InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Curse of the Wolf ❯ Recovery ( Chapter 15 )

Chapter 15: Recovery

 

“Master Inuyasha, there you are. I've been looking everywhere; you were supposed to take the Tetsusaiga to Toutousai for sharpening. Why are you rescuing that dog?” Myoga asked the hanyou from the back of the large crow he was riding on. He leapt off the bird onto the hanyou's shoulder.

 

“Myoga, Kami am I glad to see you. Suck out this poison,” he commanded, putting the unconscious wolf on the ground.

 

He had run out of the area of the humans and their cruel entertainment. Sango and Shippou had been there to gather Miroku and Kagome and he knew Kirara would be able to find him.

 

“Master Inuyasha, I don't see…”

 

“I don't care what you see, suck out the poison…now!”

 

Myoga “epped” and did as he was told. Leaping onto the prone wolf and sucking as fast as he could, noticing the angry look that was on the hanyou's face. He was just finishing when the rest of the group arrived on Kirara's back.

 

“How is he?” Kagome questioned. She came and sat by the wolf putting his large head in her lap. She hissed at the damage she saw. His face was missing a lot of fur, it looked like his eyes and muzzle were severely burnt and there were wounds and blood all over his body. Kouga was breathing in slow, ragged gasps. “Give me my first aid kit,” she called to Shippou who retrieved it in no time flat from her bag that was on the ground.

 

“Do you still have some of my blood strengthener with you?” the flea asked. He was lying on the ground flat on his back, his belly distended with the wolf's poisoned blood.

 

“Yes, Shippou can you get that as well? It should be in the bottom.”

 

Inuyasha paced around as he watched Kagome put some kind of salve on the ookami's burnt face and bandage his wounds. Even though the flea had taken care of the poison the wounds were still taking a long time to heal.

 

“It's a residual effect of the snake's toxin, I can't help that,” Myoga told the hanyou. “But at least it won't get any worse and once he drinks my blood potion he'll mend alright.” The flea looked at his master quizzically. “Why are you so worried about this creature?”

 

“He's not a creature,” Inuyasha responded harshly. “That's Kouga, the wolf demon.”

 

Myoga sat up and looked at the wolf in surprise, watching as the miko girl tried to pour as much of the blood juice into him as she could without choking him. I heard of such demons that could take animal form, I thought it was all fairy tales.

 

Inuyasha reached towards Kouga's neck to rip the offensive collar from him when Miroku stopped him. “If you take it off and he transforms in this weakened state, it could hurt him more. Leave it for now, I'll try and weaken the ofuda before it's removed. It will be easier on his system then.”

 

Inuyasha snarled angrily. He did not like the idea of that human having debased his lover in such a way.

 

“Are you okay, Inuyasha?” Kagome asked seeing how upset he was. It surprised her. I guess he really did think of Kouga as a good friend.

 

“Yeah, let's get back to the village and get him somewhere warm,” he stated, gently picking up the wolf in his arms. Everyone looked at him and each other in puzzled shock when he whined and snuggled his face into the wolf's thick fur. Inuyasha, at that moment, didn't care what it looked like to the others, he just wanted Kouga to get better and to be with him again.

 

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Kouga awoke three days later unsure of where he was. He felt a momentary jab of fear, thinking he was back in the shed but then realized it wasn't that dark and this room was bigger. He could also hear others walking around. He tried to make out more around him but everything was still fuzzy. He blinked a few times and although some blurriness remained, he was able to see better.

 

“Kouga, thank Kami. How do you feel?”

 

Inuyasha?, the wolf questioned in his mind. So I wasn't dreaming? Kouga lifted his head to see a distorted image of the hanyou looking at him worriedly. His tail gave a few thumps on the futon he was lying on before stilling. He was beginning to get tired just from that small exertion.

 

“Here, drink this,” the hanyou ordered putting a foul smelling concoction before his nose. Kouga tried to turn his head but Inuyasha was having none of it. “It will help you get stronger,” he told the wolf as he held his head still on his lap.

 

The ookami clamped his jaws shut, there is no way I'm drinking that, what is that shit?

 

“Drink it you stubborn flea bag or I'll make you drink it,” Inuyasha growled, trying to force Kouga's jaws open. He stopped when the wolf gave a yelp of pain.

 

That's the mutt alright, Kouga thought to himself as he gave in and grudgingly lapped up the noxious substance. He shuddered at the taste, sticking his tongue out in revulsion. He was surprised when he did start to feel a bit better. He sighed and closed his eyes trying to drift back into sleep.

 

“Kouga,” the hanyou whispered quietly. The wolf's ears picked up the soft voice and they flicked to the sound as he kept his eyes shut. “I'm sorry for what happened, you were never a mistake.”

 

Kouga's heart gave a little thump of happiness and he licked the hanyou's hand that was holding the bowl of whatever the hell that stuff was. He rubbed his head into the warm lap of the half demon and sighed. I'm sorry too, Inuyasha, he thought before slipping into a peaceful sleep.

 

The next day Inuyasha was still there and he made the wolf drink more of the flea's concoction. Kouga was feeling a lot stronger and his wounds were healing nicely. He was glad he was actually able to see clearly when he opened his eyes.

 

Miroku came into the room that the hanyou had not left since the ookami had been brought here. “I'm going to get that cursed collar off you,” he told the wolf. “First I have to weaken the charm inside it.”

 

Kouga lifted his head so the monk could work on the collar. He was a bit nervous about transforming back. What if I still can't do it, maybe it's been too long. He was thinking about what Satori had told him; that if he stayed in his wolf form too long he would always remain a wolf.

 

Miroku chanted for about a half hour before reaching forward and untying the collar that had been around the wolf's neck for more than a year. Kouga felt a bit naked not feeling the leather rubbing against his skin. “Okay it's done.” Miroku stood but stayed in the room, he wanted to see Kouga change back.

 

“Go ahead, Kouga,” Inuyasha coaxed. He had brought in a kimono for when the ookami switched back into his human form. He had no idea where Kouga's original clothing was but the girls were trying to make him some that looked similar to what he used to wear. They figured they would have them ready in a couple of days.

 

Kouga closed his eyes and concentrated, relief flooded through him when he felt himself change and in a few moments he was sitting on the floor back to his normal self. Inuyasha came and tried to help him put the kimono on.

 

“I can do it, dog breath,” he complained, grabbing the kimono and putting it on. “I'm not a cub you know.”

 

Inuyasha was hovering like a mother hen. Miroku noticed this as well and again wondered what was going on between the hanyou and the wolf. He had begun to get his suspicions but kept thinking that he had to be wrong. Although it would explain Inuyasha's moods, he thought.

 

Kouga tried to stand but fell promptly on his butt in an undignified heap. “Guess I'm not used to just using two legs,” he said sheepishly.

 

“Stupid wolf, take your time,” Inuyasha admonished gently, coming to his aid and helping him to his feet.

 

Miroku watched with a raised eyebrow as Kouga slipped his arm over the hanyou's shoulder while Inuyasha hugged him around the waist, not letting go until the wolf was a little more stable on his feet. In fact, Miroku thought that they had held on to each other a bit longer than necessary. The monk raised the other eyebrow when he saw the look that passed between the pair. “Uh-hum,” he coughed, clearing his throat so the two of them would realize that he was still there.

 

They both looked at the monk and blushed, Inuyasha moved away from the wolf slightly. Kouga stood trying to find equilibrium on two feet instead of four. He took a tentative step forward and wobbled. This time both Inuyasha and Miroku held out their hands to catch him in case he fell.

 

“Jeez you guys, just give me a minute, I'll get it,” Kouga uttered, blushing, feeling embarrassed and like the cub he said he wasn't. He tried again and felt himself becoming more confident and secure. In a few moments he was walking around with no problems. “Told you,” he smirked in satisfaction.

 

Inuyasha couldn't help teasing the wolf a bit and reached out and gave him a small push, knocking the ookami over easily. “Guess you need to work on it more,” he grinned at the stupefied wolf.

 

“Damn mutt, what did you do that for?” Kouga grumbled getting back to his feet and giving the hanyou an angry glare.

 

Inuyasha just snickered. A joyous feeling was passing through him now that he knew Kouga would be alright. If it hadn't been for Miroku standing there and watching he would have taken the wolf into his arms and kissed him senseless.

 

The three boys walked out into the main part of the hut, Sango, Shippou and Kagome all coming and fussing up the wolf. Inuyasha noticed with some irritation that he didn't complain when the girls went to help him and that he was acting more injured than he was. Damn flea bag. He's enjoying this.

 

They all sat down at the table to eat. Inuyasha sat beside the wolf and sulked as Kouga received all the attention. After supper Miroku and Shippou went outside while the girls cleaned the dishes, leaving Inuyasha and Kouga to themselves.

 

“Did…did you kill Satori?” Kouga questioned a bit haltingly.

 

“Why are you worried about that guy after what he did to you?” Inuyasha responded giving the wolf a look of disbelief. “You don't really care do you?”

 

“No…yes…I don't know. He wasn't that bad,” he finished in a low voice, looking at the floor.

 

Inuyasha stared at the ookami for a little while trying to figure out what had happened to make the wolf worry about that human.

 

“Never mind,” Kouga said to break the silence. “Forget I asked.” An uncomfortable silence fell between the two as neither was sure what to say.

 

“No, I didn't kill him. Just broke his nose and knocked him out,” Inuyasha finally responded. What did that guy do to you?

 

Kouga felt relief. He didn't want to stay Satori's pet forever but the human had been kind to him most of the time and he carried conflicting emotions towards the man. He didn't want him dead. The wolf was sure that Inuyasha wouldn't understand what he was feeling towards his former captor. He missed him. It was weird and it didn't make any sense, even to Kouga. But he wished he could see Satori again, even if it was just for a few minutes.

 

“Are you okay?” Inuyasha asked seeing that Kouga had gotten a sad look on his face.

 

“Yeah,” Kouga replied perking up and looking into the golden eyes of the one he loved. “I'm glad you didn't forget me.”

 

“I couldn't do that. Kami, do you know how long we looked for you?” Inuyasha sat closer to the wolf and leaned his head onto his shoulder. Kouga wrapped an arm around him and licked his cheek making the hanyou sigh.

 

“I was scared, I didn't think you guys cared when you didn't come,” he admitted to the hanyou.

 

Inuyasha snuggled in closer to the wolf breathing in his scent. “I'll never stop caring about you,” he whispered. They pulled apart from each other when they heard the girls coming back.

 

Kouga gave a huge yawn. “Kouga-kun you're still recovering, why don't you go lie down,” Kagome fussed, putting her hand on his head to check for fever and sighing in relief when she felt no heat to his skin.

 

“Maybe I will,” he replied yawning again. He rose and went into the room flopping down on the futon. I'll just close my eyes for a minute, he thought as he drifted off to sleep.

 

He awoke in the middle of the night in a sweat with the phantom feeling of the muzzle tied around his mouth. He reached up, panicking, to try and pull it off. He gave a huge gasp in relief when it hit his foggy brain that one, there was nothing there and two; he was not in wolf form. He sat up and looked into glowing eyes. “Shit,” he yelped pushing himself back.

 

“It's just me, calm down,” Inuyasha soothed.

 

“Inu…Inuyasha?” the wolf breathed, trying to stop his heart from pounding out of his chest.

 

“Who'd you think it was…forget I asked that,” the hanyou returned, putting his hand out and rubbing the wolf's arm. He could feel Kouga trembling. He scooted forward and embraced the ookami. Kouga sighed and went limp in his arms.

 

“What happened, Kouga?” he asked.

 

“Nothing, it was just a dream.”

 

“That's not what I meant, what happened…with him I mean.”

 

Kouga remained silent for a moment still snuggled in the arms of the hanyou. He didn't want to tell him, he didn't want Inuyasha to know how weak he had been. After a long pause in which Inuyasha thought the wolf was not going to answer, Kouga haltingly told the half demon what had happened to him.

 

How he had been caught in the trap and how Satori had captured him. He told him about the shed, his mouth being tied, left on his own never knowing if Satori would ever come back. He told him of the fights and even told him how the man had been good to him most of the time and how, near the time that Inuyasha had rescued him that he had even wanted to do what the monk asked. That he had been almost happy to be with him.

 

“You were right,” he intoned when he finished his story. “I am pathetic, how could I come to like him after what he did.”

 

Fury rose in Inuyasha and he wished he had killed the bastard. He hated how lost the wolf sounded, how dull his normally bright eyes were. He wanted to see the overly confident, brash, outspoken and irritating Kouga again. He didn't like this meek, fearful…the word tame flitted though his mind, wolf that he now held in his arms. He vowed right then and there to do something about it. He started by trying to aggravate his lover into a fight, to make him get angry and let loose some of the pent up emotions that the hanyou could sense hiding beneath the surface.

 

“Maybe you are pathetic,” Inuyasha told him. “Getting caught like that, having that guy use you like that. You should have fought harder, you scrawny wolf.”

 

What the hell?! Kouga thought as he frowned in confusion and pushed himself away from the hanyou growling deeply as anger welled up from inside him.

 

Inuyasha grinned, now this is more like it. In fact the wolf was far from scrawny. He had developed a lot more muscle from his time fighting. Inuyasha actually thought he was pretty drool worthy.

 

“I could whip your ass right now,” Kouga countered angrily. Why is he saying shit like that? He's supposed to make me feel better, not worse.

 

“Yeah, try it ya wimpy wolf,” Inuyasha challenged, getting up and adopting a fighting stance.

 

Kouga growled, angry at more than being called wimpy. He didn't want Inuyasha to think him weak and unworthy, something he had thought of himself. He attacked, letting the hidden anger that he had felt for Satori and the shame he had felt at himself come forward to be released.

 

The others in the hut were soon standing at the doorway to the room, watching in disbelief as the two demons wrestled and punched each other, destroying furniture in their wake. “Inuyasha, what are you doing to Kouga,” Kagome cried. “Stop this.”

 

The two boys continued to fight, Inuyasha surprised at how much strength and skill the wolf had amassed over the time he had been gone. Jeeze, remind me not to call him wimpy again, he thought as Kouga's fist caught him square in the eye.

 

“Inuyasha sit boy!” Kagome called out causing the hanyou to smack into the floor.

 

Kouga stood over him breathing hard, at first smirking at the prone half demon and then it hit him. Inuyasha had been collared too with those beads; a lot longer than he had but he had never complained about it. He reached down and helped the hanyou up when the spell wore off. He fingered the beads around Inuyasha's neck.

 

“Are you alright, Kouga-kun?” Kagome asked.

 

“You should take these off,” he replied still rolling the prayer beads in his hands. Inuyasha looked at him in surprise as did everyone else.

 

“What?” Kagome questioned.

 

Kouga dropped his head and eyes, “Take it from me, it's not much fun being collared and under someone else's control. You should take them off.” He dropped his hand from the beads and looked at the miko girl.

 

“She doesn't have to…” Inuyasha started to say.

 

“I know she doesn't have to, but she should,” Kouga interrupted, still looking at Kagome, now with a hint of accusation in his eyes, as if he was comparing her to Satori.

 

Kagome looked back at him with an expression of embarrassed shame. Am I really like that guy Satori? She had to answer that maybe in a way she was. She did have a method to control the hanyou whenever she felt like it, even if he didn't deserve it.

 

She went to Inuyasha who just stood there dumbfounded. Is she really going to take them off? Do I want her to? When he looked to Kouga, his lover, he answered himself. Yes he did want her to take them off, to free him from her so he could belong wholly to Kouga. He lowered his head to her and she reached for the beads. With a gentle tug over his head he was free.

 

He felt an immense sense of relief that he hadn't expected. “Thank you,” he said quietly to the dark haired girl. She smiled, her eyes beginning to tear.

 

“What are you crying for? I'm not dead or anything,” he grumbled, blushing at all the attention he was getting from everyone.

 

Kagome stopped the tears from falling and grinned. “No you're not dead, but you look like you got a pretty good black eye,” she giggled.

 

Inuyasha put his hand to his eye and winced, “Damn wolf,” he growled with a smirk. “Next time I won't be so easy on you, seeing as you've recovered so well.”

 

Kouga grinned. Thanks to you, he thought. He knew he still had a way to go to get over everything that had happened in his time with Satori, but as long as he had Inuyasha by his side, he would try his best.