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
- 13
- 14
- 15
Kagome had left the ookami territory. She didn’t speak, wouldn’t even acknowledge InuYasha’s presence. She was so angry with him. Her heart ached in her chest and each time she pictured Kouga in her mind, her knees threatened to buckle and leave her huddled in the snow where the elements could claim her. Lord Sesshomaru walked at the front of the group, leading the way back to Edo. There were many stops along the way. Kagome had been sheltered from the freezing weather for the most part of her stay with the wolf pack and she was still weak. Every night as she curled next to the roaring fire, she felt her legs turn to gelatin and her body was sore in places she had no idea she even had. She ignored her physical pain and continued on without protest, lost in her thoughts.
Even Shippo was unable to bring a smile to his mother’s face. It worried him, but it made him even more determined to stay with her and protect her. Miroku stayed close to his forlorn friend. He knew she had lost a group of very dear friends and that was never something Kagome took lightly. He was slightly angry at InuYasha’s involvement, but he couldn’t stay that way. Miroku knew that rash hanyou was remorseful for his actions. Kohaku remained as silent as the Inuyoukai leading the group. He felt sorry for the priestess and he was never good at making people feel better, especially about things he didn’t fully understand. He just stayed out of her way.
InuYasha was a wreck. His impatience and stupidity caused his best friend’s pain. He tried to talk to her after they walked out the doors of the Elders’ chambers, tried to pull her into an apologetic embrace, but she pushed him away without a word and stared at him with dull, glassy brown eyes. It was the same look he had after Kikyo’s death. He knew she was dying on the inside. He had watched her embrace each wolf and had sneered when Kagome threw herself into the arms of Kouga, but the scent of…well…agony wasn’t a strong enough word for what radiated from the two. He had watched his best friend crumble to pieces against the wolf and knew he had been the cause. Shippo was right, he was a baka.
They arrived in the village a week or so before the thaw. Sesshomaru had informed Kagome that she was expected to continue her training when the weather warmed up and left, returning to the West. Kagome stopped in to see Sango and the new addition to their family. The fake smile she wore hadn’t fooled anyone. When Sango would ask if she was okay, Kagome would just wave her hand and insist she was right as rain. She had stayed in Kaede’s hut with them for a few days, avoiding InuYasha at all costs. Miroku had insisted that she at least try to talk to InuYasha and had ushered her out the door to her own hut where the stubborn hanyou was. There was no apology; no confession of feelings, there was nothing but silence between them. For Kagome the pain was too fresh, too close to her heart to forgive him and InuYasha was just ignorant in the ways of comfort to do anything other than just sit in the hut with her trying to stay quiet and out of the way.
They had a blow out a few days later, well not really they, just Kagome. He had put a set of clean Miko garbs on the edge of her futon and had suggested that she bathe and put on something fresh. He had never seen her in such a state, she refused to move from her spot on the floor, her twisted long hair was matted and tangled. He just wanted to help. He thought that if the usually clean woman would soak in the hot water she would feel better. It used to always work, but she just buried herself further into her fur cape and remained silent. When he placed a hand on her fur to remove it from her face, she exploded. She jumped to her feet, her arms wrapped protectively around herself and screamed at him with tears pouring in torrents down her grimy face. She had said it was all his fault, had told him she didn’t need his help, and that she just wanted to be left alone. Then she ran into the night. He had found her under the Goshinki asleep and had carried her back to their hut, leaving her on her bed before jumping into his hammock to contemplate a way he could fix things.
Aiko and Sango had proved to be a great help with Kagome. Aiko understood InuYasha’s need to take care of the woman he had wronged, the woman who had took care of him for so many years. They had finally convinced Kagome to relinquish her pack furs and bathe. They unmatted her hair and brushed it trying to make it shine the way it used to, but it remained lax and dull just like her eyes. Kagome refused to eat and would push the food around whenever they offered her some anyway. Shippo had moved back in after a short trip to visit the Kitsune Elders and declare he was leaving because of family matters. Shippo was the only one who could get Kagome to take a few bites here and there, it wasn’t a lot, but at least she wouldn’t starve to death. Everyone noticed the blue ribbon wound around her wrist. She never took it off and her fingers were never far from it at any given time. Sometimes she would silently cry when she touched it, sometimes a sad smile would spread across her face. No one mentioned it, but had a guess that it had come from Kouga.
Sango, Miroku and their small brood left on Kilala to return to the slayer village after the first blooms of spring. Kohaku had stayed behind awaiting the arrival of Rin. Kaede had business to attend to in the village and Aiko had become swamped with work at the shop. InuYasha and Shippo never left Kagome’s side. She still refused to leave the hut or to eat and bathe properly without much coaxing from Shippo. She never spoke. She only returned Shippo’s many ‘I love you’s and would hug him close and cry into his auburn hair. He would hold her the best he could and try to comfort her while InuYasha looked on helplessly.

Sesshomaru had smelled the acrid scent of humans, but had singled out that of the Miko’s immediately as he touched down outside the old Miko’s hut to drop off Rin for her lessons. He followed the stench of tears and despair to the hut she shared with his brother. He didn’t knock, just walked in. She was huddled on her shabby bedroll, staring at the wall, not acknowledging him as he walked toward her. It reminded him of Rin that day, many months ago. InuYasha and her kit were sitting at the table eating, a filled bowl sitting on the table untouched and missing the recipient who was laying at his feet a broken, filthy mess.
“Miko.” His stoic voice commanding her attention.
She never moved. He nudged her with his boot, but it only succeeded in her curling into herself further. He watched the billowing waves of fabric settle around her slight form. She was thin, much too thin for his taste, her skin was paler than its usual creamy hue and her cheeks were gaunt and sallow. She was starving herself in her grief. His gaze flitted to her fingers that curled the end of a frayed ribbon tied around her wrist. It held the waning scent of the wolf Prince. He bent at the waist and wrapped his long digits around the wrist of the hand twirling the ribbon and hauled her to her feet. She looked at him then, her eyes devoid of life. His cold heart clenched at the sight, remembering Rin. As soon as the feeling came, he squashed it and it was replaced by anger, anger at her for being weak, for allowing this to consume her. She was better than this.
“Miko, you will bathe and join this Sesshomaru in the clearing for your training.”
It was not a request. He let her go and turned his back walking from her to the exit, expecting her to do as he said, but she just sunk back onto the futon and resumed her ministrations to the silk band. He turned around and his eyes widened at the defiance the human showed. She had never done such a thing, at least, not since they had begun her training. She had been as obedient as Rin. He couldn’t comprehend what the Miko was going through and he didn’t want to try. It needed to end, this behavior was unacceptable.
He scooped her up in a flash, throwing her over his broad shoulder and made his way from the hut. Having her this close further solidified his earlier suspicion, she hadn’t bathed in a few days. Her odor was nowhere near as offensive as other humans’, but that didn’t mean he would tolerate it. She never fought him, not even when he dumped her in the lake. He purposely by passed the warm hot spring for the chilly waters of the river, hoping to get a rise out of her. She righted herself and just stood there in the waist deep water. No reaction, no words, nothing. Sesshomaru walked back to the hut and retrieved her bathing supplies, a change of clothing, and a towel from the kit.
“You will allow no one near the river, little brother.”
InuYasha just nodded his head and grabbed Tetsusaiga before brushing past him out the door to do just as he said, the little kit scurrying behind him.
Sesshomaru returned to the Miko, who had not moved in the water. He placed her items on the bank and removed his MokoMoko, swords, and armor. He took his time unlacing his boots to watch her. She was acting stranger than any human he had ever come across, stranger for her anyway, just standing there dripping, watching the rippling water with unseeing eyes. He pulled off his silk haori and undershirt, folded them neatly and placed them on his armor. He grabbed her soap and a rag and wadded into the water stopping in front of her, holding the items out for her to grasp.
“Bathe, Miko.”
She made no move to take the proffered items, never shifted her eyes from the water. He sighed audibly. Why was he even doing this? Sesshomaru grabbed her wrist roughly and made her curl her fingers around the bar of soap and the rag. Still she didn’t move. He began untying her white haori and removed it from her person and worked the ties to her red hakama. She was left in her strange undergarments. Her body was frail, her ribs clearly visible underneath her skin. She never attempted to cover herself, just remained impassive. He felt his anger well inside him again. He grabbed her shoulders and shook her like a rag doll. She finally looked up at him. He had her attention. Good.
“You will do as this Sesshomaru says, girl. Bathe.” He growled at her.
She looked down at the soap in her hand and then back up at him. He removed his hands when she began the slow and inadequate process of moving the soap over her skin. Sesshomaru’s infallible patience was hanging by a thread. When she paused at the blue ribbon around her wrist and began to cry, the thread broke. He rushed forward, ignoring her tears for the moment and grabbed the soap and rag from her. He washed her tiny body like she was a pup. He lathered her hair, pulling his claws through the tangles unapologetically as her shoulders shook and the salt burned his nose. He threw the soap and rag onto the bank, clamped his hand over her nose and mouth and pushed her without warning under the water to rinse. He pulled her up by her arm, she was gasping for air, still sobbing.
“What has reduced you to such a loathsome level? This.” He spat at her holding her blue clad wrist up to her face.
Her dull eyes widened at the mention of the precious silken band. He ripped it away from her, tiny glass beads sent scattering into the water. She screamed in protest and lunged at his hand that held the tattered keepsake. He shoved her roughly away and she stumbled, falling clumsily into the water. She surfaced with the small spark of determination her eyes once held. She rushed him again, her movements slow and sluggish in the water. He clapped her across her back, sending her face first into the water. She righted herself again and with large splashing strides came at him once more. He allowed her to land a tiny fist across his chest, before he picked her up by her flailing wrists, lifting her up to his height to look in her smoldering chocolate orbs.
“Try harder.”
He flung her back several feet and waited for her to resume her attack. She did, but this time she ducked his swing, less gracefully than she used to, but effectively and connected her weak foot with the side of his ribs. It didn’t hurt, but it was still an improvement. She was not in a healthy enough condition to do much damage. She spun and sent a punch barreling toward his face. He blocked her attempt and pushed her back. She held her footing this time. He dangled the ribbon in front of her, taunting her into action. She did not disappoint. He swept her legs out from under her with his submerged foot, causing her to plunge under the water again before she got close. He pulled her up by her tiny wrist and trapped her back against his chest by their linked arms. He pushed his other magenta striped wrist into her line of sight, clearly displaying where he had tied the precious ribbon to himself. She struggled in his hold, but he was unaffected.
“You will prove to this Sesshomaru your desire to obtain this. Gather your strength, Miko, you will need it.”
He used his inhuman speed to extract himself from the water and dress before she could follow. He left her fuming in the water, floundering around trying to find her discarded clothing. He passed the kit on his way to the old Miko’s hut to say his farewell to Rin.
“Retrieve your mother from the river, kit, and feed her.” He said without breaking his strides.
InuYasha was perched in a tree overlooking the river. He had watched the entire scene between Kagome and Sesshomaru. At first he was ready to rip the fucker’s head off, but then Kagome started responding, so he decided to sit back and let it happen. It was the most emotion she had shown in weeks. He listened to her grumble as she made her way to the river bank to dress and smiled. Maybe his dickhead brother wasn’t that much of a pain in the ass after all.
“Perhaps, little brother, you should indulge in a bath as well. This Sesshomaru finds your stench quite repulsive. You no doubt offend the very humans you live among with an odor that strong.”
Then again…

Saburo didn’t know how much more he could take. After the Council rejected Kagome, four months ago, Kouga had hit a downward spiral of epic proportions. The Elders had decided to banish Ayame from their lands claiming her reasons for her violence were justifiable but intolerable. Kouga had mentally checked out after Kagome left the judgment chambers. Saburo doubted he heard one word that was said after that, except for the Elders’ command that Kouga have no further contact with the little Miko. Kouga had snarled and spewed a line of obscenities that would make the most seasoned demon blush before telling the Council to kiss his furry ass and storming out of the arena before he was properly dismissed. Saburo had found him in his den the next morning, the room completely trashed, sitting in a dry bathing tub with a bottle of empty sake, drunk off his tail and clutching Kagome’s hair ribbons, crying like a cub. It had taken many hours to calm his friend and convince him to get some rest. Kouga had set fire to the furs he and Kagome shared and opted to sleep on the stone floor instead. The next day he had another trunk commissioned to hold Kagome’s furs and ribbons.
His behavior only deteriorated in the weeks that followed. He had no time for conversation and didn’t act even remotely like the proud wolf he had once been. He became introverted and angry, completely unapproachable. He was gone during the day, hunting down the demons who threatened their territory. It was becoming a normal routine for the pack to watch their Alpha limp, bloody and broken through the common den every night as he made his way back to his personal chambers. Saburo had taken over the task of endless paperwork that remained forgotten by his distraught Alpha and most of the day to day pack issues while Kouga was out ridding the territory of the snake youkai. No one said anything about his lack of attention to the menial tasks, because eliminating their enemy was something that desperately needed to be done.
It was reckless the way he did it, though. Kouga never allowed anyone to help. He went alone each day and every night came back with worse injuries than the day before. Saburo had seen him while he mourned and worried over Kagome when she was injured. He hadn’t thought it could get any worse than that, but he apparently had been wrong. Saburo was beyond concerned about his friend. The pack was apt to lose their Alpha any day because of his recklessness and Kouga seemed like he just didn’t care anymore. Saburo had shadowed Kouga on many occasions, watching him as he fought like a wolf possessed. He would take blow after blow without even slowing down his relentless assault. He cleared one, sometimes two nests a day, before returning to the den.
So far he had eliminated three times the amount of nests that the pack had collectively found the previous year. Saburo had to admit that Kouga was doing an impressive job, but he wouldn’t be able to keep it up at the rate he was going. Still, his friend trudged out of his den every morning at dawn and hunted down another nest, to leave it and his body in ruins at the end of the day. The enemy was spreading; multiplying it seemed at an alarming rate, any fool could see it. He had warned Kouga, but it only made the stubborn Prince more determined to work harder.
If this was the way someone acted when they lost their mate, then Saburo was completely certain he would never fall in love. This was horrible to see and he couldn’t imagine what was rolling around underneath the surface. All he knew to do was to hold everything together and cover for his brother whenever Kouga was asked for, but he knew time was running out before the Council got involved. He just hoped Kouga would come around before then.
There had been a new birth in the pack and Saburo was busy with preparations for the cub’s ceremony, something Kouga should have been doing. He hadn’t noticed that Kouga hadn’t left the den that day. He had been too busy. Ginta came walking up to him, Hakkaku oddly absent.
“Hey, Saburo, can we talk?” Ginta asked looking around nervously.
“Sure thing just let me finish up what I’m doing and I’ll meet you in the common den in an hour.” Saburo replied absently.
“No, Saburo, that’s not going to work. I need to talk to you like right now and privately.” Ginta said with urgency, eyeing some of the other wolves around them.
Saburo looked to Ginta and saw the haggard expression on his friend’s face. Something was seriously wrong. ‘Oh, Gods, Kouga.’ Saburo nodded his head and allowed the younger wolf to lead him hurriedly back to the den. They pushed through the leather flap to find Hakkaku diligently wiping an unconscious Kouga’s brow, his face flushed and covered in a sheen of sweat. His muscles contracted in various places all over his body causing him to twitch randomly.
“What the fuck happened to him?” Saburo yelled, rushing to kneel by Kouga.
“I found him in here like this earlier this morning. He wouldn’t wake up. I don’t know what happened.” Hakkaku explained ringing out the excess water from a cloth.
Saburo started lifting Kouga’s arms and legs, inspecting every inch of his tanned skin. Demons didn’t get sick. He would bet his life that Kouga had been poisoned, but he had to know for sure. He flipped Kouga onto his back and lifted his hair, finding nothing but a few healing wounds that smelled normal enough and a few scars he’d always had. He rolled Kouga onto his back and inspected his face and neck, still nothing. Saburo was becoming frustrated and fast. How could he help him if he didn’t know what happened? Kouga convulsed suddenly, his entire body going rigid, his arms flailing. The three wolves held him down as his head shook and he foamed at the mouth. They waited until he was quiet again and Hakkaku wiped the spittle from his chin. Saburo opened his mouth and peered inside, finding nothing out of the ordinary.
“What are we going to do, Saburo?” Ginta asked wearily.
“I guess we’re just going to have to wait it out. Kouga’s strong; his youki will burn out whatever is in his system. We can’t let this get out to the rest of the pack. Everybody has noticed his erratic behavior and if they find out he was injured like this, they might contest his rights as Alpha.” Saburo said wiping a hand across his own face.
“What happens if he doesn’t get better? What do we do then?” Ginta asked as he watched his brother pat away the perspiration on their ill leader’s forehead.
“The ceremony for Asuki’s cub is in three days, if he’s not better by then, I’ll leave and find outside help.” He replied with a heavy sigh.
“You going to get little sister, huh?” Hakkaku asked knowingly.
“Yeah.”
“You heard the Council’s edict. She can’t have any contact with Kouga anymore. If you bring her here and they find out…” Ginta started.
“Who said I was going to bring her here? We’ll find a way to get him to her. Just watch over him. I got to go back and finish up the preparations. I’ll stay with him tonight, so you two can get some rest. Just remember to keep your mouths shut, got it?” Saburo said as he stood heading for the exit.
“Got it, Saburo.” Ginta said.
“No problem.” Hakkaku chimed in.

A/N: I would like to send a super big thank you to Shyneamor, KEdakumi, Cathyrin, nique217 & Tassana_Burrfoot for the reviews. I'm happy everyone is getting wrapped up in the story.
I can't comment on what's gonna happen with Hiroshi & Ayame, but I will say Kagome is going to have an earth shattering revelation here soon.
Anyway, another round of thanks is in order to all those who have voted and have stuck with the story so far. I hope everyone is pleased with the chapters to come.
~scattered-dimensions~
- 13
- 14
- 15
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My Woman