The mountains appeared in my sight quickly and there was a strange tugging in my chest that was pulling me to them. I glanced down at my child's sleeping face and it went away. He curled further into Kilala's warm coat and I smiled.
I saw the familiar whirlwind that I was accustomed to as we reached the pass before the wolf den. Kouga had scented us on the wind. I waved at him and he opened his mouth in what was sure to be a yell loud enough to wake my son, so I shook my head and placed a finger to my lips.
"Kilala, land." She did and I got off, careful not to wake Shippou.
"Oh, the kit's sleeping." I nodded.
"He slept the entire way here." He nodded at my words.
"What brings you around here?" I sighed, this was a topic I did not want to approach yet, but it seemed I was going to have to.
"Is there somewhere I can put Shippou first? It's a long conversation and I don't want to wake him." Kouga nodded his head yes and lead me into the den and I laid him on the Kouga's sleeping nest.
Everyone was quiet when we entered and Kouga ordered them to keep it that way. He took me outside near the river. It was beautiful. I sat on one of the rocks and Kouga sat near me.
"Before I tell you, you have to realize that I don't plan to take them right away." His eyes widened.
"The jewel shards." I nodded.
"Yes. I'm sure you've figured out that Naraku is dead. Your shards are the only ones left to collect." He smirked.
"Makes sense. So, you want my shards?" I nodded.
"Not right away. I'm sure you have a few things to do before I take them." He looked at me oddly.
"Why didn't you just bust in with that mutt of yours?" I sighed.
"Because Inuyasha wouldn't have any reservations about just killing you. I consider you one of my friends and I no longer have the ability to control him." I looked up at the moon.
"He chose Kikyo. I'm actually okay with it, isn't that strange?" I shook my head, "But the point is, she removed the subjugation beads and I can't sit him to stop him from killing anyone."
"You're not mad about it?" I shook my head and looked him in the eye.
"I haven't felt that way about him in awhile." I turned my head back to the moon that was slightly behind a peak now. The sun would rise soon. I pulled the green and white kimono I'd taken to wearing tighter.
"What will you do with the jewel, once it's completed?" I shrugged.
"I have no idea. I have to make a selfless wish." I shrugged, "I don't know... World peace, maybe?"
Kouga chuckled at the tone of my voice, "Not a bad wish, but not exactly flawless."
I looked at him, "What do you mean?"
"Well, if you don't word it exactly right, the world could be in peace for one second and then fall back to normal." I stared at him.
"I hadn't thought of it like that...," he smiled up at me and my heart stuttered and I prayed to whatever gods existed that he hadn't heard it.
If he heard, he didn't show it. He stood up and offered me a hand. I took it and allowed him to pull me up. I looked at him and realized just how handsome he was. Looking away, I mentally shook myself.
The sun would be up in a few minutes, "How long can I draw this out before you insist on having the shards?" I looked at him.
"What do you mean?" He smirked down at me.
"Well, the longer I have the shards, the longer you'll be around." I smiled and walked ahead of him, back into the den. Shippou was awake when I entered and he ran up to me.
"Mama!" He launched himself into my arms.
"What happened?! Shippou?" He cowered into my chest.
One of the wolves spoke up, "The kit had a nightmare, we've been trying to calm him but he wouldn't."
My eyes widened in realization and I sighed. I moved him so I could see those big adorable eyes of his, "What was it about, sweetheart?"
"Naraku killed you, Mama!" He was half hysterical. I hushed him.
"Naraku is dead, sweetheart, he can't hurt anyone anymore, remember?" He nodded and, though he still clung to me, he stopped crying.
"The kit calls you his mother?" Kouga spoke. I had forgotten that he hadn't been around for that before. I nodded.
"Yes, I adopted him as my child almost a year ago." Kouga smiled a bit. His smile was filled with love for me and I turned away, hoping I wasn't blushing.
"Sister, if he would like, your kit could come with me and the other children to the meadows to play today." A she-wolf I did not know, but immediately liked spoke.
I smiled at her, "What do you say, sweetheart? Would you like to go play?"
He nodded a bit and I set him down, he walked over to the other children and shyly introduced himself. One of the girls, just smaller than he, grinned.
"I'm Seiko," he smiled and they began talking happily.
I faced the she-wolf, "What is your name?"
She smiled warmly, "I am Reiko. Seiko is my cub."
I nodded, "Thank you for offering this, he needs more friends his age."
She shook her head, "It's no problem. You're our sister and so he is our family as well."
She lead them out and I watched him until I couldn't see him anymore. Kouga raised his eyebrow at me, wondering what had changed and why I hadn't corrected the woman when she called me sister.
"There is no point, they won't listen anyways." He laughed.
"You find my logic funny?" He nodded.
"Very." I rolled my eyes and suddenly, I was swept up in a whirlwind.
We stopped on a cliffside that overlooked the forest. It was the same one I'd thrown shippou off. It was so strange to even think that, I'd thrown my son off a cliff to save him. I chuckled to myself.
"What are you thinking about?"
"I threw my son off this cliff. How does that sound when I say it that way?" He laughed as well.
"It does sound sort of bad that way. In your defense, he can fly." I nodded.
"True." He paused.
"Do you remember what else happened here?" I glanced at him.
"Before or after I slapped you harder than I'd hit anyone else in my life?" He laughed.
"Really? That was the hardest you've ever hit someone?" I nodded.
"My hand stung for a bit afterwards." I laughed, "I thought you were going to throw me off the mountain when I did that."
He looked at me, "I wouldn't have."
I nodded, "I know. The point is, I didn't then."
He smirked a bit, "Have you considered my offer?"
I couldn't lie to him, I had, but the thing was, "I have. There is something I should tell you though, I will not accept any offer like that unless I am in love with you."
"Kagome...," his tone was confused, he didn't realize what I was saying.
"I think it would be very easy to fall in love with you, Kouga." His eyes were wide and my heart was beating very fast.
He reached out and touched my cheek, "What are you saying?"
I laid my hand over his, "I'm saying that I need a little time."
I laced my fingers through his. They fit perfectly together and my heart became a hummingbird. I knew I was half in love with him already. Truthfully, I should have been more scared than I was. People didn't fall in love as fast as I was falling. Suddenly, I realized I didn't care.
When his lips touched mine, there were no fireworks or sparks, there was a slow burning fire. Something that made me feel safe, warm, and loved. I was who I was supposed to be, in his arms. As short and chaste as it was, it left me breathless.
As pressed his forehead into mine, I smiled, knowing he was smiling too.
