-1Kagome awoke the next morning. She was still lying on her stomach and was quite sore and stiff. She wished she had at least some strength so she could sit up for a bit. She looked around the room and saw the hanyou, that had confessed his love to her, asleep in the corner lightly snoring. She smiled and started to laugh to herself at the sight. Here was The Son of The Great Dog Demon of the West, asleep in the corner of the a hut of a village miko watching over his human love. Even though he could be so reckless and yet brave in battle, who knew he could be so peaceful looking. She was about to call his name to wake him up, when she heard voices outside the hut.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN KAGOME'S BEEN HURT, WHERE'S INU-YAHSA!!"

Kagome took this immediately to be Shippou, who has since become more like a son to her than a companion.

"SHIPPOU!! WAIT" shouted the others

"KAGOME, KAGOME" the kitsune shouted as he ran into the hut to find her. But before he could reach her a strong clawed hand reached down and plucked him up.

"Quit makin' all the noise would ya, Kagome needs her rest and so do I!" Inu-Yasha bellowed.

"Inu-Yasha its alright bring him here" Kagome was shocked at how weak her voice sounded.

"Are you sure Kagome you should really be resting to regain some strength"

"Yea, I'm fine Inu-Yasha"

"Feh, have it your way, make it quick ok."

He released the kitsune and went back to sit in the corner he was previously occupying. Although pretending to be asleep he was listening to everything that was going on in and outside the hut. He would be damned to watch another woman die because of him.

"Kagome are you going to…to…to…die?" Shippou tried his best not to cry. He was trying to tough like Inu-Yasha, but he just could do it. He burst into tears and ran to Kagome.

"Oh Shippou, Of course I'm not going to die. Inu-Yasha got me to Keade in time. Don't you worry you know that Inu-Yasha would never let anything bad happen to me or anyone else."

"Yea but where was Inu-Yasha when you got hurt?"

"Shippou I don't want you to worry about that okay, when you're a little bit older I'll explain everything. Now you go out and play and tell Miroku and Sango that I'm fine"

Sniff Sniff "Okay Kagome" he slowly left the hut, not wanting to leave just incase something did happen. He turned around to look at Kagome and almost stayed but he saw Inu-Yasha in the corner and decided that it was best to leave. He didn't look like he was in the best mood to be tested. Kagome inhaled deeply and sighed.

"You know the kid has a good point" Inu-Yasha said from his corner. "I should never had let this happen"

"Inu-Yasha how could you have known this was going to happen let alone preventing it?" she asked weakly, but with some sternness. "Hopefully that means some of my strength is returning" she thought to herself.

"I should have done away with Kikyo long ago and we all know it, by her being brought to life it was an advantage for Naraku. He used it to its full, by nearly killing you."

"Naraku wasn't controlling Kikyo, you know that . What she did, she did on her own. Don't you see Inu-Yasha she was only thinking of herself just like she always has been. And…If your thinking of sending me home again, like last time, for my own safety you better thing again, my dear Inu-Yasha."

"Gee your not feeling any better are tell you nearly fatally wounded if you tried" He actually breathed a sigh of relief to himself. If she was already arguing with him he knew if wouldn't take quite as long as he thought for her to recover. She was strong and he knew that but she just proved how strong she really was.

"Hahah..oh….Inu-Yasha don't make me laugh it hurts", but she couldn't help giggling to herself.

"Alright, alright enough goofin' off and talkin' time for you to get some rest. I'll go fill in Miroku and Sango on what's happened. I'll be right outside ok"

She nodded her head and yawned. She hadn't realized that she was still pretty tired, even though she was so stiff and uncomfortable. It wasn't long before she fell into a peaceful sleep.

It had been a few weeks now, since the incident with Kikyo and Inu-Yasha had finally let Kagome venture outside the hut and out into the village. She was still a bit weak but at least she could move around now. What she really ached for was a nice soak in the hot springs. Washing from a pitcher and bowl got tiring after a while. As much as she was not in the mood for an argument it was coming. Especially if she wanted to go somewhere outside the village and without Inu-Yasha.

Just as she had stepped out of the hut into the sunlight, she felt it. She sensed jewel shards coming there way at an alarming rate. At once she knew it was Koga. In that same instant Inu-Yasha was at her side. She looked up and saw the strain in his face.

"I just picked up his sent" were the only words that escaped past his clenched jaws.

"Great" she thought to herself, "Here we go, I was expecting a fight today, but not this one."

Koga was still under the impression that Kagome was "his woman", as flattering as it was. Inu-Yasha found nothing sweet about it. Especially not now when he finally confessed to Kagome how he felt. Now it was time to break the news to Koga. Kagome wanted to do it gently and let him down easily. But if she knew Inu-Yasha, and she did, he would let Koga know exactly where he stood without holding anything back.

She took in a big breath of fresh air, and let it slowly. She took Inu-Yasha's hand in her own and looked up at him.

"Inu-Yasha, let me handle this okay?"

"But Kagome you still healing and….."
"I know but this is something I have to do okay" He could deny her, and besides she would probably handle it a lot better.

"Fine, but don't come cryin to me if you wear yourself out woman" She giggled to herself and stood on tiptoe to kiss him gently on the cheek. "Thank you Inu-Yasha"

Just then Kouga made his way to Kagome. He took her hands into his and looked into her eyes, just as he always had since declaring her his woman.

"Kagome are you ok, I came as soon as I heard"

"Kouga I'm fine, thank you for asking and coming to see me…." She was cut off by Kouga who decided to start in on Inu-Yahsa.

"How dare you, let this happened to my Kagome, I was foolish enough to entrust her safety with you a filthy half breed. I should have taken her away from you a long time ago. If she was with me this never would have happened…" He was full and ready to continue on with he verbal abuse when it was Kagome this time who cut it.

"Kouga, that's enough" He spun around in amazement. "I know you mean well Kouga but this wasn't Inu-Yasha's fault, it was mine"

"Kagome that's still no excuse you should never be in harms way, you're my woman its time you came with me, where nothing would happen to you and you'd be safe"

"That's sweet Kouga, but I can't do that. I never agreed to be your woman, you never asked me. Its very flattering and all but Kouga I just don't have feelings for you that way. You're a very dear friend to me but my feelings don't extend beyond that, I'm sorry."

Kouga stared at her in bewilderment. It was true that he never asked Kagome to be his woman, but he just assumed that she detested being around that Mutt Faced Dog, sorry excuse for a demon and she was just hiding her feelings for him.

" But Kagome I just don't understand, I mean what am I supposed to do?"

At that point Inu-Yasha walked up behind Kagome took her hand.

"Kouga as I recall there was a certain she-wolf demon you promised to marry and long time ago. She still has feelings for you, why not take a chance on her.?"

He had a point as much as he hated to admit it. But Ayame did still love him and wanted to be with him even though he was cruel to her by confessing his love for Kagome right in front of her.

With a heavy sigh he knew they were right and had to admit defeat. Looking at Kagome he asked her.. "So there is no changing your mind huh?"

"No sorry Kouga my place and my heart is here with Inu-Yasha, but go find Ayame, make her your mate and have lots and lots of pups" Kouga blushed and let a small smirk show. He bent and gave Kagome a small peck on the cheek. "Your right Kagome, thanks. And Inu-Yasha take care of her."

And with that he took off is his whirlwind of speed.