Winter be dammed! Frozen fingers and all I will not be pried away from my computer! Mainly because it provides heat in my otherwise artic home…anyway! On with the update!
So much love and support the last few days, it makes me all nice and toasty! Do you want me to survive to write another chapter? Well then keep it coming! I need the warmth!
Note For Review's :
Kouga's Older Woman - Good things come to those who wait love. :D
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Chapter Thirteen
Wounded
The badly stained and plaster cracked motel room walls vibrated with the relentless impact of the countless fist beating against the barely sealed door.
Hazed azure and noticeably bloodshot eyes agonizingly slowly peeled open from their resting place amongst the badly messed sheets and cigarette buds. Impossibly sluggish the solo figure tangled in the mounted bedding stared at the rattling door frame.
Momentarily trying to figure out if the horrid banging sound was coming from the room or his absolute pounding skull.
Desperate for any type of relief from the bright amount of horrid sunlight beaming through the freshly torn drapes Kouga's hand groped out from under the cover towards the night stand.
Where a pair of tattered blue jeans hung on the corner along with a pair of bra's from last nights 'charming' company who was apparently long gone, presumably with his wallet seeing as it wasn't within sight.
Uncaring and unbelievably sore the wolf demon clawed his way out from under the blankets to lazily wrestle himself into the loose fitting fabric.
Once pulled over his naked hips and left intentionally unbuttoned the excruciating hungover azure eyed wolf staggered to his feet.
His calloused fingers digging into his back pocket where a stale badly dented cigarette awaited him. He placed the slightly yellow tinted wrap between his handsome lips before limping towards the still awfully reverberating door.
"Yeah, Yeah, Yeah! What?" He growled reaching for the locked door clinking it back before pulling the paint chipped board inwards.
Instantly he was greeted by a duo pair of disapproving charcoal eyes that belonged to two obviously agitated wolf demons.
"Morning sunshine." Hakkaku gruffed brushing past the barely standing azure eyed demon and into the unbelievably trashed motel room.
Ginta at his back with a white sack of what overwhelming smelled like cheap greasy take out.
"What the hell are you two doing here?" Kouga yawned closing the door back into its frame with a flick of his wrist.
"Bringing you breakfast." Ginta replied placing the almost translucent bag on the only non-cluttered surface he could find.
Kouga instantly noticed the sack rattled unnaturally with much more than food, if he had to guess he would say medication. Aspirin most likely, a lot of aspirin.
"Figured you needed it." He added glancing around to the countless empty liquor bottle polluted, clawed walls, random clothing scattered around various badly damaged furniture room.
Kouga obviously had one hell of a night. Not by himself apparently with the scent of sex still clinging in the air.
He closed his eyes brief and tried to ignore it.
"Where'd the party go?" Hakkaku asked sarcastically stepping over a shattered bottle and all its puzzle like shards.
"Hell. Or home. Surprising how often those two go hand in hand." Kouga smirked fishing out his silver compact lighter. Stroking his thumb against the spark wheel and watching as the flame burst from the tip.
"Home?" Ginta mocked with a sneer.
"Where you should be." He stated frustrated.
"For what?" Kouga grimaced as he inhaled his freshly lit tobacco.
"To get dressed. You have a board meeting today." Hakkaku added annoyance oh so thick in his dry tone.
"You mean had." Kouga corrected plopping down tiredly in the nearest sunken chair, his azure eyes glazed over with exhaustion and dark black circles rounded under his hazy orbs.
The monthly reports were suppose to be gone over a few hours ago, his absence probably came as a surprise to his stock holders. But, who gave a shit?
He could always find new ones. And if not. Who cared?
"We called and re-scheduled for this afternoon." Ginta said matter of factly, they had done well predicting their leaders self destructive behavior. God knows they had seen if for centuries now.
"Now why did you go and do a thing like that?" Kouga asked uncaring as he eyed a still particularly full bottle of whiskey at his side plucking it up by the neck and swishing the bronze liquid around above his head.
Watching as the brew lit up transparently with the dim light bulb flickering overhead.
"Call and re-re-schedule it. I've got better things to do." The azure eyed wolf ordered dully as he debated chugging the booze in hand or wait until his cigarette burned out.
"Kouga-" Ginta began worriedly, taking a hard step forward so the seriousness of his tone could be felt if not heard.
"Why are you doing this to yourself? You were doing so much better." He began sympathetically.
Clearly though his tender words fell on pointed deaf ears.
"Here." Kouga started tossing a wad full of cash he had found in his jean pocket towards Hakkaku who caught it unintentionally.
"Make yourselves useful. Go get me a some more scotch, and none of the cheap shit either." He spoke with an unbelievable nonchalant tone.
"How about flowers and some chocolates instead? Maybe some diamonds!" Hakkaku shot back watching as one of Kouga's brows arched in intrigue.
"Because you are going to have to kiss some major ass to get Kagome to forgive you for how you treated her the other night." The mohawk spike demon snapped agitatedly.
Kouga puffed a abnormally large hit off his half burned cigarette licking his dry lips in indifference.
"Heard about that huh?" He asked while exhaling the gray cloud filling his lungs through his nose.
"She called asking if we had heard from you. She told us what happened." Ginta confirmed frustrated remembering Kagome's description of what had actually transpired.
All they had clearly been told was Kouga had shown up at her house drunk, and looking for a fight, which she had partially given him.
"Did she conveniently leave out the part where she smoked my ass?" Kouga asked roughly remembering the burning sting the priestess hands had left in their wake.
"No. And, honestly you deserved it! Pawing at her like that!" Hakkaku shouted furiously. They were loyal to Kouga until the bitter end, but that didn't mean they were stupid enough to ignore when he was clearly in the wrong!
"And you think Sesshomaru tries to take advantage of her." Ginta muffled under his breath, but the words had reached Kouga's ears all the same.
"Watch your god damn mouth!" Kouga snapped jolting to his feet his now sharpen azure eyes hard with fury.
His personal dilemmas aside, it didn't mean all self preservation had gone out the window. And being compared to that silver haired bastard in any way was far more of an insult than he would ever let anyone get away with.
The air in the room stiffened and both Ginta and Hakkaku knew they had crossed a line, but they weren't about to back down. Kouga needed to snap back to reality and listen to what they had to say, no matter the amount of the rage they had just placed themselves in front of.
"You two seem to keep forgetting who the leader here is." Kouga began dangerously cold. Walking forward and watching as both of his comrades tensed.
"In case it slipped your mind. I give the orders not the other god damn way around!" He growled angrily flicking his lit cigarette away and exhaling what little bit of smoke he had retained.
"Or did you forget who tolerates your half decade long vacations?" He asked glaring at both silent demons before him, making sure his heated words sunk in.
"Matte of fact. Why don't you take another one right now? I hear Europe is nice this time of year. Send me a postcard!" He barked venomously, the scent of lingering tobacco and whiskey thick on his breath.
Ginta and Hakkaku shared a look in each others direction. Again, they knew Kouga and his tendencies well enough not to argue. For now, they would just have to wait and let him get whatever was currently eating away at him out of his system.
Which usually meant space, and time.
"We're just gonna assume that's the hangover talking." Hakkaku stated tiredly.
"We'll let you work it out on your own." Ginta added disappointedly both demons walking towards the motel door they had regretfully entered.
"Good." Kouga snorted throwing himself back against the nearest wall sliding down onto the floor with his half full bottle of liquor still in hand.
"When you sober up. Call Kagome. You should at least apologize." Ginta said evenly over his shoulder before reaching for the door handle.
About to seal the shattered reminisce of his leader into the personal hell he had created. He stared at his comrade. Small, and weak from selfish unnecessary self abuse.
His flurry of disappointed thoughts all circling around one statement and one alone.
Maybe things never did change.
Sweat dripped from Kagome's brow as she eyed the last hours long fruit of her labor. After swiping the back of her hand across her damped forehead she gripped her hips in hand taking in the full sight of her work.
Finally she had gotten the first room of her house done. It was only the kitchen, and admittedly the smallest but it felt great to finally have at least one functioning room in her new home that wasn't riddled with chaos and disorder.
It made her feel like this was a building process to getting her life back on track and she had just laid the first block. Without any unwanted help.
Prideful in her accomplishment Kagome eyed the empty boxes riddled across her kitchen counter. As happy as she was at her self triumph she couldn't help but feel a little disappointed that there was no one here to share her victorious moment.
Not that she needed anyone to pat her on the back or tell her good job, but the emptiness could be felt all the same. Even though she desperately wished she could shove it away.
She had been doing a pretty good job of doing just that the last few days. Avoiding her unsorted emotions was becoming an art, and she was painting one hell of a masterpiece.
It helped that she had been keeping herself busy, there was no shortage of chores around her home but still the vastness and the quiet had taken a toll on her.
It didn't help either that every knock at the door made her heart drop/race at the possibilities of who it might be on the other side.
Never the one she wanted though, willingly or not.
Kagome sat tiredly on the bar stool beside the kitchen island thumbing her sweating bottle of water within fingers reach.
She hated thinking about him. That blue eyed jerk.
That blue eyed jerk who didn't even have the nerve to answer her when she called to apologize. Her! After all he had said and done, she was still willing to be the bigger person and make emends.
Kagome palmed her chin worriedly.
She hated feeling this way, even worse she hated that Kouga was the one capable of making her feel this way. Guilty.
She knew in all actuality she had absolutely nothing to be guilt riddled over. Kouga had deserved every moment of the sting she had given him, but that hadn't made it right.
She probably could have handled what had transpired between them a different way. A less physical way.
Then it again it was Kouga's physicality that had gotten them into this situation. Why did he have to be so pushy? So forceful? He had obviously been drunk…but that wasn't an excuse. The way he had touched her.
It was like he had been trying to get a rise out of her? Get her to be the one to push him away. Was that what he had really wanted? Distance?
If that was the case, mission accomplished.
All their trials together, it had never been like this before. This hard, the rift that was growing between them. She didn't know how she could mend it back together.
Or if she even wanted too…
Kouga had made it abundantly clear he was not letting her in past what he already had. And honestly she didn't know if she could always live with that.
She loved Kouga, he was her confidant, her shoulder to cry and lean on when everything seemed to go wrong. But, just as quickly as he lent her his support, he had jerked it all away.
No explanations, no goodbyes. He was just, gone.
Unwillingly Kagome's memory flashed the haunting image of Kouga's cold harden eyes glaring down at her, how empty they seemed. How broken.
That look could only be achieved by someone suffering beyond words. She had seen it before, from her very own hazel orbs the moment she had lost Inuyasha.
But the only thing was…what had Kouga lost?
The thought vanished as quickly as it came with the sudden uncomfortable amount of pressure rising from her swollen abdomen.
Kagome stared down at her orbed stomach tensely.
Placing a hand over her rounded shape she groaned.
She felt nauseas and sore suddenly. Aching from the inside like she was being stretched.
Trying to calm herself she took a few deep breaths. It hadn't been the first time she had felt this sensation today. It had happened twice before when she was moving a few boxes around the house.
She had of course sat down, had a drink of water enjoyed a nice break and the feeling had subsided. It had to have been fatigue, after all she had been organizing an entire house by herself.
Stroking her hidden navel tenderly she exhaled deeply. It was going to be okay, it would pass in a moment or two just like before.
Reaching for her water bottle Kagome tried to manage a sip or two. But the moment the icy brew touched her lips the discomfort she was feeling intensified ten times over.
Lurching forward in complete stunned riddled pain she gasped.
Wrapping her arms around her stomach tightly she tired to quell the ache but it didn't work, and all her level headed reassuring thoughts flew right out the window!
Something was wrong. Very, very wrong!
Trying to think rationally despite the crippling pain Kagome eyed her cell phone just on the kitchen counter a few feet away.
Shakily clawing her way to her feet she limped forward, her face deathly tense and her jaw tight with visible strain.
Her mind was racing with the possibilities. Was she going into labor? It was too soon? Wasn't it?
All the literature she had read had mentioned intense pain, but it was suppose to radiate from her lower abdomen right? This obviously wasn't it! It felt like her rib cage was bursting!
She reached for the black square mobile but the moment her fingers slid across the flat screen the pain once again rocked through her.
Crippled by the intensity of the agony now pulsating through her entire torso she fell to her knees her back falling against the lower kitchen counters for support.
This was terrifying! She felt like she was dying! What if she was? What if-
Kagome fought off the horrifying thoughts to weakly reach for cell phone that had slid across the floor. But only when she eyed the screen did she notice that it had automatically dialed the last number she had tried to reach.
Kagome laid back against the counter defeated both her hands braced on her rock solid stomach and hard sweat developing on her brow from the absolute strain she was enduring.
Sinking her pearl teeth into her lower trembling lip she tired to avoid screaming, but hard unchecked groans of agony were slipping through all the same.
"Please, please answer!" She prayed mentally so overcome with pain she couldn't even remember who was the last person she had tired to call.
Whoever it was, she just prayed they could call her an ambulance and now!
On the fifth and final ring a agitated and stern voice finally answered harshly.
"Yeah? Call to bitch me out?" Kouga growled from the other end.
Kagome eyed the screen beside her woozily. She felt so light headed so, drained she couldn't muster the words.
"K-Kou-ga-" She cried weakly hot tears stinging the corners of her eyes.
"Kagome?" Kouga asked his tone instantly shifting from arrogant to concerned.
Kagome opened her mouth to speak but only a gasping sob escaped and her entire body tensed to try and cope with the unknown assault it was enduring.
"What's wrong?!" He roared loudly into the speaker. His hard voice echoing throughout the confines of Kagome's home.
"T-The baby- H-Hurry-" Kagome gasped through barred teeth. It hurt so bad! Her vision was blurring from the escaping tears and her face burning with rushing blood!
"I'm coming!" Kouga vowed the lingering sound of a door being slammed shut the last thing to be legibly heard before the line went dead.
The narrow hallways reeked of disinfectants and a seemingly endless flurry of other nose numbing scents. Trying to control the absolute spinning of the dismal surroundings confining him. Kouga palmed the back of his neck exhaustedly from his sitting position on the marble floor.
Staring past his chest tucked knees to his bare and dirt covered feet below. His dirty soles flattened against the freshly polished ground.
Hatefully he swore under his breath. His body deathly still but his mind absolutely racing.
"What the hell is taking so long?" He growled through bared fangs.
The haunting image of Kagome curled on her kitchen floor flashing unwillingly before his vision.
The absolute moment he had heard the distress in the absent priestess voice he had practically flown across the city. Unintentionally taking her door down at the hinges when he smashed his way through, to find her immobile and hunched in obvious agony.
He didn't understand what had happened and he didn't give a damn! He had scooped her from the hard floor and sprinted to the nearest hospital. Though that had been a bit of a task since the nearest infirmary he knew of that catered to women in her 'situation' was a good hour or so away. But, the speed he had ran with her cradled in his arms, he was sure it had taken no longer than five minutes.
He had burst through the clinics doors demanding aid and just as quickly Kagome had been whisked away on a gurney. The staff having to physically hold him back from following, but it had been their warning that he would only get in the way that had really kept him welded in place.
So here he sat. Anchored to the hallway he had last seen her disappear into with nothing but his growing guilt and absolute self loathing to keep him company.
Words could not begin to describe the sheer amount of hatred pumping through his still thick alcohol laced veins.
There he had been, laid up in a motel room with all the sinful luxurious in the world. While Kagome laid crippled with pain alone in her home!
Kouga fisted his calloused hands in the badly messed locks of his raven hair with the sheer agony of it all. What he had put her through the last few days. He might as well put her in this god damn place himself!
The frantic wolf demon took a visibly shaky breath. Why wouldn't they tell him she was alright? She had to be okay!
"Kouga!" A familiar and obviously equally as panicked voice echoed down the barren hall.
Kouga peeked out from under the dark tresses of his hair to watch as both Ginta and Hakkaku came bursting through the end room double doors directly towards him.
"Is she alright?" Hakkaku called out shadowing Ginta's every step until both of them stood over their obviously worried leader.
"What happened? Where is she?" Ginta pried anxiously.
"The doctors still with her." Kouga whispered climbing to his bare feet his sharpen azure eyes fixed on the apposing double doors where Kagome had disappeared behind.
"Pricks haven't told me anything!" He shouted furiously!
"I don't understand, what happened?" Hakkaku asked, they had just spoken to the hazel eyed priestess a day or so ago. She had been fine. What could have possibly happened to land her here?
"I don't know. She called me and by the time I got there-" Kouga trailed off nervously running a hand through his thick lock.
"Why is this taking so god damn long!?" He snapped angrily.
Ginta and Hakkaku eyed their leader silently. They had nothing to say that could possibly help the situation. They were just as worried about Kagome as anyone. And all three lacked the patience to wait for answers.
Unfortunately their wait wasn't long before another voice shattered the tense silence venomously.
"What the hell did you do!?" An absolutely seething tone roared from the bursting apart doors.
"Oh great." Kouga mumbled the unmistakable scent of fox wafting under his nose as he turned to greet the sight of the storming kitsune.
"Where is she!?" The rage filled eyed auburn haired demon demanded.
"With the doctor genius!" Kouga snapped back. He was in no mood to deal with the foxes shit right now.
"Why is she even here!? She was fine when I talked to her this morning! Worried about you! But, what the hell else is new!?" Shippo snapped hatefully.
He could clearly recall the tone of concern that had filled his ear from Kagome's worried voice on the other end of the phone. He had simply called to check up on her, see how she was feeling lately. She had been vague in her description of recent developments.
But it didn't take a genius to know if she was distressed in any way, only one person could possibly have been to blame!
Kouga felt an insulting response die in his throat. So even after all he had done, she was still thinking about him? It surprised him. Surprised, and hurt like hell all at the exact same time.
Shippo gauged the silent wolf demons reaction remorseless the current scent of wafting booze, cigarettes and whores only now reaching his nostrils and filling him with an even more impossible amount of fury.
"Tell me something Kouga? Is there a reason you smell like a god damn brewery!?" He snapped hatefully.
Kouga's eyes hardened over with boiling anger. Now was not the time for this shit!
But clearly Shippo didn't get the warning.
"That's what you were doing? Instead of watching over her? Drinking and whoring!? Why doesn't that surprise me! It's apparently the only thing your any good at!" The raging kitsune spat.
"Shut your mouth!" Kouga roared lunging forward at the arrogant fox demon temporarily blinded to his worry by suddenly flaring hatred!
"Stop it!" Ginta shouted wedging himself between the two fuming demons Hakkaku wrapping a strong arm around Kouga's already flexed arm.
"This isn't helping!" The mohawk haired demon barked.
Kouga glared at the unapologetic fox demon standing guarded before him. His eyes just a furious as his own and Kouga wanted nothing more than to knock the smug bastards face into the nearest wall!
But, if he did he would undoubtedly set in motion a series of events that would inevitably lead to him having to be forcibly removed from the hospital and away from Kagome.
And he wasn't going to let that happen.
"I'm fine." Kouga breathed forcibly making his body relax in order to get Ginta and Hakkaku to loosen their harden grip on his arm, shoulder and chest.
"I'll settle this later." He vowed glaring at Shippo with deadly sincerity, it was about time the little kitten got a brutal reminder of why he needed to respect his superiors.
Shippo lips parted to threaten the wolf demon just as viciously but before the words could form the double doors on the opposite side of the hallway parted open. A lone white coat dressed figure stepped through to face the four of them.
"Mrs. Higurashi?" The aged slightly bearded man called aloud with manila folder in hand. His narrow glasses hidden eyes scanning the mixed group before him.
"Kagome! Is she okay?" Kouga shouted tearing fully out of Ginta and Hakkaku's grip spinning to face the approaching doctor.
"I'm sorry your?" The gray haired man asked guardedly his dark eyes meeting Kouga's curiously.
"Is she okay!?" Kouga repeated heatedly intentionally ignoring the gray faced humans meaningless question.
"I'm sorry I can only disclose information to family." The hesitant physician declared sternly.
"Listen here you mother-!" Kouga snarled about to lung towards the arrogant son of a bitch next until Shippo shoved past him forcibly cutting him off mid threat.
"I am family." Shippo stated with believable sincerity.
The frowning human eyed Shippo then turned edgily towards Kouga carefully weighing his options. But the unrelenting gleam of deep concern rooted in Shippo's gaze obviously won out over Kouga's fury.
"Mrs. Higurashi is going to be fine." The aged man declared positively.
Kouga felt like he took his first legit breath since finding Kagome in her home several hours ago. So she was okay? She was fine. He felt like he could crumble right here and now with the sheer relief.
"Her condition as I'm sure your aware is a little 'delicate'." The doctor began to explain facing no one else but Shippo almost as if he was purposely ignoring Kouga and his comrades unrelenting stares.
"Her pregnancy has advanced quickly and as can be expected in cases like these, the fetus has grown quite strong. A little too strong some might say." The bearded physician hinted vaguely.
"The baby did this?" Ginta thought out loud in utter disbelief.
"Unintentionally of course. But, yes. Mrs. Higurashi has two fractured ribs and some light internal bruising. She will need plenty of rest, lots of fluids and good nutrition for the next few days. But overall she will be just fine." He instructed with a bit of a level warning.
Shippo nodded quickly. He would make sure she was taken care of, night and day.
"Can I see her?" The turquoise eyed fox asked hopefully.
"Of course." The physician agreed stepping aside to guide the fox demon back to the personal care center, but one glance in Kouga's direction told the glaring wolf demon. He was not welcome to follow.
Kouga stepped forward but both Ginta and Hakkaku's hands gripped hold of his shoulder and forearm to keep him from causing a no doubt ugly scene.
"She's okay Kouga." Hakkaku whispered trying to ease his clearly emotionally unstable commander.
"That's all that matters." Ginta added with a light squeeze of Kouga's shoulder.
Kouga stared at the two now sealed doors acting as the only barrier between him and the sole source of his once again rising self hatred.
"No." He breathed darkly.
"No, its not." He whispered pulling away from their tighten hold to step away completely. Turing his back to his motionless comrades and the rooms beyond.
All to willingly letting the reality of the hurt and the damage he had solely created.
Eat him alive.
Soft freshly pressed fabric slid under Kagome's smooth fingertips as she stroked the pallet of blankets the late night nurses had gifted her.
It was a welcomed gift considering the paper thin gown the hospital had provided her didn't shield much cold.
Sore and a little groggy from the mild pain medication she had been subjected too she adjusted in her slightly arched hospital bed.
The brief sound of the comfortably decorated room she had been swept into for the night one entrance sweeping open catching her slowed attention.
Slightly bleary hazel eyes filled with ease at the sight of the messed haired and clearly as equally relieved fox demon framing the open door way.
"Hey," Kagome whispered doing her best to sit up in the sunken bed without straining her still throbbing abdomen.
Shippo closed the distance between himself and the partially laying priestess all to quickly. Stepping forward until she was within reach then pressing a loving hand to the back of her head to pull her forward. Planting a soft kiss at the center of her forehead in sheer gratitude to see her awake.
"Are you okay? How are you feeling?" The turquoise eyed demon asked taking a firm seat on the bed along side her while pulling back just enough to face her directly.
"Honestly, a little sore." Kagome admitted with a light smile.
"Apparently I underestimated this whole baby kicking thing." She sighed brushing a soft hand over her secretly bruised stomach.
Shippo smirked half heartedly. It was reassuring to know that she was well enough to crack jokes, but the actual image of seeing her here in a hospital bed. Wasn't something he took lightly.
"Definitely Inuyasha's son." He whispered eying Kagome's blanket and gown covered rounded stomach.
Kagome gaze softened a bit at the look of concern still upon the kitsune's face. He looked so tired, so worried. Not that she blamed him, she had no doubt given several people including herself a good scare.
But, one person worried her just a little more than all the others.
"Did you come alone?" Kagome asked. She wasn't at all surprised the fox had found her. She had spoken to him just this morning, and had arranged to meet later that night. He had offered to lend a hand in organizing her house a bit and she was grateful for the help.
It wasn't a far stretch to think he had showed up only to find the house empty. He must have followed her trail here one way or the other.
"The kids are home. I didn't want them to worry." Shippo explained. He knew he would no doubt have a lot of explaining to do once headed back. A houseful of worrisome youthful demons could be quite a handful.
Kagome smiled lightly at his naivety to her question.
"I meant, why are you alone? Where's Kouga?" Kagome asked lightly. The no doubt frantic wolf demon must've been going out of his mind by now. She could still vividly see the look of sheer terror etched into his eyes when they had wheeled her away and out of his arms.
A feeling she had shared all to closely.
The calm demeanor radiating around the quietly sitting fox all but instantly changed at the mention of the absent wolf demon.
This was by far the last subject he wanted brought up between the two of them. Yet, like always the distant canine breed had a way of worming his way into their conversations.
"Shippo?" Kagome questioned. Watching as the vivid emotion of discomfort washed over his still slightly youthful face.
"He left." The auburn haired fox stated plainly and uncaring. Remembering the last glance he had eyed in the wolfs direction as he turned tail and all but ran down the narrow hallway leading away from Kagome's room.
"Already? Without-" Kagome began admittedly confused by the news. Sure Kouga and her had their difference the last few days. But, after something like this. Was he still holding it against her?
"Seeing you? You cant honestly say your surprised? It's what he does Kagome!" Shippo growled angrily before forcibly biting her tongue.
After a quick intake of breath he swallowed down the remainder of his temper. Reminding himself that right now was not the time to let such frustrations out.
"Lets not talk about him okay? We should just focus on you, and the baby." Shippo suggested eager to switch subjects.
Kagome sighed half heartedly at the vivid display of emotions unraveling before her.
Touched as she was by Shippo's protectiveness, this wasn't his decision.
"We're fine Shippo. I'm fine, I just really wanted to talk to him." She replied tenderly.
"He's been going through some things lately." She added.
"I don't care what he's going through! If he's smart he'll stay they hell away from you!" Shippo barked sharply.
"Shippo-" Kagome began lowly. Her tone a even but still determined, though it did little to deter the obviously infuriated kitsune.
"No Kagome!" He interrupted forcefully.
"I've been understating. I've let you make the same mistake over and over again by letting that mongrel back into your life. But not anymore! That flea bag isn't getting anywhere near you!" He vowed sharply and with harsh sincerity.
Kagome laid her head back tiredly against her series of braced upwards pillows. She didn't blame him for being guarded. Kouga had given them both plenty to be cautious about, and honestly she knew exactly where the fox demon was coming from.
But that didn't mean she was ready to stop trying. This little scare had been more than a minor inconvenience. It had been a wake up call that she needed to keep the people she cared about closest.
Difficult and thick headed as she knew Kouga could be, he had been there when she needed him most. And that as minuscule as it might seem to someone else, mattered to her. More than words could say.
And she wasn't giving up on that, on him.
"Shippo," Kagome began calmly reaching out for the kitsunes fisted hand taking it in hers softly and squeezing reassuringly.
"I love you. I don't want to fight with you." She whispered. Her hazel orbs looking into the sharpen child like turquoise orbs she had always adored. Wanting her words to reach him, clearly and above reproach.
"But, I love Kouga too. Despite what you might think. He is my friend. He's just as important to me as you are." She stated calmly and truthful.
Though his hand still remained firmly in Kagome's hold Shippo tore his eyes away frustrated. It was obvious his warning was being ignored, again.
"It's not in me to give up on him. Not now." Kagome continued, hoping the sincerity of her voice would somehow bring the obviously angry kitsune around to her side.
"You're to damn stubborn." Shippo said bluntly turning back towards the understanding priestess laying at his side.
She squeezed his tense hand a little tighter under her own with a soften smile.
"Have I ever been any other way?" She asked whole heartedly.
Narrow eyed and beyond annoyed Shippo stared at the smiling priestess tiredly.
Inuyasha may have been gone, but his strength obviously wasn't the only thing left behind in his son. Traces of his bull headed personality had been left in his wake, and were apparently rubbing off on more than just him.
But, regardless of the headache and no doubt sleepless nights such persona would cause. Shippo knew with one hard look at determination burning in Kagome's hazel eyes.
He would learn to accept it, like he always had.
Now trust me you are not going to want to miss the next chapter! Weekly updates are on the rise folks so it shouldn't be that long of a wait.
Would I ever lie to you? Ehehehehe…
