When Kagome woke, she was still in a hot sweat, but she felt a lot better.

Kagome yawned and stretched, feeling refreshed. She didn't even know were she was, but she didn't care, she was feeling great!

"Hmmmnmm," She mumbled, then finally opened her eyes to see two earger wolf-demons looking her in the eyes, "Oh, Ginta, Hakakku,"

"Kagome! You are up!" Ginta said, "We were worried,"

"Yes, When Kouga brought you here, we thought you were drastically ill, but the healer said it was nothing to serious,"

"really?" Kagome said, then felt the blush rise to her cheeks, "where's Kouga?"

"He's at a tribe meeting with his father and another tribe leader, he had to leave early,"

"Oh," Kagome looked down, disappointed. She sighed and stretched, "I'm starving!"

"Yes," Ginta said, "You've been sleeping for three days strait,"

"really!" Kagome exclaimed, then stood and looked around the cave.

There was fire's everywhere, so the cave was really warm. Just warm enough. There were wolves all around, and smiling wolf-demons. She smiled, "Hey! Everyone!"

All the faces looked at her and smiled. She had a good feeling everyone liked her, so why not greet them? Hakakku walked up to Kagome, "Would you like something to eat?"

"Yes, please,"

Kagome followed Hakkaku to a fire with about five men around it," Hey, Hikaiaru,"

A very handsome wolf demon looked up from his talk and stood, "Yes, brother Hakkaku?"

"This woman is Kouga's mate," Hakkaku, said getting ready to continue, but was cut off,

"So this is the woman Kouga keeps speaking of!" Hikaiaru exclaimed, gesturing for Kagome to sit, "I've been wanting to meet you for a while!"

"Not to mention see how cute she was," Hakkaku mumbled to the side,

"So, I see Kouga had taken a liking to a human?" Hikaiaru mumbled then shook his head, "None the matter! You must be hungry!"

"Yes, much!" Kagome exclaimed, then sat, "Wow! What smells great!"

"The doe we caught this morning," Hikaiaru said. Kagome sweat-dropped.

Kouga was kneeling in front of his father, in an annual meeting of the clans.

"Kouga, I see you haven't born a child, why is this?" His father asked,

"I…I'm having some problems with my mate," Kouga mumbled, then sighed, Definite problems with his mate.

"Well, you know the consequences,"

"Yes….father…." Kouga said, then clenched his teeth. If he didn't bear a child his clan would go without a leader when he was gone,

"Well, we have changed that,"

"What!" Kouga said,

"We have decided that if you are not mature enough to bear a child yet, you are going to be replaced," His father said, smirking,

"…" Kouga froze. If he didn't bear a child, he wouldn't be a leader anymore. He would be…Exiled. If a leader weren't able to do his duty, he would be exiled.

"Do you understand, son?" Kouga's father repeated,

"Yes, father," Kouga said, then scowled,

"Good, you better get this stubborn mate of yours into bed, or you'll be gone,"

"Yes, father," Kouga didn't care, he wouldn't force Kagome to do anything. Anything.

Kagome sighed, her stomach full, and body warm, "I don't know why I didn't come here earlier,"

"That's what Kouga thinks too," Ginta mumbled, but plastered a smiled on his face, "But you're here now!"

Kagome looked at her feet, what cool shoes. What am I thinking! I'm just trying to escape from the inevitable, she sighed at tapped her toes together. What was the matter with her? She couldn't get the sound of Kouga saying he loved her out of her head! I love you, Kagome why was it always playing over and over like a broken record player! Kagome sighed and looked up, into the faces of fellow wolf-demons. She looked to the opening of the cave and saw who she would of NEVER expected.

"Miroku?" She asked, standing up. Miroku put his hand to the back of his head, "Ha, ha, As soon as you went running off, Inuyasha did too. Kinda' leaving me, I was lonely,"

"Oh! I'm so sorry!" Kagome exclaimed, walking up to him, "You must have been freezing!"

"Oh, no. Dear Kagome, just lonely,"

Kagome laughed and opened her eyes,

"Were in the world is Kouga?" Miroku asked, looking rather confused. Kagome looked down, fascinated by her shoes yet again.

"He's at a wolf den meeting," Hikaiaru said, standing, "And I assume you are a friend of Kagome's?"

"Yes, I just was wondering weather she was all right or not," Miroku said, then felt his stomach growl, "I am not trying to sound rude, but I was wondering if I could have a bite to eat?"

"Of course!" Hikaiaru exclaimed, "If you are a friend of Kagome's, you are a friend of ours!"

"Thank you,"

Kouga mumbled something to himself as he walked home (He's walking!) He mused to himself if Kagome would ever agree to bear his child, she was in fact the only one he would ever ask. He saw her in his head, then imagined her under him, with nothing on… He shook the thought out of his head. He wouldn't be thinking like that! He needed top think of what he would do to keep his position as leader. He needed to think this over, what to do? He put his hand to his chin in thought,

Kagome's and his child would be the best child ever. If she would ever…not again! Gees, he needed to file out his head! Kouga looked up into the sky, thinking of what he would do IF he did get exiled. Would Kagome still like him? Of course! Wait, does she like him? Wait! No time to doubt yourself! He wished he knew, just how she liked him. Kouga sighed, then laughed to himself. It was going to rain, and sweep away all this snow. He loved the rain, just to run around it, get his hair soaked! He loved the sound, he loved falling asleep to the sultry whisper of the drops against the rocks.

He wished he could just go running, (Rather jogging for him) with Kagome in the rain. He would love to see her radiant beauty with her hair plastered to her face, her eyes shining with the shine of the water in them. He laughed again, he would ask her. Tonight even! He would ask her to go running with him in the wetness of the rain! He couldn't wait! Just to see her laughing, running next to him.

Kouga ran to the den, not waiting for Kagome to see.

Kagome sighed, standing next to the opening of the den. She wanted to rain to come, but she wanted Kouga to come more. She sighed again as she felt a presence next to her,

"How are you fairing?" Miroku asked,

"I'm just fine, I hope that some day….never mind," Kagome said, catching herself just before she spilled out her mind to this monk!

"No, I'm your friend aren't I? Why must I wonder what you are thinking?" He asked,

"I just don't know Miroku!" Kagome exclaimed, wanting to cry. But she never cried! She closed her eyes and felt moisture fall down her cheeks, why…was she crying? She hiccuped and brought her hand up to her face, why! An image of Inuyasha went through her mind. Was she in love with Inuyasha? Then a image of Kouga went trough her mind. Was she in love with Kouga? The image stayed, yes. The answer is simply yes.

Kouga entered his den to see Kagome crying by the entrance. He didn't have a second thought as he walked up to her and draped his arms around her shoulders. She sighed and leaned into him,

"Who did this!" Kouga yelled to the rest of his clan. He growled when no one answered. He didn't like to see Kagome in this state of distress, no he HATED seeing Kagome in this state of stress.

"Kagome, come running with me," He mumbled into her hair,

"What?" She looked up innocently. He took her chin in his fingers,

"Come running…with me," He repeated,

"But, Kouga, it's raining," She said, making him sigh, "What's wrong!"

"Nothing, just say it again,"

"What?"

"My name," He then pressed his lips to hers. He didn't want to go this fast, but he couldn't help it. HE loved her too damn much. She sighed and leaned into him, making him only want more. He broke off at the last second, surprising Kagome,

"Come running with me?"

Kagome nearly tripped as she followed Kouga through the trees. She had agreed to go running with him, IN THE RAIN, but now she regretted it. She stumbled and saw that Kouga was far ahead of her. If he kept going like this he would make her get lost.

"Kouga! Wait up! I can't run that fast!" She yelled, knowing his high-tented ears would pick it up. He skidded to an immediate stop and waited. He would do anything for Kagome, anything. Even as simple as waiting in the rain.

He saw her come to a stop next to him, huffing and puffing. He laughed,

"And what may I ask is so funny?"

"You trying to catch your breath and breathing up rain instead," Kouga answered,

"That is not nice," Kagome said, then pounded on her chest with her fist, "Ready!"

Kouga laughed and led her further into the woods, "I used to come here when I was a pup,"

Kagome gasped, looking over a field of perfect grass. She smiled when she saw that is was clear, no trees. She could run free with the rain on her face! And Kouga at her side…

"You wan to run?"

"Oh, Yes, I would love to frolic with my dearest Kouga!" Kagome said in a mocking voice, then laughed as she ran into the clearing.

This place was fantastic! She could feel the wet grass beneath her bare feet, (A/N: She took off her shoes) She laughed as Kouga came running to her side, "Kouga! This is great!"

He laughed with her, then closed his eyes to smile wider. He took her hands in his and spun her around. She laughed as he sun, and spun, "We are really frolicking now!"

Kouga laughed as the went tumbling to the ground from dizziness. Kagome laughed as she saw the world spin. She laid down next to Kouga and watched the drops quickly roll down her face. She smiled, then looked over at Kouga. He was cutely closing his eyes and taking in the water, having his arms and legs spread out.

Kouga was doubly surprised when he felt Kagome rest her head on his well-toned chest,

"Hey, beautiful," He mumbled,
"Hey, handsome," She said, looking him in the eyes, "Your eye color changed,"

"What, really?" Kouga said, looking surprised,

"Yeah, they used to be blue, now their brown, like chocolate chips,"

"That happens often to demons, sometimes they change," Kouga answered,

"That's cool, I wish I could change my eye color," Kagome mumbled, placing her hand on his cheek,

"Your eyes are perfect the way they are," He said, then turned to face her,
"Are you sure? Cuz' my eyes would look really good in…purple!"

"Bleeh, I hate purple. I would like to see your eyes in green or orange,"

"I've never seen orange eyes before!" Kagome said, surprised,
"Oh, I have, their really pretty. But not beautiful, like yours," He said,
"Kouga, your flattering me too much," She said, blushing. He groaned,

"Even your blush makes you look even more radiant," He said,

"Oh, be quiet," She whispered, then looked into his eyes. She loved the way his new eyes shone like melted chocolate chips. Well, she FELT like a melted chocolate chip with all these silly compliments. She blushed again, and that made him snap. He kissed her and pulled her closer. He groaned and deepened it.

Kagome was shocked, she had never seen anyone this forward. She had kissed Inuyasha before, but that was sort of a 'must do' situation. This time, she was kissing him on her own free will, and liking it! What has this world come to? A really great dream.

Kouga escorted Kagome back to his den, happily soaked to the bone. He was happy, very happy. Kagome had allowed him to kiss her. And this was the greatest day in his long-wolf life.

There was only one more question to be answered,

Will she be his mate?