A/N: ANOTHER CHAPTER UP! AND IT'S GETTING A BIT MORE SERIOUS, I THINK! AGH! Can't wait till it's a proper time to reintroduce humour into this story. Can't live without it.

AND YEAH, I'M A BITCH! A BIG ONE FOR MAKING AN EVIL CLIFFIE LIKE THAT!

Anyway.

This is for everyone who guessed it right, and especially for Tori for…er… asking for a prize, I present to you: an image. Now close you eyes… on the other hand, don't. Then you won't be able to read this. Picture this: Kouga is on a bed, and he is covered with purple silk sheets. His armour and pelt are lying below. He is on his side, and has a rose between his teeth. His torso, legs and tail are visible, but the rest in under the blanket... come get some…

.:gurgles:. Ah. The imagination of the mind is just… mind blowing. Hehhehehehehe.

Bishounen of the day (besides Allen Schezar. He's the bishounen of everyday.): Kurama who's from Yu Yu Hakusho, I think. Correct me if I'm wrong. I haven't seen the show, but he's just HOT.

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. If I did, Kagome would've just waited for Buyo to come out. You know what I mean. But then again, we couldn't have gotten to see Kouga… or Sesshoumaru… or Miroku… .:gurgles:.

(I changed the chapter title in the last minute)

oOo

Do You Love Me, Kagome?

oOo

Kagome felt like her body was on fire as she felt Kouga's lips approaching her closer. Suddenly, she knew that she wanted this. She had wanted to feel him kiss her like he had in her dream.

He pressed his lips gently against hers. Kagome opened her eyes halfway, surprised at the softness of his lips. The intensity of the heat in her body increased as he moved his hands lower, from her waist to her thighs.

She felt his tongue run her lower lip, and she parted them willingly. She pressed her legs together tightly as his tongue entered her mouth and tasted her. She let out a small moan as he slowly slid his left hand under her skirt, the other tugging at her blouse.

oOo

Inuyasha bounded through the forest, the bike and the bag slowing him down considerably. "Damn Kagome!" he kept muttering. He got even more angry when Kouga passed by, apparently finding out he was following them on the side. He growled when he saw Kagome holding on tightly to the fucking asshole. He ran faster, but Kouga sped away, too fast for Inuyasha to catch up even if he weren't saddled with the luggage.

They had regrouped after a few hours, and had set off again after a hurried lunch. Inuyasha had tried to keep up with Kouga and Kagome again, but couldn't. Kouga seemed to be especially motivated, as he sprinted so fast that he was only a blur even to Inuyasha's eyes.

Inuyasha began to jump higher and higher; he was on the trees now. He cast his eyes around, and saw Kirara. He looked down, but saw no suspicious movements below. Kouga wasn't there. He cursed the wolf and jumped down to continue on foot. It was getting dark.

At last the trees began to thin out, and he slowed down. There was a faint whistle of a breeze blowing towards Inuyasha, and it carried Kouga's and Kagome's scent. He hoped on a branch of a large tree and looked on. Kouga and Kagome were sitting on a rock… and Kouga had his fucking grubby paws around Kagome.

As he looked on with rising fury, Kagome pressed up to the bastard and they kissed. Then Inuyasha cracked. This was too much; NOBODY IS TO TOUCH HIS KAGOME!

He saw only red as he leapt down the tree and barreled towards Kouga. The wolf broke away and held up his hands, but it was too late. Inuyasha didn't even say his attack. He just unfurled his claws, and sunk them into Kouga's face. He then dragged the nails down, tearing the headband and his skin along with it, and cracking his skull.

oOo

Kagome felt Kouga break off the kiss abruptly. She opened her eyes, puzzled as to what had made him withdraw, and a horrifying sight met her eyes. Kouga was lying on the other side of the rock, and blood was pouring down his head. Inuyasha was standing over him with bloody fists. Not a sound had been made.

"Inuyasha! What have you done?" Kagome wailed as tears poured down her cheeks. She knelt down beside Kouga and took him on her lap, cradling his head in her arms. She looked up at Inuyasha. This situation seemed too serious for her to use the subduing spell, so she refrained from saying the words.

She slowly peeled off Kouga's headband, which was torn, and brushed away the ebony locks of hair. As she moved the hair on the right temple, she almost stopped breathing. There were four gashes starting from the right portion of the forehead till his jawbone; the mark of Inuyasha's claws. They looked deep, and were oozing blood.

Kagome saw Kouga's eyelids flutter. He opened his eyes, and stared up at Kagome. She had stifled her sobs, but the tears were still falling. "I – I'm alright Kagome. It's just a scratch…" he mumbled. He struggled to stand up, but Kagome held him down. "Don't get up Kouga. You're hurt. I – I'll get some help." More tears cascaded down her face.

"But Kagome… I'm a demon… nothing can happen to me…" Kouga muttered. "I don't care if you're a demon or not. A head wound is serious for anyone!" Kagome said and lightly touched Kouga's wound. He flinched badly, and she dropped her hand. "I'm sorry…" she said, and gave his shoulders a small squeeze.

Kagome glared up at Inuyasha as he sat down and opened his mouth. "DON'T say a WORD, Inuyasha. I don't want to listen to you right now. Just get Kirara here. I'm taking him to Kaede's." she snapped, and Inuyasha's frown worsened. But he got up and prepared to jump. It wasn't needed however, as Kirara had just smelt the blood and had landed near them.

Sango and Miroku got down and hurried to the scene. Shippou was on Sango's shoulder. "What happened?" Miroku asked, noticing Kouga's head. Shippou had a faintly disgusted look on his face. Blood was pouring out of Kouga's head and was now all over Kagome's legs and hand.

"Nothing. Just… let me borrow Kirara, Sango, please." Sango nodded and helped Kagome hoist Kouga up onto Kirara, who had bent down to receive him. Sango quickly jumped in front of Kouga, and Kagome got on at the back. Kagome remembered faintly the last time they had done this; their first encounter with Kouga.

Kagome slowly eased Kouga back, and he was now leaning on her, his head resting on her shoulder. Kagome wrapped her right arm around his waist, and also moved a bit in the front so that he was held in place with her legs and not fall off. Kouga smiled at her once, and then fell unconscious.

The last thing Kagome heard before Kirara flew up was Inuyasha complaining to Miroku. "Great. More delays."

oOo

Sango clenched her teeth as Kirara soared over the treetops, the ends of the forest not even visible. What has Kouga gotten himself into? She couldn't help but feel guilty as they flew through the night sky. She knew she should have discouraged him the minute he had made his intentions clear to her. "Can you help me to get Kagome to love me?"

Sango glanced back at Kouga. I'm sorry Kouga. I should have refused.

oOo

It was morning by the time Kirara landed in front of Kaede's hut. Sango hopped down, and helped Kagome ease Kouga down. The cat demon then immediately transformed into its smaller form, and fell asleep. Sango looked at her pet. "Poor Kirara. She had to fly non stop for a whole day," she picked Kirara up and set her down on her shoulder.

Kagome put one arm of Kouga's on her shoulder, and Sango put the other one on hers. They both carried Kouga into the hut.

Kaede was sitting there, cooking her breakfast on the fire. She looked up. "What happened, child?" she asked Kagome as she got up and bent over Kouga to examine him. "He got hurt," was the short answer. Kaede glanced at Kagome once, but didn't prod her further.

After a while, Kouga's wounds were cleaned and bandaged. Kaede sat back down, and shook her head. Kagome noticed this. "What's up, Kaede?" she said anxiously. Kaede looked at her without any expression on her face. "It's a good thing he's a demon, aye. He would've died if he were to be a human. But his head is fractured, and that is no light matter. It will take a while to heal, and he cannot be left alone."

Kagome exhaled a sigh of relief and nodded. Sango knew that the thoughts of Kouga dieing had been constantly on her mind on the way back, along with feeling really guilty. She must be thinking that it was because of her that Kouga was hurt.

Kagome was stroking Kouga's hair as she thought. His armour was lying on the side, and he was covered with several blankets. "I'm really sorry Kouga… I did this to you…"

"It's not your fault, Kagome." Kagome lifted up her eyes to see Sango sitting beside her. "It was not right for Inuyasha to attack him. He can't force you to do whatever he wants, like whoever he wants you to." Sango began to get a bit enthusiastic as she thought of how Inuyasha was beginning to actually ruin her best friend's life.

But then again, there were times when he saved her life. That had to count. Inuyasha was fiercely protective of Kagome, and wouldn't allow anyone to harm her. Sango sighed as she realized how difficult it was for Kagome to cope with all this; and yet she didn't complain about it at all.

Sango shook her head. Poor Kagome.

oOo

Kagome saw Kouga stir in his sleep. As he turned to his side, the bandages wrapped diagonally around his face slipped, and blood trickled from it slowly. Kagome immediately grabbed a fresh bandage and wiped it away, and pulled the cloth back over his wound, sighing. Now she knew for sure that the wounds hadn't closed.

Wish I can do something more for him, she thought, staring at Kouga sadly. His face was scrunched up, as if he was in a lot of pain; which he probably was.

She heard a rustle behind her, and she turned to see Sango entering the hut with food. She set it down before Kagome; it was boiled fish. Kagome smiled gratefully at her, and looked at Kouga. Sango seemed to read her mind. "Don't worry, he'll have a large meal waiting for him when he wakes up," she said, grinning.

Kagome nodded absentmindedly and started on her lunch. "So when will Miroku and Shippou be back?" she asked. Sango raised one eyebrow as she didn't ask about Inuyasha; but let it slide. "I think by evening, if they stopped to rest."

Kagome stared at the wooden floor, forgotten chopsticks in her mouth. "Kagome…?" Sango began hesitatingly. Kagome lifted up her eyes and looked at Sango. "What are you going to do about… you know, Inuyasha?" she asked. Kagome looked back at the floor. "I don't know, Sango. Lately he's been so hot headed… I should've expected this, I guess…" Sango nodded, and looked a bit nervous.

"What's wrong, Sango?" Kagome gazed at her, and Sango became uncomfortable. "Well, er… Kagome… I kind of have to tell you something, I think… you see –"

Just then Kouga groaned, and Kagome's attention snapped onto him. She immediately set down her fish and hurried to Kouga. He turned to lie on his back, and opened his eyes. "K – Kagome? Where am I?" Kagome smiled reassuringly at him. "We're back in Kaede's hut, Kouga. How are you feeling?"

oOo

"We're back in Kaede's hut, Kouga. How are you feeling?"

Kouga gave her a shaky smile. "I'm feeling great, Kagome. You don't have to worry. See?" he began to sit up, but Kagome didn't allow him. "Really, Kagome! I'm fine! Look!" this time, he managed to sit up despite Kagome's protests, and grinned at her.

Kagome frowned at him. "You need your rest, Kouga! You can't just… well…" she flapped her arms around, trying to find the right words. Kouga's grin didn't waver. He put a hand on her shoulder, and she brought her hands down, staring into his ocean blue eyes.

"I'm a demon, Kagome. We have a lot more strength than you think." Kagome opened her mouth to argue, but shut it again. There was no use. He was as stubborn as she was.

"Okay, Kouga. Have it your way. Are you hungry?" she asked him. He looked at her cooling fish and nodded. "Don't you have anything other than fish…?" he began, and Kagome stood up. "I'll make you some ramen if you want!" she said in a high pitched voice. He looked up at her oddly. "Well?" Kagome pasted a wide grin on her face.

Kouga shrugged and winced, the movement making his head throb. Kagome immediately dropped back on her knees and held his shoulders. "Are you okay, Kouga?" she said, her voice trembling. Kouga didn't say anything. He knew what was going to happen. Kagome looked at the bandages and noticed that they had been saturated fully with blood, and it was now sliding down his neck.

Kagome's eyes filled up with tears, and she hugged Kouga. "I'm so s – sorry Kouga! It's because of m – me that you – you…" he put his arms around her and rubbed her back as she sobbed on his shoulder. Surprisingly, his head stopped hurting a bit.

"You must h – hate me now Kouga…" she mumbled, still sobbing into his shoulder. Kouga pulled back from the hug, and looked at Kagome in the eye. "No, Kagome. I don't hate you. I love you." Kagome's eyes widened and she seemed to be thinking. Kouga's stomach dropped. He had refrained from saying it to her before; he couldn't bear it if she didn't love him back.

"I – I –"

oOo

Sango watched the whole scene quietly from the corner of the hut. She was about to tell Kagome about the demon, but Kouga had gotten up. She cursed inwardly. Kagome must've most probably kissed Kouga back because of the aphrodisiac.

"I love you." Sango gaped. Oh no! If Kagome says she loves him too, it will be because of that aphrodisiac! Ugh, I have to do something! Before Kagome replied fully, Sango jumped forward. "SO KOUGA! I heard that you were hungry! Here, have my fish! I haven't touched it!" Sango almost yelled. Kouga shot her a look that plainly said What the hell are you doing!

Sango just stretched her lips even more and put the food on his lap. "But – but -" he stumbled, his moment ruined. He shot Sango a death glare this time, and her smile dropped a little. "Eat up!"

Kagome took the fish away from Kouga's lap, and handed it back to Sango. "He doesn't want fish." She said, and gave Sango a small smile that probably went along the lines of 'thanks for rescuing me'.

"I'll make ramen for you." Kagome added, and got up. She went out of the hut. Sango suddenly became nervous as she and Kouga were left alone. "Er, how's your…" she nodded at his bandaged head.

oOo

Kouga didn't reply, just glared at her. "I want to know why in the fucking hell did you interrupt, Sango. I'm really curious, since you were supposed to be on my side." He said quietly.

Sango sat down suddenly, and looked into his eyes. "Okay, Kouga. It's like this." She told him everything about the demon and Kagome. Kouga was gaping by the time she had finished. "You didn't tell Kagome, right?" he asked her anxiously. When she shook her head, he exhaled.

"Good. Now that you've told me all this, I'll sniff her and see if she still has it." He said decisively. Sango had a worried look on her. "Are you sure you can make out?"

"Yeah. I didn't smell it before because I didn't expect it to be there. Now I know, so I can see." He winked at her.

Kagome stepped back into the hut, and laughed nervously. "I kinda forgot that we don't have the bag here with us…" she said, her laugh now a sheepish smile.

Kouga grinned back at her, and patted the floor beside him. Kagome sat down. Then without warning he held her shoulders, slowly bent and put his nose on her shoulder. He lingered there for a while and moved it up her neck, inhaling deeply. Kouga felt her shudder. There was no other scent now, only Kagome's. He made sure one more time by turning her and checking the other side of her neck and shoulder. Nothing. The scent had dissipated.

"Kouga! What are you doing?" Kagome pushed him away gently. He looked up at her, and saw that she was blushing furiously. He had a feeling that if the aphrodisiac was still on her, she would've reacted differently.

Kouga badly wanted to know if she loved him, but Sango was standing behind Kagome, shaking her head. Give her some time, she mouthed at him. He nodded slightly so Kagome wouldn't notice and turned his attention back to Kagome. She was still waiting for his answer.

"Nothing. Er… this is how wolves check out their potential mates," he said, which was somewhat true. Kagome blushed even more deeply, and Kouga was surprised that Kagome hadn't protested against him calling her a 'potential mate'.

That had to be a good sign.

oOo

Several hours had passed, and it was getting dark outside; but Kagome was still beside Kouga, who had now gone back to sleep. As she stared at Kouga's handsome face and stroked his hair, se heard a commotion outside. She hurried out and saw several villagers running away from the forest.

"What happened?" Kagome asked one of them. "Demon! Demon in the Forest of Inuyasha!" was all he said before running away. Sure enough, a huge demon was crashing through the trees, directly at Kaede's hut.

Sango and Kaede had appeared, rushed towards Kagome. She looked at them fearfully. "What's going on?" she said, wringing her hands. "I don't know, but it's coming right at us!" Sango readied her weapon as the demon was surprisingly fast, and had now arrived at the hut.

"GIVE ME THE WOLF, AND I WILL NOT HARM YOU." It rumbled. It was a rabbit demon from the look of it. Kagome inhaled sharply. It had two shards on it. Somewhere in the… ears. Kagome looked up at it. "Sango! It's in the ears!" she yelled. Sango nodded, and jumped up. She swung the Hiraikotsu around to gain momentum, and sent it sailing through the air towards the demon's head. Not waiting for it to come back, Sango unsheathed her sword and sprinted towards it.

Kagome quickly ran inside the hut to check on Kouga and get her bow and arrows. As she grabbed them, Kouga sat up. "You're awake!" she muttered, and hurried over to him. "What's going on Kagome?" Kouga questioned her. She shook her head. There was no time. "It's nothing Kouga. Go back to sleep." She tucked him in and ran outside.

Kaede was shooting her own arrows at the demon now, and Sango had managed to make a huge gash down the demon's face. Kagome hesitated, and Sango jumped up again near the monster. She slashed her sword, and lopped off one of the demon's ear. Before it could rejoin the body, she quickly chopped them into little pieces and a shard fell out, glinting in the evening sun.

Kagome picked up the shard, purifying it instantly. She put it in her bottle.

Just then, the demon turned its attention from Sango and looked behind Kagome. "COME OUT AND FIGHT, WOLF. WE HAVE A SCORE TO SETTLE." It roared, charging right at Kagome. Kouga jumped in front of her. "Kouga? You're not supposed to be here; you're still too weak!" Kagome started, but Kouga didn't listen to her.

He glared at the rabbit demon. "Bring it on." The demon was more than happy to consent, as it charge toward Kouga and swiped at him. Kouga was too slow. He crashed into Kaede's hut.

"NO! KOUGA!" Kagome screamed, and turned toward the demon. She didn't say anything, just pulled out arrow after arrow and sunk it into the demon's face. It yelled in agony as the spiritual powers tore it to shreds. Another shard fell out of it.

Kagome ignored it, and ran towards Kouga. He was lying in a pile of wood, and was unconscious. "Kouga! Wake up! Kouga! Kaede, do something!" Kagome wailed, hugging Kouga.

Kaede shook her head. "Nothing can be done for him, child. Even a demon can't stand that."

Kouga groaned and opened his eyes. "Kagome…" his voice was scratchy. A stream of blood flowed out of his mouth. Kagome held him even more tightly, and sobbed. "Don't leave me, Kouga! Don't die on me, please! I – I love you!"

oOo

A/N: Er… yay?