Hopefully my recently developing crooked neck goes appreciated. I have terrible posture, so typing becomes quite painful after awhile. On the plus side, it does amazing things for your fingernails! I read that in a book recently forgive me.

Anyways. I hope you all are ready to enjoy a new chapter. A little shorter then my previous updates, but the next one should be on the lengthy side. So this might hold you over till then.

Thanks so much for the continuous support, remember reviews are my fuel. So you feel the need to read more, pump me up lol! I'm greedy forgive me.

So onward to the drama!

Note For Review's :

Guest - Oh yes things are most definitely in motion!

AndreaRei - Thanks so much! Enjoy!

Akatsuki's Kyuubi - Yep. We all love some supportive Kouga!

High Priestess Anavi - Done! Enjoy

Kouga's Older woman - When hasn't he lol? Thanks so much for the review!

Fallingyuki - Thank you so much! I really did hope you guys enjoyed my little play on modern times and the "demon government" in place lol. Happy to know it was appreciated! Looking forward to more reviews!

Lady Pain - Of course! Thanks for the reivew!

Carpathian rose - Now you know I love me some Kou/Kag and belive me some heated issues are most deff in the works. Only time will tell though! Looking forward to your next review! Thanks so much!

KristyKakes - Reviews like yours are what motivated me to write! It really does mean a lot that my little story is so appreciated by fans like you! Really hope this chapter meets your approval! Thanks so much!

Animepnk88 - Thanks so much! Enjoy the update1

SimplySinful21 - Hopefully you enjoy the update!

Naruto4Sakura - I automatically think lawyer when I read about Sesshomaru, but I was like eh. To predictable. He's so much more a business tycoon lol.

Chapter Eight

Reveal


The weather was surprisingly cool. It might have been the sunless sky shielded behind thick puffy rows of gray clouds or just the smell of approaching rain. But either way. On going physical exertion had a way of keep the blood warm.

Kagome practically collapsed against the slightly damp wooden park bench her breath in hard pants and her rosy cheeks beaming.

"You realize you could've taken a break right?" The now grinning kitsune said with a fangy smirk at the visibly exhausted priestess slumped at his side.

Kagome eyed Shippo's amused face with a grimace.

"You obviously don't know your children very well." She laughed tiredly.

Honestly, she couldn't remember the last time she was this tired. Then again what did she expect? She had spent the last few hours being put through the ringer time and time again with a basic tribe of adolescence demons.

Shippo's children to be exact.

For whatever reason, most likely the realm of continuous chaos her life had become Kagome had woken this morning with the urge to spend some much need time with her once infantile companion.

Luckily, she and the now adult fox at her side had agreed the park seemed like the best fit for her to finally get aquatinted with his family.

What she thought might have been an awkward situation at first couldn't have been more off the mark. Apparently Shippo had told his three young sons and adorable auburn haired daughter all about her.

Being as impressionable as children often are they had absorbed their fathers words whole heartedly and apparently had already loved Kagome before she had even met them.

Only after an hour of rigors and rambunctious playing across the vast and surprisingly empty park. The feeling had become entirely mutual.

In that brief moment Kagome knew she had missed the first few years of their lives. But, she was so looking forward to playing a part in their future from here on out.

Not to mention. A little practicing with actual children who shared a kinship with her own unborn child. Didn't hurt.

But hopefully her and Inuyasha's baby wouldn't be near as energetic.

"Here. A little sugar goes a long way." Shippo admitted while handing Kagome a heated cup of sweeten tea he had the liberty of running to buy while Kagome played a very talented babysitter.

Kagome took it gratefully. Sipping the warm liquid down in small doses.

"Well I better remember that." Kagome smiled patting her concealed navel through her thigh length coat.

"Any word on the sex yet?" Shippo asked curiously outstretching his long arm across the back of the park bench.

Kagome shook her head nervously.

"I actually have an appointment coming up. But, Dr. Shizuna doesn't know if we'll be able to tell so soon." Kagome replied with a small smile. Just the idea of finally knowing if she was carrying Inuyasha's daughter or son was kind of overwhelming, in a good way.

"I see." Shippo stated lowly. Surrendering his relaxed posture to lean forward stiffly, his sharpen inhuman eyes fixed ahead to his still tumbling children.

The atmosphere seeming to change from joyous to tense in almost an instant.

"So, I'm assuming Kouga will be there?" He asked tensely. Causing Kagome to pause mid sip on her sweeten drink.

Shippo didn't necessarily discourage the absent wolf demons choice in Kagome's physician. Every demon on every boarder knew the crimson lipped doctor was beyond skilled in the art of medicine.

But something about the vixen never set well with Shippo. Which is why he and his mate had stopped seeing her after his first son was born.

It didn't surprise him though that the azure eyed wolf had kept her in the loop though. She seemed just his type.

Kagome sighed tiredly. Here it was again. That passive aggressiveness that drove her crazy. We're demons just incapable of being straight forward when it came to each other?

They didn't seem to have a problem bluntly confronting humans with their feelings.

"Shippo." Kagome began calmly, but still a hint of irritation laced through her voice.

"What is it exactly you have against Kouga?" Kagome asked directly. Sure, Kouga was rough around the edges. A bit more so if you didn't actually know the type of person he was deep down.

But the azure eyed wolf had been nothing but wonderful to her. Past fights aside, he had been her number one supporter emotionally and physically.

He was her shoulder to cry on, and the person she turned to most whenever she was in trouble. The memories of the past few days cementing that fact in her mind.

Shippo fought the urge to retort something harsh. He wasn't angry at Kagome, and he wasn't about to take it out on her. But, he had nothing but suspicion and distraught for that wolf demon.

"Take your pick? The territories are buzzing about what he's gotten you into with Sesshomaru!" The turquoise eyed fox stated bluntly.

Kagome swallowed her discomfort down at the mention of the silver haired dog demon.

"I guess I'm not surprised you heard about that…" Kagome trailed off with slight embarrassment.

"Everyone heard about that." Shippo said angrily.

"I swear, that wolf cant take a step without destruction following after'em." He mumbled under his breath, but that statement didn't go unnoticed by the slightly annoyed priestess.

"Shippo." Kagome replied disapprovingly. Her tone a bit more motherly than she intended but it was a habit she was going to have to try and overcome with the kitsune beside her.

"Sorry," Shippo apologized instinctively. Finding it a little difficult to withhold his open disliking of Kouga, even though he knew it would have been for the better.

"Lets just drop the subject." He suggested.

Kagome leaned forward agitatedly. Her overwhelming exhaustion temporarily forgotten by her vastly growing frustration.

"No. You know what? Everyone around me keeps secrets. And, I am getting beyond tired of it!" Kagome openly admittedly all the while trying to reign in her already misdirected anger.

"If something is bothering you about me being around Kouga? Then just say it." She added directly at the on looking kitsune.

Watching as his smooth face tensed and his sculpted jaw flexed with strain. Like whatever secret he was holding back was about to come spewing out, intentional or not.

His resistance only drove the agitated priestess on further.

"What could he possibly have done that was so bad?" She asked pressingly.

That did it.

Losing the battle against his better judgment Shippo turned sharply to face the unprepared raven haired girl at his side. His inhumanly bright eyes sharper and more anger filled than she could ever remember seeing them before.

"You mean besides massacring thousands of innocent people?!" He growled hatefully.

Kagome felt the wave of shock roll over her face so intensely it mirrored in Shippo's glass like eyes.

Her own hazel orbs widening in disbelief at what she had just heard. All the while thinking/hoping she had misheard the kitsune at her side.

But the look in his eyes instantly told her she hadn't.

Angrily Shippo shook the words away from his mind. This wasn't the place, or time to bring this type of subject up between them.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have-" He began apologetically hoping to avoid dragging this unwanted conversation out further.

It wouldn't do either of them any good now.

"What did you mean?" Kagome interrupted her growing unease aside, disbelief rampaged through her like hot surges of electrical pulses.

What Shippo had just said…It wasn't real. It couldn't be.

Shippo inhaled deeply. Gods he had hoped to reveal this to her in a more intimate situation. Not when his very own children were within shouting distance.

But unfortunately. He knew he had dug himself into this pit far to deeply to just abandon it now. Especially with the current look of distrust Kagome was aiming at him.

"Kagome," He began with a heavy sigh.

"I didn't want to be the one to tell you this. Especially here. And, honestly if I thought Kouga was capable of changing I would've kept my mouth shut. But, he's not. You cant trust him. Not after everything he's done." Shippo whispered lowly, but with a hard seriousness Kagome didn't think him capable of.

"What did you mean 'thousands of people'?" Kagome repeated a bit harsher than she originally intended.

But her tone was enough to let the kitsune know. There was no turning back from this point. She wanted answers, and she wanted them now.

"It happened centuries ago." Shippo began reluctantly. His turquoise eyes fixing up to the heavily clouded sky, allowing his memories to transport him back to those long lost days of his infantile youth.

"A little while after you disappeared." He recalled thinking back to the years that followed after Kagome had been ripped from his world.

"I was still young, still training in the mountains. Moving from village to village, flying across new territories almost every day. But, no matter how far I traveled. I kept hearing rumors. Whispers of a viscous demon on the rise, and an even more merciless army at his back." Shippo said emotionlessly. Thinking back to the look of horror on the common peoples faces as they spoke about this nameless foe.

"I didn't believe it a first." He admitted. Remembering how humans and demons had a tendency to over dramatize things. Even back in those times.

"But then I witnessed the carnage first hand." Shippo whispered triggering a cold chill to creep up Kagome's spine that had nothing to do with the chill in the mid-day air.

"I was near one of the northern boarders. What I saw-" He hesitated to continue. Unwanted images he had tried time and time again to forget coming back in hard flashes across his vision.

"Bodies. Thousands of them. Men, woman, children, demons. It didn't matter. Mountains of corpses…landscape black with ash, and drenched with blood." He remembered bitterly.

The haunting images just as fresh and heinous as they had been since the first time he laid unsuspecting eyes on such atrocity.

"The smell of wolves was everywhere." He whispered.

Kagome felt the color drain from her face, her pulse increase and her mouth become impossibly dry. None of this seemed real. Nothing this horrible could be real…right?

Why would Kouga? No. He wouldn't.

Sensing her reluctance to accept the truth. Shippo forced himself back into the present. Leaning forward until his elbows rested on the knobs of his knees so he could focus ahead to the obvious faces of his playing children.

"I didn't know it was Kouga." He admitted solemnly.

"Not at first. I didn't think he was cable of something so-" He hesitated to continue. What else words could describe what he had already revealed?

"It was years later before the truth came out. When he finally reasserted control over the east again. It's what elevated him to his rank now. The surrounding lands were to afraid of what might happen in they refused." Shippo said remembering all to clearly the day that unwanted news reached his division in the northern district.

Personally the kitsune never cared for politics or vast expansion of power. He was content with his little side branch of a more powerful territory. It was less complicated to rule and far more peaceful.

To be honest he wished all of Japan was divided the way the mutual territories were. Not having two massive chunks cut out of the country ruled by two possibly tyrannical leaders would make the world a better place in his eyes.

But, he wasn't the person to try and correct such injustice. No sane person would dare rally against Kouga and Sesshomaru's rule.

The demon realm might not be exactly happy, but it was stable. For, now that was good enough.

"Shippo," Kagome breathed. Finally finding her voice, but not necessarily the will to use it.

"Kagome. I told you before. Kouga has done things in his past. Unforgivable things." He added bluntly. As far as he was concerned the truth had been hidden from Kagome long enough.

"But I know better than anyone not to tell you how to live or who to let in your life. You can take care of yourself. But, I am begging you," He asked seriously but also with a lingering trace of worry.

"Be careful?" He asked pleadingly.

"He's not the man you remember." Shippo added coldly.

Kagome opened her mouth to speak. Unsure of exactly what was about to spew out. Unlikely as it might seem, she felt the need to defend the absent wolf demon.

Kouga wasn't the monster Shippo thought him to be! He couldn't be? No. The wolf she had known in the past…he was still here today. She had seen it!

But before she could manage a single syllable a sweet and naive voice cut though their conversation all to quickly.

"Daddy!" Shippo's daughter called catching her fathers full attention.

"Coming!" He shouted in response climbing to his feet to see what his daughter needed.

But not before turning towards the still deathly silent priestess. Sympathetically he leaned forward pressing a soft kiss on the crown of her raven hair.

No matter what she decided from this point on or just how seriously she had taken his words. Nothing changed his devotion towards her.

She was still his mother, his sister, his most beloved friend.

Kagome accepted his tender gesture with a heavy sigh. The deeper parts of this conversation would have to wait for another time. And for now, she could wait for such a time.

After all she had received far more information than she ever thought she could about the absent wolf demon.

But though it all only one thought was more constant and unwavering than all the rest combined.

Could any of what Shippo just said…Could any of it be true?


The overhanging buzz of the parking garage florescent lighting was becoming difficult to ignore. Not only was it the only constant sound echoing through the third story concrete box but its purpose seemed rather pointless.

Half of the agitating nosy lights didn't even work, the others seemed to flicker menacingly. No wonder humans always seemed to get skittish in situations like this.

Luckily Kouga could've cared less. In fact he seemed right at home in such eerie surroundings, the only thing that was missing as he leaned elbow first on an strange overly prized car was a much desired cigarette.

The meager thought forgotten instantly at the distant ding of the parking garage elevator arriving at a stop.

Instantly Kouga's slightly glowing inhuman eyes fixed on the curvaceous white coat dressed figure emerging from the already sealed box.

Dr. Shizina stepping forward on ridiculously high onyx black pumps the keys to her awaiting car already tucked between her polished fingertips.

The other carrying a leather briefcase no doubt containing the documentation she had gone through for the day. Not surprising really. Say what you would about the woman. She was obviously dedicated to her field of expertise.

Kouga waited patiently for the oblivious physician to stroll by the darken wedge between cars he currently leaned before he silently stepped out behind her.

"Evening doc." He whispered darkly.

Instantly the now alarmed doctor spun to face the smirking wolf demon with a sudden look of disbelief.

"Kouga. This is surprise? You startled me." She laughed obviously relieved it was the azure eyed demon who had decided to pay her a visit and not some unknown assailant.

"Sorry. Not my intention." Kouga smirked charmingly exposing the tip of his pearl fang.

"Accepted." The fiery haired physician smiled sensually.

"I didn't expect to see you here. Alone-" She added peering around the wolf demons broad form to insure that actually was the case.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Kouga asked curiously.

"No particular reason. You've just been quite distracted with 'mutual' company lately." Shizuna insisted thinking back to a certain raven haired girl that always seemed to arrive glued to the wolf demons side.

"I thought you'd forgotten about me?" She smirked teasingly but with a hint of dark sensuality.

Kouga's exuberant eyes narrowed with seriousness at his reply.

"Never." He vowed.

While tucking a stray lock of hair behind her pierced ear the curvaceous doctor sighed disappointedly.

"Unfortunately as tempting as your company sound right now. You've caught me at a bad time." Shizuna admitted vaguely.

"Is that right? Important lives to save?" Kouga asked with well disguised fake intrigue .

"All in a days work." Shizuna smiled and bowed respectfully turning towards her car which was now just at her side. The door handle just within arms reach.

Usually Kouga would have taken that as his hint to call it a night. But he had a whole new agenda on his mind that he hadn't even begun to cover. And he was leaving till he had.

"Speaking of work. That's actually the reason I'm here." He admitted shadowing the unsuspecting doctors every step.

"Oh? And here I thought it was all about me?" She asked with unsincere disappointment.

Kouga watched as her slender fingers gripped the handle of her car door seconds away from securing herself away inside the plush ride.

"Oh it is." Kouga promised.

Before the unsuspecting doctor had even a second to react Kouga sprang behind her! His impossibly harsh palm gripping the back of her neck slamming her head forward until she bent at a perfect ninety degree angle over the hood of her car!

Positioning himself behind her while his other hand gripped her forearm inescapably tight bending the limb behind her back contorting and painfully tight.

"K-Koug- Wh-What are you doi-" Shizuna hissed but the sudden tightening/twisting on her arm blurred her words into a gasp of pain.

Kouga's only response was the smirk maliciously down at her.

"Tell me something doc? Just how stupid do you think I am? Did you honestly think I wouldn't find out?" He growled furiously.

"W-What are you talking about?!" Shizuna shouted trying to cope with the pain radiating from her face being so mercilessly pressed to the cold steel of her car and the crushing weight of Kouga's hold against her.

"Drop the act princess." Kouga commanded. Tightening his grip on the base of her neck just a bit more making her wince from the pressure.

"I know." He admitted darkly before continuing.

"I know it was you who sold Kagome's information to Sesshomaru."

Instantly the look of dread and horror spread over the doctors makeup stained face.

"To scared to deny it? Trust me. It wont do you any more harm at this point." He promised.

"Kouga listen-" Shizuna whispered pleadingly

But Kouga wrenching her arm tighter silenced any hope she had of speaking past a whimpering cry.

"You listen. I don't know what arrangement you made with that dog. But, believe me when I say you bet on the wrong horse sweetheart!" Kouga snapped through barred fangs.

"I-I didn't have a choice. You- you don't know what he's like?" Shizuna defended herself as best she could. Whatever the absent silver haired dog demon couldn't buy, he could threaten until he got what he wanted.

Though it had never come to that. A single check with the doctors name written on it had been incentive enough to hand over whatever information on the girl he had interest in.

"No. I think you forgot what I'm like? You think because I've been between these thighs of yours I would cut you some slack? Overlook this little slip of judgment?" Kouga asked bluntly wedging his knee further between the doctors parted legs to separate them further for emphasis.

Shizuna cringed at the deeming gesture.

"Guess again. See? You forgot what the main difference between demons like me and Sesshomaru is." Kouga whispered harshly.

"He wouldn't do things like this." Kouga began clenching down on physicians forearm crushingly tight.

"He would just send some lackey to take you out nice and quiet while you slept. Avoid the scandal, the mess…" Kouga trailed off thinking just how gruesome he could make this garage look with a single slice of his claws if he actually wanted to.

"But me? This is where I like to be. Right here. Up close and personal. So I cant watch first hand when the life drains out of you." He rasped heatedly squeezing the doctors fragile neck tighter. Making her entire body quake and her eyes flash with absolute terror before sealing tight from strain.

"P-ple-ase." She whimpered with depleting air.

Kouga watched as her tighten face began to darken into a deep shade of crimson then a darker shade of purple. It would have been so easy, to finish it here and now.

But he had other plans.

Instantly his grip fell away altogether the shocked doctor gasping for much needed air as Kouga released her completely from his hold.

Immediately her legs gave way as she sank down to the filthy concrete floor turning slowly until her back braced against her sealed car door afraid if she turned away Kouga's next attack would take her competently by surprise again.

Her shaken hand gripping her throat instinctively checking for the crushed windpipe she thought she might have suffered.

She didn't have time to examine her injures thoroughly before Kouga was kneeling before her. His azure eyes fixed so intensely on her he actually reflected the basic animal he was.

He looked more like a rabid wolf now than she had ever seen him.

And it frightened her.

Leaning confidentially forward bracing a hand on the left side of the doctors head as he inched his face so close to her own their noses almost touched.

"I want you to remember this moment. And just how badly it could have gone. Or how it could still go-" Kouga whispered darkly. Reaching up to tuck a stray lock of hair behind the doctors ear, watching as she flinched from the gentle touch.

"I assume," Shizuna breathed ruggedly.

"I'm no longer the girls doctor?" She asked emotionlessly.

Kouga couldn't help but smirk in amusement.

"Oh no. You are." He assured confidentially.

"You see? Kagome for whatever reason actually seems to like you. And you are going to like her. You're going to answer her calls, take her appointments and treat her like your own life revolves around hers. Because believe me, it does." Kouga vowed maliciously.

"She's not going to know anything about this little, incident." Kouga commanded forcefully.

"As far as I'm concerned it never happened. That is, if you keep in mind just who's team you're playing for?" Kouga hinted with a question, one look in the doctors eyes told him he had the answer he was looking for.

"I believe in second chances doc, but not third." He added cold and calculating.

"If I hear, and trust me I will. That so much as a shred of Kagome's progress makes it to the west again-" He hesitated making sure every syllable he whispered sank in with deathly seriousness.

"Let's just say? You wont have to worry about Sesshomaru. Because he'll never be able to find what's left of you after I get through." He vowed with all the haunting sincerity in the world.

It was a threat the shaken doctor would never forget.

"Understood." She whispered.

Kouga smirked contently.

"Good. Have a good night doctor. Be hearing from you soon." He added confidentially while climbing to his feet.

Not bother to give the still frozen physician and second glance. He had a feeling she would be sitting there awhile.

After all. Overwhelming terror took a moment or so to leave the system.

Or so he heard.


Kagome stared ahead to her stainless steel reflection quietly. On the outside she looked composed enough, no one would ever guess just how hectic her internal struggle was becoming.

Peering down to her worn in brown her slip on shoes and pink full length skirt as they pressed to the cold marble of the elevator floor.

Maybe she had dressed a little to casually. Then again she always thought that when she found herself around Kouga.

Especially since she was currently riding up to his pent house where she had nothing but mirrors on all sides to point out every flaw.

Her messily braided hair that hung over her shoulder. Her tight fitting white top and mid waist hugging denim jacket. Her over slung shoulder bag that contained only her cell phone and house keys.

It was her own fault. She had thought a hot bath a fresh change of cloths would be just the thing to wash away the troubles of the day. But it hadn't worked.

This wasn't something as petty as a bad hair day or a down in the dumps mood. As far as she was concerned her entire life was coming unraveled.

Shippo's words from yesterday had done absolutely nothing but haunt Kagome. No matter how badly she had tried to shove them aside or ignore them.

It was just impossible to forget.

So many questions, so many wanted answers that she was just to afraid to know.

She had promised Kouga that his past would remain just that. In the past. But how could she ignore something like this?

Who was Kouga? Really? All their past arguments just kept replaying in her head and bringing with them unwanted evidence that Shippo's words had been right each time she replayed them.

"The past. Isn't something I want think about. Ever."

"I'm not the person you remember."

None of this made sense. Kouga wasn't a murderer. Of course he had killed. They both had. But it hadn't been mindless slaughter. He had killed to survive. To protect those closest to him.

Then again. The memory of their first meeting remained. How he had sent his wolves to devour an entire village.

But, he had changed from that person. He had promised not to attack humans, from that day forward. If he had gone back on his word…why? What was the reason he would just discard human lives so easily?

That wasn't the man she knew. He cared about her! A human! She didn't know exactly what. But she did mean something to him!

This was all to confusing. If Kouga killed he had reason…he had to…

Or else. He really wasn't the demon she knew.

With that thought still fresh in mind the elevator doors parted open revealing the cavern like structure of that was Kouga's home. The room still as immaculate and stunning as she remembered as she stepped into the foyer.

The sought after wolf demon no where in sight. That was until the distant hum of invading breeze could be heard from the distant corridor.

Instinctively Kagome knew that is where she should look.

Kouga groaned exhaustedly. Rolling the sweating crystal glass over his throbbing forehead letting the frigid ice and bronze liquid inside the thick cup sink into his skin.

God he hated sleeping. Usually why he tired to avoid doing it.

It was less common now a days but every once in awhile. The nightmares would come.

It seemed the more he held them at bay, the more merciless they became.

After last nights interaction with the auburn haired doctor Kouga had decided to return home and try and mange some sleep. A bad decision apparently.

The onslaught of unwanted images and memories from the past dominating his unguarded subconscious brutally. Until finally through it all he had managed to rip himself out of the hell that was his past and spiral back into the present.

Sweat drenched and erratic breathing aside he had managed to claw himself out the tangled pile that was his bed and head directly for the liquor cabinet.

A dozen bottles or so in. The memories had eventually began to burn away with every heated drop of the strongest alcohol money could buy.

Until finally he was content enough to sit here. The stone rim of his overhanging balcony. Numb to the cliff like height that lingered just at his side.

Watching through liquor dulled eyes as the sun began to fade into the distance.

It was going to be a long night. Because he had absolutely no intention of trying to rest in the near future. Even if he was currently dressed for such occasion.

Sitting on the stone boarder wearing nothing but a pair of hole spotted loosely fitting sweats.

Groggily he ran a hard hand through his cropped locks. He should probably go inside soon but, he wasn't entirely sure moving was the best option.

He might just accidentally plummet off the side of the building trying. He smirked at the thought.

It would make an interesting news story. A fall that would no doubt obliterate any normal person would most likely just break a rib or two of his.

Hell at a moment like this, he was up for it.

That was until he heard the soft approach of footsteps crossing over the threshold of the sliding door on the opposite side of the balcony.

He glanced towards the reluctant figure staring at him from several feet away.

"Hey," Kagome whispered a little timidly coming out from behind the spotless glass door.

Kouga smirked.

"Evenin'." He replied tiredly while rotating the glass pressed to his forehead.

Kagome crossed her arms nervously walking towards the sitting wolf demon. Getting just close enough that he was within arms length and no more.

Feeling more uneasy in his presences then she could ever remember being.

She didn't know what to say, or even if she wanted to say anything at this point. She supposed she would just have to settle for the obvious.

"You look tired." She whispered eyeing the dark circles beginning to form under his surprisingly hazed eyes.

Kouga chuckled dryly.

"I am." He admitted.

Kagome felt her teeth sink into her lower lip to stifle any words that might escape her. It had never been this way between them before.

This uncomfortable. Why was she letting this situation get to her so easily? She hadn't even given Kouga a chance to defend himself.

Then again what could he possibly say against such accusations? She didn't even want to bring the subject up. But her unease could be felt regardless.

"Something wrong?" Kouga asked retracting his icy glass from his skin.

"No." Kagome immediately swore. Though the taste of a lie was bitter against her tongue.

Kouga shrugged off her reluctance. Obviously it must not have been that important.

"So?" Kouga began evenly.

"How'd your date with the fox go?" He asked

Kagome swallowed down her immediate response. Afraid of what it might unleash if she didn't.

"Interesting." She said vaguely.

"Yeah? Figures." Kouga shrugged. Little runt always did have a way of getting under his skin. But, if Kagome wanted the pup around he wasn't about to argue.

Uncaring he took a slight sip of his chilled drink, enjoying the frosty burn it provided on the way down.

"Kouga," Kagome started afraid her inner turmoil was about to claw its way out with or without her permission.

That was until the unexpected slipped through in its place.

"Are you drinking?" She asked unthinking.

Kouga smiled against the crystals rim.

"Heavily." He swore taking another hard chug.

"Why?" Kagome asked curiously, but a hint of worry laced through her tone.

Kouga hesitated.

"Hm, never really thought about it." He admitted, before tossing the remainder of the practically full glass back in one hard gulp.

The scorching burn searing into his throat until it reached the pit of his stomach.

"Oh. Now I remember." He laughed humorlessly.

Kagome turned away in disappointment. Kouga usually had a way of making her feel so proud. So secure in their friendship. But when he was like this, when he treated himself this poorly.

It wasn't an easy thing to be apart of.

"You know. If something's wrong? You can tell me." Kouga stated confidentially though his eyes never left the fading sun in the distance.

Kagome watched him solemnly. Her response all to easy.

"So can you." She whispered.

Kouga smirked but it wasn't his usual bright cocky grin. It was empty, and if Kagome didn't know better…sad.

"Never really been good at that sort of thing." He smiled.

Kagome shook her reluctance away stepping closer to the sitting wolf demon so overcome with her rising emotions she had to let at least some of it out in one way or the other.

"Kouga. Can I ask you something?" She asked calmly.

"Go ahead." Kouga consented.

"Do you think people can change?"

Kouga stared ahead emotionless his response instant.

"Absolutely." He promised.

Kagome tighten her grip around herself awkwardly.

"For the better?" She added.

For the first time since the conversation between them started Kouga turned towards the priestess meeting her hazel orbs whole heartedly and inescapably.

"I wouldn't know." He whispered.

Kagome felt her chest tighten and her heart sink. That wasn't what she wanted to hear…so how come it sounded like the truth?

It had been a mistake coming here. She wasn't ready to think about all the uncertainties of the future. Not right now.

"I should go. It's getting late." She worded stepping towards the door she had emerged from.

"You'll be alright be yourself?" Kouga asked after her. He was in no condition to drive but he could easily arrange her a ride home.

Kagome paused mid-step turning to glance over her shoulder towards the barely recognizable demon she thought she truly knew.

His scared body, his dulled eyes.

"I'll be fine." She promised.

She didn't have it in her to say goodbye. Not on top of everything else.

So, silently she retreated back to the safety of the elevator that had delivered her here in the first place.

She waited patiently until she was already several floors down before unzipping her leather bag reaching in to it to extract her compact phone.

It took her a moment to sum of the courage to punch in the series of numbers she had recently searched for. But once she did, she lifted the dialing end to her waiting ear.

On the first ring the receiver answered but the line remained silent.

But Kagome knew with a certainty she could not explain who waited on the other end for her voice.

"We need to talk." She said directly.

Then deathly calm and with a lingering cold nature that seemed to make her very blood run chilled, he responded.

"I'll arrange it."


No! Don't do it! Oh wait? Who was she talking too again? Who knows! Thanks for reading guys! Next chapter should be up relatively soon.

So hang in there because believe me things are going to be heating up very soon!

Much love!