As soon as Kagome got home, she went straight to her room to study. Koga had entered her room for a moment to ask what she was doing. If it had been Inuyasha she would have chased him out. But because it was Koga, she explained why she had to study and that that was what she was going to do.

Koga only slightly understood the importance but he understood it was important. So, he left her to her one devices.

Koga didn't know what to do for the time being so he decided to look for food.

He ended up finding some meat in the freezer and he would have eaten it raw but it was frozen, to his dismay.

He explored the kitchen to try and find a fire and he found it by turning a nozzle on a white metal box. A small circle of flame popped up and he smiled.

He went to put the meat on the fire then paused. He realized that if he put the meat right on the fire, he wouldn't be able to get it off once it was cooked.

He looked around for something to put the meat on and found a circle-shaped metal thing with a handle. He put the metal thing on the fire and let it heat up.

While it heated, he took the thin see-through wrapping off the meat. He sniffed the meat, not sure what kind of meat it was then plopped it into the metal circle.

Koga left it alone for a while and turned around into the living room. He didn't know what to do so he just looked around till he found something of interest.

A book case.

He knew how to read and write—the old demon clan leader taught him that much—but he wasn't very strong at it. Though he might have wanted to test out his capabilities, he decided against it.

He went back to the kitchen.

Halfway through her studies, Kagome started to smell something good cooking. She waited for her mom to call her for dinner.

But then she realized that she was home alone. The only one in the house.

But not the only one.

'What is Koga doing?!' She jolted up in her seat and ran out of the room.

"Koga!"

"Hmm?" Koga stopped trying to make a pyramid out of forks and spoons and looked up at Kagome.

"What are you doing?" she ran over to the cooking food.

"Cooking…?"

Kagome stared at the cooking food with awe. "You actually did it right."

"Eh?"

Kagome was shocked. For someone who was from the feudal era, he had known what he was doing?

"Hey, Koga," she looked over her shoulder at him with narrowed eyes, "how did you know how to do this?"

"Eh? I just put two and two together."

Her gaze turned incredulous. "Really?"

"Yeah."

She stared at him for a moment then grabbed a spatula. She went to flip some of the meat. But a small chunk of it was stuck to the pan. She stared at it then turned and looked at Koga.

"Just for future reference," Kagome said, "when you cook meat, you need to put grease or butter in the pan first."

"Grease?"

"Yeah." She reached over and grabbed a can of spray-on-grease. "This or," she turned and went to the fridge. She opened the door and pulled out a tub of butter. "This."

"Okay, why?"

"Because the meat sticks to the pan if you don't."

Koga drew closer to look. "Oh."

"You did pretty good on your own though."

Koga smiled to the comment. "Thanks, Kagome."

Kagome smiled. Then she reached over and pulled out some seasonings.

"Here, I'll finish this. Do you want anything on the side?"

"Eh?"

"Like a salad?"

"Uh…" 'Salad?' "Sure…"

Alright. I'll call you when it's ready."

"Ah, okay…" 'That was the only thing keeping me busy, though.'

Koga turned and walked off. Unsure of what to do, he went into Kagome's room. Once there, he looked around at the strange surrounding, a little overwhelmed by the unnatural things in the room.

He went over to the long pink thing—the bed—at the corner of the room and placed his hands on it. It slightly gave under his weight and he put some more pressure on it by putting his knees on it. It held.

He flopped down on the pink thing. It felt so soft and comfy and the cushioning square things under his head felt even softer.

His tail flicked as he closed his eyes and relaxed.

'Wow, this feels great.'

Koga lied on the bed for a good five minutes before he felt himself drifting to sleep. As he felt his eyes droop, he sat up and stood, shaking sleep off.

He went over to the brown square thing—the dresser—and opened a rectangular drawer. A bunch of flimsy fabrics were inside. Some were lacy with a bow on the front while others were just a plain color.

'What are these?'

He picked up a pair of flimsy fabric and sniffed them.

'They smell like Kagome.'

Koga held a pair in his hand, staring at it.

'Is it a hat for the mutt-face? The two holes at the top look like they're meant for his ears to poke out of.'

He shifted his bottom jaw, staring at the strange thing for a moment longer, then, with it in hand, left the room.

"Hey, Kagome," Koga called, standing in the kitchen doorway.

"Hmm?"

"What are these?" he held them up with both hands.

"What is what?" Kagome turned around her expression dropped when she saw the pair of blue panties in his hand.

She screamed and snatched them from his hand, her other hand leaving a lump on Koga's head.

As Kagome went to put her panties away, Koga sat on the ground, holding his hurt head.

'What'd I do?' He wondered.

Kagome came back. Koga looked up at her, confused. She just stared at him then turned and went to the stove. The room was silent as she continued cooking the meat.

Koga crept out of the room like a scolded dog and went into the living room.

In the living room he sat down on a soft long thing—the couch—and looked back at the kitchen entryway.

'What'd I do? Was that something personal?'

He sighed and rubbed his head then flicked his feet out so they plopped onto the ground. He rested his arm on the arm of the couch, then his head on his hand and closed his eyes.

He heard a meow and opened his eyes. Sitting next to him was a calico cat.

Koga's natural instinct told him to hunt down the cat but he restrained, not knowing how Kagome would react to a dead cat. So he decided to ignore it.

Buyo meowed again, tilting his head to the side. Then he purred and rubbed against Koga's side.

Koga looked down at the cat, curious as to why a cat would rub up to a demon. More importantly, a wolf demon.

Koga decided to amuse the cat so he pet its head, scratching it behind the ear.

Buyo purred and pushed his head into the movements. It made Koga smile for a moment.

The cat crawled up on Koga's lap and curled up. Koga raised his arms back like a spider had clambered onto his lap, then he lowered them as he heard the cat's gentle snores. He rubbed Buyo's head and smiled a little.

In another ten minutes, Kagome called Koga for dinner. They ate in silence around the table, but it was a comfortable silence. Though, they had just had an awkward moment, neither felt awkward nor the need to start a conversation.

Koga stared at the green stuff in the bowl, looking at it with uncertainty. He didn't know what it was. It looked like vegetation but it wasn't anything he had ever seen before.

Kagome noticed the look and that all he had eaten was the meat.

'Well, he is a wolf. He's probably never had vegetables before.'

"Here,
Koga. Try some of this." She poked the bowl of salad. "It's good for you."

"…What is it?"

"It's a salad. It's lettuce with tomatoes. It's vegetation."

'I know its vegetation.' He decided not to say it out loud. "…Hmm. Is it tasty?"

"Yeah, especially with this stuff." She poked a bottle of ranch dressing.

Koga hesitated.

"Here," Kagome said and put a little dollop of ranch on the salad then handed his a fork. "Just try it. If you don't like it, I'll finish it."

Now Koga was staring at the strange metal thing Kagome had given him. His expression obviously said, 'How do I use this?'

Kagome sighed. "Here, hold it like this," she demonstrated, "and stab the food."

Koga stared at it for a moment, adjusting his hand so it looked similar to Kagome's and stabbed down. But he held it strangely so it flicked out of his hand and clinked on the table.

"No," Kagome said. She stood up and walked over to Koga. "Hold it like this." She demonstrated then gave it to Koga.

"Like this?" he held it.

"No, like this."

Kagome placed her hand over Koga's and fixed the position of the fork.

Though such an act should have made Kagome blush at the intimacy, she did not. In the back of her mind she knew she might by putting perverse thoughts in Koga's mind but she quickly shoved the notion away when Koga didn't react at all.

Koga had reacted, unbeknownst to Kagome. His eyes had widened a bit but he was able to control his fluttering heart before Kagome could feel.

Koga felt happy. Kagome's hand was so warm and soft and he could feel her fast heartbeat through the appendage. He didn't want to look at her face in case it broke the moment.

Once the position was fixed, Kagome went back to her seat and sat down.

Koga tried using the fork again and this time it worked. He picked up a tomato and a scrunched up piece of lettuce with dressing and put it in his mouth.

The strong taste of the ranch was almost overwhelming then he got passed it and tasted the vegetables.

"Hey, this tastes a lot better than grass."

"Eh? You've eaten grass?" Kagome asked.

"Of course I have."

Kagome didn't answer. 'Now that I think about it, I see a lot of cats and dogs eating grass. I guess wolfs do it too.'

After that, the duration of the meal was spent in silence. Kagome enjoyed seeing the happy face Koga made every time he took a bite of the salad.

Koga noticed her watching him and enjoyed it too.

After dinner, Kagome washed the dishes while Koga played with the cat, batting at it with his hands like a pup while Buyo rolled over onto his stomach and swatted at his hand playfully.

'He acts like a little kid when it comes to animals.' Kagome thought as she heard the tussle behind her. 'I would have thought that he'd try to eat Buyo. He is more of an animal than a human.'

Halfway through the dishes, it got extremely quiet and she turned around to see Koga lying on the ground with his arm propped behind his head, Buyo lying on his stomach.

Kagome couldn't help but think they looked cute so silently but quickly she went to her room and grabbed a camera. She took a picture. Then another at a different angle.

"Cute!" she said aloud.

"What?"

Kagome's eyes widened when Koga's opened, showing he was awake the whole time.

She felt embarrassed that she was caught red handed.

"What's that?" Koga sat up and Buyo slid to his lap, still sound asleep.

That's when Kagome realized she had no reason to be embarrassed. Koga didn't even know what a picture was and it'd be hell to explain.

She smiled. "It's nothing important."

Koga looked at her then scratched his head. "Okay then."

She turned and put the camera back in her room. When she came back Koga had moved Buyo into a chair to sleep.

That was when Kagome noticed how dirty Koga was. He was glistening with sweat and his hair had clumps of dust and dirt.

"Koga, when's the last time you bathed?" Kagome asked.

"Ah?" He turned to look at her. "A day before I came here."

Kagome was actually a bit surprised. She had expected it to be longer, what with Koga being a wolf and all.

"Here, you can bathe." she gripped his hand and turned to the hallway with the bathroom.

Koga's brow furrowed but he allowed Kagome to lead him to the bath.

"Here, Koga." Kagome said. "Just fill up that," she pointed to the tub, "with water and wash yourself."

"I know how to bath, Kagome. I may not know much about your country customs but everyone should know how to clean themselves."

"I know, I know." Kagome smiled with her eyes closed, placing her hands in front of her face as if praying. "But there's a specific way to do it."

"Hmph."

Koga began to loosen the strap to his shoulder pads.

"Eh, but I need to explain—don't strip!"

Kagome covered her eyes.

"What are you hiding for?" Koga snarled as his armor dropped to the ground.

"Because, humans don't go around showing off their privates!"

Koga stared at her then continued stripping. "It's me, though. I thought you wouldn't mind."

"Of course I would mind!"

"Why?" 'Why would you when you wish to love Inuyasha?'

Koga didn't think that to be bitter, thought he could feel the ugly feeling seeping in. But above the bitterness, he was honestly curious.

"What do you mean, why?" Kagome asked, her yell lowering an octave.

"Wolf's mate for life, so they are never drawn to the temptations of other males or females. Because of that, the whole clan can bathe without worries." Koga dropped his kilt and discarded his wrist band, sleevet, and hair band. He then looked at Kagome. "Is it not the same for humans?"

Kagome's eyes went wide and her hands slightly dropped.

'He's…it's not the same. So many people become divorced because they aren't loyal to each other. Even Inuyasha is still chasing after Kikyo even thought he was with me.'

Kagome's eyes went even wider when realization hit her.

'Did Kikyo and Inuyasha run off together?'

That thought brought tears to Kagome's eyes.

And as Koga kicked off his legs warmers, he noticed them. Koga flinched in surprise.

'Did-Did I say something wrong?'

"Ah, um, Ka-Kagome. Are you okay? Did I say something?"

Kagome didn't answer as she rubbed her eyes. Koga became flustered, unsure of what to do.

Then he embraced her.

Kagome's eyes went wide as her heart quickened.

"I'm sorry." Koga said. "I said something uncalled for. I didn't mean to upset you."

Kagome's heart pounded against her chest. Her hands curled on Koga's shoulder. A blush spread on her cheeks.

Koga could feel her heartbeat and it made him happy but he decided not to state anything.

"It's…" Kagome's wide eyes narrowed into a sat stare. "You're not the one who upset me. I was just…thinking…"

'About Inuyasha?' Koga didn't dare ask.

Kagome lied in Koga's embrace for a while longer then, realizing Koga was naked to his undergarments, cleared her throat and pulled away.

"Okay, well you should start your bath." Kagome smiled up at him then turned and turned the water on.

Koga watched her for a moment then loosened the strap on his loincloth then pushed the ropes down his hips, around his thighs, where they dropped and he kicked them off.

Kagome filled the tub half way with hot/warm water.

"Here you go." Kagome smiled, making sure to close her eyes.

She walked pass Koga and headed to the door.

Koga walked to the tub and held the edge. He stuck his foot in.

"Gyaaah!" Koga screamed and jolted back, falling on his rump. "Hot, hot, hot, HOT!"

"Ah?! I thought I made it mild." Kagome ran over and placed her hands on Koga's shoulders, not even worrying about the demon being naked. "Are you okay?"

"Ah? Oh, yeah," Koga felt his face heat up and he looked away from her. "It just caught me by surprise is all."

Koga stood and cleared his throat to hide his embarrassment. He went back to the tub and put his foot in then the other then sat. It was hotter than what he was used to and it definitely sent chills up his spine and made his fur on his tail and hair on his scalp stand on end but after a moment of getting used to it, the hot water became relaxing. He sprawled his arms along the side of the tub and slouched back. He exhaled relaxingly.

"Do you need me to add some cold water?" Kagome asked.

"Mm." Koga looked at her. "No, it's fine now."

Kagome smiled and stood. "Okay."

She turned to leave.

"Hey, Kagome." Koga said.

"What?"

"Would you like to join me?"

Kagome's eyes widened and she blushed crimson. "Wha…"

Koga smiled at her blush. "What's wrong? Do you want to?"

"I-I-I—" Kagome looked away. "I don't know. I mean…"

'She's relenting? If Inuyasha had still been around, she would have declined automatically.'

"Heh, you don't need to be worried, Kagome. I may be an animal but I do have restraint. I won't do anything unless you want me to."

Kagome's blush deepened when Koga stated what she had been worried about.

"We-well…I guess…okay…"

Koga felt surprised but he didn't let it show. 'She agreed.'

Kagome held her shirt uneasily, blushing crimson. 'I'm going to bathe with a guy. I'm going to bathe with a guy!'

"You don't have to if you don't want to." Koga said, leaning against the side of the tub with his arms dangling off the edge. "If it makes you uncomfortable…"

"That's not why!" Kagome blushed then looked up at Koga with an awkward glare. "Close your eyes. Don't watch me."

Koga's eyes widened visibly then he smiled and resting his chin on the tub side, he closed his cerulean eyes.

Even though Koga's eyes were closed, Kagome still felt embarrassed as she stripped off her skirt. Her pink panties were exposed and her blush trailed down to her shoulders. She took off her shirt and the blush spread down to her whole body as she stood in nothing but her underclothes.

Deciding to do it before she could rethink it, Kagome unclipped her bra then tossed it on the ground. Next came her panties which she pushed down her legs then took off her socks along with the flimsy pink fabric.

She crossed her arms over her chest, embarrassed down to her knees, then walked over to the tub.

She slowly climbing in and Koga shifted his legs so they were spread. Kagome sat in between them and dropped his arms when her breast fell below the water line.

Koga still kept his eyes closed even though he knew Kagome was in the water. He didn't want to take the chance of looking and Kagome getting mad.

Kagome noticed and her blush slightly dimmed at how obedient he was.

'He's more well-behaved than Inuyasha, that's for sure.'

"You…you can look now." Kagome said, averting her eyes.

Koga chuckled once then opened his eyes. He turned back so he was facing Kagome and smiled.

"You have very pale skin." Koga stated.

"My skin's not pale." Kagome countered, "You're just really tan."

"You're paler than Ginta." Koga grinned broadly.

Kagome blushed and looked to the side.

'So cute.' Koga thought.

"We—Well here." Kagome reached over and grabbed the shampoo bottle, then she went to grab the detachable shower head. But she couldn't reach without standing. She looked around and found a cup so she grabbed that and filled it with the water faucet.

She turned to Koga with a smile then noticed something.

"Koga, your hairs still up."

"Eh, oh yeah." Koga's hand awkwardly went to his pony tail. "It's a habit…"

"Here," Kagome moved closer. "Undo it so I can wash your hair."

"Um…" Koga hesitated.

"What's wrong?"

"…Nothing." He reached up and untied the cord of his ponytail.

Koga kept his hand under his hair so it was still up then let it unfurl over his shoulders.

Koga's hair was straight and pretty, making Kagome a little jealous for a moment then she pushed to notion away.

"Kay, turn around and come here."

Koga obeyed. Kagome dumped the cap of water on him.

Koga would admit that when he invited Kagome to join him, he didn't think this would to the outcome. He didn't have high expectations to begin with but he expected them to at least connect flesh, like a cuddle or something or other. Koga was yearning to hold Kagome in his embrace.

But as Kagome's gentle fingers rubbed his scalp then brushed through his black locks, he decided it wasn't that bad. Kagome's hands felt good.

Kagome put shampoo in her hands and stood, grabbing the shower head, knowing Koga wouldn't turn around and look. She sat back down and turned it on. She turned it to the same temperature she filled the tub with and sprayed Koga's hair, getting close enough to touch skin.

Koga smiled at the contact but Kagome was too focused on the cleaning to notice.

After getting the shampoo suds out, she put conditioner in and brushed it out. Because Koga was starting to get bored, he decided not to ask why she brushed it.

Once Kagome was done with Koga she started working on her own hair. Koga shifted away and leaned back against the side of the tub.

Kagome stared at Koga for a moment then, making sure her breasts were under the water line, she continued to wash.

Surprisingly—and awkwardly—Koga only stared at her face. Kagome was reassured that Koga wasn't trying to be a pervert but she felt weird being under his stare.

She adverted her eyes and blushed slightly. Koga smiled and held back a chuckle.

Kagome finished with her hair then leaned back and relaxed against the opposite side of the tub.

Koga tried to ignore the fact that Kagome could by laying in his arms instead against the opposite side.

"So, Kagome, I got a question for you." Koga said.

"Yes."

"Why'd you give in to bathing with me?"

Kagome blushed and looked away. "I…I-I…"

Koga just stared at her.

Then Kagome gave him a strange look. It was a look she had never given Koga before.

Was that…desire?

Kagome scooted close to Koga, getting in between his sprawled legs, and pressed her chest to his. Her mouth was close.

"Maybe…I…" Kagome started, her mouth drawing closer.

Koga turned his head away. Kagome backed away in surprise.

"You," Kagome started, shocked. "You don't—"

"I do." Koga grabbed Kagome's hand and kissed the dainty knuckles passionately. Kagome smiled warmly. Then Koga's eyes opened. "I yearn for you. I want for you to willingly give your heart to me. That would have happened with Inuyasha's death."

"What if I've had a change of heart?"

Koga's eyes narrowed. He pulled Kagome close so their faces were inches away. But it wasn't in passion like she had attempted a moment ago. It was more…intimidating. Kagome's eyes widened.

"Have you?" Koga's voice was firm and cynical. It was a voice he had never used on Kagome before, which made her eyes go wider. "Or are you just lonely that the mutt's not around?"

Koga's hand rubbed the side of Kagome's face, gently, contradicting the aggressive look in his eyes.

"Remember what I said? Wolves' mate for life. The coupling becomes official after intercourse. You will be mine till you die. Whether the mutt returns or not."

Koga's words were starting to sink in.

"So, before you give yourself to me," Koga continued, "make sure you won't regret being mine even if Inuyasha returns."

The cold look in Koga's eyes was replaced by love. He bumped foreheads with her.

"I want you to be happy when you come to my side. Not conflicted."

Kagome stared at him, then adverted her eyes. She understood what Kagome meant.

Koga smiled at her then shifted. He stood and left the bath. He grabbed a towel from the towel rack—he assumed that was what the cloth was for. He shook himself like a canine would, flicking droplets off his tail, then used the towel to dry his hair, not wanting to catch a cold. Ginta and Hakkaku weren't there to nurse him if he got sick and he didn't want to be a burden on Kagome.

Sighing through his nose, he reached for his clothes.

"Wait, don't put on your clothes." Kagome said.

"Why?" Koga turned to look at her.

Kagome went to stand while Koga turned to look at her. Automatically, she sat back down in the water with a squeal. Koga turned back around, blushing.

Koga heard Kagome stand back up. She exited the water and wrapped a towel around herself.

"To bath then put on dirty clothes is kind of pointless." Kagome walked over, keeping her arms to her chest to hold up her towel.

Koga saw the logic in it. But…

"I don't have anything else to wear, unless you want me to strut around with my—"

"No!" she didn't let him finish, guessing what he was going to say.

Koga stared at her with a slight glare. 'Make up your mind.'

Kagome saw the look and matched it. Then she sighed.

"Wait here."

She walked out of the room.

Koga wrapped the towel around his waist then sat down cross-legged. He sighed and propped his elbow on his knee, his head resting on his hand. He closed his eyes.

"Here."

Koga opened his eyes to see Kagome holding blue and white clothes. For a moment, they looked like feudal era clothes but then he saw the fabric was not the same as what he's used to. But he didn't worry about that.

"Are these men's clothes?" he asked.

"Yes."

"Whose are they? Your father's?"

Koga didn't smell an 'adult' male in the house. He could smell a boy but his scent didn't carry mature pheromones so he must have been a pre-pubescent. And he smelt another male scent. One that had faint traces of pheromones—showing an elder lived there.

It was possible that Kagome's father was the elderly, but Koga had heard that humans were usually attracted to a human of the same age and in the few times Koga had watched humans instead of ate them, he had seen young women with young men and old women with old men. He had smelt a mature female pheromones along with Kagome's pubescent scent. So there was obviously an adult woman in the house.

In the tribe age meant nothing. An older male that's mate had passed or didn't have a mate could mark a cub and take her when she was old enough to understand—usually sometime during the pubescent stage.

"Ah," Kagome looked up at Koga wide-eyed, then smiled softly. "No. My father died a long time ago. These are my grandpa's clothes."

"I see." Koga said, unaffected by the fact Kagome's dad was gone.

He picked up the clothes and spread them out.

"Here, put them on." Kagome smiled.

Koga looked at the clothes—not liking the fact that the clothes still held the stench of old man but then began to put them on.

Though Koga was used to easy-to-put-on kilt and breast plates, he could figure out how to put the fabric's on.

When he had them on—the towel that had been around his waist now on the ground—he stood. He stared at the clothes with an unamused expression as his eyes fell on the shortened sleeves and pant legs. The sleeves stopped at the middle of his forearms while the pants stopped at right below his knees.

"Oh, well," Kagome started, "I could have guessed that would be the outcome. But it's the only guy clothes we got that could possibly fit. Sota's clothes would be even smaller."

"Sota?"

"My little brother."

"Oh," Koga could have guessed that was the name of the pre-pubescent boy but he decided to double check just in case.

"Yeah." Kagome smiled then stood. "Alright, I'm going to get dressed. Then I'll go get you clothes that fit."

Koga smiled back. "Thanks, Kagome."

Kagome just smiled then turned and left. Koga followed.

He went to follow Kagome into her room but she stopped him.

"Girls need privacy." Koga said.

He cocked an eyebrow in skepticism. "We just bathed together. I think saying you need privacy is pointless."

Kagome stared at him, unable to deny that factor.

'I think I just dug myself into a hole.' Kagome thought. 'He wasn't so assertive before we bathed together. I must have given him some…unwanted confidence.'

"Still, I would like some privacy while dressing."

Koga stared at her then decided to give in. Growing up around female and male wolves, he knew it wasn't smart to be too pushy to females unless you wanted a new scar. And although Kagome was domesticated, she was still a female.

"Alright." Koga said and left her to her own devices.

He sat in the chair next to Buyo at the kitchen table. The cat was sleeping soundly. Koga scratched the cat behind the ear, making that ear flick, but Buyo didn't stir.

In the bedroom, Kagome fretted over what she was going to wear. Koga was extremely confident when it came to no one being able to take her heart so he wouldn't care if she wore a skimpy outfit. But she would care and so would the night perverts.

As she worried about what to wear protectively, she worried about what to wear appealingly. She wanted to wear something that would appeal to an animalistic boy but not to be too obvious with her intensions.

She didn't know why, but she started to see Koga in a new light. Maybe it was because Izaya had vanished and she was lonely. Or maybe Koga's persistence-ness had paid off. Or maybe she was finally realizing her true feelings. She didn't know.

But she did know that Koga was right to reject her. With her heart in a jumble, it would be too cruel to Koga and too hard on her to try and convey herself to the wolf if there were even traces of feelings for Inuyasha.

Kagome stood in front of the mirror and decided her outfit was as good as any.

She exited.

Koga turned to the door opening and his eyes widened. Kagome looked beautiful. She wore a tube tight pink skirt that reached farther down than her school uniform—nearly to her lower thighs. She wore a strange patterned pink shirt under a black jacket with black boots that went up to under her knees. The outfit didn't show any cleavage and the jacket and skirt didn't display the contours of her curves but Koga never even thought of the sex appeal. All he was concerned about was Kagome's beauty that radiated off her.

Koga realized he had been staring for too long—it made Kagome happy he was staring for so long though she didn't let it show—and he quickly replaced the gawking expression with a smile.

"You look beautiful."

Kagome blushed to the complement but smiled.

"Thank you."

She smiled for a moment longer before she grabbed a little black purse—money her mom always left her in case she needed it—and headed to the door. Koga followed.

Kagome turned to Koga and smiled gently. "You should stay here. A feudal era demon and the modern world wouldn't mix well, especially at night."

Koga cocked a brow. "Is the night life dangerous?"

"No, not necessarily. But it gets really bright and noisy at night so it'd be best for you to stay here."

Koga saw her logic. A demon with enhanced senses probably wouldn't be able to bear strong, crowded places.

With a huff, Koga said. "Alright."

Kagome smiled. "Alright. I'll be back."

"Oh, wait, you forgot something!" Koga called.

"What?"

Koga cupped his hand under Kagome's chin and his lips drew near.

Kagome's heart thudded in her chest.

Koga's soft lips chastely connected to her forehead.

Koga released her and Kagome's hand touched her forehead while she stared wide-eyed at the demon. She was surprised by the chastity of the kiss. She expected the abrasive, aggressive wolf demon leader to give demanding and dominating kisses.

Koga smiled at her. "Be careful."

Koga's words broke through Kagome's thoughts and she blushed.

"I-I will." Kagome turned and ran out of the house.

'My heart…' Kagome thought as she ran down the shrine steps. 'It's beating. Like Oban Drums. So fast. So happily. Am I…have I really…?'