InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Enemy Mine ❯ Chapter 1 ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Inuyasha. Those are the property of one Rumiko Takahashi. I thank her whole-heartedly for giving us such an amazing manga/anime to read/watch.

Author's Note. While this chapter maintains a strong PG-13, future chapters will contain adult material that warrant an NC-17 rating.

Enemy Mine - Chapter 1

By Urd-chan

Kouga knew he was close to his goal. Ahead of him he could see what appeared to be a cloud of smoke and dust at ground level. He could sense the tremendous youki coming from ahead, along with the blasts of power that were hidden in the darkness. The stench was overwhelming. Even before he reached the perimeter of the cloud he could smell blood and miasma, charred flesh, and above all the smell of death.

Damn it, he thought as he pushed through the flying debris. He could barely see as he worked his way to the source of the cloud. He had been right. Inuyasha's group was battling against Naraku. He would have to find Kagome quickly and make sure she was all right. Where are those idiots when I need them? Of course, Kouga had quickly outdistanced his two sidekicks when he realized that Kagome might be in trouble. He was not about to leave her fate in the hands of that incompetent dog-turd.

It didn't take him long to survey the battleground. The bodies of dead youkai were scattered between where Inuyasha and his friends had taken their stand and the obvious stronghold of Naraku. None of Inuyasha's group seemed to be seriously injured. Yes, there was Kagome. She stood side by side with Inuyasha, her bow cocked and aimed. An arrow sped through the air, its blue glow marking its path. Inuyasha immediately released a blast from the Tessaiga, taking advantage of the opening the arrow left. More dirt and debris joined the already choking cloud as the couple readied for another attack.

He would have to get to Kagome. He had to make sure she would be all right. The others from Inuyasha's group were scattered across one side of the obvious battleground. Facing them were Naraku and Hakudoushi. Kouga paused. A sound behind him made him turn quickly. Kagura stood only a few yards away from him, her fan closed and hanging loosely from one hand. How could he have been so careless. Surely Naraku was going to make an attempt on his shards. Well, he'd be damned if he let that bastard take what belonged to him.

Naraku signaled to Hakudoushi, who began to move to his left. The lavender-haired youkai positioned himself in line with the dead miko, Kikyou. He lifted his sickle and started spinning it, readying his attack on the source of so many of their problems.

Naraku then glanced at Kagura, his unspoken command telling her to go for Kouga's shards. Damn it, thought Kouga. Why did he always seem to have to face off against that woman? His strength was close-up attack, but she always dominated him so easily with her distance attacks. He planted his feet and prepared for Kagura's first move.

The wind user flipped her fan up, letting it fall into the palm of her free hand. She quickly snapped it open, her expression unreadable. Her face might as well be made of stone for the lack of emotion in it at that moment.

If he could only get in close to her before she launched her first wind attack, he might have a chance. He made his move, quickly circling her and coming in from behind. He prepared to attack first, but paused. Something was wrong. Kagura didn't even seem to notice him. She lifted her hand and flipped her open fan in the direction of Hakudoushi, unleashing a wave of energy bolts. The blast hit but did little damage to Naraku's underling.

Hakudoushi smiled slightly. "Surely you don't think I wouldn't be prepared for you, Kagura. You have been waiting for just the right time to attack me. Pity you didn't pick the time better."

Hakudoushi swung his sickle at Kagura, sending with it a bolt of energy that clipped the wind user in her right hand, sending her fan flying.

Kagura spun and lunged for her fan, knowing that without it she had no chance against the child-like underling of Naraku who now moved towards her.

"I won't let a pathetic runt like you kill me, Hakudoushi." She had nearly reached her weapon, only to be stopped by a second blast from Hakudoushi.

Kouga watched in amazement as Kagura turned on Naraku and Hakudoushi. He knew only one thing. Without Kagura's help, he would probably have no chance against Naraku's latest underling. Like Kagura, he relied on distance attacks, and Kouga knew he wouldn't be able to get in close enough to do any serious damage. He watched as Kagura ran for her fan, dodging Hakudoushi's blasts as she tried to regain her only weapon.

A flash of movement passed her and paused at the fallen fan. Kouga stood looking at it, uncertain of what he should do. Surely he wouldn't be able to trust Kagura. But, a battle against her would be preferable to one against the lavender-haired punk who launched yet another attack at Kagura.

"Kagura!" Kouga shouted. She glanced up, catching the fan that Kouga tossed to her.

"What the hell?" Kagura was surprised by Kouga's move but quickly recovered. She gripped her fan and snapped it open.

"Die, bastard!" Kagura shouted as she launched a second attack at Hakudoushi.

Naraku narrowed his eyes and nodded to his underling. Hakudoushi moved towards Kouga. At the same moment Naraku turned to Kagura and held out his hand. Kouga could see something there. It was just the right size for Naraku's hand and seemed to be pulsing. Naraku quickly closed his hand over the thing.

Kouga could see Kagura clutch at her chest and fall to the ground in obvious pain. Why should he care what happened to the bitch? She was the enemy, after all, wasn't she? But only moments before she had refused Naraku's command and refused to attack him. What the hell was going on? He looked now at Naraku. No, that was his real enemy.

His hesitation cost him the advantage. Hakudoushi came at him from behind and slightly to one side. Kouga could feel a ripping in his left calf as Naraku's underling sliced into Kouga with his sickle.

"You bastard, do you really think I'll let one of Naraku's seconds take my shards?"

A burning sensation started where the point of the blade had hit him. What the hell? The sensation spread quickly up his leg and he found himself stumbling when he turned to face Hakudoushi.

"Hand over the shards willingly and I just might spare your life."

Kouga snarled. "Like I would ever give you my shards, or my life. Take this you bastard." Kouga quickly launched a kick attack at Hakudoushi. His damaged leg crumpled beneath him when he landed. His kick hadn't even fazed his opponent.

"My turn." Hakudoushi swung his sickle blade again, the tip just catching Kouga's right calf. The attack wasn't enough to do any real harm, but it was enough to pierce the skin and leave a trace of miasma.

A burning sensation started at the point of contact. Like the other leg, his right leg soon felt like it was on fire. The pain was intense, and it spread quickly through his body. No, I'm not going to let this little bastard win, Kouga thought to himself as he pushed himself to his feet. His legs felt like they were on fire. Each movement was agony as he moved to face Hakudoushi. "I will not lose to the likes of you."

Each time Kouga tried to attack Hakudoushi, the pain slowed him. Hakudoushi made additional slashes in Kouga's legs, each one sending a new wave of pain through the wolf youkai. Before long he found his vision beginning to blur and his body unresponsive. He felt like he was paralyzed as he saw Hakudoushi come in close to carve the shards out of his legs.

Kouga dropped to the ground. Through his blurred vision he could see Kagura's crumpled form only an arm's length from him. She had refused to attack him for the shards. Because of that her fate was to be the same as his. A hint at an emotion he didn't understand tugged at the edges of his consciousness just before he plunged into darkness.

Kouga was unaware of the events that were happening around him as he fought Hakudoushi. He never saw the arrow that Kagome launched at the bundle in Kanna's arms. He didn't see the duel attacks from Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru, each hitting home on their goals. The bodies of both Naraku and Hakudoushi dissipated as the attacks hit them. The bundle in Kanna's arms glowed in a blue aura for a moment and then seemed to break into thousands of tiny lights, which quickly faded. Naraku's hand released its hold on the pulsing thing he had been squeezing. Both he and the thing disappeared without a trace.

"Kouga-kun! Kouga-kun!" Ah, so this was what it was like to be dead. He would forever have Kagome's voice in his head. She sounded worried and it made him want to tell her it was all right. Death wasn't all that horrible. The flames that had only moments before been shooting through his body had been replaced by a pleasant tingling sensation. He could hear Kagome's voice. He could even smell her. Her gentle hands shook his motionless body as awareness came back to him.

"Kagome?" Kouga's eyes opened slightly. A very tired and dirty Kagome was leaning over him. He saw her smile as she noticed his open eyes.

"Thank goodness. I thought for sure we had lost you."

Kouga shook his head and tried to push himself up from his position on the ground.

"Take it easy, Kouga-kun. Hakudoushi really did a job on your legs. I did what I could to get rid of the miasma, and then I cleaned and bandaged them. I know you will heal quickly on your own now that the miasma is gone."

"Where's dog-turd? I'm surprised he's letting you take care of me."

"Inuyasha has something important he has to do right now." Kagome's voice sounded sad. Kouga found himself scouring the area, his gaze falling on where Inuyasha and Miroku were gathering up what appeared to be a small pile of dirt and bones. Miroku carefully wrapped the dirt in a piece of cloth. Inuyasha picked up a broken bow and placed in on top of the package Miroku held.

"She's at peace now," Kagome murmured.

Kouga nodded. It didn't take a genius to figure out who she was talking about. So, the dead miko had returned to her grave. That meant that there was one less thing standing between Inuyasha and Kagome.

Kagome checked the bandages on Kouga's legs and then glanced at Kagura's prone form.

"I'll be right back." She quickly moved to where Kagura's motionless body lay.

Kouga felt a wave of something go through him as he watched Kagome examine Kagura. The feeling puzzled him.

"She's alive," Kagome gasped as she carefully rolled Kagura onto her side. She leaned forward and Kouga could hear her talking softly to the wind user.

Kagura clutched one hand over her chest. "It's back. How's it possible?"

"Naraku's gone, Kagura. So are Hakudoushi and the baby. They're all gone. You're finally free."

Kagura struggled to sit up with Kagome's help. "I need to know if it's still there."

Kagome looked puzzled as Kagura reached behind her and started tearing at her kimono. "You need to know if what's still there?"

The spider mark, thought Kouga as he watched Kagome help Kagura loosen the kimono.

"It's gone, Kagura," Kagome said softly when she had looked at Kagura's exposed back.

Kouga could see everything from where he sat. Kagura's back was bare, the kimono pulled loose to expose her shoulders and back. She sat with the front clutched in her hands, held close to her chest. The wind user lowered her head and laughed softly.

"I'm free. I'm finally free."

Kouga forced himself to look away from the two women. He tried to focus on his injured legs. Kagome had securely bandaged them and he could already feel the tingling that came with the regeneration of the tissue. He was a youkai, after all. He wouldn't need much time to heal. Of course, the added damage from the miasma would probably take a little more time.

The wolf youkai tried to stand up. Searing pain shot through both legs, forcing him to collapse back to the ground. "Damn it," he muttered.

"Kouga-kun, you need to take it easy for a while. I did what I could with the miasma, but your body is going to have to finish getting rid of the rest of it. I'm sorry. I wish I could have done more."

Kouga looked at Kagome. She looked seriously worried.

"Hell, I've had worse scratches practicing with those two idiots who are supposed to be with me at all times." Kouga steeled his face. He didn't want Kagome to see the pain he felt reflected there. She already had enough to worry about.

Kagome glanced from Kouga to Kagura and then moved her face close to Kagura's ear. Kouga looked away, not even wanting to know what the two women were discussing.

A moment later Kagome came back to Kouga's side. "Kouga-kun, I have a favor to ask of you."

The wolf youkai turned to look at her, an expression of surprise on his face. "You know there isn't anything I wouldn't do for you, Kagome."

"Good. I was afraid you'd say no." Kagome glanced back at Kagura and gave Kouga a worried look. "You see, Kagura…" The young woman sighed as she tried to pick just the right words to use with him. "Kagura is alone. She's never been out of Naraku's care, and I'm worried she won't know how to take care of herself."

"What the hell does that have to do with me?" Kouga snapped. Something in his gut told him that he wasn't going to like what Kagome was asking him to do.

"I want you to help Kagura. Just make sure she's all right until she can take care of herself. She's never had to live on her own before. We just can't leave her here like this." Kagome motioned with one hand in Kagura's direction. The wind user seemed oblivious to the look Kouga threw her way.

"What the fuck! Kagome, ask me anything else and I'll do it, but that's just asking too much!" Kouga exploded.

"She wasn't our enemy, Kouga. Naraku was. He used her just like he used Kohaku and so many others. Now that he's gone, we can stop the fighting. It's time for everyone to start living again." Kagome looked in the direction of her friends. Kouga noticed the look of longing when her glance fell on Inuyasha.

The wolf youkai shook his head. "You forget, I'm not much use to anyone right now anyway." He indicated his injured legs. The legs that had only a short time ago carried him at speeds he had never dreamed imaginable until he came across the Shikon shards. But, the shards were gone and his legs were bloody and torn. He didn't have to see beneath the bandages to know exactly what their condition was. Youkai or not, these were going to take some time to heal. And, without the Shikon shards, he wasn't sure he even cared. How could he go back to just being a normal youkai? The shards had been part of him for so long.

"Kouga-kun." Kagome interrupted his thoughts. "Will you do what I ask?"

Again Kouga shook his head. "You know I'll do anything for you, Kagome. I'm not happy about this, but if it's what you want, then I'll do it. Just don't expect me to be pleasant to her."

Kagome smiled and reached out to take his hand. "Kouga-kun, you're a good person. I know you'll do what's right."

"Kagura." Kagome caught the wind user's attention. "Kouga-kun will take you back to his den. You can stay there until you're ready to be on your own."

"You jest with me, I'm sure," Kagura drawled. "You can't honestly expect me to go anywhere with that…"

"The war is over, Kagura. Naraku is gone. It's time we start working together. You need a place to stay, and Kouga-kun needs a way to get back home. Surely you can take him there on your feather?"

Kagura laughed softly. "You think you can make everything all right with your words? Do you honestly think he'll let me live? The things that happened in the past. He's not just going to forget them."

Kagome sat back and looked at her hands, remembering what had happened to Kouga's clan. "Kouga-kun won't hurt you. I promise. He's given me his word and I believe him. Besides, what options do you really have? Do you want to wander forever with no place to go?"

Kagura glared at Kouga, doing her best to read his intentions. The wolf youkai glared back at her. He definitely wasn't happy about Kagome's request. This could be interesting, the wind user thought to herself as she studied her former enemy. Could he really be considered that? Once someone was your enemy, didn't they always remain as your enemy?

"Hey, Kagome!" Inuyasha was working his way towards the trio. Like Kagome, he looked dirty and tired, but basically uninjured from the battle.

"Inuyasha," she said as she smiled at the hanyou.

"Is everyone all right?" Inuyasha looked from Kouga to Kagura and back, his eyes falling to Kouga's legs.

"Nothing I can't handle, dog-turd." Kouga growled.

The silver-haired hanyou dropped to a crouch just behind Kagome. "I need to talk to you."

"Can't it wait?" Kagome looked at him. The look that passed between them was all it took for Kouga to make his final decision.

"Well, wind user, if we're going, shouldn't we get started?" Kouga shifted his weight, moving from a seated position to a crouch much like Inuyasha's.

Kagura made a mental note. The obvious animosity between the two canine youkai was unmistakable. She would have to keep this in mind. The information might be of use in the future. Especially now that she was saddled with that damned Kouga.

"Do you need help?" Kagome's voice was full of concern as she watched Kouga attempt to stand up.

"Like I would need the help of a human. Or a hanyou. I am full youkai, remember, and leader of my clan. There's nothing I can't do for myself." Kouga managed to get his feet beneath him and stand, although it was obvious to the others that the act was difficult and painful for him.

"So, are we going or not?" he snapped at Kagura.

The wind user nodded and smiled knowingly. She was not about to make this too easy on Kouga. She was unhappy enough about having to be stuck with him. She stood slowly and faced Inuyasha and Kagome.

"I'll do what you ask, but only because I feel I owe you for destroying Naraku. It was you and your friends who rid me of him. For this I am in your debt, and will do as you ask this once."

Kagome smiled and nodded while Inuyasha merely grunted. He was anxious to get away from the obnoxious wolf youkai and talk to Kagome.

Kagura slowly turned, deliberately taking as much time as possible in her movements. She reached to her hair, withdrawing a single feather which she brought down in front of her. One wave of her hand produced a large floating feather, on which she was already seated. "Come on if you're coming," she chided Kouga.

The wolf youkai worked his way painfully to where Kagura waited for him. She couldn't have produced the damn feather a little closer to where I was, could she, he mumbled mentally. He could see that she was going to make him struggle to reach her.

Kagome quickly pulled Inuyasha aside, not wanting to make things any more difficult for their injured friend. Kouga could hear Inuyasha's questions - inevitable questions about what was going on with him and Kagura. Kagome's soft voice carried to him as she explained the situation to the hanyou. "I've asked them to help each other out for a while."

Inuyasha's muffled laugh wasn't lost on Kouga. He growled as he finally reached the feather and struggled to get on it.

The next few moments were in a haze for him. Between the searing pain in his legs and the fact that as the feather ascended he could see Inuyasha take Kagome into his arms and kiss her, his mind had become numb. He recovered in time to shout out one last comment to the human and hanyou on the ground below.

"You'd better be damned sure to treat her right, dog-turd. If I find out you aren't being good to her I'll be back and claim my woman!"

Inuyasha responded by kissing Kagome again.

Author's note:

While I realize the pairing of Kouga and Kagura isn't canon, it's one I love and the idea of this story has been in my mind for over a year. Unfortunately, events in the manga, starting with chapter 370, and most specifically with chapter 374, have changed the possibilities of this story. Despite events in the manga, I will continue writing this story as planned. Chapter 374 has hit me hard, emotionally, and I will do my best to honor Kagura in my representation of her in this story. Urd-chan

"I am the wind. The free wind." Kagura (from chapter 374)