Lunar Peril

*Disclaimer - The Inuyasha characters are the intellectual property of Rumiko Takahashi.*

Kouga's Gift


Kouga bounds along the rocky path, beaming with pleasure at the precious cargo he carries. Kagome groans at him, wincing at the pain in her swollen ankle.

“Kouga, I think it would be better if you took me to Kaede’s village. We at least need to find Inuyasha… he’ll be worried…”

“Are you still thinking about that mangy mutt? Well, forget about him. He’s an incompetent fool. I’ll protect you from now on. Besides, our den is nearby. You can rest and I’ll tend to your injury there.”

Kagome sighs. There was no use in trying to reason with Kouga about Inuyasha any more than she could reason with Inuyasha over Kouga. They hated each other, and always would. Besides, she had to stay on his good side, or risk being devoured.

Soon they join the wolf pack in their mountain lair. The wolves cheer the return of their leader, greeting him with sniffs, whimpers, news, gifts, and other small ceremonies common to their kind. They greet Kagome in the same fashion, considering her to be their alpha female. Kouga greets them gruffly, then orders them to stand aside as he carries Kagome to his cave and lays her on the mass of hay he used as a bed. He snarls at his underlings, sending them away, giving him privacy with his mate.

Once they are alone, Kouga pulls a little wooden box out of the hay. He dusts it off and opens it, taking out a blue stone on a long silver chain.

“This is for you, Kagome.”

Kagome blushes, mortified that he was now giving her gifts. “Kouga, I don’t…”

“I won’t take no for an answer. Consider this my engagement gift to you.” He smiles. “You’ll appreciate it once you see it work. This is a moon stone. Legend has it that this little gem gives humans youkai powers, including healing powers. I doubt it’s very strong right now, since this is the day before the new moon, and its full powers comes from the full moon, but it should be enough to encourage fast healing. Go ahead, put it on. It should make your ankle feel better in no time.”

“Huh?” Kagome takes the chain and reluctantly puts it around her neck. At first, she doesn’t notice any change, but after a few moments she feels that her ankle is hurting a little less than before. In a few more minutes, the swelling goes down and she finds she can put weight on her foot. “That’s… amazing!”

Kouga smiles at her. “I knew you’d like it.” He wraps his arms around her waist and kisses her neck. “It looks nice on you.”

Kagome tenses up. “Kouga… I’m… REALLY not ready for this…” She wracks her brain for a way to escape him without hurting his feelings. Unfortunately, nothing brilliant comes to mind. Mentioning Inuyasha was pointless. Slapping him was pointless. She’d done that before and it hardly phased him. Sure he was shocked that she dared to strike him, but it seemed to intrigue him more than repel him. She closes her eyes and hopes he’ll stop on his own.

Kouga sniffs her hair. “You’re a virgin, aren’t you?” He presses his nose into the base of her neck. “Don’t worry… I won’t ravage you just yet. I just want to enjoy you for a while.” He runs his tongue along her neck up to her earlobe, then gently nibbles her ear.

Kagome remains tense, wondering what Inuyasha would think if he suddenly came to rescue her. Where was he, anyway?

Kouga’s musky scent seemed to grow stronger, and strangely, more alluring. He smelled of a mixture of earth, grass, clover, flowers, musk, and other things. Kagome marveled at how many unique odors she could pick out. His scent filled her nostrils, reminding her somewhat of Inuyasha, but the smell seemed wilder, more familiar, more comforting… somehow. She begins to relax at his touch, now lazily counting the odors she can pick out. The hay, her own clothing, the other wolves, all had unique scents. She could identify who was nearby just by inhaling the air… how strange… Kouga continues to hold her close, now kissing her neck and sliding his hands up to her chest. Kagome allows him to continue, now drunk with his scent. She slides her hands over his, guiding them over her breasts, rubbing her body against his.

“Mmmm… Kagome…” Kouga growls her name with pleasure. “Kagome… you smell different now.” Kouga’s voice has a hint of concern. He looks down at Kagome’s hands, and sees claws where her once delicate fingernails used to be. “You’re changing. Maybe you should take the necklace off now. I didn’t think it would change you that way…”

Kagome growls at him seductively. “But Kouga-kun, you were right… I like it. I feel powerful.” She turns around and kisses him. “Maybe… more powerful than you.” She grins at him, showing a pair of pearly white fangs.

Kouga also notices that her ears have grown longer and pointed, like his. “Kagome?” Now it’s his turn to feel uncomfortable.

“Mmmm… Kouga.” She snarls and licks his neck, pushing him down onto the bedding. She pins his shoulders down with her clawed hands and her eyes flash red in the now dark cave. “If I devour your heart, I’ll have your power as well…” Kouga closes his eyes for a moment, and when he opens them again, is greeted by an enormous female wolf growling at him.

“Kagome?”

She holds her tail erect and snaps at him, growling and snarling.

“Kagome… do you know who I am?” Kouga is frightened. He never wanted something like this to happen. Sure, it would be nice for Kagome to be a wolf youkai, but not a monster! Kagome backs away, her eyes flashing in the darkness of the cave. “Kagome, let me take off the necklace. You don’t want to stay that way, do you?” She snarls at him, snapping and biting wildly. She takes a bite out of his leg and runs out the entrance, grabbing a smaller youkai by the scruff of the neck and throwing him out of her way. “Damn.” She leaps into the air, clearing a number of wolves, and gallops down the hillside, headed for the forest. “Kagome, come back!” Kouga runs after her, but is slowed down considerably by his wound.