Chapter Three: Avoiding Kouga

Kagome stayed seated with the women for the rest of the night, avoiding Kouga. He was like a spider watching Kagome, the fly, trying to wriggle free and get away from her captor. Shika, one of the wolf demon females, tapped Kagome's shoulder. "He's been eyeing you for some time now, you know."

Kagome just sat there nervously; sipping at her stew that one wolf demons had offered her. Kouga had been eyeing her. Shika wasn't the only one who knew that. No one else knew what it felt like to be eyed like a rabbit in the hunters trap. Soon, Kouga would take that rabbit and possibly eat it or keep as a pet. Kagome shook her head, trying to relieve herself of those thoughts.

"He's going to come and get you sooner or later," Shika said in a know-it-all tone. "I think he can't resist you."

Kagome took another sip from her stew and cautiously turned her gaze towards Kouga. Unfortunately for Kagome, she met his gaze. Blushing slightly, Kagome quickly turned away. 'He is watching me.'

Shika caught Kagome's attention and motioned her eyes towards where Kouga was sitting. Kagome turned around and saw that Kouga was walking towards her. Shika silently drank her stew, trying not to attract Kouga's attention towards her.

Kouga rested his hand on Kagome's shoulder. "Kagome, can I talk to you?"

"Uh, sure," Kagome replied uneasily. Getting up to her feet, she glanced one last look towards Shika, hoping for help.

Kouga led Kagome into a small cave and sat down. Kagome joined him, but not sitting too close to the wolf demon.

"Kagome, is there a reason to why you've been avoiding me?" Kouga starred at Kagome anxiously. His voice was serious, but Kagome noticed the slight pain in it.

Kagome looked down at her knees and began playing with her fingers. "Well," she started. Before she could continue, Kouga scooted closer to her, his eyes focused and his ears waiting. "Well, I…I'm worried that you might try something," Kagome finally blurted out. That's when she realized that she was in Kouga's room, the place she was trying to avoid. To make matters worse, she was sitting on his bed with him.

"Try what?" Kouga pushed on.

Kagome sighed. It was a slightly shaky sigh, but she answered his question, trying to keep bold. "Try to do something sexual…"

Kouga blinked. "Sexual? Why would I do that to you? I do love you, more than anything, but I wouldn't try anything that would make you unhappy, Kagome," he explained.

It was hard for Kagome not to be shocked by this surprise. She was sure that Kouga would try something. She decided to tell him the truth. "I never wanted to come here. I just got ahead of myself back there…with Inuyasha and all. I was just so mad. He's always going off to that…other woman without telling me."

"Other woman. Why that dirty two-timer," Kouga snarled. "How could he abandon a rose like you? That's…that's just sick!"

Kagome blushed again. 'Me…a rose?' Kagome looked at her hands with guilt. 'I'm no rose. I left Inuyasha and everyone behind so suddenly. I tried to avoid Kouga when he kindly took me in. I've been foolish.'

"Why that look Kagome? Are you alright?" Kouga touched Kagome's arm.

Kagome just smiled guiltily. "I'm sorry I acted so foolish. To everyone."

Now it was Kouga's turn to feel guilty. "Well, I was the one who tried to lure you into my…uh…bed when you didn't even seem to want to be with me." Kouga looked down at the fur pelts he and Kagome were seated on. "I guess I succeeded."

Kagome continued to blush. He did succeed. But now she wasn't as worried. Like he said, he wouldn't try anything that would hurt her. Inuyasha hurt her. A lot. He always went to Kikyo. Kagome sighed. 'That's right. Inuyasha still has feelings for Kikyo. Strong feelings.'

Kouga watched Kagome nervously. She seemed so sad. He hated it when she was sad. He decided not to say anything more about Inuyasha or that "other woman." Swallowing, he tried starting a different conversation. "Do you, uh, do you like adventure?" Stupid question. Kagome has to like adventure to be traveling all over the place looking for the shards of the Sacred Jewel. A pathetic question, it was.

"Yes. I do. I want to travel to America someday," Kagome replied.

"Amer…ica?"

"Yes. It's far away from here though." Kagome smiled at Kouga. He was trying so hard just to keep her happy. Not some other woman.

"Your eyes," Kouga started again, changing the subject. "Are so pretty."

Kagome noticed that Kouga was looking hard into her eyes. She could feel his gaze stroking her soul. When the weight of Kouga's gaze became to great, Kagome broke away with a gasp and a deep blush, her hand over her heart. 'My heart is pounding!'

"Don't be so shy. You don't have to be this way around me," Kouga said, trying to pick his words carefully. "Will you…" Kouga rested his hands on Kagome's shoulders and turned her to face him. "…Kiss me?"

"What?" Kagome blushed even deeper. What a blush-monkey.

"Your lips look so soft." Kouga began to get lost in the moment.

Kagome pulled away and stood quickly, almost falling back down. Then she did after tripping over her own two feet. "Wait. Wait!"

"Kagome. Are you alright?" Kouga asked urgently, moving over to Kagome.

"I-I'm fine. I, uh, n-need to this way go I. Something not isn't done," Kagome stammered, clearly speaking out of order because of her fright.

Kouga blinked as he watched Kagome exit the room, all wobbly. Lowering his head he stayed quiet with sadness and failure. He was denied again.

A/N -Sorry I haven't updated for a while. I won't be able to get much done with school and all. Before I leave you here and post the next chapter I want to say thanks to a few people.

Amber, Lou, and aGreatPenName, thank you all very much for your kind reviews! You guys are so nice! I love you all! -

See you all in the next chapter.