Chapter 14, A Man's Dual

"How nice to see you again, Milady. I'm most glad that you are alive and well. If this scoundrel has hurt you in any way I will make him pay dearly," said Kouga as he bowed courteously to Kagome. When he proceeded to take Kagome's hand and kiss it, Inuyasha pushed him roughly aside, "Hands off of her, you flea bag wolf."

Kouga looked at him indignantly, "I believe I'm her fiancée, not you, stinkin' mutt."

All of Inuyasha's hair stood on end angrily at the word "mutt". He flexed his claws threateningly at Kouga. Fast as lightning, he took a swing. Kouga leaped aside. He flipped gracefully in the air and aimed his leg at Inuyasha's head. Inuyasha dodged the kick and attacked from the side. His claws scratched against Kouga's armour, breaking it to pieces.

"Why...you..." Kouga's visibly enraged. Calming down, he grinned coldly, "Looks like I've underestimated you, but I won't do it again. What do you say we have a man's dual?"

"Alright by me, if you can prove yourself to be a man, that is," Inuyasha said sneeringly.

In silent agreement, the two opponents charged at each other. Fighting with nothing but their limbs and claws, they stirred up the wind and kicked up the sands. All the while keeping up their unreal speed. With movements almost too hard to see, they became shadows.

The humans just stood at the side and watched. Miroku's brows were tightly locked in concentration, trying to follow their moves. Sango could only murmur to herself, "Amazing, amazing." Kagome stared at the two men, her eyes wide and full of worry. She kept saying to herself, "God, please don't let him get hurt". Sango didn't ask her which guy she was talking about.

Finally, one of them was down.

"How is it, Kouga, to have a half-demon beat ya to a pulp, and without using his weapon, to boot," Inuyasha stood victoriously over Kouga, who he just punched to the ground.

Kouga raised his head slowly, as if in pain. The look on his face emanated disbelief, frustration, and embarrassed anger. Sudden, a flash of malice crossed his eyes he smiled.

"I didn't want to resort to this, Inuyasha, I wanted to use my raw strength only. But, it looks like that alone won't do. No matter, soon it will be your turn to cower at my feet. Inuyasha, as a man, I must defeat you!"

A dark, unhealthy aura began to envelope Kouga. Inuyasha's eyes widened, "Nani?" This wasn't battle rage or normal release of demonic power, but something more sinister. Kouga's eyes began to glow, as well as his arm and legs. The aura centered into Kouga and with a releasing cry, he turned and looked at Inuyasha.

"Hey, mutt, I don't like being gawked at by males." He charged. The last things Inuyasha saw before his eyes blacked out were Kouga's fist and his blood-shot, crazed eyes.

The sequence that followed was nothing short of a nightmare for Miroku, Sango, and Kagome. Inuyasha was showered with punches, clawings, and kicks. Kouga seemed to especially enjoy tossing Inuyasha high into the air then watching him slamming into the ground. All the while, the half-demon didn't even have the time to pull out his sword or dodge the attacks.

"What's the matter, mutt?" Kouga said as he grabbed Inuyasha's collar, "weren't you just mocking me just moments ago? Where's your aggression? Where's your pride? Or is it that you are too useless to live after all?" He raised a claw above Inuyasha's limp head, and hissed, "Die!"

Miroku knew there was no other choice. He couldn't use the Kazaana, and he's no match for the wolf demon. But, he couldn't let his best friend die either. Just seconds before Kouga's claw connected with Inuyasha's throat, he reached them, swung his staff, and knocked Kouga's arm away. At the same time, as if on cue, Sango threw her Hiraikotsu.

"Now you silly humans have made me cross. Kouga said, "I didn't bother to kill you before. But now, you've made a nuisance of yourselves.

To Sango's horror, and disbelief, Kouga kicked the edge of the Hiraikotsu and effortlessly altered its course. It now flew straight towards Miroku.

With his agile reflexes, Miroku dodged it, almost the tip of the wing scraped against his right leg and he fell. The big boomerang landed among the tree trunks with a "bang".

"Miroku, Miroku!" Sango screamed as his name as she ran to the injured monk, "Shikkarishite!"

"I'm alright," Miroku said weakly. Teeth clenched in pain, "but I'm afraid I can no longer do anything to help Inuyasha."

"Hope you learned your lesson," Kouga said coldly and turned his attention back to Inuyasha, "and now, the half-demon."

"You...bastard..."

"You are still conscious?" Kouga appeared surprised, but amused. "All is well, you can watch me kill you."

"How dare you hurt my friend!" Inuyasha shook with rage, and felt strength returning to him. "Play is over, Kouga. You are going down!"

With a sudden jerk he freed himself from Kouga's grasp, and kicked him in the stomach. Kouga doubled over, in pain as well as in shock. Grabbing the opportunity, Inuyasha launched a series of attacks. Kouga was scratched up good with Iron Reaver Soul Stealer's" and "Blades of Blood". However, his luck didn't last long. As soon as Kouga regained his composure, the tide turned. Inuyasha's battered body just couldn't stand up to him.

Kagome watched as Inuyasha strived to dodge Kouga's attacks, his movement slowing down with every effort he made, and thought she would become mad with worry. Still, her sense prevailed and it told her that something wasn't right. For one, Kouga was losing badly before, how could he bounce back so quickly? And what's with that awful aura? Kagome had met Kouga before and didn't like him, but he wasn't a a cold-blooded hit man. Right now, he looked ready to kill Inuyasha, as if some secret, malevolent power had possessed him, supplying him with endless strength yet at the same time eating away at his heart. What is it? She searched frantically.

Something in Kagome snapped, something she didn't even know she had in her. Suddenly, it seemed her eyes could see more, the passage of energy, the patterns of wind. On Kouga's right arm and both of his legs were little tiny dots of lights. One on each limb. From them, dark aura poured. They were acting up, changing his being, and enhancing his naturally sharp wolf senses to the thrill of blood and kill. Kagome knew it then, she had to do something, to save Kouga as well as Inuyasha.

"Kaogme, where are you going?" Ignoring Sango's cries, Kagome turned and ran back to Lady Kaede's hut. When she came out again, she was carrying a bow and a quiver of arrows.

Once again, Kouga had Inuyasha by the neck. He raised his claw-like hand up, as if to strike. Kagome took aim. Praying, she let go of the bow string.

The arrow scraped past Kouga's arm. Kouga was unhurt, but the shining thing was stuck to the arrow tip and fell with it into the grass behind him. Kouga was stunned, Inuyasha took this opportunity, and got out his grasp.

"Inuyasha, aim for his legs!"

"Got it!" the swift violent motion of the kick sent Kouga tumbling backwards to the ground. Two trickles of star light splattered into the air then disappeared under the tall grass. Everything happened so fast, the foulness in the air dissipated, and the ill aura ceased. Kagome ran to Inuyasha's side.

"Inuyasha! Oh, I was so scared!" tears spilled from her bright eyes.

"Don't worry, it's okay now. Why are you crying, baka?" Inuyasha's words were stuck in his throat when Kagome threw herself at him and buried her head in his chest. Two suspicious clouds of crimson crept up his cheeks.

Miroku, now supported by Sango, limped slowly to the couple. He wanted to say something, but Sango elbowed him ruthlessly under the ribs. He opened his mouth in protest, but quickly shut it again after he saw the Taijiya's warning glare. "Don't you interrupt them!" She hissed.

A body in the grass beside them stirred, Kouga sat up slowly, a bit confused. The sight of Kagome and Inuyasha hugging caught his eye, and his hand subconsciously tensed into a fist. But something made him relax again. Maybe it's that warm, pink feeling in the air, like the dance of a thousand raindrops of sakura petals. Long and hard and forlornly, he took in the the sight of Kagome curled up in the arms of the half-demon boy, his hands, which were mean and combative just moments ago, now stroking her midnight hair. No one noticed him as the wolf prince stood up and walked away into the woods, sighing. Maybe it's better this way...