Disclaimer: See previous chapters.

Sorry I'm just getting around to posting this. I honestly thought I posted it ages ago. Silly me! Anyway, it's not much, just a wrap up of this storyline. This is supposed to be part two of a trilogy so I guess I owe you another story, huh? Well, the next story will feature Kagura's plan of revenge against Koga for killing Kikyo and maybe I'll give everyone a happy ending but I haven't made up my mind yet.

TheTies That Bind

Chapter 7

Kagome awoke to a sunny morning and Koga's arms around her. She tried to sit up without waking him, but the wolf opened his eyes as Kagome slipped out from under his arms. She smiled down at him and then frowned when she saw the bandages on his midsection and thigh.

"Are you alright? What happened?"

Koga sat up and suppressed the grimace from the charge of pain in his midsection. "It's nothing. I'll be fine. How are you feeling?"

"Better. Like a whole new me."

"Good." Koga leaned in and kissed her, then hugged her to him tightly, ignoring the throbbing pain. "You had me scared, nisou. I don't know what I'd do if I ever lost you."

Kagome squeezed back as tight as she dared. She knew Koga was lying about the extent of his injuries. But there's something I can do about that. Kagome let her healing energy flow from her and surround them in a soft blue light. Koga tried to pull away, but Kagome's demanding words stopped him.

"Don't fight me, wolf."

They sat in the healing embrace for a few short moments and then Kagome had to stop. She wasn't 100 yet and needed to keep her energy levels somewhat stable. She saw the frown on Koga's face but she waved him off as she set about straightening the bedding.

"You would have done the same thing so just get over it."

"Hmph. C'mere, you stubborn woman." Koga pulled Kagome into his lap, his arms around her waist. "When do you think we can go home?"

Kagome knew which "home" Koga was referring to. She recalled their earlier conversation of her belonging to Koga's tribe. It's our tribe now. Our home. She smiled at the thought and reached up, caressing Koga's cheek.

"Soon I imagine. I need to talk with Inu-yasha and the others first."

"That might not be so easy. Inu-yasha left last night."

"Left? For where?"

"I don't know. But I thought it best not to stop him." He kissed her forehead, not willing to let on to the woman in his arms how truly worried about the inu he rally was. "I need to tell you something about what happened at Naraku's castle."

Kagome felt her stomach tie in knots. She could understand Inu-yasha not offering up his destination to Koga, but something in Koga's tone scared her.

"When you took that arrow from Kikyo….I….I lost my mind, Kagome." Koga squeezed Kagome tightly and nuzzled her temple, inhaling her scent and letting it sooth him. "I….Kagura….I used Kikyo as a shield when Kagura attacked. She wasn't dead when I left her, but….."

"Does Inu-yasha know this?

"Yes. We spoke once you were asleep. He seemed pretty calm about the whole thing actually. Said Kikyo had died over fifty years ago." Kagome sighed and closed her eyes, leaning into Koga. He brought his hand up and stroked her hair. "Look, I'm sure he'll show up for breakfast as soon as he smells it."

"I hope so."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Inu-yasha didn't show up for breakfast or any other meals that day. By the next morning Kagome was officially worried. Koga and the others tried to convince Kagome to leave Inu-yasha to his thoughts and go with Koga to the wolf village and take a break but she would not be swayed.

"I'm going to look for him."

"I'll go with you. I can track his scent."

Kagome smiled and gave Koga a quick peck on the cheek. "No, I'll go alone. He might run away if he smells you."

She asked Koga to wait for her at Kaede's and she went in search of Inu-yasha. Koga was doubtful that she could find him without any heightened senses, but she assured him that she would be able to find him faster without his help.

Kagome's first stop was the Goshin boku tree. And just as she'd thought, there was Inu-yasha, moping on a tree branch.

"Hey there." He raised his head and saw Kagome standing there, expectant, a small smile on her face. "May I join you?"

Inu-yasha just dropped his head back down and Kagome sighed as she approached the tree. Well, if you can't beat 'em…. Kagome began to climb the tree, trying to reach the branch in which Inu-yasha was perched upon.

"Don't be stupid, Kagome! Get down!"

"Hey! I've climbed this tree before if you remember correctly. And I'm stronger now so there's no reason why I can't climb this tree."

"You're going to fall and then Koga will blame me!"

"So help me out you jerk!"

Inu-yasha growled as he reached down and clasped Kagome's wrist and pulled her up.

"There. Happy now?"

Kagome gave him a smile as she adjusted herself on the branch.

"Yes. Thank you."

"So what are you doing here?"

"Koga told me what happened. Are you alright?"

"Oddly enough….yeah. But that's what has me upset."

"Huh?"

"Shouldn't I be more upset? Shouldn't I cry? Shouldn't I be angry?"

He turned his face to Kagome and her heart broke at the confusion that wreaked havoc behind the golden eyes. She reached out and brushed his bangs back.

"There's nothing that says you have to be anything. You mourned Kikyo's loss years ago. And you know that the woman who died wasn't really her. It was a poor copy with no soul."

"So…..I'm not some heartless demon?"

"Of course not! Anyone who could worry about not being upset isn't heartless. Paranoid, yes, but not heartless."

"Baka."

Inu-yasha gave Kagome's shoulder a playful push but the priestess wasn't prepared and she lost her balance, falling towards the ground.

"Kagome!"

The inu's lighting fast reflexes saved her from hitting the ground and pulled her back up to the branch, clutching her to him.

"I'm sorry."

Kagome gently pushed back and smiled as she situated herself on the branch again.

"It's ok, it was my fault. Thanks for the save by the way."

"You're damn right it was your fault. I told you not to come up here."

"What!" Kagome's hand began to glow white and Inu-yasha put up his hands in defeat.

"Calm down, Kagome, sheesh. You can't take a joke anymore now that you're with Koga? What, being with a joke like him, you can't handle anymore?"

Kagome's anger disappeared and she stared blankly at the inu across from her as she opened her mouth to say something, then thought better of it.

"Kagome? Hello?"

Her mouth slowly curved into a smile as she fixed her green eyes on the now worried golden eyes. When she spoke, her voice was an alto singsong drifting through the air.

"Oh Inu-yaaaashaaaa…."

"Kagome don---!"

"Sit boy!"

A flash of white and Inu-yasha disappeared, crashing face first into the ground.

"You bitch!"

Kagome chuckled as she carefully climbed down the tree to kneel beside the growling inu. She stroked his hair lovingly and then his ears. She was pleased to hear the growl change from anger to pleasure. You always were a sucker for an ear rub, you dog.

"What do you say we go back to the village and I make you something to eat?"

"Will you make those noodles in the cup?"

She smiled at the hurt voice. "If that's what you want."

They walked back to the village, managing to make it half way before Inu-yasha stopped their progress.

"Kagome….."

He looked into the expectant green eyes and he almost forgot what he wanted to say. He squeezed her hand a little tighter then hung his head in shame.

"I….I wanted to apologize for…..for what I did. If you had…..if you had died….."

"Inu-yasha, stop." Kagome caressed his cheek and then tilted his head up so she could see his face. "That wasn't your fault. Kaede and Koga told me what happened. Kikyo put a very powerful spell on you. She used you. And from what Kaede told me of the spell, I'm very impressed you managed to break it on your own."

"But….I should have been stronger. I don't know what I would have done if you….."

Inu-yasha reached out a trembling hand, but withdrew it before he touched her. Kagome saw his hesitation and knew what he needed but was afraid to ask for, so she gave it to him, freely, willingly. Kagome stepped into Inu-yasha and hogged him fiercely. It took a few shocked seconds for Inu-yasha to react, but when he did, he enveloped Kagome in his strong arms and squeezed tight, hoping against hope that he would never have to let go. But dreams were for children and he knew better. Kagome was not his to keep. She belonged to Koga.

After several minutes Inu-yasha pulled back and kept his head low, avoiding eye contact.

"Thank you."

"Anytime."

Inu-yasha's head shot upwards and he gazed at Kagome in awe. She could only smile as she led them back to the village.

"You are and always will be my dearest friend, Inu-yasha. Please, don't ever doubt that, ok?"

Inu-yasha nodded and kept walking. By the time they reached Kaede's house, they found their friends waiting for them. The group remained relatively quiet while Kagome prepared lunch, small conversations here and there popping up, but nothing coherent, with Kagome and Inu-yasha barely speaking at all. The others were beginning to wonder if everything was ok between the two friends. But as they sat together and ate instant ramen, Kagome and Inu-yasha joined in the light conversation, eventually getting into a shouting match and that was when everyone knew that everything was alright and back to normal between Kagome and Inu-yasha.

The End.