After chatting for a while Haro decided to start the tribe celebration. He went up to the highest rock in the main den and spoke out in his deep voice.

"Now my brothers and sisters of the wolf demon tribe let us start the celebration of family and love. Eat and dance to your heart's desire."

The whole cave echoed with the howls of happy demons and wolves. Then the entire clan gathered around the huge bonfire in the middle of the cave. Karo and Kagome sat down but then there were no other female wolves in the cave. Haro clapped his hands 3 times and then the tribe's females came out carrying silver trays with meat on them. The rest of the females sat down with their mates and the other unmated females sat down on one side of the fire and the unmated males sat on the other side of the fire. Kagome and Karo got plates for them and their mates and grabbed enough meat for all 4 of them. The wolves ate and talked laughing at the jokes or subjects the others were talking about. Then when all of the meat was gone Haro clapped his hands again to quiet the room. When all was silent Haro spoke again.

"Come now the feast is done it's time to celebrate by dance. All the unmated females will dance alone. All unmated males will now take the time to ask the females to dance. But now is the only time, choose wisely. Now all mated wolves take your to the top of the mountain for your moonlight dance but first I have something else to say."

Kouga looked to his mother for answers to what his father was talking about but Karo was just sitting there quietly even she didn't know what her mate was talking about or planning to do. She had her suspicions though.

"Now my family I have lived a long and happy life of 399 years. But I am afraid that I only have one more year of life left. As does my mate and lifelong partner. I just would like to say how big of an honor it was to serve as this tribe's leader. But now I have a decision to make about who will take over the tribe. I have thought long and hard and I have come to a verdict. I have chosen my oldest son Kouga to follow in my footsteps as your new leader. I trust he will make me proud and lead you to success. Now Karo come to bless our new leader."

Karo walked over to her mate who was back on the high rock of the main den. They took each other's hands and waved them in a fashion that looked very ceremonial and ancient. They put out their hands and signaled for Kouga and Kagome to join them on the high rock. They took each other's hands and hopped from rock to rock until they reached their destination. When the two got to the top Haro and Karo took off two rings on their index fingers and Haro placed his on Kouga's index finger and Karo placed hers on Kagome's index finger. The rings were matching and had a golden wolf paw on them. And then Karo spoke to them.

"These rings have been worn by the past generations of wolf tribe leaders and will be worn by the next generations of leaders. But for now we leave them with you."

Kouga and Kagome bowed their heads in respect and turned to the tribe who was watching in awe and quietness. Haro spoke now for the last time.

"Now I give you the new wolf demon tribe leaders. Let us howl in respect."

Everyone except Kouga and Kagome raised their heads to the sky and began to howl all together. Kagome didn't think the howls would mean anything but they did. The howls said something. They said thank you and good luck. Kouga sat down and had Kagome sit beside them. Kouga clapped his hads just as Haro did before.

"Tribe it is time for the moonlight dance. Kagome and I will meet you at the top of the mountain. Now make your way."

Kouga took Kagome in his arms and ran outside but that only earned a low growl from Kagome. He came to a halt and let Kagome down. He questioned her with his eyes but then spoke.

"Kagome whats wrong did I do something to make you angry with me? I thought you were happy with what was happening."

Kagome saw he was worried and put a hand on his cheek and looked into his crystal blue eyes.

"Kouga I am fine. I am not angry with you. I just wanted to try out my own demon speed. Remember I didn't get to cuz we left in such a hurry? I just want to see how fast I can run now. I was pretty fast for a human before but now I should be faster."

Kouga smiled and sighed in relief to know that his mate was not mad at him. He nodded his head and let go of her arm. Kagome took her stance and then took off. It was amazing she was so fast. It even amazed Kouga. She formed her own tornado and just sped right up the side of the mountain. But when she made it to the top she found that Kouga had already beaten her there. It seems nobody is as fast as Kouga.

"Show Off!" Kagome said in a playful voice.

Kouga laughed and took her in his arms. But he sensed something change in her aura. He pulled back and looked at her again. But this time he discovered her whole body had changed. Her hair and tail had blond highlights in them. Her nails turned black and her eyes turned from purple to purple with black specks in them. He stepped backwards under some trees and Kagome followed worried about what her fiancée was doing. But when she left the light of the full moon she reverted back to her old look. But Kouga noticed this and walked forward. Kagome backed up back into the moonlight and the changes reoccurred.

"Kagome go look at yourself in the stream. I think you need to see this. It just happened outa nowhere."

Kagome gave Kouga a strange look and then slowly walked over to the stream Kouga pointed to. She leaned over the stream and looked through the rushing water. She gasped and looked quickly back over to Kouga who was watching with wondering eyes. He didn't know what was happening just as Kagome. They were dumbfounded. Then Kagome's stomach started to glow. She took of her armor as fast as she could and stared at what she saw. A tattoo of purple lilies a appeared on her stomach. It was glowing from the center where a pink jewel was placed right above her bellybutton. Kouga ran over to Kagome who was slowly going into shock. He looked over her shacking body and touched the jewel. But as soon as he did Kagome's eyes shock open and glowed just as the jewel was. She levitated from Kouga's arms and faced him from the air. She spoke out in a changed voice which sounded older and softer.

"I am the Shikon Jewel's Protector and keeper, Midoriko. Who has awoken me from my eternal slumber from the destruction of the world around us?"

Kouga stuttered stepped forward to approach the floating Kagome/Midoriko.

"I guess I am the one who awoke you. But you are in my mate's body. Why are you inside of her anyway?"

Midoriko/Kagome chuckled and put her hands around the glowing jewel and it appeared I her hands. She put it above her head and let it fall to around her neck.

"I was in Kagome's body for a simple reason. Kagome is my incarnation. I was one of her many past lives. And you see now that you have awoken me I can hand down the Shikon Jewel to her now. She will be its new protector. But Kouga you will have a job as well. You must vow to protect Kagome throughout her life. If you don't and the jewel falls into evil hands this world as you know it will end."

And with that Midoriko's soul left Kagome's body and she descended back to Earth into the arms of her mate. It took about 10 minutes but Kagome soon woke up to see Kouga watching over her. The rest of the tribe still did not make it all the way up the mountain when Kagome burst into tears.

"Oh Kouga I heard everything! I couldn't talk though. I was afraid that she was going to take over my body or something. I am just glad that I am back in your arms. We have been trusted with the Shikon Jewel and we have to protect it. Are you up for it?"

Kouga stood up bringing Kagome with him and put a hand in the air and pulled Kagome by the waist to his side.

"Kagome when I'm with you I can do anything. And now that we are mates I will protect you and the jewel from whatever comes up. I promise you and Midoriko."

Kagome smiled leaning in for a short kiss but again was interrupted by a wolf demon. But this time it wasn't Karo or Haro. It was a shrill, high pitched, annoying, familiar voice. It was no other than Ayame. Of course she would be the first on the top of the mountain. She was wearing the same thing as Kagome but hers was white and she had some type of fur cape lookin thingy.

"Sorry I am late Kouga dear but I had to finish a late night concert. So now I can take my rightful place by your side as alpha female of our tribe. Now back up Kagome baby I will show you how it's really done."

Just hearing Ayame's voice made Kagome's blood boil at a million degrees but hearing her trying to talk crap about Kagome and her leadership skills put Kagome over the edge. She started to walk over to Ayame when a voice coming from her neck stopped her in her tracks. It was the Shikon Jewel. And it was talking. But only Kagome could hear it.

"Kagome please do not fight. She isn't worth it. You should waste your energy on something so pathetic and weak. I mean you were stronger than her when you were human and no that power has been multiplied more than 10 times over. Plus you have priestess powers. You could easily defeat her but you have o learn when to fight and when to walk away. Just walk away now. The tribe will be here soon. Just go have your dance."

Kagome sighed and drooped her head turned around and walked away. But when she got back over to Kouga she faced Ayame. She pointed toward the Northern mountains and growled.

"Ayame if you know what's good for you you'll be gone before I count to three. 1…..2…..3"

Kagome opened her eyes and there was no Ayame just a trail of disturbed leaves where she once stood. Kouga sighed and turned Kagome towards him.

"What were you trying to pull? You are the alpha female now. You don't fight. Got that?"

Kagome looked at Kouga who was trying to tell her what she could and couldn't do with disgust. What had happened to him Kagome didn't know but she didn't care right now. She ran and ran leaving him engulfed with dirt she kicked up. She finally stopped when she ran into something hard and solid. She hit the ground and fell unconscious. She felt herself being carried when she awoke from passing out. What she found was disgusting and vile. She was being carried by a pig demon who smelled of rotten fruit and crap. She struggled and called out. But it was no use.

"Oh you stupid pig you're gonna get it when my mate finds you. KOUGAAAAA!! HEEELLLLPPPP! KOOUUUGGGAAAAAA!!!"

The pig demon covered his ears and dropped Kagome who landed with a "HMPH" and turned to face the pig demon.

"Ha you stupid pig not so strong now huh?"

The demon rose and ran toward Kagome but ended up being knocked over by a shadow that was amazingly fast. Kagome was relieved for Kouga's scent to reach her nose but there was something different about it.

"MINE!"

Kouga snarled and growled as he held the pig demon by his neck not allowing him to breathe.

Kagome could see what happened to Kouga as soon as she heard his voice. His inner demon had finally got the better of him. He had no control over his body. But Kagome could tell that he was trying to fight it. He was struggling a lot though. Kagome knew that he needed her help.

"KOUGA PLEASE STOP! YOU WON ITS ALL OVER. I AM YOURS. YOURS. YOURS."

Kouga took his eyes off of the no dead demon and looked over to Kagome and reaches out his hand very weak like. His normal voice came back as he spoke to the frightened Kagome.

"Kagome…I… need your…..help…..p-please you have….to stop me."

Kagome gasped and nodded her head as Kouga began to snarl more violently now. She ran over to the demon and shredded the carcass with her claws. Then she ran over to the snarling and growling Kouga and touched his cheek with a warm hand. She pulled down her leather tank top strap and showed him the mark he left on her. She looked at him with tears in her eyes.

"Please Kouga stop this I am begging you. I AM YOURS. ONLY YOURS. REALIZE THAT. KOUGA I LOVE YOU!!"

Kouga turned to her and grabbed her arm. He brought her into a hug and kissed her lips with veracity. He almost suffocated her because his grip was so tight. But then it loosened and Kouga looked down to her and in a weak voice he spoke out.

"I love you too Kagome. Thank you for stopping me."

But then Kouga fell to his knees and fell on Kagome's feet. Kagome's tears poured out of her eyes.

"KOUGA, KOUGA WAKE UP! PLEASE!"

Kagome crawled to Kouga's side and curled around him. They didn't stay like this for long because Kagome knew that the tribe would be worried f they weren't back before morning. So Kagome picked up Kouga put him on her back and started to walk towards the direction of the wolf den. After walking for about hours Kagome arrived at the main den and was greeted Kouga's two brothers. They went to go walk with Kagome into the den but couldn't continue when Kagome collapsed right under the waterfall.

Kagome awoke with a jump. She was sweating and panting and crying all at once. She looked both ways beside her but she couldn't find Kouga. Where was he? Kagome got up and ran down the hallway looking in every cavern on the way down but there was no Kouga anywhere. Kouga tried to find his scent but it was already everywhere she could tell which was fresher. Her head was just foggy with all the thoughts of never seeing Kouga again. She ran into the main den with tears in her eyes and her hand pulled to her chest. And there he was sitting down with his father chatting.

"KOUGA!!!"

Kagome ran into Kouga's arms and nuzzled his neck and licked his cheek.

"Kouga I'm so glad to see you're okay. I didn't think that you would make it. I just didn't what happened when I woke up and you were gone. I thought…. I thought…. You were gone for good."

Kouga hugged her back and caressed her neck with his strong gentle hands.

"Kagome will you come with me I need o talk to you?"

Kagome nodded and followed. Kouga lead her to field of flowers that over looked a beautiful valley and river. Kouga sat down with a hmp. He took Kagome's hands in his.

"Kagome I know you were scared. And I am sorry for making you be scared. I shouldn't have yelled at you. I was wrong. You were right to be angry with me. I guess I just wanted to empress my parents so much that I forgot how you might feel. And that was so wrong of me it makes me sick just to think about it. And I wanted to think you. I am pretty sure that if you weren't there I would have gone completely overboard. Your love saved me. And I just wanted you to know how much I appreciate you and hope that you will still marry me today. I love you Kagome and I always will."

Kagome took her hands away from his and pulled his fur shoulder pads towards her into a kiss. The broke apart and didn't say anything. But then Kouga knew something about this silence. It was a good silence not one of those awkward silences.

"Kouga I will still marry you. I can't believe you thought that I wouldn't marry you."

Kagome giggled "now how much time do we have until our wedding?"

Kouga looked up at the sun and then put his hand up. He seemed to be measuring the length of the sun to the horizon.

"Ummm it seems like about 5 hours. We have some work to do though so we should get started."

Kagome nodded her head and got up. And then the two tornadoed off to the den. Kouga was right they did have a lot of work to do. Kagome only hoped she wouldn't have to do something super hard on her wedding day. I mean she wouldn't want to be worn out before the wedding even started. How gay would that be?