A/N: REVISED. Hello my wonderful readers! This chapter is completely edited from the original. As a reader, I am always super anxious to get to the good stuff. I will lose sleep, reading a story for hours to get to the good parts. I realized when I wrote this chapter originally, reading it later, that I was totally rushing things. I also found so many typos I had not noticed before. Ugh... I realized that I need the story to play out and continue to be believable. So...anyone who read this prior to July 29, 2014, PLEASE RE-READ. I think this is much better :/. Alas...I will only know if you review.
I sincerely hope you all enjoy!
The Castle of Edo
Chapter 7
Kagome looked up at the wellhouse walls, the cool gray stones shrouded in darkness, except for the specks of sunlight breaking through cracks and crevices, the only evidence that it was day and a pretty one at that. She sighed contentedly, a small smile gracing her lips as she touched them dreamily, still feeling the residual tingling left from the lip lock she shared mere minutes ago with another. A wolf demon, to be precise.
She still didn't have a name for this new thing between her and Kouga, but whatever it was, it was growing on her, and in her. In her heart, in her body…
Kagome sighed, determinedly this time. She had to force herself to focus or she would daydream at the bottom of this dank, dirty pit all morning instead of climbing up into the streaming sunlight that waited for her outside.
She climbed, reached the top and hopped over with exuberant energy. She even hummed a little while pulling her backpack up behind her. She left her bow and quiver with past Kouga in the Feudal Era. Kouga…
"Kouga!" Kagome thought, wide eyed. Duh, he was here too! She rushed out of the well, debating whether she should say 'Hi' to her family first or follow her impulse to run and find him.
Begrudingly, she huffed and turned toward the house, throwing her yellow bag over her right shoulder. She almost reached the back door near the kitchen when her mom opened the door, smiling widely.
"Kagome! Welcome home, dear!"
Kagome smiled at her mother. "Thanks, Mom. Wait," she thought, "how did you know I was back?"
Ms. Higurashi smiled mischievously. "Oh, a little birdie told me you may be back. How are you, sweetie?"
"Good," Kagome smiled. "How are you and Souta and Grandpa?"
"We are fine…" Kagome's mother began. "And so is someone else."
"Someone else?" Kagome asked, eyebrows furrowing in confusion as she stepped past her mother and into the kitchen.
Kagome's mother grinned. "Go have some breakfast in the dining room, Kagome. I'm sure you must be hungry after all your travels. You must tell us about what's going on."
Kagome stared at her mother. She was acting…strange. "Ok, Mom," she said as she was turning around and heading into the dining room.
She stopped, eyes wide in surprise, not that she particularly should have been. In front of her at the dining room table sat a tall, dark, handsome man. He stared at her, a wide smile on his fetching face, his sky blue eyes gleaming with happiness. He stood immediately, abruptly ending his conversation with her younger brother and ignoring whatever her grandfather was whining about.
He closed the distance between himself and Kagome and grabbed her hands in his. Funny, how that used to annoy her, in another life. Now, it brought back the butterflies.
"Kouga," Kagome beamed at him. "I'm so happy to see you again."
Kouga stared at her, blinking disbelieving at her warm reception of his presence. Then he smiled genuinely, his eyes twinkling with emotion. He placed his clawed hand on her cheek, smoothing her skin up and down with his thumb.
"I'm so happy to hear that," he breathed quietly. Kami, how he wanted to kiss her…
Kagome embraced him hard. His arms wrapped around her body instinctively, pulling her close. He buried his face into her thick, raven hair, breathing in her intoxicating wildflower scent. They were oblivious to the others in the room staring at them, her grandfather staring wide eyed in shock, her little brother staring in disgust at his sister's PDA, and her mother staring with happiness and warmth.
Until they were not…
Kagome pulled back, just out of Kouga's embrace, blushing from the sudden awareness of their audience. She reached her right hand up to her left upper arm, grasping it nervously.
"So, how did my family magically know I was home before I came in the house?"
"I told them I felt your presence," Kouga stated matter-of-factly.
"Felt my…presence?" Kagome parroted, clearly perplexed by his word choice. Scented, sure. But, felt? Kagome decided to change the subject, maybe questioning that later.
"You seem to have gotten chummy with my family," she joked, placing her hands on her hips, attempting humor to replace her sudden awkwardness.
"Yep," Kouga replied, suddenly feeling a bit awkward too. He had gotten close with her family. He had shared some stories with them, especially Ms. Higurashi… He placed his hand behind his head, chuckling nervously.
Kagome's mother to the rescue! "Kagome," Ms. Higurashi interjected, sensing the discomfort streaming from her daughter and the demon, "how about I pack some food and you and Kouga could take it out somewhere. This is a lovely day, afterall, and quite warm for May."
Kagome smiled brightly at her mother. Gosh, her mom was the best.
"Great idea, Mom!" Kagome turned to Kouga, smiling. "What do you think, Kouga? Want to go have a picnic somewhere?"
Kouga smirked and crossed his arms over his chest. "Are you asking me out on a date this time?"
Kagome smirked back, placing her hands on her hips. "Are you telling me you don't want to go out with me?"
Kouga stepped closer to her, pulling her into his arms and leaning down to whisper against her ear, uncaring of their onlookers.
"I will never say no to you."
333333333333
"Kouga, this is beautiful! How did I never know this was here?"
Kouga smiled at Kagome as they stood on a hillside overlooking the expansive pine forest that surrounded Tokyo's Imperial Castle. It was incredible, really, that in one of the largest most populated cities on the planet this exquisite natural wonder existed. Despite the Tokyo skyline rising around them and the pine trees, it felt almost like being back in the Sengoku period.
"Sit down, Kagome. We have some lunch to eat."
"Ok," she complied, sitting next to him on the thin blanket he had already spread out across the grass. They each helped themselves to the delectable foods provided by Kagome's mother that she had given to them in a small basket along with the blanket.
"So," Kouga began between bites. "What's going on back there now?"
Kagome knew what 'back there' meant. She looked towards the clear blue sky while finishing a bite, swallowed, and looked in the sky blue eyes of her companion.
"We went to Kaede's village and got a bow. Then had an…interesting visit from Dokan Ota's ghost…" she blushed, remembering what had happened during and right after that event. It didn't help that present-day Kouga was watching her so attentively as she recounted her experiences. "Then we found Sango and Miroku," Kagome smiled, still elated at reuniting with her friends.
Kouga smiled at her, relishing in her joyous spirit. "What else?" he prodded.
"Well…" Kagome started. She fumbled with her skirt a bit, smoothing it out unnecessarily. Of course all she could think about was that kiss. That perfect, passionate, lingering first kiss they had shared in the meadow. But she would skip that for now. "Miroku discovered some information related to Dokan."
"Oh?" Kouga questioned.
"Miroku's uncle told him that Dokan Ota is his Buddhist name, and that he originally came to the monastery as Sukenaga Ota. He changed his name to Dokan when he became a priest."
Kouga stayed quiet, planning his next words carefully. "What is your next step?"
Kagome pursed her lips in thought. What should the next step be? "I suppose we should find out who Sukenaga Ota was. Maybe visit the castle again…"
"Don't visit that castle, Kagome," Kouga stated bluntly, looking at her hard.
Kagome stared at him in surprise. "Why not?"
"Just…don't." He pleaded, hiding his eyes as he stared at the lush green grass blowing softly in the spring wind.
Kagome furrowed her brows. "Kouga, please tell me why you are so adamant about us staying away from the castle. It may be the only way to know…"
"It's not!" he shouted, more harshly than intended. Kagome flinched. This was not the adoring man she had come to know. Something was eating at him…
"Kouga…"
"I can't say much, Kagome," he said apologetically, still studying the grass, but turning his head towards her so she could view the side of his face. He seemed sad again, distant.
Kagome frowned. His distance created an awkward tension between them. It was uncomfortable and she desperately wanted to break this barrier of silence.
"So…you said Ginta and Hakkaku are still alive and you all are still friends?"
"Yeah," Kouga responded half-heartedly. He sighed, trying to regain his composure while stretching his neck and shoulders.
"Can I see them sometime?"
Kouga chuckled. "Now that you mention it, they've been begging me to reintroduce you to them since I mentioned finding you."
"Really?" Kagome laughed.
"Yes, really." Kouga laughed back. Those two nuckleheads… "They've missed you a lot."
'They have?' Kagome questioned mentally.
"You're part of their pack, Kagome. Our pack," he trailed. He sighed, running his hands through his loose, black hair, brushing his thoughts aside.
Kagome's eyes widened. They considered her part of their…pack?
"I remember that day, when you were reunited with the demon slayer and monk."
Kagome turned to Kouga, her musings momentarily forgotten. "You do?"
"How could I forget?" Kouga smirked from the side.
Kagome blushed, turning her gaze down the hillside toward the gleaming Imperial Palace sparkling in the sunlight.
"You looked…" Kouga remembered wistfully, smiling into the sky. "Stunning in that fitting red kimono."
Kagome turned to Kouga, her cheeks glowing. After 500 years…
"You looked so radiant, feminine, lovely. Your kimono matched the wildflowers in the meadow. You let me give you another bouquet, after turning me down so much in the past."
Kagome held her breath. He remembered…
Kouga turned toward her fully, a fiery hunger flickering in his darkened blue eyes. He raised a clawed hand and placed it high upon Kagome's cheek so his fingers could graze her raven locks. "You let me…"
"Kiss me."
Kouga's lips were instantly on hers, starved for her touch after centuries of famine. She kissed him with equal passion, the burgeoning flame of her feelings for him igniting into fiery fervor. She opened her lips for him and he wasted no time, deepening their kisses.
Kouga wrapped his arms around Kagome's slim frame and pulled her onto his lap and against his strong masculine body. Kagome sighed into his lips, never abandoning them as she was moved and pulled into place. She reached up her arms and encircled his neck, tangling her hands in Kouga's flowing ebony hair. In that moment, she thought everything about him was perfect.
Kagome lamented the loss of Kouga's lips as he broke away, only momentarily, to place them lightly against Kagome's neck, at the base of her left ear. She shivered with delight, his warm breath feeling like butterfly wings tickling her bare skin, multiplying the butterflies filling her stomach. He trailed soft kisses down her neck, his lips light and teasing against her flesh. She shivered repeatedly, small bumps rising along her arms from the sheer delight Kouga's kisses were bringing her.
Kouga smirked against her skin, relishing in her pleasure. He had been grieving for so long, his body aching with longing for her. Keeping his silence with her agonized him, his happiness and tumult swirling inside his heart like the vortex he created thundering through the forest. He lost himself in her in this moment. His heart, his inner wolf, everything felt at peace, content, complete. Her scent was his oxygen, her body his nourishment, and the love in her eyes, or at least affection right now, his life.
They separated begrudgingly, slowly, lingering in each other's embrace and against each other's bodies. Their eyes met, something smoldering, penetrating, adoring connecting them like an invisible electric current. Kouga's hand reached up unconsciously to the crook of Kagome's neck, just under her cheek. He stared at her in awe, and then smiled tenderly. He lowered his lips to hers again, this kiss far gentler and sweeter, but just as lasting.
Kagome watched in wonder at the way he looked at her, devotion and adoration shining in his exotically inhuman eyes. She held her breath for a moment, her body dizzy, stuck between the planes of reality and somewhere higher. Her heart raced, her skin tingled, and her soul…Kami, her souled soared with elation. Infatuation or something more, in that moment she felt sure she never wanted it to stop.
Kouga sighed so contentedly. "Kagome," he breathed, a gratified smile gracing his lips.
Kagome smiled back tenderly, pressing Kouga's hand under her cheek with her own. With him, she never questioned his affections. She never worried about being compared with another. She never wondered constantly if she was…enough. It was only her, and it was only him.
Kouga sighed again, this time resolutely. He let his hand fall from Kagome's neck to her lower thigh, just above her knee. "Kagome, there's a bit more about Dokan Ota I can share with you. It's nothing but facts you could research on your own in this time. But, I think it may help you."
Kagome had been…a bit preoccupied with the placement of his hand, unbeknownst to Kouga. She forced herself to hear his words. She beamed, "Thank you, Kouga! This is going to be super helpful. I know it!"
Kouga forced a smile while Kagome jumped at him and threw her arms around his neck in a happy hug. He held her close, closing his eyes to focus on every aspect of her body. Her chest rising and falling as she breathed, her metronomic heartbeat, and her beautiful innocent wildflower scent swirling around him like an invisible ribbon. His brows furrowed and his mouth morphed into a tight frown as he forced himself to regulate his thoughts and breathing. Surely, this little bit of 'assistance' couldn't hurt anything.
Kagome untangled her arms reluctantly from around Kouga's muscular shoulders and began cleaning up their picnic items, humming a little tune. Kouga smiled wistfully at her. He then turned his gaze towards the Imperial Palace, what used to be Edo Castle, and frowned. Anything to keep her away from that castle in the Feudal Era…
333333333333
"Here it is," Kouga smiled down at the petite raven haired beauty accompanying him this afternoon.
Kagome smiled up at Kouga, but inside she was anxious. Her fingers wriggled and intertwined with one another as she stepped inside behind him. The thought of being in Kouga's apartment with him, alone, was simultaneously exciting and nerve-wracking. She still felt a bit, awkward? Nervous? That kiss…she had been stunned by how uncharacteristically uninhibited she had been with Kouga during their picnic…
"Don't worry, Kagome. I won't make any moves…tonight," Kouga grinned devilishly, eliciting a blazing blush on Kagome's cheeks.
"Your cockiness hasn't changed over 500 years, I see," Kagome jested back when she recovered, flashing him a smile as she turned her head to look around his apartment.
It was adorned simply. The walls were a contemporary yet very appropriate beige. His leather sectional was a deep chestnut, with a coffee table, entertainment cabinet, and dining room set all matching hues. An animal pelt rug, a brown very similar to Kouga's Sengoku attire, decorated the carpet under the coffee table in front of the sofa.
Kagome smiled nostalgically. "Kouga, your apartment is so…"
"What?" Kouga questioned, turning around from his place in front of the refrigerator to view her over the bar, separating the surprisingly spacious kitchen from the other rooms.
"You." Kagome grinned, resuming her scrutiny of his living space.
Kouga smiled at her warmly, grabbing two bottles of water and bringing them over to her.
"Thirsty?" Kouga smirked.
"Yes. Thank you," Kagome smiled, taking the bottle of water Kouga offered her.
"No problem. I'll grab the book I want to show you," said Kouga as he turned from her, walking across the apartment toward the wide windows and balcony overlooking the Tokyo skyline.
Kagome walked around the living spaces. Her eyes scanned everything in sight, drinking in every detail. Wolf carvings on furniture were the most evident decorations. It was mostly minimalistic, which kept with Kouga. Kagome's eyes shifted across the rooms until they settled on something. She inhaled slowly, holding her breath, eyes widening in disbelief.
"Kouga?"
"Hmm?" He called casually from across the living room at a mahogany book shelf.
"Kouga…what," Kagome trailed.
Kouga looked toward the dining room, Kagome just out of his line of sight. He grabbed the book and made his way across the apartment where a carved, hickory hued bureau stood against the back wall. He observed her face, her stare, and followed her eyes to the object in question.
It was…the mirror.
Kagome gulped, words escaping her. She was able to formulate just enough of them. "Kouga. Is that…"
"The mirror from the castle," he finished for her.
"You…bought this from the exhibit?" she asked incredulously.
"Yes," he stated.
"But…" she trailed again, shaking her head with confusion. "Why?"
"Because I…" he began. His jaw tightened in frustration. His heart commanded him to be truthful with her, but his head… "I need it for the youkai historical gallery I had told you about. It's a significant artifact from the Sengoku period."
That sounded reasonable. Kagome couldn't put her finger on it, but she felt, knew, he was leaving something out. Purposefully…
"Well, here it is," Kouga interjected, shoving the book into Kagome's arms, desperate to change the subject.
"Oof!"Kagome coughed, feeling the book pushed into her chest. "Uh, thanks."
Kouga nodded and gestured towards the table. "I don't have a study, so the table will have to do."
"That's just fine, Kouga," Kagome smiled, unaware of Kouga's awkwardness.
They sat together side by side, their shoulders grazing affectionately. Kagome scoured page after page to locate the information she sought, Kouga leaning over her shoulder to assist in her research, and to make closer contact with her body.
Kagome smiled to herself. That gesture she picked up on rather well.
"Here it is, Kagome," Kouga said while placing his clawed finger on the current page, jarring Kagome out of her musings.
Kagome stared at the page in question. She began to scan the source, her brows furrowing in concentration. "Let's see. Dokan Ota…he was a Buddhist priest, died in 1486…okay, I know those things." She placed her finger upon the page as she scanned, using it as an indicator as she read each line.
"Oh!" she exclaimed.
"What did you find?" Kouga questioned calmly.
"This says that he was a vassal for the Uesugi clan in the Sengoku period. It says that he was…" Kagome paused, brows furrowing with surprise and saddness, "murdered by the Uesugi clan. They thought he betrayed them..." Kagome finished quietly. She felt empathy for this poor man, wronged by those whom he loved and protected.
Kouga remained silent, watching Kagome's reactions. He watched her inhale deeply, emotion flickering across her lovely face.
Kagome continued reading aloud. "It mentions a legend. Supposedly, Dokan met a beautiful Miko after becoming a priest. They loved each other immeasurably. Even after his death, it says their love lived on…"
Kouga watched Kagome intently, his scrutinizing blue eyes not once leaving her beautiful face.
"His death was tragic. But…" she smiled sadly, glancing up to meet Kouga's gaze, "his love seems like it was powerful and enduring. He was blessed to experience a love like that."
"Yes,…he was," Kouga replied pensively.
"What a beautiful thing, to have such a strong and unending love," Kagome mused, resting her elbows on the table and placing her chin upon her open palms, looking up towards the ceiling wistfully.
"Yeah," Kouga responded quietly, moving his hand to the back of Kagome's head, gently combing his hands through her silky raven locks. He couldn't help but touch her. His eyes grew distant, painful memories from the past flooding back into his mind. In that moment, he desperately needed to know she was here with him, and not a ghost.
Kagome lifted her head off of her hands, placing her palms upon her thighs below the table top. "Kouga?"
"Yes, Kagome," Kouga replied distantly, his clawed fingers still grazing Kagome's midnight hair.
"Was it like that for you…and your mate?"
"What?!" Kouga asked, shaken from his reverie.
"Your love with her, was it like Dokan's?"
Kouga sighed, reluctantly removing his hand from Kagome's hair and combing it through his own. He was silent for a while, contemplating how to answer her complicated question. He opened his mouth, but suitable words would not follow. He hung his head, resigned to admit the truth, as little as he could.
"Yes…"
Kagome found sudden renewed interest in the book, staring at the current page while the words swam together in blurry waves.
She shook her head, closing her eyes to still her swirling head. She was sure she had imagined the fleeting glint in the mirror in her periphery.
"Kagome?" Kouga questioned worriedly.
Kagome plastered a forced smile on her face. She couldn't have fooled another human, let alone a youkai with powerful senses. Kouga noticed the change in her demeanor immediately, her scent converting from contented to troubled.
"Kagome, what…"
"I just remembered I promised Mom I would help her with something," Kagome lied, suddenly anxious to escape Kouga's apartment.
"O, okay," Kouga replied, puzzled, standing as she stood abruptly from the table.
Kagome made her way to the door, but paused and turned back toward Kouga. She smiled genuinely this time, at least on her lips. The smile did not quite reach her conflicted eyes.
"Thank you, Kouga, for helping me. I'll need to head back to the Feudal Era and share this information with 'past' you."
Kouga studied Kagome's face, searching for clues, hints, anything to understand why she became suddenly distant with him. He walked to her side, unconsciously placing his hand upon its second home, her cheek, gently massaging her skin with his thumb.
"When will I see you again?" Kouga questioned, fighting to hide his inner turmoil. Kami, how he hated to let her go.
"I, I'm not sure…" Kagome replied, looking down pensively. She was answering him honestly enough. She had no guess how long she would be staying in the Sengoku period this time.
Kouga slipped his finger under her chin and gently raised her face so her gaze could meet his. She complied, submitting to him, meeting his eyes transiently. Kouga furrowed his brows with confusion, a sadness seeping into his blue eyes at her unexpected emotional distance.
"Whenever you come back," Kouga began, leaning down toward her mouth and placing a gentle, lingering kiss upon her lips, "I'll be waiting."
333333333333
Through the mystical looking glass, Dokan Ota watched the scene unfolding before him with horror. The background looked different, foreign, but it seemed like the inside of someone's living quarters. He couldn't hear the words that were spoken, but he watched the way his love affectionately smiled at the demon man. He observed the loving way the youkai returned her gaze. He noticed their bodies leaning against each other, as if they craved the other's touch. He saw that demon's hand in her hair…and a fleeting image of his lips tasting hers.
Then, the image faded into darkness.
Dokan felt his ethereal blood boil, his soul seething with rage. His transparent hands drew into tight fists, his eyes flashing red. He squeezed his palms together, beginning to feel flesh in place of spiritual energy.
"That's it, Dokan," Naraku's image snickered, materializing slowly from the purple mist spreading throughout his prison. "Feel the rage. The anguish of watching your lover in another's arms," Naraku's mystical image smiled sinisterly.
Dokan's fury intensified, his body pulsing and solidifying. He began to feel his body, an actual living body, forming with each infuriating thought.
"Feel the anguish, Dokan. Embrace it. Your rage is your freedom."
At that, Dokan Ota roared, an inhuman howl erupting from his almost human like body. He would find her soon. He would save her from this demon and wreak havoc upon anyone who dared to stop him…