Disclaimer - It's not mine, never was.
A/N - Okay, I'm pretty sure you guys are sick of the lovey-dovey fluffiness. (I still don't know how I wrote that last chapter) Anyway, here we go, more with the story line. Later
Kouga waited until Kagome was wide awake the next morning before approaching the impending subject. She had slept through the night, Shippou right beside her. Using the jewel to heal him had drained her of her miko energy and it needed to replenish itself before she would waken. She had become an instant love to the rest of the pack after Keiko had told them how she had used her miko power to heal Kouga. The pack was impressed with the human's strength and it only made them love her even more.
She had come out of the enclosure that morning, rubbing her eyes and yawning. Kouga, who was sitting in the back of the cave, looked up as she came out. Her hair was a mess and her clothes were rumpled, but he continued to watch her intently. Many of his pack greeted her and smiled, telling her how thankful they were for saving their leader. She would only smile and bow her head when they complemented her on her bravery. She greeted Keiko and Kuarasama good-morning before going outside with the little kitsune. He followed her with his eyes until Keiko met his gaze. The older demoness nodded her head and looked towards the entrance to the cave. He nodded, knowing what he had to do. He got up from the group of wolves and followed her outside, preparing for the inevitable fight he figured was about to commence.
Kagome had walked out of the cave with Shippou on her heals. She was still waking up from the long sleep, and she decided that a bath in the nearby river would help wake her up a little more. Since she had left her bag back in her time, she decided to just put the clothes she had back on. She never made it to the river though, as Kouga caught up with her in no time flat.
"Kagome! Kagome!" he called. The miko looked back as the prince of wolves caught up to her. When he was standing next to her, she smiled warmly at him.
"Feeling better?" she asked.
"Much better." he said. "Thank you, Kagome. Keiko told me what you done when I woke up. And I just wanted to know if there was anyway I could repay you." Kagome smiled and nodded.
"Actually, there are a few things you can help me with." she said, looking intently at him. "Like telling me why I found a letter at the bottom of the well telling me that something was wrong with Inuyasha." Kouga frowned and nodded. She did not look mad at him, just a little upset. He looked down at the little kitsune and Shippou only shrugged.
"Now's as good a time as any to tell her." Shippou said sadly. Kagome looked down at the little kitsune and frowned.
"What's going on, you two?" she asked. "I'm trying to be patient, buy you're pushing my limits." Kouga looked at her carefully and motioned for them to follow him. Kagome followed as he led them a little further from the cave. When they were far enough away, Kouga turned to face the girl.
"Kagome, before we tell you this, I want you to understand that I'm not doing this to win your favor. I just want you to know what's been happening." Kouga said. He took a seat on a nearby boulder and Kagome leaned up against a tree. Her heart had started to race, taking in what he was saying.
"I understand, Kouga." she said. "Now what's going on?" Kouga racked his brains, trying to find a decent place to start.
"Kagome, how long has it been since he marked you?" he asked suddenly.
"What?" she asked, blushing a crimson red "I don't think that's any of your business." Kouga shook his head.
"Please, Kagome, just answer." he said.
"A few days ago." she said. "No longer than a week."
"And did he mark you again before you left to go home?" he asked.
"Yes." she said. "But what's that got to do with this?" Kouga looked at her and frowned, closing his eyes.
"That first mark never should have faded, Kagome. He shouldn't have had to mark you again." he said. "You know what it means if it does fade, don't you?" The girl nodded.
"Are you telling me that Inuyasha's dead?" she asked, panicking. Shippou jumped down off of the tree limb he had climbed and stood in front of her.
"Kagome, that baka isn't dead." he said. "He's still very much alive, for now." Kagome looked down at the kitsune. That only left one alternative.
"There's another that bares his marking." Kouga said solemnly, before she could say anything. "Another girl." Kagome looked over at him and down at Shippou. She could not believe what they were accusing him of!
"So, you're telling me that Inuyasha has marked another?" she asked, icy venom lacing her words. "I'm guessing it's Kikyou. Am I right?"
"Yes, Kagome." Kouga said. "Her scent was on him when I came to you the other day to thank you for bringing my pack members back."
"I don't believe you." Kagome said simply. "He loves me. Inuyasha won't betray me."
"It's true, Kagome." Shippou said sadly, seeing the heartbreak in his surrogate mother's face. "I followed him that night before you left. When he brought you back to the hut and left you to sleep, he didn't sleep in the tree that night. He left to go to Kikyou. I know because I followed him." Kagome looked down at the kitsune, not believing what she was hearing.
"Shippou," she said, "how could you accuse him of that? After all he's done for you."
"He's done nothing for me." Shippou spat back.
"He brought your family back with that wish." Kagome said harshly.
"He made that wish to bring back Kikyou." Shippou said. "Can't you see, Kagome? He wouldn't go back to your time, even though he knows the new moon is coming. He's never spent a new moon in this time since he met you, unless we were out hunting for shards. Now, he suddenly doesn't mind staying here?" She looked down at the ground and shook her head.
"I'm sorry, I just won't….can't believe you." she told them. Kouga nodded, expecting nothing less of her. He knew she was not going to believe him right off hand. She looked at them, trying to make sense of the accusations. Her hand trailed up to her neck, searching for the bite mark. She ran her hand under the shoulder of her shirt, searching for it.
It was not there.
She looked over to Kouga, who was watching her intently.
"It's not there, is it?" he asked softly. Kagome looked at him, blinking rapidly to keep the water in her eyes at bay. She said nothing, but Kouga continued. "It won't stay as long as another bares it also, Kagome."
"I still don't believe you." she said. "It may have just healed up."
"Kagome, we can't make you believe us." Shippou said. "We know what we smelled on him. And we know who put that smell on him. And we know what we saw. I'm sorry Kagome, but Inuyasha hasn't been faithful to you." Kagome looked at the two youkais. Her faith in her lover, her mate, was faltering. Kouga would not look at her, and Shippou was nearly on the verge of tears. She leaned against the trunk of the tree and tried to pull in the tears that were slowly escaping down her face.
"I can't believe he would do this to me." she said.
" I can show you." Kouga said. "I can take you to where they meet, if it will make you see we're telling the truth." Kagome looked at him and glared. She knew Kouga never did like Inuyasha. She also knew that he would go to almost any length to get under the hanyou's skin, especially if it concerned her.
"Fine." she answered stubbornly. "Take me to where they are." Kouga looked at her and frowned.
"Wait until nightfall." he said. "They won't meet in broad daylight. Besides, you were on your way to bathe, were you not?" Kagome nodded. He nodded in response and turned to leave. "I'll send Keiko with some extra clothing for you if you wish."
"Whatever." Kagome answered. She was not going to let these accusations interfere with what she knew about her hanyou. She looked down at Shippou and frowned. "Shippou, why are you doing this? Inuyasha won't betray me."
"I'm sorry Kagome." he answered. "But I couldn't stand by and let him do this to you." He turned and went back towards the cave, leaving Kagome to go to the river and bathe. She found her way back to the warm water and slipped out of her clothes and into the water as Keiko emerged from the wooded area around her.
"Lady Kagome." she said. "You may use these after you are finished." Kagome looked at the woman as she placed the clothing on the boulder, and nodded. The demoness was about to turn and go back when Kagome stopped her.
"Keiko?"
"Yes, my Lady?"
"When you mated with Kuarasama's father, did he mark you?" The old woman nodded and pulled back the neck of her clothing, exposing two small puncture wounds that had long ago turned into small scars.
"Yes, and they have never once faded." she said softly. Kagome nodded and turned her back to the woman.
"Thank you, Keiko." she mumbled.
"If there is anything else I might help you with, Lady, please feel free to ask me." Kagome nodded and continued bathing. As Keiko disappeared back into the woods, Kagome let her tears drop into the river and be washed away.
She tried to tell herself that Inuyasha was not betraying her. But every time she came up with one rationalization, something knocked it over until finally, there was nothing left for her to argue against. 'I'll just have to see for myself if Kouga and Shippou are right.' she though. She climbed out of the water and used her shirt to dry off with before pulling on the clothes Keiko had brought. The clothing itself was basically skins sewn together. Two brown skins had been sewn together to form a skirt and another one was used to make a shirt that resembled a tank top. She pulled them on over her underclothes and gathered up her discarded clothing. She also found a wide strip of leather and used it to pull her hair back away from her face.
She walked back to the cave and spent the rest of the day playing with the pups. The closer nighttime came, the more she dreaded it. She kept telling herself that Inuyasha would not betray her, but the logical part of her mind told her that Kouga and Shippou were telling her the truth. When Kouga walked up to her that night after they had eaten, she swallowed her pride and went with him. She would prove once and for all that Inuyasha was faithful to her and only her.
A/N - Hey everyone. How's it going. I know this chapter is short. I couldn't help it. The next one will be better, I promise. Remember to leave me a review. Bye, bye.
