Always, Chapter 4

Always

Chapter 4




Sango was pacing on Kaede’s kitchen floor.

“So, she yelled at you and ran off, and Kouga went after her?  Well, she can’t be in too much danger then.  Kouga wouldn’t let anything happen to Kagome,” the taijiya said.  

“Yes, InuYasha.  I’m sure she’ll be along soon,” Miroku said soothingly.

“Who’s worried?  I’m not worried!  So what if she went off into the forest?  If she doesn’t wanna come back then she can stay in her own damn time!” InuYasha shouted.  

“Gnnn…” Shippou said sleepily.  “Why are you yelling InuYasha?  Oh, Kagome’s still not back, huh?” he continued, rubbing his eyes.  

With a smack to Shippou’s head, InuYasha started to the door.  “I wasn’t yelling!  And I don’t care about that stupid Kagome!”  

He left, and the three friends looked at each other.  

“Wow, is he in denial or what?” Shippou commented.

“No, he just doesn’t want anyone to know about his feelings for her.  He wants everyone to think he’s fearless, that he’s emotionally hardened,” Sango explained.

“Mmm, and yet all of his enemies, especially Naraku, know exactly what his feelings are, and specifically target Kagome because of it,” Miroku added.

They all nodded their heads in agreement.

InuYasha stomped around.  He really had nothing to do.  He didn’t want to sit around, but the thought of traveling without his companions was… strange.  He climbed a tree near Kaede’s home and sat on a branch.  Damnit.  I hate this.  I hate doing this to Kagome.  And I’m sure Kikyou doesn’t like it either.  We’re all… stuck.  Unless I choose someone.  Then one of them can be free.  But Kagome… she’ll never be free.  I already know how she feels.  She even promised to be near me even though she knows I still care for Kikyou.  But then why does she get so mad?  I feel like I’m at a crossing, and there are two paths and I have to choose which one I want to take.  Kikyou… Kikyou was my first love… but, she is undead.  Do I have a future with the undead?  Maybe the only future of that road is to die.  But Kagome… Kagome is so full of life, so… lively and happy… Happy… is she really happy?  Or does she pretend, because she wants to be near me?  

As if on cue, Kouga came through the forest then, carrying Kagome.  InuYasha’s nose twitched.  He’s here.  

Kouga smelled his way towards Kaede’s home.  Miroku was just stepping out to stretch in the sunlight.  

“Ah, Kouga.  I see you do have our friend Kagome.  Thank you for keeping her safe,” Miroku said, bowing.

“Yeah, she’s not really hurt,” Kouga replied.  

Sango and Shippou came out at the sound of Kouga’s voice.

“Kago…” Shippou leaped at Kagome.

Miroku grabbed a hold of his tail in mid-air.  “She’s resting, Shippou, leave her be.”

Sulking, the kitsune plopped onto the floor, listening to the adults.  

Kagome stirred.  “Mmm…” she snuggled into Kouga’s neck for a moment, then began to wake.

Kouga blushed, but he hadn’t done anything wrong, so Sango just watched her wake up as Miroku admired Kouga’s techniques.  Behind him, Kouga heard a slight thud.  

“So, she’s ok?” InuYasha asked, trying to keep calm.

“Yeah, she just scratched up her arms a little.  She’s just real tired.   She didn’t get much sleep,” he said.  The look on the others’ faces told him he should explain.  “I mean, she came here in the middle of the night!  She didn’t sleep much, and with the crying…”

“It’s ok, Kouga,” Kagome said.  “You can put me down,” she smiled sleepily.

Kouga gently lowered her legs so she could stand, and she stretched.  “Thanks,” she told Kouga warmly.  

InuYasha was sulking in the background.  Sango went to her friend to catch up on everything that had been going on, and Miroku stood in place, thinking of how he could use Kouga’s technique.  Shippou was going through Kagome’s pack that Kouga had also released to the floor.

Kouga simply watched Kagome interact with her friends.  And this made InuYasha even more angry.  With a growl, InuYasha bounded away towards the forest, and everyone watched him go.  

Giggling, Kagome asked if he was still angry.  Sango told her how he had been shouting just before she had arrived, and had been sulking all morning.  

Kagome shorthanded the story of the fight from last night.  “Oh, he hadn’t told us that,” Sango said, shocked.  

“Yes, but the problem is, Kouga’s wolf tribe is sick, and some are dying.  I have to help!” Kagome said spiritedly.  

Kouga smiled, and she smiled back at him.  Sango and Miroku just looked on in awe.  

“What I don’t get, is how come InuYasha was out there in the first place?  I mean, he looked like he was bedding down with us, the in the middle of the night he shows up by the well?” Shippou commented.  

Kagome’s eye began to twitch.  “I… didn’t…. think… about that…” she said weakly.

Kouga touched her arm lovingly.  Miroku gave Shippou a look.  “Now, now, Shippou, we mustn’t jump to conclusions.  Perhaps InuYasha was coming to fetch Kagome?” he said.

“I don’t know, Miroku.  He disappeared every night that Kagome was gone,” Sango said sadly.

“And he sure as hell didn’t come visit me,” Kagome said angrily.  “He was visiting that damn Kikyou…”

All four friends were looking at Kagome gravely.  “What!?” she shouted.

Later, the five of them were discussing the matter of Kouga’s wolf tribe.  Kaede and Kagome had made lunch, but InuYasha had not joined them.

Kouga listened to Kagome talk about her plans on helping the wolves, and he watched her moth move as she explained.  It put him in a trance, as if her voice were a lullabye.  She just had such a happy, calm voice.  And paired with her big brown eyes, well, the only way he could describe it to himself was… breathtaking.  Yeah, that’s it.  She’s… breathtaking.  Especially in that little pink dress…

Kouga snapped out of it just before Kagome asked him a question.  “So, is it OK, if we go see Jinenji?”

Kouga stared blankly at her.  “Oh, me?  Yeah, sure.  Who’s Jinenji?”

Kagome laughed softly.  “What happened?  Were you mesmerized or something?  Jinenji is a hanyou that grows the most extensive herb garden I know.  And he has a vast knowledge of them.  It’s not far,” she said, smiling.  

“Uh, yeah, something like that,” Kouga laughed nervously.  “Yeah, we can go.  Just point the way…”

Sango interrupted.  “Is there anything we can do, Kagome?”

“If you’d like to take care of the sick, then be my guest.  But I wouldn’t want Kirara getting sick.  And you might be better off staying with InuYasha, in case you get any leads on the next shard,” she said.  And so you can let me know if he’s still sneaking off…

Sango nodded, almost as if she’d heard Kagome’s thoughts.  

“Well, since InuYasha chose not to join us, someone is going to have to tell him.  I’ll see you guys soon,” she said, grabbing her back pack and walking towards the door.  Kouga followed.  

When they were outside, Kagome turned her face towards the sun and let it shine brightly onto her.  Kouga was again stunned by her beauty.  Suddenly, she turned to him.  She asked if he was ready, and he nodded.  Kouga swept her off her feet, and began to run in the direction Kagome had told him to.

From above Kaede’s hut, InuYasha watched them leave, and he felt both angry and relieved.  

It took less than an hour, but they arrived at Jinenji’s as he was weeding his fields.  She waved to him from a distance, smiling.  Kouga slowed to a walk and let Kagome down.  They walked together towards Jinenji, who also walked towards them.  

“Hi, Kagome,” the big hanyou said.  

“Hello, Jinenji!” she said, smiling.

Any other girl would have run screaming from this thing, Kouga thought, letting the two friends catch up.  How is it that this girl has such a big heart?

“Oh yeah… Jinenji… this is Kouga, he’s a wolf demon leader!” Kagome beamed.
Kouga nodded.

“Nice to meet you, Kouga.  Welcome to my herb gardens.  Now, Kagome, what brings you here?” Jinenji asked slowly.

Kagome went on to tell Jinenji the details of the disease and what kinds of herbs she needed.  Jinenji listened intently with caring eyes and nodded occasionally.  Kouga noticed that this demon, too, held Kagome in high accord.  Almost every male she comes in contact with wants her for one reason or the other…  Kouga remembered the first time they met, and questioned his own motives.  Did he not want her to find the sacred jewel shards?  No, not anymore.  That wasn’t important as far as Kagome was concerned.  He had many… feelings for her that he couldn’t explain.  And he wasn’t the only one.  This beast thought fondly of Kagome.  And then there was that mutt.  Unfortunately, upset or not, she still was fond of InuYasha as well.  Could he ever be loved by her?  Or was he, too, only a replacement?

Kagome stood, and they all went to the herb fields, where Jinenji picked a particular plant out, and they all went back inside his home.  

“This one is new.  It will help them keep the food down.  They must eat to get better.  And this one is to help with their breathing.  But, I’m sorry.  I have none of the herb that controls fevers in demons.  Only for humans.  Here.”  Jinenji explained.  

Kagome listened intently, making sure she didn’t get the herbs mixed up.  

“Where can I find the herb that helps fevers?” Kagome asked with pleading eyes.  

“To the south, there is a lake.  It has a waterfall fed by a river.  It is called Hinna lake.  The waterfall itself is said to be magical.   There is a pink star-shaped flower that blooms from the plant that you need.  Only in that waterfall can you find it,” Jinenji told them.

“Oh, thank you, Jinenji!” Kagome said, hugging the great beast.  His eyes softened, and he held her tight.  

Kagome packed the herbs into her pack and exited the hut with Kouga, saying their goodbyes.

“Ready?” Kouga asked.

“Mm-hmm…” Kagome nodded, and he scooped her up and they began traveling north, towards Kouga’s tribe.  They were going to attempt to start medicating the sick wolves first, and then they would go and fetch the pink star-flower plant, they had decided.