A/N: Hello again! For anyone who has read this story through Chapter 7 prior to July 29, 2014, please re-read Chapter 7. I completely updated it, specifically one scene that was dramatically changed. I realized that (in addition to multiple typos I failed to notice...) I was rushing the story along, anxious to get to the good parts. I was thinking as an inpatient reader, not a writer. I completely updated it to make the story more believable and true to the characters. Re-reading the "new" chapter 7 is critical for better understanding and enjoying this chapter.
As always, thank you to all my readers for reading my first ever attempt at fanfiction. Please review if you wish so I will know if this works for you :). Thank you!
The Castle of Edo
Chapter 8
He scented her before she climbed to the top of the well. Her wildflower scent was unmistakable. He sauntered straight to the edge of the well, ready to help her up when she arrived at the crest.
Kagome's hands reached the lip of the well and she was pulled up before she could react. She didn't have a chance to utter a word when her lips were ravished, a familiar aura pulling her into him. It was utter bliss, their lips locking and transporting them to an isolated utopia of warmth, sensation, passion. Her lips needed his. She lost herself in him, fleeting feelings of doubt thrown away like unwanted clutter. She wrapped her arms around his neck, a small moan escaping her lovely lips as he kissed his way down to her neck.
"Kagome," he whispered huskily.
"Kouga," she whispered back, smiling like a young girl.
He reluctantly released his tight hold on her, pushing her back slightly to show her his dashing smile. She stared into his cerulean eyes sparkling back at her. His eyes reminded her of the ocean, and she became lost in them.
He cupped both of her checks in each hand, holding her tenderly against him. "I missed you," he said softly, leaning down to place another gentle kiss upon her lips.
He released his lips' hold on her, his face still hovering above hers, their eyes never tearing away from each other's.
"Kouga," Kagome began. Her body was on fire. She felt soaring energy surge between them, mystical electricity that tingled and heated her body, fluttered her heart, with each look, each loving word, each touch from him.
"Kinda late to be coming back, huh?
"Yeah…" Kagome trailed. "I, I felt the need to come back here right away." 'And get away from my thoughts…' she finished in her head.
"Oh, I almost forgot," Kouga smirked while pulling away from Kagome, searching an area behind her bow and quiver that were placed carefully upon the grass nearby. He found the item he had searched for and flashed Kagome a handsome smile.
"What is it Kouga?" Kagome chuckled, placing her hands upon her hips.
"For you," Kouga smirked, yet another bouquet whipped out so quickly it seemed to have materialized out of thin air.
"Thank you," Kagome replied genuinely, accepting the beautiful bouquet of violet May Irises. She brought them gingerly to her nose and inhaled their scent, closing her eyes in contentment. She opened her eyes, looking at the lovely purple petals. She frowned…irises. They made her think of someone, and brought back that nagging, unpleasant, unnamable feeling in the pit of her stomach that began yesterday.
"Kagome?" Kouga questioned, placing his hands gently on her upper arms. He immediately detected the shift in her scent. Contented to troubled.
Kagome shook her head slightly, studying the variations of the indigo buds wrapped tightly in her hands.
"These irises just made me think of Ayame. You know, since that what her name means…"
Kouga furrowed his brows, a tight frown forming on his handsome face. He rubbed Kagome's arms gently, reassuringly. "Kagome, don't worry about her. I am NOT going to mate her."
Kagome maintained her eye contact on the flowers before her. 'I already know that…' she frowned, her conflicted eyes distant.
Kouga gritted his teeth, a frustrated yet determined look filling his aqua eyes. "Kagome, I'll need to return to my pack soon. I've been absent far too long. Ginta and Hakakku are likely getting worn out. But I promise…" he said, his expression and voice changing, becoming softer, sweeter. He dipped his head level with Kagome's, prompting her to redirect her eye contact towards him. Troubled chestnut met bothered blue.
"I promise," Kouga repeated, his lips a breath away from hers, "I will take care of this mating ceremony thing. This forced thing with Ayame, it's over. I will not be taking a mate, period."
'For now,' Kagome thought, her brows furrowing in frustration and her eyes dipping down to the flowers again.
Kouga let go of Kagome, standing tall, peering down at her questioningly. "Kagome. Is something else troubling you?"
Kagome still could not make eye contact with him. The butterflies in the pit of her stomach…no, they were more like locusts, unwelcome wings fluttering in her belly, bringing with them a plague of unwanted feelings.
Kouga gritted his teeth, his fangs gleaming in the evening sunlight. "Are you thinking about Mutt-face?"
"Who are you calling 'Mutt-face', you mangy wolf?"
Kouga and Kagome were shocked silent, their eyes meeting briefly in acknowledgment that they had mutually heard the same thing. The same voice.
They slowly turned their heads to the side, locating the voice's origin. Kouga growled lowly, glaring at their intruder. Kagome inhaled sharply and gasped.
Now, now he chose to come back.
After all this time…Inuyasha.
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Kagome had returned to Sengoku with questions. A questioning heart, questioning how she really felt about Kouga, questioning how he really felt about her, questioning the purpose of them even being 'together' when he obviously would find someone else…Her emotions were a mess. And then, all of sudden, fate tested her. Of all people, human, hanyou, demon, whatever, Inuyasha materialized from the forest. She was dizzy, stumbling in her stance, everything spinning around her. Her stomach churned, panic rising like bile threatening in her throat. Her breathing was rapid, short unregulated breaths insufficiently filling her lungs. She placed her hand over her heart, a subconscious, futile effort to still her dysfunctional body.
"In, Inuyasha," she whispered, her voice far away, an effect of Kagome's dazed derealization.
"Kagome," Inuyasha responded tentatively, reaching his hand out to her. His brows furrowed with uncertainty. He was never able to voice his feelings with her, and now was not the time he could begin.
"Stay AWAY from her, Dog Breath," Kouga warned with a low growl.
Inuyasha turned towards Kouga and glared. "No, YOU need to stay away from Kagome."
"That's not going to happen!" Kouga snarled.
"What right do you have, anyway, seeing as how you apparently are going to take a mate very soon," Inuyasha smirked coldly.
Kouga growled furiously. That would mean…
"You stupid dog…" Kouga seethed through clenched fangs. "You were eavesdropping on our private conversation!"
Inuyasha placed his clawed hands defiantly on his hips, one resting on the hilt of his trusty Tessaiga. He growled. "Private conversation? Anything you have to say to Kagome you can say to me!"
"Whatever Kagome and I have to say to each other, or do with each other, is between us. It has NOTHING to do with YOU!" Kouga snarled.
"Inuyasha," Kagome spoke quietly, slowly beginning to feel her body again. She felt infuriated. Anger flooded her veins. She shook, squeezing her eyes shut tightly.
"It has EVERYTHING to do with me!" Inuyasha raged. "After all, she's always loved me!"
Kagome inhaled sharply, staring wide eyed towards Inuyasha. He had never been able to tell her how he felt, or verbally acknowledge her feelings, but he could whip out the words like a weapon with Kouga?
"She loves you, huh?" Kouga countered, his brows furrowed and teeth bared in rage. "You sure about that, Dog Shit?"
The verbal assault continued. Kagome was speechless, watching the dispute play out like a dramatic theatrical production. She was an onlooker, watching as two suitors spared for the right to win the leading female's heart. She watched, silent, her body struggling again to reclaim her detached mind.
"What are you getting at, you damn wolf?!"
Suddenly, without a hint of a detectable aura, a tingling entity trapped Kagome's mouth, promptly applying pressure powerful enough to render her instant scream soundless.
"She knows the truth, Dog Shit. Everyone knows, and everyone has told her."
Kagome's eyes widened in horror. She felt a hand, sparking with spiritual energy, engulf her jaw and pull her roughly backward into what felt like a body. A man's body.
"Oh really? What does she know, Flea-Bag?"
Kagome jerked her head side to side, up and down, loose tendrils of her hair flying violently around her. The sparking hand clamped hard with each thrust of her head, the masculine creature's other hand squeezing her waist, both actions suffocating her.
"She knows you went after Kikyo! Even though she died, you still went after that woman, and not Kagome. You betrayed her!"
Kagome felt the fluctuating feeling of flesh transmuting into electric spiritual sparks and back again. Through her fear, she counted the metronomic beats between body and spirit.
"Shut up, Wolf. I will never let you protect Kagome!"
When she felt the creature's physical body fade, Kagome screamed shrilly, her throat instantly raw.
"KOUGA!"
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Kouga's breath caught in his throat. He whipped his body around, his eyes bulging in terror as he saw a sparkling shadow drag Kagome through the air and into the dark forest, her hand reaching out toward him desperately while the creature had his hands plastered against her mouth and abdomen.
Without hesitation, Kouga raced into the forest, crushing underbrush and thrashing trees as his feet pounded, his speed generating a blinding tornado of dust and debris behind him. His demon eyes were wide, both from instinctively scanning the forest and from fear, fear that Kagome, his woman, was in grave danger. His heart raced with anxiety and physical exertion, yet he flew through the forest, focusing on the transient wildflower scent marking the trail.
Kagome felt her body whipping through the trees, miraculously unscathed as the forest vegetation flew by in a blur. She realized she and the creature were encircled by an invisible force field, no doubt due to this figure's stunning spiritual energy. They soared through the tall oaks and pines. They finally stopped at a clearing, an audible brook bubbling in the background.
The creature instantly dissolved the barrier, the invisible walls folding upward with a lustrous lavender electrical outline, both sides meeting above their heads and disappearing from sight.
"My love…"
Kagome struggled against the figure's hand. His aura was familiar, disturbingly so. That mixture of demonic and spiritual powers…
Kagome gasped, finally seeing her captor's face as it was freed from the confines of the barrier and illuminated in the burgeoning moonlight above. Flowing ebony hair. Piercing sky blue eyes. Violet robes and matching hachimaki wrapped around his head and partly over his ears. It was no other than…
"Dokan…" Kagome realized, wide eyed.
Dokan raised his hand to her cheek, stroking it affectionately as he gazed at her longingly. Kagome wanted to be sick.
"Let me go you creep!" Kagome yelled as she pulled and struggled against him.
Dokan actually looked…hurt. His eyes softened, although his other hand wrapped more solidly around Kagome's bruised waist. His other hand moved upward into her hair, stroking strands of midnight away from her lovely face.
Kagome grimaced, each touch from him feeling like poison against her skin.
"He brainwashed you, that wolf demon." Dokan stated.
"No, he did NOT!" Kagome screamed, her hands fisting and pushing against Dokan's chest. He pulled her closer, pinning her fists and body tightly up to his. She felt his breath on the exposed flesh of her neck and cheek. She was disgusted.
"Remember me, my darling…Kasumi."
"Ka-Kasumi?" Kagome questioned. He silenced her, though, crushing his lips against hers. Kagome squirmed and struggled against him, her spiritual energy flaring. Could she hurt him at all, given his strong spiritual powers that matched her own?
"You should know your powers can not harm me." He grinned enigmatically at her, eliciting a frightening shiver down Kagome's body. "We are one in the same…"
Kagome shook her head, her eyes wide with terror. She watched as his eyes closed, his lips lowering to claim hers again. She wanted to throw up in his mouth. She screamed before his lips could engulf hers.
"KOUGA!" 'Where are you?' her mind pleaded, feeling the tingling of Dokan's flesh-like spirit lips a breath away from hers.
"No," Kagome cried, tears escaping her frightened eyes while pushing him mere inches away from her, her physical strength minimal compared with his. "NO!" she screamed louder. "I am NOT Kasumi or whoever your love was. I am Kagome! KAGOME HIGURASHI!"
Suddenly, Kagome fell backward hard against the ground. She cried in pain, squeezing her eyes shut from the jarring pain of being thrust into the earth. She simultaneously heard a howling roar, followed by a masculine yelp.
Kagome opened her eyes slowly, afraid of what she may see. When she saw, she breathed deeply with tremendous relief. Her protector had arrived.
"Kagome, get back!" Her savior yelled, swiping his claws viciously at her kidnapper. Kagome crouched on her knees, unable to tear her eyes away from the brutal bashing, yet prepared to run if required. She watched as blood erupted from Dokan's spiritual body…
"He, he's bleeding?!" Kagome asked incredulously to no one.
Dokan and his adversary leapt apart, preparing the next attack. Dokan swiped his bloodied jaw, anger flaring in his cobalt human-like eyes. "You will pay for that, wolf."
"No, YOU will pay for taking Kagome!"
"She's none of your concern! She is MINE!"
Dokan levitated into the air, his eyes glimmering with a menacing crimson sheen, his arms outstretched with palms facing up toward the heavens.
Kouga watched with fury, transfixed by the site of his enemy. He was studying his adversary's actions, preparing for his counter attack.
Dokan's body began to glow with golden light, his open palms sparking with sun-like electricity. He grunted from exertion, his body wielding all of its physical and spiritual energy into preparing the monstrous spiritual attack to end this demon, once and for all.
Kouga observed easily how Dokan's attack required time and energy to build. He lunged towards Dokan, roaring with rage into the night, drawing his open hand behind him while pounding towards Dokan, claws outstretched and prepared to rip into Dokan's flesh…
"KONGOSOHA!"
Kouga's superb instincts stopped him just in time to watch as a barrage of diamond shrapnel blasted across the landscape like an open Japanese fan, crashing into Dokan's body like small, silvery bullets.
Dokan unleashed an unearthly scream, his body fading and imploding in a burst of golden light. The light sucked inward, manifesting in a star like beam, then burst into a purple haze before disappearing into the night.
Kagome, Kouga, and Inuyasha stared, stunned silent, breathing heavily and processing the event that just took place.
"Yo, Dog Shit, you almost killed me!" Kouga yelled, referring to the Tessaiga's wide spread adamant barrage attack.
"Would have been an added bonus," Inuyasha scoffed.
Demon and half-demon jerked their heads simultaneously when they heard a soft whimper from a mutually revered human. She rose to her feet, stumbling in her stance from the adrenaline plummeting in her body.
Inuyasha made a movement forward, but not quickly enough. He watched as Kouga bounded to Kagome's side, gently pulling her into his embrace, his eyes squeezed shut and teeth gritting with guilt. "Kagome…"
"K, Kouga…" Kagome stuttered quietly, her energy depleted. "You…came," she smiled weakly up at him.
He looked deeply into her chocolate eyes, his filled with concern.
"Kagome, I…I should have protected you! I should have paid attention instead of fighting. I…I," he trailed, burying his face into her raven hair blanketing her shoulder upon which he leaned. He shook against her, his fear for her life finally setting in. Kagome squeezed her eyes shut, ordering her heart to regulate and inhaling Kouga's calming musky scent. His arms wrapped around her body protectively. She returned his embrace with equal fervor.
"K, Kagome?" Inuyasha questioned quietly, hints of worry and irritation laced through his words.
Kagome slowly backed out of Kouga's arms, reluctant to leave the security of his embrace. He growled as he watched her turn her attention to the half-demon dog.
She looked at Inuyasha ambivalently, her emotions masked by an elusive stare. She spoke nothing directly to him, her gaze finally faltering, falling to the forest floor beneath her feet.
"He called me his love again, Kouga." She spoke, not looking toward Kouga, nor Inuyasha, still speaking to the darkened dirt dusting the ground where they stood. "He…" she trailed, eyes narrowing in thought. "He called me Kasumi…"
Kouga walked up to Kagome, placing comforting hands upon her shoulders. She looked up toward him, meeting his scrutinizing gaze with weary eyes.
"Ka-Kasumi?" Inuyasha whispered across from them, paling. He knew that name…
"Kagome!" Inuyasha called desperately. "I have to talk to you. It's about…"
"Stop," Kagome whispered, her hands weakly balling into fists at her sides.
"But, Kagome, it's…"
"JUST STOP!" Kagome shouted, her wrath silencing both men at her side. "I would tell you the 'S' word a million times if I could!" She shouted, meeting Inuyasha's shocked stare with her fuming one. "But I can't!" She screamed, her eyes shutting tightly while she inhaled sharply, her breath bursting with emotion. "Because, it's not mine to say anymore…"
"Kagome," Inuyasha whispered, tentatively reaching his hand out toward her again.
"Kouga!" Kagome called desperately, prompting him to come to her immediately.
"Yes, Kagome?" He asked her, ready to fulfill her every need.
"Take me to the well. Please!" She begged, raising her head indignantly and pounding her fists downward, punching the wind away at her sides. "I have to get home!"
Kouga didn't respond verbally. Instead, he scooped her up into his strong, muscular arms, clutching her sobbing form against his body securely. He masked his emotions, focusing on maintaining his strength for her. But inside, he seethed. That stupid dog never did anything but hurt this precious woman. Whether he was physically absent or present, now or then or in the future, the mutt continued to claim and destroy some part of Kagome's heart, the heart the Kouga longed to claim as his.
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They made it to the well quickly, Kouga's feet light and swift as he bounded through the trees with Kagome protectively cradled in his muscular arms. When they arrived, he gently placed her upon the soft grass so that she stood, her porcelain face glistening beautifully in the moonlight. Kagome wrapped her arms around herself, both from the chilly late spring breeze blowing past and the traumatic turmoil of tonight's encounter chilling her body.
Kouga bent down a few feet away, retrieving Kagome's forsaken bow and quiver. He carried it toward her, studying her body language with concern.
"Kagome…" he called softly, reaching out for her.
She backed away.
Kouga pulled his hand back, wounded by her response. His eyes fell to the verdant meadow they stood upon, staring blankly into the glowing grass wafting in the chilly breeze.
"I, I have to go back to the eastern tribe, Kagome," he said quietly, still studying the flowing field.
"I know…" Kagome responded, clutching her cold body tighter.
"I'll leave your bow and quiver in the protection of the old miko," Kouga stated, looking to the side across the moonlit meadow. "Kagome…I'll be gone for three weeks. Please," he began, turning to her fully, his eyes quivering with unspoken emotion, "promise me you'll stay in your time until I come back."
Kagome looked up, meeting Kouga's blue eyes, pooling with tumultuous emotions. Her expression softened, her eyes mirroring the feelings plaguing his. She nodded. "I promise."
Before she could refuse him, Kouga reached out for her, pulling her tightly into his embrace. His arms encircled her, drawing her fully into his warm, comforting, familiar body. She sighed against him, instantly calmed by his touch. He pushed her back slightly, gently and affectionately kissing her forehead.
He watched her climb onto the lip of the well, about to make the plunge into the growingly familiar blue light.
"Higurashi."
"What?" Kagome turned around, surprised by the sound of her last name on his handsome lips.
"I heard you tell him your full name when I found you. Kagome Higurashi."
"Yes, that's my last name." Kagome replied. She noticed Kouga's puzzled expression. "Um, it's the clan I belong to in my time.
Kouga smiled, a small genuine gesture lighting his otherwise gloomy demeanor. "I'm glad to finally know who you belong to."
Kagome smiled sadly. 'If only I knew who I belonged to…'
"I have to go, Kouga."
He nodded, his lips tight, fighting the fierce urge to pull her away from that wretched well and into his body, ravishing her lips with his…
"I know," he sighed.
"I'll be back. In three weeks?"
"Yes," Kouga confirmed.
Kagome turned her face away, the knot of conflicting feelings returning to her stomach. "Bye, Kouga."
"See ya, Kagome," he responded desolately, watching her vanish into the well's hazy blue beams.
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Kouga dismally walked toward the human village where the old miko resided, slowing his usual speedy pace. He wasn't excited about revisiting the human village, however receptive they behaved towards demons. He also did not want to give up Kagome's scent, still freshly wafting along the cool breeze blowing through the forest trees.
Kouga sighed. Could tonight possibly get any worse?
"What the hell are you doing with Kagome's bow, Flea-Bag?"
Apparently, it could.
Kouga gritted his teeth, clutching the bow tightly enough to create a small indentation in the strong sacred wood from his vice grip.
"Stupid, you're going to break it!"
"Shut UP Dog Shit!" Kouga yelled, eyeing his unwanted audience high in the oak tree next to him.
Inuyasha jumped down to the ground, landing on his feet in a kneeling position, but quickly straightening up to full height. He scowled at the wolf demon before him.
"I'll be taking that bow and quiver now, thanks."
"Like hell you will," Kouga retorted, pulling the bow and quiver into his body protectively.
"I'll give it to Kaede. Just hand it over," Inuyasha commanded, stretching out his clawed hand ready to take the bow and quiver, by force if necessary.
"Kagome's bow, Kagome herself, are not yours to keep any more!" Kouga shouted, his voice powerful enough to blow Inuyasha's silver hair away from his face.
Inuyasha scowled, "Where is she, anyway?"
"It's none of your damn business, Dog Turd. Now, get out of my way," Kouga said, pushing Inuyasha out of the way and resuming his mission of depositing Kagome's sacred items with her miko mentor.
"She's back in her time, isn't she?"
Kouga stopped. Inuyasha knew… He turned to face the mutt, baring his fangs, brows furrowing in anger. Of course he knew. He had known everything about Kagome, in another life. A painful pang of jealously permeated Kouga's gut.
Inuyasha smirked, his eyes shining with knowledge of Kouga's emotional shift. "Jealous?"
Kouga straightened to full height, slightly taller than Inuyasha, glaring daggers at the dog. He closed his eyes briefly, blue eyes flashing open confidently matching the smirk on his handsome lips.
"I have no reason to be, Mutt." He said, turning his back toward Inuyasha to continue his journey to the village. "Kagome's with me now."
Inuyasha stared at Kouga's retreating form, his fangs glistening through gritted teeth. That stupid cocky wolf always found a way under his skin…
An idea came to the hanyou. Inuyasha smirked, his eyes lighting with determination. He had something over the wolf. He would have to wait until the right time, but he would employ his plan soon…
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A wounded figure crumpled on the black floor, inside the black room with black ceiling that formed his prison, the only window to the outside world the mystical mirror that also locked him inside his eternal cell. Dokan had been battered by the diamond bullets blasting his esoteric flesh into dust, forcing his spirit back into this purgatory to regenerate strength. For a moment, he felt a body, a real, physical body, and real unsurmountable pain when that body was obliterated. Now, his pain was searing anguish, consuming his soul from inside out.
"You failed, Dokan."
Dokan Ota closed his spirit eyes tightly, clutching his gut in agony. He failed…
"You failed to save your love."
Dokan sobbed, tormented by his shortcomings. He failed her…
"But…" snicked the sickening voice, "you've begun the process to redemption."
Dokan opened his eyes. Was there hope?
"Naraku?"
Naraku's image smirked sinisterly. He was drawing the spirit in. His plan was moving along perfectly…
"Dokan, you have discovered the power in your rage. The anger fuels your body, fury forming your flesh."
Naraku watched as Dokan bared his teeth, his fangs, anger flickering in his eyes, causing them to flash red. Naraku smiled frighteningly, his eyes widening manically as he reveled in Dokan's self-demise.
"That's it, Dokan. Feel the anger, your hatred, for the wolf and dog who stole your love away from you yet again. Seek revenge, Dokan."
Dokan raised his ethereal hands, watching them pulse with golden light. They transiently felt like flesh, transforming between solid and transparent uncontrollably. He knew, believed, that soon he would gain control over the cursed gift this Naraku bestowed upon him. He would reclaim his lost love, and he would have his revenge upon those who robbed him of his life with her…
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A creature waited in the trees for a day and a half, watching, scenting the air, ensuring without a doubt that he was alone before he employed his scheme.
Especially making sure Flea-Bag had long departed the area.
Inuyasha smirked as he jumped from the tall oak in which he was perched. He stood in a beautiful meadow, not far from Kaede's village. He turned his body around, smiling cockily at the object before him. He would set his plan into motion, now.
"That mangy wolf may think he's won, but I will always have something he doesn't," he smiled as he walked toward the object, preparing to utilize his unique advantage over the wolf. He climbed on top, preparing to take a leap of faith.
"Ready or not, Kagome, here I come!" Inuyasha yelled, jumping into the well, immediately engulfed in the blue light that would inevitably transport him to her.