Adult-FanFiction.org : Inuyasha / Yashahime

Love Potion # Kyuu	By : SplendentGoddess Category: InuYasha > Het - Male/Female > InuYasha/Kagome Views: 15093 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: Inuyasha, and the characters therein, are the property of Rumiko Takahashi. I am in no way affiliated with Takahashi or VIZ Productions, and I do not gain financially from my fanfic in any way.

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
- 9
Chapter 8 - Along came Kouga
Things were pretty much back to normal, or as close to normal as could be achieved, given all that had changed, when the inu-tachi settled down to make camp for the night. It was a good area for prey, so Inuyasha hunted down a couple of rabbits for dinner, saving Kagome's 'ninja food' for when hunting or fishing wasn't an option. After eating, as everyone went about settling down for the night, it wasn't surprising when Miroku waggled his eyebrows at Sango before deliberately placing his bedding right next to hers. The slayer rolled her eyes, but otherwise didn't offer her fiancé any resistance. Not even when he reached out to her and pulled her into a spooning embrace, his hands remaining in relatively neutral territory as he relished in the sensation of holding his future wife in his arms.
As Kagome prepared her sleeping bag she could feel the heat of eyes upon her, and glancing up over her shoulder, she flushed at the unexpected look in Inuyasha's eyes. Unsure of what to say or do - did he want to sleep cuddled together as well? - Kagome swallowed the lump in her throat in an attempt to find her voice, but as quickly as it'd come the look was gone, the hanyou offering her an understanding smile and nod before murmuring a quiet 'goodnight' and jumping up into the nearest tree. Blinking in confusion before sagging in relief, Kagome drifted her gaze upward to where he had landed and called out a repeated 'goodnight' up to him before settling down within the folds of her sleeping bag, Shippou and Kirara curled together on top of the bedding down by her feet. Honestly, that look he had given her...she would almost dare to say he'd had even more than 'cuddling' on his mind, and she was definitely not ready to start thinking about that.

Not yet, anyway.
Although it was definitely nice to feel wanted.
So it was with a smile on her lips that the future-born miko drifted off to sleep, daring to allow her mind to wander down the path she had always told herself was forbidden. No longer would entertaining thoughts of a future with Inuyasha lead to heartache.
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The next morning things started out smoothly enough. After a quick breakfast of more fire-roasted rabbit, courtesy of Inuyasha once again, the inu-tachi packed up and were back out on the road to the next village. Everywhere they'd stopped at the day before had been a bust, but they were making their way towards a larger trading community that had usually proved lucrative in their searches in the past. With so many people passing through such a large town, somebody was bound to have heard something. Any news of troublesome youkai would be worth looking into at that point, just on the off chance that a shard or Naraku were involved in some way, not to mention the fact that Kagome would want to go to the aid of people in need even if it wasn't a lead to the dark hanyou. Under the circumstances, Inuyasha wouldn't argue with the miko, if that ended up happening.
Thinking about what Kagome had been exposed to yesterday, Inuyasha had newfound respect for his mate, on top of the feelings he'd already had for the girl whom he'd previous thought relatively naive to the harsh ways of the world. He had been nervous when the whispers had first started, fearing what her reaction was going to be. Since nobody suspected the two of them were actually together, none of the whispers had been directed towards Kagome herself; it had all just been the usual stuff he got at every village they went to - murmurs about what a freak he was, and what 'they' (the humans of their group) were doing allowing such a beast to travel with them. Not every single person in every single village thought such bad things, of course, otherwise they would probably find themselves chased by sticks and torches everywhere they went. Most people were just wary of him, though they wouldn't oppose him directly for fear of incurring his wrath, unaware that he could hear their every curse. But as he'd glanced Kagome's way when her eyes had widened marginally in surprise after the first really creative swear had been muttered much too loudly for her advanced hearing to have missed, he was shocked when Kagome had proceeded to shake her head with a growing look of pity in her eyes. Pity that he had at first mistook to be directed towards himself, until she'd turned her head to glance his way with fire in her eyes. She had then murmured quietly, so that only he would hear her, how sad it was that there were so many closed minded fools in the world, as she encouraged him not to listen to their nonsense and instead to focus on the few people who were whispering not curses, but mere curiosity as to what the strangers wanted and who they were. There were those in every village they passed through that seemed to hold no immediate ill will towards Inuyasha for his obvious demonic heritage, even if it was thanks to recognizing Miroku as a houshi and deciding that no holy man could possibly be companions with an evil monster. It was still sad, in a way, that he would be judged so cruelly by those people as well were it not for his association with a Buddhist monk, but the fact that they were willing to see past his demonic traits if Miroku was was at least a step in the right direction. Every time the houshi pulled his exorcism scheme, earning them free room and board for a night indoors, the only whispers Inuyasha would hear were about his general looks and people wondering what he was, not if the monk could keep his 'pet' under control. Of course, Inuyasha knew that the curses and leers would get much worse if people realized that he and Kagome were together, but it was clear that the miko had realized this also, as she had refrained from doing anything that could have possibly tipped people off. It wasn't until after they were on their own again, out on the road between villages, that she had reached out to grab his hand. Immediately accepting the gesture, Inuyasha had sighed in relief.
Now, as they continued up the road towards the trading village, it was the hanyou who first initiated physical contact with his mate that morning, as he reached out to grab Kagome's hand, and sending him a vibrant grin, she readily complied. A few paces behind them Miroku and Sango were also walking hand in hand, genuine smiles on their lips both for their own current happiness, now that their feelings were out in the open, as well as the happiness they felt for their friends. It was not the method any of them would have chosen to confess their feelings, but what was done was done. Frolicking up and down the trail in and around the legs of the adults, Shippou and Kirara were engaged in a mild game of chase, the kitsune and neko both instinctively at peace from being surrounded by such calming auras. It was another beautiful day, the sun warm but not overly hot, the sky a rich deep blue with just a few fluffy white clouds for character.
Nobody could have anticipated just how quickly the tranquil atmosphere would be shattered.
The first warning came when Kagome suddenly came to a stop while gasping, releasing Inuyasha's hand to bring hers to her chest as she declared she could sense two jewel shards approaching rapidly. Instantly on high alert, everyone made a grab for their weapons while scanning the immediate area, Shippou running off to find a safe hiding spot as Inuyasha frantically sniffed the air in the hopes of identifying the threat while Kagome concentrated on pinpointing its direction. Inhaling deeply, Inuyasha's grumbled false alarm that he could smell wolf was announced two seconds before Kouga's whirlwind became visible on the horizon. Two seconds later, and the ookami prince was standing directly before Kagome, reaching for her hands. Inuyasha tightened his grip on Tetsusaiga's hilt.
"Grrr...hands off!" he ordered, trying to stay calm for Kagome's sake, though that didn't mean he wouldn't protect what was his.
Ignoring the hanyou, as usual, Kouga grabbed both of Kagome's hands with his, rubbing the tops of her hands with his thumbs as he looked her in the eyes. Flustered and nervous, Kagome wasn't sure what to do and as a result didn't immediately offer the wolf any resistance. The only thing she could think about was how she had been so caught up with all of the sudden changes that had taken place and how she was going to tell her mother, that she hadn't even thought once about the wolf prince or what his reaction was going to be. She was about to find out.
"Kagome..." he cooed in a romantic tone of voice that had her mentally cringing, "How have you-" Pausing, his eyes widened in horror, his nose flaring before immediately releasing her hands as though he'd been burned.
Apprehensive, Kagome glanced Inuyasha's way for guidance only to pale at the look in his eyes. He wasn't angry with her for having allowed the wolf's touch, nor did he look ready to tear Kouga's throat out in a jealous rampage. Surprisingly, his emotions were under control. Adjusting his posture and preparing to draw his sword, he was readying himself for battle...true battle. His eyes were hard, like those of a warrior accepting his fate. Looking back Kouga's way immediately explained why, and Kagome suddenly found herself taking an unconscious step back. Sango and Miroku, who had initially relaxed their guard when they'd first realized they weren't facing a crazed youkai after their jewel shards, both tightened their stances once again in that moment as they caught the look of murder in Kouga's eyes, his aura flaring to life as he glared daggers at Inuyasha.
"YOU!" he thundered, his tone causing Kagome to flinch and take another step backward.
Grabbing his mate's arm and pulling her behind him, Inuyasha stood his ground, his head held high as he met Kouga's gaze head on. His voice was surprisingly calm and steady as he stated, "It's over, Kouga. She's mine. Let it go." He didn't want to fight the wolf, and honestly, he'd never had anything against the guy aside from his so-called 'claim' on Kagome, but he would defend his position as her mate, whatever the cost.
"Over my dead body!" Kouga shouted as he lunged, claws aimed to cleave Inuyasha's head from his shoulders.
Quickly spinning around and grabbing Kagome before leaping up and out of the way, Inuyasha touched down next to Sango and Miroku. "Poor choice of words, asshole!" he shouted in reply, more than willing to grant the wolf's request. Quickly instructing the monk and slayer to stay with Kagome and keep her safe no matter what, Inuyasha leapt back towards his opponent.
Kouga was ready and waiting for him, easily dodging the swipe Inuyasha had aimed at his head. Despite having previously been ready to draw Tetsusaiga, Inuyasha decided to keep his blade at his side for the time being, knowing he could end Kouga in a second with a well-timed Kaze no Kizu, though also knowing that to do such a thing would make it an unfair fight. Besides, even if he could justify obliterating the wolf and being done with it, Inuyasha also knew that to attempt such an attack almost guaranteed that Kouga would run away, only to possibly attempt an honorless sneak attack of his own at a later date. He knew the wolf could sense the rush of youki needed for Tetsusaiga's attacks to form, and from past experiences he also knew that when he ran at his top speed, thanks to those shards in his legs, Kouga was much faster than he could ever hope to follow. Inuyasha definitely couldn't risk chasing his opponent off; they needed to finish this today, and they needed to finish it fairly. Kagome was already his; he just had to get the wolf to concede defeat.
Kouga wasn't making it easy, though, as he immediately spun around after dodging Inuyasha's attack to fly right back at the hanyou with another attack of his own. His eyes were crazed. No longer was he baiting the inu-hanyou for entertainment. On the defensive, Inuyasha managed to duck and roll out of the way in time to avoid getting slashed across the chest, but he barely had enough time to stop his momentum and leap in the opposite direction before Kouga's claws again made a swipe for his throat. With the wolf's speed, Inuyasha was having a difficult time finding openings to launch a counter attack.
"Sankon Tessou!"
It was difficult, but not impossible.
As Kouga used his incredible speed to zip around the incoming blades of youki, Kagome felt utterly helpless as she watched from the sidelines, guarded by her two human shields who were watching the altercation with concern that matched her own. She wasn't a fool; she knew damn well that this fight was nothing like their previous squabbles. In the past, Kouga had always seemed to enjoy goading Inuyasha into an attack, probably knowing that she would use the subjugation beads to stop him. But the real reason she always used the kotodama to stop Inuyasha's attack was because she didn't want Kouga to be hurt unfairly, since she knew in reality her hanyou was so much more powerful than the wolf, and she figured Kouga just didn't realize who he was dealing with. It was easy to see that the ookami prince thought he was all that, but the power he displayed wasn't his own, it was courtesy of his 'borrowed' jewel shards. Kagome was still worried about Inuyasha seriously injuring Kouga, or worse, but with the way the ookami was on the offense this time around, attacking with such vigor, Kagome knew she didn't dare activate the rosary. To do so would be to sign Inuyasha's death warrant. She seriously doubted the wolf had enough honor to stay his hand from delivering a death blow his rival was physically unable to avoid, especially considering he was the one who had started this fight when Inuyasha had attempted speaking reasonably. Still, that didn't mean she would just sit back and watch such a barbaric display of testosterone, especially since they were fighting for her affection.
"Kouga, stop this right now!" she shouted from her place behind Sango and Miroku, deliberately dropping the 'kun' suffix she always used to add to his name. "I'm Inuyasha's mate now, and that's just the way it is!"
The declaration was pronounced without a hint of hesitation or shame. The hanyou smirked.
"Hear that, ya mangy wolf?" Inuyasha jeered as he jumped off to the side. "Kagome chose me fair and square!"
Finding pleasure in simple things, Kagome smiled a little to herself at Inuyasha's phrasing, not putting it past her mate to secretly be thinking that he'd won her fair and square. She supposed from their point of view, perhaps there had been a challenge or contest between them, but the fact that he at least verbally acknowledged her right to choose and that she was his because it was her decision meant a lot to her. Her smile was quick to fade, however, at Kouga's reply.
"Never!" he cried in denial, catching Inuyasha off guard as he launched a youki-based attack of his own, something none of them had ever seen him do before. Eyes widening in surprise, Inuyasha wasn't quite fast enough to dodge every blade of youki that flew his way, the tail end of Kouga's attack nicking his right thigh as he jumped, causing both Kagome and Inuyasha to gasp in surprise, as the later botched his landing when pain shot up the injured leg.
Distracted as he was, Inuyasha's head was still in the game, and he didn't miss Kouga's next words when the ookami continued with, "Kagome would never willingly dirty herself with the likes of you! You must have forced yourself upon her! I'll kill you for your betrayal, you bastard!"
Shocked and yet somehow not surprised at all, Inuyasha's head shot up to stare the wolf in the face as he vehemently denied the charges.
"Like hell!" he shouted, "I would never do such a thing..."
Letting his voice trail off, Inuyasha was temporarily haunted by the bizarre imagery of what could have possibly happened had he been the one to drink that tea, instead. Would he have listened had she told him no? Would Kagome actually have listened if he'd tried a little more forcefully to stop her? Probably... Almost definitely. When you really analyzed the situation, she'd just been acting drunk and playful, nothing more and nothing less, and he'd pretty much just stood there and let her have her way with him while trying and failing to resist getting turned on by it all. That was a far cry from actively trying to prevent somebody from forcibly doing something you didn't want them to. Just the very thought of somebody, anybody forcing themselves upon Kagome... Lowering his head, Kouga couldn't see the way Inuyasha was shaking with rage, as he slowly reached down to press his hand against his injured thigh, blood coating his fingers. Kouga smirked, believing that Inuyasha had lost his will to continue the fight after having the truth of his dark deeds thrown back in his face. Finishing him off would be child's play now. Then the hanyou's head snapped back up, his eyes a darker shade of amber than usual as he fought to keep his inner beast under control.
"Hijin Ketsusou!"
Leaping towards the ookami immediately after launching his attack, Inuyasha correctly anticipated in which direction Kouga would jump in order to avoid his blades of blood, throwing himself off to the side in that same direction to make contact with the wolf as he fell for the diversion. Had he had his claws out, he could have cleanly decapitated his rival, but his fingers were curled inward for a punch, instead. Despite his posturing, he didn't really want to kill the wolf unless he absolutely had to. Inuyasha's fist against Kouga's jaw cracked like thunder to Kagome's ears, and Sango and Miroku both flinched at the way Kouga turned his head to spit out a mouthful of blood along with a couple of teeth. Not letting himself be slowed down by the hit, the ookami immediately jumped at Inuyasha, utilizing the power of his jewel shards to land a kick against the hanyou's chest that sent him flying off the road and into the neighboring forest. Kagome screamed as Inuyasha's back smashed into the trunk of a large pine tree with such force that the evergreen snapped and toppled over. Groaning, Inuyasha tried to pick himself up, but he couldn't move fast enough to avoid Kouga's swing, drawing Tetsusaiga at the last moment so that the wolf's claws bounced against the giant fang.
That's it! he thought, using his good leg to launch himself up and over Kouga's head just in time to avoid a solid kick to the ribs.
Screw trying to engage in honorable, hand-to-hand combat. If Kouga could use the added power boost of his jewel shards, then he could damn well use his sword, Inuyasha decided then, landing behind the wolf and holding Tetsusaiga at the ready. He would hold off on using the Kaze no Kizu unless it became apparent that it was the only thing that would finish this, but no matter what, he would finish this.
"Kouga, this is your last warning!" Inuyasha shouted, tightening his grip.
"Save your breath!" Kouga shouted in reply. "The only words I want to hear out of your mouth are a plea for mercy right before I end your life!"
Throwing out more blades of youki Inuyasha's way, instead of dodging, the hanyou used Tetsusaiga to deflect the wolf's attack, holding his ground as he realized his opponent meant business. He couldn't think of the wolf as the weak loser who stupidly thought he had a claim on Kagome simply because he declared it so. In that moment, as he met his rival's gaze head on, Inuyasha knew he had to think of the wolf as an enemy youkai with the added power of two jewel shards, who was pissed because he thought - at least from his perspective - that his mate had just been stolen from him. Inuyasha knew how he would react...but then again on the other hand, since deep down he truly loved Kagome, what mattered to him above anything else was the miko's happiness. Was it still possible to reason with the wolf? To get him to see that she had made her choice and was happy?
"This is stupid!" Inuyasha shouted then, holding his ground and only using Tetsusaiga to deflect Kouga's attacks without a counterstrike, when yet another wave of youki blades rushed his way. "Do you really think I could have possibly forced either myself or my claim on Kagome? She chose me and I chose her! If you really love her then you need to let her go."
"Don't give me that 'love' crap, like a filthy hanyou like you would know anything about love!" Kouga snapped in return, kicking a nearby rock so hard that before Inuyasha even had time to react it smacked against his left shin, causing him to cry out and drop down to one knee as the bone cracked, Tetsusaiga's tip jabbed into the ground to help him keep his balance when the position put strain on the torn muscles of the opposite thigh. "Kagome was mine, and you knew it!" the wolf added, running towards his rival with claws raised.
"Kouga, no!" Kagome cried in vain, the wolf ignoring her plea as he closed in for the final blow. She tried to run to Inuyasha's aid, but two sets of hands held her back. "No, Inuyasha!" she screamed, closing her eyes.
Kagome... he thought with a feeling of warmth in his heart, unwilling to give up so easily.
Just as Kouga was preparing to slash down and tear Inuyasha's throat out, the hanyou pushed himself forward, tackling a surprised Kouga to the ground. The wolf's claws grazed across his back, but the protective propteries of his fire-rat suikan prevented the wounds from being very deep, the tips of Kouga's claws barely breaking the skin as Inuyasha shoved himself head first into the wolf's gut, his hands around his waist. The next thing Kouga knew, he was lying flat on his back staring up at the sky, Inuyasha's left knee pressed against his stomach and left hand against his chest, his right hand held high and holding his sword with Tetsusaiga's tip resting dangerously close to his throat.
"You..." Inuyasha started, panting heavily, "...will not win this. Kagome's mine, and I won't give her up so easily."
Spitting in Inuyasha's face, the wolf replied with, "There's no way she could possibly love a disgusting creature like you. She takes pity on you as her friend, and you took advantage of her!"
Not releasing his hold to wipe his face, Inuyasha left it be as his eyes narrowed, leaning forward and bringing Tetsusaiga just a little bit closer to Kouga's neck. It was Tetsusaiga's positioning that was preventing the wolf from moving, because in order to press upward and throw Inuyasha off of him, Kouga would jab his jugular against the blade. He was stuck unless he could dislodge the sword.
"That's a load of bull and you know it." Inuyasha continued, adding, "But the fact remains, she's mine."
"Not after I kill you."
"Big talk for someone lying on their back..." Inuyasha jeered, peering briefly off to the side in Kagome's direction. One look at her expression told him she could still hear every word they said, despite the fact that they were now speaking quietly instead of screaming insults at each other. "Can't manage that if I kill you first."
Kouga actually had the audacity to laugh.
"If you were really going to kill me, you would've done it already. You're holding back, because you're afraid. You know she doesn't want you to kill me."
"You're right, I'm sure she doesn't want me to kill you, but that's just 'cause she's got a big heart; one of the reasons I love her so much."
Kouga's eyes widened in surprise just a little at the hanyou's words, not having expected him to actually claim his own feelings so openly. He'd always seemed so emotionally constipated before. Was it possible that he and Kagome truly had confessed their love for one another?
No, Kagome's mine! the wolf thought vehemently.
"Should have finished me off when you had the chance, mutt-face!" Kouga screamed before daring a brave maneuver, swinging fiercely with his right fist to punch not the hanyou, but Tetsusaiga itself, his knuckles splitting open from the force of colliding against the katana's youki. Still, it dislodged the sword's angle enough to throw his head forward and headbutt Inuyasha without stabbing himself in the throat. He then swung wide with a left jab and sucker punched Inuyasha in the chest, in the same spot he'd previously kicked the hanyou, causing him to grunt as his bruised ribs were aggravated.
Inuyasha was quick to retaliate, though, and before the wolf could successfully throw him off to the side he swiped down with his left hand, curling his claws in at the last moment to land a fierce punch against Kouga's cheek without tearing half the flesh off in the process. He could hear Kagome's breath hitch behind him, and he rolled himself up and off of Kouga in that moment, climbing to his feet despite his cracked shinbone.
"I keep tryin' to spare your shitty life, so quit tryin' my patience!" he hollared, finally reaching up with his left hand to wipe at his face while he held Tetsusaiga at the ready in his right.
Staggering to his own feet, his head still spinning from the hanyou's last punch, Kouga demonstrated what he did best, talking big, as he stated, "Put your disgusting half-breed hand on me one more time and I'll bite it off."
Inuyasha quirked an eyebrow at that, glancing Kagome's way when he heard the miko murmur something to Sango and Miroku about wanting to teach the prejudice bastard a lesson that had him inwardly smirking. Sending the monk and slayer a breif nod, they released their hold on Kagome's arms.
"And get my 'disgusting' half-breed blood in your mouth?" he replied then, baiting said prejudice bastard.
"I would relish the taste!" Kouga answered, adding, "Don't forget InuKuso...I know your night of weakness."
That comment earned a moment of pause from everyone present, as a new fire ignited behind Inuyasha's eyes.
"Nothing is to stop me from waiting until the next new moon to reclaim Kagome properly, when you cannot interfere."
The miko gasped in surprise at that statement, though the sound was drown out to Kouga's ears by Inuyasha's growling.
"Bastard!" he shouted, his rage barely under control as he caught out of the corner of his eye what Kouga didn't see from his angle, Kagome preparing an arrow. "You never claimed her in the first place! She was never yours!"
"She soon will be!"
"You would dare take her by force after accusing me of that crime?!"
"She would come to me willingly!"
"She would not!"
Inuyasha was starting to lose control, as red bled into the edges of his vision. Tightening his grip on Tetsusaiga, he inhaled deeply, finding solace in the lingering scent of his joining with Kagome. He knew the wolf was full of shit. Even if he successfully killed him, Kagome would never go to the wolf. What the oomaki didn't seem to comprehend was that Kagome was human, and human women thought very differently from canine youkai. Inuyasha understood that perfectly, however. He had been prepared to let Kagome go, at first, if she hadn't wanted him. He had given her an out, because she was human, and in the end, she had chosen to stay with him. Clear of mind, without the influence of the tea, she had told him she wanted him.

"That's enough!" Kagome shouted in that moment, and Inuyasha found comfort in the sound of her voice, the crimson fading from his eyes, though the wolf prince ignored her once again in favor of continuing his delusional tirade.
"Once she sees how you failed to protect her, she will throw herself into my arms!" Kouga declared, holding his arms open wide for emphasis.
It was in that moment that an arrow suddenly went zipping by in between the two males, a trail of pink miko energy burning in its wake as it imbedded itself within the bark of a nearby tree.
Kouga jumped back on instinct, completely caught off guard with a look of confusion and panic in his eyes. Inuyasha merely smirked, and would have crossed his arms smugly over his chest were it not for the fact that he knew he didn't dare lower Tetsusaiga from his current protective stance, should the wolf still manage to launch another attack.
Glancing Kagome's way, Kouga's eyes were wide with surprise as he stared at 'his woman' in hurt and confusion.
"K-Kagome?" he stuttered in disbelief.
"Let's get one thing straight, Kouga." she began, spitting his name as though it burned her tongue. "Inuyasha is far from helpless during his human nights, but if he were ever in any real danger, I would protect him, whatever the cost!"
Thinking back to the way Kagome had literally thrown herself into the spider's nest to save his life less than an hour after first discovering his night of weakness, back when one could have hardly even called them friends, let alone anything more, Inuyasha knew her words were true. Were he ever in danger, she would protect him with her life just as fiercely as he had vowed to protect her with his. While a part of him was troubled by that notion simply for the sake of Kagome being in danger because of him, he couldn't rightfully fault her for her devotion, and honestly, the fact that she was willing to give her life for a hanyou meant more to him than he figured the girl even realized. He would never let her do it, of course. It was his job to protect her, not the other way around. But the fact that he knew damn well that she would do whatever was necessary to save him, kami forbid he actually found himself in such a position, only made his love for her increase all the more.
Kagome was far from helpless those days, and she drove her point home in that moment by quickly drawing and notching a second arrow, letting the missile fly with a blast of miko power that made Kouga's skin crawl as it passed. Her second arrow slammed into the same tree directly underneath the first, and Inuyasha found himself whistling in complement, honestly impressed by her show of marksmanship. Her aim always was so much better when she was passionate about it, plus he was sure his youki in her system didn't hurt.
Kouga stared first at her arrows, and then back at her, his drop-jaw expression having nothing to do with the way Inuyasha had busted it earlier. Then she continued.
"I don't know where the hell you got your delusions from, but I would never stand idly by while my mate is killed, and then run like a whore into the arms of his murderer!" Inuyasha inwardly chuckled at the growing look of panic in Kouga's eyes. He'd not yet had the pleasure of meeting Kagome's temper. "I'm not a youkai..." she continued, "...and I don't have to follow the youkai laws. So if it's a custom that a stronger male gets the mate of the male he killed, you can just forget it! I chose Inuyasha, Kouga, and if you think killing him would give you a shot at me, you're dead wrong."
Kagome... the hanyou thought in wonder.
He had been planning on bringing the wolf up in a day or two, warning her what Kouga's reaction to their joining would most likely be and filling her in on the different things she would need to know about canine youkai customs when it came to a rival's challenge. He would have insisted they talk about it right away if he'd had an inkling the bastard was going to show himself so quickly, but Kouga's appearance had clearly been a coincidence from the way he obviously hadn't known about their mating until he'd noticed her change in scent. Still, even without having told her anything, Kagome proved in that moment that she was smart enough, and capable enough, to handle herself if need be. It was true, of course, that if a stronger challenging male was able to kill his rival, he would have the chance to claim the female as his own mate, but it was also true that the female had a right to refuse the claim. A possession mark, which was basically what he'd done to Kagome for the time being since she hadn't yet marked him in return, still had to be done at the will of the female, or at least when the female was a youkai, because if she rejected the claim her own youki would be able to rise up and combat against the youki of the male trying to claim her. She had to relax her aura and allow her youki to accept the possession, to accept the touch of her mate's youki that would forever be in her system, branding her as his. If a rival male killed her mate and wanted to claim her for himself, he would need to bite over his rival's possession mark, infusing her with a stronger batch of youki to fight and defeat the lingering youki of the fallen male. But even during that process the female would again be able to bring her own youki to the surface and fight off the invading male's energy, if the mark were physically placed against her will. She would have to allow the new male's youki to take over. Granted, in the youkai world it was all about strength and power, and most females would probably want the male who had proven himself stronger than her previous mate, but most humans did not think that way. Now, in the case of Kagome being a human, Inuyasha wasn't sure where she stood as far as physically rejecting a claim, and it was true that he had marked her without her comprehension of what he was doing, so one could hardly say she had willingly accepted his claim, but because she was also a miko, and her miko powers were clearly still intact despite a trace of his youki now being fused within her being, the hanyou did believe that she would most likely be able to resist a possession claim she didn't want, even if only on a subconscious level, as she tried to struggle and her miko aura rose to the surface as a result of her agitation to protect herself against what she perceived as a threat. She was a lot more powerful than she realized, and if Kouga seriously tried to rape her, she would probably char the guy to a crisp on instinct alone, just like how she had blasted off some of Mistress Centipede's arms with a simple touch.
It was clear in that moment from the look on Kouga's face that it was a scenario that had crossed his mind, as well, as he took an uneasy step back, glancing over his shoulder once more at the miko's arrows imbedded within the tree behind them.
"Kagome..." he started, unwilling to give up quite so easily. "Do you really prefer being with this lowly half-breed over a full-blooded youkai?"
The evil grin that spread across Kagome's face in that moment had Inuyasha biting his tongue to keep from laughing out loud. He was actually glad the idiot had brought the race issue back up again, since that topic had already angered Kagome before his announcement that he would strike during the next new moon.
Feh, what a cowardly rat, boasting 'bout how he'll attack when I can't defend myself... the hanyou thought, shifting his weight to take some of the pressure off his broken tibia now that the gash in his thigh had stopped bleeding. Were it not for the fact that he refused to lower his guard around the wolf, he would be half tempted to plop down with a bag of potato chips and enjoy the show.
"You're damn right I do." Kagome replied to the wolf's question, her voice low and steady, her eyes hard. "In case you've somehow failed to notice, Kouga, I'm human. Inuyasha's hybrid status means he's half youkai and half human, like me. His human blood gives us a stronger connection, and while it's true I'm not bothered by his youkai blood and I want him to stay just the way he is, it's also true that the way he is is a youkai man with a human heart. Even assuming there was a decision to be made, why the hell would I prefer a man who was completely alien to me when I could have a man who was at least half of what I am? A man who will understand my sometimes irrational human emotions because for at least one night a month, he feels them too. But there's really no decision, anyway, because I happen to love Inuyasha, and you can't dictate matters of the heart. I love Inuyasha, Kouga, and thanks to his human heart, I know he loves me too. Love is a human emotion, and something I don't think you quite comprehend. You say you love me, but your desire for me is more based on the way an animal selects its mate, because I'm healthy and strong. The original reason you wanted me was because I can sense the jewel shards, and I'm sure the threat I pose to your enemies was an added bonus. You don't love me, you love what having me as your mate would mean for you."
Behind the miko, Sango and Miroku looked on with awe, feeling pride in having the privilege of calling Kagome their friend. Tucked down in his hiding spot far enough away to be out of danger but close enough to be within earshot, Shippou's heart soared at the words he heard Kagome tell that awful ookami. He'd never really liked Kouga all that much, and he was glad he hadn't beat Inuyasha in the fight for Kagome. While it was true that he was a full-blooded youkai and he cared for Kagome, Shippou also agreed with the miko's assessment that the ookami didn't love her the way a human man loved his wife. Foxes were closer to humans than most other youkai, in that regard, and a kitsune could indeed fall in love with a human mate, but Shippou had never before heard of a wolf and a human truly being in love. Didn't Kouga used to eat humans before meeting Kagome? The miko was right; he loved her power.
"That's not true!" Kouga tried to argue in that moment. He believed his words as he claimed, "Okay, I admit that it was your ability to sense jewel shards that originally made me kidnap you, but after I got to know you I really fell for you, honest!"
Hmph, got to know me? He doesn't even know I'm from the future...
Not that she really needed to point out how little he knew about her to question his level of devotion. Kagome looked smug as she asked him, "Oh really? And after all that talk about disgusting half-breeds, you mean to tell me you'd actually be willing to father a hanyou child of your own?" Pointing to herself she added, "Again, human."
Inuyasha couldn't help snickering a little at that, knowing she had the wolf right where she wanted him. No youkai that prejudice against hanyou would ever be willing to make an exception for their own flesh and blood. Sesshoumaru had driven that point home over a century ago. Of course, Inuyasha was certain Kouga had intended to only keep Kagome as his mate throughout the miko's natural lifetime, meaning there would be plenty of time for pureblood offspring in the future, but the fact that he would rob Kagome of her right to be a mother just went to show his lack of consideration for the girl's feelings right there.

As if finally realizing that point, himself, Kouga's posture slumped some in that moment, and Kagome got the distinct impression that had he had ears like Inuyasha's, they would have lowered flatly upon his head.
"I...wasn't planning on having children with you, Kagome." he admitted regrettably, cringing at the triumphant look on Inuyasha's face.
Kouga's so-called love for Kagome had just been exposed for what it was, selfish desire, and the wolf knew it. He did love Kagome, but in all the wrong ways. He wanted her like somebody desired an object they wished to possess. For a split second he had been half tempted to take Kagome and make a run for it, knowing there was no way the hanyou could hope to catch them in his current condition, and that passing thought alone was enough for the ookami prince to realize they were right. If he truly loved her like he thought he did, then he needed to let her go. Killing Inuyasha wouldn't make any difference; either way she would never be his.
As if needing to challenge the half-breed one last time, though only with words, it was in that moment that Kouga steeled his gaze and looked Inuyasha dead in the eye.
"And you..." he started, as if daring Inuyasha to answer incorrectly. "You would really be willing to dilute your bloodline even further, to sire cubs more human than canine?"
Casting a quick glance in Kagome's direction, Inuyasha couldn't help thinking about how the subject of children had been brought up ever so briefly the previous afternoon, and how the subject had been changed just as quickly, addressing Kagome's advanced senses without any further discussion on what either of them wanted in the way of a family. But in that moment, as his amber eyes locked onto the hopeful chocolate orbs of the woman he loved, Inuyasha knew exactly how to answer Kouga's question.
"That's the stupidest fucking question I've ever heard..." he grumbled in a low voice, shifting his gaze back to the wolf's. "Dilute? Kagome's my mate, asshole. This isn't about bloodlines, or strength, or power. You think I give a fuck about how much youkai or human blood would be in our kids?" Gesturing toward the woods with a wave of Tetsusaiga, which he still held transformed and at the ready, Inuyasha said, "Get the hell outta here before I change my mind and kill you anyway."
Knowing he had been beat, the wolf prince tucked tail in that moment, casting Kagome one last glance with a brief, "So long as you're happy." as way of goodbye. He wasn't disappearing out of their lives forever. After all, they were all still after the same foe and were bound to meet again whenever rumors of Naraku started to surface. But in the meantime he could tell when he wasn't wanted, so he would head out before his linering presence made things any worse.

Watching Kouga take off just as quickly as he had arrived, a trail of dust in his wake as his whirlwind headed out of sight, Kagome couldn't stop hearing Inuyasha's last words repeated over and over in her head. At first she smiled, because in a backwards sort of way, stating that it wasn't about bloodlines or strength was like admitting it was about love, instead, which she knew he probably thought of as a weakness. Or at least, it would be a weakness to be too emotional in front of a rival male. But Kagome distinctly remembered hearing Inuyasha tell Kouga that he loved her, and even though the ookami had also thrown the 'L' word around in her presence, somehow, the miko knew that Inuyasha meant it differently. She knew that Inuyasha meant it, plain and simple. But as she continued to think about his reply to Kouga's question, she couldn't help noticing how he'd only given a half-answer. After all, saying he wouldn't care how youkai or human their kids would be wasn't exactly the same thing as saying he actually wanted kids, and as she thought back to their brief conversation on the subject from yesterday afternoon, she remembered the way he had been so quick to brush it off, telling her that since she definitely couldn't have a baby right now there was really no hurry in discussing such things.
Slowly, her smile turned into a frown. Did Inuyasha want to have children? She had always dreamed of being a mother someday, and nothing would make her happier than having a family with Inuyasha. She certainly didn't care that their kids would be one-quarter youkai. But maybe with the life he'd led, he hadn't ever thought about having kids of his own until now. Maybe he figured that he didn't really have a choice since, as he had so eloquently pointed out to Kouga, she was his mate, which probably in his mind meant that he had to give her children, regardless of what he might or might not actually want. Thinking back on yesterday and the way he'd phrased everything he'd said on the subject, nothing truly indicated his position one way or the other.
Just what are you thinking, Inuyasha?
Said hanyou turned to glance Kagome's way in that moment, after first staring after Kouga's departure to make sure the wolf was good and gone, and catching the way her brows were furrowed in apparent contemplation coupled by the frown on her lips, he immediately stiffened his posture, instinctively on the defensive. Had his words upset her? Here he had basically declared that he would love any child Kagome carried, regardless of its blood content, and they'd not yet cleared up whether or not she even wanted to have children. Sure, she had thrown the possibility of her bearing a hanyou of Kouga's in the wolf's face, but she had said that only to make a point, to make him see. Her own viewpoint on the matter hadn't actually been discussed. He was sure Kagome wouldn't be prejudice against her own children; he knew the miko didn't have it in her to hate an innocent life simply because of its blood, if her treatment of him was any indication. But loving somebody else despite their mixed heritage was a lot different than being willing to birth hybrid freaks of your own, and while he was sure Kagome wouldn't be able to help loving any child of theirs, should she simply end up pregnant if they failed to be careful, he was equally sure that to do so would make her life harder than she could probably comprehend. Thoughts of his own mother filled his mind in that moment, and Inuyasha found himself unwilling to punish Kagome in such a way, if deep down inside she didn't want that life. If it would make her feel miserable and burdened, he would spare her from that fate, his own desires be damned.
"Inuyasha...?" Kagome questioned hesitantly in that moment, having grown worried by the increasingly guarded look in his eyes.
"Feh..." he grumbled, shaking his head and glancing one last time in the direction Kouga had gone. "Come on, we can't camp out on the road." he said to everyone then, knowing there was probably no way Kagome would let all of them continue on their way without first looking over his injuries. Instead of fighting her on it, he would save his breath, and his strength, by concentrating on locating a place to stop for the night, instead. It was much earlier than he would've liked to have stopped, but even he knew he should let his leg heal before putting too much strain on it.
The silence that followed was beyond awkward, as Inuyasha limped off the road and into the woods in the opposite direction from where Kouga had gone, using Tetsusaiga as a walking stick to help avoid putting too much pressure on his left leg. Kagome wanted to offer allowing him to lean against her, even thinking she could joke that it was the least she could do after all of the countless times he'd had to carry her for one reason or another, but she didn't figure his pride would much appreciate her making such an offer in front of their friends, as if she were implying he couldn't make it on his own. So instead of saying anything she walked silently beside him, afraid to touch him in any way lest he mistake the gesture for sympathy or assistance. Walking a few paces behind the duo, Sango and Miroku were both effectively silenced, their own conversation over and done with for the time being as they each silently contemplated all that had transpired between their friends and the ookami. It was clear to each of them that those two needed to have a serious sit down, but they also knew that there was no way Inuyasha would be willing to open up to her in their presence. Casting each other a knowing look, Sango and Miroku silently began formulating a plan.
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It took over an hour to find a suitable place to make camp for the evening. Over an hour of awkward silence as Kagome walked steadily alongside her mate. Even little Shippou, who had scurried out of his hiding place upon Inuyasha's original statement of making camp, knew to remain quiet and leave the adults to their thoughts, the tension so thick between everyone he could cut it with his claws. Finally settling on a place that was comfortable enough yet also secure enough to guarantee a relatively safe evening, Inuyasha hobbled over toward the base of a large tree and immediately sat down, hissing in pain as the maneuver aggravated the gash on his right thigh. Immediately clicking over into healer mode, Kagome put her anxieties aside as she approached her mate with antiseptic and bandages, her eyes caring as she knelt by his side.
"Come along, Shippou..." Miroku stated in that moment, causing Kagome to glance over her shoulder at him in curiosity as the kitsune stood at attention. "You and I are on firewood duty this evening. I will need your superior youkai strength to aid me in carrying back all that we find."
Kagome couldn't help giggling at the way Shippou puffed his chest out in pride at Miroku's words, and even Inuyasha chuckled a bit at the way the kit answered, "Don't worry, Miroku, you can count on me!"
"Keh, you'd think he'd asked him to help in the planning of an attack or something." Inuyasha muttered quietly once the duo were on their way out into the woods, causing Kagome to giggle once more. He shot her a cautious smile, which she hesitantly returned, before a clearing throat drew both their attention toward the other remaining members at camp.
"Under the circumstances..." Sango began, with a delicate gesture towards Inuyasha's current condition, "Kirara and I have decided to accept hunting duty for this evening's meal. The forest is full of prey, and Kagome-chan's supplies should truly be saved for when hunting is not an option."
Rolling his eyes, because it was beyond obvious what their friends were really doing, Inuyasha replied with, "Keh, knock yourself out..." as he waved the slayer off with a dismissive flick of his hand.
It didn't take the miko long to catch on, as Sango and Kirara made their way out into the forest in the opposite direction from Miroku and Shippou, leaving she and Inuyasha completely alone back at camp. Glancing back his way with what she hoped was a neutral, no-nonsense expression, she held up her medical supplies for his inspection, quirking a brow like an impatient teacher when he began grumbling mild protests. He had to insist he was fine at least once, for appearance's sake, but it didn't take long before the miko had him shrugging out of his robes so that she could tend to the scratches on his back. The atmosphere was once again awkward between them as the silence stretched on, her mind echoing with all that had been spoken in Kouga's presence.
With the scratches on his back disinfected and bandaged, there was nothing left to delay the inevitable, as she asked him next to unfasten his pants so that she could tend to his thigh. Inuyasha had to bite his tongue to keep from making a lewd joke at the request, wanting desperately to lighten the mood between them, though from the way she was acting so professional in her work, he was convinced it was because she was still upset over what he had said, and he didn't think she would much appreciate being teased at the moment. He wanted to apologize for upsetting her, but he didn't have the first clue as to how to go about it. He couldn't take back what he'd said when he meant it with every fiber of his being. This was different from accidentally hurting her feelings with a stupid insult of some sort; if they had different feelings regarding parenthood it was going to be a serious issue that would haunt them for the rest of their lives. When one person wanted children and the other one didn't, then no matter what the outcome, somebody would be unhappy with the decision. Of course, all that mattered to him was Kagome's happiness, so ultimately he knew he would be the one to cave to her wishes, but that thought didn't stop him from hoping that her desires actually matched his own. But for the sake of not wanting to make anything worse than it already was, as far as her current temper was concerned, he decided in that moment to keep his mouth shut for a few minutes longer, hoping that she would end up being the one to break the ice.
Thank goodness I have a new fundoshi... he thought as he reached for the ties of his hakama, tugging his pants down to his knees to expose the nasty tear in his quads. Things were awkward enough between them without his wedding tackle making a cameo appearance.
Okay, gotta stay professional, girl... Kagome told herself as she felt her heart flutter at the sight of Inuyasha undressing, her eyes automatically veering off course to a location that was thankfully concealed by the length of his kosode, as he pulled the white fabric up to expose his thigh but held it down over his crotch as he tried to inconspicuously as possible rest his hands over his groin. She couldn't blame him for feeling self-conscious, and in that moment Kagome wasn't sure if it made things better or worse that she'd already seen all he had to offer.
Thinking back to a recent biology lesson, Kagome tried to distract herself by remembering the names of the different leg muscles in the quadriceps group. Kouga's blades of youki had cut through Inuyasha's vastus lateralis like somebody slicing into a honeybaked ham, but thankfully because of his rapid youkai healing, the wound was no longer bleeding.
"This is going to sting like a son-of-a-bitch..." she warned him quietly as she prepared to pour disinfectant into the gash.
He raised an eyebrow at her language but then gave her a determined nod as he said, "Let's get it over with."
He hissed through gritted teeth but didn't otherwise cry out.
A little too embarrassed to be reaching in between Inuyasha's legs to roll the gauze around his thigh, she mumbled a near silent request for his assistance in that department, which he granted with a mild chuckle at the tinge of pink on her nose, and once his leg was fully wrapped she sighed a breath of relief as he tugged his pants back up into place. There was really nothing that could be done for his cracked tibia except for him to stay off of it and allow the bone to knit - Kagome wasn't worried about setting it because she'd already learned thanks to previous injuries that his bones were apparently self-setting - so at that moment she found herself at a loss for what to do to pass the time, now that she was finished treating his wounds.
Come on... she told herself then, trying to psyche herself up into broaching the subject that had been bothering her for the last two hours. She didn't know how much longer Sango and Miroku would be gone, and she had no idea when she and Inuyasha would be granted another moment of privacy. He did say he would be ready to talk with me, whenever I was... she reminded herself in that moment. He's right, there's no time like the present...
"Inuyasha..." she started hesitantly then, immediately earning his full attention. "About...what you said...to Kouga."
He couldn't help smirking a little at the way she still refrained from adding the 'kun' suffix she'd always previously used to address the wolf, even as his nervousness grew that she was about to crush his dreams with the confession that she didn't want children.
"Did you...really mean that?" she asked instead, and he found himself furrowing his brow in confusion.
"What'd ya mean, did I really mean it?" he asked, his tone somewhat taken aback. "What...you think I'd care that our kids would be more human than youkai?"
"I don't know what to think..." Kagome admitted quietly, which only upset him further.
"Feh! I ain't that dumb, ya know. One human plus one half-human equals mostly human kids. I know that."
"But I don't know how you feel about having kids, and you haven't really cleared it up. I believe you that the human/youkai blood mix wouldn't bother you, but that doesn't mean you want to be a father."
His eyes opened wide in understanding before closing softly, and gazing at her lovingly with half-lidded eyes, he replied, "And I believe that the human/youkai blood mix wouldn't bother you, either, but I had no idea if you wanted to be a mother."
It was Kagome's turn to stare with wide eyes, then, her heart threatening to fly right out of her chest. "You first..." she all but whispered, raising her right hand to delicately trace the lines of his cheeks and jawbone. "Tell me how you really feel."
Reaching up with his own hand, he took hers and held it to his cheek, his gaze full of love and hope as he took a shaky breath before confessing everything that he was.
"Growing up hanyou, I never thought I would have a female, youkai or human, to call my own. To call my mate. Youkai are disgusted by my human blood, and humans fear my youkai half. All I had ever wanted was to be accepted, to have a place where I belong, and that one special person to share it with. Kagome, you are the first person after my mother to treat me like a person, no different from anyone else, and that's a small miracle all its own. That you actually love me? Actually want to be mine? I don't know what I did to deserve it, and honestly I don't think I do, but I will spend every second of every day making sure you never regret your decision. I was definitely telling the truth when I said I don't care how much youkai or human blood would be in our kids. My father was a daiyoukai, so there's really no way to know for sure. Being three-quarters human, they might look fully human and just have heightened senses, or my demonic blood could prove dominant and they'll look hanyou, like me. However they come out, I know they would be perfect. If you could possibly be willing to grant me that final miracle, that final blessing, of allowing this lowly half-breed to know the joys and hardships of fatherhood, my soul would be indebted to you for all eternity."
Blinking back tears, a sob wrenched itself from her throat moments before she threw herself forward, into his surprised but welcoming embrace. The other four members of the inu-tachi reentered camp a few minutes later to find Kagome and Inuyasha wrapped securely around each other, unashamed of their public display of affection as they continued to kiss each other senseless. Smirking and sending his fiancée a playful wink, Miroku got to work preparing their campfire.
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Love Potion # Kyuu