Kagome woke to an unidentified noise echoing in her ears. She kept her eyes shut willing herself to sleep, but unable to as a persistant pressure in her bladder made itself known. With a sigh, she sat up and looked blearily around the campsite. She dug into the backpack she had next her, retrieving her much-prized item. She stumbled to her feet, stretching as she stood, and staggered into the woods to relieve herself.

A short distance from the campsite, she dried herself on the modern convenience known as toilet paper that she'd die without. As was the way of things, she was more awake now than she was moments ago. She found herself squinting at the demonic soul-snatcher that heralded the arrival of her nemsis.

Did Inuyasha know, or was he back at camp? She hadn't even bothered to check when she woke up. Her curiosity getting the better of her as it always does, she followed the glowing creature- toilet paper in hand.

"Kikyou..." The voice- instantly recognized as Inuyasha's, made her heart seize. Her eyes fell upon the two forms, molded into one in an intimate embrace. Soul-snatchers swirled around the couple, illuminating and protecting.

How could one person cause so much happiness, but so much pain? She turned from the scene, worrying her lower lip as she made her way back in what she hoped was the direction of the camp.

The disappointment weighed on her heart. In herself, and in Inuyasha- for wanting him to love her in the first place, and for him being unable to choose between her and Kikyou. Her eyes closed as she willed herself not to cry, she found herself bumping into a very solid, warm being.

Kagome's eyes snapped open. Although the half-moon hung high in the sky, the cover of the trees made the features of the masculine form in front of her indecernable. She took a stumbling step back, fear gripping her. Her priestess senses lashed out, warning her of two jewel shards mere inches from her.

She steeled herself as two arms wrapped around her, a familiar voice washing over her. "You shouldn't be wandering this late, Kagome."

Kagome fought the urge to bury her face into Kouga's chest and sob her heart out. "I'm sorry." She murmured, still trying to make out his face through the shadows of the trees.

"What is that?" A clawed finger pointed at the toilet paper she clung to.

A flush filled her cheeks and she pulled herself from his other arm, "N-n-nevermind that!" She stammered, "Do you know which way my camp is?"

Kouga's deep growl reverberated through her, a clawed hand snatching her wrist and pulling her back to him. "You do not know where you are, my Kagome? What has led you so far from your friends?"

"I had to- I had to.. uh.. um... you know." Kagome found herself wondering if Kouga had night vison like Inuyasha, if he could see the flush staining her cheeks. She could barely make out the glistening of his fangs as his lips turned up in a smirk.

"How did that lead you so far from your camp that you go lost, my love?" A clawed finger traced down her arm, leaving goosebumps in its wake.

Kagome shivered, and spoke from her heart. "I saw one of Kikyou's soul-snatchers and followed it. It was stupid."

"Kikyou? The dead priestess that Inuyasha follows around with his tongue lolling out?" His tone suspicious, Kouga frowned, "That explains why the dogturd wasn't at the camp."

The priestess's insides knotted up as she thought about Kouga becoming involved, "Kouga, I'm tired and I want to go back to camp. Let me go."

She felt her body being pulled against his much, much warmer one. "Sorry, my love, but I can't leave you unprotected. I'm taking you with me."

Before she could protest, Kagome's legs were swept out from under her and she found herself colliding with Kouga's very cold chest plate. The wolf demon took off at a high speed towards his den, disorienting Kagome.

-

Inuyasha pulled himself from Kikyou's cold body, locking his eyes with her lifeless orbs. "I need to return to camp to keep watch."

"Are they more important to you than I am, Inuyasha?" Kikyou's eyes narrowed as she spoke.

The hanyou bowed his head and turned from his dead love, the pain of indecision burning in his heart, "I'm sorry, Kikyou. I've been gone long enough.. I must go."

He willed himself to ignore her protests as he headed back towards his camp.

When he arrived at the camp, his gaze searched out his second love's bed to ascertain her presence. Upon noticing Kagome's absence, his keen senses lead him as fast as he could toward a certain wolf prince's den.

-

"Kouga," Kagome tried again, "I will be fine at the camp. Sango and Miroku are both there..."

"My love," Kouga half-growled, "My woman." His arms tightened around her, making her gasp, "I can not stand idle while he puts you in danger. I will return you tomorrow, but please, for now, rest easy. I just want to make sure you are safe."

Kagome sighed, tired as she was she did not wish to argue any longer. Kouga's arms were comfortable and warm; the strength at which he sped across the landscape made for a smooth ride. She could sleep in his arms if she only allowed herself.

"Do you.. do you mind if I sleep?" She murmured, half ashamed of her request.

"Go ahead. We'll be there shortly." Kouga's voice was soft, and she found herself drifting off to sleep easily.

When he finally reached his den, she gently laid her on his firs and covered her over. Kidnapped or not, he had his woman by his side.

After removing his armor, the wolf-demon gently climbed under the blankets and wrapped his arms around Kagome.

Inuyasha did not his jewel shards embedded in his legs. Although a descendant of a great demon lord, he was no match for Kouga's speed. He had a bit of a trip ahead of him.

When Kagome woke this time, it was from the rising sun. She didn't move, she didn't want to. She was warm and comfortable, something that didn't occur often in this era, and her entire body was felt delighted and tingly.

Her brows creased at the strange sensation, a feeling similar to that which she felt with Inuyasha... but stronger, deeper. The tingling was recognizable, and stronger than what she had felt when Inuyasha hugged her. But the delighted feeling, the pleasant buzz through her body was new and intoxicating and it reached out for something more.

As her awareness increased the buzz started to wear, until finally she felt a warm, hard body shift against her.

Kagome froze in shock, her eyes snapping open. Her body lit up, the pleasant buzz becoming alive beneath her skin as the earth and fire scent of Kouga teased her nose.

Horrified, she threw herself from the bed, cold air nipping at the random bits of flesh her school uniform exposed.

"KOUGA!" She screeched, infuriated that the wolf-demon slept through her mortification.

Kouga's ears twitched and his eyes cracked open, taking in the site of a very red-faced Kagome. A smirk tugged at his lips, "Sleep well, my woman?"

Kagome glared and she crossed her arms, "You promised you'd take me back to camp."

A cocky grin overtaking his features, Kouga swept the blanket off him and rose from the bed in all his near-naked glory. A fur wrapped around his waist was the only cover he still wore. "Of course, my love. Let me get dressed, first."

Kagome stared, eyes wide. This was different than when she treated Inuyasha or Miroku's wounds- there was nothing here to stop her from following the fine lines if of his abdomen downward, as they seemed to point, until they disappeared under his loin cloth.

The now somewhat familiar buzz started in the pit of her stomach and seemed to spread. Her breath catching in her throat, Kagome whirled away, "Sorry!" She gasped, stunned by her own reaction to this youkai.

A claw brushed over her collar, sending a hot shiver down her spine. Kouga leaned close, stopping himself from nipping at her ear. "Or I could carry you back as I am, if you'd prefer, my love."

Knees weak, heart pounding, Kagome's indignation rose. She whirled on him and slapped, the crack echoing through the cave. She stormed to the entrance of the cave, leaving a stunned Kouga but grinning in her wake.

Kouga was by her side in minutes, fully dressed. He reached out and took her hands in his. "My woman, why do you hold yourself from me?"

Kagome gently removed her hands from him and stepped a few paces away. Why did Kouga have to be so much more confident than Inuyasha? So much more gentle, so much more decisive. He knows what he wants, and is determined to have it- already believes he has it. Why couldn't she love him, rather than Inuyasha? Didn't she deserve to be loved, just her, fully and completely? To be number one, not number two.

The strange, burning feelings she had been feeling towards Kouga today only complicated the situation. "I don't know what I want, Kouga." She murmured, ashamed. "I'm supposed to be Inuyasha's woman."

"Yet, he chases after the dead one, leaves you uncertain of where you stand. I love you, Kagome. I wouldn't leave you for another." He wanted to step closer, to embrace her, but restrained himself, knowing this wasn't the time.

"Don't you think I know that!" Kagome snapped, her frustration with the situation boiling over, "He wants us both, is unable to choose, and doesn't care how that leaves us feeling! And what right do I have to him, when his love from 50 years ago only walks this earth to be with him?" Tears threatened to spill from her eyes.

"I will solve this. Once I kill Inuyasha, your heart will be free to love me." He stepped closer to her then, catching her gaze with her own, "You love me already, Kagome, I know it."

Kagome's heart rate sped up as he moved closer to her, her cheeks flushing red as a clawed finger traced along her cheek.

"Kouga.. You cant win my heart that way. Killing the one I love will only bring hatred." She could control Inuyasha, but not this one. Kouga had the freedom to do as he pleased, and the very idea that he could pleased Kagome somewhere deep in her core.

"If Inuyasha killed me, Kagome, would you hate him?" Kouga's hand dropped to his side as he studied her eyes.