PREVOIUS CHAPTER: THE PACK AND THE LEADER

She jumped off the bed and hopped over to him. She gazed out the window. "Wow! It's amazing!" she said. Their room was obviously up high because it over looked the large forest and they even saw towering mountains in the distance. Kagome felt Inuyasha's arm wrap around her and pull her close. She snuggled up to him and they stood in the window watching the sunset.

CHAPTER 10: THE CRUEL LIFE

It took awhile for Kagome to get Inuyasha into bed. He had refused to sleep in the same bed as her. She wasn't sure why, because it wasn't like they were going to have sex or anything she just wanted to have the comfort of being close to him even as she slept. "Kagome, look I just don't think it's right ok? Do we really have to argue about this? Come on will you just give it a rest?" Inuyasha said almost growling at her.

Kagome was taken aback. "Where are you goin' to sleep then? On the ground? There is a huge bed and I'm not even going to take up half of it so stop being such a pain and admit you want to sleep in the bed with me!"

He studied her for a moment turning away and in almost a whisper said, "I…I just don't feel right ok…"

What now he shows he has some kind of morals? He can be so stubborn sometimes I swear! Kagome thought to herself. She stepped closer to him and placed her hand on his shoulder. Wow he seems tense. He turned his face to her reveling a saddened expression. "Inuyasha we aren't doing anything we're not supposed to do. All we're doing is sleeping I don't know why you're acting so weird about this whole thing."

His eyes seemed to pierce right through he very soul and she knew he was reading her. Once Kagome had realized that she was a hanyou her and Inuyasha's relationship had grown a lot. Also that fact that the priestess Kikyo was now gone forever there was really no one in to way of their bond between one another. Inuyasha broke the silence, "Well I guess that there's really no harm in it after all."

Kagome smiled, "See I knew that you would see it my way after all!" she said before running off and gabbing her pajamas from her backpack. She looked for a place to change and saw a part of the room that branched off into a little sitting room. She walked over and peeked her head out to make sure that Inuyasha couldn't see her, "Don't come over here I'm changing!" she yelled before dropping her clothes and pulling on sweatpants and a little tank top. Since she had grown know there was at least six inches of her stomach showing and she was barely covering enough of her breasts. I really need to buy some more clothes or people are going to think I'm a slut! She felt very self-conscious. She peeped behind the wall and saw that Inuyasha was looking out the window. She ran and hopped into bed right as Inuyasha turned and gave her a questioning look as she had already pulled the blankets up to her chin. He yawned and pulled off his Hairo and his white shirt that was underneath it. Kagome had seen him without his shirt on before, but she never really took into account at all the muscles that lined his stomach or arms. Well after all he is in a lot of battles and he does almost always run. She quickly looked away as he climbed into bed.

She laid there for a couple minutes. It felt to her like Inuyasha was on the other side of the room because the bed was so large. She growled to herself. She heard Inuyasha chuckle, "What's your problem now? Am I not close enough to you?"

How did he know what I was thinking she thought? "Well it's just that you're way on the other said and it's just stupid ok!"

He laughed, "Tell you what. How about we meet in the middle and then we'll be close enough together ok?"

"That's better," she said pushing herself to the middle.

They met and their bodies touched. He looked at her and grinned. His hand moved her hair out of her eyes. "You don't realize how beautiful you are do you Kagome?"

She felt her cheeks warm and she looked away from his gaze. He slid his arms around her and pulled her up against him. She snuggled into him and placed her head on the crook of his arm with her head nestled in his warm chest. Everything about him amazed her and left her wanting more of him. He was her day and night. Her fantasy come to life. And she knew that in that moment her life was meant to always be with him. She needed nothing else, but the man holding her. "Oh Inuyasha I love you so much."

She felt him kiss her head. "I love you too Kagome."

With the comfort of his embrace she slowly fell asleep in his arms.

Following morning:

Sunlight filled the large room at Inuyasha opened his amber eyes. Birds were singing their morning songs and he heard people moving around downstairs, but he didn't care one bit. Kagome still lay next to him. One of her arms laid carelessly on his chest and one of her legs intertwined with his. Her tail lay across both of his legs and wrapped around his foot. Her head was also lying on his chest with her brownish gray hair lying all around him. He smiled down at her and watched her slow calm breaths caress his chest. She was so beautiful and so amazing. He didn't know how she did it, but she was the only person that he felt to most comfortable with. She brought comfort all around her and her aura radiated with peace and love. Oh Kagome, Kagome, Kagome… She must have heard his thoughts because she stirred. He watched her eyes flutter and she stretched her muscles and body. She yawned revealing her fangs and snuggled back to his body. She looked up at his smiling face and she smiled in return. She yawned again and then spoke, "How long have you been awake?"

"Not too long. Did you sleep well?" he asked pushing her bangs away from her face.

She pulled herself up pulling the blankets up to her knees that were pulled up to her body. He saw he beautiful smile and sat up beside her. "We should get up and around the days minutes are ticking away as we sit here," he said getting ready to push himself out of bed. Before he knew it Kagome had grabbed him around the waist and pulled him back down to the bed. She snuggled up to him and whispered in his ear, "We can just lay here all day don't you think?"

He rolled over so that they were inches apart, "Sounds tempting, but you know we can't do that. Not here."

"Fine, fine. You're no fun ya know that?" she said playfully hopping out of bed with ease and finding her bag. She pulled her kimono out of her bad and went to dress. Before she did this however she turned and stuck her tongue out at him and said, "No peeking!"

He laughed and got out of bed in return. They were ready within minutes and headed downstairs. They vaguely remembered the way that the servant had brought them up and found their way downstairs. They followed their noses to where the scent of food was coming and found a large room. In the center of the room was a large rectangular table where mountains of breakfast like dishes stood. Wow look at all this food! Inuyasha thought as him and Kagome looked at the table in awe. A door opened to the side of the room and Natilruh and Kando stepped in. "Oh I see you've found the breakfast table," Natilruh said smiling.

"Well just grab a plate and find some food and we'll go outside and eat in the gardens," she said as she prepared her and Kando's meals.

It wasn't long before Inuyasha's plate was overflowing with food. Kagome giggled and poked him in the stomach, "Watch it or you'll get fat dog-boy!"

He smiled and stuck his tongue out at her, "Well I can just work it off unlike you."

"Now that wasn't very nice! You'll pay for that ya' know!" she said trailing behind Natilruh out to the gardens.

Natilruh sat in a shaded area surrounded by willows and a stream. "This is where Kando and I usually eat our meals," she informed them as they sat.

It was still morning and a little breezy, but not to bad as they began their meal. Natilruh watched Inuyasha and Kagome eat their meals while she took a couple bites. It didn't take the two hanyou's to scarf down their meals. "So, shall we go visit the villagers?" Natilruh asked rising to her feet.

Kagome nodded and her and Inuyasha followed. Little Kando followed his mother. She felt it odd that neither of the two had eaten very much and were both still carrying their dishes while a servant had taken away her and Inuyasha's empty plates. Natilruh took Kando in one arm and jumped a high wooden wall that was surrounding the gardens. Kagome and Inuyasha followed her over the fence. In didn't take long till they reached the small village and when they did arrive they entered a small hut off to the side of the main road. A small female wolf demon and her two small children sat around the small fire to the side of their hut. The small woman stood up and rushed to Natilruh giving her a large hug. "Oh Natilruh it has been awhile. What is it you're visit brings today my good friend?" said the woman.

The woman was very small and she look deprived of sleep. Kagome felt pity on the woman. The children looked bad also, but not as bad as the woman did. Natilruh placed her plate of food on the floor and Kando did the same. The woman look at Natilruh with tears in her eyes, "Oh Natilruh…you didn't have to do this."

Natilruh smiled and placed her hands on the woman's shoulders, " You need this more than I, and this is what friends are for."

The woman smiled and thanked Natilruh again. "Ok kids Natilruh has blessed us once again with food. Now what do we say?" the woman said sitting down.

The children all look up at Natilruh and in unison thanked her over and over again. The smallest child ran up and hugged Natilruh and Kando. Before they left Kagome looked back and saw the mother sitting off to the side as her children ate. Now I know why she looks so small. She's giving what little food she has to her children. Kagome choked back the tears as Natilruh led them out of the village and into the woods where they had met the previous day. She led them out of the passage from behind the waterfall and into some of the surrounding wood. "Natilruh why are we out here?" asked Kagome looking around.

"Because here we can talk without someone over hearing. Here I can say whatever the hell I want and this place is not under that damn Bengku's rule!" she said hotly sitting herself on a falling down tree nearest her.

"Mom can I go play with the fox demons?" Kando asked looking up at his mother hopefully.

"Of course. Be careful and try not to play to ruff. They are after all foxes dear." She said patting her sons head.

Kagome watched the child bounce off and smiled. She looked back at Natilruh and noticed that she was already in a conversation with Inuyasha. She sat beside him and listened. "Natilruh why are the villagers so weak and poor? Bengku isn't even acting like a leader. He has all the riches for himself yet he lets his people starve?" Inuyasha said in disgust.

Natilruh shook her head. "I know. I hate my brother. He is one of the vilest creatures on the face of this earth. It doesn't help with that nasty wench and child of his either."

Kagome was disgusted at the fact Inuyasha made. If Natilruh was right those were her people suffering like that. There was no reason that any living thing should be treated like that. She didn't know her uncle very well, but she knew that what he was doing to her people was wrong and she didn't like it at all. "Natilruh is there anyway we can help? I take pity on the village and all the people in it." Kagome said looking down.

Kagome looked up and Natilruh was smiling. "I like your attitude Kagome. You barely know anything about this pack and yet you still want to help. You have a good heart and I can tell you're very strong."

Kagome blushed. "There is one thing we can do, but we need to wait for the right time. I want you to think about it for a time because I don't want you to just jump into something you don't understand fully. I still have things to tell you, but not now. Not with Inuyasha here. I'm afraid if I tell you he'll do something foolish and irrational."

"Why do you say that for?" Inuyasha growled.

Natilruh laughed out loud. "Inuyasha I have been watching Kagome for a long time and I've noticed how you are. It's not a stab at you it's just how you are and you would do anything for Kagome. Even help with her pain."

Inuyasha grumbled and look away. Kagome could tell he was mad well she could sense it really. "Natilruh what are your plans?" Kagome asked.

"I want to overthrow my brother," she said nobly.

Kagome thought fast. There must be more to this then she's saying. There just has to be. What's this that she can say to only me and not in front of Inuyasha anyway? "Natilruh are you sure about this?" she asked looking at her aunt.

"Yes, I am," she said standing up. She put her fingers to her lips and whistled. Kagome and Inuyasha winced at the noise that rang through their ears and got up.

Moments later Kando came bounding through the wilderness. "Oh mom do we have to go back?" he asked giving his mother a whine.

"You know the answer to that. Your uncle will get suspicious if we don't return soon," she said as they headed back to the castle or whatever the place Bengku lived in.

LATER:

Kagome sat in her room with Inuyasha as they talked. He sat at the top of the bed with his legs crossed as Kagome laid on her side looking up at him. "What do you think she's not telling us?" she asked more to herself then to him.

"Beats me, but she don't want me to know so what's the point?" he said as he pulled his sword out of its sheath and began to sharpen the blade.

"You know that really hurts my ears!" she said as she rolled herself up and walked over to the side of the room where there was a large bookshelf.

"You'll get over it you always do," he said not taking his eyes off his sword.

Someone knocked of the door and Kagome went to open it. Ganjel's snaky figure stood in the doorway. Today she had on a long pale gray dress that hung off her skeleton and drug to the floor. She sized Kagome up with one flick of her black eyes and is a wispy voice said, "My mate would like to see you downstairs and I'm to escort you there."

Kagome heard Inuyasha sheath his sword and walk behind her. Ganjel flicked her eyes to him and said in a degrading voice, "He does not want to see you. Kagome will be the only one going."

"Kagome goes know where without me," he said glaring at her.

"Well she does know so go back to what you were doing dog. She won't be gone long," with that said she turned and began walking away.

Kagome shot Inuyasha a quick look. He looked furious. He walked up to Kagome, "Be careful ok? I don't trust these demons."

She nodded and left blowing him a kiss as she shut the door behind her. It seemed like she had walked the length of the castle before they arrived at a dark room. Kagome stepped in and in front of her was a large fireplace where a large chair sat shielding her from its occupant. A voice came from behind the chair, "Thank you my sweet now you may go."

With that Ganjel slicked out of the room. "Come Kagome sit by me."

Kagome walked slowly in front of the chair to where she saw her uncle sitting. She sat in a chair beside him. He looked more evil in front of the glowing embers. His features seemed sunk in and he was dark much darker than she had thought. "It has been a long time since I have seen you my dear." He said with an evil grin on his lips.

Kagome didn't really know what to say so she just nodded. He uncle looked at her deeply. She felt a chill run down her back and she turned away from his gaze. "My how you've grown. When I last saw you, you were an infant." He seemed to think a moment and then looked into the fire. "Natilruh took you into the village today. You saw how pitiful my people look. Our people Kagome. I bet she wanted you to feel sympathy for them didn't she?" He laughed and shook his head. "The heart of my sister is too big. I bet she didn't tell you of the disease that cursed my people many months ago did she? No, she didn't. It's true a disease killed at least a quarter of my people. They are slowly recovering, but they still need help. My soldiers have been feeding them when they need it since it's not the growing season, but I can't feed them all you know."

Kagome laughed to herself. Yeah sure that's why at every meal you stuff you face. Do you think of the people then? She wanted to say something, but something told her to hold her tongue. "Kagome I want you to take into consideration what Natilruh says. She is trying to raise a son all alone. Her husband died about a year ago and it's been very tuff on her."

Well duh she thought. "I hope that you stay in my home longer. We need to make up the lost time niece. Well that is all I have to say. See you at dinner." He said dismissing her.

She wasn't sure what to say so she got up and headed out, "Good-bye uncle," she said heading back to her room. It took her forever to find her room, but she finally did. She opened up the door and shut it. She looked around the room and found Inuyasha curled up on the bed fast asleep. She smiled to herself and sat down beside him. She moved her had to his face and brushed his bangs from his eyes and traced the outlines of his face. She pulled her hand away and sighed to herself. "Hey you know that felt kinda nice why'd ya stop?" a groggy hanyou's voice said.

"I was just thinking that's all." She said looking back at him.

He yawned and sat up. "So what'd he say?"

"He was just defending himself against the way the people in the village looked. Nothing really."

He nodded and yawned again. "I do know one thing though. I need to talk to Natilruh." She said.

Sorry it took so long. I was really busy for the holidays some of u know how it is so yeah. Hope u liked!

Disclaimer: I sadly don't own Inuyasha or any of the original characters of the anime/manga. However Natilruh, Sanku, Bengku, Ganjel, Benhi, and Kando are my own creations and they're all mine!