Chapter 12

Country Roads

"What is your village like?"

Koga wasn't surprised to see the look of startled confusion on his woman's face at the question. He wasn't much up for conversation while traveling; never had been. Even his two betas were blinking up at him in amazement. But, after the group's stop, and both women insisting they needed time to dry off before they got sick, Koga figured there was no fighting this was going to be a slow-moving trip.

So, with that in mind, what else was there to do on the road they were following?

"Well,…." Kagome started, snapping out of her bewilderment. "It's rather small. Not much to look at, but peaceful. Mostly."

Koga nodded in understanding. He couldn't say he knew much about human villages but the few he'd seen had been small and out of the way. Not to mention, their defenses were pathetic.

"It's mostly farms and hunters," Kagome continued, tucking a stray hair behind her ear with a smile. "And, the temple."

Koga nodded again. That matched up with what he was expecting.

"It doesn't really change from day to day. Then again, I haven't seen it in years. So, there's no-telling what we could see when we get there?"

Koga took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze of comfort. He hated seeing Kagome get that distant worried look in her eyes.

"I'm sure they'll recognize you even if you don't recognize it," he reassured warmly.

The snort of laughter from her filled Koga with a warm pride that caused his chest to swell.

"I guess so," she replied with a giggle. "I still find it hard to believe I'm this close to it. It's all so….surreal."

"Everything will be fine," Koga promised again, grinning with utmost confidence.

He couldn't count how many times he'd said that to Kagome but, if it put her at ease, he'd say it as often as he needed to.

He was an ookami Alpha and knew he could protect what was his. But, he also was willing to admit, Naraku wasn't one to fight honorably, in open challenge. He'd need to be cautious and alert at all times.

"I know," Kagome quickly answered, with a half-hearted smile. "I just….haven't seen them in so long."

"Your family?"

Kagome nodded. "Souta, my little brother, he must be near half-grown by now. He was so young when I had to leave. And, my grandpa….. I don't even know if he's still alive."

A twinge of guilt went through Koga as he realized there was so much about his woman he didn't know; so much he'd never asked her.

"I'm sure it'll be alright," Kagome quickly added, as if sensing the gloom of Koga's thoughts. "I mean, Okasan always said Grandpa was too stubborn to be sick, much less anything else…. I'd step lightly around him, if I were you."

Koga snorted, unconcerned. "I always step lightly," he replied with a grin.

"Yes, but….grandpa has always been cautious when it comes to yokai," Kagome replied carefully.

"Good," Koga answered with an assured nod. "Then he knows we're something to take seriously. He'll know how to give us the proper respect."

"I….wouldn't quite put it that way," Kagome responded, slightly strained but Koga just shrugged.

He wasn't worried. He'd dealt with humans from hunters, to warriors, to monks. What threat was a single old man to him?

"But, it will be nice to see Okasan," she continued with a smile. "I've really missed her."

Koga nodded. He could understand the need for a parent. He'd seen plenty a hardened warrior be reduced to a sniveling heap when it came to their parents. Unfortunately, understanding and experiencing were too different things.

"What about you?" Kagome asked, lifting rich brown eyes up to him in open curiosity. "When did you last see your family?"

Koga kept himself as straight as possible as he looked out onto the horizon ahead of their group. He knew his woman would grow curious. She knew as little of him as he did of her. However, it didn't mean it made the explanation any easier.

How did you tell your mate you had no line?

"The tribe is my family," he answered casually. "Always have been."

"Yes, but….." Kagome paused mid-question and Koga could spy the worry starting to show on her face as she struggled with what to say. "But,….where did you come from?"

Koga shrugged, keeping his gaze forward. "Don't know," he answered calmly. "Don't care."

"You don't?" Kagome asked, clearly surprised.

Koga knew this was probably hard for her to accept. Among humans, where you were from was as important as what you were now. It was the same with yokai, sometimes more. But, Koga knew what he was.

He was the tribe's Alpha. And, he'd been in that tribe ever since he could remember. The tribe was his pack, his family. That was all that mattered.

With a sure nod, Koga flashed a bright smile towards his woman. "Nope."

Before she could argue, Koga quickly pressed a kiss to her head and hurried ahead. He needed to scout around and see if the kit had spotted anything for them to watch out for.

A part of Koga knew he was avoiding the conversation. Many would consider that cowardly but Koga, quite frankly, just didn't see the point. He couldn't fix it. And, he certainly couldn't just magically pull parents out of his fur. No, it made no difference to dwell on it.

Besides, that wasn't the ookami way. The strong led the tribes; those that proved themselves the leaders and capable of keeping that leadership. Koga had worked twice as hard to prove himself worthy of leading and he'd kept it.

It was the possibility that Kagome would find him less that had him hesitant to try and delve into this subject. Lineage was important and he had none.

What would Kagome think to learn she would be the start of his lineage?

She was, quite literally, the start of everything for him. But, Koga knew he couldn't tell her that. He wanted to, almost felt like he should. But, recent events had taught him something vital.

If he put too much on Kagome, then she would feel obligated. And, Koga didn't want his woman to feel obligated to him, damnit! He wanted her to choose to stay; to want to be with him. He wanted….her to love him.

Koga wasn't as oblivious as people assumed him to be. He knew Kagome wasn't as accepting of being his mate as the others believed. She wasn't immune to his attention, had even let him kiss her…twice. But, there were still hesitations in her. She hadn't made up her mind, yet.

But, every day, Koga could feel himself falling deeper and deeper in-love with Kagome. He just hoped his charm was working to his advantage. If she decided not to return with him….

An acute pain, like the stabbing of a knife, twisted in the Alpha's chest at the thought. This had to be Kagome's choice; he couldn't live with her hating him forever. But, the possibility of her denying him terrified him more than even the King Bird did.

"Look out!"

The kit's shout came later than expected and Koga barely had the chance to dodge the angry swipe of claws from the huge onikuma bursting through the nearby trees.

The beast was huge, towering over the canopy and thickly furred body lumbering in angry frustration towards Koga as it roared at the ookami.

"Wh-where did that come from?" Shipo cried from behind Koga's shoulder as he dove behind a nearby bush.

Koga snorted. It didn't matter where the bear yokai had been. There was no doubt in Koga's mind what attracted its attention to them, though. The Shikon Jewel.

Why else would it come out in the light of day instead of waiting for the protective cover of night to hunt?

"You should have stayed in your cave," Koga taunted, the now familiar energy buzzing about his wrist.

Perhaps a good battle was exactly what he needed.

The beast roared in open challenge as he reared back for another attack. But, Koga was prepared this time.

Quick as the wind beneath his feet, the Alpha raced up the huge furred arm of the beast. The pull of flesh under his claws was barely an instant before three great slashes ripped across the onikuma's forearm, sending the large yokai bellowing furiously.

Koga grinned in satisfaction as the metallic scent of blood hit his nose. This was no more than a mindless animal, desperate to feed on the power nearby. Not enough to need his Goraishi but a strong enough threat to give him a good challenge.

"Koga!"

Hakkaku's shout from the trees told Koga the others had caught up. Good, he could finish this quickly.

"Stay back," Koga ordered as he dodged around mad swipe of claws. "Keep Kagome safe!"

Koga couldn't distinguish the argument from the trees over the angry bear's roar but he couldn't help the amused smirk at the fight his woman would probably put up at the demand.

"Hiraikotsu!"

Koga barely had a moment to spot the huge bone weapon flung towards him before he dove out of its way. He really hated that damned thing! If the taijiya was insisting on through that thing around, she need

However, the large boomerang sliced through the furred arm going in for a strike towards Koga, dropping the useless appendage right in front of him. It gave him just enough time to leap towards the onikuma's snarling head, swiping furiously to cleave the neck. Unfortunately, the large beast was harder to kill than the Alpha thought.

The force of an angry paw slammed painfully into Koga's back, sending him skidding across the packed earth of the clearing.

"Koga!"

The Alpha ignored Kagome's scream as he pried himself off the ground. Apparently, losing an arm made bear yokai touchy. However, from what he could see, the humans were doing a fair job of keeping the lumbering behemoth back.

Kicking upward, Koga went for another swipe at the beast's leaking neck. He just needed to hit the right spot to keep it from healing the wound. With any luck, he could finish it in one swipe.

However, no sooner was he going in for the kill then the sudden sharp whistle of a spear rushed passed Koga, and imbedding itself into the onikuma's side. In the blink of an eye, three more zipped by to join it.

What the fu…..

"Pull hard! We got it!"

The shout came from the trees, causing Koga to skid to a stop as his sharp eyes spotted the figures of the small group of humans tugging on the ropes in the onikuma's back. The young male at the front, light brown hair pulled back into a tight knot on his head, glared in furious worry as he ordered the others to continue their efforts to down the huge beast.

Koga snorted in frustration. Just what he needed, more to deal with and get in the way. However, the Onikuma's infuriated roar snapped him back to attention. He had to finish this, now!

Not allowing himself a chance for another distraction, Koga lunged towards the huge yokai's neck, claws raised as they swiped across the blood-slicked flesh. With a thunderous thud, the heavy head crashed to the ground behind him. The sound was satisfying in the best sort of way.

He'd done it!

"Koga!"

The Alpha turned to face his woman with an open smile as Kagome rushed towards him. He was more than ready to accept her praise at the mighty kill. It wasn't one of legends but impressive none the less.

"Are you alright?" Kagome asked hurriedly. "What were you thinking taking that thing on by yourself?"

Not the praise Koga was expecting but he'd work with it.

"This was nothing," Koga bragged as he crossed his arms over his chest, and flinched when a throbbing pain shot up the side of his ribs.

"Nothing, huh?" Kagome challenged, glaring in a dare for him to argue.

Koga just flashed a bright grin in response. The onikuma had packed a bigger punch than he thought, but it was still nothing he couldn't handle.

However, before he reassure his woman of his strength, a stunned voice caused every hair on Koga's neck to stand on end.

"Kagome?"

Koga watched as his woman's eyes widened in first shock then confusion before she glanced passed him to see the group of humans making their way towards the group.

Immediately, recognition flared in Kagome's brown eyes.

"Hojo?" she asked in disbelief.

Immediately, that feeling of warning flared fiercely in Koga's mind, causing his back to stiffen like a steel bar.

This….was not good.