InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Show Me How It Ends ❯ Welcome To The Dollhouse ( Chapter 5 )

Sorry this chap's so late, but at least its as long as the other ones. Also, someone emailed me about why this fic is rated 'r'. Well it should be rated 'nc-17' but ff.net doesn't have that rating anymore. Kinda stupid, neh? N.E.wayz, in later chapter you will be exposed to masturbation and sex. If these subject offend you then you might wanna stop reading this story, or just skip through them when they come. Okay? Alright, that's it, enjoy! And don't forget to review!

Luv

The deni pie

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C h a p t e r V - W e l c o m e T o T h e D o l l h o u s e

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Blue Sun
Blue Sun
I never should have come
Never should have left
Blue Sun
These emotions can't be mine
I don't want to feel again
Fill the void just one more time
This will all be over soon

'blue sun' - Darling Violetta

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Was this really it? Was this where she had grown up? Had played with her brother? Had trained with her father? Was this home? Sango scanned the area where her village once was. It was nothing more than a graveyard. Her gaze flickered down to her sorrowful accomplishment. A large pile of earth lay as an imperfect hill on the flat sea of grass and dirt. A few flowers lay crisscrossing over the heart of the hill. She stood strong with a powerful posture on her weakened legs. She could get through this. If she was able to dig out of her own grave as well as fill in her brother's with her bare hands, then she could get through anything. A lump in her throat made itself known as her dirt covered arms came up to wrap around her shivering frame.

'I'll get through this. I'll be ok. Everything will be ok.' Even though the soothing words circled her mind she couldn't stop her eyes from burning. Her throat constricted and she swallowed the lump there. Kami, why did everything have to be so hard?

"Because then it wouldn't be called life. I would be the ride of fun until you die."

She hadn't even realized she'd been speaking aloud until the voice had given her an answer. A very houshi-like voice. Sango whipped around to find a tired and sweaty Miroku standing behind her smiling comfortingly. Before she even realized what she was doing she flung her dirt covered body at him, hugging him for all the pain that had never been soothed in her heart. The tears left muddy trails down her cheeks and she buried her face into his neck to hide them from the world. Miroku for his part drew calming circles on her back listening to her let out all her frustration with life.

"Why? Why does this happen? Why am I the one to do this? What have I ever done to deserve this?" She cried.

Ah the age old question that never received a satisfying answer. Why did bad things happen to good people? Miroku was not a God, certainly not the God, so how exactly could he even begin to answer. Thankfully, Miroku was a Buddhist and did not believe in the Christian God. So he had free liberty to try.

"We don't ask for these things, Sango-chan. They happen, and we can only hope they make us stronger rather than destroy us completely."

The taijiya sniffled, taking her face from his neck and looking up at him, as if once she did he would tell her the real answer. She smiled a watery smile remembering the new endearment he bestowed upon her. She willed the troubling thoughts to leave her, not wanting to stress the houshi for more answers that he obviously didn't have. "How did you get here so quickly? I rode Kirara and it took me a day."

Miroku chuckled and looked back where a small dot in the sky that could have passed for a very large balloon floated away. "I met up with an old friend." Yes, his dear tanuki comrade definitely had his uses from time to time.

Sango laughed shaking the remaining tears from her eyes. Anyone considered an 'old friend' of Miroku's, could never be anyone saintly. "I suppose we should head back to Kaede's."

"Hai, we must stop by another village on our way, though. Shippou has more than likely driven his foster family into the asylum."

It felt good to laugh as naturally as she was now. Sango chuckled calling for Kirara. "I wouldn't doubt it."

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"Are you sure you'll be okay?"

"Nee-san, I'll be fine."

"No it'll get cold, and then what will you do? What if you don't find another tribe?"

"I'll be oka-"

"What if they don't like you and won't take you in for the winter and you freeze?!"

"You're overreact-"

"What if you don't find anyone and then you try coming back and you die of exposure!? Huh?! Did that little scenario even cross your mind!?"

Hakkaku sighed, watching Kagome rummage through her enormous yellow pack once again. His arms held overwhelming bundles of clothing and equipment, most of he had no idea what they were for or how to use, but if it would end her sermon on all the way he would die he would bare the weight.

"Hakkaku will be fine, Nee-san, stop coddling him."

Kagome glared at Ginta through the curtain of bangs that obstructed her view, but he got the message just the same. She didn't pause her hunt for the things she knew Hakkaku would need for his journey. She liked the wolf, really she did, and if she could have a hand in saving his life or at least making his trip more comfortable then by Kami, she was going to over kill it into the ground. "I know I put them somewhere…" She murmured more to herself than to anyone continuing to scrape away the assortment of junk that no one present really needed at the moment.

Hakkaku shifted uncomfortably with the luggage cradled in his arms. "Ano…Nee-san? I really have to get goi-"

"You lived your life without going on this trip; you can last a couple more minutes!" She snapped.

The youkai sighed, he hadn't even started and already he wanted to rest. His head snapped up at the resounding "FOUND IT!"

Kagome leapt to her feet dashing to Hakkaku cupping something in her hands he couldn't quite make out. She beamed up at him before standing on tip toes to push the thing down on his head covering his ears. "There!" Her fists found their way to her hips as she examined her handiwork.

Hakkaku twitched his head awkwardly, ignoring the harassment Ginta sent him silently laughing, holding his sides and pointing at him behind Kagome. "Eh, what are they?"

"Decapitated, furry, squirrel butts taped to your head." Ginta snickered.

The miko gave him and outraged shove. "They are not!" She snorted turning back to the other wolf confidently. "Don't listen to him, Hakkaku-kun. They're called earmuffs. Everyone where I come from wear them to protect their ears from the cold during winter. Because 90% of your body heat is lost through your ears." She stated somewhat proud of her little trivial knowledge. She rolled her eyes at the blank stares both youkai gave her. "Just wear them when you get cold, okay?"

"If you say so." He answered adjusting the bundle in his arms. "I better get going."

Kagome followed him towards the entrance not noticing his awkward walk underneath all the clutter he held. "Be safe, stay on your path and don't get lost. And if you do don't be a typical 'guy' and refuse to ask for directions. Well, of course there are certain people you don't want to ask directions from. For instance, if the guy is trying to eat you then you may not want to stop and ask him how to get to the nearest wolf youkai tribe.." She laughed nervously.

Ginta sent him a sly look out of the corner of his eye. "Better make sure those randy squirrels don't try to rut with your ears."

Hakkaku growled throwing his load at the other wolf. "Grow up!" He snarled.

The white haired youkai only laughed doing his best to dodge the flying luggage and act unhurt when he was unable to do so.

"No! Don't do that! Stop it!" Kagome exclaimed seeing all her hard mornings work being flung at Ginta's head. She raced over to the pile, frantically pulling out only the necessities seeing as how Hakkaku wasn't waiting for her to gather it all up again. Dashing over to where Ginta stood she panicked watching the said wolf already making his way down the cliff. "Here!" She hollered throwing whatever she could down the side of the mountain. "Wear the sweater when it gets cold, the snow pants are for when it snows, and I already told you what the earmuffs are for!" She screamed throwing each item at him with its corresponding description. "Come back if you need help! Burry yourself in the snow if you can't find shelter! It'll conserve your body heat!............And don't talk to strangers!" She added the last statement as more of an afterthought, making sure he could hear her she cupped her hands to her mouth for good measure. Kagome sighed, hugging herself in worry. She wouldn't have been able to stand going out in that demon filled world alone. She hoped he would be okay.

Ginta stood with her watching Hakkaku finally reach the bottom and make his way out into the horizon. Hesitantly picking up his hand he began to wave, safe with the knowledge that he wouldn't see the gesture. He watched his friend walk away but wasn't greeted with the fear and loneliness he had expected to engulf him. He felt rather a Pandora's Box of responsibility and confusion when looking at the woman child next to him. But like the myth he experienced hope. Things would be right again. Someday.

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The sun's morning rays flared down on him at precisely the right angle to sift through the tree's leaves and reflect off his closed eyelids, obviously intent on annoying the hell out of him until he woke up. InuYasha groaned bringing a hand to shade his face. He let out a yawn feeling his jaw crack with the effort. Raising his clawed hands above his head he stretched his spine and legs as taunt as a bow string until all the kinks were firmly popped out. Had he really slept so long? The hanyou raised a hand to scratch at his head still shaking the sleep from him. It had been a long night, possibly one of the longest he'd had in a long time. What with the battle with Naraku, the pack splitting up, Kagome running awa-Kagome!

InuYasha tensed, the previous night coming back to him in a rush. He had brought her to Kaede's covered in Naraku's filth. The old woman had tried cleaning her off but that feat was pretty unsuccessful so he had taken her to the river to wash her off himself. A blush tinted his cheeks at the memory. InuYasha shook his head willing himself not to dwell on it. Then the wolf had come and got her. A scowl invaded his face thinking of the other youkai. Of course after that, Kagome had lied. She didn't go home, instead she went with the damned wolf to the even more damnable wolf's funeral. My, weren't we just full of sins this morning? InuYasha looked off into the trees that hid Kagome's trail. He had given her enough time to properly pay her 'respects.'

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MMMmmmRRrrrrrr….

Two sets of hands came down to lie upon two rumbling stomachs. Ginta flicked his attention down to his growling belly only to notice Kagome doing the same.

"Was that yours or mine?" She asked rubbing her empty stomach.

"Doesn't matter, I should go hunt anyway." When was the last time he had eaten? Hadn't he been thinking the same question not long ago? 'There hasn't exactly been enough time to go hunting for anything…' He thought staring out into the critter infested forest.

MMmmmRRrrrr

"Okay that was definitely mine that time." She stated looking down at her torso.

"Hai, I haven't eaten in a while either. I'll go get something." He stated heading for the cave's entrance. He glanced down the side before feeling a slender hand grip his arm. His eyes turned towards a set of misty orbs.

"This is just a shot in the dark here, but I'm guessing I can't convince you to just go to market and buy some normal food, neh?"

He stared at her blankly, debating on whether she was actually serious. Kagome gave a defeated sigh at his look.

"Fine fine, go ahead. But please don't kill anything cute." She pleaded. She couldn't bare the sight of a dead baby bunny staring at her while it roasted on an open fire, she had done that once and cried, refusing to eat it.

Ginta laughed giving a brief, "Hai, I'll try" before leaping off the side of the mountain.

Kagome looked anxiously. He was going to bring home a baby bunny, she just knew it.

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It was very rare that he had ever hunted alone. Ginta realized as he descended deeper into the forest. He usually hunted with the pack, and since their passing he had always hunted with Kouga and or Hakkaku. Walking as softly as possible, he listened and sniffed for anything remotely edible. Suddenly something darted across his path. He paused letting the creature's scent waft under his nose. It was a rabbit, or hare. He wasn't quite sure which but either way it was too small for his appetite, plus he now had to feed Kagome. He hadn't had to feed anyone in a long time. Not since his mother actually.

---flash back---

The top of the mountain was packed full of eager young wolf youkai, all wound up and ready for their first official hunt. The Alpha Male approached and all wolves instantly lined up fighting back their excited smiles to put on their game faces. A young Ginta and Hakkaku stood on either side of Kouga. They straightened up, firming their postures and Ginta peeked at Kouga out of the corner of his eye. The wolf stood assertive and poised, his posture never wanted for straightening, it was always like that, just like a prince. A confident smile plastered on his lips, his eyes set and ready to go. The Alpha Male walked with all the severity of a drill sergeant. He took firm lasting steps walking up the line of males, briefly running them over with his sharp eyes, inspecting them. A corner of his tight mouth quirked up in the barest expression of pride upon reaching his son. Kouga seemed unaffected and stood as he was. Ginta almost missed the miniscule nod of approval the Alpha gave the raven haired wolf before moving onto him.

He bid his body to be as firm and confident as Kouga's, but all it did was give the appearance of a young boy trying to be like daddy. His leader gave him a momentary one over as he did all the others and moved on. The two toned youkai felt his body relax the tiniest bit as if he had been waiting to be chewed out all along. No one was sure why exactly they got so apprehensive about the Alpha Male looking them over. The check was only to make sure that they were all of proper age and no ambitious cubs snuck their way up, hoping to be granted early adulthood. Their leader just had that specific presence that commanded absolute obedience. And that wish was always granted.

When the examination was over, the entire line visibly relaxed but stayed where they were. He felt Kouga's head lean in towards him to whisper out of the corner of his mouth.

"Oi, at least you didn't soil yourself. Remember Koiishko? The loner that migrated to our tribe? Otou-san told me that when Koiishko had to go through this he wet himself right in front of him." Kouga never had to wonder why everyone was like that around his father. He understood how commanding he was and could sympathize with their mixture of respect and fear.

"Honto? I heard rumors about that but I wasn't sure. Is that why he disappeared?" He whispered back.

"Hai, Koiishko was so humiliated that he fled. Last I heard he was the laughing stock of the Western tribe." Kouga chuckled.

Ginta laughed back nervously. How could Kouga be so sure of himself when hewas about to pull a Koiishko and wet himself with nervousness? This was it. This was the passage hunt. All the young male wolves of proper age in the tribe would be sent on their first hunt. Each was to hunt alone and bring back the best kill they were capable of. Their prizes would then be looked over by the Leader and he would decide whether they were acceptable or not. If he found a male's kill to be acceptable then that male would be given his right of passage and be received as an adult. If not, then he would not be granted adulthood and would have to wait another 14 years before he could try again. It was the ultimate disgrace. Anyone who didn't pass usually left the tribe altogether and became loners.

Ginta looked around at all the other males who had now begun gossiping and boasting of the huge feast they would bring home and what they would do upon entering adulthood. He squirmed nervously, not joining Hakkaku and Kouga in their chatter. Most of the surrounding wolves had a distinct advantage over him. Most were either raised by their father or if they were lucky, by both mother and father. The Gokurakuchou raids had left many cubs motherless since the vicious birds were focusing on cutting off their forms of repopulation. Kouga had also fallen victim to this when his mother Maeko was torn apart by a Gokurakuchou. Ginta, on the other hand, had lost his father. He hadn't really been old enough to hunt frequently with him and the hunts they did go on he didn't remember anymore. His mother had been the one to teach him anything and everything he knew now. He couldn't help but wonder how his mother given knowledge faired against the rest. The majority of the surrounding males had been taught and trained by other males; Ginta had only his mother to relay on for training. While Niroki would always be the strongest youkai alive in his eyes, he wasn't quite sure her teachings would be a suitable substitute for the ones a father could give. All of the sudden he felt very small and out of place.

"Oi! Ginta, Whatchya twitchin' for?" Kouga hollered from across the other side of the mountain.

Ginta could feel the blood rush to his face as a number of the other males stopped to stare at him. He cautiously made his way over to his friends not wanting another streamline of attention. Kouga laughed clapping him on the back while Hakkaku gave him a reassuring punch to the arm.

"Don't worry. Just think, after this, we're officially adults! No more being called cubs!" Hakkaku exclaimed trying to cheer his friend up.

He wondered if Hakkaku and Kouga knew of his 'lack of father' situation and how its affects were now weighing on him. If they did, they didn't speak of it. "Hai, so what are you going for?"

Hakkaku put his arms behind his head in thought. "Ano..a bear, maybe? How about you?"

Ginta sighed and shrugged his shoulders dully. "I dunno. Think a boar would be appropriate?"

"I suggest you get the biggest you can find."

"Hai, I'll do that. Kouga, you?"

The said youkai smirked crossing his arms across his chest. "Takaruse."

The other wolves gasped, staring at him in surprise. Kouga for all his faults could never be deemed uncreative. While all the other males were going for stags, bears, and other large animals, possibly even some low level youkai, Kouga was going for the strongest demon exterminator of a nearby Taijiya village. Though humans for the most part were considered weak and good for nothing but a quick and effortless snack, they were quite intelligent, a feature most youkai underestimated. Some villages decided to use this underestimation as an advantage and incorporate their intelligence with their fighting skills and become Taijiya. Takaruse was said to be the best of his time.

"W-would that even be accepted?" Hakkaku asked.

"Hai, he has killed youkai, but he's also a human. They aren't that hard to kill." Ginta agreed.

Kouga snorted turning his head. "Then why is he still alive?"

The two paused and looked at each other. Good question.

A lewd howl tore them from their conversation. Several others turned to see a brazen male leaning over the mountain to howl and leer at the females that resided at the bottom. Ginta watched Kouga roll his eyes and felt the need to do the same. Possibly the only good thing about the Passage Hunt was the coming home party. Every eligible female hoarded around the top ready to pounce on the pick of the newly adult litter. The male with the most impressive prize unspokenly had his pick of any female in the tribe. Ginta's gaze flickered to Kouga who stood looking disgusted as other males joined the first in catching the attention of the excited females. He would certainly have the choicest kill; but it was also certain that Kouga would not be immediately bonding himself with any female afterwards as most of the other males would surely be doing. The young prince had yet to show any interest in any female within the tribe, he seemed to believe every female around him was nothing compared to what he was capable of getting. Ginta sometimes caught him staring at the night sky, with a look that could almost be described as loneliness. Whatever he was looking for in a mate had obviously not been found yet.

"ALLRIGHT!"

All the young youkai instantly stood at attention as the Alpha Male returned. He stood before them; the same stern expression marred his face. "I'm just guessing that you all are not so challenged as to not know what you are doing here. The basis of being an adult male is knowing how to hunt and being able to provide for yourself, your mate, and or your family. Those who have not yet reached this level will prove it today as well as those who have. The hunt will begin on my signal. You are to hunt alone, any aiding brought to my attention will immediately disqualify you and you will not pass into adulthood. You are to bring in your best kill; I will look for any evidence that suggests foul play. Such as your prey being diseased, or already dead. I also suggest you not disgrace your family by bringing in a cub, female, or elder. The hunt will end when the moon reaches the top of the mountain, so I recommend you bring in what you can carry, meaning do not be stupid and try to kill a youkai. I believe we've all heard about last year's dilemma with one of the male's managing to kill a bear youkai, only to be stranded in the forest trying to bring it home." A round of snickers could be heard radiating from the line. "In conclusion, I can only hope your parents trained you well and you are able to complete your right of passage." He said looking across the line before raising his gaze to look at the sun. "It is time. Begin!"

And with that, the youkai took off, leaping down the mountain. Hakkaku slapped Ginta's back yelling a quick "Good luck!" He smiled and nodded the same to his friend before skidding down.

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This was fucking hard. All day Ginta could find nothing that he thought would be acceptable. It was as if the entire pack had killed off every boar, bear, and mountain cat in the whole forest. He muttered frustratedly kicking a pebble out of the way. Where was everything? He had seen a few rabbits, badgers, monkeys, and squirrels, but Kami help him if he brought any of that in. No doubt Hakkaku by now had found his bear, as well as everyone else and their prey. Kouga, though, was probably still stalking Takaruse. The weight of killing the man didn't surpass, Ginta. If Kouga pulled it off, which he most likely would, then he would have defeated the strongest of the entire Taijiya village. The village would then be at their disposal. So really it was like bringing an entire population of humans back. It was true, Kouga could be slow and forgetful at times, but when he did have an idea it was usually ingenious. Though, they didn't come along all that often.

Ginta was taken from his reverie as a familiar scent approached his nose. Was that deer? He wasn't sure if a measly deer would be accepted but it was the largest thing he had come across. His body instinctually crouched down wind. They weren't that far off, possibly a mile or two. He crouched even lower before springing into the trees. Deer tended to worry more about hearing danger than smelling it, anyway. He leapt from tree to tree as softly as he could, following the scent. It got stronger as he came closer. It didn't take him long to reach his destination, five minutes at most with his youkai speed.

He leaned down parting some tree limbs and couldn't believe his luck. And entire hoard of deer! All grazing together in an open patch of field. Maybe this wouldn't be such a waste of time after all, now all he had to do was pick out the strongest looking one. He scanned the crowd immediately weeding out the young, old, and sickly. Ah, there it was. Ginta spotted what was possibly the largest stag he had ever seen. It could even have passed for the alpha male of this group. It had the muscular body of a Thoreau bred, and a large set of antlers atop a proud and highly held head. Yes this one would do. He paused looking around, examining the situation. How was he supposed to get down, or over there at least, without making enough noise to alert the other deer? His tested his grip on the limb looking up at the sky, the moon was up and rising, he didn't have much time left. If he was going to kill the stag and drag it all the way back to the mountains, he had to hurry. He licked his lips, his best shot was to climb down this tree as softly as he could and, cautious of staying down wind, make his way towards the stag.

Accepting his plan of action Ginta tightened his grip on the limb before lowering himself to the side of the tree where he gently slid his body down until his feet softly touched the ground. Lowering himself as close to the earth as mobility would allow, he began to crawl underneath the foliage around the field towards the alpha deer. Sure enough, the large buck stood proudly atop a small hill in the valley, watching over the others. Finally Ginta was close enough to formulate a way to take it down. Deer were flighty creatures, and this one appeared to have some strength on its side as well. Where this would have been no problem to an older youkai with more experience, Ginta was still in his teenage years by human standard and only new of hunting by what his mother taught him. He flexed his claws in the dirt, watching the stag from behind. It was now or never. He had to do it sometime and if he didn't manage to take the creature down then…..well then Kami just didn't want him to enter adulthood. That was a good plan, if he made a kill then good for him, if not, blame it on the Gods and their damnable will.

Ginta studied how far the buck was from him and estimated how far he would have to leap to end up tackling it. He bit his lip, as long as he threw his weight into his upper body when he sprung then he should be good. Normally this would have been a good learning experience for the young wolf, but under such enormous pressure it was nothing short of a life or death situation. He took a deep breath mentally reassuring himself before rearing back and springing forward. Just as he had planned, he threw his body weight into his upper body and sailed towards the stag like a hurtled rock.

It was possible the deer heard the rush of wind when Ginta leaped forward. It was possible it heard the crunch of earth when Ginta recoiled back to lunge. It was also possible that it was just a psychic deer. Either way, in mid pounce the buck turned its head just in time to see Ginta lunge for it. Just as he managed to sink his claws into the stag's shoulders it reared back on its hind legs and took off as well as the rest of the deer. Unfortunately Ginta was still stuck to the animal and ended up being dragged with it. His lower body grated against the blur lined ground while his upper body hung off the side of the deer. He grunted and cried out as thorns, rocks, and other painful objects tore at his side and legs. He dug his claws in further, trying to subdue the stag with pain, but it seemed to be too numbed with adrenaline to notice and Ginta just ended up sliding further down its body taking fur, skin and muscle tissue with him. The wolf scrambled, kicking wildly to try to gain some footing, at least if he found his feet he could run with the stag and hopefully wrestle him down. 'Next time you wrestle or someone kicks you, sink your claws into his foot or some other appendage. That way if you go down you're damn well taking him with you.' Bless his wonderful mother. Ginta's gaze flickered down to the long spindly legs that were nothing but meshy blurs as the deer ran. His hand shot to the buck's front shin, digging his claws into it and giving the appendage a hard yank.

Just as Niroki predicted, Ginta went down, but the stag came tumbling with him. The deer let out a startled cry stumbling and falling to the floor before skidding to a dusty halt in the ground. It kicked viciously, swinging its head to gain momentum and get up. The wolf ducked and dodged the flailing limbs before lunging for the deer's throat. He clawed, strangled, and grasped anything vital he could find in there. His bloody fingers touched something long and cylinder shaped. Hoping it to be the animal's trachea, he clutched and jerked the organ out. Instantly the thrashing creature went still and collapsed to the ground, blood crawling out its mouth and down the tongue that hung out and touched the dusty earth.

Ginta panted, his chest and muscles heaving with exhaustion. He swallowed what saliva he had left to quench his dry throat before dropping his weary body on the makeshift corpse pillow. He gasped for air momentarily resting on the blood soaked animal. Closing his eyes, he felt his breathing and heart rate return to normal and began to lift himself off the carcass. He looked down at his kill with as much pride as his exhaustion would allow. Its large sinewy body was more than enough to feed himself and his mother. With a steady breath he drew up taking the stag in his arms and looping it behind his head and around his shoulders to hold its back and hind legs making a grotesque boa. The creature wasn't heavy; it was amazing it put up such a fight before being taken out.

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Fatigued, blood soaked, and on shaky legs, Ginta cringed as he took the last leap up the mountain to the top. His breathing was back up and stammering as well as his heart rate. He felt so weak, his eyelids seemed to weigh a hundred tons. He smiled weakly at Hakkaku who eagerly ran over to him.

"Your mother's been nasty since I got back, she's been snapping at everyone!" He said hooking his thumb behind him gesturing to the two toned female sitting on the other side of the mountain staring keenly down its side.

He watched as her heard jerked up and turned, it was amazing she could smell him through all the blood that saturated him as well and everything else. Her eyes widened a fraction when she caught sight of him. Ginta tried to straighten himself and not look as weak as he felt. He could see Niroki let out a breath of relief and her body visibly relax, but she stayed with the rest of the pack of females on the other side of the mountain top. He smiled, somewhat glad that his mother had been concerned for him. He surveyed his surroundings, the mountain top was filling itself with tired blood covered wolf youkai and the females had been settled on the other have. Animal carcasses were piling up near the Alpha male as one by one each youkai's kill was examined. "Oh! Oi, Hakkaku! Did..did everything go okay?" He asked earnestly staring at his friend.

Hakkaku smiled proudly his hand shooting up to give the victory sign. "Hai!"

"Well, I think we all saw that coming. Did you get the bear?"

The other wolf stuck his hand behind his head bashfully before replying. "Iie. I couldn't find one, but I did manage to get a really big boar."

Ginta patted his friend's shoulder encouragingly. "That is good too."

Hakkaku peeked at the corpse covering the other youkai's shoulder as if just noticing it. "Ah, caught a deer did ya?"

"Hai! It's a big one too!" He stated proudly.

The spiky wolf whistled looking the body up and down. "It is, you better take it over to be checked out. Good luck, Ginta!" Hakkaku called the last part as his friend began making his way to his Leader. Everyone parted for the new arrival and Ginta suddenly felt small again under the scrutiny.

The Alpha Male sat Indian style, a pile of animal carcasses behind him. He waited with stern patience for Ginta to hand over his kill. The young wolf respectfully lowered the stag to the ground and stood back waiting for the verdict. He could feel hundreds of eyes scorching him, but most of all he could feel his mother's gaze burning hole in his side. His sweaty palms clenched and unclenched nervously as his King surveyed the corpse with professional skill. Ginta gulped down the lump in his throat, his anxiety radiating off him in waves to where he new the entire tribe could smell it.

"It is good." The wolf King stated with a curt nod.

He felt like collapsing in relief. All the tension and worry in his body left with a steady breath. He tried to contain his ecstatic smile as he turned and made his way back to Hakkaku who then clapped him hard on the back congratulating him. Ginta laughed punching the other youkai back before turning to Niroki. He could still feel her gaze on him, and sure enough it was. To anyone else her face would appear stony and cold, but through the years Ginta was able to read her like an open book. And her eyes glittered with maternal pride at her son. He turned away shyly back to his friend.

"When did you get back?"

"About twenty minutes ago."

"Did you have trouble?"

"Ha! Not as much trouble as Kouga's gonna-hey, where is Kouga?" Hakkaku replied, his head darting around sifting through the crowds.

"You mean he hasn't returned, yet?" Ginta asked puzzledly.

"I didn't even think to look for him. But I don't see him anywhere." A little spike of panic began to work its way into the two wolves. Where was their prince?

Ginta resumed clenching and unclenching his fists agitatedly. The moon was closing in over their mountain and they couldn't even go look for him. Once they returned from the hunting grounds, they weren't allowed to go back. Hakkaku appeared to have similar feelings. He nudged the other youkai's shoulder reassuringly.

"I'm sure he'll-GAH!"

Hakkaku jerked back as what appeared to be a bloodied head shot through the hoard of wolves. Its short brown hair was caked to its broken skull with viscous red liquid. Its eyes were still wide open, crimson paths trailed from them like bloody tears. The mouth hung open, engraved with a silenced scream. The pack went still, the silence swept over the mountain like a plague as the careening head landed in the clawed hands of their Alpha Male. Unlike the rest, he seemed completely unfazed as he caught the decapitation in his ready hands. His eyes flickered over the severed limb, his gaze holding no trace of amusement. His head turned up to seek out the grotesque Picher.

Kouga stood there, an arrogant smile adorning his features, but Ginta could see the fatigue behind it all. Covered in a tide of crimson, hair gnarled and half of it out of its normal ponytail, pelted clothes ripped and more hanging off him than on him, a mutilated body garbed in Taijiya robes lay slung over one shoulder, Kouga had never looked more the prince he was than in that moment. With a rough shrug of the shoulder carrying the body, Kouga chucked it in the same direction as its separated limb; but instead of landing in the Alpha Male's hands it landed at his feet.

Nothing was said as everyone's attention focused on the two when the older youkai looked at the head and body placing the two together. The entire pack tensed watching the Alpha Male stride over to Kouga, then; Ginta could have mistaken the slight quirks of the youkai's mouth to be a prideful smile. With the head still perfectly balanced in his hand he placed the other on his son's shoulder. "You have done well." With that said, he pivoted on his heel walking away. "The moon is in place. The hunt is over. Anyone not present here now will wait until the next passage hunt." He headed towards the mountain edge. Then almost as an afterthought, he turned his head and smirked. "Tomorrow, the elders and I will go and deal with the scrambling ants."

As he jumped out of sight the pack broke into bloodthirsty war cries and howls. Thanks to Kouga, the Taijiya village was without leader. And every youkai knew humans immediately became senseless without someone to assert order. They were like ants without their precious queen. The now adult males surrounded Kouga, giving congratulatory slaps to the back. With the Alpha Male now gone the residing females were free to pounce on the new meat. Most the males circling Kouga dispersed and began to approach the eager females.

Ginta watched from the side as his friend turned his head haughtily and soaked up the attention. More females began push through the crowd to get to Kouga. They barked, scratched, and even snapped at each other when the other felt threatened. He chuckled when Kouga rolled his eyes in disgust at the panting bitches.

"So I taught you as well as I thought, neh?"

Ginta turned his head to see his mother standing nonchalantly behind him. He smiled welcomingly. "Hai, he was a big one." He replied returning his attention to the swarming crowd around the other wolf. He felt Niroki come closer to stand beside him.

"There is no greater shame."

"Hm?" He followed her gaze which rested on the same scene as his had. The female pack and grown and surrounded the wolf prince. All the other males were either shunned away or attempting to court any of the females who hadn't instantly gone for the pick of the litter.

"Look at them, Ginta. Degrading themselves for false hopes."

Out of the corner of his eye, Ginta caught Hakkaku standing away from the rest and looking longingly at a brown haired female scratching her way towards Kouga. Was Hakkaku degrading himself too?

"You don't think he will take one of them?"

Niroki snorted huffily. "The pup does not want life handed to him on a silver platter, why would he want his mate in the same manner?"

He shrugged, he supposed she was right. Kouga always fought for the competition he would never get in this tribe. No male in the clan would ever challenge him, no female would ever deny him, perhaps that was why he went after Takaruse. The Taijiya may have been human, but he was willing to fight to the death. Something no one here was willing to do with him. But now that the challenge was gone, what would he do now?

"Love humiliates you, Ginta."

"Nani?" He turned his attention to his mother who had a distant look in her stony eyes that made him think that she may not be speaking entirely of the bitches drooling over Kouga.

"Do you see them. They fight, claw, and snarl at each other for what? For a male that does not want them. And later, perhaps when he does take a mate that isn't them, they will see that. And they will feel the shame and humiliation of it."

"I don't think love is something you can control, Okaa-san."

"And they will hate him for that loss of control." She responded curtly.

Ginta said no more on the subject and returned his focus to his friend who had managed to pull himself away from the flock with a few growls and swats. He felt the sudden loss of presence as his mother left his side. A hand placed its self on his shoulder from behind and soft breaths blew on his pointed ear.

"Love humiliates you, but hate cradles you. Remember that, little one." And she was gone.

He looked around but she had supposedly already gone over the mountain. Had Otou-san's death truly damaged her that much?

"Oi, Ginta! Too good to talk to us now that your an adult, ne?!"

He laughed as Kouga called out to him jogging over to his friends.

---end flashback---

What sounded much like a human girl's scream broke him from his reminiscing. Ginta perked his ear up waiting for it again and sure enough it did not disappoint him. Only it wasn't a human girl, it sounded more like a wild cat. A puma perhaps? Pushing his previous remembrance to the back of his mind he started in the direction he heard the call.

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She could get down on her own. She could get down on her own. She could definitely do this on her own. She didn't need Ginta. It couldn't be that hard. With a squeal of fright Kagome retracted her leg from the cliff's edge and scrambled away from it. She sighed, frustrated and incredibly bored. He had been gone for nearly three hours and she had been too afraid to venture deeper into the unknowns of the caves and had considered climbing down the mountain herself. That, was quickly becoming out of the question.

"How do you get cabin fever in less than three hours?" She wondered anxiously. This was the place she would be staying in for most of the year, and her relationship with it wasn't starting off very well. She cautiously crawled back over to the edge. Peeking over it she darted back again. Why did it look so much steeper than she predicted?

It didn't look like she had any choice but to wait. Even though she didn't' really have any other alternative, it didn't mean Kagome had to be happy about it. She plopped down near the drop idly watching her toes twitch. 'I should get dressed..' She thought looking at the hem of her nightgown. With the way things were going it looked like she may have time to root through her pack for something to wear. She had lazily begun to pick at a stray piece of thread on the hem when a large shadow blurred her sight.

"You lied to me for this?"

Her head jerked up at the familiar voice. A very irritated looking InuYasha stood there, arms crossing over his chest. "Where the hell are the other wimpy wolves?"

Kagome readied a nasty retort when a low rumbling growl derailed her train of thought. InuYasha raised an eyebrow at the sound, glancing at her belly. She looked down placing a hand on her impatient stomach. "Hakkaku's gone and Ginta's out getting something to eat."

The casualness with which she said Ginta's whereabouts irked him. "You never ate what I hunted!" He snapped peevishly.

"You threw a dead rabbit in my lap! You expect me to just chow down on that!?" She still felt nauseous when thinking about the bloodied think staring blankly at her with its lifeless eyes open.

"Keh! If you were that hungry you would've!"

She rolled her eyes at his senselessness. "What are you doing here, anyway?"

"I should be asking you the same question." He growled grabbing her arms and hauling her up onto his shoulder.

"What do you think you're doing?!" She shouted, kicking her feet at him.

He grunted trying to avoid her flailing legs. "Be still!" He barked before leaping off the side of the mountain.

He cringed as her painful screaming forced his ears flat to his skull. A mixture of relief and guilt flashed through him as he landed, the landing abruptly dug his shoulder into her stomach temporarily knocking the wind from her. He sprinted through the forest ignoring her squirming and wheezes when she tried to regain her lost breath.

"INUYASHA! Put me down this instant!" She screeched pounding her fists against his back.

"Ow damnit! Stop fidgeting!" He snarled back, grunting when her knee reached his gut.

"SIT!"

Looking back on it, sitting him may have not been the best approach. One, when he fell he was obviously taking her with him. Two, he still had a remarkable grip on her and where the spell yanked him down to a complete stop, momentum kept her going until she swung down from his shoulders and smashed her head to the ground like a swinging pendulum.

"Iteeee.." She moaned tenderly bringing a hand to cradle against her abused head. A muffled grumbling brought her attention to a weight meshing into her hip. The hanyou had determinedly kept his hold on her waist and was now suffocating himself in her hip. She began to push at his shoulders to remove the offending weight but only got a headache in return.

"Mmf, stupid bitch…" Were the first clear words she heard him growl out as the spell wore off.

Once again she pushed at him, this time with more success. He leaned up and she took the opportunity to crab walk out from under him. Standing up he glared down at her still seated form.

"InuYasha, what are you doing?"

"What am I doing? What the hell do you think you're doing?! You said you were going home and I fucking find you here! You also said you were only going for the whelp's funeral and you're still fucking here!"

"Why do you care? The Shikon no Tama's completed, you don't even need me anymore." She stated questioningly.

The hanyou blanched and she could have sworn she saw a faint pink come to his cheeks. He stuttered trying to come up with an excuse when his hand darted into his robes and pulled out lavender marble. "This! See?! It doesn't even work! Your job's not finished!" He answered shoving the glass ball into her face.

Her head recoiled a bit to get a better look at whatever it was he was trying to smash into her face. It was indeed a very completed Shikon no Tama. How did he know it didn't work? 'He probably tried making a wish, baka..' "Gomen nasai, InuYasha, I already made a wish on it." She said shamefully. Wait, why was she ashamed because of him?! Defeating Naraku was far more important than him becoming a full demon! 'Because you took away his chance to be with Kikyou….' And shame returned, greeting her as a friend.

InuYasha looked at her strangely. "You made a wish? When? What did you wish for?"

She shifted uncomfortably, she didn't like being reminded of her time in Naraku's stomach. "I, I retrieved the Shikon no Tama when I was swallowed. Next thing I know its engulfing me and telling me to make a wish. So I wished for Naraku to be defeated." It was a very butchered version of what really happened, but Kagome didn't' feel like revisiting the memory.

"It talked to you?" He asked oddly.

"Ano….sorta." She stammered. Taking a deep breath she said the words that she knew would have to come sooner or later. "I-InuYasha, I just wanted to say….that…that I'm very sorry that you didn't get the chance to wish Kikyou back. I know that's what you wanted. I'm sorry you had to find out that way." She said gesturing to the powerless ball.

The hanyou followed her eyes to the now useless Shikon no Tama and understood exactly what she was referring to. "I didn't wish Kikyou back." He grumbled unable to face her.

She definitely didn't see that coming. Did that mean he wanted to become a demon more than be with Kikyou? She really didn't want to think about any of this right now so she opted for the simple reply of just "Oh."

He stood there awkwardly under her stare before leaning down to take her by the arm and pull her up. "Well, anyways, c'mon. We're leaving."

Kagome dug her heels firmly into the ground resisting his pull to leave. "I can't."

"What do you mean 'you can't'?" He growled aggravatedly.

"You wouldn't understand." She said looking away from him.

"Then fucking make me understand!" He exclaimed tightening his grip on her wrist. He noticed her painful flinch and guiltily let the appendage go.

"I have to stay."

"You already said that." He replied testily crossing his arms over his chest.

She sighed exasperatedly. "You remember when I was supposed to shoot Naraku when a purified arrow? Well when I was purifying the arrow it took up a lot of energy and I couldn't hold myself up. Kouga….." She took a deep breath to steady her nerves. "Kouga helped me. He wasted time holding me up instead of defending himself, and K-Kagura killed him. He died because of me InuYasha. And I can't describe how it feels to wake up and know that. To remember that. And knowing that I'm probably going to wake up like that every day for the rest of my life just….it just……I can't stand it, InuYasha! It hurts!"

"And what the hell does that have to do with you staying here?"

She knew InuYasha didn't like Kouga but did he really have no remorse over the wolf's death? Well, considering their relationship, what did she expect? "Kouga wanted me to come with him. And had he lived I would have told him I couldn't. But he didn't. Staying here, doing what he wanted me to do, it-it makes the guilt go a way a bit. It makes me feel better that I'm trying to help Ginta and Hakkaku. It makes me feel a little better helping them find another tribe and carry on Kouga's memory."

"You're not helping them! You're hindering them! You think they want to look after you?! Especially when they have better things to do!"

Kagome paled her lip shaking a little. She had never thought of it like that. She thought she was sacrificing for the right cause, not handicapping Hakkaku and Ginta from getting on with their lives. "Th-That's not true!"

"Yeah? You said Hakkaku's gone, then why didn't Ginta go with him? I thought the two were joined at the fucking hip, yet here he is babysitting you!"

Was he right? Was she only hindering them? 'It's just, I'm supposed to watch you.' 'Like a baby sitter?' 'Hm?' 'Like a baby sitter. You said you were supposed to watch me. Are you supposed to be my baby sitter, or something like that?' 'Um, no not really like a baby sitter.' 'I don't understand.' 'With Kouga…..gone, traditionally you're supposed to be taken in by the closest family. And with our tribe….gone, that would be me and Hakkaku.' Kagome asserted herself firmly feeling her anger seep into her words. "No he's not! You don't even know what you're talking about! He may not want to be here with me but it's not like I want to give up my life to be here either!"

"Then why the hell would you want to stay?!"

"Because, it's not about what we want, InuYasha! It's about what we have to do! No, I don't want to be here, I want to go home! To my home! But I stay because I'm obligated to! Because Kouga gave up his life to help me, the least I could do is give up the life I want for the one he wanted to have! I'm surprised someone like you wouldn't understand what I'm doing, then again it's always been about you hasn't it?"

"What the hell's that supposed to mean?!" He snarled towering over her.

"You think Kikyou's death is your fault! So you're willing to die for her, aren't you!? No matter what I say, you still see it as your obligation! I may have not understood exactly before, but I do now! Promising to die with her made you feel better didn't it, InuYasha! Made you feel like you were paying your debt to society and all, neh?"

"Th-That was completely different!" He stuttered angrily.

"NO IT WASN'T! AND I'LL HATE YOU IF YOU TAKE ME AWAY NOW!" She screamed furiously.

InuYasha drew back, somewhat surprised at her passionate outburst. Seeing this, Kagome calmed down a little.

"Life isn't worth living if you're going to be stuck in the past. And I'll hate you if you make me live that kind of life." She whispered.

It grew silent for a long time before InuYasha cautiously moved closer to her. "You'd give up all your precious 'schooling' and 'tests' just to live in some shit hole cave?"

"I think the life I'd live in a cave would be happier than the shamefaced one I'd live at home." She muttered.

He flinched, so she had really intended on going home after all this was over. "You were going to go back after it was all over?" It was more of a statement than a question.

Kagome nodded hiding her head down so he wouldn't see how her eyes were watering. "My life was there before it was here."

"Keh!" He huffed turning away from her. She still would have left him, after all they had been through. He wished the stupid Shikon no Tama still worked so he could wish the damned well closed. A sudden weight he hadn't even realized he'd been carrying was elevated from his neck. InuYash looked down finding the ever so familiar rosary beads missing. His hair lifted from his back and he turned to face Kagome again. She looked up at him holding the rosary in her hands. He gawked at her, speechless as she took his clawed hand in her own and carefully placed the wine colored beads in it. Her hand delicately moved over his fingers enclosing it around the necklace.

"The Shikon no Tama is completed. A wish was made. Naraku is dead. Kikyou is at rest. Its over, and I'm of no use to you anymore. So set me free, just like I set you free." Her slender hand rose to cup the side of his face, rubbing her thumb over his cheek once before she moved away from him. His mouth opened and closed desperately searching for something to say. Some magical word to keep her from walking away from him as he was watching her do now. He stood there dumbly holding the rosary in his hand willing his feet to move. Her footsteps resounded in his furry ears as he stared at her back long after she had gone out of sight.

Her words echoed in his head. 'So set me free…'

"…..No."

But no one was there to hear him.

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How could the animal be dead and still bleeding to death all over him? Ginta groaned looking annoyed at the large cat. He grunted, the blood making the creature's fur wet and heavy. The wild cat had been a Puma of some sort. Years of experience had made it an easy kill and he was thankful. The meal-to-be was tempting his eager stomach in awful ways. But the scent of so much blood was bound to attract unwanted attention. He had been walking for about an hour and wasn't that far from home. He could faintly smell the familiarity of the mountain. But he wasn't going to make it without starting trouble if he continued saturated in blood. He had passed a waterfall thirty minutes ago, but did he really want to waste that much time getting back? A faint animalistic roar could be heard in the background. It was either animal or youkai but it didn't matter because Ginta was already heading back to the waterfall.

'Nee-san can't be that hungry…' He thought unconvincingly. He hated leaving her alone and open to any possible predators. 'Predators…' He looked back in the direction of the mountain hesitantly. Was she okay? Ginta shook his head trying to rid himself of the worry, if he took this much blood back to the caves, anything was bound to follow him and probably come back later for more.

It didn't take as long as he thought to reach the waterfall. He may have been distracted with worry on his way there or maybe he just made good time, either way. It wasn't a big waterfall, but it was enough for him. He dropped the puma near the pond the waterfall flooded into which later flowed into a river. After shrugging off his pelted vest his hands moved to the middle of his chest to grip the hem of his leather like armor. Pulling it off he wondered why he wore so much anyway. The soft padding of his armbands hitting the earth was soon accompanied the wooshing sound his fur wrap made landing on the grass. Soon his shin bands were gone and Ginta sat down to remove the protective wrapping from his feet. Once nude he stood up enjoying the light breeze against his skin as it fought off the summer heat.

The coppery smell of blood brought him back to reality. He had to get it off before someone else tore it off for him. Leaping up he did a playful cannonball into water. Only being underwater for a moment or two he came up spitting out any of the invasive liquid. It was so peaceful to just bath like this, looking at the waterfall before him reminded him of a larger one he had encountered back in his youth a little before the passage hunting.

---flashback---

*SPLASH!*

A few young wolves laughed as the others played the game of cannonball. Where they all tried jumping from a tree and into the water, hopefully landing on one of their comrades. Hakkaku had gotten pretty close to Ginta, who had gone under at the last minute. The two toned wolf came up first, brutally dunking Hakkaku back under when he came up for air. The pair had gotten into a heated water fight when someone called out.

"Oi! Kouga! Where're you going?!" Hinto, the young wolf who had suggested coming to the lake called to Kouga.

They turned in the direction he was yelling in time to see their friend following the lake into the forest. Most of the wolves in the lake got out to follow him, unfazed by their nudity. Hakkaku and Ginta were the first out and caught up to him easily.

"What're you doing?" Ginta asked.

"Doesn't a waterfall flow into this lake?" Kouga asked absentmindedly.

"Yeah but that's Tiiruse's-" Hakkaku was cut off by a thunderous hissing.

The rest of the small group had arrived and gaped up at the humongous waterfall. Ton by ton of water crashed into the rocks below, creating a misty cloud of droplets and liquid debris.

"-Waterfall." He finished.

"What're we doing here?" One of the wolves asked uncomfortably. There wasn't a single youkai in the pack that didn't know the legend behind Tiiruse' waterfall. Their parents had always told them to never go near it. They were told that Tiiruse, a vicious dragon youkai, lay hidden behind the waterfall, just waiting for any creature stupid enough to come close, then his monstrous tail would dart out skewing whatever it reached, and he would plunge it into the waterfall where he would devour them with teeth bigger then they were. It seemed possible, the waterfall itself was huge and could definitely hold something as big as a dragon youkai. Although they had never actually seena dragon youkai.

No youkai their age ever went near it. They were considered rebels just for being in the lake the waterfall ran into.

"You think it's true?" Kouga whispered to his friends.

They didn't have to ask what he was referring to. "Ano…..I don't know." Ginta replied. "Why?"

His only answer was Kouga walking closer to the falls. He, Hakkaku and the others gawked stupidly.

"K-Kouga! What're you doing?!" Hakkaku shouted quickly clapped his hands over his mouth. What if Tiiruse heard him? Well, he wasn't that close to it, surely his tail couldn't reach that far. "Kouga! Come back!" He hissed more quietly.

"I want to see if it's true." He stated nonchalantly looking into the flow of water the fall ran into.

"Kouga don't!" Ginta urged, coaxing him to come back.

"You don't even know if it's true." He replied testily.

"What if it is!?"

"Then we'll know for sure soon enough!" He called back springing from rock to rock that lay in the water before he was on the closest one to the falls.

Hakkaku and Ginta gripped each other in fear for their friend. The other wolves were taken aback by Kouga's brazenness. Sure their prince wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer, but was he that dense?

"Don'tdoitDon'tdoitDon'tdoitDon'tdoit." The two muttered in sync with each other. This wasn't good, how would they explain to their Leader that his son had gotten eaten and they hadn't done a thing about?

The said son looked back at them smirking before leaping into the falls. Hakkaku and Ginta as well as everyone one else cried out at the action. He was going to die! They all waited tensing in suspense. They were met with nothing but silence for a long time. Hakkaku let go of Ginta to take a step towards the water.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" A blood curdling scream ripped through the air just as Hakkaku was nearing it, he started in surprise and fell back.

The others immediately took off into the woods. Ginta stood there, too petrified to move to help his prone friend. He gulped finally gaining enough courage to move.

"What're you doing?" Hakkaku asked watching him hesitantly jump onto the rock in the water.

"K-Kouga's in there. We have to help him, neh?"

"And what're we going to do? We have to go get help!" Even though he was saying it, Hakkaku still followed Ginta, leaping from rock to rock.

They approached the falls, both still fighting their fears. 'We'regoingtogeteatenWe'regoingtogeteaten..' was the mantra going through their minds. They neared the falls, each hesitating to go in. Ginta reached out a hand to slide it through the cascading flow of water when suddenly he was shoved back and onto Hakkaku, sending them both careening into the lake behind them. A hysterical laughter broke them from their fright only to find Kouga laughing underneath the falls.

They gaped up at him from their place wading in the river. "Y-You're alive!" Hakkaku stuttered.

Kouga chuckled gesturing them to follow him. "Our parents are full of shit, look."

The two swam up to the line of boulders underneath the falls, hopping up to follow him under the tons of raining water only to find the hideous form of………….nothing. There was nothing behind the falls but a stone wall. Hakkaku and Ginta looked around a little more, almost disappointed that there was no mammoth monster ready to eat them.

"Told ya." Kouga stated arrogantly.

They nodded turning to come out from behind the falls. "Why would they lie?" Ginta asked.

"Probably got a kick out of it." He growled.

Well, it definitely sounded like something the older wolves would do. They jumped down from the boulders to swim around watching Kouga look around at the empty forest disgustedly. "Loyal lil' bastards, aren't they?"

They chuckled, Hakkaku doing a lazy backstroke and Ginta resting his upper half on a rock. His gaze flickered up to his raven haired friend to find him still underneath for torrent of water. His eyes were closed and head turned up facing the falls as if the weight of his soaked unkept hair was too heavy to bear. Ginta had always been envious of Kouga. He was always the strongest, the center of attention, the fruit born from the labor of the tribe. Not that Ginta wanted all that attention, but still, Kouga was something to be envied. He studied his friend's body in its nudity. Remarkably tan skin covered a strong body ripped with muscle. He had grown into his body perfectly, his baby fat had long since given way to sharp cheek bones, and his thin arms and legs became firm limbs of unrelenting power. His stomach, once pudgy in his cub years now rippled with toned muscle.

Ginta looked down at his own body, suddenly feeling more like a boy trying to be a man. He looked awkward with his pale skin stretched over his tall lanky form. He was not filling out in the way most males were beginning to, his mother had always ignored his insecurities over it. He sighed resting his head on his arms dejectedly.

---end flashback---

Ginta stepped under the small waterfall, turning his head up and doing his best to ignore his once more rising insecurities. He had never grown into his body the way Kouga and Hakkaku had. He had stayed pale, skinny, and awkward looking. He still often felt just as much like the cub he used to be. Swallowing the miserable lump in his throat he ran his hands through his oddly colored hair.

--------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------

"So set me free, just like I set you free. And then I walk away. Even though, I have no idea, what so ever, where I'm going. I'm so intelligent it scares me." Kagome thought sarcastically.

It had seemed like a good idea at the time. She hadn't been able to face him so the most logical answer would be to walk away from him. Well it would be had she known where she was going and not gotten lost. The summer heat was getting to her, the exertion had already gotten her smelly, sweaty, and tired, then sun had decided to pay special attention to her. Luckily the trees overhead provided some shade but the humidity was horrible! Her night gown had begun to stick to her and, the once thought insane, idea of just walking around naked was becoming very appealing.

"I hate nature." She grumbled to herself. Suddenly she became alert to the sound of rushing water. Could it be? Possibly? "Lets just go with it and call it a waterfall for happiness's sake." She said with a gleeful laugh racing towards the sound.

Oh if it was what she hoped it was then a God definitely existed. Kagome burst through the brush smiling elatedly as the sound grew louder. It was unmistakably a waterfall. She came to a set of large bushy foliage and impatiently pushing past it she murmured happily "Thank Kami Thank Kami Thank Kami Thank………Kami." Yes, there definitely was a God. And he stood in all his naked glory underneath the small falls. She stopped and stared in awe at the youkai she had been so frustrated with earlier.

The rushing water plastered his two toned hair to his head and she watched as he ran his long, clawed fingers through it. The water rolling down his tall, lithe frame and with the sun shining through it just right, made him look like a fallen angel. His back was turned to her giving her a pleasant view of his wiry physique. She swallowed, every moral fiber ingrained within commanded her to turn away but an unnamable something refused to let her avert her gaze. She had never seen him this way. Granted she had seen him enough to notice that he was rather plain looking and didn't posses the devastatingly dashing good looks Kouga did, nor the exotic beauty of InuYasha. Even though he hadn't the splendor of Kouga or InuYasha, he held a certain charm that she couldn't quite explain, it was a charm she had never noticed in anyone else before. Previously she had always brushed it off, until now. Seeing him like this took her breath away, it made him beautiful to her and forced her to examine that charm she had always ignored.

'Stop it, Kagome! You have no idea what you're doing!' Her conscience scolded her. And she didn't. She hadn't the faintest clue what she was doing, what she was thinking. This wasn't supposed to happen. She wasn't supposed to be here. Her arrow wasn't supposed to miss. Kouga wasn't supposed to be dead. She wasn't supposed to make the wish. And she wasn't supposed to see him this way. But it seemed the Gods had carelessly flipped her world upside down. And she was here. Her arrow did miss. Kouga was dead. She did make the wish. And she did see him this way. But this knowledge didn't quiet the voice inside her whispering.

'This is wrong……'

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Yes, a nice swim was just what he needed. It cooled the nerves and made him forget the problems that would haunt him back home. Ginta sighed, smiling serenely as the water ran down his back. He was happy, the world was at peace, and everything felt so good. He felt every muscle relax underneath the shower of cold water. It dripped and massaged the tension from his body. He was about to fall back into the pond when a blood chilling scream rose to his ears.

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Well whadya think? Getting' juicey huh? Well, here are the instructions for the magical appearance of another chapter.

1:read it.

2:decide if u luv it, hate it, have a problem that needs venting with it.

3:review it.

C h a p t e r V I - N o t M e a n t F o r M e

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-"Well, maybe not all the rumors."

"There were others?" She asked confusedly.

"Supposedly you were already due with a litter." He said, a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

"Huh?" Her nose scrunched in bewilderment.

"Everyone think you're pregnant." Ginta answered bluntly.

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