InuYashas Misgivings

As Kouga and Kagome entered the cave she went back to lay back down on her sleeping bag while he looked around.  Sango, Miroku, Shippou and Kirara were moving stiffly from their sleeping positions, stifling yawns as they stretched.  He found InuYasha sitting exactly where they left him when he had taken her to her bath at the hot spring.  He sighed deeply, knowing this was going to be a challenge.

"Hey!  Dog-breath!" Kouga bated.  "The rain is going to let loose again.  Let's go hunt before it's too late."

Surprisingly, InuYasha rose without argument and headed for the cave opening.  He had barely moved from his chosen spot once he had walked away from Kagome the night before and hadn't slept at all.  He was stiff, he was tired and he needed fresh air.  Once outside and away from the cave he stretched, listening to his joints pop and feeling his muscles protest.  What InuYasha needed was a run.

"Hey, wolf.  I need a run.  I'll be back." InuYasha shot to Kouga with a sideways glance.

"I think I could use a run myself.  Mind if I come along?"  With that, Kouga took off knowing InuYasha's competitive nature would make him follow and try to out run him.  Seeing through his whirlwind he saw a streak of red shoot past him in the trees.  They raced quietly for a few more minutes when Kouga caught wind of a deer and called out to InuYasha.

"Dog-breath!  Don't forget we're supposed to be hunting!  There's a deer nearby!  I'm going for it!"  And with that Kouga took off after his prey.

InuYasha growled, following his hunting companion.  He was not in the mood for company or hunting.  He simply wanted to run, only returning to the cave when it was necessary.  He wasn't ready to see Kagome again now that he was away from her.  He had made the decision to not leave the group, however he was nowhere near ready to allow her close to him again much less touch him.  Didn't she realize what she had done?  She had used her spiritual powers against him to subdue him.  How could she not see how it was the same thing Kikyou had done and that situation still pained him?  He had trusted her and she had betrayed him.

As he leapt from branch to branch his mind started whispering doubts about betrayal in his ear.  InuYasha took a look at the big picture.  Kagome had given her word to stay by him and she had.  She took care of him, defended him, fought with him.  She accepted him as he was and never went with Kouga all the times he had tried to lure her away.  However, she had used her spiritual powers against him.  He wasn't sure he could forgive that.

Kouga glanced over his shoulder at InuYasha.  He was clearly in a world of his own, not caring about the hunt or that he was pulling up the rear.  Kouga came up on the deer quickly, felling it with one swipe of his claws.  As he stood over his kill he noticed red and silver coming up beside him.

"I'll clean it and we can head back," InuYasha offered, kneeling down to gut the animal.

"Hold on, Dog-breath.  While I got you out here I want to talk to you about something."  Kouga waited as InuYasha digested what he said.

"Make it quick, wolf, I don't want to get stuck in the rain hauling this carcass around."  InuYasha motioned at the deer.

"What's your problem with Kagome?" Kouga asked simply.

"None of your business!"  InuYasha was instantly mad.

"Look, mutt, you know I want Kagome as my own, and I know in your own twisted way you do as well."

InuYasha opened his mouth to protest but Kouga silenced him by holding up his hand and shaking his head.

"Deny it all you want but you wouldn't protest so much when I come around if you didn't.  Now, the sooner you let me say what I got to the sooner we can get back to the cave and avoid the rain." Kouga said in a matter of fact tone of voice.

InuYasha nodded curtly and wait for Kouga to resume.

"I know that Kikyou chick stuck you to a tree with an enchanted arrow.  I know Kagome used her spiritual energy to zap us out of fighting yesterday.  I'm not so dense I don't recognize the problems you have with that.  Kagome knows what she did was wrong and she wants to talk to you about it but you have to back down and let her near you.  If you don't let her make this right she may not stick around."

With that Kouga kneeled down, made swift work of cleaning the deer and slung it over his shoulder to carry back to the cave.  InuYasha followed behind, thinking on what he had been told.