Escape- a Kouga/Kagome Story

Chapter 10: A sad Reunion

Kouga was shocked, to say the least. The mutt was alive? He hung his head low; he knew his chance with Kagome was over now that the dog was back. She'd come running back to him and he'd be tossed away like an old memory. Kagome tilted her head, feeling Kouga's sadness and slight anger. "Kouga-kun? What's wrong?" she asked. Kouga turned away sharply. "Why bother asking, Kagome? I know you'll just go running back to Inuyasha, so why don't you hurry and get running?" he replied with hurt in his voice. Kagome was quiet, he doubted her. Kagome didn't want to run back to Inuyasha anymore, she wanted to run back to him! True, she was glad Inuyasha was back, but in the end, wouldn't this be like Kikyo, but reversed? She wouldn't be the girl pining over a lost love that she knew wouldn't happen. She wouldn't toss her friends away without regard for their feelings, how hypocritical that would be! Kagome walked up to Kouga, wrapping her arms around the wolf from behind. "Kouga-kun. I'm not going anywhere, so please don't doubt me." She whispered.

Kouga stiffened and turned to gaze at Kagome's sincere topaz and apologetic quartz eyes. He sniffed at her emotional scent and was calmed, she was speaking the truth. "You don't love him anymore do you?" he asked knowingly. Kagome was silent before nodding. "No…not the same way I used to. I don't know who to love anymore." She replied. Kouga sighed before pulling Kagome close to him in a hug. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have snapped like that." He apologized. Kagome shook her head. "No, it's ok. You were only scared that I'd leave and forget you. I wouldn't do such a thing. Otherwise I'd be repeating what Inuyasha has done to me with Kikyo." She answered. Kouga was silent, and then he took a deep whiff of Kagome's scent, burying his face in her hair. Her scent calmed him; he could just roll around in her peachy and woodsy scent. Suddenly Kagome stiffened. Kouga was confused before he smelt it. He was here. "Kagome…" Kouga whispered, looking into her eyes. Kagome smiled, but stood firm. "I won't leave you, I promise Kouga. Stay here, let me prove it." She replied.

Kouga did as she asked, hopping back into his tree perch to stay out of sight as he came. Inuyasha looked the same, even smelt the same…but something wasn't right about him anymore. Where was his prideful and fast gait? His wild look of dominance? Hell, even his eyes didn't reflect a tad bit of emotions like before, when his eyes were basically entryways to his heart. Kagome stiffened, her eyes going into a saddened grey and a shocked yellow. "Inuyasha? You're alive?" Kagome breathed. Inuyasha nodded, quickening his step to pull her into a tight hug. Kagome hugged him back, breathing deeply to keep her tears at bay. "Kagome…I'm sorry, so very sorry for what I did." Inuyasha replied, repeating his apology over and over again. Kagome tightened her hold on his kimono but didn't respond. Inuyasha then pulled back to look her over. When he actually saw her new form his eyes widened considerably. "Whaa? What happened to you?" he asked. Kagome explained the fight with Chokyukai and he growled at that. "The damn pig took you again?" he snapped. Kagome held her hand to shut him up and continued to talk. After he seemed disappointed. "Well, I'm glad someone saved you, at least. But now you drank the blood and turned to this?" he asked, gesturing to her body. Kagome nodded. "Yea, but it's ok. I'm still the same me inside." Kagome replied. Inuyasha was quiet before nodding. "I guess you are. Where's the wolf? I want to tell him you're coming back with me." He asked again. This time Kagome shook her head. "He's nearby, but Inuyasha I'm not coming back with you. I've made my choice, and you've made yours. For me to come back to you would be like you constantly leaving us- and me- to go after Kikyo. I can't stay in the past when I'm supposed to be heading towards the future, Inuyasha. I wish you could've seen that when you kept going after Kikyo. Maybe things would've turned out different." She said.

The look on Inuyasha's face could've made even Sesshomaru cry. "Then I'll find a way to bring you back, Kagome. I'm sorry, really! I won't go back to Kikyo! I'm fully alive, look at me, do I look like a lifeless clay doll Kagome?" he asked. Then he took her hand and placed it on his chest, where his heart was. "Do you feel my heartbeat, feel my life? Kagome I swear, I'm not like Kikyo." He pleaded. Kagome cried but held firm to her earlier statement. "It's more than just life Inuyasha. This is about all the other times. Inuyasha, I don't love you the same way I used to anymore. My heart is sealed away where nobody can hurt it anymore. Besides, I already promised Kouga I'd stay with him, I won't just blow him off like this Inuyasha. I have friends where I am now, I feel appreciated with Kouga. With you…I just don't feel wanted anymore." She told him. Inuyasha became increasingly desperate. "Kagome…please? Come back?" he asked again, his voice barely a whisper. Kagome took a deep shaky breath. "No, Inuyasha. Please, don't ask anymore. I don't know how much more of this pain I can take!" she cried, pulling her arm back and stepped away from him.

Kouga's heart tugged at seeing his love cry so badly. All because of this one guy she was in so so much pain. Inuyasha became cold again; his head hung low in shame. He'd lost her, he'd lost everything again. "I understand, I knew no one could last with one such as me for long." He muttered, turning to walk away. Kagome understood his words and launched at him, giving him a stern look. "NO! I'm not leaving because you're hanyou! Inuyasha, how many damn times do I have to tell you this? If I didn't accept you I would've left a long time ago! Baka, you've hurt me too many times for me to stand, that's why I'm leaving! Now don't you dare get murdered again, you will stay alive until I come to see you! I will visit, you will not be alone, I just won't travel with you anymore, understand?" Kagome scolded. Inuyasha seemed relieved, he wasn't necessarily going to never see her again, and she just won't be with him! "So, you'll still be…here?" he asked timidly. Kagome's gaze softened and she nodded. With that Inuyasha smiled, and he quickly kissed her forehead. "Thank you, Kagome. I'll find a way to get you to love me again, and then I won't mess up." He whispered with determination before he turned heel and left. Kouga felt something ignite in him again. No way he was going to steal Kagome from him again! Kagome was his light in his own darkness, he needed her!

Kagome turned and called out Kouga, who hopped from his perch and hugged her tight again she broke down in his arms. "Come on Kagome, let's head back." He whispered, picking her up. Kagome didn't protest and for Kouga that was a yes. He sprinted back to the caves, Kagome's teary grey eyes looking down at the rapidly passing ground.

AHHHH! SO MUCH DRAMA! YET SO SWEET ROMANCE! IT'S LIKE AN EPIC CHICK FLICK THAT'LL MAKE EVEN MEN CRY! Lol anyway peeps review and tell me how dramatic/romantic this chappie was! Lol hope u liked! UNTIL THE FUTURE CHAPTER DEAR READERS!

~Kagome-chan