Inuyasha: We're back.

Me: Yeah, I know.

Inuyasha: Can you start the story already?

Me: Okay.

Chapter 10

The Shadows

" Miroku, Shippou? Is that you?" I asked, with a concerning voice.

" Kagooommmeee!!!" was the reply of the smallest shadow, confirming my thoughts. But what I couldn't figure out was how they got here. I was tackled by the small kitsune, and Miroku picked me up and twirled me around. I giggled with laughter and screamed on accident. I covered my mouth and laughed. Miroku and Shippou looked at me, but got the point as three shadows appeared out of the darkness behind me.

" What's--" Inuyasha was cut off by Shippou.

" INUYASHA!!" he screamed and jumped on Inuyasha.

" Hi." Inuyasha sounded a little annoyed, but I could see he was happy to see Shippou.

" Inuyasha, Kouga, Sesshomaru." Miroku went over to each of the guys and shook their hands. Inuyasha pulled him into a hug.

" Kagome, ready to go back?" Kouga came up behind me and tickled my leg with his tail.

" Of, course." I said through giggles.

" Follow me back. Okay?" came the distinctive voice of Kouga. He picked me up and kissed me, nuzzling his nose into the crook of my neck.

" Are they an item now?" I heard Miroku whisper to Inuyasha.

" Yeah, actually," I said with a smile, " We are an item."

" Oh, okay." Miroku looked at me puzzled. But he then figured it out by my new wolf-like instincts why I was so alert. Only one way I could have gotten to be like a wolf.....

" Kouga, where's Keiba?" I asked a little puzzled and in wonderment of where the wolf boy had gotten to.

" He wanted to stay back." Kouga said without emotion.

" When we get back to the camp we should talk to Miroku and figure out how he got here. We might be able to get back out that way." I said in an enthusiastic tone.

" Okay." he said so simply that I began to wonder if something had happened while I had been on my short, but quiet walk.

When we got back I looked at Keiba and saw he had fresh scratches and bruises on him. I asked him to lift his shirt and saw he had terrible bruises on his back and front. I turned to Kouga and looked at him sternly.

" WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM?!!" I screamed at Kouga. It was my turn to be angry.

" What are you talking about?" Kouga asked.

" These." I motioned to the scratches and bruises on Keiba's body.

" Oh, well." he scratched his head and I looked at him with fire in my eyes.

" Oh, well nothing. You are so pathetic. We treat others nicely no matter how mean they might be in the beginning." I said sternly looking at Kouga angrily.

" Sorry." he said with a sad look in his eyes.

" SORRY IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH!!" I screamed at him. I stomped over to where I had placed the first aid kit and got it out.

" As soon as I clean you up, go get Akira and Tidus. Tell them that if they want to leave this island we will be welcome to take them with us. Okay?" I said a little flustered. Keiba nodded.

When I finished Keiba set off into the forest and I put up the first aid kit. The whole time Kouga and the others had just watched me.

" WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT!!??" I screamed and burst into tears. Kouga understood and swept me up and over to the hot springs.

" What happened to him?" I cried into Kouga's chest.

" I beat him up because he was going through your personal things. I mean personal." he said quietly and kissed my hair.

I looked up at him and sunk to the ground at his feet. I fiddled with the dirt and grass, and looked up at Kouga. He looked so majestic and would never do anything to hurt me or my feelings or anything like that.

" I am sorry for yelling you and getting angry. It's just I can be so stupid sometimes." I said , dropping my head down. Kouga knelt down next to me and picked me up so that I was standing straight up.

" It's okay. I understand. I am not as mad you think and I can't easily get mad at you anymore, cause I trust you. No matter what you say I know you would never lie to me." he said comforting me.

I rested my head on his chest and listened to his heart beating.

" I trust you too. It's just I forget sometimes that you would never try to hurt me or make me mad." I said to him.

He brushed his fingers through my hair and hugged me tight.

" I know that too. Let's go back. Maybe Keiba, Akira , and Tidus are back. We might actually be able to get back if we talk to Miroku." he said to me, picking me up and carrying me back to the camp.

We soon arrived back at the camp and Keiba was back with the others. I walked over to where Kouga would usually sleep and laid down. I listened to them talk, but heard little since I drifted off to sleep.

Later on that day, I felt someone tapping my shoulder. I opened my eyes slowly to see Miroku kneeling beside me. He had my stuff and the camp was cleaned up. Everyone had their things with them. We were finally going to go back.

" Let's go. Do you want to go with Inuyasha, Sesshomaru, Keiba, or Kouga? We need to get going." he asked sweetly.

" Is there any way I could go with you?" I asked sleepily.

" Yeah, sure. Hop on my back." he said turning around. I jumped on his back and he began to run over to where everyone was standing.

" She wants to ride with me." he said simply and I looked around as everyone nodded. Shippou jumped onto Inuyasha's back, Akira jumped on Keiba's back, Tidus looked at Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru sighed.

" Get on." he said dully. Tidus jumped on Sesshomaru's back. Kouga took up the front of the group, followed by Miroku, then Inuyasha and Sesshomaru, and lastly Keiba brought up the back of the group. Suddenly, Miroku went up to Kouga and tapped him on the back.

" I should lead the group. No offense. You're a great leader, but I know the way, remember?" he said and Kouga nodded. He stepped behind Miroku, but before taking his place, he kissed me on my cheek. I giggled and held on tight as Miroku and began to run. I laid my head down on his back.

" Why did you come back with Shippou? Why not Sango or Kaede?" I asked him as he ran through the forest.

" I wanted to and I just missed seeing your smiling face." I looked over at Kouga and saw him grin at me and Miroku.

" Be careful. Kouga can hear you." I whispered to him and he turned his head sideways and smiled at me. I giggled and looked over at Kouga again. I smiled at him and he smiled back.

" We're almost there! Everyone get ready and hold on tight!" he yelled at the others.

We soon reached a part of the forest I hadn't been in before and ran straight for the tress. I screamed and closed my eyes.

I felt a swirling sensation and when I opened my eyes we were back in feudal Japan. I looked back and saw the others burst out of the trees.

" Can we go to Kouga's cave? Please?" I asked Miroku. He nodded and took a turn to the left.

We came out of the forest and ran for a while until we reached the waterfall.

I jumped off of Miroku's back and saw Yuuokami. I ran to her and hugged her. Immediately, the entire cave encircled me and began greeting me and welcoming me back. Kouga made his way through the crowd and grabbed me. He shoved his way to the back of the cave where we usually slept.

" I feel dirty again? Where can I take a bath or something?" I asked and he looked at me smiling.

" Follow me.." he said and disappeared around the corner where I had thought the cave ended. I followed him and saw him kneeling beside a beautiful pool of water with little waterfalls everywhere.

" It's beautiful." I said holding my breath for a few seconds.

" When you're ready to get out just tell me and I will get Yuuokami to get you some fresh clothes, okay?" he said.

" Wait. Do you wish to join me?" I asked looking at him deviously.

" Later. Okay?" he said looking at me. I looked down and whimpered.

" What? You don't love me anymore?" I teased him a bit. He beckoned me over to where he stood and held me in his arms for a few seconds, all the while letting his tail tickle my legs and arms gently.

" Of, course not." he whispered and walked away. I sighed, got undressed, and stepped into the water.

I was soon done and called to Kouga telling him I was done.

Yuuokami came around the corner with clothes, just like Kouga's but without the armor. I put the clothes on and she left. Kouga came around the corner and sat down next to the pool of water and beckoned me over. I walked over to where he sat and sat between his legs. He put his arms around my waist and nuzzled my neck with his nose. We sat there for what felt like hours before he finally spoke.

" Are you ready? Everyone is out there." he said to me. I nodded and stood up with him. He put his arm out and I rested my arm on top of his. I smiled at him and he smiled back.

As soon as I came around the corner Sango, Kaede, and Kirara were all hugging me and saying how happy they were to see me.

We talked for a while and before I knew it, it was night and they all went home. Inuyasha, Keiba, Tidus, Akira, and Sesshomaru wanted to stay. As soon as we found somewhere for them to sleep, Kouga and I went back to where he slept.

I laid down and sighed.

" Tired. Ready to got to sleep?" I asked Kouga. He nodded grabbing the blanket and laying down next to me. He covered us up and I turned to face him. I felt his tail tickling me again so I stopped cause I needed to talk seriously to him.

" We need to go check on the house. Okay? Tomorrow?" I asked him and he nodded. I felt around for his tail and eventually found it. I grabbed it and turned over. Kouga put his arm around me and I fell asleep holding his tail.

Inuyasha: Pretty good story.

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