Miko... Kitsune?

Disclaimer: Nope... not the owner of InuYasha and his buds... although Tsaisuki and the storyline are so mine.... ^_^

Chapeter 19: Koga to the Rescue!

Koga grunted as he was slammed into a wall. His brow sported a gash, which bled freely and his body was covered in bruises as he stared through a swollen eye at the dragon youkai that stood before him.

"Give her to me!" he shouted.

Ryuzi laughed as he deflected the weakening wolf's attacks. He himself was injured in a few spots, his armor shattered and useless lying beside him. He had been stabbed by the wolf prince's sword, which now lay in pieces down the hall and felt himself weaken with every moment that passed. He would have to retreat soon. The only problem was the spawn of Naraku and Ume. Ume was in her room at the other end of the palace, while the spawn were located nearby.

Koga howled as he felt the dragon's claws sink into his leg as he was thrown into another wall and slid to the floor, his body slicked with sweat and blood. He panted as he stood shakily, glaring with reddening eyes at the dragon. "I swear that I'll kill you."

Ryuzi smirked at the wolf as he felt the youkai's foot impact with his bleeding wound, sending him into the opposite wall. He staggered forward. He had to leave now! He fell to a knee and coughed up blood, his smirk gone as he gasped for air. He froze suddenly as the air changed. Slowly, he lifted his head, his eyes wide as he took in the sight of the desperate wolf prince. He had transformed.

A large brown wolf stood in the prince's spot, his wounds gone as red eyes stared at the dragon with anger. Ryuzi felt his heart speed up as he stood shakily and backed away slowly. The wolf growled at him darkly and he used the last of his power to vanish from its senses as he ran to find Ume and flee the castle. Screw the bitches of Naraku! They weren't worth this! He knew where the heart was anyways, he'd just protect it there! Far away from this insane wolf prince.

~*~*~*~

Renshi moved slowly through the thick forest, two of his men flanking him as they made their way to the 'abandoned' castle that Hakkau and Ginta had pointed to when asked about Koga's whereabouts. The tiger youkai grumbled under her breath about annoying wolves and their erratic behavior, clearly not liking how impulsive the wolf was acting.

Suddenly, there was a crash of wood and stone and a haunting, angered howl broke through the air. Renshi's men tensed and readied their weapons as the tiger general himself unsheathed his sword and ran on ahead to investigate. It didn't take long for the Southern General to find the massive brown wolf standing amongst the castle's ruins, his body shielding two figures that were obscured from his vision.

Koga turned, his red eyes glaring at the male before him. Somewhere, in his rage and pain filled thoughts he recognized the Tiger General, but they were drowned out by his instincts to protect his woman and her sister. He hunched down, teeth bared and ears back before them, blocking them from the cat's eyesight.

"Koga, I am Renshi, do you not remember? We fought Naraku together," Renshi placated.

Koga said nothing, only growled at the tiger as he tensed, ready to spring and tear the general apart if need be. Few thoughts passed through his head. Mostly, just 'Hurt. Woman. Protect.'

Renshi could smell the blood of the wolf all over the ruins as well as the scent of a dragon and a faint scent he knew couldn't be. He shook his head and sheathed his weapon to prove that he was no threat to whomever the wolf was protecting. His men crashed onto the scene along with Ginta and Hakkau and gasped as they too took in the sight.

"Koga!" Ginta called.

'Pack,' Koga's mind registered. 'With cats... safe?'

The giant wolf relaxed a bit, his eyes still trained on Renshi who was obviously the head cat. Renshi held his hands before him, showing that he meant no harm, the others doing the same. Koga relaxed some more, his eyes draining the red away as his body changed back into his human-like form. His hair had fallen loose, his headband lost in battle along with his chest plate. His eyes drooped as he smiled to the tiger youkai.

"Renshi," he breathed out as he fell to his knees.

Renshi was at his side in a moment, helping him stay upright. "What happened?"

"A dragon was holding her and Kanna prisoner."

"A dragon?" Renshi questioned.

"He was called Ryuzi. He wouldn't giver her to me."

Renshi smiled at that. "Not everyone knows how stubborn you are, Koga. Kagome and Sesshomaru are looking for you, you know?"

Koga smirked. "Knew that dog couldn't keep her happy. Not like I could've."

"I'm sure. They need your help, Naraku isn't gone."

"Tsaisuki?"

"Hai."

Koga nodded as he looked to where Kagura lay beside the waiting Kanna. "Can we save them?" he asked.

Renshi sighed and looked to his men. "We'll try. Let's get you to the Western Palace. We can figure things out there. Can my men carry Kagura for you?"

Koga nodded slowly. "Yeah, I would, but I'm not feelin so strong."

Renshi smiled at the younger youkai as he passed out in his arms. A sad look passed over those eyes as he remembered a young tiger cub that would have probably would have been this same age now had he not been lost. "Micha,” he murmured as he lifted the wolf over his shoulder and looked to his men.

Kagura was being carried between Ginta and one of his men in a makeshift cot as Kanna let Hakkau carry her in his arms. His other man nodded to the general and sped off ahead to keep any wandering youkai off their backs. Renshi hoped that none would dare bother them on this journey back to the palace. Every moment away was another moment gone from Tsaisuki’s side.

~*~*~*~

"Are you completely stupid?!" InuYasha barked at the wounded wolf that lay on a bed in the Western Palace.

"Well, not as stupid as you," Koga quipped.

"You could've been killed, you dumbass wolf! That's my job!" the hanyou snapped.

"InuYasha, please," Kagome sighed as she tended to the wolf. "He is right, though. You should've come to us. If for anything, for backup."

Koga's gaze tore from the angry hanyou and turned to the kitsune lady. "I'm sorry, Kagome. Forgive me?"

Kagome smiled and let loose a soft laugh. "Of course, Koga-kun! If I forgave you for kidnapping me when we first met, then I forgive you now. You did get Kagura and Kanna back safely, at least."

"How's Kagura?" the wolf asked tensely.

Kagome raised a brow at the wolf prince and smiled wider. "She's still comatose, but fine."

Koga let loose a breath and relaxed against the bed. "Thank Kami."

Kagome tied off the last bandage and pulled back from the wounded male. "There, all done. You get some rest now. You have quite a bit of healing to do. InuYasha, get out of here and let Koga-kun rest!" she ordered to her fuming brother in law and best friend.

InuYasha pouted angrily as he did as she asked, sending the wolf one last glare before he slipped into the hall. Koga stuck his tongue out at the hanyou before casting an innocent smile to Kagome and laying back against his bed. "Arigato, Kagome. You always did take care of me."

Kagome smiled cheerily. "Well, of course, Koga-kun! Now, get some rest. Sleep well, Koga," she bid as she closed the door behind her, leaving the wolf-prince to drift off into the sleep of the exhausted.

~*~*~*~

"You're here again, wolf," Kagura greeted as she sat amongst a misty field.

"You're looking well," he complimented as he sat beside her and brushed a lock of black hair behind her ear.

A furious blush overtook the wind sorceress' face as she looked away. "Y-you appear wounded."

He nodded as he looked to the bandages that seemed to have traveled with him to the unseen world. "They were worth it. I found your body and Kanna. A dragon, Ryuzi, held you captive. We fought, and he was forced to flee, much like Naraku did. The coward."

Kagura smiled to the wolf gently. "How is Kanna?"

"Safe, she seems to enjoy walking the halls of Sesshomaru's palace and spending time with Kagome's kit, Shippo, and the human child, Rin."

"She's never been allowed to be a child. I'm glad she has the chance," Kagura said as she locked her ruby eyes with his blue. "I wish I could see it."

The wolf prince lifted a hand and cupped her face gently. "As do I. Then I could touch you with my waking hand."

She blushed again, but didn't shy away. "No one's ever talked to me this way," she murmured.

He grinned and leaned inward until their faces were barely a breath apart. "I'm glad. That means I'm first," he whispered before pressing his lips lightly to hers.

Kagura's eyes widened, only to close as his strong arm came about her back and slammed her to his chest. Her arms lifted, hands gripping his shoulders tightly as he deepened the kiss and she felt her heart clench in emotion. As real as this felt, it wasn't. This was the realm of dreams, of the unreal. She could feel the chains that held her here grow heavy and manifest. The tightened around her wrists and jerked her free of his grasp. She cried out as tears threatened to fall from her large eyes.

"Kagura!" he called as he reached for her.

She screamed as she was dragged farther from him and dark power ran through her body, punishing her for whatever wrong she had done. Her blood froze, her heart feeling crushed as he vanished from her sight. The chains transformed then into the dark tentacles of her creator and his mocking laugh echoed through the darkness. Tears fell then, even though he was gone, she was still his prisoner.

"You will never be free," his horrid voice whispered in her ear. "You will always be mine."

She struggled and thrashed about as the tentacles turned into his arms and body. He chuckle slithered across her skin like tar and felt just as binding and sticky. She tried to scream, only to find no voice. He controlled her here, she was still bound to him here. She would never be free.

She was about to resign herself to this dark fate when a light burst through the air, causing him to cry out and release her to fall to the ground. Her vision spun for a moment, only to find equilibrium as she turned slowly. Naraku was cringing away from Tsaisuki, whom seemed bathed in light. He looked to her with lust and want, and Kagura recoiled.

"You will not touch her!" Tsaisuki's voice boomed.

"She is mine!" he hissed.

Tsaisuki snorted and threw out some of her light to him, causing him to flee into the dark mist. "Remember, Naraku, while she or you have no power here, I do. I may be bound to your spirit here, but she will not be your victim!"

Naraku looked to Kagura again and narrowed his angry eyes. "I suppose you finally found some luck, Kagura. But, know this, once I am whole, neither you or Tsaisuki will be freed. I'll keep you both bound here and have my way with your body as I did before. Do you remember that, my child?" he asked with a dark leer.

Kagura shuddered and curled into a ball as the memories flooded her mind. "I remember," she whispered.

"NO!" a new voice bellowed. Kagura's head snapped up and she gasped.

Tsaisuki smiled to the newcomer and bowed her head. "I didn't expect that you had such a strong tie to her. I'm glad."

Koga smiled back to the kitsune sorceress and nodded to her. "Good to see that you're here to help her."

Tsaisuki looked to Kagura as a sad look came over her silver gaze. "Take her, Koga. Run. Don't stop running until you both wake. I'll do what I can."

"What?" Kagura gasped. "Tsaisuki-dono..."

"GO!" the blue-haired sorceress shouted. Kagura was frozen, but felt the wolf prince's arms as they lifted her up and against his chest. Her red eyes were trained on the older youkai as she turned back to Naraku and used her power to distract him. "Tell them... tell them that I love them."

Kagura nodded numbly as the kitsune left her sight and the wind surrounded her and Koga. She clung to Koga tightly as they sped through the realm of the unseen. Tears, for herself and the youkai that was sacrificing herself for her, tumbled down her pale cheeks and dripped onto the tanned arms of her wolf.

An eternity passed before they were engulfed in a burst of bright light. Kagura could feel the tearing sensation of Naraku's bond from her and she screamed.

~*~*~*~

Levii: Hi ppls! Yes, I am indeed alive. Just been sorta overwhelmed by the beginning of school. But hey! I finally got around to the Koga centric episode!
Inu: I was barely in this! What the hell!
Sess: At least you were in this chapter.
Levii: Oh My God! Can you complain more!? I mean, you guys are lucky I even got this one done! And Hey! No complaints from you, Sessho, you got a lemon last chapter!
Inu: Yeah! Hey! When's mine comin'?
Levii: Soon... very soon... I think... it all depends on the muse.
(All eyes turn to muse, whom oddly looks a lot like Orlando Bloom today)
Muse: What?
Levii: @.@ ...*drools*
Inu: Aw crap... not again.
Sess: This seems to happen a lot.
Muse: I can't help it if I'm so good looking.
Koga: Hey guys... why is Levii drooling again?
Inu: Muse.
Koga: Oh... Should we do something?
Sess: (tosses Levii over shoulder and starts to walk offstage)
Inu and Koga:(runs after Sesshomaru and Levii, leaving Muse alone)
Muse: *sighs* Anyways, remember to review or I won't inspire Levii to write more. Now, if you'll excuse me, I believe I'm needed. Until next time, later! (Starts after the others)