I do not own Inuyasha, enjoy the story!
Kagome awoke the next morning to the sound of the birds chirping, the village children playing and……"WHATTT!!?" Shippou yelling at Inuyasha. She sighed, somewhat thankful that she was back and able to see her young fox friend, but still aggravated by Inuyasha's constant pestering. Couldn't he just leave the kid alone?
She stood and stretched, then felt a rub at her leg. She discovered her kitten to be the source, so she picked her up and placed her on her shoulder.
Kagome then walked outside the hut, shielding her eyes from the bright morning sunlight.
"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME KAGOME WAS BACK, INUYASHA?!! I MISSED HER!"
The silver haired half-demon scoffed and folded his hands into his kimono sleeve, turning away from the furious child.
"It aint my job to tell you when she comes back. Besides, it aint that big of a deal, we cant hunt that many more shards cuz Naraku's got most of them. The only ones left are Kohaku's, Kouga's, and then the ones that Kagome has saved back in her time."
Shippou had heard enough. He jumped into the air and pulled out one of his fox magic toys.
"Spinning Top! Take this, baka!"
Inuyasha was crushed under the giant toy with a loud scream.
When the top stopped its raging rampage, a smoking Inuyasha was left on the ground, with swirling eyes.
Kagome watched from the sidelines, wanting to laugh at Inuyasha flattened body.
Then the red head caught sight of the girl standing by the hut, and his face lit up with surprise.
"Kagome!"
He ran towards her and snuggled into stomach as she held him in her arms.
"Shippou. I'm so glad to see you!"
He looked up to her, beaming, "I know, Kagome, me too!! It was so boring without you, and Inuyasha was being stupid. Oh," he looked at her shoulder.
The kitten was staring back at him with wide eyes.
"You got a kitten like Sango. What's her name?"
Kagome looked from the child to the kitten, and then back.
"I didn't give her a name yet, I didn't really think about it….you know what? How bout you name her?"
"Really?" he gasped.
"Sure, she needs a good name. and I think you're the one to give it to her."
Shippou's smile widened. He set a hand on his chin, as if he were putting in a lot of thought to the name.
After a couple of seconds he snapped his fingers.
"Tama!"
"Tama, huh? That means jewel."
The fox demon nodded and jumped out of her arms, "Yeah, I know. I think it's a nice name."
Kagome took the kitten of her shoulder and set her on the ground.
"I agree, Shippou, I like the name, too. Thank you."
He nodded with a satisfied look on his face, and then turned to the newly named kitten, "Wanna play?"
She stared at him as if she was going to answer with a voiced comment, but then decided just to jump on his head and then run off, making him chase her.
"Ahahaha, get back here you sneak!"
Kagome watched them for a little while longer, and then returned to the hut where Inuyasha was brooding.
She sat down beside him and smiled.
"So how were things while I was gone?"
"Feh," he looked away, "it wasn't no different than when you were here. The same thing happened like it did every day."
She rolled her eyes and then sighed, "I need to go back home for a couple of hours."
He jumped up, "WHAT! YOU JUST GOT BACK LAST NIGHT! WHAT COULD YOU POSSIBLY NEED THAT YOU DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE?!"
She pulled him the pant leg to sit back down.
"Well since Sango gave me Tama, I need to get a couple of things for her."
"Like what!?"
"Cat food, a collar, a blanket for her to sleep on, flea shampoo, a brush, maybe some toys, and then possibly treats for when I train her." she counted off her fingers.
Inuyasha fell over, "That's more stuff than I own! Why does a cat need all that!?"
Kagome stood up, "Because she's not just a cat! She's my cat, and I can do whatever I want with her! And you cant stop me!"
She stormed out the door and then stopped by where Sango and Miroku had been talking by the fence, they had helped an elderly man with his roof that day, and were resting in the shade of and old tree.
"Hey guys, will you watch Tama and Shippou for me? I have to go back to my time to get a couple things I forgot."
"Tama?" questioned the monk after casually sipping on a bottle of water, previously provided by Kagome.
"Yes, that's what Shippou named my kitten that Sango gave me."
He nodded and then looked at his partner. She shrugged, "I don't mind as long as you'll bring me back some of those wonderful hair-bows you brought me, preferably black. They help me much more than a ribbon."
"Oh, yes, Lady Kagome, bring me another package of those chocolate covered cherries, if it isn't to much trouble. I find them extremely delicious."
Kagome smiled, "Deal. I wont be more than two or three hours and the most. Make sure Shippou knows that I'm coming back soon if he asks, he was pretty upset last time. And then if Inuyasha asks, I went back and he isn't allowed to follow me."
"Alright, Lady Kagome, thank you."
Kagome waved bye and then ran off down the small road that led to Inuyasha's Forest, not even bothering to bring her bag. She wouldn't need it.
***On the Other Side of the Well***
Kagome walked into the house and found that her family was still gone to the meeting, o she decided to just dip into the emergency money her mother left her for when she needed extra supplies.
***Store***
The teenager walked through the automatic doors and looked around.
Reading her list she decided to get the pet supplies first.
"Aisle 7.
She grabbed a cart and headed towards the back of the store.
"Okay, cat food."
She decided on a dry food. It was lighter to carry and easier to serve.
Flea shampoo. Scentless would be best, so not to offend the demons of the group.
Brush, small and light weight, easy to clean and black, so that Tama's fur would stand out when cleaning.
Toys. Small and brightly colored so easily found in the forest if lost.
Treats. 'Fish flavored chewy bites your cat is sure to love, with vitamins and minerals to insure your cat grows strong and healthy!'
Or at least that's what the box said.
Blanket, pastel pink with black paw prints.
She couldn't help it, she wanted Tama to be a princess.
And lastly, a collar.
There wasn't much to choose from. A lot of them were just plain and something every cat would have. Black with mice on them. Blue and reds, and then the occasional green.
Even the metal ones looked like something a pit-bull would have. If she tried to put one on poor Tama's neck, it would snap her in two, or at least cause her to drag her neck.
She sighed, nothing was right.
But just when she went to walk away, something shined in her eye, like a reflection off a mirror.
She covered her eye, following the ray of light all the way down to the bottom of the last shelf, to way in the back, shoved behind a back of kitty litter.
She felt leather, and pulled.
When her hand came back to her, it revealed a pastel pink, leather collar, with tiny stitching and a silver heart charm, for the name.
She smiled and did nodded, "Perfect."
Next was to get Sango's hair bows, black, and then Miroku's chocolate covered cherries.
She headed to the checkout line afterwards, passing the children's aisle on the way there.
Kagome thought of Shippou then, and about how bad she felt for leaving him there and making him worry.
So she bought him new colored pencils that came with a free sharpener. Although he loved his crayons with all his heart, they were always getting dull and breaking. Pencils had sharper color, and would be easier to keep track of and care for, something that was hard to do with Shippou.
Placing her things on the conveyor belt to the cashier she smiled at the women.
"Did you get a new pet?" she asked gingerly.
"Hai, her name is Tama, she's just a kitten."
The Lady smiled and then pushed a button making the drawer on cash register pop open.
"$42.87 is your total today."
Kagome placed the money in her hands and picked up her bags.
The woman handed her the change and waved her off, "You have a nice day, ma'am, and good luck with your cat."
Kagome thanked her and then made her way back home.
***Back at the Village***
Kagome skipped into the village humming to an unknown song she was making up pas she went. The day was coming to and end, and the sky was a beautiful shade of orange and it rested on the horizon over the hills.
She almost wanted to stop and look at it, but then made herself look away, afraid that it might bring back memories of her few days at the wolf den, because she knew Kouga would be watching it now, thinking about what had happened not even twenty-four hours ago.
And right she was, because back at the den, Kouga sat at the edge of the cliff, his spot so to speak. His blue eyes shined brighter in the evening sun as he stared out over what little land his tribe owned.
One leg dangled over the edge, while he leaned back on his hands.
He almost wanted to go back into his room so he could take a long rest. But he couldn't, her cent would still be on the bedding, and the floor, and even the wall where he had kissed her.
And the scent would make him think, and thinking was something that didn't strike him as appealing right now.
Though every now and then, a breeze would rustle the trees down below him, or bring the smell of water from the river. And for some reason, everything reminded him of Kagome.
The birds chirping was her laugh. The sun was her smile. A breeze was her talking in her soft voice, the calm water was her when she was sleeping. The wolfs bark and snarl was her when she got mad. And the petals of a flower were her oh so rosy cheeks.
He couldn't run from those thoughts, even though they were faint and went away moments later. Something always weaseled its way in to plague his mind with images of her.
And even though he hated it, the pictures made him realize that everything they had shared in the short time she was there, was real. Something he never imagined would happen.
The had laughed and ate together. Taken a walk and played, and even argued a little.
But the best part was, the kiss they shared, and the way her lips didn't pull away, or the way she didn't slap him like he figured she would.
Something had changed in her. She went from avoiding him when he was around, to missing him when he wasn't.
He gave it a lot of thought, with the ghost of images running through his mind and swaying his decision.
Abruptly he stood and clenched his fist.
"Ginta! Hakakku!"
The two came running out and stood in front of him with confused looks on their faces.
Their leader had gone from totally melancholy to outrageously confident.
"We're going to see my woman! Tell the boys to keep watch, and that we will be back…when we get her back! I wont be returning unless its with her by my side!"
Ginta scratched his head.
"But, Kouga, I thought Kagome left you."
"Yeah," continued Hakakku, "sister said she couldn't stay. Remember?"
Kouga's eyebrow twitched.
*BONK*
*THUMP*
"OF COURSE I KNOW THAT YOU IDIOTS! BUT I'M GOING TO CHANGE HER MIND! SO HURRY UP!"
His two men held their heads as they wobbled back into the den to deliver the news. It looked like they would be sporting goose-eggs for quite a while.
***Village***
Kagome sat in the hut, handing out the things she brought back from her time.
"Sango, here's your hair bows, and these toys I got, two of them are for Kirara so you go ahead and pick."
"Thank you."
"Miroku, your sweets."
He grabbed the box rather quickly and then composed himself.
"Thank you, my friend."
She giggled and then handed Shippou the packet of coloring utensils.
"What are these? They look like wooden crayons."
She opened the packet and sharpened one of the pencils for him, the blue to be exact.
"That's exactly what they are Shippou. The only difference is, is when the get dull, you can make them sharp again by twisting it into this thing, called a sharpener."
"Oh! Thanks Kagome, you're the best."
He laughed then went off to experiment with his new obsessions.
She shook her head and then looked back to the ground, startled to see Tama sitting there. She look so cute with her tail twitching in the air and her head cocked to the side slightly.
"Hello there, little one! You must be wondering where your gift is." she placed the kitten in her lap and then pulled the blanket out of her bag, folding it neatly into a square shape.
"Here ya go," she set her on the cushion of fleece.
Then she took out the pink stretch of leather and looped it around her neck.
"Look, this says Ta-ma. Tama. That's your name now. You're my Tama."
The kitten meowed and then curled up into a ball, quickly falling asleep before Kagome could even brush her fur.
But she couldn't be mad, the kitten was a child after all, and children needed lots of rest.
"I'll just lay you over here," she whispered while picking her up, blanket and all, and laying her next to her bag.
***Outside the Hut***
Sango, Miroku, Inuyasha and Kagome sat outside on the bench, nibbling on some chips.
"So what's the plan Inuyasha?"
His leg was bouncing uncontrollably, meaning he was obviously unhappy.
"I dunno. All the shards gotta be gone since we aint havin no luck finding any, so that means Naraku's got an almost complete jewel. Are allies are Kouga, and possibly, though I don't like it, Sesshomaru. But that's only if he happens to be in the area that Naraku is."
"So where does that leave us?"
He glanced at Kagome sitting next to him.
"Well, considering the fact that we have four shards back in Kagome's time, away from him, that makes up for a little bit of the advantage he has. But we still are at a high disadvantage. If we send wolf boy in, he's only gonna get his shards stolen and p*ss Naraku off. Sesshomaru may be able to use the new Tenseiga, but I don't know how affective it'll be against him. By that time we're fighting, Kouga and Sesshomaru could be dead. So as of now, we might be screwed."
"Don't say that," piped in Kagome.
Everyone looked at her.
"Don't say Kouga…or Sesshomaru are going to die. You don't know that. Naraku is still weak from our last battle. If we strike back now, we might beat him. Besides, Kikyo might still come to help us."
She finished softly, lowering her head a little bit as she did.
"Kagome…" Sango gently rubbed her back.
"Kikyo doesn't need to be fighting. She needs to save her energy and she is still weak from Mt. Hakurai. The wound on her chest is starting to reopen and-"
"How would you know of such a wound?" prodded Miroku. He looked at the half-demons reaction from over the rim of his cup.
"Umm-uh….Kikyo…stopped by here a couple of weeks ago…cuz she thought that there might have been some more soil for Kagome to do a healing like she did at the waterfall, but there wasn't."
He stuttered and fumbled with his words, easily giving him away to the monk.
"And why wouldn't Lady Kaede share this information with us?"
Miroku asked the question with perfect timing, for the woman walked by just as he asked.
"What information?"
He set his cup down and pointed to Inuyasha, "Why, the information about Lady Kikyo's wound on her CHEST reopening. And her coming here for the soil to fix it. We were just wondering why you wouldn't have told us."
She wrinkled her already heavily wrinkled brow and looked Inuyasha.
"I have no clue of what ye are talking about, boy, but ye better not be telling lies about me. I shall have you tied to horses and let them run away with ye if I hear of it!"
Inuyasha shrunk back, "I aint telling lies!"
"Oh, then Lady Kaede's just getting old and her memory is going?" interrogated Sango while watching Kagome walk inside.
"No, I aint never said that. All I'm sayin is that I know Kikyo was here looking for the soil and that the wound is the reason! Stop getting in my business!"
Miroku stood and then hit Inuyasha over the head with his staff.
"Do not think that this is a game, Inuyasha!? Kagome now unhappy because of you! And chance is, she will be leaving because of it. You always say that you hate it when she leaves, but I think you make her angry just so she can leave so you can sneak off in the middle of the night. Then you go meet Kikyo and do dirty things with her! Admit it!"
Inuyasha stood up and pushed his nose to Miroku's.
"LISTEN HERE, YA DAM* MONK, ME AND KIKYO AINT NEVER DONE NOTHIN LIKE THAT! I MET HER AT THE SACRED TREE ONE TIME, AND SHE WAS REALLY WEAK! SHE FELL AND I CAUGHT HER, BUT WHEN I DID, HER TOP SLIPPED OFF HER SHOULDER AND I SAW THE THING COMING BACK! THEN SHE PULLED IT BACK UP! I DIDN'T EVEN SEE NOTHING! SO WHAT IF I SNEAK OFF! BIG DEAL! IT AINT NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS TO BE STICKIN YOUR NOSE INTO MY LIFE! SO GET OF MY BACK!"
Miroku glared at him and then folded his arms.
"Maybe the next time you decide to 'sneak off' I suggest you think about your consequences. Lose the one person who never left you, no matter what, or someone who has to survive off of the dead souls of women and will wither away in time, because clay doesn't hold forever."
Then Miroku sat down in his same spot and closed his eyes while he sipped his tea.
Inuyasha growled and then jumped into the trees, disappearing into the forest, headed in the direction of the Sacred Tree.
Sango sat on the bench with Hirikotsu on her lap. She hadn't moved the whole time, but if the time called for it, and a fight broke out, she was ready to whoop some half-demon butt.
Kirara stared precariously at the two males in front of her. She stayed by her masters side with her kitten, the boy one, seated behind her in case a rumble were to happen.
Tama had stayed to watch the end of the argument, but went inside shortly after her new master.
The young fire-cat found her seated atop the purple sleeping back she carried around, chin in her hand, elbow rested on her knee.
It almost looked as though she was used to it, the whole Inuyasha accusing and then arguing thing.
Kagome spotted the tiny cat come through the entrance and sighed.
"Here, kitty, kitty."
She quickly came and rubbed against the girls hand, purring. It was almost like she was saying that everything was going to be alright.
"Oh Tama, sometimes I think that it should've someone else I met first, not Inuyasha. He's so rude and harsh. The others don't get it. I left when they were fighting because it's stupid. Miroku and Sango are just trying to protect me, but still…"
She picked the kitten up and stroked her back while she spoke in soft words so she couldn't be heard.
"I'm not mad, just disappointed. My feelings for Inuyasha, though I'm not sure why, have gone. I wish he would just come out and say that he goes to meet Kikyo. I thought he had changed at Mt. Hakurai, but I guess not. He told me he wouldn't hurt me anymore, and I don't even care about that promise. I just wish he would realize that."
The fire crackled as another piece of wood was added by Kagome.
"Sometimes, he says things he doesn't mean. But that doesn't make it right. Like with him, he could say I'm stupid or useless, or even weak, but the next day he would be defending me with his life from Kouga."
'Oh man, I said his name…'
Tama curled into her lap and meowed, as if to continue.
"….But that doesn't change how I feel about him. I love Inuyasha, but not like I used to. More like a…love hate relationship. Yeah, I guess it is like a love hate relationship, that's what its called.."
A giggled escaped her lips.
"Its weird I haven't felt this free talking to anyone since…since…I was with Kouga a couple of days ago."
The two standing outside the hut silently gasped as to not blow their cover.
Yes, Sango and Miroku had been eavesdropping. Something you would expect from the perverted monk, but not the demon slayer, too.
She had been worried about her friend, and of course, Miroku couldn't pass up a good snooping. So there they were, taking turns peeping through a hole in the wall of the hut.
It seemed as though Kagome had discovered the capability of the cats to be great listening partners when you needed them.
Many nights, Sango stayed up late just talking to Kirara like she were an old friend. It was good to get things off your chest. And even better because they couldn't go telling your secrets.
"Lady Kagome was with Kouga? I cant believe this!"
Sango felt a pang of guilt invade her mind.
"We must tell Inuyasha, I accused him falsely! He's not the only one sneaking away to see someone. Come Sango!" Miroku cheered in a hoarse whisper.
He grabbed her wrist and went to drag her off to find said half-demon, but she pulled back.
He whirled around and ushered her forward.
"Sango! Come! We have to find Inuyasha and apologize or else the gods will strike us with bad karma! Buddha does not take kindly to those who falsely blame people!"
She sighed and towed him behind one of the nearby huts, looking around to make sure no one could hear what she was about to say.
"We cant tell Inuyasha."
The monk couldn't believe she was doing this. She was practically spitting in the faces of the gods. They were sure to throw anything bad in the world their way now because the woman wouldn't follow him!
Miroku threw his staff down and stomped his foot.
"WHY IN THE HELL NOT!"
She shrunk back and looked at the ground like a scolded child.
"Because it kinda wasn't her fault…"
He crossed his arms and tapped his other foot.
"Then whose was it?"
"Maybe it was…mine?"
"Maybe, or was?"
She fiddled with her hands and then shrugged finally looking up at him.
"Gahh! Okay it was me!"
Miroku threw his hands in the air, "What in the heavens are you talking about!?! How could you make her go?"
"You know how I told you guys I had to go back to my village?"
He nodded.
"Well I lied, well not exactly, but about what I and to get. Instead of being on the lookout I went and got something to make Kagome fall in love with someone other than Inuyasha."
Miroku sighed and then pinched the bridge between his eyes.
"Please don't go on!"
Sango took in a deep breath anyway.
"I was just so sick of her always being put down by Inuyasha and getting hurt so I made a love powder slash potion that would make her fall in love with the guy I chose. And I chose Kouga so instead of going home like she said, she must've got side tracked and went to his den. The potion is super strong and works on demons and humans, getting into their blood steam over time. The effects cannot be reversed or changed. We used it back in the village to make demons we were going to slay fall in love so they would be easier to hunt down. And now that the potion slash powder is activated, soon Kagome and Kouga wont be able to stand being away from each other. Ultimately making them become mates."
Sango rushed through it almost to quickly for Miroku to follow.
"So you're saying that Kagome and Kouga will eventually be…together?"
"Yes," she breathed still panting from her long talk, "actually, very soon. At the rate Kagome's going it looks like she cant get him out of her head, and what she feels, Kouga feels some of it. So that means he is probably thinking somewhat of the same thing."
Miroku sighed. There was nothing he could do. The woman he loved just tampered with the fate of 3 people; Inuyasha, Kagome and Kouga, and there was absolutely nothing he could do.
And he knew about it, too! The gods would show no mercy for his actions.
Why did he have to be such a nosy person?!
If he hadn't of stopped to look at Sango's butt, and then peeping in the hole, he wouldn't have gotten this death wish, or the knot on his head from groping the doomed demon slayer.
"So what are we suppose to do?"
He looked up at her and then started to walk back towards the hut.
"There's nothing we can do from what you said, so we must let this thing between Lady Kagome and Kouga run its course."
Sango caught up with him just before he entered the hut, pushing him back slightly.
"You act as though her being in love is a bad thing."
He gave her a small smile.
"It isn't. But her being in love, and being influenced by magic powder are two different things."
She got what he was saying.
She shouldn't have messed with Kagome's love life.
"I get it, I was wrong…but you cant tell Kagome about this. If she knows, she might do something to make it worse."
Now they were speaking in whispers once again.
Miroku stared at her for another moment and then nodded.
It wasn't that he was mad at her. He was far from that. The monk just couldn't see why she would risk possibly hurting Kagome, changing the history of time, and potentially cause the gods' themselves to come down on them.
It was a predicament alright.
The two partners in crime walked into the room that held Kagome and Tama with anticipation of what was to come.
Had Kagome heard them?
Or was she still talking to her cat?
She watched them walk in, as if it was practiced, and then sit down, stiffly. The two people exchanged glances and then stared at their friend.
"What's up with you two?"
Sango and Miroku looked at each other and then laughed.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Kagome," giggled Sango as best as she could.
"Whatever it is you've imagined its not true, because, nothing is going on. I mean not anything at all. No listening to peoples conversations, or hidden secrets that might change ti-"
Sango elbowed him in the stomach leaving the rest of his little lie-fest to hang in the air.
Kagome gave them a 'WTF' look and then turned to Shippou, who had fell asleep some time ago.
"You know what? I think I'm just gonna go to bed now."
Miroku waved his hand at her from his bent over position while he tried to regain some air.
"Okay, Kagome, good night."
She gave a fake smile and then rolled over in her sleeping bag. Laying Tama on her folded blanket/cushion beside her.
"G'night, Tama."
"Reow."
***Kouga Running***
Kouga had been running all night to get to village where he knew his woman was.
Normally, he would have been there in a matter of hours. But do to the bumps he and Kagome hit along the road, he wasn't sure how she was going to react to seeing him.
Going slower meant more time to think.
And more time to think meant more strategizing.
Strategizing meant that he could formulate every reaction she could ever make. And in time he could come up with a counter.
Like if she were to say 'Why are you here?'
He would grab her hand and look into her eyes, talking in a slow voice, 'Because I couldn't stand not to see you. And I didn't like the way your face crumpled in sadness before you left. I had to make it better.'
Or if she tried to get the mutt on him, 'Kagome? Do you want him to protect you only because he thinks of the other woman when he does? I can protect you with no thoughts pulling at the back of my mind.'
There were a hundred different things she could do, and more, but he hadn't thought of them yet, so he ran a leisurely pace, plotting his next move as if he were a mad man on the run.
Ginta and Hakakku were actually able to keep up with him…well at least they could see Kouga from the half a mile back they were at.
And it made it easier for him to have some of their company, just to make sure that he was going to right way when caught up in his thoughts.
When had he become so obsessed with Kagome?
He had feelings for her before, yes.
It was like a crush, though. Like a really deep crush. It could become nothing more because he didn't know her well enough for it to grow, she wouldn't allow it.
But all of the sudden over two days time, he was going to see her, in a foreign village, where his rival stayed, and where he knew there was bound to be trouble waiting for him.
And he didn't even care.
All he cared about was seeing her again, and making sure that she came back to the den with him.
He needed her.
She was good with him, he was good for her.
And now, just after that one kiss, he was addicted.
Addicted like Rin to flowers, or Sesshomaru to finding power.
She was in his system now.
And hopefully, if she gave in to what passion and attraction he knew was under her skin somewhere, she would come to her senses and return with him.
That wouldn't even be the hard part though.
He would still have to deal with the mutt, which from experience, was gonna be a hassle.
***Inuyasha***
The brooding man sat in the Sacred Tree, arms crossed and ears twitching.
He couldn't stand it!
Miroku knew just how to get under his skin and tick him off. He didn't know why, but every time the guy opened his mouth it was either some bull about girls, stupid wise-as* s*it, or trying to make a person tell "The Truth".
"What does that even mean?!" he asked no one unparticular.
Inuyasha plucked a leaf from the nearest branch and twirled it in his clawed fingers.
"They aint the boss of me! So what if I sneak out!? The only reason I gotta is because Kagome would throw a fit if she knew!"
Then Miroku's voice rung in his head.
'Do not think that this is a game, Inuyasha!? Kagome unhappy now because of you!'
Then his ears flattened to his head.
"It aint my fault that she cares so much. Its not like I mean to hurt her. But Miroku and Sango make me so mad…maybe I should just go back and say I'm sorry and stuff. Then, Kagome wouldn't leave, and she would be happier."
A light breeze blew in from the north making Inuyasha's nose twitch. He turned his head and took in another deep breath.
"Kouga." he hissed.
"What's he doing here?"
He looked in his hand and found the leaf torn and folded over.
"Oh no, Kagome! He's gonna try and get her!"
Inuyasha jumped from his tree and ran as fast as he could back to the village.
Kouga stood in front of the hut, while his men stood behind him doubled over and breathing for air.
"What're you doing here, Fleabag?!"
Kouga snorted and then turned his head.
"None of your business, Dog-S*it!"
His blood boiled then.
"Like hell it aint!! I'm giving you ten seconds to get your scrawny butt outa my sight, before I tear you to shreds with Tetsusaiga!"
Kouga walked towards him and got in his face.
"I'm not leavin without my woman!"
"Yes you are!"
"No I'm not!"
Inuyasha lifted his sword off the ground and raised it over his head.
"Wind Sc-"
He felt a gentle hand touch his shoulder.
He turned around and let his sword drop to the ground, almost cutting off Kouga's toes in the process.
"Hey, watch where you swing that thing!"
But Inuyasha didn't look back at him, he stared at the teary eyed girl in front of him.
"Stop! Just stop all the fighting!!" she sobbed.
Kouga then, too, turned and stared at her.
He sighed as the tears gushed over the rim of her eyelids, falling down her cheeks and onto the cold ground beneath her.
"I cant believe you two are acting like this again! You're being idiots!"
Inuyasha's ears flattened at her words, and Kouga backed away slightly.
"Every single time you guys get within sniffing distant a fight breaks out!"
"He shouldn't have come here!" put in Inuyasha, pointing his index finger at Kouga.
"No!" shouted Kagome.
"Kouga has as much right to be here as you, if not more! He doesn't lie to me, or call me names, or put me down! While you on the other hand sneak off, lie about it, and then get mad when we call you out. Plus you're to dumb to realize that I don't care!!"
Inuyasha was struck dumbfounded.
"You don't care? Whats that suppose to mean!?"
She stomped her foot.
"It means just that. I don't care! You can go with Kikyo. You can go sneak out every night! You can lie to me all you want! I really don't care anymore!!"
"Kagome I thought-"
"Forget what you thought! My feelings for you are long gone! That's why I went into the hut when you and Miroku were fighting! Because its stupid and a waste of oxygen!"
Kouga almost wanted to cross his arms and stick his tongue out at the half-breed. That is, until she turned to him.
"And you! Why are you here?! You come up in here like you own the place and then start a fight with Inuyasha! You know how he is! You know that if you would've just ignored him he wouldn't have said a single thing other than, 'What are you doing here?'"
Her imitation was off, but Kouga got the point.
"Listen, Kagome. I didn't come here to start a fight that was Dog-Breath's idea. I couldn't get you out of my mind. I came here to see if you were okay, and to take you back to the den."
Kagome eyed him carefully and then peered around him to see Ginta and Hakakku.
"Boy's is that true?"
They straightened up and then bobbed their heads quickly.
"Yeah Sis, he left earlier today and ran all the way here."
"And he was sad the whole time you were gone."
Kouga looked at her with a smug look.
"Don't even look at me like that. I'm still mad at you for causing a fuss. Now I'm gonna have to go tell all the villagers that everything is okay and that you're not bad demons."
She gave an exhausted sigh and then began to walk off, leaving Kouga to follow after, and Inuyasha to sit and think about what she said.
***Ayame***
The red headed wolf girl made her way through the thickest of forests, and through the nastiest of swamps.
She was on her way to find assistance in getting Kouga back. Her grandfather was not happy that they needed help. But it was for the tribe, and if they got Kouga, then the population of their kind would sky rocket, making them more powerful.
"This is DISGUSTING!"
She kicked off mud that stuck to her foot and then tripped over a fallen tree.
"This was the worst idea ever!!"
But then, the image of Kouga crossed her mind, making her eyes fill with hearts.
She clasped her hands together and then twirled around, "But it'll all be worth it when I have Kouga in my arms, and away from that evil, shard stealing, witch!"
After walking….well more like stumbling, for a couple more hours she came to a cave on the bottom side of a mountain, with moss hanging over the entrance.
She took a deep breath and gulped before walking inside the cave.
"H-Hello?"
Water dripped from the stalactite that hung from the ceiling. The air was thick and moist making it hard to breathe.
Ayame jumped when a rat crawled across her foot.
"Ewwwww!"
She shuffled further into the cave, "Hellooo?"
She stopped when the sound of breathing came from behind her.
Ayame spun around and then fell back on her butt.
"Well, well. What have we here? A lost wolf cub perhaps?"
She stuttered and then shook her head.
"I am no cub, but the princess of my tribe. Come here to ask your assistance."
The being walked past her and then sat on a large rock in the back of the cave.
"And what, is it that you need my assistance with?"
One of his tentacles tickled her chin making her shiver slightly.
"Retrieving my love from the hands of a witch that has put him under a spell. And returning him to my home."
"Would this love of your's happen to be Kouga, of the Eastern Wolf Tribe?"
She nodded slowly.
"Alright, my dear, I shall help you, but on one condition."
"Anything!"
An evil smirk crossed his features.
"I get to keep his jewel shards."
She thought about it for a moment and then agreed.
"Deal. But first, may I know your name? I only knew you were here from rumors. And my grandfather will be cross with me if I don't find out."
The figure stood, and then lit a torch.
"My name, is Naraku."
Her eyes widened, though she tried to hide it.
'This must be the Naraku Kouga spoke about. He said he was evil beyond imagination. But I don't care, as long as I get him in my arms.'
She bit her finger and shook his hand, making a blood bond. One that couldn't be broken until the deal was done…or until one of them died.
Okay very tired at this point. Review please. 5 more to continue!"