InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Rivals in Love ❯ Nonone but Myself ( Chapter 4 )

Kouga lay over Inuyasha, panting, foreheads touching, struggling for control. Most of his fury had been spent, now his mind was clearing. The fire had died down, leaving only the glowing ruby coals to warm the deep cave. The wind changed direction for an instant, sending a shower of icy rain into the front of the cave. He let out a long sigh and collapsed, careful not to crush the frail human beneath his weight, taking his usual place beside Inuyasha. Struggling with exhaustion he pulled a thick bear pelt over them, a distant echo in his mind that he was to protect this man; who the human was he couldn't remember, but he was injured and needed to be cared for. The man lay motionless, his breathing almost nonexistent. A black veil blew over his vision, growing, thickening, until all he could see was darkness. The rain played out a chorus of taps outside, chimes and thumps as it hit leaves, rock, and the deep hollow sound as it ended in a collection of water, each contact sending a different tune to his ears. Kouga took no notice, his eyelids suddenly too heavy for him, the distant thunder lulling him to sleep.

 

 

The fire had died completely, leaving the cave feeling cold and wet, like a cave should. It took a moment for Kouga to funny adapt to the pitch black darkness that now surrounded him. Wondering for a bit what woke him he willed his eyes to adapt. He felt a tremor run along his arms, the warm body beside him shivering in the cold. He reached over, tucking another pelt snugly around the boy who lay beside him. His hand connecting with bare, fevered flesh… Stifling a cry he struggled back, removing himself from the motionless human, covering his face with his hands as the nights incidents flooded his mind. What had he done? What the hell had come over him?!

 

Turning away he crouched beside the fire pit. He felt ill… soiled and filthy. The feeling of his rival pinned beneath him sent shivers through his body. Staggering up he took off, rushing out of the cave, needing to get away. The images in his mind wouldn't leave, the sounds of Inuyasha panting, too exhausted to fight back, screaming with both pleasure and pain.

 

The cold merciless rain drenched him as he ran, pelting his body like needles. His mind raced his stomach clenching as he fought down the overwhelming disgust. Without thinking he ran towards the cliff where InuYasha had escaped to not but a few hours ago. He cried out in anger, not wanting to go anywhere near the place where he felt the first sting of compassion for the defenseless hanyou. He turned sharply, charging to the right, but his feet sank deep into the mud and he pitched forward, falling down into the dark, cold slop of rainwater and forest earth. He lay there a moment, face in the mud, letting the shower from the heavens pierce him, anger and rage building in him. He sat up, grabbing handfuls of mud and scrubbing his flesh with the harsh slop. Nothing helped; he still felt awful, his skin tingling where it had touched his rival. He shuddered, unable to shake the memory. Pushing aside the red haori to reach warm flesh, mortification swam through him as his groin stirred from images. Despite his disgust and loathing the hanyou still dared to arouse him.

 

He shook his head. It wasn't the mutt's fault. He had to keep reminding himself that. The rage that built within him when he blamed the weak human was what stirred his blood, screaming for him to dominate over his rival. No, it was his fault, he was the one who couldn't fight back the urges, couldn't turn a blind eye to the humans alluring vulnerability. He sat there, wallowing in the muck. It seemed fitting right know. It was where he belonged after what he did.

 

~*~*~*~*

 

InuYasha shivered, his body was freezing, but he couldn't stand the feel of the pelts on his bare chest. The heat from his body was overwhelming. Hot cold, hot cold, He could decide which one. Bringing his legs to his chest he wrapped his arms around himself. The ache was a constant reminder of what had happened, what he was unable to prevent. He cursed his weak human body and his stupidity for believing for an instant that Kouga might have become a friend. An ally he could depend on so he didn't have to always be the strong one.

 

He shook his head; he could depend on no one but himself. No one would ever help him, no one would protect him. There was no one he could trust… no one…

 

~*~*~*~*~*

 

Kagome huffed. Tugging the heavy backpack up over her shoulder as she hurriedly descended the steps to the well shrine. It had been almost a week since she and Inuyasha had argued in the clearing, right in front of Kouga. They had never really done that before, and the smug look on Kouga's face was enough to send Inuyasha over the edge, he ran before she could even get the word of subjugation out. Five days should have been enough for him to cool off, but he did have the tendency to hold a grudge.

 

With a sigh she placed her hands of the worn ancient wood of the well, bracing herself she jumped down. Immediately she was lifted, the swirling colors and lights flying by her, sometimes she wished she could just stay a little longer in the well. This place between times. But it always ended, with her on the other side of the well, five hundred years in the past.

 

Now for the hard part, lugging the heavy backpack up the much deeper side of the well. At home grandpa had a small stepladder put in for her comfort; here she had only to rely on the vines and the hope that someone was around to help her.

 

“Kagome?” a voice she had never thought to here above the well came down to flow into her ears. “Ginta! I told you this was where her scent was coming from!”

 

“Hey guys!” She called up cheerily.

 

“What're you doing down this old well Kagome? Did you fall?” Ginta asked as he jumped down to help her back up.

 

“No I-” She thought a moment, considered that time travel was not the best topic to discuss while in the well. “I'll tell you later ok?” she said as they touched ground at the top of the well. She looked around. “Where's Kouga?”

 

“He sent us to come get you.” Kagome's eyes narrowed. This just crossed the very thin line between what was tolerable. If Kouga stopped by once and a while, even to flirt, she could brush it off and try to convince him that she held no feelings for him. To send these two to fetch her was too much.

 

“Tell him that I won't come at his beck and call, he doesn't own me and should stop acting like he does.” She headed for the village at a determined pace, hoping Inuyasha was in a lighter mood than usual.

 

“But it's about Inuyasha!” She stopped, frozen mid-step. Slowly turning she gave them a questioning look. “He was injured really bad the day he ran off, we tried to find you but you had all left by then and the rain had washed away your scent.”

 

Kagome looked around; it did appear to have rained quite some time here. “wh-where is he?”

 

“In a about a days journey from here. Kouga is taking care of him.” Hakaku answered her.

 

She paled slightly; they had probably already fighting, and with Inuyasha injured— “We need to tell Sango and Miroku.” she said, her head bent down she continued to the village, Ginta and Hakaku fallowing with her monstrous backpack in tow.