XVIII
Brutum Fulmen
Kagome stares at Kouga for a long moment.
"There was no one else there?
"No one."
"No one? Not a youkai – a centipede-woman -"
"No one, Kagome. Just you. And the shards – look, Kagome. I thought you could see it before; in my palm..."
Kouga holds out his right hand for her to expect, and Kagome hitches herself forward across the furs and reaches out her fingers to touch his hand – there. In the center of his palm, beneath the flesh; a glow, velvety purple, and within it a pulse of power as familiar as her heartbeat though she has never seen such a thing before.
Awareness flashes across her mind in an instant.
The thing that was torn from her.
The terrible pain.
The shikon no tama had come from inside her – inside her -
"It was inside me -"
It is barely a whisper but Kouga hears it and steps forward. If she is speaking the truth – but why wouldn't she?
"Kagome – Kagome are you saying that the wound in your side is because the shikon no tama was inside your body?"
She turns her eyes to his face and nods slowly.
"I think so - I - can't be sure, but something -"
The memory of the feeling haunts her; the blinding pain, and the loss that had accompanied it.
"I – and you're a miko. Of course. I can't even guess how that happened, but now at least it makes sense that the shards want their way and won't be taken from you."
He stares at her for a long moment and then reaches for the bag that had come from Kaede.
"Lean back, Kagome. I've got to change that bandage; there's pack business for me to tend to and the rest need to know that you're not to be troubled, and you look tired – by the time I come back you'll be asleep, and I don't want to wake you."
"You make a good nurse, Kouga."
She giggles faintly at his lifted eyebrows and hitches herself carefully closer to him, pulls her shirt over her head and flushes, sits with her arms crossed over her chest and her eyes fixed on the rock wall above his head.
"I'll have to find you some clothes – your shirt's a mess, Kagome."
She looks at the torn and bloodstained fabric and almost shrugs, but thinks better of it. His fingers are delicate and swift pulling away the old bandage from her wound, but the last layer of wrapping still stings and tugs at the raw, delicate flesh.
"I – thank you, Kouga."
"I would've done as much before, but you saved Sho, Kagome. I bet Shiori'll give you something of hers as soon as I mention you haven't got anything with you -"
"Shiori? Is she the female that was with Sho? I thought she was his mother -"
"Yeah, that's her. She's the one I told you about, the one who's mated to Ginta and Hakkaku both. Sho is Hakkaku's pup."
Kagome grins, glad of something to distract her from whatever he is doing to her side.
"I could tell; tell me, do all wolves have hair that looks like their pelt in the wolf-shape?"
He nods; she smells strong herbs and then feels his arms circling her with clean linen.
"Pretty much; sometimes there's differences -"
"Like how your fur isn't just black."
His tail swishes at her.
"Exactly."
She pets the soft fur thoughtfully and doesn't notice that she's bared herself to him; it doesn't seem to matter as much, after he's rubbed his scent on her so intimately – after he's kissed her – and besides, her bra is intact, and it's not like she's naked...
His eyes lick up her skin, her comfortable movements. He leans close to her and then hesitates and pulls back before she notices. Hadn't he told himself he'd be slow – gentle – give her only a little at a time? He shouldn't have kissed her but he couldn't help himself.
I'll do better.
He climbs off the ledge and pulls up the softest furs to cover her.
"I'm going to find you some clothes, they'll be here when you wake – and remember, you'll be safe here, no one will bother you."
She smiles at him, and then yawns behind her hand.
"Thank you, Kouga – I think I might nap some after all. Do all your guests get treatment like this? Luxurious furs, enormous rooms -"
His bark of laughter comes back at her over his shoulder and he pauses at the threshold.
"Not even close, Kagome. This is my room – oh, and don't mind the pups if they come in to snuggle; they're harmless – that's why I marked you, after all."
His fangs flash at her in the dimness, and then he is gone.
A/N: It's today! Of course...it's always today; but this today just started, and here's a chapter for it! The chapter title, "Brutum Fulmen", means "harmless thunderbolt". I'm excited to see all the guesses about what's going on in the reviews...but while several individuals have come close, no one has hit on the truth...then again, only a few hints have so far been offered. Very soon, some old enemies will appear...and some old friends, shortly thereafter... Onward! I shall see you all tomorrow with 19!
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