Predictable

© Salome Wilde, 2008

Author’s Note: Oh, this hot nonsense could go on forever. Here’s a tease chapter to get in the mood for more wolf-on-dog or even dog-on-wolf action. (To thicken the sauce, I’m adding Miroku’s perspective and insights. Just a touch of character depth before the lemon takes over again in Part VI.2.)

Predictable

Part VI.1

“Hey, mutt!” Koga bellowed, leaping into view. “I hear you let Kagome get injured in battle yesterday. That right?”

“Shut up, idiot!” Inuyasha blustered. “You have no idea what you’re talking about. She’s fine now.”

“Now?” Koga scoffed. You’re supposed to be taking care of her for me. You call letting Naraku’s pathetic demons draw blood ‘taking care of her’?”

“Drawing -your- blood would be the best way to take care of her, you troublemaking jerk,” Inuyasha boasted.

“In your dreams,” Koga mocked.

Looking on in exasperation, Sango leaned over and whispered to Miroku, “Have you noticed that Koga hasn’t so much as glanced at Kagome yet? I think he prefers fighting with Inuyasha to courting Kagome.”

Miroku smirked. “I’d definitely say you’re right about his…uh…preference.” The monk had noticed the sparks between Koga and Inuyasha over time and began to wonder if the intensity of their interactions had perhaps always been more about each other than Kagome. He looked over at her. Despite the bandage around her right hand, she was definitely balling it into a fist, along with her uninjured appendage. He could see that she was about to command Inuyasha to sit, and he winced in anticipation of the uproar that would follow. The little priestess did so enjoy that control. And though his own “preference” was for human not demon and for female human at that, he definitely understood the implications of what was happening here as a man in ways that his female companions apparently did not. The rawness of their connection was captivating. He reached out a hand and gently stroked Sango’s bottom. The pain of her hard slap in reply was sweet encouragement, and he enjoyed the false humility of his apology as much as the grope and the smack.

“The only dreams I have are ones are ones where there are no filthy wolves in the world to get in my way!” Inuyasha yelled, lunging forward, claws out, aiming for Koga’s throat.

“SIT!” Kagome yelled, and Miroku noticed the satisfaction on her lips. Sango did not take her eyes off Inuyasha as he crashed to earth, swearing. And if Koga did not have an erection under that fur piece, he would never trust his eyes again. He sighed. Why was it that everyone called him the lewd one?

Koga laughed. “Good one, Kagome! That put the mouthy mutt in his place!” His eyes sparkled, and he stamped his foot.

“Koga-kun!” Kagome snapped. “Stop taunting Inuyasha. Here: you can see that my hand is only slightly wounded. It was only an attempt to stop me from firing the arrow, and I will be fine.” She blushed like the schoolgirl she was. “Thank you for worrying about me, Koga-kun.”

:Of course I worry,: thought Koga. :Who else will sniff out more jewel shards for me and my pack?: He noticed that he was finding it harder and harder to keep professing love to Kagome. Why did the stupid girl not wonder why he wasn’t just claiming her? How much lamer could his excuses be for leaving her here with Inuyasha and that mongrel pack? “I will have to be around to protect you more,” he found himself saying, taking her hand. But out of the corner of his eye, it was the prone form of Inuyasha he watched. “Let me make that mangy dog pay for failing you, Kagome,” he growled.

Miroku rolled his eyes. Despite the slap, Sango had not left his side. Now she turned to him. “What is going on here?” she whispered.

“Just what you think, Sango-chan. Kagome is not the center of this triangle,” Miroku said with a wink. “Inuyasha is.”

Sango gasped. :So strong and yet so inexperienced,: thought Miroku, enjoying the small sound. Perhaps it was that combination of traits that had so long kept him both interested and unwilling to make intimate demands of her. He cherished her guilelessness and loathed the idea of tampering casually with her fierce self-protectiveness. Beyond a spicy touch of outrage at his superficially wandering hand, that is. Their time would come, and there were plenty of opportunities to proposition—and even be accepted by—the occasional village maiden, enamored of his gentle good looks and holy disposition. Let him savor the unique dance he and Sango did together…as they now savored the unique spectacle of Kagome, Inuyasha, and Koga.

Inuyasha struggled, ineffectually, to rise; the effect of the beads denied his best efforts. No matter how many times she forced him down this way, Miroku noted, he would not submit. Whether it was his craggy screeching or a futile flailing of limbs, there was no acceptance, no recognition that he would do better to pause, collect his thoughts, and behave in a manner that would command the priestess’s respect—or at least her forbearance. Still, that was more easily said than done. Perhaps he, like the monk, enjoyed the punishment as much as the transgression. Certainly, neither of them were repentant sorts. If Koga was baiting him for more than casual taunting, Miroku was certain he’d be disappointed. No way that hanyo boy was going to take it lying down.

“Perhaps you should go now, Koga-kun,” Kagome said with an ingratiating smile, touching Koga’s arm. She took pride in being the peacemaker of the group, in knowing Inuyasha could be tamed by her, and in having the others’ respect for her ability with the bow and miraculous jewel shard-finding powers. She was also tickled by Koga fawning. Why couldn’t Inuyasha do the same, darn him? Even though she had all these skills and popularity, she didn’t get cocky and obnoxious. Why did Inuyasha? True, Koga had kidnapped and threatened her, but he was sorry and was sweet and solicitous now. Too bad Inuyasha couldn’t learn from his good manners.

Koga bowed and left Kagome’s side. Striding by Inuyasha, he casually kicked dirt in his earthbound face and offered a toothy grin. “I’ll be fifty paces into the forest, mutt,” he said in a low voice. “Come and get me, if you have the balls.”

“Fuck you!” Inuyasha roared, still writhing against the effects of the necklace.

“You think you’re hanyo enough, dog?” he laughed, and made his way into the forest.