XLVI

Esto Perpetua

Kagome waits for Kouga to kiss her and leave before she goes in to see the man who is Kouga's prisoner. He blinks at her when she pushes aside the heavy leather curtain that blocks off the room he's in, and Kagome winces at the sight of him. He's been bound shoulders to ankle in leather thongs tied cruelly tight; his robes are stained with blood, dark and shiny on the indigo silk she can see, and his face is pale.

She is surprised when he licks his lips and turns his head to look at her and speaks. His voice is rough but fairly cheerful, considering his situation.

"So, it's the wolf's woman. Or should I say the wolf's miko? I owe you my life."

Kagome blinks, confused.

"You know I'm – that I'm a miko?"

The stranger scoffs.

"Of course I do! I've got power just like you do; like knows like, wolf-woman."

Kagome shakes her head, uncomfortable.

"I'm not really a miko, I wasn't ever trained as one and I barely know what my power can do. Anyway, I've got a name – not wolf's woman. I'm Kagome; Higurashi Kagome."

Miroku grins.

"Pretty name for a pretty lady, I see."

Kagome scowls.

"Don't even try it, buster."

It is Miroku's turn to scowl.

"Buster? Who's that? My name is Miroku, a humble servant of Buddha -"

Kagome snickers a little and shakes her head; of course her idioms don't make sense to him, she's five hundred years out of date.

"A Buddhist monk? But then what are you doing here?"

"I wasn't looking to be here; in case you hadn't noticed, these aren't the finest accommodations in Echigo, Kagome-sama."

She blushes a little. Kagome-sama? Who is this guy!

"Uh...look, Miroku-san, I don't know why you're here or what you were trying to do or why Kouga even put you here in the first place, but I do know if you try anything like what you did this morning again you aren't going to be around long enough for us to have another conversation."

"You want to talk to me again, beautiful Kagome-sama? I'm honored -"

"You – what – what are you talking about! Are you even listening to anything I'm saying?"

Kagome throws her hands up and then scrubs her fingers through her hair, exasperated.

"Sorry; I can't help myself when a lovely woman is around."

Miroku gives her a conspiratorial wink and flashes his most charming grin.

"I think I'm cursed, really."

Kagome rolls her eyes.

"This is what men in the sengoku period use for pick-up lines? So lame -"

Miroku has no idea what she's talking about but it sounds disparaging and he doesn't think that's good. Kagome stares down at him, her expression suddenly inscrutable, and speaks low, quick words.

"Look, Miroku – do us both a favor and don't do anything to upset Kouga. I'd rather not see him bite you in half, and even if I could, I wouldn't stop him again. It's not my place, even if – I don't want to see – I don't think I could -"

She takes a deep breath.

"I can't stop him again, all right? Just – don't get yourself killed."

For a moment, Miroku's face becomes serious.

"Kagome-sama, I will do my best not to – and you do the same. You don't seem to realize it, but these wolves are dangerous beasts and that leader of theirs – Kouga – he's the most dangerous of all. Your power is a threat to them; you should escape with me and not look back."

Kagome stares at him for a long, long moment. Thoughts flash through her head – the blood on Kouga's lips, the swift and deadly nature of his reactions...his red eyes. His blue eyes. His laughter. His smile as he rubbed his scent against her skin - his smile. The way he looks at her, the way he has looked at her even from the first moment.

"Hello again, Kagome."

She remembers fire in his dark fur, and the howl of his agony, and Miroku trying to drag her away from her Kouga.

"Now I understand – Miroku, it's dangerous here for you. You should leave, if Kouga lets you. I'll talk to him; maybe he'll let you go. But I'm safe with him – I want to be with him – I could leave if I wanted to but I don't want to, so don't try to take me with you again and don't try to convince me to leave."

She stares at him intently for a moment, and then she flushes.

"I think – I think Kouga might hurt you worse for trying to take me away than anything else."

The flush deepens, darkens. Her voice grows very low.

"You said it yourself; I'm the wolf's woman – but it's not because he stole me. I'm the wolf's woman because – because I want to be."

Kagome turns away and whips out of the room, and Miroku sits alone in the dark and the damp, and wonders what it is he's gotten himself into by accident.

Kouga is standing outside Miroku's prison when Kagome leaves; he is waiting for her, not eavesdropping, but he hears her regardless – she doesn't have the knack yet of speaking too quietly for youkai ears to overhear.

Her words send a soaring heat through his whole body; his skin tingles; his blood roars in his ears and he feels the pounding of his heart in the tips of his fingers.

"I'm the wolf's woman because I want to be."

The words he's been waiting for; the words he wants – the words that tell him she won't say no when he tries to bring her closer to him. She steps past the heavy curtain and walks almost directly into his chest, but Kouga doesn't care. He reaches out for her and pulls her close to him, bends to kiss her and this time holds nothing back. His tongue licks across her lips and then slips into her mouth, brushes against her tongue and makes her shiver. His hands settle warm on the skin of her waist and then slip down to her hips and tighten, pull her flush against his body.

His lips leave her mouth and trace the line of her jaw; he laps at the soft skin of her throat, nips it gently and then kisses below her ear, brings his mouth close enough that the heat of his breath sends shudders in ripples down her spine as he speaks to her.

"So you are the wolf's woman?"

"You – heard that!"

Kagome's voice is barely a squeak. She turns her head to look away from him but Kouga guides her gaze back to his face with a gentle hand on her chin.

"I heard you, Kagome. You know, I want you - but you weren't really mine."

He feels a sudden tension steel her limbs.

"I – wasn't?"

He shakes his head.

"No. But you are now, Kagome – Kagome -"

And then he has both her hands in his hands, and he is looking down at her with happiness and pride and want and love.

"Be my woman, Kagome. Let me court you; let me win you; let me take you for my mate, and for forever – for all time -"

She is saying yes before he has even said her name. Yes, over and over; a whisper, a promise, a want.

A/N: And so Miroku's presence provides a catalyst for the confession Kagome has been lingering over all this time. After all, she's seen the best and the worst Kouga has to offer, now – or thinks she has. Today's chapter title, "Esto Perpetua", means "let it be everlasting". More tomorrow, of course, and much thank to you, readers and reviewers all!

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