Chapter Four
Danger in the Moonlight

'That night, every wolf slept together under the full moon. The skies had cleared up when Kagome was in the arms of Kouga, the new wolf leader of the west. The wolves secretly whispered to each other, wondering if this strange human girl had mystical powers. As the initiation rites had ended, the wolves cuddled together in a great mass, Kouga leading Kagome to the outskirts of the circle back to his cave.

'"Its not good for you sleep out with the rest of the wolves, with the poison, you could get a lot sicker if you stayed outside too long. Its best you come inside with me."

'"Um…" Kagome held back, slipping her hand away from him. "Are you sure? I mean…you are the leader of the wolves now. I'm sure me being with you isn't, well, really…accepted. With being a human…." She trailed off.

'Kouga turned towards her with a serious look. "Listen to me Kagome. You are just as important as all the wolves out there. Don't ever question that you don't deserve it." He turned back around and gave her a sidelong glance, "You're more important to me. And you deserve to be treated like it. The wolves will learn to respect you."

'Kagome nodded, but wasn't so sure. Kouga hadn't seen the way she had been treated in the circle, and was worried she would cause a lot more trouble than she liked.

'Kouga led her to her usual spot in the cave where she had slept two nights before and curled up next to it on the bare cold stone. She lay down and cuddled in the warm furs. "Kouga, you can't sleep on the cave floor, it's freezing tonight!"

'"I'll be fine. You're the one that needs them."

'"Kouga." She said sternly, "You are not freezing your butt off all night!"

'"Men don't get cold." He said with a grin, "Now go to sleep."

'"Kouga? Kouga!" Kagome fumed, but he didn't answer. Acting like he'd gone straight to sleep. She laid down with her back to him, pulling the quilts all around her. Her irritated scowl melted into a weak grin, shaking her head at him.

'"Goodnight Kouga…" She whispered, never knowing if he heard her at all.

'--- --- ---

Something shook Kagome's shoulder. "Go away…" She grumbled, turning over. It shook her harder, shaking the quilts right off of her. She searched from them with her fingers and turned around hugging them. "I said…like, five more hours…please…"

'"Lady Kagome!!!"

'She cringed and shot up, finally opening her eyes. "WHAT?"

There, Ginta and Hakakku welcomed her with bright grinning faces far to pleasant for so early in the morning. "Oh…its you guys. Sorry…" She yawned and fell back over, fully intending to go back to sleep.

'"Lady Kagome! You have to get up!" Hakkaku said, yanking at her blankets, "We're leaving soon!"

'"Sure…have fun…"

'"Lady Kagome you get up right now!" They both took her by an ankle and dragged her away from her bed.

'She finally snapped fully awake. "Let me go right now!" She cried, pulling her legs away. "Sheesh! I'm up! I'm up!"

'"Good!" Ginta beamed happily, "Here's your breakfast! Eat fast!"

'A bowl was shoved into her arms and they left quickly, shouting at each other.

'Kagome eyed it sleepily. It looked like some oatmeal. She smacked her lips and yawned, taking a sip. It didn't taste so bad. She scratched her head and eyed her shadow, her hair so jumbled and sticking every which-way, she thought she looked like a bush. She matted it down and drank the rest of her oatmeal and made her way outside, stretching pleasurably, hearing several bones pop.

'It was before sunrise, everything still dark in pre-morning twilight. Most of the wolves were already awake, mingling among each other. She thought it was a perfect time to go and wash up while everyone was still busy.

'She made her way down the hill the pups lead her down yesterday to the lake, the spray of the waterfall so refreshing on her face. She kneeled down, splashed her face with the cold water, and smoothed back her hair, standing up and taking her shirt off.

'She froze. She was not alone.

Kouga was in the far end of the lake, his back turned to her. Kagome stood in shock, stopping her breathing for fear he might turn around. He was basking in a waterfall, his hair let loose and hugging to his back. Kagome could only stand. And stare. The water lapped low on his hips, only a slight adjustment and nothing could be left to her imagination. He lifted his head and washed back his hair in the water, the full length grazing at his waist. Kagome felt her entire body go red with embarrassment, but her feet refused to move anywhere.

He took handfuls of water and scrubbed himself clean, and Kagome could smell the thick stench of blood in the air. She dared to peek between the fingers that covered her eyes, seeing the blood paint that he had on last night still fresh on his body. He ran his fingers through his hair as he stood under the waterfall, combing through the long black tresses as the water around him clouded red.

'Kagome almost screamed as he began to turn around, she looked around for anything to hide behind—and spotted the boulder to her side. She grabbed her shirt and dove behind it just as Kouga turned, sniffing at the air. He stood still for a moment, looking in her direction, sniffing the air with a serious look on his face. He began to wade across the lake in her direction, and she sank further behind the rock, feeling like she might die if he saw her!

"Master Kouga!" A wolf ran to the lake from the other direction, "Master Kouga! The wolves are fighting again!"

'"Can't you take care of that?" He groaned, exasperated, "I'll be right there." He strolled out of the water and shook himself out, not really seeming to care that the other wolf saw him without any clothes. Kagome felt like her cheeks were on fire. Of all things to happen!!

'He ringed his hair out and put on something to cover himself and took the rest of his clothes with him, dressing as he followed the other wolf. Kagome made sure they were long gone before she stood in silence for a moment…

'Kouga stopped following the wolf and took a last look at the rock she hid behind. He slowly turned around and disappeared from sight.

' She let out a heavy breath and clutched her shirt to her mouth, hyperventilating into it. "So—incredibly—stupid—I—can't—believe—I—just—saw-that!!" She pulled her shirt away and took in deep breaths, her whole face hot with humiliation. She collapsed at the shore of the water and splashed some water in her face and smoothing her hair back. "Okay, Kagome. This never happened." She spoke to herself, and she couldn't help but grin and start laughing at herself despite how mortified she was. She took just long enough to comb some water through her hair and pull it back into a braid and wash her face and arms before she went back to the wolves.

'She saw that most of them were already ready to leave, their sleeping places all cleaned up and every wolf in sight gathered in the large plain just before the entrance of the forest. She looked around to find Kouga, and spotted him giving out orders to the wolves that were near him. She walked up to him, and he turned from them for just a moment to look at her, and made a rueful smirk. "I've been wondering where you were! Here," he handed her backpack to her and turned back to the wolves. "Do you understand? We'll all meet by the mouth of the river tonight to make camp. Don't get lost, you hear? I don't need Naraku picking you off like fools."

'He waved them away and they scampered off, though some turned back to give Kagome looks of disgust. She turned away from them nervously and faced Kouga. "So, why are we all splitting up and not traveling in one group?" she asked.

'Kouga scoffed. "And let ourselves be seen from 50 miles away by Naraku's demons? If we travel in smaller groups then maybe no one will know what's going on, and that's all the better for us. I don't need Naraku and his incarnations devouring us one by one." He forced a smile and led her away, "You'll be coming with me, and I want you to stay close, alright?" He stepped closer to her, his eyes suddenly full of concern. "If Naraku finds you with me, there will be no stopping him from taking you." He held her by the shoulders and looked deeply into her eyes. She felt her cheeks go crimson as he looked upon her. "Kagome, this will not be an easy journey. Getting to East Rock will take five weeks on foot. We have to be careful, we can't be seen by Naraku, and there will be countless dangers along the way. …Are you sure you want to come?"

'She gazed at Kouga, and saw a faint guilt in his eyes. She knew it was because he asked her to go with him, knowing how much danger she would be in if she did. But Kagome was more certain about this than anything in her whole life. Going on this journey with Kouga was a strange, and liberating feeling for her. She felt like she was starting a new life. A way to mend her broken heart from Inuyasha. It was her own choice. And she would be damned if she went back because she was afraid.

'"No." She said firmly, putting a hand on his arm. "I'm not going back. I'm coming with you, Kouga."

'He stared at her, boldly moving his hands from her shoulders and cupping them around her hand. "Thank you, Kagome." He said quietly.

'The wolves around stopped with what they were doing and watched them, turning and whispering to each other. Kagome looked at his hands around hers. "I'm not going to lie to you Kouga, I'm really scared of what will happen… But I'm still coming. I want to come."

'He silently nodded. Letting go of her hands slowly and shaking himself into a small grin, "Where were you this morning? No one could find you!"

'"Oh!" She scratched her head, laughing nervously, "Oh, you know, just around! Ehehehe…" she turned away. "Would you look at the time?! Better go do…that thing I needed to do—well, see you later!" She ran away before he could even say anything.

'Kouga looked off at her oddly and shrugged his shoulder with a sigh. "Must have been something I said…"

'--- --- ---

'They left only an hour after the sun had risen over the mountains, the early morning bright with sunlight and not a cloud in the sky after last night. The groups split into all directions and far away from each other in the forest. Each group had roughly twenty wolves in each, and none brought any supplies with them. Kagome set out with Kouga and his group, the farthest from any other wolves, she couldn't even see a trace of anyone through the trees.

'They trudged the whole morning through the forest, and Kagome felt fatigue gripping her tighter with each passing hour. When they finally stopped at noon to drink some water from the river, she practically collapsed. She took the water bottle from her bag and drank it desperately, draining almost the entire bottle. Taking a moment to rub some feeling back into her numb legs, she wiped the sweat from her forehead and crawled to the river to refill her bottle. She stood on her shaking legs and hopelessly wished Kilala was around to ride on, or that she had her bike.

'Only a few minutes passed before they were off again through the rough forest. Jumping over fallen trees, maneuvering around bush and rocks and unsteady ground. Kagome stuck to the back of the group, not wanting Kouga, or any of them to see how tired she was.

'The afternoon sun rose high in the sky, blazing hot on top of them and the forest floor steaming below them. She rubbed her hand across her face and blinked off into the distance, trailing farther behind them than she had a few hours ago. She felt weary and exhausted, but forced herself to take one step after the other. Her legs seared with the last of her strength. It smoldered and throbbed where the spider demon had bitten her on her thigh, like she had been bitten that same day.

'She finally stopped for just a moment and leaned on her knees to catch her breath. Her vision blurred, and she tried to reach into her bag for her water. Her shaking hands only brushed against her bag before it fell to the ground off her shoulder. She swallowed hard on her dry throat and tried to move and pick it up, but only stumbled and fell to her knees. She closed her eyes tight, the world spinning around her. Her mouth tried to form words to shout for help, but nothing would come…and she collapsed on the ground.

'I'm going to die here…. The last thought bleakly ran through her mind before everything went dark.

'--- --- ---

'"Hey, where's that human girl?" A wolf said, looking behind him. 'I thought she was right behind me."

'Another wolf stopped and looked out behind them. "I don't see anything..." His face went cross, "Exactly how long has it been since you saw her!?"

'The wolf thought for a moment. "…A couple of hours."

'"Ugh!" The wolf hit him on the head, and a few others stopped to look at them, and peered out to the dense forest to look for Kagome.

'"Hey! What's the hold up!" Kouga stopped and joined the rest of his pack, "Are you tired already?"

'"Uh, Kouga…um, sir…" One wolf mumbled, scratching his head, "We can't seem to find that human girl." He shrank back, preparing to be slaughtered. But Kouga made no move to strike him.

'"What?" he gasped, squinting into the distance. He pushed the other wolves aside, knocking them to the ground and covered his eyes from the sun, searching. He saw nothing. "How could you let this happen!" He seethed, and turned to them all, clenching his fists in rage, his face twisted in anger. "All of you—keep going until you reach the river where the rest of the wolves are. I'm going to look for her."

'"But master Kouga—you cant go searching for her know! The sun is almost down!"

'"Shut up and do as your told!"

'The wolves shrank back from his intense glare and ran off. Kouga looked to the already sinking sun and wasted no time in running off into the opposite direction to look for Kagome. His sharp eyes combed through the thick trees, his heart beating so fast it rattled inside of his ears and scalded behind his eyes. He was but a fading blur to anything to could see him, running as fast as his legs could take him. If you're dead, Kagome… his thoughts whispered, and he shuttered before he could even think of the rest. He ran faster.

'The sun sank below the mountains and darkness blanketed the forest. He focused his eyes harder, trying to pick out anything that could be her in the distance. A small glint caught his eye and he slowed down for just a moment, peering out before him. His eyes went wide. The Shikon Jewel.

'"Kagome!"

A raven landed next to Kagome's cold body. Its head twitched as it looked at her, sifting through her pockets and bag for some small morsel of food. Its clawed feet jumped on her belly and it crawled around, picking at her shirt. It suddenly eyed the jewel that hung from her soft neck and scampered closer to it. It cawed as it saw it, its eyes glowing red. The bird tore at her necklace with its feet and bit the jewel in its beak. The girl stirred and it froze, hearing a male voice call her name. It backed away from the jewel and cawed again, flying away.

His master would be very pleased….

"Kagome!" Kouga dropped to his hands and knees as her saw her and grabbed her shoulders. "Kagome!" He shook her, so limp in his arms that he feared the worst. "Kagome!" he pleaded, "Don't be dead, don't be dead…" He shook her harder and smoothed back the hair from her forehead, letting his fingers trail down her cool cheek. Still, she made no move. A fire of tears burned behind his eyes, and he held her close to him, cradling her in his arms. "Please wake up Kagome…"

He stroked her hair, and tried to feel her faint heartbeat, but his hand trembled so badly he dared not even try. He closed his eyes and prayed she was alive.

Kagome shifted in his arms slightly, groaning softly. "Who…who are you?"

Kouga lifted his head and blinked away his foggy sight, a smile gracing his lips. "K-Kagome!" He hugged her closer, "I was so afraid…I…I'm so glad your okay!"

Kagome closed her eyes again and fell back in his arms. "I thought I was going to die…oh, Kouga, I'm so…tired."

He rocked her in his arms, regaining some of his voice. "I'm sorry Kagome. This is all my fault." He said harshly, "I shouldn't have pushed you so hard."

"Don't be sorry, Kouga, Its not your fault." She said, and forced a smile on her pale lips. "I should have been able to handle it…. I don't know why I'm so…" She couldn't find the sense to finish her words.

"Don't talk," Kouga soothed, "Just rest for now." He held her close so she could rest on his body. She closed her eyes as her ordered her to rest and already she breathed deep in sleep. Kouga sat his back against a large rock nearby, her head nuzzled on his chest, her body cradled against his.

He thought for a moment of carrying her back to the camp with the rest of the wolves, but that thought was quickly dismissed. Kagome was far too weak to be traveling any more tonight. He sighed heavily and put his arms around her, letting his touch linger on her bare arms for just a moment. Her pale skin glowed in the moonlight like a magic spell that consumed him. He let his fingers gently trace down the soft skin of her cheeks. Her eyelashes fluttered at his touch in her sleep, shifting in his embrace and setting her hand on his chest just above his heart. "Kouga…" she murmured quietly, her hand slipping down from his heart to around his stomach.

He faintly smiled and brushed the beautiful stray hairs from her face, and bent down, kissing her lightly on her forehead. "If you only knew how much I loved you, Kagome…" he whispered to her, closing his eyes and falling asleep in her embrace.

And from far above, the crow watched them in the branches of a tree, glowering at both of them. Its eyes once again turned a bloody red. The crow ruffled its ebony feathers and cawed into the night, launching itself from the branches of the tree and flying to its masters castle. Far below it, the bushes stirred under the tree, a demon responding to the crows call.

"Destroy Kouga and take the Shikon Jewels…" The voice of Naraku whispered in the demon's mind. The creature snickered wickedly, and waited for morning to come. Kouga would not survive the day.

"Bring Kagome to me…"