Adult-FanFiction.org : Inuyasha / Yashahime

My Woman	By : scattered-dimensions Category: InuYasha > Het - Male/Female > Kouga/Kagome Views: 16033 -:- Recommendations : 4 -:- Currently Reading : 6
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. This is purely fiction. No profit involved.

Chapter List
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He didn’t stay in the main den with the others anymore. He gave his pallet up for public claim. It was one of the many things that reminded him of her, of the day they first met, when he had kidnapped her. Sure he was a changed wolf now, no eating humans and he tried to see the greater good in people. He even swallowed his pride when he lost the sacred jewel shards in his legs and entrusted her full safety to mutt-face. Changes only she imposed in his life. Changes he embraced because he loved her. All he had left were bittersweet memories and the feeling of her in his arms as he said his final good-bye still lingered on his flesh six years later. The feel of her silken, ebony tresses under his palm as he rubbed her hair trying in futile desperation to reassure himself that he hadn’t lost her forever, the way her body fit so perfectly to his, the warmth of her body under his arm as he hugged her tightly to his chest. When she lifted her head to gaze into his eyes, those heart wrenchingly beautiful chestnut orbs were glistening with her unshed tears, it had damn near caused his knees to buckle. He fled from her then. He couldn’t take it, the pain, her touch, the sorrow in her eyes. It was too much. He was not the one she loved and he knew it, but he had always hoped. He hadn’t seen her since that day, couldn’t see her. Back then it was nothing to just blaze ten miles out of his way just to see ‘his woman’ and he treasured those moments. Her tiny, soft hands captured in his large, rough mitts. The way she would flush and shift uncomfortably, or when she would sit that stupid mutt-face always made him chuckle, even now through all the years of loneliness. He missed his woman; no she wasn’t ‘his woman’, not anymore. She never really was, never really belonged to anyone. She belonged to herself and didn’t bow to anyone’s whim or fancy. It was just one of the many reasons he loved her.
Kami above, Kouga hated days like this, when it was raining in torrents outside the wolf den. All he could think of was Kagome. How he missed her. He shifted on his fur pallet and rolled onto his stomach, with his forehead resting on his forearms. He let out a deep sigh and willed the thoughts of her away, but just like it always was on rainy days, it took more strength than usual. She was never far from his thoughts anyway. He got updates from different wolf youki that knew of his involvement with her and her traveling companions. He had heard about Naraku’s defeat. He knew she had stayed in Edo, where the old Miko resided. She shared a hut with mutt-breath and that kit. His heart wrenched at the thought of them living together as a family. Mutt playing the role he should have been, but it was not to be. His feelings were only one sided and refused to force her. He wasn’t that kind of demon. She was too precious, too fragile to be torn into that kind of decision. She considered him a friend, he knew that. He also knew that she would never hurt her friends, no matter the cost to herself. So selfless, so fearless, so strong, so soft, and so very perfect.
His tail was twitching in irritation. He really didn’t want to leave the warmth of his solitary den to mingle with the others, but he had to. She had to leave his mind, the pain was too great. The longing was suffocating him. ‘Oh, how the mighty have fallen.’ He thought cynically to himself and mighty he was. He was the youngest wolf demon in all the ancient histories to lead any wolf tribe, but more than that, he was the only one to unite all tribes under one rule, his rule. It wasn’t that he didn’t respect the other Alphas, he did, but the whole nomadic attitude the other tribes had was frustrating to him. After the attacks from the Birds of Paradise and then the annihilation of most of his kinsmen at the hands of that wind witch, Kagura, he began to see that their strengths resided with the culmination of their race, not the division. After Naraku’s defeat, he went to the Elder Counsel and expressed his thoughts on the union of the demon wolf tribes. It wasn’t his purpose for himself to lead, so, he left the decision to the Elder Counsel. They agreed to unite the scattered tribes and brought them together in the Eastern Lands, in his domain, the domain of his long deceased father, but there was opposition to the Elders’ decision and many challenges and threats against his life. Everyone knew the tribal union was the young Prince’s idea and he did nothing to hide it. He even boldly declared his actions, which angered many because they thought he was vying for absolute control, which was not the case. The Elders had thought of this too and once every Alpha was gathered before the cascading waterfall that showered over the entrance of the common area of his den, they announced the contest. The rules were simple, fight, best two out of three, between opponents divided in groups of their respective lands. The winners from those groups fought until there was only two. Kouga and a white wolf from the Northern tribes named, Saburo were the last standing. They fought from dusk well into the sun of the next day before Kouga was declared Alpha of the newly united tribe.
There were those that still didn’t approve, but over the years he had swayed their opinions. He was a great leader and no one went without and the pack prospered. There was a flourish of new life with the many new unions within the tribe and every cub further solidified the tribe’s strength. They were the future and Kouga was proud of every last one. It was his duty as the Alpha of the pack to welcome every new cub into the folds of the pack through a ceremony that was held in the same location at the base of the great fall where he proved his worth and strength as their leader. Each ceremony was a joyous occasion for the whole pack and he reveled in the elation, but when he would retire into his quiet den, after his nightly patrols, he couldn’t help but think, what if and he would be tormented throughout the night of her face, her chestnut eyes, that were the windows to her soul, her sweet tantalizing voice.
“Kouga, hey, Kouga!” Kouga’s head snapped up as he mentally shook off his thoughts and watched his friend Hakkaku jog towards him with Ginta following close behind. “The rain finally let up, you goin’ out for your patrol? We could back you up if ya want. I mean, it would be nice to get out of the den for a while and get some fresh air.”
“What he means to say is Ayame has been bugging the shit out of us about you.” Ginta piped up.
Ah, yes, Ayame. How could he forget her? Since the tribal union she shadowed his every step. The kid did her best to try to draw his attention, she really did, but he just wasn’t interested. Sure he felt crummy that she had taken his words of comfort as a serious declaration of a claim, but she was just a cub for Kami sake. Of course Hakkaku and Ginta knew why. They knew how much he loved the little priestess, the one they called sister, but they never spoke of her. They avoided the subject of their leaders lost love like their lives depended on it. He suspected they did it to spare him unnecessary grief and he was silently grateful. They always were good friends. Ayame, though, just didn’t care. She threw Kagome’s name around like it was an old dirty rug that needed to have the dust knocked out of it. She missed his every flinch that his love’s name inflicted, but Hakkaku and Ginta didn’t. They would distract the little wolf female to allow Kouga to escape or just make an excuse and cut her off before she tried to follow. “If we hurry, we could slip out before she notices you.” Ginta said quietly with a light slap on Kouga’s shoulder, but it was too late.
“Oh, there you are, Kouga. I was wondering when you were going to show your face today. It’s not healthy, you know, separating yourself from the pack like that. I hunted earlier and I was wondering if you wanted to join me?” Ayame said as she made her way to the wolf Prince, stopping only inches from him.
“Not today, Ayame. I’m about to go on patrol with Hakkaku and Ginta, maybe some other time.” He said noncommittally in his deep, baritone voice as a walked past an unfazed Ayame to the entrance of the cave.
He could still feel her eyes on his back as he ducked through the water and out into the midafternoon air. It was still a little cloudy, but the sky was clearing swiftly. The scent of the rain clung in the air, but was slowly dissipating. He looked around, surveying various members of the tribe at work with one task or another. The males were busy skinning and tanning new hides for the coming winter months. Most of the females laughed as they sewed new pelts together or wove baskets watching the antics of their cubs playing near the river. He stretched his arms over his head and closed his eyes, taking a deep refreshing breath to clear his mind. It was time to run and when he did it was freeing. He left all thoughts behind, scattered like the dirt kicked up by his strong legs. He released the air in his lungs and brought his fists to his hips and turned to face his companions.
“Alright, boys, let’s see if you can keep up.” He said with a cocky smirk and he was off, surrounded by his signature tornado leaving the brothers behind staring dejectedly at the shrinking whirlwind. They just shook their heads and attempted to catch up, knowing it was impossible.

“Oi, wench what’s taking so damn long?” A pissed off red clad hanyou yelled as Kagome emerged from the hut. She had been sitting with an elderly couple for the past four days. The old woman had come down with pneumonia and Kagome knew she didn’t have much time left, but she did all she could to keep the poor woman comfortable. This, however, did not sit too well with InuYasha.
It had been four and a half years since the final battle with Naraku. Four and a half years since she had made the purifying wish on the Shikon jewel, successfully sending it out of existence forever. Four and a half years since the well closed, trapping her in the past for the rest of her life. It was okay though. She had a family here. Sango and Miroku were married and moved back to the slayer village with Kohaku. They had twin boys and were expecting another baby soon. Shippo had gone to train with some of the fox demon elders a year ago. She knew she could give him love and the guidance to make good choices in his life, but she was only human and she had no clue as to how to train his demon powers. They both cried the day he left. He clung to his adopted mother, as she whispered soothing reassurances to her kit. Then he reluctantly followed the elders. He had visited once and she was so proud of the change in him, but he was the same little trouble maker as always. He had waited until InuYasha wasn’t looking a shot a blast of fox fire into the hanyou’s face, singeing his bangs and burning his eyebrows off. Shippo walked away with a couple of lumps, but smiled through the whole thing.
“Did you hear me? I said what’s takin’ so long? I mean how much strength does that old hag have left anyway? She’s just a human.” InuYasha seethed. He hated it when Kagome ignored him
“InuYasha, if you don’t hush, I’m going to s-i-t you to the other end of the Earth. She is sick and in pain. I am going to stay her with her whether you like it or not.” Kagome said, glaring at the brash hanyou who now had his ears plastered flat to the top of his head.
“Feh, whatever, Kagome. I’m goin’ home. Come back whenever ya want, I don’t care.”
She watched him walk back towards the hut they shared, and then followed the beaten path to the nearby stream to get some clean water. InuYasha and her weren’t together or anything. They were just friends. She had thought for a long time she was in love with him and maybe she was at one time, but she really had nothing to compare it too. She just chalked it up to young love and infatuation. The realization didn’t stop her from trying to take care of him though. He was stubborn, loud, obnoxious, violent, and rude, but he had a gentle side and that’s what endeared her to him. He needed her even if he wouldn’t admit it. After Kikyou’s death, she watched her friend somewhat recede into himself and she had tried for many years to bring him back to the surface and had succeeded for the most part. He had become the village protector and had caught the eye of a rather pretty young woman named Aiko, a seamstress apprentice, but naturally the dense hanyou failed to pay attention to her affections. Kami, he could be so frustrating, but the girl just took it all in stride and never batted an eyelash when he came out with a ‘What do I need this for?’ or ‘Why do you keep looking at me like that, wench?’ Aiko’s patience was astounding. Kagome would have just sat him into oblivion, which she had on many occasions, but hey, if the young woman didn’t mind his attitude, who was she to interfere. His personal life was just simply none of her business.
She pulled the bamboo covering back to allow herself entry into the elderly couples hut lugging the bucket of water beside her. She set it down and dipped the fresh, cool water out and into a waiting bowl that sat on the floor next to the sickly woman. Beads of sweat from the fever were cascading down her wrinkled face and her husband sat ever by her side, holding her frail hand. The elder woman’s skin was thin like rice paper, but tough from the years of work beside her husband in the fields and her eyes when she was able to open them, were dark, but held a lifetime of sage advice and hard lessons learned. There was something else in those deeply aged depths, a twinkle that shone through it all when she looked at her husband, a glimpse of the young, beautiful maiden she once had been staring at the strapping young man she had shared her first kiss with. They were a lovely couple, completely devoted and Kagome was sad. Sad because she knew that their happiness would end because of something that in her time would have been easily remedied, but it was not in the cards of fate. She wet a rag and squeezed the excess water from the cloth and gingerly brushed the woman’s brow. Her breaths were shallow and Kagome knew it wouldn’t be long now.
“Have I ever told you how I met my Sayuri?” His soft, age worn voice asked.
“No, Naoki-senpai, you haven’t.” Kagome replied in the same hushed tones.
“I was a young man, almost as young as you are now, child. It was spring and the sakura trees had just started to blossom. My father had me load the wagon up to travel to a nearby village for supplies. I was weaving through the crowds trying to get back to the edge of the village where my wagon was being held at the stable, but I bumped into a young woman and dropped my money purse. I bent to pick it up, issuing apology after apology, but I wasn’t paying attention. She had also bent to retrieve the purse I had dropped and our heads collided.” He chuckled lightly in his reminiscence, his eyes far away lost to memory. “I grabbed the purse and we both stood up rubbing our heads, but as soon as I turned my attention to her, I lost my breath and the pain just ceased to exist. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. Her dark hair was tied up into a simple bun with a jasmine ribbon securing it in place. She wore a modest kimono that had white ringlets adorning the jasmine silk and a white obi. She wore no makeup and didn’t need it. Her eyes were dark and as deep as any ocean. I tell you, she held my heart at that moment and didn’t even know it. We exchanged pleasantries and I asked to see her again, inviting her over for dinner, for what I claimed was my graciousness for her help. Of course it was just an excuse to see her again. She agreed and I picked her up outside her father’s hut two nights later. The dinner was nice. She was polite and gracious and I’ll never forget the blush that rose on her cheeks every time we made eye contact from across the table. Two years later, I requested her hand in marriage and every time I look at her I’m reminded just how much of a lucky, bumbling fool I am.”
“That’s a beautiful story. I can tell you love each other a lot.” Kagome said sadly, knowing it was going to be hard on the older man when his beloved passed and her heart hurt for him.
“That we do, child, that we do. It’s a shame though, that we won’t be able to see the trees blossom together again.” With those final words of love tinged with sadness spoken, Sayuri’s spirit left the land of the living. Kagome said a final prayer to guide her soul to the afterlife and left the man to grieve for the love of his life. She made her way to Kaede’s hut and informed her of the passing. Kaede said she would take care of the funeral preparations and told Kagome to head home. Which she did gladly. She was tired and her heart was heavy. All she wanted to do was bathe and then go to sleep, but InuYasha was home, so she doubted it was going to be easy to carry out her plans, but then again, he had an uncanny way of surprising her.
“It’s about damn time, woman. Man, I never thought you were gonna come home.” InuYasha exclaimed when she walked into the hut. He was tending the fire and handed her a bowl full of cooked meat and some vegetables. “Here, I saved you some.”
“Thanks, InuYasha that was sweet.”
“Feh, don’t thank me. If you would’ve been any later I would’ve eaten it anyway, but I guess you got lucky.”
‘Way to take a compliment ‘Yasha’ Kagome thought absently as she devoured her dinner. It was the first meal she had all day and it hit the spot. They sat in silence for a time after she finished and stared at the fire crackling in the pit.
“I’m going to bathe and then settle in for the night.” Kagome stated suddenly. InuYasha started a bit and Kagome smirked to herself as she set about gathering her bathing supplies and fresh clothes.
“Keh, you bathe more than any human I’ve ever seen, Kagome.” He said with a grin of his own.
“You know, ‘Yasha, it wouldn’t kill you to do the same.” She retorted with the grin still plastered on her face.
“What’s with that anyways?” He said crossing his arms and shaking his head. “That’s what that idiot half-brother of mine says every time he drops of his brat off at Kaede’s. I happen to like the way I smell. It’s naturally me.”
Kagome giggled at this, remembering all the times Sesshomaru would taunt him with goading comments like ‘My, little brother, you are rather pungent today. I see that you have not quite learned the advantages of soap.’ or her personal favorite, though she’d never speak it aloud, ‘Not another step closer, little brother. The stench of human is bad enough, but the foul odor coming from you is far more assaulting to the senses.’
“You could say that again.” She said between giggles.
“Oi, go take your bath, wench. If I didn’t know any better, I would say you and Lord Ice prick had some kind of plan going on behind my back!” InuYasha fumed.
“You should know better than that, I am but a lowly human after all.” She said using her best stoic Lord impression and with that InuYasha laughed. He always got a kick out the rare occasions when she would mock Sesshomaru and this time was no different.
“You’re getting better at that.” He finally said after the laughing had died down.
She just looked at him with the best expressionless mask she could muster and quirked an eyebrow at him, responding with, “Hn” and exited the hut. She could hear his laughter erupting anew as she made her way to the spring that was secluded behind their hut. InuYasha, in one of his moments of kindness, built a small enclosed area near the edge of the spring to ensure no one peeked at her while she bathed. She smiled in spite of herself. She knew it was mean to make fun of someone, even if it was Sesshomaru, but she couldn’t quite make herself care at that moment. She needed something to take her mind off of the days sad events.
She watched Miroku and Sango’s love blossom and knew they were so happy. Miroku had stopped his lecherous ways with all women except Sango and she was indeed the one to bear his child, or children as the case may be. She was undeniably happy that her sister had found joy and that the monk she had learned to love as an older brother, finally get the family he had dreamed about for so long. She missed them. They had visited about a month or so back before Sango became too heavy with child. They had brought the twins with them and Kohaku. They only stayed a couple of nights, but it was just like old times. There was the occasional ‘Hentai!’ followed by a resounding slap and a very content monk rubbing the red handprint on his face. Kagome watched the family interact between each other. The little glances Sango would give Miroku when she thought no one was watching. The way Miroku would softly caress her cheek before giving her a chaste kiss on her lips, which was instantly followed by two small, disgusted voices. ‘Eeeeewwww, that was gross!’ The boys were wonderful to have around. They were the perfect mix of Sango and Miroku’s features and they refused to be separated. They played with the village children and helped her pick herbs. They were so full of life and energy and their parents all but glowed with pride. It made her wish that she could find something like that, but between her training with Sesshomaru and harnessing her miko powers, it left little time for anything else.
She finished her bath and stepped out of the water and dried off. She adorned her sleeping yukata and her sandals before gathering her things and making her way back into the hut. InuYasha was asleep in his hammock across the room. She had made it for him so that he was a little more comfortable sleeping inside. He had made the comment once that if he had known about something like that sooner in his life, he wouldn’t have slept in so many trees. She put her things in their respective places and grabbed a comb from the shelf that stored her meager belongings. She settled down on her pallet, opposite of the room from the slumbering hanyou and set to work detangling her thigh length, dark tresses. She let her mind wander into the realm of what ifs. She wondered what it would be like to have a man to call husband and if he would be as tender to her as Miroku was to Sango. Someone who would show the loyalty and devotion that Naoki showed for his wife, Sayuri. She wondered what her children would look like, if she ever got the chance to have them, if she ever found the right one to have them with. Sure she was content in her life, sharing her home with her friend, but she longed for something more, something selfish and hers alone.
She spent all her time helping others and pushing her wants and needs to the background. She didn’t mind though. She loved helping people, but it was nice to let her mind wonder down the path of dreams and wishes sometimes. It seemed to usually happen at the end of the day on quiet nights like this. The only sounds were the crickets singing and InuYasha’s soft even breathing. The flickering light from the fire sent shadows about the room, dancing to the sputtering and popping of the embers. She settled to her side and closed her eyes. Just before she surrendered to sleep the picture of the ookami Prince briefly flashed in her mind. His crooked smirk that always showed a fang in the corner of his mouth, his deep blue eyes and the way he would grasp her hands and call her his woman, much to InuYasha’s chagrin. She smiled to herself and groggily wondered how he was before she succumbed to the land of dreams.
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My Woman