Chapter 7- Fight for Her Heart

Before she can fully return to health, Kouga decides to pay a visit. He is sure that by now Kagome will want nothing more to do with Inuyasha. However, the sight he sees upon waking in the hut was enough to make him want to scream. Kagome was laying asleep with her head on Inuyasha's bare chest. She was covered up with his red haori shirt, and Inuyasha was stroking her hair as one might a lover's.

Kouga, careful not to wake up Kagome, walks over to Inuyasha and asks, "Can I talk to you outside, so we don't wake Kagome?"

He watches as Inuyasha reluctantly moves Kagome's head to rest it gently on the floor. Then Inuyasha turns and walks outside with Kouga.

When they get outside Kouga is glaring at Inuyasha with such a scathing, loathsome look that it is no surprise when Kouga demands of him, "What were you doing even touching my woman?" With such disgust in his voice he could have choked on it.

Inuyasha laughs so suddenly that Kouga is taken back by it.

"What do you think is so funny, Mutt-face?"

"Simple," replies Inuyasha coolly. "I think it's funny that you actually thought you had a chance with Kagome. You and I both know she could never really love you."

It is at this moment that Kouga decides to try to attack Inuyasha.

"Whom do you think she will turn to after your death? You forget I have three shards of the sacred jewel. One of which Kagome saw fit to give me."

Inuyasha leaps to the side, but he is a little to slow. Kouga manages to hit him in the shoulder and nearly dislocates it.

"If you didn't have that jewel shard in your arm, you never would have gotten that hit off."

"I know, and that's why when Kagome is mourning your death I'll be sure to thank her for giving it to me. It will be nicely ironic since she won't know it is because of this shard that you're dead."

"Kagome will never turn to you for comfort. She'll turn to Miroku before she goes back to her own time."

As they continue to argue, they fail to notice the soul gatherers that now surround Kaede's hut. Kikyo is inside at the moment trying to arouse Kagome from a very pleasant dream.

DREAM

Inuyasha is running, with Kagome on his back, through the forest. Kagome is laughing as her hair blows in the wind, while he darts out of the way of tree trunks. Suddenly, the dream becomes dark and sense of loneliness comes over her. She finds that Inuyasha and everyone she cares for are slaughtered in a grove nearby. Kikyo comes out and announces to her, "This is all your fault. If you hadn't of told Kouga, no he wouldn't have done this."

DREAM ENDS

Abruptly the dream is shattered and Kagome jolts up to find Kikyo staring straight at her.