Chapter One: Battle Couple

"Sometimes fighting against evil is not a choice, but an imperative."
AAAA

Sitting on the steps, them stretching endlessly behind her, Kagome rubbed her tear-covered face and cheeks for the hundredth time. She wanted to go 'home' even though she wasn't used to life with her Grandfather at his shrine yet. Kagome wanted to be inside and away from the world, which the shrine promised in shades -solitude. But she couldn't yet, not until she stopped sobbing. It was the last thing she wanted Souta or Gramps to see; her crying over some mean boys at her new school.

"Oh jeez, what is it this time?!"

Kagome's head popped up from being startled. Her eyes met brilliant gold, and she calmed in an instant; the burning ambers that focused on her were just like the ones that saved her that night a few months ago. But then Kagome was confused because the boy before her had black hair like hers. It drew attention to the black beads around his neck.

"Who are you?"

He frowned and shoved his hands deep into the front pockets of his jeans. "Inuyasha. Don't you remember me? I saved your life!"

Kagome shook her head at him, "no, you didn't. You were there, but you didn't save me. Where's Toga?"

"The old man sends his regards."

Something about that didn't sit right with her, and Kagome couldn't say why. "No, he didn't. Does he even know you're here?"

Now Inuyasha looked startled, his meteorite-colored eyes growing wide. "How do you know that?" Kagome shrugged, and Inuyasha moved on as quickly as he could. "Why are you sitting here crying?"

"Some…kids… I don't like my new school, that's all. But, I'll get used to it."

"That's the lamest thing I've ever heard," Inuyasha scoffed, "you're crying because you don't like your school?!"

"Do you know what it's like to be an orphan, Inuyasha?" Kagome looked up from his feet in time to catch the color fade from his face. "You're treated poorly. Everyone thinks you're cursed or that you did something to deserve losing your parents. I'm lucky that my Gramps was willing to take Souta and me in because no one else would. Not even Toga wanted us…."

"Shut your damn mouth! My father, he…" Inuyasha's mouth still moved while words refused to come out. Then he dropped his head to his chest. "It's not like he had a say or choice in the matter. He would have taken you and your brother in if he could." Kagome silently nodded while brushing a stray tear off her cheek. "So… some dumb kids are giving you a hard time? Why don't you fight back?!"

"It doesn't work like that…."

"The hell it doesn't! If they give you shit, give them shit back! Don't just take it like a spineless loser!"

Inuyasha wasn't looking at Kagome. Instead, he looked off in the distance with a fist close to his chest. Kagome was sure he wasn't talking about her, but it still made her feel nothing but worthless. "Is that how you see me? As spineless? Since I didn't stand up for my parents?"

"Wha…" His attention went to her instantly, "NO! You're just a little kid against a pack of wolves… I mean… yeah, wolves. Random wild wolf attack. No one expected you to fight back to that!"

She tilted her head at him, "you and I both know those weren't wolves…."

"Yes, they were," Inuyasha said with such finality, Kagome knew better than to press it.

"There's nothing I can do; these guys weren't saying anything that isn't true."

"What are they saying?!"

Inuyasha was fuming, his neck turning red along with his eyes. "that I'm an orphan, that no one wants me. That I'm a curse."

Having stood before her the entire conversation, Kagome was taken aback when Inuyasha kneeled before her. He placed a gentle and comforting hand on her, and his small hand (larger than hers but still small) covered her nobbly and bruised knee. "It's true that you're an orphan, but the rest isn't. You're wanted, and you're not cursed."

Kagome felt as if she would burst into flames from his stare; the fire in them was hot and bright. But she still didn't look away, letting Inuyasha set her ablaze if that's what he deemed fit for her. "Alright… tomorrow, I'll try. I'll… stand up for myself."

"And you'll do great, I know it," Inuyasha offered with a smirk.

She giggled, and he pulled her to her feet. "Do you want to come in? Meet Gramps and see Souta?"

Inuyasha remained unmoving at the bottom of the shrine steps. The slight shake of his head was still seen by Kagome, her heart cracking in her chest a little at the sight. "Not supposed to be here, remember?"

"Like anyone is gonna tell?" Inuyasha still didn't move, save to look at his feet instead. "Gramps would? He knows Toga?!"

Inuyasha stepped back, "I gotta go. Good luck, Kagome."

Kagome took Inuyasha's words to heart and all night into her dreams; she thought of what she would say and do tomorrow when she faced her bullies. Yet, she was still nervous as she skitted past their hangout spot, taking hurried steps out of her school towards home. Her bullies had been silent all day (Kagome didn't know why), but that didn't mean they wouldn't catch her now.

"Hey, Higurashi!" She didn't turn or pause, continuing on her path until someone grabbed her arm hard. "I'm talking to you! Did your parents not teach you any manners? Or was it your rudeness that killed them?!"

Kagome squared up, three boys against her one weren't good odds, but she had no choice. "You're one to talk. How is it your family hasn't died of shame yet?"

The other two behind chuckled at their friend while he grimaced cruelly at Kagome. "What did you say?!"

He grabbed her arm again in a bruising hold that Kagome did her best to ignore. Even with her heart thundering in her chest. "I said, bullies like you always get what's coming to them. So I don't need to do anything but wait until Karma slaps you in the face."

He shoved her, releasing her at the same time so that she fell back on her butt. Her hands went back on instinct, scraping her palms in the process. It was an unexpected act of violence that had her shocked into silence as tears slid down her face. All three boys circled, towering around her and glowering. Would they hit her? The answer was, yes; Kagome didn't doubt it. If her parents were alive, this never would have happened. Not only did she move to a new school, leaving all her old friends behind, but she was lower than dirt as an orphan.

One pulled back his foot to kick her while she was down, but he suddenly lost his balance. It was like he was yanked back, stumbling and cursing loudly. He fell back and gave Kagome a window to see what was going on. It was a dog, large and white. Not as big as the ones she saw the night her parents died, but still bigger than your average puppy. It growled at the boy on the ground, forcing him back on his palms and butt. The others backed away, too, until the dog was standing over Kagome.

The growling continued, but the dog didn't touch her except to perch over her in protection. The one on the ground got back to his feet, and the one that tossed her stammered. "Is..it that… your dog?"

Kagome looked to the white fuzzy muzzle, getting a glimpse at the animal's golden orbs, and recognized them instantly. "He's my friend."

Without fear, she petted the soft fur under his chin, and he leaned into her touch. Then he left her, moving closer to the boys to back them up and allow Kagome to get to her feet. The dog left the boys, turning and giving them his back as he no longer saw them as a threat. His teeth grazed her thigh as he bit her skirt and pulled her with him.

Kagome's bullies looked truly shaken, so she called back to them before she disappeared. "See, I told you. Karma. Keep messing with people, and it'll only get worse."

They rounded the corner, and the dog pranced beside her. Kagome kept up with a jog, not letting the animal get away from her as it led her home. It stopped at the shrine steps and remained, waiting for her to go up by herself.

"I was… scared. But I faced them as you said. It didn't go well, but I don't feel any shame." The dog remained silent, and Kagome fell to her knees, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Thank you, Inuyasha. You saved me."

Inuyasha huffed but soon turned, so he had his chin on Kagome's shoulder in a hug. It was the best he could do, and Kagome took it greedily.

oOo

She was the oldest in the group, but Kagome knew that wasn't why she was singled out right now. Alone with her 'mentor', she pulled back on the string of her bow and quickly sent another arrow deep into the target. It was a good twenty feet away, and she got the bull's eye. But her Sensei wasn't impressed in the slightest.

"Come on, Kags. You can do better than this!"

Glaring at him, Kagome dropped her bow to her side. "Better than what?! You think a human could make that shot?!"

"You're right; they couldn't. But you're not human!"

She huffed, turning her glare to the target that her un-human eyes could see clearly. "If that's true, then why do you have me doing target practice instead of training with the rest of the pups?"

He moved closer, far closer than Kagome liked, but she was tired of fighting him on it. "You're not human, but you're not one of us either, Kagome."

Practically on top of her now, she put a hand on his chest and pushed him back as far as he would allow. "Koga, my bubble."

He chuckled but still didn't back up. "I thought you wanted to be one of us? The only way a half-breed like you can join our pack is to get a mate."

Koga kept saying that, but Kagome wasn't so sure it was true. If it was, then why was she already getting prepped to join? There were three others in the group, and they trained with Inuyasha, who she would rather be with, except Inuyasha didn't feel the same.

Koga took a step closer to her again just as Inuyasha and his pups jogged up from the ten mile trail that circled the compound. Miroku was with them today, heavily panting as they slowed to a stop and stare at Kagome. Inuyasha did for a few moments but then decidedly turned his attention to Koga. "Having fun?"

There was no humor or lift to Inuyasha's tone, but Koga chuckled anyway. "Loads. How are things going with your lot?"

Turning, Inuyasha frowned at his pupils. "This one has weak ankles. This one wines like a goddamn mule. And this one…" he had a claw pointed dangerously at the last guy, but he was busy staring at Kagome, "is a fucking joke. Much like your pup."

Kagome rolled her eyes and did her best to ignore the hurt. Koga wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her even closer. "Kags here could take any of your pups on any day!" For some reason, that had all the boys excited, crowding Inuyasha and asking to have a go. "Not that she needs to; Kags here can just mate with someone…."

"Back the fuck up!" Inuyasha roared, and they all did, including Miroku. "Then I guess she doesn't need to try, does she?"

The same could be said about all the candidates. All male and all pure-blooded. The amount of patriotic bullshit of the pack made Kagome want to vomit. Even Miroku was 'in', and he was less pure-blooded than she was. Only a quarter while Kagome was half. It was why she pulled from Koga's hold and crossed the short distance, getting in Inuyasha's face.

"I can take any of you any day."

Inuyasha crossed his arms over his chest, hitting Kagome as much as possible with the backs of his hands as he did. "Sure you can, Miko."

Kagome passed by the brute Inuyasha and stepped up to the other pups, close to wetting themselves. "Besides, how else will I get a mate if I don't socialize?"

The heat of Inuyasha's glare was felt on the back of her neck, but he said nothing as she picked a sparring partner. He did grab her as she passed, stilling her from joining the rest of the group at the ring. "We'll catch up." Only Koga hesitated, and Inuyasha growled back at him. "Move it, that's an order!"

Once out of sight, all of them inside the large barn that housed the boxing ring, Kagome ripped herself from Inuyasha's grip. "I can do this, Inuyasha!"

"Do what? Beat another pup in the ring? Of course, you can; it's child's play. Literally!"

"I can't believe I actually thought you would support me in any of this…."

Inuyasha stepped up, breaking into her personal bubble. But it had a drastically different reaction for her compared to Koga. "What part of anything I ever said or did would make you think I wanted you anywhere near this pack?"

Kagome craned her neck to glare up at him. "Oh, I don't know? All those times you saved my life? Because we were friends once? Or maybe it was when you used to sneak over to my place and make love to me all night…."

"Stop it." He whispered, his eyes dancing to the barn and back.

"Are you that ashamed of me? Maybe you should have let me die then. Or kept pretending we were just friends instead of kissing me…."

Inuyasha dug a claw into her hair at the top of her spine. "I'm not ashamed, but I do regret…" her heart cracked, and she tried to pull away, but he wouldn't let her go, "you shouldn't be here. I told you not to do this, to stay away."

"Let me go." Kagome pressed on his chest hard, but he only grabbed onto her tighter. "I think you want me to be miserable! That's the truth of it all. You want me all alone and sad because I can't be with you! But that's not who I am, Prince Inuyasha, beta to the pack and betrothed to some other wolf in another, bigger pack!"

"What do you want? Huh? You want to be part of this pack so you can see me every day with my mate?! You're the one who doesn't want anyone to be happy!"

Their tug of war ended, Kagome shoving him off to stand a short distance to glare. "I wanted to be able to protect myself! Since I'm a target, no matter what I do, I want to take care of myself! Since you won't be there anymore. And this is the pack my blood belongs to, so I have no other choice!" Inuyasha was trying to set the ground on fire with his grimace. Kagome watched him flex his hands, creating a fist only to release and do it again. "Look, you'll mate with Kikyo, and I'll find a mate for myself. I'll be so busy with him and jobs for the pack that we'll never see each other. We'll be… happy."

With nothing left to say and a battle to win, she left him there. He entered the barn at some point, but Kagome was too busy showing her training. Koga didn't teach her much; she already knew a lot from her college courses like the Aikido and Judo she took. And Inuyasha was right; this was child's play in a sense. These pups were twenty-one while she was twenty-five. Not a huge age difference, but Kagome had far more life experience without it. She had no clue what life experiences the other pups had or what training Inuyasha gave them. But if she went off Inuyasha's bitching about them, then she was in the lead already.

They circled one another for a moment, but then the pup got bored or anxious, rushing towards Kagome. She sidestepped and dodged with ease, letting him run into the ring's barrier hard.

"Fight, dammit." Koga roared with a slap to the ring's floor.

It distracted Kagome, the pup jumping on her back from behind. His arm was around her throat, trying to choke her out. She dropped, using his weight to fling them backward and onto the mat. Kagome heard his head as it cracked the wooden floor and felt his body go limp around her. If he were human, she would have felt bad. But he would have a minor headache in an hour at most.

For now, he was out and had to be helped out of the ring. Kagome's nerves had her skin crawl when Koga entered the ring with the pup dragged to one side. "That was pathetic. Inuyasha, you need to do something about your pups!"

Inuyasha leaned against the door frame, Miroku at his side and the two mid-conversation. A conversation that stopped when both men took note of where Koga was. Something that only made Kagome more uncomfortable.

"Looks like it's up to me, again."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Kagome asked when she already knew the answer.

"It means you're going to spare with me, Kags. I'll show you how it's done."

"Get the fuck out of there!" Inuyasha and Miroku were now ringside, and with his eyes dancing, it was hard to tell if he was yelling at Kagome or Koga. "She ain't ready for your bullshit!"

As little as she wanted to spar with Koga (knowing his hands would go all over her on purpose), she still squared up to Inuyasha. "I don't need you to fight my battles." Anymore, Kagome thought in her head.

Inuyasha's grimace quickly turned into a sneer. "Fine. Then she can spar with me."

"What? No way!" Koga whined.

This time, Miroku stepped up, grabbing Koga and pulling him from the ring while Inuyasha took Koga's place. "It would be inappropriate, wouldn't it? Since you want to be considered for her mate?"

When Koga didn't fight Miroku on it, Kagome had her answer. Koga planned to take her as his mate. She doubted anyone would challenge him; no one would want the half-breed leftover of their Prince. Not that anyone else knew that last part, but Kagome did. It haunted her… and stared Kagome in the face, her first and only love shedding his shirt before facing her.

Kagome had seen him in less many times, but she was ashamed to say it still made her drool. The rippled chest and stomach that Inuyasha now forced upon her hungry eyes and broken heart was just cruel. Then he pulled his silver hair up off his neck and into his hands. His ears twitched on top of his head as he twisted the precious strands into a 'man-bun'. It was like he didn't trust her to play fair and pull his hair!

Snapping herself out of her stupor, Kagome wiped the slobber from the corner of her mouth and glared back at Inuyasha's grin -then stripped off her shirt.

His jaw dropped, but she spun from him, tossing the oversized t-shirt over the side of the ring to rest. Kagome still had a sports bra on. It was far from the least amount of clothing Inuyasha had seen her in. The same couldn't be said for the other men in the room, giving her wolfish howls of approval for her black cloth bra and thin shorts. She wasn't surprised or scared when she turned back and found a fire in Inuyasha's eyes. Now he had to touch her skin just as much as she did his, and that pissed him off as it would anyone that already had a mate picked and had to touch someone else. Kagome had already picked Inuyasha to be her mate, but that no longer mattered; she would have to get used to the painful pricking at her skin every time Inuyasha and Kikyo touched in front of her.

Too busy glowering in his corner, Kagome wanted this all to be over with already. Pushing her feet as hard as she could on the mat of the ring's floor, she propelled herself forwards and then upwards. Her fists clasped over and behind her head -arching her body backward- Kagome used all of her weight and strength to pound the hell out of the top of Inuyasha's head. He stumbled back, grasping his forehead and cursing.

Keeping her momentum, Kagome spun on one leg and lifted the other as high as she could. Barely, she managed to clip Inuyasha's jaw with her heel, sending him stumbling to the side.

The others cheered, happy to see their Prince get the shit knocked out of him. Inuyasha held tight to the side of the ring, rubbing his jaw as he turned his eyes up to Kagome. She managed to swallow her gasp but couldn't stop her body from taking a small step back. The blood-red color of his eyes was not a good sign, and she knew it.

It was why he moved faster than she could see to blitz his shoulder into her stomach. Then he lifted her off the ground only to slam her back down to it on her back -hard. Breathing was difficult, watching the ceiling spin above her as she tried to collect herself. Kagome could only dream of moving as quickly as Inuyasha did; the fastest in the pack, he was more than she would ever be.

She was still gathering her wits when golden ambers tinged with blood filled her vision. Kagome didn't notice until the shouts started to make it through the fuzz in her ears that she was struggling to hear. However, now all she heard was Inuyasha as he whispered.

"Are you alright?" She was delirious because Inuyasha was tender with her like he once was. It felt like forever since he'd touched her like this, his fingers grazing her cheekbone on his way to cradle her head. "I was too rough… I lost control… this is why you shouldn't be here, one of the many reasons, Kagome. You're not ready."

He was trying to be gentle, his voice calm and even just like when they were lovers. Kagome lifted her leg, rubbing her inner thigh and calf along his hip as she used to when they laid in bed. With him perched over her the way he was, it was very similar, his large hand going to her knee to rub the outside of her leg as it passed. With her arms stretched limply above her head, there was little doubt that Kagome was putty in Inuyasha's hold. To Inuyasha, that is.

"Yash…" she whispered back, and he leaned in closer as if he would kiss her, "you don't own me."

The confused look on Inuyasha's face was doubled when Kagome slipped her foot to his chest and pushed him with all her strength. There had been a few times when they were lovers that they had played like this. Only Kagome was far rougher than she had been in the past, Inuyasha falling back on his ass and shaking the entire mat.

She got to her feet after that, looking back at him as he sat on the ground. "My mate will own me, right? That's how it works, and you aren't mine, so I'm not yours."

Kagome heard the venom in her voice but could do nothing about it. She was bitter, and it was no secret, not to her or Inuyasha. Coming to the pack had nothing to do with Inuyasha other than leaving her to fend for herself. And with the crazies gunning for her, Kagome didn't have a choice but to join. Inuyasha didn't get it even though this was killing her. Having to be so close to Inuyasha while he prepared for his mating? Unable to touch him or be with him like she craved? It was hell on earth, but she didn't have a choice.

Part of her hoped, seeing Inuyasha with his mate would help her to move on. It was her only choice, giving him her back now to face those who were an option for her. Kagome didn't want to have a mate at all, not if it wasn't Inuyasha, but it would secure her place in the pack. With females scarce, it was all a ploy, and Kagome would play into it if she had.

Koga and the pups all smirked up at her as she sauntered to her 'corner'. Only Miroku frowned -a look that quickly changed to concern. The others twisted in fear, and Koga silently reached out for her.

"Kagome, move carefully and get out of there," Miroku whispered.

Her heart was in her throat, but she went against their wishes, turning to face Inuyasha again. He barely fit in the ring, the wood buckling under his weight as he loomed over her in his monstrous state. Just like his father, he was covered in white fur that gleamed in the dim lighting. It was dark, but the moon wasn't up yet. Not that it stopped Inuyasha or any of those who were fully turned. They were able to shift at will… or against their will when thoroughly pissed off or terrified.

Most would be shaking and quaking with fear. Kagome was used to this side of Inuyasha and knew how to handle it. Carefully, she gestured to the others to leave. Miroku and Koga lingered, and she shot them a look of warning, malice on her face for those who disobeyed her. Miroku pulled Koga out but soon, Kagome was alone with the massive dog, his jaws half the length of her body. One of his long talons could cut her in half without struggle and allow him to gobble her up in two bites.

But Kagome knew for a fact that Inuyasha would never hurt her like that.

Instead of stepping back, she stepped closer, her hands out before her in a defensive stance. "Inuyasha…" he growled, and she smiled, "Yash, cool it."

He bucked his head at that, lifting his front paws off the floor for a second. Only to slam them back down, closer to Kagome's feet and nearly knocking her off hers the way he shook the ring. It groaned from the strain; the thing would break soon if Inuyasha kept this up.

Kagome didn't stop her slow approach, placing her hands on his long muzzle. His gold eyes flicked to elsewhere as she carefully stroked his fur near his mouth. His long fangs could slice her palm open in an instant, but Kagome didn't stop herself from rubbing them as well.

"What's got you so pissed, Yash? Are you really that mad that I'm here?" He huffed, the hot puff of air blowing past her shoulders and face, making her giggle. "I get that you don't like it, but what did you expect me to do? Naraku will kill me just like he did my parents, like my father, if I don't learn how to fight and get fully turned." He turned so that he was looking at her and she read his mind like always. "I promise, I'm not here to make life more difficult for you. That's the last thing I want. I love you, Yash. I don't want to hurt you." He bowed his head and whimpered, so she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. "I've always loved you and I always will. Which means I have to let you go, I know that. I'm… I'm trying, okay? I'll see you with your mate and… it'll hurt, but I'll move on."

Kagome sincerely thought he was calming down, that she had said the right things. So she was utterly confused when he growled and shook her off. Inuyasha pushed her to the ground with his muzzle only to put a heavy paw on top of her chest.

She grabbed at his toes with tiny hands and tried to push the weight off her. "Yash… I can't… breathe…."

"I could kill you…." With wide eyes, she looked up, the dog speaking as Inuyasha began to shift back, "I could kill you easily. It would take away all our pain… it would be nothing to me…."

Human again, Inuyasha pressed all his weight into the hand he had on her chest, holding her in her place even as she did nothing to fight against him. "Really? You could take another's life and feel nothing?"

His hand slipped up to her neck while her tears slipped into her ears. Instead of squeezing and blocking her air, he ran his thumb across her esophagus tenderly. "I could kill if I needed to and I have in the past. None of those lives I took bothered me. They were a risk to my pack and me… just like you are."

"Me?!" She gasped. "How am I a threat to anyone?!"

He fell, his cheek now pressed against hers while he held her still with the hand on her neck. "Because you make me lose control! You piss me off to the point that I lose hold of my form! Tell me how that doesn't make you dangerous?"

"I'm sorry."

Inuyasha popped up, anger still on his face that mixed with confusion. He squeezed his eyes shut and pressed his ears back. "Stop it."

Kagome had her hands cupping his face before she knew what she was doing. Inuyasha had stopped cupping her neck a while ago, holding the back of her head instead. "I'm sorry, Yash. I pushed you, and I shouldn't have."

"Stop it!" He roared, opening his eyes and showing her the blood in them.

"I won't do it again; I won't be a threat to you anymore -you or the pack. I don't… I don't want to hurt you or anyone; I just want…."

She stopped because Kagome wasn't sure what she wanted anymore. Joining the pack had all been a move for survival. To gain the strength to face Naraku and keep her family safe -what remained of it. Even when he was around for her, Kagome knew she couldn't rely on Inuyasha forever. She had decided long ago to make this sacrifice, to change. That was what this was all about, and it had never been about Inuyasha.

"I want to live and keep the remaining family I have safe."

"Then go live with Souta in America where you stuck him!"

Huffing, Kagome turned from Inuyasha's raging stare to look at the cold walls around them. They were hot inside and out as they continued to press against one another hard. "Like that would do anything. All that would do is endanger Souta when Naraku follows me there, follows my scent."

"I'll make sure he doesn't," Inuyasha purred, rubbing his nose only the column of her neck and smelling her, "I regret not listening to my father. I should never have come to you after that night."

'That night' was the night her parents died when they had first met. So much had happened since then between her and Inuyasha, past falling in love with him and being lovers. There had been many times she would have died if he hadn't been there. It was hard to swallow his regrets, tears pricking her eyes again as she forced words past her swollen throat. "You're making me regret existing, Yash."

Yanking her back, he pressed his head to hers and stared deeply into her eyes. She stared back even as it burned. "My father never wanted this for you. Your father never wanted you near the pack. They would be so disappointed…."

"You don't know my father, and you don't know me if you think either of us would be that petty!" He reared back, shaking his head at her. "You don't need to fix me; I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be!"

"Under me?" He was back in her face, panting and sending hot breaths across her face. "You need to get stronger so you can join the pack without a mate."

"You want me to be alone? All my life? That's selfish, Inuyasha."

"I know, and I don't care."

Confounded, Kagome didn't move or react when Inuyasha mushed his mouth to hers. It was why he pressed his thumb to her chin, pulling her mouth apart for her. Their tongues battled between their mouths, and Kagome's hands went from Inuyasha's face to tangled in his hair. When someone shifts, everything gets ripped away, skin, clothes, and anything on their body that contains the transformation. So not only was Inuyasha naked on top of Kagome but his hair had been ripped from his bun, spilling all around Kagome the entire time.

She pulled on him, lifting herself from the floor to meet him as eagerly as he met her. Kagome knew him -well. She knew his touch and his kiss. So when Inuyasha's free hand (the other still pressed into the back of her head and holding her to his mouth) slid down Kagome's body and into her pants while his excited member pressed into her, Kagome knew what he was going to do to her. He was going to make love to her, right here in the middle of the ring. And it would be easy for him; Inuyasha's hand in her panties was already working everything in his way off her.

Inuyasha pulled away just to speak, still grinding against her while they both breathed out hot and sucked in the heated expelled air. "You drive me wild… make me crazy…."

Kagome wanted nothing more than to make him wild all over her. Because regardless of her reasons for being here, Kagome missed Inuyasha more than anything. "Show me… show me how wild I make you, Puppy."

Inuyasha growled before retaking her mouth, his hand sliding around to her back. He grabbed her ass hard and then lifted his wrist to push her shorts and underwear off her. "INUYASHA!"

Ripped at the seams, Inuyasha pulled harshly from her, and Kagome released him instantly. Looking upside down, Kagome was met with angry gold eyes that belonged to none other than Inuyasha's brother, Sesshomaru. The Alpha of their pack.

"Get off her now!"

Inuyasha obeyed as he had to for his leader. He scrambled to his feet, and Kagome slowly got to hers, feeling weak and stupid. Without looking back, she grabbed her shirt and fled, not stopping until she was in the main house in her room. Kagome had just ruined all her chances of joining this pack. That was what she told herself when she slid to the floor and sobbed, that it was about screwing up so badly. Not from how easy it was for Inuyasha to get to her again or how much she missed him. Her struggled breathing was from her fear and not her loss.

That's what she told herself, and she prayed her heart would believe her soon. Otherwise, she might die.