Chapter 1

Broken and Rescued

Kagome sighed as she sat on the lip of the well. She could feel the tears threatening to fall once again, but she pushed them away. They would do her no good. A week now her tears had fallen when she was alone, but it was time to cease their trails. She needed to accept the fate handed to her, even if it wasn't something she wanted.

A week ago, she and her group had destroyed Naraku. He had fallen just as they knew he would. Everything had been happy going. They celebrated for all of a few minutes, and then Kagome's world started to change. It was time to take care of the jewel. So she did, ordering it to disappear completely. For a moment she thought it worked. And in a way it did. The jewel was gone. It would never be something they had to deal with ever again. But it left Kagome feeling alone and cold.

The jewel had disappeared, but it left a surprise in its wake. For one, the surprise was welcomed with open arms, for another, not so much. There between them, as if nothing had happened, was Kikyou. It was as if she hadn't died twice now. She had an actual body and a beating heart. InuYasha was ecstatic and immediately took the now undead priestess in his arms.

Kagome could only stare as he kissed her, making his choice right in front of the younger miko. It hurt and she wanted to cry, but she held them at bay. She was seeing InuYasha happier than she had ever seen him before, and that was enough for her. So she had pushed back her feelings, and congratulated them. She always said she wanted InuYasha happy, even if that wasn't with her.

Her first tears fell that night. But she still hadn't realized just how much fate decided to attack her. The next day she had needed to use her reiki, just to realize that it was gone. She had nothing left. She was just a normal human being. Kikyou on the other hand had no problems with her powers. If anything they seemed stronger. That night Kagome cried harder.

She pulled herself together though as Sango and Miroku married. She was happy for them, and wanted to celebrate. Miroku was finally able to settle down without the worry of his hand killing him and his family. It was something that deserved to be celebrated. It was that night, after the celebrations that Kagome was dealt the most devastating blow. She said her goodbyes to her friends, minus InuYasha and Kikyou, and decided to go home. But when she jumped into the well she was met with a hard and unforgiving ground. The jewel had taken her family from her. She cried for hours in that spot.

Sango found her the next morning, and brought her back to their hut. Kagome kept her tears at bay until sundown and let them lose once everyone was asleep. Everything had been taken from her. InuYasha, her reiki, her home. She had nothing left. She couldn't leave the village because she was no longer a miko and had nothing to offer another village. She would be stuck here, labeled an old maid, and forced to just let life pass her by.

It wasn't something she was looking forward to at all.

She was startled and let out a squeak as a gust of wind rushed past her, knocking her off balance and making her fall back into the well. Just as she thought she was going to seriously to be hurting in a few seconds, a calloused hand wrapped around her wrist, yanking her up and out of the well. With a panting breath Kagome looked up into smirking blue eyes.

"How's my woman?" Kouga asked, and Kagome sighed in relief. At least it was Kouga, and not some other demon that she couldn't fight off. She looked down and ground her teeth together. Was this what she was going to have to deal with? Worry who everyone was and weather they were friend or foe.

Why her? What did she do to deserve everything that was suddenly thrown in her lap. She felt toned arms wrap around her and suddenly she was pulled into an armored chest. A large hand cupped the back of her head holding her to him, and she broke. She sobbed out, her tears flowing freely. Just moments ago she refused to cry, and now she was sobbing into the arms of Kouga.

The wolf prince could smell the turmoil drenching Kagome's scent and immediately grabbed ahold of her. He had no idea what was going on, but he hated how his woman was upset. She should always be vibrant and smiling, not this. Anything but this. He just held her, rumbling deep in his chest in an attempt to sooth her.

He wasn't sure how long they stood like that, but finally her sobs quieted into sniffles and she pulled away just enough to wipe at her face roughly. She looked up at him, watery blue meeting his own, and he leaned down, nuzzling into her cheek and kissing at her tears. Kagome had never had anyone treat her with such tenderness, and for a moment she wasn't sure how to react. Eventually she just gave into the comfort offer, and wrapped her arms around Kouga's waist, holding onto him.

"You can talk to me, Kagome." Kouga rasped softly. Not once had Kagome embraced him like this, and it was doing things to him. His heart was racing, and his blood pumping, but now wasn't the time to think on these things.

"Everything has gone wrong." Kagome whispered, burying her face into his armor. He pushed her away only enough to reach up and unclasp his armor. It clattered to the ground, and he was left bare chested, but Kagome wouldn't have to worry about putting her face on hard and cold metal. Blushing slightly, she let Kouga pull her back into his chest, him holding her in his comforting embrace.

"Tell me." He soothed, gripping at her hair once again. And Kagome explained it all. From InuYasha making his choice, to her now being a weak human, and even losing her family. She felt broken and alone. Miroku and Sango were starting their lives together, and soon InuYasha and Kikyou will be starting their own second chance. Even Shippo was spending all of his time with InuYasha, training his powers.

"I can't do anything about your reiki, or your family, but, I can offer you a home Kagome." Kouga offered, looking up to the skies. This was the whole reason he was here. He came to see if Kagome would come back with him one last time. He had planed to let her go if she decided that she wanted to stay, but it might be okay to hope that she will take up his offer.

"You know how I feel about you Kagome. I've never kept that a secret. If you want, you will always have a home with me." Kouga stated, his heart pounded in his chest. He was sure the little woman could hear it, and he hoped she did. Maybe she would realize how truthful he was being. He would give anything to have her at his hope.

She looked up at him, her eyes sad. "Kouga. There is no jewel shards for me to see. I have no power to even protect myself. I have nothing to offer you." She replied, and Kouga growled. He wouldn't tolerate her thinking so lowly of herself.

"I don't want anything from you Kagome. Power or not. I love you. And if you chose to live in my home, and stay by my side, I will be happy." Kouga assured, and Kagome's eyes watered again, before she buried her face into his neck, moving her arms from his waist to around his neck. She was grateful to him. She still wasn't entirely sure what he wanted from her. He said by his side, but there was many ways she could do that. However, that was something she would think on later.

"You really would let me stay with you?" She asked, just needing a bit more reassurance. Kouga pulled her tight to him again and gripped at her chin. His eyes met hers and didn't leave and she could see the sincerity and truth in his gaze. He would love to have her in his home. "Okay. I'll stay with you."

A fanged grin met her answer and she couldn't help but to chuckle at his expression. He was so happy it was contagious, and she admitted that maybe this would be better for her than she thought. With a happy sigh she backed away from him and watched as he bent down to pick up his armor. She turned away with a blush on her cheeks, not wanting to stare at his half naked body.

"I would like to say goodbye to my friends though, if that's okay." Kagome asked, looking back to Kouga as he clipped the last latch on his armor. He looked towards her slightly offended.

"As if id tell you no. Besides id like to see mutt face once last time." Kouga replied, and Kagome narrowed her eyes. She knew the wolf just wanted to see InuYasha to rub it in the hanyou's face that she is leaving with him. Kouga held up his hands in defeat with a smirk on his face. He knew that look.

With a hidden smirk of her own, Kagome turned and walked back towards the village. She would say goodbye to Sango, Miroku, Kaeda, and Kirara, then move on with her life. She knew InuYasha, Shippo and Kikyou were in the opposite direction, but she honestly felt that they wouldn't care if she was gone. They probably wouldn't notice. Besides, it was time she let go of any attractions to the hanyou. He had Kikyou. Glancing out of the corner of her eye she looked up to Kouga. He looked down to her and smiled as she blushed at getting caught.

Maybe. Just maybe, she had someone else she could rely on.

… …

First time writing a Kouga and Kagome fanfiction. I've been rewatching InuYasha, and Kouga came in and I haven't been able to get this story out of my head. So I hope you all enjoy.

As I do with all of my other stories, this one will have a poll as well. First poll question. Who is your favorite InuYasha character? Mine is Sesshomaru.