One night to be confused, one night to speed up truth. We had a promise made, for hands and then away…

-"Heartbeats" Jose Gonzalez


Cave life had definitely amped up Kagome's sense of smell. First the main cave hall and its festering smell had curled her nose. Then Kouga's room struck her, his forest aroma washing over her body and making her shiver. Now a trail of delicious scents teased her nose as she followed Shiyla and Cora through a tunnel.

"Is that dinner?" She asked.

"Mm hmm," Shiyla said.

"It smells delicious." Kagome wet her lips, the scents of roasting meats and a hint of something sweet at her nose.

"Of course. Now hurry." Shiyla picked up her pace. Cora speed up easily but Kagome jogged to even stay beside them.

The tunnel stretched before them like taffy, too long for all of their grumbling stomachs. Kagome blinked to herself, realizing that she hadn't eaten all day. She'd spent the afternoon in the women's leisure room helping to sort the herbs they'd collected and demonstrating how to create various medicines. She also played with Rosella and her friends for quite a while. Kagome rubbed her neck, still sore from that part of her day. The wolf children didn't seem to mind she was human, hanging and climbing and wrestling Kagome. While she didn't want everyone making a point of her humanness, she sure had a workout being treated just like "one of the wolves."

Kagome had only vaguely noticed when men had appeared at the door and various women had headed out behind them. Now she figured where they'd gone; to prepare this feast that was driving her and the others to hustle towards the main hall.

They finally arrived and Kagome paused at the entrance. Fires curled from their various circles, leaf centerpices plated with roasted animals, from small birds to warthogs. Among them were fruits, nuts, and large spotted eggs. Wolf women and children lounged, swinging from rocks, cross-legged beside fires, playing games. There were no men or demon wolves in the room. Kagome inhaled, deep, and she could only smell the delicious food. In fact, the stones looked scrubbed clean; no bone remains or gnawed on bits remained. These women had been working hard and her surprise must have shown on her face.

"We're celebrating Kouga's return and the vengeance of our fallen comrades," Shiyla said, walking towards a fire pit where other women sat. Kagome and Cora followed.

"It looks great," Kagome said. She relished that she sat on clean dry stone, no longer covered in grease stains.

Cora waved a hand to the air.

"Let's see how long this lasts. The men are so careless."

Shiyla rolled her eyes.

"Especially your mate. He tosses about bones like throwing knifes."

Cora's cheeks reddened as the women laughed.

"Burku has large hands. He cannot help if he eats sloppily."

Kagome chuckled, thinking of Inuyasha and how messy he got just eating ramen noodles. She sighed, pushing away the thoughts of him, though a mellow pain still lingered. The open cave poured in cool evening air, autumn leaves swirling with each gentle gust. The fires hardly even winked, though, and Kagome wondered until she actually inspected the fires. They each had wood shields built over them, preventing wind from nipping out their light. She nodded absentmindedly. She would have never thought of that. The more she stayed within this wolf culture, the more she was impressed…

Her shoulders locked as a large clinking sound echoed over the walls. Everyone shot into standing positions then headed to the right of the cave. Kagome hesitated for only a moment before she skipped right after them, squeezing herself to the middle beside Shiyla and Cora. The clinking noise grew louder, joined by wolf howls, rising and falling in a rhythmic motion.

"What's happening?" Kagome asked, speaking over the song and clanking.

"Open your eyes," Shiyla said, nodding towards a tunnel.

Fire stretched shadows across the walls. The floors trembled, then demon wolves slid into the room. Raising their furry throats high, they pawed their way into the room's center. Kagome thought they looked royal by their struts, and everyone cheered for them. Behind them a gang of males shuffled in, making their way pass the line of women and kids. From the men's gangly limbs, Kagome guessed them as weaker standing pack members. The men stopped near the cave's mouth, standing before the lined up wolves. Moments later, more men entered. They were thick, muscled warrior types clad in furs and armor. The women giggled, whistling and waving. The men shouted back, howling and winking as they passed the line of women.

When a sandy headed man with smooth dark skin, a strong jaw and bright eyes passed Kagome and her new friends, he broke formation to blow a kiss towards Cora, who flushed fiercely and dipped her head. Burku, Kagome thought, the mate Cora had mentioned.

As the long procession of warriors marched, Kagome started to fidget. She didn't need to know the ups and downs of this wolf culture to know that soon the Wolf Prince would slide through that tunnel.

"Nervous?" Shiyla asked.

"Uh, why would you say that?" she asked, glancing at her from the corner of her eye.

Shiyla laughed.

"Because you're trembling like a rabbit and twisting the life out of your clothing."

Kagome released the dress, clasping her trembling fingers.

"It's all the lights and noise that makes me nervous." She said, nodding to herself as if to confirm it.

That had to be it. She blamed the fire, throwing shapes and shadows over the room like a chaotic stadium. She also blamed the presence of so many demons in such close corridors. A life of fighting and befriending demons never made one comfortable with their vicious strength.

Shiyla rolled her eyes.

"Yes, yes, just the lights and shouting. Of course there's no other reason."

"Oh, shut up."

Shiyla nudged her with a laugh. Of course there was another reason, if not the real reason that she had to press her toes into the floor to keep from trembling. The real reason for her nerves and thrashing heartbeat.

Kouga was coming. The last time she saw him, they were face to face, mere moments from meeting in a kiss. She couldn't forget that they were naked as well, his strong body perched over her small one. At that moment, with his gaze hooked on hers, she didn't feel small at all, but precious, special. How often had Inuyasha made her feel that way? Special instead of small.

Times she could count on her little fingers. It seemed whenever she felt Inuyasha cared was if Kouga came around. A nervous glint would catch his golden eyes and he'd jump to block Kouga from her. That always made her belly warm up. If he cared enough to grow nervous by Kouga's threat of swooning her, it had to mean he didn't want anyone else to have her.

Right?

How she'd react to Kouga once he arrived in the room also made her bite her nails. Shiyla said she couldn't publically dismiss him without drawing a "kill me" target on her head. But how much could she squeeze lies through her teeth and pretend they were actually a couple?

No time to figure it out, for the howls and shouts suddenly stopped.

Kagome's neck snapped up, hooking onto the row of men lined by the cave entrance. The men faced the tunnel that they'd came through, as did everyone else. Ginta and Hakkaku passed through, marching side by side, grinning proudly. To the snap of applause, the boys pulled forward to join the rest of the men. The tunnel's blackness gaped at Kagome, then finally it stirred, a figure appearing.

The Demon Wolf Prince.

Kagome's breath caught as Kouga stepped out from the tunnel shadows. Silence tinted the air, but there were so many words in the wolf demons' gleaming eyes, the way they trailed his every movement.

Everyone stood straighter as the Wolf Prince slid forward, his pace allowing Kagome to actually see him. She was used to him running about, never allowing her to rest on any one thing. But now, with his gradual walk across the cave she could let her gaze run up and down and see every inch of him.

His black brow cocked high, a smile lightening his full lips. Watching his mouth made her aware of her own drop with concentration and she clapped it shut. Dressed in furred shoulders, the material cut off just above the biceps and showed off his muscled arms. His chest filled his plated armor, the furs around his waist sweeping around the thighs with every smooth step.

As he passed the line, the wolves' heads nodded to their chests, gazes resting on their feet. Kagome lowered her chin as well, but couldn't keep her eyes down for long. She would glance down, then look up, glance down, and look up.

Kouga walked pass the line with his hands burrowed into his waist, chin towards his men, but those eyes…they caught onto Kagome's. Their gazes locked like magnets. His skin looked warm under the blazes, his eyes blue fires. His steady stare flamed something hot in Kagome's chest. Her cheeks burned and she knew it was not from the fires. She held his eyes as he made his way pass the people and when he finally reached her, held her breath.

In her mind, she saw him doing so many things. Pulling her forward to his side, running his nose through her hair and pecking the nape of her neck. She nearly laughed aloud when none of these things happen. Instead, Kouga nodded to her, smirking ever so slightly before continuing down the line until he reached his men.

Kagome averted her eyes to the stone floors. She knew this feeling, the airless space in her chest, and it had no right to be there. Inuyasha had made this space in her so many times and now, because Kouga didn't run up to her and slobber, she was feeling it now.

Oh, Kagome. She thought to herself, shaking her head. You definitely need a good slap.

"I am back," Kouga said, finishing his walk about the room. His smooth rumble echoed across the walls, loud over the winds and creaking fires. Everyone leaned forward at once, tensed. Here it was, the important news, the words they had been waiting to hear for so long. He cleared his throat, looked over the crowds. "I am back, and our enemy is dead, dead, dead."

Howls. A chorus of them, rising to the cave ceiling. There were cheers, wet faces, and dancing. Elbows nudged Kagome about, and she jumped about to, clapping her hands together, a grin crawling to her face. It was her celebration as well. Naraku was everyone's enemy. A dead, dead, dead enemy. A group of women cried most of all, and many wolves surrounded them with comfort. Widows of the fallen, Kagome thought. Kouga joined in on the roughhousing, celebrating, and comforting, but after a while he lifted his hands and the rowdy wolves eased into a calm.

"I can see you are all excited about the news." He smirked, enjoying his own joke. Wolf men crackled and slapped his back heartily. "Now that we got that energy out, grab your mates and friends. We eat."

More cheers as the room broke out of formation, women seeking their mates and mates seeking their women. Last night Kagome had sat with both mated and single females, but this time the wolf and children headed purposely towards their assigned areas, as do the unmated women. She wrung her wrists, glancing nervously over heads. Where should she go, where should she sit?

She'd just begun to follow a tail that looked like Shiyla's when she felt someone's breath at her neck. A rubber feeling sprung through her knees, causing her to stumble. A hand caught her waist, the softest of pressure. Her muscles tensed, preparing to feel Kouga reel her close to his side. Instead, the hand steadied her and released, just like that.

"Kagome," Kouga said in his low rumble. She spun around, facing him. "Would you, uh, like to sit beside me tonight?"

Free from the bind, dark tresses swam down his shoulders, trickling down his muscled chest. He ran a hand through his hair, a bit shakily Kagome noticed.

"Uh, sure thing." Kagome said.

Kouga grinned, a close-lipped smile, and he opened his palm to her. She stared at it for a moment, then placed her hand into his. Her head held down, she followed Kouga to one side of the cave, the eyes of the wolf demons hot on them but her set gaze prevented her from seeing what sort of looks were on their faces.

They stopped near a fire crackling so high that it licked past its twig barrier. The fire spot had a large assortment of feasting foods, curling with steam and making Kagome's mouth water. A couple of men and women hung around the spot and she noticed Cora and Burku among them. Cora smiled at her before accepting a kiss from her mate on the cheek.

Kagome plopped down and Kouga followed right after. He left a small berth between them, enough just for embracing fingers...in theory, of course. The air felt hot there, like a flame at Kagome's side. As she glanced around, she noticed no one was eating. They all stared at Kouga who had his legs crossed, a big beastly thigh nearing his lips. Like a ghost had tapped his shoulder, he looked up and about the room, rolling his shoulders.

"What you all waiting for?" He said, smiling as if he didn't know they waited for him. "Feast."

He took his bite and then everyone started to chow down, conversations high and laughter tingeing the air. Kagome just watched everyone, nibbling her lip. She jumped when Kouga's breath tickled her cheek, his voice right at her ear.

"Are you hungry?" he asked.

"A bit," she said, shivering from his breath against her face. Oh, how was this happening? Kouga had always made her nervous, she'd admit that, but this shivering business would have to stop. She worked on her lip again.

"Then as delicious as your lip might be, you should eat."

Ignoring the implications, she picked up a slab of roasted meat and began to eat. Kouga watched her from the corner of his eye. He bit into something.

"Mmmm," he said, licking his lips.

Kagome wasn't sure if it was because the food appealed to his taste buds or some other reason that should make her blush. One of Kouga's hands filled the space between them, tapping against the stone. Tap tap tap tap. He did this for a while until she couldn't take it. His staring from the corner of his eye, but not talking. The tapping, but not acknowledging. She wanted to jump up and say "flirt with me! Sass me, show me off! Anything but this confusing passive dance."

"Kouga," she said.

"Yes?" He reached for one of the apples. As he ate, the juices ran down his chin. Kagome's tongue flickered across her mouth before she thought about it. If Kouga noticed, he didn't flinch, just continued to stare from the corner of his eye, crunching on the apple.

"Um…" Her mind came up blank.

It didn't help that all the wolves around the circle kept flickering glances between her and their leader. Perhaps she was paranoid, but it seemed the whole room did the same, rotating their eyes over their party.

"I'm—"

"You look great in those clothes." He said.

"Oh…"

She smiled in thanks, sparing a glance around the room. Like water thrown over fire, the conversations in the hall had fizzled down to whispers. Oh yes, definitely not paranoid. Kouga plucked a grape from a pile and held it out.

"Grape?"

Kagome leaned over to pluck it from his hands but instead he brought it to her mouth, popping it in. Her face flushed hot as she gulped hard, like swallowing a stone.

"Kouga!" She hissed.

He smirked.

"Try chewing it this time."

He was bringing another to her lips when Kagome plucked it away, jamming it pass his lips. Kouga grimaced, coughing hard.

"Another?" Kagome asked. As Kouga pounded his chest, the wolves laughed and tensions loosened, chuckles floating over the cave walls. From the unmated females section, Shiyla caught Kagome's eye. She winked before covering a palm over her mouth as if to say uh-oh.

'What?' Kagome mouthed.

She squinted hard at the words formed on Shiyla lips; they seemed to say challenge

Kagome gasped as her body lifted through the air. She hung head first towards the ground, her hair streaming around her. A warm hand circled her waist and when she rotated her neck, there was Kouga's face, a brow cocked and a smile on those devious lips. Oh, how she could grow to despise those lips…