A/N: I acknowledge the prologue doesn't stand alone very well so here's the next chapter!
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Kagome yawned for the briefest of seconds, stretching her muscles without shifting the sleeping fox demon in her arms. Her eyelids wanted to shut more than ever and she tried futilely to shake the weariness off. Nightmares had been plaguing her the past week and she'd wake up out of a dead sleep with no memory of the events that horrified her so much. It didn't help where her hip ached and pulsed with aggravation from the last injury she'd gotten in a demon attack.
"Kagome, maybe you should let Shippou-chan walk." Kagome got snapped out of her gaze when the monk spoke up.
"Oh, no Miroku it's fine." She nodded her head politely, moving her fingers to brush through the tiny kits hair. "If I had nothing to do but walk, I'd fall asleep where I stand."
The monk didn't look convinced, but he reluctantly nodded and turned his attention ahead.
"Maybe we should stop for the night, Miroku," The demon slayer called attention to herself as she shifted her boomerang's weight to another side. "It doesn't seem like Inuyasha will be back tonight either."
Her eyes burned with dryness and she kept trying to blink to keep it away. They'd been walking for at least three days straight and Sango was beginning to doubt the worthiness of their mission. Kagome had brought enough food and water for a week's trip but the inability to stay one place was beginning to nag at everyone.
Miroku seemed to consider it, rubbing his chin as an absent gesture.
"Perhaps when we reach human territory. Without Inuyasha, it won't be safe for us to stay here long. Especially not with Kagome's sacred jewel shards."
Kagome stifled another yawn that came on and moved to stare at the dirt below her. Her good school shoes were scuffed up beyond repair.
Kagome wondered at that second what she wouldn't do for a car.
"How far do you think that'll be Miroku? We can't keep walking like this forever." Sango's eyes trailed over to Kagome. Her lips thinned and she came to a stop. Kagome kept walking without noticing.
Miroku noticed her stopping and paused next to her. He leaned forward when Sango beckoned him.
"She can't keep going like this. We're going to make Kagome sick."
Miroku traced his hands along the wood of his staff.
"Perhaps she's just upset that Inuyasha went to find Kikyou again." He cast a look to where Kagome trotted on slowly and he shook his head. "We'll be in danger if we stop here."
Kagome gasped and the two others snapped their head up.
"I feel jewel shards."
"What?" Miroku tightened his grasp on his staff and ran to her side.
Kagome's eyes widened and her heart clenched. She tried to place the location but it was moving too fast. Shippou awoke at her sudden movement and the tiny fox scrambled down her legs in a panic.
"What's going on?" Shippou squealed when he hit the ground.
Kagome turned her head in the direction of the shards. The tornado became visible and Kagome fell back a step.
Kouga's tornado slid in front of them before it dissipated and left the wolf demon standing alone.
"Kagome!" He couldn't help but grin when he saw her. Marching up, he went to grab her free hands. Kagome didn't fight him.
"How've you been?" He looked straight in her eyes and his smile weakened some.
Kagome's eyelids were half way shut and she didn't smile. Her face was almost completely inanimate.
"Hi Kouga." She spoke softly.
Kouga faltered hearing her voice. And then abruptly jerked his head around. "Where's the mutt?"
He ran his eyes over her companions but didn't find the dog demon among them. He shifted his fingers over Kagome's, his youkai senses running wild trying to put the scene together.
"He's not here now. He's planning to catch up with us later." Sango spoke up for Kagome, stepping forward to join them.
Kouga looked at her for a second, noticing the way her eyes didn't focus on him as she spoke. Sango's brown iris's stayed in Kagome's direction.
"Did that mutt hut you Kagome?" He couldn't stop the anger that rose up at the thought. Kouga tightened his hands over Kagome's again and looked back toward the girl.
Kagome didn't perk up any.
"No, Kouga." She still spoke really softly. "We're all just really tired and we still have a lot of walking to do. So if you don't mind, we probably should get back to it."
Kouga opened his mouth but couldn't answer for a second.
"Wait," Miroku stepped forward, making Shippou spring out of his way before the fox was stepped on.
"Perhaps Kouga, you wouldn't mind putting us up for the night if your den is near. We would all really appreciate it." He spoke for all of them but Kouga's gaze stayed squarely on Kagome.
Puffing up his chest, he let Kagome's hands go.
"I'd be honored to put up Kagome and Kagome's friends for the night." He forced his mind to stay on track instead of wondering off to the idea of having Kagome at his den for the night.
"How far is your den from here?" Sango asked.
"About two miles. You think you can make it?"
Sango looked down at Kirara who stood next to her. The tiny demon let out a purr and darted back a few steps. In seconds, it exploded into flames and into its larger form.
"We can, just lead the way."
Miroku and Sango moved to hop on Kirara, Shippou grabbing onto Miroku's staff to be dragged on himself.
Kouga looked back down at the girl in front of him, wanting to reach out and tuck her raven hair back beyond her ear. His hand burned with the desire but he kept it firmly at his side.
"Kagome?" He asked cautiously as the girl didn't move at first.
"Thank you Kouga. That'd be great. I'm so tired." She tried to give a weak smile but it faltered.
Kouga frowned and moved quickly. He grabbed her under the legs and back and pulled her to his chest. Kagome blinked, startled by the movement but she didn't fight.
Kouga didn't hesitate at her lack of resistance. Carefully constricting his grip, he nodded at the others and took off into a tornado of kicked up wind.
