Author's note: I am seriously the worst at this I swear you guys and I am sorry you have had to wait this dang long to get a new chapter. Anyways this is going to be a two parter since apparently I am as terrible at updating as I am cutting chapters in half so you don't strain your eyes reading a hundred pages of writing. As always, Read, Review and enjoy!

Chapter Nineteen(part one)

Yuri felt herself starting to waken from quite possibly one of the best night's rest that she had ever experienced in her life. She smiled softly as she snuggled up close to the warmth under her face and hands, it was comfortable and certainly worth remaining right where she was for just a few more moments. That was when she heard the soft thumping of a strong heartbeat under her sensitive ears.

Her eyes shot open as she realized just exactly where she was and who she was laying on. There was a strong arm wrapped around her lower back, holding her close and also keeping her there quite forcefully although she had to admit it was rather nice to be held so closely when her whole life she had been kept at a distance.

Moving slightly so as to get a look at the man who was holding her so closely she gazed upon the peaceful looking Koga, his mouth slightly open and his black hair fanned out around his handsome face. He had long thick lashes that she hadn't noticed before. His chest was bare under her fingers and without realizing what she was doing she felt her fingertips trace the muscular lines of his chest lightly.

A small smile graced his lips in his sleep and she felt her chest flutter for some reason. The stirrings in her chest were so unknown to her, so foreign and she was so unsure of the consequences of even having these feelings whatever they may be.

Looking upon his face and knowing that whatever the case may be with why he was always wanting to take care of her she was perfectly fine with him being there she felt a sense of relief wash over her. But there was still that large part of her mind that simply couldn't comprehend the fact that someone would ever be interested in her without some kind of motive behind it. Why did he care so much? Or rather why did he pretend to care so much if the case may be?

Sighing she started to move out of his grasp and attempt to sit up. The movement caused Koga's blue eyes to open slightly, his lashes fluttering open to focus on her almost immediately. "Good morning." He mumbled sleepily in what had to be the most enticing tone of voice that she had ever heard.

He yawned and stretched, releasing her from his embrace much to her relief, she didn't want him to notice that her heart rate had started skyrocketing at the mere sound of his voice. "Where are you going?" He asked when she started to move towards the edge of the bed, the splint on her leg hindering her slightly.

"I need to see how Umi is doing. I can't abandon my duties to her. What if she wakes up and I'm not there? She isn't going to know where she is." Koga shook his head and stood up, facing her with crossed arms over his chest. "No. You are staying right here until that leg heals up. Umi will be fine with Maki. She knows how to take care of things." Yuri snorted in defiance.

"You know I'm getting kind of sick of everyone telling me what I can and cannot do when it comes to Umi. She is my Lady and I will go see her if I want to." Yuri stood up, faltering a second before Koga's strong arms steadied her. "It's for your own good. Besides Maki hasn't said she is ready for visitors yet anyways. What are you going to do? Just sit there and wait for her to wake up?" Yuri blinked and nodded as though he should have realized that that was exactly what she was planning to do.

"You really would do that wouldn't you?" He whispered in surprise as she pushed him away roughly and started wobbling towards the entrance. "I owe her my life Koga. I don't think someone like you would understand that." She said over her shoulder as she caught whiff of Umi's scent and headed in the direction it was strongest. There was still blood on the air but it was at least a night old, Yuri was reassured that at least there wasn't anything fresh on the wind.

"Seriously Yuri this whole I can do it myself attitude is really getting on my nerves. Get back in bed!" Koga ordered beside her but she shook her head, a smirk on her lips as she hobbled along the maze of corridors following the familiar scent of her friend, determined to get to her as soon as possible. "Oh and what do you think you're going to do wolf? It isn't like I'm your woman." She kept walking and Koga sighed beside her. "Is there no one who can talk sense into you? Besides what if I told you that you were my woman?"

Yuri paused for a second in surprise at his words but quickly regained her composure and kept walking. "Then I would say you were a liar." She noticed the shocked look in his blue eyes but didn't look at him directly. She didn't want to see the fact that he was just teasing her, for whatever reason he was enjoying messing with her and she simply just couldn't deal with it.

They were silent for several moments as they walked side by side, passing by several wolves who greeted them but quickly retreated once they smelled the tension in the air between the two of them. "And what if I wasn't lying? You did sleep with me after all." Yuri didn't answer. She didn't want to. She didn't know how to. They started walking in to where Maki was kneeling beside a bed in a small room, much like the one that she had stayed in a few weeks back.

"Really won't you just rest your leg Yuri? It isn't healed all the way yet." Koga begged and she shook her head, her eyes never leaving Umi's sleeping form. She was laying on her stomach, her back exposed seeing as how Maki was trying to clean the wound. "Umi…" Yuri whispered, her heart full of pain as she looked at the wound.

It was very deep, directly on top of the spine, and there was a large hole that had what looked like burn marks from where the purification energy had attempted to purify her demonic power. "Why are you on your feet Yuri? Sit down this instant or I'll force you to!" Maki yelled but Yuri wasn't hearing her. She felt her legs get weak and she started to fall, Koga catching her and bringing her closer to Umi's side. Umi was so still, her breathing so shallow and uneven, and so…cold.

"Umi…please just pull through." Yuri whispered in a voice that was so quiet that Koga and Maki barely heard her. Maki placed a tender hand on her shoulder for comfort. "I've done all I can for now. The arrow went deep and the miko that wielded it held a great deal of power. If you hadn't gotten her here when you did she would be much worse. But," Maki paused and gauged Yuri's mental state before continuing," but the arrow hit several nerves in her spine. They are incredibly damaged and I'm not sure if she will be able to recover full use of her legs ever again. Do you understand what that means?" Yuri nodded slowly.

"I know. But she's a nine tail, doesn't that mean anything? She's the most powerful person I know." Yuri whispered, a hand reaching out to touch Umi's lightly, wincing when she felt a sting of purification energy rush through her skin.

"We will just have to wait and see for the time being." Maki said as she stood and placed a tender hand on her shoulder, looking at Koga with sad eyes. "Come Koga. Let her have time alone." Koga started to protest but one look at Yuri's pain filled eyes told him that it was best that he did just that. "I'll be close by if you need me." He leaned down and kissed the top of her head softly before walking out of the room, leaving Yuri alone with her thoughts and her Lady.

Once out of earshot Maki pulled Koga aside with a firm look on her face. "What are you playing at Koga? If you are planning on causing that poor girl any more harm than you already have then you are going to have to get through me first!" She waved a harsh finger in front of his nose and he lifted his hands up in surrender. "What are you talking about old lady? What harm?" He asked, hearing the soft sounds of Yuri's whimpers from the room, a twinge in his chest making him want to go back to her side.

Maki sighed and place her hands on her hips. "Yuri is a fragile soul. She has had to live through so many hardships and as such she is incapable of being a normal woman. If you awaken that part of her and have no intention of following through then I will personally make sure you never have the chance to mate ever! She is precious and an innocent soul." Koga lowered his gaze as her words sank in. Yuri was innocent in many ways, especially when it came to things such as love and courting but there were some things that she knew about better than he did and he could see it in her eyes.

"Will Umi be able to pull through? What will happen to Yuri if she doesn't?" Maki glanced back down the corridor towards Yuri. "I honestly don't know. She may have the body of an adult but based on her behavior when it comes to Umi I honestly couldn't tell you. If the time does come then we might have to simply watch her go. Her sense of duty and loyalty are all she has left. Take away the source of that and she has nothing." Koga shook his head slowly, a frown on his face.

"No, she will still have me at her side for as long as she needs me." Maki started walking towards the main part of the den, away from where Yuri and Umi were. "And what if it isn't you that she needs? What if Umi is what she needs right now?" Koga didn't know how to answer that question. Maki was right. What if she just wasn't ready mentally to deal with a mate right now? She still had her duties to attend to with Umi and knowing her there was no way that she would abandon Umi any time soon. And if Umi were to die, Koga shivered. The thought of Yuri losing her mind was simply too much to deal with.

Either way, he knew that Yuri couldn't deal with it on her own. So steeling himself he wandered back into the cave where Yuri was leaning her head against the side of Umi's bed, her eyes closed and the smell of fresh tears permeated the air. "Umi…I don't know what you ever saw in me. I am by far the worst at my job and you and I both know that. I've always known that you were really the one who protected me from things. But there is something that I must ask. Is it true what Naraku said? Did you only pick me because you pitied me? I didn't think it was but still," Yuri lifted her head and looked at the sleeping girl,

"I can't help but think that you might've. There are so many questions that I need answered Umi. Why am I cursed? Naraku has the answers I need Umi but I'm scared. What happens when I find out the truth?" She sighed heavily and lowered her blue gaze to look at her leg that still was wrapped in the splint. "And there's Koga." A small smile graced her lips and it made Koga's heart flutter in his chest. "He says he's trying to court me but I don't really understand what that means. Last night he kissed me again and for a second I found that I enjoyed it but then I got scared again." Koga's whole body stopped as he listened in on Yuri.

"There is this weird feeling I get in my belly, kind of like birds flapping their wings and my heart races when I'm near him and I don't understand what that means. I've never felt this way before, does that mean I'm sick? I don't know. I just don't get any of the thoughts going through my head right now. My heart is torn Umi. I want you to wake up Umi. I need you to get better, I need you. I just hope that you aren't mad at me for letting you down yet again."

Koga looked at Yuri, seeing for the first time just how truly lonely she really was. How scared she must be. "Yuri." He said softly, making her head shoot up in surprise, a light blush crossing her cheeks. "You need to eat something." He stated simply, caught off guard by how cute she looked all of a sudden. She shook her head and crossed her arms. "I'm not leaving her side until she wakes up. You can't make me." She glared up at him with defiance clear in her eyes, a warning swirling in the depths of her blue eyes.

"Alright. I'm not leaving your side either. I'll have one of the wolves bring us something to eat." Koga called to one of the passing wolves just outside the cave, giving him orders to bring two plates of food before returning to Yuri's side. Sitting down on the ground next to her he placed a tender hand on her shoulder for comfort, relieved to find that she leaned into his touch even if she didn't know what she was doing. As they sat in silence they had their food delivered and they ate in silence, or rather Koga ate in silence until he realized that Yuri wasn't eating anything.

"You need to keep your strength up Yuri." Yuri's eyes hadn't once left Umi's form, it was almost as if she was in a trance, her thoughts overwhelming her mind making her forget everything else. Umi was the center of Yuri's life, at least for the time being.

"I'm not hungry." She said, not moving although the low growl of her stomach told otherwise. Koga sighed and shook his head, this was by far one of the most stubborn women he had ever met in his entire life. "And yet your stomach disagrees. Just eat Yuri. You'll be right here when Umi decides to wake up." Yuri was about to ignore him some more but Koga grabbed her face and shoveled food into her protesting mouth.

"Chew. Then swallow." He demanded, his blue eyes full of dominance and assertiveness. Confused, Yuri had no choice but to do as he told her. Mostly because he had a strong grip on her chin and was forcing her to chew. Once she had swallowed she stared up at Koga, the flames dancing across his handsome face, creating an almost idealistic version of his already strikingly good looks. There was something there in his eyes that she'd seen him look at her with on a couple of occasions but the look still confused her. What did it mean and why did it make her heart race so insanely every time that she saw it? "Yuri…" He whispered and leaned in to kiss her, their lips brushing against one another before a sound of movement instantly took Yuri's full attention.

"Y-yuriYuri?"