Sooo sorry I never meant to neglect this story for as long as I have but I'm falling back into writing just in time too. With the weather shifting it just makes me want to type! I have my hot coco nice music playing in the background and rearing to get this story back on track!
Just a bit of a warning this like most of my delayed updates should be extending long to keep you guys satisfied until I can find the time to update again! Happy Holidays Everyone!
Note For Review's :
Geo-Metro - Thanks so much glad you enjoy it!
Someone's Desire - Thanks always happy to hear from you hope your recovery is going well!
Kouga's Older Woman - Crave no more updated! Enjoy!
WolfPrinceKouga - I actually have read the manga but it was years ago so my memory isn't so fresh lol But I have watched the ending to the anime series recently and decided to take my story from there, thanks so much for noticing! I am in total agreement with getting rid of Kouga so easily I mean come on he still had a lot of fight left in him! But oh well, as for Kouga and Sango's daughters I don't think he doesn't like them I just think he is uncomfortable around them, you know being so human and frail its new compared to his life in the east with all the hard-headed wolf demons to boss around. And you caught me Ginta and Hakkaku are always the little puppets on the string suffering through hardship together just makes me happy to explore their characters. Oh and thanks for the recommendation for good reading and the wonderful review look forward to more!
DreamBeamz - Thanks for the review I'm sorry my twist in the plot saddened you but like you said I want him to be completely open to all the choices he is making with his full memory! I do love Roiyaru even though he was only in one episode I could see a great character waiting to be developed! But I hope you enjoy the update and look forward to more!
Deanna - Thanks so very much I appreciate that a lot reviews like yours keep me going! Enjoy the update!
Nessa - Updated! Enjoy!
Guest - Thanks so very much that is very sweet I am happy you like my story so much I hope you continue to read on and leave me more encouraging reviews!
Letsxgetxrecklessx - Updated hope you enjoy!
Carpathina Rose - Updated enjoy!
My Eternal Anguish - Some but not all of your wonderful questions should be answered in this chapter so I hope you enjoy the update! Thanks so much for the review!
Chapter Four
Conflicting
The scent of winter clung to the early morning air, its crisp breeze flooding the off brown shaded hill sides of the surrounding landscape. One of very few spots remaining that wasn't sheeted in snow or frost.
Once lush cushy grass snapping like a dried twinge in the gentle gust. The days were growing shorter and the nights longer and colder than before. Even now the sun hid behind a seemingly endless shrouded sky of gray.
Kouga's azure eyes mirrored the looming clouds above, as much as it vexed him to admit Winter was definitely here to stay.
He had never been particularly fond of this season, the constant struggle for food and invading storms only made his role as leader in the eastern mountains that much more difficult.
Then again there was little to nothing he could do currently stuck in a human village hundreds of miles away weighed in this place until his stubborn wound fully healed.
Kouga gazed down at the well bandaged wrap of his shoulder secretly cursing the hopefully deceased snow serpent who had impaled him. His poisonous fangs had done their job well securing a gaping hole in his muscled form for several days now.
Kagome's remedies had done well to treat the damage but even now he could still feel the dull throb of its is annoying sting.
He wondered just how much longer it would take to completely heal? At this rate it seemed he would be trapped here until spring.
Kouga fisted a handful of the thick fur like blanket Kagome had given him to replace his armor tighter around himself trying to block out the invading cold from seeping into his thick bandages. The wound was causing him enough annoyance without adding frost bite on top of it.
"Here you are" A sweet relived voice sighed from just an inch or two beside him.
Kouga peered up surprised that someone had managed to sneak up on him without detection, surely the twig like grass he sat upon would have been a dead give away with the slightest weight causing it to crunch.
His eyes immediately met the soft flushed faced of Kagome smiling over to him with a noticeably thicker pelt than his own draped over her priestess attire shoulders.
"Kagome?" He thought out loud
She huffed out a half hearted sigh before taking a seat at his side her breath visible from the cold surrounding them.
"No surprise you wouldn't stay inside." She glanced at him from under her thick black lashes.
Kouga couldn't help but smirk at her slightly annoyed stare, so little time together and she already knew him to well.
"Wolves don't like being cooped up" He openly admitted more than happy to blame his animal like nature for his behavior.
Kouga watched as she chuckled lightly before twisting away from him slightly only then did he see the pail of slightly steaming water she had brought along with her come into view from under her fur cloak.
He immediately felt all traces of humor leave him, he had been here long enough to know what seeing that accursed brew of steam meant.
Even now he could smell the mixture of potent liquefied herbs sloshing around in the wooden circle. This was one of many healing treatments Kagome had forced upon him but like all of them he hated every moment of it.
Though he wasn't sure this time would be the same seeing as it was Kagome not the elder priestess aggressively rubbing leaf juice in his wound. Maybe she would have a softer touch he thought trying to remain optimistic.
"So the old woman sent you instead?" He asked hoping she would agree and that this wasn't just some sort of ploy to get him into a false sense of security.
"Kaede" Kagome corrected him in disapproval "And I volunteered, I thought it would be nice for us to spend some time together." She smiled openly
Even though Kouga had agreed to remain in the village with her and the others until he was fully healed she hadn't seen him as much as she had hoped for. Constantly having this or that to attend to among the village like always had taken up most of all her time.
"Besides I needed a break from the village." She laughed tiredly as she continued prepping the medical treatment she had brought along with her to aid Kouga.
Kouga could hear her attempt at humor of the situation but he could see the formation of dark circles under her usually exuberant eyes. She looked exhausted as if she hadn't gotten a decent nights sleep in days, Kouga knew that look all to well himself.
Kagome really wasn't that care free girl he had once known, she had blossomed into someone incredibly mature and devoted but had all this responsibility been her choice?
He sighed to himself maybe if he didn't put up a fight this time she could tend to him faster and be able to rest for a little while.
"Lets get this over" He groaned pulling the thick fur pelt coiled around his shoulders low enough that it hung under his arm and around his waist.
Kagome scooted slightly closer towards him her nibble fingers beginning to peel back the thick layers of Kouga's woven bandages as she had done many times before on countless villagers.
Kouga remained silent this wasn't the bad part nor was the herbal brew rubbing fast approaching, but what followed, the wicked smelling thick sap like ointment that had to be coated all over his shoulder. Just the thought of the fowl smelling gunk made his stomach churn.
After the bandages were fully removed Kagome began washing small heated circle around his wound using the herbal water at her side. Each time dipping the small rag she held in her hand back into the concoction to replenish it.
Kouga could barely smell the herbs at his side for the moment the thick scent of Kagome's natural perfume of cherry blossoms hiding the unwanted scent well.
Another simple distraction was the gentle strokes of Kagome's fingers inching closer and closer to the sore ring of his barley sutured wound.
It was actually relaxing having her so near, her touches so delicate they could barely be felt through his bronze skin.
"You're healing fast" Kagome noted the gaping puncture wound Kouga arrived with becoming visibly thicker with regaining muscle.
"Not fast enough" Kouga added this remedy was defiantly better than the old crow known as Kagome's mentor had him endure but it did little to ease his minds worry for his home and the lands beyond.
There was so much uncertainty building inside him the longer he was kept away from the East. At least there he could make himself useful not lie around a human village all day waiting to be coated in herbs and goo.
"I'm sorry I know your eager to get back home" Kagome apologized rubbing the soft cloth just a bit closer to the darker shaded ring of not quite healed skin wrapped around Kouga's shoulder.
Kouga bowed his head a bit in reluctance he hadn't meant that to come out as ungrateful as it sounded.
"Don't be, I just don't like being a burden on you" He sighed, Kagome had enough on her plate without constantly having to worry about him. They hadn't even seen each other since the defeat of Naraku and yet he had been thrown back into her life like it were all those years ago, it just didn't seem right to rely on her so heavily.
"You're not a burden, Kouga." Kagome promised, she understood his defensive ego better than he thought no demon liked relying on the help of humans she had learned that lesson plenty of times with Inuyasha and Shippo.
Besides she enjoyed this time at his side, it was the only time she got to relax in the company of an old friend or relax at all for that matter.
Kagome rubbed slightly more slowly with that thought in mind, if she did delay Kouga's healing treatment maybe she would be allowed more time to remain at his side.
Gently she washed smaller and smaller circles around the darken flesh of Kouga's wound careful not to miss a single spot of unherbed covered skin. Slowly she rose further and further from his sculpted back to the well defined muscular plain between his neck and shoulder.
Tracing softly something unexpectedly out of place caught her gaze, two perfectly matched indented scars placed into Kouga's seemingly flawless bronze skin.
Unknowingly Kagome traced her naked fingertip over the strange markings, she knew they couldn't possibly be related to Kouag's still slightly fresh shoulder wound they looked far to faded and healed for that.
Kouga noticed instantly Kagome's wondering touch her lingering caresses sending a small chill running up his spine.
He peered behind him seeing her brown orbs fixed on the small marks she was still circling with interest.
"Notice that huh?" He smirked his pearl fang hanging over his bottom lip as he did so
Kagome quickly jerked her hand away slightly embarrassed her curiosity had gotten the better of her.
"I'm sorry" She laughed nervously forcing her hand into her waiting lap.
"I-I just didn't know you could scar" She whispered knowing she had bandages countless wounds of all shapes and sizes on Inuyasha and never before had a mark been left.
"I usually can't" Kouga admitted, it was uncommon for any demon to have a lasting scar no matter the wound but it wasn't unheard of especially for Kouga he had been run through from everything from an arrow to a spear and after healing it had never left a mark behind.
"But this one is special I guess" He added peering down at the twin marks Ayame had left behind.
"Special? In what way?" Kagome asked scooting forward to sit at Kouga's side not just in his shadow. Her eyes fixed on him awaiting his answer, this subject really did have her curiosity peaked.
Kouga could clearly see the look of fascination lit up in Kagome's eyes about this topic, which made him slightly confused hadn't the mutt explained all of this to her before?
What good was the dog if he hadn't enlighten Kagome in the slightest about being a mated demon? Then again maybe he had and she just wanted a different version, either way he would humor her.
"It's the mark of a mated demon" He began straight as he could manage in order to gauge her reaction.
Kagome placed the herbal soaked rag she had clung to back into the pail at her side before returning to his gaze clearly done with his treatment at least for the moment.
Kouga took her gesture as his cue to continue.
"When certain demons like me find a mate, we mark them with our fangs on the night we consummate our union." Kouga paused to flash her a quick glimpse of his pearl fangs the very fangs he had used to mark Ayame.
"We give these marks to each other so our tribesman and other demons know we are unavailable." He finished noticing the look of confusion firmly written on Kagome's face.
"So you and Ayame bit each other during-?" Kagome paused knowing she couldn't force the last of her question to leave her lips.
"Sex" Kouga added unashamed this was completely natural as far as he was concerned. Then again he never had been the 'beat around the bush' kind of guy.
Kagome tore her eyes away from the unphased wolf demon bowing her head in embarrassment as her cheeks blushed three shades darker. This defiantly was a turn in the topic she had unknowingly wanted to discuss further.
Its was fascinating sure but far to personal for comfort, this was Kouga she was talking with after all! She didn't want to know about his and Ayame's detailed intimate life!
"You don't have to get all shy Kagome" Kouga laughed amazed she was so embarrassed at the topic she had brought up.
"Besides you must've known something about this, I mean you didn't find it strange when the mutt marked you, your first time?" Kouga ran a firm hand through his raven locks, apparently the mutt had done a horrible job of enlightening his intended if she was so squirmy about all the details.
He bravely shot her a glance out of the corner of his eye noting her now hushed silence. He half expected her to be cocooned in a self hug trying to hide her embarrassment at the topic of her and the mutts love life now being thrown under the spot light, but that sadly wasn't the case.
Instead her head was bowed slightly lower her eyes barely visible through the thick locks of her loose raven hair, but what little could be seen told Kouga more than enough.
Her bright chocolate colored orbs looked between a mixture of shame and hurt, if Kouga didn't know better he would have thought she was on the verge of tears.
"Kagome, I'm sorry that's none of my business" He apologized as best he could, he had never meant to upset her.
Kagome quickly forced a smile on her lips before gazing back up at the clearly guilt ridden wolf demon.
"Don't apologize, I'm just being stupid" She spoke her voice shaky and uneasy even to her own ears.
Careful to avoid any further physical contact between the two of them Kagome scooted away before climbing to her feet. Making sure to leave the pail of half emptied herbal water at his side.
"Kagome don't-" Kouga began about to jump in pursuit after her willing to apologize as many times as it took to appease her, though he secretly wondered what he had said that had caused her to react this way?
Kagome sensed his movements quickly she turned towards the halfway upright wolf demon raising her hands to stop him from coming closer.
"It's alright Kouga, I just need more ointment" She forced out hoping that explanation might be enough to keep him from following her further.
She flashed him a hollow smile before turning back towards the village her steps a bit more eager to put some much wanted distance between the two of them.
Kouga watched her disappear down the hill side in silence his eyes narrow in remorse as he glanced down at the completely full jar of sap like ointment she had unintentionally left behind.
Suddenly the harshness of winter that had plagued his mind relentlessly till this point had become the least of his cares.
Thin wooden planks of the tightly enclosed hut floor creaked with strain as they were pounded over and over by the heavily impatient stomping of brutal heel tapping up and down in an endless cycle.
Amber eyes glowed brightly with the reflection of the falling snow swirling in the mid day air just outside the matt covered door frame. Though the sun should be shining brightly at this time of evening it remained hidden behind a thick impenetrable blanket of black clouds. It couldn't have matched the half demon leering at the weathers mood more perfectly.
Inuyasha continuously delivered hard unyielding taps with the hard sole of his heel the vibration making the sheath of his sword clank loudly in his crossed arms as he twitched relentlessly.
"Would you stop fidgeting?" Miroku all but begged from his far side of the hut the two had been forced to share.
Thick woven blankets bundled around him as he sat as close to the dimming fire as he could manage without catching himself ablaze.
Since settling into the village lying on the other side of the Northern border it had now been determined Inuyasha was the worlds worst room mate ever in creation.
Constantly on guard with his sword in hand and his body highly tense he couldn't even remember seeing the half demon sleep since arriving in this frost forsaken village.
"Get off my back!" Inuyasha snapped back his eyes never leaving the never ending dance of snowflakes and wind just outside the hut entrance.
"Sitting there driving yourself and me crazy wont make finding Yokobue any less difficult" Miroku tried in what little reasoning tone he could manage.
"Don't you think I know that? What the hell is this bastard waiting for anyways?!" Inuyasha growled loudly, it had to have been close to weeks that he and Miroku had been forced to endure 'life' in this so called village and yet not a sign of the demon they had been sent to kill had appeared.
Inuyasha was starting to think this entire journey had been a terrible mistake, and for what ? Leaving his home so far away for a demon that probably wasn't even worth his time? Not to mention knowing he was stuck here until spring only made his aggravation flare that much more.
"It feels like forever since we got here and we are no where closer to finding the damn thing" Inuyasha sighed.
In the time they had been trapped in this village not a clue of this supposedly menacing demon had reveled itself. Just boring villagers caring on with their boring lives, lives that Inuyasha found himself caring less and less about.
"There is little we can do Inuyasha besides make the best of the situation, besides waiting for him to make his move seems like the best choice. It's only a matter of time before Yokobue decides to lure away another villager. We just have to remain focused until then." Miroku rationalized living in this village was defiantly not the most adventurous of experiences he had ever had in his life but thinks could always be worse.
"Whatever" Inuyasha snorted resting his head against the cold wood of the thick doorframe he sat against.
His amber eyes becoming heavy for the first time in what seemed like days, he couldn't remember the last time he had slept and only now it seemed to be catching up with him.
Cold was nothing he was new too but the silence of this place was not something he enjoyed. He missed noise the busy buzzing of the village streets back home, the smell of the trees in the surrounding forest, hell even the rich scent of the dirt underneath his feet.
Inuyasha sighed heavily he would give almost anything to be back there now.
"You know it might help if you talked about it" Miroku said calmly watching as the flames before him flickered with a bluish glow.
"Talked about what?" Inuyasha whispered his eyes drifting only slightly open to stare at the solid ceiling above.
"Don't play dumb Inuyasha, you miss Kagome" Miroku stated flatly there was no getting past this monk, especially since he knew Inuyasha more than he liked to admit.
The half demon all but screamed longing even without muttering a word, his mood was easy enough to see whenever Kagome had been away. She had always had a way about her to warm the usually cold temper dog demon.
Much like Sango did with him, woman were indeed fascinating creatures capable of knowing a man better than they could ever possibly know themselves.
"You don't know what you're talking about" Inuyasha growled lowly turning back to stare outwards of the barley heated hut.
"That I don't" Miroku sighed heavily curling the covers just a bit tighter around himself, maybe Inuyasha was too stubborn to admit it but he sure wasn't, he missed his family more than words could say.
"I wonder how they are?" Miroku asked to the dimming flames before him in a hopeless gesture.
Even now he could almost hear the sweet laughing of his girls, see the sweet smile of his patched hair baby boy. Just those memories alone kept him warmer than any fire could.
Inuyasha breathed deeply the rich lasting scent of freezing wind and icy flakes, knowing there was no chance of smelling the sweet scent of home any time soon.
"Me too" He whispered longingly.
Thick snow crunched loudly under the weight of Kouga's partly wrapped feet, clearly this area outside the not to distant village had gotten a fair amount of snowfall. Even with his superior eye sight he couldn't see an open area of dirt or rocks anywhere around him. Only dried dead trees baring no leaves or greenery what so ever protruding out of the cold ground.
Kouga sighed heavily his breath visible from the lasting cold surrounding him, as he felt the first ray of sunshine in days seep through the slightly parted clouds above. It was a more than welcome feeling to the now still wolf demon, the warmth of the beam of light illuminating his skin. Though the heat from the nonvisible sun felt wonderful in the back of his mind he couldn't help but wonder how much longer would the sun be able to fight its way through the winter sky?
In his personal experience he didn't hold out much hope for it to continue, it was only a matter of time before the hard gray sky robbed him of any further warmth.
He was sure back in the eastern mountains it already had vanished from their high cliffs, leaving nothing but ice and frost where once thick greenery grew. He hoped Ginta and Hakkaku were managing as best they could.
Just then high pitched laughter rang in his pointed ear making him instinctively turn in the direction of the sound.
His eyes narrowed as the lasting giggling continued coming just over the hill side from where he currently stood. He knew the matched pair of ringing voices well enough to know who they belonged too.
Slumping his armored covered shoulders he trudged forward up the steep slope, even heavier snow giving way under his weight as he reached the other side easy enough.
Just as he suspected there kneeling in the center of a slightly more open area were the small matching figures of the twins he had come to know as Mi and Sa.
Each girl wrapped in thick material of colorful kimonos and matching scarf's draped around their small necks. They skipped and tumbled around two large packed balls of snow each adding more and more handfuls onto the already overly large bundles.
Kouga felt an annoyed growl form in the back of his throat did these girls ever stay put? What were they doing out here all alone? Again? What if another demon happened to show up?
He marched forward determined to let them know how foolish they were being he didn't care if he hurt their feelings or not this time, someone had to let them know how the world works.
He made it about half way towards the oblivious twins before a third figure emerged from behind the shadow of one of the large mounds of snow making him stop dead in his tracks.
Loose raven hair tossed softly in the growing breeze bringing the intoxicating scent of cherry blossoms flooding towards him. Kouga watched motionless as Kagome climbed to her feet beside the two beaming girls her bright eyes fixed on the now even larger mound of snow she had obviously helped them create.
Kouga felt all traces of annoyance retreat leaving him standing there conflicted on how to react now. He hadn't seen Kagome since this morning when he had unintentionally upset her with their somewhat intimate conversation. It had been made clear to him she had taken extra steps to avoid him, sending the old priestess Kaede to finish up on his only half way treated wound. Kouga felt an unwanted churn in his stomach at the memory of the old crow slapping on the sickly thick syrup like concoction all over his shoulder, he could still remember the awful smell.
Returning to the dilemma at hand Kouga remained unsure of what to do now, he hadn't been discovered he could easily sneak back over the hill side without being caught, then again what if Kagome did notice him would she have thought he was trying to avoid her? He didn't want that to be the case but he also didn't want to make her uncomfortable with his presence if she didn't want him here.
Kouga decided to take the lesser of two evils taking a hushed step backwards hoping to retreat out of sight over the hill without being detected, only to have a hidden twig snap under his weight as he did so giving away his presence instantly.
Now alerted all three human females eyes fixed on his broad figure immediately. Mi and Sa's eyes lit up with pure excitement at the sight of the wolf demon only a few feet away as they both charged forward in order to meet him.
"Wolfyman!" They cheered together loudly.
Kouga fought the urge to retreat in a full sprint knowing if he really tried they had no hope of catching him, but the thought of upsetting them with his untimely departure caused him to remain frozen in place.
"Yo" He muttered out in reluctance
The matching pair of now ecstatic girls came to a sudden halt just a step or so in front of him, each one now having a wide smile written over their youthful faces.
"We're building a snowman!" Mi squeaked in excitement clapping her mitten covered hands together shaking a few intact snowflakes loose.
"Snowman?" Kouga thought out loud peering over them to the mounds of packed snow they had left behind, is that what those things were suppose to be?
"Do you want to help us?" Sa asked happily with an eager bounce in her snow sunken steps.
Kouga looked down at them in unease, "I don't think-" He began already seeing the look of enthusiasm drain from their matching faces only to be replaced with sadness.
This was in no way was a good idea Kagome had made it obvious she didn't want him near her, why was he always the one thrown in these situations?
"I think that's a great idea" A sweet voice spoke softly from behind the small twin girls.
Kagome stepped between them joining in their now melted spots before the speechless wolf demon. Her lips flashing both girls a playful smile before turning her bright gaze towards Kouga.
The look of uncertainty was clear on his face and she couldn't say she blamed him after their somewhat awkward conversation earlier.
"Kagome?" He questioned unsure if she was just trying to put on a believable act so not to upset the twin children at her sides.
"It's fine Kouga really" She reassured him her voice surprisingly sincere
Unknown to Kouga, she had forced their conversation from earlier into the back of her mind determined to forget the whole thing had ever happened. After all it wasn't Kouga's fault that she had reacted the way she had. He knew little to nothing about the complicated nature of Inuyasha and her relationship, it was to be expected he would jump to some sort of conclusion.
Kouga raised a brow in questioning, maybe she really wasn't upset with him any longer? If that was the case he would risk upsetting her again with a refusal.
"Okay" He agreed with a sigh knowing he had given up all chances of escape with his acceptance.
Kagome flashed him a grateful smile, she appreciated his effort into helping please the girls even if she knew there were many other things he would rather be doing instead.
She turned back towards the now beaming girls beside her with a bit more optimistic attitude.
"Why don't we show Kouga what to do?" She asked teasingly
Mi and Sa matched perfect pitch with a squeal of delight as they turned their heels from the on looking pair back towards their mounds of still intact snow.
Eager to teach the gawking wolf demon a thing or two about building the perfect snow monument.
Kouga fought a growl of reluctance from escaping his throat as he made his way towards the now busy twins Kagome already leading him as she aided the hurrying girls in their quest for the perfect amount of snow.
"First you grab a ball of snow!" Mi instructed flashing the leering wolf a hard stare to make sure he was paying close attention.
"Then you roll it! Like this!" Sa finished, both her and her sister already having matching mounds of clumped snow in their small hands as they began to roll them over and over the snow covered ground watching as it grew with every twist and turn.
Kouga unenthusiastically knelt beside Kagome, this didn't seem to hard but what was the point of all of this? Was the 'snowman' some kind of human ritual he was unaware of?
Kouga decided just to humor them as far as he was concerned whatever kept the twins busy enough not to call him 'wolfyman' was worth the effort.
Harshly he scooped up a handful of powder like snow, packing it tightly into a small ball before attempting to roll it over the ground.
As soon as he made contact with the ground the ball caved under his hands pressure, squashing flat until it faded back into the spot it had just been plucked from.
Kouga blinked in curiosity maybe he hadn't packed it tight enough? He tried again molding another handful of snow into the same shape then again applying it on to the ground, it crushed immediately like before.
This time Kouga couldn't help but growl in aggravation he shot Mi and Sa a questioning look wondering if they were having the same problem with this clearly weak holding snow.
Instantly he knew the snow wasn't at fault both twins had already doubled the size of their original snowballs and were adding more with ease.
"What the hell am I doing wrong?" Kouga thought snatching up another fist full of snow.
This was aggravatingly simple and yet he couldn't manage to make one ball of snow stay in place!
He packed another ball tightly into his fist determined to make this one work come hell or high water! He placed it firmly on the ground about to make the first roll hoping this time it wouldn't crumble into powder.
Only to have a pair of soft cold hands slide over his own to hold them from continuing further.
Kouga froze in place looking up in pure surprise to see Kagome kneeling in front of him a clearly amused smile written over her glistening pink lips.
"You're trying to hard" She laughed sweetly
Kouga was unsure of what to do should he continue trying or should he just remain motionless as Kagome held his hands in hers?
"Here like this" She smiled running her fingers through Kouga's until they laced together.
Gently she molded the already half melted snow ball back into circular perfection using Kouga's palms as her own. Then she began to roll the ball on the sun spotted snow watching as it grew with every tussle.
Kouga let Kagome do as she pleased seeing now that he had been the problem all along, demons just weren't meant to form snow or at least he wasn't, not until now, not until Kagome.
"See you can do it" Kagome praised holding his hands just a bit more softly "You just have to be more gentle"
Kouga's chin lifted until his azure eyes met Kagome's bright orbs her warming hands still laced into his own as they stared silently at one another.
Her small smile faded away into a look of almost embarrassment as she only now realized how close the two of them had become. Their faces so close to each other she could feel the heat from his sweet breath glaze over her parted lips.
His bright blue inhuman eyes mirroring her reflection perfectly as she began to blush dimly under her already rose colored cheeks.
Why wasn't he pulling away? Why wasn't she pulling away? She wondered as her subconscious mind abandoned her taking all current thoughts with it, leaving her with nothing but the hands of the demon she was currently holding.
"Kag-" Kouga whispered unsure of what was currently happening between them until something shattered the silent moment completely!
A ball of snow burst on the side of Kouga's face with surprising force as he was hit with the mound of icy cold powder!
A loud echo of rich high pitched laughter followed almost instantly from the direction the flying snow.
"Mi!" Sa yelled in disapproval at her still deeply laughing sister, clearly she hadn't been the one to throw the would be weapon.
Kouga instantly felt Kagome's hand retract from his own leaving their warmth behind as the only proof they had ever truly been there.
She couldn't help but look at Kouga with an unintentional laugh as the remaining flakes from the snowball dropped from his tense jaw. The unknown moment they had just shared forgotten instantly as the look of frustration spread over his handsome face it was more than enough to make her giggle further.
Kagome peered over her shoulder to the somewhat innocent twins unaware of what they had just caused.
"Okay if you two want a fight-!" Kagome laughed determinedly scooping a handful of snow into her palm ready to seek revenge on the unsuspecting girls.
She threw the ball of packed snow towards them over aiming it as it flew right over their heads.
The message had been sent though, both Mi and Sa gave each other a fearfully playful look before bolting from the not yet footed pair their high pitched screams of panic already erupting loudly from within them.
Kagome leapt to her feet in quick pursuit a wide prideful smile spreading over her soft lips.
"Come on!" She called to Kouga over her shoulder, the wheels of war had been set in motion and right now it was the two of them against the world!
Kouga was up and in pursuit after the trio of full sprinting females before his rational subconscious could demand otherwise. This was completely alien to him, why was he participating in this pointless behavior?
Whenever he had been made to chase anything it was for a purpose, to catch game for the exceedingly large number of mouths he had to feed back in the mountains. Or to attack a rogue demon who had dared to venture into his territory. But to do this force himself after a pair of screaming human children, for what? Was he suppose to catch them?
Kouga looked to Kagome running just barely ahead of him a small ball of snow already packed tightly in her fist as she launched it playfully at the circling twins, it missed them narrowly.
Then just the sight of Kagome giggling and smiling so carefree like the girl he had known before her role as a priestess had taken over made him press on.
If this childish 'playing' made her happy then he would participate for as long as she needed him too.
Kouga didn't have time to ponder much longer before he watched Kagome duck lowly a mound of unpacked snow narrowly flying over her and heading straight towards him.
He eyed the ice like powder in dread knowing he hadn't the slightest hope of avoiding it.
It exploded over his visible collar bone a spray of stinging snow melting with the contact of his heated skin and rolling into his armored chest plate.
"Gah that's cold!" Kouga howled with an uneven step as he jilted to a stop.
Kagome eyed the slightly shivering wolf demon over her shoulder unable to hold back the rich laughter building in her chest.
She cupped her hand over her mouth trying to stifle it in vain as she giggled loudly for everyone to hear.
Mi and Sa had watched their plot unfold successfully each giving each other a shared look of mischief before joining Kagome in a ringing laughter.
Kouga eyed the group of enjoyment filled females with a slightly amused smirk of his own, humans were just something else.
"Well what going on here?" A familiar female voice asked just over the hill peak with a clear tone of surprise
All pairs of eyes fixed on the curved figure of Sango emerging from the distance as she made her way towards the group.
"Mommy!" Sa and Mi both cheered as they ran full sprint towards their mother, their small arms wrapping around each of her kimono wrapped legs once they reached her.
Sango patted each of her daughters now ice spotted damp hair with a smile "I came to get you two, its time for your bath"
"Ah mom!" Sa instantly wined "Do we have too?" Mi asked hopeful she could plead her way out leaving the hill and Kagome and Kouga behind.
"Come on, if you both hurry you can see Aunt Kagome again before bedtime" Sango reassured knowing her daughters loved the time they shared with their mothers practical sister.
"Okay" They both sighed in reluctant disappointment before turning back towards Kagome.
"Bye Aunt Kagome, Bye Wolflyman!" They called to the on looking duo before following their mother hand in hand back over the hill side.
Sango flashed Kagome an appreciative smile for entertaining her girls while she aided Kaede around the village, before they disappeared over the peak and out of sight.
Kouga sighed lowly a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips, he knew with an unshakable certainly the name 'wolflyman' would never seem natural to him, but if he didn't know better he was starting to think those two kids were beginning to grow on him.
Kouga shrugged off the thought as he began following after the small footprints melted into the snow before him, with the girls gone there really wasn't any need to continue snow collecting for the half formed snowman was there?
He got half way through the trail before yet another all to well formed snow ball burst against the harden plain of his back.
Kouga froze in place, now that was a mistake.
His sharp eyes ever so slowly peered over his snow spotted shoulder to Kagome beaming at him with an almost passable innocent smile.
"Oh you shouldn't have done that" He warned, the girls were gone and so was Kouga's reason to restrain himself.
"Hum?" Kagome asked coyly flicking the remaining snowflakes from her open palm in coaxing.
Kagome had every intention of their little snow fight ending once the girls had left but she wanted to prolong her enjoyment just a little longer.
It felt like ages since she had a moment to herself, to smile and laugh freely without outside interference from the village below. Moments like this were so rare and she wanted to take full advantage while she could. And what better way than to wage another full on war?
Her wish was granted at the sight of Kouga squatting down with inhuman speed to form his own weapon of defense from the snow at his feet.
Kagome ducked instinctively barely missing the ball of tightly packed ice soaring towards her.
She couldn't even manage a decent response as Kouga came charging towards her another already formed mound of snow aimed at her directly.
Kagome screamed in playful panic as she clawed her way back to her feet before taking off in a full on sprint, the overly energized wolf demon close at her heels.
She could hear Kouga's feet crush the snow just a step behind her, almost feel his heated breath on her neck as she desperately tried to escape. Futile as she knew it was she tried to manage a jilt to one side to try and shake him, of course it failed.
Almost fearfully she attempted to peek over her shoulder to see how much of a gain she had managed but she was unable to hold her footing. Her knees buckled sending her flying towards the ground in a hazy blur her fingers clawing at anything she could to catch herself before making contact with the ice covered floor.
Kouga had been the unfortunate anchor, his bright eyes widen in shock as Kagome's cool hands coiled around his wrist mid fall pulling him straight towards the forest floor along with her.
The snow beneath them exploded outwards in a puff of ice and flakes as they made contact in a messed pile of flailing limbs and wildly fanning raven hair.
Tussling over one another until finally their tangled bodies came to a rolling stop.
Kagome couldn't help the laughter from escaping her slightly heaving chest as she tried to find her bearings on the unknown surface. Her clothed thighs were parted over something hard and warm her hands planted on the same texture, her raven hair was wildly veiled over her face enabling her sight.
Kagome sighed the rest of her laughter out as she scooped a handful of her messed locks away from her eyes finally able to see what she perched herself on top of.
Kouga was motionless at the sight of the heavily breathing priestess straddling his hips, his body pinned to the ground below forced into this position from their unintentional spill.
Still he couldn't find the will or want to move from beneath her, the sight alone was enough to keep him perfectly lined in place. Her thick hair tossed half over her porcelain face in lush smooth spirals of raven waves, her chocolate orbs lit playfully as she stared down at him. Her plump pink parted lips glistening with the dampness of the snow spotted along them.
Kagome giggled at the look of astonishment on Kouga's face unaffected by the somewhat intimate position she had unknowingly found herself in.
"Whoops" She smiled slinging her leg over the other side of Kouga's hips unstraddling him to lay at his side.
Her breath was a heated puff as she sighed out in contentment, this really had been a good idea after all.
Kouga laid there beside her motionless unsure of what to say or think after such an eventful turn of events.
Things really were so different now and yet somehow just as he always remembered. Kagome really was the same old girl he had known all those years ago and that thought slightly warmed him in a way he didn't fully understand.
The events of this morning seemed like nothing but a bad dream it was clear she had more than forgiven him, and he couldn't have been happier.
Breaking him from his train of thought he felt the cool tingle of Kagome's soft fingers sliding into his palm, her fingers lacing into his own as she continuously laid beside him.
"Kouga, thank you for this" Kagome turned her head ever so slightly to smile sincerely at him.
There was no way he could possibly know how much this little time of pointless laughter and relaxation had meant to her. Knowing there was no one relying on her at this time just because of him it made her radiate gratefulness.
She knew this moment would end soon enough but just laying her listening to the quiet peaceful sound of the frozen plain all around them, it was everything she ever wanted at least for now.
Kouga looked at Kagome smiling at him with such sincerity and warmth it almost felt as though the snow under his frame would melt away.
She really was just as wonderful as he remembered, no she was even better.
Maybe the twins weren't the only ones growing on him, and that thought alone was enough to send an unwanted chill of unease tingling up his spine.
Kouga turned from her to stare up at the brightly lined gray sky above his breath a visible cloud of warmth.
Then ever so slowly his hand curled around Kagome's just a little tighter.
Frost stung sharply through the late night air over the towering cliff peaks, lacing the already frozen rock face with another icy sheet of crisp cold.
The sky was a never ending dome of blackness white dots of falling snow the only shade of color through the dark abyss.
Even the brightly burning torches lined out along one of the tallest cliff ledges seemed dull and lifeless in this frigid weather.
Only a flailing pelt of thick white fur tossing in the frozen gusting air seemed out of place on the overlooking peak.
Ayame's usually bright sharp jade eyes, had become dull and listless with lack of rest and exposure to the elements. The continuous journey to the north had been a harsh one, practically dragged to the place of her birth after the separation from Kouga on the pass had taken its toll on her both physically and mentally.
She was so exhausted but didn't have the will to sleep, every time she closed her eyes a phantom of her absent lover haunted her without mercy.
She was so lost without him, was he even alive? Had he survived his brutal fall? Was he hurt? Was he thinking of her? So many unanswered questions plagued her every thought.
Even this time she had been given with her ailing grandfather had done little to deter her worry filled mind.
Winter had been so cruel already robbing her of everything she held precious in her life, what more was to be taken?
Another hard gust of freezing air battered her weaken stance making her shudder and yet she couldn't abandon her spot on the cliff ledge an unshakable sense of longing over powering her sense to retreat from the cold.
Kouga was out there somewhere in this harsh cold world he was out there and she was trapped without him.
"Ayame please come inside" A warm sympathetic voice begged from her shadow.
Ayame turned to see Roiyaru approaching her a thick white fur pelt draped over his shoulders that much matched her own in effort to block out the relentless cold. His dark shaded eyes drained and tired from clear worry, worry she knew he held for her.
"I'm fine" She reassured him not bothering to hide the exhaustion in her voice.
"You're not" Roiyaru pleaded, know he couldn't stand another night seeing his leaders heir this way.
Half frozen, starved and barley standing. What was this separation from Kouga doing to her?
He already knew the answer all to well, being mated as a wolf demon was more than sharing flesh it was almost the equal to sharing a single soul. Bounded to your beloved on an unseen level of devotion, it was almost unexplainable.
And without Kouga to complete her fully Ayame was fading and there was nothing he could do to aid her downward spiral into despair. She had been this way even as they had arrived in the north even though they had been just in time for her to spend her grandfathers final days together.
Even now the elder sat awake in the depths of the mountain caves worry ridden over his granddaughters behavior.
"I know your worried for Kouga, but you can't stay out here all night Ayame, think of the elder." Roiyaru asked pleadingly hoping her love for her grandfather might over shadow her longing for her absent mate.
Ayame was effected by his words, she knew her grandpa was undoubtedly fearful of her distant state but what choice did she have? She loved her family dearly but her body craved its other half, and she was lost without it.
"Freezing to death wont do you any good, Kouga wouldn't want that." Roiyaru announced as if Kouga's very name left a distasteful burn on his tongue, but he knew his mention alone would bring Ayame back to some sort of reasoning state of mind.
She loved him more than anyone after all, even though it silently crippled him to admit it.
"Roiyaru" Ayame peered over her shoulder to the leering wolf at her side in desperation.
Her eyes hazy and blurred form the threat of tears, what could she possibly do to make this pain inside her chest fade away?
Roiyaru was unable to stand another moment seeing his ruler in such devastation, slowly he curled her into the warmth of his arms holding her tightly against him.
Ayame desperate for and kind of reassurance went willingly into his embrace resting her frost bitten hair against the heated column of his neck.
She wasn't a fool she knew Roiyaru's feelings towards her like any other but she wasn't capable of returning them, not when Kouga was all she ever wanted. Though she cared for him it could never be love the way she knew he longed for.
"He's fine Ayame, I know it" Roiyaru vowed his own secret reasoning driving his consoling words.
"How? How can you know?" Ayame asked chokingly trying to hold back her tears
Roiyaru held the shivering wolf demoness in his arms just a bit tighter before he managed to speak further.
"Because I know if Kouga loves you half as much as I do nothing would ever stop him from returning to you" Roiyaru vowed, his feelings weren't returned he knew that like any other but confessing them a loud made it easier for him to bare.
Ayame pulled back slightly allowed her tear blurred eyes to sink into Roiyaru's azure orbs, they all but glowed sincerity and that gave her a small amount of comfort.
She stared down to her palms braced on his hard chest "I love him Roiyaru, if I lost him I-" Her voice cracked in dread leaving her unable to complete her sentence.
"I know" Roiyaru whispered wiping a stray tear away from her pale cheek before it could roll down further.
What a cruel world this plain could be, he loved someone who knew his feelings like no other and yet could never possibly love him back.
Ayame forced a thankful smile across her lips before stepping back out of his hold, Roiyaru's tightly coiled arms reluctantly releasing her from his embrace.
"I'll go check on grandpa" Ayame said softly before turning back towards the entrance carved into the mountain face where she knew her grandfather would be resting deep inside.
There was little to nothing she could do for Kouga now, but she could force herself to focus on the other person that needed her most.
Roiyaru watched her disappear from sight her slender frame vanishing into the dark shadows of the waiting cave mouth.
A chilling gust of frigid air swirled around him as he tore his eyes away focusing them above on the glowing moon, the bright orb now no bigger than a distant star.
He knew somewhere under that ball of looming light Kouga lingered just as they all did, but his mind couldn't help but envy the absent wolf demon more than he would ever know.
In the darkest part of his soul he couldn't help but wonder maybe life as he knew it would become so much brighter if Kouga never did return.
Winter nights like this were becoming all but routine, hollow wisp of cold midnight air sweeping through the frozen over hill sides causing it to become impossibly colder.
Had Kouga been human and not able to tolerate such weather he might have thought of returning back to the slightly warmer village, but that would entail dealing with humans he didn't much care for.
His time here had been tolerable and partly welcoming because of Kagome and her companions, the demon slayer, her family, and the old crow had even been somewhat helpful towards him but the same couldn't be said for every other human that slept below the hill sides.
How much longer would these unknown humans tolerate his presence? A demon they knew nothing about and a demon that didn't care to know any of them?
Kouga sighed heavily into the slightly frigid air his breath a foggy cloud.
Today had made him forget all about this brewing trouble, the time he had spent with Kagome had made these last few days worth while but that relaxation with her had also brought other troubling feelings stirring inside him.
Why was he feeling this way? It was a swarm of all sorts of conflicting emotions that he couldn't clearly sort out, but if he had to guess a feeling of guilt almost surfaced inside him.
Guilt over what? He didn't know, could it be because he actually enjoyed the time he spent with Kagome at his side? Why would that make him feel this way? It didn't make sense, Kagome was always important to him, she was a friend a close friend one he admired and respected above all else, maybe even Ayame.
Kouga shook the thought away as soon as it crossed his mind, Ayame had nothing to do with any of this, Kagome couldn't be higher rank than his mate in emotional status, could she?
Kouga buried his fingers in his raven locks with a grunt, he didn't want to think about this anymore.
Still the lingering uneasy feeling inside him still lasted, fueled by the image of the absent priestess he could seem to shake.
The sight of her accidentally mounted on top of him this afternoon, her smooth wavy hair, her sparkling pink lips, and those incredible smoldering eyes. Kagome had always been beautiful but lately he had noticed it more intensely than before.
Then the way they had held each others hand afterwards so soft and gentle, he could almost still feel her small palm pressed into his own.
Just then the sound of cracking brush at his side snapped him from his consuming thoughts, he instinctively turned to see no other than the source of his confliction fast approaching him.
Kagome smiled over at the hunched over wolf demon as she made her way over the hill slope to stand at his side.
"Kagome?" Kouga couldn't help but mutter still in shock she had emerged so suddenly, did this woman ever sleep?
"I thought you might be thirsty" She smiled her nimble finger curled around a clay cup, the rim slightly steaming from the brew sloshing around inside.
"Uh thanks" Kouga forced out as he took the cup from her hold, watching as she took a firm seat beside him.
Kouga brought the cup towards him in suspicion, this had been an odd gesture appreciative but odd.
He looked down at the slightly green tinted juice steaming back at him with dread.
"Don't worry its just tea" Kagome promised seeing the wolf demons expression of horror, no doubt thinking she was trying to lure him into drinking some sort of herbal medicine.
Kouga sighed in relief the last thing he needed was more healing treatment, though his wound still lingered with a lasting throb of pain he didn't notice it that much, yet.
Trusting the sincere priestess promise he shot back the steaming cup in one hard swallow draining it completely empty.
It didn't go down easily, scorching all the way down into his stomach with a searing burn.
"It's hot!" Kouga coughed loudly clawing at his throat with strain.
"You were suppose to sip it!" Kagome scolded in disapproval, she should have known better.
Kouga grunted out a half reply feeling the last of the acid like beverages string dull, secretly vowing never to drink 'tea' again.
"Sorry" Kagome laughed apologetically, the look written on Kouga's face fueling her humor.
She stared back at her own cup of the still steaming drink with a light smile, she had meant her actions to be a nice gesture, not a punishment.
She sighed before staring up at the late night sky, lasting heavy winter clouds leaving it unfortunately impossible to view any star light tonight.
She wondered briefly if it was this dark where Inuyasha was? Her eyes narrowing in sadness at the thought.
It seemed like forever since the half demon crossed her mind, partly due to her endless routine as the village priestess but also the distraction Kouga had caused her lately, which she was grateful for.
Being near the wolf demon seemed to be the only time she didn't feel the need to visualize her and Inuyasha's argument the day before he departed over and over.
At least it had been that way before this morning when his name had unintentionally been brought up.
"Do you miss him?" Kouga voice broke her quickly consuming thoughts.
Kagome's eyes fixed on Kouga staring at her with an unreadable glare, had she been that transparent?
Then again she never had been very good at hiding her emotions, especially to Kouga he knew her more well than she would liked to admit.
"Is it that obvious?" Kagome reluctantly bowed her head in defeat, she had been caught.
"Sorry, I don't mean to keep bringing him up-" Kouga whispered apologetically, the only reason he felt the need to mention the absent mutt was he knew the he was behind Kagome's saddened behavior. Despite his better instincts not too he wanted to know why? What had the mutt done to Kagome to cause her to become so distant at the mention of his name?
"No, its okay" Kagome reassured him, she knew she couldn't hide her conflicting feeling forever but then again she wasn't really sure she was ready to reveal every intimate detail of her and Inuyasha's relationship that plagued her.
Still she didn't like making Kouga pay the price for the mistakes Inuyasha had left behind.
"We-" Kagome breathed deeply to steady herself, now was not the time to start fighting off tears.
"Didn't leave things on the best of terms, before he left" Kagome's thumb guided up and down her clay cup in nervousness, remembering the night before Inuyasha had departed, the shame and embarrassment she felt after he had rejected her.
"You fought?" Kouga asked a brow arched in shock, the mutt picked a fight with Kagome before leaving her for the entire winter? What kind of idiot was he?
"I guess you could call it that," Kagome laughed dryly at Kouga's reaction, he still really was so defensive over her wasn't he?
"Anyways now I can't seem to help but beat myself up over it" Kagome sighed, how she wished she could revisit that night, so many things she wanted to say differently maybe try not being so direct with her wants, maybe be a little more patient with Inuyasha.
"What did you fight about?" Kouga asked the air around them shifting becoming slightly more guarded.
Kouga was all but fuming under the surface, whatever the mutt had fought with Kagome about better have been a damn good reason or the next time they met each other wouldn't be pretty.
Kagome peeked over to Kouga his eyes bright and gleaming with secret anger and frustration. She knew this conversation would just undoubtedly fuel his dislike of Inuyasha further, that thought made her hesitate.
"Nothing, important" Kagome tried to reassured him with a fake smile hoping to lighten the mood between them.
Kouga saw right through her as if she was made of glass, she wasn't fooling him.
"I doesn't seem like nothing" He stated sharply, crossed boundaries aside he wanted to know what had caused this hurt to form inside Kagome.
The same hurt that he had seen earlier and was unable to do or say anything about it.
"Kagome, you can tell me" Kouga vowed his frustration subsiding for the moment knowing all he wanted to was to console the silent priestess beside him in any way he could.
He would deal with the mutt later, right now all his focus was on her and her alone.
Kagome smiled lightly a hint of sadness written across her lips, Kouga wouldn't judge her she knew that, but this wasn't an easy subject to discuss with anyone him especially. But then maybe opening up might help her in the long run, Kouga was in an on going relationship maybe he would have some advice to give her?
Swallowing her regret for shifting the conversation against her she forced herself to come at least partly clean.
"He's distant from me-" Kagome's voice was barely above a whisper, her eyes falling to her slightly cooling cup of tea held in her tightly coiled hands.
"Distant how?" Kouga asked he didn't want to push her but he needed more to go one than that, the mutt had never been the affectionate type from what he had seen.
The most contact he had ever seen the mutt give Kagome was shoving her into his shadow whenever another man showed up as any insecure boy would.
Kagome looked to Kouga his eyes lingering on her with questioning, but she had given all she could for tonight.
She just wasn't ready to open up about this, not yet.
"Actually Kouga could we not talk about this anymore? It's just not something I like discussing" Kagome pleaded forcing a smile across her lips hoping that her small refusal would be enough to stop this conversation.
"Sure" Kouga smirked, his curiosity would just have to wait he wasn't ready to upset Kagome all over again for a subject that she wasn't ready to share fully.
Kagome sighed happily, that crises had been avoided at least for the time being for that she was grateful. She stared back at her still fully sloshing cup with a grimace, it had turned cold and unappealing to her after all this time.
She sat it down beside her silently before peering up at the late night sky once again, how much time had gone by since Inuyasha's departure, she really couldn't bring herself to remember.
"He's an idiot you know" Kouga said cold and flat
"What?" Kagome asked looking over to the off staring wolf demon his azure eyes fixed on the black sky above the two of them.
"The mutt, he's a complete idiot has been since the day we all met" Kouga continued no sense of falsehood in his voice just cold hard truth for how he felt.
"Kouga?" Kagome asked a bit taken back by the wolf demons sudden outburst, where was this coming from?
"Come on Kagome only someone as stupid as he is would ever make you unhappy in any way. His skull so thick he doesn't seem to realize how lucky he is." Kouga proclaimed his eyes still fixed above to the seemingly starless sky.
"Lucky? In what way?" Kagome asked, Inuyasha had been called a lot of things in her presence but that was first.
"He's lucky because he has a beautiful and caring woman like you" Kouga smiled looking down till his azure eyes found hers, illuminating with a bright glow that all but beamed sincerity and truth.
Kagome felt her breath hitch in her throat "Beautiful?" She thought, Kouga saw her as beautiful?
"Y-You think so?" She asked shyly her cheeks flushed with a new heat of embarrassment.
"I know so" Kouga promised, though he wasn't very old he had seen a lot of in his lifetime including his fair share of breathtaking woman, and Kagome was definitely in the top. Not only that but her strength, her caring heart, she didn't lack in anything a truly worthy mate would possess.
Kagome wasn't able to control herself another moment, effortlessly she closed the distance between them her small arms wrapping around his neck as she embraced him tightly.
Kouga unknowingly turned into her hold further letting her heaving chest press into the hard plain of his armored torso, as she buried her cool face into the heated carves of his neck and shoulder.
"K-Kagome" Kouga whispered in stunned silence, unsure of how to react to her coiling around him so suddenly.
Kagome tried to hold back tears as she held onto Kouga more tightly, she knew he couldn't possibly know what his words had meant to her, but they are all she ever wanted to hear.
Kouga felt her shudder against him slightly as his arms wrapped around her waist instinctively before Kouga could permit them.
Silently he sat there holding her to him feeling the heat from his body sink into the thin layers of her priestess kimono, and despite his sensible knowledge that this might be inappropriate under the circumstances, he didn't want to let her go.
Instead he wanted to hold her tighter to him, to feel her soft skin against him, to smell her overwhelming natural perfume just a while longer.
Kagome tried to steady herself breathing deeply to keep any half formed tears from growing larger. Kouga was a good distracting having him so close she could smell the scent of dark rich earth after a rainstorm mixed with a forest pine, it was wonderful.
Shifting slightly with her new confidence she was no longer going to cry she pulled back until she could see Kouga eye to eye, wanting to thank him for his much needed kind words.
Their eyes met and the words she had half formed just faded away, his azure eyes were so bright and wide. Twin pools of deep mirrors that pierced into the deepest part of her, it was mesmerizing.
"Kouga" Kagome whispered the sweet scent of her breath tracing over his lips.
She could feel Kouga's calloused hand on the small of her back the other tightly coiled around her waist holding her to him tightly, and she knew she didn't have the strength or will to pull away.
"Should I let you go?" Kouga forced the words out in a hard whimper before his non existant will could stop him, being this close to Kagome and desperately wanting to be closer, sent warning signs all through him. This feeling inside him was wrong and he knew it.
Kagome could see the reluctance in his gaze as his arms still firmly remained in place, he didn't have the strength to break this hold and neither did she.
"Could you hold me just a little longer?" She asked her voice so low and pleading even Kouga had to strain to hear her.
Kouga knew he had used all his fight just to ask her permission for this embrace he couldn't manage a reply not now, using what little will remained inside him he nodded in acceptance.
Kagome softly laid her head against his chest listening to the steady thump of his heart just below the surface of his bronze skin. It was so cold and yet right now in his arms she couldn't have felt warmer.
She knew this probably looked inappropriate from the outside looking in, but she and Kouga shared something just now even if she didn't know completely what that something was, and she just wasn't ready to let it go, not yet.
Kouga rested his head against hers, his arms rising to her shoulders as he coiled her tighter to him.
Whatever the conflicting feelings he had felt before, they were back and in a whole new wave. Only this time he didn't have the energy to care, all that mattered right now at this moment was the girl he was holding in his arms.
This feeling he didn't know it but it felt almost like completion washing over him, and that thought scared the hell out of him.
Kagome closed her eyes unaware of the dread consuming the wolf demon holding her in his arms, all she could hear was the lullaby of his steady unwavering heartbeat, and the freezing wind swirling around them.
It was almost, magical.
Uh oh seems like a certain wolf demon is in trouble! Whoa I'm tired this chapter took me almost a week to complete but I think it was worth it!
Coming up we have a lot more drama to jump into and hopefully it wont take me that long to update, so keep an eye out for more post!
See ya Soon!