A/N: Back again! My goodness, where on earth did this writing streak come from? I just hope I can keep it up!

Disclaimer: I am still poor, still anime-deprived, and I still don't own any part of Inuyasha (except for Mizumi and any other OC's like the one that is coming…..now.)

Tempting Fate

Chapter 10: Friends and Family

"Kagome! Kagome, where are you?" The strident voice cut the previously hushed silence like a knife. But Kagome didn't dare move, because if she did…

"Ha! Found you, found you!" Namako squealed in excitement. Kagome just laughed.

"Yes, you little rascal, you found me. Now it's my turn to seek. Quick – go hide!" She grinned. "Make sure it's a really good place, Namako-chan…I'm very good at this game!"

"Okay, okay! Go hide, go hide!" The cub scampered off, eager for the game to begin again. Kagome watched the girl's bushy tail disappear around the corner and closed her eyes to start counting. "One…two…"

"Kagome! There you are! I've been looking all over for you!"

"Hello, Mizumi…five…six…"

"Stop what you're doing and come with me."

"Eight…I'm kind of busy right now…ten…"

"Busy?! Doesn't look like you're doing anything!"

"Thirteen…fourteen…I'm counting."

"Well, I can see that – oh, open your eyes, would you?"

"Seventeen…can't, that's cheating…nineteen…"

"But-"

"Twenty! READY OR NOT, HERE I COME!" Kagome yelled. Mizumi hurriedly clamped her hands over her ears.

"Owww…" Kagome looked apologetic.

"Sorry, Mizumi – I keep forgetting about youkai hearing." The wolf glowered at her.

"Obviously."

"Hey, I really am sorry, but right now I've got a cub to find!" Mizumi looked at her in shock.

"You lost a cub?!"

"Eep! No, no, nothing like that," Kagome assured her, "it's a game! One person hides, and the other person tries to find them." The wolf youkai looked puzzled.

"What's with the counting?"

"That gives the person time to hide."

"Oh."

"Look, I'll talk to you later, I promise. But I really have to find Namako-chan before she thinks I've forgotten to look for her!" Kagome gave her friend a smile, then dashed off.

Mizumi flopped onto her back dejectedly. "How am I supposed to get her to talk to Kouga if she won't even stay still?!"

***

Kouga watched in great amusement as his woman attempted to sneak up on his rambunctious niece. 'I don't believe it,' he thought, 'a human being trying to catch a youkai by surprise? She should know that it's imposs-" His thoughts broke off abruptly as a loud squealing noise told him that little Namako had indeed been surprised. 'Hmpf. Well, maybe it's not impossible!' he conceded. The wolf prince continued his observation of the giggling pair as they ran in a clumsy race of sorts, both constantly tripping as a result of trying to laugh and run at the same time. 'Ridiculous behaviour.'

He grinned.

'Looks like fun!'

***

The two girls lay side by side in the clearing they had stumbled into, enjoying a more peaceful pastime.

Cloud-gazing.

"That one…looks like…a tree!"

"Does not!"

"Does too!"

"Okay then, that one looks like…Hakkaku's nose!"

"Namako-chan!"

"Well, it does!"

Kagome let out a laugh and closed her eyes, resting. She listened to the sounds of the Sengoku Jidai all around her. Birds singing, wind blowing through the leaves, wolves howling – a sound which once would have frightened her out of her wits.

No cars, no buses, no trains, no radio…quiet. Paradise. A new sound brought her out of her reverie. "Kagome-sama?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you going to be my aunty?" Kagome's eyes snapped open.

"What makes you say that?" she asked warily.

"Well, Kouga is my Uncle Kouga, and the other ladies say that he's gonna make you his mate, so you'll be my aunty!" the girl chirped happily.

"Oh," Kagome faltered, looking for something to say. "That's…not exactly true…" To her horror the wolf girl's bottom lip started wobbling, her eyes suspiciously shiny.

"You don't want to be my aunty?" Uh-oh.

"Er…well, Namako-chan – I…" She gave in when a tear trickled down the child's face. 'Darn it all, Shippo does exactly the same thing! I am such a sucker…'

"You can call me aunty, okay? I mean, I won't be your aunty really, but you can call me that anyway." Kagome held her breath, hoping that Namako would be happy with the compromise. She really needn't have worried. "Yaay! Aunty Kagome! Aunty Kagome!" Namako yelled exuberantly, getting up to skip around the body of the resting miko. "Aunty Kagome!" Kagome, her ears ringing, was about to ask her to please be quiet when she suddenly found herself engulfed in a very enthusiastic hug around her neck.

"It's a long time since I had an aunty," the cub whispered into Kagome's ear softly. Giving the startled human girl's cheek a final nuzzle, Namako bounded away back towards the tribe's den, leaving Kagome somewhat awestruck. 'A long time since she had an aunty?' she wondered. 'What did she mean by that?' She closed her eyes once more, content to lie in the warm sun.

Until, that is, a shadow fell across her face, blocking the light. Slightly annoyed, she cracked one eyelid open only to find Kouga looking down at her. "Whoa!" she yelped, sitting up in a rush. "Don't do that!"

"Do what?" he asked, raising an eyebrow at her.

"That – looking…thing," she explained lamely. He generously chose to ignore the comment.

"So, I see you met the notorious Namako," he said, smiling. She couldn't help but smile back.

"She's adorable. But why 'notorious'?" He chuckled.

"Notorious for wearing out her minders," he elaborated. "The kid is a never-ending bundle of energy – even her father had trouble keeping up with her!" Kagome fell silent for a moment.

"Had?" His face darkened.

"The wind witch killed him. He was my brother." Kagome had the distinct feeling of having just put her foot in her mouth.

"I'm so sorry." He sent her a half-hearted smile.

"No need to apologise – it wasn't your fault."

'Well, actually,' Kagome thought guiltily, 'it was my fault. If it wasn't for the shikon no tama being scattered like that…' "Um," she tried again, "so where is her mother?" Kouga sighed, finally taking a seat beside her on the grass.

"We lost her to the gokurakuchou, just before I met you." Kagome gasped in horror.

"She's an orphan? But she's so happy!"

"That's the good thing about living in a tribe. All the members look after each other as though they were family." She dreaded doing it, but she just had to ask –

"Kouga, Namako-chan said something about not having an aunt for a long time. I'm almost afraid to ask, but…" He cut her off before she could finish the question.

"Her aunt was my sister. Another victim of the gokurakuchou. Didn't you ever wonder why my pack only had males?" He looked at her quizzically. "Those bastards went after the weaker ones of the pack – the women and cubs. The women died to keep their offspring safe. Many of the cubs in our nursery are orphans. Thankfully now there are enough den-mothers to look after them." He suddenly jumped to his feet, extending a hand to help the girl up. "I never could sit still for very long," he explained. "Let's take a walk, ne?" They walked in silence for a few minutes before the wolf youkai decided to speak again. "You know, that hiding game you were playing with Namako was similar to how we teach the cubs to track." He grinned at her. "You're already showing good mothering instincts. Like I knew all along – you'll be perfect for raising our cubs!" Kagome's temper sparked.

"And like I said all along, I AM NOT YOUR WOMAN!" She calmed herself down with a visible effort. "I thought I had explained this enough – I am in love with Inuyasha. I have been from the very beginning." He frowned at her.

"Has he liked you from the very beginning?" he asked huffily. She stopped uncertainly. "Has he?" Kouga persisted. Kagome let her eyes drop to the ground.

"No. But he does now, and that's all I care about!" she bellowed at him, her eyes snapping up again to stare him right in the face, radiating defiance. But instead of backing away like she had expected, he stepped closer. "Are you sure he does?"

"Yes!"

"Really. Has he actually said the words 'I love you, Kagome'?" She thought for a second. He noticed this, and went in for the kill. "I know how painfully honest you are, Kagome – you can't lie to me, not about something like this. Has he said those exact words to you?"

"Well…no, actually." He smirked at her in triumph, his arms folded across his chest.

"Just remember, Kagome – I have said them," the wolf stated strongly. Grinning at her once more, he vanished into the forest, leaving an incredibly confused Kagome staring at nothing but empty air. 'Oh, this is just great. Mizumi is going to have a field day with this!'

A/N: Well, do you like my newest little OC? She is so cute! Wheee! Okay, time for replies…

ShadowHeart (for Ch 8 and 9) – I know what you mean about hiding from angry reviewers *groans*. Reading 'update – NOW!' isn't the most inspiring thing to see, but better than nothing. These regular updates are lots of fun, but I can only do them because I work less than 10 hours a week in general. 'The Chicken Strikes Back'… 'Return of the Bird'…Hmm. Anyone see a pattern here? *Hums the theme from Star Wars*. I'm glad you think it's original. I try so hard not copy other stories.

Aamalie – Whoops, I've offended your sense of propriety, haven't I? All those alternate couplings on my faves list. Gomen, but they're just so well written! Actually, my preference is M/S, but in the absence of better fiction, I'll read nearly any pairing!

Lady Tiger Lily – I see lots of laughing in these reviews. *scratches head* I could swear I was writing angst, not comedy…*walks away muttering* Thank you!

Inudemoness247 – Well, I'll try to keep up the good work, but I don't know how much more of this my poor brain can take! Updates will be short but fast from now on.

Rushyuo – I certainly hope you don't want more than one update a day! My poor fingers will never keep up!

Yamiyumetenshi – Interesting name…yes, the chicken takes a bit of getting used to. But for some reason, he's incredibly popular! Miroku's new archnemesis…J

Brerermarer – I'm so glad you're still reading! I was wondering where my regular readers had gotten to. The unmarked voices were Kohaku and Shippo stuffing an unwilling chicken in Kaede's herb cupboard! LOL.

Tsuki miko – Thanks for your lovely review! Glad you like the mix of funny/serious I'm trying to do here! It's harder than it looks *holds aching head* believe me! The chicken certainly seems to be a crowd pleaser…updates are every few days, or even every day if I feel inspired!

KawaiiChica – M/S fluff will be quite a while in coming back, as the action is about to speed up considerably. Oops, look at me, giving the plot away. Take no notice….

Miztikal-Dragon – I love writing M/S fluff! Miroku's such a charmer. And now Sango knows not to try and trick a trickster! *grins*

A/N: Anyone I've missed, I'm truly sorry. And for those who mentioned it (KawaiiChica and Yameyumetenshi) the interview was very good, I've been shortlisted for the job! Second interview on Monday…we shall see how I go. Not much of a job, but hey, it's a job!

Next update tomorrow, hopefully. We'll be seeing a bit more of dog-boy from now on, too. The story is beginning to come together, now that all the characters are in place. Action ahead!