Koga stops running, sniffing the air. A smirk pulls at the corner of his mouth smelling vanilla and lavender, with just a hint of cherry blossom. Kagome, he thinks to himself before frowning deeply at the salty tinge to her normal scent, something bitter encasing the normally sweet smell. He sneers and takes off in the other direction, back to the well where he knew he'd find her. That damn mutt, what's he done now?

Kagome makes her way to the clearing by the well and drops to the grassy floor, unable to make it all the way over. She can feel the burning in the back of her throat, warning her of tears to come, but can't bring herself to allow them to fall. He'd promised, her thoughts echo in her head, he'd promised he was done with her. She wraps her arms around her knees, resting her chin on them, looking out across the clearing. I should have known something was up when he started avoiding me again. She feels her chest tighten, the pain enough to make her wince. She doesn't want to go home, not when they're so close to finishing the jewel, but she knows she can't sit on her feelings.

Koga is nearly to the clearing when he hears a soft voice permeate the air, clear to his enhanced hearing, and while he feels he recognizes it, he knows he's never heard the voice before.

"It's been days I haven't seen your face. My first thought was not I've been replaced." he stops on the edge of the clearing to find Kagome sitting in the middle of the clearing, arms clutching her legs together while her head rests delicately on them, her eyes closed. I didn't know she could sing...

"But then I saw you with somebody other than me, I closed my eyes cause I don't wanna believe what I see," Kagome squeezes her eyes tighter against the images playing back for her in her head of what she'd seen, "you're sitting on the ground, arm around a girl that I don't know. She leans in closer and I know it's over when I see your eyes glow." If only it had just been his arm around her, she can't help but think bitterly. "You just keep on looking at her like she is the only one you've ever known." I mean, I've been here the whole time, haven't I? "I'm just now finding out you know how to love on the down-low." Her voice drops as the betrayal seeps into her voice. Koga can't help but look on in wonder. It didn't take him long to figure out exactly what it was that had put his Kagome in such a state. He remembered how excited she had been when she told him InuYasha had finally picked her over Kikyo, how he'd promised he was done sneaking around and lying, that he would only be there for her. Looks like that worked out great, he thinks, bitterly, while imagining all the things he would love to do to that mutt next time he saw him.

"I saw you look at her and that look I know. My head stayed high but my heart it sunk so low. Why'd you take her to a place you knew I could be?" Kagome turns her gaze skyward, wondering why they had to go to their tree of all places. "I turn away cause I'm starting to believe what I see." A single tear falls down her cheek then and she stretches out her legs, wiping it away with the back of her hand as her voice falters, only for a moment. "You're sitting on the ground, arm around a girl that I don't know. She leans in closer and I know it's over when I see your eyes glow. You just keep on looking at her like she is the only one you've ever known. I'm just now finding out you know how to love on the down-low..." It takes nearly everything in Koga's power not to run to her right then and there, to do something to cheer her up, but isn't sure how she would take knowing she has an audience.

"You're sitting on the ground, arm around a girl that I don't know." Kagome lays down in the grass, resolve beginning to steel her shining blue eyes as she wills her tears to stop. "She leans in closer and I know it's over when I see your eyes glow. You just keep on looking at her like she is the only one you've ever known." She had thought InuYasha had chosen her, but apparently, they were both wrong. The only difference between all the previous times and this one is Kagome isn't going to play a part in this game anymore. She's done. "I'm just now finding out you know how to love on the down-low. Down low, down low. Down low, down low. Down low, down low. Down low, down low. Down low, down low..." As the final notes escape her lips, her chest feels lighter. Her heart still aches, but not nearly as bad as it had, or as she had thought it would. This was his last chance, she smiles, sadly, to herself, a gesture that does not go unnoticed by her still hidden wolf friend. He's all Kikyo's.

Koga, relieved she's no longer crying, takes a step out into the clearing, startling her a bit. She meets his crystal blue eyes and smiles up at him from across the clearing as he closes the distance between them.

"I didn't know you were around here," she starts, eyes still shining from unshed tears, but her scent clearing up back to her usual intoxicating fragrance. He drops down on the ground next to her, leaning back on his arms with his legs out in front of him.

"Just came to check on my woman," he smirks, bumping her shoulder lightly with his own. She rolls her eyes as she returns her gaze to the stars, but he isn't met with her usual protests. Carefully keeping his face neutral, he resists the urge to quirk an eyebrow at the change in character, and gently inquires, "Are you okay?" He watches her think for a moment, remaining silent to allow her to collect her thoughts before she takes a deep breath, nodding on the exhale.

"Yeah. I am actually," She looks over at him once more and he can see in her eyes that she means it. He smiles at her, the weight in his chest a little lighter.

"Good. I can't stand to hear my woman's been hurt." She laughs outright, music to his ears, before she leans her head on his shoulder. He tenses up briefly before relaxing into her, enjoying the moment.

"The stars are beautiful," her voice is wistful, barely a whisper. Koga turns his head to look at her, completely unnoticed by Kagome, as he smiles softly down at her.

"Sure are." She doesn't need to know he means the stars he sees every time he looks in her eyes. "Know what's even more beautiful?" She tilts her head up to look at him, eyebrows drawn together in confusion. "Your singing." Her face immediately flushes as she quickly looks away, scratching the back of her head.

"Oh jeez, you heard that, huh?" Koga doesn't even try to keep the grin off his face as he watches her. "How much?" He shrugs, facing forward, once more looking at the stars he often took for granted. Even if they did pale in comparison to the woman next to him.

"Whole thing," he sees her cringe out of the corner of his eye and smirks. "You know, it's a good thing I'm already in love with you." He notices her raise an eyebrow in confusion, despite her still flushed cheeks. "Cause, if I wasn't, that would have been all it took to push me over the edge." She scoffs at him, pushing his shoulder, barely managing to nudge him.

"Uh-huh, sure," disbelief laces her tone, even as she returns to her former position of leaning on Koga, her head on his shoulder. Silence takes over for a few moments, the two more than comfortable in each other's presence. "Hey, Koga?" her hesitant voice nearly echoes in the silence. "Thank you." He smirks, sneaking his arm around to drape it over her shoulders, pulling her a little closer.

"I'll always be here," he gives her shoulder a little squeeze, more than a little pleased when she settles against him a little more comfortably than before. "Whatever you need." The two spend the rest of the evening under the stars. If a certain human fell asleep on him, forcing him to lay down under the open sky, only for her to wrap herself around him for warmth, Koga certainly wasn't going to wake her or complain.

Song is Down Low by Sara Kays if anyone's interested!