Author: Alright so I posted the first chapter of the Naruto fic, and wow, so many people read those fics now. I got like 7 reviews in less than 12 hrs. I wonder if that's what Inuyasha fics were like back when it was still in it'' prime. Oh well, I think I've said before, this is my masterpiece, and I must finish it because otherwise it will eat at me. So I'll keep working on this one, and try to update both fairly often.

I also got myself a live journal at livejournal.com under the user name Kyori0 so that's three things I have to keep up with...fun

These chapters are really getting hard to name now lol.

Chapter 15:

He could feel the old crust over his eyes as he tried to pry them open, hindering the sunlight that he could feel from his sight. He shifted a little and let out a morning groan as he spurred fully into consciousness, raising his arms above his head to yawn. There was tension on his arms, reminding him of the bandages he was covered in, but was happy to know that his body no longer hurt nearly as bad, and in the current condition he could probably fight.

He yawned and forced his eyes open, blinking repeatedly to wash the chips of crust out and to shield his eyes from the very bright sun. He sat up completely and took in a whiff of the fresh morning air, it smelled fresh with dew and a few passing people in the clean streets, and the scent of the small bug youkai was nowhere to be found. He detected Lilian's presence and Kagome's recently removed scent.

It was then that he noticed a certain morning reaction that he hadn't made a motion to hide well under the covers. His morning arousal formed a nice cloth tower in his covers, his panic was only heightened when he heard a slightly familiar.

"Youkai" Lilian sighed, both boredom and agitation in her voice, and laid back down giving Kouga her back. She pulled up the dull brown covers, covering up the light robe that she had been given during this stay.

Kouga's face morphed to show his embarrassment to no one in particular, he shifted his body in a way to both hide his erection and to allow his now numb tail to slide from underneath him. It was then that he noticed that he was clothed in no more than the bandages given by Kagome, which didn't cover up any part of his body that a human would be embarrassed about.

He pulled his blankets to cover the area, hoping the display of "shame" would gain him some points with the woman, if he could get her to look at him again.

"Hey" he started, quietly and a bit timidly, still trying to gather together his nerve and trademark confidence. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine"

The reply was cold, emotionless, but at least it wasn't hateful like Kouga had feared it would be.

"And your leg?"

"Fine."

"That Kagome really knows how to treat injuries doesn't she?" Kouga laughed nervously trying to break the tension.

"I guess." She didn't seem fazed at all.

Kouga's laugh faded as quickly and quietly as it started.

He sighed heavily and his heart sunk in his chest.

'Do I really have a chance with her? I mean, she hates me, the only reason she's not trying to kill me is because Kagome told her not to...Maybe I should just give up then...it's not like she would be any less happy, as a matter of fact, she would probably be more happy that I left her alone.'

His face drooped, and he sighed deeply. He slowly got up pulling the cover over him like a cloak, and looked over the maiden again.

'Yeah, she'll definitely be happier then and that's all that matters right? I need to go back to my pack anyway, all hell has probably broken loose already. I don't need a mate...she would be a distraction...right? I wouldn't be able to focus...and...the pack...I...could let them down. She tried to kill one of our members...I shouldn't...I'm supposed to do something about that. Normally...she would be...but I can't, can I?'

He walked silently over to the corner with his armor piled in it. He examined it slowly, not sure of what he wanted to do at all. The breastplate was well past ruined, he'd be surprised if it would even stay on now. The calf and wrist pads were so soaked in blood that it be a hassle, they'd be too heavy, and they would remind him of this...when he ran with his tail between his legs. Not from Inuyasha though...from Lilian.

The armor clanked against the floor as he set it all back down.

"What are you doing now?" The voice was bored, but it was still Lilian's, and by default was beautiful.

"Oh!" he was caught a bit surprised, a ray of hope shined through the clouds. "Nothing, just looking over my armor. Checking to see if we'll be able to fix it back at the Den, but probably not..."

He would have gone on if not from the drop of her shoulders and the long sigh showing that she had tuned him out.

Suddenly the rain was back and the ray of hope was swallowed up again.

He took one last look at the tattered armor, then back at Lilian.

'I am running aren't I. But that's what I do...I run when the battle is too much. That's the reason that I've lived to fight on, the reason I can still lead my pack. They still respect me, even though I'd rather leave than die...I'm surprised a little though. Sure, I guess I'm strong, stronger than the rest of them, but you'd think that they would think me too much of a coward and just stop listening to me. I've got to be the first pack leader in generations to lead without an alpha female...it's helped my judgement I guess, its helped me focus always on the pack. From my hunt for the shikon, to my 'courting' of Kagome...its always been for the better of the pack...never for myself. But that's what a leader is supposed to do right? Yeah...serve first, that's what a leader does...but...for once...I...want to do something...for myself.'

He stepped closer to Lilian's bed until he was within arms reach. He stretched his arm over the distance, and his hand came close enough to feel the heat of her neck against his hand. She was right there, so close he could touch her...and he wanted to, to touch her and have her touch him back. But he knew what would happen if he did, she wouldn't welcome the embrace, she would slink away and arm herself with something...oh how resourceful she was.

'Is that so selfish?'

"If you ever want to use that hand again..." Lilian spoke, coldy. Her voice betrayed a little of her agitation with the youkai. She began to slide her hidden blade out of it's sheathe, making sure to drag it against the edge so it's ring could be heard. "I would suggest that you get it away from me."

She rolled over to face him, the blade's sheathe in her left hand and the half-drawn blade in her right. Her ruby eyes stared emotionlessly through him...oddly enough, the bored gaze reminded him a lot of the way Juromaru had looked at him.

Kouga's face turned instinctively to a smile, as he moved his hand a little to reach for an empty cup that was conveniently placed near her head.

"I'm just thirsty, sorry if I bothered you" he stammered.

He grabbed another nearby pitcher of what he prayed was water and poured it into the cup. The pitcher streamed out a clear liquid, and the disturbance freed the scent into the air.

Room temperature water.

'What's his problem? And what was that look on his face before he started smiling? I could have sworn it was almost sad or something like that. Momentary bleakness or something. Naw, couldn't be, you have to be human in order to have emotions like that, not a beast. But Kagome did say that they do have emotions didn't she, she loves her husband and apparently he loves her back...but then again, he's half human. This...Kouga isn't, no, he's all youkai, and a wolf at that. He couldn't have been sad because then he would have emotions, but he can't...can he?'

She re-sheathed the blade and sat up slowly, watching the wolf slowly and awkwardly drink the water from the cup. There was a hint of curiosity in her eyes.

'He seems...tense, maybe nervous. But why, why should he be nervous? I haven't given him any reason to actually believe I can kill him, so why is he so nervous? I swear he's acting so...so...I dunno...childish or something, naïve maybe. I know he's primitive, but he was so arrogant and confident before...what is wrong now? Better not drop my guard...but while I'm here, may as well gather some information so I can plot my next attempt at him...after all, still need that bounty...not to mention...if I can kill him, then I'm strong enough to...no...it won't matter, its already too late for that.

The neutral look in Lilian's eyes was beginning to fade to a slight sadness as the silence continued.

'Crap, what's wrong, I've got to do something for her...but what? I can't comfort her...but maybe we can talk...I just hope I don't screw things up.'

"So, why did you come after me?" Kouga asked, not having anything better to say, and immediately doubting if what he said had been the right thing to say in the first place. His voice was friendly, lacking malice, but almost shaking from lack of confidence.

Lilian was shaken out of her thoughts at the question, her ruby eyes widened at both the question and the tone it was delivered in. She quenched both her surprise and curiosity in her eyes, but not before going noticed.

"I'm a bounty hunter of sorts. I hunt youkai that people want dead, and I kill them. I bring back proof of the success, and I collect the bounty."

Lilian was a bit shocked about how calm the air was after she finished speaking. In truth, she figured her comment might spur Kouga on to give her reason enough to "defend" herself and finish her job. For that purpose, she deadened her tone to one of pure frost with a tinge of malice and falsified sick joy. But Kouga didn't react, he merely looked at her calmly with his teal eyes.

"Sounds interesting"

Confusion crept into Lilian's voice, replacing the façade of cruelty she had conjured up.

"Huh?"

"Sounds like an interesting thing to do for a living. Its incredible practice and new chances to test yourself all the time. The enemies you get to meet on the battlefield, the rush of combat after combat."

He tilted his head back a little and shut his eyes without realizing it, his voice softened as if he was fantasizing about the thought of meeting challenge after challenge, rival after rival. Odd joy followed in his voice as he continued.

"It must be incredibly intense, I can't imagine how strong you could get from it all."

Lilian butted back in, a bit shocked, and pulled Kouga out of his state of bliss.

"Don't you think its just a bit...I dunno...angering that I hunt your kind for no reason other than profit? That I've ended so many lives for the sake of money?"

Her voice and eyes softened, her normally cold voice began to show genuine emotion and her dull ruby eyes filled with the dimming air of remorse. Her gaze shifted to the ground.

"That so many had to perish at my hands?"

"No, it doesn't."

Lilian looked up at him, his teal eyes no longer looked so unconfident that he would start trembling at any second. They held strength, confidence, pride. They held them all, but not in the arrogant way she had seen before, his eyes reminded her of a zealot who firmly believed in righteous fury.

"Why not?" Now her voice was just sad...sad and confused. She kicked herself mentally for showing such weakness before her target, she began the process of mentally repairing the walls of her façade, angry that the pitiful look on her face would not change for a while.

"Because, I have had to do the same. I always have, always will. It is the same as hunting. That's what you do, you're a bounty huntress, you hunt and kill to provide for yourself. You collect bounties, I feed myself and my pack. In that way we are one and the same, so I can't be angry at you for doing what you do. You do not kill for sport, or even the thrill of doing so, you do it because you have to. I respect that. I respect you Lilian."

The air was silent again.

Lilian's face went back to neutral mode as her barriers went back up to place.

'Where did that come from? Did I just say all that? No...it couldn't have been...it was too clean...too wise...too...too good. It almost sounded poetic...kinda. But it was my voice, I'm sure of it. It sounded like me, I felt the words come out of my mouth, the words were even accented in the way that I talk. I guess...I did...Wow, I never knew that I could ever say all that...maybe there is some good in talking to that tree so much.'

'This one...what's wrong with him? He should be a blood thirsty monster, a primitive hormonally driven beast. I've slain a stray wolf or two before...but they weren't deep like this. I didn't need to talk to them to know it, I could tell by the way they carried themselves and confronted me. This one...he's not like the others...but why? He's proud like the rest, he lives like the rest, he even smells and eats like the rest...but he's different from them...very different. But how? Its almost as if...he can feel...as if...he has emotions...as if he can feel true pain and joy, and know the difference. But he's a beast...he can't feel all that...he's just a mongrel, an animal, a mutt...but why does he seem so real? Kagome said he was different didn't she? Maybe this is what she was talking about...maybe he is more than just a youkai...maybe I should...no. I can't, I'm going to kill him, like he said, I am a huntress. And that's what I do, and shall remain doing. I don't have a choice...do I?'

The silence was broken by another.

"Kouga!" Kagome burst in. "Your finally awake. You've been asleep for about three days now. How are you feeling?"

She came in the room with a basket full of herbs under one arm with her bow and quiver slung over her back. She carried a welcome brightness into the room as she entered upon the two patients.

"Oh hi Kagome" Kouga returned. "I'm feeling much better, my wounds don't really hurt too much anymore."

"That's good to hear." She sat both the herbs and her weapons in the corner nearest the windowsill. "Do I need to change the bandages or are they still good?"

"Their fine, don't worry about it, but do you have anything I could wear? Inuyasha kinda trashed my armor beyond repair, and I can't find my shorts."

"Actually yes I do."

Kouga sat up, still carefully covering himself in the covers.

"Where is it?"

"The outfit is at my house right now, I got it from a family that outgrew it, but it still looks kinda nice. I'll get it for you but you need to go take a bath before you put it on. I think Inuyasha is taking a bath about now so you'll have company too."

For a moment, Kouga paused, the thought of seeing Inuyasha again wasn't the most pleasant thing he could think of doing at the time. Frankly the idea of taking a bath was kind of annoying too, he'd taken one about a week ago so in his book, he was still good for a few days.

But then again, Kagome would help him with Lilian...and the recent conversation gave Kouga a glimmer of hope that maybe he could receive a happy ending. So, as far as he was concerned, whatever she said, went.

"Alright then" Kouga agreed, albeit a bit nervously.

"Great" Kagome clapped her hands together before turning to the door. "Get up, I'll get the stuff you'll need, just meet me at the door."

There was an oddly sinister grin on Kagome's face as she was walking out the door.

"By the way, take the covers with you when you go."

With that, Kagome was gone, she left the hut quickly and navigated the short way to her house.

Kouga sighed and got up, pulling the covers with him, draped over his shoulders like a closed cape. He looked at Lilian and smiled a bit.

"Doesn't this sound like it will be interesting."

"You need a bath though, trust me"

"Probably do, but you think I smell bad now? Ever wonder why dogs don't like getting bathed? Wolves are the same way, that's why my pack doesn't bathe on the same day." Kouga scrunched up his nose in a gesture.

It was then that he caught something he never thought he would see for a long time. A smile stole itself upon Lilian's face at the joke. For a moment, the barriers of cold slid open like in their conversation ended, and Lilian could truly be seen.

And what a sight it was, she was radiant. The smile was honest, breaching illegally over her seemingly stern face. It was small, but it seemed so right, a piece of her that should always be there that Kouga was missing. That one little smile seemed to brighten her face, and soften her eyes by itself, bathing her entire being in the precious light.

Any thoughts of doubt regarding whether he would try to win her heart fled immediately and new confidence filled his being. His grin widened a bit revealing one of his canines. He remembered why he used to get woosy looking at her, he probably would now if he looked too much longer.

"Why are you staring at me?

"Oh-oh, sorry" Kouga turned just in time to hide his blush. "Uh-uh-s-see you soon" he managed to get out before retreating from the hut, leaving a very confused kunoichi behind.

It was moments later that he stepped out into the sunlight, and it embraced him like a returning prodigal son. He rose his head and welcomed the rays over his body, and focused on the feeling of every piece of him being comforted by the wind. He took in a deep breath of fresh air, there was still a bit of dew in the air, and more people had out to the streets.

"Enjoying yourself?" Kagome asked as she enthusiastically walked over to Kouga, she was a little short on breath.

"Yeah, I am. I love being outside."

He looked down as Kagome shoved two sacks into his chest. With one hand he grabbed them and with the other he held the covers closed.

Before he could ask Kagome explained.

"Take these down to the bathing area. When you get there open the green sack, ask Inuyasha what to do with it all, trust me he'll know." Devious joy etched itself into Kagome's voice. "Once, your done with your bath, open the red one. Please don't open either of them until your supposed to though."

Kouga sighed playfully, pretending to be agitated.

Kagome giggled a little bit before pointing him in the direction of the spring.

Kouga walked off, thanking Kagome.

'She hasn't changed as much as I thought'

Author: Okay, I'm starting to lose my confidence with this fic. And I think I'm getting a little impatient with Lilian, does it seem like she's opening too fast? And if anyone thinks that Kagome was a little...giddy, sorry, I didn't feel like using the sad Kagome for this part...though it did seem a bit odd didn't it?