By the tree I spent my time thinking, I saw a couple of jewel shards imbedded in the tree. I took them out of the knot in the tree and held them. "Have these always been there?"

"I don't know… you live here." Koga said. I held them in the palm of my hand. I then took the other jewel shard out and placed it with them. I clapped my hands together and when I opened them, the three shards had fused together. I eyed them with curiosity.

"So, what are you going to do with those?"

"I was thinking about it the other day. If I have a small number of shards, I could either become full demon or half-demon. I considered becoming all demon, but I wouldn't want to become someone who could possibly hurt others. While the life of a half-demon isn't always a pleasurable life, it's better than being as unstable as I am."

"So, what exactly happened between you and Inuyasha?"

I sat down on the rock next under that tree. "Well, it's a long story. He was training me, but I got so strong over one day that there really wasn't a need to go on. We ran into his brother, Sesshomaru, I saved his ass, and he got all… whatever, when I was like 'I'd give my life for you'… Truth was that I visited him when he was sealed to the Sacred Tree. I'd listen to his heart for comfort. So, he made a habit of letting me do that… but he was using me." I spat out, disgusted.

"Using you? For what?"

"The calmness I gave him when he held me, it was reminding him of Kikyo. He needs to really move on from her, especially when Kagome is there in front of his eyes. He's such a jerk sometimes."

"Yeah, he is a jerk, but what makes you think he and Kagome belong together?"

"That's easy." I looked at him, "she knows how to keep him in check and he's always willing to go all the way to protect her. It's like opposites attract for them. No other girl could keep Inuyasha in check like Kagome can…"

"True, but don't you like Inuyasha too?"

"Yeah… I do, but my lips are sealed regarding my feelings about him. There's this love triangle between him, Kagome and Kikyo. Kikyo is gone now… leaving Kagome a clear shot. I'd just complicate things."

"You'd rather Kagome be with that mutt than a stronger, full-demon like me?" I looked at him. For a moment, I thought I saw something in him. I looked at his eyes and started smiling. When our eyes met, I turned away. "What am I thinking?"

"Why were you looking at me like that?" He asked in a curious tone.

"I don't know… my mind wanders sometimes… still, it's very strange. For a moment there, I thought that you weren't half bad looking."

"Not half bad? What do you mean, not half bad!"

"Well, I like you more, is all. I mean, opposed to you being just… ok." I shrugged, "I could just be flip-flopping again; I'm weird that way. I never know half the time what I'm really thinking. This could just be on an impulse…"

"Nah, the look I saw in your eyes couldn't have been an impulse. Still, you feeling that way about Inuyasha and not telling him that… you're just going to keep him and Kagome together… and you still would give your life for him. The guy's an idiot for not taking you seriously."

"Well, it's good to see someone see things my way." I laughed, "Boy, Inuyasha would be furious if he saw me come back with you."

"What, you're going back?"

"Yeah, I gotta complete my training. I've got one final test and once I pass, I can take my place as the leader of my tribe."

"Just wondering, is your race of demons getting less numerous? I don't think I've ever heard of tiger demons before I met you."

"Yeah, well, we're a very isolated race and there are only so many tribes. In the 45 years I spent traveling, I've come across only five others. None of them would take me in because I was half-demon, but I'm more demon than they know. More than I know for that matter." I sighed, "I wonder if my father's still alive. Maybe I can ask him why he didn't tell my mother he was half demon, or why he even left… there's so much I don't know."

"Just wondering because… your tribe can always join up with mine."

"Tigers and wolves? Are you serious?" I said, jokingly. "We're talking dogs and cats living together in peace… isn't that a little weird?"

"No. Besides, I'm my own tribe's leader, and my pack is pretty small as it is. If we merge together, we'll be that much stronger."

"Still, you wolves get into a whole lot of trouble with humans. We just want to be left alone and not get involved with humans at all. That was the reason that led to our downfall. They thought we were after the Shikon Jewel, but we really had nothing to do with it." I sighed, "Do you really think you could protect us, I mean, if I can't?"

"I don't see why I can't." He said. I don't know what it was, but I suddenly warmed up to Koga after talking to him for only an hour or so. As the sun set, he slid next to me and put an arm around my shoulders, smiling. I locked my left fingers with his hands. "Thanks Koga."

"For what? I didn't do nothin'…" For a split second, I thought he sounded like Inuyasha. I looked at him and it was just Koga. "Just for… hearing me out, I guess… Despite what Inuyasha has against you, you're not really that bad. In fact, I'm getting to like you quite a bit."

"Well, I kinda like you too. You can't follow everything Inuyasha tells you."

"I know… but as far as I'm concerned, his enemies are the same as mine. You, you're just a rival; you can't be all bad if you protect Kagome like you say you do."

"I'd be a lot better job than him… but in your case, I think I could you help all out. Since you tigers are so good at keeping yourselves hidden, you can hide while my wolves do the protecting. Unless you'd like to fight by my side…"

"Sure, after I finish up with Inuyasha, I'll come back here and I'll explain things to them." I smiled, "Thanks Koga, you're awesome." I hugged him and he said, "Hey, calm down. It wasn't no big deal."

I heard a strong heart beating inside Koga's chest. I tried to listen for something reassuring, but I just couldn't find it. I felt tears pouring from my eyes again. I tightened my grip on Koga's pelt and my heart felt heavy. I put the jewel shards into my heart and it continued to hurt. I sniffed. He looked down, "Hey, what's got you so worked up?"

I laughed in between sobs, "There I go again. I told I'm an unstable half-demon, or… whatever I am." I sighed, but starting sobbing. Koga held me, but it didn't make me feel any better. It just wasn't the same as being that close with Inuyasha. "Look, just tell me what's wrong and I'll see what I can do."

I sobbed, "I miss Inuyasha… I need Inuyasha…" He got behind me and started to massage me. He then placed a wolf pelt around my shoulders. "That came from one of my comrades who died in a battle against a bunch of humans. Maybe it'll keep you warm. It's the best I can do. I found it in a cabin a few villages away." I sniffed it.

"A few villages away…" I sniffed it again. "During my first night with Inuyasha, Kagome put this around us as we slept. It smells like Inuyasha…"

"Yeah, whatever makes you happy… I can't say I'm pleased that it smells like dog-face, but as long as you're happy."

"I gotta see Inuyasha the day after tomorrow…" I stopped crying and I slowly fell asleep in Koga's arms.

Inuyasha's ears twitched as he sat resting by a tree. He slowly opened his eyes as his ears kept twitching. "That voice sounds… so familiar." He whispered.

"Inuyasha…" Kagome woke up, moving a little out of her sleeping bag.

"Hey Kagome, I didn't wake you, did I?"

"No… I don't think so." She yawned. "What are you still doing up?"

"I thought I heard something." He tried to listen, but the voice was gone. "Someone calling my name."

"You don't think it was the princess, do you?"

"Yeah, I think it was her." He stood up, looking out past the trees. "It's been so long since I've seen her…"

"What'd you think you heard?" She asked, getting out of her sleeping bag carefully, as to not wake up Shippo.

"It might have been my imagination, but she was… crying. Crying for me. I mean, just a few days ago, I heard her shouting that 'I'd be sorry' and 'I'd regret using her', and I'd never get the jewel shard. I don't even care anymore… she can keep it." He brushed it off, heading back to the tree to sit back down.

"Well," Kagome sat down next to Inuyasha, "what'd you hear her say this time?"

"Despite all this time we've spent apart, she misses me and… needs me… Forget what she said about Kikyo. The truth is that… the way she affected me, I miss that. That sense of calmness has given me a clearer mind, so I don't have to think quite as hard anymore. Plus, I've been able to sort out my feelings for you, Kagome."

"She did that?" She wondered, leaning against his shoulder.

"Yeah, I think so. She was right; nothing I do is going to bring Kikyo back. As much as it kills me to know that Naraku killed her, and that I can't forget about her, I should really stop thinking that we still have a chance. Things between us have gotten so complicated that I don't even know if we have a chance in hell." He straightened himself out. "If anything, she was right about the fact that you're right for me because you don't cast a spell over me the way Kikyo does. I can be myself around you…"

He paused when he realized that Kagome had fallen asleep, leaning her head on his shoulder. He put an arm around her in support. He then made a vow to himself, "Kagome, I promise that I won't ever leave you alone again."