The Honor of Blood

Hello to all. Yet another story I am posting so let us get the finalities out of the way then, shall we?

Summary: When the Wolf Prince happens upon a wounded and broken hanyou...what will he do? Koga x Inuyasha

Warnings: I made Kagome an evil little twit in this story unlike my others where I paint her as a stronger girl. I felt like writing a bit out of my normal style for a fresh breath this time. Helps me focus to write a more random plot. Also, there will in fact be quite a bit of angst on our beloved Inuyasha's part for quite a few chapters. Basically, a Kagome turns on Inuyasha kind of fic. So yeah, he's going to be a bit depressed at first.

Also as a heads up, this chapter switches POVs quite a bit because I needed to get the basis down for the beginning of the story. Every time you see '... ... ... ... ...' the POV will change.

Without further ado, read, enjoy and review. ^_^

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The Honor of Blood

Part 1: Loyalty of a Pack

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Inuyasha looked towards the rapidly setting sun, sorrow deep within his eyes that were like melted gold.

It had all been a lie...she had lied to him all this time.

Sure, it had been great that he was a half-demon...when he was protecting her.

The dog-like ears flattened against his skull at the thought of being nothing more than a guard dog.

It was so hard to believe and it hurt more than he wanted to admit. His heart clenched as he fought his emotions over recent memories and to be honest, he didn't know how to take what she had done to him. It hurt worse than when Kikyo and he had been tricked into betraying each other...much worse. When Kikyo's arrow had pierced his heart, and before he succumbed to the darkness of her spell, he was at peace with it even though it had hurt like hell in more ways then one...and that pain was nothing compared to the wound that he had lived with all his life as it was reopened yet again, an ache deep down within him that nothing could ease or soothe...the reminder that he could never be accepted, that he was nothing more than a mistake that should never have happened in the first place. At least fifty years ago, he could accept what fate had handed him and what was to become of him in his last moments as he watched Kikyo take her final breaths before him and before the Goshinboku. But Kagome...she had betrayed him far more than anyone could ever hope to, even Kikyo.

Yes, at one point or another all those years ago, he had decided to give himself to Kikyo completely.

He had truly loved the fearsome and beautiful priestess, much more than anyone else he had ever met at that time in his life. The thought of the woman betraying him like she had had killed something inside of him the second the arrow pierced his heart so many years before.

The young girl from the future released him.

She had somehow managed to work her way into his heart after their numerous battles and time spent together, always sticking by his side no matter what happened or much it hurt her to stay.

Tears stung the corner of his eyes and he scoffed at his own weakness.

It was his own fault; he had been played for the fool yet again. He had actually believed for a moment that being who he was had okay with her. But she had turned out to be exactly like everyone else within the world he had been born in. He was nothing more than a half-breed in her eyes...a creature that didn't deserve to be breathing, much less loved.

Inuyasha closed his eyes tightly; his fist clenching so hard his blood stained his claws as they dug deeper into his palm. 'I hate her for doing this time me. But,' his eyes opened slightly, 'I can't get her out of my head, even now. She was my best friend...and I fell for the act.' He glanced down at his hand and slowly opened his fingers, watching in a morbid fascination as his blood ran down his hand in ringlets. 'I'm not human...but I'm not youkai either.'

There was only one question in his mind.

Why?

Why did she do this to him?

Why had she led him on for so long?

So much had happened in the last six years...it was still hard to believe it had actually only been six years when so much had happened. He had finally killed Naraku not even a month ago, Sango and Miroku were no engaged and planning their upcoming wedding although the monk would occasionally show up with a black eye every now and then, Shippo had grown...and so had his love for Kagome.

'It's my fault, I got too close. I got attached.' He sighed. 'I should've seen this coming.'

There had only ever been five people in the entire world that didn't look down on him because of his blood.

His father had died so that he would live, wanting him to live a full life and his mother had been an uncommonly kind woman who had mourned his father for years after he passed. Inuyasha had eventually grown and had come to see and understand her grief and the loneliness in her eyes whenever she looked at him, but her love for him was that of a mother and she had never blamed him for anything. Lady Izayoi, his mother, had known what his life would eventually become when she wouldn't be able to shield him anymore and she had shed many tears for it, Inuyasha remembering so clearly even after many years had passed since she too had left this world.

His ears tightened against his skull at the thoughts of his mother. He missed her...terribly. At times he honestly didn't know how he had survived her death as a pup. It had been such a shock to his heart that Inuyasha truly had wanted to die when it had finally sunk in that he would never see her again, the only person who had cared for him passing into another world where he couldn't follow...it had been too much to bear on some levels and the grief and sadness had never truly gone away.

He heaved a sighed and lowered his head.

It wasn't going to ever get any better, not for him. He should be more than thankful that Sango, Miroku and Shippo, if no one else, had accepted him. The aching in his heart ceased slightly at the thought of the kit and a smile worked its way onto his face. The fox had become like a son to him, Shippo oftentimes being the only reason he stuck around the ragtag group.

"Inuyasha!"

His head snapped towards Kagome's voice, hearing her footsteps and sensing her miko power close to him. She didn't know where he was, but she was slowly getting closer. He resisted the urge to ignore her, he didn't want to see her...not that anyone could blame him for that but he knew that he would have to confront her eventually. Waiting a few moments, he collected his thoughts and emotions so he was prepared for whatever waited for him.

However when the wind drifted through his hair, a sudden scent came through and his eyes widened before narrowing. 'A demon...' And it was heading straight for the miko. Growling and ignoring the new instinct that told him to let it kill her, old habits kicked in and he pushed from the tree and ran with all his might to where she was. Soon he came upon a clearing and skidded to a stop, ignoring the hateful glare aimed his way from the modern miko. His eyes, however, took in her armed appearance with confusion although he brushed it off for later as he turned and waited for the demon to show.

Kagome crossed her arms. "You're pathetic, running at command like the dog you are."

He ignored the comment, his senses focusing on the demon as he tried to pinpoint its location.

"Are you listening to me!?"

Inuyasha growled this time, giving her a glare although his inner demon was practically begging him to slash her to pieces. "Be quiet or you'll give away our position even easier."

"What the hell are you talking about? There's nothing around he--"

The earth shook as a massive demon ran from the forests, going for the immediate threat.

Inuyasha.

Caught off guard, Inuyasha took the full attack with little resistance and went flying, landing on his back several meters away. Three large claw marks decorated his back as he got up again, coughing and looking down at the blood seeping to the ground. Kagome whimpered but he paid no mind to it, looking at the demon. It looked a lot like Goshinki...only bigger and by the wounds on his back, quite a bit stronger as well.

The youkai stood straight, glaring at him. "I come for the sacred jewel, where is it?" The voice was deep and rough.

Inuyasha growled. "You really think you're getting it?" He jumped into the air, swiping his claws at the demon.

His claws met but that simple attack was the end of the demon and Inuyasha blinked as the carcass blew away, something that looked like a paper doll floating to the ground. His eyes widened. 'A shikigami? ...What the hell?'

Kagome knocked back an arrow, a satisfied look on her face. 'This is it,' she thought and let the arrow fly in sync with the hanyou's movements. The arrow was surrounded with power that had once been a pure pink, now a tainted blue as it flue true to its target.

Inuyasha heard the string of the bow release and looked back in time to see the arrow coming directly at him. 'No...' His eyes darted to Kagome and saw the malicious almost grin on the girl's face before the arrow hit just as he landed and he cried out in agony as the purifying energy worked its way through him like a bolt of lightning. He was thrown to the ground from the force, landing heavily on his side and cried out again as it felt like his very blood was on fire. 'No, this can't be happening again...' The panicked thought went through his mind as his ears once again flattened on his head while he tried to breathe, his heat racing and despair making him on the verge of panicking.

Kagome lowered her bow. "Inuyasha, you truly are a fool." She turned on her heel and began walking away. "Be grateful that I ended your misery," she tossed over her shoulder.

Inuyasha closed his eyes tightly as her scent became less and less apparent to him. Another wave of purifying energy made its way through him and he cried out again, not only because of the pain but it felt like his heart was shattering. Golden eyes opened again and looked at the arrow that was deeply embedded in his side, seeing the tainted blue energy still pulsing around it.

So...this was how it would end.

Inuyasha clenched his teeth against crying out again as the arrow pulsed, sending another wave throughout his body. His clawed hand gripped his side directly above it, thankfully not touching the arrow. 'She had this planned,' he winced at the intense pain. 'She wanted to kill me.' That last thought went through his head as darkness engulfed his conscious mind.

... ... ... ... ...

Koga stopped cold in his run as a scent rushed over his senses. Blood... 'I recognize that scent,' he thought as he looked to the east. His eyes narrowed as his mind supplied the identity of it. 'Inuyasha...what has the mutt gotten himself into this time?' Shaking his head, he decided he may as well pay a visit to Kagome while he was in the area and took off in the direction of it.

He had been up in the northern mountains, negotiating with the tribes of the Wolf Youkai to unite under a single banner like they had before Naraku had destroyed much of his pack. Ayame's grandfather had died and she now was the voice of reason to the tribes that ruled the packs in the mountains. The talks had gone well, but the damned woman was still hell bent on taking him as her mate.

Koga remembered the night of the Lunar Rainbow and all, but honestly, he had been her damned babysitter when she was a pup. The thought of taking her as a mate was just...not all that right in his mind.

Shaking his head from his thoughts, he focused on his path.

Trees flew pass him as he headed deeper into the forest. Regardless of popular belief, the shards he had had in his legs before he had given them to Kagome didn't really accelerate his speed; they had just made his body more resistant to attacks. He was just as fast without them and was also very proud of the fact.

Soon enough, he came to a clearing and stopped dead at the sight before him.

'What in the hell...?' He glanced around, eyes wide. 'What happened?'

Inuyasha's limp body lied in the middle of the clearing, his blood pooling around him as the scent drifted through the air. Koga blinked at the arrow embedded in the hanyou's side, the arrow still pulsing with the purifying energy of a miko...it was still trying to purify him. A sudden cry came from Inuyasha and Koga jumped as it echoed throughout the forest.

Kagome's scent was still within range and Koga's eyes widened in disbelief. 'No, she couldn't have...' His eyes narrowed as he took everything in, his mind piecing together what could've happened. 'She did this, she shot him...part of her own pack.' His fist clenched at the very thought. The evidence was too clear for him to deny it. Inuyasha had only known one other priestess that powerful that he hadn't killed and Kikyo had died by Naraku's hand early on in the battle against him. 'Kagome was the only one who could've done this.' Though Koga didn't like saying it aloud, Inuyasha and his companions had become a part of his pack considering his claim on Kagome. It was the only right thing to do, much like taking a youkai mate from another tribe or territory. Shaking his head, he reminded himself that there were more pressing issues at hand.

His azure gaze landed on the arrow. 'I have to get him back to my territory...but what I do about that thing? He'll be dead by the time I get back to the mountains if its left.' He knew some of the healing arts, enough to make it back, but not near enough to help with something like this. Hesitantly, the young wolf prince approached the unconscious hanyou and saw the arrow pulse again with renewed energy, the tainted blue whipping around the arrow. Kneeling beside Inuyasha, he looked at it carefully. 'If I can do it fast enough, I might be able to get it out without hurting him too much.'

Taking a deep breath, he looked at the hanyou's pained expression before growling in determination and grabbing the shaft of the arrow tightly. His teeth ground together as the energy reacted violently to his demonic blood. He pulled it as fast and as gently as he could muster, still wincing in sympathy when Inuyasha let out a half-choked scream in response before he threw it to the ground.

The wolf grunted in pain and looked down at his burned hands. It looked like he had touched burning metal, his hands immediately blistering after the contact with the purifying energy. Doing his best to ignore the pain, he got back to his feet.

The erratic breathing of the hanyou made Koga looked back at him. 'I have to get him to the healer...now.'

Not caring for appearances at this moment in time, the young prince picked Inuyasha up and cradled the hanyou to his chest as he took off at full speed once more. Growling at himself for his own blindness and stupidity, he vowed he would make Kagome regret what she did. To betray a member of her own pack, much less her protector, warranted a death sentence in his eyes. It was almost frightening how fast the love he thought he held for her turned into a raging hate that he had not even bared to Naraku. These thoughts only made him run faster towards his home towards the south.

The sooner Inuyasha was healed, the sooner he could have his way with the miko.

... ... ... ... ...

Lightly stroking Kirara's fur, Shippo sighed to himself.

At fourteen years old, the once midget of a fox had grown dramatically. He now came up to Inuyasha's shoulder in physical height and as he came into his powers, his youkai strength had more than come about. The mark of his father had finally come to him as he reached maturity. A deep jade green leaf was centered on his forehead with two deep green lines intertwining around the leaf and outlining his eyes. On each of his wrists and neck, he wore a jade stripe.

Yes, Shippo had grown.

With his age and adolescence also came his strength and powers. He was still a master of illusions, but now he could hold his own in a battle much to Inuyasha's annoyance although he was nowhere near as strong as the hanyou yet. The kit smiled slightly as he thought about the brash hanyou before looking to the west.

"It's already sunset." He looked at Kirara who had been acting as a pillow for a while. "We should probably be getting back."

They both stood and he jumped on fire cat's back, Kirara taking off from Inuyasha's forest and heading back towards Kaede's village where they had been staying while everyone recovered from the battle against Naraku. Miroku's cursed Wind Tunnel had vanished with Naraku's last breath and Sango's brother was finally at peace, there had been no chance of saving him even with the Tenseiga because he had been destined to die when he had been manipulated into killing the slayers. Even though she had lost her brother, things had turned out all right for the taijiya because she was beginning to move on and look into the future with Miroku.

Kagura was freed from her master's grasp and ironically enough, had followed Koga back to the wolves' den. The Ookami prince still, naturally, made visits to woo the woman Shippo had come to call mother in his mind while Inuyasha usually got sat at least three times per encounter. Sesshomaru had returned to the west after the battle, reasoning that since Inuyasha proved his strength with the Tetsusaiga that there was no reason for him to stick around.

Shippo shook his head at the memory.

Indeed, even the two stubborn...more than stubborn, inu brothers had come to some kind of an agreement regarding both the Tetsusaiga and their father's wishes...truly, they had all thought the world was coming to an end that day.

A sudden scent on the breeze broke his thoughts, causing him to blink. 'Blood...Inuyasha's blood. What's going on?' His dark green eyes narrowed as he looked at Kirara. "Please tell me I'm losing my mind."

The cat, in response, put her nose to the air a moment before her fur spiked on end and a hiss escaped the twin-tale saber. Her speed increased tenfold but Shippo merely growled under his breath before leaping off the cat. Landing softly on the ground, he took off towards the village. One that had improved greatly, with Inuyasha's persistence, was his speed and he was much fast than his feline friend. He didn't like to leave her behind but Inuyasha was more important to him, possibly even more so than Kagome in all rights.

The village came into view and he skidded to a stop on a nearby hill.

Absolutely nothing looked out of place.

Scratching his head, he sniffed the air once more. 'That's Inuyasha's blood, I know it. But where's it coming from?' A movement towards the side made him look and he spotted Kagome walking from the woods, smiling a bit before seeing the bow and arrow on her back. 'Was there a demon?' Worry flooded through him and he raced down the hill at an alarming speed, coming to a stop in front of her.

Blue-gray eyes regarded him with a motherly warmth. "Hello, Shippo."

Though his instincts were practically screaming at him to stay silent, he felt the purifying energy still strong on the girl. She had used her powers not too long ago, however, the thing that unnerved him was the scent of Inuyasha's blood...it was on her. Heavily.

Not knowing what was going on, he watched his words. "Kagome...what happened? Where's Inuyasha?"

The friendly gaze suddenly turned hard and Shippo blinked, stepping away from the woman. Sure, Kagome was like his mom in his mind but that didn't mean he was stupid enough to get close to a miko...especially an angered one. The thought of being purified just wasn't very pleasant, especially after that incident at Mt. Hakurai a few years back. The very thought gave Shippo chills.

"What makes you think something happened," came the defense, though rather late and obvious, reply.

Kirara suddenly landed next to him and growled menacingly at the miko.

'At least it's not just me.' He stared into her gaze unwaveringly and she seemed a bit unnerved by the action. Betrayal washed over him and hurt made him resist the sudden reminder of the sorrow he had buried when his parents died six years ago. 'How could she have...did she really attack Inuyasha?' His eyes narrowed significantly. 'She's no better than damn clay pot that nailed him to a tree for fifty years.'

The pain within him was slowly making it harder to break as he glared at miko from underneath red bangs. "You attacked him...didn't you?" There was no need to ask, but some part of him still desperately wanted her to say no."

Kagome glanced around at the villagers. The fox was causing a scene and people within the village were starting to stare at them, pausing in their work to view the scene of the normally pleasant kitsune confronting the miko.

She glared at the fox though her tone remained sickeningly sweet. "Shippo, let's talk somewhere else, okay?"

"Actually Kagome, neither of us would feel comfortable with you being alone with him."

Shippo looked behind Kagome to see Sango and Miroku both standing not even five feet away. He silently thanked them for their intervention although the urge to throttle Kagome was tempting. However, they're appearance was nothing short of luck since Shippo didn't like to entertain the thought of getting into a battle with Kagome. Once again, the idea of being purified just didn't sit well with him.

The miko looked at them from over her shoulder. "Honestly, the two of you are engaged. Can't you annoy someone else?"

Sango glared. "When Kirara turns her fangs to one of her own, something's not right."

"What happened, Kagome?" Miroku stepped forward. "Judging by both Kirara and Shippo's reactions, there is an explanation obviously due." Violet eyes looked to Shippo in silent question.

The kitsune didn't take his gaze off the miko. "Inuyasha's blood...the scent's all over her."

Kirara hissed her agreement, her hackles rising further as she too fought the urge to tear into the miko.

Sango's eyes widened. "What? But...that has to be some kind of mistake."

The monk looked at the miko. "What happened, Kagome?"

"Who cares? That mutt isn't worth any of our trouble," she tossed back, pushing by the stunned kit and walking into the village. "If you're so worried, why don't you go find him, Shippo? Maybe that'll teach you not to stick your nose where it doesn't concern you."

Three things happened then.

Shippo lost control, Kagome was flung across the river and both Miroku and Sango...well, they just kinda stood there with their mouths tracking the ground. Shippo immediately regretted his loss of control, however, when he turned and saw Kagome's unconscious and bruised body, it disappeared and he couldn't bring himself to care. Her smug attitude was a confession to him, his senses were sharper than most, especially that of a human's. Not saying a word to either Sango or Miroku, he took off towards the south and followed the fading scent of the hanyou that was like a father to him.

'Kagome, if something happens to him...you'll live to regret it,' he silently vowed, his speed increasing.

... ... ... ... ...

His even steps paused as the wind crossed his path. Silver hair bellowed softly around him as he patiently waited for the approaching scent to grow stronger. 'Ah, Inuyasha's kit...what is he doing this far west?' Curious yet cold amber eyes drifted towards the western borders. 'He's far too close, surely Inuyasha is close behind him.'

A smirk graced the Taiyoukai's lips as he pushed from the ground, intent on satisfying his curiosity.

... ... ... ... ...

Shipp kept his heartbeat and breathing steady as he continued to follow Koga's path with as much speed as he could coax out of his body. He had come upon a clearing that had had Inuyasha blood heavily on the air and ground before finding the discarded Shikigami, knowing it had been one of Kagome's because he had helped her learn how to spell them. The scent of both her and Inuyasha had been heavy in the air, but Koga's scent had been a surprise and now the wolf's was mixing with Inuyasha's.

'Koga found him,' he thought, looking towards the south. 'He's at the wolves' den, I know it.'

The kitsune kept going without pause or hitch, lost in his thoughts.

How could Kagome have done this? She had always claimed to care for Inuyasha, going as far as to make him believe she loved him.

The young kitsune growled deeply, betrayal and anger making his speed reach a new high.

Even when the Thunder Brothers had attacked his family, he had not felt like this. Inuyasha was different... Shippo closed his eyes a moment; letting his senses guide him as he willed away the wetness prickling at his eyes. 'I'm not strong enough...' he thought, 'I can't loose him too.'

Inuyasha just had to be all right.

And that's when it happened...

WHAM

Shippo cried out in surprise more than anything before he went flying twenty feet in the forest. Landing with a significant 'thump', he shook his head. "What the...?"

"Fox, you would do well to mind your steps more closely."

Emerald eyes widened at the cold voice and Shippo looked up only to see the Taiyoukai of the Western Lands... "Sesshomaru."

"How observant," the Inu-Taiyoukai dryly supplied.

Common sense kicked in and Shippo jumped to his feet, dusting his kimono off. "I apologize, I was not paying attention."

Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow at the normally hotheaded kit. "What troubles you?"

"Uh..." Shippo glanced behind him. 'Dammit, I have to get going. Inuyasha needs me.' He turned back to the Taiyoukai with a determined gaze. "Look, I don't have time to explain right now, all right? Inuyasha's hurt and in trouble and I gotta find him."

And that was the warning before he turned on his heel and took off once again in the forest, following Koga's trail.

Aforementioned eyebrow rose the Taiyoukai's hairline, growling at the insolence of the brat before taking off after the surprisingly fast youth more out of curiosity and annoyance than anything else. Inuyasha may have been a hanyou, but he was still part of the Western inu bloodline. Not to mention the small fact that he was second to the throne.

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End of Part 1: Loyalty to the Pack

Well? What do you think? Good, bad, okay? It's not my best so far but keep in mind this is just the setup for the story. Review and I'll update. Thanks guys. The next chapter should be longer seeing as I just wanted to see a reaction from this. Thanks guys.

Until next time! ^_^