Adult-FanFiction.org : Inuyasha / Yashahime

Solace	By : Brightdreamer Category: InuYasha > Yaoi - Male/Male > Kouga/InuYasha Views: 5372 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha, nor make money from this story.

Chapter List
- 1-Awakening
- 2-Shock
- 3-Numb
- 4-Catharsis
- 5-Quest
- 6-Routine
- 7-Mortal
- 8-Beginning
- 5
- 6
- 7
Author: Eloy Brightdreamer

Rating: R

Genre: Angst/Romance

Summary: After a terrible tragedy strikes, how will Inuyasha and Kouga cope?

Warnings:

1. YAOI! This means romance and/or sex involving two male characters. Don't like it? Don't read it!

2. Character death.
A/N: Hoo boy. I seem to always be apologizing for having things out too late! But really... I am sorry!! I just take a long time to write. But, I DO have the next chapter almost done at the time of posting this... I just decided to split it into two because it was getting a bit long. ^_^ As always, thanks to Aria, my wonderful betareader, and to Rich for giving me inspirational fanart!

Heh, I've gotten a lot of comments about how similar one plot element is to LOTR. Trust me, it's going to be different. Consider it an "homage." Kudos to anyone who noticed the name of the mountain, too.
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Chapter 5: Routine
Kagome stood before him, as beautiful as the day he'd met her. She turned toward him with a smile, the kind that could light up his whole world. He reached out for her, wanting to hold her, to keep her from the fate he knew awaited... but it was too late. As always, her soft, delicate features turned to grey stone before his eyes. He cried out, trying to stop the transformation, but it was in vain. The stone Kagome crumbled before his eyes, leaving a bitter dust as the dark laugh of Naraku echoed in the void.
Inuyasha awoke with a jolt, staring out into the night. He breathed in deeply, sighing with relief after a moment as he didn't detect the presence of any youkai other than the wolf demon nearby. Lying awake now, he pondered the events of the past few days.
As they had traveled, Inuyasha and Kouga had settled into a kind of reluctant routine. The hanyou hated to admit it, but he was glad that he had the wolf demon along. The going was slow, due to all the demons that were attracted by the immense power of the jewel, and he would have been delayed even further had Kouga not been there to assist in the fights. Already, the trip had taken over a week, and Kouga said that they were barely halfway to the volcano.
The hanyou stretched and rolled onto his back, preparing to go take his turn at watch while Kouga caught a few hours of sleep. He was mildly surprised that they hadn't been attacked yet tonight; it would be a rare occurrence to pass completely to daybreak without assault.
A strange light caught Inuyasha's attention, barely seen out of the corner of his eye. Turning his head, he was startled to see the glow of the Shikon no Tama illuminating the campsite. Kouga was kneeling nearby, the light casting eerie, dancing shadows on his face. Instinctively, Inuyasha's hand moved to his neck, searching for the small pouch that usually hung there. Of course, it was missing. Obviously, he could see the jewel in front of him. But how had Kouga...?
"What are you doing, wolf?" he asked, sitting up.
Kouga looked up at him slowly, the weird purple light of the Shikon jewel reflected in his eyes. "I was just... thinking," he replied in a low voice.
"Well, that's a first," Inuyasha retorted. When Kouga didn't respond to the verbal jab, he cleared his throat and continued. "What are you thinking?"
The wolf prince remained silent for a long moment, long enough that Inuyasha was about to repeat the question when he finally spoke. "I've heard... this jewel has the power to grant any wish," he said quietly.
"Yeah..." Inuyasha felt apprehension tighten his stomach. "What... what are you wanting to wish for?" He had a feeling that he already knew.
"What do you think, stupid mutt? I want... I want to bring Kagome back." He smiled, reaching for the jewel. "It's perfect..."
Inuyasha's hand shot out, catching Kouga's wrist and stopping him only a few inches from his goal. "No. We can't..."
Kouga wrenched his arm free, throwing the hanyou's hand off violently. "Why not? Isn't that what we both want?"
"What do you think?" Inuyasha yelled back. "I want that more than anything. But we can't!" His voice softened. "Believe me, I've thought about it a lot."
The wolf demon sat back, crossing his arms. "Why? Tell me."
Taking a deep breath, Inuyasha tried to collect his thoughts. Even now, with all his reasons, it was still tempting to ignore them all and follow Kouga's suggestion. "Well, for one, what do you think will happen if we free Kagome's soul from the jewel?" he began. "She's in there now, binding Naraku there. Do you want to set him loose again?"
Kouga shrugged. "We'd find another way to defeat him."
"Stupid wolf!" Inuyasha snarled. "Do you want to make her sacrifice meaningless? Do you want her to have to watch us die trying to fight Naraku? Because that's what would have happened, and you know it."
The youkai looked down. "No... I know... but..."
"There's another possibility too," he continued, interrupting. "We could be able to bring her body back to life, but her soul could still be trapped. Or... changed somehow." He shuddered slightly. "I've already gone through that once. I never want it to happen again."
"Dammit." Kouga stood up suddenly and began pacing around the camp. "It's just... I thought..." He stopped a few feet away, his head bowed and fists clenched at his sides. "I thought I'd found a way," he said, his voice strained.
I know... believe me, I know... Inuyasha thought, his heart aching. But he stayed silent as he reached out and picked up the jewel, replacing it in its bag. He slid the strap over his neck, tucking the pouch inside his shirt before looking back up at Kouga. "You should sleep," he said softly. "It's my turn to watch now anyway."
Kouga remained still for a moment, then sighed and lay down without a word, his back to the other. Inuyasha regarded him quietly, lost in his own thoughts. After awhile, he shook himself and turned his attention out into the dark.
****
"Kaze no Kizu!" Inuyasha's attack blew apart dozens of attacking low-level youkai. Kouga took the moment's reprieve to wipe the sweat out of his eyes, then jumped back into the fight, quickly dispatching several demons in a flurry of punches and kicks.

"Dammit," the hanyou swore, swinging his sword again. "This is taking too long... Kaze no Kizu!" Nearly all of the creatures disappeared in the blast this time, and Kouga destroyed the last few. The two companions stood back to back, breathing heavily as they surveyed the surrounding plains.
"Think that's all?" Kouga panted, swiping his forehead. The demon swarm hadn't been very powerful, but the sheer number attacking from all sides had made the fight more difficult.
With a growl, Inuyasha sheathed his sword. "It'd better be. I'm getting sick of this."
Kouga flopped down on the grass, stretching his tired muscles. While he'd been recovering steadily on the journey, he still wasn't back to his normal pre-shard strength. However, he wasn't about to let Inuyasha know... though he had a feeling that the other was suspicious. All he could do was try to keep a sustainable pace, and rest after the fights.
"You ready to go, wimpy wolf?"
"I'm hungry," he commented, not wanting to leave just yet. "We got anything to eat?"

The hanyou sighed and sat beside him, tugging the pack off his back. "Yeah, sure..." He pulled several strips of dried meat from the bag, handing a few to Kouga and starting to chew on the others. After a moment of comfortable silence, he spoke again. "Oi, wolf... how much further is it?"
Kouga pondered for a moment, biting off another piece of jerky. "Oh... I don't know, another few days, depending..."
Inuyasha cursed softly, shaking his head and standing up. "Too long... come on, let's go."
"What's the rush?" Kouga looked up at him curiously. "We're not in a race or anything."
Inuyasha didn't reply, simply starting down the hill without a look back. After a moment, Kouga shrugged and followed him, but refused to run to catch up. He wasn't about to let the dog-boy dictate to him how fast he traveled! Besides, Inuyasha didn't know the way, he'd have to wait eventually.
****
Inuyasha seemed especially agitated as they searched for a spot to camp that night. He cursed under his breath as he surveyed the wide, open hills before him. A glint in the distance suggested a river, and a dark smudge on the horizon promised a forest, well beyond the water. But the sun was already sinking into the trees, casting dark shadows in its red glow, and transforming the distant river into a thread of fire. The hanyou's silver hair gleamed like molten lava in the ruby light, the wind at the top of the hill causing it to swirl around his body like an angry flame. "I don't like this," he grumbled. "It's too open, and we'll never make that forest before nightfall."
Kouga, already halfway down the hill, turned back to look at him. "What are you so worried about?"
Golden eyes gleamed in the fading light as Inuyasha walked toward the wolf youkai. "This area is too unprotected. We could easily be attacked if we stay in these hills tonight."
His companion shrugged in response. "We can run after dark for awhile if you really want to get to that forest before we stop. I don't mind." He grinned, unable to resist taking a jab at his former rival. "You're not afraid of the dark, are you?"
"Only when it's the night of the new moon," the hanyou replied through clenched teeth, glaring.
Kouga furrowed his brow for a moment before realization dawned on him. "You mean... tonight? You're gonna be...?"
"Human? Weak? Yeah. And I don't like the idea of being a target for every demon in the area. It's not a problem normally, but tonight..." His voice trailed off as he unconsciously touched the pouch hanging from his neck.
Kouga glanced up at the rapidly darkening sky. "How much time?"
"Not long. The new moon will rise soon." Inuyasha took a deep breath, then took off running down the hill. "Come on!" he called over his shoulder. "We might at least get to the river."
They ran in silence for awhile, shoulder-to-shoulder, until the smell of the river became stronger, and the sound of water splashing against its banks was audible. Kouga heard a quiet curse from behind him, and turned to see Inuyasha standing still, staring at his hands as his claws receded. His hair was rapidly fading from silver to black, and his furry dog-ears had already disappeared, replaced by rounded human ones. He looked annoyed. "Well, that's it then."
The wolf youkai moved back toward him. "So... what now?"
Inuyasha didn't reply right away, his eyes scanning their surroundings. "Over there," he finally said, pointing to a small recessed spot on the river bank. During the flood season, the waters had eroded a hollow, nearly cave-like depression in the softened soil. Now, in the dry summer, the area was several yards away from the gurgling water's edge. "It's better than nothing," he continued, moving toward the meager shelter.
Kouga shrugged and followed him, silently acknowledging the other's right to choose their stopping point tonight. The two hunkered down in the small hollow, which barely allowed enough room for them to sit side by side. Inuyasha was visibly tense, his violet eyes darting to and fro, straining to compensate for the inferiority of human sight. He jumped nervously when a frog croaked nearby, then looked embarrassed. Kouga slapped him lightly on the shoulder. "Don't be so worried," he said cheerfully. "We haven't been attacked the last few nights... there's no reason to think we will tonight."
The now-human hanyou glared at him. "Don't be stupid. You know youkai can smell a human from miles away. And this will draw them too," he added, holding up the pouch containing the precious jewel.
Kouga grimaced as he removed his hand from Inuyasha's shoulder. "Yeah, I know. I was just trying..." he fell silent at another look from his companion. Platitudes would not be helpful right now, he realized. Inuyasha didn't need false hope or comfort; he needed protection, though his pride would never allow him to ask for it. Sighing, the wolf youkai stood up and leapt swiftly to the top of the bank. Inuyasha looked up at him curiously.
"Where are you going?"
"No sense in us both staying awake all night," Kouga replied. "You get some sleep, and I'll keep watch."
Inuyasha shook his head. "I don't sleep when I'm like this."
The wolf youkai rolled his eyes. "Suit yourself, but I'm not gonna rest and let you stand guard. You wouldn't be able to see a threat until it bit you on your ass." He plunked down cross-legged on the soft grass, then looked down at the human boy. "Sleep," he commanded, in a voice that allowed no room for argument. Inuyasha grumbled a bit about not taking orders from a wimpy wolf, and that he'd sleep when he damn well felt like it... but he eventually stretched out as best he could in the cramped alcove.
Satisfied, Kouga turned his attention out to the surrounding hills, every sense stretched to the maximum. Despite what he'd told his friend, he was concerned. All the other youkai who'd attacked had been no match for the pair... as a team, they were practically invincible. After fighting Naraku, everything else seemed easy. But tonight... tonight he'd have to fight alone, and defend the weaker human.
Shaking his head, Kouga firmly told himself not to worry. He'd just have to deal with that situation if it came along. Hopefully, the night would go without incident, and any stress would just be an annoyance in the morning.
To Be Continued...
- 5
- 6
- 7
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Solace