Hunted By The Wolf

Hunted by the Wolf

Chapter 13: Burning

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Ugh, sorry for the wait.
Been coping with some shit,
but writing makes me feel
better so here goes.

You guys are too nice!
Somebody complain about
something, will ya!?
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The first of the sun's rays were stretching tendrils of light
over the horizon line. Mountain range full of purple
and orange light was truly beautiful to behold in the otherwise dark
clearing. I was aiming for specific tree branches, trying to sever
them as cleanly as possible. I just couldn't sleep last night, not
after what had passed between myself and Kouga.


He'd been so very sweet. After everything, this was not something I ever expected
to be feeling, not for him anyway. Hiraikotsu returned, the clean, low sound of the
boomerang slicing through the air pleased me. I was trying to train my once
injured arm to throw just as well as the right one, now that I'd come to the
realization that I could someday lose that arm or its' throwing ability.

When I stretched it out the wrong way, the left arm ached at the shoulder. Damn
devil bugs might've caused permanent damage to ligament or muscle, but
I hoped that with time it would completely heal. I threw once more, smirking
in satisfaction as the intended branch fell to the ground and the weapon returned once
more. The throwing was much easier than the reception of the giant thing, but I would
get it down. With practice I was sure of it.


Sound of crushed leaves behind me forced me to turn my head. The sun was just
tipping over the mountain range, allowing beautiful orange light to spill onto the field
I'd crept to. The camp was not far, maybe only a couple of yards through the trees,
and I hoped that I hadn't woken anyone prematurely with my practicing. Now that I thought
about it, the sound of crashing tree branches would wake up one with youkai hearing,
no matter how far away said tree was from the camp.


The light hit him gently in the front, accentuating the contours on his legs and
arms. My breath caught, and I held off on throwing hiraikotsu just for a second.
His hair moved as he stalked towards me, the light on his face warming that
flawless skin. I smiled softly, and tore my gaze back to the task at hand.
Couldn't let him distract me.

I flung the weapon as hard as I could, aiming for a tree even further. 'Don't show off,
Sango...' I wasn't. Well, a little bit..maybe...


I watched as the thing cut through the top of a small cherry tree, sending a shower
of red to the ground. Surprise jolted through me, however, as two strong arms
snaked around my midsection and I felt his face burrow into my neck.


"It's early," he grumbled, his lips moving against my skin. Yes, that it was.
I shivered at the closeness, and maybe at the familiarity of it all.
"I couldn't sleep," I said simply, turning in his arms to face him. "Did the noise
wake you?" I asked as I put a hand to his chest. This idiot was going to get
us killed.


The rich, whipping noise hit my ears around the same time he noticed it, and
I jerked him to the ground with me as the boomerang sailed through where
his head had been. The weapon landed a few feet away in the grass,
rotating to a slow stop. I looked up at him, very nearly laying on top of me.
"All you had to do was ask, Sango," he grinned, his face nearing mine. I gulped.
He was worse than Miroku.
"You don't have to nearly take my head off to get me to lay you out in a field, woman,"
His voice was low in my ear, and I almost acquiesced. Almost. I smirked, pushing
my lips to the spot beneath his jaw for a moment to give him a tender kiss. I liked him.
I really did.


"Off, wolf," I commanded as I shoved him to the side. I wasn't angry, just not that easy.
I got up, laughing quietly at the frustrated expression he wore beside the smile tugging
at one side of his mouth. I put a hand out to help him up and he took it, not letting
go once he did. Alright. Hand holding was alright for now.

I reached down for Hiraikotsu, and he waited, keeping pace as we began to walk
back to campsite. Maybe they wouldn't tease us too bad. 'Doubtful, tiajiya. Inuyasha
alone will tease you for days once he sees this. But that's just because he's too
stubborn to admit how in love he is with Kagome..' I smiled up at Kouga.

"So really...did I wake you?" I asked, stepping over a rock. He shook his head,
looking away. Was that..was that a blush I saw, gracing that arrogant face?
"Well.." I asked, trying to peer at him. He wouldn't look at me!
"Erm...you weren't there. I thought something might be wrong, so I followed your
scent." Oh. Now it was my turn to blush.


We said nothing as we returned, most likely he contemplated the implications of
his words as much as I. Releasing hands regretfully, I moved to set the boomerang
down and peered up the tree to try and catch a glimpse of Inuyasha. He wasn't
awake yet, or he would've been waiting for us to make some kind of jibe at our
dissappearing into the forest. No. Asleep, sprawled out on a branch. Interesting.
Normally he was the first one of us up.


"Breakfast?" I asked softly, turning to meet Kouga's gaze. He nodded, moving to
rekindle the fire. The smell of food would wae at least Shippo and Inuyasha up.
"Do you always ditch those two?" I indicated the two sleeping wolf youkai, both
sprawled out at awkward angles over a log. He laughed quietly, shrugging. I knelt
to put water on to boil, keeping a safe distance away from where he lounged against
the log. It wouldn't do to get distracted here and now.

"I guess so. Sometimes I just want to move alone, you know? It's hard to travel with
them sometimes when I just want to get shit done." He had been looking up
at the lightening sky, head tipped back slightly. I was staring.
He dropped his gaze to mine. Shit. He'd caught me. I yawned fakely, turning to
watch the water. I was very comfortable with him already, odd, though, isn't it?

I'd hardly known him days before, but I suppose his very demeanor had put me
at ease. He was hardly the type of full youkai I was used to. He was kind, and
thoughtful of others. Other than his one transgression in the cave, he'd been
very careful of what he'd said to me. I put a hand over my mouth, hiding a smile.
He'd even told off Miroku before I'd ever indicated I was interested. I think.


I could feel his eyes on me. "What about you?" He asked, resting his head on his
shoulder. "You always follow around mutt face?" Maybe they wouldn't ever get along..
"Hmm...I suppose I do now. They are like family," I murmured, stealing a glance to where
Kagome and Shippo lay. "Oh, the water.." I was brought back from my absense by Kouga's
gentle tug on my hair. I glared at him for a moment as I emptied the contents of the miso
mix Kagome brought back with her. It wasn't as good as the hand prepared kind I was
used to, but it sure was handy for the road.

His shoulders shook for a moment with laughter at my indignance, and I let it drop.
Just like a kid. Shippo sat up almost immediately of his own accord, body moving towards
the smell of food before his eyes even opened.
"Morning," he said, staggering to where we sat. The kit took a few steps, and before I could
stop him he swooned, landing on my lap. I blinked a few times.
"Shippo," shook him. "You okay?" I asked, stooping slightly to get a better look at his face.
He nodded absently, wrapping his tiny arms around my knees. Silly little fox was just overly
tired, still half asleep. Kouga leaned in over my shoulder, smirking down at the kit.

"Funny kid," he muttered, and sighed. "Makes me sorta miss the pups," I looked up shyly
over my shoulder.
"Did you spend a lot of time with them before they migrated? How's Ayame, by the way?" I asked,
raising an eyebrow. I'd caught him off guard, but I really wanted to know. And maybe secretly,
I wanted to know if she'd left him alone yet.
"Uh, I think she might've mated herself to somebody from her tribe. Haven't really seen her,
but that's what Ginta told me last time he'd gone up there." He scratched his head,
narrowing his eyes at the fire.
"You better stir that, hunter, or else its' gonna get a film over the top."


I growled, shoved him gently. "Thank you master chef.." I stirred it. So he was right. So what?
He laughed and crossed his arms, gazed once more at a sleeping Shippo.
"I'd spent a lot of time with the pups. I loved teaching 'em how to hunt and how to
sniff things out. They'd been fun, you know, like, reminded me of when I'd been
a kid with Ginta and Hakkaku. Now," he smirked, looking at me sideways.
"WE were bad kids.." I'll bet.

I shook my head, turning my attention to a sleepy hanyou. He'd dropped out of his
tree and was lumbering over to us. "Food.." he grumbled as he plopped down
across from us. He itched an ear with a single claw, closing one eye.

"How long you been up?" he directed the question at me, leaning over the small
fire to sniff its' contents.
"About an hour or two. I'm surprised you slept so long," I scratched Shippo's head,
watched him kick gently in sleep.
"Yeah, well.." He yawned and crossed his legs, turned to Kouga. "Maybe if I hadn't
spent the last week chasing all over the countryside for Mr. Abductor over here I wouldn't
be so damn tired," Kouga's indifference only irritated the hanyou further.
"You gonna cut out all that shit with Kagome now, wolf?" Inuyasha crossed his arms and
dropped his chin, a pose I usually only saw when he was commanding Kagome to stay
with us. Kouga shrugged.
"I suppose so. You that worried about it, Inuyasha?" Golden eyes blinked several time,
and I didn't blame him. I do believe that that instance had been the first time that
Kouga had used Inuyasha's name...and not dogshit...

"I just don't want you hurting Sango, got it?" He bit out, the glare in his eyes
meaningful. I sighed, stirring the contents in the pot once more.
"I'm still here," I muttered, leaning back against the log. Kouga smirked
at Inuyasha and I blushed scarlet when I felt an arm dropped heavily across
my shoulders.

"Yeah, don't worry about it. I'm not as dense as you think, dogshit." He smiled
brightly at the hanyou's raised brows, but left his arm where it was. I stared
down at Shippo, ignoring Inuyasha's response.

"Puh. Whatever." he grumbled, and moved to stick his hand into the pot.
"Hey!" I yelped, and snatched his hand back. I'd slapped it with the long-handled
spoon.
"Just like a little kid," I sighed, and turned slightly into Kouga. "Which way are
we going today?" I asked, looked up. Blue eyes narrowed into mine, thinking.
"I figure we go back to the trees I saw that little demon bitch. She'll be hard to find,
'cause all I feel is her youki. Can't seem to catch a scent,"
"Yeah, the little wench doesn't seem to have one," Inuyasha was muttering, staring
wistfully into the pot as if it held his future. "So...maybe we just check out those
villages you brought up yesterday. How 'bout it?" He asked, cocking his head at
Kouga. The wolf youkai looked thoughtful for a moment, searching my face before
he answered. What?


"Yeah. Sango said she'd know if that piece of shit Naraku was using her brother." Oh.
He was thinking of Kohaku. I looked to Inuyasha, smiled at his shock. The
familiarity would be a little unsettling at first, of course. It had been to me.
"Ok..you alright with that? You don't have to go," Inuyasha began slowly,
raising his chin.
"It's ok. Better to know if Naraku is doing it himself, or he's using a puppet..or Kohaku,
right? Besides, I said, arranging bowls beyond Shippo's legs. Kouga stopped me and
poured the miso himself. Already trained and all.
"I want to see for myself what Naraku's up to lately. It's been a while since we've seen
anything pointing to him, right?" I shrugged at Inuyasha, and he snorted in agreement,
greedily reaching for a bowl from Kouga.

"Jeez, dogface, take my hand off why don'tcha?" The dog demon ignored Kouga's jibe and
drank hungrily, breathing hard after he finished off the bowl. He held out the bowl for more
and I sighed.
"Don't eat it all, Inuyasha, or you'll have a grumpy Kagome to deal with once she wakes up
and finds nothing to eat." He growled and motioned to the bowl.


The others, including Shippo, all began to stir and gathered around to eat. Extended
family, I thought, pleased. I wonder how long this'll last.

We finished, and readied to leave once more. This wasn't going to be a pleasant
trip. I was worried, though I'm sure why was obvious. I absolutely fucking
despised fighting Kohaku. I just couldn't, hurting him was like hurting myself.
Those eyes, those empty, unseeing eyes were even worse than any wound
he could inflict on me.


I sighed, slinging Hiraikotsu over my back. But I would. I would fight if I had to,
because I wanted him back. My face must've betrayed my thoughts, because
I felt a hand on my shoulder.
"Sango, are you sure you're ok with this?" Kagome's voice was soft, concerned.
I smiled, nodded.
"I can do it. Just need you guys to understand if I want to be alone at some point,
is that alright?" I turned to stare out over my companions. Kagome did the same,
and turned her face to me at the sight of Inuyasha frowning at her impatiently.
"You should do whatever you need to in order to deal with it. It's not easy,"
she said, taking her first steps towards Inuyasha. "I want you to do whatever
you need to in order to feel alright. Okay?" She said, smiling as she called
back to me. I nodded, glanced over at Kouga who watched the exchange with
an odd expression. An eyebrow raised for just a moment he recieved a
reprimanding look from me. The pervert's eyes had raked over me for just
a second before he turned to tell his companions that we needed to leave.

Yes, he was going to be a handful. You hope..


We moved at about an hour after sunrise, Inuyasha dismissing Kouga's
opt to rush ahead of us, yelling behind him something somewhat inaudible.
"Follow......burning smell, dog breath..." No, they wouldn't ever get along.
Kirara carried the usual weight, myself, Miroku, and Shippo between us.
He'd somewhat avoided my eyes all morning, and I felt a little bad. Should
I, though, really? All the womanizing really didn't leave him any room to
be too dissapointed, not when he'd hesitated for so long.. I hoped. I sighed
and leaned forward to speak to Kirara.
"Let's hurry, kitten. Kohaku might be where we're going." She growled,
and the wind came just a little faster in our faces.


The route was short, only a couple of hour's ride into the east. We stopped
at the edge of the forest, where the trees began to look singed. Ugh, the smell.
Burning wood could be detected in the air-he hadn't been kidding. The area really
had been torched. Kouga stood waiting, Inuyasha and Kagome not too far off.
Ginta and Hakkaku jogged up a short while later, panting hard and keeling over.

"Must...rest...tooo ...far..." One of them groaned.
"Here we are. It's not pretty," Kouga growled, his face grim. "They're devoid of
life, so I wouldn't worry too much about looking for survivors."
I almost slapped myself. Bodies. There would be bodies to get buried. I sighed,
pushed through the group to see for myself the burnt out village. I hated this
part.


Miroku's face was hard as he walked beside me, his knuckles white around
the staff. That soft jingling was a noise that kept me sane plenty of times,
the rings hitting together softly reassuring. I hoped that he could understand,
that he wouldn't try and abandon us. We needed him as much as he needed
us, he was, after all, a friend. A molestor, yes, but he was also my friend,
someone I cared for deeply, even if we couldn't be together how I had once
wanted, I still needed him with me on this journey. He had every right to
Naraku's death as the rest of us did. I smiled at him weakly, and his eyes
softened for a moment until they refocused on the shell of a hut. Nothing.


"Do you sense a dark aura around this place?" I whispered, hand on my katana.
"Yes." He dropped down to one knee, peered at the ground. "What's this?" he asked,
pointing. I bent down to look, narrowed my eyes. Of course. I'd expected it.
A deep gouge in the ground, stained black. It smelled of old blood. The thing
that had dug into the ground like that had been dragged.


"Oh Kohaku," I whispered, fighting the burning behind my eyes. My Kohaku
didn't do this. I grit my teeth in anger, spitting on the ground to keep
the excess water out of my mouth. I wanted to vomit, but wouldn't.
Not in front of them.


"He was here," I announced bitterly, standing up and helping up houshi.
He looked at me sadly, gripped the staff in both hands and leaned on it.
"There aren't any bodies, not out in the open. I'll check those ruins,"
he said quietly and walked off. I held an arm across my shoulder, staring
at that gouge in the earth like a wound. Kouga's hand curled around my wrist,
and he tried to pull me gently away from the sight of it. No. Not right now.


I pulled away, giving him an apologetic look and already kicking myself for
the look in his eyes. I couldn't, not now. To take comfort would to admit
weakness and that would mean crying. I couldn't, not in front of them all.


I stalked to what was left of a wall and peered around behind it, searching
perhaps for a body or a motivation behind this slaughter. Nothing.
Just the smell of singed flesh and earth. I wrinkled my nose, moved on.
Was it horrible to be thankful that there were no bodies yet? It wasn't
pleasant-burying innocent people that we didn't know all the time. It
hurt, reminded me of the village I buried on my own.


I am a selfish coward, I thought as I glanced up to see Kouga shoving
a fallen wall off of a structure. He was so beautiful, just the way he moved.
I hoped he wouldn't hold my coldness against me later. He had to understand.


There. I swallowed, stared at the shape of a blackened foot on the ground
in front of me. This foot was not attached to anything, and I felt my gag
reflex nearly get the better of me.

"There's...at least one casualty," I said softly, and Inuyasha hopped over.
"Where's...where's the body?" He looked around, sneering. "There's something
weird," he muttered, putting a claw to curl against his nose. "I don't know what.."


Shippo was clutching Kagome's shirt tightly, staring into her shoulder intently,
eyes wide. Poor kit. I always forgot just how young he really was.


"Uh...you guys..." Kouga's voice was thick with worry, and it demanded our
attention. He stood near a huge, caved-in structure, his arms limp at his sides
and his face worried. We all hurried over, excepting Kagome and Shippo, who
stayed behind a ways. When I reached Kouga, I hadn't expected this.
Inside of the huge doorway to the building, the structure was overflowing
with bodies. Bloodied, some burnt beyond recognition and others fatally
wounded through a curved wound, lifeless eyes and open mouths peered
out at us grotesquely, and I made a noise of disgust.


"What the fuck is this?" Inuyasha growled, grimacing.
"Who knows...well..." K coughed uncomfortably, breathing in through his mouth.
The smell must've been overwhelming.
"Shall we, Sango?" Miroku choked out, sneering. I nodded, moving forward only
a few steps before Kouga's arm caught my own. "What?" I asked,
turning slightly.
"What are you doing?" he asked, puzzled. Oh.
"Burying them," I said grimly, and moved along. I put up the hunter's mask to cover
the smell, and began pulling bodies out. It's much easier than one would think,
with them so rigid they do not stick together as you would think. Some, however,
fell away into ashes and that was just too much. I gagged, and left the others to pull
out the bodies so that I might dig a large grave with hiraikotsu.