I have been sick for these past two weeks, but luckily due to my fever dreams, some ideas came to mind. Some of the chapters might be rushed as I have been writing on my days off from work. Also some of the comments from the alternate universe made me laugh, so thank you, I truly enjoyed reading them.
Kagome was like a deer in headlights, Kouga had left to join the hunting party, normally that would have been fine with her but being left alone in another location with people she was unfamiliar with and frankly probably did not like her made her feel nervous. No, maybe not nervous, maybe tense was the correct word. Thankfully ayame was with her, but still there was a newfound awkwardness between them, and on top of that ayami seemed to cling around them, at first it was some friendly chit chat, but the more she hung around them, it became clear that her words were double edged, more towards ayame, but sometimes clearly aimed at kagome.
"So kagome, do you have a man in your life?" ayami asked, kagome closed her eyes and prayed to kami that Kouga would be back soon. In fact she prayed that either ginta and hakkaku show up and rescue them, really she would be happy if anyone came to get them.
"Oh, uh no I don't" she said nervously looking at ayame, who in return glared at ayami, who was oblivious to it, they were sitting outside in a tent drinking some sake, "but I'm pretty content with waiting for someone."
"I see…well it's great that you have confidence." ayami replied sweetly.
Ayame's nostrils flared up, "kagome's fine, she's pretty, she'll find a mate."
"Oh of course she is, as long as she doesn't steal anyone's mate."
Ayame's face clouded, "what's that supposed to mean?"
Ayami grinned, "oh well you know, I have just noticed someone has eyes on her, someone who is already… mated." she paused, "kagome that is a lovely blue cloak where did you get it?" she asked, running her hand over it.
Kagome clutched at the blue cloak, "it-it's kouga's, he gave it to me because I was cold." and also so everyone knew that I was a guest, she thought to herself.
"It's interesting he didn't give it to you ayame, are you not cold?"
"no, I'm fine." she replied stiffly, trying to contain her anger, kagome sensing that ayame was about to burst at any moment grabbed her arm trying to soothe her.
"Ayame, we should go outside and see if they're back." ayame nodded at her, they were about to leave when ayami stopped them.
"Well, I guess if you're sharing kouga, ayame, maybe I should take a tu-" before she could finish her sentence, ayame turned around and punched her right on the nose.
Ayami covered her nose and winced "I thought you were okay with sharing." she grinned maliciously, and ayame flung herself at her.
"Shut up!" ayame screeched,slapping her, in turn ayami scratched at her with her claws, ayame seeing it managed to pull her face away, but ayami still got her arm, a graze that left a long white scratch.
"ayame , it's not worth it, let's go." kagome said trying to pull ayame away, but it was no use, she had her demon strength, and was extremely riled up.
"leave us alone miko, this doesn't include you, or do you like to insert yourself with any pair?"
Kagome felt the rush of blood in her body, but trying to remain calm she ignored her, "ayame, come let's go." she pleaded still attempting to pull ayame again but failing miserably, ayame yanked her arm back, breathing hard.
"Don't talk to kagome like that, she didn't do anything so shut the hell up." again she threw herself towards ayami, who was ready, they threw punches at each other, but neither really getting the upper hand. Kagome looked around, did no one hear this? The women fought, rolling around punching and scratching at each other, the only way to stop the fight was to try to pull them away but she knew it would not be easy and potentially be dangerous. She ran over and tried putting them apart, but easily with their strength they overpowered her, with ayame pushing her to the side again.
Okay, she breathed to herself, concentrating as little miko energy she had, she put herself in the middle, and ZAP! Ayame and Ayami groaned, slightly swaying from the energy, ayami's face contorted in rage.
"You bitch!" she screamed, swiping at kagome, kagome moved her face but not fast enough, her claws barely grazing at her face. At first she thought she had missed until she felt the sting, and grimaced.
"Kagome!" They all turned as kouga came in.
"What is the meaning of this! What is going on?" he had just gotten back when he heard fighting.
"Kagome didn't do anything! She stopped our fighting and ayami injured her!" ayame said, pointing a finger at the demoness. Kagome was holding her face, as small droplets of blood fell, staining the floor a deep crimson. Kouga's face stormed, his head snapping at ayami, who visibly shrunk.
Ayami tried protesting, "Kouga darling I-"
"Stop calling me that, is it true that you hurt her!" he stormed to her, glaring down at her.
"Y-yes I accidentally scratched her but kouga you ha-"
"Enough, I don't care that you're the daughter of Ryo, never speak to kagome, or ayame!" he hissed.
"What is the meaning of this!" the village chief said charging in, everyone had heard the commotion but no one had wanted to intervene, in fear that it would look like they were choosing a side.
"ayami provoked me, we fought and kagome broke it up and got injured."
The village chief turned and looked at ayami, "is this true ayami?"
Ayami looked down and nodded slowly, "but father I was merely-"
"That's enough, you need to stop causing trouble, apologize now. Kouga we are deeply sorry the trouble my daughter has caused, I hope this does not damage our clans relationships." he said bowing his head.
"No it does not…but…we would like some privacy."
"Of course" he grabbed his daughter and left while lecturing her.
"Kagome, are you okay?" he rushed to her side dropping the deer, he saw the blood and sighed, "let me see," he said cupping her face to look at her, kagome averted her eyes, his hand was warm and she suddenly felt shy.
"I'm fine, I promise, ayame got hurt too." she said gently moving his hand away. Kouga looked at ayame who was staring off awkwardly, clutching her arm.
"Ayame?" he grabbed her arm to look at it, the scratch was much deeper, but it would heal quickly, "are you okay? I'm sorry I wasn't around, I should have done something about her a while ago. What did she say?" he asked gently, " I know you wouldn't do this without reason."
Ayame pulled back her arm from his grasp, "it was nothing...I-I don't really want to talk about it."
He nodded, "of course, let's go get this cleaned up."
"I'll heal, take kagome, I'm gonna go take a walk." she said. She wanted to get away from them, there was a sudden change in the room once he had grabbed kagome, she wasn't entirely upset but she felt weird.
"Wait," he grabbed her arm and studied her, "tell me what happened."
She shook her head, "it was just a stupid fight," she looked down, "I'm sorry if I made you look bad." she winced.
Kouga was astounded, "I don't give a shit about that, are you okay?"
"Yes, I promise I'm fine, I need to go." she tugged at her arm and he let go, still rather reluctant. She smiled at them briefly and walked out.
Kouga looked down at kagome, his expression unreadable, "let's go."
He gestured for her to leave, opening the flap open, a few people stared at them, and she heard some whispering, she could guess what they were whispering about, they probably thought that she was some homewrecker, and although some whispers were about that, a lot of them were actually excited someone had done something about Ayami. Yes she was the daughter of Ryo, the village chief, but she was quite frankly an awful person, she was rude and liked to provoke people, knowing that they could do nothing about it, and she was annoying.
When they heard the fighting, a lot of people secretly cheered on Ayame and Kagome. Finally someone had stood up for themselves.
There was no one there when they looked for a healer, they had probably gone to help start the feast.
"Oh it's okay, I just hope it doesn't scar," she said worriedly, although she felt fine with her looks she didn't want a scarred face.
"Does it look bad?" she asked, touching her face trying to feel the wound.
He studied her for a moment, "no you look, I mean it'll heal but I uh know a way that it won't scar but…it's a different approach than humans." he said.
"If it'll help with scarring, I'll be okay with it" she said
Kouga looked around, luckily no one was there, "it won't hurt, but it'll feel weird." he grabbed her face to look at the scar, "i'll just have to lick the area."
Now kagome was flustered, "w-what?" she squeaked
He nodded, "I don't have to do it, we can wait for the medicine person or find something, but I know it won't scar if I do it."
Kagome swallowed, "okay, just do it."
He nodded and tilted her face, and leaned in, she felt her breath hitch, why did it feel like he was about to kiss her, but no he gently licked her face, his tongue was warm and soothing, and she was sure she was absolutely red when they accidentally locked eyes, he finished quickly and cleared his throat, averting his gaze. All of a sudden, the room they were in felt too warm.
"Well I uh we better go join the others to eat."
She laughed nervously, "yes we should, we should look for ayame and make sure she's doing alright."
Ayame was furious, not only did ayami scratch her, but she had insulted her! Angry tears threatened to spill but she refused to let them fall, if anyone caught her crying surely they would think that it was about kouga. She shook her head, shaking the tears away, no she was angry that she could not have done more damage to ayami, but, she rationalized, had she done more damage to ayami, it would have looked bad. It would have reflected poorly on kouga, more so than it already had. Even though they were not involved, she was still his mate and had to play the good part of it. Her body trembled in boiled anger.
"Ayame?" a familiar voice called out, walking towards her.
She squinted as he came into view, "ezume?"
"Yes it's me! What's wrong?" he frowned, "did your worthless mate make you sad again?"
Ah so he did not know what had happened.
She smiled and shook her head, "no it was…" she paused, feeling riled up, "it was that stupid ayami! Kami, I wish I could have..ughhhh" she shook her head again trying to control her rage that just seemed to grow.
"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked.
She sighed, "actually I would love to."
He smiled, "come to my room, and we can talk about it there."
She glanced nervously around, luckily no one was there, and either way why did it matter? As far as she knew, she had no reason to feel guilt.
"Lead the way."
Last note to add, I made a mistake on the last chapter, when it came to ayame's dialogue, it still worked out with what she said, but it was driving me insane, but I updated it