"I hate that mutt face, he acts like he knows everything." Raven smiled cheekily inwardly, she knew Koga was still dead jealous over Kagome's choice. Koga often had to attend to business in other places, while he was gone; Raven got to know the others in his wolf tribe. They taught her their ways of war and they prided themselves on speed and cunning. Koga came in on a late rainy night; a fire was burning inside the cave. The wolves and the tribe were curled near the fire, Raven off to the side. She looked curiously at Koga as he entered the cave, dripping wet from head to tail. Koga came and sat near a vacant spot near Raven. He'd shaken most of the excess water at the mouth of the cave, but he was still cold from the pellet-sized droplets he'd been bombarded with. Raven had brought a few heavy blankets from Kagome's home.
"Here, this will help you warm up." She handed Koga a blanket and he smiled his thanks. He then began to address everyone in the circle.
"The north tribe wants to try to steal the jewel shard from Inuyasha and Kagome. They believe it will help them cleanse their territory and defeat their enemies. They asked us to join them I refused. However if any of you wish to join them, I give you my permission to go." None of the others moved, and Koga unexpectedly drooped his blanket around Raven's shoulder. She looked up at him, both surprised and grateful. She wasn't used to the colder climate of the feudal era. It was later that night when the fire was a slow amber ember that Koga began to converse with her freely. "
You're a lot different than Kagome." Koga commented.
Raven wasn't sure how to react to this, so she reverted to a question. "What do you mean?"
Koga smiled. "I meant that as a compliment. I mean you're smart, pretty, kind, you're a very unique woman Raven." Raven in spite of herself she blushed a light shade of crimson. It was the first time he had addressed her by her name. She thanked him and curled up in the fetal position to sleep, little did she know Koga was watching her from a distance. She woke up to very bright and warm sunrays on her face. She roused herself to find that most of the pack had already left, they all left to do different things, but she saw Koga at the back. He greeted her merrily "Ohayo Raven! Are you up for some fishing?"
Raven opened her mouth perplexed. "Fishing?" Koga handed her back the blanket she had lent him last night.
"Hai, fishing. I'll show you the way we wolves fish." Koga announced. She got herself ready and followed Koga to a small lake nearby. Koga first demonstrated the technique himself; it was a teacher to pupil lesson. He caught one and threw it onto the bank.
"Did you get all that?" Koga asked both wet and excited.
"Hai, I got most of it, but can you show me one more time?" Raven requested. Koga repeated the moves he'd done before, "Now it's time for you to try." He smiled gently and held out a hand as Raven waded into the water. He helped her greatly by standing behind her and showing her how to correct her mistakes, by the end of an hour, Raven had managed to get herself sopping wet and Koga to. Both she and Koga laughed.
"You'll get it eventually." He grinned sheepishly. He took back the few fish they had managed to catch and they headed toward a grassy clearing. Raven lay down on the mossy ground and stared up at clear blue sky.
"I used to do this back in my time. I tried to pick animals out of the clouds." Raven said conversationally.
Koga lie down next to her. "Can you actually see shapes in the clouds?" He asked her curiously.
"Well sometimes, it depends how creative I'm feeling that day," Raven answered him honestly. As they lie there a strange thought overcame her, what if she laid her head on Koga's chest? It would just be a moment, and it would be so comfortable. So, she did it. Koga looked at her startled, she took that as a bad sign and quickly removed herself.
"No, you can stay there." Koga's voice was barely a whisper.
"You don't mind?" Raven looked at him astonished. "Iie, I like it." Koga replied. She did and he silently put his arm around her as they sat and let the clouds roll by. After a few moments of silent ecstasy Koga finally summoned up enough courage to admit feelings that had been building up in him.
"I really do like you Raven." He said. She stared back at him, the honesty of his statement shining in his eyes.
"I like you to Koga, but it's just.." Raven faltered.
Koga tilted up her chin, "I know you're still hurting and I understand that. I won't try to stop that. We can move really slow, but do you want to give us a chance?" Koga requested. She nodded; she did want to give it a chance. He smiled at her and helped her of the ground.
"We should get back, it's near sundown." Koga said. She took her hands into his and he clasped his in hers.
"Hai, we should. A downpour might hit us again." Raven answered him. And so, they set off together, and a time of healing was taking place for Raven Jones.
Excited yelling coming from out of the cave awakened her. She rolled over trying to snuggle next to Koga, only to discover he was absent. She stretched in a tired sort of way, and trudged to see who was yelling at her.
"Ohayo Raven-chan!" It was a smiling Kagome accompanied by a grumpy looking Inuyasha.
"Ohayo Kagome-chan." Raven greeted through a large yawn.
"Guess what?" Kagome questioned like a high school girl about to reveal a friend's secret crush.
"Nani?" Raven retorted.
"Sango and Miroku have a son now!" Kagome revealed.
Raven's eyes widen "Honto? Wow I didn't realize it had been that long." And so it had, her slow courtship and romance with Koga had taken longer than she realized.
"Want to go with Inuyasha and me to go visit them?" Kagome asked.
She nodded. "I should tell Koga where I'm going though." Raven said. This comment sparked a 'feh' remark from Inuyasha, but Kagome elbowed him hard in the ribs. This was her warning before she gave him the dreaded oswari command. She didn't have to wait long, Koga arrived a while later and saw her packed up as if she was going on a trip.
"Where are you going? Back to your time?" Koga looked horrified, he thought he had made her mad. She smiled; his concern was touching. She gave him a kiss to ease his mind.
"I'm not mad at you babe, I'm just going to visit my friends Miroku and Sango." Raven assured him gently.
Koga eyed her "You were going to go without me?"
She turned and raised an eyebrow. "I didn't think you'd want to go, I mean Inuyasha's going and you two don't exactly get along."
Koga looked determined, "All the more reason for me to come along, I can keep an eye on that shifty mutt." She chuckled softly to herself and he put an arm around her waist, she returned the gesture as they headed out together. Kagome noticed this and a smile curved at her lips. Inuyasha however was not so secretive in his opinion of the couple.
"What are you doing wolf?" Inuyasha demanded.
Koga shot him a icy stare "Walking with my woman is that a problem?" Inuyasha rolled his eyes, as Kagome shook her head in amusement. He took her hand tightly, obviously still of the opinion that Koga might change his mind and start pursuing Kagome again. They reached the rebuilt slayer's village to find Kohaku hard at work with his scythe. He gave them a warm and friendly greeting and directed them to his sister's residence. Kohaku was beginning to look more like a young adult. They noticed Miroku waiting outside their home; he broke into a broad smile at the site of them all.
"Kagome, Inuyasha, Raven and Koga?" He stared disbelieving at the site of the wolf.
"Koniichiwa houshi." Koga greeted him curtly. Kagome however enveloped Miroku in a humongous hug. "
What's his name?" She nearly bounced on the balls of her feet from excitement. "Sanji, but Sango's tired so she's resting right now." Miroku answered. He showed them in and they were all drinking tea and talking excitedly, even Inuyasha couldn't help but join in.
"How's Shippo?" Kagome asked with love etched in her face.
"Oh he's fine. Old Kaede loves him, he's quiet a handful now. He keeps asking for candy." Miroku chuckled. Kagome laughed and Raven smiled. This turned the monk's attention to Koga who was very quiet. "
Why are you here Koga?" Miroku questioned.
Koga cocked an eyebrow. "To protect Raven and make sure she's alright." Koga answered gruffly.
A look of understanding passed over Miroku's face. "So have long have you two been together?" Raven blushed a deep shade of scarlet at this remark. Koga however kept his cool demeanor and answered Miroku's question.
"That is a private matter between Raven and myself houshi." Koga replied coolly. They didn't have too long to talk amongst themselves before Sango emerged. She was not in the usual exterminator garb they all were accustomed to. Instead, she was in common clothing at the time and smiled at them all. "Konban-wa mina-san." She gave Miroku a hug and talked to them all briefly. Sanji was much like his father Miroku, except for the face he had Sango's eyes and quiet sense of knowing. They all got to tour the newly rebuilt village. "
Your brother is getting very good with his scythe." Kagome remarked.
"Oh, hai. I've been training him. Soon he'll be able to do it all himself." Sango smiled proudly. The rebuilt village was quite remarkable, Kirara stood watching Kohaku practicing faithfully, but soon the small group turned to tales of their jewel hunting time.