Back to Inuyasha…

Chapter 5

It has been several days since Inuyasha came back from fighting Sesshomaru with Rin cradled in his arms. Since then, the rest of the group had learned of Sesshomaru's apparent demise. At first they were shocked. They always assumed the brothers would kill each other off, but truthfully, no one ever thought Inuyasha would win. With the demon lord gone, the human group no longer had to travel in fear when on the demon's lands, but who would rule now that Sesshomaru is dead? He had no heir, besides Rin, but she is human. Without a ruler, the Western Lands will be thrown into chaos. The only one left of the Inu line was Inuyasha, but no matter how strong he was, the demons of the west would never accept being ruled by a hanyou.

As for Rin, she hasn't spoken to anyone since she woken two days ago. She ignores anyone who tries to talk to her and stays inside Kaeda's hut, blankly staring as the old woman works. The humans sympathized with her, giving Rin time to cope.

However, the group's worry soon turned towards their hanyou friend. Since he brought Rin back with him, he has also been unusually quiet. He rarely speaks now, even when Kagome is starting to become annoying and overbearing. He doesn't speak to contradict her. Kagome has even resulted into sitting him for no reason, just to get a reaction out of him, but he merely rises from his Life-size crater, calmly dusts himself off, and walks away. There are no words, no incoherent mumbling. He doesn't even spare her a glance or a glare. It's like he doesn't even see or hear her or if he even cares. Of course, Kagome, being the kind of person who hates being ignored, is livid.

How can he just ignore me like that?

Enraged even more, she opened her mouth to yell the curse word again when Inuyasha stopped, his body grew tense. His ears twitched deliberately this way and that as his nose sniffed the air. His eyes narrowed northward into the forest. He knew this smell. It was of blood and poison, and it was coming towards them followed by the heavy stench of a boar demon. The tusks on a boar demon's snout were coated in a sticky poisonous slime. They're only ever used in self-defense or marking territory. Rarely are they used in hunting since boars only feast on insects and berries and smaller animals. What could this boar demon be chasing?

Moments passed as the smell grew stronger. By then Kagome had begun yammering at him again with questions. The rest of the group burst out of Kaeda's hut. Sango and Miroku had their weapons drawn and Kirara transformed into her larger battle form.

"I sense a demon approaching." Miroku brandished his staff and ran to Kagome's side. A gasp left the miko's lips. "I sense the jewel shards."

That would explain it. The boar must be insane with power from the jewel shard. No normal boar demon would go after someone like this. I wonder how it got the jewel shards in the first place. Grrr… this smells a lot like Naraku's doing. I don't want to deal with him right now. Inuyasha mused, and took off towards the boar and the scent of which it was chasing, ignoring Kagome's protests to wait for the others. But there is something familiar about this smell that worries me…

Running through the forest, his lungs burned in exhaustion as he willed his body to continue. The vicious roars of the demon behind him grew louder.

"You can't run forever. The poison coursing through your body will drain you of your strength and I will have you and your jewel shards!" The boar demon cackled as its huge body slowly loomed over his prey and closed the distance between them.

A spike of fear shot through the smaller demon's body. Tears filled his crystal blue eyes as he clutched the fur-covered bundle in his arms closer to his chest.

Inuyasha, please help me! You're the only one who can now. More tears filled his eyes as he thought of his fallen family and comrades at the hands of the raging beast behind him. The future of his clan now lay within his arms. He had to get to Inuyasha before it was too late. There was still hope for them; he just had to get there. This thought alone drove his body forward past the point of exhaustion. He couldn't stop, not until he was sure she was safe.

Red flashed through the trees as Inuyasha sprinted across the branches. The forest suddenly came alive with animals fleeing the area. The shrieks and caws of birds flying haphazardly in all directions away from the approaching demon suggested that Inuyasha change his resolve and hightail it in the other direction.

No doubt the jewel shards have made the demon abnormally strong but that doesn't mean he knows how to use all that strength in a real fight. Inuyasha tried to mentally encourage himself. Besides I have to get the jewel shards before Naraku can get ahold of them. And I can't shake this feeling that I know this smell.

Of course the smell of blood and poison is nothing new for the hanyou. After so many years of battling Sesshomaru, he had become accustomed to the smell of his own blood mixed with the stench of decaying flesh destroyed by poison from Sesshomaru's poison whip.

But I should be able to smell more than that. Everything had its own smell. Even that mangy wolf has his own smell. Inuyasha subconsciously took a deep breath.

"Damn! It's like I can smell him right now. Wait…. What?!" Inuyasha finally noticed the underlying scent of cool damp dirt from the caves in the mountains and fresh river water coming towards him. A scent he only associated with the wolves from the northern tribe, more importantly, Kouga.

Shit! What did that wolf do now? If it's not the Birds of Paradise or Kagura trying to kill him, it's something else. I thought we came to an understanding after that night. I thought we….Ugh! If he can't stay safe for his own sake, then do it for Kagome, at least, for his comrades… maybe even me. Well I sure as hell can't high-tail it out of here now. I swear I'm gonna tie that mangy wolf to a tree so I never have to do this again. Somehow, Inuyasha knew, even then, trouble would find Kouga again.

"Hold on, Kouga! I'm coming!"

It was late. The sun began to disappear below the horizon. The red-orange sky started to slowly darken and meld into the purple-black clouds that followed it after the sun.

Kagome sat beside a fire, a blanket pulled around her as the air grew colder. Shippo lay asleep on her lap as the others of their group, Sango and Miroku, prepared dinner. She sat for three hours now, just staring listlessly into the fire. She was so confused. Things didn't make any sense anymore, and it annoyed her to no end.

She gave an irritated glance to the hut where Inuyasha had carried an injured and unconscious Kouga inside, and refused to let anyone but the old lady inside to tend to him. Kagome fumed as she remembered how Inuyasha growled, actually growled, at her when she insisted on helping the wolf. If not for Miroku and Sango pulling Kagome out of the hut they'd probably still be yelling at each other.

Soon her anger subsided and loneliness settled itself in her heart. Why did Inuyasha care so much for Kouga all of a sudden? And what happened to Kouga? By the time she and Sango carried on Kiara's back had caught up to Inuyasha, he had Kouga cradled in his arms surrounded by the remains of a boar demon.

He was so tender with him. Just like Rin. Why does everyone else get to be with Inuyasha? He's supposed to love and be with me. Right?

Three Hours Ago…

The forest around him began to tilt and blur as the poison flowing through his body started to weaken him. The gash on his right thigh continued to bleed and fester painfully, but it was a pain Kouga was willing to endure if it meant getting to safety. However it seemed his body would not last till then. As he weakened and slowed, the boar demon's pace grew faster and his appetite grew stronger.

"It looks like the little pup is wearing down. Won't be long before you're in my belly, little wolf!" The boar continued to taunt, the distance between him and Kouga closing ever increasingly.

The glow of the jewel shard emanated from the boar's forehead, clouded in darkness from the boar's greed for power, surrounded the demon's head like a dark halo. Lucifer's darkest angel was upon him, ready to drag his soul down into the darkest and deepest pit in hell to torture him for all eternity. Such a fate would appease him. After spending three months isolated from his family and comrades, deprived of food, water and sunlight because his father couldn't understand he actually found love, instead of agreeing to a union for the sake of others. His father didn't care that he would be miserable for the rest of his life because he was the youngest son… and an omega.

I'll never forgive him for making me suffer!

Kouga felt his heart twist in agony and grief as he thought of the last three months trapped in that cave starving, unable to support the pups growing inside of his body, having to bury them not even an hour after they were born was the greatest pain Kouga had ever experienced. But also my greatest joy.

Kouga looked down at the fur bundle he carried, the pink face of his daughter and now only child turned into his chest. Born only three hours ago, her eyes had yet to open. I hope you have my eyes. You already look so much like your father. He kissed the top of her head where tuffs of white hair and puppy ears sat. I hope he loves you as much as I already do. The wolf prince was distracted for only a second, but it was enough for disaster. Kouga's right foot caught under a raised tree root, and sent him falling to the ground painfully hard, barely able to turn his body to the side to protect his child. But doing so twisted his ankle and the demon was upon him instantly.

"Ha, ha, ha! You've worked up my appetite, little wolf. I'm going to enjoy eating you the most!" The boar cackled as he loomed over the prone wolf, ready to devour him.

With one great leap, Inuyasha cleared the tall trees and could see over their lush canopies for miles. Just ahead of him, he could make out the head of a pig, the dark glow of the jewel shining off its forehead. There you are. Inuyasha rushed across the tops of the trees, his feet barely touching the branches, until he saw Kouga lying beneath the boar, curled helplessly on the ground. All he could see was red. Despite having the Tetsaiga in his grasp Inuyasha felt his inner demon push to the surface. In a blind rage, he attacked. The boar, even with the jewel shard, stood no chance against him and his wrath. There will be no mercy.

Kouga cowered beneath the boar. He was too exhausted to run again and with his ankle he wouldn't get far. The beast cackled again as he gazed down hungrily at the wolf and extended a blackened claw to his prey. Kouga closed his eyes and prayed for miracle, whether it was a swift death or salvation, then waited for the end to come. But it never came.

Above him, Kouga heard the boar give a blood-chilling scream before it was quickly silenced. When the overwhelming stench of blood hit his nose, he opened his eyes, and gazed in awe at his savior, his mate, Inuyasha.

To be continued…

Sigh. Finally I'm back with this story! Had this chapter written up forever but couldn't find the time to just type. Hopefully I still have fans out there. I'm working really hard to make up for all the years I've missed. Hope you like it! Next chapter back to Sesshomaru!