A/N: Another late update and I'm sure I've been keeping a lot of you in suspense. Well, I'm sorry about that, but I was having a hard time writing this chapter in a way that was believable. ...But without further delays, I hope you enjoy this!

As usual, I don't own Inuyasha. He is, of course, Rumiko Takahashi's creation...but this plot is mine!

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Inuyasha stirred, willing strength into his bones, as he forced himself up and away from the dirt and stone beneath him. He could feel his muscles trembling with the effort to lift his own weight and his rib sent a burning pain deep into his side. Finally settling into an awkward slouch, the hanyou raised his eyes to meet the gaze of the wolf demon stepping through the mist.

"What the hell do you want, Kouga?" hissed the hanyou in what he hoped was an intimidating growl. Much to Inuyasha's dismay, the outline of the wolf demon--constantly blurring in and out of focus--only appeared to approach at a much more rapid rate.

Pebbles scattered under the proud youkai's feet as he continued forward, sending skittering noises of their movement echoing up the walls of the deep ravine. It had not gone unnoticed by Kouga's superior olfactory senses that there was an undeniable stench of blood scattered about this place. However, its origin was difficult to discern in this place where the wind seemed unsettled; just as soon as it would whisk any scent in his direction, it would pull it away into the shadows.

As the distance between the duo closed, it was only then that Kouga detected something was amiss with Inuyasha's physical appearance. Sure, there were a few more tatters and holes in the fire-rat robes that adorned his body, but it was the shocking contrast of his tresses that disturbed the youkai. Instead of the icy white against red that he had grown accustomed to witnessing, there was ebony against scarlet. Kouga strained and inched himself forward as he peered at the hanyou before him; shortly there after, two cerulean orbs glanced into the night sky. There was a soft glow protruding through the haze surrounding him and he knew it was the moon.

How can he be human without the new moon?

Kouga was a mere foot before his greatest competitor for "his woman" before he realized that something was severely wrong with his comrade. The stench that had skirted away from him with the passing wind currents assaulted his nose with such ferocity that it took all of the demon's control to keep from making a face. There was a distinct smell of infection, sweat and the strongest yet was that of blood--human blood.

"Oi! Dog face, you wreak! What the hell have you been rolling around in?!" barked Kouga as he crossed his arms and let a cocky smile grace his lips, just barely exposing one of his fangs.

His smile quickly faded, however, as Inuyasha remained on the ground and allowed his head to droop forward causing his bangs to cover his eyes. He couldn't be sure, but there was the slightest hint of salt in the air as if someone had recently shed tears.

Inuyasha sat on the ground and fought with his pride in an effort to ignore the throbs of pain wracking his body. His only wish was for Kouga to leave him be and let him wallow in his pain and misery. He prayed that the youkai would just turn his back and let him suffer and die if it meant that it could alleviate the emotional the physical pain that coursed through him...

No. I can't. Kagome. I need to save, Kagome.

He never felt the salty wet tears dribbling down his cheeks with his frustrated thoughts adding to his pain and confusion. Even if he had, there would have been little he could have done to conceal them from Kouga anyhow.

"Inu...yasha," Kouga began wrinkling his nose as the name rolled of his tongue, "are...are you crying?"

The hanyou stiffened at his words and immediately snapped his gaze to the azure eyes boring holes into his shoulder. He felt a wave of dizziness rush through his head with his sudden actions, but any physical sign of that was lost as soon as he opened his mouth.

"I am not, you...enh...pathetic excuse...f-for a wolf," he barked weakly.

As if to emphasize that everything was fine, Inuyasha forced himself to his feet. It was a slow process that took several minutes as he staggered and limped lamely to gain his footing and stand. Reacting quickly to the sharp pain lancing through his leg, Inuyasha removed the Tetsusaiga from the ties of his kimono and leaned against it as a makeshift crutch; it was only then that he kept a steady gaze with Kouga.

He better leave soon. I don't know how long I can fake this...

"You can drop the act," began an agitated wolf inching ever closer, "I can tell you're pretty roughed up, alright?"

"Keh. You can't prove nothing, you dolt," retorted the inu-youkai as he turned his attention away from Kouga.

"Listen, mutt face. I was going to offer my assistance, but if you're gonna play it..."

Idiot!

Kouga watched as Inuyasha took a few steps forward, still leaning heavily upon his Tetsusaiga, heading towards what would eventually become the path leading into his village. Of course, Kouga could see immediately that his leg must have broken sometime during his travels as it wobbled with each and every step that he tried to take on it. In a matter of seconds, Inuyasha had lost his footing and tried to steady himself upon the same leg that Kouga knew could do little more than a fish could out of water for all that mattered. Cursing under his breath, he leapt forward and forcefully grabbed the hanyou's arm, successfully pulling him upright and steadying him before he fell.

"Ge-get away...from me," Inuyasha grunted as he attempted to pull his arm out of Kouga's grasp, "I need...need to get...to K-Kago-Kagome."

The wolf youkai watched as any determination that Inuyasha had harnessed to cement his feelings into place slowly began to melt away. Pain, defeat, exhaustion--everything that the inu-hanyou had worked so had to guard against registered upon his face one display after the other in an agonizingly pitiful show that of which Kouga wanted no part.

"Kagome...Just...help Kagome," Inuyasha grumbled at long last, once again burying his gaze beneath the shadow of his bangs.

"Kagome?! What about my woman?" Kouga inquired hurriedly while shaking his hanyou friend fiercely.

"Not yours. Mine," retorted Inuyasha in nothing more than a whisper, but there was a definite smile starting to curl upon his lips.

Sighing in defeat--and refusing to argue with a hanyou while he was at his lowest--Kouga scooped up Inuyasha into his arms and grumbled with distaste. He watched as the hanyou squirmed in protest before a low growl meant to intimidate and threaten passed out and through the youkai's lips and Inuyasha ended his struggle.

"I don't like this any more than you do, but if my...ugh...our Kagome is in danger, we need to get there as quickly as possible," began Kouga starting to walk, "and your sorry butt isn't gonna hold me back!"

It was only a whisper left floating in the confused winds deep in the basin as a tornado of dust kicked up and Kouga disappeared into the fog, taking Inuyasha with him.

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A/N: TahDah! A long wait, but I really hope it was worth it at least. Please let me know what you think!! Thanks!

:0D