InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Enemy Mine ❯ Chapter 10 ( Chapter 11 )

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.

PLEASE NOTE. Once again, the formatting of my chapter has been lost when uploaded to Mediaminer.org. I have added spaces between the chapters manually since the indenting is not showing up. I am working from a Mac OS9.1, and apparently my older computer is not compatible with MM.org's coding. I apologize for any inconvenience. Again, this is not something under my own control. I'd also like to thank Notoes for taking time from her busy schedule to be my beat reader!

 

 

Enemy Mine - Chapter 10

By Urd-chan

 

Kouga rolled over, stretching lazily as he moved to slide his arm over Kagura. His eyes flew open when he realized he was alone in the bed of furs.

“Kagura?” He leapt to his feet and pulled on his kilt as he bolted for the door, pausing momentarily outside as his eyes swept the area.

“Is something wrong?”

Kouga turned to face two of his men. “Where the hell are Ginta and Hakkaku?”

“Sorry, Kouga,” the first one said, looking a little confused. “They aren't on duty.”

“'Aren't on duty'?” Kouga shook his head, looking more confused by the moment.

“You work those two much too hard.” Ruka stepped from the early-morning shadows and waved the two fighters away. “I'll handle this.”

“What the hell do you think you're doing?” Kouga snapped.

“I'm trying to calm you down. I'm not sure what has you so riled up, but snapping at your men isn't going to solve anything.”

“Kagura.”

“What about her?”

“She's gone. I just woke up and she isn't in the den.”

“I didn't realize she had to report her every move to you,” Ruka said in a tone tinged with sarcasm.

“She doesn't!”

“Come…” Ruka turned and walked slowly away, not turning to see if Kouga was following her. She could hear the padding of his bare feet on the smooth stone of the clearing behind her.

The wolf youkai followed his friend silently for a moment and then stopped, his eyes following the direction of Ruka's pointing finger. Sitting on an outcropping of stone was Kagura. Her legs were crossed and her eyes were closed as she faced the cool breeze coming up the mountainside. Her loose hair danced in the breeze as her mate and friend approached.

“What the hell are you doing?” Kouga demanded.

Kagura turned and glared at the wolf youkai. “You did say I wasn't a prisoner, didn't you?”

“That's not what I mean.” Kouga's voice had become softer and he shook his head as he moved to sit by the wind user. “I woke up and you were gone.”

“I needed some air.”

“Would you at least let me know when you take off like this?”

“'Take off'? I can see the den from here. It's not like I left.”

Kagura turned to look out over the view. The sun already bathed the top of the mountain, even though the forest at its foot was still in deep shadow. The cool breeze was starting to warm from the sun's first rays.

“Well, are you coming?” Kouga demanded.

The wind user closed her eyes and again turned her face into the breeze. She remained silent.

“Am I going to have to drag you back?”

“Kouga,” Ruka warned.

“I just don't think it's a good idea for Kagura to be wandering around by herself right now,” Kouga hissed softly to Ruka.

“Then perhaps it really would be better if I wasn't here,” Kagura snapped as she leapt to her feet and pushed past her partner.

“You know that's not what I meant,” Kouga snapped back as he rushed to catch up with the wind user.

Kagura stopped just outside their den and turned to face the wolf youkai. “I know it's not what you meant, but that doesn't make it any less the truth.”

“Damn it, Kagura,” Kouga. “You're twisting my words.”

“I'm not twisting anything.” Kagura turned and stormed into the den. She stopped a short distance inside the door, keeping her back to Kouga as he entered behind her. “The reason that you don't want me wandering around by myself is that you feel it's not safe for me. And, the reason it's not safe for me is that your tribe hasn't accepted me.” She spun to face her mate, her expression unreadable. “Face it, Kouga, they're never going to accept me!”

“You know that's not true,” Kouga said softly as he moved towards the wind user.

Kagura shook off his hand as he tried to place it on her arm. “You know damned well that Jurai hates me. He's never going to accept me.”

“I really don't give a shit what Jurai thinks,” Kouga growled.

“Maybe you should,” Kagura said softly.

“Kagura,” Kouga responded as he slid one arm around the wind user and pulled her to him. “Jurai isn't going to do anything. He talks big, but…”

“I'm not so sure about that,” Ohkami said from the doorway. He stood with Ruka just inside the den.

“Jurai isn't stupid.”

“He might not be stupid, but right now he isn't thinking too clearly,” Ohkami said as he moved to the low table and lowered himself to one of the floor cushions by it. “I agree that he isn't going to be able to convince many of the fighters to see things his way, but as long as Madoka is leading him by the nose, I honestly don't know just how far he'll take this.”

“He'll back down when he sees he's alone,” Kouga explained. He glanced at Kagura and tried to read her reaction to Ohkami's words. The wind user's face remained expressionless.

“Then, I should leave,” Kagura said bluntly.

“No!” Kouga clung onto his mate as she tried to squirm from his embrace. “If anyone's leaving, it's going to be Jurai.”

Ohkami shook his head. “It might work in theory, but I'm afraid Jurai would never leave willingly.”

Ruka stepped forward. “I don't think Jurai's gone bad. He's just a bit confused right now.” She looked to Ohkami for support.

“That I will agree with,” he said with a shake of his head. “The problem is, with the way he's thinking right now, I'm not sure just how far he'll take things.”

“Then, we'll double the watch,” Kouga snarled, “and one of us will stay with Kagura at all times.”

“So, I will be a prisoner.” Kagura pulled loose from Kouga's hold and spun to face him.

“Not a prisoner…” The wolf youkai looked at his friends, motioning them to help him.

“No, Kagura,” Ohkami explained. “You won't be a prisoner. We'd only be doing it to protect you.”

“And, what if Jurai doesn't give up?”

“I've known him my entire life,” Ohkami continued. “Jurai is stubborn and quick-tempered, but he's anything but stupid. When he realizes he doesn't have the support of the tribe, he'll back down. You have my word on that.”

“But, he does have support,” Kagura said softly.

“He has a few idiots who will believe anything following him. Now, they might be stupid, but they also know what'll happen if they're caught helping Jurai. Nobody's going to want to be banned from the tribe.”

“None of this would be happening if I wasn't here.” Kagura turned away from the others. “I never should have stayed. I should have just left Kouga and gone.”

“Well, you can't change the past, and I'll be damned if I let anyone drive my mate away,” Kouga growled. “I'll take Jurai's challenge, if that's what it takes. I might not have the shards, but I'll fight harder than I've ever fought before to defend Kagura.”

“I don't think you're going to have to fight,” Ruka interjected. “We just need to watch Kagura closely for a little longer. Jurai's going to come to his senses and realize he doesn't have a chance against you, Kouga. We all just need to be patient for a little longer.”

“I agree,” Ohkami said as he stood up.

“Kouga.” Kagura turned to look at the wolf youkai. Her eyes looked suspiciously cloudy as she covered the distance to her mate and buried her face against his shoulder. “You shouldn't have to fight your own men. Not for me.”

“Nobody's going to fight anyone,” he responded as he slid his arms around her waist and shoulders.

Kouga looked up in surprise to find that they were alone. Ruka and Ohkami had retreated from the den, giving the leader of their tribe some privacy with his female.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

“About time,” Ohkami laughed when Kouga and Kagura emerged from their den a short time later. “I was about ready to cancel the training session for today.”

“No need to cancel.” Kouga stopped and studied Kagura's face. Maybe we should cancel, he thought to himself. The wind user's expression was hard to read, as usual, but he was learning to read the subtle signs that others missed.

“Yo, Kouga,” Ohkami said with a sidelong glace at Ruka. “Actually, there's something I wanted to talk to you about before we start.”

“Eh?”

“The last thing I would want to do is impose on Kagura, but I've been thinking about the patrols. The men can only cover so much territory at one time. We really need a way to cover more area in a shorter time.”

“Kagura.” Ruka nodded. “If we can just convince you to make a few rounds of the territory on your feather every day, we'd have a much better view of the area and be able to see any intruders before they could make it up the mountain.”

“I'm not sure that's such a good idea…” Kouga started. He paused and looked at his mate in surprise. The wind user was smiling ever so slightly.

“Of course, it would be completely up to Kagura,” Ohkami continued. “But, in addition to helping out the patrols, it would give more members of the tribe a chance to see just what good it is to have a wind user around.”

“You don't have to,” Kouga said as he glanced at his friends. He wasn't sure what they had planned, but he knew he could trust them.

Kagura looked into the distance. She closed her eyes for a moment before turning to face Kouga.

“I'll do it.”

Ruka and Ohkami exchanged knowing looks.

“Are you sure?” Kouga studied the wind user's expression for a moment and then turned to the others. “Do you really think this is a good idea?”

Ohkami nodded. “Definitely.”

“When?” Kagura had turned to look once more into the distance. She sighed and closed her eyes again, lifting her chin to catch the slight breeze that continued up the mountainside.

“Well, if you're up to it, why not take a quick run now?” Ohkami glanced at Kouga and smiled. “If you don't take too long, we'll still be able to get in a little training time.”

“Of course, that means Kagura won't be back in time to help with lunch preparation. But, naturally, the safety of the tribe comes first.” Ruka glanced at Kouga, trying to get her meaning across to him.

Kouga looked confused for a moment before the realization of their purpose dawned on him. Kagura hated being on food duty. He nodded briefly to Ruka before moving to join Kagura.

“Of course, we won't force you to do it, but it really would help the tribe.”

“I said I'd do it,” Kagura said roughly as she turned to her mate. “You can stop trying to talk me into it.”

Kouga smiled and drew the wind user to him for a quick kiss. “Thank you.”

“Whatever.” Kagura looked embarrassed as their friends watched them. “I can't go with you clinging onto me.”

“All right, but you owe me when we're alone later.”

The wind user shot him a look before pulling a feather from her hair. A single wave of her hand produced her ride. She paused a moment, her expression unreadable as she hovered over Kouga. “I'll be back.”

“I'll be waiting right here.” The leader of the wolf youkai shielded his eyes from the sun as he watched his mate soar into the distance. He turned back to the others.

“She looked happy.”

Ohkami nodded. “I figured she would.”

“Kouga, you have to remember that Kagura is a wind user. You can't expect her to be like the rest of us. It isn't fair to her.” Ruka watched as Kagura disappeared from sight. “And, the rest of the tribe has to be willing to let her be who she is, too.”

“Hell, having a wind user in the tribe is a good thing. Look at how she helped against the bird youkai.” Ohkami motioned towards the den, indicating that they should retire to its privacy. “One pass overhead from Kagura will do more good than half a dozen patrols on the ground. Of course, I still feel she needs to train - she has no close-combat skills. But, her abilities as a wind user would serve the tribe best doing just what she does best - fly.”

“Sounds good in theory,” Kouga started as they entered the den. “I don't want her getting hurt. I don't like the idea of her out there by herself. What if something happens to her?”

“Well, you've flown with her before,” Ruka interjected as she took a seat at the low table. “Why not go with her?”

“Or, better yet, send select fighters with her.” Ohkami joined Ruka on the floor by the table. “Start with ones you know you can trust, like Ginta and Hakkaku. Let others take turns in time.”

“Somehow I don't think those two idiots will be willing,” Kouga laughed.

“Who are idiots?” Ginta stood in the doorway with Hakkaku just behind him.

“Nobody,” Ohkami laughed as he moved closer to Ruka, giving the new arrivals room to join them at the table.

“So, just where the hell were you two?” Kouga demanded with crossed arms as he glared first at Ginta and then Hakkaku.

Ginta looked nervous and shook his head. “We just came on duty.”

“Kouga,” Ruka said softly. “You work your men too hard. Now that Naraku is gone and the bird youkai have been driven away, you can ease up a bit on these two.”

“They take it easy enough,” the leader of the wolf youkai growled.

“You're not being very fair,” Ruka added. “These two are on duty far longer than any of the other fighters.”

“It's not like they have anything better to do,” Kouga said as he lowered himself to a seat opposite the fighters in question.

Ruka fought back a smile. “Whether or not they have something else to do isn't the issue, Kouga. It's time you give them regular shifts, like everyone else.”

Ginta and Hakkaku looked nervously at each other.

“Damn it, Ruka,” Kouga snarled. “They're my men…”

“They're part of the tribe like everyone else, and you can't keep expecting them to be at your beck and call every minute of the day.”

“She's right, Kouga,” Ohkami interjected.

“You, too?”

“I'm just doing what's best for the fighters.”

“Are we in trouble?” Hakkaku asked with a worried look on his face.

“No, you're not in trouble,” Ruka said quickly. She smiled warmly at the nervous fighters.

“Don't you think this would be a good time to fill these two in about the change in patrols?”

“Change?” Ginta asked curiously.

Kouga sighed and began to explain the addition of Kagura's air patrol to his men.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The wind sent chill fingers through Kagura's hair and clothing as she swept across the face of the mountain. The sun had risen high enough to chase the shadows from the foot of the mountain, giving the wind user a clear view of the ground below. She took in the contours of the land and trees, committing to memory the details for future reference. She smiled as the air rushed past her, giving her a feeling of freedom she hadn't had since joining Kouga's tribe. She was in her element - her home.

Kagura's feather skirted the tops of the trees before rising high above them. Her heart raced as she plunged towards the earth, pulling up only moments before reaching the rocky ground below. She turned and followed the path of a stream, frightening away the small animals who had come to drink. Birds chattered loudly and scattered ahead of her, scolding her for her interruption. Kagura merely laughed and aimed her feather back to the sky.

It didn't take long for her to complete her circuit of the mountain, and she found herself feeling disappointed. However, her disappointment faded quickly as Kouga's den came within view. Kouga's den. Her den. She found herself anxious to be back on the ground as she circled the open area just outside the cave she shared with Kouga.

Kagura jumped off her feather, which instantly vanished. She rushed by the two fighters who were on duty watching the den.

“I'm back!”

Kouga and the others looked up as Kagura entered the den. Her hair was windblown and her cheeks flushed from the rush of cool morning air. Her eyes were bright and she smiled as she circled the low table and dropped to her knees just behind Kouga. He reacted with surprise when she wrapped her arms around him and kissed the back of his neck.

“I take it everything went well?” Ruka grinned at her friend. It was obvious that their idea had worked.

The wind user nodded as she slipped onto the cushion next to her mate. “Nothing out of the ordinary.”

“Good,” Ohkami said as he stood up. “And, it's still early enough that we can get a little training in before lunch, too.”

Kagura nodded. She found herself looking forward to the morning's session.

“Ginta. Hakkaku.” Ohkami turned to the other fighters. “This would be a good time for the women to learn from someone other than Kouga and me.”

“Us?”

“You,” Kouga said with a false gruffness. He secretly agreed with Ohkami. If Kagura was going to train as a fighter, she would have to be prepared to face a variety of opponents. Who better than his two most trusted men to work with her and Ruka?

“Well, then I guess we should get started.” Ohkami signaled the others to follow him outside.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Kouga and Ohkami applauded from the sidelines as both Kagura and Ruka simultaneously threw their respective opponents. Ginta and Hakkaku groaned and brushed themselves off as they stood.

“Are we done yet?”

Kouga glanced at the wind user. She had trained hard and was showing signs of fatigue. Over training wouldn't do her or the tribe any good.

“We're done.” Kouga slipped off the rocky ledge he had been sitting on and covered the short distance to where Kagura stood. “That was great!” He reached to her waist and untucked the bottom of her kimono, which was pulled up and secured in her sash for their training session.

“It might be a good idea to find something else for Kagura to wear when we train.” Ohkami indicated Ruka's outfit as an example.

The wind user shook her head. “My kimono is fine.”

Ruka laughed. “Well, it might be fine, but it's filthy! Maybe we should wash up before they bring our food.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

A lone figure perched on a ledge high above them. He watched and listened, scowling at the scene below him. Female fighters. If he were head of the tribe, he would have never allowed such a thing. He smiled slyly to himself. That was definitely one of the first things he'd put a stop to when he was in charge.

He continued to watch in silence, turning and following a narrow ledge along the rocky face of the mountain as the group below broke up.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ginta and Hakkaku joined the fighters who were on watch.

“You can go,” Ginta said authoritatively. “It's our shift now.”

“So, what's it like to have a female get the better of you when you're fighting?” the first fighter said with a laugh.

“Why don't you find out for yourself?”

The fighter turned to find himself face-to-face with Kagura. “Uh…I was just joking,” he said nervously.

“Whatever.” The wind user shrugged and slipped around him, heading to her den. Her serious expression broke when she passed through the door and she smiled slightly. She was feeling good about herself for the first time in days. She turned to face Kouga, who had followed her into the cave.

“Now, that was surprising,” he chuckled. It was good a good sign. Kagura's dry humor had caught the fighter off-guard, but it was definitely a step in the right direction. If she was ever going to be accepted by the rest of the tribe, she was going to have to learn to relax and lighten up around the others.

“How?”

“Nothing. Just that it's good to see you smile.”

Kagura glanced at her mate, studying his face for a moment before turning to retrieve a clean kimono. She tossed the kimono to Kouga and smiled. “Do you plan on just standing there and staring?”

The wind user walked to the edge of the stream that ran through the back of the den. She turned her head slightly and looked back over her shoulder at Kouga before reaching to her sash. Her soiled kimono followed the sash to the stone floor as she stepped into the cool water. It took only a few moments for her to splash the dust and sweat from her body.

“You really are a tease.” Kouga's voice was deep and raspy. “You know we don't have time for anything right now.”

“I'm just washing up,” Kagura said as she stepped from the water and slipped on the clean kimono. The thin fabric clung to her moist skin, leaving little to Kouga's imagination. He'd seen her naked, and yet the sight of her standing in front of him as she was caused his body to react.

“Damn it,” he snarled to himself. Why had he called a meeting with the fighters?

“Um…am I interrupting?” Mihoshi stood in the doorway with a tray of food. “Ruka said you were ready to eat.”

“No, you're not interrupting.” Kouga felt guilty - why did it feel like he was lying? He looked briefly at Kagura before turning to take the tray from Mihoshi.

“Is there anything else?” Mihoshi glanced back at the door of the den and fidgeted.

“No, this is fine.” Kouga tried to keep the disappointment from his voice, but knew he failed.

“Kouga! Kagura!” Reiya shot through the doorway and launched herself into Kouga's arms. “Mama said I could visit!”

Ruka stood in the doorway. “I hope you don't mind. Reiya insisted we have lunch with you.”

“You know you're always welcome,” Kouga said as he hugged the girl and let her slide down slowly until her feet were on the stone floor.

She was instantly in Kagura's arms, startling the wind user, who nearly dropped the child.

“Kagura!” Reiya squealed as she placed a very moist kiss on the wind user's cheek. “I brought you more feathers!” She squirmed out of Kagura's arms and ran to her mother. Ruka held out a small wrapped package, which Reiya grabbed and took to Kagura.

The wind user looked confused, not certain just how to react. She carefully undid the square of cloth that was folded around the collection of feathers. Most were drab, but a few stood out, their vibrant colors contrasting strongly with the others around them.

“Thank you,” Kagura finally said as she wrapped the feathers back into their cloth package. “I'll be sure to use these.”

Reiya beamed proudly, happy that her friend liked her gift.

“Are you sure it's all right?” Ruka asked as she studied Kouga's expression.

He shook his head and chuckled. “It's fine.”

Mihoshi had slipped from the den unseen and now returned with a second platter of food. On her heels was Ohkami.

“So, why wasn't I invited to the party?”

“Ohkami!” Reiya repeated her greeting with the new arrival. He lifted her high into the air as she squealed with delight.

“Do you need anything else?” Mihoshi asked in a timid voice.

“This is just fine,” Ruka answered with a smile. “Why don't you go and have your lunch, dear?”

The young woman blushed and looked at her hands. “Thank you, I think I will.” She turned and practically ran from the den.

“What the hell was all that about?” Kouga demanded as he dropped to one of the cushions by the table and pulled one of the platters towards him. He hadn't realized just how hungry he was until the aroma of the food reached his nose. He pulled off a piece of the tender meat and put it in his mouth.

“Mihoshi has a boyfriend,” Reiya answered bluntly. “She's going to eat lunch with him.” The child sat on a cushion and pointed to the one next to her, indicating that Kagura should sit there.

Ruka shot a worried look at Ohkami, who quickly redirected the conversation.

“So, Kouga, what are you planning on talking about at the meeting today?”

Mihoshi's love life was quickly forgotten as the leader of the tribe outlined his ideas. Ohkami and Ruka interjected with suggestions every so often, but mostly just nodded and agreed with Kouga. Kagura listened as she picked at her own food.

“That's a pretty kimono,” Reiya asked from her position next to the wind user.

“Thank you.” The wind user said absentmindedly as she half listened to the conversation around her. She knew that Kouga would be bringing up the subject of her helping with the patrols. She also knew that Jurai would most likely stir up trouble over it and it had her worried.

Lunch was far too short for Kagura's taste. She began to fidget when the time for meeting with the fighters drew near.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

“So, where's our illustrious leader?” Jurai asked with as much sarcasm in his voice as he felt he could get away with.

Ginta and Hakkaku stood with the other waiting fighters. They looked at each other, not sure just how Kouga would want them to handle Jurai in his obviously agitated state. The three had fought closely together over time, and it was unsettling to Kouga's right-hand men to see the tribe's top fighter acting so out of his usual character.

“Good, looks like we're ready to start.” Kouga pushed by the others and signaled Ginta and Hakkaku to follow him. Close on his heels were Kagura, Ruka, and Ohkami.

Jurai snarled and crossed his arms, letting his gaze follow the wind user as she moved to take a seat near where Kouga stood.

The tension in the clearing was obvious. Jurai had made his opinion of Kagura well known. Kouga's choice of her as his mate, and her role as the head female of the tribe, went against everything the head fighter believed in. Speculation had been growing, too, regarding the likelihood of Jurai challenging Kouga for the leadership of the tribe.

Kouga cleared his voice and started with a brief explanation as to why they were there. He first reminded the group of their recent success against the bird youkai and how Kagura had played a crucial role in that success. He glanced at Jurai before calling Ohkami to outline the new patrol schedules.

“As everyone knows, we're short-handed. Too many men were lost over the past few years. The constant onslaught by the bird youkai weakened not just our fighting forces, but our moral. But, the situation has changed and we can finally get back to at least the semblance of a normal life.”

“The birds aren't the only ones who killed our men,” Jurai mumbled to himself, inaudible to everyone except for a small group of fighters who sat just in front of where he stood.

Ohkami called several fighters forward, including Ginta and Hakkaku. “These men are your patrol leaders. We're going to work out a new schedule for patrolling our territory, but with the shortage of men it's going to be virtually impossible to sufficiently cover the area on foot.” He turned to Kagura and motioned for her to stand.

The wind user rose reluctantly to her feet, feeling the eyes of every fighter on her. It was impossible for her to ignore Jurai's angry stare as she moved to stand between Kouga and Ohkami.

“What we can do, however, is add a new type of patrol - one that can cover more territory than several dozen men could.”

The gathered fighters reacted as Kouga had hoped, looking at each other and questioning how such a thing could be possible. Kouga waited for the low rumbling of voices to quiet.

“Kagura can patrol the area from the air. With her abilities as a wind user, she can cover more territory and see more from above than all the ground patrols combined. She took a test run this morning, and I'm glad to report that she found nothing out of the ordinary.”

“She should have just kept flying,” Jurai muttered as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. The fighters near him shifted nervously in their places.

A second reaction from the gathered fighters held more excitement. Kouga smiled, confident that his men would be willing to accept Kagura in her new role. Of course, he still had Jurai to contend with, but there was nothing he could do about the head fighter's attitude at that moment.

“I'll go with her after we're done here, but I was thinking that perhaps - if Kagura is willing - we could have her take one of the fighters with her on each patrol. After all, two sets of eyes is better than one, and not only would it give the men a better understanding of the lay of the land, but they could also help Kagura learn the territory, too. It's hard to know when something's out of the ordinary when you don't know what ordinary is.”

The gathered fighters began to talk excitedly among themselves. Several raised their hands.

“Who decides which fighters get to go?”

“Are you sure it's safe?”

“How can a feather hold two people?”

The answers were given as quickly as the questions. A lottery would be held with the names of any willing fighters. Those who were uneasy about the idea of patrolling from the air would not be forced to participate. It would be strictly voluntary.

“And, yes, Kagura's feather can hold two people. I've been on it with her and promise you it's perfectly safe.” Kouga studied the faces of his men. Most appeared excited, while a few looked anxious or even frightened at the thought of flying through the air on a giant feather. For the most part, though, the men seemed to like and accept the idea.

“Any fighters who would like to volunteer for a turn with the air patrol should let one of the patrol leaders know. You'll be assigned a number, and each day we'll pick from those numbers for that day's patrols.” Ohkami stepped closer to Kouga. “Jurai's behaving a little too good,” he whispered.

Kouga nodded in response. He had been watching Jurai during the entire meeting and was worried that the fighter was holding back until the end.

He was right. As the fighters began to disperse, Jurai made his move. The head fighter pushed through the jumble of men, heading straight to where Kouga and Kagura stood.

“Do you really think the men are that stupid?” he demanded.

“Jurai,” Kouga said calmly. “If you have an issue, why don't we go back to my den where we can discuss it properly.”

“You've proven once again just how inept you are as a leader, and it's only a matter of time before you cost the tribe with your arrogance and stupidity,” Jurai snarled.

“Jurai,” Ohkami said from behind the fighter. “Kouga said he would talk to you back at his den. I suggest we take this there.”

“You expect me to go to his den, with the stench of that bitch in there? It's hard enough to stomach when we're outside. I'll be damned if I'll trap myself in a cave with her and her stink.”

Most of the other fighters had cleared the area, leaving only Kouga and the small group he had arrived at the meeting with, along with Ginta and Hakkaku. Kagura stood nervously beside her mate, her expression letting him know that she wanted to be anywhere but where she was. Ohkami and Ruka continued their attempt to talk reason to Jurai, but it was obvious the fighter wasn't listening.

“We're not getting anywhere,” Kouga observed. “We'll talk when you're ready to listen.” He turned his back to Jurai and signaled the others to follow.

“This isn't over, Kouga!” The head fighter shouted as he shook his fist in the air above him. “You're destroying the tribe and if nobody else is willing to stop you, I will.”

Kouga turned and looked back at Jurai. “The only one destroying the tribe is you, Jurai. Go back to your den and think about what you're doing. You're off duty for the rest of the day.”

“Just keep walking,” Kouga said softly to Kagura as they hurried back to their den.

So, it's started, Kouga thought to himself as he ushered Kagura and the others into the den ahead of him. He had dreaded the idea of facing off against Jurai, but the constant tension - of not knowing just what the head fighter would do, or when - had been worse. At least now they could work up a strategy.

“At least the rest of the men seemed to accept the idea,” Ohkami said hopefully. “I don't know if you noticed, but a couple of Jurai's usual group seemed excited about the prospect of going on aerial patrols. If we can just whittle his group of followers down we'll leave him without any support and he's going to have to back down.”

“Sounds good in theory,” Kouga grumbled, “but I don't think Jurai's going to wait much longer to make his challenge. We aren't going to have time to gain the support of his men.”

“It's all because of me,” Kagura said angrily. “If I just hadn't stayed…”

“Then I'd be alone, and Jurai would still be pulling his shit.” The wolf youkai slid his arm around the wind user's shoulders and puller her closer to him. “I'm glad you're here,” he whispered into her ear.

“Kouga!” Kagura tried her best to sound angry, but one look into Kouga's eyes left her feeling light-headed. She made a half-hearted attempt to pull away from her mate, but he only pulled her closer to him.

“What do you want us to do about Jurai?” Ginta asked hesitantly. “I've never seen him act like this and it's making me nervous.”

Hakkaku nodded in agreement.

“We watch him for now,” Ohkami said as he turned toward the door and motioned Ruka to join him. “There's not much else we can do.”

“Just let me know if you see or hear anything important,” Kouga reminded Ginta and Hakkaku as they left the den with the others.

“What now?”

“You take me on patrol.” Kouga pulled Kagura roughly to him and kissed her long and hard. “Just promise you won't dump me in the river again.”

Kagura pushed him away. “I'm not promising anything.”

“So, you ready?”

The wind user glanced nervously at the door, nervous about what - and who - might meet them outside.

“Jurai's not going to do anything,” Kouga said as he took Kagura's hand. “At least not yet. He's acting crazy, but he's anything but stupid. He hasn't gained enough loyalty among the men. He'll either wait until he has more support - or wait until he can get me alone.”

“Then we have to be sure you're not alone,” the wind user sighed.

“That's what I have you for,” Kouga laughed.

“You know damned well that Jurai isn't going to stop just because I'm with you,” Kagura said angrily. “If anything, he'll see it as more reason to go after you.”

Kouga silenced his mate with another kiss. “Even if I'm alone, he won't be. Ohkami's good at what he does. You can bet he has men watching Jurai's every move. Now, what about that patrol?”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Kagura and Kouga were quickly airborne. The wind user directed their feathery ride high above their den, giving the two a bird's eye view of the terrain below them. They could see the group of women already working on food for the tribe's dinner. A number of fighters perched around the perimeter of the tribe's living area on the mountain. A group of children played under the close supervision of several more of the tribe's females.

The scene below was normal - and very peaceful. Kagura turned to look at Kouga, watching as he studied the activities below them.

“This is why we can't let Jurai get away with his plan.” Kouga's voice was full of emotion. “Look at them.”

Kagura looked to the ground below them. The rocky face of the mountain had become familiar, as had the wolf youkai living there. She suddenly found it hard to swallow. For the first time since her arrival there, she felt a real connection to the place - and the people. Her entire life she had wandered, never really having one place to call home.

Far below her Kagura could see Ruka. Her friend turned to pick up Reiya, who lifted one arm to wave excitedly at Kouga and Kagura high above her. Ohkami moved to join the others, waving with Reiya as the feather quickly moved from their view.

Home. Was this what it meant? Kagura thought to herself. She felt Kouga's arm slide around her waist as he straddled her from behind with his legs. She could feel the warmth of his body against her back as he rested his chin on her shoulder.

“Now, this is what I like,” he whispered.

“I thought we were patrolling,” Kagura responded as she fought to keep control of their ride. She found it difficult to concentrate when Kouga acted like this.

“We are.” Kouga removed one arm from around her long enough to point. “There, go that direction.”

“Why?”

“Just go there,” the wolf youkai laughed. “Does there have to be a reason?”

“With the way you're acting, I'd say there was.” The feather tipped and lurched slightly with the change of direction. Kagura smiled when she felt Kouga react by tightening his grasp on her. So, despite all his show of bravery, her mate was afraid of flying.

Mate. The wind user's smile softened as she glanced over her shoulder at her nervous rider. Who would have ever thought that she would be mated to anyone - let alone Kouga?

“You're laughing at me,” the wolf youkai snarled playfully.

“How is it possible for my mate to be afraid of flying?”

“I'm not a fucking wind user, remember. I've spent my entire life with my feet planted firmly on the ground.”

“Well, I suggest you get used to it!” The wind user took her feather higher, turning and twisting just enough to make her passenger tighten his hold on her. The ground raced by beneath them, the leaves of the trees blurring together like a molten river of green. A frightened bird burst from the cover below and nearly collided with the feather, but Kagura masterfully diverted their course to avoid an impact.

“Damn it, Kagura,” Kouga snarled as he watched the bird fly quickly away. “Are you trying to get us killed?”

“It sounds like you don't trust me.” Kagura's voice was soft and almost monotone.

“I trust you.” Kouga nuzzled her neck before softly kissing her ear. “I'm just afraid of heights. Always have been.”

“The all-powerful Kouga has a weakness?”

Kouga snorted. “Who ever said I was `all-powerful'?”

Kagura was silent for a moment.

“Look.”

The wolf youkai looked around them. He hadn't noticed their descent. The feather glided slowly over the tops of the trees, so close that Kouga felt like he could just reach out and touch the leaves.

“This is better,” Kouga laughed as he unhooked one arm and pointed to their right. “Now, just go that way.”

Kagura opened her mouth to respond, but stopped when she realized just where they were. They had reached the foot of the mountain and were nearing the human village. Curls of smoke rose from cooking fires ahead of them. The aroma of boiling rice and fish wafted through the late afternoon breeze.

“I thought you might like to visit,” Kouga said with a gentle squeeze. He pointed to a small clearing ahead of them. “Maybe we'd better land there. We don't want to make the villagers any more nervous than we have to.”

Kagura nodded silently as she circled the break in the trees. In moments they were on the ground and walking toward the human village.

The trees gave way to underbrush, which in turn gave way to gently sloping ground covered with grass and wild flowers. A number of small houses lined the dirt road that ran through the village. Several women were busy cooking at a fire pit between two of the buildings while several young children played a chasing game nearby. A small cluster of men gathered near what appeared to be a well. One of the men noticed the approaching youkai and alerted his comrades.

“Yo,” Kouga said in a friendly voice. He glanced around him but saw no sign of Yoshiro. The only children in sight were much younger than the human boy they had rescued.

“Is something wrong?” the first man queried. He looked nervously at the unexpected visitors.

“No,” Kouga continued as he smiled. “We were just patrolling and thought we'd check on the village. You know - make sure everything was all right.”

“Your men were through here earlier today,” a second man responded. “There really isn't a need for another visit.”

“Oh, it's no trouble,” Kouga said with a shrug. He took a moment to survey the village around them. “Looks like you've repaired most of the damage from the birds.”

The men exchanged confused looks.

“Good,” Kouga continued. He glanced back at Kagura. The wind user stood quietly just behind him and slightly to the side. She arched one eyebrow in unspoken question.

“I know Kagura's been worried about the human boy we brought here.” The wolf youkai leaned towards the men and whispered as thought Kagura wouldn't hear him. “You know, it's a maternal thing. Never understood it myself.” Kouga straightened and avoided Kagura's disapproving glare.

“The boy?” The men looked nervously at each other. Before any of them could speak, several figures came into view. Three young boys - each carrying an armful of firewood - stepped from the woods. The first two boys were laughing and joking with each other, while the third boy walked mutely behind them. The three carried their loads to where the women were cooking. One by one they dropped the wood they carried next to the cooking pit. The first two boys scurried away, obviously making their get-away before they could be asked to do any more chores. The third boy paused for a moment and then looked in the direction of the visitors.

“Kouga! Kagura!” he shouted happily as he ran in their direction. He came to a screeching halt just in front of the surprise visitors.

“Yoshiro,” one of the men said in a stern voice. He turned and motioned to the other men to follow him.

Yoshiro and the youkai watched as the village men walked away. When they were safely out of earshot, Kouga turned to the boy.

“So, is everything all right?”

Yoshiro shrugged. “If you mean, are they treating me good, then I'd have to say yes.”

Kagura looked concerned. “Something's wrong.”

“Not really wrong,” the boy said with a shrug. “They aren't mean or anything. It's just that they aren't always especially nice. Kind of like they're just putting up with me because they have to.”

“I could talk to them,” Kouga began.

“No,” the boy said bluntly. “I'm fine.”

“You miss your people,” Kagura said softly. The more she saw of the boy, the more he made her think of Kohaku. I wonder how he's doing? she thought briefly.

“Yeah,” Yoshiro said as he looked at the ground. He shrugged and looked at his youkai friends. “Sometimes I wish I could go back in time and stop those birds.”

“There's no way you could have stopped them by yourself.” Kouga placed one hand on the boy's shoulder. “You would have died if you had tried.”

“At least then I'd be with my family.” Yoshiro's voice quavered. He was trying hard to act brave, but he was still just a little boy. It was obvious that he felt alone and scared, living with virtual strangers as he was.

“I'm glad you're alive,” Kagura said with unaccustomed emotion in her voice.

Both Kouga and Yoshiro looked at her in surprise.

“Thanks,” the boy said with the hint of a smile. “Too bad nobody in the village thinks the same way.”

“Well, if you ever need a break,” Kouga said as he glanced at Kagura, “just stop one of my men when they come through here on patrol. They can bring you up to the mountain for a visit.”

“Really? You'd let me come for a visit?”

“Sure. I wouldn't make the offer if I didn't mean it.”

“And, you really wouldn't mind if I came?” Yoshiro's question seemed to be directed at Kagura.

“I'd like it,” the wind user said softly.

“I'd have to make sure I had my chores done early…” Yoshiro's mood had obviously brightened. “Hey, do you want me to show you around?”

“Lead the way,” Kouga said lightly as he took Kagura's hand and followed the boy.

The three walked slowly down the center of the village. Yoshiro chatted endlessly as he pointed out the houses and people. He paused in front of one nondescript building. It was average, blending in easily with the other homes. The boy indicated that Kouga and Kagura should follow him inside.

The inside was a single room, with a fire pit near the back wall. A number of futons were rolled up and stacked against one of the side walls. Otherwise, the room was sparsely furnished, with a low table situated close to the cooking pit and several smaller tables to the side. Several baskets and a large sack of what was apparently uncooked rice were arranged near the tables.

“This is where I live,” Yoshiro explained. “The family is pretty nice. They even have a son who is around the same age as me.”

“Good.” Kouga studied the room for a moment. The humans didn't live that much differently than the wolf tribe did. He glanced at Kagura and tried to gauge her reaction to it all.

“As long as you're okay…” The wind user turned and walked from the building into the sunshine outside. The others followed her.

“Not much to see, I guess,” Yoshiro laughed. “The villagers here have salvaged what they could from my village, but other than food supplies and a few weapons, there wasn't much we could save.” The boy looked around them before continuing. “I did find a few things at my house - well, what was left of it, that is. I really didn't want anyone else wearing my mom's kimono, so I hid it with a couple of other things. I know I probably shouldn't have…”

“I don't see anything wrong with that.” Kouga placed one hand lightly on the boy's shoulder. “They're your memories. Nobody should force you to share them if you don't want to.”

The small group continued down the short road, stopping at the end of the row of houses. Beyond them the road continued into the distance. Rice paddies spread on each side of the road. In the distance on one side they could see a river.

“That's the same river that starts near our village,” the wolf youkai explained to the human boy.

“Really?” Yoshiro narrowed his eyes against the sun and let his gaze follow the path of the river until it disappeared into the distant trees. “I like that.”

“Yoshiro!” A woman's voice sounded from somewhere in the human village.

“Darn,” the boy said as he turned to face the visiting youkai. “It's nearly dinner time, and I haven't finished my chores. If I don't go, they're going to be angry.”

“No problem. We probably should get back on patrol anyway,” Kouga said with a warm smile. “Remember, just stop my men if you want to come visit.”

“Are you sure the other youkai won't mind?”

“Don't worry. We'll be sure to take care of you.”

“All right. I'll remember.” Yoshiro turned as he heard his name called a second time. “I really have to go.”

“I hope you'll visit,” Kagura said softly.

“I will,” Yoshiro said as he turned to leave. He paused for a moment before turning back to Kouga and Kagura. For a moment he looked uncertain, and then he covered the short distance to where the wind user stood and gave her a quick hug. “Bye!” he called as he ran down the street.

Kouga watched the boy leave before turning to face his mate. “You all right?”

Kagura's expression was hard to read. The wolf youkai couldn't be sure if she was happy or sad. One corner of her mouth twitched slightly and she looked down at her hands.

“Like you said,” the wind user said as she pulled a feather from her hair, “we need to get back on patrol.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ruka and Reiya waited outside the den when Kouga and Kagura returned.

“Kouga! Kagura!” Reiya ran up to them, doing her best to hide a bouquet of wild flowers behind her back. “I have something for you!”

The wind user smiled when Reiya pulled a small cluster of half-wilted flowers from behind her.

“Thank you.”

“I'm afraid they really should have been put in some water,” Ruka laughed as she followed the others into the den. “Reiya insisted that we wait for you. She wouldn't let me leave long enough to find something to put them in.”

Kagura paused at the entrance to the den and glanced around the room. It was much larger than the house Yoshiro was living in, and despite it being a cave, was much more comfortable. She turned to face Kouga.

“We should find a better place for the boy.”

“He seems to be doing all right in the village.” Kouga studied his mate. He hadn't been serious when he told the human men that Kagura was just being maternal, but now he began to wonder if there was truth to what he had said.

The wind user shrugged and moved to find a bowl for her flowers. She filled the bowl with water from the cool stream that ran through the back of the den and placed the flowers in it.

“Do you like them?” Reiya asked as she took the bowl from Kagura and placed it on the table.

“They're very nice,” a low voice said from the doorway.

“Ohkami!” Reiya rushed at the new arrival, squealing with delight as he hefted her over his head and spun her around.

“You okay?” Kouga asked quietly from his position next to Kagura.

Their evening meal was over and Mihoshi had already cleared the remains. Reiya played quietly next to her mother while the small group relaxed and talked.

Kagura stifled a yawn and nodded. “Just tired, I guess.”

“Well, it's been a long day.” Kouga slid his arm around the wind user and pulled her to him. He smiled when she slipped her arms around him and put her head on his shoulder.

“Mama,” Reiya said sleepily as she crawled into her mother's lap.

Ruka stroked her daughter's hair and sighed. The combination of the busy day, full stomachs, and the relaxing atmosphere of the den was affecting everyone in the group. It wasn't long before both Ruka and Kagura were asleep.

“It looks like our idea worked,” Ruka said quietly as she studied the wind user's face.

“Now, if we can just solve the Jurai problem as easily,” Ohkami said as he leaned back, propping himself up on one bent arm. He tilted his head slightly and let his eyes travel over Ruka and her sleeping ward.

“Jurai's starting to worry me,” Kouga grumbled. “I thought he'd be over this by now, but he seems to be just getting worse.”

“It's Madoka, I'm afraid.” Ruka sighed. “You know she's had her sights set on landing you for herself, and now that you're no longer available, she sees Jurai as her only chance to become head female of the tribe. If he takes over the tribe and she becomes his mate, she gets everything she wants.”

“Except for Kouga,” Ohkami laughed. “Somehow I don't think she's going to be completely happy with Jurai. That girl has been after Kouga since we were kids.”

“Well, she can't have me,” Kouga snorted. “I've never said or done anything to lead her on, but she just won't take `no' for an answer.”

“My guess is that as long as she's pulling Jurai's strings, he's going to be making trouble for Kouga.” Ohkami shifted and sat up. “Jurai's had a thing for that girl for as long as I can remember. He's going to go along with whatever she wants.”

“Damn, it,” Kouga said gruffly. “And Jurai has the gall to say that I'm thinking with the wrong head.”

Ohkami laughed. “Good to see your sense of humor is still intact.”

“Not sure just how intact it is at the moment.” Kouga shook his head. “Right now I just need to focus on the two most important things - doing what's best for the tribe…” The wolf youkai paused and looked down at the sleeping wind user. “And, doing what's best for Kagura.”

“Well, I don't see why you can't do both. It's not like either task is self exclusive.” Ruka sighed. “After all, the tribe is good for Kagura. And, she's already proven that she's good for the tribe.”

“Not everybody would agree with you on the second point,” Kouga grumbled.

“Right now, I really don't think Jurai's opinion means much. If anyone isn't putting the tribe first, it's him.” Ruka shifted her sleeping daughter. “Sorry. My leg's falling asleep,” she explained.

“You should get Reiya home to her own bed. It's late, and I don't think we're making any real progress just rehashing the same thing over and over.” Kouga slid his arms under Kagura's sleeping form and slowly rose to his feet.

“Hmmmm?” the wind user murmured as she snuggled into Kouga's arms.

“Shhhh…” The wolf youkai carried her to their bed of furs and gently laid her on them. “Sleep. You have a long day tomorrow.”

Kagura mumbled something unintelligible and pulled one of the furs over her. Her breathing evened almost immediately as she fell back into a deep slumber.

“I think we could all use a good night's sleep,” Ohkami said quietly as he gathered Reiya's sleeping form from Ruka and stood up. “I'll carry her home for you.,” he explained as he watched Ruka rise awkwardly to her feet.

“Sorry,” Ruka explained. “I forget how big she's getting sometimes.”

“Don't worry,” Ohkami whispered as he ushered Ruka to the door. “I'll carry her for you. It's really no bother.”

Kouga watched his friends as they moved from the den and out into the night. He could hear the voices of the two fighters on watch greet them as they left.

Good, he thought to himself. Ohkami knew just which fighters to assign to his den. One of the two had fought with Kouga since he took over the leadership of the tribe. The second was a promising young fighter who had proven his loyalty to the tribe - and to Kouga - on numerous occasions. The leader of the wolf tribe and his mate could rest easily. Jurai wasn't stupid enough to bother them while they were under the watchful eye of the guards on duty.

Kouga poked his head out of the den long enough to acknowledge the two fighters on night duty outside.

“Hey, Kouga,” the younger fighter said excitedly. “I put in my name as a volunteer to fly with Kagura.”

“Good,” Kouga said with a smile.

“Ummm,” the young fighter started hesitantly. “Now, you did say it was safe, right?”

“It's perfectly safe,” Kouga laughed. “That I can promise you.” Of course, he thought with a silent snicker, you don't want to do anything to get the wind user angry or you'll end up in the drink.

“Good. I hope I don't have to wait to long for my turn.”

“I'm sure you'll get your chance soon,” Kouga said as he raised his hand in a half salute and returned to his den. He'd have to talk to Ginta and Hakkaku and see if he couldn't persuade them into bumping the young fighter on watch to an early patrol. It definitely wouldn't hurt to add fuel to his enthusiasm, after all.

Kagura. Kouga slipped out of his armor and kilt before climbing into bed beside the wind user. He smiled when she turned over in her sleep and snuggled against him, her slender shape molding against his muscular form. Kouga kissed her forehead lightly before burying his face in her dark, silky hair.

The leader of the wolf tribe closed his eyes, unable to escape the jumble of images that suddenly raced through his mind. Jurai. The fighter was going to continue to be a problem, and he was at a loss as to what they could do about it. The tribe. It seemed that more and more of his people were coming to accept Kagura's presence there, which was a very good thing. Kagura. He worried about her the most. The wind user remained subdued compared to her usual demeanor and it worried him. He wanted her to feel comfortable in their home, but she remained guarded and he wondered just how long she would go before she could no longer contain her pent up feelings.

I'll just have to help her get them out, Kouga thought as he let his mind drift towards sleep. The last image his mind's eye saw before he fell asleep was Kagura's smiling face.

 

*