Disclaimers Notice: The only thing I own is the way in which I chose to use the characters and setting (oh, and a few of my own creations…)

Authors Beginning Note: Yippy!

Shout it outs!

Inuyashafanficfan: I'm glad you like it!

Angelnodarkness: It's great to hear!

Flamesofthemo0n: I updated as soon as I could!

Tanwen-Whitefire: Yes, he is a stupid perv, but makes for a wonderufl character. Yes, filler chappies...are well...sometimes a drag. But they help make people understand everything, that way-no confusion when I go to pointA to point C.

Yes, I too finally got a copy of Inuyasha2. Cool movie. Yes, they really do kiss-Its awasome! Go Kagome, must have taken a lot of guts, though I dare say that she acted kinda immatur at the end about it. Miroku's attempts were especially funny.

Valeese: Yes, but Shunraun is about to learn a lot for whats worth fighting for. And Kagome should be feeling better for part of the chapter anyways.

Inuyashas hun: Yay! I'm just delighted to hear it!

Rayame325: Slow reviews are better than no reviews! Thanx for reviewing.

feyfaery: End...Hmm...I wonder if that little speck of light at the end of the long tunnel is it...truthfully, I thought this would have ended lie 20 chapters ago...though I could have shoden to divided it into 2 stories at the end of the Kikyo-stealing-Kagome's-body arc. Oh well.

Chapter 62

A possible Alliance

"Smell that?" Kouga stopped running. Many others followed suit. Kouga sniffed the air.

"What's wrong Kouga?" Ayame asked. Hakkaku, Ginta, and Natsuko sniffed the air as well as many others. The humans couldn't smell a thing, neither could most demons. Kouga however was not alone in his findings.

"Two cat demons." Natsuko drew out a long sword, unusual for even a woman Yukai to carry, a gift she'd aquired while gambling against some theives.

"I don't smell anything.How can they? It's all wet and rainy." Mariko whispered. Ginta shrugged.

"Don't feel bad. Kouga's just really good at that sort of thing. I guess Natsuko is too. On the bright side, we still can smell better than most any." Mariko blushed and nodded, making him blush and turn away.

"So what are we going to do about it?" One of the theives came up and asked Kouga. Through the past days traveling with the raggabands from Elodia, Kouga had managed to earn respect from many of them. Respect that was different than he had known. One that wasn't granted because you'd won a battle, not one that was just given to you solely on the reason that you were the leader. One that was earned through friendship and good leadership. True respect. Something he'd attained merely by treating them like real beings.

"I don't see what harm they could do, but just in case, I better go check it out." Kouga set out before anyone could volunteer to go with too.

His feet squished in mud and it was all too easy to loose one's balance and slip in the watery dirt. The two silhouettes turned to meet him.

"Who are you and what do you want?" Kouga evaluated the question, examining the two figures.

"My names Kouga. I thought cats hated water."

"We're not cats, we're panthers." The girl said indignately. Something clicked in Kouga's head.

"You wouldn't happen to be associate with the Panther Tribe, now would you? The same one who tried to resurrect their dead leader by sacrificing a Miko woman?"

"Do we know him?" Shunruan asked quietly, though it might as well have been clear as day to Kouga.

"The question is, how do we want to answer?" They were quiet a little bit, Kouga waited impatiently.

"Yes, we were part of that tribe that attempted in resurrecting our past leader. Our paths in association of each other however are… divided. Why? What business do you have with us?"

"That woman was my fiancée." Kouga said coolly with a dangerous undertone.

"Look pal, we ain't looking for a fight. Besides, she came out just fine, didn't she?"

"Where are you headed?" Kouga seemed to mellow out, but still showed dislike toward them.

Shurraun and Shunraun looked at each other.

"We don't know. Where ever we feel best I suppose."

"What do you think of joining up against Naraku?"

"Look pal, what's this big deal with Naraku? He's just one demon!"

"Shurraun…"

"I don't care Shunraun! It's their war, not ours. What place do we have fightin in a fight we don't belong in?" Her brothers shoulders slumped. He was beginning to see many ways which his sister had to grow up and learn in.

"Naraku has an army big enough to wipe out the continent if he's not stopped. That's the big deal." Kouga watched the two carefully, evaluating all he could about them. Then he heard an unmistakeable sound that is common to all creatures.

"Look, you don't have to fight if you don't want to, but we have food if you need it, and temporary protection."

"Well Shurraun? It's your call." She looked surprised and felt it for a moment. For once in her life, it was her decision. She called the shots. And then she felt the weight of it. If they went with him and it was a trap, than they could die. Then again, if they stay on their own in the rain with nothing to eat, they could die as well. It came to a matter of how much did she really trust this Kouga.

"You called master Naraku?" A creature stepped forward and bowed awkwardly. His limbs were thick and heavily armored. He stood like a man, but looked as if he'd rather walk like a beast. He had no hair, just a bald armored head with long thin ears. His eye lids blinked sideways to cover his dull irises instead of the usual up and down. He wore a simple loin cloth to cover himself. His four tails ;which when he stood, reached only as far as his knees; curled in and out in possible anticipation.

"Yes, I want you to take care of a problem for me."

"Tell me, I will do as you ask."

"A small force of thieves along with a few abandoned wolf demons are on their way to fight against me. I want them exterminated. Go around the frontal force opposing us."

"Surely such a small force poses no threat to you. Why go through all of the trouble?" He froze. Had he been able to sweat, beads would have formed on his thin browless line.

"Are you questioning my orders?" Naraku's eyes sharpened.

"No master. Forget what I said, it was meaningless ramblings from a fool, a village idiot…"

"So, now you are giving me orders?" The creature trembled. Naraku sneered at his show of cowardice.

"Take what forces you need and get out of my site."

"Yes, of course master. Thank you." He stood up ready to leave, stepping back all the while to the door.

"Remember, fail me and their will be no second chances."

"I shall. Thank you." He stood in the hall and shut the screen door respectfully, before discreetly leaving with as much speed as was allowed without arising suspicion or offense.

Kagome looked out across the barren field. Turned was turned over and heaped upon itself. It was all muddy and thick. Few trees had been spared, those that had were left merely for the sake of making traps for the enemies, and these were a distance off. Roots occasionally poked out from the ground. They had been left for the purpose of making sure the dirt didn't wash away with all of the rain. It looked dreary, and lifeless.

"I didn't know the forest was that huge."

"Well, when you think about it, we were traveling in it for over a couple of weeks."

"It seems strange, we've never come across this forest with every where we've went to."

"Odd how the Kami's work."

"When do you think it'll all be done?"

"I would say that by morning tomorrow they will start building trenches. Then they'll set up any traps they can on their way back." Miroku leaned on his staff and looked at his object of affection from the corner of his eye as she helped a few other women.

"So, have you planned it yet?" He caught himself before he jumped. He smiled at Kagome.

"Beg your pardon?"

"You know."

"Kagome! I'm surprised with you. Well, I guess you are getting older. It's no surprise that you've become curious about such matters." Kagome hit him across the back of the head, leaving a rising bump.

"Pervert! I was talking about the wedding!"

"Oh, that. Well, we haven't really talked about that yet. I guess we were thinking we would wait first until we at least found Kohaku."

"That makes sense. I guess I was surprised when I first found out that you two were getting married finally."

"Finally?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Oh come on. It was so obvious that even Inuyasha noticed it from time to time, and he's about as dense as it gets."

"Is that so, then what about you and Inuyasha?" Kagome blushed five shades of red.

"What about us?" She covered her cheeks with her hands.

"Come come now Kagome. I am not stupid."

"Do you want to wager on that one?" This time Miroku really did jump.

"Sango, do you suggest otherwise?"

"I wouldn't dare. Though you are a man, so…"

"You wound me with your words." He feined a broken heart. Sango thumped him over the head.

"That's not all I'm going to wound you with, you keep it up. Anyways, Kagome, I need to talk to you."

"Bye Miroku." Kagome waved at the maybe almost slightly conscious monk.

"Thanks Sango, I owe you one."

"Don't thank me yet. The workers have been gone for a while and a few of them aren't coming back, so we're sending a few of our own to go and feed them. I figured you'd want to help."

"Really!" She felt giddy. She finally had something she could do.

"Yup, and while your there, you can find Inuyasha and give him a bowl of Ramen." Sango was rewarded with a sudden hug.

"What's Kagome so excited about?"

"Its nothing you'd understand Shippo. So when do I go?"

"Right now. They're prepairing to send the younger kids…"

"What?"

"Well, you see, that was part of the bargain. You get to go as their protector."

"So what you're saying is I'm babysitting?" Kagome hung her head and let out a deep sigh.

"Hey, at least its something, right?"

"You're right! What am I moping around for! What I'm doing is just as important as anything everyone is doing! I'll do it!"

"That's the spirit! Kagome? What exactly are you doing again?" Shippo stood still confused. No one had bothered to answer his many questions.

Kagome trudged, helping a few of the people along. The oldest of them looked to be one year more than her, the rest looked to be around the age of 13.

They're so young…yet they are here to fight too…I wonder how well they can fight…I hope its good…otherwise…they might get hurt…

They had started out at what had presumably been midday. They skies were so dark with rain clouds it was hard to tell. They walked along in the mud and across course ground for hours.

"I know, why don't we sing a song."

"Why?"

"Well, to cheer everyone up. We're pretty close now, and I'm sure that it will do us and them some good."

"What song should we sing?"

"I know one!" Exclaimed a girl with two braids. She looked poor,but as soon as she started singing, it didn't matter. Soon everyone was joining in. A sweet little diddy that made even the most 'manly' of boys grin and want to dance.

The men and Yukai who had been hard at it stopped and seemed delighted at the procession. And the idea of food. With the canvases that were set up in a small area of trees yet to be cut, they made a semi dry haven. Kagome stood and watched as the kids all helped to feed everyone. Singing as they did so. Some or those who had been working joined in the tune as well.

Making sure everything was set adn not ready to fall apart with out her, Kagome began to walk a little ways away.

"Excuse me, have you seen Inuyasha?" Kagome stopped a strange demon who hoped on four spindly legs. The thing made her jittery.

"Who?"

"Inuyasha. He's a dog demon with white hair, triangle ears, bad temper, arrogant too…"

"Oh. Him. He's still working."

"Working?" The twitchy bug blinked twice.

"You bet. Hardly stopped since he got here. Gotta go."

"Wait, which way is he?"

"Back a that way!" He hopped in line for food.

"Great. He couldn't just make things easy, could he." Kagome rehoisted her bag on her shoulders and walked off, nodding to those polite enough to say hi, and telling those who didn't know, that there was food ready if they wanted. Occasionally she asked where Inuyasha's where abouts were.

"Sankon Tetsuso!"

"It's about time I found him." She watched as more than a few trees fell. He stood there breathing hard. He was drenched in a combination of sweat and rain.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome hollard, climbing over a tree.

"Kagome? What are you doin here?" He turned to face her in surprise.

"I brought you some thing to eat."

"It's not safe out here."

"Well, if that's the thanks I get, I guess I'll just eat all of the Ramen on my own."

"What? Wait!" Kagome smiled coyly.

She looked around and spotted an area where she could put up a small canvas and began tying it.

"Roll over this log."

"Why?"

"So we can have someplace dry to sit…oops."She caught herself too late.

"Ka…go…me…" Inuyasha twitched in his little muddy dug out.

"I'm sorry. I guess I wasn't thinking." Kagome couldn't help giggling a little, but brought out a towel and threw it at Inuyasha as he stood up.

"You can use it to wipe your face off." Inuyasha whiped off most of the mud on his face and rolled over the log. Kagome pulled out her thermos and three instant Ramen bowls, giving two to him and one for her. She poured the hot water and he seemed to scarf it down as soon as she stopped.

"Slow down! You'll burn your tongue!" Inuyasha paused for maybe a millisecond, before just swallowing the rest down in one gulp.

"That was good, got any more?"

"Sure…" She pointed at her back and he rummaged through quickly producing, and downing five more, and a bag of potato chips. He sighed a big sigh, a sign that he was full.

"What?" He looked at Kagome's surprised face.

"I've never seen you eat so much in one sitting."

"So?"

"I was just saying."

"Just saying what?"

"Nothing!" Kagome fumed, ready to say the word at an insults notice.

"Feh." They sat there, as the rain drummed.

"You know, I've been thinking."

"Yah, about what?"

"What if the Jewel shards aren't just on this Island?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, Japan is made of a series of Islands right?"

"Yah."

"Well, what if the shards scattered to the other islands of Japan, not just here. And what if all across Japan on those continents too, there are other Naraku's?"

"We'll just have to defeat them."

"It seems like an awful lot."

"Never stopped us before."

"No, but then again it might just be us two and Shippo."

"What?" He just about fell over in surprise.

"Last time we supposedly defeated Naraku, it was just us three, remember?"

"Nothin wrong with that."

"No, but it took all of us to defeat Naraku, and it's going to take all of us to defeat any other possible Yukai that's just as strong or stronger. It's going to be a lot harder."

"You worry too much."

"I'm being serious."

"It's not like its impossible, even if it is, do we have a choice? We have to get back the Sacred Jewel."

"I know that. But, I dunno. It just seems..."

"If you're scared the of the big bad demons and want to run off to your own time as soon as Naraku is defeated, you can go ahead." He looked away, irritated. Kagome placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Inuyasha, I may get scared, but I'm not going to run away and leave you behind." He stood up.

"Where are you going?"

"You better go, there's still trees to be cut."

"Inuyasha! Sit boy!"

"Damn! What did I do now!"

"You can't just keep going on like that!"

"Like what!"

"When was the last time you actually took a break!"

"Five seconds ago."

"Grr! Sit!" Kagome became very frustrated with his smart-allecy remark. Inuyasha fell even harder to the ground that before. Kagome squatted down and pulled on one of his fuzzy dirt covered ears.

"You keep this up and you're going to make yourself sick. Take a break every once in a while, it won't kill you. If I find out that you're still over doing it, I'm marchin straight back over here and giving you such a hard sitting you won't be able to lift a finger, let alone chop a tree." She said sternly before grabbing her bag and stumbling off.

"Stupid Inuyasha. Who does he think he is? Superman?" By the time she got back, all that had come were ready to go back as well as a few of those who wanted a nights rest before starting to dig trenches and set traps. It was a dull walk but lighter without all of the soup to carry. Many of the children sang, but Kagome just couldn't get back into the chipper mood she had been.

As soon as she could, she dropped in to her sleeping bag. Ignoring the strange looks from Sango and Miroku.

Stupid…stupid…after all this time…he still thinks I'm going to leave him behind…I was scared that one time…I was scared that what Kikyo said made sense…that…since I caused this…I couldn't help him…that he wouldn't be all right…but…I've never really run away…not because I was scared…I've never abandoned him…so why does he think I'm going to now…maybe because I might…I mean…what will I do when the Shikon No Tama is finally complete…I can't stay here…can I…Is that what Inuyasha is afraid of…that I'll leave…when that moment comes…and never come back…

Kagome rolled over, hoping to forget her thoughts so she wouldn't have to face the one thing she feared the most.