Hello! I am back! Seriously though, this time I really am sorry for the late update. After I last updated things just got really stressed out with my life. My computer is on it's very last legs so to speak. I had already started writing this chapter when I uploaded chapter 23 but after I have saved my progress (And I KNOW I saved it! I allways double save it just in case) and put the computer in sleeping mode for the night. The next morning when I woke it up all my progress on this chapter was gone. completely GONE! I nearly cried. I had gotten so far then and then I had to start all over on it. Let's just say I actually lost my motivation for about a week or so and then when I got it back and started to re-write the chapter I got contacted by a company where I had applied for a summer job who told me I have gotten the job I had applied for. I was so happy and relieved. I hate it when I don't have anything to do for long periods of time. Anyway, I got the job and had to go to the company to get the education I had to do for really be allowed to work for them and then I started to work ju a few days later. I started on May the first and I have been working since. I just haven't had the energy to write much. I have been working six days a week every week since then. But now I am back. I might not be able to update too often. It depends on my work schedule but I will try to have a new chapter out at the end of july or beginning of august. Anyway, this is chapter 24! I hope you all enjoy it. I am very happy with it. But if you notice something that I can change to make it better, please give me some tips.
ArcticVixen94: Thank you for telling me to reread my previous chapter. I haven't had time to do it yet. I have been to tierd with my summer job but I will get to it. Hopefully it won't get to manny spelling errors anymore. I changed my standard on my Microsoft Office Word program from my own language to English to help me some more with my writing. And thank you for telling me to make sure to enjoy what I write. It made me really happy.
TaxLady0415: Thank you for liking my story. Yeah I really kinda want to slowly get out how each group that Kagome interact and cares about slowly helps her heal from her trauma. I am unsure on how to deal with Kouga but I have an idea about it. Hope you enjoy this chapter aswell
Chapter 24.
Their group had been traveling now for almost a week and they hadn't run into any demons with jewel shards but they had been attack a few times. They had easily taken care of their attackers but they hadn't seen any signs of Naraku or his minions which made Kagome slightly unnerved. Of course she and Bankotsu had told the others about where Naraku was hiding and they had been traveling in that direction slightly but Kagome had made it very clear to everyone that they shouldn't travel in a direct path towards the mountain Naraku was hiding in since that might alert him. Inu Yasha had not liked that at all and had actually demanded that they just went straight there but that had made Kagome upset and she had sat him for almost a whole minute while yelling that he should think about her feelings about it. Once Kagome had calmed down she had then told them that she wanted to travel more like they weren't going directly towards the mountain. She had then quietly told them about Bankotsu's encounter with Kagura right before she had taken his and his brother's jewel shards from him and let them wake up in her time. She wanted to see if Naraku would send Kagura to try anything. Miroku and Sango had also noticed that she hadn't been able to look them in the eye. They all wanted the evil spider dead but they could also understand Kagome's fear. She was going to confront the man that had forced himself on her and then left her for dead. In this time rape wasen't uncommon. The woman was often blamed for it rather than the man or men that had committed the crime. Sure some families of the lords in the land was strictly against it but they were not many and in a time of war those opinion was often ignored. After that Miroku had taken Inu Yasha aside and talked to him and after that Inu Yasha had agreed in a more subdued manner and Kagome and Bankotsu had both understood that Miroku had told Inu Yasha to be more mindful of Kagome after what she has been through. Kagome had given Miroku a small grateful and they had the continued to travel.
The group had just finished eating their lunch when Kagome suddenly tensed and she slowly stood up, Bankotsu standing with her and she looked at Inu Yasha as he stood up as well.
"What is it Kagome?" Inu Yasha asked and Kagome took a deep breath. Since her training had started she had gotten better to use her reiki and she could now feel two jewel shards coming towards them aswell as the holder's aura. It was Kouga, she could also feel Ginta and Hakkaku aswell as their wolves not too far behind their stubborn and fearless leader. They would arrive soon.
"Kouga is coming…" Kagome said slowly as she stood as close to Bankotsu as she could. She didn't know how she would react if Kouga touched her like he usually did whenever he had run into them. Both Inu Yasha and Miroku had given her space and hadn't tried to touch her and for that she was grateful. She didn't want Kouga to try to touch her. He was a little bit too much touchy feely for her to feel comfortable with him touching her now. Bankotsu stood at her side, ready with his halberd. Of course he didn't plan on killing the wolf demon but a swing to warn the fool of be a good idea. He knew Kagome needed to work with her trust towards other men so that she could move on properly but he seriously doubted that the overconfident Kouga was the right person for that. If anything though Miroku would be a good choice. Sure the monk was a pervert but Bankotsu was sure that Miroku wouldn't try anything. Both he and Sango might just kill him if he did. And also it would be a good idea since that way Kagome could have someone to train with when it came to her reiki. She needed to keep up with that training aswell as the hand to hand combat training. his thoughts were interupted when he saw the wolf's signature whirlwind coming towards them, or more specifically towards Kagome and him and he swung Banryuu making the whirlwind stop and vanish as Kouga had jumped up into the air with a snarl and land in front of the whole group, his eyes tinged with read as he glared at them but mostly at Bankotsu.
"WHY THE HELL IS THAT BASTARD HERE AND WHY IS HE STANDING WITH MY WOMAN?! HUH?! MUTT FACE?!" Kouga roared out as he glared at Inu Yasha.
"She is not your woman, you mangy wolf!" Inu Yasha snarled out as he pulled out Tetsaiga. But Kouga didn't listen and only rushed towards Bankotsu to attack him.
"Get away from my Kagome!" Kouga snarled but Bankotsu didn't get to do anything as Kagome stepped in front of him and raised a barrier around them both. Kouga hit the barrier full force and then was sent flying backwards, his skin slightly burned from the reiki barrier and he stared in shock at Kagome. She had never been able to raise a barrier before and she was actually protecting Bankotsu. He stared with wide shocked eyes, not knowing what to do or even say. That was the state his two friends and his wolves found him in as they finally arrived at the clearing. Ginta and Hakkaku came running with the wolves, tierd as usual and saw how smoke came from Kouga's body and they could scent the smell of burnt skin and fur and they looked at each other in worry. The liked Kagome very much but they also knew that their claimed sister would never be with Kouga. She cared for them all but she didn't love Kouga like a mate should. Of course they never told their stubborn leader and alpha that. But it was the truth none the less. Everyone in the clearing was staring between Kouga and Kagome that still stood in front of Bankotsu as she glared at Kouga. After a few minutes Kouga finally found his voice again as he choked out a shocked and angry growl.
"Kagome, why are you protecting that damn dead zombie?! Why aren't anyone stopping her?!" Kouga yelled out as he looked towards Miroku and Sango, then towards Shippo and Kirara and lastly Inu Yasha, who just glared at him. It was Kagome's voice that made him snap back towards her and the enemy she was protecting.
"Shouldn't your sense of smell be able to tell you that Bankotsu is fully alive? He doesn't work for Naraku anymore. I helped him and his brothers to return to life fully and Bankotsu is now dating me, in other words he is courting me Kouga. I am not you woman. I have told you that so many times. You belong with Ayame. She loves you and I know you care for her so why are you so persistent about being with me?" Kagome said, her voice holding both confusion and anger at Kouga's rash behaviour. At her words Kouga snapped. He could only focusing on one words on everything she had said. Courting, she was courting an enemy. At that his eyes went from their normal sky blue till blood red as he snarled towards her and Bankotsu.
"You are mine! How can you even allow that bastard even near you?!" Kouga roared as his youki was slowly starting to swirl around him. His was losing control over himself and his beast was trying to break free. Kagome's eyes widened in shock at Kouga's words and action and was about to answer him when she stopped herself. 'No matter what I say to him he only hears what he wants to. But I can't let him turn into his true form either! What… what should I do?!' Kagome thought in slight panic and when she felt Bankotsu put his hand gently on her shoulder she glanced up at him.
"Keep the barrier up. Maybe we can somehow tire him out and talk some sense into him in his true form. After all, a demon isn't an irrational animal in their true form. True they rely more on their instincts but they can understand others anyway. I think we can do it." Bankotsu spoke in a low whisper so no one but Kagome could hear and Kagome relaxed and nodded and then looked back towards Kouga, who now looked feral as his hair whipped around him, having come loose from his signature pony tail. Kagome took a deep breath and looked straight into Kouga's eyes, ignoring her worried friends and Kouga's pack that was watching them in fear. Even the wolves seemed scared.
"I am not yours Kouga. I am your friend, it will not be anything more than that between us. You throwing a temper tantrum won't change that!" Kagome said as calmly as she could and she then noticed how Ginta and Hakkaku paled at her words and how they then yelled at her friends to stand back. Right after that Kouga let out an outraged roar as he started to glow completely green and his form started to change and grow and in a blinding green flash of light that had everyone cover their eyes he changed into his real form. Everyone stood in awe and fear once they could uncover their eyes. In front of them all stood now a large black wolf with completely red eyes and glowing green pupils. Kouga's true form was much smaller than that of Sesshomaru's but he still was the size of a large cruise ship. His red eyes fell on Kagome and Bankotsu still behind the barrier and he bared his fangs towards them as he moved to attack the barrier that kept him from his prey.
Inu Yasha and his friends had seen Kouga change and Inu Yasha was about to jump in to help Kagome when Ginta and Hakkaku grabbed him and held him in place.
"What the hell?! Let go of me!" He snarled out but the two wolf demons grip just got tighter.
"You can't! If you try to help, Kouga will really go out on a rampage! You have to trust sister Kagome!" Hakkaku said and before Inu Yasha could respond Ginta spoke up.
"Please! It is true that a demon in their true form is more destructive but in Kouga's case he has actually more sense! Sure he is pissed right now but if sister Kagome can just keep up until the beast can calm down then I am sure she can get him to change back!" Ginta yelled and at his words Miroku and Sango, that had also been ready to jump in to help Kagome stilled slightly, they still was on guard but they had to trust Ginta and Hakkaku right now. They knew Kouga the best after all. Inu Yasha however growled at them but forced himself to stay put. Still keeping his hands on his sword. He would throw those two idiots that was clinging to him aside if he thought Kagome needed help. But for now he would wait. He could after all feel how strong the barrier that Kagome had put up was. She might just be able to do this. Though a part of him was screaming and cursing that there was no way that she could do it he was ignoring it. After all, this was a great opportunity to see if Kagome really would be able to fight and protect herself and it was also a good chance to see if Bankotsu was really trustworthy.
A giant paw slammed into Kagome's barrier as Kouga attacked, Kouga growled in anger and pain and removed his paw from the barrier. His paw burned and smoking. He growled in fury as he glared down at the two humans inside the barrier that was still standing strong and keeping him from his prey. The attack made Kagome's knees buckle slightly but she managed to stay standing thanks to Bankotsu carefully holding her arm to keep her standing. She smiled back at him and then turned back to meet Kouga's glare with one of her own. She needed to found a way to fight while still keeping the barrier in place. No, she didn't want to injure Kouga but she wouldn't be able to not do that. She had no choice. But that didn't mean that she wanted to hurt him too much. Sure Kouga was arrogant and overconfident but he was still her friend. She just needed to somehow get through his thick skull and make him stop laying claim on her. She didn't love him, she never had and she knew that he and Ayame was perfect for each other. 'What should I do then? Maybe… maybe I can make him unable to move somehow…but how can I do that? I have to find a way to do it fast. Kouga has a lot more energy than me and if this drags out then I will lose and there is no telling what he will do to me and Bankotsu if he still is this angry. But… I still have to maintain the barrier aswell… I don't think I can beat Kouga without keeping my guard up. Calm down, I need to think carefully.' Kagome thought as she made sure to keep slow even breaths just like Renji had taught her and then took the opportunity to strengthen the barrier. Sure that would take more of her energy but she didn't want to risk Kouga being able to break it down. That attack had almost made her fall down on her knees. Which meant that if Kouga could put even more force in his attack that he might be able to break her barrier.
Bankotsu looked at Kagome and grinned. She was thinking of a way to beat the idiot wolf. He could hear Inu Yasha growling from where he and the others stood but he paid them no mind. He had no worries about the outcome of this fight. Kagome would win and she would get Kouga to back off. Sure Kouga was strong and he wasen't an idiot in the traditional sense. After all he was the leader of his tribe. That did required of him to not just be strong but smart aswell. The wolf demon had a major flaw in Bankotsu's opinion. Kouga had a one track mind. Once Kouga seemed to have made a decision on something it didn't matter what others thought or if he was wrong. In Kouga's mind he couldn't be wrong. He was also brash and easy to goad into walking straight into what obviously could be a trap. That was Bankotsu's opinion of the wolf demon. Inu Yasha was the same and that was probably why those two couldn't stand each other. At that Bankotsu let out a soft snort. It would be very fun to see how those two would react if he told them they were similar. Knowing those two they might just become angry and deny if with everything they got. His musings were interupted by Kagome saying his name softly and he looked down at her.
"Have you come up with an idea, Kagome?" Bankotsu asked her in a low tone making sure that the large wolf that was pacing around them now, circling them, couldn't hear him and Kagome nodded.
"Yeah, but I need Miroku to put up one of his strongest barriers around him and the others… I just don't know how to tell Miroku without making Kouga turn his focus on them…. Right now his focus is on us but if I make him think about the others he might attack them in his anger." Kagome whispered as she kept her eyes on Kouga. Bankotsu looked at Kagome for a second and then turned his head slightly, making it look like he was stretching as he looked towards Miroku and once he had the monks attention he spoke.
"Use your strongest barrier." Bankotsu said it casually like he had meant his words for Kagome but Miroku caught on and motioned everyone to quietly gather closer and then quickly stabbed his staff into the ground and slapped a sutra on it and sat down and started to concentrate and soon a blue glowing barrier was surrounded him and the others. Kouga did notice it and growled in anger and was just about to jump towards them when a small pink sphere of reiki hit him right under his eyes and he snarled in fury and turned his attention back to Kagome and Bankotsu. Kagome's right hand was outstretched towards Kouga her eyes glaring in anger and determination while she still kept her barrier up.
"Don't you dare go after them, Kouga! It is me you are angry with." Kagome hissed out and then looked back over her shoulder towards Bankotsu and smiled a grateful smile at him. He had told Miroku so quickly. Kouga had only noticed it because Miroku needed to have his staffed stay standing by stabbing it into the ground and put a sutra on it. Kouga was fast but Miroku didn't need all that much time to put up a barrier so the angry wolf demon hadn't been able to react quickly enough. Probably because he was so angry since Kagome was absolutely certain that if this had been a demon that wouldn't let his feelings cloud his judgement, like Sesshomaru, then her friends would've been dead by now.
Kouga snarled and tried to attack Kagome and Bankotsu again but Kagome's barrier held up and he only got more burned. Now both his front paws was smoking and slightly burned from then reiki but also his forehead since he had tried to ram the barrier, using his speed and full weight. Good thing it hadn't worked. Kagome had been quite worried when he had come charging like that but now she saw how Kouga seemed a little bit calmer. Kagome slowly took a deep breath as she looked up into Kouga's furious red one and she narrowed her eyes in determination.
"Kouga, stop acting like a spoiled child not getting his way! You know I have made it perfectly clear that I never saw you as a possible mate. You are my friend!" Kagome called out in hopes that her voice maybe would get through to him now that the wolf demon stood a few ten feet away, panting. It didn't work however. Instead of calming the angry wolf just snarled and moved to attack again and Kagome glared in anger at her stubborn friend as she let her reiki build around her and just as Kouga jumped forward to ram into the barrier again she released her reiki in a wave like attack, making sure that Kouga wouldn't be purified by the attack, the attack hit Kouga head on sending him howling in pain backwards and down to the ground. Making him unable to move and had given him some more burns. Kouga still tried to get up but Kagome sent another wave of reiki towards him, using the pressure of her attack to make him immobile. She then released her barrier and walked up towards Kouga, making sure not to walk to closely, Bankotsu following her to be ready to protect her if the need arised. Kouga glared at Kagome though the rage that filled his mind was lessened now. Kagome met his glare with her own.
"Kouga, do you really love me? I know you don't. Sure I know you liked the loyalty I showed when I helped Shippo escape when we first met. But can you really look me in the eyes and tell me that you love me and that you feel absolutely nothing for Ayame?" Kagome asked as she looked into Kouga's eyes. At her words Kouga flinched and his large red eyes looked away from her as he started to glow green once more and in a flash of light he returned to his humanoid form. His face turned to the side as he slowly got up, Kagome slowly releasing her hold of him.
Nearly a whole minute passed until Kouga slowly met Kagome's stare with his own and he sighed.
"How did you know…?" He asked quietly and Kagome smiled.
"I knew because whenever Ayame is near you, you can't seem to help yourself from stealing glances at her when she isn't looking. It was just your pride that made you continue to try to claim me. The two of us wouldn't work well as a couple Kouga. We are more suited to staying as friends." Kagome said and Kouga's shoulders slumped in defeat but also in relief. He would still be able to stay at Kagome's side as her friend. The others that was behind Miroku's barrier all let out a sigh of relief except for Inu Yasha that just huffed and grumbled that he didn't get to fight, though the others just ignored him and then Miroku let his barrier go down and Ginta and Hakkaku was the first one to run over to their friend and leader to look at him. Both winced when they saw the burns on his hands, arms, legs and forehead. Kagome saw their concerned look and smiled at them.
"Don't worry, Kouga's natrual healing is probably already kicking in and he should be healed in an hour or so." Kagome said and they both looked from her to Kouga and once he nodded in confirmation they both relaxed and smiled at Kagome.
"Sister, you were absolutely awesome! I have never seen a miko use their reiki like you did." Gina said while Hakkaku nodded in agreement and Kagome smiled at them as she saw the rest of her friends walking up to them. Miroku having agreed to what Ginta had said asked Kagome politely how she had gone about training her reiki and Kagome blushed a little at that.
"It was actually Renji…um… I mean Renkotsu that pointed out that there really aren't any set rules on how you use your reiki. The only reason why mikos and monks all use it the way they do is because that is how it had always been taught. Once humans finds a way to learn something it becomes the way to learn it to others. Jakotsu also helped with it aswell." Kagome said and Miroku nodded in understanding. He couldn't help but agree. All the ways to learn how to use reiki was the same. There was only small difference in the teachings depending on if you were a woman or a man.
After they all had talked a little while they all agreed on just staying where they were for the night and Kouga, Ginta and Hakkaku agreed to stay aswell. Kouga doing the same thing Inu Yasha had done and still did. Threw glares towards Bankotsu though Kouga did it much more discretely. Kouga looked towards Kagome and Bankotsu, who was sitting beside each other, Kagome seemed comfortable though she also seemed cautious. Kouga had noticed that Kagome's scent had changed, Ginta and Hakkaku had noticed aswell but they all had agreed not to say anything until the little runt that, Shippo, which Kagome loved like a mother and sister was asleep. Kouga did know that Kagome would never be his mate. He had known that from the start but in his and the rest of his packs eyes Kagome would always been seen as a sister to them all. Kouga couldn't smell who had been her first but from how she acted right now was a clear indicator that she had not been willing when her virginity was taken. He also figured out that it couldn't have been Bankotsu that had raped her. She wouldn't like to be near him then. Kouga wanted, no, needed the answers and he would get them once Shippo was asleep.
A few hours later they had all eaten and Kagome was tucking a sleepy Shippo into the sleeping bag. Soon he was fast asleep and she walked back and sat down near Bankotsu and Bankotsu just slowly and gently kissed her cheek making her blush slightly and give a small smile. Then their attention was drawn towards Kouga, who cleared his throat to get everyones attention. Ginta and Hakkaku sitting on either side of him and Kagome tensed a little and looked down towards the ground. She knew the looks her three wolf demon friends were giving her and she didn't really want to talk about it again. She slowly hugged Bankotsu's arm and glanced up in a silent plea for him to tell them with as few details as possible and Bankotsu looked at her and then nodded and then met Kouga's fiery eyes with a cold glare.
"What do you want to know? I will tell you in Kagome's stead." Bankotsu said making Miroku, Sango and Inu Yasha tense but staying quiet, though Inu Yasha was growling lowly towards the wolf demons.
"What happened to Kagome?" Kouga asked, his voice strangely calm but his fiery glare and tense muscles told everyone he wasen't as calm as he wanted them all to believe. Ginta and Hakkaku was also tense and they looked at Kagome with worry and sadness. Kagome hugged Bankotsu's arm a little bit tighter and looked at them briefly before then slowly nodding for Bankotsu that he could tell them and Bankotsu kissed her gently on top of her head and then looked at Kouga again and then started to tell them all, making sure to start with telling them that they will not start act irrational once he told them since Kagome needed them more than anything else right now.