'After our last encounter, I honestly thought I'd never see you again. I cried as I went back to the village. Inuyasha had returned with Miroku from dealing with some demons in the few villages over. I didn't expect him back for another two days. He was angry that I was not there when he returned and no one knew where I was. He immediately smelled my tears and your scent on me.'

"Where the hell ya been Kagome! Why do you smell like that mangy wolf? "stepping away from her. "Go bathe and get the stench off of you now." he ordered.

'I did as he said just to avoid any arguments. I was always avoiding arguments and making him mad because ever since I returned he became overly protective of me. When I returned from my bath, he was finally calm. I told him I went into the forest for a walk and didn't see it necessary to tell anyone as I could defend myself. When he asked why you were around, I told him it was a coincidence...and we said our goodbyes when I spoke of our upcoming marriage. Thankfully he dropped it.'

'The next couple days leading to our marriage I was having doubts...about everything. I couldn't tell him that so instead I told Inuyasha I wanted to visit a shrine before we got married because only pure mikos could enter it. A month later, he took me there and would come back for me in three months. I took the time to truly think what I wanted and I decided I didn't want to marry Inuyasha anymore. I did have love and care for him but not the kind to marry him. I was not the same naive 15 year old girl he met five years ago. I'm 20 now and he still sees me as Kikyo's reincarnation and deep down I knew that. I wouldn't be happy and neither would he. I wanted to travel around the country, help others and find myself. I thought about going west to learn more about herbs and medicine.'

Kagome closed her eyes and took a deep breath to calm her building anxiety before she could continue. Just then it started to rain again and Kagome pulled the blanket closer.

Kouga scented a shift of emotions in her but he still couldn't look at her. He poured himself some more wine cause he really needed it as he had to control himself as he knew she was going to say something bad.

'When Inuyasha returned for me. I had to tell him my decision. It would take about two weeks until we got to the village so I had time to figure out how I was gonna tell him. We were about one day away from the village when we camped for the night. After we ate, I told him that I wanted to travel and learn more as a miko. He said it was a good idea and all for it until I told him I was going alone and I was breaking our promise to marry.'

Tears started to flow from Kagome's eyes and Kouga looked up once he smelled it. He felt conflicted if he should comfort her or not. She continued with his eyes now fixated on her.

'Inuyasha was angry. More angry than I've ever seen him. His eyes were flashing between gold and red. The demon within him was struggling. I tried to move away but he had me pinned against the tree in a blink of an eye.'

"What do you mean you're not gonna marry me! Your mines! You belong to me." He roared. "I gave you space to do what you wanted and I even agreed you could travel and study but not without me. You aren't going anywhere ever again!"

"One of his clawed hands was punctured in my neck while the other held my wrists above my head. Blood began to fall. I begged, cried and apologized. I even told him I was wrong to make that decision and it was just nerves. He slapped me so hard, I flew across into the opposite tree and told me to shut up. He had a pair of silver bangles that he took out and placed one on each of my wrists. It blocked my reiki. When I tried to take it off, it burned me." as she rubbed her wrists still feeling it."

Kouga looked at her wrists and saw healed burn marks that left scars. His anger started to rise and his eyes were turning red.

Kagome moved next to Kouga and took his face between her palms, gently rubbing to calm him. Feeling her touch, he calmed down and took her hands into his own and kissed her scars. Kagome pulled away but remained next to Kouga.

"That was just the beginning. He beat me up really badly…and he raped me...over and over again. His beast took full control of his body." as she cried. It was a continuous cycle. He would beat me and rape me then he took me to the spring to clean up. He whispered words of apology for beating me but he wasn't sorry with everything else he did. He said he did it because he loved me and I'll never leave him. I don't know what made him snap...and I will never know."

Kouga couldn't believe the words he heard Kagome said. He was stunned in silence as she wept for a while.

After calming down she continued "I don't know how long it continued. Then one day after cleaning up, he said we were going to the village to collect our belongings, get married and we were going to leave. If anyone asked about our sudden departure, it was to travel and continue my miko studies. I knew that wasn't going to happen, he was going to isolate me from my only friends I had. I was powerless with those bangles.

As we were leaving for the village, Lord Sesshomaru appeared before us. He said he felt a demonic disturbance and followed it to us."

"Brother, what have you done to the miko." Staring at me then him.

"It's none of ya business. She's mine, brother. Stay away from her." As his demon started to take over once again.

Inuyasha shoved me out the way into the tree and I hit my head. The last I saw he pulled Tessaiga and was charging after his brother. I passed out. I awoke being carried by Sesshomaru. He had blood dripping on the side of his face as he looked down on me.

"Miko this one is sorry that you have endured and suffered my brother's abuse. If this one had known, you would have never been in such a situation. This one would never have believed to see him turn into a full demon and lost total control. There was no choice to kill him." as he sat me in the grass.

I began to cry. I didn't know if it was because Inuyasha was dead or if I was finally free to do as I wanted. When I wiped away my tears, I noticed the bangles were gone. Sesshomaru told me when Inuyasha died, it disintegrated into smoke but I was left with scars.

Sesshomaru carried me back to the village and he went back to retrieve Inuyasha's body. I asked Miroku to bury him by the Goshinboku tree. I healed from my physical damages but emotionally would take time. I couldn't stand the memories I had in the village and the pity looks from my friends. Sesshomaru offered to take me back with him to the western palace under his care. I declined. He knew I didn't want to stay in the village, so he offered to take me anywhere I wanted to go and would provide for me. He said he felt responsible for me but I assured him he did not need to. I told him I wanted to live here by myself in the one place I felt safe. It's still not too far from the village so I still go there every couple of days and Sesshomaru checks on me whenever he visits Rin.

Kouga pulled Kagome into lap and held her in his arms. She snuggled into his chest and they shared each other's comfort. He gently kissed on top of her head and tucked a stray hair behind her ear.

"I'm so sorry you went through hell. I shouldn't have never let you walk away from me that day." Wiping away the last of her tears. "Our destinies would have turned out differently."

"It could have been better or worse. We wouldn't know but this is what was the path laid ahead of us. I don't have my full powers like before but I can manage and care for myself." Kagome looked up to Kouga and loosened from his hold. "There's something else."

Feeling his protectiveness taking over "what is it?"

"Before I tell you, can you please tell me what's wrong with you? She took his hand into her own.

Kouga took a deep breath and began to tell Kagome all that took place within the last six months. From his heartbreak of losing her to refusing a mate and pressure into producing an heir then war and the loss of Ayume.

"I wish I could have at least loved her back the way she did for me but I just couldn't. I could not mate anyone. You are imprinted in my heart. I did promise to protect her as the mother of my heir but I couldn't even do that."

"Kouga, it's not your fault she died. Her body couldn't handle the pregnancy and she became ill. She wouldn't want you to blame yourself. She understood your feelings even if you didn't return it. I know she would have been a wonderful mother to your baby. But now, that little one needs you more than ever." as she lifted his face to hers.

Kouga pulled her into his arms once more. "You're right my cub needs me. I don't even know if it's a boy or girl. I was selfish to leave it behind with Ginta and Hakkuka."

Kagome smiled softly at him "no one blames you. They understand you need some time to gather yourself and they will care for your baby until you return."

"Now what is something else you need to tell me." Looking into her eyes.

Taking a deep breath "During my time at the temple, I realized why I couldn't marry Inuyasha." trying to break their gaze but Kouga wouldn't let her.

"You make me nervous, Kagome. Spit it out already!"

Looking into his sky blue eyes "I've realized I...love you Kouga. I could never understand the way I felt around you and being near you. That day when I walked away from you, my heart felt like it was being ripped from my chest. I cried every night at the temple until the elder miko asked me what's wrong. When I told her, she explained why I felt the way I did for you. Not only being in love but I had you imprinted in my heart. I recalled the very first day I met you and looked into your eyes, my heart stopped and then started with a double beat. That was the moment it sealed the imprint. I'm told humans and demons do not imprint each other as it only happens to demons or hanyou. I felt it because I have traces of demon power within me from the shikon jewel."

Kouga's mouth dropped at the confession he just heard. He was totally speechless.

"I believe that when I returned on that day from our encounter, Inuyasha knew my feelings and he did everything in his power to keep me even though it drove him into becoming a full demon."

"Were you ever going to tell me Kagome?"

"No I wasn't...that was why I had decided to travel after I broke up with Inuyasha and avoid the eastern lands. I had heard from a traveler at the shrine that you had mated to Ayume. I couldn't ruin that. It would have been mean and selfish of me after you've been hurt by me...and was able to finally move on." as she choked.

"I refused to take a mate and to touch another woman. I only had to have an heir but to do that I had to implant my seed in a female. I had to force myself to even do that and was numbed with sake. I would never turn you away even if it was 50 or 500 years from now."

Kouga and Kagome looked into each other's eyes filled with love and passion. They kissed deeply and intensely until Kagome pulled away.

"I'm not finished Kouga."

Running a hand through his hair and sighing deeply "alright out with it."

"I'm pregnant...with Inuyasha's baby."