InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Across the Ages ❯ Encounters of the Koga kind ( Chapter 21 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Chapter Twenty One

The next few weeks were spent in battle preparation. Sesshoumaru's army was vast and moving it was hardly easy. Inuyasha lacked patience, it would have been easier to just go without them, but he knew that Naraku had thousands of men in service now. Soldiers forming a barrier between their master and his doom.

He looked down over the soldiers and thought he'd never seen so many men. And this was not even a third of the force at his brother's command. He caught the scent of woman coming closer and turned to see Ayeka step onto the battlements. Her hakamas the same pristine white of his brother.

Her armor was nearly child sized but she wore it well. "Impressive isn't it?" she asked, nodding to the neat formations below. Inuyasha grunted, "Yeah I guess". She leaned her elbows on the stone wall and studied them. "So many of them will die."

Inuyasha looked over at her. "That's what they do isn't it?" he asked. She nodded, "Now they do, but in time not so much". He was confused and let her know it. She smiled at him softly, "In the era that Kagome and I came from there are weapons that can be used to preserve the life of allies and cut down the enemy. If we had those, Naraku would fall and more of these men would come home again".

Inuyasha was interested in this idea. "Like what?" he asked. She pondered that a moment, "Well rifles, machine guns, grenades, I could use a few tanks". Then she took the time to explain what they were and how they worked to him. Inuyasha knew of guns, they were making their presence known in Japan but they were loud and heavy and not very accurate. Unlike the ones she was talking about.

"So if we had these, those men could learn to use them quickly?" he asked. She nodded, "I have been considering Inuyasha passing through the mirror again" she said softly. Inuyasha stared at her, "You are running again?" His tone was unfriendly. She shook her head, "You misunderstand Inuyasha, I would pass through to get weapons and then return".

He thought about that for a long minute. "We don't need those weapons" he told her finally. She nodded, "We don't, no. But they do". His gaze fell on the men training so diligently below. If there was anyway to spare them, even a handful, wasn't that the right thing to do?

"Would you tell Sesshoumaru?" he asked. She shook her head, a small sad smile forming on her lips, "He would forbid the use of the mirror. I would have to go and return in secret. Once I was back I could explain to him" she told him.

Inuyasha knew she meant well, but this plan sucked. "He would sense the lack of you. He would think you ran away again. He wouldn't forgive you again." He spoke the truth. Sesshoumaru was not a forgiving person and no matter that he loved her, he'd not take the insult again. Things were too new, too raw between them. She wanted to save lives, that was honorable, Sesshoumaru wanted his wife to remain with him, that was honorable too.

She met his gaze fully, "I know that Inuyasha. I just have to find a way to make both mesh". He folded his arms across his chest and grunted, "Just tell him what's on your mind. He ain't stupid ya know". She smiled at the half demon before her. Then to his surprise she hugged him tightly. "Thank you Inuyasha" she murmured against his chest. He was a bit surprised to find himself returning the hug.

She pulled back from him a moment later, "I have men to train and you my friend have a miko to find" she said gaily. He stared after her in question. "What the hell does that mean?" he asked. She waved from the stairs and he looked over the wall. The main gates were opening.

"Damn that wolf!" Inuyasha growled when he saw Koga framed in the light. He turned and fled down the stairs. He didn't want that runt's filthy paws all over Kagome. What the hell was he doing here anyway? Bastard, he better not be following Kagome around.

Sesshoumaru had made his way to the courtyard to greet his guest when Inuyasha stormed past him. "What the hell is that wolf doin here?" he demanded. Sesshoumaru arched a brow in question, "He is here because he is to be my ally in this fight and I have bid him do so" was the cool reply.

"Yeah well, he's a weakling and a half, and he better not touch my Kagome" Inuyasha bristled. Ah, so this was the reason behind his sibling's upset. "You will keep peace in my palace Inuyasha" he warned quietly and then turned to greet Koga who'd just appeared.

"Welcome to the western palace Lord Koga" Sesshoumaru said. Koga bowed to him, "My thanks Prince Sesshoumaru, my wolves are ready to assist you in this fight." he spoke eloquently. Despite the fact that his minions had once killed Rin, Sesshoumaru did not kill him.

The wolf after all had made it quite clear to the child that he would allow no harm to befall her. He even allowed her to decorate his person with flower crowns. Although Sesshoumaru often wondered if that was because Koga cared for the child's tender feelings or because the western lord would kill him if he didn't.

Blue eyes clashed with gold as he caught sight of Inuyasha. "What are you doing here Inu-trasha?" he scoffed. Inuyasha growled, "I was just about to ask you the same thing you wimpy wolf". Koga growled and Inuyasha growled louder. "Where's MY Kagome?" Koga demanded.

"Your Kagome?" Inuyasha barked, "You ain't never had her and you ain't gettin her". Koga cracked his knuckles, "You know I REALLY don't like you dog face". Inuyasha smirked, "Yeah yeah whatever, I'm not exactly feelin the love for you either".

"You can be such an asshole."

"Oh and you aren't? That's funny."

"You got somethin to say you sad excuse for a half dog?"

"Just that you'd make a better cat than a wolf"

"Why you..."

Sesshoumaru had heard and seen enough, he pinched the bridge of his nose. "Silence!" he growled. His patience at an end. Both combatants fell silent looking to the tall lord in question. He leveled them with a killing glare. "Koga have you come to fight Naraku or my brother?"

Koga bowed his head, "Forgive my abuse of your hospitality my lord, I have come of course to defeat Naraku. The contest between Inuyasha and myself can wait". Inuyasha grunted, "And what contest is that?" Koga frowned at him, "To get my woman of course".

It was at that moment that Kagome tripped into picture. "Koga!" she said brightly, "Hello!" He was before her in a whirl of upturned dust. Grasping her small hands in his own, "How are you Kagome?" he asked softly. She tried tugging her hands back but he didn't let her. The hair raising growl coming from Inuyasha was ungodly.

She gave a high pitched, nervous laugh, "Heh heh, I'm fine, you know Inuyasha takes good care of me". She hoped that she could soothe the half demon's temper with her words and finally get Koga to see. He stared down at her in adoration, "Kagome?" She looked up at him, "Umm, yes?" He smiled rakishly, "You're my woman. Erm Kagome, your scent is different"

He suddenly found that he wasn't looking into the soft warmth of Kagome's eyes but staring into Inuyasha's blistering gaze. "How many times you have to be told wolf?" Inuyasha demanded, his body firmly between Kagome and Koga, "She ain't your woman".

Koga growled, "Of course she is! You are just living in a state of denial Inuyasha! Who the hell would want a half demon anyway?" Kagome stiffened at Inuyasha's back. She was getting riled all right, that made Inuyasha smirk. Crossing his arms over his chest he stared the wolf right in the eye. "Kagome," he said quietly, "Who is your mate?"

"Mate? She isn't mated yet. I haven't had time" Koga announced. He stared past Inuyasha's shoulder at Kagome. She blushed. "Well?" Inuyasha pressed, irritated that she didn't say it right away. Kagome turned a brighter shade of red, "You are Inuyasha". Her voice was soft but Koga heard. Golden eyes clashed with blue, "You got that wolf?" Inuyasha asked in a deadly quiet tone.

Sesshoumaru was most impressed by the coldness in it's inflection. It was perhaps best to have this resolved now, so they could get on to more serious issues... like fighting a war. From the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Ayeka.

She leaned against a pillar and watched the events in the courtyard with mild amusement. Sango had told her all about Koga and Inuyasha's little battles. When she'd heard the wolf would be arriving today, she'd almost laughed out loud. She suspected it wasn't too serious, and that while they would beat the hell out of one another, they'd do no real harm.

Sesshoumaru was the one that amused her most at the moment. He looked bored, terribly bored but she suspected that he wanted to crack their heads together and leave them in the dust. She might not have blamed him for it. She felt his gaze rove her like a heated caress and turned her head to meet him.

She was laughing at HIM! He came to that revelation as she smirked at him and winked! Brazen woman. He frowned at her and she chuckled, her soft lilting laughter reaching his ears. Then she made her way to where he was standing.

Koga was in shock, "I don't believe you mutt, you are lying and you have poor Kagome backing you up. Don't you be afraid of him Kagome, I'll protect you" he said baldly. Inuyasha growled at him menacingly, how dare this bastard suggest Kagome feared him.

"You don't know much about women do you?" Inuyasha asked. Koga seemed taken aback by the question, "Of course I do, why the hell would you ask that?" Inuyasha smiled widely, "Well I figured that any guy running around in a fur miniskirt just wouldn't... if you catch my drift"

Koga's ears turned red, had his manhood just been questioned? He was pretty sure that it had. He had no time to recover. Inuyasha tugged Kagome to his side, and gently he pulled the collar of her kimono down to reveal his mark. His hands gentle against her flesh, proud of his claim over her. Her cheeks burning. Koga's eyes fell on the bite and went wide.

"No bullshit wolf. Marked and mated. So that makes her mine" Inuyasha said calmly, "Why don't you go let one of your men console you?" Koga snarled, "What did you do to Kagome?!" Inuyasha shoved her back behind him, his hand moving to Tetsusaiga at the wolf's words. "You forced her to do that! My Kagome loves me!". Inuyasha snarled loudly in response.

Ayeka reached Sesshoumaru's position and looked up at him. He didn't look her way, but kept his eyes fixed on the madness that had invaded his home. If Inuyasha killed the wolf now, he'd have no argument and no ally. The wolf had impugned his honor, Inuyasha would have to act. He felt Ayeka beside him.

He didn't growl to warn her away so she assumed that he had no intention of intervening in the brewing fight. She stopped beside him, smiling when he moved almost imperceptibly. Angling his body to shield hers. His arm barred her path slightly.

"Are you finding my headache amusing?" he whispered to her. She nodded Vastly". He hmpfed softly, "I think perhaps the lord should beat his wife". She braced herself against his back to lean up to whisper near his ear, "Perhaps the lord should try". He grunted, his arm moving back to hold her against him for a moment. Savoring that touch.

Inuyasha had unsheathed his sword and was ready to attack. Kagome grabbed his sleeve, "Inuyasha! No!" she cried out. Inuyasha seemed to shake the anger off himself and let her speak. She tried to move out in clear view of Koga, but Inuyasha wouldn't let her.

"Koga," she said softly, "You know better than that. Inuyasha would never force me to something I didn't want to do. I love Inuyasha, that's why I am with him. You are my friend Koga and I want you to be a part of my life, but Inuyasha is my mate". Her eyes were wide and pleading and her words ripped him open inside.

He met her gaze head on, hurt clear in his cerulean eyes. "You choose him?" he asked in a low voice, "You chose him over me?" Kagome sighed, "Koga, there was never a question. I'm sorry." Koga stepped back, "And you are happy with it... him." Kagome nodded. he searched her face, her scent, her body language for any sign of deception but found none.

Inuyasha grunted, vastly satisfied. "You done Kagome?" he asked. She nodded to him. He adjusted his grip on his sword, "Good now I can kill him". Koga growled and Inuyasha tensed for the fight. Sesshoumaru watched in fascination, he knew what was coming and he did enjoy it.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome said sweetly. He kept his gaze on Koga, "Hnn." Kagome fisted her hands at her sides and tipped her head back to the heavens. Sesshoumaru tensed a bit, but before Ayeka could ask the reason, he whispered to her, "Watch. This is beautiful."

"SIT, SIT!" Kagome yelled to the sky. The beads at Inuyasha's neck glowed brightly and then the half demon was flung face first to the ground. There was a resounding thud, followed by another and a great cloud of dust rose over the courtyard. Ayeka jumped at the noise, Sesshoumaru's arm snaking back to hold her again.

The dust settled and the newly formed crater in the center of yard. Kagome stood looking peevish. Koga was smiling and Ayeka was shocked. Where was Inuyasha? From the crater, came a muffled groan and then a distinct, "Ow". Ayeka looked up at Sesshoumaru not missing the amusement in his gaze. "What is that?" she whispered to him. "An incantation, Kagome is a reincarnated priestess. She does that when he gets out of line" he explained quickly.

Sesshoumaru looked to the entry of the house, Jaken was there... good. "Jaken, show Lord Koga to his chambers". Koga bowed and followed the little green toad into the shadows of the house. Meanwhile Kagome knelt near the lip of the crater, Inuyasha sat scowling at her. "What'd ya do that for?" he demanded.

Kagome sighed, "Well you couldn't kill him Inuyasha". He grunted, "Don't see why not". Kagome frowned at him, "Inuyasha!" He looked up at her quickly, pointing a clawed finger at her nose, "No more sits Kagome" he growled at her. Irritated that he felt like crap after winning the argument... finally.

"You deserved it!" she told him. He scowled as he left the crater and brushed himself off. "You think?" he asked. She nodded, not intimidated in the least by him. He tugged on the beads which only glowed and resisted him. "Take these damn things off Kagome" he snapped. She shook her head. He growled in warning, "You are my mate and therefore have no reason to keep them on me".

Kagome still shook her head, "We need those". He towered over her, frowning down. Claws tapped against the beads, "Get. These. Off. Me.". Kagome folded her arms across her chest, "I won't". His eyes went wide, was his mate deying him? He was pretty sure that had just happened. "Kagome..." he said, his tone warning.

She stamped her little foot, "No damn it Inuyasha! What if you transform. With these I can at least bring you back!" Well it was true, so why not say it. "Do you resent the beads Inuyasha, or me for having them?" she asked suddenly. He groaned, "No. They were made to protect you. What I do resent is you using them to protect him. He deserves to have his ass beat Kagome".

She nodded, "Fine" she agreed and he fell silent. "Youll let me beat him up?" he asked, suspicious now. She nodded, smiling. He frowned, "What's the catch?" Yes, what was the catch, Sesshoumaru wanted to know. Kagome tapped the hilt of the Tetsusaiga, "You can't use the Tetsusaiga".

He growled, "Fine you want me to rip him apart with my claws instead? I got no problem with that - zero problem. Be right back" he strode towards the palace and she stopped him with her next words, "Oh and Inuyasha? " He paused but didn't turn around. "No blood" she chirped. His ear twitched, "What? No blood?" he demanded.

She nodded, "You can't mess up Sesshoumaru's floors". He glared at his brother, who stood there with that smug expression on his face. "How the hell am I supposed to rip him apart with no blood?" he wanted to know. Kagome shrugged walking past him. she looked up at him while he stared down at her.

She gRinned up at him melting his anger into resignation, "You are nuts you know that?" he asked in a tired tone. She leaned up to kiss his lips quickly, "you love me anyway" she whispered as she moved on ahead. He stared at the sky, a pained expression on his face. "Yeah I do," he muttered, "I don't get to kill him do I?" She laughed as she vanished into the shadows, "Nope".

At his crestfallen expression Ayeka let her laughter bubble up from her lips. The sound was like sunlight to her mate. He stepped to the side, allowing her to see his brother clearly. Inuyasha glared at her, "That's funny huh?" he asked. She nodded, wiping at her eyes, "Oh yeah, you have NO idea!" He grunted and lifted one finger to her view, "That's about all I have to say about that"

Before Sesshoumaru could react, she had wandered to his brother's side. She clapped him on the back. "Oh Inuyasha...." she giggled, "You are such a good sport!" Inuyasha grumbled about the madness afflicting women and she laughed even harder.