Desperation
“Hey, Kouga-kun, where are your two friends?” Kagome asks while observing Kouga's new nest.

The nest is inside a not so big cave, large enough for a tennis court. The mouth of the cave is covered with vine. Kagome can see why Kouga said it's like paradise. Just outside the cave a small field of flowers is growing near a small stream. The stream is shallow and very clear, tadpoles and small fish can be seen swimming in the water. Some lotus petals are floating on the stream, signaling the end of summer. Fruit trees completely surround the cave. Ripe apples, pears, and peaches are ready to be plucked. Inside is even more incredible. Kagome first thought the cave must be a diamond mine. Hundreds of diamond shards are implanted throughout the walls of the cave. The rays of light that seep through reflect off the diamonds, rainbow colors fill up the cave. Near the end of the cave there's a small pond, also surrounded with diamond shards. Next to the pond is a stack of neatly arranged hay, covered with a crimson silk sheet. Kagome is still trying to hide her shock. It never occurred to her that there’s only one bed.

"Oh those two?" Kouga is blushing like it's his wedding night. And the irony, to him, it is kinda like a wedding night. "They're out, I guess, must be hunting." Kouga is not completely lying. His two followers are out, trying to get their own female wolf youkai for mates.

Kagome almost squealed when she saw the pond lined with diamond. She runs over and knees down to look into the pond. The end of the cave is darker, so she couldn't see Kouga's reflection in the water.

"It's so beautiful!" Kagome exclaims. Not noticing that Kouga is bending down right next to her.

Kouga hands her a goblet made of gold. "Drink some, Kagome, the water in it is from the pond. It's been purified by the gems."

Kagome takes a few sips of the water. When the cool water touched her lips, it was like she has really entered paradise. "It's so refreshing!" She squeals while putting down the goblet.

The wolf youkai suddenly puts his arms around Kagome, and pulls her nearer to him. This caused Kagome to yelp in surprise. Kouga's eyes are closed while he takes a sniff of Kagome's hair, instantly sending him to heaven.

"Kouga-kun!" Kagome tries to pull herself free, but the happy wolf youkai just wouldn’t let go. "Kouga-kun, please let go of... me."

Kouga finally opened his eyes, Kagome stopped struggling, hoping that he'd let her go. But instead, Kouga just turns to look into Kagome's eyes, and whispers, "Kagome, would you be my mate and stay with me forever?"

Hearing the seriousness in his tone, Kagome knows now that something is definitely up. She has become mute, incapable of saying anything in five whole minutes. Finally she manages to whisper out, "Kouga-kun... I..." She was going to say no, but hesitated at the sight of his face. There's no way I'm gonna marry Kouga... Oh God, how did I get into this mess. But I can't just say no, it'll totally hurt him. "Kouga-kun... I..." she tries again, but still doesn't know what to say. "I'm too young..." is all she can muster.

Kouga's expression instantly changed.

"It's that Inu-baka, isn't it?" Kouga demands.

"No!" Kagome protests, "It has nothing to do with Inuyasha."

"Fine," Kouga finally let go of Kagome, letting her sit on the ground. "Then I'll wait until you’re old enough. If it has nothing to do with that hanyou, then it's because of your age. Don't worry," Kouga shoots Kagome a smile, "I can wait."

"Ga...Uhh..." Kagome feels like she’s about to faint. How can he still not understand?! "Actually Kouga-kun..." Kagome gathers together all her strength, "I don't think I can be your wi... I mean, mate."

Kouga suddenly jumps up, "It's Inuyasha, isn't it! I don't smell him on you though, so he has no claim on you!"

"Like I said, this has nothing to do with Inuyasha." Well, maybe a little. Kagome thought wish a slight blush.

"Then it's that monk you hang around with all the time." Kouga looks both sad and angry, also a little betrayed.

Now Kagome is officially choking. "What, Miroku?!? No way in hell!!!" If the situation isn't so tense, she would have laughed. Seeing that it was getting her no where, Kagome stands up and prepares to leave. "I'm sorry, Kouga-kun, but I need to go. My friends are waiting."

She turns toward the exit, but before she can walk more than two steps, she vision becomes blurry, her head spinning. She turns around to ask Kouga for help, but only sees the wolf youkai standing sternly in front of her, with a sad but determined look on his face. Kagome can feel her eyes roll upward as she falls toward the hard, damp ground... no longer conscience.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Damn it!" Inuyasha curses. "Where is Kouga's nest? His scent is everywhere."

"He must've left traces all over the forest before all this has happened." Haruko suggests while holding on to Sango's waist, both of them riding on Kirara.

"That sonofabitch," Inuyasha leaps so fast that Kirara can barely keep up. Because Sango and Haruko didn't want Miroku to take advantage of them while riding on Kirara, Miroku was forced to run. And by now, he's no longer visible to everyone else. "I'll slice him to pieces. No, I'll blast him to pieces with my 'kaze no kizu'!" Inuyasha is currently thinking up ways to kill Kouga...slowly and painfully as possible.

As they get closer to the center of the forest, it just gets denser. Inuyasha is now trying to tract down Kagome’s scent, but all he can smell is a really strong scent of Kouga, from all around the forest.

"Inuyasha, maybe we should fly up," Miroku appeared out of nowhere, panting like a dog, "Kouga used to dwell in a cave near a waterfall, maybe his new nest is like that."

"Yeah, Inuyasha, jump on Kirara and we'll carry you above the trees!" Sango also contributes.

Inuyasha paused to look at his friend, grateful for their help. He nods and takes a giant leap toward the girls, landing behind Haruko. Kirara flies high enough so they can see the entire area. And in the center of the forest, just like Miroku thought, is a cave with a stream besides it.

"Over there!" Inuyasha yells while pointing at his discovery.

"Gotcha!"

As Kirara comes closer to the cave, the impatient hanyou takes another leap, straight for it. A smirk appeared on his face. Just as he thought he was about to land, a huge force field reflects him onto the ground, numbing him instantly.

Miroku and the girls and Shippo all rushed to him.

"So Kouga has put up a barrier,> Miroku comments.

"Well, no duh!" Inuyasha moans in pain. "That sonofabitch! Damn it, it's not just an ordinary barrier either; he must've added a numbing spell with it. I can't move!"

"This is bad," Sango says with concern, "if you can't move, then we can't cut the barrier."

"Shit!" Inuyasha curses again, "Kagome..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kouga lifts Kagome up and walks to the bed of hay. After he gently puts her down, he walks to pick up the golden goblet. He looks inside and sighs, "I'm sorry it had to come to this, Kagome. But I knew you wouldn't do it willingly." He isn't talking to Kagome, but is actually comforting himself. "That old kuro-miko was right; this sleeping potion works very well."

Kouga then turns to walk back to the unconscious Kagome, but midway he heard a loud collision sound. He didn't even bother to look outside. "Inu-baka, probably didn't even see the barrier before he crashed into it." Then his smirk turns into a frown. "I have to do this quickly. After I claim her, nothing the Inu-baka do will be able to take her away from me."

Kouga again starts to walk toward Kagome. Slowly he pulls off his own clothes, and bends down to looks at Kagome's sleeping face. Somehow he has become mesmerized, unable to take his eyes off of her face.

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