A/N: Well, you guys can thank Jackie Malfoy for this chapter. She inspired me to write this, and I want to thank her again for her wonderful picture. I loved it and thought that it was neat that she found a base that had the female sitting between the male's legs. It was perfect and fit my description perfectly. Wow! I am still giddy over it. Anyways, I don't own IY, and now that I am slowly easing off of other works, I should be able to update quicker from this point on. You know the drill, and thank you for all of the reviews that you have given to me. They mean a lot to me. I am also going to say that there is a reference to a lemon in here, but no actual lemon. You will get to read that actual lemon on Anime Spiral in a few weeks when I start posting this story there. I have decided not to use Mediaminer, so AS will be the only place to find this lemon, and trust me, it will be a good one. When I update next, I will give a firm date as to when you can expect it.
When Kagome awoke, she found that Kouga was still in his wolf form and had his head resting on her stomach. She looked over and saw two other wolves that could only be Ginta and Hakkaku. They were curled up together and were also asleep. She suppressed a giggle and felt Kouga's head move. She looked down and saw that he was looking up at her. She gently patted his head.
"Everyone is still asleep, Kouga. Why not try to get some more rest? I am sure that we have a long day ahead of us, so you might as well relax as much as you can." She said, leaning over and kissing the top of his furry head.
Kouga yawned and then shook his head. He allowed his tongue to lick Kagome's hand and then he stood up. Moving over to where his friends were laying, he pushed one of them with his head and whined at him. The other two wolves raised their heads and stood up. Kouga walked back to where Kagome had placed his furs and armor and he picked up his fur wrap in his mouth. He gave a glance at Kagome again and then moved to a large thicket of bushes. Within a few minutes, Kouga emerged, back in his humanoid form. His hair was hanging down his back and his chest gleamed in the early morning sunlight. Soon, Ginta and Hakkaku joined him. Kouga crouched down beside Kagome.
"Did you sleep well, love?" He asked, leaning over to place a kiss upon her cheek. He smiled when Kagome nodded. He sat down behind her and pulled her backwards. He had enjoyed the previous evening and could not help but marvel at the woman in his arms. Not only did she accept him for the way he was, she was attracted to him and was not afraid to show him her feelings in either of his forms. He could not wait to mate her, and make her his woman for all of eternity.
He felt Kagome shift a bit, and then watched as she leaned her head up against his shoulder. She sighed happily and closed her eyes. Kouga smiled down at her, and then directed his attention to Ginta and Hakkaku.
"Ginta, I want you to scout ahead and look around. Hakkaku, I want you to go and hunt for breakfast. We are going to be moving out after we eat, so be sure to be quick in finding food." He ordered. When his men left, Kouga looked back down at Kagome, who had fallen back asleep in his arms. He lifted her up and moved her back to her bedding. After he had covered her, he moved to start a fire. Once it was going, he looked up at the sky and grimaced. The sky was dark and Kouga could tell that they would be in for some heavy rain later in the day. He would have Ginta and Hakkaku find them some shelter.
After Ginta and Hakkaku returned, Kouga woke Kagome up, and watched as she smiled at her friends. The monk and exterminator smiled back at her. The exterminator cocked her head and said, "So, do you think that Inu Yasha will try and follow us? I doubt that he will just sit back and let us find the shards on our own."
Kagome shrugged. "If he does follow us, that is his business. Right now, all I am concerned about is finding those shards and putting the jewel back together again." She replied.
Kouga narrowed his eyes. He could feel his stomach knot up at the thought of that mutt following them. Kagome was his woman, and he hated the fact that the mutt thought that she belonged to him. He growled low in his throat, and then looked away.
Kagome had heard Kouga's growl and looked over at him. She was curious as to why he would growl, but the look on his face spoke volumes. Apparently, he was upset about Inu Yasha and the prospect of him following their group. When Kouga stood up and announced that he was going to wash up, Kagome stood up and smiled apologetically at the group. She saw Sango nod, and turned to walk after her wolf.
Miroku stared after the couple. "Did I miss something?" He asked. Ginta shook his head. "One thing about wolves you need to understand, when we fall in love, we are viciously protective and jealous. Kouga is upset that Inu Yasha might be following us because he sees Kagome as his mate and his jealousy will only get stronger until they actually mate with each other. He is trying very hard not to push her, but sex is a very important aspect of our culture and he feels that the only way to keep the hanyou away from Kagome is to mate and mark her." He explained.
Miroku slowly nodded and then grinned lecherously. "I see. Well, I suppose by the time we get back to the den, our little Kagome will be a woman." He said, laughing.
Sango's eyes narrowed and she thwacked the monk upside of his head. "Keep your hentai thoughts to yourself, monk. Ginta, what happens if the wolf becomes jealous of another?" She asked, her glare locked upon the injured monk.
"Well, several things can happen. I can remember one time when a male grew so jealous over another male that he ended up killing his competition. It can get very nasty, especially when the jealous wolf is in a position of power. Kouga is the leader and prince of the wolf tribes and he views Kagome as the only woman good enough for him, so any other male will be seen as a threat until Kouga mates Kagome and possibly after. As I said before, sex is a huge part of our lives and though a wolf won't hurt their intended, everyone else is fair game. I suggest keeping the monk away from Kagome until she and Kouga mate. If Kouga sees him putting a finger on her, he will rip his hands off and give them to the wolves to play with." Ginta warned.
Sango nodded then looked at Miroku, who paled. He nervously nodded and then gazed at Sango's rear. He allowed a goofy smile to cross his lips and sighed. If he could not touch Kagome, then Sango will have to accept his caresses. He reached out to touch her soft backside, and felt the soft material of her uniform before feeling the sting of her slap. He fell backwards and into an instant slumber, a serene smile upon his lips.
Kagome followed Kouga back down to the hot spring and stopped when she saw him stiffen. He slowly turned around to look at her.
"I wanted to be by myself." He said, gruffly. He turned away from her and stared at the water.
"Did I do something wrong? Are you upset with me for something, Kouga?" Kagome asked, confused. Why was he acting this way?
Kouga bit back a snarl, but said, "You have done nothing, Kagome. And that is the problem. That damn mutt could be following us and you act like you don't give a damn. Do you have feelings for him? Would you like me to step down and walk away so that you can go to him? Is that what you want, Kagome?"
Kagome's lower lips trembled. Then it hit her. Kouga was jealous and needed her reassurance. Miku had warned her about this. Males were often jealous over other males they considered to be a threat to their relationship, and the usual way to reassure them was through physical contact. She took in a deep breath and walked slowly up behind him. She wrapped her arms around his waist and cuddled up to his back.
"I do not want Inu Yasha, Kouga. You are the only male that I want. I have never slept with Inu Yasha in the way that I sleep with you. He has never been in my bed and never will be. I have the male that I want, and that male is you. I love you, Kouga, and only you. The reason why I don't care if he is following is because I know that he is no threat to me as long as you are around." Kagome said, pressing herself closer to the wolf prince.
Kouga took in several deep breaths to calm himself down. He closed his eyes as he felt Kagome press her body against his and he softly groaned. The heat from her body was driving him insane and he really did not know how much longer he could take until the wolf inside of him demanded its right to claim their mate. He placed his hands over hers and pulled them apart. He turned to face her and saw that she was crying. Without a word, he tipped her chin up and gently licked away her tears, whining softly at her while nuzzling her soft skin. He pulled her to him and held her in a tight embrace, silently cursing himself for making her cry. Of course she wanted him. That damn wolf inside of him was growing anxious over the idea that the mutt would try to take their precious Kagome from them. That would never happen. Not while Kouga had a breath in his body.
A loud clap of thunder was heard, causing Kouga to pull back from Kagome and say, "We need to find shelter. Come on, let's go back to the others."
Kagome nodded and followed Kouga, smiling at his back and silently congratulating herself on a job well done. Miku had been right in telling her how to handle the wolf prince. However, the way he was holding her hand and his demeanor told Kagome that they were far from done with each other, and Kagome could only hope that the shelter they found would provide some privacy for what she knew would probably happen. Kouga would want to touch her, to show the wolf that she was theirs and to show her that she belonged to them. Well, perhaps it was time.
As soon as they got to camp, Kouga told everyone that it was time to leave. He sent Ginta and Hakkaku out to find shelter while they gathered their belongings. It did not take long for the two wolves to return and tell their leader about a small cave that was a few miles from where they were. Nodding, Kouga told them to lead the way. He lifted Kagome in his arms and carried her. Sango and Miroku rode on Kilala. All the way there, Miroku's hands wandered, causing the exterminator to smack him several times. By the time they got to the cave, Miroku's face was a huge bruise and he was grinning like a fool.
Kouga shook his head at the monk and set Kagome down. He would not allow her to go far from him, and told the other two wolves that he and Kagome were to be left alone. Nodding, Ginta and Hakkaku started a fire, while the monk and exterminator pulled out food from Kagome's backpack.
Kouga lead Kagome to the back of the cave. It was dark, and that helped ease Kagome's anxiety a bit. She did not want Miroku to see her and Kouga doing anything that would cause him to constantly grin at her. Kouga held her hand tightly and finally found a small area to sit down in.
He made Kagome straddle his lap, and started to undo her obi. Kagome could hear his breathing become harsher, and she knew that he was trying his best to keep his control, but did she really want him to control himself? She allowed her fingers to undo his armor and slide it away from his chest. Her fingertips explored his broad chest, causing him to groan. Kagome smiled, knowing full well that with his enhanced eyesight, he could see her, and bent her head down to his ear and whispered, "I love you, Kouga. There will never be another who can make me feel the way you do."
Kouga felt his heart pounding in his chest. With trembling fingers, he opened her kimono and slid it off of her shoulders. He took in the sight of her and her undergarments. Kagome knew what he wanted, so she reached behind her and unsnapped the bra, letting it slid from her body and onto the ground. She felt him catch his breath and then felt his hot breath upon her naked breast. She closed her eyes and allowed his mouth to take her to places she had never known about. She knew that when she next saw her friends, she would no longer be a virgin, but mated to a very strong and powerful wolf who loved her like no other, and he needed her touch, something she would not deny him.
Ginta and Hakkaku could easily smell the arousal and could hear the soft grunts coming from their leader and his new mate. It was clear that they were in the middle of making love and would not be seen for several hours.
Miroku shook his head. He had seen the small grins on the wolves and he instantly knew what his friend and their leader were up to. Now, if only he could get Sango to love him and be with him in the way that Kagome was with Kouga, then everything would be perfect in his world.
Sango was oblivious as to what was going on. She was dividing her attention between her thoughts and Miroku's hands. She kept inching away from him and soon found herself sitting next to Hakkaku. The wolf smiled down at her and said, "So, I take it that you do not find the monk desirable."
Sango blushed. Of course she found Miroku desirable. But, his hands would not leave her alone. She shook her head, aware that all eyes were on her, including Miroku's. "I do find Miroku to be very handsome, but I do not like being groped all of the time." She explained.
Miroku cleared his throat. "Would you rather I grope you or other women. Sango, my hands would much rather be on you rather than on some other woman." He said, his voice soft.
Sango felt her body heat at his words. Did that mean that he was willing to commit to her and to her only? As if reading her mind, the monk scooted closer to her and wrapped his arm around her. He leaned over and placed a chaste kiss upon her cheek. For him, this moment was enough to keep him happy for a while. Sango smiled at him, but then jumped when a howl was heard from the back of the cave.
She leapt to her feet and reached for her weapon, only to be stopped by Ginta. "Don't worry, that was just Kouga." He said, grinning.
Sango cocked her head. "It sounded like he was hurt. What if he and Kagome are in a situation that they can't handle? We never explored this cave, so there could be some vicious animal lurking back there." She said, worry lacing her voice.
Miroku began to chuckle. "Well, the only vicious animal back there is Kouga and trust me, dear Sango. They do not need our help." He said, waggling his eyebrows suggestively at his love.
Sango stared at him for a moment, but then her eyes grew wide. She glanced towards the back of the cave and then at her companions, who were grinning their fool heads off. She sat down and stared at the fire. She would have to pull Kagome aside later and speak with her. If Kagome could move on and accept love from a demon who obviously desired her, what in the hell was stopping Sango from being with a monk who loved her and wanted to touch only her?
It was getting dark when Kouga and Kagome finally emerged. Something had obviously changed between them and they were constantly touching each other. It was nice to see Kagome so happy and loved. Miroku smiled at the couple, but knew that their eyes were only for each other at the moment.
Ginta cleared his throat. "Kouga, I am going hunting." He said, smirking. He really didn't think that his leader would notice that he had spoken to him, however, Kouga surprised him by nodding. Ginta looked down at the group and shrugged. Without a word, he left the cave and went directly towards the forest. He sniffed the air and then grinned. He had caught the scent of a stag nearby and that would make for an excellent dinner.
It had taken him a little over an hour to chase his prey and then kill it, but it was worth it. He lifted the beast up and began the long walk back to the cave. He stopped when he heard a cough. He snapped his head towards the direction of the cough and found the hanyou that had invaded the den standing by a tree. He looked upset.
"So, did your leader get Kagome someplace dry before the rain came?" He asked, his eyes narrowing.
Ginta growled. "Of course he did. He loves her and won't allow her to go without anything. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to return." He said.
Inu Yasha stepped forward. "I would like to come with you. I want to help. I know that I screwed up, and hurt Kagome. I do care for her and her well-being." He said, running his hand through his hair.
Ginta bit back a laugh. "You claim to care for her well-being, so tell me, why did you not come for her when Kouga first took her and brought her to our den. From what I understand, you thought that another could perform Kagome's duties and that Kagome was disposable. So, what changed?" He asked.
Inu Yasha growled. "I was stupid, and want to apologize to Kagome for my actions." He said, glaring at the wolf.
Ginta shrugged. He knew that Kouga wanted to rip the hanyou to shreds, so he decided to allow the hanyou to follow him. It would be interesting to see Kouga beat the crap out of the hanyou and prove his dominance. Together they walked through the forest and finally reached the cave. Ginta entered, and said, "I ran into the hanyou on the way back, and he would like to speak with little sister."
Kouga growled loudly and gently eased Kagome off of his lap. He stalked over to Ginta and in a series of yaps and growls, berated his underling for his foolish decision. Neither of the wolves noticed that the hanyou had entered the cave and had walked over to Kagome.
Inu Yasha crouched down and gave Kagome a small smile. He saw the curios look that she was giving him and he said, "Kagome, I apologize for everything. I was stupid and ask that you let me join you in finding the shards."
Kouga snarled and was at his mate's side instantly. "I am the leader of this group, mutt face and if you want to join us, you direct your request to me, and not to my mate." He said, his face showing his obvious anger.
Inu Yasha stumbled back. Mate? Mate! Why in the hell was he calling Kagome his mate? He watched as Kouga extended his hand to Kagome and gently lifted her until she was standing beside him. Kouga smirked at him and reached for Kagome's kimono. He eased the material down until a pair of fang marks were visible.
Inu Yasha felt his entire world crumble. He watched as Kouga brought Kagome into an embrace and felt his body shake with anger. "Just who in the hell do you think you are, wolf? She belongs to me, and only me. I am her protector and if I have to, I will remove your sorry hide in order to fix this mess." He said, flexing his claws toward the couple.
Kouga eased Kagome over to where Miroku and Sango were standing. Both males snarled at each other and finally, blows were exchanged. Kagome covered her eyes, and allowed the tears to come. This was not how she wanted to spend her first night as a newly mated woman.