Much later that night, Courtney laid awake, events from the day swirling around in her head. Why wouldn't Koga fight her? She had insulted him as worse as she could, but he still wouldn't fight back. He was plenty strong, she had seen that. Definitely, it wasn't a case of weakness. Why wouldn't he fight her?
'I don't want to hurt you.' he had said. Why did he not want to hurt her? She had insulted him! And, he had touched her hair, she remembered. What was that strange look in his eye? It was almost...soft, and tender. But why would a tough old wolf demon look at an opponent like that? Was it...love?
Courtney snorted. A wolf could never love a 'stringy coyote'...But, she reasoned, a human could love a demon. Listen to the story of old Inu no Taisho and his wife Izayoi, Inuyasha's parents. One reflective night alone together, Inuyasha told the story of when his parents met, and the fateful night of his birth. And even the touching story of Shiori and her mother; she had loved a demon. Oh, how Courtney longed for that love. Not the mushy stuff that the media back home kept pushing on her, but true love, the type of true love that could break normality and change the very judgment of one's eyes, into one's heart.
Courtney slowly sat up, trying not to disturb Shippo, who was sleeping on the edge of the blanket. Propping herself up on her elbow, she stared into the fire. Could she find him? She had a sensitive nose like Inuyasha, could she...sniff Koga out? He couldn't have gone too far...
Sliding out of the blanket, she grabbed her kimono. Lately she had taken the habit of sleeping in only a thin cotton dress that was about as see through as glass. Inuyasha had always respected her body, and had not minded. But, when she was around Miroku at night, she had to stay wrapped in a blanket. Now, believing she was unwatched, she quickly shed the dress, standing in only her underwear. She tied the silk around her waist, knotting it in an intricate bow. Sliding the top over her head, she dusted herself off. She had picked up the ribbon, and was about to braid her hair, when a voice came behind her, startling her and making her drop the ribbon.
"Let me do it."
Courtney turned on her heel, finding herself staring into the deep amber eyes of Inuyasha. Bending down, she picked up the ribbon, and handed it to him. Quietly, he slid the ribbon in her hair, and started deftly braiding it, both of them standing there silently in the firelight. He had a gentle touch; his claws never once catching in her hair are scratching her neck. Finally, he tied the plait, pulling a string from his kimono to tie it off with.
Walking silently, he gathered up her bow and quiver. With her still standing still, he draped it over her head, and under her shoulder, the quiver resting on her back. He handed her the bow, and she simply looped it to where it rested like the quiver. Inuyasha turned to Courtney, and reached into his kimono. He seemed to be searching for something for a moment, before taking out a magnificent silver locket, a family crest emblazoned on its front.
Courtney gasped silently. It was beautiful, kept in pristine shape.
Inuyasha took her by the hand, and led her outside of the hut. Courtney tried to whisper, but he shushed her and kept moving up to the meadows where they had trained that very morning. Finally, he said something, and it astounded her.
"Take it."
His arm extended, the silver locket shining in the moonlight. Courtney was too astounded to do anything, she stayed silent and unmoving. After a while, he just came and fastened it around her neck himself. Admiring the contrast against the silk, he smiled faintly. "That was my mother's...”
Courtney's eyes went wide. His mother's? Why was he giving this to her?
Inuyasha wasn't finished, however. "My father, Inu no Taisho, gave this to my mother after I was born...it has his spell of protection over it. After my mother died, she gave it to me so I could have protection for anyone I cared about, but could not be near.
Courtney's eyes were now glittering, a hand rested on the locket.
Inuyasha took her by the hands, and a look that seemed almost worried came into his eyes. "Look, I know you want to go look for that mangy wolf, and I ain't gonna stop ya. But," he stopped, and his voice got a little tight, "I ain't ever taught anybody about anything, and you trusting me this much...I'm not used to..."
Courtney smiled, and gave him a fierce hug. She kissed him on the cheek, and walked off down the road, Inuyasha watching her every step until she disappeared from sight.
~-~
Courtney padded down the road, her nose on high alert, all senses high tuned to the environment around her. Occasionally she would lean down, sniff the ground, and then come back up. After coming back up, she would run for a while, then come back down, and sniff. After a good five hours, she finally got some results. It was a faint smoke trail, and an odd scent that smelled almost like...Koga! She went faster, almost stumbling in the dark.
The scent was getting stronger! Courtney was sure it was Koga. Ignoring all grace and manners, she rushed to the vicinity of the fire. She stopped outside the ring of light, standing in the pitch black of night. Preening for a few minutes, she dusted herself off, and let her breath return to normal. Finally, she breached the line of light, approaching the still form that was the wolf demon.
Courtney smoothed her skirt, and sat near the fire on her heels, making sure to make absolutely no noise. She could wait until morning for him to find her. As she waited for the sun to rise, her eyes slowly drooped, until her head bowed, and she went to sleep.
~-~
As dawn broke, so did Koga's eyes. The first thing he did was get up and stretch, and look around the camp. So, of course, the first thing he saw was our young coyote next to a pile of ashes, a couple strands of that hair that crazed him so hung in her face. He approached her cautiously, as if even the slight sound of his footfalls could wake her. Had she...had she gone looking for him after he left? Why would she?
He knelt in the ashes in front of her, peering at her face. She was asleep all right, and dog tired by the looks of it. She must have run all night to meet him. Koga reached out a hand, touching her face. Her skin was smooth, almost flawless, and soft to his touch...How much more could he feel? He ran the hand to her neck, and Courtney shifted in her sleep, lying in the palm of his hand. She was sleeping on him...what a wonderful thought. His other hand stroked her cheek, his eyes drinking in the mere sight of her beauty.
Koga mentally shook himself, taking his hands away from her face. He loved Kagome, not this strange coyote, however beautiful she was. Kagome was beautiful, but that mangy mutt claimed her as his own. This girl...this girl could be all his own.
As he was relishing this thought, a horrible thing happened. Courtney's eyes fluttered open, and she awoke, breaking the peaceful quiet with a loud yawn. Koga backed up, bracing himself for the expected scream.
It was not so. She merely smiled, and bobbed her head in a quick greeting, her bright eyes sparkling into the early morning light. She pushed herself up on her feet, and suddenly looked sheepish. Blushing, she mumbled incoherently about "shouldn't have come", those big amber eyes entrancing Koga with every blink of her long eyelashes.
She started walking away slowly, before Koga caught her arm. "Don't go!"
Courtney raised an eyebrow, and Koga coughed in embarrassment, deepening his voice. "I mean, you came all the way here, we...might as well wait for the mutt.”
They both smiled. Courtney outwardly, Koga inwardly. So, what were they going to do with the time?
Author's Chapter Notes:
I DO NOT OWN INUYASHA.
I do own Courtney, however.
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