Extra Explinations at the end. Ja Ne.

Chapter 4

Moving Day

"What's going on?!" Koga demmanded again, looking at four of his men unconscious and the other four bloody. The look of the place just screamed bloody battle, something rather uncommon among his men. There was anger for that, but then there was the smell of arousal hanging in the air, and his woman sitting in a corner holding her knees to her chest looking extremely frightened.

And Kagome, his woman, was also in heat. Didn't take a genious to figure out about what had taken place here, and that was something to be a tiny bit cross about.

"That girl," Shivo pointed, "as you can tell is in heat, and the others just went out of their heads for a moment." he was going for the 'doesn't matter much' kind of an attitude, but he was still breathing heavy and the sight of his bloody chest quickly dismissed that notion. Still he hoped that his attitude would ease their prince slightly, for an almighty blast from hell was sure to insue.

However he was thankful at Koga's reaction. "She isn't hurt? And they will be fine right?" he asked calmly though he was obviously teetering on the edge of anger. His men, his OWN men would dare do this? Try and take the woman he claimed as his own? Sure she was in heat, and the smell was slightly maddening but this was beyond acceptible.

"Yes." They all said in unison.

"Kagome," Koga looked to his still frightened woman, it would figure, he left her here in order to ensure that she would be alright where he was about to take her, then come to find that his soldiers couldn't control themselves in the pressance of a female without his direct supervision. "Come here Kagome." he said gently to her, but his stance was strong, indicating that though he was going to try and be nice, if she didn't listen to him he'd still go over and pick her up if necessary.

Fortunately Kagome did get up and come to him, being sure to make a wide circle around the remaining men. Not really a bad idea at all.

When she reached him he found himself hard pressed not to try and take her like the others had, however she wasn't ready for that kind of assault from him, and he had no plans of attempting such at that time. "Hey, why you being so glummy for?" he asked her as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "They're just young, they didn't mean anything by it!" he gave her a half grin and watched as her face stopped being so tense and she relaxed a little.

Why did a guy like him deserve such a charming smirk? Still, he did make her feel better, though she really didn't want to stay there any more! It was his fault really, if he hadn't just grabbed her like he had she wouldn't have been in such a situation. It wasn't fair that she couldn't be mad at him.

For some reason Kagome felt that she wanted to smile at him, to say that she was okay. Even though of course, it wasn't true, but was still too shocked for even that, why did this have to happen to her? Then again, nothing had actually happened to her physically, and she had the four soldiers to thank for that, though they probably didn't give a wit about her, they still did save her. She looked over at them, focusing on each one individually then landing her sights on the man that had been her main protector, she didn't remember hearing his name though, "Thank you." she told them, forcing a smile.

Shivo grunted in response but the others did say a "You're welcome." and smile at her.

"Come on Kagome," he said drawing her attention to Koga again, "I think you'll like where I plan on taking you, not many men there at all." he smirked at her practically playfully and she did smile a real smile this time. How could she have not? Stupid cute wolves, the world was better off without them... Or maybe not.

Pleased with her reaction Koga scouped her up in his arms bridal fashion, ignoring her gasp of protest as he took off. He jumped from one boulder to another, climbing up the water fall.

"Sorry my men can't control themselves," Koga said as he continued to climb, "not used to having a woman around them for a long period of time. Humans are worse, if they planned on killing you or eating you then they could easilly have taken you without any obligation towards you as a mate." he growled low in his throat even as he said it, "It was kind of my fault, I shouldn't have left you there, I should have taken you with me."

She wanted to say something, she truly did, but as the ground got further and further away, and as Koga's movements seemed to become even more jerky the only thing that would have come out of her mouth then, would have been a loud and frightened scream. Instead she chose to whimper and lean into him fully, frightened and hoping that he knew what he was doing.

He jerked a lot more violently and for a moment she feared he had lost his balance. What could be so high up?

Fortunately for her at least, he was, in fact still climbing, she grabbed around his neck with both arms, praying that wherever he was taking her would come fast, this was frightening beyond words.

Of course that wasn't all that she did, she also took the time to realize that he had a very strong neck, as she felt each individual jump he made or strain in his neck. She looked at his arms, holding her as he moved, he put every muscle into what he did, making him relatively balanced all around but also that he gained strength in every muscle whereas a normal person would only gain strength in a few, it also meant that he had gained a lot of stamina after doing that for so many years. Too extremely powerful, he was just too powerful to be real, making the fact that he was youkai all the more obvious in her mind.

This made her feel as though she were small and insignificant as he jumped around with her in his arms, he was much more powerful than she, and able to do a lot. The only thing that even got him to notice her was her ability to see the Shikon No Tama, and the fact that she was female. If either of those weren't true then she wouldn't be where she was, she would be either a stupid human woman, or dead.

Koga smirked when he felt her small arms snake around his neck, and saw as she gazed at his muscles, at least he was gaining her attention. He though, didn't like having to take her where he was, he really did desire to spend some time with her, he loved the fire in her eyes, the way she would stand when she was upset. He loved how weak she could be when she was tired, afraid, or sad, then be on the exact opposite side of the spectrum when angry.

Right now he could tell that she was tired, emotionally at least, so she was simply hanging in his arms holding tight to his neck but the rest of her was relaxed, as though she wouldn't even scream if he dropped her. That wouldn't happen though, he had made this journey thousands of times, it took him less than a minute when there wasn't any one with him, if another youkai were climbing with him it took around five minutes, however if there was a woman in his arms it did take him a lot longer, around seven minutes.

Finally he landed on the ledge he had been climbing for. He did not want to leave her here, he didn't want to at all, however he had suspected that she was going into heat, and to leave her around his men would result in her inevitable rape and possible death. So he had to put aside his desire to be near her and keep her safe.

"Hey, you know you can let go now if you wanted to." Koga teased smirking at her as he watched realization cross her features, and a faint blush as well.

Gently he set her on her own feet as she removed her arms. "We're in front of the maid's den," Koga informed her as she took note of the small ledge they were on, if she went six or seven steps in any direction the result would be a most painful death on the rocks below, if she were to jump off the eastern side of the ledge she would probably hit the waterfall, however if she were to go to the northern section she would be faced with the mouth of a cave. "The women of our clan stay here, to be proteced from other male's as well as those who want to kill them, so that they can raise their pups without worry."

'Oh,' Kagome thought slightly surprised that she hadn't wondered earlier why there were no women in the cave. At the time she hadn't really cared.

She was amusing to say the least, Koga thought to himself as he watched the emotion play across Kagome's face, she was an open book, and completely vulnerable to her own feelings. Normally such would make anyone weak it didn't matter though, she didn't need to be strong, he would do that for her. "You know you're cute when you blush." A surge of self-satisfaction coursed through him when that coment brought about a more intensified version of said blush.

Gently Koga grabbed Kagome's elbow and led her into the cave, as she passed through the entrance she noticed as a thousand pins and needles ran down her spine. Her limbs went rim-rod strait once she crossed the barrier a moment before she shivered uncontrolably.

"Oh yeah, forgot to mention the barrier didn't I?" He asked himself more than her, "Well at least I know it will stop you too."

"What do you mean?" She asked looking at him quickly, afraid of what the answer may be.

"Ah don't worry so much, the other women will tell you I'm sure." Koga said smirking before he turned ready to leave, "I'll come back tommorow, I've got to... Talk to my men a while."

Then he was gone, plain and simply gone.

Kagome watched as he left too, stunned and no less than frightened of what was to happen next. She didn't know anything about youkai customs, only little stories her grandfather had told her as she grew up, not that she had even really paid attention to them anyway.

"Hey, you're Kagome correct?" she heard a woman's voice ask her as a clawed, but definately femanine hand gripped her shoulder.

Kagome turned to face the owner of the hand, she was a woman appearing to be around the age of 27-30ish, she had long brown hair, reaching the middle of her back, and hazzle eyes that practically glew. She wore a relatively plain looking kimono, a dark grey color that was probably black once long ago. "I am Shinna, the grandmother." she stated smiling brightly.

"Er... I'm uh, well I'm Kagome..." well make yourself sound like a shy fool why don't you?

Luckilly Shinna simply laughed good naturedly, "We know Kagome, Koga told us about you and asked us if we would be alright with a human staying amoung us."

"Were you?" Kagome asked not thinking.

"Yes, no one would object, we haven't had anyone come up here but Koga and our mates for so long that any company is greatly appreciated." Shinna stopped smiling suddenly, a thought obviously crossing her face as she became dead serious a moment. "But, Kagome I must warn you not to use any of your miko power, I don't want it too happen but if you do someone might end up killing you."

Kagome blushed from embarassment, she didn't know how to use her powers really, but um... Why make herself sound dumber than she already did? "Um, well, of course not! I wouldn't do that since you all are being so generous!"

Shinna smiled again, relief obvious in her structure. "Glad to hear that Kagome. Now, I hope you don't act so shy all the time, This cave is rather large but there isn't a lot of room for solitary people."

Kagome spent the next couple of hours meeting just about every one of the 15 women in there, and most of the older children whom also stayed in the cave. According to Shinna, the only one old enough to remember when this custom had started, there was a barrier around the cave that no one could pass through. Not unless Koga escourted them through, he had the power to do this due to his being the prince of the wolf tribe.

Their mates would come in with Koga, then take them to a special section of the cave reserved for mating sessions, as many as ten mate's could be in there at once. Though Kagome found that kind of gross Shinna assured her that this was perfectly natural for wolves and thier demon counter parts.

Of course mate's did enjoy talking alone occassionally, and there was a place just beyond the mating section for the purpose of talking. Though most men didn't get to that section because of the mating room, they would instantly become aroused and jump on their mates, this was anticipated so the women weren't upset if they didn't talk to their mates as much as they well... mated!

Something else strange was the way the children were raised, they were raised not to know whom their mothers were, they looked to each woman as though they were a seperate mother, their scents having been masked to confuse the children. This served to allow the children to grow with many different views, and the ability to judge for themselves. Of course the pups knew whom their fathers were, but never their mothers.

"What about the barrier? How do people leave if Koga doesn't stay there to wait for them?" Kagome asked Shinna once she had finished with the intorductions.

"The barrier is strange, no one can enter without Koga, but if a male is left behind with his mate he can leave without any trouble." Shinna said almost sighing.

"So we can leave anytime we wish?" Not a bad idea, maybe she should get one of the women there to help her climb down the cliff and back to Inuyasha!

"No," Shinna said shaking her head, noticing Kagome's slight sulk upon hearing the news. "The barrier is designed to work that way for men and men alone. We can not leave unless Koga is with us, this is for our protection." she didn't like it though, not any more than any other woman here did, "But why are you so desperate to leave little one? Surely you can not be so wild?"

Kagome sighed but explained the whole situation in its entirety to Shinna whom nodded sympathetically.

"Well, sounds like... an odd way to meet the man you are to be mated to, however some things just are ment to be." Shinna said shrugging.

Kagome decided to ignore the last half of that. "Um, so what happens to the kid- erm, I mean pups when they grow up?" Kagome asked her curiosity at its peak.

"The boys become soldiers and scouts, the girls are sent out into the world so as to aviod mixing relative blood." She said simply.

"Ah, so um, why do they call you the "grandmother" any way?" Kagome asked, her last question she was sure.

Shinna smirked slightly, "You have met Quetzicotal correct?" When Kagome shook her head "no" Shinna continued, "Well, he and I are the oldest in the pack, he is strong, but only through experience, probably why he didn't take over as the prince instead of Koga, but in any case, he is my mate, and for the past three hundred years we have been so. I have had 83 pups to him, all grown up now, accept one pup, still to young to understand words right now."

Kagome made a O.O face at the mention of 82 pups plus one baby, what woman would be able to go through so much child birthing?

Shinna chuckled, "I see you are surprised, little one, but you will understand once your first pups are born."

Kagome shook her head quickly, "I can't have that many! I wouldn't have enough years in my life!" she said looking up as though thinking to herself.

Shinna chuckled again, "Oh little one, you are naive, do you not realize that Koga will undoubtedly extend your life time? Wolves mate for life, and through death, if one mate dies the other will be celabate for the rest of their days, Koga isn't going to spend 30 some years with you only to live the rest of his days alone."

Head-ache, she could feel it coming, live longer? Loads of pups? She just got a picture of herself covered head-to-toe in babies with big full diapers, and wolf tails sticking out the backs of them, all screaming and yelling while she held four passifiers in her mouth with river tears flowing down her face. No way, uh-uh, not happening and she would deffinately NOT! NONONONONONONONONONONONONONONO! And Koga would be the first to hear about it!

Smiling gently Shinna grabbed Kagome's hand, "Come on, why don't we go to the hotsprings? We have one in the back of this cave, half the reason that the women are here really."

Hot Spring? Why didn't someone say something earlier? Of course she wanted to go!

Yes there is a slight hole, there are only three down with the men whom have mates, and there are fifteen women, yes this seems to be a hole. A hole that only I will fill! You see, Koga used to have a load more men, and a good majority of them died. The women would still have the option of protection by Koga of course, and there are in fact three men and three more women in the uh... other room... if you know what I mean you'll see them in the next chapter. Don't flame me, I don't like being flamed!