Welcome to the first reposted chapter of The Heart of a Wolf. I will systematically be going back through each chapter editing, improving, adding to where needed in order to make the fiction flow better to provide improved performance from when I was a newer writer. Granted, it has been some time since I picked up fanfiction, but it's like riding a bike, isn't it? I wanted to briefly thank all of the readers who have stuck with me thus far, as well as those newer readers who have helped rekindle my passion for fanfiction, this pairing, but mostly Inuyasha. Writing, in general, has been challenging for me lately, but… this has always been therapeutic for me. Let's see if it can be as much of an escape in my adult life as it was in my adolescence. Without further ado, let's get back to the story.

Disclaimer: All original characters are owned by Rumiko Takahashi. Any events taking place are of my own imagination. Any similarities to actual people or events are strictly coincidental.

Chapter One: Breathe

She could feel the chill of winter through her thick haori as she leaned against the doorway of Kaede's hut, pressing her right shoulder to its frame. Her raven tresses swayed in the harsh wind that graced their small village, causing her to clutch more tightly at her Haori. As she wrapped it more tightly around her, her sapphire eyes scanned the winter wonderland around them. It was nearly time for her evening patrol.

She looked back at the older miko, who kneeled at the fire pit behind her in an attempt to keep warm. Her gaze softened as she watched her contentedly.

After the well had closed up Kaede had taken her in. It had been two years since the demise of Naraku and the banishment of the Shikon no Tama, and a feeling of peace had swept through all of Japan. One everyone seemed keen on keeping for a while.

Sighing, she turned toward the icy landscape once more, her body subconsciously shivering at the chill she knew the landscape held. He should be arriving at any moment to assist her in her patrol. She tried not to let her thoughts linger on the hanyou any longer than necessary. It wasn't good for her.

"Easy child," Kaede spoke softly from the fire pit, "He will be here soon. Ye need not worry."

"I know," she said softly, turning back to the woman as she made her way to the fire pit herself. She knelt carefully not wanting to risk skin touching the cold wooden floors beneath her. The heat was precious. Especially during this winter.

It had been harsh. Villagers had fallen sick left and right, the food supply was running low, and herbs for treatment were becoming scarce due to overuse. She and Kaede had to use them sparingly now, and there were still three more months of winter left. A soft sigh escaped her as she ruminated over their ongoing problem. In short, it was going to be a long winter.

A rough knock on the wooden wall of the hut made her jump. If she hadn't been so lost in thought, the aura would have caught her attention. She was untrained miko no longer.

"Are you coming," he spoke. Sapphire orbs met gold hues, briefly, when he spoke, merely meeting then averting once acknowledgment had been made.

"Yes," she said rising to her feet before grabbing her bow and arrows near the door, Her blue hues met the tired brown orbs of the older miko as she smiled gently at her, "I will be back soon Lady Kaede."

"Be careful child," she said smiling at Kagome fondly, she would have been truly lost without her this winter, "Ye too Inuyasha," the older woman groused as she gave him a measured look.

Golden eyes narrowed at the aging woman as he turned from the hut, muttering, "Keh," under his breath.

Kagome wrapped the haori around her ever tighter before sending a gentle smile Kaede's way as she exited the hut, leaving its safety for the outside world.

Kaede watched the two of them, leave a worried expression crossing her features, and for, seemingly, the thousandth time, she wondered how he could have let something like this come between the solid friendship they had once fostered. Through near-death experiences, raging battles, struggles with inner demons, and, finally, through great triumph. Yet, in the very end, it was all for naught. She sighed as she raised her aged hands before the flames to warm them.

Perhaps Sesshomaru had said it best, foolish hanyou.

Kagome squinted her eyes against the darkness and falling snow to see the waves of silver hair that swayed before her. His dark haori and hakama of the fire rat blended into the dark expanse around them rather well. Forgoing her sight, she closed her eyes and used her aura to hone in on his own as she followed him twenty feet past the tree line.

Upon reaching the marker, he turned toward the West and she the East. They never spoke, never made eye contact. Just going about their duty silently.

Once she was out of hearing range, Kagome released a sigh she didn't know she'd been holding. It had been nearly a year since she and Inuyasha had talked. Ever since 'that night', they hadn't spoken a word. The night everything changed.

Her thoughts were interrupted as her aura brushed up against another's, one she did not recognize. Jerking her face toward the direction of the foreign aura, she simultaneously raised her bow. Poised in near perfection, her sapphire hues narrowed. It wasn't a human's aura or even a Miko's reiki. She'd felt the electric touch of an enemy's youki against her reiki many times before. There was no mistaking it.

Her heart rate rose slightly in anticipation as her eyes scanned the silent forest around her. She was no longer afraid of the creatures that this era had to offer. She'd faced off against the evilest being to ever walk Japan. Anything else, at this point, was child's play.

"Show yourself and I might offer you some clemency," she vocalized evenly, as she pulled the bowstring tight against her cheek, one finger above and two below her notched arrow.

The youki had stopped pacing the outside perimeter of her reach. Settling in a singular spot before her, but just out of her reach of recognition. Her eyes narrowed slightly with the realization that Inuyasha was too far away to hear a call for help. Not that it mattered. The hanyou hadn't lifted a finger to help her in some time. She would be on her own for this fight.

"Foolish Miko," a dark, deep voice echoed in her pitch-black surroundings. It seemed to be coming from everywhere as it reverberated off of the leafless trees and forest that was stripped of its muffling foliage in winter. The result was probably more dramatic than necessary, but it still garnered the desired effect of displacement seeing as she could not pinpoint its location. Her eyes steeled over as she released an arrow, a warning shot, toward where she guessed the youki's location to be.

It immediately split into three different signatures and sped off in different directions surrounding her. Forming a barrier, three different dark entities rushed her, slamming into the energy field on all sides.

A near-silent noise of strain left her lips before she expelled a wave of reiki that pushed the youkai off of her, throwing them in all directions. Recovering immediately, she notched another arrow and fired again toward where the signature had originated from, ignoring what she assumed to be a distraction, for now. The youki signature there dodged the arrow, falling back into the shadows. It was then that she sensed it.

A much larger youki signature approaching her from behind. There was no doubt whatever being this was, it was a taiyoukai. Turning without hesitation, she fired an arrow at the being. It was caught between two fingers on the youkai's right hand before being tossed to the side uselessly.

Kagome's eyes narrowed as she slid the bow over her arms before reaching for the tanto at her side, holding the hilt tightly in her right hand; however, she did not unsheath the blade just yet. Sapphire scanned the darkness before her as her reiryouki rose to battle against its youki.

"Who are you," she practically growled, seemingly as a speck of moonlight filtered through the thinning clouds revealing her attacker.

It was a male that stood a foot taller than she did. He had navy blue hair tied in a high ponytail and bright yellow eyes with vertical slits for pupils. There were two stripes on each cheek colored with the same pigment as his hair. His features were sharper than Sesshomaru's and his eyes held more malintent than she'd ever known the taiyoukai to bear.

She uttered a silent prayer of thanks for Rin not being in the vicinity at the time, not wanting to face the tai's wrath if this interaction did not end well and risked putting his ward in danger. Sesshomaru had taken the girl to the Western Palace a few days ago to be fitted with new kimonos since she was growing so fast.

Her attention returned to the taiyoukai before her, whose pompous smirk exposed jagged teeth, not just fangs. Her eyes narrowed. He was built soildly, yet maintained the same lithe figure Sesshomaru boasted. After a few more minutes the taiyoukai spoke.

"I am Jaakuna Ryu, Lord of the Southern Lands," his voice was cold with the bite of condescendence as he spoke to her. She pulsed her reiki firmly as a warning; she wasn't playing games.

"To what do I owe the pleasure," she replied cooly but politely. Her posture relaxed infinitesimally as she held his gaze, refusing to back down.

"Trust me, Miko, the pleasure is all mine," his smirk felt evil, his eyes tinting red around the rims as he watched her much as a jungle cat would stalk its prey. This had her arm tensing to which he laughed darkly. "Such a jumpy Miko. Where is your sense of wonder? Jump too much and we'll have to start the games early," he chided as he shifted in front of her seemingly despite his regal exterior. For what she wasn't sure, and didn't know if she wanted to find out.

"I am in no mood for your games," she replied, her jaw set. What was with this guy? She was first attacked by him, now he was toying with her. What did he want?

Her look of confusion apparently didn't go unnoticed, "Don't worry Miko. You will be dead by the end of this night."

"Why do you wish to take my life," she inquired calmly despite being informed of her impending death as if that hadn't happened to her numerous times before, "What have I done to deserve that."

"You haven't done anything," he said as he started to circle her, the predator beginning to close in on his prey. Kagome to her credit stood her ground, stance set and eyes observing as he passed around her as he continued to speak, "I just cannot allow such a threat to exist so close to my lands. Your power is legendary in Edo, very impressive for a ningen onna."

Kagome's eyes narrowed. She may not know how youkai social or political systems worked in Sengoku Jidai worked just yet, but with how possessive they could be she was almost certain he had no permission to be here. If so, wouldn't the Eastern Lord wish to be a part of a momentous occasion such as this? If not, permission would not have been granted in the first place. "Does the Eastern Lord know of your whereabouts or intentions on his land?" Her voice held a polite yet cold edge to it.

She noted that his smirk diminished slightly at the comment, turning down into a grimace before it returned to a smirk, "That 'cub' has no right to interfere in my plans nor the power to deny me anything."

She blinked once. Surely he would not risk an all-out war with the Eastern Lord for the express privilege of killing her, would he? He seemed to see where her mind was going as he replied growling deeply, "I could take down the kitten if I so wished to with a single swipe. He is of no threat to me or my lands."

Kagome grimaced. She was in a sticky situation. Trained or not, facing a taiyoukai on her own was going to be a life-or-death battle. Inuyasha, while he could probably hear her by now if she were to call out for him, it didn't necessarily mean he would come to help her. Surely, he had to feel their youki by now. It wasn't what you'd call, subtle. Would he really leave her to die like this?

She pushed those thoughts from her mind as she focused on the taiyoukai before her. He was smirking at something in the sky before his gaze settled, uncomfortably, back on her person. His yellow eyes flashing dangerously as he bared his teeth much like an inu would their fangs. A low rumble emitted from his throat, rumbling deep in his chest before all was deathly silent as his eyes bled red.

"Time's up miko."

That was all the time she had before she encased herself in a barrier and he transformed into a blue, scaled, winged….dragon. Kagome's knees nearly buckled at his sheer size as he towered over her, rising above even the tallest trees as he threw his head back into the night sky and roared into the night sky. He was monstrous. His blue leathery wings beat twice in the night air as his silver claws dug into the earth around her. Steam filtered through his nostrils, the vapor silver in the moonlight, as a deep rumble emitted once more from his chest shaking the ground beneath her.

She nearly despaired as he breathed in but she held fast. She saw the spark before she dove out of the way. He left the ground charred in her wake. The flames a brilliant electric blue as they licked the ground, cleaving anything that had been there before from it.

She braced her back against a tree knowing she'd have to move immediately, as she watched his movements for an indication of his next attack. That was when she felt the three youki signatures from earlier return. Growling underneath her breath, she raised her bow and fired in the general direction of the signatures before diving behind a boulder the blue flames engulfing the place she had previously been.

Kagome could nearly feel the boulder behind her melting from the intensity. The flames stopped and she hesitated for merely a moment before launching herself toward another set of trees. That was her mistake.

Feeling fangs sink into her shoulder as she was about to move, she cried out in pain. Peering down at her right shoulder, the head of a red, much smaller, dragon was gripping onto the muscles and bones in her arm tightly. Its blue eyes flashing menacingly as its grip only tightened on her.

Pressing her hand against its face, she summoned some reiki frying its head as well as the majority of its upper body. Crying out in agony, it released her shoulder, her own breath catching in her throat at the pain that now pounded in her extremity, nearly immobilizing her as she cried out due to its intensity.

In response, Jaakuna roared angrily, as he turned bearing down upon her. He was too close. She wouldn't be able to move in time. Erecting a barrier around her as a last desperate act to survive, Kagome could only watch as Jaakuna reared back to inhale. Kagome closed her eyes, raising her left arm to shield herself from the flames. It was then she heard a dull smacking of what sounded like skin on skin.

Confused, she looked up to see the leg of a certain ookami connecting with the side of Jaakuna's head. There was no mistaking it. Black hair, tanned skin, brown pelts and tail, and light blue eyes; she'd recognize him anywhere, yet her sapphire eyes widened in disbelief.

"K-Kouga?"

He was patrolling the border of his territory. It was a normal, routine task for him to perform, but he'd taken Izuma's shift. The other ookami's mate was with pup and she was nearing her date of delivery. He wasn't going to tear him from her when she needed him most.

He smiled to himself, the pack was growing in strength and numbers. It was nice to see in the wake of Naraku's demise. He'd even had to find a larger den to house them all. Something that might be troublesome to other alphas or even other youkai leaders. Not to Kouga. He was more than happy to provide for the force to be reckoned with they were growing into, and, soon, he'd be able to reclaim what was rightfully his.

The notion of pups brought with it another issue. Ayame. He was due to court her soon, and he wasn't looking forward to the prospect. It wasn't like he had any other female ookami to choose from, but the problem lay in the fact that he didn't want a female ookami.

He sighed as he scratched the back of his neck. The one he wanted didn't want him. All the ookami females in his pack would jump at the chance to be his mate, and yet the one he wanted had acted aloof for nearly three years. He smirked. That was just how she was though. She was loyal. He'd give her that.

He glanced up at Mother Moon in the sky. He noted she was nearing her completion phase of the month as a waxing gibbous stared back at him from the night sky. He sighed again, white puffs coming of steam forming as his breath materialized into existence. He'd do anything to have her, but fate wasn't so kind.

Kouga was turning back toward the youki signatures of Ginta and Hakkaku when a muted roar followed minutes later by a pained cry reached his ears. They twitched as his light-blue eyes widened. Kagome? Without a second thought, he sprinted in the direction of the sound without abandon. As he neared, he picked up her scent, but it was marred with the iron metallic scent of blood. Her blood.

A growl threatened to surface in the back of his throat. Where was that mutt? Wasn't he suppose to be taking care of her? His eyes nearly bled red at the sight that he beheld as he launched himself into the air above the treeline.

Kagome was surrounded by dragons. Three dragons. Apprehensively, he looked around the battlefield for any more enemies. He was satisfied to see that the three were the extent of her danger. He could handle three dragons.

He landed on the tops of an oak tree and stared down at the scene before him. In the past, he would have dove headlong into battle. He still wanted to, but he knew in order to get Kagome out of alive, especially since he was alone, he had to have a plan.

In the back of his mind, he could feel Ginta and Hakkaku following his scent. That was good. This time he might actually need them.

He pulled his youki tight around him in order to retain the element of surprise as the blue dragon lowered his head. Kouga's eyes narrowed. He was about to strike; his time to plan his next move was running out. So instead, he fell back on what he knew and did well: making it up as he went.

Following his instincts, he jumped to the next tree circling the dragon from the left. It was reared back in its neck, undoubtedly, about to release fire and brimstone upon Kagome before him. He launched himself from the tree and kicked his dominant leg out as he slammed sidelong into the dragon's head. He smirked as its jaw bone made a sickening crunch when he connected with the side of its face.

Lifting his blue eyes he looked up to see a very stricken and shocked-looking Kagome staring up at him. Then he heard it.

"K-Kouga?" His whole body relaxed infinitesimally, as the voice he had longed to hear again finally graced his ears. It was hers. Inwardly he sighed and his gaze slightly softened before it hardened in the next moment as he returned to the dragon. The massive being flew twenty feet to the right as he landed before her defensively, the other two serpents trying to close in on her during the aftermath.

"I don't think so," he growled knocking them both to either side with swift and well placed round-house kicks. "You okay," he asked not daring to chance a glance in her direction.

"Yeah, thanks," she said softly. He could hear the scuff of material as she rose to her feet behind him.

"Where's the mutt," he asked glancing in the direction the larger dragon had gone, "I thought he was supposed to be protecting you now."

He nearly regretted asking when he felt the bite in her aura. "He-"

She was cut off when the blue dragon charged, yellow eyes flashed with danger as silver claws crashed down upon them.

Kouga wrapped an arm around her waist before bouncing backward on his toes from the onslaught of claws. He heard Kagome whine quietly in pain, and, at the small sound, his eyes rimmed red. Whoever this was, he was going to pay for hurting her.

He landed as smoothly as possible before her down behind a giant rock. Pausing to make sure she was mostly settled on the ground he jumped another twenty feet to the right of the rock, which garnered the larger being's attention.

"Alright you scaly serpent. I don't know who you are, but anyone who lays a hand on Kagome is going to pay," he growled balling his fists.

The dragon seemed to look at him incredulously before rumbling deep within his chest. "It is you who will die cub."

"We'll see about that." At the last syllable of the word, he launched himself at the dragon, who turned to swipe at Kouga with his tail. Kouga grabbed onto his tail and used it to swing himself around kicking out with his right leg to catch the dragon on the side of the face once more. It roared angrily and Kouga smirked.

He crouched as he hit the ground searching for the other two dragons. They wouldn't give up just because he'd roughed them up a little, and with him fighting the larger one they'd have an easy go at Kagome. That was when he heard the second sweetest sound that night.

"Kouga!"

"Hey Kouga! Why'd you run off to-"

"Go protect Kagome," he barked as he dodged another oncoming attack from the larger dragon.

Ginta and Hakkaku looked at the scene before them. It looked like a warzone with their fearless leader in the midst of it all. Normally, ookami and dragons don't have qualms, but if Kagome was involved….

"Right," Ginta and Hakkaku replied simultaneously as they spotted a shred of red and white hiding behind a rock.

Quickly they made it to her side and crouched before her.

"Hey Sis," Ginta said.

"How are you holding up," Hakkaku finished.

Kagome smiled at them weakly, "Hey guys. I'm-" cough, "Alright. Don't worry."

Ginta's eyes narrowed. She'd lost a lot of blood. He knew Kouga might skin him later, but he took one of her hands. They were cold as ice.

He glanced over at Hakkaku who mirrored his grave expression.

"Kouga we need to move her. She won't make it like this," Ginta called out.

Kouga looked over his shoulder at them. Not make it….His eyes bled red entirely at his words. If she died there would be hell to pay.

He focused his rage on the dragon before him. It seemed to be smirking, pleased with itself. He managed to wrangle in his beast enough to speak, "You underestimate Kagome. She's strong. She won't die because some puffed up lizard tries to put her down," this caused yellow angry eyes to center on him, "Your first mistake was to think she'd be alone, and your second," he said barely hanging on to his mind, "Was not knowing it would be me who would come to her rescue."

Ginta and Hakkaku's eyes widened as they watched his legendary control slipping. They hadn't seen it this bad since Kagura slaughtered their kin at Naraku's imaginary castle. Even then though, he'd managed to keep control of his beast if not his sanity.

It was then they felt the additional youki signatures approaching them. "Watch out," Kagome cried as the two dragons came up behind the ookami betas. She cast out a reiki ball at one of them while Hakkaku kicked the other in the face sending it flying. Kagome's eyes widened slightly. It was a very Kougaesc move. Maybe they'd all done some training in their years a part.

"Don't worry Sis," Hakkaku said eyeing their surroundings while Ginta took up his flank.

"We'll protect you," Ginta finished.

Kagome couldn't help the small smile that graced her features, it would seem some things didn't change. She grimaced slightly as the wound on her shoulder made its presence known again. The wound was on fire, and she really hoped it wasn't due to poison. However, as she raised her right hand above the wound and pulsed reiki into it, immediately it was combated with youki. She drew her hand away quickly crying out in pain, which caused both Ginta and Hakkaku to look back at her.

"It's poisoned," she said softly but, with their demonic hearing, everyone heard it.

Kouga roared angrily as he punched the dragon in the chest. Poison. They had to act fast. This battle needed to end now. Kagome was just a human after all, and she had no resistance to poison like he or his two betas had. She would bear it full force, and it wasn't going to be nice.

The dragon rumbled happily in its chest. Jaakuna didn't care if he had to finish the job now or if the poison did it for him. As long as his will was carried out he would be satisfied, his 'cub', on the other hand, was annoying to deal with. He reared back to spit fire once more, but was kicked in the jaw by the ookami.

Kouga growled angrily, knocking the dragon's head upward. While he had an opening, he shoved his arm elbow-deep up through his lower jaw before wrenching it out. The dragon roared in pain as blood flowed freely from its jaw covering its teeth and lips as it painted the grounds around them. Kouga delivered another round-house kick to the left side of its head for good measure, and the action sent Jaakuna sailing to the ground.

Upon landing, Kouga raced toward the taiyoukai that was morphing into its humanoid form. Jaakuna placed a hand to the bottom of his jaw and glared angrily at the ookami. Crimson spattered his lips and chin, leaving a red stain down his neck too.

Jaakuna Ryu raised his left hand summoning the dragons back to his side instantaneously. "Until we meet again 'cub'," he spat as the dragons gripped onto his legs with their jaws. In a snap of his fingers, he vanished into nothing.

Kouga growled angrily, his eyes flashing from red to blue within mere seconds as his growl deepened in intensity. Hearing a cry of pain, he managed to pull himself back the brink. It was Kagome's voice.

"Kouga," Ginta called. His voice sounded worried.

Tearing himself from the clearing where the dragon had slipped off from, his eyes still flashing from blue to red, he ran to Kagome's side. She was nearly convulsing as the venom spread through her veins.

"Damn," he growled as he scooped her up into his arms. She wasn't going to make it if they didn't get some help soon.

"Kouga?" Hakkaku asked weary of his flashing eyes.

"I'm taking her to the den come on," he growled as he launched himself from the ground. The landscape around him appeared in his mind's eye as a blur as he ran full speed toward the den. His healers there would have some sort of remedy for the poison. His pack had experienced enough of that sort of thing.

He stole a glance down at the ebony-haired woman cradled against his chest. Her breathing was shallow, her skin had paled, and her heartbeat was fading. A growl bubbled in his chest. If the mutt had been protecting her at all he would have come barging in, sword-swinging, as he had in the past. It angered him that he hadn't seen the hide nor hair of the mutt at all during the altercation between himself and the dragon. It seemed he was going to have to have a talk with the mutt about his job of protecting his-

No. His heart sank slightly. She wasn't his. He was promised to -he blanched at the thought- Ayame. His chest began to ache. It was easier to pretend that he didn't care when he couldn't see her, but now that he held her in his arms…

A sigh escaped him as his eyes were fully back to blue now. He launched off of the next branch a little stronger making it crack beneath the pressure. He growled softly at the thought of his future slowly being decided for him.

He was still young and as wild as the wind. If it weren't for Kagome, he would have never considered settling down this early. Ever since he'd mentioned the word 'mate', everyone had been chomping at the bit to get him coupled off. It was maddening.

His gaze drifted back to Mother Moon in the sky. He sighed as his blue eyes mirrored her image. "If only…"

With hardening eyes he glances earthward once more, his speed returning to his feet with a vengeance. "Hang on Kagome, nearly there."

A being peered into a pool of water before her that reflected one of many of her cubs. Kouga of the Eastern Ookami Tribe. He was an excellent leader, kind, loyal, loving, and brave. If she had to choose a favorite it could possibly be him.

Her crystal blue eyes drifted to the figure held tightly to his chest as he ran. Kagome. The Shikon Miko. Her eyes softened slightly. She'd been watching the young woman for some time now. Every time Kouga came into contact with her, she only intrigued the being more. Nearly as much as she had the cub.

In her eyes, she was a kind, gentle creature with a loving heart, but she was loyal to a fault. And that loyalty had lead her into the misery she lived in now. One that was, not only undeserved but also unnecessary. The pool drifted back from the scene and focused on a certain silver-haired hanyou that stood against a tree a hundred miles from her running cub. He looked agitated.

Golden eyes flashed as he uncrossed his arms and made his way back to the village, not once caring where his partner could have gone to. Not once did he consider the fact that she may be in danger and need help. Her lips raised ever so slightly. Vermin.

She flicked her hand and the pool refocused on her cub. He had reached his den. Kagome was now laid down on several pelts while an ookami female was tending to the wound on her shoulder with a green salve. He stood above her hovering with an anxious look upon his features. His blue eyes never once left the Miko's figure. His expression tensing as Kagome cried out in pain as he nearly bared his fangs.

A small smile crossed her features. She wanted to help her cub and the miko, but it would take some...conniving to do so. She tousled her white locks absent-mindedly as another being entered the room.

"Tsuki," a tenor male voice spoke.

"Daraku," the Moon Goddess replied in greeting to Corruption, her voice like bells.

The being with long black hair and violet eyes took a seat beside her before he peered into the pool she gazed into. They couldn't have been any different as Tsuki sported snow-white hair and silver hues; however, their porcelain skin gave them away with its ethereal glow. They were indeed Kami. "Looking after your precious cubs, are you?"

"Hn," she replied watching the scene unfold.

She noticed his violet eyes focus on Kagome, "That's the Shikon Miko," he stated, "what is she doing with your cubs," he asked, his tone clearly inquisitive as he watched the scene before him unfold.

"Kouga saved her from a dragon," she said gently as she smiled down proudly at him.

"Hn," he said studying the miko. He was curious about the ningen, but he hardly got to see her since the other Kamis tried to pretend she didn't exist on their plane of existence at this time.

Tsuki studied her God-brother intently. He held some interest in the miko. "Daraku," she started easily, "you are interested in the miko."

"Eh?" He said taken aback, "Not really, I just don't see what all the fuss is about."

Tsuki smiled, "Only because you have not seen her."

"Hn," he replied once more focusing on the miko. Tsuki smiled. The one person she needed to complete her plan was already taking the bait. Maybe her luck hadn't run out yet.

"Daraku," she said once more. This time he didn't lift his gaze from the pool.

"What?" He sounded irritated.

"How would you like to meet the miko?" She asked curiously.

He snorted, "As if."

"Well, you would get to meet her if you were to turn her into a youkai," she said offhandedly.

That caught Daraku's attention. "You plan, no, you want me to turn the Shikon Miko into a youkai," he stated disbelievingly.

"Why not," she said softly, "she finds no happiness with the hanyou nor will he ever give it to her. She's not even supposed to be in this time...why not make her...disappear? Fit in. Plus," she said tapping on a nerve she knew would give him cause to consider, "wouldn't it be fun to see how much a pure being, like her, would squirm once turned into a youkai."

Daraku's lips turned upward in a smirk. "Perhaps you're right dear sister," he said eyeing the miko almost ravenously, "It would be entertaining indeed; however," he said glancing back at her, "Fate will have to be dealt with."

Fate, a being as old as time itself, and much stronger than any of the kami currently in existence. Yes, that would be her one true obstacle to overcome. Yet, Tsuki still had one single variable working in her favor. Her ace card so to speak. In time, she would see if it would be enough, but for now she would just bide her time until the proper moment.

Tsuki's lips tightened into a fine line, "I will overcome Fate. You just turn her into a youkai."

Daraku nodded as his eyes strayed back to the pool of water, watching the miko writhe in pain before actually smirked, "When do we start?"