Kouga surveyed the absolute destruction surrounding him. His tribe had been decimated. At present, the only survivors he could sense, aside from himself, were Ginta, Hakkaku, and praise the Kami, Ayame. They were all worse for wear and their injuries were severe, but not life-threatening. It would take them a very long time to rebuild, but with the biggest threat to their survival eliminated they had a fighting chance. Still, he was mournful as he assessed the growing numbers of the dead that had fought valiantly alongside the dog brothers to bring the monster down. As much as he and Inuyasha fought, the inu had eradicated the filth that plagued not only his tribe but their entire land and he owed him at least a grudging respect.
There was nothing more they could do at present for the ones who'd lost their lives. Ayame was still in a state of shock as Kouga approached her to inspect her for damage. She had pursued him relentlessly and, even after his declarations about the Miko, Kagome, she wouldn't give up. She only hoped that now he realized her devotion to him was as serious as Kagome's rejection. Wincing, she moved to meet him halfway, the pain in her bruised ribs keeping her actions sedate.
"Ayame! What hurts? Where did you get hit? Let me look at you." Her wolf prince gathered her to him tenderly so as not to exacerbate her wounds. A frown marred his, in her opinion, very attractive face as he carefully checked every inch of her for cuts and broken bones.
"It's okay, Kouga," she rasped quietly, her throat was thick with dust and emotion, "I just hit the ground pretty hard when I was thrown the last time. I think I just bruised a few ribs."
He eyed her with unmasked concern as if doubting her words and settled her head under his chin.
"I know I've been a huge jerk to you, pushing you away all the time, but I don't know what I'd do if I lost you. Can you forgive me for being an oblivious idiot?" His words were sweet and his touch was warm. She settled into his embrace and smirked.
"Oh, Kouga! You don't have to confess to me as though I'm at death's door! You're a stubborn one, but if you're ready to admit you're mine, I won't argue with you. Let's go check on the others and make sure they don't have any lasting damage. We can talk about 'us' after everything is settled."
He looked down at her with a one-fanged grin and nodded as they walked carefully hand-in-hand to check on the rest of their now paltry pack.
"Lord Sesshoumaru! Oh, where are you! Lord Sesshoumaru!" squawked a perturbed kappa. Jaken had faithfully served his Lord through innumerable battles and hardships and though this fight had been fierce, it was no different. Just like always, he was repaid for his devotion by getting left behind as the dust settled. "You ungrateful dog! Hmph!"
The small, green, toad-like creature huffed as the air was forced from his lungs. He had collided with something solid and immobile. He glanced up nervously, knowing instinctively that he had made a grave error in judgment in disparaging his Lord within hearing range. Sure enough, the obelisk he had crashed into was none other than the missing daiyoukai.
"Oh, Lord Sesshoumaru! I'm so happy to have found you! I was so worried!" the hysterical toad exclaimed in fear and adoration. Tears were streaming from his eyes as he lowered himself to bow before the great lord.
"Jaken, did you really think this Sesshoumaru so weak as to fall in battle to that filthy abomination?" Sesshoumaru replied in his deep rumbling baritone. He put his foot upon his retainer's head as he intermittently applied pressure pushing the kappa face-first into the dirt.
"No my lord! I never doubted your greatness for a moment! Ooof!" Not for the first time in his life Jaken was eating mud-pies at the behest of the demon dog. "How cruel!"
Having his fill of chastisement, Sesshoumaru lifted his foot and began to walk away toward the half-breed's Miko.
"Remain here with Ah-Un. I must return this bothersome trinket to the Miko so she may dispose of it." He rumbled and left the prostrate kappa to his dirt lunch.
Not wanting to further irritate his master, Jaken sprang up, dusted himself off, and made his way to the demonic dragon steed. He hopped up into the saddle of the twin-headed beast and settled in to wait for further instructions.
It was a short while later that he began to feel strange. His scalp was beginning to itch and the air was heavy. His vision became blurry and his mouth felt weird. He reached a flippered hand up to scratch, only to be met with unfamiliar appendages extending from an odd-colored arm. He fell from his perch, but the fall was short and he hit the ground on his fleshy bottom.
"What!?" He exclaimed and was further startled by a snort behind him. He turned slowly and incredulously to stare at the pair of coal-black horses behind him where there once was a single dragon. He was awestruck and his mouth fell open in disbelief. In true Jaken fashion, he fainted.