InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Its Just The Beginning ❯ Chapter 21

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

They lost thirty members of the Pack that day. A devasting loss. Everyone felt that pain.

Kagome woke to the sound of Kouga yelling, cursing. Her eyes flew open at the sound of his bit off scream. He was a good distance away, but somewhere outside the cave she could still hear him. His voice was filled with agony. Why?

'Dammit, Kouga. I have to set your knee. Stay still or it's going to heal like that. You won't ever be able to run again.'

She remembered the mess of Kouga's knee. But he was alive! It was a miracle that they were both alive. With a groan she lifted herself up onto her elbows.

“Don't move too much, Kagome. I think you have a concussion and with all the blood loss, you need to rest.” Ginta paused, looking to his wife and then back to Kagome. “I'm sorry.” He looked worried. Sad. “We didn't know, Kagome. If we had known, we all would have...”

 “I never thought Kumiko was capable of what he did, either. None of us did.” He had always seemed so kind.

He shook his head. “Not Kumiko. The pup. If we'd known, we would have taken precautions. I'm so sorry, Kagome...”

“What baby?” Kagome sat up slowly and almost wished she hadn't. Her head pounded and a thin white bandage covered her forehead. Her whole body ached, though she knew it was no where near the pain that Kouga was in. “What baby?”

Ginta stared at Kagome, not understanding. And then he knew. Poor Kagome. “Kagome...” He paused. “You didn't know you were carrying Kouga's pup?”

The words “baby” and “pup” echoed in her mind. One hand dropped to her stomach. “I was pregnant?” Her words were weak, almost disbelieving. Of course she had known the risks of pregnancy. She just hadn't thought. Kouga hadn'tpulled out but...

Kouga. His pup. Their baby.

“No, no, no.” Her voice wavered as she remembered the stabbing pains in her stomach, the heavy warm rush between her thighs and the blood.

She'd lost the baby. Then.

She hadn't once given thought to having a child with Kouga. Now, knowing that she had been pregnant, knowing that that child was now gone...she wanted it more than ever. Tears prickled her eyes. “No...”

“No, don't cry, Kagome. Not here. If Kouga smells your tears he'll come running. No matter if he's able to walk or not, he'll come to you...and that might kill him.”

She didn't know how she held the tears back, but she did. On the inside, she was screaming.

Kouga bore the brunt of pain he knew was coming. Ye God's he should be dead. He'd been wounded before but never like this. His right arm was broken, two of his ribs cracked. Not to mention numerous other wounds. His leg hurt like hell. The bone had broken clear through his skin. That was the worst.

No, the worst was when it was going to be set again. Hakku and two other wolf Demons were holding him down as Hakku pressed down against the protruding bone.

“FUCK!” He arched, his body almost twisting away from the pain before the wolf demon snapped the bone back into place. The pain had him cursing Hakku with every fowl word he knew.

He knew they would never be safe. Not with Kumiko alive. He could handle other Demon's. No problem. Kumiko was a different matter entirely.

Right now, all Kouga wanted was to hold Kagome in his arms again. He knew she was in his Cave, but he wouldn't be assured until he was holding her again.

His chest heaved, blood and sweat covering his body as he fought to ignore the pain. With a groan, he staggered to his feet, favoring his good leg. “I'm going to see Kagome. Out of my way.”

Hakku dragged one of Kouga's arms over his shoulders but instead of turning him towards Kagome, he turned the opposite. “Kouga, you're injured. You nearly DIED. I know you want to see her and comfort her over the loss of the pup but\“

Kouga tensed. “The pup?”

Kouga's eyes were cold. Hard. Hakku swore he saw an emotion swirling there. Pain. He didn't have to say anything else. Kouga KNEW.

“I'm going to see her.” Kouga said again and this time, Hakku didn't stop him.

He didn't want to believe it. For that split second when he'd realized Kagome was carrying his pup, joy had filled him. The life that had been growing inside of her...It wasn't fair. Kagome hadn't even known. His heart nearly stopped at the sight of his woman. His Kagome covered in bruises. Her beautiful body marred. He ached at the sight, the pain he saw in her eyes when she looked up at him.

The knowledge was there. And Kagome should never have had to experience such loss in her life.

“Kagome...” His voice was low and the moment he took a step towards her, his arms open, she flew into his arms. The small impact jarred his body but he ignored the pain, closing his arms around her fragile body. She felt so good. So alive.

He kept his expression still, showing none of the pain he was feeling.

“I didn't know, Kouga. If I'd known...” Kagome, so humanly frail, couldn't even bring herself to say the word. “I wouldn't have asked that we go.”

He could smell the saltiness of her tears and then he felt them against his chest. “I didn't know.” He whispered into her hair, nuzzling the strands. “Not until right before.” Not until it was too late.

“There won't be a next time, Kagome. Next time I see him, he's dead.”

The words were final. Kumiko had hurt them for the last time.

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