Chapter 2

"Are you sure?" Sango asked, her face and voice making it very clear that she didn't want her best friend and sister to leave. She knew exactly why Kagome was choosing to leave, and she felt like hunting down InuYasha and Shippo and making them realize just how cruel they were being. Kagome didn't deserve the treatment she was receiving.

She was the one who brought them together. She killed Naraku and insured that these lands were safe. She gave up her happiness and even her reiki to Kikyou, even if part of that wasn't her choice. Kagome did everything to benefit others, and never herself. And now, she was feeling so isolated and left out, that she felt she had no choice but to leave. Sango was fuming.

"No one wants you to leave, Kagome." Sango pleaded, tears welling in her eyes. Kagome just gave a sad smile and Miroku squeezed his wife's hand. They all knew that statement wasn't true. There was one who wanted her to leave, and because she wanted Kagome gone, that meant InuYasha wanted her gone.

Kikyou still felt threaten by Kagome's presence. It was clear to see that Kikyou was completely different. She wasn't that hateful person that she was once before. She had her heart, and felt love and joy, and all other emotions. Including fear and jealousy. She feared that Kagome would take InuYasha away from her, even if Kagome never would. The ex-miko didn't have it in her. It would go against everything that she was to tear two people apart. Especially since they had been torn apart before. This was their second chance, and Kagome wouldn't ruin that. That didn't mean Kikyou trusted Kagome though.

"Fuck her!" Sango yelled, making Kagome smirk at her outburst. It wasn't often that Sango cussed, and when she did there was usually hell to pay. When InuYasha returned home that night, he was most likely going to have to fight off an irate Sango.

"Its not her fault, Sango. How would you feel if any one of the women Miroku were with came around. You always got angry when he flirted with other women." Kagome reminded, and Sango narrowed her eyes before arguing her point.

"InuYasha isn't flirting with you!"

"But at one point he did have feelings for me. So much that he couldn't chose between her or me." Kagome countered, looking over to Kouga as he growled possessively then tried to hide it behind a cough. Now wasn't the time.

"Then they can leave." Sango pouted, and again, Miroku squeezed her hand. As a monk he knew that wasn't possible either. Kaeda was getting old in age, and Kagome was no longer considered a miko. That meant Kikyou would be the one the village would rather have. There was no way around this.

Kagome could chose to stay, but spend the rest of her life having to look at InuYasha and Kikyou. And sure, they knew that eventually it will no longer hurt, but there would always be some part of her that felt slighted by everything she lost to those two people. Or, she could chose to leave and try to find her happiness somewhere else.

Miroku honestly thought Kouga was exactly what Kagome needed. For so long, Everyone has wanted her as a means to gain something. InuYasha wanted her because she was Kikyou's reincarnation. He could have his lost love. Naraku wanted her because of her power and because he feared her. If he could have Kagome as his, he wouldn't have had to worry about Kagome killing him. That obviously didn't work in his favor. Originally Kouga had wanted Kagome for his ability to see the jewel shards, but even after losing that ability, and the fact that she no longer needed it, here he was, still wanting her by his side. Kouga could be what Kagome needed, because he could actually love her.

Making Sango see that would be difficult though.

"You can come and visit any time you want," Kouga offered, and Miroku nodded towards him, giving him a silent thanks. "And if Kagome ever wants to come and visit, then all she has to do it tell me, and ill bring her right back."

"Really?" Kagome asked, her eyes shining as she looked up to the wolf demon. He blushed at her look and nodded before turning away. He honestly didn't think there was anything he could deny the little woman. She didn't need to know that though. At least not yet.

"See." Kagome said, turning back to Sango. "We aren't saying goodbye forever. The next time I see you, I want your belly round with my niece or nephew."

Sango let out a watery laugh and nodded with a blush. Miroku simply looked happy to have an excuse to make children. Kagome held out her arms, and Sango fell into them, finally letting her friend go. She didn't like it, and InuYasha was still going to meet her fist, but she knew this was for the best. She wanted her sister happy, and that happiness just wasn't here.

"Kagome." Miroku greeting, hugging her once Sango stepped back. His hands stayed. appropriate, but mostly because he could feel both the eyes of his wife and the wolf. He wanted to be awake for InuYasha's return.

"We'll see each other again soon." Kagome waved as she stepped from her friends hut. When Kouga joined her, she felt tears fall, and he wiped them away, and leaned down, nuzzling her cheek. He hated seeing her tears.

"If you wish to visit in a week we can. We can make it a ritual. Come by once a week for the rest of their lives." Kouga offered, and she smiled up at him. She would miss her friends, and she knew that visits would happen regularly. But right now she didn't think she could see InuYasha and Kikyou that often.

"We'll see how it goes. I want to say goodbye to Kaeda, then we can leave." She replied, and he nodded, holding a hand out and letting Kagome lead the way. Soon enough, he would have her back in his home, and then he would have her completely. He could give her what she wanted now and make this separation easier.

…HHH…

"Kouga." Kagome asked, making the wolf demon look down at her. They had been silent for most of the trip. Conversation did happen, but only when Kagome started it. He knew she was grieving the move, and he didn't want to push her. She needed time to settle.

"Yea?" He asked, looking back up when he realized that she wasn't looking towards him. He could smell her nervousness, and his curiosity rose.

"Do you think…" She paused, swallowing and he stopped, making her look up at him. She sighed, before finally spilling her thoughts. "Do you think your wolves will like me?"

"Don't you remember? They love you Kagome." He reminded with no hesitance, Kagome nodded before looking away again, her face pensive as another thought popped into her head.

"But.. It has been a long time. And I have always been so mean to you." She whispered, guilt forming on her face as she realized just how many times she had turned down his advances and how rude she was when she did it. And yet, here he was opening up his home to her. A weak human that didn't have anywhere to fit in.

Kouga looked away for a moment and she swore she could see hurt cross his face. He was thinking of all the times she did turn him down, and he wouldn't lie. Every time did stab his heart. He loved her, but she had always chosen InuYasha. It made him feel inferior to the mutt, and he hated that. But he wouldn't give up. He had gotten the woman to agree to move into his home, and next we would get her to agree to mate him. He wanted her completely, and he would give everything he had to get this little woman to love him, just like he loved her. It would take time, and patience, but he was confident he could do it. He would give her everything she asked for, take care of her emotionally, physically, and mentally. She would want for nothing. It was his vow.

"That doesn't matter." He started, looking towards the woman once again. "You know how I feel for you, and I won't ever hide that. More than that though, my wolves know how I feel for you. Even if they didn't love you for who you are, that would be enough. But I promise you Kagome, they have no problem with you."

"Why?" She asked, still not quiet believing what he was saying. She just couldn't see it.

"Scent. We can smell your heart Kagome. We can scent your kindness and love for all creatures, but we can also smell your spirit. You love all that you cross paths with, but you will protect those closest to you no matter what. You have all of the traits of the alpha female. Strong, loyal, fierce, and kind." Kouga assured and Kagome eyed him, surprised to realize that he was speaking nothing but the truth. Not once had anybody ever described her in that way, and she blushed, unsure of what else to do. She had always been a shard detector, or a copy, and now she was getting told that she was liked for her personality. And she knew that Kouga was included in that, because if his wolves like her for that reason, Kouga did as well.

"Ok." She whispered in acceptance, her smile small but true. Kouga smiled and she looked back down before looking towards the way they were once traveling. "How much farther?"

…HHH…

It wasn't very much farther at all to Kouga's pack. Another hour of traveling and eventually Kagome was able to start seeing things she recognized. It had been a long time since she had been here and she was surprised she remembered it, but now that she returned it was as vivid in her head as the original day she was here.

Once Kagome announced to Kouga's wolves that she was here to stay, that howled out in celebration in bombarded her. They licked at her and wagged their tails like house pets, and she couldn't help but to laugh while covered in a heap of ferocious wolves. After that, they followed her where ever she went.

Kouga took her on a proper tour of his lands, his wolves following behind. Kagome was surprised to learn just how much and he owned, and it ended up being an all day affair. She didn't mind though. Even though he had land beyond land, every bit of it was beautiful. She had picked a few favorites spots that she would return to when she felt the need to be alone.

By time they had returned back to the main cave, the sun had set, and she realized that the humanoid wolves that had stayed behind had decided to throw her a welcoming party. Ginta and Hakkaku were the masterminds behind it, and even though Kagome was tired enough to fall asleep standing up, there was on way she could say no.

And that brought her to now. After an hour of proper introductions, eating more than she had the entire Naraku hunt combined, and getting to know a female wolf more than the others, she found herself sitting on the cliff. Her knees were bent and pressed to her chest. One arm wrapped around them while the other lazily continued to pet at the female wolf laying beside her.

"I figured Hazel would take a liking to you." Kouga said, announcing his presence as he sat beside Kagome, his legs dangling over the edge of the cliff.

"Yea. She has been following me. She is a good girl." Kagome replied, smiling slightly as she scratched the girl behind her ear.

"She knows you will care for her, and be kind to her. And in the vulnerable position she is in, that is important." Kouga explained, chuckling at Kagome's confused expression. "She is pupped. Newly. I'd say about four days."

"Oh!" Kagome looked down at the wolf again, watching as Hazel lifted her head and licked at Kagome's hand. "Ok then. I promise to protect you and your babies to the best of my ability."

For a split second Kagome thought about her lack of reiki, but she pushed it away, The wolves would be able to smell she was now human, and still they wanted her to be apart of their pack. If they didn't care about her no longer being a priestess, then so be it.

"Kagome. Sometime soon i'm going to ask you a question. I don't want an answer now, but I want you to promise me you will think about it." When Kagome nodded, her face that of surprise and curiosity, he took a deep breath of courage and blurted out quickly, "I'm going to ask you to be my mate. There is no pressure, you can say no, but all I ask is that you don't answer now and take some time to think about it."

Kagome was stunned into silence. Yes, Kagome had always called her his woman, but not once had she truly realized just how serious he was. She was honestly glad that he was giving her some time, because she wasn't sure she would have been able to give him an answer anyway. So with a nod she agreed, making Kouga take a deep breath of relief. "I promise to think about it."

…HHH…

That's it for Chapter 2. Next chapter we will get Kagome's answer. I honestly didn't expect to get as many reviews and interest in this story that I have, and I am hoping that I can get many more. I took away Kagome'e reiki because for the entire duration of her edo stay, she had been wanted for something that comes back to her reiki. Not once was she wanted for just her. Even at first, InuYasha only saw Kikyou. Now, she can realize that Kouga and his pack want her for her.

It has been awhile since I updated, and that is for multiple reasons. My daughter has entered the stage of where I cannot put her down. That makes it kind of hard to type. I have also been sick and I am finally on the butt end of that. Then family keeps deciding to pop up even though I would rather be alone. I am hoping starting next week I can get back into it. My email account also deleted all of my emails that contained your reviews and poll question answers. So I wont be able to give your answers to the last question. Next week if I am able to get more chapters written I will start up with the poll again. I'm sorry for the wait, but I hope you all can still enjoy this chapter.