Kagome closed her eyes to the rush of the wind in her face. Though Kouga kept a tight grip on her, she couldn't help holding onto him for fear of dropping. I'm sure he's liking this she thought and sighed. At the time, going with him had seemed like a good idea. The look of shock on Inuyasha's face had been well worth having to smile at Kouga. Now though, she was wondering if it had been such a smart idea. They were going to be alone, save for Shippou and his pack, that night and the whole next day. Can I trust him not to try anything? She wondered. He hadn't before, but who knew. She determined herself to keep on guard and with the hand that wasn't holding onto Kouga, squeezed Shippou reassuringly. After about an hour of full running Kouga slowed.
" Our den is just around this hill Kagome." He announced proudly and Shippou hopped down from Kagome's lap. Kouga however, made no effort to put Kagome down. He only whistled and Kagome stared as several of his pack mates came around the bend to meet them.
"Hey Kouga, what's that you got?" One of them snickered
" So, she finally gave in huh Kouga?" The other laughed and Kagome blushed and wriggled out of Kouga's grasp.
" It's okay. I can walk just fine Kouga." He shrugged and smiled.
" If you prefer, come on. I can smell dinner cooking." Kagome sniffed and could indeed smell roasting meat.
" Hey Kouga, is that dessert?" One of the pack pointed to Shippou and he jumped behind Kagome.
" Is it her cub? Does that mean she's been with another Kouga?" Kagome blushed and Kouga growled he jumped over and smacked the guy before jumping back to Kagome's side and put his arm around her shoulder.
" Don't be stupid. He's an adopted cub. Kagome doesn't want anyone but me. Why do you think she left that mutt-face and came with me?" Kagome sighed and dropped her head. She couldn't very well tell Kouga she'd only come with him to annoy Inuyasha. Especially not in front of his pack mates.
" Ok Kouga. Whatever you say. " Kouga laughed and walked with them back to the front of the caves, his arm still around Kagome. I guess I have to put up with this. At least until the pack goes to sleep. Shippou stuck close by as some of the pack were still eyeing him warily. One of the younger cubs ran over to him.
" We're gonna go swimming in the falls before dinner. Wanna come?"
" You're not gonna eat me?" Shippou asked and the cub laughed.
" Course not. We don't eat our own. Kagome is Kouga's woman. That makes her and you part of our pack." Kagome opened her mouth to argue the 'Kouga's woman' thing, but closed it just as quickly. Get a hold of yourself Kagome. It's just for tonight. Shippou shyed behind her.
" Um, I think I wanna stay with Kagome." The cub shrugged and ran off with his friends. Kouga snorted.
" Come on. If you're gonna be part of the pack, you might as well get along with your den-mates. Go play." He ordered and picked up Shippou and tossed him to the group of kids. Shippou landed on one of their heads and they all laughed.
" All right! You decided to come!" Kagome watched as they ran off with Shippou looking forlornly back at Kagome.
" Kouga! That wasn't nice. Shippou doesn't know any of those kids." Kouga grinned.
" Well, now he'll get to know them. Don't worry Kagome. Young ones are resilient. He'll be fine." Kagome crossed her arms but dropped the subject. Kouga led her to a tree stump and she sat down. " Stay here. I'll go get us some food."
" I just had dinner Kouga." He laughed.
" That little fish? That's not dinner. That's a cub snack. I'll get us some real food." He turned and walked over to the fire pit a ways away and started talking and laughing with the members gathered around it. Kagome sighed and looked up at the stars. That was one of the best things about being in the feudal era. Without all the city lights, the stars were so bright and beautiful. A female member came and sat beside Kagome.
" So, you're the famous Kagome huh? I expected more." She took a large bite of dripping meat and stared at Kagome. She blushed in indignation.
" I'm sorry I don't rise to your standards." The woman shook her head.
" No offense or anything there. It's just, Kouga's the best alpha this pack has ever had. He's responsible, caring, he takes care of us. I just figured it would take something really special to catch his eye. I never expected a human."
" Kouga? Caring? Responsible? I think we're talking about two separate guys." The woman swallowed another hunk of meat.
" No, really. He is. You should see him with the cubs. When everyone is washing, he'll go down and play with them. Tossing them into the air so they can splash in the water. And he wrestles with the older ones to teach them to fight so they don't get hurt. And he always makes sure we have food to eat. And that we're safe during floods or enemy attacks."
" Really?"
" Yeah. Especially after so many of our pack were killed. He's been great helping everyone handle the loss, even though he felt it the worst. They were all his responsibility." The woman smiled and got up and walked away. Kagome sat with a sad look on her face. Kouga and Inuyasha are always so busy fighting, I don't usually stop to think about what Kouga must have gone through. To lose so many of his pack like that. I don't know what I'd do if all my friends were killed. She looked up as Kouga approached her, hands full of steamy, dripping hunks of meat. He grinned and handed one to her.
" Here. Eat up." She looked at the meat then smiled a little and gingerly took it from him. He sat beside her and began wolfing down ( No pun intended) his share. She took a small bite and decided it wasn't that bad. Kouga kept talking with the others even as he ate and Kagome sat and watched him. I guess he isn't just the arrogant demon I took him for. He might not be so bad.
After everyone had eaten, they were all sitting around the fire, talking or just warming up before bed. A loud ruckus down the trail signaled the return of the cubs. They talked loudly of their water battle exploits. Shippou hopped up onto the trunk next to Kagome. His fur was soaking wet, but he was smiling.
" Are you all right Shippou?" Kagome asked and he shook some of the water off his fur.
" Are you kidding? I'm great! It was so much fun playing with cubs my age! I was so small that they would toss me back and forth. It was like I was flying! And when we were hiding and finding each other, I was the best at hiding cause I'm so small! It was great!" He settled in front of the fire, drying out his fur and Kouga nudged Kagome.
" See? Didn't I tell you he'd be fine." Some of the cubs hadn't known Kouga was back and rushed to greet him. He laughed and wrestled with them, rubbing their heads. Kagome smiled. Wow. He is great with kids. He's so different when he's not around Inuyasha. Kouga caught her smiling at him.
" What?" She just grinned.
" You're just so different when you're not around Inuyasha." He snorted and stretched.
" Course I am. The mutt would see me with the cubs and think I was a sissy or something. " He looked over at the cubs who had begun a game of rocks and sticks. " He doesn't know know what it takes to train up cubs. Those kids are my packs future. Our packs future Kagome. It's in our best interest to take care of them." Kagome smiled in delight. Wow. I never expected Kouga to sound to grown up. He grinned and put an arm around her shoulder. " Don't worry Kagome. I'll treat our cubs just the same." He snickered and she sighed. Well, almost grown-up. After a while most everyone had gone to bed and even Shippou had curled up in Kagome's lap and fallen asleep. It was just Kouga and Kagome sitting and watching the fire. Kagome sighed and yawned.
" Guess we might as well get some sleep huh? We have a ways to go tomorrow." She nodded her agreement and followed Kouga into the caves still holding Shippou. He led her to his bed area and sat down. She hesitated and he looked at her with concern. "Does it need more straw?"
" No. But um, are we ah, sharing a bed?" He snickered.
" Of course we are. You think I'd trust you to any of the others?"
" It's kinda small for the both of us don't you think?"
" Kagome. You're my woman. Where else would you sleep but at my side?" She snorted but still didn't sit. He sighed. " If you're worried I'll try something don't be. It's not mating season or anything." She shifted but sat down on the far end of the bed. She lay Shippou down between them and finally laid back on the straw. Kouga nodded with acceptance and laid on his back. He fell asleep quickly and Kagome was left lying in the dark alone. Well, at least it's warm in here. Much warmer than it would be outside with the others. I wonder how they're doing? She stretched and closed her eyes. Sleep came after only a little while.
A few miles away, Sango, Miroku, and Inuyasha had settled in for sleep. Inuyasha was sitting in his tree still contemplating the possibility of Kagome and Kouga. Sango was sleeping in her bag and Miroku wasn't to far away. Occasionally he'd inch closer but a small growl from the tiny-sized Kira-ra warned him off. Finally he too fell asleep, dreaming of whisking Sango away just as Kouga had done with Kagome.