A/N: I apologize for the tardieness of this chapter. I had my computer disk with this story on it disappear and had to rewrite the chapter. I have most of the next chapter done and will have it out by the end of the weekend. Forgive me and enjoy the story.
When Kagome awoke, she immediately brought her hand up to her head and groaned. She felt Kouga's hand cover hers and heard him whisper, "Take it easy, Kagome. You are going to be hurting for a while and I need you to relax."
Kagome nodded and felt his arms wrap around her body. She felt the vibrations rumble through his chest as he softly growled at her, soothing her, and sending her back to sleep.
Kouga stared at the ceiling in their private bedchambers. He really wanted to kill something at the moment, but would not leave Kagome's side. He would wait until Ginta and the others return to find out what in the hell had happened. If that mutt-face had anything to do with Kagome's injury, he would not live long to enjoy the next full moon.
After he felt that Kagome was sleeping deeply, he carefully untangled himself and left their bed. He wrapped his fur around his waist and put on his armor. He didn't even bother with his hair. All he wanted to do was find out if his companions had returned.
When he walked outside, sure enough, they were sitting with a group of males and talking. Kouga quickly approached them and took a seat beside the monk.
Miroku noticed Kouga's approach and made room for him. It was time to tell him the identity of Kagome's attacker.
"Kouga, how is Kagome?" Miroku asked, his voice laced with concern. He studied the leader's face and could see the worry in his eyes.
"She is in a lot of pain, but resting. Have you discovered who her attacker was?" Kouga asked, his claws digging slightly into his palms. He was anxious to exact revenge in his mate's name.
"Her name is Kikyo, and she is Kagome's incarnation. You see, Kagome doesn't come from this time, Kouga. Her actual home is five hundred years in the future, and she only emerged here because Mistress Centipede abducted her. Kagome bears the soul of Kikyo, and the thing that walks around now is the rage that Kikyo held for Inu Yasha before she died." Sango explained.
Kouga and the other tribesmen were confused. "If she is this Kikyo's reincarnation, why is Kikyo trying to kill her?" Kouga asked.
Miroku cleared his throat. "Well, Kikyo hates Kagome for having her soul, not to mention Inu Yasha's attention. Because Kagome is growing in power, Kikyo probably sees Kagome as a threat to her existance, though I highly doubt that Kagome would ever go after her unless Kikyo provoked an attack. But, I doubt that Kagome will have to worry about Kikyo anymore. It seems that when Kagome was attacked, Kikyo was attempting to take back her soul from Kagome, but found that in order to reclaim her soul, Kikyo needs to find the true owner of it. Kagome is the second reincarnation of Kikyo and the first reincarnation of this other that holds Kikyo's true soul.
"So, how do we find the one with the bitch's true soul?" Kouga asked, his anger slowly growing. Perhaps if they found this other woman, he could lure Kikyo out and kill her. Her death would be most enjoyable.
Rin happily played in the garden of the western palace. Her lord never got upset with her for picking flowers and often would thank her for bringing him a small bouquet. She hummed a happy little tune and grinned when she heard Jaken squeal. Apparently, her lord was not happy that Jaken had yelled at Rin and was now explaining to him why he would never yell at her again.
Rin was not a stupid child, and she knew that her lord did not like humans. However, ever since she found him, he had taken her under his protection and cared for her. Sure, it had only been a few weeks, but he had Jaken go out and get her kimonos and other things that a little girl would need. Jaken had complained, but after a meeting with her lord, Jaken was more than happy to do as he said.
Now, as she sat with a doll and a bunch of flowers, she grinned happily and laced one of the flowers through her doll's hair.
When a shadow fell over her, she looked up and found herself looking at a woman. The woman was very pretty, but her eyes were cold. Rin quickly got up and looked at the lady, wondering what she wanted.
"Lord Sesshomaru is in the palace. Rin will go and get him for you." Rin said, backing away from the lady.
"I do not need to speak to the lord, little one. I need to speak with you. Come with me. We have much to discuss." Kikyo said, her hand extending towards Rin.
Rin shook her head. "Rin is not allowed to go with strangers. Lord Sesshomaru told Rin that he would be upset with her if she did. Rin has to go now." She said, turning quickly and running towards the palace.
Kikyo smirked and nodded her head. Her soul collectors flew past her and quickly subdued the little girl. However, her smirk quickly left her face when the little girl screamed for her lord. Kikyo looked around wildly and then motioned for her collectors to follow her. They needed to get away while they still could. Sesshomaru had quite the reputation around Japan, and Kikyo did not want to find out if the rumors were true. She quickly left the area, and after she got a few miles away, she finally felt herself relax. Once she received her soul back, she would be complete and her miko powers would be back and she would finally take her revenge on Naraku and on Inu Yasha.
Kagome groaned and shifted a bit. Her head hurt and she was having trouble opening her eyes. She remembered a little bit about what had happened, and was curious as to why she still had her soul. She knew that Kikyo attacked her and was sure that the dead miko would finally reclaim the soul that she thought rightfully belonged to her.
Kagome struggled to sit up and looked around. She found her kimono and quickly threw it on. She slowly walked to the entrance of the den and saw that her mate, the tribesmen, and her friends were in deep conversation. She walked to them, taking unsteady steps, and was nearly there when Kouga spotted her.
He had been talking of ways to find out who held Kikyo's true soul and everyone agreed that it would be very difficult without a miko's help. Kouga took in a deep breath and then snapped his head towards his den. His eyes widened and he quickly got up and walked over to Kagome, who was coming closer to them.
"My love, you need to go and lay down. You suffered a severe injury and need your rest." He said, wrapping his arms around his mate's small form.
Kagome shook her head. "I can't sleep. I just want to know what happened and why it is that I still have my soul. I was for sure that Kikyo would have finally gotten her soul back from me." She said softly.
Kouga sighed and picked Kagome up. He carried her back to where he was sitting and placed her between his legs. Miroku smiled at his friend and then said, "I'm glad to see you up and around, Lady Kagome. We were worried for a while. Are you feeling well?"
Kagome nodded. "A little bit. Now, what are you guys talking about?" She asked. Every single person had a serious expression on his or her face and she wanted to know why.
"Kagome, were you aware that you are not the holder of Kikyo's true soul? You do have her soul, but it is combined with the soul of your true incarnate. Apparently, someone else gained Kikyo's soul and when she could not pull the soul from you, she is going to try and find this other person." Miroku said. He could see Kagome's face take on a thoughtful appearance.
"I wonder if Kaede knows about this. She probably does. She once told Inu Yasha that the thing that walked around claiming to be Kikyo was not the real Kikyo. When Kikyo passed, she had accepted her fate and her soul moved on, however, the small part of soul that she did manage to take from you was the hatred that Kikyo felt at the end of her life. However, it is not enough to sustain her and she needs the souls of the dead. Now, even that is not enough and she needs her original soul." Miroku explained, watching as Kagome nodded in understanding.
"So, if we find my real incarnate, then we will find Kikyo. Wait, if Kaede might know something about my incarnate, don't you think that Kikyo will go to Kaede as well?" Kagome asked, knowing full well what the answer would be.
Sango paled. "I am going back to the village. Until I return, Kagome needs to rest. After that, we can decide as to what to do from there." She said, calling for Kilala.
When everyone nodded, Sango left. She was worried for the older miko and knew that she didn't have the power to stand up to Kikyo.
Kouga sighed and then told the others that he and Kagome were going to go to bed. It had been a long day, and he was exhausted. He stood up and lifted Kagome into his arms. He listened as his people bid him a goodnight, and then heard one of the female's scream, "HENTAI" before the familiar sound of skin smacking skin followed. Kouga shook his head and silently prayed that the monk would lose his amorous ways before he was put out of commission by one of the males.
He carried Kagome back into their den and into their bedchambers. He sat her down and peeled off his armor and furs. Turning back to Kagome, he slowly undressed her, making sure to kiss every single bit of flesh that he uncovered until he had to actually pry himself away from her. If he kept up his actions, he would not be able to stop until he had satisfied his wolf's lust for her. He smirked when he heard her groan of disappointment. Clearly someone enjoyed what he gave her in the cave and now wanted more, but she was still recovering and he would do nothing to jeopardize her health.
He pulled her onto the bed and laid down beside her. Cuddling up to her back, he secured his arms around her and sighed. Growling softly at her, he felt her body relax and eventually fall back into a deep slumber. He, on the other hand, was not tired. He simply wanted to get Kagome back to sleep and have some time to think about things.
He loved Kagome. There was no doubt in his heart about that. He wanted to protect from all harm, but now he was not so sure that he wanted to find Kagome's incarnate. Sure, he was still going to kill Kikyo, but from what the monk had told him before Kagome came outside was that when Kikyo regains her soul, she will once again be flesh and blood. So, why not wait until the bitch can feel his claws rip into her skin to pay her back for what she did to his precious mate. However, he had a feeling that Kagome would insist on helping her incarnate. Well, whatever happened, he would be the one to rip the dead bitch apart.
Feeling confident in his decision, he drifted off to sleep and unconsciously tightened his arms around his mate.
It was late in the evening when Sango finally made it back to Kaede's. She looked around and found several things wrong. Normally, the male villagers would still be outside, talking about the day's events. However, the village was very quiet and it was starting to spook the slayer.
She walked into the elder miko's hut and found Inu Yasha sitting beside a seriously injured Kaede.
Sango rushed to Kaede's side, and then looked at Inu Yasha. "What happened?" She cried, holding onto the woman's hand.
"Kikyo happened. She came and asked Kaede for the name of her true reincarnation, and when Kaede refused, she went crazy. Finally, Kaede could not take anymore and told Kikyo of a child that had been seen traveling with my bastard half-brother. Kaede saw them when she was coming back from another village and the child ran up to her and gave her flowers. From what Kaede managed to tell me, the child bears a strong resemblance to both Kikyo and Kagome, but only younger." He replied, his voice unwavering.
"Kouga wants to kill Kikyo, and Kami help me, Inu Yasha, if you stop him, I will stop you." Sango threatened.
Inu Yasha shook his head. "I won't stop him from helping, but I will be the one to kill Kikyo. She has gone way too far. Attacking the old crone is one thing, she at least gave Kikyo a fight, but a kid is a different story. I am going to pay Sesshomaru a visit. He needs to know exactly who took the girl, especially if he has taken her under his protection, though I have to wonder why." He said, standing up.
He walked outside and headed for the west. Sango called for Kilala and had her crouch down to the ground. She was going to take Kaede back to the wolf den to be cared for and she knew that Kouga would not mind, especially once he finds out that it was Kaede who had been taking care of Kagome.
Once they were airborne, Sango closed her eyes and hoped that the little girl was alright. Kikyo or that thing that kept claiming that it was Kikyo, had crossed the line. With any luck, they could reach the little girl before any damage was done.