A/N: Nng….Um? Will it be okay if we just go straight to the story? Yes? Good.

Brainery

Chapter 4

She shivered, the feel of pure energy entering and spreading throughout her body was mind numbing. Her body tried to weakly protect herself from the unknown source, only able to have her fingers twitch and a low groan pulled from her lips. She sighed, the feeling gone and left, leaving her body feeling refreshed and cool.

She groaned, her eyes trying to fruitlessly flutter open and focus to the things around her. Her eyes blinked once more when she saw the blurry figures near her and an orange blob right next to her.

"Hey! You awake?" Someone shouted near her ears. She mewled in protest trying to vainly get away from the loud noise by turning her head away.

"Shut up, you idiot!" Another person whispered in a hiss, this one sounding more gruff and more than likely male. She felt a cool palm placed on her forehead and a female voice whisper in soft tones, "Her fever has finally gone down."

"That's good." The male said in a gruff whisper. Her body rolled when the bed dipped near her feet and she tried with success to reach for something to stop her from rolling off the bed. "Hey!" The thing that she grabbed onto squeaked, jarring her and her hands let go to the cloth that it attached to itself to. She tumbled off the bed in a heap, a loud moan leaving her lips.

"Are you okay, 'Gome?" Inuyasha's voice whispered in Japanese. She was only able to nod and lift herself up into a sitting position. 'I so don't need this right now…' She mentally whispered to herself. The dizzy feeling she felt earlier left her disoriented and she hefted herself off the floor with the help of many pairs of arms to help her.

"Smooth one genius!" Ayame hissed over towards the small fox cub. The boy lifted his hands in defense from the intimidating demon, vainly trying to protect himself.

He looked over towards Inuyasha curiously, after Ayame left him in favor of helping Kagome recover in a sitting position on the bed, holding her head in her hands and groaning every now and then. "What did he say?" He softly broached. Ayame shrugged her shoulders having no clue to what he said either.

"Does it matter?" Ayame growled out to Shippo. Kagome yawned into her hand, finally able to sit up without too much pain. She raised her suddenly droopy eyes over to the person who helped her up. She blinked, having to focus harder on the male a bit more. 'What the hell…?'

"Kouga?" She questioned softly. All she received in return was a full-blown grin, complete with a gleaming fang and a cocky look.

"Hey, sweetheart." He said just as softly. His eyes softened considerably when he caught her confused gaze directed at him. 'She's still as beautiful as I remember…' He thought tenderly.

"Are you feeling better?" The female with the soft voice asked. She looked over to her and blinked. 'Woah…' There standing before her was an exact replica of herself. It was kind of scary…

They both had beautifully dark skin and somewhat the same face structure. All though the things that set them distinctly apart were their eyes, their figures and their hair. Where Kagome's eyes were azure in color, the girls' were a nice shade of caramel. Where Kagome was more filled out and mature, the girl had a middle school like figure, not yet developed, probably being fourteen or so and her hair was straight with brown highlights, where as her, she had wavy hair with blue highlights.

"Kikyo." She introduced herself, taking the offered hand. Kagome nodded lightly, it being too hard to move her head without causing major pain.

Kagome turned to the wolf, "What are you doing here?" Still not quite grasping the thought that he was here, the one from her childhood, the one that was there for her to nurse her wounds when her father had acted too violently.

The one that saved her from near death when her father had embedded his sword so deep in her abdomen and left it deep within her and left in an outraged flurry, Kouga had shared his blood. Although small in its amount, it had helped greatly.

Later on, she learned that her mother was violated by one of his disciples. He had taken out his fury on her and banned the criminal from the dojo forever. He did not come to know of his poor actions, she had never dared to tell him of it.

'I would appreciate if the incident in our lives were not mentioned around me. Ever.' His deceptively calm voice that day had scared her. It left a deep scar in her memory. Not of what he said, but what it signified. The underlining threat of what he would and could do.

Kouga's blood had changed her. Made her more attuned to everything, making her sense of smell stronger and her stamina grow to a more formidable level. The miniscule amount of blood had not changed her humanity, merely empowered it. Plus, she enjoyed able to communicate in his language, with mere growls and yelps.

It was fun. Being able to make fun of someone and have them clueless. They actually did get to use their talents in a more…appropriate area. With her math teacher…

"Did you hear me?" Kouga asked with a slight growl of annoyance. She snapped back from her day dreaming and turned confused eyes towards him. He sighed, being used to Kagome's ways were tiring.

"I'm here for an education…" He trailed off, as if talking to a toddler.

She grunted in response, "Sorry."

"You guys know each other?" Ayame asked, slightly intrigued. She'd pinned Kagome as a lone wolf type of chick. She never thought of her having friends or being able to communicate enough to have a sturdy relationship with anyone.

Kagome stood, finding it easier the second time. "Childhood friends, you can say." She walked over to Kouga and took his larger hand in hers, leading him to the balcony doors.

"We'd like some time alone."

With that she grasped the doors and opened them before dragging Kouga out behind her. He locked the doors behind them, knowing that they were about to have a serious conversation not meant for prying ears.

She turned to him, arms crossed over her chest, "What are you really doing here?" Kagome said in a dangerously low voice.

He gave a mock hurt look, grasping his hand on his shirt over his heart, "You don't believe me?"

"Kouga…"

He sighed before running his hands over his hair and grasping his ponytail in a firm grip before settling his hand back down beside him. "My father sent me…"

Kagome raised an inquisitive eyebrow. She knew his father, knew him very well. And for him to send Kouga was saying something. 'What does he want this time…?' She made a motion with her hand for him to continue.

He took a deep breath. "He wants to make sure you are still…available and not do something foolish."

Kagome stared hard at him. "In other words, he wants to make sure I will still honor the agreement and not fall in love. Is that it?"

He nodded and turned his head away from her hard and unwavering gaze. It hurt, to find the girl of his dreams, but only get her because of some stupid contract…not for love.

She loosened her tense shoulders and came and drew him into warm hug. She cuddled deeper into his strong arms, finding his warmth soothing her frayed nerves. He tightened his arms around her and nuzzled himself closer to her neck. He loved her scent, loved being coated in her scent. He purred in contentment, his stomach rumbling against her own.

She giggled and drew back, coming to rest her forehead against his, him having to bend down more than a bit. She nuzzled her nose against his, whispering to him, "You know I'll always care for you…even with this agreement to be your mate…I always will. Just remember that."

Although it wasn't a declaration of her undying love for him, he'd take it. It was more than he could ask for.

"Do I need to prepare other accommodations for either one of you?" Sesshomaru stood in the threshold of their balcony doors, his arms crossed over his chest and a raised eyebrow in their direction. Although he looked uninterested by their intimate position, his youkai was pissed beyond reason.

'Our potential mate is in the arms of an unworthy cub!' It hissed to its master. It's claws trying to break through his mental barriers preventing it from dishing out a serious punishment to the wolf cub.

He retreated back into the room where Ayame and others were seated, "Come inside. We must…discuss a few things." He intoned to the blushing pair behind him.

They sat in the living room. Ayame and Kikyo sat on the floor in front of the couch where Kouga, Kagome and Sesshomaru sat on in that order. Kagura, an elemental demon, and Miroku, a monk, leaned against the walls across from each other. All in all the formed a small circle in the room.

Shippo and Inuyasha were put to bed a while back. Each one of the occupants was in a state of serious thought.

"Shouldn't we warn the students of this…development?" Kagura threw out in the open. All occupants seemed to agree with various sounds of agreement.

Sesshomaru had already planned to inform the rest of the faculty and the students, "I will make an announcement early tomorrow morning. Although I doubt that will help."

"They don't seem to mind stepping on school grounds or seem affected by the powerful miko barriers set around the campus." Miroku nodded to himself. Kikyo grew uncomfortable and scooted closer to the wolf demon.

"No, they aren't," Kouga started, "but they are affected by brute force." His gaze redirected itself onto his fist, flexing and taping the bandage on it. "It has to be an amazing amount of brute strength as well, even I didn't come out unscathed."

"Also," Kagome continued, "they have…high pitched shrieks capable of knocking out demons with sensitive hearing. Even I felt that my eardrums were about to burst and I was human. My ears still ring…"

"We seem to be avoiding one important fact." Everyone stared at Sesshomaru, waiting for him to finish. "What business does it have here in the first place?"

"Well one thing is for certain…" Ayame trailed off and Kikyo nudged her a bit when it seemed she wasn't going to finish her speech. Ayame looked up a little sheepish, a small nervous giggle slipping from her mouth. "Umm…Oh yeah! We don't know what it's going after. I mean, it could be going after children," Almost everyone turned to the rooms the kids were sleeping in.

Miroku stood up at this point heading towards the rooms the pups were staying in, "or it could be going for virgins," The ones who didn't actually blush were Sesshomaru and Kagura, both unaffected by the theory, "I mean it didn't go after me or Kagome when it came near us, so that can't be it."

Miroku came in with the two little sleeping tykes in his arms. He stepped over towards Kagome when she held up her hands to reach out for Inuyasha and turned to Kikyo on the floor when she offered to take Shippo.

Kikyo looked really uncomfortable on the floor, stuffing her face into Shippo's hair to alleviate some of the fear from her. "I-I really don't think I'll be able to sleep by myself tonight."

"Well…" Miroku started, a lecherous smile already forming on his lips, "I could always accompany you tonight, my fair maiden." Ayame growled at him everyone else throwing glares his way. He laughed it off, waving his hands in front of his face, "I kid, I kid."

"That's not a bad idea," Kagura said after a while, at this point even Miroku looked incredulously at her, "I mean, using the buddy system sort of speak. Plus, it would be hard to take down many of us at the same time."

Kagome nodded at her. "It would make sense. All though we already do share rooms with some else, I doubt it would help a great deal." Sesshomaru raised an inquisitive eyebrow at her. "Look at Ayame and me. We have pups that could be easily taken down. And Kagura, we already figured out that Kikyo's miko powers would have no affect on them whatsoever. We really shouldn't find out too soon what it does go after."

Sesshomaru grew thoughtful, narrowed eyes focused on the two males that would most likely stay near the women. He already knew what he was going to do. His youkai demanded he stay and protect his female at all costs and he would not go against what his instincts were telling him to do. Plus, it did not help that his instincts were telling him to not leave his female in the arms of that cub.

He frowned. She was not his yet. He had not even marked her with his jyaki or his scent. 'Although I do plan to rectify that soon.' He had no qualms taking a human as his mate. His youkai had already demanded her to his rational side and he learned early on that it was not a good thing to oppose it.

His youkai had actually come across something it planned to keep for his life mate. She was pleasing in every sense of the word. She was untainted, her innocence setting something primal in him on edge. Her scent was tantalizing and intoxicating, having him wishing to be near her just to breathe in that delicious smell and she was powerful. Knowing how to handle a sword with ease and having the training to handle herself in combat.

He saw her calculated moves she made and the stance that came with years of training. Although he did not use it, nor plan to, he knew when someone was trained well enough to know she had the entire basis covered.

It would help when he wished to sire his own pups with her. Even half-blooded pups would be powerful with him and her being the one's that actually…reproduced. Her hips were perfect enough to even birth full-blooded pups. '…That would mean more work for me then.' He mentally grinned, 'No problem.'

She was his, starting tomorrow.

He sat up, "I will return. I need to get some things of mine first." Everyone nodded, the girls feeling slightly more relieved that he would come back. The door closed behind him and the girls turned to each other.

"Well…" Kagura started off, "We could always share a room between all of us."

Miroku grew more thoughtful. "Maybe you guys should take the living room and me and Kouga will sleep in our room. It is closest room to the living room."

Kouga eyed the monk; surely he had ulterior motives. Kikyo smiled, liking the idea very much.

The girls were having some major trouble trying to get asleep. They had earlier scooted the furniture to the walls, making room for the girls. Ayame and Kagura brought out their mattresses and Kagome brought her sword with her for protection. It was placed behind her on the floor and next to the mattress for easy access. Kagura's fan was in her lap and Kikyo's bows and arrows next to her.

When they turned to Ayame, she grinned and paraded herself around the room, "I am the weapon."

Kagura smirked, "Your stupidity won't kill them, Ayame." Ayame huffed before throwing a cookie at her. Kagura caught it in her mouth and grinned at the wolf. She gave the wolf a playful wink for good measure. Kikyo giggled and Kagome hid her smile behind her hand.

Ayame and Kagura connected the mattresses and now each girl took a seat in one of the four corners. Kikyo placed her desk lamp on the table near them to give them some light to play some cards. Shippo and Inuyasha were sleeping on the couch with their pillows and blankets about them.

They were on their third round, Kagura winning the first and Kagome the second.

"All right ladies, the customary cookie to play, please." Kagura gestured to the middle of the beds. They each threw one chocolate chip cookie into the "pot." Kagome shuffled and dealt.

Kagura discretely scratched her nose and looked towards Kikyo. Kikyo raised her hand to scratch her forehead, her hands in the American Sign Language letter for 'k'. Kagura nodded and looked over her cards. She shook her head in the negative and looked at Kagome. Kagome nodded. Ayame remained oblivious to it all, staring intently at her own hand. Yes, they were trying to make Kikyo win.

Kagura cleared her throat. "Now, take your worst card and hand it over to the person on your…right."

"What?" Ayame asked confused.

"Hand me over your worst card." Kagome held out her hand. Ayame shrugged before handing it over. Kagome put it down on the mattress face down and took it into her hand when she passed over the king to Kikyo.

"How many do you need?" Kagome asked Ayame. And she continued down the line after that. Kikyo refused and stayed with her hand.

Once Ayame was looking away from them, Kagura and Kagome turned to Kikyo with furious and question hand motions. Ayame looked up at them and her eyes widened in realization. She stood abruptly and pointed an accusing finger at them with a sly grin, "You cheats!"

Kagome hushed her and the other two girls looked sheepish. Grinning at their wolf friend they giggled.

They quieted quickly when they heard the door to their "apartment" open with a creak, its slow movement giving Kagura and Kagome enough time to grab their weapons and stand in front of the rest.

Kikyo took up her bows and arrows and took aim. She was actually scared witless and her arms shook with suppressed fear. Ayame stood next to her with her claws at the ready.

Kagome and Kagura drew out their weapons and readied themselves. Kagura and Ayame growled out a warning, hoping to scare off whatever it was. The door instantly stopped moving and Kagura jumped when she heard another warning growl beside her. She looked over at Kagome in surprise and turned quickly to the door when it swung open all the way.

"Calm yourselves." The deep baritone voice instantly got them sighing and whispering in relief.

Kagome shook herself and Kikyo actually dropped to the floor, "Thank you god!"

Ayame pissed, smacked Sesshomaru in the arm, "You mother-! You scared us shitless!" She hissed in a whisper. Surprisingly, Shippo and Inuyasha were still sound asleep. Kouga and Miroku stepped out of their room, Miroku with his staff.

"You okay girls?" Miroku whispered out. Kouga instantly relaxed smelling nothing wrong and no blood coming from the living room.

"Go to sleep, men." Sesshomaru intoned to the two boys in their pajamas. "I will take over guard duty."

"Soo…we should name that thing." Kikyo threw out there. They were still up, all in their respective corners. Sesshomaru was taking guard duty up on the roof, having a better advantage up high.

Ayame nodded her head away. "Yeah, we could call it like a goblin or something."

"Nah. From Kouga's description it doesn't sound like it'd look like those mythological goblins." Kagura shook her head. She laid her hand down, showing her full house to everyone. Ayame and Kikyo groaned and Kagome just grinned.

Kagome smirked, "Four of a kind." She giggled when Kagura threw her cards in the pot.

Kagome grew thoughtful, staring intently at her sword. "Tch…That's it!" Kagura and Ayame gave her a questioning stare; Kikyo took her time collecting the cards.

"Well, have you guys ever heard of a chupacabra?" Everyone shook their heads. "Well, I think it's a total hoax, but whatever. Anyways, everyone whose had an encounter with it ("Supposedly") had different versions of what it looked like, but one thing that remained in common where it's big humungous eyes." Kagome finished off.

Kikyo caught on, "And in Kouga's version, it had big eyes too." She nodded to herself. "I like it, but what did the chu-pa-ca-bra do to get its name?"

"It is said that it sucks blood." Kikyo and Ayame gasped, horrified. Kagura just had wide eyes. Kagome was quick to explain, "Goat's blood." The girls instantly relaxed, feeling soo much better.

A/N: I'm seriously thinking of discontinuing this story on I hardly get any reviews and I do believe that my story is not appreciated. I do appreciate the ones that actually review, though! You guys are not grouped into this, so don't worry!

I'm giving this story at least two more weeks before I discontinue and delete it off this cite.

Goodbye!

-Celestial Fox