-Author's Note:
Remember, the more reviews, the more I will feel the need to write another chapter. YOU are my inspiration to keep writing Kouga and Kagome.
Kagome stepped out into the morning light. The sun hung low, still not quiet over the hill tops. She could hear the hum of birds and aura of other roaming demons. She wasn't alarmed, it was natural. The land was crawling with them. Some were just more dangerous than others, while others couldn't hurt even a flea.
She inhaled. The Fuedal Era had been her home for years now, but she'd grown up for far longer in the modern era. Sometimes she expected to walk outside and hear the overhead sound of planes, or cars honking. Now, all she heard was nature.
It was much calmer.
Inuyasha was still fast asleep. He was rarely up before the sun. Sometimes, he could sleep the day away. She didn't doubt that Miroku and Sango were long past up. They had three children to keep up with.
Stepping outside, she pulled the door closed quietly and set off into the forest. She set off along this well used and familiar path. The grass was damp but she gave it due to the morning dew that had settled overight.
The path was well walked, with a dirt trail from having been traced so many times in the past. Trees loomed over either side, vibrant green with limbs that met and twisted high above. Light filtered through. This small path was almost like a whole different world until it opened out into a large clearing.
The path circled around the clearing on either side before closing at the end. All the path led to was the large clearing. On both sides of where she stood towered two cherry blossom trees. They stood there like guardians or a gateway.
She sank to her knees between the two trees, bowed her head and said a silent prayer.
There was a few marked stones in the clearing and behind them a round crystal lake that beckoned her eyes. To the right was an overhanging she'd had Miroku build. It was covered in pink flowers and beneath the wooden overhanging was another stone they had half buried.
She'd seen Inuyasha there more times than she could count.
Kaede, Kohaku, Shippo. Kikyou.
Kagome refused to call it a graveyard. The place was to beauitful for that. She'd choosen it because of the Cherry Blossom Trees and the wide clearing and the flowers that took up around the stones. She'd just wanted a place for them to remember. They'd lost precious family in the battle against Naraku that had taken place years ago.
She stopped by each stone, laying a few flowers over each barren spot. "I still miss you, Shippo." She whispered, smoothing her hand down the stone.
She stopped at the arched overhanging and then sank to her knees. She'd done this for Inuyasha because Kikyou had meant something to Inuyasha at one time. She still did. The roses growing twisted over and around the arched way represented Kikyou. Kikyou was everything she wasn't.
She wasn't flawless like Kikyou. She was clumsy. She'd made a powerful name for herself here in the Fuedal Era, but Kikyou's name would always shadow over hers. She kissed two fingers and pressed them against one of the roses curled into the wood. Kikyou may not be buried here, but this was her resting place none the less.
Kagome sighed heavily. She'd found Inuyasha here one too many times. Sometimes he was here for hours, sometimes he was here for only minutes. Sometimes he would be sitting, conversating to nothing, though she knew the words were for Kikyou.
She did the same thing with Shippo.
Staring at the roses and the archway, Kagome found her mind wandering again. It was almost sad. She knew Inuyasha loved her. He'd loved Kikyou, too. Would his choice have been different if Kikyou had survived?
Another aura pushed at hers. She lifted her head, momentarily tensing as she flared out her senses. It was close. Closer than it should have been. Bracing her right hand against the ground she started to stand and then stopped when she swept her gaze over the clearing.
The aura pushing against hers came from the lone figure standing at the mouth of the crystal lake. His back was to her in a stance in what she was assuming left his arms crossed at the chest. His tail twitched, moving idly back and forth. He stood there unmoving, looking out over the crystal lake.
She'd offered Kouga and his pack sanctuary here, a place to remember his fallen pack members. Inuyasha hadn't completely agreed with it. They didn't have the modern technology to make a proper memorial and Kouga had only shook his head at the stones. The lake was all the rememberence he needed, he had said.
Even after what he'd done, she had still offered him a quiet place here.
She couldn't stop the sigh that passed her lips, but it wasn't one of annoyance. It was contentment. She didn't want to feel it, but she did. Utter satisfaction. She couldn't move a muscle and the warmth of his body cocooned her in a world all of their own making. There was no one else, just the two of them. The warmth of his body was luring her to sleep and before she realized it her eyes were drifting shut. She felt a soft rumble against her back...
Was he purring?
She hadn't forgotten. She had told herself it didn't matter. She could forget. He was only her first. That excuse may have worked in modern times if she was a regular girl. But she wasn't a regular girl, was she? She was a reicarnation, born with the ability to travel through time and a very powerful Miko. She'd destroyed one of the most powerful Demons of all time. Nothing about her was normal.
Whenever she saw Kouga, it was usually in passing. His wolves still hung around. They roamed.
She finally stood and though he didn't so much as move a muscle, she wasn't naive enough to think that he hadn't noticed her presence. That would have been hard for him to miss with that nose of his, not to mention of Miko aura.
She broke into an empty path between the flowers made her way over to him. She stopped at his side, both overlooking the lake.
She was silent for a moment before she let a small smile grace her lips. How long had it been since she'd seen him? Six months since his wolves had passed through on their journey back?
"Hi." She said softly. She couldn't think of anything else to say. One word, as simple as it was.
He didn't respond the way she was expecting, though.
"You always seem to astound me."
She wasn't expecting that and in all honesty, it confused her. "Why do you say that?"
He finally turned his head and his startling blue eyes met hers. Had his eyes always been so blue? "Even after all the pain she caused you, you give her a place of peace." The tone of his voice wasn't insulting. He was more of making a ...fact. To him, anyways.
"She wasn't...," Kagome started. He didn't have to say Kikyou's name. "...Inuyasha needed it as much as I did."
"Always putting others before yourself." Kouga still didn't move from his stance. He finally smiled and she saw the tension in his shoulders visibly ease. "It's good to see you again, Kagome."
Her smile returned. "Are Ginta and Hakku with you?"
His lips twitched. "They're probably still trying to catch up."
Kagome remembered fondly of those two. She had lost cout of all the times she'd seen them running in Kouga's dust, barely stopping to wave at her. When she really thought about it, not that much time had passed. So many fond memories. So many memories. So many...
She cleared her throat. "I need to get back, but I meant what I said. You know you're always welcome here."
"You don't have to go yet."
He'd said those words to her before.
His arms tightened a fraction and then he rolled them over so that they were on their sides and he was cradling her from behind still. He shifted his leg up and threw it over hers, keeping her pinned against his chest. "You don't have to go yet." He murmured again.
His arm surrounded her shoulders suddenly and tugged her against his side. "You always were beautiful when you blushed." He murmured teasingly against her hairline.
Kagome stood there, her cheeks heated just like he said they were. When she blushed? For a moment she felt mortified that he knew exactly where her thoughts had gone. Looking up at him, he was staring ahead. His lips were quirked up at the edges.
He hadn't forgotten. But he wouldn't, would he?
But he didn't make any other moves towards her like he would have in the past. He just...had his arm around her shoulder. Like he would a friend.
So Kouga. So tame.
She cleared her throat again and stepped out from the shelter of his arm. He didn't stop her. He turned and arched an eyebrow. "The dog should be coming soon."
InuYasha. Kagome rolled her eyes at Kouga's little pet name for InuYasha. That was something that was never going to change. Inuyasha was probably going to call him worse. He was right, though. She picked up Inuyasha's aura before she saw him and then she caught a flash of red before Inuyasha was dropping between her and Kouga.
That was one thing that was never going to change between the two men.
The need to beat each other to a bloody pulp.
Or puff out chests, at least.
"What are you doing here, ya mangy wolf?"
Kouga admired Inuyasha. He may be a nasty mouthed, flea ridden sack of dog shit, but he was still Inuyasha. The Inuyasha who had helped avenge his pack, the Inuyasha that Kagome valued so highly.
But he didn't like him. He didn't have to like him. Like was a far wolves howl from it. He shrugged. "The same thing Kagome's doing here, probably."
Looking at Inuyasha, he almost wished Inuyasha would say something against that. He silently dared him.
He had every fucking right to be here.
"Keep your grubby hands to yourself, wolf." Inuyasha muttered.
Kagome sighed and pushed Inuyasha aside. "Behave." She warned him.
Kagome had given him free reign here, just as she had Sango and Miroku. Anyone, for that matter. The place she had brought to life here was like a ...Shrine. Some of his kin would call it disgraceful for him to set foot in the holy place.
Kagome gave just enough leave way for him and a few other demons to set foot. The Priestess had learned first hand not all demons were hell bent. But not all demons were out for the good sake of mankind, either.
Kagome. His sweet and far too kind woman.
An old bitterness crept up at the way Inuyasha hovered over Kagome. He tampered the emotion down and then gave a fanged grin. "I gotta go, mutt face. See ya later, Kagome!" Kouga said as he suddenly took off in the opposite direction, kicking up a whirlwind of dirt behind him.
He heard Inuyasha yelling obsenities and grinned. Sometimes he had to wonder if he bugged the shit out of Inuyasha on purpose. The answer to that was yes.
He felt elated at the run.
His ears had perked up when he'd heard footsteps near the lake and then he'd recognized Kagome's all too familiar scent.
He hadn't meant for their relationship to become a strain. Somewhere along the way, it had. For Kagome, not for him. He sighed heavily and ignored Ginta and Hakku's sudden yell as he charged past them, spinning them around with his speed.
He would always want to see Kagome, whether she had chosen the mutt face or not. She was his woman in his heart.
His lips twitched. The poor Miko, she still blushed. Was Inuyasha not doing his job? His expression soured when thought about the fact that he, however, had done his job. All too well. Was he jealous? He'd long ago admitted yes to that question.
The thought came again. He admired Inuyasha, but he hated his fucking guts. How could he do that to Kagome? Even in death the clay bitch still seemed to haunt Kagome. How could Inuyasha do that to her? Kagome still played second. She may not realize it, but she did.
He was a fucking wolf. Kagome had once called him a gentleman. But no, he was nothing but a patient wolf. He only had a sliver of hope because of that dead clay doll. He respected Kagome and the only reason he wasn't swinging her up into his arms and claiming her as his woman like he used to was because of the...mate bond between Inuyasha and Kagome, if you could call it that.
His snarled at the thought. No Mate would keep the image of a dead lover. They certainly wouldn't let it hang over their mates head.
He wouldn't. He'd be insulting his wolf heritage-and Kagome.
He respected Kagome. But if he so much as saw a crack, he'd be the wolf that he was bred to be. Even with that thought, the lingering sadness was still there, the ache in his chest. That night had meant something to him and it brought a smile to his lips knowing Kagome remembered. She remembered.
She never was going to forget it.
That part of her body, that part of her fucking soul was his.
He skidded to a halt when he came to the outcropping that led to his pack and then took a bounding jump. He heard a few howls in welcome and gave a nod in acknoledgment. His pack was flourishing, stronger than ever. The Elders may not agree with everything he did but he was leading a strong pack, wasn't he? One of the strongest they'd had in centuries.
The moment he stepped foot into his den he knew he wasn't alone. He knew exactly who was taking up his personal space. All of a sudden he just wasn't in the mood to deal with her bullshit. With a heavy sigh he dropped down onto the furs that made up his bed in the corner. He drew one knee up while resting his forearm on it, the other rubbing the place between his eyes.
"Get out." He said slowly.
His little red headed foe did the complete opposite, not that he'd expected anything different. Ayame rose from where she'd been curled on her side on his bed until she was perched on her knees. "What's wrong?"
How many times was she openly going to defy him? How many times was he going to let her get away with it? He was her Alpha the moment she'd petitioned to join his pack. She earned her place and proven herself worthy. But that made him her Alpha. Not the other way around.
He could feel a headache coming on.
"Get out, Ayame. I'm not in the mood to deal with you today."
"What's wrong, Kouga? Tell me." She rose and then sank to her knees behind him. "You can't keep pushing me away." Kouga stiffended when her arms surrounded him from behind. Her lips touched the side of his neck and his arms snaked up, lightening fast.
He circled her slender neck with both hands and whipped her body up and over his head. She was a wolf demon. The move wouldn't even phase her. He whipped her over his head and dumped her unceremonially at his feet. He leaned over her, bracing his clawed hands on either side of her shoulders. She was upside down, her head brushing his knees. Was that apprehension he saw? Good.
"We all have a role, Ayame. If one acts within the parameters of their role, the whole pack succeeds. If that falls apart, so does the pack." Kouga said slowly, his tone even. "I have one role. That is Alpha. I lead, you follow. There is nothing to push away."
She opened her mouth and he bared his fangs in warning. He didn't want to hear a single word about that childhood fantasy of hers. "If you say it, I will tan your hide till you can't walk for a week."
He knew Ayame was choosing her words carefully. When he made a threat, it was never taken lightly. He'd take great pleasure in whipping that memory from her mind.
"Every Alpha needs his Luna."
His lips peeled back again, exposing dangerous fangs.
"And pups?" Ayame asked.
"I won't have any." His response was quick. He meant every word. If they weren't with Kagome, then he wouldn't have any. Ever. He just didn't...want anyone else.
He twisted his hands in her red hair but didn't pull the threads. He leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Is that it, Ayame? Is that what this is about? The only thing you're liable to get out of me is a single fuck." He responded bluntly. Sometimes that was the only way to get the point across.
Her expression softened. "You don't have to be so crude, Kouga."
He grinned though there was nothing amusing in his expression. "I'm a wolf, Ayame. I'm always going to be crude." He pushed his hands beneath her shoulders and then shoved her to her feet. "Now get out before I throw you out."
Her footsteps echoed her retreat and then silence filled the cave.
If she hadn't heeded his words, he would have thrown her out. If he couldn't Mate Kagome, then he would Mate no one. He wasn't a Saint. Fuck that. He was still a wolf demon and a fucking male at that. He had his needs. Either by his hand or some other female demon.
Kagome was the only human he'd taken.
He rubbed the place over his heart.
He used his hand more often than not. He almost blamed Kagome for that. He could look down at a female and fuck her until she passed out, but her hair wasn't the right color, her skin was too dark or she didn't smell right.
He scrubbed a hand down his face.
He actually prayed to the God he didn't believe in. Let Inuyasha make a mistake. Just one. He was a fucking wolf and he wanted a chance to claim the one he'd staked his claim on years ago.
Author's Note:
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. It was a little hard to write.
The term "Luna" refers to the male alphas mate. She in turn, is an alpha over the pack.
I don't want anyone to think that Kouga is a man whore or anything if he still has sexual urges. He IS a wolf demon and Kouga(to me) is a very dominant male. Wolves are prideful and want what's there's. And then there's Kagome. We know there is something between the two. I hope I'm getting this point across in the chapter so far. There is indefinitely something between the two.
I have a question for all my readers. I want your opinion. I value it. I read each and every review, so don't hesitate to give me your opinion. Do you think Kouga should fuck Ayame? Kagome is his woman. But she isn't his. He can fuck without mating, obviously. Anger, pity, frustration.
Besides, you all know I'm the Lemon Queen.
-Your reviews mean the world to me-