Well, my word isn't as good as I thought it was. I'm really, really sorry about that. I could give you all my excuses but that doesn't really make up for the fact that I didn't get this up when I said I would.

There is one thing that I'd like to mention. At the beginning of the last chapter I pointed out a mistake on my part and then made the mistake again when I tried to fix it. Sometimes I wonder (shakes head sadly).

Anyway, here it is again.

"You remember what happened yesterday?" she nodded. "What were you doing at the well?"

Akage had been taking a long time…
"The Bone Eater's well…"

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

"Well, you are in heat." He stated thoughtfully, "but I don't feel any different than I do when any of the other females are in heat." He put his hand to his chin and looked down at the ground considering this. "Huh."

When he looked back at her he flashed a dazzling smile, his bright blue eyes dancing playfully in the sun.

Kagome eased a bit and raised her eyebrow quizzically.

"So. Do I get an explanation?" she asked her guard still up.

"Oh, ha. Sorry. I'm Ori, a friend of Akage's. I was just doing a little favor for Lord Mitzubishi, I didn't mean to frighten you."

"A favor for Lord Mitzubishi? What kind of favor?" her suspicion flared.

He stood up straight and addressed her in a militaristic style.

"I'm sorry but I cannot give out that information." He paused briefly. "It's top secret," he winked and dropped the stance. Kagome couldn't help but giggle.

'But what is it the ever so thoughtful Lord Mitzubishi, put him up to I wonder.' She had a vague idea and was about to question him when he started talking again.

"So. Have you had any problems adjusting?"

"To staying here?"

"Oh, that too but no, I meant to your memory loss. Have you made any progress?"

A bit skeptical to the motive behind the line of questioning, 'Is it actually him who's curious or his highness.' She answered him none the less.

"Well, I have been remembering some things but just don't know what they mean." Her brow furrowed still perplexed by her regained memories. 'And feelings,' she thought a tad bitterly but then brightened. "But I think that I remembered something about where I'm from, which is what Akage left to find out." Her features darkened. "Leaving me here," she muttered.

Ori found that to be quite humorous. 'That's not the only reason.'

As if Kagome was divining his thoughts she spoke up.

" I guess that wasn't the only reason," an embarrassed blush tinted her cheeks. Thinking of the way he acted around her and then realizing why he had done so helped her understand some of the looks (among other things) he had given her.

'He wanted me.' The slight blush turned to a furious red.

"Wow! Your face is almost as red as Akage's gets when he's embarrassed. That's amazing! And here I thought he was the only one with such a talent." He teased. Kagome's blush lessened.

"That's why he goes red, because he's embarrassed?" She thought about how often that happened. Ori laughed.

"He does it that much!" he sputtered incredulously.

Keeping up his joking façade he turned to his thoughts. 'Gods he's really far gone isn't he.' He sighed mentally but continued to laugh outwardly.

Kagome's blush had fired up again and she was currently finding a slug making its way across the grass very interesting. 'Enough of this!' Desperately trying to think of something to change the subject a light bulb went off.

"Uh, so… How long have you known Akage?" 'Ha! That one always works!'

" Well," he paused pondering the unexpected question. " Since we were kitsuns I guess." He smiled at the thought. "Oh I remember back when Akage was nothing but a little runt who had this huge mass of red hair." At this he fluffed his own up imitating the Afro Akage possessed as a child.

"Really!" Kagome laughed at the mental image and then chuckled to herself. 'Humh. I'm going to have to ask him about that when he gets back. A little payback won't hurt him.'

Ori began to laugh. "You should have seen him when the others would make fun of it! He would get so angry, and then his face would turn red, the same color as his hair. And since he was mad his fur would, would bristle making his hair even bigger! He…he looked like a red fur ball!"

By the time Ori finally managed to get the story out he had tears in his eyes, one hand gripping his side, while the other kept his balance on a rock. Kagome was practically in hysterics over the insanely funny mental picture she had painted in her mind.

After a few more minutes the two had started to calm down and were presently gasping for air.

"Oh man those were good times." He sighed wiping away a tear. Kagome looked up at him still catching her breath.

"Will you tell me some more about you two growing up?" she asked, a little breathless.

He looked at her a bit taken aback by how child like the question sounded and was suddenly reminded of something he went to great pains not to think about.

"Hey. What's wrong?"

He blinked a couple of times, clearing away the image of a small fox girl he once knew.

"Oh nothing, nothing. Sorry about that." He brightened.

"Why don't I go tell…" he peeked around the corner to figure out who the guard was, "Naoko, that you're with me and I'll tell you all about the trouble we used to get into." Before she could say anything he had already disappeared behind the corner.

'What was that all about? And why would Naoko agree? I thought she wasn't supposed to let any males around me. She's not a very good guard if Ori got here without her taking any notice. ARGH! This is so weird!

'If Akage left because I'm in heat and ordered that all the males stay away from me AND assigned guards to make sure his orders are followed, why would Ori not be effected? Why would Naoko trust him? Why do I trust him? UGH!!! This doesn't make any sense!' She shook her head not sure of what to make of the whole situation.

Ori strolled around the corner, then stood at attention.

"Naoko has been informed and has given us leave." He grinned. Turning back around he motioned with his hand, "Come on."

She reluctantly started to follow him still trying to decide if she could really trust him. 'He did say he was doing Mr. High-and-mighty a favor.' She shivered and watched Ori's retreating figure. 'Oh, stop it! You're just being paranoid. Stupid Hitomi's got you all wound up. Anyway, you didn't sense anything evil about his youkai jaki. Wait. Sense anything evil? What the hell am I talking about! Only those with spiritual or youkai powers can do that…right? At least I thought…Oh for Kami sake! I lost my memory how should I know. Everyone could very well have the ability to sense that type of thing!'

She was brought out of her reverie when her foot got snagged on an uplifted root and she fell flat on her face.

Ori was by her side in no time. "Are you ok?" he asked with a hint of laughter.

"Um, yeah. Argiato." She thanked him as he helped her up. "I guess I should watch where I'm going more carefully." She stated sheepishly. 'Damn root!'

"You do seem like the clumsy type, and should probably take your own advice." He winked at her after she sent him a shocked glare. "But don't feel too ashamed about it, everyone trips over that damn root."

Kagome's glare reverted to the innocent looking root.

Ori just chuckled, "Come on." He motioned to her again. "It's not too far from here." And with that they set off again.

'He did help you, I think that deserves a little trust. Plus, the fact that he is Akage's best friend gives him some credibility.' She smiled and continued to follow him.

As Ori said they reached their destination within a couple of minutes.

"We used to play here as kitsuns."

"Yeah, Akage's brought me here once before," she said looking around the well-worn area of woods, taking in the scene for a second time. Felled trees were used for seats or slanted against huge boulders to make small shelters, there were a few spots on the ground with the remains of charred wood from the fires, and ropes hung from a few of the trees that had been spared. There were also a few areas that had been quite obviously designated for practicing with weapons or sparring; the ground was marred with gouges and dents, some seemed to bare a striking resemblance to a certain red haired fox youkai. When she had pointed it out to said youkai he vigorously denied her observations, stating that it was just a coincidence that there were two triangular shaped imprints above some of the dents. Kagome smiled at the memory.

Ori on the other hand was a bit shocked at her confession.

"Really?" He couldn't hide the surprise in his voice. She looked over at him.

"He has told me a little about his childhood, and you. He said you had a knack for getting him into trouble." She raised her brows and gave him a sly grin.

Ori gave her a calculating stare.

"If Akage already told you about me, then why did you ask how long we had known each other?"

Kagome, taken aback by his dry tone, looked away. 'Damn!'

"Uh, actually I asked you that so we could change the subject." She flicked her gaze back at him, finding herself a little nervous from his reaction. "My face felt like it going to burst into flames." She admitted feeling guilty.

Certainly not expecting that as an answer Ori laughed, feeling a little guilty himself.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to sound so harsh. I was just curious."

He could tell that she wasn't lying and had figured as much from the beginning but that little slip up had put him on guard.

Lord Mitzubishi was concerned over his son's actions and had been wary of the human girl ever since she first showed up.

'Hell, we were all suspicious of her.'

Then, with Akiko's discovery he had become more so. But, his son brought up a very valid point, and it was decided that he be allowed to do with the girl as he saw fit.

Although the youkai lord was your stereotypical, hard ass leader, he was a good leader and for good reason. He knew his warriors, and he knew his tribe's males and females. He also knew his son, and was not only very aware of his animalistic instincts but of his feelings as well, which left him uncertain as to whether his son would be able to control himself. His father wasn't the only one.

With Akage preoccupied with the girl, the brief periods Ori got to spend with him the girl was usually their topic of conversation. Of course he wanted to learn about the girl, not only to quell his earlier suspicions but because she was human. It wasn't every day one came to stay with the tribe, and it was too damn intriguing not to ask about. But, after a while it wasn't hard to see that Akage had developed some kind of feelings toward her.

'His eyes became softer at the mention of her, even if he was excited and speaking of her latest accomplishment - other than beaming with pride, the excitement in his eyes was softer somehow. You can even hear the affection in his voice.'

Ori had never joked around with Akage about liking the girl because he was afraid that his telltale blush would expose his true feelings, even if he viciously denied it. He wasn't even sure that Akage would deny the accusation.

He didn't have anything against humans. He didn't hate them, but he wasn't all buddy-buddy with them either. But like Akage's father, he didn't think that his best friend should get too attached to one. Akage was the prince after all and it was only fitting that he end up with one of his own.

To fool around with the girl would be one thing. 'Thumbs up,' was something he would have normally said to Akage.

'If the girl wasn't staying with us, her presence known to all. And if it were just an occasional romp to relieve stress or something, where he didn't return all starry eyed.'

Lord Mitzubishi had sent someone out each day to 'monitor' the prince and his guests interactions. It was just a quick check-up twice a day. He had said he wouldn't interfere in their affairs, but he also said that if anything inappropriate were to happen there would be consequences. He really didn't want anything to happen and was just taking precautions to make sure nothing did.

When Akage came to him the day of his departure all hot and bothered saying that the girl was in heat, and then demanding that all the other male tribe members be kept away from her he obliged, pleased with Akage's course of action. There was just one question that he needed to be answered. WHY?

Mitzubishi had gone to Ori, knowing he was Akage's best friend. Ori was also someone that he held in high regard; despite the fact that trouble seemed to follow him like a dark cloud.

He explained the situation to Ori and asked for his help. Another upside to Ori was his personality he could make anyone feel comfortable around him.

"I do not know what my son has told you about the girl but I do know that he has told you about her. Akage says that she has gone in to heat and he was greatly effected by it, which is why he left and ordered that no male is to go near her while he's gone.

Now, I am not very sociable with the humans and do not remember being in the presence of one of the females whilst they were fertile. However, I am quite certain that the effect it has on male youkai would not educe a reaction such as the one my son exhibited. Presumably if it did, hanyous would undoubtedly make up the better half of the population." He frowned slightly at the thought of so much impure blood. 'We youkai need to keep our lines pure if we are to survive.'

In his mind if something of that magnitude were to happen humans would be the ones to mate with the hanyou, them being the less moral of the two races'. 'Within a few centuries the hanyous bloodlines would be so diluted the offspring would be primarily human and may come to out number the youkai of this land.' Not wanting to dwell on that unimaginable outcome he returned to himself and continued with his proposition.

"So, I need you to go to the girl to gauge your reaction. If my assumption is wrong and your better judgement is impaired there will be guards to sustain you. But if I am correct I will know that my son has become too attached to the girl, leaving us with a problem.

If you just appear before the girl she will most likely be frightened - seeing as she is aware of her situation, and then become suspicious when you do not react as she has been led to believe you will. If she becomes hostile toward you, just leave.

The guards will be informed of your task before hand so you need not explain yourself to them. If her reaction is less severe try to start a conversation with her, you may be able to find out what her feelings are for the boy."

He could forgive the boy if his instincts just got the better of him but he could sense that there was something more. 'For Akage to act in such a way there has to be'. When they talked before he left, Akage's state was obviously caused, in part by sexual frustration (he had found himself in that same state on occasion), but the way he demanded cooperation from him for her protection; there was no ignoring that.

He silently prayed that Akage was right about the girl being the missing miko. 'Perhaps he isn't as attached to the girl as I think. If he's fairly certain that she is indeed the miko he may have had enough sense to realize that he will have to let her go, and that there is no possible future for them.'

In fact it was as though Kagome was the one who would decide the outcome. It all rest on her shoulders and feelings.

If their feelings were mutual but they recognized their relationship as a precarious one and agreed that they would end it would be the best solution. If it was a one sided love then the pain would be considerable but a recovery would be inevitable. If their feelings were mutual and they wanted to continue what they had, that was were the problem lay.

'Girl, I hope you have enough wits about you to know what's happening here. I do not want to hurt my son but you do not have a future here with him and you will be forced to leave if the both of you do not come to your senses.'

"This information is vital in what is to become of this situation."

Ori understood the gravity of the situation, although he wasn't too thrilled about doing this kind of thing behind Akage's back, he agreed anyway.

After being thanked he was left to prepare himself. He was actually excited to finally get a chance to meet the girl Midori. She seemed pretty interesting from the way Akage described her, and now that he had met her he wasn't disappointed.

After a slightly awkward silence Ori spoke up, smiling.

"So, what exactly did Akage have to say about me - other than me being a trouble maker?"

Relieved that he was the one to come up with something to say, she paused.

"Well," her lips quirked. "He said that you joke around a lot and you tend to make an ass of yourself because of it"

Ori began to frown. 'Just what did that jerk tell her?'

Kagome saw his reaction and smiled.

"He also said that you have a contagious smile, and that you had a knack for turning any situation, no matter how dire around. Or at least shed some light on it. He said that even though it was you who got him into those dire situations he was glad that you had to face them together." She missed the small blush that graced his cheeks while she squinted her eyes trying to remember something else.

"He said something along the lines of you being a pain in the ass but a good friend none the less. Oh yeah! I distinctly remember him saying that your fighting skills rivaled his own but he surpassed you ten fold when it came to looks." She watched his reaction to the last statement with great amusement.

Ori's eyes turned into a squinty glare as he thought of his so-called 'bestfriend' and the profile Akage had given the girl of him.

"He would say something like that wouldn't he." He chuckled, "Conceited bastard."

"That's basically what I said," she grinned.

"Well I guess you can be the judge of that but when he gets back tell him that I'm the better looking one of this duo just to see what he does. Ah, I can see it now. He'll turn completely red, and if you're lucky his hair will puff up. That would be a good time to make a comment about him looking like a big red fur ball. That'll get him good. Heh, heh!"

"I'm definitely going to try that. I can't wait to see the look on his face!" she began mentally devising a plan.

The next little while consisted of Ori telling of all the pickles the boys had gotten into while Kagome laughed until her sides were sore and she could barely breathe.

After one side splitting tale, resulting in Kagome laughing herself off the log she was sitting on, she noticed markings on the underside of her makeshift seat. She studied them more closely and was surprised to find they were letters etched into the wood.

She ran her hand across them and traced them with her fingers. 'They're names. Akage, Ori, Suki."

Ori had finished whipping away his tears by now and went over to her curious.

"What are you looking at?"

"Who's Suki?" she looked up. "Your name and Akage's are etched into this log, and someone named Suki. Who is she?"

The question was innocent enough and his reaction was quite unexpected. He froze, his eyes gone wide, losing all their previous laughter. His lips parted slightly. It looked like he had just seen a ghost.

Kagome not knowing what to make of his reaction jumped up from her crouching and whirled around thinking they might be in danger. When she found no threat she turned back to him.

"Ori, what's wrong?" her panic began to increase.

He blinked, clearing away the fog of memory that had clouded his vision to find a frightened Kagome.

"Ori?" she asked again her voice nervous.

"Midori, I - I'm sorry." He gave a short laugh. "That's twice in one day I've managed to scare you. I think that's got to be a new record for me, just meeting you and all." He smiled trying to cover up his unease. "Actually, now that I think about it there was one time…"

Kagome cut him off.

"What just happened? You looked like you just saw a ghost." 'He got that look after I said that name.' "Who is Suki," she asked again quietly.

This time at the mention of her name he didn't freeze, his eyes just grew sad.

Anyway, I hope it was ok. If you get confused about the points of view don't hesitate to ask about it. When I was typing it up I actually got really confused at some of the parts where I did a lot of switching back and forth so I completely understand. The lines are supposed to indicate the change in point of view and the double spaces are just going from dialoge to thought, but the ds is just between the lines. Does that make ANY sense or did I just confuse you more? Here's hopin' that you understood at least something that I was on about, if not do like I said before, give me an ear full.

Are the double spaces even showing up?