Back at the village Kagome helped Kaede and Miroku tote buckets of water to the hut to help cleanse everyone's wounds and wash away the smell of the demon's blood. Miroku used his bucket to attend to Sango. Kagome smiled as she watched them. They had certainly come a long way. They hadn't gotten along at all when they'd first met, but now, they almost seemed to be friends. She watched as Miroku's hand slipped down Sango's back as he washed her cut arm and as she used her good arm to slap him across the face. Meekly, he went back to washing her wound. Kagome sighed. Well, almost friends. Kouga and Inuyasha were sitting on opposite sides of the hut. Kouga was dirty, but not hurt aside from a few small scratches. Inuyasha had injuries all over him. But Kagome really wasn't in the mood for helping Inuyasha and walked right past him to set her bucket beside Kouga. Inuyasha watched her walk by with wide eyes and growled under his breath when she sat beside Kouga.
" I don't know why your helping that stupid flea-bag. It's not like he actually fought or anything. Just jumped in at the end and took al the credit. Just like a wolf." Kouga smirked.
" As I recall, I was the one who slayed the demon dog-breath. With the help of Kagome of course." Kouga grinned and put an arm around her. " See? We make a much better team than you and that mutt. " Kagome sighed. She wasn't in the mood to deal with another territorial male.
" Si.." She began but was silenced quickly by Inuyasha.
" Hey!" He cried leaping up from where Kaede was wrapping his wounds. "Watch what you say! Stupid charm. And you flea-bag, quit pissing her off will ya? The last thing I need is to be "sitted" into oblivion cause you're being your usual idiot self!" Kouga snickered.
" Sorry Inuyasha. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I'll be more careful okay?" Kagome asked and he humphed and sat back down.
" Feh. Like you could hurt me." She just shook her head and rinsed out a rag to clean Kouga's still healing arm.
" Joking aside Kagome. I'm serious. You'd be much better off with me. Why not join me in my quest to kill Naraku and avenge my pack?" She sighed.
" No way is she going with you!" She's already coming with me...uh...us!" Kagome shot Inuyasha a look.
" I can talk for myself Inuyasha. But he is right Kouga. I already promised Sango and Miroku and Shippou that I'd go with them." Inuyasha made a satisfied snort and crossed his arms.
" Your loyalty to that stupid dog just shows what a great pack leader you'd be Kagome. But I know what it is to promise to stay with your group. So it's settled. I'll go with you." She started to nod until her brain registered what he'd said.
" Wait. What?" She asked and Inuyasha, who had fallen over, again leapt up.
" No way! No way are you coming with us wolf-boy. You'd just get in my way."
" Yeah, you really don't have to do that Kouga." Kagome said. He just smiled and put his hands on her shoulders.
" Kagome, I still have hopes that you'll accept my offer and help lead my pack as my mate. And since you're my women, that means I have to protect you. The dumb mutt isn't any kind of protection. I can't leave you to him. I have to come. To keep you safe." As dramatic as it was, that was kinda sweet she thought, but Inuyasha didn't.
" I can protect Kagome just fine flea-bag! We've been doing great without you so far." Kouga snorted and released Kagome, turning to face Inuyasha.
" Great? You called almost letting her die to save that dead miko great? I can't trust someone as great as my woman to you mutt. Besides, she can sense the Shikon shards. With her at my side we can defeat that bastard Naraku and revenge my pack. Then I can start to rebuild a stronger pack with her at my side." Inuyasha went to protest when Kaede stepped in.
" Consider this my friends. Naraku's demons, with only half his strength have been a challenge for you. Would another soul with Naraku's death in mind be such a bad thing when ye face him?" They all looked at each other.
" Kaede is right. I guess one more person couldn't hurt." Sango said.
" Yes. Kaede has shown great wisdom in bringing this to light." Miroku chipped in. Everyone, including a very red-angry-faced Inuyasha turned to Kagome.
" Well, I guess... I guess Kaede's right." Kouga grinned.
" I knew you'd see it my way Kagome." With that he sat back down. Inuyasha hissed and went to stomp off but Kaede stopped him.
" I haven't finished with the wounds ye have."
" I don't care about my wounds old woman. Move" He walked around her.
" Kagome?" She asked and Kagome was only to happy to oblige.
" Inuyasha, sit." He crashed to the ground and Kaede went to him and began fixing his wounds. He just sighed and stayed face down in the dirt. If he got up, Kagome would just 'sit' him again. Kouga burst out laughing.
" Aside from having Kagome at my side, I think I'm really gonna enjoy watching you eat dirt mutt." he laughed out and Kagome shook her head.
" Kouga, if you're gonna be with us, you really should try to get along with Inuyasha. You guys will be fighting side by side from now on." Inuyasha sat up form his spot in the dirt and crossed his arms.
" He may be fighting near me, but it won't be side by side. I don't need that stupid wolf's help in a fight." Kouga went to retort but Kagome put a hand on his arm. Normally, she'd stay out of it and let them macho it out, but she was tired. Kouga looked up at her pleading face and smiled, first at her, then at Inuyasha.
" Sure, whatever you say Kagome." She smiled with relief and turned to see Inuyasha fuming. I don't even care that Kouga did that to piss Inuyasha off. I just wanna go to sleep.
" Come on, it's late. Let's rest tonight and head off tomorrow, okay?" Everyone agreed and she, Sango and Shippou went to the back room that they often shared when they were in the village. Kouga followed them. Miroku and Inuyasha watched in disbelief as he went behind the curtain with them.
" Did he just go into their bedroom?" Miroku asked and Inuyasha nodded in amazement. Having witnessed first-hand Kagome's reaction when her privacy was disturbed, he was curious how Kouga had managed. Soon, he found out.
" Kouga! What are you doing in here!? Out!" Kouga nearly fell through the curtain as Kagome pushed him and landed on his face. Of course Inuyasha started to laugh.
" What did you do that for? You're my woman remember? You've slept in my bed before."
" But you weren't in it!"
" I can't leave you unprotected with that perverted monk and dog-boy. Who knows what they do when you sleep."
" Kouga! I'll be fine. If either one tries anything, both Sango and I will s i t and smack them both to bits." Inuyasha and Miroku both gulped and slid farther away from the curtain. Kouga growled.
" Fine! I'll stay out here, but I'm sleeping right next to the door."
" As long as it's not in here, I don't care!" With that, Kagome disappeared behind the curtain and Kouga plopped down beside it. Inuyasha snickered.
" What's wrong flea-bag? Your woman not want you?" He taunted and Kouga growled again.
" I am not his woman Inuyasha! Say that again and I'll say s i t you more times than you can count!" Kagome yelled and Inuyasha swallowed and laid down. Kouga smirked but laid down too.
On the other side of the curtain, Kagome settled down next to Sango and Shippou. " How are we ever gonna survive traveling with two stubborn demons?" She complained and Sango laughed.
" Oh, come on Kagome. Enjoy it. They are fighting over you ya know. That doesn't happen to every girl."
" Inuyasha isn't fighting for me. He's made his choice Sango. He just doesn't like Kouga." Sango shook her head.
" I don't think so. But even if it's true, Kouga's not that bad is he?" With that she rolled over to go to sleep and Kagome closed her eyes too. Kouga isn't bad. But, my heart still belongs to Inuyasha. Besides, even if it didn't, I have to go back to my time after this is all over. Why fall for another demon I'll have to leave behind?
" Hey, Kagome?" Shippou asked.
" Yes Shippou?"
" If you do decide to go off with Kouga, can I come too? I don't wanna have to stay here with Inuyasha alone." Kagome laughed.
" That won't happen Shippou. But sure, I'll take you." Shippou grinned and curled up to go to sleep. Me and Kouga huh? With Shippou as our cub? That'll be the day. Besides, Kouga hates Inuyasha because he's a half-demon. Kouga and I would give birth to half-demons so I can't imagine him wanting that. Wait a minute! Am I really thinking about me and Kouga? What's wrong with me? Kagome shook the thoughts out of her head and drifted off to sleep.