Every day for the next week, the two returned to that spot in the clearing, just to get away. Back at the cave, they seemed like the sworn rivals which they truly were; but when they got away from the pack every night and were on their own in such a secluded spot, their ever-expanding bond shone through above all else. They sat at the base of a tree on the rim of the clearing, Kikyo carefully waving a circlet of white, red, and purple flowers with her pale hands. Koga's crystal blue eyes wandered over to her and he smirked, lifting a flower from her lap to further examine it.

"What are you doing?" he asked her curiously.

She smiled, her eyes glancing up at him as her fingers continued to skillfully weave, "A gift." She stated.

"For who?" he blinked, intrigued.

"Your daughter."

"She lives in a forest. I don't think a couple of ordinary flowers are going to impress her." He sneered.

"I'm not trying to impress her; it's just a simple gift. Besides, every woman enjoys getting flowers, no matter what their age or where they hale from. She needs something more feminine than dirt and bugs to play with." She retaliated.

He narrowed his eyes at her and quickly snatched the circlet from her hands, holding it off to his side, away from her, "She's feminine enough and doesn't need stupid little flowers."

She glares and reached out to rip back the circlet from him, only to have him move it further from her. She pursued it quickly, leaning over him as he continued leaning away from her until they couldn't lean further. Her hand which she had been supporting herself with finally slipped upon the damp grass beneath it. She fell forward, pushing them both to the ground.

They froze. She was lying across his chest, her eyes locked intently upon his. Time seemed to freeze just as they did; everything else around them was motionless. She could feel her heart beating steadily within her chest. The feeling was mutual. The circlet slipped from his fingers and he slowly lifted his hand to her and caressed her cheek gently; his other arm sliding around her waist. He lifted his head off the ground slightly; black hair fanned out around them both, their lips only inches apart.

Her breath caught in her throat for a moment as he drew closer, before a single thought suddenly entered her mind, "Where is there mother?" she questioned, breaking the silence.

He stopped and gently removed her from him. He got to his feet and leaned his back against the tree with his arms crossed and his eyes set upon the night sky. His mind flooded over with memories, the memories of his past, just not so long ago.

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A woman sat smiling with one child at each side; her auburn hair flowing gently in the breeze. Her arms encircled the children and she held them close, icy hot tears slowly filling her emerald eyes, knowing these would be her final moments with her two pups.

Koga approached them silently from behind and allowed a soft smile to pass his lips as he watched his mate say her sad farewells to their children. When he had first known her, he couldn't have cared any less about her well-being, but everything since then had changed, all was different now. They were in love, they had a family, and they had each other. But that was all about to change. She was ill; she had been ill for a long while, just never told anyone so as not to make them worry. She was dying, and there was nothing anyone could do to save her.

Ginta soon followed behind Koga and took the children from their mother, escorting them back to the cave and leaving the two ookami to themselves. Koga walked to her side and carefully lifted her to her feet, allowing her to lean against him to support her frail body. He held her close to him and kissed her forehead gently.

"How are you feeling?" he asked her in a soft tone.

"I don't…want to lie to you, Koga," she began, "I…I'm weak…I will not be here much longer…"

Slowly, her eyes began to close. Her head came to a rest on his chest and her breaths became shallow soon after. He stared down at her, his eyes going wide. Speechless, he watched as her weakened soul began to slip away from his beloved, right in his arms.

Before her final departure, she spoke to him in a helpless voice, "I…I'll always love you…"

He stayed there in the clearing with her even after she was gone. It had been their favorite place to just sit with one another, and he wasn't quite ready to leave. Leaving with her cold body in his arms would only force him to accept that she was truly gone. He couldn't just accept her death so easily, he just couldn't.

He sat beside the spring, her lifeless body in his arms when he finally spoke, "And I will always love you, Ayame…my iris…"

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Kikyo got to her feet as best she could, her ankle still injured as it was, and used the tree for support; her dark eyes searching his face. But he remained silent still, his current thoughts obviously distant from there and then.

"Koga?" she spoke, a rare timidness in her voice, as she tried to get his attention.

His eyes lowered to her face and found her usual stern expression had been replaced with that of worry, concern for him. He liked it. He respected it.

"She passed away, Kikyo. She was sick…" he told her quietly, looking into her eyes.

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AN: Sorry it took so long for an update. I had it written...just never got around to typing it out until tonight. My bad. -sweat- XD Read and Review and I shall love you all forever. :3

Ookami – wolf