A/N: This is proof I'm not dead! I'm going to start updating more regularly in the coming week.

~*~

She wasn't sure how long she'd been in and out. But once in awhile, she'd find herself staring at the wooden ceiling and wracked with the pain that had become fairly familiar. Sango was next to her once, Shippou, and Kouga. She didn't get much of a chance to speak with them. Her world kept fading away before she really got to say much.

And all they ever tried to do was to force cold water down her throat. It took awhile in darkness before she ever woke up with a semi-clear head again.

She almost swore she felt his presence before she saw it.

"Kouga," Kagome breathed when she saw the shadow of the wolf through her eyelids.

She opened her eyes to watch him as he sat down by her side. His face wasn't happy though, shadows covering over it, and a distinct frown on his face.

"How are you feeling?" He twitched his knuckles as his heart kept up that obnoxious fluttering. He couldn't help but cringe internally at how pale her face was, how weak her voice came out.

"Better. Much better," Kagome tried but regretted how the sound of her voice contradicted her. She let out a deep breath as exhaustion threatened and her body refused to get warm. She drew the blankets closer to herself to no avail.

"You've been out for almost a week."

Kagome almost blanched. Guilt struck her almost immediately about how concerned she must have made everyone. And then her thoughts trailed. What was wrong with her?

"Sorry."

It only made Kouga frown. "Don't apologize Kagome. Just focus on getting well."

His gaze was intense enough that Kagome couldn't had to look away.

"Where are the others?" She suddenly asked, eager to change the subject.

"Sango left again trying to help find the stupid dog. Kaede hasn't returned from her mission yet either." He kept twitching his knuckles uncomfortably.

Kagome let out a sigh and shifted her position a bit.

"What is Inuyasha expecting to find?"

Kouga didn't answer at first. He had almost considered rushing after the mutt. But then, he knew well from earlier experience that Naraku would be long gone.

Kagome's expression looked like she followed his own thoughts. But she washed it off her face instantly and looked back toward him.

"Well I'm glad you're here Kouga." She did find herself eternally grateful for the company.

Kouga gave her a weak smile and reached a hand out to brush the stray hairs that had gotten onto her face. Kagome smiled in return when the warmth from his finger tips traveled through her blood. Summoning some strength, she moved her owns hands to clasp his and drew it down to encircle it on her chest.

"Wow," She held on tighter feeling the strike comparison, "I'm still really cold aren't I?"

Kouga let his frown return and reached out with his other hand to cheek. He took a breath and hesitated, his heart churning.

"Will you let me hold you Kagome?" He asked uncertainly. "I could warm you up."

Kagome let out a breath and would have gave a thankful laugh if she could. The idea seemed strange but her spinning head didn't let her grasp the thought too much. The warmth of his fingers alone reached all the way down to her core and she gave a small nod. "If you would." Kouga would make the coldness going away.

Carefully, Kouga pulled the blankets off and delicately placed his hands on her. Treating her as if she might break, he pulled gently and hefted her onto his lap. Her back to his chest, he tugged her closer and wrapped his arms around her. With a free hand, he recovered the blankets and brought it against him.

The girl's chilled body started to adjust to his own temperature and when Kagome's breathing grew more natural, Kouga let his muscles relax. Shifting her one last time, he rested his chin on the top of her head and breathed in her strawberry scent.

Kagome grinned as the heat enveloped her and let her body completely relax and mold against his.

She could feel the outline of his armor on her back, his abdominal muscles that showed from beneath it. They twitched under her touch and Kagome could feel it vividly through the thin fabric of her shirt.

She hid the embarrassed smile that snuck up on her and drew the blankets up under her chin. She rubbed her cheek over the velvety fabric and sighed.

His closeness alone seemed to give her more energy. Or maybe it was because he was the only one not afraid to touch her in fear she might die.

Her thoughts darkened when the holey memories of the past few days drifted back and she tried to change them.

"Have you told your tribe where you are?" She suddenly asked as the thought occurred to her. She hadn't been awake the entire time but she wasn't sure the wolf prince ever quite left. After all, he was supposed to be their leader right? He couldn't possibly be neglecting them to watch her sleep all the time.

Kouga hummed. "Ginta and Hakkaku found me already. I told them what happened. I'm not going to leave anytime soon."

"Are they upset that you've been gone so long?" Kagome looked at his hands and absently trailed her fingers over his. The wolf shifted in minor surprise and he let his arms tighten over hers. A flush ran across his face and he could smell nothing but his scent.

"They've gotten used to me chasing after Naraku. It is my duty to take that monsters head." He sneered at the thought. His thoughts darkened further when he felt the girl's heart rate pick up at the name. Not only did Naraku kill his comrades but now even his Kagome. A low growl in his throat rose and Kagome felt the vibration deep in his chest. She grabbed his hand and held it.

Kouga tried to push the rising anger away, and turned his cheek to rest it against her head. Kagome didn't seem to mind and he nuzzled further instead trying to focus on just how close his woman was.

Kouga's heart stirred at the thought and he suddenly wished he could kiss her. His cheeks warmed more, and he let his eyes shut. The old woman wouldn't be back for awhile and he doubted Inuyasha would even return for a few days.

The idea kept his heart beating a little faster and he tried to refocus in the moment. Kagome didn't fight his affection at all. The tiny actions would have brought a blush to her face in any normal circumstance but she didn't think she could muster it if she tried. But it wasn't just that though. She did feel better than usual and not just because Kouga held her. It felt almost like her aura was coming back, her strength returning slightly. Kagome fingered the thought in her mind but couldn't give it too much examination. Instead, she reasoned simply to enjoy the sense of renewed strength. Or at least the ability to stay awake without struggling, the breaths that seemed to reach deeper in her lungs, and her heart beat that kept rhythmically going without much protest.

Suddenly, Kagome pressed her palms to the ground and squirmed in Kouga's arm until he released her. Twisting around, she faced him without leaving his lap.

Kouga pulled back, surprised, when she blinked her oversized brown eyes and grinned at him.

"Uh, Kagome?"

"You should kiss me." She felt blood rush to her face when she whispered the words but steeled her nerves refusing to back down. Kouga's mouth fell open and he didn't react at first.

Kagome's nerves screamed at her but she forced a short laugh. Reaching forward, she cupped his cheek. Kouga was always looking out for her. And though she didn't want to over think it, it really made her want to kiss him.

The wolf demon shut his mouth with a pop and grabbed her shoulders.

"Kagome, you should be resting," He tried and stopped when she shook her head.

"Don't treat me like I'm going to break." Kagome leaned forward and the second she felt Kouga's grip ease, she closed in on his lips. They touched for a second and he finally responded.

A bolt of electricity shot up her spine when he pressed forward. Kouga relented, his heart flipping when she kissed him. Slipping his hands around her back, he drew her forward so she could rest her weight on him.

Freeing a hand, he pressed it into her hair—the movement encouraging Kagome to lean farther into him. The heat between them exploded and burned all the way to Kagome's core.

Kouga tightened his grip, thought vaguely acknowledging Kagome would have pushed him over had she enough strength, and he kissed her for a second more. Tugging her hair back, he forced her to pull away.

Kagome squeaked with annoyance but obeyed him and pulled away a bit. She let out a heavy breath, her heart beat still racing, and smiled.

Kouga looked away for a second, trying to regain his own composure and fight the blood that pooled in his cheeks.

"Kagome." He ran his hands down her hair and over her shoulder.

He tried to put his thoughts together but they kept scattering on him. The back of his mind screamed about why exactly he'd stopped her, but the rational part of his mind protested. She'd nearly been killed and she shouldn't be crawling all over him. His heart twanged and he shook his head. He would never complain that his Kagome wanted him so badly—the mere idea boosted his ego more than he could imagine—but her safety did come first.

"What—" The breath he took in brought a scent to his nose and Kouga shot his hands off of her instantly. He twisted to the door when the Kaede came through the entrance way.

Kagome's heart twisted and she froze in her spot.

Kaede's eyes roamed over them for half a second, before the old woman jerked into motion, dropping her bow and arrows against the wall. She shook her head when Kagome and Kouga roughly untangled themselves and plopped down on the floor awkwardly.

Turning back around, the old woman looked straight at Kagome and spoke.

"I think I have found the pieces we were missing."