Chapter 2

Just a Matter of Time

She could do this. She just had to breathe.

In and Out. In and Out. Kagome knew the calm, syncopated pattern like the back of her hand.

She'd done the exercise since she was child and the village miko, Kaede, had first spotted the power within her. It became as natural as sleeping to her. And, yet…she still stumbled.

"You still think of him," Miroku's soothing voice observed from across the quiet courtyard. "The wolf Alpha."

Kagome didn't bother denying it. There was no point by then. She'd struggled with her emotions as far as Koga was concerned all winter. It wasn't till Miroku's mentor, Mushin, had told her unless she confronted her feelings head-on, there was no way she could let go and focus on strengthening her reiki.

Reiki required peace. Peace of mind, peace of spirit, and peace of the heart. Until she accomplished all of them, there was no way she could be ready to face Naraku.

So, Kagome had acknowledged she had developed feelings for Koga. But, she had then decided to let them go. She had to. With the coming battle with Naraku, there was no room for distractions in Kagome's life.

Unfortunately, her mind still wandered.

"I don't know how to stop," Kagome admitted with a sigh. "It no-longer holds the pain it did when I first left but…."

"You can regret leaving, Lady Kagome," Miroku replied calmly as he sat beside her. "You were happy there. There's no shame in that."

"I know," Kagome answered. "And, I accept that. I just….wonder."

A gentle breeze whispered through the trees, bringing with it the first whiff of Spring. Already the surrounding trees were beginning to bud, though not yet breaking into full bloom. Although, Master Mushin constantly reassured them, it wouldn't take long.

'Any day, now,' he promised with a knowing smile.

It was as if he understood some secret hidden from them. But, Kagome supposed that shouldn't surprise her that much. There was always something about the mischievous monk.

For the longest time, he tried his best to match up Kagome and Miroku. However, that was quickly shut down once he saw the young hoshi speak with Sango when she'd made a rare visit to pass on information. There was no denying Miroku was sweet on the yokai hunter.

"Perhaps a new message from our taijiya friend," Miroku offered as if reading Kagome's thoughts. "Those always seem to help."

They did. Ever since they had left the mountains, Sango had been sure to send them updates every now and then on how the ookami tribes were doing.

It had been a hard winter. But, they weren't broken by Naraku's treachery. Their survival eased Kagome's guilt.

However, all Kagome had to do was remember that trusting warmth in Koga's blue eyes and it would hit her full force all over again. She had no doubt, even if he was standing right in front of her, she'd never see that expression again. And, that was enough to break her heart.

"Have you heard from Sango, lately?" Kagome asked with a smirk, wanting to snap out of her dark thoughts.

Despite her being the focus of the taijiya's messages, Kagome had noticed Miroku was always the first to know and greet Sango whenever she sent word. And, Miroku was always the one to see Sango off when she could visit.

If anyone knew when she was coming next, it was Miroku.

To prove her point, the young hoshi actually blushed as he subtly cleared his throat.

"Not recently," he replied. "I had actually come to ask if you had received word without my knowledge."

That had Kagome's brow furrowing with worry.

"No, I haven't," she answered with a shake of her head. "Do you think something might be wrong?"

"Nothing proven," Miroku quickly replied. "I just have to wonder….. It has been some time, is all."

"Sango did say the Eastern tribe was returning to the den," Kagome added. "Perhaps it's just more tricky for her to send Kirara to us."

Miroku nodded as if all his worries were non-existent. And, perhaps they weren't. It was possible he needed reassurance as much as she did and Kagome wasn't about to deny him that. It was difficult to for him to be away from Sango, whether he admitted or not.

"You're right," he replied with a smile. "She is fully capable to taking care of herself."

Kagome shared a companionable smile. "That she is," she answered.

Sango had taken care of herself for years. And, she'd survived the winter in the mountains. She was formidable in the greatest sense of the word.

They just had to be patient, and wait.

SSS

Sango was sure she had heard the Alpha wrong. Out of all the things he could ask about, he wanted to know….that?

So stunned by the demand, Sango felt her mind blank without even realizing it.

"Who?" she finally answered lamely.

Immediately, Sango felt a swift wind whistle in her hears before she was slammed painfully against the wall behind her. Breath thinned in her restricted throat as she struggled to keep from kicking the open air she was dangling in as Koga held her in one hand.

"My patience is gone, taijiya," he growled as he brought his face right in front of her. "I'm not in the mood to play. I know you know who I'm talking about. So, one more time, who is he?"

Sango knew she wasn't dead yet, despite her senses struggling to believe that. She had to stay calm. Calm and strong. But, first, she needed to breathe.

"He….is…..a…..monster," she forced between shallow breaths.

Right when she thought the blackness circling her vision would consume her, Sango felt her back-side hit the ground again; sweet, burning air filling her lungs again.

"He is your enemy," Koga informed, not even bothering to ask it as a question.

Sango nodded as she continued to breathe deeply, desperate to calm her spinning head with the needed air.

"What is he?" Koga continued, crossing his arms as he waited.

Sango sighed as she sat herself up, leaning against the wall she'd been previously pinned to. There was no point in avoiding it now. The Alpha was determined for answers. If he wanted to know what kind of nightmare he'd brushed against, why not tell him?

"He's evil," she informed, tone tight. "He's greed, and lust, and obsession. He's ruthless and selfish and every dark hated thought you ever had."

"So, he's a yokai," Koga replied with a sniff.

"No," Sango answered with a shake of her head.

"You can't tell me that thing was human," Koga argued with a furrowed brow.

"At one point," Sango countered.

That caused the ookami to pause, eyes shifting back to the hunters at the cave entrance. Sango had gotten his attention. Good! Maybe he could be warned away, afterall.

"It's a long story," Sango continued calmly. "Too long. But, Naraku is….unlike any enemy you've ever faced.
'He has the human capability to adapt, to change, to become whatever he needs to be to survive. But, he also has the yokai's merciless streak that makes him perfect at using anyone or anything he wants to suit his purpose."

"And, what is that purpose?" Koga demanded, eyes zeroing in on Sango's face.

"To gain power," Sango replied as if stating the obvious. "It's all he wants. All he craves. And, he doesn't care who gets in his way. He'll destroy them all."

"Is that why he attacked my tribe?" Koga demanded, once again taking on the cold look of Alpha. "Why Kagome ran?"

And, all at once, all of Sango's hopes came to a screeching halt. The ookami didn't want to be warned from Naraku. He wanted to find Kagome. He was a fool.

"Your tribe survived," Sango replied, face as closed as a sealed gate. "Be grateful for that. And, leave this alone."

"Half my tribe was killed by this bastard," Koga snarled, eyes gleaming. "You will tell me where I can find him."

"I don't know where he is," Sango replied.

"You're lying," Koga warned as he stepped closer to her.

"No more than you are," Sango countered. "You don't want to find Naraku. You want to find what he wants."

Once again, the Alpha faltered and Sango felt a smirk pull at her lips. Let the Alpha chew on that! If she was going to die, she was going to have her say first.

"Naraku is gone," Sango informed. "Has been for months. You know this. You could have gone after him any-time you wanted to. But, you didn't. You stayed in these mountains to get through the winter. But, you also used the time to hunt me down. Round and round we went till we came to this moment. Not because I know where Naraku is. But, because I know where someone else is.
'Let this go, Koga. You've touched this fire already. And, it still burns you."

Almost on reflex, the Alpha rubbed the surface of his chest-plate, undoubtedly covering the wound Naraku's taint had left him. Koga still felt pain from it. Sango had witnessed it through the months. He wouldn't survive another encounter.

"She's gone," Sango pressed. "Accept it and grow your tribe. They need it."

For a shining moment, Sango thought the Alpha might actually listen to her. His silence meant consideration, didn't it? It had to.

Unfortunately, all hope burned away like morning mist when the Alpha crouched down in front of her, eyes set in deadly determination.

"I'll make this clear, taijiya," Koga growled low. "You will tell me what I want to know."

"Or, what?" Sango challenged. "You'll kill me?"

"I know you don't fear that," Koga replied with a grunt. "You've proven that over and over. But, you've also proven what you do fear."

"And, what's that?"

"Failure," the Alpha informed as casually as stating the weather. "You fear failing your friends, your mission, your very purpose of being a yokai hunter.
'But, here's the truth, taijiya. You've been caught. This game is done. And, I am through with waiting. All I need is the signal I'm waiting for and I will leave these mountains without a second thought."

Sango forced herself to remain still, sweat breaking out on the back of her neck.

"The kit is already checking our borders," Koga continued. "And, I and my best hunters are going to search for that bastard that tried to wipe us out. Your tricks haven't worked. You've failed.
'But, now, you have one chance. You will tell me where my woman is and why that monster wants her; because where she is, he will be too. Or, you can die here and now; a failure."

Sango swallowed the threat of bile tightening the base of her throat. Was that true? Had she truly failed so badly in what she was trying to accomplish that the whole winter was for nothing?

The waiting glint in the Alpha's eyes told Sango he was almost wanting her to deny him. To let him end her and go about his merry way anyway. But, that wouldn't stop him. He wouldn't kill her and just refocus on his tribe. He'd drop her and then gather his pack on the hunt.

He was determined and nothing was going to slow him down. Not anymore.

"KOGA!"

The shrill call had Sango's blood stop cold. Shipo….

Koga never moved as the tiny body of the kitsune bounded up to the cave entrance.

"It's time," he huffed, his little chest heaving. "The snow….it's melted….. The way….is clear…."

Sango prepared herself for the killing blow. There was no point to delay it now, for the Alpha. Koga had what he wanted. However, the ookami male remained still as stone, glowing eyes locked on her.

"Well?" he asked. It was now or never.

Sango released a heavy sigh, weariness suddenly heavy on her shoulders.

"She's safe," Sango admitted between clenched teeth. "A friend saw to that."

"The hoshi," Koga informed, sharing a knowing glance between the silent betas behind him.

Sango nodded. "She wanted to train to face down Naraku once and for all. And, to do that, she had to go somewhere yokai couldn't."

"Why does Naraku want her?"

Every instinct in Sango demanded she not give the Alpha anything. But, what choice did she have?

'Forgive me, Kagome.'

"What do you know about the Shikon Jewel?"