The Light in a Darkened Heart

...Must get up for class tomorrow...must set alarm for 8:00....who am I
trying to kid?

(Disclaimer anthem is sung)
 
Chapter 7 - Colors in the Dark
 
 
Kouga took his time walking back through his home and into the receiving
area.  He wanted his comrades to understand that Kagome was the most
important person to him and he would not be rushed in his time with her. 
He finally entered the front room and gestured to his friends to sit with him at
the table. 
 
 
The other wolf pack members sat.  Kouga gestured again form tom to begin
with whatever concern they had.  An older wolf demon with a heavily scarred
face and arms  looked around at the others and then began.  "Kouga,
there is some concern over you taking this human girl as mate.  When we
could merely pass this off as a fancy it was fine.  However, the reality is
that  she is here now and we cannot credit this to fantasy anymore.  We know that
she is a miko and that she can see the shikon shards but many feel that an
alliance with another wolf tribe would have been more beneficial and many wonder
if you are not being foolish." 
 
 
Kouga quickly gleaned that his men were not trying to insult him but get some
reassurance from him.  He looked at them.  "Bakas.  Kagome is
more than a passing fancy.  Her ability to see the shikon shards in
incidental now. 
 
 
She
forces me to be a better person and her high standards will be good for all of
us.  In addition, she can read, write, and do sums.  Many other demon
tribes that are advancing have already gained this ability but we are being left
behind.  Everyone must learn and it must become a standard practice to
teach our children these things.  It cannot be left only to nobles anymore
to be educated.  I am beginning to think this will be far more important
than a jewel that is so easily corrupted and that can cause so much damage. 
I will retain my shards long enough to defeat Naraku, then I will give them to
her.  She knows best what to do with the jewel and she will see to it's
eradication.&nbOur Our true power as a tribe will come from our ability to adapt
and change as the world around us changes not from depending on a corrupt bit of
magic."
 
 
"I agree that an alliance with another wolf tribe would have been highly
beneficial, however, we have good relationships with the all the other tribes
right now.  Kagome is charming and irresistibly sweet and kind as well as
smart.  I have no doubt that between the two of us we can win the other
tribes over into an alliance."
 
 
"Don't worry, I will inform you of each move I plan to make and we will 
have a chance to discuss this since you are the senior members of the pack. 
Does this clear things up a bit?" 
 
 
"Yes, we are fortunate to have such an intelligent leader.  Although we
still have reservations about this we will trust your judgment.  You are
correct regarding the education of the rest of the pack and of our children. 
If we are to remain powerful we cannot ignore this trend among other demon
groups."
 
 
Kouga grinned.  "Good, now get out so I can find some food for myself
and my future mate."  His other comrades filed out talking and laughing and
Kouga gathered from this that their fears had been allayed at least to some
degree.  He sighed and got up from the table.  The wolf demon decided
to pay a return visit to Kiya in the hopes that she had already begun
supervising the cooking today.  He was not someone who could cook well and
usually Kiya or one of the other pack women prepared meals for him.  Kouga
walked out of his den and started down the path toward Kiya's den.  As he
neared the entrance he could smell food cooking and grinned.  "Oy! Woman
where's my food?"  He joked.  "When you start preparing it then you
can demand it, demon!"  Kiya replied. "I have too much to do in a day
without worrying about your empty belly.  Why don't you get yourself a
mate?  If you can find one who will put up with you long enouo coo cook a
meal."  Kouga laughed and grabbed a wooden bowl from the table.  He
began ladling stew into it.  The meat and vegetable smelled heavenly. 
This was a common dish prepared with root vegetables and rabbit meat.  It
was quite spicy if one were not used to that sort thing.  "This isn't gonna
burn my tongue off, is it Kiya?"  Kouga asked.  "No, I toned it down a
little for your human friend, we don't want to run her off too soon."  Kiya
winked at Kouga.  Kouga thanked her, saluted, and left the den.
 
 
Kagome had fallen into a deep sleep and had begun to dream.  She saw
Kouga standing in front of her, facing her, holding her outstretched hand. 
He suddenly turned his head and at the same time Kagome saw a tentacle rip
through his body.  The tentacle lifted him into the air and blood began to
pour from the massive hole in his chest.  "Ka....go..."  This was all
he could manage as blood also began to leak from his mouth and he slumped
forward still impaled by the tentacle.  Kagome could hear herself
screaming, begging him not to die.
 
 
As Kouga entered his den he could hear her labored breathing and he could
also smell her fear.  Not being able to smell any foreign prescience in the
air he concluded that she must be having a nightmare.  He set the food on
the table in the living room and rushed back to the bedroom.  When the wolf
prince reached the bedroom he could see Kagome twisting and turning on the bed
caught in the reality of her nightmare.  He climbed onto the bed and cupped
her cheeks in his palms.  "Kagome, it's okay, I'm here.  You don't
have to be afraid.  I won't let anything hurt you. Come back to me." 
With a jerk Kagome opened her sightless eyes and shuddered.  "Love, what
was that all about?  It must have been a terrible dream."  Kagome
looked at him and tears began to form in her eyes.  "I saw your death and I
was helpless to stop it.  It was so sudden and then you were gone." 
She began to sob. 
 
 
Kouga held her close againis cis chest, cuddling her.  "It's over,
nothing bad will happen to you while I'm here and I certainly do not ever intend
to leave you.  Don't worry, it takes a whole lot to kill a demon like me." 
He began rubbing her back while he rocked her back and forth.  Kagome
sighed and relaxed against him.  It felt so good to be held.  This was
the most affection she had ever received from a person of the opposite sex who
was not a family member.  While she truly enjoyed the sexual desire that
Kouga aroused in her, she also enjoyed the recent times that he had merely held
her, lovingly.  If she had ever doubted that the wolf demon loved her
before, she had no doubt now.  However, she had a duty and although this
was an idyllic life; she was convinced that her destiny was much darker and that
she was bound for pain and sadness.  Death was a common thing in the feudal
era and although Kouga was strong, it would only take a moment's carelessness to
lose horevorever. 
 
 
Kouga broke their embrace and kissed her lightly on the lips.  "There is
food waiting for you in the other room.  I want you to eat and then I will
take you to visit your friends.  I'm sure they must be very worried right
now.  I do want you to stay with me here until your sight returns, however. 
I need to be able to take care of you and I will consider it an attempt to honor
your word of earlier if you will agree to stay a while."
 
 
Kagome nodded.  She knew she was very safe here and until her sight
returned she wouldn't be able to defend herself  out in the open if their
group was attacked.  She also acknowledged, however, that she could not
remain forever and if her sight did not return in two days then she was
obligated to return to the hunt for the shards.  Kagome had noticed that,
in the blackness behind her eyes, she was beginning to be able to sense
lightness at times and if she concentrated she could also sense faint colors. 
She had noticed a faint pink glow in the dark and she deduced that this must
radiate from the shikon shards in Kouga's legs.  Maybe even if she didn't
regain her sight right away she could use her perception of light and color to
detect the location of shards once she had sensed their presence. 
 
 
Kagome allowed Kouga to help out out of bed and into the next room.  He
led her into the living room and sat her down on a mat on the floor.  She
could sense Kouga's presence leave the room and then return. Kneeling down in
front of her he used a wooden spoon to scoop up some of the stew and then held
it out for her.  "Kagome, can you feel the heat from the stew?"  It's
directly in front of you.  I know it's embarrassing, but don't worry. 
I love to do things for you and next time hopefully I can help you do this
yourself."  Kagome blushed but was charmed by Kouga's care of her feelings. 
He seemed to sense that she would feel ashamed to be so helpless and tried his
best to alleviate that feeling.  She leaned forward and opened her mouth. 
Kouga brought the spoon up and into her mouth.  She closed her mouth,
taking the stew, and then released the spoon.  It was delicious, ey any and
spicy.  It faintly reminded her of curry.  They proceeded in this
fashion until Kagome told him she was full. 
 
 
Kouga leaned in and said in a husky voice, "Your lips look so delicious, I
think I'll try them before the stew."  He used his tongue to lick Kagome's
lips thoroughly, leaving her breathless.  She parted her lips a tiny bit
and Kouga swept his tongue into her mouth.  He sensuously rubbed his tongue
over hers, paying special attention to the sides.  Kagome could feel a now
familiar rush of heat into her body.  Kouga seemed to be able to set her on
fire with just a touch.  He pulled her to the side and then onto his lap. 
Holding her hips he ground his arousal against her soft behind.  The wolf
demon turned her to face him and spread her legs so she was straddling his lap. 
"Can you feel what you do to me?"  He ground out.  "I have dreamed
about being with you like this for a long time."  He placed her hands over
his chest.  "My heart beats for you, Kagome.  It keeps the rhythm of
your heart."  Kagome sucked in a deep breath and wrapped her arms around
his shoulders. 
 
 
She leaned forward and placed her ear against his chest.  His body was
so warm and his heartbeat so strong.  She wished they could stay that way
forever.  Sitting up again she began to speak.  "Kouga,  I do
seem to have a very strong reaction to you and I can't lie, there are feelings
in me for you that I didn't know even existed.  However, please go slow
with me.  I'm not experienced at all and I want to be sure that this is
right for me before I do anything more.  I don't know yet what my feelings
are for Inuyasha, however I am bound to him also by a promise I made and I
intend to see my journey through to it's conclusion.  Please understand and
support me in this."
 
 
"I do understand and I want you to know that I will never go away and leave
you.  I will wait for you and be patient.  Please don't forget about
me and the promise you made to me also.  I want the chance with you that
was granted.  Don't worry,  your innocence is charming and I will not
rush you."
 
 
"Kouga, I will honor that promise and I can tell you that it is no hardship
for me to do so.  What started out as duty has held more pleasure for me
than I have ever known."  Kouga smiled at this and placed her back on the
mat.  "Let me eat a little and then we will visit your friends.  The
mutt must be ready to tear me limb from limb by now."  Kagome laughed
lightly at this but shook her head and waited until Kouga stood up, signaling
that he was finished.  He leaned over and picked her up in his arms. 

 
 
He squeezed her gently and said, "Let's go."