Yay, chapter 16. Didn't take me all that long at all did it? Nope nope. That's cause the recent events in the story intrigued me very much. So I continue to write. Keep in mind all, the ending is growing nearer. So make sure to keep a box of tissues around. Just a wittle hint.

R&R

Chapter 16

The silence that gripped them in it's crushing hands was thick enough to cut through. Kagome continued to stare at the brown haired wolf demon that stood before her. He hardly looked like the Kouga she had known so well. He seemed so much more elegant, more matured in a way. His eyes seemed to dance with a sort of loneliness. Had he suffered some horrible fate like all the rest?

Finally it was he who spoke.

"Kagome….is it really you?" He asked his voice shaking.

"Yes….Kouga…you've changed so much." She whispered.

"And yet you have changed not at all."

Kagome nodded and went on to explain exactly what had happened. All the while Inu Yasha couldn't help but notice the weird looks Kouga sent towards Kagome. That old fiery jealousy began to burn within him again. He did not however lash out at either Kouga or Kagome like he would have in his past. Instead he chose to ignore the looks Kouga flashed.

"So….does that mean this is not as the world should be?" Kouga asked once the explanation was finished.

Kagome nodded her head softly. "That is what I believe."

Kouga seated himself on the ground under the branches of the tree. His mind was whirling with thoughts. The one's he had previously had, the ones of killing them and taking the sword, disappeared.

"So all these years you've been gone….weren't out of choice. Amazing. I had thought you left due to something that could have happened with you and your friends," He said glancing at Inu Yasha, "Or with Naraku."

"Not at all. This is why I, we, are going after Naraku. We are hoping that maybe if we defeat him and restore order I might be able to return to the past to fix things. If the well does not work then I shall remain here and make sure things become better. Either way, we are going to free this land of Naraku's ruling." She said her features growing stiff with a bit of anger.

Inu Yasha, who had been long since silent, spoke.

"Wether Kagome saves us or not, we are going to do everything we can to help the world as it is now." He said softly.

Kouga sat for a moment deep in thought. He had felt a slight respect for the human and half breed the rumors had talked about. But these two he felt the utmost respect for. Had he not had his own dignity he would have begun to bow down to them and kiss their feet.

"Lady Kagome if it is alright with you, I'd like to assist you on your journey. I will help you both in any way I possibly can." He said with the slight bow of his head.

Kagome smiled brightly. It had been the first time he'd seen her smile in years. It was heart warming, even strong enough to make all his past heartache seem like nothing. He smiled back at her showing off white glimmering fangs.

"Well, I don't know wether your eager to go after him or not, but I am in no shape to be leaving any time today. So we shall camp here until I am fit to leave. After much fighting with Inu Yasha here I have finally accepted my weaknesses." She said with a small laugh.

Inu Yasha smiled at her. It felt good to hear her laugh and to see her smile. It made it seem like the battle with Naraku had already been won and they were happy together.

"Kouga why don't you tell us what you've been up to these past few years. I'd love to hear about it all." She said with glee.

Secretly inside of herself Kagome hoped and prayed that nothing terrible had happened to him. It might seem selfish, but she really didn't want to deal with anyone else's problems anymore. She hated hearing them and knowing that it had been all her fault. However she said, nor showed, any of these thoughts.

"Why of course. Well as you already know my clan was killed by Naraku and his minions years ago. I had two lacky's that followed me around, but they found mates from other clans and settled down. I had ran into a girl I had been betrothed to, however; I explained to her that I was not yet ready to settle myself down and have pups. I was still hungry for adventure. As I was out and about on my adventures, little did I know that Naraku was coming closer and closer to power. When he finally did take over and began sucking the land dry of power I found a way of life."

"I became a Tetu Kashneir, Treasure Hunter. I went far and wide finding the most powerful and useful items that I could. I was able to sell and trade them to people who were power mad. Since Naraku had sucked most power away, people wanted it even more then ever before. That's pretty much what I've been doing with my life. It isn't the most exciting sometimes, but it gets me through the day with my head still on my shoulders." He said with a laugh.

Kagome was relieved to hear his life hadn't been to hard on him. She felt a little ashamed for feeling such a thing, but it did not matter. She was glad as well that his life had been a good one.

"Wow, it does sound interesting. You know Kouga, I almost didn't recognize you. You look so different then you used to. You look so much more, I don't know how to explain it. Like something from a fairy tale." She giggled.

Inu Yasha felt that fiery feeling again. He admitted silently to himself that, yes, he was jealous. It was like he was a pup again fighting over a scrap of meat with an older much more experienced wolf.

"Kagome perhaps you should rest for awhile. You need all the strength you can get." He persuaded.

Kagome nodded softly but did not lay down.

"I know, but I'm not all that tired. If you get into my bag there, yes there in the bottom pocket, there's a box with a game in it. I brought it with me for me and…Sango. But obviously that is not what I'm going to use it fore."

Inu Yasha found the box. It had a picture of a bored with squares on it and little round black and red pieces. She opened the box and pulled out the contents. She spread out a flat piece of board with black and red checkered squares about it. She then sorted out the black and red pieces. She placed them on the bored in an odd fashion.

"It's called checkers. In order to play you have to jump the other opponents piece to steal it from them." She explained.

She went through and moved the pieces about showing them exactly how you could and could not move your piece. Once Inu Yasha was sure he had it down right he decided to play. It started off ok at first, but he soon found himself losing. Kagome already had three of his pieces and he had none of hers.

Kagome giggled slightly at the look of puzzlement on the hanyou's face. It was rather cute the way his left ear was bent down while the right one twitched in frustration. He was ignorant of the game. It was funny. She had brought the game out to keep everyone's mind off of the situation with Naraku. What she hadn't planned was to forget about it herself. She found herself warped in the little game of checkers. But not just that, she was wrapped up in the curious twinkle the hanyou had in his eyes as he stared down at the bored. Kouga was sitting at the side watching the game closely. Kagome knew he was plotting out his plan for when it came his turn to play.

"King me!" Kagome cried.

Inu Yasha pursed his lips up in a sort of pouty way as he laid the only piece he had gotten from her on top of her other piece. Kagome couldn't help but laugh. The half breed looked up at his human companion and couldn't help but smile. It was so warming the way she laughed. He could tell it was a real joyous laugh. Not one of those laughs someone does to try and make you think their ok. She was actually happy.

Once they had all played many rounds of checkers the three laid down for bed. It was unusually warm that night. Kagome hardly needed the blankets she had. She did, however; cover up with a small one just to have something over her body.

Halfway through the night Kagome found herself awake. She hadn't had a bad dream or anything. She just woke up. She sat up and stared around her. Kouga lay a few feet away in respect, curled up tightly within his robe asleep. Inu Yasha lay only a feet or so away from her. He had stayed close for protection reasons. Kagome felt that he had also done it as a means of being closer to her. The girl crawled from her spot over to the sleeping hanyou. He lay on his back sleeping soundly. From the looks of it he seemed as if he was gazing at the stars. The fact that his eyes were closes proved this wrong. Kagome laid her head upon his rising and falling chest. She curled herself up against him with her blanket around the both of them. She felt him shift a little, then felt the warm embrace of his arm around her form. She smiled softly to herself before falling into slumber. For once in a great while, things seemed to be perfect. How long this would last, she did not know.

Good chappie, eh? It's a happy-ish one! Yay. I lightened the mood! Wahoo, I'm good. Anyways R&R. I don't want to sound selfish but I want lots of reviews. It fuels my writing. Makes me write faster, and longer. So review!!