Chapter 61

"I ain't here to fight puppy, so just take your hand off the hilt of your sword.", Kouga said.

"Then why are you here, Kouga?", Miroku asked.

"I just have some questions. I picked up your and Kagome's scent up north of here and I followed it.", Kouga explained, and suddenly he straightened up, "Kagome.", he spoke.

"Oh, Kouga, it's you.", Kagome said as she came up to the men with Sango behind her. Kagome picked up Kazuo, who was trying to make the hammock swing faster, and the toddler looked at Kouga and said, "Wolfie."

At this, Kouga smiled at the tyke. Inuyasha began to get impatient. "What do you wanna talk about, wolf?"

Kouga replied, "There's been some strange things happening around here. I've heard stories of specters and ghosts. I've even seen some of my dead comrades walking around. You got any idea of what's going on?"

"Yea, it appears Naraku is back, as a spirit. He's inhabiting already dead bodies.", Miroku said.

"He's trying to get reincarnated. He tried using my daughter, Kaori, as his reincarnated body. But I stopped him.", Inuyasha said proudly.

"Well, obviously you didn't stop him enough, you idiot, if he's still looking for a body to inhabit.", Kouga retorted.

"Kouga, that was 13 years ago. We thought he was gone. We didn't realize until recently that he had returned.", Kagome pleaded.

"The question is, what are we going to do about it?", Miroku asked.

"Yea, we don't know which body he's gonna inhabit next.", Inuyasha added.

"I may have an idea,", Kagome started, "Let me look through my spell books and see what I have that might help us. I'll do that tonight when the children are in bed."

"Spell book?", queried Kouga

"Yes, I'm a demon ninja witch now.", Kagome said.

"I thought they were only myths. The power of a demon ninja is trouble enough. But add witchcraft to that ...", Kouga's words trailed off as he thought, 'Damn Kagome, you shoulda been with me.'

While they were talking, Inuyasha's other pups came out from where ever they had been. Kagome introduced them to Kouga. This evoked one comment out of him. In a soft voice, he said, "You produce good, strong, healthy children. That's important in a mate."

"Yea, wolf, and they're my pups. Not yours. The better man won.", Inuyasha glared at Kouga. This comment started a growling match between Kouga and Inuyasha.

"All right, boys, calm down.", said Kagome sarcastically.

"Mama, what's that all about?", asked Kaori.

"Kouga and your father used to fight over me. That's what.", Kagome whispered to her daughter.

"But papa won you. Why is he still fighting Kouga?", Kaori continued.

"Because your father is still insecure and jealous around other men when it comes to me.", Kagome responded, and then said, "Kouga? What have you been doing all these years?"

Kouga pulled out of his battle stance and said, "Is there someplace we can go, Kagome, that we can talk?"

"NO!", cried Inuyasha

"INUYASHA! Stop it!", Kagome yelled at him as his ears drooped, "Yes, Kouga, follow me.", she said, as she handed Kazuo to his papa, "Here Kazuo. Keep your papa in line, ok? Yank his ear if he tries to follow Mama, ok?"

Kazuo responded by saying, "ok, mama." and then reaching up to get one of his father's ears in play. Inuyasha just growled. Kagome looked over her shoulder and said "Be good.".

Heading to a small clearing, Kouga sat down next to Kagome.

Kouga started by saying, "So you decided to mate with Inuyasha. I should have come for you sooner, but we had problems in our lands that I needed to attend to."

"Kouga, I wasn't in love with you. I never was."

"I know, I just thought I could make you love me, somehow. Your sons are strong and your daughters are pretty. Can't ask for much more. I didn't even know half-demons could produce."

"His father's blood is extremely strong. It demands to be passed on. It's like a legacy."

"Does he treat you well, Kagome?"

"Yes, Kouga, he does. He's matured alot over the years. How about you? Are you mated yet?"

"I mated Ayame. Her grandfather, the elder, insisted on it. We haven't had much luck producing. Our first 2 litters all but one died. And then he didn't make it through the summer. We've had other litters since ... one or maybe two pups. Some survived, some didn't. Out of all the years we have been together, we have successfully raised to maturity only 6 pups. I had hoped for more than that.", Kouga became quiet after this.

"Kouga,", Kagome said, thoughtfully, "I may be able to help you. I have something I can make. If Ayame brews it into a tea and feeds it to the pups, it should help them. She can feed it to them right from birth."

"Oh, yea? I'm willing to try it and I'm sure Ayame will too.", Kouga said, ready to hug Kagome until she backed away.

"Kouga, Inuyasha will look for any reason to attack you. You know that. I don't want a fight in front of my children."

"You're right. Let's get going.", Kouga said, as he got up and Kagome stood. Together they walked back to the hut. Arriving back, they found Miroku and Inuyasha talking, with Kazuo on the ground, happily pulling Yasha's ears as Yasha winced in pain every now and them.

"So what are we going to do?", Miroku asked.

"I though Kagome was going to look through her spell book?", Inuyasha looked at the monk questioningly.

"Oh yea, that's right.", Miroku replied, feeling dumb.

"Kouga, why don't you stay in one of the huts for tonight. I'll make a nice supper for everyone. How does that sound?"

"I like that idea, Kagome.", Kouga said, smiling.

"Well, I don't!", Inuyasha said, as he folded his arms across his chest and glared at Kouga.

"Well, tough! I don't care.", Kagome said, as she grabbed one of Inuyasha's ears and started pulling him inside the house.

"OW OW OW! That hurts, wench!", Inuyasha yelled at her.

"Tough! Now get in here!", Kagome yelled back.

Kouga and Miroku just stared at the scene as Kouga commented, "Maybe I didn't want to be mated to her." and Miroku laughed.