Chapter Eight

Part Three of Running with the Wolves


Kagome felt only slightly uncomfortable sitting down conspicuously next to Miroku. They were still surrounded by Sango and Ayame. The priestess looked up at the girls.

"I don't know if this is going to work." Kagome said, her face beginning to sweat at her temples.

Miroku's deep chuckle sounded next to her. "This does feel very unnatural. I can only imagine what our good man, Inuyasha would say if he saw this."

Sango touched Kagome's cheek. "You'll be fine." She leaned down and whispered in Kagome's ear. "Pretend Miroku is someone else that you have always wanted to share your feelings with."

Kagome blushed. Ayame moved from foot to foot.

"I'm feeling Kouga close by. Look, Kagome you got this. I am almost out of your hair. Don't blow this. Come on, Slayer." Ayame grabbed Sango's elbow and drug her away.

Miroku looked about him. The two were now the only ones inhabiting a small and forestry clearing; located just behind Kaede's hut. It was a clear day and the sun was shining directly down on the 'couple' on the fallen tree trunk. Kagome watched out of the corner of her eye as Miroku scooted closer.

"You probably don't have to be that close, Miroku." She said, the natural warning in her voice that came naturally when talking to the perverted Monk.

"Do not worry, my fair friend. I am only here as a favor to my soon-to-be-wife and you. We will not over do this by any means."

Kagome smiled at him. "Thanks again for the help, Miroku."

"Anytime, Miss. Kagome." He folded his arms into the sleeves of his purple robe. "So is there a code word? How do we know when to start confessing?"

Kagome pulled at the blue tank top she was wearing. "I say we have a few moments then we just start having fun. Have you thought about what you are going to say?"

The Monk looked completely cool and collected, the opposite of the fidgeting Kagome. "Well, I was thinking I could just say the same thing I said to Sango when I asked her to marry me."

"You remember what you said? That's so romantic." Kagome was very impressed and feeling marginally better.

He chuckled again. "You will see."

Kagome smiled and linked her legs at the ankles. They lapsed into a comfortable silence and she couldn't help her thoughts from wondering to a certain hanyou that had been ignoring her the greater part of the week. She just didn't understand where or what he had been doing. Normally, when he ignored her at least he was still in sight; not this time. Inuyasha was actually going somewhere and Kagome was dreading that she knew the answer where.

She had the sinking suspicion that Inuyasha had been visiting Kikyou's grave lately. It seemed that ever since Kaede brought it up that he had been missing more and more. When she did see him, he looked tense and guilty around her. A look she used to see him wear on times returning from seeing Kikyou alone. Her heart sank a little just thinking about it.

He was there now and that was a fact. She didn't like that at all. True, she would never want to disrespect Kikyou on any level, she had ultimately helped them defeat Naraku and had been kind in training Kagome to further her priestess abilities, but Kikyou just always had such an unhealthy control over Inuyasha. Something Kagome could never forgive her for, would be when she attempted to drag Inuyasha to Hell only shortly after Kagome met him.

She bit her lip. Even back then she had loved him. It really hadn't taken her long to discover that the reason her temper was always flaring with him and why she kept traveling back time and time again, even though he was temperamental himself, was because she had no other choice. The need to be with him was almost scary.

Kagome sat up straighter. She could feel Ayame's and Kouga's presences growing near.

"Miroku, they are almost here." She whispered.

Miroku cleared his throat and began talking in a strong voice; his hands grabbed both of Kagome's. "My dearest Kagome, I have asked you here today to tell you something very important."

'They are definitely close now.'

"What is it, Miroku?" She leaned her upper body closer.

"I have thought very seriously on this matter and I have come to no other choice. I have to talk to you about this now before I go mad. I'm afraid of many things in my life and you are one of them."

She tried to keep her face straight. 'I was wrong. Romantic was not the word, though I should have known, this is Miroku.'

He continued. "I'm afraid of you because you are the strongest, most beautiful woman I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. I'm scared to lose you."

She couldn't help the tears beading at her eyes. Sango must have looked like this too. "Miroku…" She whispered.

"I was serious all those years ago. You were the first woman I meant it to when I asked you to bare my children."

Kagome laughed, it was breathy. She could feel her face warm.

"I'm glad."

"Kagome, I made a promise to you a long time ago. I promised you that I loved you and if I was ever able to avenge my family and defeat Naraku and this cursed hand, that I would marry you. Do you remember?"

She nodded and squeezed his calloused hands. "Yes, I do."

He moved closer; a hand went around her back. She would have pushed it away but she could feel the flaring in Kouga's aura; they were doing nicely. Besides, it was easier than she thought to pretend to have someone confess their feelings for you.

"I want to renew that promise, Kagome. Will you marry me?"

Upon hearing those last four words, the tears poured from her eyes. She couldn't see but she could feel Miroku's hug. The happiness that flowed through her stemmed from the thrill of those words that every girl wishes to hear. She didn't know that hearing them now, with no real meaning behind them would excite this strong of an emotion from her. It was so blissful. Her mind, even though only a small part, believed this to be the truth.

"Yes! Yes, of course, Miroku!" She threw her arms around him and laughed.

He laughed too. "You don't know how happy you have made me today, Kagome."

"I'm so happy too." She cried clinging to his robes.

They pulled back and the glow on her face was brilliant and healthy. Miroku took her face into his hands. Her heart skipped, they hadn't discussed this, though they didn't discuss when to stop the make believe love either. His violet eyes searched hers. She was suddenly feeling like time had stopped. She couldn't kiss her best friends fiancé that was definitely not okay.

The small smile Miroku gave her though made her easy. She smiled back and leaned her face in, closing her eyes. She was only planning on kissing his cheek afterall.

As her lips were just brushing Miroku's cheek, Kagome could register two very, very distinct and different noises. Her blood chilled.

The first was somewhat expected. It was a soft, low whine. It was Kouga. It was him realizing there wasn't any place for him in her life.

The second which followed Kouga's was too unexpected. It was a loud, deep growl. It was Inuyasha. It was him realizing the same thing as Kouga.

Kagome stood up and faced the direction of Inuyasha's growl. He was standing on the edge of the forest line. His eyes were bleeding red. He growled again. Kagome took a hesitant step forward and reached out a hand.

"What the fuck is going on here, woman?" He hissed through a clenched jaw.

"Inuyasha, listen to me." She whispered, adrenaline flowing through her veins like nothing she had ever felt.

Miroku too stood. "Don't do this Inuyasha, control yourself."

"Fuck off, Monk. Where do you get off, being like this with Kagome?"

Kouga entered the clearing with Ayame pushed behind him. "Just face it mutt, there's no room for you in her life." His words seemed to be said as much to himself as Inuyasha.

Inuyasha roared, and stepped closer. Kagome wanted to run into his arms, but for the first time she was scared of him. This situation was very bad; they were seconds from disaster especially if Inuyasha lost himself to his demonic blood.

"Inuyasha…" She whispered again.

"Whatcha say, wolf-shit?"

"You heard me, dog-breath!" Kouga yelled, stepping closer as well.

Miroku's hand was on her shoulder to keep her from moving. Inuyasha snarled at Miroku and took another menacing step toward Kagome, who was the closest to him. Kouga also advanced again.

"I'll help him cool off, Kagome." Kouga said pushing past Miroku.

"Get your hands off Kagome, now!" Inuyasha roared at the stunned Monk.

"No! No one touch him. Please, he is losing himself." Kagome cried, unsure to who she was talking to.

"I'm not going to let him hurt you! He doesn't understand you don't want him!" Kouga yelled at her.

She couldn't register that this was the first time Kouga had ever raised his voice at her. She just felt emptiness and hopeless.

"Stop, don't say that. Kouga, don't touch him. Please just leave."

"Fat chance."

"Yes, let's just go, Kouga." Ayame said quietly.

Kouga whipped around to her. "I'm not going to leave until mutt realizes he doesn't have her either."

Ayame looked deeply wounded; she just nodded and turned away. She left the clearing with her head hung pathetically.

Kagome was shaking her head. "Miroku, make him leave." She whispered, never taking her eyes off Inuyasha, who was shaking with unreleased rage.

"Kagome, I-"

"Do it, I can handle this, Miroku. Please."

Miroku turned to Kouga, who was breathing hard and staring off where Ayame just exited. "We have to leave. Inuyasha will not revert to his normal self if we are present. It's another one of Kagome's gifts."

Kouga snarled himself. "How can you let the woman you supposedly love be left with this monster?"

Inuyasha took two more strides. He was almost directly in front of Kagome and that only put him a few very dangerous feet from Miroku and Kouga. The clearing wasn't big and was definitely not big enough for a fight. The hairs on Kagome's neck rose.

"He isn't a monster, Kouga!" Kagome yelled. "Why don't you get it!" She threw her hands up in the air.

"I think me and you need to settle this, now, Kouga." Inuyasha snapped. "Apparently, you need a lesson in respecting women!"

Kouga scoffed. "And you don't? She loves someone else, dog-breath. Why aren't you honoring that?" His tone was mocking.

"Why don't you? Or do I have to fed you my fist?" Inuyasha threatened.

"I'd like to see you try! We both know who would win that fight!"

"Yeah! Me!"

"Keep dreaming!"

The two demonic men were getting closer and closer. Kagome didn't like the way Inuyasha's eyes still had twinges of red in his normally molten ambers.

"Kouga, just leave. I'm begging you. Miroku understands, why cant you?"

Kouga's arms clenched, his muscles straining against his taunt, tanned skin. "What I'm I not understanding, Kagome? That you have a death wish? Obviously, the mutt is crazy."

"You want to see crazy?" Inuyasha muttered, his eyebrow twitching.

"No." Kagome shook her head, spilling tears she didn't know she was holding. "He's not crazy. I am, for thinking I could keep certain things from him."

"You just-"

"Leave, Kouga!" She cried exhaustedly.

"You're crying…" When she didn't respond, Kouga turned to Miroku. "What the-"

Miroku shook his head. "I'll explain it to you in the village."

"Kagome…" Kouga whined; Inuyasha growled deeply, he was still visibly shaking.

She couldn't wait another second. Kagome rushed forward and into Inuyasha's chest. She hugged him tightly though his arms didn't circle her as well. She rubbed her face into his coarse red robe. She wasn't sure how long she was holding him but eventually she felt Kouga's aura leave and she knew she was alone with Inuyasha finally.

Inuyasha was breathing hard, his body was still tense. She could tell without looking that he was trying to gain control. She searched his eyes. They were mostly golden again though they weren't focused or completely clear. On this cheeks, the purple stripes of his dog demonic heritance stood proud. She closed her eyes for a second.

"I'm so sorry. Please, come back to me." She said softly leaning her forehead on his chest.

She felt his hands on her arms. He pushed her body off of his. When she looked into his face again, he was back to normal.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Inuyasha's voice was hurt and low. "He is supposed to marry Sango. Why would you break up our pack like this?"

Kagome felt the air rush from her chest. "Inuyasha, you have to let me explain. What you saw, that's not-"

He shook his head. "I don't know why that happened. I have never seen you with Miroku alone before. Why?"

Dread filled her. 'He's not going to listen to me, is he?'

"Inuyasha, I don't love him."

His golden eyes looked dull. "I don't believe you."

The words stung. Tears fell and she felt her knees grow weak. She dropped to the trunk; her hands to her face.

"You have to believe me, Inuyasha. Me and Miroku were pretending. It wasn't real. It just wasn't real." She could feel her throat tighten and try to keep the words from forming.

"How do I know?"

She looked up at him exhausted; a shaky hand reached up and brushed her tears. "Ask Sango. It was all a plan to get Kouga to leave." She held his stare.

Inuyasha took a step closer to her but stopped.

"Kouga wasn't going to leave unless he saw that I moved on. Sango, Ayame and myself came up with this plan to have him see me and Miroku pretend to confess our love so he would think there was no chance with me." Kagome said staring at him; wishing him to believe her.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Kagome threw her hands up. "Maybe because I haven't seen you all week? Maybe because every time I see you, you look like you don't want to talk to me. Inuyasha, I would have told you but where have you been?"

His ears drooped and he looked over past Kaede's hut. "I have had some stuff to take care of."

"What stuff?" She asked quietly. 'This is it, this is when he is going to tell me that he has been visiting her grave. That he isn't ready to give her up…'

Tears pooled at her eyes again just in anticipation. Inuyasha moved closer and pulled Kagome up to her feet. He looked down at her seriously.

"I'm just not ready to tell you yet."

She closed her eyes and bent her head. "It's fine. I don't want to know."

"'Gome."

"No, look Inuyasha, obviously we aren't as close as we used to be. That's fine, I can understand you have a lot going on but I just want you to know it was really, nice having you there for me when the well closed."

He hugged her. She loosely circled her arms around him. 'If only just for once this could be for real and he wasn't thinking of Kikyou.'

They stood hugging for a long time. The sun was already drooping low on the horizon when Kagome leaned back. Inuyasha smirked, not reaching his eyes, but enough to make Kagome lose her breath. She smiled back.

Inuyasha moved his face down and pressed his lips to hers. In the next following seconds, Kagome learned how it really felt to be kissed and how to be truly happy in just an instant. She moved her hands to his neck and pulled herself as close to him as possible.

He held her against him as well. He marveled at the soft and silky feel of her lips and the moment her lips parted he almost whined when he felt her tongue press his closed mouth. He felt an overwhelming and unbelievable devotion for the small, emotional woman in his arms. She made everything feel so right to him.

She pulled away to rest her forehead on his. She was breathing hard, and slightly erratic.

"I'm sorry about today." She said into the hollow of his throat.

"S'kay." He returned, pecking her once more on the lips. "Me too."

She smiled up at him. "You wont be disappearing for awhile again will you?"

He shook his head, not feeling able to trust the sound of his voice. 'I cant promise you that, but it will be worth it.'

She looked so happy and content, how could he have said anything? She looked around, and seemed suddenly aware of something.

"Kaede! She will be home soon, I promised I would have dinner for her!" Kagome turned reflexively toward the hut but Inuyasha's hands still held her; she looked up at him with wide eyes.

"Now?" He raised a dark eyebrow.

She blushed and laughed uneasily. Inuyasha's stomach rumbled though and it was settled they would start the soup. Gingerly, Kagome clasped her hand in his rough one. When he didn't pull away, she felt like nothing could ruin her mood.

"I'm still going to beat the shit out of Miroku." He said as they began to walk back.

She turned to him. "Why?"

"He is a filthy lecher."

"I told you, me and Sango asked him to do it!"

"Keh. Well, he wasn't minding it too much…" Inuyasha narrowed his eyes at Kagome. "You liked it too, didn't you?"

In situations like these, Kagome resorted automatically to the most natural way to express herself.

"Sit."

The incredulous look he gave her before being pulled down to the dirt almost made Kagome laugh; until she realized what she did. When the spell wore off she was sitting by his head anxiously.

"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to! It just comes so naturally!" Kagome was sputtering.

Inuyasha raised his head and spit out a mouthful of dirt. "It comes naturally! You better run, Kagome because you are going to get it when this fucking spell wears off!" He growled, this time it wasn't menacing though.

Her lips formed an 'o' and she began running towards Kaede's as fast as her legs would take her. She was just coming around the side of the hut when she was met by an mischievous Inuyasha standing in front of the door.

He pounced her and took her to the ground. She exploded with laughs as he mercilessly tickled and prodded her sides.


"This is shit. Why are we waiting so long?" Kouga spat after Miroku had refused to say anything to him after they left the clearing.

"Because, Kagome needs time to calm Inuyasha down. I do not wish to be the one to inform you of this Kouga but Inuyasha in his full-demon state is not someone to be taken lightly."

Kouga scoffed and folded his arms. "You don't think I could take him?"

Miroku looked up at Kouga across from him; they were seated inside Sango and Miroku's hut. "I don't think, Kouga, I know you wouldn't stand a chance. Now, if you will be patient I will reward you with a little knowledge. You are still confused, are you not?"

Kouga nodded and looked towards the door. "I don't understand what the-"

"Please, my good man, I will explain-"

"Then explain already!"

Miroku raised an eyebrow. "You have been tricked."

"Excuse me?" Kouga looked flabbergasted. "I don't believe you."

"Indeed, no man ever likes to admit defeat." Miroku said shaking his head.

"I wasn't tricked. Now, tell me what you are talking about!"

"It is probably something you should talk to Ayame about. The whole thing was her idea."

"What? What do you mean Ayame had something to do with what happened in the clearing?"

"She is a very intelligent woman. I will let her explain."

"You aren't going to tell me?"

"Well, no. I think it would be much more beneficial to everyone if she explained."

Kouga didn't say another word to the cryptic Monk, instead he stood up and left the hut. Firstly, before he went and got his answers from Ayame, he wanted to make sure Kagome was alright. If she was still safe then he would track down Ayame and weasel out what he wanted.

He was walking up the path to Kaede's when he saw Kagome emerge from around back. Inuyasha was standing at Kaede's door waiting for her. They were staring at each other in a way that Kouga had never seen before. A look that Kagome had never graced him with.

Kagome looked happy and playful. Her long curls hung in a mess about her flushed cheeks. They were completely ignorant of anything but themselves. Inuyasha and Kagome were oblivious to Kouga.

They were in love.

The look was so innocent and real that Kouga wanted to get away. He couldn't understand how it was to feel that, and to see that. To see Kagome so happy and natural. He felt sick. His heart wrenched when Inuyasha sprang at the small woman-child and Kagome let out a peal of laughter so heavenly sweet. Kouga turned and headed away from the hut.

Ayame was going to explain to him right now. Kouga followed Ayame's scent which lead him to the hut she was recovering at. He walked in and saw her huddled on the small futon in the corner. The smell of her tears flavored the air of the dusty old hut.

"Go away, Kouga. I don't want to talk to you."

"Tough. You have a lot of explaining to do, woman."

Ayame's fiery eyes turned on him. "I don't owe you anything, now get out!"

Kouga sat down by her bed and crossed his arms. "Nope."

"Yes!" She wailed hiding her face into her hands.

"The Monk said something about you planning that little stunt in the clearing. Why?"

Ayame looked up at him only so he could see her roll her eyes. "Why do you think, Kouga? Because you are madly in love with a woman that been trying to get rid of you for the last three years!"

Kouga sat stone still. Ayame sighed.

"We did that because how else would you learn to move on if you didn't see her happy with another man?"

Again nothing. Tears leaked from her eyes.

"I made you bring me here because I wanted to prove to myself that you still cared about me. I was so wrong." She miserably looked away. "Get out, Kouga."

His clawed hand reached out and cupped her cheek. "I'm sorry." The real shocker was that Kouga actually did feel sorry, in fact seeing Ayame this miserable was really bothering him.

She shook her head. "No you aren't. You are only saying that because now you cant have Kagome and I'm just second best. This was a stupid idea."

He dropped his hand. "You know I remember that flower. It wasn't until I got to the wrong location, did I realize what I was looking for."

Ayame tried to keep the surprise and hope from her face. "You did?"

Kouga crossed his arms casually over his chest. "Course, I gave you the same flower when I first met you."

"You really remembered?" She repeated.

"Yeah, now are you going to stop being dramatic so we can go home?" Kouga was surprised that he liked the sound of that; home with Ayame.

She snorted. "Why? Why should I go with you? At least Kagome and Sango like me. You don't give me any attention. I think I might stay here."

He rolled his eyes. "You think I don't like you, you are stupid." Something was growing inside of him, a feeling he couldn't quite name.

"Hey! Well, how can I be convinced? You are always declaring your love for Kagome."

"You know I just do that to annoy dog-breath. I don't really want, Kagome." The conviction in his voice was strong. 'I really dont want Kagome...'

"I don't believe you." Ayame said narrowing her green eyes.

Kouga shrugged. "Well, then you stay here I suppose. I really wanted you to be my mate, but if there's no convincing you…" He started to stand up.

Ayame grabbed him with both her hands. "Wait. Do you mean what you just said?"

He smiled crookedly; there it was on Ayame's face, there was the look that Kagome was giving Inuyasha. "Well duh. I have already asked you once, remember? You were little…?"

She smiled brilliantly and launched herself into Kouga's lap, knocking them over. "I do! I do remember! But you were always blowing me off! I will be your mate! Of course!"

Kouga's arms circled her and pulled her close, just the way Ayame had always imagined and hoped for. She sighed as his lips finally met hers.

Mission Accomplished.


Hello friends!

Firstly, I uploaded this a little early before going over it, so you might want to re-read it in like thirty minutes after I've gone through and changed some of the grammar and format issues. Sorry! I was seeing if fanfiction would let me actually upload this time!

Sorry this update took longer than the others! I thought I had been doing so good too! Well, fanfiction is giving me fits with loading documents so I gave up for awhile until I figured a way around loading new ones! I just exported a random chapter and then erased its content and pasted in the content for this chapter! I thought I was so clever, haha.

Anyways, here's a longer chapter than is usual for me, I hope that helps to make up for all the time it took for me to upload it.

Thoughts? Feelings? Concerns? Let me know!

hugsLovingMyKitsune