A/N – Thank you guys so much! I'm gonna cry! XD Twenty one reviews? Oh hell yes. I love the reviews you guys have given, and the positive response this has gotten. Well, get ready for another chapter and a lot of Inuyasha drama. -_-. I hope you all enjoy this; and I was motivated by the Spanish version of "She Wolf". Even though I speak very little D: French is more my specialty. XD Et voila, mes amis. I don't own Inuyasha or the characters, just the story line. Be warned, this chapter switches scenes a lot.
Chapter Five – A Wolf's Pain
We boil at different degrees. -Clint Eastwood
"Gramps... I'm sorry..." Kagome muttered in her sleep, her brow scrunching up in regret and sorrow.
Shippou had woken up during Kagome's somewhat fitful sleep. Now, the little fox was sniffing around the room carefully, trying to make sure the scent he was smelling was indeed what he thought it was. "Kagome! Kagome, wake up!" He cried, jumping onto her shoulders.
She waved her hand ineffectively. It was still barely light out. "No... Shippou, too early."
"No, Kagome, you really need to wake up!" Shippou's yelling was becoming really detrimental to her sleep, Kagome decided. "Sesshoumaru was in here!"
Kagome blinked her eyes open. Propping herself up on one arm, she inhaled deeply, then sighed. "Sesshoumaru? In here?" That couldn't be right. Otherwise they'd be dead. Then again, he had saved her life the other day. Still; she wasn't sure that he wouldn't kill her himself. She was a little bit annoyed that she hadn't sensed him that night. Or last night. "Are you sure?"
Her adopted kit nodded fiercely. "Only a few hours old, too." He looked troubled.
She reached out her arms to him, but when she saw the glint of the black beads, she stopped. Sure enough, they were there. Like they'd never been missing. Which was strange, to say the least, because she had been sure she'd lost them on the run yesterday. Frowning, she touched them to make sure her eyes were seeing right. "Shippou... did you find these?" Shaking his head, he sat quietly in her lap. "Huh..." Kagome didn't think she sleep walked. "Did I go anywhere last night?"
"Nope, you talked a lot though." Shippou smiled at her. She ruffled his hair.
"Could you smell this for me?" Kagome asked. It wasn't possible, but it was worth a shot.
He smelled it lightly, nose gliding over the beads. "It smells like you... and a little like Sesshoumaru." He glanced frightfully up at her. "Kagome, is Sesshoumaru going to come after us?"
"No, I don't think so, Shippou. Even if he does, I can purify him." Kagome reassured him. She wasn't sure if she could purify him, but she'd try her hardest if it came to Shippou. "Well, let's get ready and head into the village."
"Why so early?"
"I don't think it would be very safe for us to stay all the way out here for very long." Kagome said softly, and as they got ready, she kept looking at Gramps' beads, confusion and a sense of gratitude welling up in her. Of course, she wanted to demand why he'd thought it was appropriate to enter her hut in the middle of the night while she was sleeping. Shaking her head, she realized she would probably never speak with Sesshoumaru that way, if at all. He brought the beads back... He can't be as horrible as I've thought.
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"Kikyo... Where are you going?" Inuyasha's groggy voice asked from the other side of the hut. His gold eyes were bright in the soft half light of early dawn as they gazed at her, a somewhat innocent expression on his face.
Her face screwed up in a grimace. "I have to leave, Inuyasha. And if you value your life, you will not follow me." Her voice was pained, bow hanging limp in her grasp. A message had come to her last night, telling her to leave and head toward the mountains.
Inuyasha stood up from the bed, his clawed hands landing gently on her wrists. "What are you talking about?" He didn't know why, but with Kikyo, he was always a more patient person.
She backed away from him, her eyes searching his, begging. They were outside the hut now. "I can't..." She choked.
"Kikyo, tell me." His eyes were hard, pinning her.
She kept backing up, toward the edge of the village. "No, Inuyasha."
His temper flared. "Kikyo, you can tell me, you know that!" He was scared. Please. I don't want you to leave.
"No, I can't." Her eyes were bright with pain. "I'm sorry." Her voice was rough, and if she were still alive, her tears would be on the verge of falling. "Don't... Don't follow me." She turned.
"No way, Kikyo. There's no way you're going alone!" He yelled as she walked away. He started to walk behind her.
She whirled on him, anger and grief written all over her pale face. Her bow was drawn, an arrow pointing at his chest. "I told you... Don't follow me, Inuyasha."
Inuyasha stopped in his tracks. The sight was all too familiar. It caused his heart to lurch. "Kikyo..."
"Please..." Was all she said before turning and walking. Her heart was crumbling into pieces, and even if they both survived this, he would probably hate her. Her sobs were dry.
He fell to his knees. "I love you." He whispered, before running into the nearby forest. Taken her away from him again. Gone.
0-0-0-0-0
It had been a few weeks of Kagome living in the Feudal Era; and she knew that she could be happy here. Kaede and Sango were great teachers, even if her pack was filled with ten times more stones than usual. She was getting used to it, but thankfully, they'd given her the day off: Sango and Miroku were off to slay another demon. Inuyasha had left a few days after Kikyo had left, and even though they weren't loud before, Kagome missed their soft conversations, often on the corners of her brain, but always there. Kagome had wondered if her vision about Kikyo and Inuyasha had come true already. It was possible, but what wasn't anymore? The thought brought guilt into her. She should have told them.
The absence of Miroku and Sango only made the quiet more uncomfortable to be in. Not to mention Shippou was gone, off playing some more. Kagome sighed, left alone with her thoughts. There had been no sign of Sesshoumaru in the past weeks. It was as if he'd never been there; and for that, she felt a little pang, wishing he'd stayed to explain. But did Sesshoumaru explain? No, probably not. Still... she was curious about him.
Laying on soft green grass, she stared at the browning leaves of the trees above her. Fall was such a curious thing. She prayed every day or so, always at the tree, always for her friends and her brother. The date that she'd planned to meet him was approaching fast, and her nerves were already twisting themselves in knots. What if he's not there? What if he hates me? What if I find out he's dead? What if... Ah... She was practically asking for a throbbing headache later. Pushing the thoughts away, she marveled at how crisp and sharp the smell of autumn was. She'd woken up twice to find herself shivering, and had piled more blankets onto the bed. Then she'd fortified the slight covering on the door with another thick blanket, stopping most of the cold. Shippou approved greatly, his adopted mother needn't get sick in the cold season. That was never good. And she had been wearing thicker clothes. Kaede had said that the priestess garb was thick; and when layered, could keep her warm through the harshest of winters. But Kagome refused the outfit. For now, anyway.
Sighing heavily, Kagome realized that boredom was simply that. Boredom. A lack of anything to do. Everything had been cleaned, Kaede didn't want to do lessons today, and she was alone. "Guess it's time to pray then." Gratitude flickered through her as she gazed at the bracelet on her wrist. Sesshoumaru...
The God Tree was as imposing as ever, looming branches towering high above anything else in the forest. "Good evening." She murmured to the tree before kneeling in front of it.
0-0-0-0-0
Sesshoumaru cursed to himself, eyes flashing. Her sweet rain and vanilla scent wafted through the trees. He'd been careful in the past weeks to not attract any attention while still spending most of his days with Rin and Jaken. Rin's obsession with decorating people with flowers was turning out to be rather amusing to watch, as long as she didn't come near him with them. Jaken had a different flower on his head each day, and even though he looked as though it was torture, every time he was about to complain, Sesshoumaru would silence him with a look.
The stronger, fresher scent of her brought him out of his half reverie. She smelled... nervous. Uneasy. It was trying to his senses. She was at the tree again, he knew. Ever since that strange day, where the tree had given him visions, he'd never gone too far into the clearing. But today, he stood in the shadows behind a few trees, not ten feet from the clearing. The demon slayer would have taught her to listen well; but none could hear his silent footsteps. Gazing at her, he saw a firmer posture and a more confident air about her. Her black hair shone like silk, waving all the way down her back. He blinked, banishing the thoughts from his brain. Today would be the day he got the answers he rightfully deserved. No more confusion.
He took two steps into the clearing. "Priestess." She jumped and whirled around, faster than he would have expected for a human. She stood cautiously, her eyes following him as his did her.
Her eyes widened in shock, but not fear. The sour, pungent odor didn't permeate her scent. Yet. "What are you doing here?" Her voice wavered lightly.
Sesshoumaru ignored her question and noticed her lack of addressing him properly. "Why is it that you speak of earthquakes that have not occurred in over half a century?"
Confusion flicked over her face. "How do you know about that?" Her voice was softer this time. A haunted pain flashed in her eyes.
He simply raised an eyebrow, not deigning to answer her, but waiting for his. Kagome stared at him for a moment, questions roiling in her mind. This was what she'd wanted, right? She'd wanted to talk to him. But now, her nerves scattered, leaving her only with the clearing, herself, and Sesshoumaru. His eyes were narrowed, still expecting an answer, silver hair swaying behind him. His hands, both of them, Kagome realized, were hanging at his side for the moment. "Thank you." If anyone could raise an eyebrow higher, it was Sesshoumaru. He looked annoyed. "For saving me. I just wanted to say thank you...There was an earthquake at my home, and it was destroyed. The Bone Eater's Well allows me to travel five hundred years in the future, where I live."
Sesshoumaru seemed to take the information in, pondering it for a moment. "It is not possible." Though he smelled no dishonesty on her, it simply could not happen.
"My family is dead. I don't think anyone is sick enough to make that up." She quipped, a little irritated. He asked, and she'd told him. What more did he want?
He only stared at her. It was rather unnerving. His gold eyes were darker than Inuyasha's, and told ten times less than his did about what he was thinking. His expression never changed, never wavered. Kagome fingered the beads nervously. "About the beads... Shippou said that they smelled like you... So I thought.. Well, thank you for that, too." Her eyes met his, hardened gold against soft brown. He'd expected fear, cowering, like other humans, and demons even. Not gratitude.
His claws itched. When he stayed silent, she fidgeted once, drawing one of her arms across her middle, and over her oddly tight clothing. It was nothing like clothing he was used to. "Um.. If you're going to stay silent..." Her uneasiness multiplied as she took a step toward the path to the village. He watched her, eyes never moving from her. Even though she'd answered his question, he wasn't sure he was satisfied. She gave him a weak smile as she walked away, down the path.
As soon as she was out of sight, he spun on his heel and strode off. More questions than answers. Damn. Sesshoumaru thought, a little angry. He wasn't supposed to be curious anymore. He got what answers he wanted. And now, there was a well that allowed a girl to travel through time, and said girl was confusing him. Him. Sesshoumaru growled softly, more at himself. Not to mention one of the members of his counsel was dead, killed by a knife to the heart. The message had arrived early that day, brought by Myouga. He'd sent the little flea back to keep control of things for the time being.
0-0-0-0-0
Savage howls ripped through the evening twilight. "Kouga! Kouga, come quick! The beta, he's dead!" Voices shouted, and chaos erupted. "Kouga!" The howling went on, sounding of loss and pain. Beneath the shade of a large tree, lay a dead body. Arrows sprouted from it's chest, smelling of purifying energy.
A female wolf demon crouched nearby, howling her agony to the world. Kouga appeared next to her, a hand on her shoulder. "Minako. Calm down." His rough voice soothed. He gestured for Ginta and Hakkaku to take her to the caves. They knelt down next to her and helped her up, walking away.
"Ah... Hachiro." Kouga pulled the arrows out of the body, making a sickening gurgling noise as he did. The wolf had been young, but level headed and strong. After most of his wolves were killed a few years back because of Kagura, he'd assigned Hachiro as his new beta. Since then, the pack had flourished under their leadership. He was a good wolf, and a good man. His mate would miss him terribly, and so would the rest of the pack. Sighing heavily, he reached down and picked Hachiro up. Hachiro's long black hair, tied in a high ponytail, hung down and swayed with Kouga's footsteps. It pained him to know that his most trusted beta was gone; heaven help the one that killed him, because Kouga intended revenge, and so would the rest of his pack. As he carried Hachiro's body up to the caves, other wolves of his pack began noticing. Their lamenting howls echoed to the rest of the pack, and soon they all sat underneath the rising moon, howling and whimpering their loss to the skies. Kouga laid Hachiro's body on the ground gently. He tilted his head to the sky and howled loudly, and his pack echoed him, their tails lashing. His howls and Minako's howls were loudest, carrying miles away.
0-0-0-0-0
Inuyasha sat in a tree, far away from any village, as he rested for the night. It'd been a long day, searching endlessly for Kikyo, or at least her scent. He'd lost it within the first day, and now all he had to go by was a farmer saying he lent her a room for the night in exchange for herbs to heal his daughter's illness. He knew that eventually, he'd find her, but the prospect seemed so impossible.
Out of the trees came a saddened howling so pained that it pulled at his emotions like strings and laid them bare. The wolves, Inuyasha recognized, were mourning. He could understand that. He listened silently as the howls continued long into the night. He didn't complain.
0-0-0-0-0
"Master Jaken..." Rin said, suddenly somber. She should have been asleep by now, the moon was rising. The toad glanced at her, and saw her eyes, widened with fear. The howling of wolves in the far distance was scaring her.
"Be calm, Rin, go sit next to Ah and Un. You know that if there were any wolves nearby, Lord Sesshoumaru would have taken care of them." Jaken was a sucker for her eyes.
The little girl complied quickly, laying on a fur pelt that Sesshoumaru had left for her to sleep on. She curled up next to Ah and Un's stomach as the dragon nosed her gently, as if to comfort her. She giggled a little, and as soon as she was asleep, Jaken sighed the heaviest, hugest sigh he'd ever sighed. She was tiring.
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Shippou, as it turned out, was fascinated with wolf howls. He'd told Kagome he wished he could howl like them; but he was only able to do short barking howls that sounded slightly like a coyote. The sound of the howls laid out her pain at losing her family, and not being able to find Souta. The howls seemed to go on forever, and Kagome almost felt bad for them, because whatever they were mourning must have been something they valued very highly. She didn't sleep much that night, partly because of the wolves and partly because of Sesshoumaru. His eyes were so... unnerving. It made her feel like he saw right through her, and yet, she never knew what he was thinking, or feeling. Once. He kind of reminded her of a lone wolf. Snorting to herself, she shook her head. That's right, Kagome. He's a lone wolf. She thought sarcastically. A particularly loud howl had her blinking her eyes.
0-0-0-0-0
"Miroku?" Sango's voice called from inside the house.
"I am outside, dear Sango." Miroku said sagely, a soft smile on his face.
Sango's answering snort came from behind him. She sat next to him, staring at the moon. "What's that? Do you hear it?"
"A wolf pack, I believe. I heard it not too long ago. Eerie, isn't it?"
Sango listened for a moment. "Yes. It really is." She paused. "They sound sad."
"Maybe they lost a loved one." Miroku wasn't talking about the wolves. "Yet they remain strong throughout the roughest of hardships."
The demon slayer gave Miroku a sidelong glance.
"They have each other to depend on." Miroku murmured, still gazing at the moon.
Sango smiled a little. "You are very wise, Miroku." She said softly.
He blushed at the comment, staying silent, but a smile forming across his lips. His eyes wandered sideways to Sango, who was sitting peacefully, seeming lost in her thoughts. She was very beautiful. More beautiful than any of the women he'd asked to bear his children. She was a treasure not to be lost, or treated wrongly. She deserved much better. And Miroku had full intention to make sure she was happy all her life.
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Howling wolves. Sesshoumaru kept walking, listening to their story. They'd lost their beta. Just because he was a dog didn't mean he didn't understand wolves. He'd lived for more than a few centuries, and those centuries had given him the time to learn many languages. The wolves were announcing the loss of him, staying up all night for a proper vigil. From the sound of their howls, the beta had left behind a beautiful mate and an unborn pup; he'd also been a good wolf to them. As wolves, they were the base representation of pack. One wolf's pain was the pain of all. Sesshoumaru stared at the stars for a moment, his thoughts all astray.
End of Chapter Five – A Wolf's Pain
A/N – Like it? Hate it? XD Review, comment, favorite! Pleases! Anyway, I'll see you next chapter, which will be longer than this one! Oh, and a whole wolf pack howling can be heard here :
.com/watch?feature=iv&v=F-oAaElViaU&annotation_id=annotation_795214
I highly suggest you watch it; it makes this chapter better.
