Chapter 3


"Such a sweet child." Deep melancholy sigh. "I imagine Myouga and I would have had a daughter so endearing, like yourself, had he not," sniff, sniff, "run out on me--"

"Hush, Shyouga. Please," Rin urged gently, quieting the aged flea youkai perched on her shoulder. She didn't mind the newcomer. Not really. Sango-sama said the bug demon was lonely, and needed company. It was just that... "It's very important that we're quiet."

"Ah, yes," Shyouga whispered. "Right, right."

Satisfied, Rin focused her attention ahead. It was absolutely still. Like a painting. The sun hadn't even peeked over the eastern mountains yet, and the meadow near the fields was blanketed in sparkly dew, a flowery smell, and most importantly…

Butterflies…

The young girl held her breath in a barely contained excitement, and forced the smile that threatened to split her face, back down to a straight line. Kohaku said that butterflies couldn't hear smiles, but she knew otherwise. The skittish insects scattered almost every time her lips curled upwards.

But not this time. She was gonna get 'em. LOTS of 'em, this time. Rin wasn't exactly sure how it all worked, but butterflies made fuzzy caterpillars, and fuzzy caterpillars made silk. And any young girl worth her weight in labor knew that silk made pretty clothes. Hence, with all the stealthy quietness of a shadow, she inched forward on her tippy toes. Gently… Quietly… Almost…

Ssshink!

Rin froze, and Shyouga gasped.

Whoomp whoom whoomp, SCTHWOOOSH!

Agh! Kohaku! She whimpered as the sound of his practicing in the nearby fields startled the winged bugs, causing an entire layer of meadow to flutter simultaneously upwards.

"Ah, they're getting away!" Shyouga barked.

Frantic, Rin looked at the net in her hands. Then glanced at the butterflies. At her net. The butterflies…

She tossed it spastically, and darn her luck, she managed to miss every single one of them. "Oh…!" she exclaimed as they taunted her with their frolicking escape. But there was a small part of her that was delighted her chances were ruined. Because it meant that she could now do…

THIS!

"Wheeeeeeeee!!!" Hiccuping giggles followed her high-pitched squeak of delight as Rin bolted through the meadow, flapping her arms wildly. Shyouga was bounced right off her shoulder, but she barely noticed. If the butterflies were startled before, now they were outright frenzied, blitzing and dancing about her like eddies in a river. They gave her all the reaction she could hope for. She hopped, spun, and bumped…

…right into something…warm…soft…

No. Not something. Someone. Rin gasped and stared wide-eyed at the seashell sash of a lilac kimono, embroidered with light feathers and gentle swirls. An icky feeling lodged in her gut as she timidly tilted her head back to see…

Shiny, manicured hair, slanted scarlet eyes, heart-shaped, beautiful face… A face she remembered. One that belonged to the prettiest lady she'd ever met.

And the most dangerous…

"He still keeps you around, does he?" the woman asked.

Rin choked. Small terrified limbs tripped and stumbled as she frantically backed away. "Sesshou…" swallow, gasp, "Sesshou…" hiccup, "SESSHOUMARU-SAMA!!!" she screamed, falling on her rump. A whirring sound caught her ear, and the Wind Demon glanced left, and shifted three feet back. A chained scythe cut the air where she'd been and imbedded deeply in the ground.

"Stay back, demon." It was Kohaku's voice. Rin's heart leapt in her throat as the older boy materialized between them, his weapon already recollected in his white-knuckled fist. Rin gawked at him. His usual kind demeanor was replaced with something darker. Threatening. It made her feel both safe, and nervous.

"Rin, are you all right?" he asked shakily, without turning around.

Rin sniffed, and scrambled to her feet. "Careful Kohaku! It's her! The one who…k-k-kidnapped me-" she halted, distracted by the expression on the demon's face.

The woman's earlier composure was completely gone as she gaped at Kohaku. Mouth hung part open, eyes saucer-wide, posture slackening... "Ko…Kohaku?"

The boy crouched down in a fighter's stance, doubly alarmed. "How do you know my name?"

She blinked. "I watched him kill you…I don't…" she shook her head in obvious disbelief. "How…?" Her face shifted through several emotions until it finally relaxed, as though she'd just answered her own question. "So it's true," she mused seemingly to herself, her voice as smooth as running water. "The sword does resurrect the dead. But…" she looked contemplative. "You don't remember me, young Kohaku?"

Kohaku studied her suspiciously. "No."

Her eyes narrowed in scrutiny, not disbelieving. "Your memory has been purged," she stated, her face softening. "Hmm… Perhaps it is for the best."

"Stop talking nonsense," he retaliated heatedly. "What do you want?"

She clasped her hands in front in mock respect, and bowed demurely. "At ease, young ones. I came only to speak to the girl's master."

She came to speak to-- Rin startled, as Sesshoumaru himself suddenly appeared to her left, a great white presence that brightened the meadow. His amber eyes were wary. Angry. And he had one hand on his hilt.

"About what?" he asked darkly.

Un-intimidated, the Wind User met his gaze, her expression supplicating. Honest.

"About the nature of his weapon."

* * *

LATER THAT NIGHT…

"OH! There it is! I see it! I see Sango's village!"

Kagome laughed as Shippo scrambled down her back like a squirrel down a tree, too anxious to be carried the last several yards. She understood perfectly well his excitement. It had been nearly three months since they'd seen Sango last, and even Inuyasha had a lighter-than-usual bounce to his step.

"Ah, she's marked the graves of her loved ones with holy charms," Miroku commented, drawing Kagome's attention to the numerous mounds of dirt that bordered the eastern wall. It was obvious that much time and care had gone into distinguishing them, an individual trinket and prayer sheet suspended with a hanging mechanism over each head.

"It must have taken her forever," Kagome said, noticing with relief that Miroku seemed as platonic as ever towards their friend. He'd recovered months back from her rejection with his usual accepting ease, acknowledging that their friendship would have no doubt been ruined by an attempt at something more.

Miroku's eyes wandered, and Kagome got the feeling they always would. It made her pause, again grateful for Inuyasha's committed nature. She smiled and looked over to her handsome hanyou…

Only to see his brows drawn tight in the center over troubled, golden orbs - his fingers absently curling into fists.

"What is it, Inuyasha?"

He flicked a stern glance in her direction, and then homed in on Sango's village. "My brother's still here."

Their walking came to an abrupt halt, Kagome, Shippo, and Miroku blurting out in staccato succession;

"What?"

"Sesshoumaru?"

"Are you sure?"

Without taking his leery gaze off the village, Inuyasha nodded. "His stink is everywhere. And there's something else in the air that I can't…quite…" He stiffened. His eyes fluttered wide, and thinned to slits immediately. Kagome watched nervously as Inuyasha's entire body tensed up, his lips curling into a glistening snarl. He turned slowly around to look in the direction from which they'd come.

"That pompous, self-important, bast-"

"Yo, Kagome!"

Kagome gasped, and spun around. She knew that voice all too well.

Kouga-kun?

None other. The wolf prince sprinted the last several yards between them and came to a skidding halt, his thick ponytail flopping over his shoulder. He ignored Inuyasha like usual, but there was something different about him as he stared at her with those fierce, cerulean eyes. Something strained. Urgent.

It gave her the immediate impression that he'd come for more than just casual flirtations. "Is everything okay?"

In response, he went to grab her hands, and then frowned confusion. He blinked. He spun around behind her, and made a small noise of surprise. "Your hair…"

Oh yeah… she thought, tossing a guilty glance at Inuyasha, whose face was already reddening. "I cut it," she said, not adding why. It had been rash. Apparently Inuyasha had no trouble whatsoever distinguishing her from Kikyo…something she learned after the fact.

Kouga ran his fingers across her stumpy ponytail, shaking his head in disbelief. "You defy customs as though they mean nothing," he mused, seemingly to himself. Then a surprised chuckle escaped his lips, and his face brightened in unmasked admiration. "Defiant, and unafraid of change, you are. An attribute that you'll no doubt need as my wife-"

A pointy-clawed swipe cut him off, and Kagome stumbled back into Miroku as Inuyasha stood between them, chest heaving, shoulders tense...

Kouga growled, and crouched into a fighter's stance, glaring at the hanyou. "Stay out of this, dog turd!"

"Still staking claim to someone that isn't yours, wolf breath!?" Inuyasha hissed, extending his claws. "I suggest you leave before I-"

"Gentlemen, gentlemen," coaxed Miroku, as he swiveled around Kagome, coming between them and holding placating hands up. "This is a happy occasion. We haven't seen Sango in months, and it's hardly polite to show up on her threshold, quarreling."

Kagome looked anxiously between the panting males, suddenly concerned for Miroku's safety. Shippo clung to her leg, prattling nervously about the guys' temperaments. She still wasn't used to the augmented powers of the Shikon no Tama, but there was a subliminal something nagging at her as she looked at Kouga. Usually his rage was deliberate. Under control. But there was the slightest hint of berserker in his face, like the day he'd lost his tribe to that Kagura. She looked around.

What was triggering it?

"Come now, you two," she said. "There's no need to fight-"

"Yes yes," Miroku added, "Kagome-sama is her own person-"

"Dammit. I don't have time for this!" Kouga shouted, circling predatorily around the monk to get at his opponent. "She has to come back with me today!"

"She's not going anywhere with you!" Inuyasha screamed back.

A surprise to them all, Kouga swatted Miroku aside viciously, sending him sprawling several yards back. With his forward momentum, he lunged at Inuyasha, who dodged, and jabbed at him in return.

"Miroku!" Shippo screamed, running over to their fallen friend. To Kagome's relief, the monk sat up groggily, holding his head in his hands. The look on his face was pure agony. After being backhanded by a full-blooded youkai, it was a miracle he was even conscious.

Kouga definitely wasn't himself. Kagome watched with growing panic as he and Inuyasha leapt at each other, a flurry of punches, kicks and invective. Blow was met with vicious blow, and droplets of blood rained on the ground beneath them.

"Stop it, you two!" Kagome screamed in vain, clutching her hands to her sides. "Stop it now!"

Her words had all the effect of feather darts, and she ran after them as they zigzagged towards Sango's village. Towards the outer walls. Towards the graveyard.

"Stop them, Kagome!" Shippo cried. "Use your powers!"

"I don't want to kill them!" Kagome returned, trotting after the fighting males regardless. With the help of his staff, Miroku raised himself up, leaning heavily on it for support.

"If Sesshoumaru is here, then he can resurrect-"

"It doesn't matter!" Kagome tossed over her shoulder, wondering why they couldn't understand that she, quite simply, didn't want to kill anyone. Even if they could be resurrected a second later.

Miroku and Shippo hobbled after them. Up ahead, the wolf prince was knocked back atop the dirt mounds of the dead, knocking over several holy chimes in the process. He bounced twice, landing in a crouch. The look on his face was feral. Crazed. And so was Inuyasha's.

Before he could retaliate, Inuyasha had Tetsusaiga unsheathed, and anchored above his head. "KAZE…"

"Don't do it!" Miroku screamed. "You'll desecrate the graves!"

"NOO…"

"Inuyasha! STOP!" Kagome cried out.

"KIZ-"

"HIRAIKOUTSU!"

Sango's giant boomerang materialized out of nowhere, knocking Tetsusaiga from Inuyasha's hands. Both weapons imbedded themselves in the dirt yards from him, and startled they all turned to see the slayer with a hand to her chest, trying to catch her breath. She looked disheveled, her hair in uncombed disarray about her shoulders, and her attire was nothing more than a hastily-wrapped sleeping gown.

No sooner had Kagome breathed relief than Kouga, who was still on a rampage, sprung from where he was at Inuyasha, kicking up dirt and ornaments alike. "I'LL KILL YOU-!"

But a powerful punch to his face sent him sprawling, and standing where he had been was none other Sesshoumaru. The demon lord's brows were furrowed in the center in acute aggravation, his hands uncurling at his sides. He was shirtless, also in a state of disarray.

"Are your entrances here always this destructive?" he asked in a smooth, but condescending calm, glaring at both the offending males.

Inuyasha frowned back at him, "Since when do you care about the welfare of a human village?" Without waiting for an answer, the hanyou tossed a questioning glance at Sango. "Is he still making you babysit his human brat?"

As though in answer, Rin and Kohaku came running up, wide-eyed and slack-jawed, halting at the edge of the burial ground.

Kagome opened her mouth to scold Inuyasha for referring to young Rin so, but her attention was diverted by Kouga. He'd come to a tumbling stop nearby and was leaning up on his elbows, gathering himself for another attack. Without skipping a beat, she ran over to the fallen prince and bracketed him down. "Enough, Kouga-kun," she insisted under hushed tones. "The differences between you two can't be solved by violence."

He tried to pull away, but she held firm. His rage quickly ebbed out of his system, and with a defeated sigh, he relaxed against her, tossing a stressed glanced over his shoulder. "Kagome. Things are happening at the mountain. I need you-"

"And you should know that I'll help you in any way I can, Kouga-kun. Just be patient until we can talk. Understand?"

"SANGO!" Shippo cried and bounced over to their friend. The earlier tension forgotten, Sango smiled hugely when she saw the cub, and opened her arms out to catch him. He slammed into her, knocking her back.

"I've missed you so much!" he squealed, eliciting a grateful chuckle from the demon slayer. "It's like I-" he paused. Froze. Pulled back slowly.

"Shippo?"

The kitsune's nose twitched, and his jaw dropped. He looked at Sesshoumaru and wailed.

Sango's smile faded at his stunned outburst, and a flush tinged her cheeks. Shippo collapsed on her, and pounded her shoulders with his fists. "Oh, Sango Sango Sango! But he's a monster!"

Kagome blinked confusion. Huh?

"What's the problem, brat?" Inuyasha asked curiously, inching towards them. And then it was his turn to pause. Go rigid. Sniff at the air. Then, with an alarmed gasp, the hanyou jumped back, his gaze darting frantically from slayer to brother. "Kuso…!" he hissed.

"Something's happened…" Miroku stated matter-of-factly, hobbling up to Kagome and Kouga. "Why are they acting so strange?"

Kagome shrugged, wondering the same thing. "I don't-"

"It's the taiji and the demon lord," Kouga stated as he sat up and inhaled deeply at the air around them. Whatever it was had even distracted him. His dark expression was replaced with one of intrigue. Almost amusement. "Hn. Looks like we interrupted something…"

Kagome quirked her brow. "Interrupted what?"

A hissing intake of breath startled her, and she looked at Miroku, who for all the world looked like he'd just swallowed a bug.

"Oh…" the blood drained from his face. "Oh gods…" The strength left his legs, and he plunked down on his rump, stupefied. "You've got to be kidding me…"

"What!?" Kagome asked.

Miroku opened and shut his mouth mutely, dazed beyond coherence. Growing impatient, Kagome looked back and noticed some silent communication going on between Sango and Sesshoumaru. Several tense seconds passed. Finally, the taiji shrugged and nodded at the youkai lord, who then crossed the distance between them and stood by her. His presence repelled Shippo, who promptly dropped from Sango's arms and scurried back against Inuyasha's calves.

Sango's flush darkened, and Sesshoumaru eyed his brother evenly as he placed his hand on the slayer's shoulder. A small smirk curled his lips.

Seeing them like that, together, both in varying degrees of disarray… Kagome shook her head. As preposterous as it sounded, she couldn't deny the sudden notion that Sango and Sesshoumaru would make a really…

"So…I wasn't evil enough?" Miroku began talking to himself.

cute…

"Or was it his mystery… Do I lack mystery?"

couple…!

"Hair. Maybe it's the hair-"

"Aah!!" Kagome squeaked, and covered her mouth in shocked disbelief as it finally sank in.

Miroku hung his head pitifully, his voice catching, "I knew it was the hair. Damn my luck..."

"They're together?" she muffled, her eyelids stretching over bulging eyes. "Sango and Sesshoumaru are…are…"

"Oh yes." Kouga snorted, now more amused than anything. "They were together when we arrived."

Inuyasha finally regained enough composure to give voice to the accusation. "UGH! Sango!" he grimaced in horrified denial, and spat at the ground. "You let him touch you?? Have you forgotten who he is!?"

"Oh, SANGO!" Shippo cried and threw himself in the dirt. "You've let yourself be beguiled by that devil--!"

Sango stiffened. "It's not like that-"

"That butcher-of-humans! That power hungry tyrant!"

"Shippo--"

"That jealous, kin-hater who tried to kill his only brother over a STUPID SWORD!"

"SHIPPO!" Sango cried, and barred an arm across Sesshoumaru's chest, whose smirk had peeled down into a threatening snarl. "It's not like that. We're…" she swallowed, and took a deep breath, "we're married."

Married.

One…

Two…

Three seconds it took to penetrate, at which point Shippo choked. Inuyasha swore. And even Miroku looked as though he'd bitten into something vile, too polite to spit it out.

But Kagome felt the first flutterings of joy for their friend. She looked at Sango standing there, with him. Sesshoumaru. The being who'd rescued her from the realm, and brought Kohaku back to life.

Somewhere along the line they'd fallen in love. She could see it now, the way he stood possessively by her, willing to take on the world to defend what they had. I can relate to that, she thought ruefully as she glanced at the sputtering hanyou. To hell with the taboo of an interspecies marriage. And darn it all if they don't belong together…

A grin tweaked the corners of Kagome's lips, and she stood to her feet. "Congratulations," she said, earning the stunned stares of everyone except Kouga. "I'm happy for the both of you!"

Sesshoumaru's fierce, amber eyes rested on her, no doubt gauging her for sincerity, while Sango smiled appreciation. "Thank you, Kagome-chan."

She nodded happily, feeling the tension begin to dissipate. Oh, it would be an awkward adjustment, especially for Inuyasha, but what better way to cement an amiable respect between the two brothers?

A firm tug on her hand made her look up at Kouga, who was pulling her near him with an uncharacteristic urgency. "You've done well at diffusing the situation here, my lady, but I have to ask you to leave with me. Now."

"Uh…" she fumbled over an inarticulate response, trying to disentangle her fingers from his. "Kouga-kun, I told you it doesn't work like that."

A pained expression crossed his face. "Mm. You did. And I would have come sooner to…" he frowned, trying to remember the term, "date with you. But my people are on the verge of extinction, and they-"

"Get your filthy paws off her!"

All projection of chivalry dropped at the sound of Inuyasha's voice. Kouga flashed his fangs, clenched his fists and squared off with the hanyou. It was scary how quickly he switched gears.

"You want some more, mut!?" he screamed back, a feral ferocity in his eyes. Kagome knew she had to tell Kouga. Tell him that she was with Inuyasha, now and forever. And it became increasingly clear that she had to do it immediately.

Out of habit, Miroku shuffled over to divert Inuyasha as Kagome tried to distract the prince.

"Kouga-kun," she said, grabbing his wrist. His muscles were so knotted, she almost pulled her hand back. "Kouga! Listen to me-"

"Meddlesome little half-breed runt. I should've-"

"Kouga--"

"Ripped his head off and fed his innards to the-"

"KOUGA!" she screamed, noticing too late that her augmented powers slipped out again. She hated it when that happened, because it was still so hard to control - a fact that was painstakingly manifest as her aura slammed into the unsuspecting wolf prince, and knocked him off his feet…

And on his ass….

Ten yards away.

Through an undignified tangling of black hair, sun-bronzed limbs, and wolf fur - two large cerulean irises blinked back at her in stupefied astonishment.

"HA! Take that wolf breath!" The insult was followed by bratty sniggering. Kagome glared at her boyfriend, who sobered up immediately under her withering gaze.

"Go inside the village Inuyasha. I need to talk to Kouga-kun. Alone."

He opened his mouth to protest, when Miroku whacked him upside the head with his staff. It was uncharacteristically harsh of the monk, but Kagome figured his nerves were still raw from A) being knocked down by a full-blooded wolf youkai just minutes earlier, and B) seeing that the woman of his dreams had preferred a notorious demon lord over him.

A little abrasive discipline was to be expected. As Inuyasha nursed the back of his head and spun around angrily, Miroku frowned disapproval at him.

"Idiot. Do you honestly think she's going to run off with him?" he sighed and shook his head. "Leave them be for the few moments it takes for her to tell him where her heart lies. And then you'll never see Kouga again."

Inuyasha scowled dubiously at him, and then back at Kagome. His lip twitched as he watched a dazed Kouga recover from Kagome's attack.

"If he so much as touches-"

"You can trust me, Inuyasha," Kagome said firmly, recalling with a mental twinge that the last time she'd been alone with the wolf prince, he'd kissed her. Naturally, Inuyasha was more than a little reluctant to leave them together.

"But-"

"Inuyasha," came Sesshoumaru's stern, staccato tone. They all turned to look at the demon lord who cocked his head directionally towards the village. There was no room for argument in his face, and huffing defeat, Inuyasha stomped off, muttering obscenities as he went.

Sango smiled rueful encouragement at Kagome before she gathered up Shippo and motioned to Rin and Kohaku to follow. And Kagome found herself alone. At last. With her most passionate suitor.

Oh, boy… She winced internally. Why couldn't he be like Hojo, and just give up eventually? As she looked at him now, Kagome knew Kouga wasn't a problem she could just ignore, hoping he'd go away. He wouldn't. Which meant she had to hurt his feelings.

And that just sucked.

"Kouga-kun--," she said painstakingly as she walked over to him, "Forgive me. I didn't mean to do that."

He'd relaxed only slightly now that everyone had left, and got to his feet, dusting off. "You're powerful," he said, a hint of pride in his tone, "And I wouldn't have you any other way."

"Yeah," she chewed her lip, "About that…"

"Kagome," he breathed, his brows knotted, his eyes intense. He seemed more than just anxious. The wolf prince was desperate. "I've been patient. But patience isn't going to help me with what lies ahead for my people. We're losing territory, and…and…" he sighed frustration, and looked down. "I can't wait any longer. My…tribe…needs you."

Kagome frowned. She'd never seen him like this. Kouga never shrank from eye contact with anyone. Especially her. "Your tribe?"

He flinched, hearing the words said back. It made her wonder what it was that he wasn't saying. Wasn't showing. "Are they in troub-"

"Gah! I need you," he made a fist and finally locked stares with her through the shadows of his bangs. She could have sworn his eyes were glowing. And more, she saw what it was he'd been hiding. For the first time since she met him, the cocky, arrogant prince seemed unsure of himself. Conflicted.

"Kouga-kun," she said, feeling a rush of sympathy. Seeing such a stalwart, proud male on the verge of breaking was disheartening. No matter the cause. Kagome leaned towards him, placing a comforting hand on his arm. "What's been happening?"

"I'll tell you on the way," he said, startling her by swooping her up in his arms. "It's been a long three months, and there's careful planning ahead for what's left of my tribe-"

"I can't go with you," she said in a rush, realizing that if she didn't speak soon, he'd have her all the way back to his mountain before she finished explaining things.

"What do you mean?" His expression changed slightly, and Kagome thought she saw a hint of dread crease his eyes.

"Put me down, Kouga."

He hesitated. Pursed his lips. Then with great reluctance he let her legs drop, but kept a solid arm curled around her back. Kagome politely braced her hands up against his chest, trying to put a more comfortable distance between them.

She sighed heavily, hating this. He'd been so good to her. And loyal. For a moment, she regretted that it was Inuyasha who had her heart. But love had its own free agency, and her bond with the hanyou was unbreakable. Pure. Right.

"I belong with Inuyasha-"

That elicited an immediate grimace. "That cheating cur who preferred a dead miko over a living you!?" His teeth flashed. "How could a woman so amazing and," his eyes darted to her hair, her face, her body, "and captivating have such a low sense of self worth? To settle for-"

"I was wrong," she said, recalling some of her last words to the prince. "I know what I said, but I was wrong. He loves me, Kouga. And I…" she swallowed, scrunched her face in apology, and forced herself to look him in the eyes. "And I love him."

The words hit him with the force of a blow, and he released her, staggering backwards. "But you said…I…I thought…" he shook his head in denial. "…because we kissed, that…" His hand tightened into a fist as he fought the hurt of her rejection with a more familiar sentiment.

Rage.

The Moreno demon snarled, and glared daggers at the village. "If he's dead, then you can let yourself love me-"

"Killing him won't change my feelings, Kouga. You have to understand that," she pled, growing nervous at the irrational fire in his eyes.

"Time and distance heal everything Kagome," he said passionately, grabbing her shoulders. "Even the pain of a past love. It'd only take you a year. Maybe two at most to get over him once he's gone."

"Stop talking like that!" she yelled, each word making him flinch. "I can't be with you. Now or ever. My heart won't let me!"

His eyes twitched, his jaw muscles spasmed…

"My heart won't let me," she said again, watching in mixed relief as morbid acceptance finally began to relax his face. His grip lessened, shoulders sagged, his mouth parting over some unfinished denial…

"I'm sorry."

Strained silence followed until he hissed softly and covered his eyes with his hand. She got the impression that there was more at stake here than just his obsession with her. Something about the rejection was complicating his life, making him vulnerable. Perhaps it had something to do with his clan…

"If there's another way I can help you, Kouga-kun, I will. We're still friends…"

His breath escaped in a mirthless chuckle at that. More self-pitying than bitter. He sighed heavily, and after a moment, rested a warm hand affectionately against her neck. His face was unbearably troubled, but a small sad smile lifted the corners of his lips, regardless. "Unfortunately, your friendship won't spare me from being bred like a damn steed," he said quietly.

She startled as he dropped to one knee in the dirt, and bowed his head. Grabbing her hand, he rested it against his brow. "This pains me more than you can imagine," he breathed. Somehow, she believed him.

A wayward evening breeze whispered off in the distance, and Kagome listened absently as it rustled through the thatched roofs and bamboo walls of the village. Then it whipped its way through the dangling chimes of the graveyard and tree branches until it finally swept over Kagome and Kouga like a warm shower.

Kouga's raven ponytail flopped to the side from the force of it, and his bangs fluttered about his brow. A split second later he gasped. His head snapped up. The wolf prince jumped to his feet, his eyes wide and frenzied as he stared at the village.

Kagome stepped back, concerned. "What is it?"

His nose twitched. "Naraku…?" he whispered to himself in perplexed alarm.

"What?"

"No. Not Naraku.." He tested the air again, and then made a small noise of stunned appall. "Kagura. It's Kagura's scent!"

Kagome frowned. "Kagura?"

He was trembling. His hands clenched into fists. Suddenly, Kagome ceased to exist, and she mutely watched as he bolted towards the village. Before he could enter, however, Sesshoumaru whipped around the wall, and blocked him.

The demon lord's timing was either perfect, or he was keeping an eye on them to make sure Kouga didn't try anything. Kagome assumed it was the latter, perhaps at Sango's request, so they could more easily keep Inuyasha at a distance.

"Her stench is in the wind, dog demon!" Kouga all but barked.

Sesshoumaru's face remained impassive. "She was here."

"WHEN!?"

"This morning."

Kagome's vision blurred momentarily, and she saw a red aura swirl up and kick around Kouga like a whirlwind of bad omen. Yet another talent she'd picked up from being fused with the Shikon no Tama.

"What is she planning!?"

Sesshoumaru's great golden orbs narrowed in scrutiny. "It is her business. You can ask her yourself."

"Which direction-"

"Southeast."

Kouga's head whipped around. He seemed conflicted. Torn. For all his earlier hurry, Kagome wondered if he would sacrifice the need to protect his living for a chance to avenge his dead. Dangling the carrot of Kagura in front of his face was a more powerful distraction than even Kagome, herself.

So it was, that she wasn't surprised one bit as he tossed a final glance of goodbye at her over his shoulder, and sprung off like a cheetah after a gazelle into the woods.

Kagome stared a moment longer after he disappeared, considering his bravery. His passion. His unwavering loyalty to his fallen comrades…

May God protect you in all of your endeavors, Kouga-kun, and find you someone who is not only worth your love, my friend, but who can return it.

Tenfold.

* * *

Apparently, Kagome wasn't the only one impressed by the wolf prince's intensity, and passion. Unbeknownst to them, a small elderly flea youkai hopped after Kouga with a renewed sense of purpose. The lad's need was obvious. And since she couldn't fix her own problems, maybe she could meddle with his...


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