WILD LOVE
Shards of the Shikon no Tama were approaching fast. Far too fast for Kagome's liking. She had returned early from modern Tokyo to learn that her allies - InuYasha, Kirara, Miroku, Sango, and Shippou - had departed several days ago with information regarding a youkai in control of a jewel shard and, therefore, was now forced to confront this potential threat alone.

Just her luck.

For once, InuYasha had been nice and not fetched her to come back to Sengoku Jidai upon hearing a shard rumor and, thinking she would be absent a week for school, had chosen to search without her. The small kindness had led to her present predicament.

Thanks a lot, InuYasha.

Retrieving her bow and arrow, she pointed in the advancing shards' direction and waited. Her incessant trembling caused the weapon to quaver. Get a grip, she reprimanded herself. She squinted, straining to see in the distance, seeking the source of her unease. Maybe she did not have a reason to be alarmed. It was not as if every creature that acquired a shard was evil... only 99.9% of them were evil.

"Talk about an optimistic outlook," she muttered.

Her effort to locate the unknown entity was to no avail; all she saw were densely cluttered trees. Still, the camouflaged serenity of InuYasha's Forest did not deceive her. She knew something was out there - somewhere. The question was: where?

Kagome was not given an opportunity to contemplate further. Almost instantly, the answer stood directly in front of her. Startled, she accidentally released the arrow. Fortunately, heightened speed deflected it. The bow was also jerked from her grasp. After the disarmament, Kouga, leader of the wolf tribe, proceeded to collapse at her feet.

"Kouga-kun," she anxiously whispered and instinctively crouched to offer assistance.

He cracked a lid, the other swollen shut, and held aloft a bloody hand, signaling her to stay away. "Don't touch me, Kagome. My scent. I can't have you marked by my scent."

Confusion briefly marred her countenance. Spotting him grimace from the wounds, she opted to ignore the peculiar request. She gently reached and inspected his injures.

Attempting to raise his spirits while performing the examination, she jested, "Don't be silly. You don't smell that bad."

Kouga was beyond being humored. "My scent's on you. Inukkoro. Get Inukkoro."

"InuYasha's not here. He's hunting shards. Please, tell me what happened."

"Ch'kushou," he emitted a stream of colorful curses. "Why do I let him watch you? He's never there when you're in trouble. The baka abandons you to deal with danger on your own."

Her protestation that InuYasha was an admirable protector fell on deaf ears. Instead, Kouga gathered the remnants of his strength and rose from his resting position on the ground. Unsteadily standing, he promised, "I'll protect you, Kagome."

The promise would have been calming if it did not appear he was on the brink of toppling over.

Clueless to the events transpiring around her, she demanded, "Protect me from what?"

Kouga dourly replied, "My pack."

That was unforeseen. Mind-boggling, in fact. His pack?

Sensing her bewilderment, he elaborated, "They've been... possessed. I'm not sure how else to describe it. One minute they were fine, then they were pummeling me. I fought but, not wanting to seriously harm them, had no choice except to run. There wasn't an alternative."

The wisdom of his act received a nod of approval. When met with conflict, sometimes the wisest recourse was retreat. Live to fight another day.

"Everyone has turned against you? Even Ginta-san and Hakkaku-san?"

"Hai." The brusque confirmation, clenching of his jaw and moistening of his remaining good eye were evidence of his upset. "I�d hoped Inukkoro might prove useful for a change. He'd stall them until I recuperated and developed a rescue plan. Should have known he would be as useless as always."

The tirade was an expression of his frustration. Kagome realized that. She tenderly caressed the side of his battered face. A simple comfort.

What were they going to do?

Kouga did not take advantage of her compassion for his plight, there were more important matters to attend besides laying claim to Kagome. Matters such as keeping her alive. "We have to leave. There's been enough delay. Smelling of me, you can't be left behind. It's too risky."

She yearned to scream for InuYasha, yet knew that to be futile. He would be of no aid. Not on this occasion. "Where do we go? Is there anywhere they can't track?"

A howl echoed through the woods. Numerous howls soon participated. Each was a death call.

Terrified, Kagome pressed herself to Kouga. He utilized their close proximity to capture her quiver and toss it aside, along with the previously discarded bow and arrow. "You won't need those where we're going. The water would ruin them.

"Water-?"

Mid-sentence, he hefted her into his arms. She objected, "You're hurt. Let me travel on my own. I can be quick."

"Iie. We'll be quicker if I carry you."

With little time to spare, the duo sped off.

Everything was a blur as they made their getaway. Kagome was oblivious to their progress due to the dizzying gait. Kouga, to diminish her evident distress, gave a weary smile. "We're going to be okay. I have an idea."

Halting at a river, he asked, "Can you swim?"

They were going to swim their way to freedom. It would be untraceable.

She had a feeling that the only options were sink or swim. Mercifully, she was a proficient swimmer. Could Kouga though? He was not up to par after all. If he lost the energy to continue, she doubted she would be able to support him in the water. She was not that strong.

"Kouga-"

Clutching her shoulders, he urged her to meet his gaze. He entreated, "Trust me."

Trust him. Trust that he was a survivor. A measly river would not defeat him. His pride would not allow that. To fall in combat was the fate he desired. To exit this plane of existence a warrior. There would be no settling for less.

He apprehended that Kagome understood at the removal of her shoes and socks. Completing the task, she inquired, "On three?"

Kouga's agreement was to lace his blood-stained fingers with hers, a gesture of reassurance, and commence counting, "One." She joined in, "Two." They jumped at, "Threeeeee."

Their bodies cut into the water with a resounding splash. Using her legs for momentum, Kagome propelled herself the surface and sought her friend. Her relief was palpable when he emerged. Paddling nearer, she double-checked, "Ready to do this?"

"Hai."

The first mile was tolerable. The second was troublesome. The third took its toll. By the fourth, she was beginning to numb. Not surprising, Kouga was staying apace. His obstinacy kept him moving.

Gasping for breath and tired of being in the dark, Kagome finally paused and prompted, "How much farther?"

"Not much. There's a den just ahead."

She hesitated, bobbing with the current. "Won't the pack anticipate you going there? To your den?"

"It isn't mine," he corrected.

"A different wolf tribe? I wasn't aware of any others."

"Various tribes are scattered throughout the countryside. They usually stick to their own territory. This tribe's domain borders mine."

"They'll help us?"

"Help us or try to kill us. Take your pick."

"Kill us?!" She was horrified at the prospect. Were they merely evading one menace to encounter another?

"I'm a disperser," Kouga advised.

The explanation earned silence. A perplexed silence.

He frowned at her blank state and went on to explain, "I was a member of their tribe and dispersed. I decided to establish my own pack and find a mate. They may try to kill us because we'll be trespassing."

[FYI: Disperser is the actual term used to describe a wolf that leaves a pack to find a mate and start its own pack.]

She noticed how he emphasized 'try'. Oh, but to have his confidence. "So, what do we do if they attack?"

"Follow my lead and they probably won't. Whatever I do, you imitate."

Her trepidation intensified.

"Kagome, you know I wouldn't intentionally put you into a situation that I couldn�t handle."

She did. Problem was, Kouga was positive he could handle anything. Him versus the world.

"Come on," he gruffly commanded. "We can't linger anymore."

It was not long before they got to their destination. The bedraggled pair trudged out of the water and exhaustively sprawled on an embankment. In her fatigue, Kagome felt no self-consciousness relaxing alongside Kouga.

"How are you?" She prodded. "Don't sugar-coat it. The truth."

"Improving," he said. "You forget that I'm not a hanyou. I'm not Inukkoro. I'm a youkai and a swifter healer."

Kagome did not welcome the derogatory tone used when speaking of InuYasha. Kouga did not perceive her irritation, his attention suddenly diverted. In a flash, he had surged to his feet and was battle prone.

"What is it? What's amiss?"

"Quiet," he instructed, intently surveying their surroundings.

An older man, similarly dressed and uncannily resembling Kouga, emerged from seemingly nowhere and roared, "You dare much to enter my lands, disperser!"

If possible, Kouga tensed even more than he already was. He greeted the newcomer with a single, clipped word, "Chichi-ue."

Kagome's head swiveled, gaping between the stranger and Kouga. She had obviously misheard. Chichi-ue? That had to be a mistake.

"Kouga-" she began, only to be interrupted by him for a second time that day. He waved for her to hush as additional wolf youkai arrived behind his chichi-ue.

The tribesmen then spanned, fencing them in on all sides excluding an opening to the river at their rear. At the inhospitable glances being thrown their way, she timidly stepped back and prepared to dive into the water. If necessary, they could use it as an escape route again.

In contrast to her withdraw, Kouga boldly stepped forward. He considered their behavior a challenge and refused to be intimidated.

We're going to die. We're going to die. We're going to die. We're going to die.

Someone queried, "Shall we take them prisoner, Mamorou-tousan?"

We're going to... The inquiry made Kagome's internal ranting halt. Mamorou-tousan? Kouga had a kyodai here too? This was becoming a veritable family reunion.

"Iie, Kisho," Mamorou responded, not letting his focus waver from Kouga's defiantly proud demeanor. They were having a stare-off, mutely warring for dominance. During the impalpable struggle, both veiled the turbulent emotions that were, no doubt, underlying this impromptu meeting with the guise of cold indifference.

Kagome idly wondered if they really thought their impassive comport was fooling anyone. Tension was so thick it could be cut with a knife.

Mamorou finally remarked, "You look like kuso."

Giving a dismissive shrug of the shoulders, Kouga's notorious, confident smirk appeared. Indicating the assemblage, he taunted, "I still look twice as good as any of these ugly yaros at their best."

Wanting to defend him, Kagome supplemented, "Kouga-kun fought over a dozen youkai alone. I doubt any of you would have fared as well."

She comprehended that she should not have spoken almost immediately. In an instant, one of the larger members of the wolf tribe was in front of her with his meaty paw locked around her throat. He roughly squeezed and declared, "Food does not speak."

Kouga's lackadaisical attitude disappeared, replaced by a roar of outrage at her being manhandled. In a blur of movements, he came to the rescue by snaring a sword from her captor's sheath and, as brutal punishment for the slight to her person, arced the weapon. It came into contact with a wrist.

Her cry of fear and shock was succeeded by the mutilated youkai's cry of loss and pain. Fixated on the severed hand and writhing individual before her, she was frozen. She had not believed Kouga was capable of such a ruthless deed.

Kami, what had she gotten into?

Bracing himself for a brawl, Kouga insolently lifted his head and harshly exclaimed, "The next ahou who looks at my woman wrong will suffer worse. Am I clear?"

His possessiveness brought Kagome to the present. She was on the verge of denying her status as "his woman" when common sense prevailed. Being "his" might just get her out of this mess unscathed. Hrm, it would either keep her unscathed or get her killed, depending upon the others' reaction to the fallen youkai.

The fallen youkai.

Overcoming her stupor, she started to assist him. Poor guy.

Recognizing her kindhearted intentions, Kouga snapped, "Iie, woman. He doesn't deserve your sympathy. Can you fathom what he would have done to you had I not intervened?"

"But, Kouga-kun-"

"Don't argue with me on this."

Seeing that he would not consent, she asked the others, "Are any of you going to do something?!"

Everyone was motionless. Whether it was from astonishment of Kouga's brutality or his unparalleled speed, she was unsure.

Mamorou was the first to recover, though he paid no heed to the youkai Kagome was so concerned for. He simply commented, "By right, I could have both of you slaughtered for intruding here."

Kouga's bravado was in full force. "If it makes you feel better to think you can overpower me, chichi-ue, I will not dispute you. However, I discourage you from attempting to do so, else I might shatter that fanciful dream."

Was that a hint of pride in Mamorou's eyes?

Kagome was distracted from her ruminating when Kisho bit out, "He's as arrogant as ever. Otousan, allow me to put him in his proper place."

Observng Mamorou, she was disturbed that he was actually pondering the appeal. Did he truly plan to have the siblings fight one another? How� awful. Can anyone say "family counseling"?

After careful deliberation, sanction was given. "Hai. If the disperser survives sparring with you, he and his ningen will be granted sanctuary until he has mended. If he perishes, his ningen will be an excellent victory feast."

That triggered a blanch from Kagome. To so callously discuss the demise of an obocchan and murder of a ningen, especially when the ningen was HER.

And so, with Mamorou's decree, Kagome and Kouga found themselves being escorted from the river. The handless youkai, she ascertained to be named Jiro, was carted at their stern. Transporting him slowed the procession and it was late when they came to the tribe's den.

The tribe's den. This is where the m�l�e would occur for all to bear witness. Rather than Kouga versus the world, it would be Kouga versus Kisho. She did not know which was more bothersome to her.

Firelight illuminated the den area and she saw a number of figures milling about. In all likelihood, they were awaiting the return of Mamorou and his followers. The flickering flames abetted her somewhat but, bereft of superior youkai vision, she was unable to discern their features past identifying that the majority were women and children.

Peering toward Kouga, she was going to launch her opposition to the upcoming altercation when he dragged her nearer. For her ears only, he murmured, "I have to do this."

Not as subtle, she said loud enough for the neighboring youkai to hear, "He's your kyodai! You can't!"

A tick formed on Kouga's otherwise set face and she realized she had made a grave error. Lowering her voice, she barreled on anyway, "You're already injured and he's family. Please, don't do this. I'm begging you."

"He's my enemy," was the curt rejoinder.

"He's your kyodai," she repeated, convinced that was argument aplenty. How could he cast his kyodai in the role of enemy?

Kouga countered, "Does that stop Inukkoro and Sesshoumaru from being enemies?"

The debate was broken by a female youkai. "You disgrace him with your ignorance of our customs, ningen. The wolf tribe thrives on 'survival of the fittest'. He would be shamed to refuse Kisho's challenge." She gave a disdainful glare. "He is shamed by your lack of faith in his triumph."

"W-w-who are you?" Kagome stuttered at the interference.

"Hisa, mate to Mamorou."

Mate to Mamorou. That meant she was Kouga's� oh, oh, oh.

Recalling her manners, Kagome bowed, "It's an honor to meet you, Hisa-sama."

"Okaasan," Kouga visibly brightened, "I've missed you."

"As I you," she acknowledged and the aloofness dissipated. They embraced.

"Forgive my companion, okaasan. Her journey here was spontaneous and she didn't have time to learn the wolf tribe's ways. Offense wasn't intended. She's concerned for my welfare. It's to be expected of my future ma-"

"A Shikon shard," Kagome abruptly informed. "It's coming from the east."

East. Where InuYasha's Forest lay. Where they had worked so hard to flee.

Inhaling sharply, Kouga detected a myriad of known scents and growled, "My pack."

"How did they discover us?"

"I guess Ginta and Hakkaku are smarter than I gave them credit for."

Terrific. Now, instead of one wolf tribe plotting to kill them� they had to contend with two.

InuYasha, where are you?

TO BE CONTINUED
TERMS TO KNOW:
Ahou: Moron.
Baka: Idiot, stupid, jerk.
Chichi-ue: More polite and archaic form of otousan or father. Usually used to refer to your own parent.
Ch'kushou: Goddammit.
Hai: Yes.
Hanyou: Half-demon.
Iie: No.
Inukkoro: Dog-turd.
Kami: God.
-kun: The same as -san but less formal. Used to address people, almost always boys, at one's own level.
Kuso: Shit.
Kyodai: Brother.
Ningen: Human.
Obocchan: Son (somebody else's).
Okaasan: Mother.
Otousan: Father.
-sama: Denotes respect to a person of aa higher social class, such as royalty.
-san: English equivalent of Mr./Mrs./Ms.. To be used for people you do not know very well or are not very close to.
Sengoku Jidai: A period of constant civil wars in 15-16th century Japan.
Shikon no Tama: Jewel of Four Souls. It is a powerful, sacred jewel that contains the souls of an ancient warrior, Midoriko, and many demons. To possess even a fragment of the jewel will dramatically increase its owner's strength.
-tousan: Father.
Yaros: Bastards.
Youkai: Demon.
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