Disclaimer: I believe we've already been through this. Inuyasha does not belong to me, it belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. I merely borrow the characters for my sick, insidious, and twisted plots, which you guys read for your own enjoyment. Speaking of enjoyment, enjoy this new installment.

Fearless

Chapter V

Kagome glanced around, hurriedly making sure there was no one nearby. It wouldn't be good to have others overhear this conversation, especially one inu prince Toga. When she assured herself there was no one close, she took a deep breath and began.

"I fell in love with a hanyou named Inuyasha a few years ago; in fact, I saved his life, and right after, he saved mine. My feelings grew for him over the years, because we were traveling together to gather all the shards. But then, then I found that he kept going back to Kikyou, the dead miko who I'm supposed to look like! Basically, he dumped me, although I knew we could never be together, and I realized that I was probably doomed fromt the start to ever have a real relationship." (a/n: It's too troublesome to write all about it, so just imagine that Kagome told Ayaka all about it, including how Kikyou was brought back to life, and walked the earth in a clay body.)

Ayaka nodded sympathetically. She could feel the young girl's pain, and drew her into her arms, growling soothingly close to her ear. She could sense there was more to this, and she wasn't wrong. Kagome continued speaking after a few moments of composing herself.

"And then, when I accepted that I couldn't get Inuyasha's love, I sorta started having a crush on his older brother, who was a full youkai. I mean, Sesshoumaru was just totally hot, and strong, and although he tried to kill us all the time, he was actually quite nice. He could have easily killed us, but he never did! But I knew instantly to give up on that, because he hates humans, and would never considered being with one." She paused. "All my relationships are doomed to fail." She whispered brokenly, and Ayaka rubbed soothing circles on her back.

"It's alright, Kagome. Go ahead and cry; I would too, if I'd been through what you have."

Kagome hiccuped, and cried some more, not even noticing that Cho and Chikako left their laps to begin playing in the dirt. They were safe, anyway. Kagome continued to cry until she had no more tears, and her head ached, where she stopped and could only manage some more hiccups and dry heaves.

"There, there, now, you're okay here. No one's going to hurt you anymore, whether physically or emotionally. To think that this Inuyasha is so foolish to choose the dead when he's got a beautiful, powerful girl next to him, standing by him loyally. If he were my son, I'd beat some sense into him."

Kagome stiffened, feeling her face flush. Ayaka eyed her suspiciously, her pretty eyes widening comically. "You aren't going to tell me that he's my son, are you?" Her eyes were piercing, demanding the truth. It wasn't like Kagome could lie anyway; she'd smell it.

"Well, not your sons, anyway." She wanted to stop there, but Ayaka's eyes wouldn't let her. She sighed. "Inuyasha is Toga's son, in the future, from a human. Sesshoumaru is his earlier son, although still in the future, from a youkai." She exhaled loudly, her stomach still quivering from all the heaving, although thankfully that had calmed. She winced, feeling she'd revealed too much.

"Hm." Ayaka murmered, her claws still absently trailing circles against Kagome's back. "Well, that certainly explains the names. Only a son of mine would name his kid "killing perfection." Would you happen to know how far into the future this will all happen?"

Kagome shook her head, already feeling she's said too much. "Now you know why I can't get involved with Toga. I already know he meets two women, and has children with them. Which means I either leave here, die here, or it doesn't work. I couldn't go through that again." She vehemently shook her head to emphasize her point.

Ayaka nodded. "Of course. But that doesn't mean you need to stay away from him. I think it would be good of you to become friends with Toga, and with us. And taking lessons will also help you get stronger, and take your mind off these memories. You'll like it here, I promise. And we'll like having you!" Ayake smiled at her, nuzzling her cheek in an affectionate manner.

Kagome sighed, and nodded. "Alright. I'll try to stop thinking about them. And, I already like it here. You guys are so nice, much nicer than, well, the future generations of the silver inu. I wonder why that is."

Ayaka shrugged gracefully. "Who knows? I suppose, to prevent that, we can always try our best to make sure Toga knows his values and morals. Now, shall we go? I think the twins are getting hungry." They both looked down, and saw Chikako chewing on her own paw...er, hand.

Kagome giggled, and picked up Cho. She really did like babies, and these rambunctious pair were very cute, both with the silky silvery hair of their bloodline, and amber eyes. Although, their eyes were more light yellow than golden, and feline in shape. Neither had crescent moons, but both had maroon stripes on their cheeks, two each.

"Thank you, dear. Oh, that reminds me; at the end of this month, on the night of the full moon, there will be a ball being held. It's for Toga, technically, and the twins, to introduce them into the youkai society, but now it's for you as well. We're already planning your kimono for the party. And, after your lessons with Toga each day, we'll have lessons in youkai ettiquette. You know, so you can learn how to not piss off the youkai lords."

Kagome did a class anime sweatdrop. "Oh...Great."

xx

"Well, what do you think of her, Kiyoshi?" Toga questioned his best friend as they cleaned and sharpened their fangs.

Kiyoshi shrugged without speaking, which only made Toga irritated.

"Oh, come on, I know you have to have some opinion of her. I'm going to keep bugging you until you tell me what it is, so you'd best do so now." There was a soft swishing noise as the metal scraped across the fang.

Kiyoshi let loose a barely audible sigh. "Fine. I think she's okay. She has great potential, but if she'll be able to use it is debatable. She's pretty enough, too." That should suffice.

"She definately is. How do you think she'll do when facing all the youkai Lords? Think she'll choke?"

Apparently not. Kiyoshi sighed again, heavier this time. "I don't know what she'll do, because I don't know her that well, Toga. And, if you are constantly worrying over such things, perhaps you should take it up with the girl in question, rather than talking behind her back. Don't you remember what happened last time?"

Toga winced. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Hn, I guess I can talk to her tonight. Oh, wait, Mother is meeting with her tonight. Perhaps tomorrow would be a better time." He was thinking aloud now. And, would you know it? He was actually feeling happy at having to meet with the miko girl in the first place. There was just something about her...

"You do that. But if you do something stupid, don't come back to me." Kiyoshi commanded, twisting his let wrist sharply, forcing it to pop, to relieve some of the pressure that was cramping it. Yeah, that felt better. (a/n: Seriously, it does. Pushing on the back of your hand towards your wrist to make it pop; it feels sooo good.)

"Heh. I won't."

Time Skip: Three Weeks (a/n: It's getting so troublesome, writing. And I would like to be more detailed, but not in this chapter. Instead, imagine: Toga and Kagome grow somewhat closer through talking; they're now more like really good friends, and Kagome learns ettiquette.)

"Kagome, dear, there you are." Ayake smiled, bouncing Cho lightly on her hip. Kaemon had Chikako for the day.

"Oh, were you looking for me?" Kagome opened her eyes, removing herself from meditation. She was resting in her room while she meditated.

"Actually, Toga was. He wanted to know if you would like to accompany him for a walk outside of the castle. He has to go to the human village, and fears that if he goes alone, they will try to attack him."

Kagome shrugged. "Sure. Do I need to take anything with me when we go?" When Ayaka shook her head, she smiled. "Great! Are we going to be leaving now, then?"

"Yes. He's waiting in front of the castle for you now. Have fun!"

Kagome whistled as she walked to where Toga was waiting; she was a little bit happy to notice that Kiyoshi wasn't there. Spending time with a guy who spoke about as much as a brick wall was a total mood-killer.

"Are you ready, Kagome?" Toga asked, a tiny smile on his face. His twin boas were calmly resting on his shoulders.

"Yes. What exactly do you need at the village, Toga?"

He shrugged. "Nothing in particular. It's actually who do I need in the village. One of the youkai lords is passing through there, and Father decided I should meet him on his way. You know, royalty escorting royalty."

Kagome laughed. "Wow. Which one is it? Lord Susui of the north?" She asked, naming the only other youkai lord she knew the name of.

"Hm. Nope, it's Lord Koga, of the south."

Kagome froze; they'd just passed the gates of the castle. There's no way-He can't be talking about the Koga I know, can he?!

"What's wrong, Kagome? Are you injured?" Toga sniffed discreetly; she didn't smell ill.

Kagome shook her head, and continued walking. "No, it's nothing. It's just that...I used to have a friend named Koga, and I haven't heard about him in a while. It was a shock, hearing his name. That's all."

She's telling the truth, and yet at the same time, she's lying. But I'll let it slide; I can also smell her hurt. Toga nodded, flicking a finger so that his left boa wrapped around Kagome's waist. Not only did it provide warmth, but it provided comfort as well. He knew he'd done something right when she smiled up at him, gratefully. Then he got a wicked idea, one that his inner youkai seemed to be endorsing wholly. He stopped, using his boa to force Kagome to stop as well. When she looked up at him questionally, he smirked a little. "It'll be quicker if you get on my back and ride me."

Kagome felt a blush rising at the words "ride me," and wanted to shake her head. But instead, she found herself nodding, and climbing onto Toga's muscular, twitching back when he knelt down.

Toga knew it was a mistake to suggest it the minute she got on him. Warm heat pressed against him from the back, and suprisingly toned legs and arms wrapped around him to hold him close. Her sweet scent wanted to cloud his senses, and he shook his head to clear it. He needed to be alert, even when his youkai fairly purred in satisfaction at having such a delectable female close.

Kagome "eep!"-ed when Toga took off at a run. She noticed immediately the difference between Toga, the father, and his son, Inuyasha. Inuyasha, when she'd rode him, had been rough, his jumping not smooth at all, and she'd been constantly jostled. But Toga, he rode very smooth. She wasn't jostled needlessly, and barely felt it as the went from tree to tree. It was actually very, very nice. She smiled as she cuddled closer to the heat eminating from his back.

They arrived at the village in record time, and Toga had been right; the humans seemed to fear him, and called for the village guards immediately. But, seeing Kagome stepping down off his back calmed them, as did her words.

"Hi! We aren't going to be staying for long, I think. Has the southern lord arrived yet?" She asked, all smiles.

An older woman stepped foreword, smiling hesitantly. "Yes; we had him wait at the northern gates. Are...are you taking him with you?"

Kagome nodded. "Yes! Toga, will you go get him? I want to stay here and talk to..." She waited, and the woman supplied, "I am Wiala, the wife of the old leader of this village." Kagome's smile broadened. "Yes, I'll be waiting with Wiala. Be back soon!" When Toga walked away, Kagome turned back to the dark-skinned Wiala. "Now, I want to ask you something. Do you have any...feminine undergarments?"

xx

"Ah, Koga, how nice to see you again!" Toga smiled, wrapping his forearm against the southern lord's. Koga, with his long black hair pulled back in a pony-tail and wolf-skin clothing, was tall and muscular. He had electric green eyes that pierced through the skin to see into the mind. He could actually be quite creepy with those eyes.

"Glad to see you actually left the castle to escort me. Is this a first for you?" Koga joked, grinning easily.

Toga flashed his fangs. "Careful, Koga. You may be the southern lord, but that doesn't mean I can't still kick your ass into obvlivion."

Koga laughed; Toga never failed to amuse him. They were actually old friends; they'd grown up together. (a/n: For those of you who are wondering, this is Koga's FATHER, not the Kagome-chasing Koga we know. I gave him the same name, because some families do that; they pass a name down through the generations.)

"Come on. I came here with a friend of mine; her name's Kagome. She might be a little odd at first, but you'll get used to it." Toga led the way back to Kagome, who was now holding a small bundle close to her stomach. "Kagome, this is the southern lord, Koga. Koga, this is the ward my mother took in, Kagome."

Kagome turned with a smile, but it froze on her face. "K-Koga?" She whimpered, dropping the bundle with a look of horror on her face.

Hm, that's a good place to stop. And why is it a good place to stop? Because it's another cliffie!! Sorta. Anyway, guys, this chapter was just so lazy for me. I did not want to write any details; sorry about that. But that's the joy of being the author; I can skip around that. But enough of that. Guys, some reviews would be nice! I've almost hit 50, which I can't tell is a record or not in only four chapters. I hope to get at least that seven before the next update!

Ayame