A/N: Once again, sorry for the wait! I've been I'm in France for the next six weeks, going to Holland, and Germany for the meanwhile, too, so though I have been and will be writing a lot during this time it will be difficult to update! Sorry =( Of course I've got to say THANKSTHANKSTHANKS to those who reviewed! You guys mean the world to me. So many people are just adding to faves and story alert without ever having commented, which makes me sad a little, even though I enjoy my current stats right now as well :) I'm glad anyone's reading this story at all, so s'all good !

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or any of its characters, just the plot of this fanfiction that I came up with.

The Hanyou's Betrayal and Kagome's Broken Heart:

As soon as she entered, Kagome was questioned about her tear streaked cheeks and red eyes.

"Dear Kami!" Sango exclaimed, startled by the look of her friend's sorrow. She moved to get up from her comfortable position by the hearth, joined by Shippo, Kohaku, and a concerned looking Rin. Neither Miroku or Kaede were anywhere to be seen.

"Whatever is the matter, Kagome?"

A pitiful look from the miko, however, the faintest shake of her head, and Sango knew she didn't want to talk about it. The demon slayer continued toward her anyway, coming closer to her friend as their three younger comrades looked on, up at them, trying to figure out whatever could be the source of Kagome's sadness. To Shippo, only name word came to mind. Inuyasha.

"It's nothing, Sango, really," Kagome protested, encased in the older girl's arms, and biting her lip to hold back a new flood of tears.

How could he have said those things to her? How could she have said those things to him? Her anger at Inuyasha was too great for her to give in to the slight regret she was feeling, go out and apologize, and make things right. But Kagome had a feeling that until she did, or at least until she forgot about their unpleasant encounter and the hurtful words spoken, she would be miserable.

Sango arched a brow, for she didn't believe her friend in the least. "Tell me later?" Kagome agreed.

"Where's Kouga, Sango?" Kagome asked when the taijiya she considered a sister had released her. Turned out he was in the back chamber, the one they had been sharing as a bedroom together for the past few weeks. Kagome wasted no time in heading to that area of the hut to speak with him.

Kouga was seated on the ledge of the bay window at the back of the small room, chin on his fist and elbow propped up on his knee, staring at the floor in deep thought, appearing a little anxious. When Kagome found him like this, her expression of defiance softened a little-and the unhappiness her fight with Inuyasha had filled her with sought to be remedied, or at least improved, in the circle of his arms.

"Kagome," he rose to his feet, taking a careful step toward her, expression a little hesitant.

She allowed him to crush her to his chest in a tight embrace and stroke a raven curl off her forehead before stepping back and looking up at him. Hugs and kisses later. First she should address the dilemma of his earlier actions, for they could have had serious consequences for the whole lot of them, indeed.

"Hey."

Her voice was low and weak, obviously far from joyful, which Kouga didn't understand until he glanced down into her face, surprised to find her eyelashes were wet and a stray tear was dangling off of her chin. He wiped it away.

"We need to talk. It's serious."

Now that didn't sound good. Kouga nodded, returning to his seat on the ledge, trailing her behind him by the hand. She sat down, also, turned toward him so that their knees were touching but their torsos were a handful of inches apart. "

You know what this is about, right?"

Kagome wasn't sure she would be able to handle lecturing him on the wrong he had done if he cared so little as not even to realize or remember. Kouga nodded, solemn, for he did know what this was about-it was all that had occupied his mind since the others arrivals and the silent treatment acted out toward him, during Kagome's absence, unknowingly spent with Inuyasha.

"I do."

Now that all traces of her tears had gone away, Kagome felt a little more like her usual self (not that she hadn't felt like herself during all those months of crying over Inuyasha). Her tone and temper sharpened a little at the recollection of the events of the day. To say the least, she was not happy with her boyfriend at the moment.

"You know how much danger you put us in, Kouga? Not just me, though I would have thought that would faze you a little, but the others, too?"

The question was more rhetorical than anything because right now Kagome was really just ranting, not expecting the answer Kouga gave next.. He closed his eyes, briefly in regret, or so the priestess hoped. He should feel ashamed of himself.

"I know, I know, Kagome," he looked so worn and upset that the priestess took his hand in hers, stroking it with her thumb, but still awaiting silently for what would come next in the explanation he was in the process of trying to give.

"I can't justify what I did-I guess I could have been the cause of someone getting really hurt," the wolf demon looked sad at this. "But would you believe me if I told you that the only reason I sent my pack after you guys was because I was scared for your safety? You wouldn't let me take care of you, Kagome."

This caused her to sigh deeply, something she seemed to be doing a lot of for the last few months. Since Inuyasha. Kouga had improved the deteriorated state of her heart, this was true, and Kagome therefore found that at this moment, sitting and discussing this important issue with Kouga, she didn't want to think about the hanyou that had so not long ago broken her heart. It still wasn't fully healed, after all.

"I know," it was her turn to say. She clutched his hand harder, letting him know how much she appreciated the intention. "But... it just made things worse, love," she cocked her head to one side, looking grave, but obviously willing to be forgiving. The image of mercy.

Kouga took the lightness of his woman's expression as a good sign. "So we're okay?" He asked, hoping to be able to looked relieved if and or when Kagome responded with a positive. "Things are good between us? I truly never meant to screw things up. I never mean to I'd do anything to take back my actions, if I could, just so I wouldn't have put you through so much distress. You understand that, right?"

Kagome nodded, forcing a smile. "Sure," she told him, doing her best to make it feel as if it were so, inside. "Sure we are." She stood up, offered him her hand and pulled the wolf demon to his feet, too. "It's just a little thing, really. We can get past it. As long as it doesn't happen again." She looked at him pointedly now. "Mmkay?"

Kouga smiled, with a genuine authenticity that warmed Kagome's heart a little, made him look like a heavy weight had just been lifted off his shoulders. "It won't," he assured her, entwining their still connected hands together. "Promise. Don't you even worry about it."

That sounded good to Kagome. Only, if the situation had been dealt with and a warning given to Kouga, why did everything not feel all right? She would have expected her reconciliation with him to erase all of her present worries away, if only for the time being, or at least push them to the back of her mind, but found that this was not so. Deep down, for Kagome didn't want to let it show in case Kouga assumed her unhappiness still revolved around him and what he'd done, the wounds Inuyasha's words had left were still smarting.

Boy, what a day this had turned out to be. Their group may have overcome some obstacles, found out a little on the subject of Naraku and the so called 'spy' among them, but certainly hadn't lived up to the outcome she'd expected. Didn't nearly measure up to what had been her anticipation.

However the miko, after years of practice in which she had had to hide her love for Inuyasha, was good at disguising her feelings. "Okay," she agreed, satisfied enough with her boyfriend's apology and the promise he had made to make things up to her. She swung their interlocked hands between them, glanced up at him and flashed a weak grin. "I'm holding you to that, I hope you know."

Kouga led Kagome from the room slowly, returning the smile she granted him with a slow, sly one of his own. "Oh, I do. I plan to have you thanking me until you're red in the face," he told her, teasing, but with a husky edge to his voice that let her know he was being serious. "You're going to love me forever."

Kagome hit him, not too roughly, in the ribs. "Baka! I already do," she assured him, laughing a bit at this other, more perverse promise he was making, unconsciously to the both of them raising her hopes and physical want of him.

What she had replied was true, too; over the past two years since the day they'd first met and Kouga had told her he was in love with her he had claimed a special place in her heart. The affection she felt may not be as intense as either of them wished, or as it had been for the hanyou who had betrayed her trust, for that matter, but it was still there and very real. Kagome couldn't imagine living without Kouga in her life now; and it mattered not whether he was to be her partner throughout the course of her years or a friend she would have affection for indefinitely, just that he was a part of it.

Kouga chuckled, pleased by her reassurances, and laughing at how cutely she had expected her smack to hurt him. "That softens the blow, then," he kidded, poking her stomach. To which she swatted his hand away, smiling, but even so not in the mood. She wasn't in a bad mood, per say, but Kagome's cheerfulness wasn't as full fledged as it may appear to be, either.

"Glad to hear it," was all that she replied, looking smug, but innocently so, and sliding the paper screen door open so that they were in the main room of the hut once more.

Only to see that about all of its inhabitants were sitting and watching them expectantly, their worries about the couple obviously put at ease by the sight of the two lovers hand in hand. Kagome blushed a little, for some unknown reason that she couldn't quite put her finger on.

Inuyasha wasn't present, she noticed vaguely, wondering at the back of her mind where he had went. Catching herself thinking about him though, the raven haired teen stopped herself mid thought. Good, she thought with grim approval, remembering the fight that had played out between the two of them not thirty minutes earlier. He's not really welcome here until he improves his act, anyway. And the way he treats people, namely Kouga and I, for that matter.

Seeing her best friend reconciled with the person who loved her but who had despite this let the priestess down, the hint of a knowing smile tugged at Sango's lips. "So you two made up." It wasn't a question. A picture was worth a thousand words, and it was obvious to everyone that Kagome had decided Kouga was worthy of being forgiven. "I'm very glad."

She was, of course. All Sango wanted was for Kagome to be happy; happy the way she was, the soon to be wife of Miroku. He may be a lecher of a monk, but head over heels the way he was for her, Sango had no doubt that he'd pull through and be faithful and loving to her in the way he had learned to become when he was a married man.

Kagome smiled at the taijiya, pulled Kouga along with her toward where the others were seated near the fireplace, and sitting on his lap whilst he leaned back against the stone frame of it. Each of her soft hands was laced into either of his, her head against his chest and thighs touching his, Kouga's arms wrapped around her midsection securely.

"Indeed, indeed," she replied, smiling gratefully at Sango for the faith she'd had that the two of them would persevere as a couple. "I'd be shocked and devastated by a scenario where we wouldn't. We're too compatible with each other, long lasting, right Kouga?" To which he responded most fervently.

"Oh yeah," came his answer immediately. "More than that. Meant to be together forever until the end of all time is more like it, babe," with a quick kiss on the lips.

Kagome sincerely hoped this was the case. When he'd first become a part of her life, when bringing her to the wolf caves, she hadn't been sure it was a good idea for them to get involved. It would be leading him on-make him think she was ready for a relationship, which at the time she hadn't been, so soon after having her hopes and dreams of being with Inuyasha crushed and demolished. But the wolf had boded his time well, taken care of her when she needed someone most. Put up with the pining of her heart for somebody that wasn't him, the depression, that time she'd yelled at him for beating up human formed Inuyasha.

Truth be told, she didn't deserve him. Besides rare fuck ups, when it came to boyfriends, Kouga was as good as they got. Though, remembering her confusion as to who the majority of her love belonged to this morning before the group's departure and her hurt and anger at Kouga's mistake this afternoon, Kagome could not in good conscience agree with what he said. She wasn't sure how long their relationship could last—if it would, even. She loved him, for sure, and she wanted to be able to tell herself that she was in love with him.

But was she really? This was the sort of question, when it came to Kouga, and actually, Inuyasha too, for which Kagome had no answer. When no reply was made by the young dark haired beauty, Kouga began to look a little concerned. "Kagome?" He questioned, stroking her cheek gently to get her attention. "Are you well?"

Kagome snapped out of it, only to find Sango staring at her, looking grimly knowing and a bit worried, too. Kouga had glanced down at her and was trying to catch her eye. She smiled at him reassuringly. "Yep," she told him, "Perfectly fine, if just a little tired. Most likely forever, you're sure right!"

The lines in Kouga's forehead creased in a frown, which he hid behind a tender grin and a nod. Hadn't she forgiven him, though? what did she mean by what she had said? Most likely?

Shippo was snoozing on his stomach, tail flicking restlessly despite his dormant state, lulled to sleep by the entrancing crackle of embers and heat from the fire. Rin and Kohaku were much too busy talking to care anything about participating in the adults conversation, although Rin, with the intuitiveness she possessed, guessed that more was emotionally the matter with Kagome than the seventeen year old was letting on.

Sango seemed to perceive this, too, exhausted as she was. It had been a long day. "Ooh, you know what will relax you, help you to get a good sleep tonight?" she asked, with the sole intention of getting out of Kagome what it was that was bothering her. Kagome shrugged, looking to her friend questioningly.

"I don't know," she responded, as this seemed to be what Sango wanted to hear. "Do tell, though, won't you?"

Sango sang, "Hot spring!" And in one sudden motion all three of the girls in the room had jumped to their feet and were grinning with enthusiasm, chattering away about the enjoyment of a nice evening soak. Kouga shook his head with a chuckle, patting the confusedly mewing Kirara, who had been startled awake by the girls' not so thoughtful, high pitched shrieks of delight. Shippo, despite a slightly more frantic twitching of his tail, remained motionless and conked out.

Kohaku simply stared. Rin's cheeks were flushed pink excitedly at the prospect of a night time swim, her curtain of dark hair swishing back and forth as she sauntered around with the two elder women who were working on locating their weapons in case of some potential threat, shawls to guard them from the crisp outdoor breeze that would surely attack on their way to the hot spring, and in Kagome's case the towels she'd kindly thought to give to Kaede a while back.

"Oh, this is going to be so much fun!" This from the youngest of the three, Rin, squealing happily. "It's been ages since I've been to one-and without the guys always hanging around, we'll be able to get in some real legitimate girl talk," and twirling round as if to prove just how glad she was of the idea.

Butterflies worked themselves through Kohaku, then a shudder. Would he be a subject of discussion among them at some point during their time alone together this night? If yes, what about him would they, but more especially Rin, have to say? The prospect of being a girl talk topic brought a blush to the boy's cheeks; but not nearly as much as did the thought of pretty little Rin at the hot springs, scantily clad or perhaps not wearing any clothes at all.

After slipping on her shoes and having Kagome throw her hair up in a messy bun, Sango glanced at her younger brother, then raised an eyebrow and laughed. "What's got you?" She asked, referring to the crimson shade of his face. "Breathe, Kohaku, breathe!"

Kohaku glared, although he didn't put much malice behind it, and got to his feet too, embarrassed. "Nothing," his tone was short and lower than it usually sounded. "Just the heat of the fire, it's making me woozy. I have to go," and turning without another word to retreat to the darkness beneath Kaede's makeshift table, where his sleeping mat lay. "If I'm asleep before you all come back, goodnight," and then closing his eyes to signify that he considered these last words the end of the issue.

Kagome, Rin, and Sango just looked at each other, eyebrows nearly at their hairlines, and broke into raucous, barely restrained laughter.

"Mmkay," Kagome grinned, directed at Kohaku, who ignored this. Exchanging a look of evil accordance with Sango, they two crept closer to him, slowly, until they were towering over his form, which was huddled beneath the sheet of his thin mattress and turned away from them. "Nighty-night, then, little one," and then they leaned down and kissed him smack on the cheek as a goodnight, the added over-exaggerated smooching sounds making the boy's ears go red.

After Kagome had pulled away, Sango did this too, until at last Kohaku acknowledged them, and wiping his face grumpily, albeit rather flattered, with his sleeve, finally replied, "Good night!"

Rin watched this with amusement, biting back giggles at her friends' mischief and Kohaku's reaction. Although if she was being completely honest with herself, Rin felt a little jealous that she had not participated too, though this had been her own decision because she had been a bit nervous as to how such a move would be taken had she dared.

Then they were on their way. Sango worrying briefly whether Miroku might be nearby and might somehow discover their intentions and the lot of them indecent, too. Kagome and Rin's enthusiasm about her idea, however, erased practically all of this fear.

"It's been sooo long," exclaimed Rin, linking her arms with the two older girls as they walked in the direction of the spring. Sango knew in which direction it was from her fiancé, for it was where Miroku had brought Kohaku for his cleansing; physical as well as spiritual, and to relax and get to know each other better.

"Right you are," Kagome mused. "Too long."

"Well, then I guess it's a good thing we're on our way," Sango grinned, and Kagome and Rin thought so as well.

A/N: There you go! Hope that was enjoyable! Sorry, not much happened in this chapter. Must be a little irritating. Sometimes I forget where I left off the previous chapter and then just kind of write whatever comes to mind =P I've still got a plot going in my head, though, so I hope you all don't mind. Thanks for reading :) Please review.

xox Sacha