**Did You Really Just Say That?**

Shippo looked from Koga to Kagome as they smiled at each other, and wondered what had happened between the two since they had been separated. Kagome had never smiled at Koga like that before, usually she only smiled at Inuyasha that way, but he had noticed it less and less in the past few months, actually. His eyes drifted to the wolf pup who had introduced himself as Shigoru, and figured he would have some insight on the situation.

"Mama, can I go play?" He asked. She beamed down at him, and he felt his heart swell at the sight…she really did want to be his mother.

"Sure, but don't go too far. Stay with the pups." She said, and he jumped from her arms and darted over to where the wolf pups mingled.

"Shigoru." Shippo said when he caught up to them. Shigoru glanced at the kit and flashed his fangs in a grin.

"Hi, Shippo! We were thinking about playing Tag, wanna play with us?" He said brightly. True, he was a bit jealous of the kit that got to feel Kagome's arms and scent wrapped around him, but if Shippo was her son, and he was Koga's son, and Koga and Kagome mated, they would be brothers. As this thought crossed the wolf pup's mind, he felt a warmth radiate through his little form, and decided that that was how things were going to be…even if he had to get Shippo's help.

Shippo returned the wolf's smile, but didn't agree to playing right away. He had some Kagome-related questions to ask the other youth. He shook his head and Shigoru frowned.

"I actually wanted to talk to you about something. Alone?" Shippo revealed. Shigoru raised his eyebrows, and agreed. As 'Alpha' of the pups, they started their game and didn't follow Shippo and Shigoru as they headed down the hill towards the nearby stream. Once they were out of earshot, the two sat across from one another and began their conversation.

"Do you know how my mother was hurt? No one would tell me what happened to her, just that she had been hurt very badly." Shippo started. Shigoru shrugged.

"She was bleeding in several places and wearing no clothes when Alpha Koga brought her here. She also had strange scents on her, but I dunno what they were. I'm sorry, no one really explained anything to me either." Shigoru replied, and the two shared a look of mutual distaste over the rule that younglings were to be left out of all explanations.

"So Koga found her like that?" Shippo asked, to which Shigoru nodded.

"He was so angry with himself that he couldn't stop her from being hurt." He said, looking at his hands.

"Koga has always liked Kagome…" Shippo said thoughtfully.

"Alpha Koga loves Kagome." Shigoru stated defensively. "I think she's starting to feel the same way, too!" He added, his face brightening. Shippo looked at him skeptically.

"You think so? She's never liked him like that before. I mean, they've been friends, but she never…" Shippo began.

"Alpha Koga rescued her, and she's stayed here, and she blushes when he's near her and she never smiles so brightly at anyone but my Alpha." Shigoru explained, cutting him off.

Shippo pondered in silence. It was true that Kagome had been looking at Koga differently. Hadn't she held his hand just a bit earlier, coming down the path? Shigoru watched Shippo's face contort in thought, and decided to voice his true desire.

"Shippo…I like Kagome a lot, and I look at Alpha Koga as my father, since he took me in like he did. I want my father to be happy, especially if he can be happy with a woman I'd like to have as my mother." He stated, causing Shippo to look at him carefully.

"You want me to help you get Kagome to like Koga, huh?" He asked, and Shigoru nodded vigorously.

"You know her better than I do, after all, she'll trust you!" He said. Shippo thought again, tapping a small finger against his chin.

"If she likes him, I'll help you. I don't want to make her unhappy." Shippo said and Shigoru smiled widely.

"She does, just watch them!" He cried jumping to his feet and grasping the kit's hand. He raced the two of them up the hill back towards the clearing where the adults sat, intending to show Shippo what he could see.

**Moon Heart**

Once Kagome had let Shippo go, she turned to face Koga, who was sprawled leasurely in the grass. He smiled up at her and patted the ground next to him. Kagome giggled a bit and sat next to him.

"I never knew how good you were with kids, Koga." She said. Koga looked at her oddly.

"Kids?" He asked. Kagome laughed.

"Children, or what's the wolf demon term…oh yeah, pups." She said with mirth. Koga chuckled in understanding and ran his right hand through his ponytail.

"I love…kids, to use your word. I love teaching them, coaching them and raising them…after all, pups are the world's next greatest warriors, teachers, wise-men, or even miko." He added with a wink in her direction. Her smile died a bit at the reminder that she was without her birth-given powers…not that she could use them that well anyway. Although that didn't matter. Her powers helped define her, made her able to see and purify shards, and now, she could do neither. Koga saw the light fade in her eyes and frowned at once, ashamed of himself.

"Sorry…" He mumbled. Kagome's smile returned at the sight of Koga caring so deeply for her feelings, and patted the back of his left hand, the skin to skin contact making her fingers tingle.

"It's ok, Koga, we'll think of a way to break the curse." She consoled, causing Koga to smirk. If only he could tell her…

"I guess I'm also practicing for when I have my own pups." He blurted without thinking. He paused a moment, and lifted his eyes to hers, unable to halt the action.

Kagome laughed a bit before she felt his eyes on her. She looked into his bright blue eyes, and saw there a mix of swirling emotions, the most dominant being his still great affection for her. Her heart skipped a beat and began to race as though to make up for it.

Why is he looking at me like this? He removed his claim, shouldn't he not feel so strongly for me anymore? She thought. She continued to stare into the windows to his soul, windows always open for her, and to Koga's great surprise, he found he could begin to see into hers. She had always guarded her soul from his gaze, saving it for Inuyasha's eyes alone, but now perhaps she was starting to change her tune.

Koga saw her confusion over his actions, and he longed to make everything clear to her. He turned his left hand and grasped her hand as it continued to rest there. He lifted it to his lips as he'd done not even an hour ago and laid a gentle kiss on her fingers, his eyes so full of all his love and adoration never leaving hers.

"Kagome…I may have removed my claim from you…but I'm still in love with you. I always will be, and never doubt that for a single moment. If…if you ever want me to pursue you again…you just have to say the words." Koga explained in hushed tones. He saw shock enter her chocolate eyes, her face flush red and he could smell her emotions shifting wildly.

Kagome sat shock still in Koga's hold. She'd heard him claim to love her a hundred times, but it had never made her feel like this. His lips on her hands had nearly set her skin ablaze and she felt her heart might burst right from her chest if it beat any harder. She felt a strong urge to tell him to pursue her again, as long as he would look at her and touch her like this again. She felt the words crawl up her throat, but held them back.

Why? Why should I hold them back? I like him, after all, and it's not like I'm agreeing to be his mate or anything. She considered her own thoughts, and even the possibility of him chasing after her love again made her heart thrum with anticipation. What she felt romantically for Inuyasha was gone, it would be some time before they could even truly be friends again…what was stopping her?

She was surprised when nothing jumped to the forefront of her mind to answer the question. Confused, she looked for an answer, a reason not to at least allow Koga the chance to really woo her, and found nothing but her own awkward shyness. Her lack of experience in this area was the only real bar.

But…if I never take a chance like this to gain any experience, I'll never gain anything…experience wont fall in my lap, will it? She reasoned with herself.

At the edge of the clearing, Shippo and Shigoru had crested the hill and stumbled upon a most interesting scene. Koga and Kagome, gazing deeply into each others' eyes, Kagome's hand pressed to Koga's lips as they both seemed to wait for the other to speak. Shigoru froze, his heart racing; this was what he had been waiting for! Shippo stared at the pair, surprised and anxious; what was going to happen now?

Koga's breath was suspended in his throat as he watched the indecision flicker through Kagome's eyes. He could hear the heartbeats of the two pups nearby, smell their scents on the wind, but he didn't break his gaze and prayed she wouldn't notice them there. This was important, he could tell, and he didn't know when it would happen again if she was interrupted too soon.

Kagome swallowed her heartbeat, fought her nerves and steeled her mind. She was going to allow him to pursue her…but first she had to force the words out. With her every emotion and vital organ going haywire, speaking was like trying to swallow a grapefruit whole.

"Koga…" She began. Kami, this was hard. "I…didn't think very…romantically of you when we first met. In light of new…developments, I guess…somewhere along the line…that began to change." The more she spoke, she found the words to be easier to say. She saw the flash of hope and delight in his eyes, and it spurred her on, forcing a shy smile and blush to her face.

"I…I can't say I love you, or it would be a lie…but I can say," She cleared her throat. "I can say that I like you…and I can say that…I wouldn't mind if you pursued me again." She said. Koga froze.

"Did you really just say that?" He whispered. Kagome took a deep breath and nodded.

Koga felt his heart leap up his throat and into hi mouth. Shippo's jaw dropped and Shigoru leapt into the air with a whoop of delight at the same time as Koga did the same, grabbing Kagome around the waist to twirl her around once before crushing her to his chest.

"Oh, Kagome, you've made me the happiest wolf alive! I wont let you down, I promise to be the best mate in the whole world!" He cried in joy, nuzzling her hair with his nose, drawing in her scent.

Kagome yelped in surprise as she was drug to her feet and spun around and grunted a bit as Koga gripped her a bit too tightly, her wounds still tender. She was, however, pleased until Koga's last statement. Upon hearing it, she pushed arm's length away, her hands gripping hi arms.

"Whoa, now…I didn't say mate, I said you could pursue me." She said. Koga laughed nervously, rubbing his neck.

"Yes, I'm sorry Kagome, I'm getting a little ahead of myself." He chuckled, his grin still chiseled into his face. He had a feeling he'd never stop grinning now. She wanted him to court her!

"So…you're pursuing me…just so I know, what exactly does that entail?" Kagome asked.

"Courting, I'm courting you, is the term, and what it means is basically we like each other, but we don't know if we can mates yet. Either you don't think I'm strong enough or don't know me well enough, but for whatever reason, we're not mating yet." Koga explained. Kagome nodded.

"So mating is basically marriage, and courting is basically dating?" She asked. Koga cocked his head to the side, his confusion evident.

"Uh…I'm not sure…I've never heard those words before." He said. She giggled lightly.

"They're the human terms for courting and mating." She said.

"Then you're right." Koga said. He honestly had no idea, but if it helped ease her mind to it, he'd allow it. She giggled again, and he decided her liked the sound.

"I guess I'll have to ask Sango when I see her again." Kagome decided aloud.

Shigoru and Shippo decided to join in on the moment at last, Shigoru leading the way, and Shippo following after coming out of his shocked trance.

"Alpha Koga, I heard Kagome ask you to court her!" He cried, bouncing up and down at Koga's side.

"I heard it too, Mama," Shippo said, jumping into her arms. "You're courting Koga now, huh?" Kagome blushed furiously and slapped her forehead with her hand.

"Great, now everyone will know." She grumbled. Koga laughed and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"Kagome, The whole pack would know by dinner anyway. You know how vocal I am about my claim." He said with a wink at her. She rubbed the bridge of her nose.

"Yes, I'm well aware." She groaned. Koga frowned a bit.

"Did you…not want anyone to know?" He asked, deflating a bit. Kagome faltered.

"It's not that, exactly…I dunno, I guess I'm just nervous, and new to the whole 'being courted' thing." She said. Koga smirked.

"There might be some changes, but in all probability, nothing too big…except I plan to touch you all I want." He purred in an attempt to be seductive.

Kagome at once paled and whirled to face him like a bull to the matador.

"You WHAT? Did you REALLY just say that?" She yelled, half in anger and half in fear. Koga jumped back from her at once, waving his hands frantically.

"Not if you don't want me to!" He rectified loudly. "I'd never hurt you or do anything you didn't want to do, please, I didn't mean it!" He cried.

Kagome knew he was telling the truth, but she was still raw from the attack, and even a joke was too much to take on top of everything else. She turned and stalked away from him and towards the caves, fuming.

"Wait, Kagome!" Koga called out, but she cut him off.

"Follow me, and I'll change my mind about this courting thing!" She roared impressively. Koga paled and could do nothing but watch her storm away.

The once bright mood was dead and cold now as Shigoru hung his head with a sigh and Shippo jumped onto Koga's shoulder.

"Wow…you can screw up almost as bad as Inuyasha." He said. Koga wanted to argue, but the kit was right. How much more insensitive could he possibly get?

"Can…you tell her I'm sorry?" He asked. He didn't dare follow her after her threat, but Shippo could. Not that he really wanted to.

"It's ok, Koga, she'll calm down…she'll probably forgive you before she even gets to the cave." Shippo said with some certainty. Koga was unconvinced, but he let it slide. He didn't want to make it worse.

**Moon Heart**

"Why that insensitive brute! I was just raped! How dare he say something like that?" Kagome fumed aloud as she stormed towards Moyakari's cave. She dipped into the opening to find the she-wolf on her bedding, stirring as she awoke.

"Kagome?"

"Oh, Moyakari, I'm sorry…when did you get up here?" Kagome asked as she sat beside the she-wolf who was sitting up slowly.

"About the time you and Koga sat down together. I wanted a nap." She explained. "What were you snarling about just now?"

Kagome sighed and relayed the whole story to her from the moment she had left. She smiled, laughed and frowned in all the right plases, and gasped when Kagome got to the offending comment.

"Oh, Kagome, he didn't meant it like that!" Moyakari said.

"He still said it, and it hasn't even been a week! That…that's not cool…" She said. Moyakari's eyebrows furrowed.

"Cool?" She asked.

"Sorry, it's not…appropriate." She corrected, and the she-wolf nodded.

"You aren't going to refuse to court him now, though, are you? It was an honest mistake…" Moyakari reasoned. Kagome sighed, setting her chin in her hand.

"Well…no. I know what he meant, but…it's still too soon, you know?"

"I do know…and I'm sure he'll apologize over and over again." Moyakari said, causing Kagome to fight back a laugh.

"He does apologize a whole lot." Kagome chuckled. Moyakari smiled and yawned, announcing that she was returning to her napo, and Kagome moved to the cave entrance to sit overlooking the clearing.

She could see Koga, Shippo and all the wolf pups sitting in a circle. Even from here, she could see the sorrow in Koga's face. She smiled warmly…he really did care for her. She knew in her heart that he was forgiven already, but she decided to sit here a while longer, and mull over her feeling for him and her decision to let him court her again.

**AUTHOR'S NOTE: I APOLOGIZE FOR THE LONG WAIT, but writer's block is a *insert swear here*. So here is the next chapter in the Moon Heart story, and I hope it's everything you've ever wanted! =^.^= **