InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Its Just The Beginning ❯ chapter 15 ( Chapter 15 )

"She's alright, isn't she?"

Who was that? A little girl. She sounded worried. Why? Who was it...? Mai. Oh yes, it was Mai. Kagome struggled to open her eyes but couldn't manage. They felt so heavy. Her body felt strange, like lead. She could barely move. Her side was throbbing, the place between her legs sore...What...She opened her mouth to tell Mai she was alright but she couldn't form the words. Something cool touched her forehead, soothing the burning of her skin.

"No, Mai. She's not."

Another voice. Deep. Hard. He seemed sad.

"She smells like you, Kouga. Did you know that?" Mai clasped her hands behind her back and rocked back on her heels. It was obvious for any to see she was worried. The moment the sun was up she had come into the cave and almost crawled into bed with Kagome but Kouga had stopped her. Kagome was sick. The fever was high, her wound sweltering.

Kouga knew Mai could scent him all over her and she would wonder why. If she could smell him on her then so could the others. They would think that he, their Leader, had taken advantage. In a way, he had. But they wouldn’t question him. He shook his head, grief stricken. It was his fault. He shouldn’t have touched her. He should have assorted more self-control. In touching her he had worn her out even more. She needed all the strength she had to fight the fever. He had wounded her even more. The wound had split, blood oozing.

“Fuck.” He whispered and ran a clawed hand through his disheveled hair. Kumiko stepped in, stooping low to enter. His nose wrinkled and then his gaze swung to Kouga. The look he sent him was dark. He knew what the bastard had done. He could smell it in the cave, smell it on his body. The scent of Kouga was all over her body. Anger flashed in his eyes. Contempt and disgust. He took a step towards Kouga but he stopped him, holding up one hand. Kouga met his stare head on and spoke before Kumiko could. “Do you really want to do this with her so ill?”

He glared at Kouga, his look vicious. Finally, he shook his head. “I never thought you would stoop so low. She told you no and you took the first available opportunity.” He spat the words out as he kneeled beside Kagome. “You waited till she had no choice—“

Kouga’s head jerked up, his snarl silencing Kumiko. “I never meant to hurt her. Never would I willingly do so. Don’t you think for one minute that I don’t know that I’m responsible for her being like this now.” He jerked his attention back to Kagome’s still figure, his mood growing darker. He deserved the words—more so—but hearing them from Kumiko, he didn’t give a damn. Jealousy drove the bastard.

Kumiko was angry because Kouga had taken her. Kouga had taken what should have been his. He had wanted Kagome. Her sweet, lithe body.  Kouga—he would never think of him the same way again.




“It’s a little hot in here, don’t you think?” Kagome raised a hand to her head, pressing the back against her temple. A week had passed since that fateful night. It hadn’t been a dream. She almost wished it had been. She had tried to talk to Kouga but they had no time. She hadn’t had a chance to bring it up and she wasn’t sure she wanted to. Or had she imagined it. She closed her eyes. No, it had been real.

“It’s just you.” Kouga slid a bowl of water along the floor as Mai dropped to sit beside them. Kagome was surrounded and she was starting to hate it. Kouga and Kumiko sat on either side of her, almost facing each other. Mai and Hakku sat near the entrance. “I’m really tired of just sitting here, Kouga. I need to go outside. Keyword: NEED.” She exaggerated over the last word. She insisted on it in fact. She was better, even if her side still ached. The tension between Kouga and Kumiko hadn’t escaped her. They were fighting a battle over her—one that she didn’t like. Either way, one of them was going to get hurt. Something was wrong between the two. Kumiko kept casting dark looks towards Kouga and Kouga, frankly, he looked pissed. Frustrated.


Kumiko stood and gently clasped her hands in his. “Come on, I’ll take you outside. I think a little sunlight will do you good. He wrapped his arm around her waist and slowly helped her to her feet. She swayed against him, sweat breaking out on her brow.


“Maybe that’s not such a good idea. Not after you were so violently ill.” Hakku spoke, the tone of his voice worried.


She shook her head. “No. I am going outside. I’ll go crazy if I stand in here another minute.” Her words were strained, almost dreading the short walk. She missed the look of triumph on Kumiko’s face as he stared at Kouga over her head. Kouga stifled the urge to bare his teeth. Kumiko was part of his pack but he was making things considerably difficult. He nodded and followed them out of the cave, keeping close behind them with Mai at his side.

Kagome brought her hand up, shielding her eyes from the sun. It warmed her skin. But the short walk had taken its toll. She was tired and cursed herself for the weakness. Kumiko glanced down at her. “You know, Kagome, your wound can heal a lot faster if you let me do it…You know our saliva can heal…”


She shook her head. “No, I never really liked that. I’ll heal the old fashioned human way.” She smiled and couldn’t help but feel ashamed of the lie. She was surprised that Kumiko hadn’t caught it. She felt a moment’s guilt because if Kouga had made the offer, he wouldn’t have let her stop him and she was sure she would have liked it. She followed him to the edge of the cliff, hanging onto his arm. Her eyes slid closed. It felt so good to be out in the sunshine!


“Be careful, Kagome. If it’s too much, we’ll take you back.” Kouga warned her softly.


“I’m not helpless, Kouga. And a little sun won’t hurt.” She threw out over her shoulder. Mai sat down and Kagome wrapped an arm around her. The wound in her side was throbbing but it was no nothing compared to what it had been. “You two cut it out, ok?” She directed her look towards the two men. She felt the tension in Kumiko mount and turned her head, feeling the vibrations of anger growling up from his chest as he stared at Kouga. “God, you want more, don’t you? I see the way you’re looking at her. She’s sick for fucks sake!” His voice rose with each word, the violence and menace mounting. His obsession of her was all he could think of. He couldn’t give her up. Not to Kouga. The idea was absurd. It infuriated him that Kouga had what was rightfully HIS—dammit. The way Kouga looked at her…


All eyes turned towards Kumiko. Something flashed in Kouga’s eyes and he reared back as Kumiko swung his fist. He didn’t move fast enough and the fist connected solidly with his jaw. Kouga cursed, a rumbling growl rising up from his chest as he staggered back. The camp stilled, watching in disbelief.


“You raped her! You fucking monster! You took her while she was helpless.”


Kouga took a step towards him, fury biting his voice. “You’re making a fool of yourself, Kumiko.” He warned quietly, his voice low and menacing.

Kagome stood, ignoring the slight pain. She could feel the tension mounting between the two and she staggered in their directions, her lips opening on a retort—


Kumiko slammed his body up against Kouga’s and they fell to the gorund, fist flying. His connected with Kouga’s cheek. Kouga rolled, his fist curling into the fur covering Kumiko’s shoulders. He slammed him into the ground and rose up over him. But he didn’t throw any punches. He stood up slowly, staring down at Kumiko. “Get ahold of yourself.” He gritted out roughly. “I did not rape her. I would kill myself before doing that to her.”


Kumiko launched himself at Kouga, slapping him and then raking his claws down the right side of Kouga’s cheek. “I smelled you on her, I still do. I know Kagome. She would never sleep with anyone unless she was going to be their mate and I know she wasn’t ready to choose—“ Kumiko hissed out and then grabbed the blade that was connected at Kouga’s hip.

The members of the pack were waiting, watching closely. Growls erupted from the pack. Kouga was their leader. Between the two  men, they would always choose Kouga. Kagome watched in horror. Kumiko had lost his mind and now—No; she wasn’t going to lose someone—either one of them—over something like this. “No!” She yelled out, running forward.

Kouga jumped out of the way as Kumiko stabbed with the knife. Not once did Kouga try to fight back. He side stepped Kumiko, jumping every which way. He clenched his teeth. “Kumiko, stop—“ Kumiko howled and Kouga had no choice. He drew his fist back and slammed it into Kumiko’s nose. Blood spurted, a resounding crack filtering up.


“Dammit, Kumiko.” Kagome whispered and stopped in front of the two men. “Kumiko, he didn’t rape me. He didn’t.” She took a deep breath, pressing a hand against her side. Kouga moved to take a step towards her but she held up a hand, halting him. A few of the men stood watching, shocked, as even she ordered their leader. “I knew what was happening, Kumiko. I didn’t try to stop him. I let him do it. Of my own free will. I wanted him. Think, Kumiko. I’m a Priestess. If I had wanted to stop him, don’t you think I could have?”

Kumiko stared at her, his chest heaving as he fought for breath. “You’re sick, you don’t know what you’re saying—“


“Kumiko…” She had never felt more guilt than she had now. She was the reason he was torn apart right now. “You never had a chance with me. You know that. I never tried. I made it clear more than once that I was only your friend. I’m sorry…I don’t regret what happened between me and Kouga. You know who I choose.” She said softly, not knowing the meaning, the extent of her words.


“Kagome…you don’t have to do this. If you think you have to do it because he wants you and he’s the leader…you don’t. Everyone listens to him. He’s used to getting what he wants—“

“Kumiko, please…” She pleaded. She hated this, knowing it was because of her. He was so obsessed with her and she knew before this was over, she was going to lose his friendship.

“You would rather be his whore than my mate?” A hissing sound escaped Kouga’s lips as Kumiko spoke. Hurt flashed in her eyes but he didn’t stop. He laughed a hard mocking sound. “Be the leaders whore.” He shook his head, the look in his eyes unreadable as he dropped the blade. Blood still dripped from his broken nose as he turned, jumping over the edge of the cliff and following the rocky path down. He was leaving.


She took a deep breath, closing her eyes. She could feel the tears pooling but she didn’t know why. Mai stood beside Hakku, for once in her young life, silent.


“Kagome.” He called out her name quietly, the look in his eyes unreadable.


“Do you know what you just said? What you claimed?” He leaned down as he spoke and picked up the sharp blade and slid it back into the sheath at his side. His words were soft but there was no denying the hard edge to them.

“What?” She sighed and rubbed the patch of skin between her eyebrows. Now, she just wanted to lie down. She didn’t want to have to deal with this, or the lack of privacy she now had. Everyone knew that she and Kouga had slept together.

“Kagome, you just claimed in front of the Pack, that you take me as your mate.”


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