Cats and Dogs
Cheetahs, Wolves, Kids and One Mean Cliffhanger!
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Cats and Dogs
Kouga
blitzed through the familiar terrain like a bat out of hell. He couldn’t
believe that Kagome was actually within his grasp. It almost didn’t seem real.
Always, Inuyasha had insisted that Kagome stay within his sight, and
specifically out of Kouga’s. Luckily though, Riquo understood what Kouga’s
motive was for taking Kagome to his den. Kouga snickered as the water from the
river sprayed across his face from his fast pace. I’m going to have to thank her for this.
Kouga skidded around a bend but was suddenly forced to stop,
as the entire black wolf clan stood before him. Kouga sighed and mentally
groaned, cursing himself for not paying attention. His clan and the black wolf
weren’t necessarily enemies…but their leader isn’t on the best terms with
Kouga, since his mate and the mate of all his comrades desire Kouga. Their
leader, Baroux, stalked towards Kouga with a frown on his hard features.
“Kouga! Word amongst the clans
tells me you still have refused to take a mate of your clan or any other clan.
Why is this?” he snickered, “or is it not women that please you?”
Laughter broke out among the clan and Kouga scowled.
“When I mate is never your concern, Baroux. You’d be wise to
stay out of my business and mind your own,” he growled.
Baroux threw his head back and howled in laughter. The rest
of his clan joined as Kouga stood there growling and narrowing his eyes. Baroux
sauntered up to Kouga, still chuckling. Suddenly a breeze came through and
Baroux stopped in his tracks, eyes wide. He sniffed the air a moment and stared
at Kouga. Kouga snickered at the dumbfound leader.
“Ha! Now I know why the great leader Kouga hasn’t taken a
mate!” he pointed accusingly at Kouga, “you stink of human. It’s all over you
like a….like a….”
Kouga snorted, “Like your mate?”
Baroux’s clan gasped as he paled. This time, Kouga sauntered
up to him and chuckled. Then he leaned close and whispered.
“Who I mate with will never be your business. Stay out of it
before I make you regret ever crossing my path. Now get out of my sight!”
Baroux snorted, “Who are you to order us arou—“
Unfortunately he never got to finish that sentence. Kouga
threw his head back and roared, as he began to spin himself into his trademark
twister. Baroux’s clan clung to rocks around them as Kouga weaved in and out of
them. When the wind settled down around Baroux and his clan, Kouga was no where
to be seen.
~*~*~
Kouga burst through the den with herbs and bandages in hand.
His clan regarded him as the usual large gust of wind and went back to what
they were doing. Hakkaku and Ginta came forward to help relieve Kouga of some
of the herbs and bandages.
Ginta motioned towards where Kagome lay, “She hasn’t moved
since you brought her here, Kouga. Maybe her wounds are serious.”
“No,” Kouga shook his head, “Inuyasha used a technique on
her that put her to sleep. I don’t know how long she’ll be out but
Hakkaku and Ginta exchanged a confused glance when Hakkaku
finally realized.
“K-Kouga! You called the half-demon
by name!” he stuttered.
Kouga rolled his eyes, “Inuyasha and I have come to terms
with one another. Now, leave! I need to tend to her injuries.”
Hakkaku and Ginta nodded and left Kouga’s pallet, closing
the curtain that separated Kouga’s pallet from the rest of the den. Kouga
turned towards Kouga and motioned for the wolves surrounding her to leave as
well. When the warmth of the wolves moved away from Kagome, a frown creased her
delicate features and she reached out to be encompassed in that warmth again.
Kouga moved forward and gathered her in his arms. Warm
again, Kagome stopped moving and drifted back into her deep slumber.
Kouga positioned her onto her back and looked her over. Kagome's school uniform
was in pieces, barely covering the essentials. The bandages Kaede had
administered to her wounds had already soaked through with blood.
Kouga swallowed the lump in his throat and tore off the
scraps of clothing that remained on her body. He leaned back and took in a
shaky breath. Even with blood covering her battered body, she still managed to
be as beautiful as ever. He reached for the bucket and
got a wash cloth and started to gently wash away the dried blood from her body.
Kagome began to shiver and Kouga wrapped her in his arms again and continued to
wash her body.
When he’d managed to get most of the blood off of her, he
applied a substance that was made from a medicinal herb. Reeling back from the
stench, Kouga quickly but gently applied the pasty herb. Kagome winced in her
sleep and Kouga jolted to a stop. He looked around in panic, if she woke up
now, hell would definitely break loose.
Kouga whistled and an ebony colored wolf pushed open the
curtain. She walked up to him and sat next to him, nuzzling his shoulder.
“Find some skins that will fit her and be quick!” he
whispered.
The wolf yipped quietly and hastily left, her tail swishing
past the curtain. Kouga continued applying the herb slowly so as not to hurt
her. When he was finished with that, he started wrapping her wounds in
bandages. No sooner had he wrapped the last wound, the ebony wolf trotted
through the curtain with a mouthful of pelts.
Kouga smiled and coddled the wolf, scratching behind her
ears and petting her fur. When he took the pelts from her mouth, the wolf
turned to leave.
“Psst, wait!” she turned around,
“you’ll stay with me, alright?”
She barked happily and walked over to lie next to him. He
waited in anticipation as Kagome started to wake up. Kagome’s breathing became
uneven as she squirmed in his arms, reaching her arms back and stretching. She
yawned and finally cracked open her eyes, taking in her surroundings. When her eyes
landed on Kouga, she jolted up.
“Kouga! Are you alright? How are
your—“
She stopped suddenly when the pain of her wounds hit her
like a freight train. She collapsed back into Kouga’s arms as he shushed her.
“I am fine my love, you on the other hand are not. You need
to let yourself heal.”
Kagome nodded and looked at her bandages.
“Did you rewrap these yourself?”
Kouga nodded.
“Where did you get the bandages and,” she
sniffed at one of the bandages and gagged, “the herbs?”
“We are allies to the herb half-demon, Jinenji.
You know of him do you not?”
Kagome nodded and looked around again.
“Kouga, why did you bring me to your den?”
Kouga sighed, “You will know soon enough, Kagome. But now is
not the time to discuss it. Rest.”
Kagome scowled, “Kouga, I have been resting ever since
Inuyasha used that damn technique on me! I’m not resting anymore.”
Kouga quirked an eyebrow, “How do you know he did that to
you?”
“I’ve been traveling with him for a couple of years now Kouga,
I can tell by the mark on my shoulder when he does that to me.”
He nodded and then wrapped her up in his arms, holding her
close. She slid her arms around his back and hugged him back.
She leaned her head against his chest and sighed, “I’m so
glad to see that re are alright.”
Kouga chuckled, “Kagome I’m hurt. You actually doubted my
ability to heal?”
She laughed, “Ooh, I would never do such a thing.”
He tilted her chin up towards him and leaned down, gently
kissing heps. ps. Kagome sighed and leaned into the kiss wrapping her arms
around his neck and scooting closer to him…even though she was in his lap. He
broke the kiss and held a finger to her lips.
“Not now,” he whispered, “I need to take you somewhere.”
“Where?”
He didn’t answer her but removed her from his lap and
stood. He turned towards the wolf that
had accompanied him and patted her on the head.
“Kagome, this is Ebony. She’ll be helping you with anything
you might need while you’re here.”
Ebony walked over to Kagome and lied down, resting her head
in Kagome's lap. Kagome smiled and pet the she-wolf’s dark fur.
“She’s from another clan isn’t she? Her fur differs from
that of the wolves in your clan.”
Kouga grinned, “You’re catching on quicker than I thought
Kagome.”
She glared at him and chuckled, “Well I have been around
your clan for a long time, I think I should know a
little bit about wolf clans by now!”
Kouga laughed, “She’s from the black wolf clan. She cannot
produce offspring so they tried to beat her to death. Riquo saved her and
brought her here, nursing her back to health.”
Ebony’s ears perked up at the sound of Riquo’s name and she
lifted her head, barking happily.
Kagome laughed, “That Riquo, always the hero.”
Kouga came over and knelt down, patting Ebony’s head. She
sighed and laid her head back down, realizing Riquo wasn’t there.
“Kagome, you have known Riquo long, right?”
“Oh yea! I’ve known her since I was
five years old. We grew up together until she moved here. I really missed her
and I’m so glad she’s back.”
“What was she like back when you two were growing up in your
time?”
Kagome leaned back and thought for a moment, “Well, same as
she is now I guess. She was always incredibly strong: physically, mentally and
emotionally. She had a unique outlook on life and she was always breaking rules
she didn’t agree to,” Kagome laughed, “and those were usually the bogus rules
that no one liked anyway, but she was the only one with the courage to stand up
and say she didn’t like something.”
Kouga smiled, reminiscing silently, “Anything else?”
Kagome thought back again, “Yea, that girl is crazy. She
always had a smile on her face even when times were tough and she always did
something wild to make everyone laugh. She’s crazy.”
Kouga laughed. Kagome looked up at him and smiled curiously.
“Why do you ask?”
Kouga shrugged, “I wanted to know what her childhood was
like before I took her into my care.”
“She seems very fond of you Kouga. Almost
like you were family to her or something.”
“Yea,” Kouga stood again and stretched, “come
on. I want to get there beforrk.”rk.”
“Where?”
Kouga smiled, “I told you love, it’s a surprise.”
Kagome looked at the black wolf resting in her lap, “Is
Ebony coming?”
“Unfortunately no. I’m sending her
off to find Riquo and relay a message insuring your safety.”
~*~*~
Inuyasha and Riquo sat outside the
hut as the sun started to descend from the sky. Kilala was playing with some of
the cheetahs in her larger form anippoippo would play on her back with them.
Riquo smiled as she watched one of the female cheetahs chase around Shippo.
Inuyasha snorted and turned away.
“He’s just gona get scared any
minute now and come crying.”
Riquo punched his arm playfully, “Oh come on Inuyasha,
and he knows they won’t hurt him.”
She caught the scent of children and looked towards a hut in
the distance. Behind it, several children were watching Shippo and Kilala play
with the cats. Riquo smiled and stood, walking over to them, bringing one of
the cheetahs with her. When she got close the children concealed themselves
behind the hut.
“Don’t be scared little ones. Come out and play, I promise
they won’t harm you.”
They peeked out again, looking at her and the cheetah at her
side. Then, one little girl slowly came out and walked towards Riquo. Her
friends behind the hut started yelling for her to come back.
“Simaya no!
You’ll get eaten!”
“Come back here!”
Simaya looked back at her friends
and then at Riquo. She took another step forward when Riquo knelt down.
She took another step and the cheetah took a step towards
her. Simaya froze, and then started walking again, a
little bit more than before. She reached Riquo and the cheetah with her and
stopped in front of her.
Riquo held out her hand and Simaya
took it.
“Do you want to pet her Simaya?”
Simaya looked back and forth
between Riquo and the curious cheetah next to her. She nodded and Riquo slowly
led her hand towards her. The cheetah bent her head and Simaya
pet her slowly. Riquo let go and Simaya kept petting
the large cat. Slowly a smile crept up her face and she turned towards her
friends behind the hut.
“Come you guys! These cats are
friendly!”
Slowly but surely her friends came out as well and greeted
the cheetah Simaya had been petting.
Riquo stood, “Come on, go and play with everyone else.”
She walked back and sat down next to Inuyasha as the
children began playing with all the cheetahs, Kilala, and Shippo. Inuyasha
looked at her and then back at the sight before them.
“Why’d you do that?”
Riquo looked up at him and smiled, leaning against his neck
and putting her arms around him.
“Because this is probably a once in a
lifetime opportunity for them.”
They sat together in silence watching the children play. The
sun was still setting and crickets and frogs could be heard. Fireflies soon
could be seen amongst the children, and they, along with Kilala and the
cheetahs, began chasing after them. Riquo laughed as Shippo convinced Kilala to
levitate a little so he could catch some for the children.
But Riquo again caught another scent, and this time it was
wolf. She stood and sniffed the air again in all directions. Inuyasha stood
next to her, hand on the hilt of tetusaiga. Riquo put her hand on his and shook
her head.
“I know this wolf, Inuyasha. Relax.”
Ten minutes later, Ebony burst through the clearing towards
Riquo. She tackled her to the ground, licking her face and barking happily. One
of the cheetahs came forward growling, but a flick of Riquo’s hand dismissed
her and calmed the scene down. Riquo laughed and sat up petting the dark wolf.
She tugged down Inuyasha to sit next to her and told him about her connection
to Ebony.
“So why is she here? Why would Kouga send her here?”
Before Riquo could say anything, Ebony started barking and
yipping. She did this for about five minutes while Riquo listened intently.
When she was done Riquo frowned slightly and patted the tired wolf on the head.
”She said that Kouga wanted to let us know that Kagome was healthy and safe. He
took her to another cave—“
“Why?” Inuyasha growled.
Riquo gave him a dry look, “To mate.”
Before Inuyasha could throw a royal fit, Riquo continued
translating the message.
“She also said the black wolf clan was following her. But I
can't sense them anywhere—“
Suddenly the trees surrounding them shook. The wind picked
up and the cheetahs, along with Kilala growled, sensing a presence. Miroku and
Sango emerged from the hut, both ready for battle.
growled to the cheetahs with them, telling them to take the children away from
here.
Ebony growled at Riquo’s side as Baroux revealed
tightened his grip on his staff and Sango rested a hand on Hiraikotsu and
Kilala.
Baroux slowly walked forward confidently. Stopping a few
feet away from Riquo with his clan he stared her down.
“So Riquo, the cat amongst the wolves, we meet again.”
Riquo roared, eyes flashing red, “What do you want Baroux?”
He grinned, baring all of heetheeth, “We want our female
back.”
Riquo snarled, “Ebony is useless to you! You wanted her dead
so why would you want her back!”
Baroux threw his head back and laughed, “My dear, dear
Riquo, I wasn’t talking about Ebony.”
Confusion spread amongst Riquo and the others. Inuyasha for
some reason knew what Baroux was going to say next and put his arm around
Riquo’s waist.
Baroux narrowed his eyes at Riquo, “I’m referring to you.”
~*~*~
After
running for what seemed like a whopping four minutes, Kouga let Kagome down at
the entrance of a dark and eerie cave. Kagome took a step back against Kouga as
she stared down the entrance of the cave.
Kouga put an arm around her, “Don’t be afraid.”
Kagome laughed half-heartedly, “R-right.”
Kouga grabbed her hand and led her through the cave. Kagome
couldn’t see a thing, so she trusted Kouga’s sight and let him lead her to
wherever they were going. She felt herself taking several turns and then felt
the wall of the cave, wet and cold. She squeezed Kouga’s hand.
“Kouga how big is this cave?”
“It goes seven miles into the mountain.”
He chuckled when he heard Kagome mutter, “Holy crap.”
After several more twists and turns and a few curses from
Kagome hitting her funny bone, they finally arrived to a room that was lit by a
fire. On the side there was a pallet of furs and in another corner there was a
supply of food and water. By the looks of it, it seemed like Kouga wanted to
live here.
“Kouga, do you want to live here?”
Kouga laughed shortly, “No Ke, te, this is a temporary
residence.”
“What for?”
Kouga sighed, walking forward to her and hugging her
tightly. Then he grasped her hands in both of his and looked her straight in
the eye.
“Kagome, you know that I have been in love with you for a
long time now right?”
“Yes Kouga, and I love you too.”
Kouga smiled, “But my love for you will never feel whole
without you fully.”
“What do you mean Kouga?”
“Kagome?”
“Yes, Kouga?”
“Will you be my mate?”
A/N: EVIL
CLIFFHANGER!!!!!!! WOW! I’m actually mad at myself for that one! I hope you
guys like this chapter…it was nice and long! I promise I will right another
chapter before I go back to school. Have a Happy New Year!!