Hello all! My wish is to update as quickly as possible, so here's the new one! I plan to update every time the current conditions are so: 1) At least twenty people have read my last chapter (20 hits), 2) At least two people have reviewed since I last posted (I'm not too greedy, they don't even need to be particularly good reviews) and 3) I'm at least four Microsoft Word pages into the next chapter, ensuring that I don't slack off and forget my story.

Please enjoy the next chapter, but I warn you, some parts are pretty angsty or gruesome. But I added some fluff and comedy too, so this should be a chapter that everyone should at least enjoy a part of… I hope….

Chapitre 14

Ningen no Neuchi (A Human's Worth)

Auroras-flame

The day had come. Kouga was finally leaving the palace. Kagome had gathered the three before breakfast and brought them down onto the first floor. Miroku, Sango, and Inuyasha were there also to "bid them farewell", Inuyasha with his sword curiously unsheathed and Sango mysteriously in her fighting outfit. Miroku looked like the only one that was unguarded, and even then, he carried a staff. Shippo was nowhere to be seen.

At the entry way, Kagome gave a small bow to Kouga, Hakkaku, and Ginta, "Good bye, it was really great meeting you. Please come visit us again some time."

"Don't invite them like this is your place!" Inuyasha called from a distance.

Kagome blatantly ignored him, "It was nice that I got to become friends with you Kouga, you too Hakkaku, Ginta."

Inuyasha growled at Kagome's indifference, "Why that- I'm going over there."

Miroku chuckled, "What happened to 'Kagome wouldn't appreciate it'?"

"Feh," Inuyasha scoffed, "This is different." He sped over to right behind Kagome and threw Tessaiga over his shoulder, "You- don't let me catch you on my lands again you hear!" he flicked Tessaiga at Kouga to accent his point.

"Inuyasha! I can't believe how rude you are!" Kagome huffed.

"It's okay Kagome," Kouga assured her with a smile, he turned to Inuyasha, "Mutt."

Inuyasha growled, "What didya call me, wolf?"

"Ya heard me ya insolent puppy."

"Insolent-! You're the one that's insolent you-"

"Stop!" Kagome tried to separate them by pushing them apart by their chests, but Inuyasha dodged it and sneered. Kagome glared warningly, "Let's try to perform this goodbye civilly, shall we?" she glanced over at Kouga, "You too, please."

Kouga sighed, and took the hand that she placed on his chest into his hands, "Thank you so much for your kindness, Kagome. Be assured that it won't go unrewarded."

Kagome gave a silly embarrassed look for being called kind that made Inuyasha want to puke and said, "Oh no, Kouga, you don't have to do that."

"But I will," Kouga assured her, still clasping her hand, "I'll return before the new moon. Wait for me."

Kagome tried to gently pull her hand out of Kouga's, but to no avail, "Oh, believe me, I'm not going anywhere." Finally he let go and Kagome reclaimed her hand, a little weirded out.

"So long, Kagome!" he called to her before turning around, "Hakkaku, Ginta, let's go."

"Yes sir!"

"Good bye Kagome!"

The three left off running down the stairs and off the hill. Kagome sort of cradled the hand that Kouga had clasped for so long. That was sort of weird…

"You can't tell me that didn't freak you out," Inuyasha accused, looking at the hand as if it was contaminated.

Kagome laughed slowly, "Yeah, I admit, it kind of did."

"'Back before the new moon'…" mused Miroku, approaching the two with Sango, "Well, isn't that ominous."

Inuyasha growled at Miroku. Kagome asked, "What's so ominous about that?" No one answered her. Kagome's eyebrows furrowed and she turned to Sango, "Sango?"

She shook her head, "it isn't my information to tell," she motioned towards Inuyasha, "he's gotta tell you, not me."

Kagome gave Inuyasha a slightly hopeful look which was quickly shot down with a, "NO."

Kagome gave an exasperated shout, "Oh, come on! Am I never going to find out?! Does it have something to do with why I am here?"

"Technically, no," Miroku admitted.

Inuyasha growled again to which Miroku replied defensively, "What? What is it going to hurt?"

Inuyasha snarled and sheathed Tessaiga, "Don't tell her." He turned around and walked towards the stairs. Kagome frowned and made sure to say before he got out of doggy-earshot, "What a grouch." He let out a 'feh' as a confirmation that he heard her, but didn't stop walking.

O.o

Within a few short hours Kouga, Hakkaku, and Ginta were outside the wolf den.

Ginta practically had tears in his eyes, "It's so good to be home!!!!!!" Hakkaku nodded his head in agreement.

Kouga walked up to the grand waterfall that hid their den from any unwanted visitors. He jumped up and through it, ensuring a grand entrance for his pack. And sure enough, when he jumped through, nearly half the pack stared back at him in shock and amazement.

"…Kouga!!!"

"He's alive!!"

"Hakkaku and Ginta too!"

Kouga looked around and smiled a little darkly, "Well, aren't you all happy and comfortable!!!" The pack flinched, as did Hakkaku and Ginta. Kouga snarled, "Who was elected leader while I was gone, huh? Because I KNOW that my pack wouldn't have not even TRIED to avenge me or even check if I was alive or not unless some new leader with no pride or guts told you not to."

The pack nodded their heads, too afraid to say anything contrary and pointed strait at where the leader's den was, where Kouga's room had once been. Kouga strolled right into it and saw one of his old, lower wolf-grunts in his bed with some demon wench.

The new wolf chief looked away from his mate for a moment and saw Kouga. His eyes widened in disbelief and he stuttered, "Ko- Kouga!!! You're al-!" His sentence was cut short by Kouga kicking him strait in the face and bashing in his nose and skull, killing him instantly with five precise kicks. The she-wolf gasped and ran out of the room, fleeing for her life. Kouga didn't pursue her. Instead he picked up the body of the former new leader by the slightly intact neck and brought it out into the main den and held the bloody mass up to all of his inferiors.

He gave the sweet smile of a devil and asked, "Now that the scum has been removed from the group, I trust the rest of you will think a little clearer in the future." The pack cowered in fear and bowed their heads in allegiance. Kouga smirked and tossed the corpse aside, "Very well. Now: Let us discuss what you should have done as soon as a new leader was selected."

He sat down on a throne-like rock, "Hakkaku. Ginta." He motioned for them to come over by him. Both of them couldn't be happier to be in their lord's good graces. They scurried over and sat on either side of him. Kouga began, "What you should have done, what you would have done if an adequate leader was picked, was gather reinforcements and go back to that mountain and avenge your fallen comrades and leader. And although, as you can see, two of your lost comrades are safe and well as well as your leader, there are still six who died that need to be avenged… because of that," he leaned in and gave a dramatic pause, "we attack the palace in two nights."

The wolves cheered and shouted joyous war cries, more for the sake of pleasing Kouga than for avenging their fallen, although they definitely wanted to.

Kouga leaned back, satisfied with his return and his packs response. Hakkaku leaned over towards Kouga, "Kouga, shouldn't we tell them about Kagome…?"

Kouga smiled, "Ah yes!" he stood up, "I'm sure you all are wondering what became of the Shikon no tama, right?"

The pack gave a small silence for just a moment or two, before remembering the jewel.

"Oh, yeaaahhhh!!!!"

"Do you have it, Kouga?!"

"Where is it?"

Kouga relayed the tale of what happened over the past week. He spoke of the fight, Kagome's abilities, how Kagome had saved his life and nursed him back to health, and how she had become in possession of the jewel. "So when we attack the palace," Kouga went on, "no one shall attack the girl Kagome, I will claim her as my woman and the jewel along with it!"

"What?!"

"Are you serious, Kouga?!"

Kouga snarled, "Didn't you hear me? That woman is five- no- ten times the worth of some demon wench!! She can see the jewel and pinpoint its exact location. If it were ever stolen, we could find him and catch him in an instant. She also has the ability to protect it in a way we could not. Her worth is beyond measure!"

The pack thought it over and had to admit that Kouga had some very good points… and to say otherwise would mean their heads so…

"Okay!"

"She doesn't sound so bad for a human!"

"I like her already!"

Kouga smirked.

O.o (AN: haha, I wanted his pack to be a little stupid… talk about sheep in wolves clothing)

Inuyasha descended from his room in a slow and depressed manner. Ever since yesterday, ever since Kaede had said that they were permitted to leave a week later, but Kikyo wanted to leave earlier… Why did she despise him so much…?

His foot hit something on the last step. He looked down to see Kaede's slippers sitting there. How dare she?! She scolds him and then mocks his pain, and then just leaves her stupid slippers outside his room?! He reared back his foot to kick the slippers away from his room and hopefully out a window, but memories of Kaede laughing about how Kikyo didn't want to stay here longer flashed in his mind, and he just didn't have the energy or will power to kick it.

He sighed and stared at the slippers pathetically. He lowered is foot. Why would Kikyo lie to him like that? She wouldn't lie to her father because that was just wrong, but lying to him was alright. I mean, he was just a demon, right? He didn't have feelings or anything.

Suddenly a thought popped into his head. Maybe Kikyo wasn't lying. Maybe it was Kaede! It was entirely possible. Kaede completely hated his guts, she would do something like that. He would ask Miroku's father. If Kikyo's father had sent any letters of any kind, they would travel through Noroubido first.

Inuyasha walked quickly, practically running, to Noroubido's quarters. If he wasn't there now, he would wait for him, because if he wasn't in his room, he was with his father or some girl. His room would be the only place where he could ask without being judged by anyone else.

Inuyasha reached his room and knocked on the wood of the shoji door, "Noroubido! You in there?!"

To his luck, Noroubido opened the door. He wasn't wearing his normal monks robe, but some odd black kimono. His eyes widened slightly, "Inuyasha-sama! What a surprise! Can't say I was expecting you to show up outside my room…"

"Noroubido!' Inuyasha interrupted, he then noticed Noroubido's outfit, "What's with the new clothes…"

Noroubido looked at him oddly, "Surely you know…"

Inuyasha's eyes narrowed. It was probably some fancy banquet his father set up or something, he shook it off, "Never mind. By any chance, did Kikyo and Kaede receive a reply back from their father?"

Noroubido blinked, "Why, yes, just a few days ago. I relayed it to Kikyo-san. I trust she's told you, too."

Inuyasha broke out in a grin. It was true, Kikyo did have to leave! Well, that was sad, but it was better than her just leaving because she didn't want to see him.

Noroubido gave a grin, "You're that happy, huh?"

Inuyasha stopped grinning, not understanding why Noroubido would be grinning. Shouldn't it look like Inuyasha wanted Kikyo to leave then? If anything, Noroubido should be frowning.

"You're that happy that your Kikyo can stay as long as two extra weeks! Ho ho, Inuyasha-sama I'm so proud of you," Noroubido chuckled.

"What?" all hope in Inuyasha vanished like a candle being blown out. Two weeks-? What did he mean?

Noroubido raised his eyebrows, "You mean she didn't tell you? As opposed as the extra week she requested, Harumura-san said his daughters could stay for two! Pretty convenient for you, eh Inuyasha-sama?"

Inuyasha just stared at him with shocked and hurt eyes. Noroubido's smile disappeared for a concerned frown, "Inuyasha-sama?" He tried to put his hand on his shoulder, but Inuyasha side-stepped it and just left, walking slowly and his heart shattered.

O.o

Kagome stared at Inuyasha pathetically during dinner time. He hadn't spoken to her since this morning when she called him a grouch. She even tried to talk to him during breakfast and lunch, but he ignored her! Sango assured her during bath-time that he was just distracted and he likely wasn't mad about her calling a grouch. Kagome admitted, it was a stupid thing to get angry over, especially since she clearly didn't mean it, but he wasn't even recognizing her existence! What else could it be?

When Kagome could no longer take it anymore, she threw down her chopsticks and bowed her head, "Okay!!! I'm sorry!! Alright?!! I'm sorry Inuyasha!"

Inuyasha looked at her with nothing but confusion on his face, a face which was also stuffed full with rice. He swallowed it, "Eh?"

"You've been ignoring me!" Kagome accused, "I don't know why you're being so childish and being so stubborn just because I called you a grouch, but you win! It's driving me crazy! I'm sorry!"

"What the hell are you talking about…?" Inuyasha asked.

"Kagome-sama has tried talking to you on a number of occasions today Inuyasha, but you haven't spoken a word to her" Miroku explained.

Inuyasha looked surprised, "What? Really?" he shrugged, "I've just been distracted, that's all."

Kagome raised her head, "Really?"

Sango hissed, "I told you, Kagome…"

Inuyasha gave Kagome a look, "Did me not talking really bother you that much?"

Kagome blushed. She turned away and coughed, "No- no, not at all, in fact, I think it might have been a good change."

"You're really weird."

Miroku and Sango leaned close together. Miroku commented, "Is it just me, or has there been a reverse in roles?" Sango nodded silently.

Kagome regained her composure and took a breath, "Well, since you aren't angry with me, there's a favor I've been wanting to ask you."

Inuyasha's eyes narrowed suspiciously, "A favor?"

Kagome nodded, "Would you mind… if I walk outside every once in a while, maybe even get off the mountain sometimes so I can see some wildlife besides the Yamaibara?"

Inuyasha's eyes were still narrow, but after a moments pause, he said, "Only if Miroku or Sango escort you."

Kagome gave an exasperated sigh.

"What? You don't want to be Miroku or Sango?" Inuyasha asked not understanding her problem.

Kagome shook her head, "It isn't that, it's the fact that you still don't trust me enough to not run away," she folded her arms, "I was hoping you would trust me more by now…"

"Fool," Inuyasha scoffed.

Kagome bristled, "Wha?!"

"I want you to be escorted by Sango or Miroku so you won't get lost," Inuyasha clarified.

Kagome's face relaxed. She gave Inuyasha a sweet smile, "Thank you. Thank you, Inuyasha."

Inuyasha blushed ever so slightly and turned his head away, "Feh."

Miroku and Sango snickered from the other end of the table.

O.o

After dinner Sango was sitting in her room quietly reading a book that she had actually read three times by now, but the people who brought supplies and food from elsewhere were yet scheduled to show up for another week, so she made do with what she had.

Someone knocked on her door. Sango peered at the shoji curiously. Almost no one came into her room… except…

"Come in," Sango said unsurely.

Miroku peered his head through and smiled, "Hello, my dear."

"Ah, Miroku, how unusual for you to knock," she replied with a flat tone.

"That's because I'm here on business, my love," Miroku brought his entire body in and walked over to her bed.

"Business?" Sango repeated.

"Yes, business," he plopped himself next to her, "Inuyasha and Kagome-sama, huh? Those two are getting pretty close don't you think?"

Sango put down her book, "Oh, so you're here to gossip."

Miroku grinned and nodded his head, "I'm just so proud that he's finally getting over Kikyo-san. I was worried that he wouldn't ever look at a girl again…"

Sango sneered, "She was a bitch. She didn't deserve Inuyasha's love. I never could figure out what he liked about her…"

Miroku chuckled, "Really? I could. Starting with her perfect figure…"

"Continue and die."

"Yes, love."

Sango smiled, "I really like Kagome-chan though. She's so nice and sweet. She's even trying to appease us, even though we have been so unreasonable."

Miroku smiled as well, "It looks like you've gotten really close to Kagome-chan."

Sango nodded, "I really didn't expect to. I thought that she would hate me along with everone in this palace when I first met her. but I'm happy that she opened up to me and made me her friend. She's the first real female friend that I've had since…" Sango thought it over, "actually, since ever." She frowned, "That's kind of sad, isn't it?"

Miroku laughed, "It's because you always were with Inuyasha, Kohaku, and me. There weren't many other girls your age here and the one's that were could never keep up with your…" Miroku looked for the right word, "…athleticism… like us boys could… and then all the girls your age left."

"…And Kohaku…" Sango murmured.

Miroku stopped laughing and acquired a more solemn face, "Sango… it could have been a lot worse…"

"I know, I know," Sango assured him, "But… I wish I could just see him. It's been so long, I wonder what he looks like…"

"At least he's alive…"

Sango turned her head towards Miroku, eyes filled with sympathy, "Gomen, Miroku. At least my brother is alive while your parents…!"

"No, Sango, don't say that, you lost a father too, remember? And you were much closer to him than I was to either of my parents… combined," Miroku said a little pitifully.

Sango began to tear up. She clenched her dress up in her hands as Miroku hovered over her chanting, "Oh, Sango, Sango, Sango, don't cry. I didn't come in here to make you cry."

That made her sob.

"It's all her fault!" she exclaimed, "I blame Kikyo! It's all her stupid fault! If she hadn't-" Sango was interrupted by one of her own sobs.

Miroku winced, and in a second, held her in his arms in an attempt at comfort. Sango stopped sobbing, but there were still tears in her eyes. She was shocked silent.

"I'm sorry, Sango," he said, full of sincerity. Sango began to blush. He was being so sweet, she couldn't believe it.

"Uh… er… Miroku, I'm okay now… You know how I hate being hugged…" Sango stuttered quietly after a minute or two of being held by him. Despite her small protest, she made no attempt to get away. He didn't release her. She blushed a little deeper, "Miroku…?"

Her backside received a good rubbing.

Sango's blush turned into a flush of rage. She pushed him away and slapped him across the face, "MIROKU!!!!!"

"Ouch," Miroku whimpered merrily, rubbing his face.

"WHY DID YOU DO THAT??!!!!" Sango shouted.

"Well, you said you were okay, so I thought I shouldn't pass up the opportunity…?" he chuckled warily.

Sango lowered her head in anger and growled darkly, "Get out."

"Eh?" Miroku said.

"GET OUT!!!!!!!" she screamed and she kicked him until he left her room. She slammed the shoji door the second he was out in the hall yelling, "You spoil EVERYTHING!!!!!"

O.o

Inuyasha ambled through the halls of the palace without any specific destination. He hadn't confronted Kikyo yet. He didn't have the guts to try. He saw Kaede once since yesterday, but upon seeing her, he immediately walked the opposite direction. As far as he knew, she didn't even see him.

Suddenly, a familiar scent caught up into the air. He looked further down the hall to see Sango and Miroku at the end of it, staring right at him. Sango's eyes were red and she was dressed in a black outfit Inuyasha had never seen before. Miroku also looked grave.

Inuyasha ran up to his two friends and looked between the two, "Sango, Miroku, what's wrong?"

"Inuyasha, we haven't seen you in a while, have we?" Sango said icily.

Inuyasha gave her a look, "What's your problem?"

Sango clenched her teeth and tears sprang up from her eyes. Inuyasha stared at her wide-eyed, not believing what he was seeing. He was so amazed by Sango's crying that he didn't notice her curling her hand into a fist. She then punching him square in the gut before he could tell what was happening. Inuyasha reeled back. Sango was incredibly strong for a human, and even Inuyasha felt pain from a hit like that.

"What the hell was that for?!" Inuyasha yelled once he recovered.

"Go back and flirt with Kikyo more, why don't you, you JERK," Sango hissed before running off.

"Sango!" Miroku called after her, but she was already gone. Inuyasha watched her go, hand gently holding his stomach, "What the hell was that about?"

Miroku gave him a slightly disapproving look, "You sort of deserved that, Inuyasha."

Inuyasha got defensive, "How the hell did I deserve this?! And why the hell is Sango being all bitchy and running around dressed like that?"

"Sakaya-san died, Inuyasha."

Inuyasha's anger was replaced with shock, "What? You mean Sango's mother?"

Miroku nodded, "She died three days ago, from that sickness that she got from birthing Kohaku. You know how it was slowly killing her."

"Three days ago?!" Inuyasha cried, "How is that possible?! I never heard about it!!"

"That's because you haven't seen or talked to anybody except Kikyo-sama lately. Sango and her family have been receiving condolences from everyone in the castle for the past couple days, everyone except you," Miroku's disappointed eyes bore through him, "It's really been tough on Sango, but you, one of her best friends, wasn't even there for her…"

Inuyasha winced, realizing everything he said was right. But wait a second…

"I did speak to someone besides Kikyo; I spoke to your father. He didn't say anything about Sakaya's death!"

"He's been wearing around a black yukata everywhere, you must have seen him in that," Miroku snapped.

"What are you talking about? He wasn't in a-" Inuyasha stopped short, realizing that he did notice Noroubido's new clothes. Inuyasha shut his mouth. Noroubido seemed like he was in such a good mood… how was he to know that tragedy had struck?

Miroku walked a little past him and said very firmly, "Go apologize to Sango once she's cooled down a bit. And go pay your respects to Tsuyoimi-san and Kohaku NOW."

Inuyasha nodded his head submissively. If it had been anything else, he would have yelled at Miroku for giving him an order, but not this time. Miroku was right.

Inuyasha continued a little more down the hall until he found Sango's father's quarters. He knocked on the door, and entered.

O.o

I just noticed now that images can be loaded onto the author's page… hmmm…. Perhaps I'll download something soon. I'll get back to you on that….

Now for some responses!

Priestessmykala: Thank you! I hope you like this chapter as much as you liked the previous. To be perfectly honest I could have updated this perhaps yesterday or the day before, but I wanted to finish at least five pages of my next chapter. That will be updated soon too.

TrueBelle: Thank you very much. Your review is appreciated!

Psycho: Ah, didn't expect to see you here! I thought you didn't check your e-mail anymore. Ah, well. I'll have you know that I'm DONE with those manga, and I started this up again AFTER I finished them. Sticks out tongue Oh yes, could your reviews have any more asterisks? Yes, I made Kouga a lurk. I think he's the most lurk-like in this chapter!