"Now."
Hana flinched back at the Taijiya's sharp tone. "Come, Aijou." The teen whispered as she grabbed the child by his waist.
"No, no, Mama!" His small hands grabbed toward his mother's kimono as Hana pulled him away.
"Kibou, give me a hand here." The teen added as she began to break up the crowd quickly. "To your huts, now!" She shouted, Kibou joining her. "Let's move!"
((Across A Land))
Koga's eyes glowed in the darkness. The ouji had yet to sleep, his mind running in circles. If Kagome was leaving soon, he wasn't going to stop her, but why was she going by herself? Why was the Miko leaving Mayoka, maybe even Hokori, to go after Inu-Yasha?
The youkai's eyes narrowed in anger at the thought of Inu-Yasha. The bastard had wounded his Kagome in so many ways, and she still went after him. Her love for him was strong, something the ouji could never truly compete with, but he still said that Kagome was too good for that mutt face.
A low growl clawed its way out of his throat as his hands clenched into tight fists. "Koga?" The Miko's voice echoed in his ears. The youkai's hands relaxed as he lifted his head up to the woman. She had her armor on, bow and quiver of arrows on her shoulder, and hair pulled up and braided again.
"Kagome, what are you doing up?" He asked as he got to his feet.
"It's almost dawn." She replied as if that was a perfectly good reason to be out of bed. She sat down next to the fire pit, her legs pulled up to her chest as she stared into the dying embers. Koga turned to the waterfall and noticed the slight glow of deep red around the edges. So it was close to dawn.
"Have you slept?" Kagome's voice drew the ouji's attention again.
"No." He replied, turning to the Miko.
"You should." Her voice was flat as she rested her chin on her knees, her gaze never leaving the small glow of the white wood. Koga stared another second before sitting at the female's side.
"Are you leaving?" He finally asked.
"Maybe."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"You would lie to me?"
"Everything's fine, Koga." The Miko's dark orbs slowly lifted to look at the youkai. "You'll take good care of Mayoka, right?" She whispered.
"As if she were you." His voice was strong as he stared at her. An embarrassed smile tugged at the woman's lips.
"Thank you," she got to her feet then. "I owe you…I owe you a lot, Koga." She turned away, walking toward the waterfall. The youkai silently jumped up, flashing behind the Miko. His arms wrapped around her waist, stopping her.
"Are you leaving?" He repeated, his breath hot on her neck.
"Yes…" She closed her eyes at the contact, her hands coming to rest over Koga's. She moaned softly as his lips placed butterfly soft kisses down her neck. His hand slid from under hers before it undid the first few buttons of her armor, allowing him to push the cloth off her left shoulder. His tongue shot out to trace the mark he knew Inu-Yasha left during his and the Mikos' mating.
Kagome gasped in surprise and pleasure as the long untouched area of skin was suddenly moist and warm. "Inu-Yasha…" She moaned, the hanyou's face appearing in front of her as fangs teased the sensitive spot.
Koga's heart clenched as the Miko called out for her rival. The woman below him moaned again, but it was not as filled with pleasure.
"Koga…stop…" She panted, her hands clenching on his clawed one still under hers. The youkai held his mouth inches from the now red mark on the Miko's shoulder, his breath rough. "Koga…" Kagome pressed, taking a small step forward, away from the ouji. "Koga…" She whispered a third time.
"I'm sorry." He pulled away, his head turned away from the woman.
"Oh, Koga," Kagome turned around quickly, reaching out to the youkai.
"You are going alone then? Be careful." His voice was harsh. She stopped instantly.
"Fine." The Miko grinded her teeth together as she whirled back to the waterfall and waked out. As soon as she was sure the ouji could not see her, she took off at a dead run, forcing away her tears of anger and sadness. Damn it…damn it…DAMN IT! Her mind screamed as she skidded to a stop, her fisted hand slamming into a nearby tree trunk. She pulled back. Again, again, again…again…again… Her head lowered as a small throb let her know that her knuckles were torn and beginning to bleed.
Kami, Koga…don't make me out to be the bad guy…I'm Inu-Yasha's mate! I won't give up on him…not until either he or I are dead…I'm sorry… The Miko lifted her head again. She would put an end to all of this. She closed her eyes and calmed her mind, reaching out for the soul and body that belonged to her hanyou.
There!
Her eyes opened again. He wasn't far, not really anyway. He had moved farther northeast. The island ended soon from where he was, he would have to come south eventually, and when he did, she would meet him head on.
A smile lightened Kagome's lips as she took off at a run again. She could feel their meeting drawing near.
I know this is shorter than usual guys, but my muse, the lonely one I had, vanished for a little while. I think she is peeking at me again, so hopefully chapter seventeen will be longer. Well, until next Friday, ja everybody!
Myst
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