Don't own inu
Echoe Shayne ^.^
Coward
Kagome shifted uncomfortably in Miroku's grip. Yasha had long disappeared from her sight, still she couldn't bring herself to look forward. She was frightened Yasha was gone. He had left them to fight Kouga. She knew Yasha knew how to handle himself she had seen him throw Kyoshiro around and who knows what he had done after they had left. But they had been human Kouga was a full youki. Kouga didn't mess around he fought for keeps.
"You can't let him go like that." She was frantic how could they just let him go so casually?
"Yasha can take care of himself."
She knew he could take care of himself but that didn't stop the dread from seeping into her conscious. The thought she might never see him again filled her with more fear then she had thought possible. Last night she had been afraid but Yasha had been the one who saved her. Yasha…"Let me down right now." Her voice held a note of hysteria and at this point, she didn't care.
"I'm afraid that's something I can't do. We're going to keep going."
"You don't understand. I have to go back. Let me down!"
Miroku sighed as he looked at the squirming cargo that he held in his arms. 'What would Yasha do?' He would put her down a little voice answered him right away. No, he couldn't do that. Not to Kongyou. He didn't want to see her in anymore pain than need be. Then again, maybe that was the only way he was going to get through to her. "Alright."
Hojo turned in alarm as he watched Miroku gently lower Kongyou to the ground. 'What the hell is Miroku thinking?' Taking a deep breath he watched as the dark haired girl took a step. More like a hop really. She stood on one foot with the other bent at the knee as she held it off the ground. He had to admit one thing, she was determined.
Miroku hadn't expected her to make it so far. The woman was just too stubborn for her own good. The effort and concentration was clearly etched on her face. Her lower lip was clenched between her teeth. Her hands were held out from her body in attempts to keep balanced as she hopped slowly away from them.
Kagome winced it hadn't started off that bad, but now every hop that she took got worse. After going such a short distance, her forehead was already dappled with perspiration. The only thing keeping her from sinking to the ground was the fact that Yasha had left her to face Kouga. No matter what he said, she knew that Kouga was not going to just allow himself to be beaten. She didn't know what she was going to do when she got there. She only knew that she had to get there. Hopping once more, the tip of her foot hit the ground sending pain shooting up her leg. Her good knee buckled and she felt herself falling to the ground. Only to be caught by Miroku's strong hands.
"Unhand me right now! I told you that I was going to Yasha and I am." She half yelled hoping that would draw their attention away from the tears threatening to fall from her eyes.
Sango step forward looking at the young woman huddled on the ground Kagome had given it a valiant effort she would give the girl that. Narrowing her eyes she looked at the girls foot held in a splint. She was acting like a child who had not gotten her way and the Demon slayer was not about to put up with it.
"And what are you going to do when you get there?"
Kagome's eyes swept over to the other woman. She didn't know how to answer her. She didn't even know how to answer herself when she asked that question. "I."
"Point taken," Sango said turning away from them and continued walking expecting the other three to follow.
"Besides, you know how much trouble I would be in if I let you do something like that? There would be more than one skinning today and you wouldn't want me to lose my hide would you Lady Kongyou." Pulling her up into his arms he watched as she blinked back tears before answering him.
"No of course I wouldn't want you to lose your skin."
"Then come with us and have faith that Yasha can take care of himself." Though he had said it like it was no big deal, he knew that Kouga was not someone to be taken lightly. Not that he was about to tell Kongyou that or they would never get on their way.
Sango stared ahead of her she was torn between admiring Kagome and being annoyed with her. Kagome was so free with her emotions whatever she felt was plain for all to see. They were all worried about Yasha. If Sango had her way, then she would be on her way back to help Yasha, too. But she couldn't allow herself the same luxury that Kongyou had of expressing herself. She was Karyuudo first and foremost. She did not have the comfort of allowing herself the pleasantries of being a normal woman. She was duty and honor bound to stay the course of the Karyuudo. If she failed then she let down her family. She would not tarnish their memory, even for her own heart.
Kagome focused on Sango's back as they walked. She wanted to say something but knew she couldn't when she had to be carted around the countryside like she was some child's doll. Pulling her lower lip into her mouth she became aware once again as to just why she had to be carried around. Her foot throbbed with every step Miroku took. 'Be safe.'
*~**~*~ Else where on the one road. ~*~*~*
Yasha stood in the middle of dirt road waiting He knew that the wolf was coming. He had been looking forward to this fight. He hated to hang back and run. It made him feel like a coward. Now finally, he was going to come face to face with the man that had been perusing them since Ember. Not only was the wolf after him, but he was also after Kagome. She had ran away because the wolf had tried to lay claim to her. And that was something that did not sit well with Yasha. The sound of running feet reached his ears. Kouga was so close now.
Yasha had wanted it this way. He wanted to meet Kouga on the open road where there would be no chance of any innocent people getting pulled into the fray. His body tightened in anticipation of the impending fight. Flexing his hands, he tried to rid himself of the tightness in his muscles. He knew that was impossible though, the only thing that would relieve the tension would be a fight. Reaching up, he made sure the hood was pulled securely over his face. Then the other man came into view. He was running at full speed. His feet were digging into the ground as he tried to stop himself from lurching forward, leaving a small cloud of dust in the air.
"Who are you? Move from my path less you be removed." Kouga snapped looking at the man clad in a dark cloak that was standing in the middle of the road blocking his way. Two men came to stop next to him. Glancing at them for a second, he took a step forward angered that the man standing in his way hadn't made any attempt to move. "Did you hear me? I said to move."
"I heard what you said and I have no intention of moving." Yasha said in a calm voice, assessing his prey. The other man was about the same height as him if not a little taller. He was clad in the green uniform with the Kien crest on his shoulder that signified he was a member of Naruku's army. Cold icy blue eyes were fixed on him. This was a man that wasn't used to be being disobeyed. Too bad he wasn't the kind of man that was used to taking orders. Yasha didn't take orders he gave them.
"I am very displeased to hear that." Though his words said he was displeased, the smirk on his face said otherwise. He like Yasha was longing for a fight.
Kouga didn't appear as bright as Yasha had given him credit for. It didn't seem the man had caught on to who he was or the real reason that he was blocking the path. "I've been waiting for you."
"Oh, I see now. They send you rather than stay and face me, what cowards." Kouga said his eyes narrowing. "Since you to travel with them, tell me about the girl that is your company?" He hadn't wanted to give away his concern for Kagome but the words tumbled from his mouth. He couldn't stand to think of her in their clutches.
"What is she to you?"
"She is my woman."
"You lie." He snarled, surprised that the sentence had been able to make him lose his cool. But he hadn't like how sure of himself Kouga sounded. Didn't Kouga know she had ran away because of him? Because he had been trying to push her into something she didn't want.
"She is my woman. You have no clue who she is do you?"
"I'm sure you will tell me."
"She is Lady Kagome Higurashi." Kouga hadn't meant for everything to happen like this and he most certainly didn't mean to be talking about Kagome like this.
Against his will his finger nails dug into his flesh at the sound of that name. How he hated it. How he hated that Kagome was connected to it.
"She came of her own free will."
This time it was Kouga's turn to snarl a response. "You lie."
"Do I? It seems that the girl will do anything to get away from you, even treason? And what are you going to do, overlook her act? That would make you guilty of treason yourself."
Anger was boiling in Kouga's veins. He didn't want to hear this, these lies. Though he knew it was true he had seen Kagome turn away from him in Ember. 'The little fool, she is going to pay when I get a hold of her.' The two men next to him shifted. Stealing a glance out of the corner of his eyes he saw the two guards were giving each other a speculating glance.
"Treason is punishable by death?" one of the men said.
"You'll never be able to prove she came with you willingly and even if she says she did, no one will believe her. They will just think she was brainwashed by you rebel scum. Besides she will be punished. I will see to that personally"
"No one but you and your men know. You may be willing to swing from the gallows, but I bet that those two men would rather see your feet swing than their own." Looking at the two men, he knew his assumption was right. At the very mention of the punishment their faces twisted, they were not about to be strung up, even if it was alongside their captain. He didn't even want to think about the second part of his statement.
Kouga could feel the tension around him grow. Reaching out, he clasps the collar of each man, crashing their heads together stunning them long enough for him to draw his sword and slit each of their throats.
"You're own men." He should have expected it. The members of the imperial army were cold, but his own men? His skin crawled this was the person that wanted to claim Kagome?
"They were not my men. If they were then they wouldn't have doubted me for a second. But now they're out of the way, I can focus on you."
'It's about time,' he thought to himself his hand reaching the sword he had at his side.
"It is time to put you in your grave."
Yasha said nothing to his retort. Instead he braced himself as their swords met in a crash with enough force that the grinding metal set off sparks. Both men met in the middle. Each was trying to gain dominance, glaring at each other over their crossed blades.
Kouga was surprised at the other man's strength. He had expected this to be a quick fight. Instead he found that he and his opponent were almost equally matched in both skill and strength. Jumping back, they began to circle each other before meeting in the middle again.
Yasha cursed as their blades met again. The other man had crouched down making a sweeping motion with his leg trying to knock him to the ground. Jumping up he avoided the foot easily, but his two feet were coming toward his chest at an upward angle.
A scowl appeared on Kougas face. He thought for sure he would have had the hooded figure with the second attack. But the man had jumped back with grace to avoid his blow. 'Who is he.'
"Why do you hide your face like a coward? It's obvious that you are the Shinkushikyou's dog."
Yasha had to hold back a growl at those words. He hated how close the man had got unknowingly. Flexing his fingers, he cracked his knuckles.
"So you're not going to deny it?" A smirk appeared on his face. Obviously he had hit a nerve. 'Good.' Rushing forward, he swung at the man before kicking at him. He tired to knock the cloaked figure off balance.
Yasha said nothing, but silence spoke everything. It also annoyed the other man who appeared to want to battle with words as much as he did with his fists. Dodging the man's blows that were made clumsy by his mounting anger, he drew back his sword in a ready position and they met again in the center with the sound of ringing steal filling the air.
"I'm going to send you running with your tail between your legs."
This time unable to hold in his growl, Yasha sprang forward with his hand out stretched ready to tear into the other man's flesh.
Kouga was taken back. Though he may not have had his full senses, he did have one very important one and right now it was telling him to run. Jumping back, he looked at the man that had landed on the ground after his lunge in a crouching manner. The smell of danger hung in the air all around him. Something had changed, it was like all this time the other man had just been toying with him and now he was about to get serious. Taking a step back, he waited to see if the feeling would go away. The other man was crouched dangerously low his sword in one hand ready to strike. The feeling did not go away though if anything it only increased pressing all around him. He knew then this was a fight he could not win.
His pride didn't want him to flee, but his senses were telling him that if he stayed then he welcomed death. 'Kagome' what would become of her if he fell here and now?
Yasha narrowed his eyes watching the soldier take a step back. Before he could make another move, the other man turned on his heels and ran. Straining to his full height he watched the retreating form quickly disappear from his sight. 'What the hell' Maybe Kouga was smarter than he had given him credit for after all. "Coward."
Kouga stood looking back at the road that he had just run down. What had just happened? One minute they had been even in the fight and the next everything was screaming that he was the one that was in danger. He didn't like to turn and run. This time he hadn't been able to help himself. It would have been the honorable thing to stay and fight. It would have been the honorable thing to fight until one of them was laying on the ground bleeding. He was not prepared for this fight, he realized that, now. To be ready to fight you have to know your opponent. He knew nothing of the cloaked man, and by being so foolish as to rush in, he had compromised his pride. It was something that would be looked down upon. To fail to do your duty was shameful. Then again if he died, then Kagome would be left in their clutches and that was something that he wasn't about to let happen.
Yes there was more than one way to beat an opponent. He would find a way to get Kagome back. He would steal her right from under their noses.
~*~*~* Kien Naraku's Palace *~*~*
Naruku could still feel it even hours later, the sweet power that had filled the air. It had only been a flicker, lasting a few seconds, none the less it had been there. But who in all of his kingdom had that kind of power? It hadn't been overly strong, but it had been enough to jump start his senses. He needed it, he needed the power. Someone with that kind of power could be very useful to him. With that thought came another one. Someone with that power could also prove to be dangerous.
He had to find the person that possessed it. They would join him or die.
__________-
Jaken looked up from the book he was reading his small hand moving to rub his tired eyes. The table he was seated at was covered with mounds of book. He had been reading through them all day looking for information on Tetsaiguia not that he expected to find anything. He looked also for something that might have caused that disturbance his master had felt.
Picking up the book he had been reading he walked into the other room where his master was sitting. There was a pensive look on the man face. The little toad like Youki could tell there was something bothering his lord but didn't dare ask him.
Sesshomaru ignored the little man that was standing there. If he had anything important to say then he would have already said it by now. Everything would soon start, or had everything already begun. Is that what the rush of power had meant? It had taken him a while to realize what the feeling was, but now he understood someone had used power.
Power, something that had been long forgotten to his kind. Once the Youkai had made the humans tremble in fear. Now most of them were reduced to nothing more than humans. He didn't know how it had happened. Slowly over time they had become more and more like the lowly creatures that had once been so beneath them.
Now it appeared that everything was falling into place. The 995 year of the spider was dawning and the seventy-fifth emperor sat on the throne. If what he had heard recently had been true, then everything was about to begin. For all he knew, the burst of power could have been the sounding trumpets of a new beginning.
That wasn't going to happen though. He wasn't going to allow it. Unlike others of his race, he still held a spark of power and as long as he did he would never grovel to the humans. Sesshomaru did not grovel to anyone. Briefly he thought of the emperor he would not even grovel to him. He may serve him but unlike the rest of his pears he did so out of respect for power not out of fear of punishment.
"What have you found Jaken? Do not tell me that you are so useless that you haven't found anything in all the time that you have been looking.
"Not much is documented. It's like everyone wanted to wipe this subject off the face of the earth."
"Of course they would. The emperor wouldn't want just anyone to know about something like this. But there must be another reason why."
"Why do you say that, my lord?" Jaken asked craning his neck to look at the much taller man.
"Because it wouldn't matter if someone within in these walls found out about it. But it would matter if someone outside them did."
"I."
"I know that you don't understand what I mean. Someone must have not wanted the information just lying around. It is valuable both to the person that that would use it and to the person that it would be used against. Both people would see it as dangerous if the information fell into the others hands."
"So you're saying that someone stole it?"
"Why else would it not be here? Something like that would be valuable and if the right person got their hands on it then they would see it as a way to turn a profit."
"But the only people that are allowed to enter the palace are those that serve Naraku."
"The Tetsusaiga is a legendary sword. It is said that it will be forged by a faithful follower of Naraku in a moment of pure love." Sesshomaru said quoting what he knew so far about the Tetsusaiga.
"That maybe true but who would be so foolish? To oppose the Naraku is death."
"Love is an emotion of fools. Death to one person is freedom to another. None the less, the sword must be found. Something is happening something large has just been set into motion and we are going to find out what it is."
~*~*~*~ The Road outside Lacien *~*~*
He couldn't go back, not yet. If Kouga had something up his sleeve and he returned to them now, he would be putting them in danger. Right then he made up his mind he had other things to take care of. There was only one person who could answer his questions.
First he needed to clear something up.
_________________-
The guards were surprised to see him again. Nodding they allowed him passage to the corridors. Walking down the narrow passages carved in the earth, he came to the cell that he had visited not too long ago. A dazed figured was still sitting hunched on the ground but the man was no longer muttering anything. Motioning to the guard stationed outside the cell he slipped inside hearing the metal clang shut behind him as he stepped further into the earthen cavern. He stood there watching, waiting for the man to acknowledge he was there. After a few minutes he knew the man either didn't care he was there or he was still too lost in his own little world to even notice.
"I want you to tell me something." His words left no room for doubt. The brief flash of recognition in the mans cloudy eyes told him that even he understood. "Who is she? What do you mean those that touch her shall be punished?"
The man looked up from his position on the earthen floor. There was a man standing above him shrouded in black. Looking like death had come to him. Golden eyes were flashing at him from the shadows created by the dark hood of the cloak. If he wasn't already sure that he was insane, he would have lost his grip on reality looking into those flashing depths. Then again maybe death was going to be merciful and had come to deliver him from this madness.
"I want to see your face death." He said suddenly, overcome with the need to see the face of his savior.
Yasha looking at him a few second before reaching his hand up to grasp the hood of his cloak. "Answer my questions first."
"All those who touch her shall be punished."
Staring down at the half crazed person his eyes narrowed a little. "That isn't what I asked you."
"They took her away and she's gone now but I can still hear her. I can still hear her screaming for me to let her go."
'Kagome, he's talking about Kagome' his fists tightened and he bit his lip to keep from yelling at the man. "Who took her away?"
"That man that brought me here of course, but he doesn't know what she is. But I know, don't let her touch you. That's how she does it. Who knows what other kind of tricks she has." He paused, his hands ringing together like he was trying to gather his thoughts or perhaps like he was trying to call back some of his sanity. "No he doesn't know but I do, I won't be fooled."
"Why were you there last night?"
"Death knows all things. Why don't you tell me?"
"Were you there to kidnap her or were you there for something else?"
"He told us not to touch her. He said that she was to be returned to him unharmed."
"Who told you this?" 'Kouga, that dirty bastard' he thought the name leaping to his mind. 'who else could it be?' His anger was rising again as he thought of the man that had fled from him, not that ago. The tension that he hadn't been able to release during the fight coming back to him with such force that it made his muscles ach.
"I never met him. But I pity him. Let me see your face now death."
Yasha reached up pulling back the hood. The man stared at him a few seconds before his dark eyes clouded over again and he knew that the man would be of no more use to him.
"She has gotten to you. I see it in your face, I can see it in your eyes, now that they are not sheltered by the dark. She has bewitched you."
His heart stopped skipping a beat for a few seconds at the man's words.
"I pity you too." His voice was low and dejected above all it was wreaked with pity.
"I do not want your pity." He spat having to restrain himself from shaking the man. To show anger now would only mean he feared the man's words. Pushing his thoughts aside he wound ponder them later when he was not in the preance of this loony.
"None the less you still have it. Just know that I tried to warn you about her."
Gazing down the man wrapped his arms around his midsection before beginning to rock back and forth. Turing away from him Yasha exited the cell signaling to the man to close it behind him.
"What do you want us to do with him." the guard asked from his position.
"Let him rot."
*~*~*~*~ Elsewhere, on the road ~*~*~*
Hojo frowned watching Kagome. A scowl marred her lovely features along with the bruise that covered on cheek. It was all his fault. The words that Yasha had told him before 'None of this would have happened if you would have just done what you were told to do'. Yasha had been right. Bowing his head he looked at his feet as they walked.
Miroku looked down at the girl he was carrying. Though she tried to hide it, he knew she was in pain a frown marred her lovely features the corners of her lips turned down ever so slightly though he could tell she was trying her best to keep her face expressionless. It didn't help that she was being carted about the countryside either. The sun was going down and they would have to stop for the night soon. Then again, Yasha had said to keep going.
"Are you even going to tell me what's bothering you? Or are you just going to suffer in silence?"
Kagomes head snapped back to see that Miroku's eyes were focused on her. What did he expect her to say? "What kind of stupid question is that?"
"I think it's a rather fair one."
"Ok for one I feel like a child having to be carried everywhere and don't you even dare tell me that I'm not a burden, because I know I am. I'm tired my entire body hurts and." she wanted to say that Yasha hadn't come back yet but held her tongue.
"Is that all?" He waited for her to say more but she didn't, so he continued on. "I thought I told you a beautiful woman are never a burden. As for carrying you around all day, I am more than happy to do the job. In fact when you get well, can I still carry you around like this?"
His words caused her to blush. He sounded so sincere, but she knew he was just teasing her. "No I think walking shall be a refreshing change for me."
Biting his lip to keep from laughing at her response, he couldn't help the smile that curved at his lips.
Looking off into the horizon the clouds in the sky had turned pink and lavender with the setting sun. Kagome knew they should be stopping to soon. Looking over Miroku's shoulder she saw only the empty road stretching behind them.
__________-
Sango slowed her pace falling into step with Miroku. Half the night was gone and they were still walking. Kongyou's head was slumped against Miroku's shoulder. Even though the other girl was being carried, she knew that she must be tired. Every time that day when she had glanced back at her, the girl had worn a look of discomfort.
"Are you not worried that he hasn't returned?" Sango said for the first time allowing herself to ask the question that had been on her mind all day.
Miroku looked at the Karyuudo out of the corner of his eye. Her face showed no emotion but such a question was unusual for the woman. "No, I know that he won't lose to someone like that."
"Kongyou appeared to be worried about him?" Sango said nodding at the girl in Miroku's arms.
"That's because she doesn't know Yasha as well as the rest of us."
It was true of course, she didn't know Yasha as well as they did. But something was nagging at her. She suspected that the girl knew Kouga better than they did. "Then why isn't he here?"
"Who can say? Maybe he's afraid that he'll be followed and he doesn't want to lead them here. If that's the case can you blame him?"
"We'd be able to protect her if something like that happened."
"Not the entire time in the heat of battle he would lose track of her. And like she is now, she can't even try and run away. Besides, Yasha would never lead someone to us knowing it would put us in danger, he would prefer to deal with it himself."
"That's why I'm worried."
"Come on now Sango," he said cocking his head to look at her. "I thought you had more faith than that."
Stilled by his words, she fell out of rhythm with him falling a couple of steps behind him. Looking at his back she didn't bother to try and catch up. He was right how could she have so little faith.
Looking over her shoulder she saw Hojo walking, not paying attention to where he was going but rather looking at his feet. She felt sorry for him. The poor man was just eating himself up. She wondered if she had been in the same position if she would have done the same thing. Then again he had defied orders. That was something that she would like to think she would never do. Still she couldn't help feeling sorry for him, knowing you had done something wrong and it had resulted in the injury of someone else was a heavy burden to bare.
"If we keep up this pace, we should make good time." Miroku said falling back into step with Sango.
"Are you sure it is wise to push her like this?" Sango said her eyes drifting to look at Kagome.
"Wouldn't it be better to get it over with as soon as possible instead of dragging it out?"
"Yes of course you are right."
"If people wouldn't question me they would find that I often am."
"Yes that's why you get slapped so often." Sango said with her lips curling into a smirk.
"If you would only trust me I would never give you a reason to regret it Lady Sango."
Turning she looked at him. His face was locked in eerie shadow. He wasn't looking at her yet she could feel the ghost of his gaze. "I know you wouldn't, but it is still something that I can not do." 'It's not that I don't want to trust. I just can't, she thought to herself looking down at her shoes. Memories came back to her screaming, filling the air, fire. She knew what it was like if to have her trust betrayed and she was not about to fall into that trap again.
Studying her downcast, a frown creased his features before he turned away from her, looking back down the path that they were walking on. "I can wait."
______________-
Kagome lay on her back. It was the second night they had been traveling most of the night. It had been Sango that had finally convinced Miroku they should rest some. She should be doing what everyone else was doing and try and get some sleep but she couldn't. There was a dull throb in her leg, she would have liked to say that was the reason she couldn't get to sleep. The truth was that she was worried. Yasha should have caught back up with them by now shouldn't he? The sound of rusting cloth reached her ears and she turned. No it was just Hojo. The young man was sitting there looking at her. His face was cast in shadows, but he didn't appear to be too happy.
"Hojo"
He heard his name whispered in the dark it took him a few minutes to realize that it had come from the very woman he was staring at.
"Yes? Are you ok? Is there something you need?" Crawling he made his way to her side seeing that she had sat up in the time it had taken him to get there. "You should be resting."
"So should you."
"It's my fault."
"What is?"
"What happened to you. I abandoned my post and because I did, you were hurt."
There was so much pain in his voice it made her heart ache a little. Reaching her hands out to capture his, she tried to take some of the guilt from him but knew it didn't work that way.
Startled warm hands closed over his. His head snapping up to look at her face he saw she was smiling at him. How could she smile like that when she knew he was the reason she had gotten hurt.
"If our position had been reversed, I would have left too."
"But our position wasn't reversed and I disobeyed orders. I should have known better. I don't know how I can ever ask you to forgive me."
"You don't have to ask because you are already forgiven." She couldn't stand to see him look so beside himself. It was enough to make her want to shake him.
Miroku opened his eyes listening to their conversation. He still had no idea who the girl was but he knew one thing, Kongyou , Kagome, whatever her name was, special. Closing his eyes he would get in a few more minutes of sleep before pushing them on their way again.
"Just know that should you ever need me, I'll be there for you." Looking at their hands, Hojo brought the back of her hand to his lips, brushing them gently before releasing them and returning to his spot.
__________________-
Yasha frowned it had been three days. Three days and he hadn't heard anything about the wolf. He had expected him to show up and try and catch him while he slept that first night, but no such thing happened. No, instead of his absence making him feel better, it actually made him feel worse. Every second he was out of his sight meant he could be plotting something.
Normally that wouldn't bother him. He could handle anything someone threw at him. In this case though, he wasn't the target, which had been made clear. The wolf was out to get Kagome and Kagome only. Not even the thought he was committing treason had deterred him.
The man had run away but that didn't mean he still didn't have plans in fact it worried him even more. Damn it. His fist slammed into the nearest object which happened to be the tree that he was perched in as a string of profanity trialed from his lips.
Everything was pressing in on him. He was at a stand still what if Kouga was just waiting for him to go and lead them back to the others, no back to Kagome. His next thought made his heart skip a beat what if he was on his way there?
They should reach Jinenjis late tomorrow. He could turn their four days journey into two easily. His hands clenching and unclenching, his thoughts drifted to a certain dark haired girl. "She has bewitched you." The man's words from before came to his mind yet again. They had played themselves over and over again in his mind the last few days. Like those many times in the last few day anger seeped into him. He was not bewitched; he didn't have time for such nonsense. The image of her face flashed in his mind again. "Damn that woman."
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Kouga frowned looking at the door he had just knocked on. He couldn't hear any movement from inside. Raising his hand to knock again, the sound of approaching feet reached his ears. They paused for a second and the door swung inward, a woman standing at the door.
"Mrs. Higurashi." He said inclining his head a little to show his respect for the older woman.
Seeing the man that was standing on her porch she kept a passive expression on her face. 'Had he come with news of her daughter?' Stepping aside to allow him entrance into the house, she watched his back as he swept into the room. Closing the door it was only then she allowed the mask to slip from her face. Clasping her hands in the soft material of her dress, so as not to do something foolish like reach out and clasp the young man's arm.
He did not turn to face her. The longer the silence stretched on, the more worried she got. She knew that decorum said that she should be offering him a seat to rest. She should be getting him something to drink to quench his thirst. Instead she shook her head. "Tell me do you bring me news about my daughter?"
Kouga stood in the center of the room his eyes traveling around the room to avoid looking at the woman who was standing behind him. Taking a deep breath to gather himself before he spoke. "I'm afraid that your daughter has fallen into the hands of the enemy."
"What?!" she asked in half disbelief. Her daughter was with those.. those rebels? Her hand going to her chest she leaned back against the door. The next thing she knew, hands were supporting her. Looking through her lashes, she saw Souta standing there next to her. When he had entered the room she didn't know.
"Are you going to be ok mother? Why don't you go to your room and rest." He asked knowing she would try and find a reason to resist. "I will take care of our guest."
Souta was rewarded with a smile before his mother nodded and left the room.
Kouga looked at the little boy with a sigh.
"What is this I hear about my sister falling into the hands of the enemy?"
Kouga looked at the boy contemplating whether or not he should tell him what happened. Seeing the boys questioning eyes, he already knew the answer. He was going to tell him everything, well almost everything.
Souta sat listening to what the other man told him. His eyes narrowing, a frown creased his lips. 'Not only had his sister ran away from her duty but she had also let herself become tangled up with the resistance.
Kouga wore a frown of his own. He hadn't been able to tell him the complete truth. He was ashamed he had given them her name. If they hadn't known that she was Kagome Higurashi then surely they would know by now.
He shouldn't be here he should be out there looking for Kagome, not just sitting here. But that was why he had come here. He was here to tell them of his mistake. He couldn't when he had seen Lady Higurashi's usually static expression crumble into one of worry. He couldn't be the one to tell them he had handed them her death sentence.
That's what it was. He had been too cocky and when the man asked, he had given her name. With that name he had delivered her into the arms of death. Looking at the accusing eyes of her brother, he could no more tell him, than he had been able to tell the woman. So here he was, doing something stupid again. Wasting time that wasn't his to waste.
Anger, that was all that Souta could feel. Kagome had left him. His mother always wore a mask of indifference. She cared about decorum above all things He couldn't blame her though, he had seen her when that politesse had slipped away. He had seen the hurt in her eyes. All the loss, at night when everyone asleep and she thought that she was alone he would sit outside the door and listen to her sobs. He didn't dare open that door. If he did she would only dry her eyes and put on a smile.
It was Kagome that was there for him. It was Kagome that would give him hugs and kiss his cuts and bruises. It was Kagome that always told him that she loved him more than anything in the world. It was Kagome who had abandoned her duty. Above all those things she had abandoned him and for that he would never forgive her.
"I want you to bring my sister back to me."
"That's what I intend to do. I will be leaving shortly" The kid had some nerve he would say that. Placing both of his hands on the chair, he fixed to stand. That was when he felt it, the coldness of steel pressed against his throat.
"Before you go you will be telling me what you're hiding."
His eyes widening in surprise focusing on the little boy who was holding the offending weapon. "You have some nerve for a child. Who are you to tell me what to do?" Though he had to admit the kid had some skill to be able to get this close to him without setting off his defenses. He was about to reach out and grab the kids arm but almost as if he had been expecting it, his wrist flicked digging into his skin. A trickle of blood was trailing down his throat.
Just great, as if he didn't feel bad enough already. To be beaten by a lowly man on the street and now by a mere child.
"You are best not to forget whose house this is and with my father gone, I am the man of this house."
"You annoying little brat." Reaching up he bated away his hand feeling the graze of the knife as he did so. Springing from the seat, he was about to take a step forward to strike him down. But much to his annoyance, the child just stood there glaring up at him in defiance much like his sister. There was a big difference between the two. Her chocolate colored eyes were warm, his were cold and dangerous.
"You are best not to forget either, that I'm the man that you will one day be taking orders from Captain."
That's all for now
I wasn't so evil this time I must be saving it up ^.^
I'm going to inspect my eyelids for some holes now but reviews would be very much appreciated
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