InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Genuine Desires : Koga's Story ❯ Chapter Five : Prominence ( Chapter 5 )

Chapter Five

 

Prominence

 

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“Why do I have to go?”

 

Ayame rolled her eyes as she ran a brush through her hair, her back facing him. She was dressed in an emerald green kimono that brightened her impossibly green eyes, giving her skin a glow and a whole new definition of beauty . . .

 

She whirled around, and the large skirts of the kimono swung around, wafting her scent to her. Heady, and maddeningly woman, he bit back the desire to stare, and focused instead on the wall behind her. Maybe then it wouldn't be so hard . . .

 

“It's an annual festival for the children,” She told him quietly, now using her fingers to comb her hair back into a high ponytail. With a flick of her wrist she wrapped a piece of clothe around it to hold it, and cautiously tossed her head to see if it'll stay. Satisfied, she shot a brilliant smile at Koga.

 

He shrugged and slowly stood up, feeling his knees protest the movement with the harsh sounds of his bones popping and he winced.

 

He would actually rather skip this `festival' that she was talking about. But with the little bit of moonlight that drifted into the cave that he was residing in, giving her skin an odd bluish tint and making her eyes flash in the darkness, he knew that he would go along. Even when she was younger, that smile that she had shot, just for him . . .

 

`But it isn't just for you anymore,'

 

He shook his head slowly and refused---refused---to think back on that evening. It had been a week since it had happened, and he had succeeded in masking it well enough. But it this night was really as important to her as she was trying desperately to convey to him, then he would go along willingly.

 

“What's your color?”

 

He blinked and shook his head, staving down his solemn thoughts as she twirled around on her heel with her arms outstretched, sending her scent into every corner of the cave, and he nearly whined. God, she had no idea, did she . . . “You mean my . . .”

 

She nodded and stared at him, wide-eyed, a thoughtful frown on his face.

 

“It's . . .” He blushed. “It doesn't matter.”

 

She opened her mouth to say something, the stubborn glint in her eye telling him that she was going to argue about it for sure, but instead she shrugged and left it alone, holding out her hand towards him and flashing him that smile that drove him a little more crazy every time . . .

 

“Let's go.”

 

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`Ayame?'

 

`Yeah . . . I know . . .'

 

`Maybe we should take him back to the cave . . .'

 

She peeked at him, grimacing against the scowl on his face and the way his mouth was pressed into a tight line. `I . . . I think so . . .'

 

She gritted her teeth against the harsh shrill of whispering that was only heard because of the wind that drifted the voices to them, and she felt a flare of anger at the venom, the accusations in them. She had just wanted him to enjoy something that she did.

 

As soon as they left the nearly abandoned village and drifted to the nearby waterfall where the festival was held, her body had felt the adrenaline rushing through her body as they walked through the throngs of people, dancing and laughing merrily. But somehow or another, it had shifted, and she hadn't failed to notice the odd stares that were being shot in her direction, or how people moved out of their way hastily.

 

No, they weren't staring at her . . . they were staring at him.

 

He had played it off well enough, she supposed, just gritting his teeth and shooting her a smile that was more like a grimace. She had appreciated it at the time, knowing that he was enduring it for her, but that hadn't been the catalyst.

 

They had been standing by the waterfall, watching it in companionable silence when a young girl had shrieked her name, running towards her along the top of the stone border that separated them from the harsh waters. She had nearly fallen, and in a blur Koga had caught her, holding her for a moment before setting her on her feet.

 

It hadn't taken long before her mother had come along and yanked her behind her legs, all but snarling at Koga as she demanded to know just `who he thought he was putting his defiling claws on her cub.'

 

Ayame had bridled with anger, opening her mouth to tell the lady off, but instead he shot her a dark look and shrugged, shooting the lady a cocky grin. “I don't know,” He had answered. “But I could have let her fall into the water, couldn't I?”

The lady's face had paled and she stomped off, snatching her daughter behind her. But the young girl had turned around with apologetic tears in her eyes, and shot Koga a bright smile, wiggling her fingers at him behind her mother. She had seen Koga smile, not something forced, but genuine, beautiful, and he raised his hand in a return gesture. For that moment, she forgot to breathe . . .

 

Now they stood at the same waterfall, the early morning's dawn reflecting off the sparkling water in beautiful pinpricks of light, and she sighed, allowing her eyes to drift closed.

 

“Did you have fun?”

 

She opened her eyes and turned to him. “Did you?”

 

He sighed and shrugged, looking back at the water. “It doesn't matter if I did. I only came because . . .”

 

`For you,' She heard his unspoken finish in the dark recesses of her mind, and her breath hitched. Could he look more magnificent--- his eyes bright and his hair flowing freely? His scent, thick and enticing; entirely male overcame her as the wind blew, and she shuddered, her skin erupting in goose bumps.

 

She reached out and took his hand, squeezing slightly, delighted that for once, he didn't pull away from her. He stared at her, his eyes smoldering and intense, and her mouth went dry. “I did.”

 

He sighed, but not before she saw the happy glint in his eyes, or how the corner of his lips twitched. “I'm glad.”

 

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`Beautiful.'

 

`Y . . . Yeah,'

 

Koga withheld a sigh as they walked silently towards her hut. She was staring at the floor thoughtfully, unusually quiet. Something was bothering her, but he didn't want to bring it up, not wanting to pry. She would talk about it soon enough, right? So why did he feel this way?

 

He heard her sigh. “Did you really . . . want to go back?”

 

He glanced at her, and she was still staring at the ground, worrying her lip with an embarrassed flush to her cheeks. “I don't know. Do you want me to leave?”

 

She shook her head furiously. “N-No! I . . .”

She fell quiet again, and he continued to walk, deliberately allowing his mind to stay blank. He would deal with that when the time came, couldn't he? He didn't have to rush to make decisions now. If she wanted him to stay . . .

 

“If you want me to . . . I'll stay,” He murmured, so quietly that she almost missed it.

 

Her blush deepened, and she nodded. “I'd . . . I'd like that.”

 

He stopped in front of her hut and she stopped beside him, staring up at him with an expression that was far too vulnerable . . . far too enticing. Cheeks pinked, eyes bright and shining, he stood there captivated, not really understanding what was making his heart hammer against his chest, but not really caring, either.

 

He reached out, tracing a claw along her cheek and her eyes fluttered closed. She pushed against his hand and whined, and he became lightheaded. She was just too damn . . . too . . .

 

`Beautiful,'

 

Beautiful, yes, but was that it? No, there was more to Ayame than simply beauty, and he knew that. Something rare and special, something precious and worth protecting, she was everything at once, a paradox in motion, something he couldn't touch . . .

 

“Koga?” She whispered, covering his hand with her own.

 

He swallowed the lump forming in his throat, not being able to answer the question that he knew she was silently asking. If so . . . that would condemn them both, wouldn't it?

 

A throat cleared in the haze of his mind, before he felt a flare of anger so harsh that it snapped him out of his stupor that was Ayame moments before she was yanked away from him, behind a broad back and eyes that flashed deep into his. Koga bared his fangs as Ayame's alarm spiraled, and he didn't like the possessive way that the man was hiding her.

 

`Wait . . . that's her . . .'

 

He took a moment to ignore the challenge to his blood and the desire to answer it and took in the man's features.

 

`Her . . . fiancée. . . damn it . . .'

 

“Can I help you?” The man hissed, pushing Ayame back with his large arm when she tried to step around him.

 

“Kai!” She whispered harshly, avoiding Koga's gaze.

 

With a sigh he shook his head, shrugging and forcing a cocky grin as he made a show of eyeing the man up and down as if he was real no challenge at all. If it came to it, he could mop the floor with him, for Ayame . . .

 

Be he had no right to fight for her, did he?

 

So he turned around and stalked off with a raise of his hand in silent departure, hating the way her youki flared with sadness, and hating the way he had to ignore it, tearing himself apart inside, but knowing that he wouldn't do it many times more.

 

Just for her.

 

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A/N

 

Enjoy!!!