I managed to stick to the walls and avoid contact with anyone all the way through the cave until I made it to my den. I hussled inside and made sure that the curtain closed before I shed my kimono. I dug through my chest until I got to the bottom, which is where I had placed the gift Kouga had gotten me. It was wrapped in a white wolf fur. I pulled it out and removed the fur, there underneath was the silky smooth material of my kimono.
The dark blue reminded me of the sky when the sun had just set and the stars were becoming visible, not a navy blue but not bright. This one had 2 layers the under one was a shimmering white that was pretty close to silver, it was only visible up near the collar. The sash that tied around the center was the same color as the underneath layer. The blue and silver were so beautiful together, Kouga told me it looked like the night sky and knew I had to have it. I slid it on and made sure it was all laying down and smoothed out. I wished for a mirror so badly.
"Enough time dawdling Kagome." I slid my sandals on and went for the door. Just then I heard an incredibly loud howl echo through the cave, followed by another and then another. I covered my ears and waited for it to quit. "Wonder what that was about?" I left my room and headed toward the main den.
Gathered around the fire were most of the unmated females, dancing in a very seductive way. Most of the men were sitting around either watching the girls entranced or talking to someone. They were all leaned over and watching intently someone behind the fire. I made my way toward the feast table where Senna was smiling proudly over what she had accomplished. She seemed not to notice me until I spoke.
"It looks wonderful Senna!" She jumped and turned to smile at me, but stopped upon seeing me. Her mouth was agape and she stared at me, looking me up and down.
"Kagome. You look-"
"Am I overdone?" I whispered in her direction. "I can go change-"
"No!" She stated almost too loudly, it made me jump. "You look great. I have just never seen you in anything other than your dirty old work kimono's."
"oh." I blushed and started to smooth out invisible wrinkles in my kimono. "Ari said it was ok to dress up."
"You look perfect." She smiled sincerely and I knew she wouldn't lie to me. "Get something to eat! The men have been too entranced with Kouga's return to get anything yet. I am beginning to think they aren't hungry!" She laughed, "but I know better!" I took a small wooden plate and grabbed a few chunks of meat and roasted vegetables. Senna made sure to point out if anything was spicy, knowing I didn't like it.
I turned around and was greeted with a group of the men behind me all staring at me. I smiled and nodded.
"Gentlemen." As I walked forward they parted but continued to stare. I blushed brighter than I had in a long time. I kept my head down and headed straight for the nearest log. I quickly found it and sat down, I paid great attention to the food on my plate as I ate not daring to look up. Eventually I noticed there were quite a few people seated and I looked up and into the large fire, it was beautiful. The cave all decorated up seemed homy and comfortable. It amazed me how comfortable I had become with these wolves, they have shown me such love and appreciation I felt at home here. It was an odd feeling to realize, with women dancing half naked in front of you, and men on most sides of you tearing into their meal with gusto. I liked it here. A voice pulled me out of my thoughts, it was deep and almost gravely but I had become quite accustomed to it.
"Kagome." I looked up at the owner of the voice, and there stood the wolf prince himself. He hadn't aged at all in the 5 years since Naraku's defeat. His armor was a little more damaged now and his wolf pelt around his waist was filthy but looking up into his light blue eyes is where I felt the most comfortable. Lost with him in the drowning pools of his eyes. "You look particularly lovely tonight." He seemed almost shy about his admission.
I blushed, "Thank you Kouga. I am glad to see your travels were safe." Not noticing any new wounds or scars of his skin visible.
"The men mentioned that there was some kind of accident while I was away?" He seemed less uncomfortable now as he sat down next to me.
"oh, yes. Rena fell out of a tree, but she appears to be fine, other than rest nothing I can do for her." I looked around and there she sat on a log in the back next to Imari, one of the men had just brought them each a plate of food.
"Well, once again we are lucky to have you here Kagome. They said it was bad, she didn't stir for a while?" He seemed to hesitate before continuing. "They said something happened with you?" His voice softened and I knew he was worried.
"I was afraid that I wouldn't have been able to help her. I felt that it was my fault. I gave them chores instead of my normal herb lesson. If I had given them an herb lesson then she wouldn't have been climbing trees and -"
He stopped me by placing a hand over mine, he was warm and his skin remarkably soft.
"Do not blame yourself, kids will be kids. Be thankful you were here, don't punish yourself for things you cannot change." I looked over to him and he was looking straight into my eyes. My heart leapt at his expression, it was not a coy or cocky one that I was so used to seeing on him but this one was sincere and soft.
I blushed even redder.
"I wanted to give you a proper thank you." He had a smile in his eyes now, and the usual Kouga was back. "Normally when I return from being gone I have a war to calm down. The men don't understand what the women are mad about and the women want the men to be more understanding. It is murder for a week or so after I am back." I laughed. "You think I am joking? Last time, the females decided it was a good idea that since the men weren't going to help them out with chores and cleaning then they weren't going to cook for them! The men were coming undone by the time I got back!" I laughed even harder, Kouga was laughing as well, his deep chuckle was comforting. "I mean it Kagome." He gently squeezed my hand, that I forgot he was holding. "Thank you, you have made my home coming that much better."
"You are welcome. I wanted you to know that you were missed, deeply by everyone."
He gave me a look that was close to puzzled mixed with surprise.
"Everyone?"
"Yes, everyone missed you. You are our fearless leader." Kouga blushed slightly but it vanished almost as quickly. He seemed almost shy to ask the next question, and sat there a moment gathering his courage.
"Did you miss me Kagome?" His voice was soft, I struggled to hear him over the partying in the background. Oh, I guess when I said everyone that meant me too.
"Yes. Of course I did." I answered honestly, I had become quite close to Kouga. There was nothing like a relationship but we are good friends. "This den isn't the same without you."
He smiled and pulled me into a hug. My plate, which was mostly empty by now, fell to the floor as he wrapped his arms around me. He was warm and soft while holding us together, he buried his nose in the junction of my neck and shoulder and inhaled deeply. I heard him sigh.
"I missed you too." I heard him whisper, I felt comfortable snuggled up against him. I gently took my arms and wrapped them around his chest. We sat there for a while, I wasn't sure how long but I did not feel the need to separate from him. I flattened my hands against his back and spread my fingers. He jumped and we parted, and he looked at me like he had never seen me before.
"What was that?" He had a slight smile on his lips and he was breathing hard.
I blushed and looked down, "Sorry, that was-"
"Kouga?" Jiki crept up behind him and he nearly jumped out of his skin. "The ceremony is about to begin. I need you in your place." He cleared his throat and stood up.
"Until later." He bowed to me and turned around to go to his place for the ceremony. Once he was gone I noticed that Ari and Marik were walking about accepting gifts and congrats from everyone before they headed to the fire.
Jiki was standing near were Kouga was sitting, and she had some kind of herb that was smoking lightly. She began waving it around the couple as they joined hands. Ari was wearing a white kimono with a teal sash that matched Marik's armor. She smiled and began.
"Tonight under the half moon we gather to celebrate the binding of two souls. Marik and Ari have taken the proper procedures to be bound in front of the gods and their pack. With this ritual we bind their souls for the mating ritual to commence." She pulled a ribbon from a small pocket in her kimono and wrapped it around Ari's left wrist and Marik's right wrist. They intertwined their fingers and breathed deeply the smoke she was spreading. The room sat in silence, I sat there glancing around the room. Everyone was on the edge of their seat, the tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. What were they waiting for? Jiki's face broke into a smile. "It has been accepted! The union is graced by the gods!" Cheering broke out through the ranks of the pack and Marik wrapped Ari in a huge hug. One of the other elder members came through the crowd carrying a pedestal that placed on the top was a large cream candle that was only about 2 inches tall from being burnt so many times. Jiki handed Marik and Ari each a twig that was flaming and set them to light the candle. Once it was lit another cheer went through the wolves, some were howling others just giving out a loud whistle.
Jiki bowed to Marik as he stepped to retake Ari's other hand.
"I swear to you Ari, that I will provide for you, I will care for you. I will love you and I will protect you, I will be by your side until the gods call me home. I will provide you with a family to raise, and I will be there always to help you. This I swear to you." He bowed and it was Ari's turn.
"I swear to you Marik that I will provide you with a resting place, a shelter from the storms, I will always make sure you are ready for what awaits you in your endeavors, I will love you and any and all family you provide me with until the gods call me home. I will always be yours, this I swear to you." She bowed and Marik pulled her close and kissed her gently on the lips. When they broke apart Ari's blush was a deep red.
Jiki stepped forward. "The mating chamber has been prepared and the couple will spend 3 days in the company of none but each other until they are joined." Jiki untied the ribbon and let it fall as Marik picked up Ari bridal style and headed off down a tunnel. The hoots and howls of the other wolves made me blush. I took a glance at Kouga, he was watching me.
Once Kouga noticed me watching him he stood and made an announcement.
"The ceremony is complete! Let the festivities continue!" The cheers got to a deafening level as the younger females got up and continued their dance. The men stood about talking and finishing off Senna's food. I needed a break. The smoky air and the noise level was getting to me, I was slightly light headed as I headed outside.
The fresh air was a nice change but the quiet wasn't achieved until I got further from the cave mouth. I walked until I could no longer hear the sounds from inside the cave and I was far past seeing the light through the waterfall. I came to a large tree, what kind it was was beyond me in he dark. I sat down among a pile of roots and leaned back against the trunk closing my eyes.
It was a cool night, my 2 layer kimono was keeping me warm enough not to shiver but my hands and feet were cold. I pulled my legs under me and slid my hands between my legs. I opened my eyes and stared out at the never ending sky above me. The night sky was sprinkled with stars, that I could get lost in admiring. It is amazing how these stars are the same ones that Souta, mom, and gramps would be looking at in the future.
How I missed them. I felt a tear run down my cheek, I do not regret my decision to come back here to the feudal era I had spent so much time here that this is what was familiar now. I did on occasion miss the comforts of the future, a hot bath, a blow dryer for my hair, and of course potato chips.
When I came here to be with Inuyasha, with my mothers blessing, I thought I would be able to be with him for the rest of my life. Inuyasha had changed so much, he was no longer the loud, mouthy half demon I unpinned from the sacred tree. Inuyasha was caring, and thoughtful he had opened his heart and the love of humans got in. We became very close when I came through the well back to him. We started traveling, and enjoying in each others company, but that was short lived. Inuyasha still had the part of him that craved to fight, he wanted to kill things. With Naraku gone most powerful demons had either went into a leadership role like Sesshomaru or had been killed. We started fighting more, we got to a point where we couldn't be around one another, I want peace and he does to to an extent. He wants a peace that is brought on by everyone being too weak to disagree with what he has to say. The love that we both thought we shared and thought was powerful enough for us to live together forever was not enough. Inuyasha dropped me off at Kaede's village and didn't return.
I waited, I stayed there working as a priestess for almost 6 months. I felt like a burden to the village people, Kaede was the healer and the one they came to with a problem I was just a nuisance. I left there in the warm summer months, with the plan on finding a village that didn't have a priest or priestess and filling that spot. I wandered for a while, it was starting to become fall, about this same time of year as it is now, and I was startled out of my wits by Hakkaku and Ginta jumping out at me. I had apparently made my nightly camp on the borders of wolf territory, they lead me back to the den where Kouga and Jiki agreed that if I wanted to stay here I could. They agreed that having someone to apprentice after Jiki was a good idea, and that I would be perfect. I graciously accepted their offer and here I am a year later.
I sat there under the tree, relaxing until I heard someone walking my direction. It suddenly occurred to me that I had no weapons, and the perimeter guard would be light tonight with all wanting to be in attendance of the party. I stiffened but remained silent, not moving hoping silently that my dark kimono hid me at least partially among the dark shadows of the night. The footsteps stopped, for a few seconds before continuing straight for me. Finally a shape broke through the bushes closest to me, I couldn't see anything but a shape, a dark mass. It walked closer to me before kneeling in front of me.
"Kagome? Are you alright?" It was Kouga, his voice light and soft with worry again. I released a breath I didn't know I was holding.
"Kouga. You scared me." He chuckled slightly.
"That wasn't my intent. I saw you leave and I tried to follow but kept getting pulled aside. Why are you so far from the cave if you are scared?"
"Oh, well I had a headache starting from all the smoke and noise. I needed some fresh air."
"Oh. You should have said something. I could have had them quiet down a bit."
"oh no Kouga I couldn't do that! It is a party to celebrate the marriage of 2 dear friends of mine, I couldn't ask them to contain their excitement." He chuckled again, as a breeze swept by us. I shivered slightly, and pulled my legs closer.
"Kagome!" He reached forward and cupped my cheek. "You are freezing!" His hand was crazy warm, and I felt myself nuzzle his hand. He pulled me forward and slid in behind me. He wrapped his arms around my shoulders and his knees around mine. We probably looked something like a Christmas wreath, Kouga wrapped around me and me nestled inside. I didn't care though, Kouga was warm and a lot softer than the tree. My eye lids felt heavy as they slid closed of their own volition. I felt more than heard Kouga chuckle, as he placed his head on my shoulder and I heard him take a deep intake of breath.
"I love your scent." I thought I heard him whisper, was I dreaming already? "Sleep well Kagome, your wolf won't let anything happen to you." I felt a shiver run down my spine from his breath, I pressed myself backwards into his embrace a little deeper. Kouga groaned slightly, I thought maybe I had hurt him but my mostly asleep brain couldn't manage to form words. One last nuzzle into his chest and I felt consciousness slipping away. "I missed you so much." Was the last thing I heard before slipping into the oblivion of sleep.
A/N: Please review and tell me what you think! I have more pretty much ready to go just giving it the final proof read. thanks!