Confirmation.
Kagomes fingers moved quicker and quicker, her bow held tightly in her grip, her free hand grabbing arrows with equal speed to notch in place and watch fly off. Along with her other actions, her archery had gotten much quicker and better. She was proud of herself for making such progress within two weeks. The more Koga praised her, the more confident she became in herself. At the moment, he was off hunting with the wolves but would be back soon.
She had been practicing nearly two hours before letting up and retreating back to the den. Ginta and Hakkaku were waiting, of course, and offered their services for her. She smiled at their hospitality, but declined. For the time being, she decided to venture off to a hot spring. Kagome hadn't focused on pampering herself in quite awhile but figured it was about time she treat herself kindly.
"Sister, don't wander too far. Koga won't want you alone!" Ginta warned.
"Don't worry, I can protect myself," she smiled politely.
Before another word could be said, she raced off into the forest. She flew through the trees with so much ease she could have sworn she was born to be a half demon. It was a silly thought, but she couldn't help wondering what life would truly be like if that had happened. She loved being able to catch the scent of a flower blooming a mile away or hearing a bird chirping high in the sky. She had no doubt that a life with Koga would suit her fine.
"Wait, what am I thinking?" She questioned out loud.
She couldn't help but blushing as she thought of the wolf prince. He was really something and his care for her never wavered. Somehow, she didn't worry about the battle with Inuyasha with him by her side. Was it the wolf instincts in her that made her feel an allegiance to him? She wasn't sure, but never the less she had grown quite attached to him and protective.
When Kagome saw the hot spring ahead of her she slowed down, letting her bag hang from her shoulder. She stripped her clothes from her body and wasted no time hopping in the water. She was glad she had decided to bring a bar of soap from home as well as shampoo. After dunking her whole body and head into the water, she resurfaced and let a sigh of pure relaxation out. She poured some of the shampoo into her hand and scrubbed it into her hair thoroughly. She could already feel it work wonders on her hair, combined with the amazing feeling of the hot water against her skin.
She spent 20 minutes wading in the water, all the while thinking of her life. A big part of Kagome still couldn't really believe everything that had suddenly happened over the past few weeks. What if she had never returned? She would not have known of the problems with Inuyasha, but would Miroku and Sango have been involved? Would they have been hurt by him? Or worse, killed? She shook her head, not wanting to think of that. It was too late to worry about what could have been, it was her job to take care of this no matter what. She just hoped Koga would remain with her along the way. Her inner wolf told her she needed him, but was it in the way he needed her? Was it romantic? Was it-
"Dammit, you mangy wolves!"
Kagome gasped at the rough voice she recognized so easily and dipped down into the water. She had been so consumed in her thought she hadn't noticed the scent that had been approaching. Only a few minutes later did she see Koga being carried by his wolves. The pack came to a quick stop, causing their leader to tumble over and into the water. The wolves scurried off quicker than they came, no doubt knowing the consequence of the prince.
"You fucking mutts, what on earth?!" He growled.
As he stood in the hot spring, soaking wet he finally turned and saw Kagome behind him. She looked just as startled to see him, her cheeks tinged lightly pink, arms covering her breasts. Koga felt his own face grow hot as hell as he stumbled out of the water nervously.
"Ah, sorry, Kagome! I didn't mean to catch you like this," he apologized.
"It's not your fault," she giggled.
"I really don't know what got into them, they just took off while we were coming back and tripped me," he explained with his back to her still.
"I could see that, don't worry about it," she smiled.
"Er, alright. I'll just be heading back now."
"Do you want to join me?"
The words slipped so fast from her mouth, Kagome gasped again. She hadn't meant to say that! Kogas figure stiffened and he glanced over his shoulder, also unsure of her question.
"I, uh, just meant if you wanted to relax... You can leave, just an offer!"
"Well, I've never really RELAXED in a hot spring, usually just clean up in the waterfall."
"It's really soothing, I'm sure you've traveled all morning," Kagome replied, a little more comfortably
Koga was now completely facing her again, studying her expression. She seemed hesitant about her offer but he could sense her wolf urging her to him. He smirked, deciding to go along with it. He took his armor off, revealing to her his well-defined abdomen. She tried not to look too interested, and turned around so he could finish undressing. She felt the water ripple as he got in and turned back. He also let his long hair down, which glistened in the sunlight as the water drenched it. Kagome smiled at the sight.
"You're so handsome, Koga," she said. It was a sincere compliment.
"Thanks. But, your beauty is much more notable."
Kagome felt her heart rate quicken. She hoped that she wasn't blushing anymore but she really couldn't control herself around him. Koga dipped lower into the water, resting his back against the stones behind him. He had to admit, this was nice. At the same time, he was unfairly close to someone he couldn't even touch. He frowned at this thought, knowing his lust would go unsatisfied. Still, he didn't want to let it bother him. He knew she only saw him as a friend.
"So where were you? Just hunting?" Kagome asked.
"Nah, I went to make sure everything was settled for the meeting tonight. The heads from the other tribes will be joining us."
"Oh," she gulped. "Will they be alarmed by me? I mean, I'm definitely not like one of you."
"Yes you are," he growled. "You've done more than enough to earn your spot here and my word goes. Anyone that wants to make a fuss will deal with me!"
Kagome watched his actions and smiled again. Really, he had a good way of making her feel happy. She wanted to deny the way he was helping her to heal and become stronger, along with making her happy with his presence, but she couldn't anymore. Koga was good to her and she knew that would never change. She certainly didn't want to make him look stupid in front of his fellow leaders. She had to be just as worthy of respect as he was.
The two didn't soak long together, Koga was simply there because she asked, although he really didn't have a problem being with her while she was naked. He turned away as she dried off and redressed in her miko wardrobe. For a second he did wonder what the others would think of her, especially with her clothes. Priestesses were well known, but being a part of a pack meant assimilating with them as well. Would it be for her best interest to dress her like them for the night? The others knew who she was, but it might make it easier for her to be heard if she played the part a little better. He had no doubt they'd respect her, though. As he said, he would make sure of it if anything.
"Koga?" Kagome called softly.
"Yeah?"
"I just want you to know how grateful I am to have you. I mean, I know I didn't always show it, but I really appreciate you as my friend. You've always looked out for me."
"Don't mention it," he smirked.
"I just have a question for you, if it's too much, you don't have to answer."
"Alright, what is it?"
"You still have feelings for me, right?"
Koga couldn't lie, that had thrown him off for a moment. He glanced over at her, seeing a thoughtful expression on her face as they walked back to the caves. How could he answer that? His feelings were unwavering, but he knew she didn't feel the same. The stupid dog was in her heart and she didn't have room for anyone else, least of all him. That was why he didn't joke about making her his woman anymore, he knew he would only be kidding himself with those kind of hopes. And due to their current situation, he couldn't afford to distract himself with those ideas. So what was the right answer?
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked."
"Of course I still have those feelings, Kagome," Koga growled in frustration. "I always will."
She nodded her head, thinking to herself. A big part of her wanted to do... Something. She wasn't sure what but she could feel herself being called to him, like her heart wanted him. But how could she? She wasn't even sure how to tell him about her urges, fear of sounding stupid or silly. He'd have to be happy about her wanting something, right? Well, did she really want something? She didn't want to lead him on or hurt him. Then again, she had just been naked in a hot spring with him. That said enough, didn't it? She couldn't help the internal struggle she was dealing with. She really wanted to be certain of herself.
The two of them had lunch together before practicing with her stance and attack skills. He trained with her hard and never lightened up, which was good for her to push herself harder as well. He was good with her and always patient. Numerous times he tackled her into the ground but she was also able to return the favor. She had already mastered her speed and her archery improved from an already exceptional level. As the two of them sparred, it looked as if they were dancing gracefully with a speed unsurpassed. Kagome was focused on him but she also enjoyed the practice whole heartedly.
"We'll stop for today, I need to make sure we have plenty of meat for later," Koga said.
"Can I help?" Kagome asked eagerly.
"Think you can take down a bear on your own?" He smirked.
"You wanna bet?"
"Oh, I'm sure you can," he said with his hands going up. "But no arrows."
"Deal. I'll go now!"
"Hold on there! Take Ginta and Hakkaku."
"I don't need to be supervised," she pouted.
"Just do it, please."
Koga's expression softened, appearing genuinely concerned for her. Kagome sighed and agreed. It was nice that he worried for her. She didn't waste anytime calling the two to her, ready to prove herself to him. She knew she could do it, but bare hands? That would be a bit difficult. Still, she liked the challenge and knew that he would approve if she was able to do it. Ginta and Hakkaku were quick on her heel as they travelled away from the caves.
"Sister! We're gonna have to pay close attention, there haven't been many bears around these parts lately."
"Okay, should we head further east or north?" Kagome asked.
"This way should be fine," Hakkaku chimed in.
Kagome ran ahead, but not going too fast, she didn't want to miss the scent. Bears were musky and the sound of their growling distinct. She had no doubt she would be able to find one. Kagome had never once hunted before, only watching Koga do it. He was quick and sharp, he was deadly. He naturally had great strength, something she had not ever noticed before. She also hadn't ever noticed his muscles... The v-line of his stomach that dipped down...
"Ah! Can't think of that," Kagome said to herself.
"What's that, sister?" Ginta asked.
"Oh, nothing," she blushed.
"Don't tell me you were thinking about Kogaaaaaa!" Hakkaku teased.
"No, why would I?" She replied defensively. "This isn't the time."
"The heat you share with him resonates off of both of you," Ginta said from his observations.
"Heat? What do you mean?"
"As demons we can sense what you feel, Sister, remember?"
"Yes, I remember. But how does this 'heat' reflect on him too?"
"Because his youkai feels it too, and it calls out to yours."
"That's... Are you sure? I didn't notice anything."
"You're just not experienced enough to yet, with some practice you will be just as skilled at sensing what others feel just as we are."
"All of this is still so new to me, ya know? It's scary."
"You gotta take risks, don't be afraid of what your body is capable of, trust your inner youkai. If you didn't already know somewhere inside of you that you were capable this, then you wouldn't be here," Hakkaku said.
Kagome thought about it, knowing there was truth to that. If she wasn't willing to do anything out of her comfort zone she wouldn't have joined them at all, even after Midorkos message to her. Koga was a great guy and a great provider, as well as protector. He was responsible and selfless. Koga was a perfect match all around, but did that mean she wanted to be with him? She just couldn't think like that, not now anyway. There were more important things going on around her. But still, if she had feelings there, she had to give it a chance, right?
Kagome's thoughts didn't continue further than that, her wolf side suddenly taking over. The scent they had searched for flooded her nostrils, they were close. She allowed the wolf to play its part, any consciousness she had now disappearing. She shot forward, jumping up into the trees and flying along the branches. She heard its breath as she neared it and the ground vibrating beneath its heavy weight. Within a fraction of a second, she froze, her mouth hanging open slightly. The bear was near a stream of water, searching for its own dinner. She eyed the other two wolves with her and gestured for them to stay back. The look in her eyes made them swallow a gulp.
Kagome quickly moved from her spot to another tree, watching closely. She raised her hand up, her nails extending further into claws. Before Ginta and Hakkaku could even blink, she shot out and into the open towards the prey. The bear's ear twitched towards her, but by the time it turned, she had jumped into the air, claw raised high in the air, and slashed it deeply across its neck. She landed softly on her feet a few feet away, listening to its roars of pain. It landed on its back, struggling against its own demise, but failed shortly. Kagome smirked, her fingers dripping in blood. She approached the now dead bear, pulling out a piece of meat from its neck and eating it.
"Kagome! That was great!"
At the sound of her name, she felt her wolf settle back in as she regained consciousness. She looked up, seeing the two running towards her excitedly. She then looked at the blood on her hands and the taste of raw meat in her mouth. She gasped to herself, shock taking her over. That had been one of the most savage things she'd ever done. And the raw meat from the bear had actually tasted... Good. That made her feel slightly disturbed.
"Koga will sure be impressed that you already made your first kill!"
"Yeah," she smiled weakly.
"Actually, we weren't expecting to go back so soon, do you wanna hunt for something else?" Hakkaku asked.
"Do you think we need to? How many are coming?" Kagome inquired.
"A few, but Koga and the others will have everything needed. This was just for your sake."
"Oh, alright then. Well, what do you guys wanna do?"
"We've got something we want to show you," Ginta grinned.
"What is it?"
"Back at the caves, lets take this guy back too."
Kagome nodded and watched as the two heaved the dead bear onto their backs together. She had to laugh, it looked much bigger than they were but they had no trouble holding it up. Kagome enjoyed being with them. They were so thoughtful with her and truly treated her like the leader of the pack. She had not had any problems with the other members of the pack either, which she was greatly thankful for. They all seemed to respect her and volunteered themselves for her at any moments need. She didn't believe she deserved the attention they have her but she knew it was out of an even deeper respect to their leader, Koga.
Once the three of them arrived back at the caves, another two took the animal to skin and prepare, while Ginta and Hakkaku instructed her to go into the den she shared with Koga. She did as she was told and quickly headed to it. Inside, she immediately caught Kogas scent mixed in with her own. The two together smelled pleasantly, combining into a sharp and intoxicating scent. She decided to sit on his bed of furs, which gave her a better whiff of him. She felt extremely glad to go to bed with that every night, even if they didn't sleep together. She appreciated it nonetheless. She had started to get used to seeing him every night when she laid to rest and didn't fall asleep until she saw him. Even if he woke up earlier than she did, it brought her ease that she saw him when going to bed.
"Here, Sister!"
Kagome looked and saw Ginta and Hakkaku rushing towards her. She stood up and curiously looked over what they had. Ginta pulled the cloth from off of it and revealed to her their gift. A lump immediately rose in her throat, feeling deep gratitude. They had given her a brown wolf pelt, much like Kogas, a brown headband for her head, along with armor the color of silver and blue. This was truly the kindest thing anyone had ever done for her. It showed how they felt about her, as one of them. Tears clung to her eyelashes and she quickly pulled the two in for a tight hug. She was honored to be so openly accepted by them.
"Will ya wear it? Tonight? It'll be great!" Hakkaku exclaimed.
"Sure, I'd love to," Kagome replied.
"Great! Koga will love it," Ginta winked.
Kagome smiled shyly at that, but didn't protest. She took the armful from them and watched as they skipped out of the cave. Before talking herself out of it, she decided to try it all on. She removed her kimono and hakama, leaving her in nothing but her lacy underwear and bra. She pulled the pelt up her legs and found that it fit her perfectly against her hips. The armor hugged her chest equally as tight, which she was glad for. She wouldn't want her chest to be viewed by anyone. Her shoulders were protected by the same wolf fur and she smiled as she pulled the remaining fur over her legs and ankles. She looked herself over and thought that she actually looked pretty damn good. In the back of her mind, she hoped Koga would approve.
"Come on, you lazy bag of bones!"
Koga had done a sufficient amount of hunting in the couple of hours he had left Kagome, now it was about time to head back. The other members were struggling to hold up the dead meat on their backs, but he was moving quick with a bear and a large elk. It was distant, but he could smell the other tribe leaders approaching already. He needed to have the meat skinned of the fur and ready for eating. His pack would have to get their own food, unless they wanted to wait for any possible leftovers. He had to make sure he treated the leaders well.
When they arrived at the caves, Koga dropped his meat to one of his pack members, then automatically searched for Kagome. He spotted Ginta and Hakkaku a few feet away and whistled them over.
"Did you get anything?" He asked.
"Oh, Koga! Sister got a big black bear within minutes! She was so fast," Hakkaku swooned.
"A bear?"
"Yeah! Bigger than us! You should go congratulate her."
"Don't tell me what to do."
With that, Koga pushed him back and went into his cave. He hadn't expected Kagome to actually kill something, much less a bear. Granted, they were nothing compared to bigger demons, but hunting your dinner was interesting all in its own right. As he continued his thinking, he saw a strange-looking wolf in his cave. He stopped in his tracks, ready to growl at whoever it was, when she turned.
"You're back," she smiled.
Koga stood frozen for a few seconds, absolutely speechless. Kagome was dressed in the fur of his pack and looked delicious. He ran his tongue along the roof of his mouth, attempting to not appear so aroused. He could smell something on her as well, something not too strong but it was there, waiting. The recognizable scent of desire.
"What are you thinking?" Kagome asked, distracting him.
"Oh, you look good," he said stiffly.
"Thanks," she said with a small frown. That hadn't been quite the enthusiasm she had been hoping for.
"I heard about the bear, that was very impressive!" He said, this time with a lot more energy.
"Yeah, it was a bit... Primal how I killed it."
"Excellent, that means the training is working better than we could've hoped."
Kagome nodded and looked away from him, her eyes turning to the weapons. What did she think he was gonna do when he saw her? Fall to his knees in complete awe? No, not that. She was just hoping for a sign that he was attracted to her. She tried to sniff the air, but she couldn't really tell how he felt by doing that. She would have to ask Ginta and Hakkaku how to figure that out. She glanced over at Koga again, seeing his own face looking confused. His eyes drew to hers and he stepped towards her, until he was only inches away from her.
"Koga," she breathed softly.
He leaned down towards her, engulfing his senses with her scent. He could hear her heart beat faster at his closeness and the color of her cheeks reddened. Seeing her like this was truly irresistible. She wasn't pushing away either, she wanted to see what he was going to do, he could smell it on her. He brought his left hand to light brush her hair back, then rested it against her neck. Their eyes still locked, he realized she wasn't going to protest his actions. Dipping his head down, he allowed his lips to stop shortly before hers, breathing out against her. Through instinct it seemed, Kagome pushed forward and pressed her lips to his. She instantly felt a warm sensation flash through her body, making her weak at the knees. She gasped and pulled back.
"I-I'm sorry, I don't know what... I-"
Koga didn't give her a chance to finish, he pushed his whole body into her this time as he rejoined their lips. He had a hunger for her that he wanted her to take care, his thirst unquenchable. Kagome found herself placing her hands to his chest as he wrapping his arms around her waist. Neither of them wanted to let go of the passion that had suddenly taken over. Kagome couldn't begin to think of what she was doing before this, only knowing that he was what she wanted. She felt her wolf dance to the surface, also enjoying the pleasure of his touch. She felt his hands squeeze her tighter, his lips now moving down her neck. She moaned quietly into his ear, clutching onto him.
And then, just like that, he released her. Kagome looked at him with surprise only to see a content smile on his face. He didn't smirk, didn't give her an overly confident remark that he once might have. He then embraced her, taking in her sweet scent. He had wanted to do that very thing for so long, but it was important not to get carried away. He had to remember to be slow and gentle with her. He was also slightly unsure of why that had happened, she had never let him know that she saw him differently than a friend. Although her scent clued him into small peaks of interests she had, it wasn't strong enough to read into.
"Kagome, what does this mean to you?" He asked.
She flushed instantly at the question, not expecting him to put her on the spot like that.
"Do you... Feel something for me?"
"Koga. Yes, yes, I do..."
Kagome had been hesitant to admit it before, but after a kiss like that she couldn't very well continue to deny it. Koga was strong and caring and never let her down. She liked the way she felt when she was with him. She forgot all the bad in the world, all the bad that she would be facing soon enough. What made her feel even closer to him was knowing that he wanted no one but her, she wouldn't be sharing him. She knew for certain that he only had eyes for her. When he brushed her cheek with his thumb she felt the warmth fill her, knowing this was right.
"You've made me the happiest demon alive, Kagome. For now, lets just focus on this meeting tonight and then us."
"Okay. What should I do when they arrive?" She asked nervously.
"I'll introduce you, we eat, then we discuss the mutt and what to strategize," he explained.
Kagome understood and didn't protest. She knew the wolves would want to handle Inuyasha in their own way, most likely try to kill him, but she was hoping to be able to voice the alternative. As a miko, she naturally would be able to sense the jewel. With her powers increased she knew she would find him by its aura, and she hoped she could remove it from him as Midoriko had said. But, was it really possible? She had to settle with the idea that they may very well have to end Inuyashas life. She simply hoped that she would be able to protect everyone and not let Inuyasha hurt any more people.
I hope there weren't too many errors because I didn't take the time to edit it properly hehe. I feel like I've dragged it out long enough, it's now time for some Kags/Koga lovinnnnn!