Warnings for this chapter: None...bad language though. Kouga has a dirty mouth:P
A/N: Man. I love inspiration. This totally worked out the way I wanted it to! It was so blaringly obvious, none of you figured it out! You just thought I was going to have Kouga go beat up so random guy on the street? I DON'T THINK SO! Please enjoy:D
Kouga awoke the next morning to a familiar weight on his chest. He wrapped his arms tighter around what he knew was Ayame, breathing in her intoxicating scent. He felt oddly relaxed, despite the fact that he was about to beat the crap out of some asshole today. He peaked open one eye, taking in the glowing numbers on his digital clock. Five am? Damn that's early.
He closed his eyes, shifting his weight so he was in a more comfortable under Ayame. She was half on him, half off him. Her waist up was situated on his chest, and one of her legs hooked with his at the ankle. Her hands were holding his shoulders lightly, and her head was turned so she could listen to the beat of his heart. It was soothing for her to hear it, even in her sleep. It calmed her fears and worries.
Kouga gently stroked her back unconsciously. What would he say when he found the man that did that to her? Several scenarios ran through his head, all ending with some faceless guy bloodied against a wall. He wouldn't kill him. He'd make him beg for forgiveness, plead for mercy. Then he'd kill him.
Ayame awoke several hours later, squinting her eyes closed, hoping for morning to never come. Why couldn't they just stay like this forever? Why did Kouga have to go after that horrid man? Because he's an arrogant idiot, that's why. But she loved him for it.
"You're awake." Kouga said softly, stroking her back again.
She clutched her eyes closed tighter, hoping to fool him. "No I'm not." She said in a small voice against his chest.
A chuckle vibrated through his upper body. "You're not, huh?" He said in a teasing voice. Well, at least he was in a good mood. Or maybe he was just putting on an act for her sake, she couldn't really tell.
"Ten more minutes." She begged, holding onto him tighter.
He chuckled again, this time tightening his hold on her, and laughing into her hair. "Ten more minutes." He agreed.
After ten minutes, Ayame reluctantly got up. She scurried into the kitchen digging around the cabinets for pots and pans. "Would you like breakfast?" She yelled in the general direction of the bedroom where Kouga was changing. They both knew that she was just stalling. She didn't want him to get into trouble, or get in over his head.
He came out a moment later in his suede jacket, with a sheepskin lining. It fit him perfectly, but Ayame rarely saw him in it. It was his trouble jacket. He claimed it brought him good luck, so he wore it whenever he was planning on doing something risky. "I've got to get going." He said, and her face fell. He crossed the room in several strides, taking her face in his hands. He smiled a little, looking into her perfectly green eyes. "I'll be fine. I love you." He said softly, giving her a soft, sensual kiss on the lips. "I'll be back soon." He added as he was heading out the door.
They had talked a little while the two of them were in bed last night. Kouga had finally gotten her to tell him when she was when that bastard attacked her. She had begged him to at least let her come with him, but he refused. She was too innocent to see things like this.
Kouga had never been in a gang, per say, but he had once been apart of a group of wolf-youkai who liked to get into trouble. There were no drugs, or sex. Just him and a group of guys that like the ultimate adrenaline rush by getting in over their heads. It was like a dare. Only better.
So thus, he had connections. After a few years, and a few close run-ins with the cops, he had decided to drop out, and head in a different direction. There were no hard feelings, and he still had some contact with his old friends, but he didn't want Ayame involved with them.
Kouga headed into Za Soukutsu as the door swung open, and he was given several warm greetings. "Uh-oh." Daisuke said, taking in his attire. "Kouga's got the jacket out again. I though you'd retired that thing a long time ago."
Kouga's face remained impassive. "It's still got a little bit of luck left in it. I've got some unfinished business. You know where I can find…the guys?"
Daisuke shock his head. "Don't tell me your getting involved with that crowd again Kouga."
Kouga growled unconsciously in the back of his throat. "I need some information from them." He took a step closer, lowering his voice. "I need to find a guy. He came onto Ayame."
Daisuke's eyes widened. "No." He said, denial clearly written in his voice. "He didn't…?" He didn't need to finish, the question was clearly there.
"No. I still need to find him though. No one touches my girl. Where's Osamu and the boys?"
Daisuke tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Last I heard, they were in the old subway station. You know, the one off of 8th street that broke down three or so years ago?"
"I know the one. Thanks Daisuke, I owe you one."
The older man waved his hands up, signaling that it was no problem. "You've gotten me out of enough tight spots in the past. Just think of it as a favor between friends. Can't you stay for a quick drink though?"
Kouga shook his head. "Sorry, that's all I came here for. I'll be sure to stop by again soon though, alright?"
"I'll hold you to that. Now you be careful out there, got it?"
Kouga lifted his hand above his head in acknowledgement as he walked out the door again. He was in front of the 8th street Subway entrance in a flash. The last time that he had run that fast was when…well, it was a long time ago.
He walked down the stairs, and was immediately plummeted into darkness. Before he could blink, his back was pressed against a wall, a knife (he presumed) pressed against his throat. Even with his expert eyesight, he still couldn't see in the dark yet. "What the hell you fuckin bastard!"
He felt the knife-wielder hesitate. "What's the password?" He said gruffly.
"Bullshit!" Kouga spat, despite the fact that a knife was currently pressed to his jugular. "I was in this damn thing for 3 fuckin years, and we never had a password!"
"Let him go Tsutomu." Said a calm voice from behind them. The knife-wielder immediately backed away from Kouga, muttering an apology.
By now, Kouga's eyes had adjusted to the light, and he could see his old friend. "Osamu? You still running this shindig?"
Osamu ignored his question. "I'm sorry, but we had to take a step up in security since…" He hesitated. "Well, we needed more security." He finished lamely. "Come on. We'll talk. Although I know that you must not just be here to chat."
The tall, brown haired wolf demon shoved his hands into his pockets and turned, Kouga following after him. It wasn't really the nicest hangout by any means. It was just a grungy, dirty, broken down Subway station. He could see a card table set up in one corner, and several cots cluttering one wall. By the looks of it, there were only five or so demons here at the minute.
Osamu snapped him out of his blast-from-the-past when he talked again. "Come this way." He walked through the turn bars where people would deposit their money, and it opened into what he presumed was Osamu's own personal area. He took a seat at a little table with folding chairs set up around it, and Kouga followed after him. "So, if I'm guessing right, you're not just here to reminisce about the past two years."
Kouga straitened. "I'm actually looking for someone. I was hoping you could help. You know just about everyone in this town, right?"
"Maybe I do." He answered vaguely. He was always like this, always on guard, even with Kouga.
"I'm looking for a man. Scum really. He came onto my girl. He was on the alley at Ash. Tall, long black hair. Sounds like he owns the world. Doesn't take no for an answer. Preys on innocent girls. Ringing any bells here?"
Osamu looked deep in thought. "Sounds like…" He trailed off, his face darkening. "Do you know anything else about him?"
"Well, he had on some kind of Ape mask or something at first." Ayame had told him that that was why she was so frightened in the beginning, and had wanted to push past him. It's not every day you see some guy in a mask like that on the street.
"Damnit." Osamu muttered. "Damnit all. You can't go after him Kouga, I'm sorry."
Kouga's eyes widened. "Why the hell not!" He yelled, pushing up from his chair.
He shook his head. "Why do you think we had to step up security, Kouga?" He got up from his chair as well, putting his hands on the table, locking eyes with him. "If you're talking about the same guy, this man killed half of my gang!"
"W-What?"
"He's…He's…Not normal. Not like any demon I've ever seen before. He feels like he has to hide behind a mask. There was a gang war last spring, and this guy alone wiped out ten of my boys! Don't you dare Kouga. You'll die too, and I don't want that on my conscience."
His face darkened. "What's his name?"
Osamu hesitated. "Naraku."