-note to the site mistress- Please tell me if you think it's any good please be critical. And,if you want to use this fanfic e-mail me first so i'll know to send you the rest of it. The next chapters are still a bit scratchy but they're comen along. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Authors Ramblings: Hey, thanks for reading my story. I'm an aspiring author buy I'm still comen along mostly I write for magazines (White Dwarf and Citadel Journale)and these fanfics but one day I hope to be a published novelist!! But I'm still not at my full potential and your criticism is wanted. My friends and family are to nice to tell me the truth so I'm counten on you. Also tell me how you want the story to go. I'm all ears!!!!!! Well I think that.s about it.. here it is... disclaimer: I don't own the Inuyasha story or characters so don't sue me Shadows of the Fallen By: L.R. Sammy Dedicated to my friend Kaitlin, you are inspiration enough for me to write till the end of time. Kouga calmly trotted back toward his den. Twelve conies he had caught that mourning lay over his shoulder. Lately hunting seemed to be the only thing that calmed his nerves. No matter where he went something always reminded him of her. .Kagome.. The words echoed in his chest hovering over his heart like a fragile cloud. He let out a sigh as images of the raven haired human fluttered through his mind. He had already claimed her his mate to Inuyasha and all her friends. Inuyasha! The name was distasteful to his mind. Despite his love for Kagome, she had refused him, and Kouga new it had something to do with the worthless half bread. He took a deep relaxing breath. Now was no time for that. He had to clear his mind of Kagome and her half ling. Kouga stopped, taking another breath. A metallic smell he had committed to memory filled the air, blood! The scent of fresh blood was overwhelming and coming from the direction of his den! Using the Shikon jewel shards in his legs he speed to his den leaving the conies behind. .What the hell?. One after another emotions flew through him: shock, confusion, loss, anger. There at the entrance to the den lay the scattered remnants of his tribe. .I.ve been waiting for you Kouga.. There above the cave entrance stood a youkai clocked in the hide of a baboon. .Naraku?. .I see you.ve heard of me,. the demon chuckled. .We came looking for you this mourning,. on cue, uniformed rat and weasel youkai came out of the cave. Hearing the brush move behind him, Kouga turned to see he was completely surrounded by at least thirty of Naraku.s foot soldiers. .Imagine our distress when you weren.t here. I asked your tribe of your whereabouts but they weren.t very helpful.. With a sinister smile he added, .in fact they were down right rude.. .You.you killed them all?. Kouga stuttered, starring wide eyed at the bloody corpses. .I.m afraid so.. Naraku.s voice dripped with sarcastic pity. Kouga averted his eyes from the gruesome scene. His fists trembled as a silent fire began to build up in his body, .You bastard!. The words came out in a chocked whisper. .Temper, temper.. Naraku.s voice dropped to a serious tone, .Now that you.re here I.m afraid I require something of yours, the shards in you legs. I request you hand tem to me less things grow dark for you.. .Over my dead body.. .As you whish.. At once Naraku.s soldiers leaped at him trying to surround and over whelm him. Dealing out fierce blows, Kouga laid out Naraku.s minions one after another, using his quick eyes and agility to avoid their searching spears. Naraku watched as Kouga effortlessly left his demons writhing in pools of blood. The few remaining demons backed away, their previous confidence completely gone. .Now you die, you miserable son of a bitch.. Kouga cleared the thirty foot jump to the ledge effortlessly thanks to the enhancement from the jewel shards. With a howl Kouga leapt at Naraku, his sword flashing free of its sheath. The wolf youkai swung the sword with relentless ferocity, but despite his efforts, the wolf chieftain cleaved naught but air. Naraku laughed at his efforts, dodging the blade as if he was nothing but smoke, .You.ll have to do better than that if you want to kill me.. Panting, Kouga charged forward once more only to have his opponent swiftly dodge him. Kouga was unable to stop himself as the lunge carried him over the edge of the cliff. He landed with a thud on the hard ground, barely able to catch himself before he landed. Quickly he readied himself once more, .Quit moving and fight already you whelp!. Naraku landed lightly in front of Kouga, .As you wish.. Holding out a single finger, Naraku unleashed a string of black flame. They were to close for Kouga to dodge the attack, so it consumed him. The flame hit him square in the chest, engulfing his body. Kouga doubled over clenching his teeth as the flame burned his body like fiery needles. He felt as if his very blood boiled as if he were a living kettle, charring his very bones to ash. Collapsing on to all fours he howled, cursing Naraku for all he was worth in between the waves of searing pain. Even after the fires disappeared Kouga remained on the ground twitching as the memory lingered. Naraku smiled at the helpless youkai sprawled on the ground, .Now the shards.... Kouga.s screams echoed through the valley causing birds to scatter and animals to scurry to their dens for miles. Dark beams tugged each of the shards forcefully from Kouga.s flesh leaving two bloody holes in his legs. Naraku smiled another cold smile at the two shards over which so much blood had been shed. .Now let.s have some fun shall we, Kouga.. ********** .If he.s not dead now he soon will be.. Naraku.s soldiers were eager to leave the gory scene. Not wanting to be around in case any other demons came, drawn by the strong scent of blood. Despite the fact they were some of his elite soldiers, they knew anyone working for Naraku was expendable. Naraku prodded the unconscious wolf youkai, .Hmmm. He has a heart beat still though very faint.. .He.ll die soon master, besides even if he doesn.t he.ll get picked off when night falls.. .Fine, I hate leaving an enemies life to chance, but after all we got what we came for.. Naraku pocketed the shards and departed. ********** By the time Kouga awoke Night had fallen. The moon shined eerily, lighting up the ground and the crimson blood that coated it. Kouga lay still, trying to put together what had happened and where he was when the scent of blood filled his nostrils. The memories flooded back. His tribe slaughtered their bodies, the pain, the blood, Naraku! Slowly he attempted to raise himself only to collapse back on the ground, gasping, grinding his teeth together to keep from crying out. Reaching out he found his sword lying not far away. Slowly he raised himself up using the sword for support. Stagering, he headed toward the stream at the foot of the hill on which the cave was positioned. The journey down the slope was a slow and painful process. Each step brought new waves of misery shouting up his legs and chest. Roots seemed to be reaching out, intentionally trying to hinder Kouga.s progress. Slowly dizziness set in from the large loss of blood. Stumbling forward onto a protruding log Kouga went rolling down the hill till he came crashing into the small rocky stream. For awhile Kouga lay there letting the icy water lap against his blood stained body. Willing himself to move, Kouga dragged his body from the creek. Bleeding, bruised, and broken, he lay there letting thoughts and memories come flooding into his mind. His tribe was dead, brutally slaughtered. They had been his friends and family. They had trusted him, depended upon him. He was responsible for their protection. He began to think of what he might have done to change things. Maybe if he had only been more prepared or had fought harder, maybe... Slowly his mind wondered back to Kagome. He wondered where she was right then and if she was alright. In a raspy voice he mused, .I wonder what she would think if she could see me now.. Slowly his eyes began to drupe low. His vision became blurred and disoriented, .So this is how I die, defeated, a failure to my tribe, and rejected by my only love.. He whished he could but see her, at least once more before death took him. In his last moments reality began to slip away. He was almost certain he could actually see her. He knew it was nothing but a illusion, a trick in his head, but he didn.t care. She came running up to him with the hanyou close behind. Crouching down next to him she said something that he could not hear. With a faint smile he whispered softly before death claimed his life, .Kagome... Then all color vanished, giving way to the eternal darknes. Kouga decided his time had come and gave in. Before you start crying there is more to come, much more. After all my lady Kaitlin has yet to make her apperince and that is the reason for the story in the first place.