I deeply apologize for not updating for so long! Now, for me to get some sleep. Eeek, its 1AM here!
Here's chapter eleven!
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
--Chapter Eleven--
When the woman returned, the boy barely acknowledged it. He was lying silently against the wood wall of a hut high in the mountains, where no one would be able to find him. His eyes were closed, his breathing slow and silent, even to the most sensitive of ears. His pink barrier was erected around his small body, creating an unearthly wind inside the transparent sphere. His pale strands were dancing calmly in the breeze, catching the light from the falling sun through the open window to his right. His hair almost seemed a light orange as the sun's last rays shone on the young incarnation.
Kagura's eyes fell on the sleeping boy, vaguely wondering whether or not he had noticed her arrival. If he hadn't… She just smiled sardonically at the thought. He would be so easy to kill, just a young boy sitting there, defenseless. It's not like he would feel anything… I would give him a quick death, even though he deserves a long and excruciating one filled with pain and torture…
Hakudoshi's thin boyish lips turned up in a smirk as he read the intent of Kagura's thoughts. So the older incarnation was thinking about sending him to the other world, was she? Letting sarcastic but soft laughter from his thin chest fill the silent room, he almost wished she would act as much as she thought. Then maybe she'd get somewhere, he thought dryly, allowing the smirk on his young face to widen a fraction.
Kagura's ruby red irises narrowed dangerously on the young boy. "What's so funny, Hakudoshi?" She almost hissed in irritation.
Opening pale lavender eyes, he regarded her with a darkly amused look, his cold gaze never leaving hers. "Thinking about killing me again, Kagura?" He asked lightly in his youthful voice, his tone mocking.
Kagura snapped her fan closed with a livid flick of her wrist. Damn him, she seethed inside. Meeting his icy gaze with her fiery one, she retorted, "Always."
Hakudoshi snorted softly, his tone relaying no irritation whatsoever but self-confidence. "I don't see why Naraku decided to let you live as long as he has. You are weak. All talk and no play," He stated coldly, sinister humor playing in his pale eyes.
Kagura refused to take the bait, giving the incarnation her back. "Why don't you ask him yourself, Hakudoshi?" She asked sarcastically before leaving the cold hut, preferring to take to the skies.
Hakudoshi almost let a frown appear on his impassive face, but he let the trivial feeling pass, allowing a small smirk show itself instead as he watched an irritated Kagura take off on her feather from the small window on his right.
Even though Hakudoshi would never admit it to a living soul, his dark sense of humor took sick amusement in playing with the older incarnation's short temper, to see how far he could push her until she would actually carry out her thought-out plans. The fact that she wanted to destroy him did nothing like strike fear in his absent heart. Instead, just the thought of someone so petty dreaming to destroy someone as vital as he was nearly had the incarnation laughing mordantly out-loud. He let the feeble urge to show emotion pass, his emotionless face remaining stony.
But he would not underestimate Kagura like he had done the priestess Kikyo. Sharp cold eyes landed on the large pale pink scar that marked his upper right arm. The dead woman's arrow had just skimmed his skin, but the power surrounding the projectile had scorched right through muscle and bone, burning a deep abrasion into his pallor skin. Instead of the wound mending itself as it usually would if it were any other attack, the priestess powers that had saturated the arrow had hindered his healing capability. The young boy had been hit once by one of her arrows, but for some reason, her last arrow on this earth just happened to be increased in spiritual power. Never had Hakudoshi cursed himself so violently after his confrontation with the clay pot, hardly seeing anything past black fury, and feeling nothing but the agonizing sensation of miasma surge out from his lesion.
And as payment for his misjudgment, a visible scar now stood out noticeably on his thin arm for all to see.
When news of the encounter reached his ears six months ago, Hakudoshi didn't need to be told that the revived priestess had perished. But what had surprised the young boy to a certain degree was the fact that Naraku had finally succeeded in destroying the maddening hanyou that been his greatest threat for the better of his reign, save his older half brother. Hakudoshi had thought the dismal half-demon would put up more of a fight due to his human blood, but it seemed the young boy had been wrong. Either way, it didn't affect him. Nor did he care in the slightest.
Turning back to more crucial details, Hakudoshi let out a soft but agitated gust of air. Where could he be?
/----------
She bent down beside her panther, sitting cross-legged beside the magnificent cat. Her arm came around the animal's muscular back in a friendly manner as her other hand gently stroked the large cat's feathery ears. A loud rumbling from the cat's chest told the girl that it was enjoying the attention, and she let a small smile grace her lips as the cat's purring made her shake wherever her body touched it's brilliant body.
"Kagome…"
Kagome stopped her petting, the hand that had been paying attention to the animal's ears falling to her lap. The majestic cat turned its head towards her, its black intelligent eyes prodding deep into her carefully guarded ones. Beyond the wall that Kagome had built around her, the cat saw the uncertainty she carried, and the pain. The sorrow she hid was all too apparent in the cat's all-seeing eyes, and it ashamed Kagome to see her soul laid out in this animal's eyes. But instead of turning away, she kept her gaze steady, allowing the panther to search farther. She knew it was searching for something, and she would allow it to find whatever it was.
It was when Kagome suddenly felt light that she realized that the cat had found what it wanted. The cat had lifted some sort of veil, and the girl felt the rush of knowledge run through her veins. It was if some vital piece of information was suddenly placed in front of her nose from its hiding place inside of her mind.
"Kagome…" The young girl blinked once, a bit dazed. The panther bestowed her with the kind eyes of a predator. "You now know the secret to your spiritual powers…" The voice was gentle, and it held the kind of intellect the panther held in the depths of its eyes.
Kagome was surprisingly comforted by the words. The fact that she was in a whole other dimension seemed more life altering than the fact that the predatory cat beside her had just spoken. And the panther had not moved its mouth when the voice had broken the still air, which meant that they were communicating intellectually. She nodded her head, somehow knowing exactly what the animal meant. "What is your name?" She asked, her voice only a whisper.
The majestic cat seemed to smile, showing large gleaming fangs. "Sora," The voice said softly, light amusement dancing in the dark depths of the cat's black eyes.
"Sora," Kagome breathed, loving the way the panther's name rolled off her tongue effortlessly. The name was simple and yet beautiful, reflecting the predatory cat to her right. "You are female, then?"
When Sora seemed to chuckle softly, Kagome's cheeks flared in embarrassment. Before she could tell the panther to forget she ever said that, Sora nodded her head lazily, black eyes twinkling. Her fangs seemed to glow in the strange white world that surrounded both the human female and the agile panther in an empty haze.
"Sora," Kagome began, her eyes dropping to stare at her feet. "Why am I able to see this world?"
The majestic cat seemed to nod to herself before taking a breath, her strong chest expanding. "I assume your friend told you about Monk Botan?" She asked, her voice always reflecting her powerful being underneath the soft tone.
Kagome nodded slowly before lifting confused chocolate brown eyes to Sora's face. "But how do you know…"
Sora lifted a paw lazily, staring at the black pad underneath, checking for signs of filth. "I know everyone you know," She replied simply.
"But then wouldn't you be able to know if Miroku told me about this Botan guy?"
Sora sighed lazily before placing her paw back on the ground, shaking her large head. "No, I know most things you do, but information like that remains locked in your own mind."
Kagome's eyes dropped back down to her feet, her mouth closed around the word 'oh.' Nodding, she said, "Yeah, Miroku did mention a monk who used to be able to see this world."
"Right," Sora said, slightly smiling. "And if you remember, Monk Botan was able to reach this world quite easily. He was even able to see your world around him, but half his mind could be in the White World. Quite efficient for battles."
Kagome nodded. "Will I be able to do that?"
Sora let out a low rumble, which reflected her uncertain. "I would think in due time," She answered honestly.
Kagome's mind went into a silent mode, trying to understand the words 'in due time.' She hated how those words meant she had to wait for something that she wanted, regardless of what she did. She knew that in the last six months she had totally turned around her personality, and impatience had just been a trait she had learned to perfect. Sometimes habits were hard to break.
"How do I reach this place, exactly?" She asked after a few seconds of silence.
Sora stood up and stretched, the muscles underneath her silky coat rippling with the effort. With a content yawn, she laid back down beside the young girl. "I'm not sure," She said with an effortless shrug in her tone. "You will have to figure that out for yourself."
"And you never did tell me about why I can see this dimension…" Kagome reminded the panther, her hand absent-mindedly stroking the smooth fur on Sora's back.
Sora laid her head lazily on her paws, a gust of air leaving through her fangs. "That's not for me to tell you," She answered simply.
Kagome let out a large sigh, exasperated with the fact that she wasn't getting the answers she wanted and needed. Her mind mulled over the unanswered questions while her fingers entwined themselves in the short strands of Sora's silky fur, coaxing a lethargic purr from the predatory cat lying beside the young girl.
Kagome hardly noticed when Sora's head suddenly jerked up, nor when the cat's loud purring stopping unexpectedly. But she did come out of her daze when the majestic cat suddenly bounded out of her lazy position, darting farther into their white surroundings.
"Sora?" Kagome was left sitting leisurely on the ground alone, staring at the magnificent panther as she shot away, headed for something Kagome's senses didn't pick up. Standing up cautiously, the young girl was about to run after the brilliant purple shape, but she stopped when Sora suddenly pounced on something, tackling it to the ground in one swift attack. The giant panther growled dangerously, causing Kagome's arm hairs to stand up in fear. With her fatally sharp claws and razor-sharp fangs, Sora fought like a real wild cat, dominating and destroying the threat like a predatory animal should. The brilliant panther rolled on her back, snarling from within her chest, bringing the other animal with her.
Kagome let a small gasp escape her lips as she watched Sora take the red duck she was attacking in her powerful jaws, a confident toothy grin spreading across her lips. With a jolt of shock, Kagome realized that the panther was playing with the hissing duck, enjoying how the duck tried its hardest to fight back but unable to stun the large animal that held the bird fast in its jaws. Sora let out a rumble of feline amusement as she shook the poor animal, feeling how the duck rattled uselessly against the inside of her fangy mouth. The fact that such a meager animal dared spy on Kagome had the giant cat grinning with burning confidence.
"Sora, I think that's enough…" Kagome said softly, not quite wanting to stop the feline from her evident pleasure. But underneath her tone, the soft suggestion was still a command, and Sora reacted immediately.
With a final snap of her powerful jaws, Sora ended the duck's struggling. As her long gleaming fangs pierced through the other animal, the measly bird's last cry filled the empty space. Its red body disintegrated instantaneously, the tiny particles disappearing before Kagome's very eyes.
After the duck's remains had vanished indefinitely, the majestic cat turned to her mistress. Sora's head dropped as she approached Kagome, as if ashamed of making the young girl use a command on her own panther. As she sat down in front of the priestess, her eyes still on her paws, she mumbled softly, "Forgive me. The duck thought to take your jewel shards."
Kagome dropped down to the panther's level, her arm stroking the animal's muscular shoulder. Bestowing Sora with a gentle smile, she met the panther's black eyes. Seeing the embarrassment and dishonor in their dark depths, Kagome whispered, "It's okay. I know you were only protecting me."
Sora nuzzled her large head into Kagome's shoulder, silently thanking the human girl for her patience and kindness. Kagome let herself laugh lightly as Sora's chest vibrated soundly as she purred.
"Kagome…"
The young priestess suddenly sighed, causing Sora to stop. The majestic panther raised her head, silently waiting for Kagome to explain herself. Black eyes flashed inquiringly, wondering what exactly her mistress had reacted so irritably to.
Kagome stood up, placing a hand on Sora's head. "Miroku's calling me," She explained, presenting the curious panther with an apologetic smile.
Sora looked around expectantly, but saw no monk. Black eyes flying back to chocolate brown ones, the panther stated, "I don't see nor hear the monk."
Kagome cocked her head to one side in confusion. "I just heard him, but then again, wouldn't we be able to see his mole if he were close by?"
Sora tilted her head to one side, almost in a shrugging manner. "I don't know. Maybe he is calling you from a distance?"
Kagome thought about that for a second, accepting the possibility that the monk could be calling her from far away. What other reason would there be? She could hear him clearly, although Sora couldn't. But then again, Sora didn't seem to hear him the last time he called her back from this dimension. She just didn't have any answers.
"In any case, I need to go, Sora," The young priestess said slowly, hesitant to leave. Would Sora be here all alone if I left?
The magnificent panther read the unease in her mistress' eyes and bestowed the young girl with a toothy smile. "I understand. Will you be back soon?"
Kagome nodded her head, smiling at the cat's understanding. "I think so. I need to practice getting here, you know." Her eyes flashed kindly, brown depths warm.
Sora nodded her head, before nudging Kagome gently at her thigh. "Go. I shall wait for you," The luminous panther promised, her strong voice soft.
Kagome gave the agile animal a final departing smile before focusing her mind on the hard surface of reality. Sora slowly faded in her vision, everything suddenly becoming brighter. As if she were standing in the way of the sun, the light burned her vision, and yet she made no move to cover her eyes. As if she anticipated it, the light burned out, and the world she was in was passing by her at lightning speed. She didn't move as shapes and silent sounds dashed past her, waiting for it all to end. As the light faded, she could see the faint outline of a tunnel, the other end expelling the mass from the other dimension. Standing in the middle of the tunnel, she found herself being slowly towed towards the other end, the black hole in which nothing resided pulling her. When she was finally drawn into the vortex, all she could was black. But within a few seconds, she felt her surroundings fade, and she suddenly dropped…
She took a deep breath of fresh forest air as soon as the feeling of being securely in a body washed over her. She didn't open her eyes, letting the world around her be determined only by sound and by feeling.
"Kagome…" The voice was far off, and Kagome paid it no heed, only hearing it in the back of her mind. Instead, she registered the fact that she had to be somewhere in a forest, due to the soft confirmations of chirping birds and little insects. She was sitting cross-legged on the spongy forest floor, her arms placed neatly in her lap. The uncomfortable prickling of a numb leg constantly reminded her that she had been in this position for hours, and her body did not appreciate it.
"Kagome…"
Opening her eyes slowly, Kagome was greeted with the easy sight of nature surrounding her. The sun was nearly setting, making the woods around her glow with its orangey shadow. All around her, plants grew and animals went about their business, unnoticed and undisturbed by humans. Kagome watched with fascination as a rodent darted out from underneath the earthy roots of a giant tree, daring to venture out in the open. The animal attacked the first insect it came into contact with, gripping the victim in its spiky jaws, before scrambling back into its dark hideout. Done, meal for the day, Kagome thought lightly.
"Kagome!"
"Hm?" The priestess turned at the shout of her name, chocolate brown eyes landing on a huffing Miroku. The monk was walking slowly towards her, totally out of breath. His chest expanded and collapsed with every breath intake, the air leaving his body harshly.
"Miroku?" Kagome got to her feet instantly, all senses on alert. She ran towards the monk, cold composure and the tiniest bit of panic in her wide brown eyes. She grabbed the monk by both shoulders; her eyes raking down his form, checking for wounds.
"Kagome…"Miroku breathed as the priestess finished her search, finding nothing. "I'm... not hurt…"
"Miroku!" Kagome's panic refused to calm. Are Kirara and Sango hurt?! "How are –"
"They are fine," Miroku huffed, reading the priestess' thoughts. "Let me sit… down. Then... I'll explain…"
Kagome helped the out of breath monk sit down next to the nearest tree, but she remained standing. She wanted to be able to act on a moment's notice if something happened.
Miroku ignored the girl's composure, just focusing on taking large gulps of air into his lungs. When his breathing seemed to turn back to normal, he leaned his head against the trunk of the tree. Finally noticing the impatience that burned in her eyes, he said, "Kagome, no one is hurt. You can relax."
Kagome waved away his words with a sharp fling of her wrist. "Miroku, what happened?" She demanded.
Miroku sighed, letting the issue go. Deciding to get straight to the point, he said, "When I came to fetch you for dinner, I noticed a demon lurking in the shadows of the forest."
Kagome's eyes immediately flew to the dark shadows around them, automatically checking their depths for threats. But she stopped when Miroku said, "Kagome, the demon is gone."
She turned back to the monk, one eyebrow raised. "You killed it?"
Miroku shook his head solemnly. "No. But when I noticed that the demon was watching you, I went after it. But before I reached it, the demon suddenly dissipated right in front of my eyes."
Kagome furrowed her brow in confusion. "Dissipated?"
Miroku nodded slowly. "Yes. And the weird part about it was the look on the demon's face as it perished. At first, it seemed paralyzed against its own will, and then just before it died, its eyes reflected its terror and pain. This might be the doing of some other demon, although I don't think we should go after it tonight."
Paralyzed against it own will? …Dissipated? Kagome's mind mulled these words over in her mind. And as if the answer was suddenly placed in front of her eyes, she muttered out-loud, "That was Sora…"
Miroku's attention focused back on the girl in front of him. "Sora?"
Kagome blinked her eyes before nodding her head to the monk's question, forgetting she had spoken out-loud. "Yes, she's my panther in the other dimension."
Miroku's eyes glowed with the promise of new knowledge, a small smile making its way to his lips. Digging his staff into the ground by his thigh, he pulled himself up. Standing beside the young priestess, he gestured to the pathway back to the exterminator's village. "What did Sora do to this other demon?" He asked gently, starting to walk.
Kagome fell easily instep with the monk, only hand resting lightly on the hilt of her sword. "We were talking when she suddenly pounced on something. It was a red duck," Kagome said, her voice low.
"The demon in the White World was a duck?" Miroku asked curiously.
Kagome shrugged. "I guess so. In any case, Sora killed it with a snap of her jaws."
The way back into the village was spent in silence. Miroku was trying to piece together the limited information Kagome had presented him with, and the young priestess was just lost in her thoughts. She had practicing for the last week, and it was only today that she had finally found her way back to Sora. The fact that the way was now lit, and the limits to her power now revealed, the girl was more than eager to practice more, and to once again feel the spiritual energy run through her veins. The affect was like a drug; she always wanted more after.
Sango had managed to catch a few fish, and she was still cooking them over the fire when the monk and the priestess returned. Kagome's senses had gone wild even before she had seen the delicious fish skewered on a thick branch, smoking slowly over the open fire. The smell drifted out to welcome the two back, and it had their stomachs growling in hunger.
"Kagome," Sango greeted the girl, a smile on her pretty face. As the priestess took a seat next to the fire, the demon slayer announced, "My home cooking. I couldn't let Miroku ruin something like smoked fish."
Miroku huffed irritably, taking a seat to Sango's left. Kagome only smiled in response, knowing how easily smoked fish could be screwed up, even by a lecherous monk.
"Hope it tastes okay," Sango said as she took the fish from their positions over the fire, handing both the priestess and the monk a branch with the finished product at the end.
Kagome devoured the fish, her stomach rumbling happily at the welcomed food. Before she could protest, Sango was pushing the last fish into her hands.
"You need it, Kagome," Sango said, taking a bite of her own meal. "After meditating all day, you require a good hearty meal."
Miroku's glum mood was lost as soon as he took a bite into Sango's homemade meal. How lucky am I to be in love with a talented demon slayer and beauty, but also the best cook in the region?! He grinned to himself, thinking of the progress he had made today. Who cares if I got a bruise on my head to prove it? Sango's backside is worth it.
As a perverse smile snaked its way onto Miroku's lips, the demon slayer sent her murderous glare directed at the monk. No doubt he was thinking about the way he had stroked her rear earlier. She had been quick to react, though, resulting in a bright red bump on the monk's head. Mentally shaking her head, she sighed. He will never learn, will me?
Kagome chose to ignore the scene in front of her eyes; instead she stared with unseeing eyes into the blazing pits of the fire, her thoughts on Sora and her attack on the red duck.
"When Monk Botan's snake slaughtered another animal in the White World, then the demon itself in reality would disappear," Miroku told her.
"Kagome?"
The said girl's head snapped up, eyes focusing on the other girl that had called out her name. "Yeah Sango?"
Sango glanced at Miroku, waiting for his signal. When he merely nodded his head to encourage her to go on, Sango sighed, returning her gaze back to the priestess. "Listen, Kagome. Miroku and I were talking, and we were thinking about joining up with Kouga."
Kouga? Kagome kept her face blank, only nodding her head in response. "Go on."
"It would obviously better for the group if we had Kouga around. It would give us a better chance at defeating Naraku," Miroku said.
Kagome nodded solemnly, silently thinking about their decision. Kouga's strength and agility would be a great asset for us to have. And it would be easier in going after Naraku, since Kouga has the wolf's sense of smell… She agreed with them wholeheartedly, but she was scared of the memories seeing him would bring up. I have faced my past, I have faced my past, she told herself harshly, willing away the panic that threatened to engulf her. Inuyasha was long gone, why would stupid memories like that make her panic?
"Kagome?" Sango's voice came through the thick veil that contained Kagome's thoughts.
Seeing two sets of eyes on her, she frowned. "Sorry?"
"We were wondering if that's okay with you?" Miroku asked cautiously.
Kagome forced a small smile on her face, fighting the urge to scream. "Yes," she replied calmly.
"And," Sango continued slowly. "We were wondering if you would talk to him about it?"
/----------
"And," Sango continued slowly. "We were wondering if you would talk to him about it?"
Kagome shook her head, freeing herself from the restless feeling that seemed to take root in her limbs, making the priestess uncomfortable and uneasy about facing the leader of the Wolf Demon Tribe.
It's just Kouga, she reprimanded herself, ashamed of the unease that seemed to shake in her heart. She shook her head again, trying to rid herself of her thoughts, instead trying to focus on how the wind whistled through her raven hair, throwing her silky locks over her shoulders, trailing behind her.
Kirara flew through the sky with ease, the demon cat's sense of direction never off. Kagome sat on her massive back, watching the small villages and the landscape play out below her, almost as an observer from the Heavens would. The residents walked around peacefully, dutifully doing their daily chores without disruption. Kagome almost pitied them, doing the same old boring things day to day, but then again, no one lost anything dear that way. When one lived the kind of dangerous life Miroku, Sango, Shippo and Kagome lived, sacrifices were a normal thing. They had a mission, and if it took all of their lives to fulfill their duty, then so be it. They would take it, no questions asked, as long as Naraku was wiped off the face of the world forever.
They had been travelling since dawn, headed straight for Kouga's den. Kagome would have liked to reach there before lunchtime, but when Kirara had heard the girl's stomach snarl loudly, the feline demon had descended without a second's delay. Kirara had landed in the middle of a small village and had let Kagome drop off her back before turning back into her smaller form.
Both the feline and the young priestess had been given something to eat by a kind village maiden. Kirara had lapped happily at the saucer of crème while Kagome had eaten her bowl of rice quietly. No conversation was made since the village inhabitant had just been content that Kagome had eaten everything without one complaint. Silence suited the young priestess just fine.
After an hour's break, they had continued their journey, drawing nearer and nearer to their destination. The sun was now sitting comfortably just over the horizon, still lighting the land with its bright radiance, making Kagome guess that it was around four or five in the afternoon.
The land below her started to become familiar, and she nearly smiled up in anticipation at seeing the wolf demon. All previous nervousness was still present, nearly choking her with unease. She blocked off the annoying emotions, and focused on making her face blank.
When Kirara started to descend sharply into a thick wood where a large waterfall was present, Kagome had succeeded in making her face blank, and unintentionally hard. As the giant cat's paws touched the ground, Kagome's heart accelerated. You're going to be okay, it's okay, she told herself, setting her feet on the hard ground.
"Kagome?" The voice was full of delighted surprise, and the tenor note of it reminded Kagome of the first time she had met the charming wolf demon.
"I'm gunna make you my woman," Kouga announced brashly, his azure blue eyes filled with confidence.
Kagome turned slowly towards the voice, bracing herself for the worst. What greeted her at the entrance of the cave just beyond the curtain of water was the young leader of the Wolf Demon Tribe, as confident and as bold as ever. His handsome face was pulled into a wide grin, his sky blue eyes alight with unquestioned delight at seeing her.
Memories rushed at her, clouding her mind and making her feel suddenly overwhelmed. Through the haze in her mind, she forced a fake smile on her shaking lips. "Hey Kouga," She answered weakly.
"Your name is Kagome right?" Kouga said in his soft tenor tone, placing a strong hand on the small of her back. Without waiting for an answer, he stared down at her with intense blue eyes. "Wolves mate for life, so you're mine now. Got that?"
Confusion muddling her brain function, she wrestled out of his grasp, raising a hand high, poised to strike. "I don't belong to anyone! Get your hands off me!" Her hands collided with his tanned cheek, the sound of skin hitting skin echoing through the stone valley.
She wanted to walk smoothly towards Kouga, but her knees trembled, and she remained paralyzed where she stood.
Kouga stood proudly on the top of a stone face, staring down at the pathetic hanyou in his vision, willing the mutt away. "I'm busy. I don't have time for dog training today so I'll let you escape. Go home, puppy, get outta my face!" The wolf demon shouted.
"Shut up!" Inuyasha shouted back, Tetsusaiga still gripped in his left hand. "Dream on, wolf! You're gunna pay for kidnapping Kagome!"
Kouga stopped in his tracks at the hanyou's threat. "Kagome," He whispered softly to himself before turning back around the face Inuyasha, his tanned face dead serious. "Hey, dog-breath! Take this chance to run, but keep your hands off my woman. Got it?"
Miroku's eyes widened at the wolf demon's words. "His woman?" The monk repeated, not sure if he had heard right.
"She can see the sacred jewel, so she's perfect for me!" Kouga shouted defiantly.
"What?!" Inuyasha's hollered response was heard clear across the battlefield.
"Is there any truth to what he's saying, Kagome?" The monk asked curiously. Three pairs of wide eyes were suddenly on the girl, all belonging to Miroku, Shippo and Sango.
Kagome snapped out of her dumbfounded stance and glared angrily at the monk. "Nothing's going on! He's diluted; it's wishful thinking! He's making it up!"
Inuyasha's mind tried to make sense of the current situation. "Ah – I–I knew it; he's living in a fantasy! Ya fleabag!" He shouted back to Kouga, his anger rising.
"It's not a fantasy," Kouga countered, his blue eyes serious. "I've claimed her as mine." And then to the young girl, he shouted, "I'm in love with you Kagome!"
All the young priestess could do was groan loudly, completely stumped on how to fix the situation to her liking.
"You're far better off with me," Kouga continued, giving his whole attention to the one girl. "And you know it. It's time to make a clean break and give up that pathetic mutt-face. He's not good enough for you; forget about him. I'm gunna kill him someday anyway! Once you've been with a real warrior like me, you'll never go back to scraps again!" At that, he threw back his head and laughed, his whole pack joining in and cheering loudly for their bold leader.
Inuyasha, Inuyasha, Kagome's mind chanted sadly. The great wall that the girl had built around her heart seemed to creak and crack under the pressure of the dam of emotions that threatened to overwhelm it. She wasn't thinking straight, nor could she see past her blurry vision.
Kouga stepped forward in pure shock, his azure blue eyes widening at the broken sight of the little girl he swore he loved. She was trying hard to conceal her emotions, but her body trembled uncontrollably nonetheless, and tears filled up in her chocolate brown eyes that reflected pain and sorrow clearly.
Inuyasha clenched his right hand into a tight fist, his arm shaking with the brute force of it. "Nobody talks down to Kagome like that with me around! How dare you humiliate her! She's not your property!"
"…She's not your property!"
Kouga didn't hesitate to close the gap between them, grasping her cold, trembling hands with his large warms ones. "Kagome, what happened?" Kouga demanded, his voice rough with the emotion that coated his throat. Damn, I hate seeing women cry…
Kagome shook her head harshly, not looking Kouga in the eyes. She kept her gaze on her feet, fighting against the pain that threaten to engulf her in sorrow.
Kouga suddenly growled, a fierce sound that ripped from his throat. "I swear I will kill that mutt if he did this to you!" He hissed dangerously, his intense blue eyes dead serious.
Kagome choked at Kouga's words, a dry sob escaping through her itchy throat. At the mention of Inuyasha, the wave of emotions overwhelmed her wall, and her control lapsed. Her knees started to shake violently, slow tears making their way down her pale cheeks. She had lost the battle, and now the pain dragged her to the point of unconsciousness.
Seeing the young girl falter and then shake harder confirmed the wolf demon's thoughts. That bastard will pay dearly for what he did to my Kagome! He snarled mentally, almost wishing the said dog could be in front of him right now, just so he could quench his thirst for blood, preferably Inuyasha's blood.
"I'm so… sorry, Kouga…" Kagome whispered, her voice barely audible. Her knees buckled, and she dangerously teetered between reality and the soft blank place where everything was okay.
Kouga, noticing how close Kagome was to passing out, gathered the girl in his arms bridal style, letting her head fall on his muscular shoulder. Being a man and hanging around with only men, he had no idea how to comfort Kagome. He knew by instinct that Inuyasha had finally crossed the line, and now the girl was broken. It just made his blood boil thinking about it. If Kagome would just give him a chance, Kouga believed she would never cry again.
"You don't have to tell me what happened, Kagome. Just go to sleep, okay? Everything is okay, I promise," Kouga said softly, hoping to coax the overtired and emotional girl into sleeping.
"Thank… you…" Kagome breathed into his shoulder before going completely dead weight in his arms, letting herself be dragged into the black abyss. There, everything was fine, and she didn't have to worry about training, nor about Naraku and the shards, and the memories of the past were forgotten in the dark, leaving her fresh and new.
She thought she was dreaming when Kouga's lethal words entered her dream.
"Whatever he did to you, Kagome, he will pay for with his life."
I'm off to bed; school in in the morning.. or err.. in a few hours.
so much for a good night's sleep, ugh.
read and review!
xx bumble.