A/N: Yo! What's up all you kind and faithful readers? I know it's been a LONG time since I last reviewed. Since the 23d of February. I know, I know. It's been too long hasn't it? Well don't worry. I made this chapter 10 pages long. I hope the chapter will make amends for any kind readers who've been waiting so patiently for a new chapter.

.o0O0o.

Kagome: It took you a while to write, didn't it?

Jassy: Well such is the life of a grade 8 who is trying to get into a super posh highschool.

InuYasha: Your point being?

Jassy: Well I haven't exactly had the most time to write. The story was stuck on being four pages long for the LONGEST time, but I insisted on writing more for all of you because you've waited for so long.

Kouga: Yeah, yeah. Just get on with it already.

Jassy: Fine!
I wish I owned InuYasha
But guess what? I don't
So don't try and sue, you won't get a thing
CuzI'm officially broke.

Writing's fun, but only if people are going to read
None of these characters are mine at all
They belong to someone else
Someone as talented at drawing as I am tall.

.o0O0o. Chapter 15

New Secrets or Old Lies? .o0O0o.

"What are you talking about? How could Kagome be hurt? Kouga's protecting her!" Shippo cried out, not wanting his mother-like friend to be hurt or in danger. "Why, why why, why, why?" Shippo was pulling out his hair, not wanting to believe it.

"Shouldn't Kouga be making sure that she's alright?" Sango took a step forward with her Hiraikotsu behind her, but she was still gripping it rather tightly. Sango wanted nothing better than to rush off to wherever Kagome was being hurt, but she knew not of the whereabouts.

"InuYasha, just where is Kagome anyway?" Miroku took a step forward towards InuYasha. InuYasha raised his head and sniffed the air. His ears were also twitching.

"Just past that mountain!" InuYasha exclaimed as he started to run. Miroku gave his wait up cry, but InuYasha wouldn't listen. He just continued to run harder and harder. 'Hold on Kagome. Just hang in there.'

.o0O0o. With Kouga .o0O0o.

"Your moves are quite impressive, wolf," Kaguya said with a slightly impressed tone of voice. "But it will take a lot more than THAT to defeat me!" Kaguya lunged at Kouga, her blade merely inches away from tasting the young wolf's blood yet again. But Kouga's eyes were fast enough to notice the blade before it could do any real damage. Kouga easily dodged all of Kaguya's next attacks. He then raised his leg with god-like speed and accuracy, giving Kaguya a good, swift kick straight in the face.

"Uungh!" Kaguya let out as she was kicked directly in her face. She bent over, hand over her mouth and nose. When she took her hand off of her face, she looked at her own palm, which was now covered in blood. Kaguya was wide-eyed with shock. A small smile then brought itself to her features, which was then followed by a muffled giggle.

"What's so funny?" Kouga demanded. Kaguya gave an evil smirk, then stood up. Kouga did not like what he was seeing. In front of him, was a demon that had devoured a Ten'nyo to gain her eternal youth, which had an extremely bloody face from the nose down. Blood was gushing out of her nose like there was no tomorrow. But the blood then disappeared from her entire body, as if there had been none at all. The blood that had been running across her face, down her neck and onto the floor, creating a small puddle by her feet, was now gone. The blood that had been wiped from her nose onto her hand was also gone.

.o0O0o. With InuYasha .o0O0o.

"C'mon! Hurry it up!" InuYasha cried over his shoulder. 'You'd think that the monk would just ride the cat or something, instead of slowing us down all the time.' InuYasha complained mentally.

"Well, InuYasha, hold up!" Miroku called, out of breath. He could start to feel some cramps in his left ribs, and his right leg was starting to tensen.

"How soon will we get there?" Shippo asked in a worried voice. The fact that he could also smell Kagome's blood was sickening, but also scary. If Kagome was in trouble, you'd think that it was Kouga who would make sure that no one would-or could for that matter-ever lay a finger on Kagome!

"There! It's just in that forest there!" InuYasha cried, somewhat happy, but at the same time anxious and mad. Happy to see Kagome, and maybe to be able to put the blame for whatever had happened on Kouga this time round. Anxious because he had no idea what was going on in the forest and why Kagome's blood smelled so strongly. Mad because the certain someone that was protecting Kagome wasn't even supposed to be protecting her! After all, Kagome was only in danger because she chose to go after that twit of a wolf, Kouga. InuYasha had sworn that he would protect her WAY before Kouga had. So shouldn't that mean that Kagome should be sticking with InuYasha?

"Over there!" Sango called, pointing towards a bright pinkish-red light just a few hundred metres up ahead of the group. "Is that her?" Sango hurriedly called to InuYasha. InuYasha's only response was to speed up. The rest of the group definitely took InuYasha's hurriedness as an affirmative, so they all charged towards the light.

"Kagome!" InuYasha gave a battle cry as he unsheathed his Tetsusaiga and jumped, raising the sword well above his head, ready to strike anything in his path.

.o0O0o. With Kouga .o0O0o.

"What's the matter, wolf? Something you don't like seeing?" Kaguya sneered. She was back up to her perfect-postured stand, mirror in hand and everything. Kouga, who was still wide eyed with shock, took a step back. Instincts then kicked in that his to-be mate was in serious trouble, and that he was doing nothing to save her.

"Let Kagome down NOW!" Kouga demanded as he rushed towards Kaguya. Kouga was inside of his little tornado, charging full speed towards Kaguya. Kaguya was full prepared for Kouga's weak attacks, as she brought Kagome directly in front of her as a human shield. "That won't work on me!" Kouga grinned as he charged even faster towards Kagome's capturer. He quickly dodged Kagome and let his fist collide with Kaguya's face.

"Kouga! Get out of the way!" InuYasha boomed as he came charging into the battle scene, Tetsusaiga fully ready for a slaughter of any living being that was hurting Kagome. InuYasha wildly swung around his sword, his aimed targeted at anything that moved.

Kaguya was taken back quite a few feet, as she had expected neither Kouga to be so fast, nor the sudden appearance of his fellow comrade, InuYasha.

"WIND SCAR!" InuYasha cried out, as he let one of his deadly swordsman attacks loose. Kaguya was hit dead on, being flown back at least thirteen feet.

While Kaguya was still down for a small while, Kouga ramassed Kagome. He couldn't take on Kaguya while Kagome was still in the picture. Kouga would have to kill Kaguya, and if he had to protect anyone while doing such a task, it was certain he would fail. And asking the half-breed for help at the moment was one of the best ways to lower a demon's ego.

"Mutt face, hurry her off will ya?" Kouga yelled with impatience running deep in his voice.

"I'm doin' the best I can at the moment," InuYasha cried out as he lashed his sword this way and that, doing his best to attack the fake Ten'nyo.

"Such weak attacks will not work on me," Kaguya sneered as she laughed maniacally. She then turned the palms of her hands towards the full moon that she had power over. There, rays of moonlight shone down onto her hands. The demonic aura surrounding the battle scene had definitely multiplied.

"Hiraikotsu!" a mysterious feminine voice called out, followed by an extremely large boomerang that appeared to be made out of bone. The boomerang sliced through the foliage surrounding the battle scene, revealing a large demon two-tail, her rider and best companion the demon slayer Sango and an ever-so-cute Pink Blob with a serious expression on it's face.

"Nngh, it's just as I feared," Miroku half grunted, out of breath from running for so long. InuYasha and Kouga were both attacking Kaguya like never before and Kagome's unconscious body was being fairly well hidden behind a cluster of trees. "InuYasha and Kouga have fallen into one of Kaguya's traps. If they don't get out of there, they might not survive."

"Isn't there someway we can get them out of there?" Sango cried in despair, all of her weight currently in her shoulders and her wrists as she pushed on Kilala's mane. Miroku shook his head grimly.

"If Kaguya's longevity is somehow linked to her healing powers, then by the looks of it, the only chance of beating her would to call out the demon within her," Miroku thought aloud, his index finger and thumb grasping onto his chin as if he was in deep thought. "That's it!" he cried, his staff now fully extended in front of him.

"InuYasha, we must perform an exorcist on Kaguya," Miroku called out as loud he could to InuYasha, who was still flailing his sword around, trying to get one good hit on Kagome's capturer.

"Worthless ingrate!" Kaguya cried as she blasted her rays of moonlight onto InuYasha and Kouga, hitting both of them directly on. Or so she thought.

"Ha ha ha," Kaguya laughed her famous, disgusting laugh that made her sound so much like Kagura. As she waited for the smoke and dust to clear, Kaguya moved higher up into the sky, giving her a slight advantage so that neither Kouga nor InuYasha could sneak attack her without her noticing.

"Wha? This can't be!" Kaguya cried out in horror, jaw hanging low. The Kaguya that never lost her cool had, for a moment, lost complete control of her emotions. She gave a slight shake of her head, causing her hair to fly out in front of her face and onto her bosom. Having a now-clear mind, Kaguya veered her eyes onto the scene before her.

"Heh, so you thought that you could take us out that easily, didja now?" InuYasha sneered, his Tetsusaiga blocking his face. "Well I'm sorry to say this," InuYasha started, "But you're gunna hafta hit us a lot harder then that!" He ended up yelling. Kaguya's cool, under control expression showed no emotion. She raised herself higher and higher into the sky, into the moon, that she was no longer there.

"Where'd she go?" Shippo popped in as he ended his transformation, leaf in hand and everthing.

"Who cares, just as long as we don't hafta see her again," InuYasha snarled. Kouga then walked towards the trees where Kagome was and knelt down. All eyes were on Kouga and his every movement.

"C'mon Kagome. We're going to leave now," Kouga cooed, not wanting to wake Kagome up from her slumber, even if it was because she was unconscious. Kouga brushed by InuYasha, stopping as he could no longer see the silvery hair of his rival.

"Don't expect a ceremony for your fighting," InuYasha said in a rude tone of voice, not even looking towards Kouga. "I will thank you for saving Kagome though." And with those last words, Kouga sped off into the darkness of the forest, Kagome in his grasp.

"She's…going to be alright," Miroku sighed with relief. Everyone but InuYasha nodded, content that Kagome was going to be safe.

'If you let anything happen to her,' InuYasha mentally sent a warning to Kouga, 'I will wring that little neck of yours. I'll make sure that you will die a miserable and painful death fighting and fighting and fighting until you die.'

.o0O0o. At Kouga's Cave .o0O0o.

Once the two had reached Kouga's cave, Kouga laid Kagome down on his straw mattress. There she slept quite peacefully, her face showing as much peace as Kagome contained in her heart.

"Oh Kagome," Kouga sat down next to his love. Kagome was sleeping on her side, so her front was facing Kouga. Loose strands of hair hand found themselves resting playfully over her lips and eyes. Kouga took his hand and brushed away the hair from in front of Kagome's face. Kouga then dipped down and gave Kagome a quick kiss on the lips. Kagome smiled in her sleep, and then rolled over onto her back.

"Kou-ga?" Kagome slowly opened her eyes as she woke up.

"Yes Kagome?" Kouga said in a concerned tone of voice. Kagome smiled as she recognized the loving face and the caring voice.

"Thank…you," Kagome managed to get out before she fell asleep again. Kouga gave a fatigued smile. The two were both exhausted. Kouga then moved over to the other side of Kagome, and lied down next to her. Kouga turned Kagome onto her side, just like the way he had placed her down when the two had just arrived.

Kouga smiled. He had his right hand on Kagome's shoulder, as if supporting her. Kouga's hair was currently draped over his right shoulder, with little strays of it sticking to his cheek. He then half-jumped, half-rolled over top of Kagome, hand still gripping Kagome's shoulder.

"Aah, much better!" Kouga whispered to himself as his hand had traveled down to her abdomen while his arm lay comfortably under Kagome's left arm. Kouga gave Kagome a slight squeeze of reassurance, telling her that he was there. Kagome then leaned back into Kouga's chest and leaned her head back, giving Kouga a perfect view of Kagome's oh-so-sensitive spot. Kouga, who was feeling slightly mischievous, dipped his head down, and starting breathing heavily on Kagome's neck. Kagome squirmed in her sleep, laughing.

"Aah ha!" Kouga cried out, or more like whispered out, in triumph. He brought his nose down to her neck and started sniffing it like a cat or a dog would something new. Kagome couldn't help but giggle furiously in her sleep and squirm, trying to get away from the tickling sensation. Kouga started breathing harder and harder, as if he was panting. Kagome was now officially squirming out of control, and was trying to push Kouga away as far as he possible could. She was currently on the other side, facing Kouga. Kouga was pulling Kagome closer and closer to his body with slight painfulness, but mostly lust. Kouga was also growling due to animal instincts.

"Kouga stop!" was all that the now awake Kagome could get out between fits of laughter. Kagome was pushing Kouga away with one hand, while trying to get the hands that were currently at her sides off her.

"Oh, I'm sorry Kagome. Did I wake you?" Kouga said in a teasing/playful voice. Kagome could do nothing but stick her tongue out at Kouga and giggle. She also gave him a playful little punch in the inside of his arm. Kouga did a crazy face which consisted of a wide eyes and a very wet tongue being mere inches away from Kagome's face. Kagome could do nothing but burst out laughing. Kouga then licked right next to Kagome's ear, sending shivers up her spine.

"Kouga, just what do you think you're doing?" Kagome half-giggled. Kouga just plastered the wide eyed, goofy look back on his face. Kagome couldn't help but laugh more. But her laughs were interrupted by a yawn, signaling that Kagome was indeed, still too exhausted from all of the chaos with Kaguya.

"Ow. Kouga that hurts. Stop," Kagome said in a sad, yet hurt tone of voice. Where Kouga was holding Kagome's sides, there was a small trickle of blood now appearing where his claws were. Kouga was only trying to tickle Kagome, but during his playful enthusiasm, Kouga completely forgot how delicate Kagome's skin was.

"Sorry love," Kouga apologized. Kagome's arms were still sore from Naraku's claws, and now Kouga had dug his claws into Kagome's sides. Kagome stretched as she yawned, her face scrunched up in pain. Her hands immediately went to her sides.

"Kouga…" Kagome got out before she completely fell onto the hay mattress. Kagome turned over onto her side that she had been placed down onto, then fell into a light sleep, so her hearing was just as accurate and her body just as attentive as if she were awake.

"Night Kagome," Kouga whispered lovingly. He then took both of his hands and took his hands and brought them to Kagome's hands, holding onto them.

.o0O0o. Kagome's Dream .o0O0o.

Her heart pounding, her lungs bursting, she was running like the wind. But IT was still going to catch her. The beast was panting down her neck. Whatever it was, it was closing in on her. No matter how hard she ran, IT just got closer and closer.

Kagome's lungs fit to burst; she dove into a nearby lake, just a few feet from her. She took the deepest breath that she could and jumped. But as she did so, the beast chomped down on her, the sharp fangs piercing her soft flesh and snapping every bone in her body, piercing a hole in her left lung. Not being able to make it to the lake, she screamed with whatever air she was holding left.

"KOUGA!" Kagome cried out.

.o0O0o. End of Kagome's Dream .o0O0o.

Kagome was shaking violently, as if she was having a terrible muscle spasm. Cold sweat was pouring from her brow.

"KOUGA!" Kagome cried out. Her arms were flailing, as if she was trying to free herself from something. Kagome tried to cry out again, but nothing would come out of her mouth. In her dream, Kagome was dying. If she were to die in her dream, then Kagome would die in the real world as well.

"Kagome!" Kouga cried out as he jumped over Kagome's body. He just stared at Kagome's flailing body, not sure of what to do. "Don't quit on me now Kagome," Kouga grunted as he lightly slapped at Kagome's face, doing his best to wake her. Kagome twitched, turned onto her side and grunted, but she did not wake up.

Kagome gave out a slight grunt of pain then remained motionless. Her breathing was back to normal, her body motionless. Kouga quickly placed his head onto Kagome's chest, searching for a heartbeat.

"Oh thank god!" Kouga cried out as he heard a small beating. The beating was very faint, but at least there was one. Kouga gave Kagome a slight kiss on her lips, then returned his head back on her chest, listening contently to the beating of Kagome's heart.

Kouga raised his head slightly, turning to look at Kagome's face.

"Kagome," Kouga started to whisper. "I don't know what's gotten into you. But I promise you, I will stay by your side. Always," he said strongly with pride in his voice. He gave Kagome another light kiss, showing her how much he loved her. 'But more importantly, what's gotten into me?'

.o0O0o. The Next Day .o0O0o.

"Mmmm! Man does that feel good," Kagome exclaimed happily as she stretched out her back. She then quickly fell onto her back onto the straw mattress. A stab of pain shot through her forehead, forcing her to abruptly rise to a sitting position. When she opened her eyes and the pain had minimized, Kagome looked around Kouga's cave with an absent minded facial expression. Her hands subconsciously raised to her bicep, as if she was cold.

"That's right," Kagome trailed off as her fingers examined the slight dents in her upper arms from a certain half-demon's claws. Kagome laid back down, deep in a troubled thought. 'But why pick me? I'm just supposed to be a normal teenage girl,' Kagome thought sadly. 'What have I ever done to make Naraku mad?' Kagome wondered, then remembered the one incident where she had shot a purifying arrow and took off Naraku's body from the shoulders down. Kagome turned over, burying her face into Kouga's chest for some much needed comfort.

"Hey, hey," Kouga said as softly as he could but still keep a macho front. "What's the matter Kagome?" Kouga pushed Kagome away so he could see her face clearly. Kagome sniffed and wiped her nose, trying to put up a brave face in front of Kouga.

"I-It's nothing. Really!" Kagome said a little too sweetly while smiling brightly. Kagome appeared to be fine, but Kouga looked deep into Kagome's lively brown eyes that were so full of life that held both so much pain, confusion and hurt all at once.

"It…it's just…I think. I mean, sure it might not be true or anything, but still it could be and I don't really-"

"Whoa! Hold up. What are you talking about? Kouga was fully blown back at how much Kagome could confuse him. Kagome looked around nervously, not knowing how to explain anything.

"Well, I mean there's Hojo and then InuYasha, but then what about Sango and Shippo and the rest of them? What's going to happen and why can't I figure it out? I mean this can't be good and-" Kagome continued her nervous, stuttering ramble. Kouga did his best to make sense of what Kagome was trying to say, but got lost after she said InuYasha.

"Whoa, whoa. What bout them?" Kouga placed both of his hands on Kagome's shoulders, trying to slow down her talking so he could actually understand what he was talking about. Kagome sighed heavily, and then bowed her head.

"Well, what I'm trying to say Kouga, is that I can't stay with you. I mean I have school and tests and I still have to find all of the shards. It is my fault that they were scattered all over the country. I think that I need to stop for a little while. I'm sorry, but I think that I need to go back to my real life with InuYasha, Sango, Miroku, Shippo and Kilala." Kouga tried not to show his extremely saddened emotions. He understood all of what Kagome was saying now, but he wasn't thrilled by the news.

"I understand," Kouga said with a melancholy expression. "Just don't forget me," Kouga ended his sentence with a light kiss on Kagome's lips. Kagome smiled, and then returned the kiss.

"How could I ever forget you?" Kagome giggled, then gave Kouga another light kiss. 'But it's not just school that worries me. It's this alternate personality I have. The girl that surfaced when I was facing off with Kikyo. I can't let her threaten my friends or loved ones, especially if I can't control it. What if it surfaces again?'

.o0O0o. With Kikyo .o0O0o.

"I see," Kikyo muttered as her soul stealer told her of it's latest excavation. So far, Kagome was still with the wolf and that Kaguya person had reappeared. "For such a young girl to have so much power within her grasp, but no control over it. I almost pity her," Kikyo spoke her heart to no one in particular.

Kikyo's soul stealers flew away in search for more information, leaving Kikyo alone in the midst of fog and a veil of uncertainty. Kikyo looked around with confusion written across her face. Certainly, Kagome's aura had been extremely powerful when she had transformed, but how much power Kagome had was uncertain. How much control the girl had over her powers was the main problem at the moment, for if Kagome had no power over herself, then she could lose her soul completely.

"When a Miko such as myself or Kagome loses her soul, we become more dangerous than InuYasha in his demonic form," Kikyo stated. She then turned on her heels and walked further into the fog.

.o0O0o. With Kagome .o0O0o.

"Oh man, I feel like I've been walking for hours!" Kagome complained as she sat down on a small boulder and rubbed her sock feet. Kagome's shoes were sitting next to her, airing out. "Maybe I should have asked Kouga to drop me off in Kaede's village, or anywhere near there!" Just then, a tree branch snapped atop of Kagome's head and came crashing down.

"AAAAAH!" Kagome screamed extremely high pitched, raising her right arm above her head, doing her best to protect herself from the deadly branch that could so easily kill her if it made contact.

Just then, something at an immense speed whipped by Kagome, grabbing her around the waist and zipping out of the course of the branch. Kagome screamed again as her capturer threw her onto the ground. She quickly sat up and rubbed her legs, removing the rubble and foliage forced into it. She then looked up at the thing that had saved her.

"A-Ayame?"

.o0O0o. .o0O0o.

A/N: DUN DUN DUN! Cliffie! I know that it aint the biggest cliffie ever, but that's okay. Because I know that it'll put some people in suspence. So is the Ayame that just saved Kagome from a meeting with death being controlled by Naraku? Or is this the REAL Ayame, saving Kagome on her own free will, being a good friend? And for the Chapter's title, i have NO idea why i called it that. But it SEEMED kinda related.

.o0O0o. Reviews .o0O0o.

Maria: Well, I guess you feel really strongly about Kikyo dying. But I've got a question, isn't she already half dead? So I wonder how someone would kill her.

Sangomirokuluv: Well thank you VERY much for making me your favourite author! You're very kind and thank you for the… how many is it? FIVE reviews! Don't worry, I'll make sure there's no more Shippo x Kikyo fluff anymore. Don't worry!

PEACHesity: Hey, haven't you reviewed before? And my story's interesting you say? Well thanks! Do you like it though? Or is it "interesting" in a way that you're saying it and you're implying that I suck at writing and that you hate my story and my guts?

kitsune'sangelofflames: Well actually, I had my sites set on Kouga x Kagome, but you never know! I could feel in a really bad mood one day and felt like making it Kagome x InuYasha. But if other readers want it a certain way, then I might change my way of thinking for the couples.

Caity-Chan: Well I definitely don't want you ripping out your hair because of me. But I'm SUPER mega turbo happy that you liked my story so much that you kept reading it until "forever" reading the story. Here's the chapter!

Icystar: don't worry! I'll KeEp WrItInG! And now there's more for you to read! Aren't you happy?

Wolfard: You've never read WHAT kinda stuff for an ending? Kag+Koug or Kag+Inu? Wow! Have you read much at all:P (no I'm not trying to insult you!)

Hi: YES I MADE A LONGER CHAPTER! ARE YOU HAPPY NOW? And haven't I seen you around here before? I mean you've reviewed before!

Icystar: Well I'm glad that I've opened your eyes to a new couple that is possible. Kouga and Kagome are a great couple, but so are InuYasha and Kagome. InuYasha and Kikyo, as you've said, many people really don't like that pairing. But I'm completely open to new ideas for pairings.

Padfoot: Well I have NO idea if I'm going to be ending it soon or not. But if I do, I suppose that I will have to let you know now won't I? And yes I think it's a good story as well! It's been my favourite to write!