A Wolf's Duty

Chapter Two: Empty Places

A/N: Sorry this has taken so long, I just didn’t have internet or this story on my computer at home (it’s on my broken laptop) so I had to wait to write it. Anyway, I’m feeling like shit today, in a dark and dreary mood, so sorry if this first bit is a tad morbid.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Inuyasha fandom, nor do I make anything from this.

OOOOOO

The room was dark and dirty. The only light coming from a small hole in the side of the wall that Naraku often referred to as the ‘window’. The bound demon could hear the short breathes of his ally, coming in faintly, weakly, he could tell the other demon, half demon, was dying. Slowly, painfully, he was dying. The demon looked above him at his hands, chained to the wall over his head. Cuts and scrapes and blood adored the bruised and battered flesh of his arms - his entire body - and he tied to pull them, to free them, but he couldn’t. He was weak, so very weak. He didn’t know how long he had been locked away, but he knew it had been years.

He thought he could tell the days by when they were fed. A piece of bread and some water once a day, he believed. It made his body weak with hunger and need. His body was limp, exhausted, but he wasn’t allowed to die. Bruised and battered, Kouga lived for 13 years beaten everyday, never allowed to defend himself, never allowed to die. His eyes slid closed as he felt the longing to be free run through his broken and beaten body.

And what of his child - his Kohana? Was she beautiful with tawny hair, like the woman he loved? Did he blue eyes still sparkle ever day, no matter how bad things got? And how about he voice - was it soft and sweet like her mothers, so caring and loving you could drown in it? He could picture her in his mind, with her tawny hair and dark eyes. He could always tell her mood by the way her tail would move and wiggle. Sighing, Kouga opened his eyes, then gasped.

“Sh.” The demon hissed, a finger to his mouth to emphasize his point. “I am an incarnation of Naraku, and as such, I despise him for making me and stealing away my heart.” He explained.

Kouga snarled, his face contorting and twisting as he bare his fangs. “Let me down so I can kill you and free you of this existence then!” He growled out, trashing wildly.

Kagai rolled his eyes and picked up a plate he had set on the floor. “Raw meat from a deer. You need to get your strength back. In exactly one week, it will be the half moon - the day Naraku will be at his weakest. It is the day he is closest with his human part of him, even though he did rip out his own heart.” Kagai held up a chunk of meat for Kouga to eat.

The wolf thought about asking if it was poisoned, but decided he didn’t care. We would welcome death’s cold embrace because then he could see his daughter one last time before going to hell. He opened his mouth and ate the meat, moaning slightly and relishing the taste. “So,” He asked after eating a few juicy pieces, “Why did you wait so long to help me then?”

The demon thought about the answer. “The truth is I was afraid to. I did not have Naraku’s trust for a long time. He was always worried about me, being that I can see the future. I am the reason you and Inuyasha are still alive.” He whispered, handing another piece of meat to the man. “I told him that if you were to die, Sesshoumaru would bring you back. When Naraku suggested burning your bodies, I told him the inu-taiyoukia would travel to the underworld to get you two.” He sighed and sat down. “I…I want Naraku to die. I want your daughter to kill him.” He said quietly.

Kouga cleared his throat. “Ok…so, can I have some more meat?” He growled.

“No. If you eat to much, you’ll start to puke. I’ll bring some in for Inuyasha though. Wake him up. I don’t feel like listening to his yelling.” Kagai walked form the shed with the plate slowly, casting one last look at the pair before leaving.

Kouga looked over to the half demon, who was barely alive. “Inuyasha!” He barked, using his foot to nudge the man who was hung up just as he was.

The half demon’s eyes fluttered and immediately he felt woozy. “What?” His voice rasped out. He couldn’t feel his hands or his legs, but he could feel the undying hunger roaring though him. “Can’t you just let me die, you mangy wolf?” He was only half joking though.

Smiling a sad smile, Kouga replied, “Shut up you weak half breed. We gained an ally. He is bring you some deer meat.” There was silence. “Aren’t you gonna ask me who?”

The half demon scoffed, looking out the ‘window’ with tired, broken eyes. “At this point, I could care less. Either they want to kill us, or they really do want to help us. I’ll take either.”

Kouga felt his throat clench; it was hard to hear Inuyasha talk like this. When they first had been captured, it was Inuyasha who was sure Koharu and the others would come to the rescue. For years, Inuyasha would tell Kouga to keep up his spirits because they would come, even when the wolf lost hope, Inuyasha didn’t. A few years ago, however, the half demon just seemed to give up, one of the reasons he was dying. He just didn’t have the will to live.

Kagai came back into the room and walked over to Inuyasha, holding up a piece of meat for the half demon to eat. He chewed it slowly, relaxing slight, enjoying the taste of it for the first time since he didn’t know when. After a few more pieces, Kagai smiled and began to talk once more, “When the half moon comes, Naraku’s power will falter. These chains are one of the things he will no longer have power over. They drain the energy from your bodies, making you weak. One of the reason’s he starves you is because he doesn’t want you to feel when his hold falters. You will feel drained until the half moon, but when it comes, your energy should rush back into you, both of you. Kouga,” He turned his eyes towards the wolf demon, no longer feeding the whimpering Inuyasha. “You will have to change into your true form and take Inuyasha. Head directly west of here for an hour. You will come across Sesshoumaru’s castle.”

Kouga’s throat clenched once more, “Can you…tell me about my daughter?” He asked in a shaky voice.

The younger demon smiled. “I can do you one better,” He whispered before his eyes started to glow. He reached out and touched Kouga’s head, and the wolf gasped as his vision swarmed and morphed into something new.

Kagome sat in a lightly colored room meditating, Kohana at her side. “Now, Kohana, reach down inside of you and call upon your miko powers.” She whispered in a misty voice.

Kohana’s tail was twitching calmly, her eyes closed. She was sitting like Kagome with he legs crossed an her hand on he knees, palms face up. She took a deep breath and he palms started to glow pink.

“Very good,” Kagome sighed, her own powers come to her. “Now, send those powers out around you, purifying the air in which you breathe.” The miko took a deep breath and her pink energy flowed like sparkles around her.

The half wolf sighed gently and tied. It took a minute for her to accomplish the task, but when she did, the pink energy started to flow smoothly around it, dancing around her petite frame, caressing he skin.

Then, the vision faded, and Kouga was back in the dark shed he had spent his daughters life in. Tars were bought to his eyes. “My Kohana…she is so beautiful, and a miko…is Koharu alive?”

Kagai nodded. “Yes. She teaches your daughter how to read and write, while Sesshoumaru teaches her how to use her sword and channel her youki. Kagome teaches her about her miko abilities.” He paused. “She…is like you in many ways.” He sat down on the floor opposite of Kouga. His eyes shone as he talked about the wolf’s daughter. “She protects her pack with everything she has, and is very strong willed. When you went missing, it was decided that she should taken over your lands when she comes of age - your pack had always hoped you would come back, the news of your ‘death’ had devastated them.”

Kouga snarled, “They think I’m dead! Naraku has let them believe I am dead!” His eyes turned a slight hue of red, but he was to weak to change.

“I am sorry.” Kagai looked to the floor, ashamed, “I told your daughter you are alive, though!”

Once more, Kouga’s eyes watered. “She knows?” He whispered. He then paused, and looked at Kagai with suspicious eyes, “Why are you helping us?”

The younger demon looked away for a moment. “I…just…want him dead. He has stolen my heart from me.” Kagai placed a band over his chest. “You know, I can feel it. I can feel it beat inside of my chest, though it’s not there. I can feel affection for things even though I should have none. Naraku fears his incarnations. He takes our hearts so we cannot betray him. It is a sad existence - a shell of an existence. I want to be free, I want to love,…I want to be loved.” he stood abruptly. “I’ll be back later today to feed you lunch and bring you something to drink.”

“Kid,” They both turned eyes to Inuyasha, who looked as if he was sleeping. “Bring some ramen,” He said with a chuckle. He then coughed, and sighed. “What I wouldn’t give for some ramen.”

Kagai smiled and nodded. “I will see what I can do.” He said before leaving the room.

OOOOOO

“I hate him, Kagome.” Kohana growled as she paced back and forth in Kagome’s room. They had finished meditating, but Kohana hadn’t relieved all of her stress yet. “He is so cold, so mean! He has no write to talk about my father like that!” Her fangs bared and her eyes were starting to turn red.

Kagome held up her hands. “Calm down.” She cooed. “Just tell me what happened?”

So Kohana sighed and sat on Kagome’s bed and stated to tell the miko everything that Sesshoumaru had said - about Kouga, Inuyasha, how weak they were, how foolish and stupid. The older miko became angrier and angrier with every word. “He has no right!” Kohana finished, crossing her arms over her chest. “and mother won’t do a thing about it!”

Kagome stood. “I will.” She tried to hold in her growl. Kagome was now in her thirties, but she found that she would not age. No, her body was stuck in between times, in between realms, and she as told by Keade - before the woman died - that she would never age if she stayed in the past. Kagome could live in the past and never grow old if she did not travel back to her time; however, when she reached the point in time she left, she would start to age again. This was the life of a time traveler, Keade said, and so Kagome never returned to her time again. When Inuyasha died, she sealed the well and never looked back. She marched out of her room and down the hallway, towards the training grounds for the guards. Sesshoumaru often spent his time here, measuring how his troops were doing. She found him sparring with a group of seven or eight demons dressing in full armor. “Fluff butt!” She growled, never slowing in her march.

Everyone stopped what they were doing, even the soldiers that were running laps and fighting swords stopped to stare with wide eyes at Kagome. Sesshoumaru immediately froze, then turned curious gold eyes towards her. “You will address this Sesshoumaru by his name,” He informed her. “What do you want, miko? Make it quick.”

His condescending tone irritated her to no end. She looked around, then smirked. “I wanna fight. One on one.” She reached down and ripped the bottom off of her kimono so she could get a free range of motion. “Just you and me.” She then growled, smiled and evil smile.

He graced her with a raise of one eye brow. “You wish to fight this Sesshoumaru? If that’s true, why do you expose your flesh to my warriors instead of getting a weapon to defend yourself? Do you think this Sesshoumaru will be distracted by your mere human body?”

The miko blinked at him, hen her eyes started to glow pink. “You think I’m exposing myself, you arrogant asshole! You are so going to get it!”

Sesshoumaru barley had enough time to duck before a wave of purifying energy was sent shooting over his head. He growled. “Woman. Cease this tantrum now!” He snarled to her, noticing how his troops scattered away from her and back into the castle, fearing for their lives.

“Tantrum!” She huffed out, glaring at the taiyoukia. “I have a bone to pick with you,” She stormed up to him, her eyes still blazing with her miko powers. “You are a cold, heartless creature! Saying such things about Kouga and you brother!”

“Half brother” Sesshoumaru interjected with a growl.

She glared harder, poking him in the chest, careful to not burn him, “He was your brother! He died protecting what he loved! He died, protecting me, and you, and Shippo! And the things you say about him…” She felt he eyes water up as she looked up to the demon. She only cried once since his death, the day after it had happened. Bu she told herself not to cry, to be strong and avenge him. Now, she felt the tears coming. “He died so We could live!” She sobbed. She was surprised when Sesshoumaru took her hands gently in his own. “What…”

“This Sesshoumaru apologizes,” He said softly to her, drawing her to him, hugging her body close to his own. “You loved Inuyasha very much, didn’t you?” He asked her, trying not to show his emotions in his voice. He loved Kagome - had loved her for years now. She was everything he wanted for a mate, for a lover, but he knew he could never have her. She was still in love with his dead half brother, after all.

Kagome released her tears she had held in for thirteen years. She sobbed against the demons chest, digging her tiny fist into the fabric of his haori. “I just…I miss him so much.” She sobbed into him. “I loved him more then anything.”

Sesshoumaru took her chin into is hand and raised her head to look at him, face to face, “This Sesshoumaru should have been the one to die. Inuyasha shouldn’t have left you all alone.” He said softly, looking down at he with gentle eyes.

She gulped and shook her head, “No, Sesshoumaru. I would miss you too. You’ve been there ever since he died. I’m afraid I haven’t been too grateful.” She whispered to him, not noticing hope she was slowly leaning up towards him, or how he was tilting his head down. There lips were ghosting over each others before Kagome turned her head away, a blush on her face. “I should go…” She whispered.

Sesshoumaru dud not let go, however. Instead, he cupped her chin once more and brought her lips to his, making her let out a startled gasp. He purred onto her mouth, then snaked out his tongue, running it across her lips, asking for permission to enter her. And she gave it to him, opening her mouth with a quiet moan, their tongues battling for dominance.

“Ka-go-me!”

Kagome threw herself away from Sesshoumaru, landing on her behind. She stared with sheepish eyes to Kohana, who was glaring at the two of them. “Hey, Kohana. What’s wrong? Hehe.” She gave a half smiled, but winced when the glare hardened.

“You were supposed to chew him out! Not make out!” The half wolf growled, crossing her arms over her chest. “I should have known you had the hots for him. Jeeze.” Her expression then turned into an evil smirk and she taunted, “Just because you’re a 35 year old virgin doesn’t mean you have to lower your standards!”

Kagome gasped and blushed bright red, she heard a sharp intake of breathe behind her from Sesshoumaru and she felt herself heat up even more. She stood as gracefully as she could. “Kohana, I think it’s time for you to go do fire lessons with Shippo.” She ground out through her teeth. Rolling her eyes, the teenager left, and Kagome found herself unable to look at the demon behind her. “Sesshoumaru-sama…I don’t think that this is a good idea. You should find yourself a nice demon.” She waited a minute for a response, and suddenly eeped when she felt an arm wrap around her and pull her back against a hard, broad chest. “Sesshoumaru-sama…” She moaned when he buried his nose into her neck, stiffing her.

“The Sesshoumaru knew you had never laid with a man while in his castle. But he didn’t realize you were pure.” He inhaled her aroused scent deeply, making himself hard as it hit him, “But now he can tell. Never touched by a man, not even my brother.”

“Oh, Sesshoumaru-sama.” Kagome then moaned as the demons hands roamed down to he thighs, rubbing the milky flesh and making her wet her panties. She shook her head and turned to look at his silver mane. “We shouldn’t,…I shouldn’t…” She bit her lip when he looked up at her, his eyes glazing over with a red hue driven lust. She gulped. “You haven’t even courted me.”

This did make him pause, his eyes returning normal. He released her and, much to he dismay, he simply walked away without a word. She fell to her knees, a hand over her heart, which was beating rapidly and out of control. She stayed like this for a moment before sighing and looking up at the bright afternoon sky. “Inuyasha, I still love you…but I don’t want to be alone anymore.” She started to sob.