Chapter 11

Truth and Consequences

"You gotta be kidding, Koga!"

"You do a lot of things to a human but you don't marry them."

"Why would you do this to us?"

Koga wasn't angered by his men's constant questions. It was expected they would be confused after he'd announced his plans for Kagome. However, he couldn't help shaking his head in bemusement.

Could these idiots really not see what was in their grasp? Kagome's power was incredible. And, despite all he'd seen, Koga had a feeling he'd yet to even scratch the surface of what she was capable of. No wolf with half a brain would let her get away from him, human or not.

"Alright, alright," Koga called over the numerous arguments from the others. "Yeah, yeah. Enough!"

The thunderous demand caused silence to fill the central cave, the pounding of water from the outer waterfall the only sound as all the tribe focused on their leader.

"You've had your say," Koga replied as he scanned the crowd. "Now, hear what I have to say. That human is more powerful than any of you. You saw what she could do. And, I've seen her do much more. Our victory against the Birds of Paradise is guaranteed."

This decree caused a ripple of murmurs and agreement to move through the tribe, hunters nodding and exchanging questions.

"But, then what?" Koga continued, snapping their attention to him again. "We take back what was ours from those winged bastards. But, they aren't the only ones who want us dead. There are others out there, other yokai that want what he fought fang and claw for to keep all this time. With Kagome's abilities, we will be stronger than ever before. No-one will be able to stop us!"

"That's well and good, Koga," Rokurou's voice yelled in return. "But, to take her as your woman? Your mate?"

The cocky grin that lit Koga's face could be spotted from across the cave.

"What better way to ensure loyalty?" he challenged playfully, inspiring many amongst his men to fall to laughter and impressed hoots.

Rokurou shook his head with amusement as well.

"It's still a risk," he responded. "A mate is for life and she's not even yokai."

"It's a sacrifice I'm willingly to make," Koga replied with a smirk. "Trust me, she'll know where she belongs."

The cheers and cat-calls by the men were still bouncing about the large cave when Koga continued in his instructions.

"In the meantime, there is no excuse to stop patrols anymore. Everyone pulls their weight. And, no-one makes their rounds alone. I want all borders—"

And, so it went. The tribe placated and the hunters gaining their assigned tasks, Koga never noticed the set of tiny glowing eyes locked on him from the other side of the cave. Being as careful as possible, the tiny body scurried down from the rocky shelf he'd hidden himself on and rushed down the shadowed tunnels.

If that filthy barbarian thought he was going to do this to Kagome, he had another thing coming. Shipo didn't care what it was going to take. He'd promised the nice human he would protect her and he meant it. She'd risked her life to save him. It was time he returned the favor.

'Just hang on, Kagome. Rest and get better and I promise I'll get you out of here.'

SSS

Kagome didn't want to wake up.

She had no idea how long she'd been lost in the sweet oblivion of sleep but if the way she felt was any indication, it wasn't near long enough. She felt weary from head to toe and her throat felt like it was full of sand. However, try as she might, her body refused to slip back into deep rest.

Heaving a frustrated sigh, Kagome grunted as she slowly propped herself up from the pile of straw and furs that apparently made up her new bed. Despite her body refusing sleep, she still felt bone-tired.

However, Kagome supposed she should be grateful her abilities had decided to go dormant again. At least, she was in control again….and the use of her powers didn't kill her.

For a moment, it seemed almost touch and go to her. However, once the infection had been purified, the young yokai's healing abilities had taken over the rest of the healing. The last thing Kagome remembered before exhaustion taking over was strong arms gripping her tight and a pair of bright blue eyes staring down at her.

Koga!

He had been there. Was he the one who brought her back here?

Swinging her now wide eyes about the wide room, Kagome realized she wasn't in the previous cave she'd woken up in. Not that she'd had that much opportunity to look about when she was heading towards the injured Ookami, she knew the previous cave was way smaller than the one she was currently occupying.

Walls and ceiling curved in an almost cavernous shape of rough-hewn stone, the room held warmth easily, even without the need for a fire. Large pelts draped across the wide walls also aided in the comfort of the mostly empty space. In fact, the only thing that seemed to occupy the large room was a large stone platform she was currently occupying towards the rear center of the room. A natural bed, of sorts, Kagome guessed.

The stone platform was packed with straw and piled with furs so high, Kagome wondered how she didn't get swallowed alive with them. On top of that, her hair was starting to stick to the back of her neck as sweat started to form and collect.

Just how many animal hides were covering her?

Pushing back the mound of sticky fur, Kagome started to crawl across the platform on her hands and knees in the low shadowed darkness of the room. Considering no-one was demanding she stop, Kagome guessed she must be alone.

With any luck, that would be a good thing when she tried to stand on her feet for the first time. She did not need one of the Ookami witnessing her falling on her face, if her legs were too shaky to hold her weight. However, when Kagome put one of her feet on the cool stone floor, she sighed with relief.

After being surrounded by the sweltering heat of those furs that felt way too good.

A deep breath and Kagome pushed herself up onto her feet. Like a baby deer, Kagome wobbled slightly before she stiffened her legs and waited. Not finding risk of toppling over, she relaxed slightly and stretched her back, bone shifting back into place with a satisfying pop.

She smiled at the relief she felt for that too. Alright, now she just had to find her way out of here.

Careful of where she stepped, Kagome slowly made her way towards what she hoped was the front entrance of the cave, and not just an overly large shadow. However, when her hand met slightly cool air instead of rough rock, she smiled and continued making her way down.

Kagome hoped she didn't run into trouble. Given how exhausted she felt and the tightening of her long neglected stomach, she wasn't sure she had much fight in her if she ran into one of Koga's men. But, that would be something to worry about later.

Right now, she needed to focus on what she could do. And, right now, she needed to eat. Food was energy, which was what she required.

The eager pattering of steps were Kagome's only warning before she barely avoided a body rushing towards her, twisting sharply to keep from colliding with her. Blinking slightly, she came face to face with Ginta's huffing frame.

"Sister, you're awake!" he cried in a mixture of worry and relief. "Are you alright? You're not hurting anywhere, are you?"

Kagome shook her head in stunned confusion as she tried to follow the hunter's frazzled ramblings.

"What are you doing up?" he continued, apparently not requiring a response from her. "Do you need anything? Just tell me and I'll get it, sister."

Kagome blinked in shock again. What did he call her, again?

"Ginta, what did you say?" she asked in a slightly winded whisper.

Kagome cringed at how she sounded. The walk that taken more out of her than she thought.

"Could you not hear me, Kagome?" Ginta asked, eyes widening in panic. "Wait here, sister. I'll get Koga."

Kagome suddenly latched onto Ginta's wrist, stopping the eager male from rushing off.

"Ginta, why did you call me sister?" she demanded, mouth set in a firm determined line.

Kagome may not know everything about Ookami but she'd lived with them enough to know they didn't call anybody that lightly. No-ne in even the Northern tribe ever called her that. What the hell happened while she was asleep?

Ginta's uneasy blinking at her question had Kagome tightening her hold on him. He would answer her question.

"Ginta….."

"Well, of course, I'd call you sister, Kagome," the hunter replied softly. "You're one of us now."

Kagome cocked a dark brow in confusion. She was?

"Koga announced it to the tribe a few days ago," Ginta continued with a bright easy grin. "You're his woman, now."

Kagome wasn't sure what Ginta expected as a response to the announcement but the reassuring smile he gave her didn't falter at her sharp intake of breath. However, what came next was enough to send the young hunter nearly scrambling away with fright.

"WHAT?!"