The snow continued to fall as Kagome's heart started to race. She knew this sound, the sound of constant rushing air, a tyrant of rushing sounds. It was Kouga.

She rubbed her arms to get the blood pumping as her body heat drastically fell, "Why is it so damn cold?"

She breathed out, her breath looking like a discarded puff of smoke. She started to shiver, and she had to clench her teeth to stop them from chattering. Why wasn't Inuyasha doing anything to warm her up? That dog! Gees, he sat there waiting for her, warmly in his fire rat cloak. Kagome backed up and leaned against a nearby tree.

Gees, EVERYONE had to leave, except for Inuyasha and Miroku. Sango had to go to her hometown to help with some things. And she offered to take Shippo with her and Kirara of course.

"Can you hurry it up a little?" Inuyasha said, I need to see Kikyou, I smell her, and it's close

"Can you be a little patient?" Kagome asked, grateful that he hadn't heard Kouga, JUST yet. Just as the thought it, Inuyasha's nose shot into the air, "Damn it! That damn wolf is here!"

"I don't really mind," Kagome mumbled, then felt her hands get lifted by another warm pair. She looked up into a set of warm, nice, chocolate-brown eyes.

"Do you really mean it?" Kouga asked, "You really don't mind that I'm here?"

Kagome froze, she hadn't even known he had gotten here. She was at a loss for words. She wanted to say 'of course' or 'what do you think, bozo?' but she felt the air sift out of her lungs. She quickly slipped out of his grasp and sneezed into her sleeve, "Oh, sorry,"

She sneezed again, and the feeling of immune warmth left her. She started to shiver, and her teeth started to chatter.

"Kagome, my love, you're freezing," Kouga said, having a true look of concern on his puppyish face.

"No, I'm just a but cold. I am wearing a short skirt in the snow after all," She laughed, then felt the heat rise to her cheeks. She was surprised when Kouga felt her fore head, "You stupid mutt! You let her get a fever!"

"It's not my fault!" Inuyasha argued, now knowing he was in the conversation.

Miroku stood quietly, watching the scene play over. He kept wondering why Sango didn't invite himself instead of Shippo. But he didn't really mind he liked traveling with Kagome. He had always sort of liked her since the first time they met. He always liked the way she took things, and her attitude.

"Ahh…" He mumbled, then watched the Soap Opera unfold in front of his eyes.

"Yes it is! You should have offered her your Fire rat thing!" Kouga yelled, "Not that she would take it…"

"What was that!" Inuyasha exclaimed, "I was just about to offer to start a fire and rest a minute!"

Kagome grunted, "That's a lie…I know you smelt Kikyou,"

"Wha…" Inuyasha mumbled, taken aback. How did she know?

"You always have a look of adoration on your face when you think of her," She mumbled back, then looked down. Here they were, in the middle of a forest, playing out a Drama for Miroku. She leaned on the tree again and pt her hand on her forehead to calm her nerves. He she didn't calm down, she would be running to Inuyasha to kick him in the balls. But, she always knew he didn't live her, why did it matter so much now? Well, there was Kouga.

"See what you did!" Kouga said, gesturing to Kagome, "Look how depressed you've made her!"

"Wha…" Inuyasha whispered, then saw the look of pure sadness on her face. He was shocked when Kagome evenly started to fall.

With lightning reflects, Kouga caught her and brought her close. She was shivering too much, and her body was much too cold. He felt her forehead once again, and pulled his hand away quickly. She was burning up!

"Mutt face," Kouga said, lifting Kagome in his arms bridal style, "I'm taking her to my den to look after her,"

"Wait! You can't do that!" Inuyasha yelled, but Kouga was not going to change his mind. He loved this woman too much.

"There's nothing you can do to keep me from protecting my mate, so shut it mutt face," Kouga said, then was off.

"Wait! Kouga!" Who other wolf-demons exclaimed, running from which Kouga had come.

"Shit, He's off again," Hakakku mumbled,
"C'mon, I think he's headed for the den!" Ginta yelled, then ran forward,

"Whatever you say, Tonto,"

When Kouga set Kagome down on a nice pile of furs, she had grown even hotter, and had begun to come down with a hot sweat.

Kouga stood up and howled a wolfish defining howl. A howl that warmed others that if they even came close to his woman he would rip them limb-from-limb. He walked forward and went to the back of the cave. He kneeled,

"Great healer," He started, "I need your assistance,"

"What is it you need?" A old wolf-demon asked, standing at least two feet above the head of the wolf-clan.

"I wish for you to heal," Kouga said,
"Who shall I heal?"

"Uh…my mate," Kouga said, making the healer smile.

"You have finally found yourself a mate, have you?" He asked,

"Yes!" Kouga said happily, his tail wagging in delight. He soon regained his composure, "I mean; Yes, great healer,"

He just laughed in response, and followed this overly happy wolf.

"Ahh…I see she is a human," He asked, then looked at Kouga, " Are you happy with her?"

"Yes, very much," Kouga answered without hesitation,

"Then that is all that matters," The healer answered, then began.

The whole clan began to gather, their tails wagging in delight as they got their first chance to see their great healer in work.

The brown walls of the clan-cave were silent. As the first light of sun began to peak about the mountains, clearing the view for all the woodland creatures to see. It lead the way to a steep cliff, up, and up, to a nice waterfall, beyond that, all the small Wolf-demons and wolfs sleeping, or watching the healer at work.

Kouga's eyes started to droop; he had never stayed up all night like that. He had waited all night for the healer to finish.

"Gees," The healer mumbled, "You could have taken care of her yourself, Kouga. She's not that bad,"

"Oh…" Kouga said, while half of his mind was in la-la land.

"Just worried," Ginta said, sitting purposely next to Kagome, "He does that,"

"Ha! Ha! Ha!" Kouga laughed, suddenly. They all noticed that he had laid down and fallen asleep. The healer looked at Ginta quizzically,

"He does that sometimes too," Ginta said with a sigh.

"Oh…" The healer said, walking back to his space in the back of the cave.