Chapter 10

Back at the campsite, everyone was doing his or her own thing. Sango was making dinner between smacking the monk, which had become habit over the last few months. And for once Inuyasha and Shippo were getting along. Shippo was playing with his toys and occasionally, Inuyasha would get bored and join him.

A faint sound drifted to Inuyasha's ears and he sat up, listening carefully. Shippo too had heard the sound and was now perched on Inuyasha's shoulder.

"What's the matter Inuyasha?" questioned Miroku as he reached for Sango's backside yet again.

"I......"I'm not sure." Inuyasha stood up, took Shippo from his shoulder and handed him to Miroku. "Stay here I'm going to check it out." He then bolted into the tree line, following the sound. It was a soft tone that sounded like an angelic voice. 'That voice is so melodic, I feel like I'm being drawn to it.' He landed on a thick branch a few yards from a river and scanned for the source of the voice. It had stopped when he landed on the branch, but it soon returned and his eyes focused on a nude figure wading through the river. Inuyasha immediately calmed and leaned against the tree. He listened tot he song as e watched his betrothed bathe in the small amount of moonlight.

Unaware of her audience, Kagome kept on singing.

"Somewhere out there,

Beneath the pale moonlight,

Someone's thinking of me and loving me tonight.

Dreams to Dreams,

You will learn what I mean.

Inside my heart, no one else can describe,

How I feel.

Somewhere in my dreams,

I will follow my dreams...though.

Somewhere out there,

If love can see us through,

Then we'll be together, somewhere out there,

Out where dreams come true."

At the end of her song she waded out of the river and retrieved her towel, wrapping it securely around her chest.

Inuyasha watched her, almost hypnotized by her sweet voice and the moon that played on her skin. 'I had no idea she could sing. She never does that when we're around. Maybe I could talk her into singing for us later.....but then she'll know I was spying.....no I'm not.....oh....Hell, yes I am.' The sound of crushing grass brought him out of his daydream as he looked down at Kagome. She had leapt and retrieved the Kiseiga from the pile of clothes and was now standing ready to fight. 'Did she notice me?' He noticed she was looking down the riverbank and decided it wasn't him she was waiting for. He watched the tree line for the intruder and sniffed for a scent. 'I can smell dust, wind, and....OH HELL!.....Although......maybe now would be a good time to see what she does.' Inuyasha stopped himself from leaping in front of her and positioned himself on the branch to watch and listen, and be ready in case things got out of hand.

Just as Kagome was reaching for her clothes, she picked up a scent of a youkai, and she didn't like it. She wasn't sure what or who it belonged to but it definitely made the fur on her tail stand on end. Kagome stood ready to unsheathe the Kiseiga and attack. She waited in silence as the smell got stronger and closer.

A rumbling tornado burst into the small clearing and dissipated, revealing the one that had disturbed her bath. Kagome's eyes shot wide open as she stared at the wolf prince. "Kouga?"

"Hi...Kagome! I thought I smelled a dog around here. Where is he?" Kouga scanned around the river and forest.

Kagome loosened her grip on her sword as she scoffed at how unobservant he was. 'I know he's talking about Inuyasha, but let's have a little fun, shall we.' An evil grin creased her lips as she laid her ears back against her head. "A black or white dog?"

"Huh?"

"Was it a black dog or a white dog? Because you know, they both have a different scent."

"That Inukoro you're always with, where is he? He's the only dog around here!" Kouga scanned some bushes in his pursuit for the white dog boy.

"Oh....Inuyasha....he's not here. He never wa-" Kagome stopped her sentence as she felt two hands wrap around her free one.

Kouga had eliminated the distance between them and held her hand in his. "So with the Inukoro gone, I can take you away with me."

Kagome tried to pull her hand out of his, but he held it tightly, not relinquishing his grasp on her. She tried again to get away, but failed.

"Come Kagome, let's leave before the Inukoro arrives." Kouga then started to drag her in the same direction he had just appeared from.

'No INUYASHA!" Kagome screamed in her mind as she pulled harder and more hastily, trying to free herself. She then felt the Kiseiga pulsate in her hand. Kagome looked down as it started to emit a soft blue light. She felt a tug on her arm, which only infuriated her more. She planted her bare feet on the ground and yanked her arm back as she growled at the wolf prince. "No one...is taking me....away from Inuyasha....NOW LET ME GO!" As Kagome roared out those last four words, the soft blue light that was coming from her sword intensified.

It created a blue barrier that surrounded Kagome. At the same time, the force of the shield caused Kouga to relinquish his hold on Kagome's wrist as he was sent hurling forward into the dirt.