Finally, chapter three is done. Sorry it took a while. Finals are coming up, and everything is crazy right now.

Disclaimer: I don't own Inu Yasha. If I did, all the episodes would be running on CN by now.

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On Inuyasha's insistence, the group set out from the village early the next morning. Many of the people came out to wish them well, and to thank them for ridding the village of the youkai that had been assailing them. They offered gifts, but Kagome and Sango refused, much to Miroku's dismay. It was obvious that they couldn't well spare them.

As they went, Inuyasha picked up a few words that were not so kind from the villagers. "Same old thing, no matter where we go," he muttered. "Seems so matter how much we do to help, no one's gonna overlook the 'half-demon'."

"At least no one attacked you this time," Kagome said, trying to cheer him up. "I think it's because you didn't insult anyone." She reached up and rubbed his ear, and he growled.

"Stop that," he ordered, and she pulled her arm back down.

She looked over the group, smiling contentedly to herself. Sango was walking ahead of them, having left Miroku in the dirt with a bump on the head. He had groped her again.

*He's never going to learn*, Kagome thought with a chuckle.

Kirara was perched on Sango's shoulder, and it seemed that the firecat was thinking the same thing. Shippo was frowning at the monk, who by now had regained consciousness and was making his way back to Sango's side.

Kagome loved them like family. They would all give their lives to protect her, and she was willing to do the same for them.

Suddenly, she noticed that someone was missing. "Where is Kouga?" she asked, turning to look behind them.

Inuyasha huffed, putting his arms behind his head. "That coward probably decided to go back home," he said gruffly.

"Who you calling coward, mutt face?" Kouga stepped out of the woods beside Kagome, glaring at the hanyou. "For your information, I happened to see something I thought Kagome would like." He held out his hand, which was full of pink and white blossoms. "Here, Kagome, I got these for you."

Kagome didn't quite know what to say. Kouga was smiling expectantly, while Inuyasha glared daggers into him. She sighed and took the flowers.

"Arigato, Kouga-kun," she said, smiling back at him. "It's a very nice gesture." He nodded, satisfied, and settled into an easy pace next to her.

"So, where are we headed now?" he asked. He was feeling proud of himself for having miffed the hanyou again.

"We're going back to Kaede's village," Kagome said. "I talked Inuyasha into letting me go back home for a while."

Kouga looked confused. "Back home? I thought you lived in the village, along with the mutt and your ningen friends."

Kagome shook her head. "No, Kouga-kun. I live in another time, five hundred years in the future." When the wolf youkai looked at her skeptically, she pointed at her uniform.

"See these? This is clothing from my era."

Kouga's eyes suddenly lit up. "I thought those clothes were strange for a miko."

Kagome smiled. "I fell in through the Bone-Eater's well, in Inuyasha's Forest. Because I had the Shikon Jewel in my body, I was able to travel through it to this time."

"Hn, well what do you know!" Kouga scratched his chin. "From another world, huh?" Suddenly, he broke out in a wide grin. "I always knew you were too good to be from this world, Kagome."

She blushed. *Wow, he really knows how to sweet-talk a girl,* was all she could think as Sango winked at her mischievously.

Shippo laughed when he glanced at the hanyou. Inuyasha was turning red too, but not from embarrassment. He didn't like the familiarity between Kagome and Kouga. Not at all. And now the stupid wolf was coming on to her, right in his face!

He took a step forward and opened his mouth, when suddenly, Kagome shivered. That's when he sensed it.

* Kikyo's Soul-gatherers!*

The hanyou sniffed the air once, then leapt into the trees. "Stay here," he ordered over his shoulder as he bolted through the forest.

"Inuyasha, where are you going?" Kagome's cry went unheard as he disappeared swiftly into the dark forest. Kouga sniffed the air curiously, then shuddered.

"Something stinks," he said as he tried to shake off the cold feeling in his spine. "It smells like earth and old human bones."

Miroku and Sango exchanged glances, and looked worriedly over at Kagome. "It must be Kikyo," Kagome said quietly, not looking at anyone. Sango winced at the pain in her friend's voice, but the miko simply kept walking.

"Are we going to leave him behind, Kagome?" Miroku followed her tentatively. "He did tell us to stay here and wait for him."

Kagome whirled around, her eyes glinting dangerously. "What, and I'm supposed to do what he says? Just sit here and wait while he goes off to be with her?!" She looked like she was about to catch fire. Shippo whimpered and hid behind the taijiya.

Sango decided to risk helping the monk, who looking very much like a trapped mouse. "Kagome, don't you think it would be best if we stayed? In case Kikyo tries something again?"

Kagome started stomping away stubbornly. "No! I will not baby-sit him! If he wants to run off and get dragged to hell, then he deserves it!" She still sounded angry, but she stopped walking.

"Who is this Kikyo?" Kouga was curious to know who this person was, and why Inuyasha would ever want to leave Kagome's side to go to such a place. When Kagome didn't answer, Sango spoke.

"Kikyo is a priestess who guarded the Shikon no Tama fifty years ago," she began. "She was killed by Naraku, who had tricked both she and Inuyasha into thinking they had betrayed each other."

"Why would he waste his time doing that?"

Miroku spoke up. "He wanted the jewel to be tainted with evil. Inuyasha and Kikyo loved each other, and he wanted Kikyo's pure heart sullied with hatred. Naraku believed the jewel would become more beautiful, should it be filled with malice."

"That and the fact that he is a conniving monster," Sango added grimly. "He possessed my younger brother Kohaku and made him kill my father and the others who were with us. He uses him like a puppet." When her voice shook, Miroku put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"A demon witch named Urasue brought Kikyo back into a body of clay, using my soul," Kagome said softly. "I was able to regain most of it, but a part still remains within her. So now she steals souls of maidens to keep herself animated."

She hugged herself. "She won't rest until she takes Inuyasha to hell with her. But he doesn't care," she added angrily. A tear slid down her cheek.

Shippo jumped into her arms, trying to comfort her. "Kagome, don't cry," he pleaded, burying his face in her chest. The miko held back the rest of her tears, petting the kitsune's hair reassuringly.

Kouga was silently taking in the story. After a moment, he went over to Kagome's side. "I still don't understand why he would run after a dead body, instead of staying with you." He grimaced. "I'd never do something like that."

Kagome blinked up at him. Her eyes were full of tears, but she smiled. "Thanks, Kouga-kun." She sighed. "If only Inuyasha were more like you."

Kouga smiled crookedly. He knew it was supposed to be a compliment, but it hurt. "Well, then, what chance would I have?" he asked lightly.

Kagome looked confused, so he just let it drop. "Just don't cry, Kagome. It's not pleasant to see you waste your tears on someone like Inukkuro."

Kagome nodded and wiped her eyes. "I'm going to follow him," she said suddenly, surprising everyone. She pasted a smile on her face as she put an uneasy Shippo down. "He can do whatever he wants, but we still have a job to do. He's not getting out of it that easily." She started walking in the direction Inuyasha had gone.

"Wait, Kagome," Kouga said as he picked her up. "I'll come with you." He shrugged when Kagome stared at him.

"That witch might try something," he insisted. Kagome finally nodded, and the wolf youkai picked her up and sprinted off toward the scent of earth and bones.

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There, another chapter done and up! I'm still trying to decide the final pairing. It's such a difficult decision! Oh well, I hope you're all enjoying it so far. Remember to review!