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An odd, pained sound, accompanied by the morning light beginning to come through the windows woke Kouga, who had just turned onto his side and draped his arm over a warm lump beside him. When his moving his hand more caused another whimper to come from it, his blurry mind focused and his eyes shot open.

(- Kagome! -)

Pulling his arm off her quickly, he blinked and looked down at the top of his wife's head. She'd snuggled under the blankets so only a tuft of hair and the vague hint of her cheek showed. Frowning at the thought of her whimpering, he carefully eased the blanket from her back and sucked in a breath. An enormous black bruise covered her right shoulder.

"What the devil...?" he gently traced the darkened skin with his fingertips, earning a shiver from her.

With another whimper, she scrunched up her eyes before sighing and blinking slowly. While they adjusted to the morning light, she moaned and bit her lip for a moment, turning her head towards him. "Good morning."

"What happened to you?" Kouga asked, "You were not like this last night."

"We didn't light the candle last night," she reminded him, "And I was feeling sore but I didn't want to make a big deal about it. Is it very bad?"

"Yes, now how could such a horrid bruise just show up on your arm?" Kouga insisted on knowing.

Kagome groaned a little as she rolled onto her side and felt her sore body aching, "The man who attacked me yesterday, he knocked the shield into me pretty roughly and I knew I'd be bruised. I'll be all right though."

"My god," Kouga traced her arm and winced along with her, "I'm so sorry."

He was surprised by her soft chuckle, "You had nothing to do with it, it's my fault we came back so soon."

"Still..."

Gently running his fingers over the bruise, his hand lowered and he gently held her arm, marveling again at how thin it felt. He hated to think of the damned man attacking her yesterday. Not to mention the fury that had rushed through him while he had to watch his wife being covered in bodies, and the way her attacker's blade barely missed.

He'd rushed through the fighting, watching as she dragged the shield over herself just in time, flinching at the strength behind the man's blow. After dealing with the bastard, he'd removed the shield to find her bloodied and pale as a ghost, buried in a mass of decaying flesh.

He was snapped out of his thoughts by her hand coming up to stop his, "We must get up now, the services will be early."

"Aye," surprising even himself, Kouga covered the short distance between them and gave her bruised arm a kiss. Hearing her quiet gasp, he blinked and lifted his head, surprised to find himself mere inches away from her face. Her eyes were wide and questioning and he moved up to lay his head beside hers on the pillow, their noses nearly close enough to be touching.

"I didn't mean to do that," he whispered.

Kagome nodded, "It was kind of nice."

Smiling at her hesitant response, Kouga lifted a hand to brush her hair out of her face and cup her cheek, "We need to discuss some things Kagome, we're not completely safe yet."

"No?" she blinked and frowned a little, "But I thought..."

"Naraku's gone for now, but if he were to return he could still claim you, if he were the first man to..."

"Ohh"

Watching closely, he saw her teeth peek out the tiniest amount as she bit her lower lip, "We must make this a real marriage soon."

To his surprise, she closed her eyes tightly but nodded her head, turning onto her back, her voice meek and shaky when she spoke. "I-I understand."

With a frown, Kouga lifted onto his side and turned her head towards him, "What are you doing?"

Kagome blinked, "I have to be on my back don't I?"

Remembering how one of the guards had flipped Claire over, her breath hitched, "Or should I be on my belly?"

Feeling her slight quivering, he shook his head and carefully pulled her onto her side and closer to him, "Not now, dear lord you're terrified Kagome, I knew you'd be a maid but surely you know about what happens between men and women. There's nothing to fear."

"But it hurts," Kagome whispered, "Claire was screaming in agony, I know, I was there."

"Claire?" tucking her closer, he carefully rubbed her back, "Who is this Claire?"

Kagome shuddered and remained a bit stiff in his arms, "Marie's daughter. On the day of the attack, she was running from some men when Naraku caught her. He threw her down on the table, she was..."

"That's enough," he interrupted, pulling her closer and whispering into her ear. "I'm sorry you had to see that, I gather it was the first time you'd witnessed such an act but it need not be so terrible. Claire was being forced and abused by that madman, that is not how it is normally done... at least, not by myself or my men. I'm very strict about that, too strict I've been told, but I will not abide by such behavior."

Feeling her relax the tiniest bit, he kissed her temple and continued, "So if the man is careful it can be quite pleasing for a woman, although the first time may hurt when your maidenhead is breeched, you need only feel pain that one time."

"I always thought it was pleasant, otherwise why would so many women lust after men?" Kagome relaxed and snuggled close, "You know, Elisa is rather popular with the men, but she's never spoken to me about such things. I think papa must have told them not to and kept them on good behavior when I was around."

"I've married a real pampered miss then?" Kouga joked.

She giggled and shrugged, "I have been extremely protected, but I was brought up to be a good wife and to know my place and my duties."

Kouga nodded, pulling her up close so their eyes met and their heads lay together on the pillow again. "I am not much experienced with the softer aspects of life Kagome. I have been fighting for years and my father was a misogynist if there ever was one, but I will try."

Seeing her smile, he leaned forward and tapped their noses together, "Now, as I was telling you, we're not completely out of danger yet."

Although she bravely fought down a shiver and agreed, her relief was obvious when he quietly explained. "But we shall go slowly, one step at a time all right?"

Nodding, she felt the hand he'd slipped around her come up and cradle back of her head, fingers massaging the base of her neck. "Step one: kissing."

When her eyes widened, he decided to have a little fun and closed his eyes, ordering her to go ahead.

"What?" Kagome blinked and would have pulled back had he not been holding her in place. "I don't know how, I..."

"Try"

Holding her breath for a moment, Kagome licked her lips nervously, watching his calm features as he lay there waiting. His eyes were still closed, at least that made it a little less awkward. Puckering up her lips the way she'd seen others do it, she tentatively moved forward and pressed them to his, touching for the briefest second before pulling away with a bright blush. She heard him chuckle and glared when he opened his eyes and grinned.

"That was a girl's kiss."

"That was my first kiss," she reminded him.

Giving a nod, he shrugged and closed his eyes, letting go of her to cross his arms beneath his head nonchalantly, "Try again."

Glaring, she leaned up and did it again, this time accidentally bumping against his nose. He gave a laugh and leaned down to nip hers lightly, laughing more when she 'eeped' and lifted a little away. He brought his arms down and tickled her a little, pulling her closer so she lay draped half-way over him, before ordering her to try once more.

More relaxed now, she brushed her lips against his again, and this time he followed her when she pulled away and deepened things a little, pressing their mouths together more fully and tilting her head just the tiniest amount for a better fit.

They exchanged a few gentle, teasing kisses, nothing threatening about them, and she found herself relaxing and becoming a little bolder with each one. Just as she was learning to adjust to the movements of his lips, she felt a wet touch and realized he was licking her lips, gasping and lifting up again, much to his chagrin.

Her reaction however, was quite priceless.

She was wide-eyed, flushed, and looking delightfully warm and just kissed. There was a sparkle in her eyes and he grinned when she licked her lips with a little frown. "That was your tongue."

"It was," he agreed, still grinning when her eyes focused on his mouth. "And next time I promise you'll not find it so strange, but now we must be up. I can all but hear my men's questions and jokes about us already. I'm never in bed this late and they'll guess at what's keeping me here."

Kagome blushed and smiled, "That's not a bad thing is it?"

"Being kept in bed by my wife?" He raised an eyebrow and pulled her down to give her another peck, "Never."

A pair of voices going past their room broke their peace and lightened mood. Recognizing the person crying, Kagome snapped out of the happy mood they'd settled into and found herself feeling suddenly stricken by how easily she had forgotten about the services to be held and the reason for them.

Hearing Kouga say something, she snapped out of her thoughts and looked up, blushing to her roots and looking away immediately.

"Kagome?"

"I'm sorry, what were you saying?" she replied, still not quite facing him.

Kouga frowned, "You do know you're supposed to meet a person's eyes when you speak to them?"

Kagome nodded, "But it'd be much easier if you weren't naked."

That made him start, he'd assumed she noticed that before, "I've been naked this whole time."

"I know but it was one thing for you to be naked under the covers where I couldn't see you, this is quite different my lord. And how can you possibly tell me it won't hurt? You are far too large!" Kagome blurted out, blushing brightly again.

Kouga smirked, "I assure you, I'll be very careful to keep from hurting you Kagome. Silly wench, you'd think I was the first naked man you ever saw."

Kagome groaned, "You are!"

That made him blink, "I beg your pardon?"

She sighed and turned, keeping her gaze on his upper body, mainly his eyes. "I've told you my father was overprotective, he did not follow the normal tradition of having the lady of the manor help guests wash. All his guests were assisted by maids, therefore you are the first man I've see completely nude."

For some reason, Kouga found himself pleased, giving her a wink before turning and getting dressed. He stayed and acted as her lady's maid, shushing her protests and being very careful of her arm, silently making a note to have the women give her menial tasks that wouldn't overtax her. She was still too thin for his liking, and he didn't want her hurting her bruised arm anymore.

"You are quite incorrigible you know," Kagome told him as he held the door open for her.

"I rather like your hair, I did a good job with the pins did I not?" Kouga inspected her hair, pleased by the results of his styling.

They went down to break their fast, but to Kagome's surprise, she found she could not eat. Seeing the sullen, grievous expressions of her people's faces, she wondered at her own happiness earlier that day. What was she thinking? Enjoying herself while her people suffered, when she herself should have been mourning her father.

(- Oh Papa... -)

Wearing a simple black gown, she stood in the forefront of the large mass that gathered for the services held by Father Willem, who'd escaped with a large group of women and children during the siege and returned once news of her return was out.

Kouga remained by her side, watching closely as she bravely blinked back tears and listened to the priest's words. When a little boy broke through the crowd and started begging the priest to stop and bring back his mother. Kiba had stepped up to subdue the boy, but he put up a good fight and resisted being taken back. Kouga himself was about to take the child when his wife beat him to it.

Rushing forward, she turned the child from the knight fighting with him and into her arms. The boy clung to her tightly, sobbing harshly into her chest while she rocked him. Kagome nodded to Father Willem, who promptly continued and finished the sermon.

No one could blame the boy and no one did. When the people began to spread out, Kouga stopped them and, apologizing, began giving out orders for the work to be done that day.

"But my lord," Kagome came up, holding the child who had fallen asleep. "Everyone is still so distressed, surely..."

"I understand," he apologized, "But the keep is still in need of repairs, best to get them done now and keep people's minds off their grief."

Kagome sighed, "But..."

Tom, one of the young men about her own age who'd lost his mother and baby brother in the attack, interrupted her. "His lordship is right m'lady, we cannot let the keep remain as it is."

"Mama..." the boy in her arms sniffled and tightened his hold on her. Excusing herself with a nod, she left them to their plans. After tucking the boy in bed, she headed over to the kitchens and overlooked the work there.

The day went by quite slowly. She felt mostly sore and tired, but she was restless, despite the fact that going about the keep was painful for her. She could still see her father everywhere, working with his steward, walking along the battlements, laughing in the great hall. Most of the work needed to be done was difficult and time consuming to teach, so the women shooed her away at every turn, leaving her with a lot of time on her own.

At the evening meal she was subdued and pensive, shuffling her food around her plate and hardly eating. She excused herself early and missed the concern in Kouga's eyes as he watched her walking away. In truth most of the people were subdued and upset, with good cause, but he was bothered by her melancholia.

Excusing himself soon after her departure, he was surprised to not find her in their room. He went to her old room first, after not finding her there either, he went to her father's room, knowing he should have guessed she would be there. She did not disappoint, she sat at the foot of the bed, hugging her knees and crying quietly.

Remembering the time she'd seen him cry, Kouga took a seat beside her and set a hand on her back. She gasped and looked up, sniffling and blinking back tears. "I'm-I'm sor..."

"Hush. Now this, I do have some experience in, if I recall how you held me all those years ago," he whispered, tucking her close, relieved to hear her laugh a little.

"I thought you'd forgotten," she whispered, hiccupping and burrowing close to his soothing warmth.

"How could I?" He replied, rubbing her bruised shoulder again.

She shrugged, sniffled, and struggled to hold down her tears. When he told her to stop holding it in, she did, breaking into heartbroken sobs, clutching his tunic and soaking it through. Kouga held her tight and whispered words of comfort.

At last, after who-knew-how long, her hiccups died down and her grip loosened. He could tell she was crying herself to sleep by the way her body gradually slumped further into his. When he guessed she had fallen fully asleep, he adjusted her in his arms and carried her to their room.

It was late so he ran into no one and he carefully got her out of her gown and under the blankets. He was just slipping beneath the covers as well when she snuggled close again and surprised him by leaning up to brush her lips against his in another fleeting kiss.

"Thank you"

"Hmm... sleep tight, m'eudail."

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"M'lord a messenger from the crown!"

Ginta led a tired young man over to where Kouga was busy directing a few men doing repairs. With a frown, he turned and held out his hand for the message.

"How fare's his highness?" Kouga asked the youth.

"Well indeed, his coronation will be within the fortnight," the young man informed him.

Realizing what that meant, Kouga inwardly sighed and opened the missive. As he expected, it was a letter from Edward inviting him to visit London and bring along his wife and the woman he'd been previously betrothed to. An invitation from the man who was to be king in a few days was no invitation - it was a command.

Giving a nod, Kouga left Ginta in charge of the men and sent the messenger inside for something to refresh him. Heading past the great hall to the weaving building he wondered how his wife would react to the news of this trip. Kagome had been helping the women get things cleaned up and organized all over the keep, falling asleep as soon as she finished eating for the past three days.

Needless to say, their relationship hadn't gotten very far, but he had managed to get her shyness to ebb a bit and had fun teasing her with kisses a few times. Nevertheless, he was rather suspicious about Naraku's disappearance. No attacks, no messages, they hadn't heard a thing and it was rather troubling. They needed to get things over with, but she'd been traumatized by the acts she'd witnessed done to Claire. He had to proceed slowly.

Just thinking about that made him remember his father. He surely would have scoffed at Kouga for being a fool and told him to take her already. Women were a man's possession after all, so what if she did not enjoy the act?

But Kouga had also seen women who'd been mauled, both during and after the act, and he knew how horrible an impact such a thing could have on them. He couldn'thurt Kagome in such a manner.

Reaching his destination, he stepped inside and raised an eyebrow when one of the women hurried over. "My lord! What can we do for you?"

"My wife is not here?" Kouga asked, surprised when three more shushed him.

"Aye, m'lord, she's here but I doubt she'll be able to assist you," a young girl beckoned him to a corner behind one of the looms, stepping aside when he reached her.

Lying slumped against a stack of wool, Kagome slept peacefully, covered with a dusty grey blanket and with a stray lock of hair in her eyes. Smirking quietly at the image, Kouga turned to the others for an explanation.

The oldest woman, Aggie, merely shrugged. "No need to worry, she's been working so hard these past days, she was bound to fall sometime."

"I should take her up to bed," Kouga whispered, moving forward to kneel beside her and slip her into his arms. Waking a little, she blinked up at him and gave a nod when he ordered her to sleep, nestling her head on his shoulder and going limp once again.

"How much work needs to be done in here?" Kouga asked her on his way out.

"Not much, we have the most of it done, all will be fixed by this evening with luck," Aggie picked up the blanket when it fell.

"Thank you," heading up to his room, Kouga was halfway through the great hall when Kiba came racing after him.

"My lord a monk has arrived from the abbey," Kiba sighed, "It seems that Hachi's wound has become infected, he does not have long."

Cursing, Kouga felt his wife stir and set her feet on the ground, holding her about the waist while she regained her balance. She was blinking back sleep urgently, squinting against the light in the great hall. "Hachi's wound got worse?"

Kiba nodded, "Yes m'lady, the monks say he hasn't much time left, he could go at any moment."

Kagome turned to her husband, "May I go see him? I know you don't want me leaving the keep but I must go."

"I shall go see Hachi, you..."

"I'm the one responsible for this," she interrupted, "If I hadn't insisted we come to the keep he wouldn't have been hurt, it is my fault my lord, please?"

Kouga hesitated, not wanting to risk exposing her to harm. His resolve was broken when she stepped forward and lifted large, teary eyes and whispered beseechingly. "Please Kouga?"

- Damn -

If there was one thing he detested, it was tears, females in tears.

Something about Kagome in tears was even worse. He'd already surprised himself the other night, calling her m'eudail without really thinking about it. He'd never used that nickname with a woman, ever. It had always meant too much, held too many memories, but somehow he had let it slip - and it seemed to fit rather well. Luckily she didn't understand the language or he would be in trouble.

"Gather some men, we'll visit the abbey for a short while before leaving for Wolfeton." At Kagome's gasp, Kouga took his wife's hand and led her upstairs to their room. Not before grabbing a piece of bread from the table, he made sure it wasn't too hard before handing it over and urging her to eat it.

Closing the door behind him, he pulled the missive from Edward out of his pocket and saw her frown. "We are to be in London in two week's time, his majesty is being crowned and he wishes for me, my wife, and my ex-betrothed to be in attendance."

Sitting down on the bed, Kagome's previously watery eyes widened and she gulped down a bite, "We're to attend a coronation?"

"Quite the event," Kouga agreed, smiling at her dumbfounded expression.

"How well do you know his majesty?" Kagome asked.

Shrugging, Kouga lifted his hand to a scar he had on his chest, just above his heart. "I took an arrow in his stead at a battle near Acre."

"You saved his life?" she gawked.

"Lord Edward and I were trained together as boys, we fought in the tourneys and in the holy lands together. I was even at his first wedding to Eleanor in Spain." Kouga heard a knocking on the door and opened it.

"The men are ready," Tasuki informed him.

Turning towards his wife, he was glad to see she'd snapped from her surprised stupor. She walked past him and down to the inner bailey where a group of fourteen men waited. Tasuki's horse, as well as Kouga's, waited amongst the other's.

"What about me?" Kagome asked.

"You shall ride with one of us m'lady," Tasuki handed her a dingy cloak and swung up into his saddle. "Wear that and make sure to cover your head, there are most likely spies in the woods. Another five women are coming as well, we will appear to be a simple group heading for supplies to the abbey."

Kouga slipped on an equally dingy cloak and swung onto his own steed, reaching down for his wife, "You'll ride with me."

With a nod, she came over and was surprised to be pulled up easily behind him. Wrapping her arms about his waist, she held tightly and was relieved to be riding with him. Riding with Tasuki had been difficult because she had to take heed to keep a certain distance between herself and the warrior. With Kouga she could rest her head on his back and snuggle into his warm body.

The ride to the abbey was a quick one, since it was only a few miles away. The party was welcomed by the monks after they'd identified themselves and the lord and lady were quickly led up to Hachi's room. Kouga had ordered for him to be separated from the other men and that he wanted to be informed of any changes in the man's health. He had saved Kouga quite a few times in the holy lands, now he owed him Kagome's life as well.

Inside the room, three monks struggled to calm the feverish man's thrashing about. Kouga attempted to pull his wife back, but she hurried ahead and surprised them by taking Hachi's hand.

"Shh... 'tis all right Hachi, rest now, please," Kagome took a seat beside the man and reached out with her free hand for a cool cloth from a nearby bowl, setting it on his forehead.

It took a few minutes, but eventually Hachi calmed and remained still beneath the chilly touch. Holding tightly to her hand, he slumped on the bed and struggled to breathe.

"What is wrong with him?" Kouga asked the monk in charge after the others had slipped from the room, shocked by the woman's presence and control over the sick man.

"Bad blood most likely," father Patrick shrugged, "My lord 'tis not seemly for the lady to be with the sick warrior."

"Let's leave her be," he led the monk outside, "How are the rest of the men?"

After a tour of the sickbeds and a few visits with some of his men, Kouga returned when Tasuki came and said Kagome was asking for him. He was surprised to find Hachi awake and telling her about one of his exploits as a youth.

Kagome was laughing, listening to a story of a prank he and some friends had done to his father once. Stepping into the room, he smiled at the pair as he came over and pulled up a stool next to the pallet.

"There now lass, be a dear and get me a drink of water? I'm thirsty," Hachi released Kagome's hand and watched her go.

As soon as the door closed behind her, he sighed and seemed to sink further into the pallet. "Take good care of her m'lord."

"Aye, I will," Kouga assured him. "She's my wife now, I take care of what's mine."

"Nay, not like that. Your father was wrong boy, a woman is not just a man's possession. A woman is to be treated with respect and care." Hachi shuddered and moaned, "The mistress... she's as naive as they come. Do not make the same mistake your father made with your own mother..."

Kouga frowned, "My mother?"

Kagome knocked on the door then and entered, "I have the water."

Taking her seat on the edge of the pallet, she was surprised when he shook his head and reached for her hand. "Be good together... promise... "

Hearing his breathing slow, Kagome gripped his hand and shook it a little, "We promise Hachi."

Tears streaked down her cheeks silently while they listened to his breathing even out and finally stop. Kouga tugged her off the bed and held her close with one arm, opening the door with the other to let the monks know. The abbot came and said a prayer for Hachi and they finally left.

Kagome blinked at the darkness outside, dazed to learn they had been there for hours, the time had felt so short. After Kouga had mounted his horse, she waited to be pulled up and was surprised when he didn't swing her behind him, but rather settled her on his lap.

"I imagine you'll be more comfortable this way," he explained, leaving out the fact that he knew she needed the comforting.

"Aye, thank you," snuggling close underneath his cloak, she rested her head against his shoulder and fell asleep with a tired sigh and one last sniffle. "So many deaths."

(- No more I pray -)

Kouga urged the men on and headed back to the manor, eager to get some rest before their trip in the morning.

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Sorry this update took forever to get out. Like I've mentioned on my profile and my other story updates, my laptop's dead and I don't have much time at school or on my dad's computer to write.

I hope it was worth the wait however, we'll be seeing Kagura again next chapter as well as some other familiar characters. Thank you to everyone who's reviewed! I just realized how many this story's gotten and I'm truly thankful for all the great comments you've all left.

Take care minna!

K.C.