Okay! Here's part 2. I had a bit of a problem trying to develop the new character in this chapy, hopefully it will be believable enough for you guys… I'm still not quite satisfied with it, but hey the next part is already out so what can you do? J

"What? A jewel shard, which way Kagome?" Inuyasha's attention being refocused. Whatever problems Kouga might be causing in his relationship with Kagome could wait, at least for now.

"It's fading real fast. I can't really tell…." she trailed. "Wait! That way. No, now it's changing directions. I…" She turned to Kouga. "Kouga, could you take me"

"What are you asking him for?" Inuyasha exclaimed.

"With the jewel shards in his legs Kouga could get me there quicker and you could follow. This way we won't lose the shard, Inuyasha." Kagome explained. "Sure thing, anything for you Kagome." Kouga replied.

Man, I already feel a headache coming on and I've only been around the two of them a few minutes. I really need to go home after we collect this shard.

Kouga was trying to figure out if he should offer Kagome his back or just pick her up into his arms. He was half-tempted to have her mount him like when Inuyasha carries her just to spite the hanyo. But in the end he simply picked her up into his arms. She already associated that particular way of traveling with the hanyo and he needed to be identified separately. So in a cloud of dust they were gone. Inuyasha and crew not far behind.

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The foliage here in the forest was much thicker than what he was used to. It made maneuvering harder to do. At least he wouldn't be leaving any trails for others to follow. One thing the shard had given him an added advantage over. He had no idea that he even had the shard, at least not at first. Within a few days though, it was disturbingly difficult to ignore.

If it hadn't been for the weasel-demon attacking him, he most probably would have remained in blissful ignorance. Or so he would like to tell himself.

Well no matter. He thought. The weasel is dead and I am not. But what he was, was hungry. Food being the first priority of the day he headed south. The forest where he usually searched for food got way too dangerous now that he had the shard. Funny, I thought jewel shards are supposed to make your life easier not harder.

Having traveled for half a day he thought to take a rest near a river he encountered. It was too close to a human village for his liking, but he reasoned he'd be safer near humans. The irony of that thought was not lost on him. If he was alone in an unknown forest he would probably be fighting other greedy demons after the shard. But even demons, no matter how powerful would hesitate before nearing a human village. Alone, they pose no threat to demons but when they congregate they can be a deadly force indeed. In any case, the river was teeming with fish and his stomach called.

"Which way Kagome?" Kouga called. "It's just up ahead. I think by the river, it seems to have stopped and it's getting stronger." she said. Kouga looked back for a moment and after seeing Inuyasha following, picked up his speed just the tiniest bit. Inuyasha had picked up on the not so subtle message Kouga tossed back at him. A growl came from his before he picked up his own speed to catch up to the wolf.

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Okay people I had originally place the "fight scene" in this chapter but the more I thought on it, I didn't really like the way it turned out. So I've decided to throw it in in a flashback…

FLASHBACK?! YEAH! THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR FLASHBACKS!

So the story will move forward to the future and then here comes Kikyo! She has been sadly missing. Any suggestions or comments (besides burning the witch) would be appreciated. Anyways Enjoy!