Chapter 13

Trouble Brewing

'Kagome?'

Kagome couldn't believe what she was seeing. It couldn't possibly….

"Hojo?"

The word barely slipped past her lips before the all too-familiar smile brightened the young man's face.

"It is you!" he cried before throwing his arms around Kagome's neck, pressing her firmly against him in a friendly hug. "I'm so glad you're safe."

Yep. It was him, alright.

Still stunned to see her childhood friend, Kagome could barely do more than pat his arm in comfort as she tried to wrap her mind around how…..unbelievable this was.

Hojo never left the village. As the village leader's only son, he was necessary to remain there at all times. Yet, here he was, at least a good handful of days away from the village.

Kagome was sure she'd probably be able to stand stunned all day. However, the deep growl to her right snapped her from her stupor.

She had to hurry before Koga decided to gut Hojo for the hug.

"Wha- what are you doing here?" Kagome asked before slowly prying herself from Hojo's grip. "I thought you would still be back at the village."

Hojo's smile only grew as he nodded in agreement.

"Usually, I would," he replied cheerfully. "But, Kaede asked for some of the men to deliver a message to another village. I volunteered to go."

That was….surprising. "Oh," Kagome answered dumbly. What else was there to say?

"It's a good thing I did," Hojo continued, oblivious to the multiple eyes zeroing in on the two of them. "Otherwise, I might have not been here to help."

The choked snarl from Koga had Kagome quickly gripping Hojo's arm and turning him towards Sango and Miroku. Thankfully, Ginta and Hakkaku leapt to hold their Alpha's arms back.

"Guys, this is Hojo," Kagome introduced brightly. "We grew up together in the same village."

"Oh," Sango answered in kind, mouth working in an effort to speak. Apparently, she was as stunned as Kagome at the turn of events.

Miroku, however, had no problem with his speech, what-so-ever. With an amused smirk, he nodded in greeting before extending a hand to grasp Hojo about the forearm.

"It is good to meet you, friend," he replied graciously. "Lady Kagome has always spoken of her home village with great affection."

"Really?" Hojo asked, brightening even more, if that was possible.

Kagome, however, gritted her teeth as she sent the conniving hoshi a knowing glare. She didn't buy that open, innocent expression of his for a moment.

"Oh, yes," Miroku continued as if he was having the time of his life. "She's repeatedly stated how she regretted what she left behind."

It took everything Kagome had no to choke on the gasp that lodged itself up her throat. The hoshi had to have a death-wish for implying something like that in front of Koga. He was going to get himself and Hojo killed!

"Well, her family will certainly be relieved to see her again," Hojo answered as calm as can be and completely oblivious to the mounting danger behind him.

"Oh?" Miroku asked, amused.

However, before he had a chance to open his mouth again, Kagome quickly jumped into the conversation.

"Yes," she added. "And, we're still a good few days till we get there."

"Oh, well, we have finished our task for Kaede," Hojo informed helpfully. "We could travel back together."

A warning snarl from Koga had Kagome swallowing low with worry. She wasn't sure if Hojo would make it back alive.

"You don't have to do that," she replied weakly.

"It's no trouble," Hojo quickly reassured. "I'd be happy to help. Plus, it will give us a chance to catch up. You can tell me where you've been all these years."

"She's been with us."

The menacing tone behind her had Kagome tensing in preparation as she looked back to see Koga standing right behind her, eyes flaring. If ever there was an intimidating sight, it was an ookami on the defense. Hojo, however, just blinked in startled shock as if he hadn't known Koga was back there.

"Oh," he replied innocently before extending his hand with a smile towards Koga, completely oblivious to the threat standing before him. "I want to thank you for keeping Kagome safe all this time. I can never repay you for that."

Kagome never felt more terrified for Hojo's safety than she did in that moment. Hojo was sweet, cloyingly so, but he had no sense of self-preservation at all. Bless his childlike heart.

"I always protect what is mine," Koga answered tersely, the deep growl in his throat roughening his voice.

"Of course," Hojo answered. "It's to your credit that you took the responsibility as your own. The village leader would want to reward you for your effort."

Kagome waited with baited breath as Koga went still as stone. Hojo was just trying to be polite, she knew that. Unfortunately, he also had no idea of the history between Koga and herself. What he was suggesting was compensation. A goodbye.

However, Koga merely lifted his head to a lofty height and leveled a piercing look right at Hojo.

"We will finish this journey," he replied with a heavy calm.

Kagome couldn't help but shift from foot to foot uncomfortably but Hojo just gifted another bright smile.

"If that's what you want."

This was going to be a long trip.

SSS

He was going to kill the human!

Koga didn't care how unreasonable it sounded to those around him, he wanted to so badly. Even now, it was taking everything the Alpha had not to lunge across the camp's fire and wring the smile off the infuriating human's neck.

When the one called Hojo had extended his hand and had the gall to thank, Thank of all things, him for protecting Kagome….. Koga had no idea he had the personal control that he did not to snap every bone in the human's hand.

Unfortunately, he also caught the flash of fear in Kagome's eyes and it forced him to keep his instincts in check. If she wanted him to be tolerant of the male, then he would.

Still didn't mean he had to like it.

Grabbing his own portion of the night's meal, Koga ripped a piece from it harshly as he was forced to sit and listen to the insipid male's tale of how they had managed the past few years' harvest and what the hunting had been like with Naraku scaring off a good amount of game for months after. And, if it wasn't…..Hojo, another of the small party with him picked up where he left off.

If Koga had to hear one more story of how the ox fell into a ditch again, he was going to lose his mind!

Even Ginta and Hakkaku were rolling their eyes in strained boredom. Did the humans know anything else beyond what was going on around them? However, Kagome just sat across the fire, thankfully closer to himself than Hojo, and smiled as if it was the most interesting thing in the world. Surely, she had the patience of a revered monk to handle this drudgery.

Living with the pack would never be this dull. Life was a struggle but it was also exciting. That was what kept an ookami's blood pumping. Kagome would have an exciting life, filled with great discoveries and amazing adventures, with him. That was enough to calm the Alpha's racing emotions.

But, all in the group suddenly straightened to attention once the newcomers reached the subject of what word they had gotten of Kagome's travels before she seemed to vanish.

"Did you truly go to the taijiya village that was so renowned?" Hojo asked Kagome, eyes as wide as a new pup's.

Whatever the others were doing to keep themselves preoccupied stilled as they all locked their focus on Kagome and the new addition to their rag-tag group.

Koga swallowed the snort of derision at the male's carelessness. Fool.

A quick glance towards Sango told the ookami she'd heard the question. She looked like she'd been turned to stone as she locked her eyes with the flicking flames of the central fire.

Kagome was also feeling the sudden strain as she swallowed low. However, she then gave Hojo a light smile.

"Yes," she replied gently. "It was amazing. The whole village had a wall around it. So high you couldn't look over it. Even if you stared straight up to the clouds."

Koga felt himself drawn into the story Kagome told of the taijiya village, painting the image of the proud and noble tribe with her words as accurately as any artist.

"All of them were a trained warrior," Kagome continued, eyes growing bright. "From the youngest among them. Men, women, young, old. Each one was fully trained and ready to do their duty. It was…..in their very blood, ingrained in their souls."

"Their leader was the greatest of them," Kagome added as she shifted her gaze to lock on Sango's, giving her a warm smile. "Generous, wise. And, a truly noble heart."

The slight flickering of tears in Sango's eyes was all Koga needed before he looked away from the moment the two were experiencing. This was something of the taijiya's past. And, if Kagome wished to give her some comfort, he wasn't about to interfere.

Hojo, however….

"It sounds like something from the legends," he marveled, breaking whatever bond there was between the women in that moment. "And, after that?"

Kagome was now the one who went still, eyes growing dull and distant. Chillingly, she almost appeared dead.

Koga wasn't about to let that continue.

"She then went into the mountains," Koga answered from across the fire, drawing the attention of all the human males. "The ookami found her. She saved the old Alpha's life and was made part of the Northern tribe. She then came to my tribe and saved us from our ancient enemies, the Birds of Paradise."

The widening of the male's eyes gave Koga greater satisfaction than he thought. This Hojo needed to see Kagome's true worth. Even if she was born in a simple farming village, she was so much more than that. She was a miko of great renown and a hero to his people. Let the human chew on that!

"It was amazing!" Ginta added from Koga's left, sharing a knowing look with his Alpha. "She was as fierce as any warrior and clever as a kitsune."

Kagome suddenly redden, her own eyes widening in shock.

"I wouldn't put it quite like that," she argued meekly, causing Koga to smirk in amusement.

"Why not?" he challenged. "It's true. And, at the most critical moment, a blinding light, like a star come to earth, filled the air and cleansed our mountain from the inside out. Your quick thinking and kind heart saved us. All of us."

Kagome's face reddened deeper as she looked down in embarrassment but Koga refused to break this contact with her. He needed her to see what she was to them; what she truly was to them.

She hadn't just gained his heart, but his people's loyalty.

"Wow, Kagome," the male, Hojo, sighed. "You've grown so powerful. Does this mean you've finally defeated Naraku?"

And, any thread remaining in their connection was snapped, causing Kagome to stiffen at attention. Koga growled low at the interruption. Did this human have no grasp of what was going on around him?

"No, Hojo," Kagome answered softly. "I haven't defeated Naraku yet. In fact, that's why we're going back to the village."

Koga watched with sharp eyes as Hojo's brow furrowed in confusion. The male looked back towards his own men before turning back towards Kagome.

"I don't understand," Hojo replied.

Of course, he didn't. How could he?

"You said you wouldn't return and risk bringing him back," Hojo continued. "You said this when I…..tried to get you to stay."

Koga bristled at the thought. He what?

However, he forced himself to calm his instincts. He needed to stay in the humans' good graces. If they feared him, fine. But, they needed to be willing to tolerate him. Already, he could feel their suspicion and hesitation regarding him and his men rolling off them like waves.

He needed to be the necessary evil to them. Whether he liked it or not.

To prove his point, one of the males tapped Hojo on the shoulder and whispered low: "Perhaps that is why she keeps the ookami with her."

Koga glanced towards his two betas when they both stiffened. No-matter how softly the humans whispered, yokai ears would always catch it. Always.

A warning glare from their Alpha was enough to keep them in their place but even Koga could tell they were indignant to the insult.

"Hojo, I had to leave," Kagome reassured. "You know this. Naraku would have killed us all if I hadn't. However, we now think there might be something to helping us defeat Naraku at the village. It's a risk but…. Things have changed."

"Like what?" Hojo asked, confusion deepening.

He looked so hopeful it set Koga's teeth on edge. But, he only dug his claws into his palms, ignore the stinging pain against his skin.

"I can't tell you," Kagome replied with an understanding smile. "Not yet. I'm sorry."

The puppy-like look returned to the male's eyes and Koga felt his chest twist as he watched the scene before him. He knew that look. Had seen too many hunters that went off on long hunts and returned to their females not to recognize it.

The human, Hojo, thought Kagome was his. He'd tried to stop her from leaving and had found her again.

Koga knew this was bad. He just hoped he could deal with the new obstacle in the way. Because, the terrifying thing wasn't that Hojo was so different from him. It was that he just might not be.

SSS

The distant buzzing caused a satisfied smile to pull at the thin lips of the old woman bending over the freshly dug clay she'd gathered.

A saimyosho. That was fortunate. Their venom was exemplary poison.

Aged hands, caked in the slick earth, reached for the net she always kept at her side as the buzzing started to get closer. If she timed this just right, she'd have an excellent component to add to her collection.

Crouching low, the ogress waited as her prey grew ever closer. The shadow of the large insect was barely overhead when she stuck, snaring the saimyosho before it even knew the trap was set.

Cackling with glee, she glanced down at her catch. The large insect was thrashing and jerking its stinger one way or the other, eager to kill whatever snared it.

"Stop fighting," the ogress crooned in her papery thin voice. "It'll be quick, dearie. Promise."

However, the saimyosho continued to struggle. The sorceress just shook her grey head in amusement. They always struggle. Human, animal, yokai; it made no difference. They all fought the clutches of Urasue and lost.

A sudden change in the saimyosho's buzzing caused the old sorceress to freeze mid-step.

"What did you say?" she asked, cautiously.

She had to have heard the little minion wrong. They always said anything to survive.

Despite her skepticism, the long series of buzzes and clicks caused the ogress to grin with unbridled satisfaction.

"Well, well," she mused with a chuckle. "How could I possibly say no?"

Who would be foolish enough to turn down the Shikon Jewel?