Alright, almost up to speed. It is actually chapter seven that is the new material. Not chapter six, as you can see. However, I will try to churn out the new material by late today or early tomorrow, as I am also working on updating some other pieces of long-forgotten fiction that I have under my fingertips now that I have a bit of time. Please enjoy my work thus far, and if there are any of you interested in editing work for me in the future, I would appreciate a message about it as I am tied to both writing and editing my work along with being sick and trying to maintain school. Alas, the plight of a writer. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: All original characters are owned by Rumiko Takahashi. Any events taking place are of my own imagination. Any similarities to actual people or events are strictly coincidental.
Chapter Six: Confrontations
Kouga had been waiting for the rest of his pack to get inside. He wanted to make sure everyone was accounted for and safe. He was their alpha after all.
He'd just entered the den and could already tell something had happened in his absence. The atmosphere was uptight and quiet. It wasn't as warm or inviting as it normally was to him.
That's when his gaze settled on the trio off to the right. Hakkaku and Ginta were crowding around Kagome. He could vaguely hear their conversation as he walked into the cave.
"He's not dead is he," Hakkaku questioned seriously.
"Who's not dead," Kouga asked, taking another step in their direction. All three of them tensed up at his voice. That's when it hit him. The metallic, iron scent intermingled with Kagome's natural jasmine and lavender. Her blood.
Within seconds he was at her side and jerked Hakkaku out of the way. A cloth, that was turning red, was the only thing hiding her wounds from him. He felt a deep growl form in his chest. His eyes threatened to bleed red at the sight and scent of her blood alone.
His blue eyes met hers for a few seconds. She was scared. Of him? Or of who had attacked her? Taking a deep breath to calm himself, which was harder than normal due to the scent of her blood hanging in the air. He relaxed and looked back into her eyes, "Let me see Kagome."
Hesitantly she removed her hand from the cloth and Kouga lifted it to reveal four deep gouges on the right side of her neck and one on the left. Someone had grabbed her, and, by the depth of the marks, their control had been slipping when they had. He knew who it was immediately.
It took everything in his power not to succumb to the beast right there, but he held his ground breathing through his mouth to calm himself. Although, it didn't help much. He could practically taste the metallic scent that hung in the air around her.
Light blue eyes met hers once more and he asked as calmly as he could, "Are you okay?"
Kagome could tell he was struggling with control. It was commendable but she knew he was at his limits with it. She knew he cared about her, but this was something else. The previous words of Kyrou rung in her head: Lord Kouga chose wisely. Her eyes narrowed; He couldn't possibly care for her like that, could he? Especially since Ayame…but would that be such a bad thing?
"Yeah, I'm fine," she replied quietly. Kouga nodded before moving from her. Hikari and Youru watched him move from behind her. Kouga's eyes were rimmed red. "Kouga," she called grabbing his forearm with her left hand. He turned to look at her his blue eyes flickering between blue and red. "Don't kill him, please."
He knew he couldn't promise anything but he would try. Closing his eyes he centered himself momentarily, at least, enough to answer, "Okay. I won't," he said his other fist tightening in an effort to remain calm, "but he will be taught a lesson. I can't promise anything less than that," he finished turning from her and walked toward the scent of Izuma. His shoulders were tense and his fists were clenched at his sides. A lesson alright. One he'd never forget.
Hikari and Youru looked after him with worried glances. They'd never seen him like that before.
Kagome sighed. It was better than she had hoped for. She just prayed that he didn't hurt Izuma too badly.
Ryou shifted in her right arm, nearly forgotten in the tense moment, and peeled open his emerald eyes sleepily. Undoubtedly, Kouga's shifting aura had disturbed his sleep. She smiled down at him and ran the fingers of her left hand through his hair soothingly.
Ginta and Hakkaku watched her with small smiles on their faces. She'd be a great alpha female. Ginta placed a hand on her left shoulder and smiled down at her, "Who do you have there Sis?"
"Isn't that Ryou," Hakkaku asked curiously leaning over the cub in her arms.
Kagome used the palm of her left hand to push Hakkaku's chest back slightly, "Don't crowd him," she chided firmly.
Ginta only laughed and Hakkaku looked slightly miffed, "You should know better," he teased his friend.
"I only wanted to see him. It's been a few days," Hakkaku said uncharacteristically soft. He was actually quite fond of the cub.
Kagome just smiled, "He seems tired," she let her left hand caress his cheeks as he fell asleep in the curl of her arm.
Ginta turned from them calling to her and Hakkaku, "I'll be right back Sis. That wound is going to need some wrapping and water."
"Yeah," Hakkaku said tearing his eyes from Ryou as he took off after his friend, "We'll be right back Sis."
Kagome only smiled at the two ookami youkai. They really did mean well and were quite sweet. She didn't know how she'd make it without them.
Kouga's vision was tinted red as he made his way down the tunnels of the cave. He was following Izuma's scent toward the healer's den. It was, undoubtedly, where his mate resided.
His fists clenched at his sides. He knew he should have left Ginta and Hakkaku behind from their hunting party, but he'd been so sure that Izuma wouldn't try anything so soon after the cub's death. He should have been more concerned about his mate's health than exacting revenge against Kagome. What kind of mate left theirs in their time of need? Although he couldn't say much now, even he had stayed at Kagome's side all night last night.
She'd been tossing and turning all night, whimpering in her sleep. It had caused his beast to stir uncomfortably in his chest until he found himself by her side. His desire had been to cradle her against him, but he refused to put her in a situation that she would be uncomfortable waking up to. He had instead resigned to holding her hand and stroking her hair.
His presence had seemed to calm her which sated his beast's need to protect her, even in her dreams. He didn't imagine she'd gotten any, decent, sleep last night. He was currently running on empty himself but he was a youkai. It wasn't as hard on his body. He didn't need sleep.
Izuma's scent intensified as he rounded the corner meeting a healer as he passed through the entryway of their pack clinic. It was where Kagome had originally been brought upon arrival.
A female healer passed by him hurriedly. Her eyes were wide with fear. Obviously, he'd come back to this room with her blood on his hands. They knew who he was looking for and why he was here. His thrashing aura probably wasn't helping the situation, but he cared naught at this point.
He glanced around the room and spotted Izuma sitting beside his mate her hand in his. It appeared as though she was sleeping, but even if she hadn't been his beast demanded Izuma be disciplined.
A deep, menacing growl escaped his throat. Izuma tensed at the sound. The action was slightly pleasing to his beast. He should be scared. "Izuma," he said venomously. His body was shaking in anger now that the object of his rage was present.
Izuma stayed by his mate's side ignoring him. This caused Kouga's lip to raise near his fangs, "I don't care. You can be dealt with here or we can take this somewhere else."
Izuma glanced over his shoulder at Kouga, amber met light blue.
Izuma knew he'd have to answer for his actions eventually. If he'd been honest with himself, he wasn't surprised to see Kouga here. He just hoped his alpha was merciful with him. He didn't think Yuri could handle his death right now, although, he probably deserved it.
He rose from his position beside his mate and turned toward his alpha fully intending to follow him wherever he saw fit.
Kouga's harsh gaze bore holes into Izuma's before he turned toward the tunnel.
Izuma followed him in silence. He knew Kouga was a good leader. He was good to his pack. He provided for them. He protected them. He cared for them. He was everything that a pack could ask for in an alpha. Most importantly, Kouga was just. He punished those that deserved it and never exercised his position or power needlessly. He dared to even say that Kouga didn't like exerting his authority as alpha when it came to discipline.
He watched as his black hair, forever in a ponytail, as it swayed as he walked. His tail was twitching agitatedly from side to side. He was beyond angry. Kouga acted as if he'd made a move against his mate...wait.
Kouga's actions were so fast that Izuma barely had time to register what happened to him exactly as he was grabbed by his neck and slammed hard into the wall. His body made a solid crunching sound as his bones met the rock behind him. He gritted his teeth in pain from the jarring sensation and he could feel Kouga's claws digging into his neck. A sense of deja vu swept through him; however, he'd been on the other side of this situation only minutes prior.
Kouga's eyes bled red and he lifted his lip near his fangs as a deep otherworldly sound ripped from deep within his chest. It caused Izuma's eyes to widen. Kouga could feel his beast stirring inside of him egging him on to kill the youkai before him, but he'd made a promise to Kagome.
"If you ever touch her like that again, I will kill you. The only reason you are alive is because she asked me to spare you," Kouga growled as he struggled to control the raging beast within his chest.
Izuma's eyes widened. She'd plead for his life? But why? He didn't deserve it. He could feel the warm liquid of his blood running down his neck and into his fur wrappings. He averted his eyes from his alpha.
Kouga growled deeply holding him there a few moments longer before slamming him back into the wall once more. He didn't want to kill Izuma. He was a great pack member, but the fact that he'd touched Kagome like that. It made him insane with anger.
"I am sorry Kouga," Izuma said softly his eyes still averted, "I didn't know she was your intended."
Kouga was taken aback by his admission, "She has yet to decide that," he said sounding more like himself and less the beast within.
"Have you asked her," Izuma said quietly. Kouga could smell no trickery behind his question as he released him roughly. He felt a wave of nervousness pulse through him at the prospect of asking her, but he quickly quelled that feeling and focused on the question.
"I am bound by ookami tradition," Kouga said turning from him barely masking the defeated tone in his voice, "while I want Kagome, I cannot willingly choose her since the Elders have decided on my betrothal," he said bitterly.
Izuma looked at his alpha's back before it dawned on him, "Ayame."
Kouga glanced back into amber orbs his now a light blue, "Yes, Ayame."
There was a long silence between them. "What will you do," Izuma questioned racking his own brain for a way through the mess.
He felt bad for his alpha. He had enough to deal with and, while he did not fully trust Kagome yet, he felt guilty for causing him more trouble while he had so much already on his plate. It was bad enough that he couldn't choose his own mate. It was a luxury, that seemed like a right, to everyone else. Not him.
Izuma chanced a glance at him. It was obvious this weighed heavily on Kouga's shoulders. Maybe he could try to help him.
Kouga sighed, "I'm not sure. The only way for her to become my m-"
He was caught off when he heard a loud commotion coming from the main cave. Both youkai glanced at each other before sprinting toward the sound, the safety of the pack at the forefront of their minds.
Kagome was sitting in front of a fire next to Ginta and Hakkaku who were attempting to wrap her neck with the wet cloths. They were failing beautifully but Kagome was grateful they were trying.
Hikari glanced up at the duo before seemingly shaking his head and laying it back down while Youru's ears rotated at their disgruntled sounds before sighing. They were laying behind Kagome on either side of her. Ever watchful.
"Who thought this would be so difficult," Ginta said frustratedly.
"No kidding," Hakkaku sighed falling back in defeat.
Kagome couldn't help but giggle. "It's not rocket science guys," she chided good-naturedly.
"What?" They both asked with looks of confusion and raised eyebrows. She rolled her eyes. Time gap.
"One day, you'll know what I'm talking about," she muttered. Ginta was attempting it one last time as a female ookami came to his side. He immediately noticed her presence and a warm smile graced his features.
"Ari," he said affectionately. She knelt beside him and nuzzled his face and he nuzzled her back.
She was beautiful. She had long sandy-blonde hair with hazel eyes. Her features were soft but kind. She looked a little younger than Ginta, but Kagome guessed age didn't matter as much to youkai as it did to humans.
"I am guessing this is your mate," Kagome said gently her blue eyes meeting Ari's hazel orbs.
"Oh yeah, Sis. This is Ari, my mate," Ginta said proudly as he glanced at her lovingly.
It was an odd thing to see from Ginta but she was happy he had someone. That tightening feeling in her chest pulsed again but she ignored it smiling warmly at the female youkai.
"Hello, Ari. I'm glad to meet you," Kagome said politely.
"It is nice to meet you as well Sister," she said her voice was very soft and tender, "Ginta has spoken very highly of you."
Kagome's eyes flited to Ginta who turned three different shades of red. Kagome laughed good-naturedly, "I hope only good things?"
Ari giggled gently as she reached for the wrappings in Ginta's hand and she glanced back at Kagome, "May I?"
"You're welcome to try," Kagome responded in kind.
She sat still as Ari moved before her kneeling. Her eyes moved over the wounds as her gaze softened sadly, "Whoever got you, Sister, they did a good job." Her tone was almost apologetic. Their eyes connected and Kagome knew that Ari neglected his name for her sake. She guessed word traveled fast in a den full of youkai. It was a courtesy.
"Yes he did," Kagome said smiling back at her appreciatively. A look of acknowledgment passed between them in the way only women can communicate.
Ari took some string from her pocket and gently tied it around the wrapping to make it stay.
"Ginta-kun," she said glancing back at her mate, "next time you wait to wet the wrappings until after you place it on the wound."
Ginta scratched the back of his neck embarrassedly, "Yeah...I forgot."
They all laughed. Then Hakkaku started up, "You mean we were struggling this entire time because you forgot," he said accusingly.
"It wasn't like you remembered either," Ginta shot back wrapping his arm around Ari's middle.
The males went back and forth a few times, but Kagome's mind was elsewhere. She could tell that Ari and Ginta were happy together. His whole posture had changed when she came to his side. It was reflected in his eyes. He loved her with everything he had. The tightness in her chest returned and Kagome placed her hand against her chest and rubbed it a few times. This time it wasn't as easy to placate.
"Are you okay Sister?" It was Ari's voice that brought her back to the moment. Her hazel eyes looked concernedly at her hand on her chest.
Kagome smiled at her warmly, "I promise I'm okay." But her eyes weren't the only ones on her. Ginta and Hakkaku looked suspicious before Ginta's eyes lit up like he realized something. Kagome's eyes narrowed at him but she said nothing.
Ryou shifted slightly in her arm and she gazed down at the cub lovingly. She lifted her hand to caress his hair when she sensed it. Her eyes widened. A very familiar aura was approaching their position at an alarming rate. Inuyasha.
"Sis?" Ginta asked as Kagome hurriedly handed Ryou to Ari and made for the entrance of the cave. Ginta and Hakkaku got up to follow her leaving Ari by the fire as they raced to her side. Hikari and Youru sprinted behind them. Hikari's ears already flattening to his skull from the feelings emanating from Kagome's aura as Youru growled softly.
"Sis what's wrong," Hakkaku asked catching up to her first. She didn't have to answer as they soon came face to face with the source of her unease.
His silver hair was blowing in the winter wind, his molten gold eyes fixated on her figure with his Tetsusaiga slung haphazardly over his shoulder. His other hand was placed on his hip. His face was a mask of determination. He wasn't leaving without her.
"Inuyasha," Kagome said her aloof mask back in place giving nothing away.
Ginta and Hakkaku were taken aback by her suddenly chilly aura. They glanced between the two before Ginta took a step in front of her and Hakkaku did the same. Hikari and Youru went to their sides snarling and baring teeth all the while.
"What business do you have here," Ginta demanded his upper lip twitching slightly near his fangs as Hakkkau's did the same both of their postures were tense. Ginta crossed his arms while Hakkaku settled for placing his left hand on his hip, his gaze never leaving Inuyasha's form.
The other ookami and youkai near the entrance had backed away. They could practically feel the crackle of energy in the air between the six of them.
"Move it fleabag," Inuyasha spat his glare never leaving Kagome, "I'm here to collect what's mine. Kagome, come on. We are going home."
Kagome's fist clenched at her side and her body began to tremble. Ginta could feel the turmoil her aura was experiencing and smell it in her scent. She didn't want to go back.
"I don't think she wants to go with you Inuyasha," Ginta said trying to be polite, but the protective undercurrent in his voice was very audible. The message was quite clear to anyone listening. 'She's not going with you.'
Inuyasha scoffed, "She's my pack member. Unless you want to challenge me for her, I suggest you move aside," he growled his fist clenching around the hilt of his father's fang.
"I'm sure our alpha wouldn't have a problem with that," Hakkaku stated stepping further in front of Kagome nearly obscuring her from Inuyasha's view.
"Then where is he," Inuyasha said looking around, "he's not here. I don't have any more time to waste on you, Kagome. Let's go," he said the bite apparent in his voice. He turned to leave when she finally spoke.
"I'm not going with you."
Golden eyes narrowed as he spun back toward her his teeth clenched, "What."
Her blue eyes narrowed boring into his as she stepped in front of Ginta and Hakkaku who were right on her heels. They met eye to eye and toe to toe before she spoke, "I'm not going with you."
Every bit of control he had snapped in mere seconds.
Inuyasha slung Tetsusaiga over his shoulder as Kagome erected a barrier that nullified the majority of his Wind Scar rendering it useless, but it did buffett the ceiling of the den. Kagome glanced back at the den. No one was hurt but she didn't want to take the same chance twice.
Dropping her barrier, Kagome sprinted into the outside world, pumping reiki into her feet for a speed boost, with Inuyasha as well as Ginta and Hakkaku and the ookami on her tail.
She turned once they were some distance from the cave facing Inuyasha. He stopped fifteen feet from her glaring. "I don't have time for this," he spat, "I have a pup to be born any day now. Instead, I'm out here wasting my time on you," he growled, "When I could be home with my mate."
Ginta and Hakkaku stopped short a few feet behind her both in offensive stances, ready to attack at any moment.
"Then go home!" Kagome yelled her breathing coming in sharp gasps. "I never asked you to come find me, Inuyasha. When I was wounded and bleeding it wasn't you who came to my side."
Inuyasha winced, "Well if you weren't so weak, you wouldn't need help all the time."
"I am not weak," Kagome growled her fists clenching, "Just because I've never used my powers on you doesn't mean they won't work," she said venomously.
"It doesn't matter how much training you get. You will never be-"
"Shut up! Do not compare me to her Inuyasha! I never was and never will be Kikyou! I am Kagome! I have been trying to tell you this for over five years! Why won't you listen to me," Kagome practically screamed tears now streaming down her face.
"How pathetic," Inuyasha scoffed. "I don't know why I even bother. It's not like you ever benefitted the pack anyway."
Kagome looked at him shocked, "What do you mean, I was the one who helped you gather all the Shikon no Tama jewel shards. I," she said pointing to her chest, "I am the one who sensed them. I made it possible for the jewel to be destroyed."
"Keh," he said looking at her condescendingly, "as if you were the only one that could see them. If we'd had Kikyou, it would have been over a lot faster, but no," he said his tone biting, "we had you. A no nothing, untrained, miko from the future who had to go home every two to three weeks to see her family, go to school, do 'tests' whatever those were, and whatever else you felt like doing because you were too stupid and self-centered to stay on task."
"Enough!" Kouga's voice roared as he jumped protectively in front of Kagome.
Kagome felt like her breath had been stolen from her body. His words had dug up a lifetime's worth of scars and poured salt over old wounds she thought she had buried.
Her mind barely registered the black mane of Kouga that was swaying in the wind in front of her. He stood blocking Inuyasha's path to her. Her hand went to her chest clutching her heart. She couldn't breathe.
"About time you got here fleabag. Here I thought the only fight I was going to get was from a half-witted ningen woman," he spat.
"Shut up you worthless cur," Kouga said his posture rigid, his cold gaze leveled on the hanyou, "How, dare you, speak to Kagome like that," he was visibly shaking, "no wonder she's so terrified to know what real love is. She's had such a poor example of a man for the past five years. If I had known this was how you were treating her. I would have taken her from you long ago, willingly or not."
He chanced a glance back at Kagome she was pale. He'd heard the majority of what Inuyasha said as he had sprinted from the den to her side as fast as he could, but had he known he was going to inflict so much damage on her….his fists clenched at his sides.
"Like you could have," Inuyasha spat scoffing, "she was too long gone in me to ever see you, Kouga. Like a leech," he said lifting his upper lip.
"How dare you, Inuyasha. Do you know what you've done? Do you know what you've stolen from her, from me, from yourself? She was miserable with you! You broke her down daily! For what reason, I don't know, but I do know that you won't, ever, be able to do that to her again," Kouga vowed.
"Keh," Inuyasha said drawing his Tetsusaiga holding it before him, "Are you going to sit there and talk all day or are we going to fight because I'm getting sick and tired of hearing your voice you mangy ookami," Inuyasha growled.
"Heh," Kouga said cracking his knuckles against each other before placing his right fist in the palm of his left hand before him, a smirk adorning his features, "I thought you'd never ask. I've been waiting for this day Inuyasha. The day I get to teach you the lesson I should have a long time ago."
"In your dreams fleabag," Inuyasha spat his youki swirling around Tetsusaiga.
"We'll see who's dreaming after this mutt," Kouga growled settling into a defensive stance his gaze cold.
He glanced at the den momentarily. Quite the crowd had gathered to watch the spectacle. He grimaced. It was mostly at Kagome's expense.
She didn't look too good either. Whatever he'd said to her had gotten under her skin. Apparently, the mutt knew all the right buttons to push, but, he looked back at her again, she didn't want to leave them, leave him. He smirked as his blue eyes fixed back on Inuyasha. That was a good sign.
"Wind Scar!" Inuyasha bellowed as he swung the sword down before him.
Kouga jumped backward and grabbed Kagome before launching them from the ground that was obliterated moments after. He felt her fingers clutch at his chest plate clearly taken off guard by the sudden movement.
They landed several feet from Inuyasha with him standing in front of her once more, "Are you alright, Kagome?"
She could hear the concern in his voice, "Yeah," she tried, "I'm alright. Don't worry about me."
He turned his head slightly smirking back at her as he said softly, "Liar."
Kagome blinked once before he shot toward Inuyasha who was swinging the sword around trying to hit the ookami prince, but he was just too fast for him.
"It seems you're getting out of shape Inuyasha," he chided practically dancing around the hanyou and his unwieldy swordsmanship.
"Keh, as if," Inuyasha shot back as he swung his Tetsusaiga that glimmered like diamonds.
Kagome's eyes widened, "Kouga! Watch out!"
"Adamant Barrage!"
Thousands of adamant shards flew from the blade of the sword. Kouga managed to escape the sharp pieces of rock. He peered around the landscape smirking. Inuyasha had just gifted him with an opportunity. Multiple opportunities.
Smirking Kouga kicked several of the rocks that embedded themselves into the ground up into the air. He jumped and, with several well-placed kicks, he sent the shards of hardened rock sailing back at their creator at alarming speeds.
Inuyasha looked up barely in time to dodge the sailing shards of adamant, but since his focus was solely on them he didn't see the fist that collided with his jaw.
Kouga's punch sent him sailing a good thirty feet to the right of where he had been originally standing. After getting a piece of Inuyasha, Kouga leapt after him to go in for another strike. Inuyasha was rising from his spot on the ground when Kouga's dominant leg connected with his sternum successfully shattering the bone. Inuyasha gasped for air as he swung his sword causing Kouga to dodge back.
To Kagome, this dance was endless. Inuyasha seemed to be drawing the short stick here, but Kouga was taking his time with it or it seemed like he was. Maybe that was the point. He wanted Inuyasha to suffer.
"Out of breath already muttface," Kouga called smirking as he clenched his fist.
"You're so cocky you bastard," Inuyasha said wiping the blood that dripped from his mouth, "better be careful or that will get you into trouble."
"Heh," Kouga spat, "I know how to make my own decisions Inuyasha," he growled aiming a fist for Inuyasha that was blocked by the Tetsusaiga. He was pushed back and slid back across the snow before charging again. He dodged as Inuyasha swung his sword.
"Are you sure, that I just left her? Maybe there was a reason I didn't want her," Inuyasha stated.
Kouga knew he was baiting a trap. He was trying to throw him off and get him angry. Whatever he said he had to remain calm.
"Maybe she wasn't good enough. Not pleasing enough. I'm sure you wouldn't want my scraps," he said implicatively.
"You're stupid if you think that I can't smell her purity even from here," Kouga spat irritatedly as he swiped his leg across the ground attempting to trip Inuyasha up.
"Who said we had sex? Perhaps I just messed around with her," Kouga's eyes rimmed red and his beast stirred within his chest. How dare he touch her like that. Kouga gritted his teeth. He was lying. He was doing this to throw him off.
"You know, this is really low, even for you Inutrasha," Kouga growled throwing his foot into Inuyasha's gut.
Inuyasha flew back five feet before rolling into a crouch. Kouga was charging him when he noticed his mistake. A concealed Wind Scar. "Suit yourself," Inuyasha smirked.
Damn it. That mutt actually...it worked.
Kagome saw it coming. Her blue eyes widened as Kouga stood in the path of the Wind Scar. She had to do something. She'd never used this ability before, but...maybe this time it would work.
Quickly she brought her hands up like she were shooting her bow and focused on her reiki forming it into an arrow. She aimed at the Wind Scar.
"Hit the mark," she whispered and her eyes widened when a lavender spark flew from her hands and screamed toward the Wind Scar.
Kouga debated dodging or jumping to avoid it when an arrow pierced the grow two feet from him dispersing the Wind Scar entirely. His blue eyes flited to raven tresses and sapphire eyes across the field that were staring right back at him. A smirk crossed his face. She'd defended him.
Inuyasha glared at her, "What the hell was that, Kagome," he growled, "That move was going to finish him. Then we could go home."
Kagome's eyes hardened as she glared back at him, "How many times do I have to tell you Inuyasha. I am, not, going back with you! I'm staying here!"
Inuyasha scoffed, "Fine stay here and be an ookami's whore."
Something snapped inside of Kouga. Maybe it was the built-up anger over the past few days. Maybe it was the anger from earlier that he had promised to restrain from using on Izuma, or perhaps it was just the fact that he'd grown tired of Inuyasha insulting Kagome over and over. Degrading her like she was some sort of animal. Whatever the cause. Vengeance came swift.
Inuyasha took a single step before he was slammed into by something hard. His Tetsusaiga flew out of his hand landing in the snow nearby as he was forced through a tree's trunk before skidding across the ground. He barely had time to recover before Kouga was on him.
He punched Inuyasha in the face, shattering his jaw, before throwing him into the air. He met him there and used an axe kick to send him spiraling into the ground where he left a good-sized crater. After he landed, Kouga picked him up by his neck and held him there.
Inuyasha couldn't believe the ookami had this much power. Where had it come from, "What gives fleabag? You were holding back the entire time…" He trailed off once he saw his ruby-red eyes with the black dilated pupil.
"How dare you insult our intended with your foul words," his voice was mixed as he wrestled to control his overpowering beast. His words were just loud enough for Inuyasha to hear, but the promise behind them had Inuyasha paling. "Leave you cur. I would kill you, but it would upset what is mine." He released Inuyasha and gave him one last roundhouse kick to the side of the face as a parting gift.
Inuyasha winced as he landed beside his father's fang. He glanced up at the ookami whose eyes were flickering from blue to red, to red-rimmed, to blue, and back to red. He was losing control. He scoffed as he rose from the ground, although, he was in no shape to do so.
He knew his jaw had been shattered along with his sternum, several broken ribs, a cracked collarbone, and his left arm was virtually useless now. He glared at the ookami coldly, "Kagome, you really want to stay here with this mangy ookami," he asked for the first time.
Kagome blinked. He was just now getting it. "Yes," she said softly but she knew he could hear her.
The muscle on Inuyasha's lip twitched in anger, "Fine. Don't come crying to me when he's gone and mated Ayame behind your back."
Always, he always had to have the last harsh word. Kagome could feel the twinge inside of her chest. She could see the ookami couples she'd witnessed in her mind. The bond they shared. She ached for something like that, and, for some reason, when she thought of Kouga and Ayame...she felt sick.
She said nothing as he limped away. She knew once he was behind the treeline he'd collapse until morning. It was his nature. She closed her blue eyes as the flood of emotions she'd been holding back began to surface. All those hurtful words, painful memories, old wounds, and reopened scars.
Her shoulders began to quiver and she wasn't sure if it was the cold or her own emotions. Her eyes brimmed with tears and her vision blurred, but then something warm was placed on her shoulder.
She chanced a glance up and managed to make out tanned skin, blue eyes, black hair, and a warm smile through the fog.
Kouga could smell her emotional pain from the forty feet he'd been from her. He'd counted on this happening. She was strong. She was unbreakable. Yet so very fragile.
He walked up to her. He could feel the eyes of the entire pack boring into his being. His beast was still half in control but losing its hold over him. So what he did next was under his own influence.
He placed his right hand on her left shoulder that caused her to look up at him. He gently used the knuckle of his index finger to catch a stray tear as he smiled down at her. She trembled a few more times before he couldn't take it anymore and pulled her into a gentle, loose, but strong hug. "I told you, you were a liar."