Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha.

'thoughts and inner voices'

"talking"

PLEASE READ AND REVIEW.

Faster than the eye could see Kouga appeared before his two companions with a deer slung over his shoulder. He dropped the dead animal down before the two and plopped onto the ground himself. He knew his pack was tired, so he decided for them to camp near the small river that crossed through the Ancient Forest.

A scent caught his nose.

Kagome. Not too far downwards of the stream.

"Guys, get up!" he yelled. A surprised look crossed his two companions' faces.

"What is it?" asked Ginta.

Kouga smirked. "Kagome is here," he stated and in a whirlwind he ran off again, leaving his companions behind.

Both Hakkaku and Ginta let out a low grunt. "Here we go again," muttered Hakkaku. The two picked up the deer and followed their pack leader.

INUYASHA'S CAMP:

Kagome threw another log of wood into the fire. She sighed sadly as she saw her stressed companions. Everybody suffered under InuYasha's agitation. She couldn't blame InuYasha though. Suddenly a boy who looks just like Kikyou appeared on stage. Who was this boy? Why did he look like her? Why did her smell linger on him?

"Kagome!"

She looked up and saw Kouga in front of her. Behind him InuYasha lay awkwardly spread out on the ground of the forest, footprints covering his back.

The look made a drop of sweat appear on her forehead. "Ah… Kouga-kun," she greeted him and she offered him a smile. Soon she heard more noises.

"Kouga!" his followers called out. Together they carried a dead deer with them.

"Kagome," said Kouga. "Can we join your camp for today?"

Before Kagome could reply, InuYasha, who had just picked himself up from the ground, cut her off. "No, you bastard!" he yelled out. "I won't let you stay with us! Leave us alone!"

Kouga raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Whoa! What's with the pup?" he asked. "He seems more irritated by my presence than usual."

A low growl rumbled up from InuYasha's throat. "Don't call me pup…" he threatened.

Kagome gave another sigh. Even though InuYasha was more skittish and agitated than usual, she knew that he would never be serious with Kouga. And she was right. Soon enough she heard the meaningless insults rise.

"Inu-puppy!" taunted Kouga.

InuYasha growled. "Damn ookami!" he yelled back.

"What's the little pup gonna do, huh?" he pestered.

InuYasha jumped him.

"Sit." The mumble passed Kagome's lips before she realized them.

A loud thud could be heard throughout the clearing.

"Kagome!" InuYasha let out a frustrated whine. He growled when he heard Kouga snicker.

Kagome had a hard time keeping herself from giggling. "Sorry Inuyasha," she said apologetically. She was glad that Kouga had come though, because it lifted the tension that had been around her camp.

Soon enough all sat around the campfire eating meat from the deer that Ginta and Hakkaku had brought along with them.

"Naraku has to be around here somewhere," said Kouga, bringing up the subject Kagome had feared for. "I smelled him not too long ago, but I lost track of it."

Miroku nodded. "Yes, he is around. We fought him. Since Naraku took his heart back in, he has become weaker. He can't conceal his scent anymore."

InuYasha decided that it was time to bring his frustration up. "That kid is purifying the jaki around him." InuYasha growled at the thought. "He's like a barrier that keeps both Naraku's jaki and scent hidden. We can't track him down."

This information certainly caught Kouga's interest. "What kid?" he asked.

Sango sighed. "We don't know. We didn't have the chance to ask his name." She petted Kirara, who mewed softly beside her.

"He looked like a girl!" Shippou piped up. "He looked like Kikyou."

"Ehh… Shippou-chan, eat some more," Kagome tried. It was better not to mention Kikyou. Especially since her scent and tears lingered on the mysterious boy-miko.

'Besides,' thought Kagome. 'Kikyou has betrayed us.' The thought angered her. She sometimes wished Kikyou had never come back, though she knew she shouldn't think that way.

Suddenly she stiffened. She turned her head to look upwards of the stream, where the red glow of the evening sun was still present.

"A Shikon shard coming our way," she whispered.

InuYasha already heard her.

THANK YOU FOR READING. PLEASE STAY TUNED…
Dictionary: -kun (informal suffix that is used mostly, but not exclusively, when referring to boys); -chan (affectionate suffix that is used mostly, but not exclusively, when referring to girls); Inu (dog); Ookami (wolf)