I suck, I know.

I've been having tons of problems with my new host family, which is one reason as to why I haven't updated in so long. Plus, I was in Paris for a couple a days. Wonderful city, by the way. If anyone has a chance to go, take it!

And I also won't be able to update in another two weeks! Sorry, sorry, I know! See, I have to go to this teeny tiny village that consists of literally 500 people near Chur (oldest city in Switzerland, oder?) for two weeks to work with a poor family. Sozial Praktikum, as they call it. And anyways, I won't have any access to a computer, or paper, if I even have time.

So I felt as if I owed you guys one more update, although it's past 1AM and I have to get up at 6AM to catch a train.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha

--Chapter Fourteen--

"Sister!"

The young girl working on digging out the weeds surrounding the precious vegetables in the garden looked up, a smile alighting her pretty face when she caught sight of her young brother running towards her. She stood up to greet him, wiping her dirty hands on her apron.

"Sister!" The boy stumbled clumsily into her out-stretched arms, sending his old sibling an apologetic grin that also reflected the immense excitement that was bouncing inside his lanky frame.

"Makoto, you shouldn't be running around just yet," the girl scolded lightly, a frown of worry creasing her smooth brow. "Your cold just went away."

Makoto straightened himself, standing proudly in front of his older sister, a goofy grin on his thin face. "I know, sister. I just wanted to tell you that father has just finished talking with Yori's father!"

The girl stopped, her whole frame freezing, anticipating the news. Yori was not a strong muscular man, nor did have any skill in combat. Instead, the young man she had fallen in love with could recite poetry as if it came naturally to him as walking was to a human. Not only that, but he was a quiet, thoughtful artist, a welcome change from the brassy young warriors that were running around the village, trying to convince her to marry them instead of this weak man. A weak man in their minds was one who thought that education was to be regarded higher than war skills, and one who could melt a girl's heart with his simple words and gentle kisses. Yoki was just the kind of man she had been looking for her entire life. And after finally boldly declaring her love for him to her father, she had let the threads of fate be passed onto the head of her family, who obviously knew more about her welfare.

"Wh…what did he say, Matoko?" She whispered, closing her clear blue eyes and taking a deep breath.

"You have their blessings," The boy stated simply after a few heart-stopping moments, his ecstatic mood relaying in his quiet tone.

Her cornflower blue eyes shot open, widening in unbelievable joy. "It is going to happen?" She whispered hoarsely, her throat suddenly thick with emotion.

The young boy nodded eagerly, his ebony black hair dancing wildly with his actions. "I thought you'd be happy!" He told her excitedly, his animated auburn eyes dancing with delight.

Her hand fluttered uselessly at the base of her throat, her lips turning up in a deliriously happy grin that couldn't be held back. She threw her clear blue eyes to the sky, to the great Gods themselves, in silent gratitude to their merciful endeavors. Her heart seemed like it would burst underneath all the wild emotions of a female who has seen her future, and has embraced it with welcoming arms.

"Sister? Will that mean I won't be able to see you as often anymore?"

Her brother's soft question brought her back down to reality, her attention now directed at the young boy in front of her. She regarded his lanky form with soft eyes, smiling gently at the uncertain look on his childish face that he had inherited from his deceased mother.

She placed both hands on each of his thin shoulders, bending down to his height. She looked at him with clear blue eyes that were both serious and bouncing with excitement before she said softly, "Do not say such things, Matoko. Of course I will see you everyday, just like before."

"But –"

She shook her head patiently at his weak denial. "No buts. Now, run along, little brother. I'm sure father is looking for you."

He opened his mouth to say more, but thought better of arguing with his older sister. Nodding his head, he turned and ran clumsily back towards their hut, waving his hand vigorously back at her.

She felt her lips turn up into a small smile as she watched his skinny form retreat into the darkness of the family hut, hopefully to return to his bed. She shook her head, remembering how easily he fell ill, and how many times she had waited by his bedside, praying to the Gods to spare his life. Her brother was not a strong and nor a healthy being; he was constantly stricken down with pain and common illnesses, and his skin looked like white parchment that had been stretched over pointy bones and little muscle. She hoped with her heart that her marriage wouldn't affect him negatively.

"He looks better this morning."

The girl turned at those words, her body whirling around to face the man who stood behind her. He kept a comfortable distance between them, his actions honourable, although she barely controlled her inner turmoil to enfold herself in his warm embrace.

"Yoki," She breathed, her gaze instantly dropping to stare at the ground shyly. She grasped both of her hands, twisting them together nervously in front of her.

A gentle hand cupped her chin to bring her face up to meet his kind russet- coloured eyes. He smiled softly at her, his thumb rubbing relaxing circles on one side of her tense jaw. "You have such beautiful eyes. Why hide them?"

She blushed significantly at his thoughtful words, her heart speeding up in her chest. "You are so kind, Yoki," She muttered, turning away from his striking gaze.

"Please don't turn away," He breathed, his breath warm on her face.

She looked back up into his warm gaze, confusion marking her soft features. "Yoki?"

He smiled down at her. "How lucky am I to be the one who captured such a beauty's heart? I shall thank the Gods every night before I go to bed and every morning when I wake up after we are married that they have blessed me with such a bride."

She smiled awkwardly, her cheeks flaming. "I am nothing but an ordinary woman."

"Wrong," He told her, his voice deep and lulling. "You have a bright spirit that is not only strong and true, but kind and friendly. And your face… ah, your face. Your face must have been carved from the angels themselves. Your long glossy black hair, your full rose lips, your eyes…"

"Yoki, stop," She teased lightly, looking around nervously to see if anyone else had heard his tender words. "I swear I cannot blush anymore!"

He laughed lightly, his hand falling from her chin to rest at his side. "I apologize, my love. Your beauty inspires me as no other has."

She bowed a little, her cheeks still flaming. "I am glad to hear you are pleased with the arrangements, Yoki."

He paused, his expression amused. She was deliberately trying to change the subject! "Pleased, my love?"

She looked up at him, her smooth brow knitted together in confusion. "You are not happy?"

He laughed again at her hurt expression, loving how much she needed him as much as he needed her. "I would not be happier if the Lord of these lands himself blessed me with all the riches of this world and the next!"

Her smile was blinding as he reached out to gently cradle the lovely maiden's hand, her skin smooth to his touch. Her hands were so small in his, barely reaching to the second joints on each of his fingers. Barely controlling himself, he laid a soft kiss on each of her slim digits. His lips whispered faintly along the sensitive skin on her knuckles as he closed his eyes and inhaled deeply.

"Are you happy, my love?" He asked her, his voice barely above a whisper.

She nodded dizzily, breathing unevenly. "Y-yes."

He smiled against her knuckles before releasing her hand and bestowing her with a shy grin. "I am wonderfully blissful that the Fates have put you into my arms. But I am still obligated to help my father with the horses. I shall leave you, fair maiden, on a soft note of tender love."

The girl smiled shyly as she cradled the hand her future husband had kissed in her other. She nodded once more, her cheeks lovely flushed with his soft words. "I bid you farewell, Yoki."

The corners of his mouth turned up once again at her whispered goodbye, his russet-coloured gaze incredibly soft. She had to stop herself from pulling him back for a tender kiss of parting, knowing such a scandal would not sit well with either of their families. Instead, she watched amusingly as he turned and walked away with the air of a man who has found everything he had ever wanted from life, his stride light and carefree.

The girl shook her head gleefully as his frame exited her vision, turning her attention back to the neglected vegetables that lay silently around her bare feet. Her face splitting into a grin, she bent down to continue her work, humming a soft lullaby.

/----------

The first thing she processed when she woke was that she was lying on an extremely hard surface. The muscles in her back seemed to screamed profanity as she shifted her body to check for wounds or broken bones. Finding none, she breathed a sight of relief, only to hiss when the rigid ground – as she guessed – dug into her hipbone and shoulder blade.

Feeling suddenly homesick for soft beds and warm comforters, she sat up gingerly, fighting against the bones and muscles that protested her every movement.

"Kagome?"

The priestess groaned loudly and covered her eyes hastily as the mat that served as a door to the small room was shoved aside and bright light entered the dark space, burning fuzzy black dots in her vision.

"Oh, sorry!" And as suddenly as the sunlight had appeared, it was gone.

Kagome was left to glare irritably at the general area where the unfortunate person was standing, not seeing really anything past her restricted vision. "Where am I?" She demanded cantankerously, her tone coming out harder than she wanted.

She barely saw a dark figure approach her and sit down on the cot that really didn't fulfill its purpose. "In a human village, close to the Western Borders," The figure answered softly.

Kagome rubbed her eyes tiredly. "What happened, Sango?"

The exterminator shifted uncomfortably. "Miroku went back with Kirara to look for you when you didn't show. They found you unconscious and alone, no trace of the demon from earlier."

Kagome snorted softly, her hands dropping limply to her lap. "I killed Toshiro. How's Kouga?"

Sango frowned at the arrogant tone in the girl's voice, brushing off the cool statement. "He's healing, but we'll have to stay here for a few days more, just to be sure."

The priestess nodded absent-mindedly. "Yeah, he took quite the beating from that stupid bastard."

The demon slayer glanced at her entwined hands in her lap before looking back up at Kagome. "And you, Kagome? How are you faring?"

Kagome gave a slight unconcerned shrug of the shoulders, her eyes on the dark wall. To be honest, her mind was elsewhere. She was slightly confused about the bizarre dream she had seen while sleeping off the aftereffects of attacking a fifty-foot lynx-demon with enough spiritual power to put a miko like Kaede to shame. In the back of her unclear mind, the priestess knew that there was an actual reason as to why she was seeing these dreams. But the answer did not interest her.

Sango watched the blank expression on Kagome's face turn into a slight frown; the girl's thoughts obviously on something the exterminator had no knowledge of. But she wouldn't press the other girl, not when she seemed so short on temper.

And the demon slayer had learned to avoid Kagome when her temper seemed to know no limits, and her commonsense was absent. With a heavy heart, she thought of the one hanyou who had once covered up all his insecurities and problems with harsh words and cocky confidence. His brash attitude had somehow worn off on the young girl, and Sango now found herself not only constantly reviewing tactics in order to get the girl to see the obvious truth in some situations, but watching whatever she said around Kagome.

There really wasn't any point to start a fight with a misunderstanding.

Sango took a deep breath in order to stuff the on-coming sigh that wanted to spill from her lips. With a silent nod, she stood up and started heading for the exit that somehow seemed like an entranceway into peace. It was like a hopeful answer, promising to free her from the horrid tension that seemed to hang in the air like a thick fog.

"Sango?"

The exterminator stopped in front of the mat, so close to fresh air and loose emotions. She turned around guardedly, her actions slow. "Yes, Kagome?"

The priestess didn't blink from her unseeing stare at the wall. "I'm going out for a bit. I need the fresh air and a chance to practice," She told her best friend since the beginning with a flat tone.

Sango only numbly tilted her head before taking her leave, knowing it was useless to try and talk any sense into Kagome, especially in the girl's current state. After she had put a bit more distance between herself and the priestess' hut, she let out that sigh and dragged a tired hand through her bangs. It was much easier to just let her emotions fly whenever Kagome wasn't around.

A troubled frown crossed the young exterminator's smooth features as she tried to grasp the situation at hand. Shippo was safe with Kaede, miles away from danger; Kagome was alone in her hut, probably getting ready for another training session that usually concluded with the priestess coming back covered in sweat and fresh demon blood; and Miroku was with Kouga, who was suspected to come around anytime soon. The Wolf Demon Tribe leader had been severely wounded by the lynx's attack, and had been on the verge of collapse when they had brought him back the day before. And depending on how fast those lesions healed, Sango guessed they would be camped here for a few more days, at the least.

She absent-mindedly brushed her long ponytail of hair off one shoulder, barely recalling her earlier intentions of bathing. But she had been too curious and worried for her friend at the time, and had ended up checking to see if Kagome was okay, with a weak promise to herself of bathing later.

Sango kept her strides even, her determined streak kicking in. The frown was still visible in her eyes, but on her face was the unwavering self-assurance of a woman who had lost everything, only to fight back relentlessly in order to gain the little happiness she had achieved. The useless thoughts of bathing left her occupied mind as she walked briskly up to one of the many huts occupying the sides of the main dirt road that cut through the small village.

Brushing past the mat that served as a door, she entered the dark hut.

Sango had made up her mind. She was going to tell Kouga everything. The exterminator was past feeling guilty about spilling all of Kagome's vulnerable moments and earlier actions to him. All she wanted was her best friend back; the one that used to laugh with her, the one who she could tell anything to without being judged or scolded.

And if she and Miroku were unable to help Kagome regain her true innocence and spirit back, then that left one person.

And that person was a brash Wolf Demon Tribe leader with a heart full of tender love and a stubborn determination that used to challenge even the steady-fast willpower of a certain hanyou that had once protected them all.

/----------

The sleek panther sat silently for a second before lifting her pondering black gaze to her mistress' turned face. "This dream has only come to you once?" She inquired slowly.

Kagome nodded, her eyes absently looking over the vast land that seemed painfully white to her human vision. "Only once. So far," She added softly. Somewhere in the back of her mind she had the small feeling that they weren't going to stop anytime soon.

Sora lifted a large paw to her mouth and gently started to bathe the bright purple fur. "I would almost agree these dreams or memories would continue; they most likely have a reason."

The priestess let out an audible sigh. Since when did life get so complicated? "Probably."

Kagome's thoughts were so far away that she barely noticed when the slender cat's ear suddenly perked up and the feline started slowly walking towards a certain spot in the distance. But she did snap back to reality swiftly when a low growl issued itself from between Sora's clenched fangs. The slim feline bared her teeth in solemn warning as she crouched down low. Kagome couldn't miss how Sora's paws curled and flexed with the knowledge of a predicted death that the feline predator was going to issue herself.

"Sora?"

The tensed panther didn't acknowledge that she heard Kagome's voice, but she didn't move from her squatted crouch either. "Do I have permission to terminate this demon?" Sora asked through clenched teeth, her voice tensed.

Through the haze in her mind, Kagome got an idea. "Sora, didn't you say that in time I would be able to see both this dimension and reality at the same time?"

The feline only nodded her head impatiently to her mistress' question. Her claws dug deeper into the ground at the unwanted delay.

A small smile worked its way onto Kagome's lips. "You may go after this demon. But," The priestess added before her panther could spring. "Just capture it. Do not injure it or kill it. I want to try something."

Sora paused for a second before jerking her head in a nod. Her nails dug down farther as her body seemed to drop deeper into the lunge before she sprang forward with blinding speed and pounced mercilessly on the unsuspecting creature. Kagome had barely blinked her eyes before Sora turned towards her with a mouth full of maroon frog.

Taking that as her cue, the priestess closed her eyes and willed peace into her clouded head. She took deep breaths and let the world around her fade for the time being, its presence only a dim awareness in the back of her thoughts. She let her mind become as blank as the immeasurable lands that stretched out all around her in Sora's dimension, all thoughts and feelings forgotten in the tide of calm that took possession over her body.

And when all was accomplished, she allowed herself to see.

Everything was painfully white, and every detail excruciatingly noticeable. But she remained calm and waited for the moment when her options would appear. She didn't have to wait long before an image flashed and she regarded it with calculating eyes.

In front of her were two doors. Both were plain old Japanese sliding doors with normal rice paper bordered by dark wood. The rice paper on both doors was blank, no intricate design printed onto its surface like so many others held. No light or shadow played on the other side of the two doors either, making the whereabouts behind them unknown.

Without hesitation, Kagome walked up to both of them until she was standing in the space between them, but just a few feet in front. She placed her hands on each of the doors' frames from where they met in the middle, somehow knowing how and what to do. And with a silent breath, she pushed both open with a quick push of both hands, closing her eyes in the process.

The light was blinding behind her eyes lids for a few seconds before Kagome noticed the feel of hard pebbles underneath a borrowed pair of demon slayer boots and the light breeze that teased her hair. The air was cool and crisp and untainted by the many toxins in the modern era. She took a deep breath and slowly opened her eyes, ready for the unknown.

In her right eye, the small village she had woken up in was busy in action in the distance. Its inhabitants were going about their businesses, as they would do everyday, grimaces and smiles on faces. In front of her, the uneven gravel road stretched until it reached that same village. She ignored the few travelers that passed by her. Wide lush fields stretched to her left while an unruly forest grew to her right.

In her left eye, she saw a white land with unanswered questions relaying in its perplexing existence that could never be solved by any beings of her world. Sora was sitting not fifty off to her right, patiently sitting down with a struggling frog in her wet fangs.

"Sora, I did it," Kagome whispered, a small smile playing on her lips in triumph.

The panther seemed to smile back with gleaming black eyes that shone happily. Silently, she nodded to the priestess, an encouragement to go on.

Kagome turned on the ball of her right foot and sprung into the forest without warning. She ignored the few gasps and shouts of a few alarmed people along the road, all telling her not to go off alone in an untamed forest filled with the unknown. She was a priestess; no demon or being could scare her.

Tree branches and wild bushes pulled at the material cladding her arms and legs as she ran towards Sora's location, deeper and deeper into the forest. The vegetation flew by her unnoticed as she headed towards the core of the wood.

Kagome leaped easily over a fallen log before finding herself in a cleared part of the forest where a rough but small road wove through. A young boy and an elderly man were walking together and engaging in quiet talk on the road, totally oblivious to the waiting demon just beyond the bushes. The little boy was speaking eagerly about something, moving his hands in exaggerated actions while the elderly man only smiled at the young child and swung the fishing bow that hung over one shoulder unintentionally with every step.

They looked up with surprised expression as Kagome bounded out of the bush, their conversation halted as she drew her sword. Both eyes flew to the long deadly sword as it started to gleam brightly in the limited sunlight that filtered in through the canopy of trees. They stayed silent as she ran past them and once again disappeared through the brush. Their gazes remained glued to the spot where she had departed.

Sora sat there, waiting patiently as Kagome drew closer. The priestess had drawn her sword and was still running full-sped towards her panther and the victim still clenched tightly in the feline's wet fangs.

When the young girl came to a stop before them, she was breathing evenly and seemed hardly out of breath. "Okay, Sora. Now, release it," Kagome ordered as she brought her sword to point menacingly at the creature.

Sora wasted no time in listening to her mistress. She released the frog and stepped back.

The pathetic demon on the ground was hideously scarred all along its mutilated and irregular body. Long lines of lighter scar tissue ran up and down its green hide, an obvious statement that it had fought for the better part of its pitiable life. And until Sora released its aura in the White World, it had been lying on the ground frozen just behind a concealing bush from where it had been watching the unsuspecting travelers walk by.

But now that the panther had freed it, the deformed monster was standing in front of her with eyes that glowed with animalistic anger and the savage need for slaughter. It opened its teeth to snarl at her, displaying long yellow fangs that dripped revoltingly with discoloured saliva. Kagome almost covered her nose and gagged as the stench of rotting flesh reached her nose.

So this thing has eaten recently, then? she thought scathingly.

As it took a step towards her, the priestess almost smirked in anticipation. She loved how most demons immediately saw her as a fragile human woman, not as the strong fighter she was. Most of the time it almost made her laugh out in grim satisfaction whenever she saw the stunning disbelief cloud their visions and fear strike their eyes wide as she cut them down as the beasts they were.

A sudden rustling of bushes to her right broke into Kagome's concentration, momentarily confusing her. Her gaze sifted, and just as she was about to shout a warning to the stupid humans that were trying to interfere, the demon in front of her bounded into the bushes hungrily.

Kagome was running after the racing abomination after a second, sprinting like mad through the untamed woods. She failed to realize where she was headed until she jumped out of the safety of the trees and found herself where she had been not only a second ago.

Except this time there were more travelers on the small road that wound through the forest, and they were all frozen in fear as a savage demon cornered the small boy and elderly man who had been stupid enough to try and disturb in Kagome's affairs.

"Get out of the way!" Kagome shouted angrily at the people in her way as she took off in one bound towards the offending creature.

The boy and grandfather were clutching each other tightly, their innocent brown eyes wide with undiluted fear. You stupid fools, she almost bellowed. You could have let me slay the damn demon without interfering! And then you wouldn't have put all these peoples' lives in danger!

At her outraged shout, the demon turned around to glare at her. It opened its mouth wider as a bloodthirsty snarl ripped out of its throat. Kagome held her ground, glowing sword out stretched warningly, as the creature moved closer to her. Its glowing yellow eyes were focused on her, and seemed to invite her to do her best.

She shot a look towards the boy and man that screamed for them to get away while they could. They both nodded hesitantly before sprinting clumsily out from the corner the beast had backed them into.

She returned her gaze to the demon, her concentration once again in place. "No more human snacks for you," She stated calmly.

The creature only widened its mouth in a half smirk, waiting for her move.

With one easy swipe of her sword, the demon was cut in half with a piercing shriek of pain. She didn't even want to make the pathetic thing rethink its assessment of her; it just wasn't worth it.

She watched the demon fade away in the limited sunlight blocked by the large trees around her before turning around. Silence greeted her, as everyone had fled with the young kid and grandfather as soon as they had snapped out of their frozen stances. She slid her sword back into its sheath.

"You're really good."

Kagome's head whirled at the sudden voice, her surprised gaze landing on a normal village boy sitting casually on the ground next to a tree on one side of the road, watching her with curious interest. He was about her age, with midnight black hair that was cut just above his shoulders. His bangs fell almost artfully into his penetrating light grey eyes.

She regarded him with a slight frown. "How long have you been watching?"

He shrugged broad shoulders, meeting her slightly confused gaze with honest stormy orbs. "Since the beginning, I guess."

As Kagome's frown deepened, he shot her a carefree smile that offered an apology. "Sorry, I know I probably should have taken off with the other villagers, but I just couldn't resist watching you. I've never seen a girl fight like that."

The young priestess sighed, the frown fading from her pretty features. She felt abruptly tired, and the sun was all of a sudden too bright in the sky. She was just too drained to care if a boy decided to stay behind and watch a girl fight.

She had taken a step towards the direction the villagers had disappeared to, vaguely hoping that the village was that particular way, when the boy called, "Why don't you sit over here in the shade for a bit? You look exhausted, and I'm not too sure I'd be willing to carry you back if you were to faint."

Her gaze once again landed on the teenage boy, his rough attitude subconsciously reminding her of a certain silver-haired companion that she had once known. But his eyes were honest, slightly teasing and yet serious at the same time, very unlike her former friend. The boy in front of her was very good-looking, she decided hesitantly, with his pale but strong features shaded by the trees large shadow. The village seemed so far away now that she was presented with the option to take a few steps and lounge next to the villager in the cool shade.

She took a deep breath, quickly reminding herself that the only reason she was going to take his suggestion was because she refused to have anyone piggyback her.

He watched silently as she walked hesitantly over in his general direction, placing herself as far away from him as the shade would allow. After she flopped ungracefully down, he gave her a small smile; a token of unspoken friendship, hoping to erase the unease that etched itself on her delicate features and showed in her movements.

"Who taught you to fight like that?" He asked casually after a second's silence.

Kagome balanced her elbows on her knees before wiping the sweat off her brow with a lazy hand. "A monk and a demon slayer," She answered slowly.

"The same ones at the village? The ones that travel with you?"

So he saw us arrive? Kagome nodded lazily before closing her eyes and leaning back against the cool grass. "Yeah, same ones."

His eyes wandered admiringly along her curvy length before stopping at her upturned face. She had such beautiful chocolate brown eyes when they weren't shut. "How did a demon slayer, a monk, and a warrior priestess come together in a traveling group?" He asked cautiously.

Kagome tired to keep her face blank as a frown threatened to show. We used to be even weirder, she thought numbly. With a little fox kitsune and a… hanyou. "We are all looking for the same thing," She answered softly.

He nodded curiously to himself before asking curiously, "And what are you guys looking for?"

Kagome turned her face a little towards the direction of his voice. "A demon and a sacred jewel," she breathed, a tired sigh escaping her lips as her mind ran over her immediate future and the destiny only Sango, Miroku, and herself could fulfill.

His gaze searched her face. "A sacred jewel? You are after power?"

She couldn't stop the frown from creasing her brow. "No. We want to destroy it."

The village boy fell silent at her tone, guessing this was a territory he should not cross into. Just by the sudden hurt that seemed to seep into her tone, he knew she was still grieving over a particular event that had happened over that same jewel, or something along the lines of.

Instead of leaving her to her thoughts, he moved silently over to her side. The obvious pain in her voice made him want to strangely comfort her, soothe all her troubles away. She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen, and her strong personality was taking a toll on his heart.

He stopped moving when his hand was inches away from her hip. He just couldn't take his eyes off her face…

Kagome understood why the boy had gone silent, and she was almost relieved he had dropped the subject all together. Revealing her past was not something she was going to do under any circumstances. Unless threatened with Sango, Miroku, or Shippo's lives, she preferred that the subject would remain untouched and sealed away.

She heard a little bit of shuffling to her left, and guessed subconsciously that the boy had had enough of her silence and had decided to leave her be.

He was close enough to smell the sweet fragrance that lingered on her pale but smooth skin. A mixture of sweat, wild emotions, and some sort of faint blossom aroma…

When something soft touched her lips, Kagome held still in subliminal shock. At first her mind blanked painfully, not allowing her to process anything beyond the smooth texture of the material against her mouth. And her mind mentally ticked off a leaf; there was no way a leaf could feel so warm and soft. But before she could categorize it, it was gone as soon as it had come with a suddenly strong breeze.

She opened her eyes and suddenly wished she hadn't. Kouga was standing not ten feet away from her with one hand on the village boy's throat, effectively half-choking the other guy while holding him up a couple feet in the air. Even as the wolf demon drew in pained breaths and still had unhealed wounds down his arms and chest, he was still stronger than the human boy.

She stared at the scene for a few seconds with utter confusion.

"What do you think you're doing?" Kouga demanded harshly, his voice still rough and pained.

The black-haired boy clawed uselessly at the wolf demon's unrelenting grip. "Noth…ing!" He gasped.

"Kouga?" Kagome asked hesitantly, slowly getting to her feet. "What's going on? You should be resting!"

Kouga's glare never left the boy's face. "I came looking for you, Kagome, since Sango told me you had gone out. Never thought I'd have to teach a human brat to keep his hands off someone else's property!"

The boy's legs kicked out uselessly as his mouth opened and closed in quick breaths. "I didn't… know!"

"Someone else's property?" Kagome asked, slightly stunned. "Kouga, let the guy go!"

The Wolf Demon Leader nodded grudgingly to her before bestowing the boy in his grasp with a menacing glare. "I better not catch you even looking Kagome's way, you understand, punk?"

At the boy's weak nod, Kouga let him go. Both demon and priestess didn't pay any attention to the villager as he ran off.

When the sound of footsteps faded, Kagome frowned irritably at Kouga. "What was that about?" She demanded.

Kouga scratched the back of his head embarrassingly. "He… err… kissed you."

"Then don't you think you should've given me time to defend myself instead of suddenly stepping in?"

He opened his mouth to speak, but then shut it again. After a moment, he hesitantly started, "But Kagome – "

She shook her head, another sigh escaping her lips. "You should get back to resting, Kouga. The sooner you are healed, then the sooner we can hunt down Naraku." At that, she started walking down the road.

Not having a good response to that, the wolf demon followed the girl, wisely keeping his mouth shut.

Okay, chapter fourteen is done!

And until a few days ago, I was a bit unhappy with the amount of reviews I received for the last chapter. But then I saw how many people actually READ my story and check my profile - trust me, I had no idea how to do that before - and now I feel a bit better.

Read and Review anyways! I like talking to people, =) It gets lonely here sometimes, you know.

And for those who are not on Fanfiction! Just click the little button underneath this chapter that says "Review this Chapter/Story" and just tell me what you liked, what you thought was crap, or something completely irrelevant, like the colour of your toenails.

But bumble does not have a love for flamers.

Und wann sie sind von Deutschland oder Schwiiz, sag etwas! Mein deutsch ist nicht perfekt, aber ich kann fast alles verstehen!

Okay, bed time.

Love you all!

bumble, xxx.