Disclaimer: I do this at the beginning of every chapter. I think you know by now….

Chapter Eleven: Discovery

He had been feeling it since he first saw her. He couldn't explain why he felt this way, just that he did. It was confusing him that he could feel anything towards another woman, but this one seemed different. She was strong minded, he had witnessed that himself when he watched her. He shook his head. Maybe he was just fooling himself. He couldn't possibly be attracted to another female. It wasn't right.

Koga gave a heavy sigh and turned when an elbow bumped his side. He looked down at Kagome. She wore a concerned frown and her eyes pleaded that he open up and tell her what was wrong. They were friends after all and if there was anyone Koga could trust in this motley group he was asked to travel with, it was Kagome.

He took her hand into his and nodded off to the side a bit. What he had to say he didn't need everyone else hearing. He couldn't help it if the other youkai heard him, they had advanced hearing after all, but the few others would hear nothing.

Kagome could feel the nervousness pouring off Koga as he led her aside. The rest of the group eyed them and she waved them off. It wasn't for them to hear. She just hoped that what ever he had to say didn't have to do with her. She was already confused enough with her self discovery of her feelings towards Kurama. She didn't need him re-confessing his undying love for her.

"Kagome, I…" he looked at her and then to the ground. He hadn't told her about Ayame and their pups. This was going to be hard on him to explain, but he really needed her help.

"What is it, Koga? You can tell me." She smiled and nodded in affirmation. He knew he could tell her.

"I was mated once, Kagome." He said with a frown. Kagome remained silent, "Ayame and I finally mated after I realized you were never coming back, but the thing is, is that it all ended about two hundred and fifty years ago. Sesshomaru felt that the wolf tribes were getting too strong for his liking. He took it upon himself to cut down on their numbers."

"Koga…" Kagome's eyes were threatening to spill more tears and he squeezed her hand tightly.

"Ayame was very brave, Kagome. You would have been proud of her with the way she stood up to that mutt. I was very proud of her bravery. We had three sons together."

"He killed them all, didn't he?" Kagome leaned into Koga and he put his arm around her shoulder.

"Yes. Ginta and Hakaku did their best to fight him off as well, but he killed them too. I'm still unsure to this day as to why he left me to live, but I can't help to wonder if it has something to do with you. It's the same with Kirara. Her kind was thinned out too by him, but she still is here."

"I'm glad that I have the two of you with me. It makes me remember the past and a lot of the good things it held." Kagome smiled, "You and Ayame, huh? I'm glad you finally kept your promise."

Koga chuckled lightly while he leaned his head onto Kagome's. It was time for him to tell her. He glanced over at the rest of the group. He had seen Kurama sneaking glances at them on and off. He was getting a kick out of the jealousy that kept appearing in his eyes.

"I must admit something to you, Kagome."

"I'm listening."

"It's a little awkward for me to talk about this, but you're the only one I know I can open up and spill my guts to and promise me you won't scream or anything."

She raised an eyebrow at that last part. It raised her curiosity of the conversation at hand leading her to give him an answer she was unsure she should give.

"I promise." She replied a bit hesitantly and Koga chuckled again.

"I think I might be feeling an attraction, no, I know I'm feeling an attraction."

"Eh?" Kagome pulled away and looked up at him. A faint blush was spread across Koga's cheeks as he glanced a little off ahead of them. Kagome's eyes wandered in the same direction. Her eyes widened when she realized who it was he was referring to, "No way."

Koga snapped out of his daze to look back at the girl who had just covered her mouth to suppress the giggles she felt rising. He blushed more when the giggles broke through. This was enough to get everyone else's attention. Kagome was laughing and smiling. Koga looked away, his eyes meeting with the object of his current attraction. She blushed and ran her fingers through a stray strand of her blue hair and tucked it behind her ear. They both broke the gaze and Kagome pulled Koga in for a hug.

"Thank you for listening to me, Kagome." Koga whispered, "Although I could have done without the giggling."

"I think that there is a possibility that she might be attracted to you as well, Koga." Kagome whispered back, "If not, then I have no idea how to explain that blush she just had."

After they released each other from the hug they rejoined the rest of the group. Kagome shook her head every time Yusuke tried to pry for information on what she and Koga had talked about. She rolled her eyes and gave him a little shove. What was exchanged between her and her friend was none of his business and she was determined to keep it that way until Koga spoke up on his feelings towards Botan. Kurama joined Kagome and gave her a curious glance to which she just smiled at. He wasn't getting answers either, but she was happy that he was keeping her company. Standing between Yusuke and Kurama, who couldn't help but to feel safe?

They traveled for several hours. Kagome still had an unsettling feeling in the pit of her stomach and she couldn't really explain what it was. There was just something out there and she knew it was watching them. But surely Hiei or Koga would have picked up something like this by now? Maybe she was just imagining things. They would know if there was danger nearby before she did and they would definitely alert her if there was one. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She was getting close to needing a break from walking and she was getting hungry.

As luck would have it, the group came across a secluded hot spring. Kagome would have jumped for joy at the site of the steaming water, but she didn't want to attract any unwanted youkai to the area. She looked over the group thoughtfully. Her eyes landed on Botan and she smirked. It was time for her to pry and see if she could get some answers out of the blue-haired deity.

"It's settled." Kagome spoke up. The others looked at her.

"What is it, Kagome?" Yusuke questioned her, curiosity swirling around his brain when he saw her smirk.

"I am going to have to ask you guys to step away from the hot spring for a bit. Guys only." She held up her hand when Yusuke tried to speak, "It'll be quick. I promise. I'm in desperate need for a bath and I can't do that with you guys right around me. All I ask is for some space and a bit of privacy. Botan and Genkai can stay with me."

"Eh?" Botan looked over at Kagome, her eyes wide and mouth slightly gaped open.

"I need to spend time with them anyway. I'm not familiar with their auras." She gave Yusuke pleading eyes and pouty lips. He cracked instantly.

"Fine, but we're not going too far off and if you guys need help with anything you better yell." Yusuke stalked away from them, "I'm going just over there. Kuwabara's coming with me."

Yusuke grabbed Kuwabara by his ear and dragged him just inside the surrounding trees. He sat with his back to the hot spring and Kuwabara sat as well.

Koga, Kurama and Hiei all wandered to a separate area away from the girls, but just close enough to keep an ear out. Kagome turned and grinned at Botan and Genkai.

"Shall we?" she asked and pointed to the water.

"You two go on ahead. I'll stay out here and keep watch." Genkai leapt up onto a nearby boulder and sat down.

"Sango and I used to bath in the hot springs and ponds all the time in the past." Kagome pulled on Botan's hand, "I do hope that things will be better when we rescue them."

"I'm sure they will be, Kagome. I'm sure they'll be happy to see you. Kirara and Shippo as well." Botan turned away as Kagome stripped down and stepped gingerly into the hot water, "Are you sure this is wise, Kagome?"

"None of the guys or Genkai will let anything happen to us." Kagome answered as she sat in the water. Kirara gave a soft mew from the shore, "Kirara too. Now come on in. I won't watch."

Kagome closed her eyes and Botan quickly discarded her clothing and stepped into the water. She sank in up to her neck and swam over to a small rock to lean against.

"This isn't so bad." Botan muttered and Kagome chuckled.

"See, I told ya!"

"I could get used to this."

Kagome opened her eyes and looked over to Botan with the same evil smirk from earlier. It was time to ask a few questions.

"So, Botan," she began and Botan eyed her skeptically. The smirk was starting to creep her out, "What was with that blush earlier?"

"Blush? What blush?"

"The blush you got after your eyes met with Koga's." Kagome said nonchalantly and observed a new blush spread across Botan's cheeks, "Yeah, it was kinda like that one."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Botan snapped her head to the side and Kagome giggled.

"Botan, you should know something…he'll probably get mad, but I'm going to tell you anyway." Kagome waited for Botan to turn her head back and when she did she continued, "Koga is, well he's attracted to you. He's really a sweet guy! I mean, he'll probably one day announce to the world that he's in love with you. I mean…well, when he falls in love with you that is. Right now it's like a crush. Glances, blushes…you know what I'm talking about, right?"

Botan, Genkai and Kirara stared at Kagome as if she were a zombie waiting to suck someone's brains out. Kagome gave a nervous little laugh and settled back against a rock. Maybe it wasn't the right way to tell Botan about Koga.

"An attraction? To me? Why?" Botan watched her reflection in the water. She frowned at the blush still on her cheeks.

"You're a nice person!" Kagome smiled, "If you think you might kinda like him too, then maybe you should talk to him."

"I'll think about it." Botan glanced back at the miko, "But don't go saying anything to the guys! They'll make fun of me! I know they will!"

"I won't say a word! Trust me!"

They soaked in silence for awhile, enjoying the company and the lack of noisy guys.

Kagome glanced down at her now wrinkled hands and sighed. This was a cue to get out of the water and dry off. Undoubtedly the guys were becoming impatient and she didn't want to listen to Yusuke complaining.

She slowly rose from the water and started for the shore. She scanned the area to check that the boys were still in place and that's when she felt it again. That odd, troubling feeling. Before she could react, Genkai was sent flying off the rock and crashed into Botan. Kagome turned to face the youkai that had come upon them so quickly that none of them had realized he was coming.

The kuma youkai stood tall on the rock that Genkai had been sitting on. It's beady black eyes glared viciously at Kagome's bare form. His mouth watered at the site of the mortal girl cowering before him. He would have to make this a quick kill. There were others in the area.

Kagome stared back at the youkai, her eyes wide and full of fear. She felt the faintest tingle start in the palm of her right hand. She cast a sideways glance at it and concentrated. Soon her whole hand was glowing pink and the kuma youkai was starting to have second thoughts on his desired meal. He watched her closely and when she raised her palm at him he knew it was too late to retreat.

She released everything she had into that blast and the youkai before her disintegrated on contact. She tried her hardest to control the flow of the energy and gave a sigh of relief as it died down. She studied the path of destruction her energy had made and cringed. She never wanted to be on the opposite end of that attack.

"Kagome?" Hiei's voice came from behind her and she ducked into the water with a startled shriek. She hadn't felt him coming.

"Kagome, are you…alright?" Yusuke surveyed the damage, "What the hell happened here?"

Kagome swam over to Botan and Genkai who were sluggishly moving about. She touched each of their arms and they both smiled at her. They were okay, a little bruised, but okay.

He was walking through his lands as he had done for many centuries. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary as usual and nobody dared challenge him for fear of losing their lives. He was checking on a nearby garden that he had built over one hundred years earlier when he felt the distant surge of a pure energy. An energy that had to be strong for it to gain his attention.

He sniffed the air. There was a scent drifting through the air and inhaled deeply. He recognized this scent. He remembered it.

"Kagome." He spoke her name softly. His mate had finally returned.

A/N: O.o sorry……that's all I'm gonna say. Sorry. Okay, for those of you who aren't very familiar with Japanese terms, I used the word kuma and I just wanted to clarify that this means bear. So yeah, Kagome blasted a bear demon and it caught a certain someone's attention. Oh and I'm also sorry if Koga seems a little ooc in this chapter. Okay, now I really have to try to update one of my other fic! Ja ne!