Rolling like the wheels on the bus we find ourselves back with a new update! I've been motivated for a variety of reasons lately, mostly because of you guys! You know reviews and constant unwavering support is what keeps me going!
So this one is for all of you! The loyal, sometimes borderline obsessive fans of mine that I wouldn't trade for anything! Well anyways enough with the mush onto the adventure of the update!
Note For Review's :
Lina03 - No problem! Thank you for the review!
Bertabee - Would I give you anything different? Wait. Don't answer that. Thanks for the review! Appreciate it!
Nartuo4Sakura - Thanks so much! Really hope you enjoy the update!
M-Angel05 - Yep Sesshomaru is full of surprises, but not as many as Kouga :D
Starberrybaby - To the stars my friend! To the stars!
Shewalksinstarlight09 - Jesus I didn't realize how long your screen name was until I type it three or four times! But, you my friend are worth the effort! Thanks you my loyal follower! You have my love!
YorikoAkiyama - Reviews like this my friend are why I write! Sure I do it for my own sanity but real motivation comes from words like yours. Pointing out every aspect of my story that you find entertaining I cant describe how much I love when that happens! It means to me you really went through time and effort to distinguish what drew you to my work and what keeps you coming back!
It lets me know I am doing something right and I earn loyal appreciative reviewer's like you in process. So thank you my friend! Just know I become a better writer every time I read a review like yours! And I sincerely hope you enjoy the update!
Trixx - Thank you so much enjoy the update!
SimplySinful21 - Yep don't mess with a priestess with an attitude! Am I right!? Thanks so much for the review!
Guest - That's a common effect with this story apparently…I've turned you all into junkies! Oh well I know I'm appreciated so here is your fix my friend! Enjoy!
Animepnk88 - When would I ever do such a thing? Ehehehe…
Chapter Ten
Seamless
The world had a funny way of blurring by, whether it was from a car window or a state of mind when exposed to overwhelming shock and surprise.
Unfortunately in the last several hours Kagome had undergone both, and as she usually had a way of doing, she survived it all. Though only now did a small sense of normality begin return.
Sitting here watching the vast greenery sway with every light gust of mid afternoon air. She briefly relived the series of events that had led her to this serene place.
After their brief but heated argument the previous night, Kouga had hinted towards showing her 'something' of course anything Kouga found important enough to share with her had her full attention from the start. But, he had insisted that he wait till morning to unveil this unknown secret.
So she had slept, sleeplessly. Until the break of dawn when as promised he arrived to take her away from the city. At first it had thrown her for a loop. Of course she had spent time away from the city before, but the route Kouga had taken the two of them on. It was something untraceable.
Countless winding roads, secure heavily guarded booths at gated sections of the surrounding landscape. Until finally all trace of Tokyo had faded away into nothing but lush green hillsides, canyons, and towering mountains.
If she didn't know better she could have swore she had fallen back into the feudal era, but the constant sight of massively constructed steel fencing kept her welded to the present.
It had taken more prodding than Kagome cared to remember but finally after several hours of being car bound with one another he had confessed. That this unknown land, was a game reserve.
Not just any type of game. But, wolves. It was a sanctuary for Kouga's lesser breed. A safe place where his underlings could roam free and without the threat of danger.
Apparently it was one of several Kouga owned and funded.
She could still remember the look in his eyes. Like returning out here to the wild was both welcoming and worrisome.
Then again as if the bombshell of discovering what Kouga had been holding onto all this time without her even knowing wasn't shocking enough. Another equally if not greater surprise had been throw into the mix.
He hadn't brought her to this untouched place solely for the purpose of sight seeing. No, he had agenda. An agenda that plotted her reuniting with two people, or should she say demons. She completely didn't recognize.
Even now sitting here for as long as she had it still radiated disbelief at the sight of both Ginta and Hakkaku sitting across the picnic blanket from her.
Adding to the fact she was also surrounded by half a dozen fully grown wolfs.
The group of them had been anchored here on the plush hilltop for hours, rattling on about their past and getting reacquainted with one another all over again.
It was beyond exciting to know the two of them hadn't changed a bit, centuries apart and all. Their lax and obviously carefree personalities remained as true as ever.
Peering over to Kouga from her corner of the large quilt they had been sitting and eating on top of for the full day he looked so relaxed. So much more calm then she could ever remember seeing him. Even as she and the boys carried on and laughed loudly.
Kagome smiled to herself. This was a surprise she actually appreciated from Kouga. A genuine one, that she would always remember.
In these trying days, she could never have enough friends.
"Where are you going?" Ginta asked from his sprawled out position at the center of the picnic staring up towards Kouga who was only now climbing to his feet.
"For a run." Kouga stated plainly flashing a glimpse towards Kagome that reassured her he wasn't going far.
Kagome smiled lightly watching him step away shedding his leather jacket and shoes as he walked onto the plush grassy outlay. A trio of adult intimidating large wolves close on his heels.
He only made it few yards away before his speed drastically increased and before she knew it, he wasn't even a dot on the horizon anymore but vanished entirely.
"Never could sit still out here." Ginta sighed amusingly.
"Who could blame him?" Hakkaku added throwing himself back until he laid half on the quilted blanket and his lower half sprawled on the greenly surrounding them.
His narrowed eyes staring up at the cloudless sky and sighing in contentment, it was so good to be home.
"So its been awhile then? Since the two of you were here?" Kagome asked, surprisingly among the hundred or so things they talked about this hadn't been one of them.
"Five years." Ginta yawned eyeing the direction Kouga had run off into.
"Why so long?" Kagome asked with a smile, last she remembered the pair of wolf demons at her side had been inseparable from Kouga.
Exhausted sure, but they had kept after him all the same.
"The countries a little less complicated." Hakkaku stated honestly but doing nothing to adjust his lazy sky watching position.
Kagome chuckled to herself.
"I can appreciate that." She admitted. She had lived in Tokyo her entire life, and only lately had the city become more chaotic than all those years combined.
"Still you don't miss the city? Even a little?" Kagome asked curiously. As hectic as the concrete jungle life could be, she wouldn't have it any other way.
"Parts of it. But, we're happier out of the mess of things." Ginta confessed. They were loyal to Kouga till the end, and of course would be present whenever they were needed. But, other than that, they tired to avoid the mess of things by any means necessary.
"I wish Kouga shared your enthusiasm." Kagome confessed. It seemed like the azure eyed wolf demon couldn't help but get into trouble, then again it wasn't entirely his fault.
She had a hand to play in the trouble the two of them seemed to continuously find themselves thrown into.
"You seem to be doing a good job keeping him out of it so far?" Ginta suggested optimistically.
Kagome laughed a little nervously is response. Oh they didn't know the half of it.
"Especially getting him to quit the pits!" Hakkaku added shooting upright at the mention of Kouga and his shockingly mellowing out ways.
"Oh that-" Kagome hesitated with a forced smile. Apparently the two of them had heard of Kouga's 'temporary' absence from the fighting arena. Why wasn't she completely surprised by that? She doubted Kouga had been the one to enlighten them.
"I thought I'd never see the day." Ginta admitted honestly.
"You and me both." Hakkaku seconded.
Kagome brushed off their sincerity with a hint of nervousness.
"I don't think it was that big of a deal. I mean you two seemed to quit them okay?" Kagome complimented.
Her eyes unintentionally skimming over the only drastic difference she couldn't ignore that both wolf demons bore.
Since being reintroduced to them mere hours ago, it had been the first thing she had noticed but of course hadn't brought up until now.
Like Kouga they carried distinctive scars, but unlike Kouga's theirs were far worse.
A complete group of four perfectly jagged diagonal lines cut across the right side of Ginta's face ending just under his slightly ghostly eye. While the exact pattern marred the lower left side of Hakkaku's jaw and corner of his lip causing him to have a slightly permanent frown.
In a strange way the scars on both demons seemed to connect even though they were two completely separate people.
Naturally Kagome had just assumed they had obtained the deep marks the same way Kouga had.
But one glance at their matched confused faces told her she was most certainly wrong.
"Y-You both fought in that place? Didn't you?" Kagome questioned already sounding apologetic.
But as feared they simultaneously shook their heads. Setting all suspicion aside in one quick gesture.
"Oh. I-I'm so sorry! I just thought- Because of your scars-" Kagome began remorsefully, now mentally kicking herself for ever brining the subject up at all.
It was brief but Kagome watched as Ginta and Hakkaku shared a glance in one another's direction, almost an untold secret of sorts shifting between them.
"We-" Ginta began gauging Hakkaku's reaction the entire time as if he was the only one who could stop him from going further.
"Didn't get these scars from the pits." Hakkaku completed instead.
It was silent and all to brief to be sure but for a second Kagome could have sworn a look of sadness flashed across their gaze.
She felt the words build to question further but before she could even manage a syllable the ringing howl of approaching wolves in the distance silenced them all.
"Kouga's calling for us." Hakkaku thought out loud as they both began to climb to their feet Kagome following suit as well since they didn't suggest not too.
She had only managed a step or two before Ginta paused at her side catching her attention suddenly and unexpectedly with his pleading but direct tone.
"Kagome?" He began levelly.
"Hmm?" Kagome replied naively.
"Can you do me a favor?" He asked sincerely.
"Of course?" Kagome promised, but the stare Ginta placed upon her while he replied left her speechless and took her completely and utterly off guard.
"Don't bring up our scars in front of Kouga." He whispered, Kagome instantly pausing mid step to meet his gaze, but instead of face her, he simply soldiered on. Silently.
Leaving nothing but his words behind.
Kagome felt her heart sink, the air that swarmed the lush hill side suddenly shifting from something that was so warm and soothing into something thick and rain scented.
A storm was brewing, and obviously she hadn't been prepared for it.
Not even in the least.
The rustic type office was small, cluttered and smelled of aged wood. The lighting was poor, coming from a single over hanging bulb with no shade just a buzzing dull orb.
The yellow glow conflicting with the drawn shades in the background heavy rain hitting the hidden glass from behind the thick pull down blinds
Dismal as the surroundings were it seemed even more dreary while the incredibly well dressed demon centered the cramped space.
Rekin leaned back stiffly in the overly worn leather chair his fingers intertwined with one another as he rested his knuckles under his chin agitatedly.
God he hated being here. It was bad enough he was having to spend more and more time at the club constantly finding new talents to throw into the pits to entertain the seemingly never pleased crowd.
But, the fact that he was now being forced to endure waiting in what Kouga believed past as a suitable 'office' was down right disgusting.
Usually he wouldn't have been caught dead in a cracker box like this. Knowing full well his fully luxurious and modernly furnished up kept workplace was uptown and about one hundred miles away from this rats nest.
But lately the azure eye wolf was no where to be found and it was falling to him to pick up the slack.
Just the thought of the cocky son of whore made the suit dressed demon tense. There was a limit to how much nonsense he could take and he was very close to reaching it.
The mongrel had always been fleeting coming and going whenever he pleased leaving a mess before and after his arrival and departure that Rekin usually had to deal with personally. But lately, it was getting worse. Much worse.
Business was starting to slow, the seats were getting harder to fill and scouts for future talent weren't getting paid. But where was the supposed ring leader of this business? M.I.A.
The sleek haired crystal colored eyed demon would have thought further into the matter. Were it not for the sudden spew of light and noise that erupted from the office entrance.
The poorly hinged door screeched open and a monstrously sized figure came charging through towards the uneven desk Rekin currently sat behind.
Carelessly the black clothed covered beast of a man tossed a wad of stacked and tightly rubber band bound cash onto the surface before Rekin's sharp eyes.
Rekin eyed the abnormally small pile curiously.
"What's this?" He questioned bluntly.
"Tonight's take." The ghoulish like apparent bouncer replied in an inhumanly deep voice.
Rekin felt his brows arch and his jaw slack as his clawed fingers thumbed the shockingly thin wad.
"You cant be serious?" He thought out loud. He had literally been trapped in this suffocating dust riddled box for the last several hours waiting for tonight's profits. And this was suppose to be it?
"Where the hell is the rest of it?!" Rekin snapped hatefully. This pitiful amount wasn't even enough to refill the gas he had used to drive down to this hell hole!
"We're not pulling shit. Not with Kouga being gone." The thunder voice like demon admitted, dim witted as he might have been. The obvious was all to easy to read.
Rekin threw the wadded money furiously against the aged wooden wall. It made impact with a loud thud before falling to the grown carelessly.
"Get out!" He roared.
The boulder sized demon growled lowly before doing as commanded making sure to seal the barely hanging door closed behind him.
Rekin tapped his clawed fingers against the chipped desk surface agitatedly. This was becoming a problem, a problem he had hoped would correct itself with minimal interference from his part.
But obviously he was wrong.
Thing weren't working out in his favor, and that would have to change. Soon.
And he had a confidant feeling, before it was all said and done. He was going to have a fair share of blood on his hands.
Carefully trying not to slip on the no doubt sopping elevator floor Kagome stepped over the threshold into the stone like enclosure of Kouga's home.
The equally as dripping wolf demon on her heels followed both laughing from the ridiculous amount of water their cloths had absorbed from the short distance from the car to the complex entrance.
The original plan for the day had been rained out with the arrival of the freakishly strong storm still raging on just outside.
Kouga had intended to deliver Kagome safely home but since the weather was becoming more brutal with every passing moment and Kouga's flat being much closer than the shrine she had suggested waiting it out.
Ginta and Hakkaku both insisting they wanted to venture around the city for the night instead of settle in. Not really surprising since they hadn't been home in so long, so they had gone with Kouga's consent.
Regardless, it appeared he and Kagome weren't going anywhere anytime soon.
Peeling himself out of his drenched leather jacket and pulling the clumped fabric of his cotton t-shirt over his head Kouga let the sopping pile plop to the floor carelessly.
Kagome eyed his obviously shameless action turning her back once the azure eyed wolfs incredibly hard body was in full view.
Timidly though for the benefit of not wanting to risk a cold she began to ease herself out of her still dripping jacket.
"Make yourself at home." Kouga suggested as he began to solider off into the distance leaving Kagome standing perfectly still in place.
"I'll grab us some towels." He called over his shoulder before disappearing.
Kagome watched him vanish from sight before the opportunity of the moment finally began to sink inn.
She had been to Kouga's home quite a few times now and yet she only knew a room or two. The living room, which was just in sight. The kitchen to her side, and the balcony on the further side.
She had been given the chance to explore the place Kouga called his own and on the inside she felt actually excitably curious.
Making sure to slip out of her sloshing shoes she kicked them to the side of the now closed elevator entrance before stepping towards the stainless kitchen just to her left.
While slowly walking through she let her fingers glide over the blacken stone lined counters stepping over the cool marble floor lightly.
There was a black and chrome outlined stove, matching refrigerator and cabinets. It was strange associating such modern devices with the wolf she knew.
It shouldn't have been since she had just gotten out of a car with the man but, the idea of Kouga actually cooking in this room made her smile.
Feeling a little bit more at ease she walked further until the stone painted like walls around her began to narrow into a short hallway. No doors on either side until you reached the end.
The walls expanded again to give way to a trio of long flat steps leading up towards a set of wide deep oak polished double doors.
Kagome eyed the large structure curiously, in all honesty she believed this was the first actual set of doors she had seen in Kouga's entire home.
Of course the tempting want to know was to great to ignore so cautiously she stepped up the cold steps until she was able to push the surprisingly heavy doors inward.
They parted down the center letting a rich beam of light flood the darken room ceasing only with the outline of her slim body centered in the doorway.
Kagome squinted into the darkness until finally her eyes adjusted and she was able to make out the outline of the only partially furnished room.
The entire right side of the room was massive glass plates that mirrored the outside storm brilliantly, no drapes or curtains in sight. It was brief but Kagome thought viewing the sunset from such an immaculate place would be breathtaking.
She turned her attention towards the center of the room where a massive thick chestnut colored fur rug laid sprawled over the cold marble.
The pelt laid at the foot of what was the most incredibly sculpted bed Kagome could ever remember seeing.
It was almost like something out of magazine. A giant four post wooden carved structure draped with sheer silk and nude colored fabric from the canopy to the four support beams.
At the center of the marvel a giant and insanely comfortable looking mattress lined with over a dozen pillows from one end to the other. Silken bed spread and laid over furs matching ever aspect of the room, and down right fitting Kouga to his core.
Looking further up the distinctive features finally sunk in, the walls were an even deeper shade of blackish grey. The textured ceiling looking like actual stone molded above. It had a cave like atmosphere if she had ever seen one.
At that realization, It only took a fraction of a second for what room she was currently standing in to finally register.
This was Kouga's bedroom.
Instantly Kagome felt a little intimidated.
It seemed a little intrusive for her to even be here. Obviously Kouga had told her to explore but she doubted he meant his no doubt most private area.
She was about to close the doors behind her and retreat back towards the hallway she emerged from but that was all before a shimmer out of the corner of her eye caught her full attention.
Kagome eyed the gleam a little bit more closely but was unable to make it out from this distance.
As usual, curiosity out weighed her caution and she stepped just a little deeper inside the darken room to investigate.
With every step she inched closer until finally what had drawn her into the bedroom came into full view.
Instantly Kagome felt her heart skip a beat and her eyes widen to the size of plates.
It was a case. A glass case. The length and size of which out framed her body, but fit another's all to perfectly.
A faceless black stone statue stood inside the case dressed in attire that Kagome recognized all to suddenly.
A thick brownish head band wrapped around its head. Thick and shimmering armor fastened to its chest bound in place by matching fur shoulder pads and fur pelt wrapping. A crimson sword tucked securely in an onyx sheath.
Fur shin guards with leather straps centered at the overlapping fold near the top.
Kagome swallowed hard as she felt herself breath for the first time since fully entering the room.
Seeing this, it brought back so many memories. Too many and all to suddenly.
Running purely on instinct her hand outstretched to press to the cool surface of the spotless glass the phantom locked in the case beneath her touch making her heart race and her eyes narrow in longing.
What was once Kouga's clothing had nothing to do with her, and yet everything. It was a link to her past, one of few she had left in this world.
She couldn't believe he still had his armor, as real and rustic as she remembered.
"Getting sentimental?" A husky voice whispered from Kagome's back.
Kagome instantly tore her eyes away from the armor to the case itself and the mirror like glass it provided to see no other than the azure eyed wolf himself in the reflection staring at her over her shoulder.
She instantly retracted her hand to spin and face him embarrassed she had been caught snooping around more than exploring.
Her response was quick, surprising since Kouga was in a no different state then when he left. Still half naked with only a pair of overly worn sweats clinging to his sculpted hips and a towel draped over his shoulders.
"No." She lied trying to play off her sudden mental return trip to the past and growing unease. It wasn't a good subject to bring up between them.
"I-I was just surprised you still had this? It brings back good memories." She admitted half heartedly.
Kouga smirked eyeing the dressed statue now at Kagome's back the same faceless creation he had stared at every morning when he woke unchanged as always.
His smile faded away lightly at the unwavering sight.
"Sometimes." He whispered.
Kagome's eyes fell to the floor. She supposed it wasn't just her who relived the past when such a strong reminder was staring you in the face. She sympathized with Kouga, as she often did.
Kouga sighed tiredly. No point trudging up old memories, not when there was obviously more pressing matters at hand.
For one his slightly dampening floor.
Staring at the oblivious priestess he tossed the fluffed white towel he had retrieved over her head tenderly fisting the soft fabric to gently squeeze the moisture still escaping from Kagome's raven locks.
"You're dripping." He explained shaking the absorbing cloth through her tresses.
"I-I'm sorry." Kagome apologized trying to take hold of the towels corners in her hand to help only to accidentally grab at Kouga's palms.
The contact between them was minimal but all the same her eyes met his from under the overhanging towel and her hazel eyes mirrored his azure gaze all to easily.
Kouga unthinking held Kagome's hand in return smiling down at her with that inhumanly handsome face.
"I know that look." He smirked.
"What's wrong?" He asked calmly blotting the rest of Kagome's hair with his one free hand.
"It's nothing." Kagome responded to quickly to be believable.
"Uh huh. Sure." Kouga said while shimming the remainder of her hair.
"Is it about the suit? Because honestly I don't miss it. To much maintenance." Kouga hinted jokingly, he preferred the comfort of jeans any day to the constant up breeze of wearing nothing but a fur pelt around his hips.
Kagome couldn't help but smile.
"You don't miss your pony tail?" She asked teasingly.
Kouga couldn't help but chuckle.
"No. That I do kinda miss." He smirked purposely running a hand through his thick cropped locks.
Kagome smiled before pulling the towel from her now only slightly damp hair. Today had been exhausting but she was happy for it all the same. Even if there were questions still plaguing the dark corners of her mind, questions she was just to afraid to ask.
Kouga sensed the change in her slight as it might have been.
"Kagome?" He whispered.
"What is it?" He asked sincerely.
Kagome forced herself to meet his eyes. Those deep impossibly blue orbs that at moments could all to easily render her speechless.
"It's just-" She bit her pearl teeth into her tongue. She couldn't, Ginta and Hakkaku may have planted the seed from their conversation earlier today. But she had promised them her silence, and that was something she had to honor.
No matter how difficult.
"I had a lot of fun today." She covered with believable sincerity. Her hazel eyes infusing what was essentially the truth.
Kouga felt the need to pry more but he could tell she was genuine, maybe there was no deeper issue for once maybe he was just being standoffish.
"Glad to hear it." He breathed pinching a damp lock of her raven locks between his fingers.
Kagome eyed his hand and confusingly she felt the need to hold it once more. To have him near and express what was really bothering her. But, this moment it seemed to perfect to ruin.
They were actually getting along, no fighting no complications. She just wanted that feeling for a little while longer.
But apparently her son had other plans.
Instantly the comfortable silence was shattered between the two of them as an all but demanding growl escaped Kagome's stomach.
Both their eyes falling to Kagome's slightly swollen navel before her cheeks flushed three shades darker with embarrassment.
"Got it kid." Kouga chuckled before pulling away heading towards the bedroom entrance.
"I'll have something brought up." He assured over his shoulder.
Kagome watched him leave silently before walking over to the coroner of his inviting bed. Tiredly she sat on the corner feeling it sink only slightly with her weight and the soften texture frame her hips.
She smiled half heatedly.
"You sure have timing." Kagome giggled placing a tender hand over her abdomen.
She breathed deeply only now realizing the entire room smelled of pine, an earthy scent that often cloaked Kouga. It was a calming fragrance, masculine but not overpowering. To be honest she had come to like it, and the soothing effect it often had on her.
Waiting on the wolf demons return she eyed the wall of windows at her side, the heavy rain falling harder than before but with the absence of thunder or even lightening.
She adored showers like this. That didn't boom or shake the air, just pure water that seemed to wash everything away.
Much like today. As confusing as it might have been, things for the moment were calm, a rarity in her world now a days.
Kouga was often at the center of her realm of chaos, but at the exact same time. Her only real form of stability.
She depended on him, more than she should. She knew that, but lately she could feel herself pulling away starting to stand on her own two feet thanks to his reassurance and guidance.
He really was her only one true friend. But, as confident as she was in that thought, the lingering doubt still remained.
What she had heard today. The reluctance in Ginta and Hakkaku's eyes. It was haunting her, and she knew it wouldn't be something she was going to forget.
But, for right now. With things being as mellow as they so often were not. She could let go of the days worries just for this moment.
Like the storm pouring outside, she could let her doubt temporarily wash away.
The glossed onyx shaded phone had barely left Kouga's clawed fingertips from just ordering up dinner when the small glass screen illuminated once again only this time with a number he all to quickly recognized.
"Yeah? You two pack it in for the night?" The azure eyed wolf asked from his slouched sitting position on the stainless kitchen counter. The small speaker of his receiver pressed to his pointed ear.
"We're good. Found a cheap hotel to crash." Ginta confirmed from the other end of the line, the light echo alerting Kouga he was currently on speaker at their end.
"Where at?" Kouga yawned his pearl fangs exposing as he tired to fight off any more that followed, the hand not holding the phone combing through his messed locks.
A silent pause followed but eventually the suddenly hesitant duo spoke.
"Downtown." Ginta replied flatly, insecurely.
Kouga felt his brow arch and his posture straighten slightly.
"There a reason for that?" He asked directly.
As far as he knew his right and left hand men hated that particular part of the city, for a variety of reasons he couldn't begin to cover but the most potent being the certain 'type' of occupants the lower region of the city catered too.
His type to be exact.
"We stopped by the pits." Hakkaku continued where Ginta had obviously intentionally left off. There was apparently no point in lying. They would've been caught eventually, they always were.
"What the hell for?" Kouga questioned sternly struggling to keep his voice low not wanting to alert Kagome to his growing agitation.
"We heard some things, around the city." Ginta confessed. He and Hakkaku's venture around the long time absent streets had been about more than sight seeing.
They wanted to know what had been going on in their time away, particularly with their leader.
"Such as?" Kouga asked frustrated pinching the bridge of his nose tiredly.
"About Rekin, apparently the clubs been getting hit hard since your…um-" Ginta trailed off struggling for the right phrasing.
"Time off." Hakkaku finished.
Kouga sighed exhaustedly. He couldn't say the news was all to surprising, the pit was never a full proof investment. If anything he had helped construct such a shit hole to bring demons together for the only reasons demons ever interacted.
To bring each other pain.
It was an effective therapy, especially in today's society.
No matter how well each one of them hid their real identities, every now and then the monster inside needed to come out.
Sadly though, the arena in the eastern downtown area wasn't the only one of its kind. Several existed all over the surrounding areas.
In fact the only reason his particular pit of choice was so well off financially was because he took part in the fighting himself. Every demon trying to make a name for himself had all but jumped at the chance to take on an eastern leader fighting amongst the most common trash the city had to offer.
But apparently with his new drawn back behavior thanks to Kagome's presence the club was suffering with his absence. And with it, no doubt a few pissed off investors.
Though in all honesty. Kouga couldn't give a damn.
So what if the place sunk? There were a dozen more scattered around the city and each one more would no doubt be more welcoming than the last whenever he felt the need to return.
Let the rotted arena fall to pieces for all he cared. He could easily find another.
Kouga rubbed his face roughly trying to rid himself of the want for sleep, apparently the relentless weather was having more of an effect on him then he originally thought.
As was this conversation.
"Come by in the morning. We'll talk about it then." Kouga stated evenly and surprisingly clam.
"You got it." The two of them confirmed into the phone speaker before the line faded into silence.
Kouga removed the speaker from his ear to watch the palm sized screen go black before he set the device on the counter beside him.
Tomorrow was going to be interesting to say the least. He expected to wake in the morning to a full voicemail of fuming acquaintances. He would have to remember not to listen to any of them near Kagome, she would undoubtedly worry.
Thinking of the priestess, she had kept to herself for the last past few minutes amazingly well. He hadn't even heard a sound from her, at all.
Curiosity slowly suppressed Kouga's growing exhaustion as he hopped off the kitchen counter to step towards the corridor leading towards his bedroom.
The oak doors were still parted open and Kagome's scent wafted from within, but the lights had yet to be turn on and her presence was no where to vibrantly sensed.
Kouga stepped inside the dark confines of his room. Instantly his inhuman eyes illuminating with a slight feline reflective like feature only to focus on the soft frame of the curvaceous figure occupying his bed.
He stilled at the sight his breath catching in his throat at the sight.
Kagome was there alright, but she wasn't exploring or wondering about like he had left her. Instead she was the complete opposite.
She had fallen asleep.
Comfortably curled at the foot of Kouga's massive bed her raven hair fanned out over the undisturbed silken sheets and furs. Obviously she hadn't intended to doze off, but it had happened all the same.
The peaceful expression on her soft face an all to clear sign she was exhausted and enjoying every moment of her slumber.
Kouga stepped silently closer, the actual image of a woman sleeping in his bed a completely new experience for him.
Of course over the span of the last few centuries he had taken more lovers than he ever cared to remember but never not once had he allowed one to touch his bed. It was his sanctuary, his oasis of escaping all of the outside world.
Now the guest rooms of his home were a different story, but this. His chamber, his room, it was a forbidden rule he had never allowed any woman to break.
Until now.
Kouga approached Kagome soundlessly until his shadowed cast itself over her lightly breathing form.
She looked so tired, so blissful in her dreams. The idea of waking her never even crossed his mind.
Instead he knelt down rocking back on the balls of his heels until he stared at her beautiful face mere inches from his own. His chin resting on the soften mattress beside her closed hazel eyes.
He thought about today, about all he had put her through. Surprises at every turn she had never lost that patience with him. Only smiled that incredible smile that made his heart swell with uncertainty.
What was it about her? Centuries and never had a human captivated him as much as the one sleeping before him.
Kouga smirked. Maybe she wasn't human, she was way to god damn perfect to be something so predictable.
Equally as tired Kouga closed his eyes and breathed deeply, letting her intoxicating fragrance replace the air in his lungs.
He didn't know how long he knelt there. Letting the lullaby of the rain outside and the soft hums of Kagome's breathing fill the silent void of his home.
But eventually the spell of sleep began to captivate him as well, and he had all to willingly surrendered his bed for the night so he had better seek comfort somewhere else.
Sighing tiredly he forced himself back to his feet, but not before fisting a handful of the furs that draped his bed and pulling them gently over Kagome's curled figure.
He stared down at her beautiful face.
The idea briefly crossing his mind, that maybe, just maybe. With something so flawless and pure temporarily filling his home.
He might be able to keep the nightmares at bay.
After tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear he silently turned from her towards the bedroom entrance.
Eying her only one last time before sealing the door shut behind him.
He supposed, through all the struggles and endless secrets. There was always hope.
No matter how much he didn't deserve it.
Next chapter coming up soon, actually in the works as we speak! Or should I say type? Oh well Tamato, Tamatoe.
You guys get my point, hang in there!
