Dances With Demons

Chapter 1: Lost in the Forest

A/N: Hii!! This is my first time actually posting a fanfic online, so im pretty hesitant about it. I've read it over probably 5 times and it seems good to me, so I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. I plan for this to be an extended fic. There's going to be quite a few sexual scenes involving several mostly canon pairings, but that won't be until the next chapter or so, and from there on they'll be peppered throughout the fic (probably pretty densely ._. ) I proofread several times, but if you see any errors please let me know. I'm terrible at caring to use apostrophes, forgive me.

Also, I've seen both Koga and Kouga used online, but it seems that Koga is the general consensus. Though Kouga is closer to the original Japanese spelling in and in romaji, after much thought, I've settled on Koga (seems trivial huh? NOT TO ME!)

Another note, I'm a fair hand at drawing so i planned to add a few illustrations to the story (non sexual) so look forward to it!

Lastly, please no flame on the Inukag developments. This is a mainly koukag fic (which is a small and poorly manned ship in my experience) so some drama between the two is expected. (right...??)
Ideas, suggestions, comments, criticisms, are welcomed!

I'll quit blabbering now. Rate/review whatever if you liked it, and I'll decide from there to keep posting chapters. Thanks!~ xx

I can't.... I just can't do this anymore, Kagome thought, walking aimlessly around the woods in a huff. She and Inuyasha recently had yet another argument; of course, he was jealous about Koga again.

How offensive of Koga to be open and honest about his feelings, and show a little appreciation towards me, she scowled.

In the midst of fighting the new incarnations of Naraku, just as Kagome was about to be sliced in half by a scythe-handed demon, Koga miraculously appeared out of nowhere, thwarting the attack with a kick, thanks to the Sacred Jewel fragment embedded in his leg. She was thankful for that fragment. She was thankful for Koga, too. Both surely saved her life in that moment. She wondered to herself how it was that Koga appeared at that exact moment...

Did Inuyasha even thank Koga for his deed? She couldn't remember. She wouldn't be surprised if he hadn't. After the battle was won, an effort made by both parties, Inuyasha immediately began his normal feuding with the wolf-demon, hurling insults and lashing out in his typical manner. She sure was getting tired of that... Yet Inuyasha's words never truly got a rise out of Koga, or at least he didn't show it if they did. She remembered how he grabbed both of her hands in his own, professing his love for her once more, and telling her that she could call on him in any time of need, and he would be sure to come to her side and protect her.

His hands were a bit rough, and calloused, she thought, but they were also warm, and gentle... Her thoughts trailed off as her heart sped up at the thought of their last physical contact.
She shook her head in an attempt to clear it.

I just can't!... I'm so confused. I do all that I can for Inuyasha, to show him that I care. He has to feel that, right? He has to know that! Yet, every time I turn around he is back in the arms of Kikyo, whether she is trying to drag him down to hell, or holding a knife to his throat... he always returns the next time she comes around, with arms open, too. It doesnt make any damn sense!
She felt angry, irritated, hurt....betrayed.

I suppose that I know i can't come in between their love. I suppose the bond just runs too deep. I don't understand it... No, I dont understand it at all! But there is no point in me trying to make sense of it, because its obvious that its not going to change. So what can i do? All I guess I can do is move on. The jewel is almost complete. What does he even need me around for, anyways? Kaede told me he said he would go to hell with Kikyo, if thats what she wanted. Well so be it! I just can't stand to be around him anymore! I can't stand to look at his face!

Her heart ached considerably throughout the course of her thoughts, her reasoning, and the conclusion. Yet, she wanted to stick by it. She needed that resolve, if her heart was ever going to heal.
Though she didnt know it at that moment, it would take more than time to repair those emotional wounds. In terms of history, of course she couldn't compare to Kikyo. But Kikyo shouldnt even be alive. Inuyasha was developing strong feelings towards her until Kikyo was resurrected.
Kikyo.... Kikyo is made of earth, and bones. She isn't even for this Earth. Kaede has told this to Inuyasha, too. But he doesn't care. He knows of my devotion, and....my love.... yes. If its all that meaningless to him, and he wants to be with the woman who died 50 years ago, survives by stealing the lost souls of women... the woman who wants nothing more than to kill him with her own hands..... So be it! I won't torture myself over it any longer! I can't!!!

Kagome only barely noticed the sun was setting on another day in Feudal Japan. She did not pay attention to the unnatural whispers through the leaves in the trees which surrounded her, nor the otherwise ominous stillness of the deep forest. She was fully lost in her thoughts, running on high emotions, and physically exhausted. She wanted to cry, but her anger was a barrier preventing the dam from overflowing in this moment.

Suddenly, she tripped and fell in the dark of the forest. Her face was covered in dirt and bits of leaves. A thick, gnarled plant-looking root was curled around her ankle, and tightening quickly. In seconds, it was painfully tight, and she cried out in fear. "Help!....Help me!"
She rolled onto her back and attempted to pry the root apart with her fingers, but to no avail. Separate vines snaked up from out of the darkness and curled around both of her wrists, tightening and constricting just as quickly as the first. She yelped in pain as her skin was rubbed raw from struggling against the confinements.
She was shouting louder, "What is this??? Who are you?! Show yourself!!
"Please stop!" It hurt badly. She felt her extremities going numb.