See? That wasn't to long of a wait, right? I said I would try to update more often and look at that I'm a woman of my word! So here we are with a new chapter full of unseen twist and turns, hope you enjoy and leave me lots of encouraging reviews!
This chapter may not be as long as the pervious one, but I think there might be just a little more action packed into this one! Enjoy!
Oh and warning this chapter DOES have "M" rated features twisted into it, so if you are not the proper age/maturity level do not read! Thank you!
Note For Review's :
Roseybee - The freezing weather is defiantly helping with the flow of updates lol And I couldn't agree more, Inuyasha should have taken his chance a long time ago! Thanks so much for the review!
Kouga's Older Woman - Ask and you shall receive lol thanks for the review! Enjoy the update!
My Eternal Anguish - I could never forget about such wonderful supporters of my story! Thanks for being patient and I hope you enjoy the update!
Lil-faff - I deserve the guilt stick lol I am happy though, you guys have all stuck with me despite my lack of update! I appreciate it a lot and I really hope to receive more wonderful reviews, enjoy the update!
Someones Desire - Well maybe this chapter will help with some inspiration! I miss your art : ( Thanks so much for the support someone! I hope you like the new chapter!
wiiTneSs - All very good questions and all will answered shortly! Thanks for such a great review and I hope you like the update!
KittyKritik - Kitty Kitty Kitty I totally agree on the cheating aspect of things, bad! No way around it adultery is just wrong! But, they haven't done anything too bad as of yet, which is why I'm not throwing them into bed right from the get go. I want this to be more than "loneliness or hornyness" I really want them to struggle with the decisions they are making and see the consequences, For the moment Kagome is really turning to Kouga for emotional support that she can't get from anyone else, the physical stuff they have shared is more out of gratitude than hormones. Kouga is the one being draw in, and for good reason I assure you but, I just can't reveal that yet or it would be a spoiler. As for the Ayame depression thing, sooo happy you caught onto that! She is suffering without Kouga for good reason and he isn't reacting the same because…well all will be revealed in good time I promise. I can't really explain it fully without blowing the whole concept of the story but I promise you it will be worth the read in future chapters! Thanks so much for the review always do appreciate some straight forward advice!
AllyRose4129 - Thanks for the review! Enjoy the update!
SilverVeiledRose - Updated thank so much for the support! I hope you enjoy the new chapter ever more!
Guest - Thanks I'm always happy to hear my lack of updates didn't drive you guys away! I appreciate such a supportive review! Thanks so much and enjoy the update!
HikoCassidy - Thanks so much, enjoy the update!
Chapter Five
Revealing
Cold was no stranger now to the quietly buzzing village just over the hill sides, its lasting chill reaming even though the sun shone partly through the thick gray clouds above.
Steams of bright light beaming down below to the hazel tinted mounds of dried earth, spots of thick snow still lingering all around relentless in their will to melt even under such warmth.
The village had been blessed with a glimpse of relief from the seemingly never ending cold, but even they knew it was not to last. Come night fall there would be no doubt the harsh frigid winds would return to rampage the village once again.
For now everyone had taken the opportunity to tend to their daily needs throughout the slightly busy streets and withering fields.
Even Kouga was no exception, he had awoken this morning to find the sun shining down at him and he every intention of using the small blessing wisely.
Visible steam rolled off his heated body as he perched upon the somewhat isolated hill side. His hands braced firmly apart sunken slightly into the moist dirt under his palms . His legs hoisted high in the chilled air, the position flexing his toned naked back and sculpted muscular arms.
He growled lowly feeling a lone drop of sweat roll down his brow then off his chin to the ground mere inches from his face. His fangs were bared and his eyes narrow with strain, he hadn't pushed his body this intensely in far to long.
Kagome watched silently mere feet away from the flexed wolf demon, standing quietly as she had been instructed to do by her mentor.
Kaede at her side watching Kouga's every move as she did.
This little exercise had been the elder priestesses idea, she had grown tired of Kouga's constant wining over the medical treatment he had been forced to endure. So she suggested a training position to see just how far the wolf demon had progressed in his healing, that way she would know clearly what herbal remedies he would still required.
Kagome tried to remain supportive but there were certain obstacles she needed to over come, having been forced to aid Kaede in watching Kouga strain this way, it was hard for her to stand quietly while she saw him struggle so.
The wound Kouga had obtained before coming to the village had closed completely, but the damage was far from done. Even now she could see the off shaded color of darker skin ringed around the massive wound to his shoulder where the muscle was still trying to rebuild itself.
Then on a lighter more personal note, seeing Kouga half naked rippling with toned muscles and sweat was a little nerving.
Clearly Kaede didn't pay that much attention to the wolf demons perfectly toned body, but Kagome was finding it more and more difficult to keep her embarrassment at bay.
The only man she had ever seen completely naked had been Inuyasha and that had been purely accidental, coming upon him while he was in the bath or changing. Now that she was practically being forced to stand here and watch Kouga in almost the same lighting it was uncomfortable to say the least.
Kouga took a sharp breath as he slowly began to lift his right injured arm upwards applying all the weight of his body to his left hand still planted below him. He grunted lowly the pressure tensing his shoulder and forearm tightly, it was uncomfortable but not unbearable just the idea of stretching his muscles like this pleased him, it had been far to long since he had done so.
"Good, now the other" Kaede instructed her aged eye gazing at the other unpressured shoulder.
Kouga bared his fangs tightly keeping an insult building in his throat dormant, did this old hag think this was easy?
Kagome gripped the lengthily soft cloth tightly in her cupped palms, the herbal drenched rag Kaede had asked that she hold should Kouga's wound falter in any way. Her growing shame aside she was nervous about the next step in Kouga's training.
Kouga slowly braced his injured hand back down to meet his still planted one, his hoisted legs swaying a bit in the transaction for a moment he had to pause and realign himself so he didn't go tumbling over.
Taking a deep breath he slowly began to slid his left hand out from under him the full weight of his body now flooding to the throbbing ring of unhealed flesh in his shoulder.
He was unable to hold back a snarl of searing pain from escaping his lips, as his arm began to tremble from the stress his body provided.
Trying with every thing he had he slid his left arm fully behind him, wanting to push himself just a bit further. If his arm was capable of holding than his recovery would be that much shorter, which meant he was that much closer to returning home.
Unfortunately that wasn't going to happen anytime soon.
Without warning Kouga's arm caved beneath him! A jolt of stinging pain shooting up all the way from his palm to his shoulder blade throwing him to the ground, hard.
"Kouga!" Kagome gasped at the sight of the wolf demon crumbling from the strain his body had provided.
Kouga fumbled blindly on the dry dead grass pieces of it sticking to his sweat dampened body as he finally rolled to a stop.
Kouga shot up right, his left hand instantly cupping the now throbbing surface of his shoulder trying to stop the increasing pain radiating its way through.
"Damn it!" He roared knowing he wasn't nearly as far along in his recovery as he would have liked, this little test had done its job proving so.
Kagome was at his side before he could take out his growing frustration on the leering elder priestess for forcing this upon him. Some small part him thought the old crow knew this would happen!
Kagome was on her knees before him the heated herbal rag already bundled in her nimble fingers. Softly she nudged his hand aside so she could clearly see his injured shoulder.
She sighed in relief seeing it hadn't retorn, only strained slightly judging by the colorization and flexed appearance.
"Here" Kagome whispered pressing the rag onto the wound softly, letting the medicated cloth sink its herbal coating deep into his skin to soothe the no doubt painful sensation.
Kouga leaned forward with a grunt his head bowing as Kagome pressed slightly harder onto his still throbbing shoulder, the rag she held smelled to high heaven but it did slightly dull the pain into a more tolerable annoyance.
"You shouldn't push yourself so hard" She said softly, she knew this couldn't possibly be easy for him to endure but trying so hard for such little results wasn't worth reopening his barely closed wound.
"It's gonna take time" She promised with a smile, the road to recovery was never an easy one but it would all be worth it in the end.
Kouga lifted his azure gaze to meet hers, so warm and hopeful it made the anger inside him ebb away.
"Thanks" He smirked appreciatively before talking the medicated rag from her hand into his own hard grip.
Kagome retracted her hand a bit in surprise, she knew Kouga couldn't stand the smell of the herbal cloth between them yet he preferred to hold it?
Kouga reluctantly forced himself to his feet with a grunt of aggravation a little to eager to put some distance between himself and the kneeling priestess at his side.
He appreciated all Kagome had done for him more than she would ever know, but things were getting complicated between them fast and he was taking no chances on making it worse.
The night they had spent on the village hill side had been mesmerizing to say the least, the way she had felt in his arms it was almost indescribable but that wasn't a feeling he was allowed to have.
If anyone made him feel that way it should be Ayame, his mate. Kagome, though he cared and always would care for her deeply, was was becoming a complication he didn't need.
He was unsure of what feeling she was unknowingly stirring inside him, but guilt was defiantly a top contender and of course he knew that meant he was doing something wrong.
Being so close to her felt all to inviting for more trouble, and he wasn't willing to jeopardize all he had built because of it.
So last night after Kagome had left him on the hill side to return to the village he had made a vow to himself. He would avoid all unintentional as it may be private moments between the two of them, and from now on he would focus solely on his recovery and returning to the east, that was it.
"So how'd I do?" Kouga asked forcing himself back to the present and the slowly approaching elder priestess eyeing him silently.
This 'test' had been all her idea after all and he wanted to know the results.
"Ye are healing steadily, but ye need more time, I'm afraid " Kaede added with an aged glare at his cloth covered shoulder, she had seen the damage but also the healing and knew well the wolf still had a long way to go.
"Whatever you say-" Kouga paused as a strange unfamiliar scent wafted under his keen nose, even more potent than the herbal soaked rag held to his side.
Instinctively he turned towards the south entrance of the village, his sharp eyes catching the sight of what his nose had already detected.
"Something wrong?" Kagome asked brushing off the dried grass clinging to her crimson leggings, noticing the look of alertness spreading over the wolf demons face.
"Someone's coming" Kouga announced clearly walking closer to the peak of the hill top hoping to get a better view of the approaching force.
Just a blurred dot on the horizon, a huddled group of shadows moved as one, fast approaching the unsuspecting village.
Kouga's eyes narrowed in unease, hearing the all to familiar clank of steel armor marching and the waving of fabric banners.
Kagome approaching Kouga cautiously staring over his shoulder to what held his attention so fixated.
It was a hazy image unclear to her human eyes but she trusted fully if Kouga was on edge, than whatever was approaching them couldn't possibly be good.
Vast thick snow blanketed the sleeping village below, the blizzard from the previous night leaving its presence known far and wide.
The powdered ice flawless and heavy with no sign of life beneath its packed layers.
Even though only a few rays of dim early morning sun light shown through the endless gray sky above, it reflected brightly from the frost below.
This beautiful undisturbed serene scenery was unnoticed by the still sleeping village inhabitants burrowed tightly in their chilled homes.
Inuyasha an unknowing part of that group as he had finally succumbed to the hazy grip of sleep sometime in the midst of the raging blizzard last night. Sleeping lightly perched against the door frame, sword crossed in his loosen arms and silver hair hidding his face.
Miroku a mere foot or so from the slumbering half demons side bundled in countless sown blankets in effort to evade the lasting cold on the huts cool wooden floor.
Both resting peacefully for what seemed like ages, until they were both ripped from their hazy sleep!
An ear piercing scream echoed like a crack of lightning throughout the now fully alerted village, sending every soul spiraling back to reality and out of their no doubt peaceful dreams.
Inuyasha shot up in a crimson flash! His blacken sword sheath already coiled in his clawed grip, his amber eyes wide and scanning the small hut for any sign of danger.
Miroku fumbled blindly from under his mound of quilts until he too found his footing, his golden staff braced into the wooden floor to aid him in his unsteady climb to his feet.
"What was that?" The highly awaken monk asked, his dark eyes fixing on the half demon staring back at him.
"I don't know, but I'm gonna find out!" Inuyasha growled shoving passed the thin matt hanging over their joint hut as he flew into the cold outside.
His bare feet instantly sunk into the snow thicken ground making it difficult for him to run at full speed towards the source of the scream that had awaken him.
He shoved forward regardless, his pointed ears buzzing with the sound of distant voices no doubt villagers who had been awoken just as he had and went to investigate the sound.
His nose as his guide he followed the scent of where the villagers seemed thickest, dragging up mounds of tight snow as he pushed forward.
Finally the snow packed around his shins began to thin as he made his way onto the worn streets, in the distance a barely visible group of villagers building in size at the edge of the village.
Able to run a full force he sprinted forward until he was at the unaware groups back.
He began shoving his way through determined to find the source of what they all gathered around.
The mass of humans seemed to go on forever before he finally made his way to rim of the village where the group originated.
There kneeling together in a tightly coiled embrace was the boy he had come to know as Houki, the boy who had brought him and Miroku to the north from the beginning, and his mother who had they had met the day they arrived.
The couple of mother and son had their backs towards the half demon leaving him unsure of what was the cause of this spectacle.
"Inuyasha!" Miroku's voice carried from the depths of the huddled villagers as he tried to make his way towards the half demons side, only now catching up from the hut he had so hurriedly left behind.
Inuyasha shot the jilting monk a quick glance before returning to the couple kneeling before him and every other set of eyes fixed on them and them alone.
"Houki! What's going on?" Inuyasha barked towards the boys thin form making sure his voice carried over the buzz of unknown conversation all around.
Miroku finally made his way towards Inuyasha his eyes also fixed on the huddle forms before them, equally as curious to what had caused this spectacle.
Ever so slowly Houki's bowed head turned towards the awaiting half demon and monk, his eyes hidden behind the dark stands of his loosen hair.
A wave of unease flooded Inuyasha under the surface, before the boy could even speak or meet their gaze. Something was wrong, very wrong.
Houki forced his sight upwards to meet the amber eyes of Inuyasha staring back. Instantly the half demons eyes reflected his boyish face perfectly, the light shading of his skin, the hollow look of despair written in his eyes and the bright streams of heavy flowing tears rolling down his cheeks.
"M-My sister-" Houki's forced out his voice cracked and uneven with strain.
Inuyasha's amber eyes glowed a shade darker as he peered down to the boys side where his mother sat motionless, only now able to see the crumbled mass of a girls child's kimono crossed tightly in her trembling arms.
"Sh-She's been taken!" Houki's mother sobbed breaking her silence in a heart wrenching scream.
Inuyasha felt the color drain from his face as he forced his eyes over the huddle group of villagers to the waiting plain of undisturbed snow blanketed out before them all.
Knowing with a sickening certainty any trace of tracking the abducted girl had vanished with last nights blizzard.
His amber shaded demonic eyes narrowed with a menacing gleam, whatever this 'Yokobue' was he made a solemn vow here and now.
He would make damn sure this demon died, screaming.
The crack of burning logs echoed lowly throughout the tightly fitted hut. Though the sun still remained constant in the winter sky, the air held a lasting cold that the huddled group within the four thin walls tried to keep at bay.
Kagome shifted nervously on the creaking wooden floor feeling the eyes of almost everyone bunched in the hut along side her glaring in her direction.
"So-" She tensely tried to break the silence engulfing her friends and the strangers kneeling before them.
The strange appearance of the unknown force at the village border that Kouga had detected earlier had reveled itself to be an armed party of traveling soldiers numbering in the dozens.
Instantly Kouga had went on the offensive thinking like most of the villagers it was some foreign lord looking to take over their land, but thankfully due to Kaede's diplomatic approach the strangers true motives had been revealed without incident.
Now there they all sat cramped into Kaede's hut, Kagome of course being forced in the middle to draw everyone's attention. Sango at her side in the right hand corner of the room with her sleeping son in arm, Kaede at her close left sharing some of the visual pressure, and Kouga crouched untrusting in the far coroner of the room making sure these strange samurai didn't try pulling anything that would result in their untimely demise.
"You've come all this way to ask for help slaying a demon?" Kagome asked making sure she hadn't misheard the three warriors kneeling before her, while the rest of their party waited outside the small hut.
"Yes, we were told there is a priestess of great power who resides in this village, who could aid us?" The larger of the men speaking clearly his aged eyes fixed on Kagome expectantly
Kagome was a bit surprised at the directness of the older armor covered men kneeling ahead of her. Of course she had been asked to help in the slaying of demons from neighboring villagers before but never in such a show of forceful way, was this demon they were having difficulty really that troublesome to get rid of they needed her help?
"You're from Kyofu village right?" Sango asked remembering the brazen men's proclaim of hailing from the slightly distant town.
Living in this region as long as they all have they knew the territory fairly well and this village was no exception.
The apparent leader of the band of men glanced at the demon slayer with an agreement nod, assuring her she had addressed their home properly.
"That's at least two days away, a little further than your use to going alone Kagome" Sango added peering at her close friend from her place at her side.
"True" Kagome sighed she had traveled for the sake of aiding fellow villagers before sure, but always with Inuyasha or Miroku to accompany her should she need help in any way. Traveling that far alone seemed doable but a little a nerving.
"We are not asking for charity M'lady! Our village is offering to pay you generously" The rustic armored solider proclaimed before reaching into his dented chest plate retrieving a relatively large bag of rattling coins.
"Th-That's not necessary-" Kagome smiled nervously she was no stranger to demon slaying but she had never been paid before, well at least she hadn't. Miroku had always been the one to handle the finances of her journeys, it seemed to be his calling.
"Id be happy to help but,-" Kagome began glancing a quick glimpse in Kaede's direction, secretly worried the aged priestess wouldn't be able to manage without her for such an uncertain amount of time.
The village was always in constant need of her help, for healing or protection she was always on call and the thought of leaving everyone relying on Kaede and Sango alone didn't set well with her.
"The people here need me and I just cant-" Kagome stated hoping to break her refusal as gently to the trio of soldiers as best she could.
"It's alright child we have managed before a few days will do no harm" Kaede said reassuringly to her apprentice, winter was no easy time for anyone but they would bare the strain as they always had.
"Are you sure?" Kagome asked a little surprised at Kaede's determination to carry the village burden alone, at least for the time being.
"Aye" The elder priestess smiled dryly laying Kagome's uncertainty's to rest.
"Okay" Kagome smiled at her mentor "Look likes I've been hired" She stated happily to the waiting group of men before her.
"Excellent! We will depart as soon as you are prepared" The lead solider proclaimed gratefully climbing to his feet with the two men winged at his side.
Kagome bowed her head in agreeance secretly beginning a mental list of all the things she would need to gather and straighten before leaving the village.
"Fine, but she's not going alone" Kouga's voice stated sternly from the corner of the crowded hut drawing everyone's attention including Kagome's to the now standing wolf demon.
"Kouga?" Kagome blinked curiously
"Kagome, I'm coming with you" He spoke clearly his azure eyes meeting her questioning stare.
He had sat here quietly for long enough as they toppled over the subject of Kagome departing to aid some strange village. Apparently judging by the reaction he had just seen from everyone this wasn't a new occurrence.
But, despite his reservations about going anywhere with just himself and Kagome he wasn't about to sit here in the this village while she was sent after an uncertain demon. He secretly forced himself to set aside his desires to keep her at bay like he had originally planned. He knew if something was to happen to her while she was away he would never forgive himself knowing he could have been their to prevent it.
His would just have to deal with his unease later, when he knew Kagome was safe and capable of distancing each other.
"Kouga, No" Kagome sighed remorsefully "You're still recovering"
She appreciated his offer to join her, deep down she knew she would gladly have him tag along to keep her company but the image of him tumbling over the hill side in pain from earlier was still fresh in her mind.
What would it say for her if she allowed him to accompany her and his condition got worse? She didn't want that on her conscious no matter her uncertain she was about traveling to a new village alone.
"I'm healed enough for this, a few days on the road wont kill me" Kouga reassured her determinedly, his shoulder was far from perfect but a little light travel through human territory wouldn't do him that much harm as long as he kept the pace slow.
"Besides, I'm not sitting on my ass in this village while you take on a demon alone" Kouga stated flatly, he didn't know what to expect from this 'demon' she had been called to destroy but he wasn't going to let her find out by herself.
Just the idea of lying around in his village with only the old crow and her medicinal potions to keep him company all but made him want to sprint out of the hut at this very second.
"He has a point Kagome" Sango added surprised herself she actually agreed with the wolf demon
"It might be a good idea to have some backup, after all we don't know exactly what you'll be up against" The demon slayer reassured her long time friend, Kouga might not be charming company in a village full of humans but he was strong and useful for a task like this.
Kagome silently thought over her friends agreeance, they each had a good point and she knew without a doubt she would feel far more at ease with a friend at her side then a group of mass strangers.
"Well if your sure your up to it-" Kagome started glancing at Kouga standing over her.
"I'm sure" Kouga vowed,
Kagome smiled up at the confidently gleaming wolf demon, feeling a wave of surprising excitement completely wash away her unease.
"Then we better get packing" She smiled now hopeful of her approaching journey.
Slaying a demon would not be the highlight of her week but somehow she felt better about this entire situation now, not only was she getting a reprieve from her duties as village priestess for a few days she would be on a road trip with one of her closest friends.
Just her and Kouga, what could possibly go wrong?
The whistling of the increasingly cooling winds outside could be heard, but surprisingly not felt in the depths of the winding mountain tunnels.
Large stone carved paths twisting and turning into the center of the northern mountain, each countless path leading further and further into the wolf demon dens where the inhabitants slept soundly curled tightly in their pelts of fur, hiding away from the lasting cold just outside the cliff walls.
Though not every demon trapped inside the mass caverns could find the will to surrender to the sweet lure of sleep.
Ayame's soft hands dipped gently into the sloshing heated water at her side letting the rag held tightly in her fingers soak up the steaming liquid.
She rung out the soaked cloth thoroughly before returning its heated texture to the dampened fur covered face of the large white shaded wolf laying at her side.
Her jade eyes were gleaming and soft with the reflection of the mounted torches burning on the cave walls aiding her with both warmth and light. Carefully she dabbed the soft fabric over her grandfathers aged brow, letting the heat it still retained sink in to the elder wolf's hide.
"Thank you, my dear" Yorozoku grunted lowly his muzzle moving only slightly as he peered up to the solemn face of his granddaughter.
He could not have been more at ease knowing she had finally been talked into returning to the warmth of the caves and not out freezing on the cliff peaks.
Ayame was the last family he had left in this world and he knew far to well what this distance between herself and Kouga was secretly doing. He would never admit this out load knowing it would only cause further grief if he did so, but he felt racked with guilt over sending for her from the east. Had he not none of this misfortune would have befallen her.
But he couldn't try as he might regret his decision, his life was drawing to a close as the healers of the tribe had informed him and his one wish was to spend the remainder of his days at the side of his most precious child.
Though he wished deep down he could see her smile with pure delight and happiness instead of forced glimpses of hallow enjoyment. He knew her mind was a thousand miles away, to wherever Kouga now was.
"You should rest now child, you look weary" He whispered his dampened nose nudging her soft hand ever so softly in secret pleading.
She had cared for him long enough, he wanted her to rest while he still had the opportunity to convince her to do so.
"I'm fine grandpa" Ayame forced a smile, her body was drained and crying for slumber but she didn't want to surrender just yet, she knew once her eyes closed she would be plagued by the never ending images of her blue eyed mate as he consumed her dreams.
She wasn't ready to face that, not now. Not when she had her grandfather to focus on, being at his side it made the hole in her chest slightly less gaping, faded from an unbearable longing to a dull throb.
Ayame dabbed the rag clenched in her hands a little further downward to Yorozoku cheek heating his aged skin softly.
"It helps to focus on your recovery" She admitted hopeful that he would understand her desire to remain conscious and tend to him in any way she could.
Yorozoku laughed dryly his voice cracking harshly into a low cough.
"It seems my age is finally beginning to catch up with me" He smiled halfheartedly his ink colored eyes staring up at the softened face of his granddaughter.
"You've seen worse days" Ayame smiled lightly laying the now cooling rag down at her side catching a glimpse of her reflection in the sloshing water pail at her side.
Her usually flawless pale skin was stained with dark circles lining the bottom of her surprisingly listless jade eyes. The rosy color of her cheeks and lips faded into a dull shade of cream, she looked absolutely exhausted.
Ayame felt her eyes narrow in sadness, perhaps it was a good thing Kouga wasn't here to see her in such a way. She hardly recognized herself anymore.
"Grandpa" Ayame whispered the loose auburn stand of her hair veiling her eyes from further viewing her reflection.
"Hmm?" The aged wolf whimpered turning his large head to face the shivering form of his granddaughter at his side.
Ayame shrugged her shoulders heavily as she peered over to the patiently awaiting wolf her eyes already pooling with the threat of tears visible for even him to see clearly.
Almost desperately she coiled her arms around her grandfathers thick neck pressing her face into the soft waves of his white fur muffling her unsteady breaths as she tried to hold back more tears from forming.
"I love you" She whispered into the column of his shoulder and neck, she didn't know how she would have gotten through these last few weeks without him at her side.
She doubted he would ever now just how much he meant to her, but he was the only thing holding her from falling over the edge of total despair.
A worried sigh escaped Yorozoku's nostrils as he laid his large head on the quivering shoulders of his child, steadying her against him.
"I love you, my precious pup" He swore feeling her sob into his soften fur.
The threat of death lingering over him from his declining health suddenly meant nothing, nothing compared to the pain of seeing the person he held most special in his heart suffer so.
He didn't know how much longer he had for this world, but he would vow to spend every moment possible at her side, no matter what.
Soft waves of auburn hair slid across the soft messed piles of hazel colored fur bedding, moist pink lips parted to aid cries of sensual longing clouding the musk scented air.
Jade eyes glowing brightly through the dark, hidden pleading in the large orbs to be explored further.
Heaving chest of tight perfectly sculpted muscle pressed against large naked mounds of bouncing breast.
Kouga's throat burned with a dark and primal growl as he thrusted his hips forward burying the full length of his shaft into the dripping folds of his lover.
Slick feminine walls gripping him tightly as they squeezed him mercilessly into pumping faster.
His azure eyes were wide and beaming drinking in the intoxicating sight of his mate sobbing in ecstasy beneath him, her firm thighs coiling around his hips to force him deeper and deeper into her with every thrust.
He obliged pounding into her dripping sex without restraint causing her to scream in absolute bliss as she was filled over and over.
Kouga silenced his crying mate with a hard kiss, his tongue forcing itself into her sweet cavern to muffle her sobs of pure need.
He could feel her walls tighten around him squeezing his throbbing length warning him her orgasm was dangerously near, he groaned loudly against her damp lips his eyes sealing shut as he tried to remain constant in his brutal thrust eager to help her reach that oblivion.
She was so close to completion, he could feel it in every spasm of her rippling walls until suddenly she was withdrawn from him completely!
Kouga could feel the soft furs of his bed now pressed into his naked back as he was shoved over submissively.
The weight of soft thick hips straddling his pulsing shaft as moist lips pressed into his head threatening to force him inside once more.
Kouga forced his hazy eyes to open to see the vixen positioned over him, wanting to see every moment as he was about to be ridden into climax.
He expected to see messed locks of auburn falling over pale shoulders, emerald eyes burning into him with sheer desire the look he had known so well from his mate and the time they had shared in the depths of their bed.
But what he saw robbed the breath from his already heaving lungs, his demoness wasn't leering on top of him but someone else entirely.
Raven shaded spiraled waves hung softly around a porcelain face of rosy cheeks and hazel eyes burning down at him with question and sheer want.
"K-Kagome" Kouga whispered in disbelief at the naked goddess straddling his hips.
The flawless priestess didn't give him a single word in reply only took hold of his throbbing shaft in her soft hands before lining him perfectly into her damp hairless folds.
Her dark eyes peered down at him through thick black lashes in questioning as she positioned herself further against him, the soft flesh of his head penetrating her only slightly. He knew he was only one word of permission away from being taken into her fully.
Somewhere in the dark corner of his mind he could feel his consciousness rail against this scenario, he was mated to another, doing this was wrong, so wrong.
Kouga breathed deeply the overwhelming scent of her natural perfume of cherry blossoms flooding his senses.
Her naked breast heaving in anticipation her perfectly pink lips parted to accommodate her soft breathing as she gazed down at him in pure want.
Kouga felt his hands run over the firm toned muscles of her spread thighs taking one in each hand, making her shiver on top of him.
Then without warning he shoved her down onto him, spearing the hidden depths within her, without hesitation!
He threw his head back, and howled!
Kouga's azure eyes shot open in a flash of confusion and panic, fuzzy images of his surroundings shifting unnaturally until his eyes adjusted to the darkness surrounding him.
An aged and weather damaged wooden ceiling staring back at him through the chilled air.
Kouga laid there motionless on the dampened straw he had been forced to sleep upon trying to piece together his fragmented thoughts.
He buried his face in the heated flesh of his calloused palms ignoring the agitating throb it caused to his stiffened still bandaged wrap shoulder.
What the hell was wrong with him? Could he be anymore pathetic? He was having sex dreams about Kagome now?
Kouga grunted out a swear into his cupped hands before forcing himself up right in the cold shack he had unknowing fallen asleep in.
The hut was dark, the fire place that had been built in the center of the creaking holey walls now nothing but ash, the cold air invading the hut no doubt the culprit for putting out the flames he had tried so hard to create.
Kouga peered to the opposite side of the shack where he had last seen Kagome since starting out this journey two days ago, she was no where in sight.
Kouga felt a brow raise, where would Kagome possibly wonder off in this unfamiliar place?
He sighed heavily his breath visible in a cloud of heated smoke as he forced himself onto his feet.
Kouga felt an unwanted shudder run up the length of his spine as he pushed past the small doorframe into the full cold of the outside.
He looked to the impossibly dark sky above through the opening of the bare and dead trees surrounding the shack he and Kagome had hunkered down in. It was defiantly past midnight and almost below freezing, why would she leave the hut?
He shook his head in disapproval but knew he wasn't nearly as worried as he usually would be, not knowing the woods were blanketed in those armored soldiers that had hired her.
Even now he could smell numerous spots of burning wood where they had undoubtedly made their camps, maybe Kagome had went to speak with them? About the demon she was supposed to face tomorrow when they finally reached their unknown village?
He could still vividly recall the vague details they had supplied about the unknown demon on the journey here.
They literally had nothing descriptive or helpful to give other than it was large and quick moving, that could be any number of beast!
Kouga growled lowly, those humans were useless 'two day journey' they said and yet they still have yet to reach their damn village, which is why he and Kagome had been forced to settle for this slapped together shack for the night, while they took shelter in the bare forest surrounding them.
Hopefully they would reach their home midday tomorrow, but considering their unreliable track of time he wasn't holding out much hope for that time frame.
Kouga's eyes narrowed in aggravation before he turned towards the large barrel of barley unfrozen water nestled against the outer hut wall.
He braced a firm hand on either side of the wooden rim of the cylinder before cupping a handful of freezing water in his other. He carelessly through the somewhat painfully cold water against his face feeling its sharp frost riddled sting sink into his skin.
He held onto the rim tighter with both hands firmly placed apart as he leered down at his reflection in the sloshing ice spotted water.
The days he had spent on the road had been a litter harder on him than he first realized, judging by the dull hazy gloss over his usually sharp eyes.
That little nap he had just abruptly been forced out of was the first sleep he could remember having since leaving Kaede's village. Agreeing to accompany Kagome had been the right thing to do he knew that but it was taking a toll on him.
Regretfully more emotionally than physically, just when he thought he was finally achieving his goal of putting some much needed distance between them. Knowing he hadn't even spoken so much as a full sentence to Kagome since departing the village two days ago, he had found it kind of hard to with all the armored escorts surrounding the two of them.
But now he had taken three steps forward to get knocked four steps back, dreaming about her that way…
Kouga closed his eyes tightly trying to force the image to leave his head, her dark lust filled eyes, her pink glossed lips, his minds formation of what her naked breast would look like.
Kouga growled loudly shoving himself away from the barrel of water making it splash over the rim and to the snow spotted ground below.
What the hell was going on inside his head? Why couldn't he make these feelings inside him stop!
Hell he knew he couldn't possibly be the first man to dream about another woman but why her? Out of all the woman his subconscious could have created did it have to be Kagome!?
Kouga ran a dampened hand through his raven locks, this had to stop! It just had to, maybe coming with Kagome had been a mistake after all.
He shook his head forcefully, no! He had done this to keep her safe nothing else! The sooner they killed this demon the sooner he could get back to spacing out their time together, and go home!
Thinking about the demon they had been called upon to destroy suddenly made Kouga aware of the present and the still absent priestess, if Kagome had gone to question the armed soldiers about it why wasn't she back yet?
Better yet, Kouga took a strong sniff of the crisp air flooding under his heighten nose, why was her scent headed in the opposite direction of the numerous camp fires he could smell?
He slowly peered to the thick shadow covered forest to his right where her scent wafted through the strongest. What could she possibly be doing, out there alone?
Kouga took a heavy step forward then sharply forced himself to remain frozen, not daring to take another as he silently began to weigh his options.
Did he not just mentally scold himself about putting distance between them and yet here he was ready to go tail between his legs after her? For what? He didn't even know why she was out in the middle of the forest alone to begin with!
Kouga closed his eyes tightly his jaw flexing with aggravated strain, he shouldn't go, he should just turn right back around go back in the hut and sleep!
Kouga felt his foot lift in a retreating step about to obey his unspoken command before a horrid scenario crossed his mind making him halt in place.
What if she was hurt? What if she couldn't come back to the hut? What if some demon had taken her? Unlikely as he knew that could be the idea of her in trouble remained.
What if she needed him? And he wouldn't go to her because he couldn't control his own damn dreams?
Kouga's heels hit the ground hard! Aimed in the direction her scent was stronger, he would get over his own mental uncertainty's later! Right now he just wanted to find her, make sure she was safe, and head back that was it!
The barley lit sky above faded away into the largely overhanging dead and dying tree branches shadow darkening everything around him into a constant shade of black.
Thankfully his demon eyes sorted out the underbrush and maze of tree trunks before he could crash into one blindly.
Wall after wall of trees and frozen over grown undergrowth forced him deeper and deeper into the unknown territory, until he eventually gave up trying to sort through the brush with his sight, he would rely on his nose to guide him further into the labyrinth.
Kagome's rich natural perfume clouded his senses, the overwhelming scent of cherry blossoms filling his lungs the further he walked into the darkness.
What was Kagome thinking going this far alone? Who knows how many demons could be lurking in the shadows this time of night? If she wasn't in trouble she damn well better have a good reason for making him worry, not to mention venture this far into the middle of a strange forest this late at night.
The further he walked the more potent her scent became until he was certain she would be just a few more steps away, closer and closer he drew until he felt as though he would be right at her heels.
Then suddenly her scent was gone.
Kouga froze in his mid snow covered tracks thinking he had just hallucinated, he breathed in deeply again getting the exact same result Kagome's scent stopped right where he was standing.
His brows arched together in disbelief, what the hell was going on? He peered around his shoulders until he made a complete circle kicking up ice covered dirt as he did so.
She was no where in sight, but he couldn't smell her any longer?
Kouga forcefully took in another large whiff of the frigid air around him now thinking his nose was beginning to fail him, only to have his pointed ears catch the sound of something strange.
The sound of water, rushing water.
He turned slowly in the direction of the noise now able to fully breath in the rich unmistakable scent of steam. Steam? In the middle of the forest?
Kouga edgily stepped forward following the sound cautiously as it drew closer the further he walked.
Slowly visible spirals of hazy steam became clear over the last of the underbrush outlining the forest edge.
Kouga kicked through the last of the dead brush until he stood firmly at the source of his confusion.
There laid out before him was a shallow pool of steaming water wedged at the base of a steep cliff. The heated water captured by large boulders wedged into its rim. The cliff face that fed the pool carved down the center to aid a thick waterfall raining down into the far end.
It was a completely serene sight at this time of year, he could even see live greenery clinging to the aged boulders that lined the pool.
Kouga sighed, so this is what blocked his sense of smell? A hot springs?
Just then sharp movement shattered his train of thought as the middle of the clear pool sprang to life, ripples of water fluttering outwards, heated droplets flying into the night sky catching what little light there was until they glowed like stars.
Bursting through the center raven hair parted the water with a shimmering glisten, then softly cascaded down onto flawless porcelain skin.
Kouga felt his mouth go dry at the sight, his breath stolen from his lungs leaving him helpless leering at the beauty standing just a few feet before him.
Kagome stood completely unaware of the wolf demons presence, as she arose from the cover of the water revealing her entirely naked body.
Her skin was an absolute shade of cream not one visible blemish. Full large perked breast glistening with the steam radiating around them, Kouga watched breathless as a lone droplet rolled down from the column of her neck to graze over a harden perfectly pink shaded nipple before falling down into the pooled water below.
Kagome ran a nimble hand over the flat plain of her stomach washing away the collected droplets of remaining water with a soft moan as the heat radiated deep into her skin.
Kouga felt the blood in his veins race with undeniable want as he unwillingly drank in every inch of her smooth and hairless body.
Her slick wavy strands of raven hair clinging wetly to her rosy cheeks as she ran her other free hand through the messed locks.
Kouga swallowed hard he couldn't remember seeing anything as beautiful as she was in his entire life, if perfection was a form she was it.
Every inch of her body was flawless and made him ache in all to familiar way, even now he could feel the deeply rooted desire to close the distance between them and ravish her here in now, every conscious thought of who he was or ever would be gone in a flash of heated want!
How was it possible for someone to be so breathtakingly beautiful, it was downright sinful!
Kagome loosened her grasp on her submissive raven stand to roam further down her body to the pearl visible between her thighs. Delicately washing over the most sensitive of areas humming softly in relaxation as she did so.
Kouga's eyes darken in raw lust at the sight, the things he wanted to do to her, that he wanted her to do to him, it was tantalizingly torture watching her this way without being able to touch her.
Just when he didn't think he could take another moment of this separation between them she retracted her slender fingers from her sex to swipe her clinging raven locks away to one side of her neck revealing her flawless and pale shoulder.
That sight made Kouga's heart skip a beat in disbelief, there wasn't a single mark on her, not one. The most important mark any mated person could bare and she didn't have it.
Kagome's eyes gleamed brightly with the reflection of the water beneath her. Filling them with a haunting glow as she lowered herself back to the heated water below.
The trance Kouga had found himself under was now broken as she vanished beneath the surface of the pool leaving him standing there in absolute breathless shock.
His body didn't wait for a command as he forcefully turned back towards the shadows of the forest fighting with every piece of will he could manage not to dive into the water after the mesmerizing priestess.
He didn't know which direction he had walked in or even for how long before he collapsed against a bare tree trunk sliding down the hard frozen back in utter defeat.
Everything he had tried so desperately to overcome had just been thrown back at him with a vengeance!
There was no denying it anymore, he wanted Kagome. All his fight, all his pride, thrown aside in the admittance he wanted her more than words could say, and it killed him inside!
He was supposed to be loyal, faithful, truthful, to his one sworn mate and yet his entire body and soul lusted after another to the point of breaking him!
Kouga closed his eyes in horror, all this had been a mistake coming here, being near Kagome from day one it was all a horrible horrible mistake he couldn't take back!
He sunk his fangs into the soft flesh of his lower lip to stifle a growl of hatred from escaping, this wasn't going to defeat him! Distance wasn't enough anymore he would have to stop all contact with Kagome from now on! Once they were back in the village wound or no wound he was heading home!
He hadn't acted on his urges for her yet and he wasn't about to! This was manageable as long as he never had to be put in this position again!
He would go home back to his old life, back to being a leader, back to Ayame and forget any of this had ever happened, no matter what!
He rested his weary head against he cold bark of the tree pressed into his back looking up at the blackness of the night sky. He really was pathetic, letting something like this break him down to such a weakened level.
Still no matter how hard he tried he couldn't shake the image of Kagome's unmarked body. That had finally brought all the pieces of her unexplained puzzle together, that is why she fell apart at the very mention of the mutts name.
The mutt hadn't mated her, Kagome was a virgin.
Kouga's hand balled into a tight fist, so tight he thought he might draw blood at any moment.
The mutt was a bigger idiot than he would ever know but even that worthless dog, at a moment like this, was better off than he was.
Oh poor Kouga! You naughty little wolf! Well that was interesting huh? I can't really give too much away about the upcoming chapters but believe me you are not going to want to miss out!
So keep an eye open for updates, delayed as they may be they will be coming!
See you soon!