A/N:

Hey guys! So, in Chapter 57 - Unusual Gifts, part I, there's a flashback scene near the end where Kagome is remembering the first time Kouga had kidnapped her and taken her to his den to fight the birds of paradise. As i was writing that scene, it was important for me to show how easy, comfortable, and trusting Kagome felt with Kouga from the first moment (and there is a reason). But as I was trying to get that scene out, this is what came out first. In the end I decided to cut this first part out though as it didn't seem to work with the rest of the chapter, but I still really enjoyed the interaction between them. I hope you do too :)

Thanks for reading! ~ lady p.

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"So, you gonna help us, or what?" Kouga gazes at her from the corner of his eye, for some reason he wants her help, but only if she'll give it of her own free will. What the hell is wrong with him?! She's just a human woman, he should take what he needs from her, same as he's done everything else. But the moment the thought trickles through his mind his youkai responds with snapping jaws and low, longing howls. What the hell is wrong with him?

Oh Shippou, please be alright. Find InuYasha, Shippou! Kagome curls her fist tightly before her, not exactly sure what to think about this Kouga person who has been treating her kindly despite her own, understandable, aggression. There's something about him, something in those startling clear blue eyes that sparks something inside her she can't quite put her finger on.

"Yes, I'll help you." It'll be better just to play along until InuYasha arrives to rescue her.

Kouga sits straighter, his eyes widening in surprise. She . . . she's going to help me? A rush of confusing emotions chokes his words for a moment. He hadn't been expecting that.

"Ah, thanks," he grins toothily, a real true smile the wolf hasn't felt in a long time.

Kagome's heart flutters at the surprise and joy that lights in this Kouga's eyes when he realizes she's agreed to help him. But, isn't that what he wanted? Why should he look so . . . relieved?

Kouga stands, his armor scraping lightly as he steps towards her. His nearness prickles the hairs on her skin.

"We'll be attacking late tonight. I suggest you don't wander far, sleep if you can. You'll need to conserve your strength." Surely a human female will be much more delicate than the weak mortal men he's dealt with, making an unconscious adjustment to the flow of his own youkai – a failsafe, to keep him from accidentally using too much strength when dealing with the strange human.

"Ah, sure," Kagome tries to keep from blushing, but her stomach rumbles, giving her away. The amused look Kouga shoots her way makes her want to die on the spot as she clamps her arms around her stomach. "I . . . I guess I'm kinda hungry," doing her best to keep from flushing any harder.

A powerful rush of adrenaline triggers in the wolf when the strange woman states her need for food. The desire to hunt for her, to get her whatever she desires, feeds the most primal and animalistic parts of him – surprising him. Kouga takes an awkward step back from the unusual human as the sensation rushes through him, not understanding how this slip of a mortal creature can be affecting his youkai so much.

With barely a thought, acting on instinct, Kouga turns and moves off into the gloom of the den where he'd deposited the wild boar he'd hunted, the rest of the pack having waited for the Alpha to eat first. Even if he wasn't hungry, they would wait until he'd carved the first piece from the kill, as was tradition in a warriors den.

With little effort, Kouga swipes his claws along the animals belly, spilling open intestines and sweet meats. With another quick slice of his claws, he removes a section of the boar's belly, where the tender meat and fat are the juiciest. He slaps it onto a large leaf that Hakkaku hands him, his beta already reading his Alpha's intentions. Kouga examines the thick, bloody mess for a moment, admiring his handy work.

"Eat up, boys," He barks, stepping back from the kill. Kouga's already moving back towards the woman as the pack divvies up the rest of the meat.

"Hey, Kouga!" One of his men call out, halting the Alpha's steps as he turns to gaze at the warrior, dripping meat clenched firmly in his grasp. "You ain't taking that to the girl, are ya?" the warrior snickers with his buddy.

"Yeah, what of it?" Kouga growls threateningly at the back of his throat. If anyone wants to try and stop him from feeding the human, they are welcome to try.

"Uh, hey, B-boss," the warrior, suddenly realizing his mistake, throws his hands up in a placating gesture, exposing his full body to his Alpha in a sign of submission. The act is enough to quell the fire bubbling in Kouga's blood.

"I just mean, you know humans cook their meat, right?" hoping this helpful bit of information will ease his leader's volatile temper.

Kouga blinks at the moist, red and white slab in his hand. Blood pools in the creases of the leaf, enticing the wolf with its rich scent. "Oh, yeah," he mumbles softly himself, an old memory flickering to life in the Alpha's mind. A memory he'd buried deeper than the darkest night.

"Yeah, Kouga." Ginta steps forward, eyeing his leader quizzically. He sees the dark flash that momentarily passes through his eyes, but says nothing. "If you want sister Kagome to eat that, you better cook it first," he interjects with his soft, neutralizing tone. Having an idea where his Alpha's thoughts had strayed too, and knowing exactly why he'd forgotten.

Something about the way his longtime friend says the words, 'sister Kagome,' pleases Kouga immensely.

"Alright then, get to it." He tosses the leaf-wrapped meat to his beta that catches it awkwardly.

"M-me?" Ginta stares down at the bundle in his hands. His eyes growing wide as though he were holding the dismembered head of a bird of paradise.

"Sure, you know so much after all." Kouga's eyes narrow on his subordinate, glittering with hard amusement.

"Uh . . . y-ya, sure. Okay." Ginta blinks nervously. He turns the meat carefully over in his hands as if he might finds some clues on how exactly to go about doing that. It was usually the females that handled that sort of thing when it was called for, and in a warrior's den she-wolves were no where to be found, ensuring the males always ate their meat raw because of it.

"Don't fuck it up!" Kouga barks, heading towards the cave's entrance. The low snarl of command laced beneath the words, unmistakable, as Ginta swallows nervously.

"Hey, where ya going, Boss?" Hakkaku calls out, his fangs tear into a piece of the boar he'd claimed, chewing thoughtfully, as he watches Kouga head back out into the night. He hadn't even taken a portion of the kill for himself.

"I'm going scouting," he calls over his shoulder. Really, he just needs to get away, to get some space from the human so he can breathe and think clearly. He's haunted by that rich, sweet lavender scent of hers, driven like a hawk on prey to those wide, almond shaped eyes that he swears can see right through him. That determined and gentle voice scratches at buried memories and ancient feelings . . . it's . . . it's just too much.

**Remember what I said about touching the girl!** Kouga snarls loud enough so all his pack can hear him before leaping through the cold of the waterfall.