Chapter Five
Kagome's New Patient
Kagome gasped in surprise. "Kouga? What are you doing here?"
"Ya, what's the deal?" Inuyasha snarled.
Kouga flew to Kagome's side and picked up her hands. "I need your help."
"My help? With what?" She barely registered Inuyasha pulling her backwards out of Kouga's grasp.
"She ain't gonna be your mate-"
"I'm not asking. Kagome, Ayame needs your help. She is very sick."
"She is sick? Why are you asking me for help?" This was very unexpected, Kagome felt like she was having an out-of-body experience.
"Because you are the only one I trust to take care of her. I promised her grandfather I would keep her safe. Please, help us Kagome." Kouga's voice was heavy.
"How bad is she? What's going on?"
"This better not be some sick trap to get Kagome…" Inuyasha threatened; his arms were still around Kagome.
Kouga shook his head sadly; his eyes were drooping. "I don't know what to do, Ayame won't eat. She says she's in too much pain, she says she can feel herself slipping away…"
Kagome felt pity for Kouga. Although she never appreciated his unfailing advances, she never disliked him. She wanted to help him, he looked so miserable.
"I would love to help her." Kagome said finally.
Inuyasha growled. "What did you say?"
"Oh really, Kagome? Thank you, thank you! She insisted I bring her here, so I'll tell my pack to bring her closer. Where should I bring her?"
The new information was a surprise. "I am not sure. Me and Inuyasha will go back to the village and see if we can find a place. Wait here, please."
Kouga came close to her again. "Thank you, Kagome. This is why I want you to be my mate; you are so selfless." He touched her cheek.
Before Inuyasha could swat the offending hand, Kouga was gone in a swirl of dirt and leaves. Kagome looked back at Inuyasha and smiled.
"Come on!" She lead the way.
After speaking with Kaede, Kagome and Inuyasha found a family that would more than be honored to let them use their hut while Ayame was healing. The family would be sharing with another family in the village. Kagome sent Inuyasha to get Kouga while she set up the hut for a patient and did quick inventory of her medical supplies.
In the near distance she could hear shouting. She sighed and went outside; Inuyasha and Kouga were just approaching the hut.
"I thought you were here for Ayame! But no! You are here for Kagome!" Inuyasha accused loudly; marching after Kouga who was holding Ayame in his arms.
"Shut up, mutt! I am here for Ayame! Can't you see her in my arms?!"
"Then you won't be talking to Kagome? Keh! Like I believe that!"
"Stop yelling, you two! She is sick!" Kagome scolded when they got closer.
Ayame was huddled in a ball. Kagome couldn't see her face.
"Sorry, 'Gome." Both demonic boys mumbled and entered the hut.
"It's okay… set her down on that mat." Kagome pointed to the mat leaned along the right side wall.
Kouga set Ayame down like she was a precious and fragile object. She moaned softly and curled onto her side facing the wall. Inuyasha stood by the door with Kagome. Kouga looked at Kagome with concern.
"Now what?" He asked sounding suspicously depressed.
Kagome clasped her hands together in front of her. "We wait; I'm going to do what I can to help." She turned to Inuyasha. "Can you go get more supplies? I have a list of supplies over there of what I will need."
Inuyasha nodded but looked hesitant to leave. Kagome shoved him out the door.
Kouga smiled at Kagome; his normal sparkle returning to his vibrant green eyes. "So, it's just us now."
Kagome kept herself from rolling her eyes. "And Ayame. If you don't mind moving over, I'd like to take a look at her."
He stood back and Kagome kneeled by Ayame. She reached out and touched Ayame's cheek.
'She doesn't fell like she had a fever.' Kagome frowned.
Ayame groaned and rolled onto her back. "Kouga, go outside and be with the pack." She said sounding weak.
Kouga shook his head. "I'm not leaving you."
"Please, it makes me uncomfortable having too many people around."
Kagome turned and looked at Kouga over her shoulder. "Some privacy is a good idea. I'll send Inuyasha if we need you."
"I'm not-" Kouga began.
"Out." Kagome interrupted turning her back on him again.
He huffed loudly but left the two alone. He was barely out the door when Ayame suddenly sat up and crossed her legs. Kagome fell back onto her hands at the unexpected movement.
"I don't think you should be sitting up-" Kagome said breathless.
"No. You listen to me. Look, I'm not sick. Not even a little. I'm here because I love Kouga and he is mine." Ayame said her green eyes ablaze with passion.
Kagome's eyes went wide. "What? I-I know. He is all yours."
Ayame pouted and crossed her arms over her chest. "I know that. He doesn't though. He has to get over you or else I'm not leaving."
"I don't know what you mean. Why did you come across the country just to tell me that? What do you mean you aren't going to leave…?"
"Look, the only way Kouga is going to get over you, is if he gets someone new; me. That's why I'm here, to get you outta the picture."
"Out of the picture? You are going to kill me because you think Kouga is in love with me?" Kagome asked incredulously.
Ayame looked at her like it was an obvious conclusion; she nodded. Kagome erupted with laughter.
"You… can't… be serious." She said in between pants.
Ayame didn't look amused. "Of course, I am."
Kagome wiped her eyes and then held up a hand, she needed a minute to catch her breath. "Okay, here's the deal Ayame. You aren't going to kill me but I will help you get Kouga."
"Why would you do that? You love him too."
This brought an even powerful bout of laughter from Kagome. She rolled onto her side.
After recovering she said, "Wow, okay I think we need to talk about this; you are very misinformed. Why would you think I was in love with Kouga?"
"He said you were. That's why we could never mate, he said you already made him promise himself to you."
Kagome's shock was genuine. "He said, I made him promise to love me…?"
"Yeah, which made me so angry because he told me forever ago, when I was still a pup, that he would mate me." She 'humph'd.'
"Okay, well here is the first shocking news you must hear. Kouga is delusional. Second, I don't love him. I love somebody else. And third, I never made him promise me that or anything like it. I have been trying to get rid of him for years now."
Ayame looked doubtful. "You don't love him?"
"No."
"You don't care if he mates me?"
"God, no."
"Oh."
"So we will just pretend this never happened. You go back to your pack and get him the old fashion way." Kagome was relieved at the thought of getting Kouga out of the village and as far away as possible.
"Wait. There's still one problem."
Kagome sighed. "What?"
"He loves you."
Kagome scrunched her nose. "I don't know why, I'm always telling him I'm not interested."
"You do smell nice."
"What?!"
"You smell good, he is probably just in love with that. Kouga can be shallow. That and you are pure." Ayame said matter-of-fact.
"Right… well look, I don't know what to tell you. Just tell him how you feel."
Ayame's eyes went from fiery to soft. "I've tried. I've even reminded him of his promise to me years ago. He only has eyes for you." She began to sob.
Her tears startled Kagome. She reached out and slowly patted Ayame's head.
"What do I do?" The female demon wailed.
"I'm not sure. I don't know how to get someone to fall in love."
Ayame sobbed louder.
"Look, if I could help you out, I would-"
Ayame's head shot up. "But you can help! You will guide me through this!"
"I just said I don't know how…"
"Well, until you figure it out, I'll play sick." Ayame said.
"You can't stay here if you aren't really sick. A family has given up their hut."
"And until Kouga mates me, I am not going anywhere." Ayame said ignoring Kagome.
"I'm not going to go along with this. I'll tell Kouga you aren't sick." Kagome said narrowing her eyes at Ayame.
"Go ahead, I'll make sure to destroy that magical well of yours if you do." The look of shock on Kagome's face, encouraged Ayame. "Yeah, Kouga mentioned how you need that to go home."
Kagome looked away for a minute. 'I still have hope that we can figure out a way for me go through. If she destroys it then there goes any last hope. Oh mama… Souta…'
"Fine. I'll help you." Kagome chewed her bottom lip.
Ayame held her hand out. "Shake on it."
Kagome eyed it distastefully and then put her hand in Ayame's.
Inuyasha could be heard coming toward the house. The sinister she-wolf flew back down and curled up into the fetal position. Kagome glared at her. Inuyasha walked in and dropped the familiar yellow backpack on the floor.
"I got the stuff." He mumbled casting a look at Ayame's huddled form.
"Thanks, turns out she is a lot sicker than Kouga thought." Kagome grumbled.
Ayame moaned.
Hello, hello!
Sorry this was a much shorter chapter! Next chapter is longer though! And another character joins the scheme!
SO... I just remembered that I'm going to be in Los Angeles on Monday and so I'm not sure if I will get a chance to update again before then. I'm only there for a few days with my girlfriends but still the next update could take up to a week or more seeing as my college starts soon and then later this week after I get back from Los Angeles I'm going to Long Beach... Yeah, so I'm going to be very busy and I have work a whole bunch inbetween these next couple weeks. I might go M.I.A again, like I did with Slave to the Heart several times.
I'll do my darnest though to update after I get back from Los Angeles. I'm going to make it easier on myself to update the next chapter by editing Ch. 6 now and then 7 if I have time. So hopefully around Wednesday evening/ Thursday early morning there will be another installment! I feel terrible because I'm awful with updating.
Anyways, let me know what you think of where I'm taking this story! I don't seem to have very many reviews... though they aren't necessary, I like them and it gives me feedback! Til next time!
hugsLovingMyKitsune
