InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Courtship ❯ Chapter Thirteen ( Chapter 13 )

Inuyasha was practically glowing as he walked through the forest with Kagome at his side with her smaller hand in his. She no longer pulled away from his touch, not that she really did before but there was no longer that uncertainty that he was always able to read in her body language. She had grown comfortable with their growing relationship and though she still hadn't accepted him, Inuyasha grew more confident with each passing day.

After Inuyasha had given Kagome the shirts, his advances had become more of a routine. Every morning, he would surprise her with food and sometimes a flower, which she had started putting in one of her old school books to press and preserve them. Inuyasha took pride in the fact that she wanted to keep all the little flowers she received from him but he didn't understand why she insisted on keeping them. Flowers died, he understood that but every flower was put in a heavy book and now she was thinking about purchasing some rice paper and framing them. Inuyasha had shaken his head when he had heard that but though he thought it was ridiculous, he was curious about the results.

Afternoons were a bit different. Most of the time, he would help her work. Which meant that he sat on the roof or fence watching her and only assisting when she needed some lifting done. It wasn't that he was avoiding work but the garden was women's work plus, he didn't know what to do other then water and weed and Kagome always seemed to do much more than that. So he let Shippo help with that, which pleased the kit to no end and often, work turned to play.

Inuyasha could remember watching Kagome and Shippo play in the past and during that time, he had thought at it has a waist of time. The only benefit had been that the runt had left him alone but now, he thought differently. He now took part in the games and recently he began starting them. He had been surprised to find out how much fun it was wrestling in the dirt, whether it is with Shippo or Kagome and how entertaining a simple game of tag was. Often, they would play until their sides hurt so bad from laughing that they were bent over in pain and joy and occasionally, they had collapsed in exhaustion and dozed under a tree in the sun. Those times Inuyasha especially enjoyed. True, the only part that touched each other were their hands but during those times, he had lied next to her like he had always wanted to (never mind that the kit was curled against her side between them), listening to her deep breathing and watching her face until he too drifted off to sleep. The only thing he wished was that it was his arm or chest she was using for a pillow and not the grass and Shippo was on the other side of her, or even better, back in the village.

If there wasn't any work to be done, they would either visit with Sango and Miroku. Often they would spend those visits they would talk about their adventures, usually leaving out the real painful ones, and if they weren't talking, they were helping Miroku around the house. His garden was now looking as good as Kagome's and the last little touches that needed to be done on the hut had finally been completed. If they weren't doing that, they would go on a picnic at the river, which was an ideal spot since it was getting so hot. Poor Sango was really feeling it. And they would spend their time dipping their feet in the water and watching Shippo try to catch fish. Inuyasha reminded himself there that he was going to have to teach the kit how to fish as well.

The evenings were as predictable as the morning. He would take Shippo hunting if they needed the food and if not, he would teach him how to track while dinner cooked and while they ate, they listened to Shippo's exaggerated tails of what he and Inuyasha did during their training. During that time, Kagome always gave him an admiring look, which encouraged him, as well as the kit's progress, to continue the training. Then they would all turn in for the night. Which Inuyasha anticipated and hated since his dreams were coming more often and were getting more intense.

Inuyasha sighed then looked at Kagome to see if she noticed it. She hadn't. Like him, she was lost in thought. Relieved, he turned his eyes ahead. He had another dream last night and that one had jerked him out of his sleep in both excitement and fear. That dream, he finally managed to join with Kagome but he had been in his full-youkai form and that had scared him half to death and exited him to the point of pain. In the dream, Kagome had enjoyed it and he couldn't help but wonder if Kagome, the real Kagome, really wouldn't mind joining with him when he was like that. Inuyasha shook the thought out of his head. No, that wouldn't happen. Even if Kagome did get excited when he was transformed, he wouldn't allow that to happen. He couldn't take the chance of hurting Kagome. He would rather have Sesshoumaru burn his skin off with his poison claws than take the chance of hurting Kagome.

Other than the dream, the days were relaxed and uneventful. Only one thing had broke the peace and only Inuyasha had been aware of it and it had quickly passed. He had been chasing Kagome and Shippo back from one of their picnics and he had caught Kagome, who was always his target, at the edge of the village where he had wrestled her to the ground. He had been unable to resist and had given her a brief kiss. He had been surprised that Kagome didn't run away like she did after their first kiss. True, she had run away again but she had been blushing and her eyes were still laughing before pushing him off her and running to Kaede's hut, laughing the entire way.

It had been after Kagome had disappeared from the hut that he felt it. A hateful stare directed his way. Inuyasha had turned to find Montaro watching him with a stare so cold that if Inuyasha hadn't been anyone else, would have felt slightly intimidated. But Inuyasha hadn't gotten scared but angered. He met Montaro's dark gaze with his own and let out a growl loud enough for the human to hear. The other villagers near by had heard it as well and when they turned to investigate, they added their stare to Inuyasha's. But Montaro hadn't backed down but had narrowed his eyes instead. Instinct had been screaming at him to go rip the human apart for even thinking about challenging him but Inuyasha kept himself calm and settled for flexing his claws. Montaro's gaze had dropped then before he turned and disappeared down the street.

Inuyasha bit his lip as he thought back to the incident. He wasn't afraid of Montaro but he was worried about Kagome. That stare had proved that Montaro wasn't ready to back down from the fight yet and even though Kagome had refused him, Montaro was still going to try and take her from him. That was something Inuyasha wouldn't let happen. No one was going to take Kagome away from him. Not human not youkai not even God himself could take her away from him, he forbade it.

"Inuyasha?"

Inuyasha looked down at Kagome, his eyes wide in surprise when he saw her watching him and wondered how long she had been. After a brief glance around, he realized he had been lost in thought for a while since they were almost to their preferred picnicking spot in the forest.

Kagome raised a brow in confusion. She had seen the dark look cross Inuyasha's eyes when she turned to look at him and wondered what could have caused it. She hoped it wasn't her.

"What are you thinking about?" she asked.

Inuyasha smiled and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze before looking back to the path in front of him.

"Nothing important."

"Then why did you look mad a moment ago?"

Inuyasha stopped and sighed before turning to her. Before Kagome could guess what was happening, she was pulled in his embrace and felt him bury his face in her hair. It reminded Kagome of the time Inuyasha had pushed her down the well, the hug was so similar to it after all, and Kagome couldn't help but try and pull away. She didn't get far since Inuyasha pulled her right back and tightened his arms around her.

"I was thinking about what could have happened if Shippo and Miroku hadn't been there to stop Montaro."

Kagome relaxed against him and dropped her basket before wrapping her own arms around him. She felt so small in his arms. Her head barely reached his chin and she had even grown another inch during their travels but Inuyasha had grown several inches until he was almost six feet and he was still growing, even if it was slower. His arms were strong wrapped around her, holding her tightly and though it was restrained, she could feel the power in them and knew that he could break her in half if he wanted to. But Kagome knew no such fears. She may have felt small in Inuyasha's arms but she also felt as if nothing bad could touch her. In Inuyasha's arms, she was safe from the world and she knew that he would protect her from it if he could.

Kagome rested her head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat and breathing his sent, a mixture of trees, earth, and a scent that was strictly Inuyasha. She then tightened her arms around him.

"It didn't happen and I don't think he would have tried right then." Kagome reassured him. "There were too many people around. All he could do was kiss me."

Inuyasha nuzzled her neck and gently placed a kiss at the nap, taking delight in the small shudder that coursed through her. He wouldn't tell her but what he was afraid of what he would have done if Miroku hadn't clubbed the bastard. He was afraid that he would have lost control and killed the human before Kagome's own eyes, even bathing her in the blood. He couldn't picture the look in her eyes, he didn't want to but he knew that if he had killed Montaro, he would have lost his chances with Kagome for good. As much as Kagome loved him, she wouldn't be able to stand him killing someone for her. Kagome just wasn't that way.

Inuyasha pulled away slightly so he could look down at her and watched as her eyes slowly opened and curiously stare up at him. Inuyasha watched that curiosity grow to confusion when he cupped her face in his palm.

"He shouldn't have even gotten that far," Inuyasha, told her before gently placing a kiss on her forehead.

"Inuyasha?"

Her voice was breathless, even a little fearful but she didn't pull away when he tilted her head back and she willing met his lips halfway.

Their first kiss had been innocent hunger and their second had been a quick show of affection. This kiss was tender passion. Kagome didn't hesitate like she had during their first kiss, but kissed him back with equal emotion. She didn't understand why she wasn't pulling away since she was still uncertain about his feelings for her. Maybe it had been the scare she had gotten when Montaro had kissed her. The kiss that made her realize how much she craved Inuyasha's touch. Or maybe it was how sweet he was being with his gifts or how he was acting around Shippo. Kagome didn't know and at the moment, she didn't care. Even if she wasn't ready yet, she wanted this kiss. The kiss she had been wanting for days and she wasn't going to deny herself that so when Inuyasha nibbled her bottom lip, she willingly parted her lips for him.

Inuyasha couldn't stop the breathless moan that escaped from his throat when he tasted Kagome in what seemed like forever. She tasted even better than he remembered and he deepened the kiss for a deeper taste. He felt Kagome's hands clench the back of his hoari and for a moment, he though he had gone too far again but then Kagome did something he had expected. She raised her hands to the back of his head and pulled him down farther so she had better access and stepping further into his embrace.

Kagome was being bold and she knew it and there was a chance that she might cause Inuyasha's control to snap but he tasted so good and his body felt so right against hers that she couldn't help push herself tighter against him. She swallowed the growl that he released from her actions and she felt his hand on her back clench in an effort to hold onto his control but the hand on her cheek was still amazingly gentle as it moved from her cheek to her chin. She allowed him to tilt her head back more but she kept him from making the kiss aggressive. He seemed to understand for the kiss became gentler even if it still had the same amount of passion and that made her knees go week.

Inuyasha smirked when he felt her collapse against him and he held her tightly against him as he continued to kiss her with tenderness he didn't know he had. He was losing himself in the kiss and he didn't care. Every sound she made was like a siren's song to his ears and the softness of her body that easily molded to his called to his blood, but it was her mouth that held his full attention. Her mouth promised him riches beyond his wildest imaginations as long as he became her slave. And a slave he was willing to become if it meant kissing her everyday, as much as he wanted to just so he could lose himself in her taste.

So lost in the kiss, Inuyasha no longer noticed the world around him and all his senses were tuned in on the girl against him that he didn't notice that something had changed.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing to my woman?"

That is, until an annoying wolf decided to make his presence known.

The growl of pleasure that was forming in his throat quickly turned into something far more feral and threatening. Slowly, Inuyasha lifted his mouth from Kagome's but didn't let her go but held her tighter as he looked over his shoulder at Koga, his fangs bared and his eyes glowing in hostility.

The moment Inuyasha released her lips; Kagome completely collapsed against him and buried her face in his hoari as she tried to clear her head and tried to get her knees to quite shaking. Her entire body felt like jelly and the only thing keeping her from hitting the ground was the arm that he had wrapped tightly around her waist. It strange how she felt like this yet Inuyasha seemed unaffected. She had been the one to control the kiss after all but as she tightened her grip on his hoari in an effort to gain her footing, she wondered how much control she had. Was it possible, that if the kiss had gone longer, she might have just let Inuyasha take her right there on the forest floor? The thought scared her. As much as she loved him, Kagome wasn't ready to take their relationship to the next level and she was thankful for the interruption.

Wait a minute.

Shock gave her strength and Kagome managed to steady herself but Inuyasha refused her let her go. She even felt the hand in her hair clench when she lifted her head to look around him. Her eyes widened when she saw Koga.

This was not good. If Inuyasha had been aggressive toward Koga before he had started courting her, how was he going to act now? Judging by the growl that was slowly rising in volume, not very well.

Koga was standing a little ways down the path. He still had that arrogant look to him but like Inuyasha, his fangs were bared in a threatening manner. His claws were also flexed too and she could see his fingers twitching. Koga was itching for a fight and thinking on how she and Inuyasha must have looked a few moments ago, she could understand why.

Surprisingly enough, Inuyasha didn't jump into the fight like he willing would have done in the past. He was calm but Kagome could hear and feel the growl that was slowly rising in volume as Koga added his own, and she could feel every muscle tense as he readied himself for a fight. This wasn't good. Kagome remembered how much trouble it was keeping the two from fighting in the past but she had a feeling it was going to be next to impossible this time. Maybe if she just calmed the air between them, they would settle this with only a few punches instead of the exchange of blood.

Slowly, Kagome pulled from Inuyasha's grasp and he let go easily enough, which surprised her but her surprise turned to slight fear when he discovered it was only so he could turn and face Koga. Keeping her calm, Kagome stepped to the side so Koga could see her fully but made sure she was behind Inuyasha to comfort him.

Forcing back her fear, Kagome put a smile on her face.

"Koga," she warmly greeted, "what brings you here?"

Inuyasha growl grew but it was more in disapproval then in warning. Kagome ignored him. Her greeting may have added to Inuyasha's anger but at least Koga's growl had calmed a little.

Koga smirked at Inuyasha and he straightened before looking at Kagome.

"I was coming to get you, Kagome." He answered.

Kagome blinked in surprise. She hadn't been expecting that. True, Koga had always claimed that she belonged to him but he had never made any attempt to take her from Inuyasha other then when they first met. Even after the battle with Naraku, Koga had left her with Inuyasha and that was almost two years ago. So seeing him now and hearing that excuse, Kagome was left speechless.

Next to her, Inuyasha tensed even more, if that was even possible and she could see the slight change in his body to realize that he was getting ready to pounce. It was hardly noticeable but Kagome had been with Inuyasha too long to not understand the changes in his body language.

Hoping to help calm him, Kagome stepped a little farther behind Inuyasha and gently laid a hand on his arm. It worked, slightly. He was still growling and prepared for a fight but at least he was leaning more towards her now.

"You're not taking her anywhere?" Inuyasha snarled.

So much for keeping Koga calm.

Kagome mentally sighed when Koga's growls once again reached her ears. Will these two never stop? Shaking her head to answer her question, she looked back at Koga.

"Koga, we've been through this." Her voice was soft and sympathetic with a gentle note to it that had both youkai lowering their growls and listening. "I'm not going with you. I'm staying here, with Inuyasha."

Inuyasha grinned evilly at the wolf but quickly got in a defensive position and grabbed the hilt of his sword when he saw the denial in Koga's face.

Koga stared at Kagome, his eyes wide with emotion.

"Kagome, you're my woman."

Kagome shook her head.

"No Koga, I'm not."

Kagome was able to feel the hurt that rolled off Koga the moment she breathed those words but she forced herself to be unaffected. She had gone through this before. She had rejected him when he first made the claim and he had ignored her then. So this was his own fault. If he had just listened to her then, he wouldn't be going through this and she wouldn't be placed in such and uncomfortable position.

Her sympathy for the wolf turned to anger when Inuyasha started to laugh.

"You've been rejected wolf," Inuyasha taunted. "Now leave."

Kagome really wanted to use the subduing spell right then but held her tongue. If she did, Koga might take that as a sign that she rejected Inuyasha as well and continue his advances. Or might take advantage of the opportunity and take of with her. But she promised to leave a nice size Inuyasha crater in the ground once Koga left.

Koga pain filled expression turned to cold anger as he shifted his eyes to Inuyasha. His eyes narrowed at the victory he read in the hanyou's eyes. No, this wasn't over yet. Koga had done everything in what he thought would win him Kagome but she refused his advances but that didn't mean he was going to give up yet. There was still one more thing he could try.

There were several ways a male youkai could claim a female. One was that they could court her and let her chose if she wanted him or not. That was the way the lords did it since they could afford rejection since there were so many other females that would want him. Of course it was rare that they would be rejected since every female wanted to be mated to a lord. But sometimes that did happen and in that case the lord would put a vocal claim on the female and she wouldn't accept another suitor and let the holder of the claim court her until she either deemed him worthy or rejected him. Another way was for the male to fight the female and prove that he was her superior. Usually a female couldn't resist such an encounter and would submit once pinned, if not, she would fight to the death, or run off. That only happened if the female was too young or too wild. . That way was the technique the lower class youkai used. They didn't have riches and often they had to hunt for a pack so food was couldn't be spared so courtship was out of the question. Besides, proving to be the stronger and better fighter met that they would be good providers and that was what females were looking for. The final way was for all classes. If two lords wanted the same female, they would challenge each other and whoever won not only got the female but their opponents land as well. Lower class youkai used it when there were too few females around so a fight was unavoidable. But the challenge had one rule. The challenge must be met or the challenger won the female by default.

Koga didn't know how to court a human and he already knew that he was stronger than her so she knew that he would be a good provider but still she rejected him. Koga growled deep in his throat and glared at Inuyasha. Koga had made the vocal claim on Kagome but it held little ground against Inuyasha since he was a lord and Koga was only lower class so he could over look the hanyou trying to court Kagome but he couldn't over look the fact that he had succeeded. But still, there was still that one rule that all youkai followed. The challenge that proved who was worthy to be Kagome's mate. All youkai knew of it and all had to follow it, even the lords. And Kagome, Koga spared a glance at her who was started to look a little unnerved since he had been silent so long, would have to live with whoever won.

"No, inukkoro." Koga growled at he looked back at Inuyasha. "It isn't over."

Inuyasha met Koga's glare with one of his own. Koga couldn't be thinking what he was thinking, Inuyasha thought. He wouldn't do that to Kagome. Kagome was too free spirited to be claimed like that. It would kill her.

"I Koga, prince of the wolf tribe, " Koga continued, "challenge you for Kagome."

Kagome's spine straightened at the words.

"What?!"

What the hell was Koga thinking? She had refused him, true she could understand him resenting that but he was acting like she belonged to Inuyasha. In time she might have but he was treating her like a possession, some prize to be won. That ignited her anger and she actually stepped forward so she could go over and slap the smirk of Koga's face but Inuyasha shot an arm out to stop her.

"Kagome, don't."

It was an order and in the tone that told her that she better not disobey him. He usually only used that tone when he there was too much danger and he was telling her to hide. She never listened to him anyway but still, the tone scared her just a little but she wouldn't let it show. The tone also told her that Inuyasha had accepted Koga's challenge and that angered her more than Koga initiating it.

"You're going to fight him, aren't you?" Kagome stated more than asked. "What is it with you two? You can't just-"

"Kagome, shut up."

Kagome's eyes widened and her mouth opened in surprise and slowly her anger started to rise even more.

Inuyasha sensed it and looked at her, his eyes hard but his touch was tender when he grabbed her chin, disrupting her thought and forcing her attention on him.

"I don't have a choice," Inuyasha told her. "It's the youkai rule. When a male challenges another male over a female, the males must fight. Whoever wins, gets the female. Even a lord must follow this rule. And if the male refuses to meet the challenge, then he automatically loses. If I back out, I lose and Koga takes you to be his mate."

Inuyasha saw the pain in Kagome's eyes and waited for the question.

"If you win, am I you're mate?"

Inuyasha shook his head.

"No. I'll will fight Koga, yes, but when I win I will let you chose whether or not you want me."

Kagome managed a smile before looking back at Koga. She took a deep breath to steady herself before speaking loud enough for each of them to hear.

"Promise me it will not be to the death." She ordered. "I will not allow any union of mine to be built on a pool of blood."

Koga narrowed his eyes but slowly nodded.

Inuyasha didn't respond and Kagome turned cold eyes on him but the anger was replaced with confusion when she saw the pout.

"You do know that you just ruined the thrill of the fight."

Kagome managed a laugh, even kissed his cheek, not a wise decision since it earned another growl from Koga, before walking off the trail to sit on a fallen log that the villagers hadn't gotten to yet. Board already, she rested her chin her hand to prepared herself for the fight. Inuyasha and Koga were staring at each other, sizing each other up which wasn't necessary since they've been fighting for years, and threatening each other with load, feral growls. Kagome sighed. Making them promise not to kill each other did have one con. The fight would last longer and Kagome had a feeling that this was going to be a long fight.

The fight was as long as Kagome thought it would be but that didn't make her feel any better as she watched Koga landed another hit. That hit had flung Inuyasha into a tree and when he stood, blood was running down his lip. Kagome had to stop herself to keep from jumping between the two and tending to Inuyasha's injuries but she managed to stay put. She had to dig her nails into the rough bark of the log but she stayed seated.

The "challenge" as the two had put it had been going on for a little over an hour. In the beginning Kagome had been board. She even ate most of the food she brought in the picnic basket just to give her something to do. But now she wasn't board but a little scared. With each minute and each exchanged hit, the fight was getting more intense. Both youkai were covered in dirt and sweat and were bleeding from superficial wounds. That may have slowed a human but these two pressed on. Each hit would become more powerful and more accurate and each move became faster and faster until Kagome could barely make out the moves.

Kagome flinched as Koga scored another hit and Inuyasha responded by drawing his sword and swinging it at the wolf. He was aiming for a leg, Kagome noticed and she frowned. She forgot to make them promise not to dismember each other.

Koga easily dodged the move and put space between himself and Tetsusaiga. Even without the jewel shards in his legs, Koga was still faster than Inuyasha even if it was barely but even that little bit saved his leg. He glared at the hanyou wanting very badly to rip him apart, starting with those ears of his. He was standing defensively, with the sword in front of him and he in front of Kagome, Koga noticed and his growl grew. Things should not have come to this. He should have kept Kagome with him when he first met her, even if he had stolen her back later, things might have been as they should be. With Kagome by his side with a few pups surrounding them. But he had been a fool and she wanted Inuyasha. Koga snorted. It didn't matter. He would defeat the hanyou and take Kagome. He wouldn't force himself on her but give her time to adjust to the change. He would be kind, caring, and compassionate and she would learn to love him in time.

Inuyasha met the wolf's glare with one of his own. He could smell Kagome behind him. Her scent was mixed with fear and excitement. Both helped to push him harder along with the knowledge of what would happen if he would lose. Kagome would be taken away from him. Even if she didn't want to go, if he lost, Koga would take her away, kicking and screaming and there would be nothing he could do about it. And in time, it would break her spirit. Inuyasha knew that Koga would never force himself on Kagome like he had the claim. The wolf had more honor than that and though Inuyasha hated to admit it, Koga did care for Kagome but feelings didn't override instincts.

Kagome would be an unwilling mate and that would force Koga to lock her in his cave until she submitted to him. She would never be free from the wolf. Everything she did would be carefully watched to make sure she didn't leave and what she did would be restricted. Kagome was a free spirit and would always be. She would never submit to Koga therefore never gain his trust or her freedom and that would be what would kill her.

Inuyasha growled deep in his chest; a dark feral growl that promised pain and suffering. He would not let that happen. He would win this challenge and Kagome would be free to make her own decision. True he already knew what that decision was, but he would at least give her time to act upon it.

Koga and Inuyasha charged at each other and when Koga was in distance, he swung the Tetsusaiga. Koga dodged it and since Inuyasha had over swung, he was open. Koga quickly took the advantage and gave two punches to Inuyasha's face and a hard kick to his middle. It sent Inuyasha flying, crashing through several trees before a larger oak stopped his flight. Kagome screamed his names and Inuyasha shook his head to clear it and he spared a look at her.

She was standing now. Her body poised to run to him but she held her ground. Her eyes were wide and watering and hands were clenched in front of her, wanting to go to him but unable to. She was scared; Inuyasha could read it in her eyes and in her sent. Scared for him like she had been in every fight. True, she was confident in his abilities but she was always afraid that he would get hurt. Inuyasha cracked a smile. She was still thinking of him. Even though the challenge could very well ruin her life, she was still thinking about him and only him.

Inuyasha hardened his eyes and looked back at Koga. He was smirking now as he looked at Inuyasha then motioned for Inuyasha to look to the side. Inuyasha hesitated but did so. Tetsusaiga lied near Kagome, out of his reach. He saw Kagome make a move for it but Inuyasha stopped her with the shake of his head. He didn't need it. He shouldn't have drawn it in the first place. He was better with his hands than with the sword. He should go to it and at least sheath it but Inuyasha knew Koga wouldn't give him the chance. Koga didn't want Inuyasha anywhere near his sword. Inuyasha narrowed his eyes and stood. He could still fight, even without having the sword somewhere on his person. He wasn't in any threat of dying; Kagome made sure of that and his youkai blood only took over when he was close to death.

Inuyasha smirked before lunging at Koga. As expected, Koga dodged and tried his own attack to hit nothing but air. It continued like that. Each of them attempting to claw each other to either hit nothing but air or only graze the skin. Blood covered them now but they ignored it and continued slashing at each other each avoided the fatal areas but tried to make the next injury that would leave the opponent unable to fight.

It was hard trying not to kill the enemy but they tried for Kagome but each failed attempt was making their temper rise. The forest echoed in the growls and snarls as their attacks filled with more power.

Inuyasha grabbed hold of Koga's calf when the wolf tried to kick him and digging his claws deeply into the muscle, Inuyasha threw them across the clearing they were slowly making. The throw didn't have enough momentum in it and Koga only cracked the tree he hit instead of breaking through it. It still hurt and Koga had to shake his head before quickly dodging Inuyasha's claws that came close to ripping his arm off. Fortunately, he was only grazed and the blood barely reached the surface. The slashes on his calves were another thing. They were bleeding heavily, the worst of all his wounds. They weren't life threatening since Inuyasha hadn't gotten a good enough hold before throwing him but they would slow him down a little. Koga growled. His only advantage was taken away from him.

Inuyasha's temper was especially rising. Half of Koga's growls were mocks and Koga knew just what buttons to push. Kagome's fear was steadily growing. She didn't understand what the growls met but she understood the tone. Inuyasha narrowed his eyes. This had to end or Kagome wouldn't be able to help stepping between them and trying to stop them. She wouldn't succeed and would only delay them long enough for them to catch their breaths and in turn make the fight even longer.

Snarling, Inuyasha again attacked Koga who didn't dodge it like he expected him to but grabbed hold of his wrist and turn just enough so he could knee Inuyasha in the diaphragm as hard as he could. The air was forced from Inuyasha's lungs and he saw stars. Instinct told him to ball up but he fought it. He was already half bent from Koga holding his wrist and that alone left him vulnerable, especially since all the strength seemed to be sucked from his muscles as his body fought for air.

Koga smiled and pulled Inuyasha closer and raised his mouth to Inuyasha's ear.

"Kagome will give me a pup by next summer," Koga sneered throwing Inuyasha into the nearest tree.

Inuyasha went still and Koga thought he had won but a growl slowly rose from the hanyou, escalating in volume until it was almost deafening. It unnerved Koga a little bit, especially when Inuyasha's sent changed. Koga narrowed his eyes and prepared himself for another attack. He watched closely as Inuyasha rose to his feet but he was unable to see his face since Inuyasha kept his head down enough for his hair to hide him.

Koga gulped. His instincts were telling him to run and Koga wanted to do just that but he didn't understand why. This was Inuyasha. He was nothing but a hanyou and Koga was the leader of his pack. He could defeat Inuyasha; it would just take some time.

Koga was watching as Inuyasha raised his eyes to meet Koga's and Koga couldn't help but be surprised when he saw the red eyes and purple streaks on each cheek. Inuyasha was a full-youaki now. How could this be? Inuyasha was nothing but a hanyou, he shouldn't be able to transform. Unless his youkai blood was actually powerful enough to override his human conscience. Suddenly, Koga was beginning to doubt that he would win.

Kagome gasped when she saw Inuyasha's red eyes. How could this have happened? Inuyasha wasn't that badly hurt, he shouldn't have transformed. Kagome thought back to when Koga whispered something in Inuyasha's ear. Unless Koga had said something to really piss him off. Kagome worried her bottom lip with her teeth.

Inuyasha couldn't remember anything now. He wouldn't remember his promise not to kill Koga. He wouldn't remember the kisses they shared. Tears filled Kagome's eyes, threatening to spill. He wouldn't remember that he was courting her.

Kagome blinked away the tears. Now was not a time for crying. Kagome looked down at the Tetsusaiga lying only a few feet from her. If she could just get to it then get it to Inuyasha and he would transform back. The thought filled her with hope and courage and she looked back at Inuyasha. He was still staring at Koga, growling that terrifying growl of his. He hadn't attack yet and she hoped he wouldn't but at the same time hoped he would. Kagome was pretty sure that he attention would remain on Koga since he was the biggest threat but she didn't want to take her chances of his attention turning on her. Fighting would keep his focus on Koga and give her the time she needed to get the sword to him.

Steeling her nerve, Kagome took a step toward Tetsusaiga. And Inuyasha looked at her. Kagome squeaked at the look he gave her. His eyes had narrowed and his mouth was turned in a snarl. Kagome didn't understand that look. It was still threatening but there was more of a demand in it than hostility. She even noticed that his growl had changed in pitch, almost softer. Did he recognize her? Kagome took a chance and stepped forward. Inuyasha snarled. Kagome froze in her spot and the snarl stopped. Okay, she didn't know if he recognized her or not but it was clear that he didn't want her to move. Kagome bit her lip. Things were defiantly looking bad at this point.

Koga didn't dare take his eyes off Inuyasha even though he was focused on Kagome. The growl had changed to be threatening to almost calm. It was fill with authority and possessiveness but was reassuring, demanding, and affectionate at the same time. A growl a youkai would give a disobedient mate that gotten herself into trouble. Could it be that Inuyasha's youaki already saw Kagome as his mate?

This wasn't good. If Inuyasha already saw Kagome as his mate then he wouldn't be responding to the challenge, he would be protecting what was his. That meant he would fight twice as hard and would try in every way he could to rip his throat out.

Koga almost flinched when Inuyasha turned his eyes back to him and the hostile growl once again filled the clearing. He wouldn't back down. Not yet. Inuyasha may now be a youkai but that didn't mean that he was stronger than Koga. No, that only meant he would be more of a challenge. Koga mentally snorted. He was already a challenge to begin with.

Inuyasha attacked and Koga avoided it but it was close. Koga knew he lost a few strands of hair with that one. He caught himself on his hand and used that to push him back into the air to avoid another swipe of deadly claws. He landed next to a great oak, between Inuyasha and Kagome. Inuyasha's eyes narrowed. That wasn't the best places to be.

Koga licked his lips. He couldn't win. Maybe if Inuyasha hadn't transformed, he could have won but this form was twice as strong and twice as fast. Koga's calf throbbed painfully. He wouldn't be able to keep up. Not only did his wound slow him down drastically it was weakening. It would only be a matter of time before his leg lost all its strength. Koga heard Kagome fidget behind him. Still, he didn't want to end it just yet. Maybe he couldn't win but he could at least try to make Inuyasha work for his prize.

Inuyasha lunged at him and Koga took a chance and jumped straight in the air. Inuyasha's ended up clawing dirt and debris flew all around him. Koga smiled. Inuyasha was vulnerable in this position. He would keep his promise to Kagome and not kill Inuyasha but at least he could injure him enough to slow him down.

Koga landed on one of the upper branches and immediately lunged at the hanyou before he could recover from his position. Koga was grinning in triumph when he swung but he eyes widened when Inuyasha rolled on the ground before leaping off to the side, safe from Koga's attack. If Koga had been successful, he would have cut deeply into Inuyasha's shoulder, leaving the arm useless but now he cut completely through the tree and it immediately began to fall.

Kagome's eyes widened when she saw the hug tree falling toward her and she knew that she didn't have enough time to avoid it. It was too wide and it was falling to fast. Whimpering, she closed her eyes and waited to the inevitable.

Koga's eyes were wide in fear when he saw the danger he had foolishly put Kagome in and wished with all his soul that he still had the jewel shards in his legs. Maybe then he would have been able to save her. His fear turned to surprise when a blur of red cut his vision and the tree was cut to pieces. Koga sighed, thinking Kagome safe when he saw the pieces of wood lying on the ground, but his blood ran cold when he saw her lying still among it.

Koga's heart ached and he wanted to go to her but dared not. Inuyasha was crotched down next to her, gently nudging her with his knuckles. Koga was delighted to hear a tortured moan but Kagome's eyes remained closed and she remained still. Koga too remained still as he watched Inuyasha lean over her and gently sniffed her neck. He was smelling her lifeblood, trying to detect if death had crept in it. He heard Inuyasha's sigh of relief and Koga took a tortured breath. She wasn't dying. She was badly hurt but in need but if she got it, she would be fine.

Slowly, Koga rose to his feet. His calf screamed in protest but he ignored it and watched at Inuyasha turned to him, snarling. Koga slowly backed away, his eyes lowered to the ground, knowing that if he looked at Inuyasha, or even Kagome, Inuyasha would attack and kill him. He wanted to look. He wanted Inuyasha to see the respect he felt for the hanyou now and most of all, he wanted to see Kagome. To watch her take in her small breaths of air to let him know she was still alive. He wouldn't though, out of fear of his life and the code of the challenge, he would keep his eyes lowered and leave the area.

"Keep her safe," he whispered. Knowing that Inuyasha could hear him. The growl continued but it was softer now. More of a warning than a threat.

Once Koga was gone, Inuyasha turned back to Kagome and leaned over her. He continued to growl but they were much softer. He stared at the bumped that had swelled on her temple. It had already grown to twice the size when he had first seen it and the bluish black circle around it was already visible and darkening. Inuyasha whimpered, a pathetic pleading sound that he couldn't stop; didn't even try to stop. Gently he nudged her face with his knuckles again. Trying to wake her without causing her more pain and barely moving her. Kagome moaned again and her eyelids did flutter but they quickly stilled.

Inuyasha braced an arm on the other side of her and leaned down. He nuzzled her neck and nipped at her shoulder, all the while continuing his soft growl and pleading whimpers, anything to get her to respond and slowly she did so. It was slow and the motions were faint. Starting with her moans that were growing more pain filled, her hands began to clench and unclench as she fought for consciences, and her eyes softly fluttered until they barely opened to reveal unfocused, gray-blue eyes.

Kagome moaned. Her head felt like it was about to explode and almost wished it did so it would end the pain. But the pain was a good thing. It let her know that she was alive. She reminded to tell that to herself again once her headache was gone. Kagome tried to remember why her head hurt so badly then remembered the tree but why was she still alive? That tree was huge; she should be crushed beneath it, nothing more than a puddle on the ground. Kagome moaned again. It hurt to think and she didn't want to think about that. What she wanted was painkillers, lots and lots of painkillers.

Kagome slowly became aware of something sharp touching her shoulder and tried to think what it was. It only made her head hurt worst. Don't think. Just don't think and you won't hurt as bad. Forcing herself to relax in hopes the pain would ease, Kagome slowly tried to open her eyes. It was harder than she thought and when she succeeded, it was only half way and everything was unfocused. It was like looking through the world through a foggy window. Shapes were hard to identify and the only thing she could really see was colors. She was seeing red right now. Lots of red. Her eyes followed the red until she met silver. Inuyasha. She knew it was him. She would be able to recognize that color anywhere. Slowly, her eyes followed the silver hair until she saw what she thought was his eyes. Red. Kagome stiffened and her eyes focused on a full-youkai Inuyasha. Kagome began to tremble in fear. Inuyasha was leaning over her in his full-youkai form, who only thought is to kill and Tetsusaiga was lying somewhere in all the debris. What was she going to do?

Kagome whimpered in both pain and fear as Inuyasha leaned toward her.

AN: Sorry about the cliffhanger but I couldn't resist. Besides, if I continued, who knows how long this chapter would have been. It's already thirteen pages and that's much longer than I thought it would be. Imagine what it looks like handwritten. Next chapter will be up as soon as possible, hopefully by Next Sunday. No promise but it's a goal to work forward to and I'll try to have it up sooner. Thank you everybody for your support, especially those who supported by last, boring, I still hate it, chapter. Your reviews really encouraged me and I'm extremely thankful.

Next chapter: Kagome realizes how much she means to Inuyasha.