*Openly puts target on back* Feel free to fire I know I deserve it for being gone so long, know though my love for Kouga and Kagome has not changed!

So out of my dedication to them and to all your reviewers I have emerged from the darkness into the bright light of updating my stories. Oh and if you haven't pulled the trigger on me yet thank you.

So here we go with a new chapter I hope you all enjoy it!

Letting Go

Chapter 9

"Kouga!" Kagome called reaching her hand out in an effort to stop him, but it was to late.

Kouga was out of her sight now sprinting full speed in the direction she had watched Naku disappear in.

Kagome knew there was no stopping Kouga now, she had seen that look before many times with Inuyasha. The look that means no matter what you say or do there was no changing them not until they got what they were craving, blood.

Kagome felt her heart thump harder Kouga would kill Naku there was no doubt about it, but Naku was with Kouga's friends right?

Would they get angry? Would they go after Kouga? Kagome shook the thoughts away, "No!" Kagome felt tears in the corner of her eyes, she would not let him kill that demon and end up being killed himself. There was no way, Kagome quickly shook off her uncertainty. Then she ran as fast as she could after the enraged demon.

Naku pushed his legs harder through the brush around him the twigs scraping his legs and arms but that was the least of his problems.

The pounding of Kouga's feet thumbing right behind him was enough to send his heart booming against his chest in terror.

He pushed his legs harder, so hard he thought they were going to break, and still not near fast enough to escape the infuriated demon behind him.

Naku saw the forest thin around him and he knew he was almost out, with a final burst of speed he pushed past the last of the trees around him.

He stopped frozen in his tracks at the sight in front of him.

He was trapped the cliff wall towering in front of him would be impossible to climb before Kouga caught him.

A rustle in the bushes behind Naku snapped him out of his thoughts, He slowly turned only to regret that decision as soon as he made it.

The hard slam of a fist smashed into the side of his face sending him flying.

Kouga watched as Naku soared through the night air until his body hit the ground with a loud thud.

A smirk crossing his handsome lips, he was going to enjoy this. Seeing what he had done to Kagome had sent him into an uncontrollable thirst to see his blood to see him suffer.

"Get on your feet insect I'm not done with you yet!" Kouga cheered his smirk still in tact.

Naku now flat on his back slowly sat up his beady eyes fixed on Kouga's wicked face. "Y-You would kill one of your own kind for a human!" He pleaded.

Kouga smiled "If you wont get up then I'll come to you!" with that Kouga shot like a bullet toward Naku, his claws aimed at his throat.

Naku pushed off the ground just seconds before Kouga's claws made contact. Naku leapt forward in the opposite direction of Kouga.

Kouga quickly jolted backwards right on Naku's tail, Naku was pressed against the cliff wall before Kouga lunged again.

Kouga felt him dodge the attack again but he made contact. His fist smashed into the cliff side sending a tremor rocking though the stone.

Now he was sure he had just woken up every wolf demon slumbering in the caves but he didn't care his blue orbs still fixed on the cowering demon.

"What's wrong Naku cant pick on someone your own size!" He barked over to the wolf demon shaking only feet away from him.

Naku took a step back "Kouga I didn't know she was yours!"

Kouga only smirked "Well now you do, to bad it doesn't change anything....your still going to die"

Naku knew there was no hope of out running Kouga, and he was determined to draw blood. Still there was a small plan boiling in his mind.

"Alright Kouga you win I wont run any more...please take your revenge." With that Naku knelt down on his knees in front of Kouga, and slowly closed his eyes. His hand cupping the ground beside him.

Kouga looked down at the demon in front of him "How pathetic" He thought, where was the challenge in this, just killing him.

Still he would put the demon out of his misery, Kouga slowly walked forward until he towered over Naku. His eyes still lit with rage, Kouga raised his claws "Fine have it your way"

Then Kouga brought his claws down in what he thought would be the final blow.

Naku's eyes shot open, the ground he was holding he pulled up spraying it over Kouga's eyes in a cloud of dirt. A cheap shot.

Kouga's eyes automatically closed as the dirt brushed into his blue orbs "Gah!" He shouted as he was blinded.

Naku took his opportunity, he jumped to his feet then he brought his own claws against Kouga's face.

Kouga's blood sprayed over the ground his right cheek now cut in four places thanks to Naku's claws.

"Gah!" Kouga whelped his head turning to the side leaving his neck wide open.

Naku saw another chance he had to finish this quickly, he raised his claws again swiping for Kouga exposed neck.

Kouga's eyes shot open he turned just in time to see Naku's claws coming forward, Kouga's hand shot up as he caught Naku's wrist in mid air.

Naku felt his eyes widen in panic at the look on Kouga's face it was the most terrifying thing he had ever seen the blood from his wound dripping down his cheek.

His smile completely gone now replaced with rage.

Before Naku had time to react he felt an unbelievable force slam into his stomach, he jerked forward his mouth gapping open from the escaping oxygen from his lungs.

He fell forward only to have Kouga deliver a knee under his chin sending him lurching up again.

Naku felt blood pull in his mouth as he fell to the ground below.

He hit the ground on his back one of his eyes still closed from the impact as he slowly peeked open to the demon towering over him. The blood in his mouth trickling down from the corner of his lips.

Kouga flexed his claws over Naku "Ready to die?" He asked venom dripping from his voice.

Then the rustling of armor and the sound of feet thumping the ground broke Kouga's lock on Naku. He slowly turned his head to the side watching as almost all of the wolf demons poured out from the caves and the forest.

They all ran to the open rocky area they eyes focused and alert they must have thought they were attack with all the noise Kouga had been causing.

The male demons all stood staring wide eyed over at Kouga and the bleeding demon at his feet.

Kouga watched not interested as the crowd gathered before him. Still keeping there distance though they stood a good twenty feet away.

Then a certain wolf demon began to push his way to the front until he was at the head of all the demons.

It was Takashi his armor stripped form his chest, Kouga could tail he had just sprung from bed.

"What's going on?" Takashi shouted to the crowed.

Naku instantly recognized his leaders voice. "Takashi!" He called out

Takashi's eyes shot to the ground by Kouga's feet ignoring who was standing over his beaten comrade.

"Naku!? What the hell happened to you?" He shouted eyeing the blood and the newly growing bruises.

Then finally his eyes drifted upward to see Kouga's fierce blue orbs glaring back at him.

"Kouga?" He almost whispered in shock at the look in his eyes.

Takashi looked back at Naku then to Kouga before he finally found his voice "Kouga what the hell is going on?!"

"Stay out of it" He barked back.

"What?!" Takashi shouted.
"This worthless vermin's head belongs to me now got that? So you and your men stay out of it unless you want to die with him" Kouga stated.

Takashi was beyond pissed how dare Kouga threaten him in front of his pack.

Kouga's eyes shifted back to the demon at his feet before lurching forward.

Naku used what was left of his strength to doge Kouga pushing off the ground and flipping backwards until he felt the ground beneath his feet again.

It didn't take long for Kouga to recover before sprinting towards him again. Then it started a wild dance of fist and claws as Naku used the last of his strength to stay alive.

In the depths of the crowd of demons four familiar eyes watched in equal horror. It was Ginta and Hakkaku they watched speechless as they saw there leader tearing away at a fellow wolf demon.

They knew all to well the look in Kouga's eyes they had seen it before, during times of war Kouga would set aside all personality of his former self, and replace it with rage. The pure urge to see blood it was an effective method when fighting enemies, but they had never seen him use it on a brother wolf.

"Ginta" Hakkaku whispered in shock.

Both there eyes shifted over to Takashi at the head of the crowd. That was trouble and they knew it Takashi had about to the same temper as Kouga. He would not let on of his comrades die before his eyes.

He would stop Kouga before that happened or worse, and during this state Kouga would not recognize friend from foe.

Takashi had seen enough and so had a few of his men, Takashi launched forward a small ground of his comrades beside him running in Kouga's direction.

"Wait!" Two voices shouted from behind them

Instantly Ginta and Hakkaku threw themselves in front of Takashi and his men blocking there path to Kouga.

There arms spread open like a barrier.

"Step aside!" Takashi barked

"No!" Hakkaku replied

"Listen Takashi! Kouga is not himself right now! Its not his fault he doesn't know what he's doing!" Ginta shouted

Then Takashi saw Naku slam in to the cliff wall a loud yelp of pain escaping his lips from the impact of Kouga sending him flying.

"You sure? Because he looks like he does to me!" Takashi snarled "Now make way or I'll move you myself!"

Ginta and Hakkaku stood there ground determined to keep the small group of demons away from Kouga as long as possible.

Then the snapping of twigs and the rustling of the surrounding bushes snapped the group out of there thoughts.

Ginta and Hakkaku along with Takashi and his men turned to see the figure coming through the brush.

Kagome stepped forward stumbling to her knees her chest heaving heavily from the constant sprit she had just endured.

Her legs now covered in small scratches some bleeding from being cut by the twigs and thorns of the forest.

Her brown orbs looked up slowly her breathing still heavy as she stared up at all the wolf demons in front of her.

"Kagome!" A female voice shouted from the depths of the crowd it only took a moment before the woman appeared shoving her way past the demons around her.

"S-Sango" Kagome whispered through deep breaths

The demon slayer ran to her wounded friends side dropping to her knees as well. "Kagome what happened to you! Are you alright?" She shouted in worry. She had let Kagome go to the forest unprotected alone. She knew she should have not let Kagome leave her cave.

Takashi stared down at the familiar girl, he knew who Kagome was she was that human that was asking him about Kouga at the party.

What had happened to her he wondered? There was blood on her neck her kimono was torn and dirt stained. The side of her face was a dark red like she had been slapped. He could see the developing of bruises on her exposed thighs.

Ginta and Hakkaku also started in worry and confusion.

Deep within the crowd the scent of cherry blossoms sent one females wolf demons stomach turning in horror. It was Toki she had not seen what all the commotion was about but now with Kagome's sent still thick in the air she could guess. Naku had failed she was still alive. Now Kouga would now who was responsible there was no doubt. Silently she tried escaping the crowd.

"Kouga-Where is Kouga?!" Kagome shouted finding her thought again.

"Kouga he is-" Ginta started but another loud yelp broke his sentence.

Kagome's eyes shot to where the sound had come from along with every one else around her.

Naku had finally ben brought down he was now sitting his back pressed against a large boulder, his body limp covered in blood including half of his face. Kouga had busted his head wide open and the blood had trickled down over his face covering one of his eyes.

Naku slowly looked up at Kouga towering over him barley a scratch on his tone body. The looks of pure rage still on his handsome face.

Kouga lifted his arm so he could punch his other free hand. "Just one more" Kouga thought. "Just one more punch and I can shatter his skull"

Kagome watched in horror at the limp wolf demon at Kouga's feet as he lifted his arm to bring down the final blow.

"Die!" Kouga barked bringing his fist down.

Kagome felt the ground underneath her shift as she jumped to her feet, her feet hit the ground thumbing it harder and harder. Her body shoving forward with everything she had everything slowing. Time seem to stand still only her body in motion her and the demon now feet in front of her.

"KOUGA!"

Kouga brought his fist down with so much power he didn't think he would be able to stop if he wanted to. Then he felt something push against him, something soft but strong wrap around his waist.

His fist froze in mid air over Naku as the scent of cherry blossoms floated under his nose.

"Stop it!" Kagome shouted her body pressed against Kouga's back holding him in her frail arms.

"Kouga this isn't you! Please..Please don't kill him!" Kagome begged fresh tears spilling over then running down her cheek.

"Kagome..." He whispered

"Your not a monster..so..please! Don't do it!" Kagome whispered through sobs, Kouga could feel her body trembling around his.

"Kagome" Sango breathed out watching her friend embrace the wolf demon in front of the crowd, Even Takashi stood in aw.

Kouga felt his eyes soften back to there original form, "Why?" was all he could think about.

"T-This trash tried to rape her, kill her! Now she is begging for his life, all because she thinks Im not a monster... How can she possibly still think that way! Why care about me? After everything I've put her through!? Why? Dammit Why?!"

Kouga felt a grunt pass his lips every inch of his body craved blood, he wanted to see this demon die, he wanted to watch him suffer! But he couldn't he couldn't push his arm forward to finish him off.

Against his will Kouga felt his arm drop to his side, his eyes drifted from the demon in front of him. His raven bangs fell forward casting a shadow over his eyes.

The crowd around them silent as the grave not one demon spoke a word as they watched a human girl embrace the wolf leader in front of there very eyes.

"Thank you..." She whispered into his back, exhaling in relief at the feeling of his body loosening.

"Takashi" Kouga spoke calmly.

Takashi snapped out of his trance at the sight of the two. He knew what Kouga was suggesting with out him explaining it.

With a swift movement of his hand he sent his men forward to the still limp demon by Kouga's feet.

The blew past Kouga and Kagome until they reached him two of Takashi's soldiers brought Naku to his feet in front of Takashi.

He looked down at the barley conscious demon in front of him, "You think what Kouga was going to do to you was bad you haven't seen anything yet" Takashi hissed down at demon in front of him. Takashi was not slow he smelled Kagome's scent on him and he knew instantly why Kouga had attacked.

"Get him out of my sight" He ordered.

"W-Wait" Naku started it was a miracle he could even speak.

"I-I didn't work alone" He said loosely.

"What do you mean?" Takashi asked

"T-Toki" Naku breathed out the name slowly.

"What Toki!?" Takashi barked.

The crowd spread apart each demon's eyes scanning for the face they knew so well.

It did not take long before they found her there she stood paralyzed in shock until Takashi called to her.

"Toki you had something to do with this!?" He barked

Toki finally found her voice "No lord Takashi I swear that mongrel is lying!" Toki hissed

"S-She asked me to a-attack that girl" Naku all but whispered.

"You lying dog!" Toki screamed

"Men!" Takashi barked with that Takashi's comrades lunged at Toki. They did not get far.

Toki swiftly turned to run only to have something hard smash in to her face. Toki hit the ground her head turning up to see what had just hit her.

Sango stood over the female demon her fist clenched "Run I dare you!" Sango begged ready to exterminate the demon in front of her if Takashi's men did not get to her first.

Takashi's men quickly scooped her off the ground her threats of death falling on deaf ears as she screamed.

Ginta and Hakkaku broke away from there spots as they slowly tried to break apart the crowd.

All the commotion did not phase Kouga or Kagome there they stood still locked in place.

Then Kouga slowly lifted his hands to Kagome's still wrapped around him, he pulled them apart releasing himself from her grip.

He turned to face her "Kouga..." Kagome whispered, Kouga looked down at her still cut and bruised fresh tears in the corner of her eyes.

He moved towards her slowly bending down slightly he scoped her off her feet and into his arms in one swift motion.

Kagome made no attempt to move from his grip her eyes still fixed on his as he carried her past the still lingering wolf demons.

His eyes focussed on the path a head of them.

Several moments of silence past the only sound was Kouga's steady foot steps against the now stone ground as they worked they way deeper into the caves.

"Kouga...where are we going?" Kagome whispered softly resting her head against Kouga's shoulder now.

"To my room" He replied slowly his eyes still fixed on the curved stone path a head of them.

Sure enough after a few minutes Kagome reached the familiar stone entrance to Kouga's cave.

Once inside Kagome noticed a large fur pelt slung over the floor beside his fire place. Kouga gently set Kagome down on the fur next to the dim fire.

"Stay here I'll be right back" He cooed before vanishing to the back of the cave.

Kagome stared into the fire after he was out of her sight, her body was cold from begin so exposed her torn kimono doing little to protect her from the brisk night air.

Kouga returned a small bucket of water in his hand and a white cloth in the other. He sat it down before he followed sitting beside Kagome.

Kagome starred over to the water it was steaming slightly, she knew Kouga must have gotten it from the hot springs in the back.

Kouga dipped the cloth in the warm water before turning back to Kagome the damp cloth in his hand.

"Can I?" He asked softly.

Kagome was surprised she knew what he was asking but still he had never asked her permission to touch her before. She gave a light node.

Kouga accepted her answer as he rubbed the cloth gently on her neck, wiping away any trace of blood or Naku's scent. The scent that made Kouga carve blood once again.

He continued washing away the blood and dirt from her smooth skin his fingertips fanning over her skin so gently Kagome hardley felt it when his touches went over her wounds.

Slowly after moments of working the warm cloth over her body he made his way to her legs.

Her shins having small scraped from where she had ran through the forest, he continued until he was at her exposed upper thigh. He ran his fingers gently over the newly developing bruises. Kagome felt the smooth touch of his fingertips on her thighs making her blush slightly.

Kouga noticed her behavior he looked up to her only to see her looking away from him a blush on her cheeks. "Even after all she has been through she is shy about her body..."Kouga thought

"You know I'm not a healer and yet somehow I keep having to dress your wounds..." He whispered.

Kagome looked over at him, his eyes to fixed on her scrapes. Her eyes explored his face looking at the marks Naku had left on his cheek.

"True..." She smiled she dipped the sleeve of her kimono in the warm water letting it soak through before bringing it up to Kouga's cheek. Wiping away the dried blood "but I sometimes dress yours" She smiled.

Kouga felt the warmth of her hand pressed against his cheek, her face smiling brightly.

Kouga lifted his own hand to hers pressing it slightly until it opened, her fingers fanned over his cheek.

Kagome watched in surprise as Kouga held her hand in place, his eyes were the one thing that kept her locked in place.

Those fierce blue pools were almost drowning her, so deep, swimming with almost every emotion Kagome could think about. The one thing she could see clearly though and it scared her, it was the look of utter and total devotion.

"K-Kouga" Kagome started, she did not get to finish. Slowly Kouga's body crept forward the heat coming from his tone skin radiating thorough what was left of Kagome's kimono.

"Kagome" His husky voice whispered his warmth breath touching Kagome's lips.

Kagome was paralyzed everything about the demon in front of her drawing her in, her body craving to touch his.

The distance was to much for her to stand, and Kouga knew that.
He launched froward his lips claiming hers in a hunger driven kiss Kouga let her hand drop from his cheek, instantly his fingers dove into her raven locks his free hand holding the back of her neck pushing her lips harder against his own.

Kagome felt her lips part letting Kouga's waiting tongue enter, then it began the battle for power each tongue moving in sink together hungry and wanting more.

Kouga let a part of his inner wolf come to the surface, he pinned Kagome beneath him in one quick motion.

There lips never parting, Kagome welcomed the action her body craving his and his the same.

Kouga's lips finally broke away from the sweet flavor of Kagome's lips both gasping for air.

Kouga's blue orbs stared down at the beautiful girl beneath him, every inch of his body begged to continue only her eyes kept him locked in place.

The brown eyes that were uncertain of they wanted when ever they were in this situation were now whole. They looked waiting, ready.

Kouga knew what that mean Kagome was actually accepting him, she wanted him the same way he had always wanted her. There was no holding back now Kagome was ready to become his in every sense of the word.

But something pulled in Kouga stomach, something not entirely knew to him, guilt. He wanted to ignore, push it aside and focus every fiber of his beign on claiming the woman underneath him.

He couldn't though, he knew what that would mean. "Her family..." Kouga thought his eyes till locked into Kagome's.

"The last time we almost...She left" Kouga pondered 'I wont give up my family for you' those words rang through his ears as if she had just said them all over again.

"If I..If we did...She would regret it" Kouga felt his eyes narrow slightly he could see it now Kagome curled in a ball on the floor in the morning knowing she had given up her family.

Kouga slowly felt her body lift free of Kagome before getting to his feet. Kagome quickly followed sitting up her eyes fixe on Kouga's no longer staring at her but the floor.

"W-We should have never met...she should have never been brought here..."Kouga's mind was now swimming with thoughts he even didn't understand. But one things was clear to him if nothing else was.
"She deserves better...She deserves to live a happy life with another human someone who was not a demon, not wicked, not evil, anyone not like me...."

Kouga tore his eyes from the floor to look back to Kagome a very confused look on her face. Slowly she got to her feet in front of him "Kouga?" She asked gently

Kouga reached out his hand in response slowly he cupped Kagome's cheek in his hand. He quickly closed the distance between them, Kagome felt her eyes close as the strong feeling of Kouga's lips began to press against her own again.

Only Kouga could not share her peace, his eyes were still narrow not closed he didn't want to look away from Kagome's face not for a moment.

The kiss was gentle not like before, Kouga's lips were fueled by a deeper devotion more than lust but he could not explain it.

Slowly and unwillingly he pulled away, his hand still firm on her cheek his thumb stroked the soft flesh of her jaw line.

She stared up at Kouga feeling the pool's that were his eyes drag her under again. It was his voice that pulled her back to the surface.

"Kagome" He started "I want you to go take a nice long bath while I go out for a minute alright? Then I want you to get some sleep"

Kagome felt like a child being told to get ready for bed time, still a bath did sound nice.

She gave a slight node "But where are you going?" She asked.

Kouga slowly let his fingers fall back to his side "Just out for awhile" He replied calmly.

"Okay" Kagome almost whispered.

Kouga took a strong look at Kagome's face as if wanting to freeze the image of her in his mind. Then he turned to the entrance of the cave.

Kagome was so confused why was Kouga acting so strange? Was he angry with her?

Once Kouga reached the cave he felt his feet turn to stone, slowly he turned needing to see her face again, just one more time.

"Kagome...Thank you..for everything" He spoke over to her his eyes still heavy with emotion Kagome did not understand.

Kagome felt so lost "He's thanking me? For what?" She wondered.

"Kouga..." She spoke softly

Then he did something that surprised her even more, for the first time he smiled at her. Not one of his cocky smirks that she had seen so many times. It was a real smile.

"Goodbye" His voice was warm, flowing.

Kagome quickly replied "You mean good night..."

Kouga's smile stayed in tact giving her one last look forcing his mind to burn her face into his memory.

Then with a few steps he was gone.

The steady steps of Kouga's feet were the only sound thumping through the cave, he had walked all the way back to the main entrance before his legs began to give way.

He swayed back and forth before he leaned on the cave wall for balance, once his body made contact with the stone he became frozen all over again.

His eyes still swimming with emotion it was making him sick!

He felt his fist slam in to the cave side, not strong enough to wake his fellow wolf demons again but enough force to shake the ceiling of the cave.

"Dammit!" He barked then his legs slowly gave way letting his body slide down the wall until he was sitting on the cold stone floor.

He sat there to what felt like an eternity to him but he knew it wasn't, he would never be that lucky.

After awhile of his eyes being fixed on the stone ground in front him in found the energy to stare up to the sky.

Then a familiar scent drifted under his nose. Then two figures appeared at the entrance of the cave.

Ginta and Hakkaku walked over to there leader, there eyes wide with surprise they had thought he would have been in his room with Kagome.

"Kouga are you okay?" Ginta asked both quickly going to there leader's side.

"Uh oh you and Kagome didn't get into another fight did you?" Hakkaku assumed.

Kouga could not help but chuckle at the thought. Then he slowly looked to his comrades

"Ginta, Hakkaku I want you to do something for me"

Both demons listened intensely, before he spoke Kouga turned his attention back to the sky. His eyes still narrowed at the sight.

The moon was full.

Alright there you have it I finally updated now yes I know another cliffy please dont hate I will try I promise to update soon.

Until then!