The Light in a Darkened Heart

....(sings the disclaimer song).  This chapter took a while.  I
really wasn't sure where I wanted to go with this.  I hope you like it.

Chapter 4: Intertwined Destinies

Kouga tightened his grip on Kagome as he sped through the darkened night. 
He could smell her sweetness, mixed in with slight fear, and a calming scent
even in her obvious distress.  She seemed resigned to being cared for by
the wolf and was sensing the world rushing around her for the first time without
the benefit of sight.  All around them the world hummed, even in it's
slumber.  Energy lit up the darkness.  Kouga could feel the dirt
rising up under his feet.  He could smell the wind, alive with so many
scents; animals, plants, and the slightly sulfuric taint of
far-off lightening. 
 
 
Kagome was amazed at all she could sense without her sight.  Although
she was nervous at the loss she knew it was not permanent and that Kouga would
be able to heal her.  Her confidence in his abilities surprised even her. 
She thought of all the times Kouga had followed through on his rescues and his
promises of attention to her.  She had no doubt that he would do as he said
he would or die in the attempt.  In the meantime she extended her hearing,
her sense of touch, and sense of smell to the world rushing by.  Wonderful,
glorious to be able to experience the world at such speed with such freedom, to
be able run freely in any direction, to take up any cause, to champion the
desire of one's heart.  None of this for her.  Kagome's fate seemed
mapped out, at least into the foreseeable future.  There was no escape from
Naraku, even her own future would be tainted if she didn't recover the rest of
the jewel.  His power would consume the world and destroy the future beyond
the well.  There was no escape from Inuyasha.  The hanyou would not
allow her to part from him and yet he did not want her in the way she desired to
be wanted.  Inuyasha saw her as a friend, as savior, and a rationalizer. 
Kagome was Inuyasha's champion, helping to validate his existence with her
acceptance and to defend him from any who would impugn his honor or question his
motives.  A glorified cheerleader.
 
 
Kouga slowed as he approached the first set of hills that signaled entrance
to the wolf-tribe's immediate territory.  "Are you still okay?"  He
questioned, breaking her reverie.  "You are beginning to become distressed
again, don't worry."  "You will receive the best care possible here." 
Kagome smiled.  "I know, I was just thinking that although it's terrible to
be blinded, I love the intensity of my other senses."  "It seems as though
a whole other world has opened before me."  "I can smell everything, hear
everything,  I can even taste the air." "It's amazing."  Kouga smiled
gently back at her.  "As much as I would love for you to be able to
continue your exploration we must get you in to see the healer before the damage
becomes permanent."
 
 
With that final remark, Kouga turned in the direction of the waterfall and
entered one of the lower den openings in the dark craggy face of the hillside. 
As they passed Kagome could taste the water spray on her lips.  The taste
was slightly tinged with minerals but had a fresh and clean essence totally
unlike the chemically treated water of her own time.  Kouga entered the den
and approached the group of older wolf demons surrounding a large fire.  A
few had mortars and pestles in their laps and were in the midst of grinding
healing herbs.  Kagome could feel the warmth from the fire on her face and
she could smell the sharp, bitter scent of the herbs.  Kouga laid her
gently down on a mat and approached the oldest demon.  "Shintu, she has
been poisoned in the eyes and is temporarily blinded."  "Can you treat
her?"  The old demon grinned and chuckled, "Certainly, although I have not
seen you so worked up in a long time."  "She must be someone very special." 
Kouga replied. "You cannot possible imagine."
 
 
The old wolf walked over to the endless shelves lining the den's walls. 
He paused and then selected a bottle containing a bluish paste.  "Judging
by the smell of the poison I'd say this salve should neutralize and draw it out." 
"Apply it to her eyes and then wait"  "It should counter the blindness
in about two or three days."  Kouga grinned. "Thanks, jiji."  The old
wolf demon raised one eyebrow in sardonic fashion. "You are still a
disrespectful whelp."  "Always." Kouga replied.  He turned into the
black night and rushed to the main den that served as his home.
 
 
He entered through a large jagged hole carved out of the mountainside. 
The first chamber was large and was filled with wooden chairs and tables. 
There were many woven tapestries covering the walls depicting everything from a
quiet nature scene to a rowdy dinner with what were obviously wolf royalty. 
There were several screens decorated the corners.  The colors of the
tapestries were bright and alive but not garish.  There was also a large
natural fountain in one corner with several large steps in it, the water pouring
forth was apparently full of minerals because the rock underneath had been
colored by it.  One could see blues and yellows and greens mixed into the
steps.  The entire
room was lit with large torches attached to walls by hollowed out sleeves cut
into the rock.
 
 
Kouga passed through this room and continued on through the main living room
which was decorated in similar fashion.  This room also contained several
pieces of soft, fur covered furniture fashioned from wood and mats covered in
woven fabrics.  There was also a large shelf covered in scrolls.
 
 
He finally entered his private room.  This room was carpeted in soft
woven mat-like material and covered in some areas with thick fur.  There
was a huge bed obviously carved from some sturdy wood and heaped high with furs
and silk sheets which had been stolen in raids on wealthy human settlements. 
There was also a tall bedside table with some scrolls and candles scattered
across the top.  In the corner of the room was another small doorway
leading to another room.  In the opposite corner was a large walk-in closet
hollowed out of the rock, the front of which was covered with a decorated
screen.  Torches again lined the walls illuminating the bedroom and casting
shadows over random areas.
 
 
Kouga laid her down gently onto the lush bed.  He left the room and then
returned with a bowl of cold water and a rag.  He had realized as he had
laid her down that she had lost consciousness.  He wet the rag and gingerly
cleansed the slimy residue from her face and neck. Kouga took special care with
her eyes, cautious to clean them thoroughly and remove all the residue present. 
He then dried her face with another rag and reached for the bottle of paste. 
As the wolf prince uncorked the bottle and took some of the salve onto his
fingers he found himself captivated by Kagome's face.  Her perfect features 
reflected none of the grief and sorrow she had experienced in the last few
years.  "Kagome.." he whispered.  He began to rub the salve onto her
eyes.  He made sure he coated both her eyelids and the area all around her
eyes.  Kouga used the rag to then wipe his fingers clean.  He then
sliced through the front of her school shirt and pulled it off her carefully. 
He followed suit with her skirt and tossed the useless garments into a corner. 
 
&nbsKougKouga turned and stared at her body in the torchlight.  He was stunned at
the beauty of her body.  Her hips were generous as were her breasts. 
Her skin was completely unblemished.  She was perfectly designed, her skin
white as snow and her thick dark lashes rested on her relaxed face.  He
marveled at the way her face was sculpted by the shadows.  Kouga whispered
to her, "You are so perfect, you haunt my days and my nights."  "You are my
reason for everything now."  "No matter how hard I try I cannot get your
image, your soft voice, your sweet scent out of my mind."  He paused. 
"Even when I am away from you I can still smell you, still see you."  "You
have to love me back, if you don't, nothing will mean anything anymore." 
"I could never love anyone the way I love you."
 
 
Kouga began to strip off his own armor, leaving it in a heap on the floor. 
He left on his underclothes for modesty, although had she not been there he
would have slept nude.  He laid down next to her and turned to face her. 
Kouga gathered her up into his arms, pulling her into his chest.  When her
face was only a breath away from hers, he leaned forward and gently kissed her
lips.  He pulled her even closer so their cheeks rested together and her
body was pressed against his own, he then entwined their legs.  Her face
rested against his and he brought his head a little lower, inhaling the scent on
her neck. Kouga could feel his desire for her rising but he forced it down. 
'Now is not the time', he thought.  The wolf prince sighed heavily, closed
his eyes, and fell into darkness.