January 05 2007: Author's Nonsense: I'll have some cookies to give out at the end of the chapter it seems. Some people did guess right, others didn't but it's all in good fun! Life will be getting busier here again but I am still making some time to write. Speaking of, I'll get right along to the chapter.

End of Chapter 13:

"Or they want these ugly garments back." Sesshomaru shrugged, heading to the entrance to open it for a rather unexpected visitor…making him even raise an eyebrow as a break to his usual poker face. Kagome's reaction was less subtle as her jaw went slack, eyes blinking several times before she raised her hands to rub at them and do a second take of the man outside her door.

Chapter 14: Old Flames Never Die

"I knew it was you Kagome. I wouldn't mistake your scent anywhere, even after all these years." The dark haired wolf demon stalked across the room to the still shocked woman to take her hands in his animatedly and bend to kiss their backs. It was perhaps even stranger that he was speaking English. "I thought you were lost to us after the fight with Naraku…"

His sapphire eyes were staring into hers without taking any effort to hide just how much he still had eyes for the priestess despite the decades they'd spent out of each others company. Though as the initial surprise wore off each of the three had their own responses to give.

"Kouga…" Kagome finally gave word to the name that had caught in her throat. Staring at the now more modernized leader of the wolves with amazement. His clothing of the feudal era had been replaced with black jeans and a brown t-shirt with a denim jacket. He still wore his hair long and in a pony tail with a headband that could have been the same one he wore in the days she knew him on the other side of the well. His tail was currently out of sight and his ears points had been rounded off so she realized he must have learned how to adjust as well.

"Something that we can assist you with?" Sesshomaru asked in his more traditional Japanese, acid in his voice as he moved over to take Kagome's hands from Kouga.

The smile on the wolf-demon's face faded when he smelled the dog demon on Sesshomaru. What was it with Kagome and smelly mutt's anyway? He narrowed his eyes a little on the man that was now interfering with himself and his once lost 'future mate'.

"Nothing you can do mutt." Kouga replied with a shrug before smiling at Kagome again. "How on earth did you get here?"

Kagome blinked and she could feel the slight stiffening of Sesshomaru's muscles, not wanting to lose her old friend right after he'd found her she squeezed the demon lords hands and answered in hopes of changing the topic…things wouldn't turn out the same if these two fought the way Inuyasha and Kouga had…they would be very different. "I moved over to Chicago a year or two ago…what about you? I never realized you'd still be alive in my time…after well…you know. What are you doing here?"

"Oh…Ayame runs some of the modeling things and she wanted me to come make sure that no demons started causing any trouble." Kouga explained. "Normally I run the lands much further south of here, I'm a Lord of the Area around Indianapolis and most of the state along with a large chunk of Ohio and some of the lower Illinois. Most Japanese demons left during the hunts and purifications. My tribe wanted to head out and see the world for themselves…long story really but we made it over here and run a large area of the states."

"Did you ever hear what happened to Lord Sesshomaru of the west?" Kagome asked, curious if Kouga had realized just yet who it was standing next to her.

"I heard that he was the first of the powerful demons that Inuyasha and his wench sealed away. Rumor was she didn't even have the holy power to destroy him, just put him in some sort of eternal slumber. Now any dog demon worth his salt wants to claim that they are the 'great Sesshomaru' back from the grave." Kouga happily explained to Kagome. "This guy another one of those loonies?"

"Um…Kouga." Kagome cleared her throat a little nervously and resisted the urge to stroke Sesshomaru's back, feeling like he was digging himself a grave. "This -is- the Lord Sesshomaru…brother to Inuyasha and ex-ruler of the Japanese western lands…I released him from a seal myself."

She could hardly believe she was having this conversation…a shrink would have a field day trying to explain her complicated experiences…she wished she could talk to one without being put into a loony bin herself sometimes.

"No…" Kouga glanced more seriously at Sesshomaru, and as he'd dropped most of the illusion of who he was once he'd closed the door again the wolf-demon let out a low whistle. "Well I'll be damned…you really do smell sort of like that old mutt. How on earth did that witch seal you away anyway?"

"It's no business of yours." Sesshomaru retorted, "and as for what is going on…could you excuse us, we were about to eat lunch…and no…you aren't invited wolf."

"Touchy." Kouga scoffed a little and glanced to Kagome. "Well…that's…wow this whole thing is pretty amazing…can't wait to tell Ayame. I bet she'll be glad to see that you are okay, you two always seemed to get on better once she stopped trying to kill you over that little crush I had."

"I can't wait." Kagome wasn't sure how honest she was being. "Anyway, I'll be here for a few more days and we'll have to keep in touch Kouga. Thanks for coming to visit."

"Anything for you Kagome." He answered truthfully as he waved. "and if this dog does anything to you, let me know. I don't care what power he says he has, he's been in a coma for a few hundred years while I've had the time to develop my own natural power and training…I'll kick his ass if he hurts you."

"Um…Thanks Kouga but I'm fine." Kagome answered, moving to escort him out the door before his blood started to litter their carpet, she had a lot of faith in Kouga and what he said made sense, but she wasn't willing to put to the test the limits of the two's power."

"You really did wander with the worst of demonic society." Sesshomaru observed after she closed the door. "Fool is lucky I hold my temper far better than that half-breed ever could."

"You don't want to fight him for all of that?" Kagome was a little surprised so she sort of had to ask.

"No need to fight him as it stands." the demon lord shrugged some and settled back at the counter to continue with his now colder dinner. "He doesn't seem to want to harm you and it is not necessary for me to prove myself to a whining pup."

"Is what he says true though?" Kagome pressed with less care than she probably should have used as she retook her own seat. "Will there be demons more powerful just because of the time you spent at rest?"

"Yes and no." Sesshomaru answered her seriously. "Age alone is a factor in power for many demons, as our blood ages we begin to get stronger though after a very long time - like any race of creatures - age eventually gives way to weakness. I have the benefits of years without the time taking me further toward being some sort of invalid. Seals are a dangerous thing for priests to deal in when it comes to that, they can work to actually strengthen the demons in question if they are not careful. Certainly there are demons that still exist that would be a challenge to me, but this Kouga is not likely to be one of them."

"Oh." Kagome nodded a little, digesting the information as they continued to eat for a time, the silence not as comfortable as it had been. Each thinking to themselves.

What on earth was that incompetent fool thinking? Sesshomaru was still bristled a bit by the whole encounter. Barging into my home and feeling up my property, if he hadn't been friends with the girl I'd of slain him already and I wouldn't have to listen or watch his posturing. How close of friends had they been anyway? Just how many demons has this girl lain with before she just decided that I was the next on her list? Not that it matters but I hardly enjoy being the one to get a hand-me-down female, however temporary the arrangement was.

Kagome was starting to barely be able to tell just what Sesshomaru might be thinking, of course she could be fooling herself the whole way but she could swear that despite his neutral poker face that he was still fuming under his mask of indifference. She wasn't sure what to think, as it seemed very alien for the cold demon lord to remain angry a long period…she likely was just imagining it.

Yeah…I'm just fooling myself. Kagome finally nodded some in self-agreement. Certainly he had reason to be annoyed at Kouga just coming in unannounced and interrupting and then insulting him but he already said that it wasn't a big deal. I don't think he'd lie about it really, though I bet Kouga's only not getting beat up right now because I was here. At least Sesshomaru was nice enough to not get violent with my person next to him. I wonder what's bothering him then…he seemed shorter than usual with the demon as opposed to the cool confidence he'd lazily given off to the woman demon from the several days before this. Was it? …no, couldn't be. Could it? Is Sesshomaru jealous of him?

Kagome blinked in a little surprise at her own thoughts, glancing back up to the demon lord to consider his behavior again and the lack of emotion on his face or in his actions made her doubt the whole little argument she was having with herself.

No. Of course not. Wishful thinking I suppose that he would like me enough to be jealous.

"So, how is it?" Kagome finally broke the tense silence with what she hoped would be an easy question.

"It's not as good cold." He returned a little ruefully. "But I can't blame you for that, it was excellent before the short interruption. Thank you for the dinner."

Kagome beamed at the kind words. "Well I'm very glad you enjoy it. You are most welcome. Want some of the dessert I mentioned?"

"I can't promise I'll like it, but I'll try some." Sesshomaru replied, settling a little more relaxed as he leaned back from the empty plate, having eaten even the bones again.

Kagome tried not to think about the fact that she was getting used to him chewing on the marrow of whatever the meat of the day happened to be and took the plates to settle them in the sink and dig out the key lime pie she'd picked up from the market, carefully cutting each of them a slice before returning the no longer whole pie to the fridge and bringing over both pieces. Handing him one and digging into hers with the easy smile back on her face.

"So, is there anything else you'd like to do today then?" Kagome grinned at him sniffing the pie carefully but managed not to laugh at him.

"Are there forests around here?" He asked, surprising her a little bit. "All I've really seen is the very large city with a few trees or bushes here and there. I think it would be nice if we could go visit a forest, get away from the oppressive atmosphere of this town and relax for a time. You did say you had a week and a half or so from your job, and you still have five or six days of that."

"But…there is snow everywhere." Kagome watched him. "I'd freeze out in the snow for a long time…we could go out to a forest once it's melted a little more if you wanted too. Or even drive out once the roads clear a little again and spend some time but…I'm sorry. I just really can't do that kind of thing this time of year."

She had to remind herself that despite his human appearance they were different species and she certainly wasn't the stronger of the two, that he likely could survive all the elements perfectly safely where they would kill her long before they even bothered him.

"Then we'll just go when it's a time when you are able to attend." He answered with a simple understanding she hadn't really expected from him. He finally tried the pie and wrinkled his nose a bit as he thought about the taste for a while…she couldn't detect if he was still trying to decide or if he liked it when he went for another bite. She had to smirk a little at the reactions and return to her own pie.

"Thanks Sesshomaru." She said with her own mysterious smile. "You help me a lot."

He offered her a raise of a single silver brow but when there was no explanation he simply shrugged some and said. "You are welcome."

They finished the pie and Kagome wandered to do the dishes as Sesshomaru headed over to watch outside for a while from the room they had, just staring toward the sunset, able to see the gathering of trees in the distance that could be the nature he so longed for.

"It's a great view isn't it?" she asked when she came up behind him when she was finished, looking off of the balcony with a smile despite the fog her breath created from the chill weather. "It'll be really nice when we finally get to go and get away from the city for a while. I do miss it…"

Sesshomaru glanced to the girl, able to smell the sadness on her before he even noted the moisture in her eyes. Did his brother really put her through that much pain? It wasn't his concern though, if she couldn't take care of herself she was all the more dangerous a ward to have under his wing. Though he eyed her watching the snow covered forests so far from view and pulled her suddenly back inside. Making her trip but he caught her easily enough and settled her back on her feet on the plush carpet of the penthouse's main room.

"Get yourself dressed, warm clothes." He insisted. An idea in his mind that he should have thought of so much sooner than this. "Hurry now…it'll be harder to do if we wait until it's dark."

"Huh?" Kagome just blinked several times at him before she headed off to do as asked, "Is there a reason I'm off to get bundled up?"

"I want to take you out to the woods for a while." He replied then interrupted the protest. "Just trust me."

Kagome eyed him with a bit of uncertainty but muttered some as she started to pull warmer clothes from her bag and head into the bedroom to change…

End Chapter

Okay, so yes it was Kouga. I'll be handing out cookies in individual comments below to those that guessed it correctly. I won't be having Inuyasha appear in this fiction in any format other than possibly dream or just memory styled scenes; the way I have the little universe in my head is that half-demons don't have nearly the longevity as full ones do. A personal view I guess. Anyway, moving the plot along with a possible future love triangle. Hope you keep reading.

-Aura

To my reviewers:

Sesshoukunbelongstome - hands a cookie Um…as far as descriptions in your story go, looking back over it I think it was more how you described stuff that confused me sometimes, but I think a little more detail over all would be nice. The first person view thing for whole pieces of a story and not just thoughts usually makes me a little buggy on how to review stuff though.

IggJiggWigg - Sorry, not Inuyasha. As I said above, I don't really see a logical place for him in my story. I don't usually say never; but it's very unlikely he'll ever be in it past what was mentioned above.

Unwritten Bliss - gives a quarter of a cookie Cause you don't get a full one for guessing a bunch of times and happening to have the right one in there ;) I thought about adding Hojo but I'd already mentioned he'd moved on so it would be silly to go back on that now.

Chii576 - Here-you-go. Thank-you-so-much. -Bye-

Lil mutt face grl - Now you know, and knowing is half the battle….G.I.Joe sings

wacky wisher - Here you are, all nice and updated for you.

JusT LooKing ArounD - Thank you, hope you keep reading and I like my cliffhangers when I get a chance to use them.

EroticAnime - gives two cookies Cause you had the best reasoning as to why it was Kouga. Thanks for the alert add. Hope you enjoy the story as it develops further.