Playing With Magic

Chapter 4: Painful Truths

The valley they were in was beautiful. The waterfall left the wonderful scent of rain in the air, but with Inuyasha's keen sense of smell she could smell the blood and death from their hunts. Sounds of ookami youkai talking and moving around both inside and outside the dens echoed in her head. Koga didn't seem to notice or mind as he stood completely still, watching all of his pack.

"He is the leader of the pack," Ginta explained, "he must watch out for all of us and give orders if he needs to. He is also the Prince of the Easter Lands."

He opened his mouth to explain but Akemi cut him off gently, "it's okay. I know all about the Taiyoukais."

Hakkaku stared at her open mouthed, "but not even Kagome knew about them."

"Brother knows," she said simply.

Only there a couple minutes and you are already talking about me, Inuyasha laughed in her mind.

Zip it, brother. You promised you would leave me be as long as I'm safe, Akemi reprimanded him.

"Ne, Koga brought another ningen," a man called out drawing everyone's attention.

Akemi shifted uncomfortably under all the stares. The scent of hunger and curiosity stung the air. A shiver danced down her spine, but she remained still. Koga looked at her before realizing she was masking her scent. She was scared and nervous, so she was hiding it to keep it from the ookamis. He had to hand it to her, she was brilliant.

"Akemi is a guest here," he called out to his pack, "treat her with respect."

"Come on Akemi," Hakkaku motioned for her to follow him, "I'll show you the den you will be sleeping in."

"Arigato," she followed along with him watching everything around her.

If Koga lets you even get a bruise from one of his pack, I'll kill him, Inuyasha hissed when he heard one of the ookami whisper about how delicious she looked.

Let it go brother, she told him firmly.

Hakkaku entered a cave and waited for her to follow suit. She sniffed the air sandalwood, musk and a slight hint of cinnamon mixed together, she knew this scent it was Koga's. She giggled, it would be so inappropriate but she wasn't going to complain. She wouldn't want to share a den with the other ookamis. There was only one bed of fur at the back of the cave and Koga's scent was so thick she could almost taste it.

"I hope you don't expect me to sleep in the same bed as Koga-kun," Akemi snickered.

"Well... I... I..." Hakkaku started to stutter, blushing furiously, "gomen, Akemi, gomen."

"I was joking, Hakkaku," she waved it off, "I'll talk to Koga-kun about it."

"Does it bother you to consider sleeping with our leader," a male asked from the opening, "any other would be honoured that he would allow such a thing."

"What does sleeping in that context mean," she asked walking outside and peering down at the other ookami who were listening to their conversation.

"I don't understand your question."

Akemi put her hands behind her back and linked them, "well, by sleep do you mean that act of sleep? Because where I'm from the way you said it, you asked me if it bothered me to consider coupling with your leader."

The dark brown haired ookami started at her with wide eyes, "the first one."

She laughed the sound ringing all around them, "gomen. Gomen, I do not mean any disrespect. I would not mind sharing the same bed as Koga-kun."

"Then why do you feel the need to talk to him about it?"

"He may have saved my life, but I still don't know him all that well. Where I'm from, allowing someone to share your bed is only between family and lovers."

"You come from an odd place," the ookami moved next to her, "my name is Keiichi."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Keiichi," she bowed gently.

"You are worried about sleeping in the same bed as a man, but you wear such inappropriate clothing, do you come from the same place as that other ningen Koga brought here?"

Her eyes shot down to her skirt and she realized the youkai below her could probably see her underwear. She quickly backed away from the edge, her scent was no longer being repressed and even she could smell her embarrassment.

"Hai, Kagome-chan and I are friends and come from the same village, I'll be right back," she dashed back into the cave, pushing Hakkaku out.

The men stood there blinking confused on what just happened. Seconds later, Akemi walked out in her normal miko outfit, her hakamas a very soft brown and her hair up in a high pony tail instead of the normal low.

"How many colours do you have," Hakkaku asked.

"All different kinds," she smiled, "I don't like wearing the same colour everyday. Colours reflect mood, so when I'm happy I wear bright colours, when I'm sad I pick dark colours, when I'm content I like soft colours."

"I never heard of that."

"Another miko," Keiichi took a step back, his foot going over the edge.

Akemi rushed to him and grabbed his hand, keeping him from falling. She pulled gently and helped him right himself.

"Gomen. I didn't mean to scare you," she blushed, "please be careful, I don't want you to fall."

"Arigato," he said in a clipped tone before rushing off.

"I suppose all youkai will react that way," she asked pointing over her shoulder.

"It's not uncommon," Koga stated from behind her.

She twirled in her normal graceful fashion, "I've already caused a commotion. Gomen."

"Do not apologize. I do not mind," he smiled at her.

She returned it in kind, "I do not wish to cause problems."

He seemed to ponder on it for a second before casually saying, "you are no problem. They will get used to the differences."

"Are you?"

"I'm not sure," the sparkle of mischief in his eyes didn't go unnoticed, "maybe you will have to teach me as well."

"What can this ningen teach the future Taiyoukai of the Eastern Lands?"

"For one, why do you still smell of Inuyasha even after two baths?"

"You noticed that did you? We are connected."

"How?"

"By our souls."

His whole body stiffened before he asked, "what does that mean?"

She reached out and gently touched his arm, the warm tingling feeling flaring in her finger tips, "let me think on how to explain it."

Just tell him to mind his own business, the hanyou scuffed.

Shut it, she snapped.

"You don't have to," a hint of jealousy in his voice.

"I was born different and so was Inuyasha. And I don't mean just because he is an hanyou and I'm a miko. Inuyasha has half of my soul and half of his own. I have half of his soul and half of my own. When I'm away from him for long periods of time, my soul is uneasy and depressed. I don't feel like a whole person. So, when I'm with Inuyasha, the longer I keep contact with him, the happier and more content my soul is.

It's rare, and we aren't sure if our souls will ever right themselves and we don't know what will happen if it does. But we can connect our minds. It allows us to be away from each other, and still help each other. Right now, our link is open, so any scent of him you smell is because of that."

His eyes narrowed suddenly, "what else can he see?"

Akemi stuttered, a blush rising to her cheeks, "well, if he wants to he can see everything I see. But he doesn't have to cause he can just look through my memories. Which he has seen every single one of and I have seen every single memory he has had. He can also hear everything we are saying if he is paying attention."

"Did you do this the whole time you were at home?"

"No?"

"Then why is he doing it now?"

Stupid flea-bag, as if I would fully trust you with my sister, he hissed.

"Want to know what he says," Koga nodded, "Inuyasha says that he doesn't fully trust you with me."

"Then why did he let you come?"

Like I have any control over what my sister does! If she wants it, she will do anything to make it happen.

"Because I'm stubborn and he knew I wanted to come, so he had no choice but to say hai."

"What did he have to say about the sleeping arrangements," Koga asked, letting her know he heard her conversation with Keiichi.

Akemi started shaking her hands franticly, "he wasn't listening!"

What wasn't I listening too, what does that ookami have in mind? Is he being a hentai, Inuyasha asked her.

In a panic she slammed the mental door shut, her blush flushing on her face, "you shouldn't have said that."

"Why not," Koga quirked up an eyebrow in curiosity.

"Because now he thinks you are being a hentai."

His smirk made her heart melt, his voice dipped low and husky, "what if I am?"

"I would have to say, give me some time," she smiled at him, making him freeze in shock, "I'd like to get to know you first. I do like you, but I want more then that."

She sauntered off down the cliff toward the river leaving the ookamis that heard her watching her in utter disbelief. People told her she was innocent. An innocent little girl, but she knew better then that. Ever since she met Blaise and watched him work his womanising ways, at least till he found himself chasing after a girl that wouldn't give, she learned that she was quite the flirt.

While her body remained innocent, she couldn't say the same for her mind. She liked flirting and she loved leaving boy's and men's jaws dropped in shock at the things she found herself easily saying. It was her flaw she knew, flirting to make herself feel better. But, she never was one to stop and think about things before saying them. Time was too important to worry over little things. And accidentally admitting she had a crush on Koga to his face wasn't something she could worry about.

Though, her tendency to flirt wasn't the only flaw she had. She was too stubborn, too nice and had too hot of a temper. It took a lot to anger her, but she always lost her cool when she was angry and said things she never meant. She was still childish, being fifteen, but being connected to a very childish hanyou all the time didn't help any.

Her biggest flaw was being too trusting. She always saw the best in people. Even Draco Malfoy who was one of the meanest and rudest boys in school, who treated everyone like they were lower then dirt. Not to mention she barely knew Koga, but here she was in his home as if they were the best of friends. Surrounded by a bunch of women and men ookami and not all of them looked friendly.

A hand wrapped hard around her upper arm and she was slammed into the mountains surface, her head connecting with the hard rock making stars dance behind her eyes. When she regained her sight, she found herself staring into the black orbs of a female ookami. Her teeth were bared and she was growling so lowly that Akemi could only feel it vibrating where her hand was bruising her ningen flesh.

"Stay away from Koga," she hissed through clinched teeth, "he is a youkai and you are a ningen. Know your place little girl."

With that said, the woman tossed her roughly forward. Her feet stumbled to try and catch herself, but her head was pounding and she couldn't see straight. With a startled cry, Akemi fell over the edge and plunged into the cold water of the river. The current of the waterfall began to drag her under and down stream.

"What just happened," Koga yelled, jumping down landing right where Akemi had just been.

"I didn't mean too," the woman began to shake.

"Where is Akemi," Hakkaku peered into the river, "I can't see her."

Ginta a few feet further down responded, "I don't see her either."

Akemi forced her legs and arms to move. Her head finally crested and she took in a huge gulp of air, treading the water. She had emerged from the water somewhere between Hakkaku and Ginta. Everyone was watching her, she hated that feeling. It was unnerving. She drove back under the water and resurfaced at the bank and pulled herself out. Quickly muttering a drying spell to keep her modesty, despite the fact that she had just been thrown in the river.

"Well, that was a wake up call," she laughed.

"Are you okay," Ginta approached her.

"I'm fine. I can swim, you know," she gestured to the river behind her, "I just had to wait for the current to let me go."

He pressed his fingers into her hair and hit the sore spot causing her to cry out in pain and back away from him.

"Gomen," he held his hands up.

"It's okay," she murmured touching the same spot he had before, "the pain will go away. It's just a bump."

"Even when you just got over a concussion?"

"Do you even know the meaning of that word," she asked seriously.

"No," he blushed.

"A concussion is a term for a bruise on the brain itself. It means that I hit my head to hard and my brain paid for it. But," she waved off his worry, "it happens a lot in ningens. Not so common in youkai because you heal so quickly."

Koga rounded on the woman behind him, "why did you attack her?"

"But.. I didn't attack her," she stuttered.

"If Ginta says there is an injury, it gives proof that you attacked her."

She continued to sputter and attempt to explain her actions. Koga lifted his hand and she closed her eyes prepared for the lesson of disobeying the leader. He started to follow through with the blow but was stopped with soft gentle fingers wrapping around his wrist just before the start of his arm band. His azure eyes snapped to the baby blue ones of the girl holding his wrist.

"Please, don't," she whispered pleading, "I never would have fallen in if I had my sight. But my eyes were blurry from hitting my head. It wasn't her fault, and besides I'm okay, see?"

"Akemi," he said in a hard tone.

"I know," she told him, "but you knew how different my view is, how different of a place I come from before you allowed me to step foot here. I understand that right now I'm toe-ing a very thin line, I know that I could even be punished for stepping in the way. I'm not afraid of that. I don't mind. I'll take my punishment.

But, please, Koga-kun do not strike this woman because of me. And if you can not accept the different ways in which I think, tell me and I will go back to my group. But, in my heart I can not allow you to harm her for something so simple."

His eyes narrowed at her, "you could have drowned."

"I very well could have. But, I'm sure she didn't mean to push me into the river."

"That doesn't matter, she placed her hands on you when she was told not to," Koga snapped, "why are you defending someone who has hurt you?"

Akemi took a couple steps back her hands falling to her side and anger heated her cheeks, "because everyone has hurt me! Everyone that I have ever met has done something or said something to hurt me. If I let that get to me, if I really let it get to me, I would be alone. I wouldn't be here. Miroku-sama, Sango-chan, Inuyasha, Shippo and even Kagome-chan has said something at least once that has hurt me in one way or another.

But that is ningen nature. We say things before we think, we act before we question. We hurt the people around us and get hurt, but we find it in our hearts to forgive each others act of cruelty, because everyone isn't always kind. Because not a single living creature in this world is perfect. To forgive is kindness that I can understand, have understood and needed in my own life to feel at peace with myself.

Do not tell me that I am being too kind. Don't tell me that I should close myself off to the ones that speak the rudest remarks and try to belittle me. Because I am little, aren't I? In your eyes. I'm a ningen, I'm nothing compared to the powers you have. I'm a miko that powers only work when I really need them, they refuse to be controlled and to top it off I'm a mudblood.

My best friends, the ones that say they care for me the most are the ones that always remind me of how dirty my blood is. How I can never be a great witch because my parents were non-magical. Brother reminds me that I'm not nearly as strong as I wish I could be. Kagome is proof that I'm a failure at my own miko powers. Sango shows that getting out of a battle almost completely uninjured is possible and yet I never seem to be capable of such things. And Miroku is impure purity, who's powers I could never match.

They all make me feel little, small, completely forgettable and pointless. They make me feel like I'm unneeded but they don't see that. They don't get the way they make me feel. So please, please don't take away what little I do have. The only piece of me that I have that no one has found a way to belittle is my kindness. So please, please don't strip that from me. Not here, not now. It's all I have left."

Her tears were hot on her cheeks and she was shaking. Her anger was fading and her sorrow was growing. As much as she loved being here, or at home, in both places everyone around her found a way to make her feel small, to make her feel like she could do nothing. Her already low self-esteem was fading rapidly. She brushed the tears away with her hands, trying to stem the tides.

"You really don't see just how strong you are," Koga told her.

"I really want to believe you, Koga-kun."

They stood there in silence, watching each other. Koga knew he should give punishment to the woman that had disobeyed him, knowing his father would disapprove if he didn't follow through. But, he was going to give Akemi her wish. He wouldn't hurt her, he wanted her to be able to boast that he was the only one to never hurt her, so he would try his hardest not to.

He was drawn to her, he wanted to know her. Something about her called to him, and he found he couldn't resist. Not that he wanted to after all. He was falling in love with her already, faster and harder then he fell for Kagome. But this time, he was going to woo her and win her heart before it could fall into the hands of another.

-x-

Koga had to do a quick border check leaving Akemi alone in the den. A small fire burned softly near the furs and she slipped quickly into a satin pink night shirt and pants. She crawled over and under the furs, they felt good on her skin and warmed her. Koga's scent smelt amazing. She relaxed her tense muscles and allowed herself to get comfortable.

Just moments before Koga had been there with her. They had been talking about the future and what it was like for Akemi. She loved telling him about being a witch and about her friends. Though, she wasn't sure if it was a good thing or bad thing that they were interrupted before she could explain to him what her relationship was with Blaise. She had grimaced when he asked her about it.

She felt guilty, but how could she even explain to him about the differences in relationships in the future. Or how she was seeing Blaise, but wasn't sure if he was the one for her in the first place. With her luck, he would think she wasn't a loyal person and would suddenly dislike her. Her heart tightened painfully in her chest, was she falling in love with the ookami prince?

As if he was answering her question, she felt the furs move. She turned over and opened her eyes. They were only a couple centimetres from being nose to nose. Neither were bothered by the closeness, it seemed natural. A smile stretched across her face in which he copied. She snuggled down further, placing her head against his chest, letting his chin rest against the crown of her head. She felt his arm drape across her hip, his fingertips brushing ever so gently against her lower back.

She knew he was topless, but she didn't have the nerve to find out if he had anything on his lower half. Her finger tips gently, lazily ran across the muscles making them bunch together and jump in response to her touch. His skin was soft, so very much like the satin clothing she wore. She wondered if his lips would be as soft as his skin. She shook her head gently trying to clear her thoughts.

They had only really known each other a total of five days, as it had taken four days to get to the dens in the first place. She knew a lot about him, from things he had told her. She knew though, that there was also going to be more to learn. It was common for people to fall in love more then once in their life, even more common to fall in love even after only one day of knowing said person. But she knew that ookami mated for life.

Even if they loved each other now, they needed to give each other time to make sure the love would last. Because this choice would effect their whole lives. Though, she couldn't deny that it felt right being here, in his den and in the circle of his arms. They had time.

"Are you tired," he asked her gently.

"Not really," she shrugged.

He made a soft humming noise in this throat, "I'm curious, what is courtship like in your time?"

Akemi giggled at the word, "we call it dating. In our time if a guy likes a girl, he asks her on a date or the girl can ask the guy. A date would be, taking the other out to do something simple, like a picnic where they can talk about who they are and things they like to get to know each other. If they like what they have seen so far, they ask for another date.

After a couple dates, or a couple moon cycles of getting to know each other, the boy asks the girl to be his girlfriend, or the girl asks the boy to be her boyfriend. Which in youkai ways it would mean that they like the person and want to continue to see each other, but haven't yet decided if they will make them their intended."

"Is there physical things involved?"

"Like affection," she asked, he made a affirmative noise and she continued, "it really depends on the person and how they were raised. Almost everyone is okay with simple affection, such as holding hands, hugging and kissing. But, then there are some people that believe lying with someone should wait until marriage and some believe having intercourse before marriage isn't a bad thing. Some people have multiple lovers, and others only ever have one.

Though, if my family or my friends' family from the future found out that I was laying here with you like this, they would be very irate even if we are just laying here. But, they would be upset because I'm young. Seventeen is the age of adulthood in my time and I'm just fifteen, soon to be sixteen."

He didn't say anything for a couple minutes before asking, "what is your thought on all of it?"

Akemi nuzzled his neck in an affectionate way that she knew inu youkais used, "my thoughts on affection? Well, you know that I hold hands and hug my friends. I have been kissed more then once, though only ever by one person. But, I am still a virgin and I've never been touched in a sexual way before. But, I believe I will wait for the right person to share in that kind of pleasure. It will feel right, I'm sure of it. I'll know when the time is right to allow someone to take my innocences from me. Because, right now I'm just not ready for that kind of thing yet," she blushed furiously.

"Who has kissed you," there was more then just a hint of jealousy in his voice.

"Blaise," she told him honestly, "he has a crush on me, and wants me to be his girlfriend."

His whole body stiffened against hers, "do you like him?"

She knew she had to tell him this, so that he would trust her. But, she was afraid that he wouldn't give her a chance to explain.

"Koga-kun," she murmured, "please listen. I do like Blaise."

If she thought his body was tense before it was beyond rigid now. His thoughts were bouncing around and angry. How could he fall in love again and end up in the same situation as with Kagome? How could fates truly be so cold hearted?

She pulled back and took his cheeks in her hands, forcing him to meet her eyes, "Blaise has been there for me since my first year in Hogwarts and I do like him. But, I couldn't accept being his girlfriend. I pride myself for being a loyal person and I knew that if I tied myself down to someone before really thinking it through I would feel guilty."

"Why," he asked gently.

"Because I liked you too, and I couldn't just say yes to Blaise without giving you a chance first."

"You like me," his voice became husky.

She smiled brightly at him, "you caught my attention that day on the battle field," her smile slid into a seductive grin, "in the last four days you have made me feel things that Blaise never has in the past four years."

The smile that spread across his lips melted her heart, forcing any thought of Blaise from her mind. He leaned forward and their lips touched. His lips were just as silky as his skin. Heat ignited through her body and all thought stopped. Her hands tangled themselves in his hair, loving the feel of it against her fingers.

His tongue tracing her lips caused her to gasp, allowing the appendage into her mouth. Her tongue gently searched every corner of his mouth, running gently across his fangs and dancing with his. He tasted like chocolate and cinnamon, sweet and spicy. She groaned and arched her back to press her body against his.

Her groan was echoed when he felt her body slide against his. His tongue battled hers trying to gain the upper hand She tasted like rain water and vanilla, pure and sweet. It left him wanting more, to taste more. His hand on her lower back pressed harder and pulled her completely against him. She mewled in happiness.

Akemi pulled back and leaned her forehead against his, their breaths coming in pants mixing together between them. Slowly her cloudy blue eyes opened to look into his. His azure orbs were darker, becoming a more sapphire like in colour, swimming with emotion and she knew then that he returned her feelings.

Maybe Inuyasha would allow Koga to travel with them this summer so she could get to know him better. She hadn't been lying when she said Koga had made her feel things that Blaise hadn't. She had shared many kisses with the dark skinned boy, but she had gained no pleasure or longing from it. And he had no taste to his mouth besides the food that he had previously consumed. His scent didn't comfort her or make her feel at peace.

Her body still burned a low fire from his kiss. Her emotions were all over the place, but she could feel the rapid beat of her heart, the butterflies in her stomach and the fog of pleasure that made it hard to think. There was no denying it, she was falling in love with the ookami prince.

-x-

A week and a half had passed. Every day was a better one as more and more of the youkai around her started to accept her. She had made many friends and among them just happened to be Keiichi. His fear of her had kept them at a distance but it seemed to be bridged when she offered to go hunting with him and helped him take down a bear.

During the day, she spent most of her time with Keiichi, Ginta or Hakkaku on watch duty and her evenings were spent with Koga. He would sit with her at dinner time and they would talk about anything that came to mind. She loved his sense of humour, he always knew how to make her laugh. Even more so she loved how easy it was to be around him how her soul that was so heavy and depressed during the day seemed to be calmed and happy in his presence.

Being without Inuyasha was torture. Her soul would scream and cry during the day, begging her to return to itself. It made it hard to concentrate on anything and often she went off to take a bath so she could cry her silent tears of anguish without anyone noticing. But, Koga always made her soul feel happy and content. Even just sitting near him made her soul stop crying and calm down.

She was in love with him, she knew that for sure. Every night she slept wrapped in the security of his arms after a long heated kiss. The feelings he provoked in her drove her crazy. She longed to be near him, she longed to kiss him, to get lost in him. His touch left heated flames under her skin, searing her with a pleasure she wasn't sure she understood.

When they kissed she would become lost in the sensations letting her instincts take over. He would always stop them, telling her he was losing control and if they kept up he wouldn't be able to stop himself. She always blushed furiously and pulled away. She really did love him, but she just wasn't ready yet and she was glad that he understood this.

Even if Koga had yet to tell her what he felt about her, Akemi knew. She had over heard him threatening Keiichi. The poor ookami had fallen in love with her too and Koga had been none to happy about it. Koga told Keiichi that Akemi was his. He wasn't aware that she had heard this as she had been to far away from him for a ningen to actually hear such low voices.

Kagome had told her once about Koga claiming her as his woman and how it had upset her and she had every right to be. People of the future just didn't do that kind of thing. But, to Akemi it was endearing. It must have been the inu youkai nature that was forming. Her actions, her voicing, her growls and her mannerisms were all born of inu youkai nature. She believed it was because of Inuyasha's memories, but it was so easy to slip into it as if she was born with such instincts.

Before she could think any further on the matter the sounds of arguing echoed into the cave drawing her attention. She had just returned from her bath and was in the middle of folding her night clothes. Quickly she placed the material into the backpack and slung the said object onto her back. She grabbed her katana that had been neglected the past weak and strapped it to her obi.

Her feet carried her quickly to the opening and when she looked down she easily spotted the bright red clothing amongst the brown of the ookamis. Everyone was on edge, she could feel and smell their tension. It would seem that even after all this time the pack still considered Inuyasha Koga's rival. A rival that their leader had yet to beat and to them it was disgraceful that the Prince hadn't bested the hanyou.

Without hesitation she cried out the silver haired man's name and jumped over the edge of the mountain. He easily caught her, her momentum forcing him to spin in a circle before he stopped and held her close to his chest.

"What the hell is wrong with you? You can't just jump like that! What if I didn't catch you," he scowled at the red haired woman-child in his arms.

"I knew you would catch me," she told him with such faith it stained his cheeks red, "am I coming back to the group now?"

Inuyasha ground his teeth together in irritation, this girl really had a death wish, "hai. I believe we have waited long enough."

Her smile spread wide and she kissed his cheek. She untangled herself from him and stuck her tongue out, "I missed you too."

"Feh, who said anything about missing you," his eyes narrowed but she could see in them that he truly did miss her but the proud man would never say such a thing.

"Whatever you say, brother," she chirped happily.

Furious whispers slipped through the ookami. The ningen had just showed affection to the hanyou in front of Koga. The ookami that had told his pack his intentions of wooing the girl and making her his mate if she agreed. He had even gone so far as to tell off all the males in the pack who looked at her with lust and want. But, hearing the ningen girl call Inuyasha her brother confused them all.

"Where are the others," Akemi realized they were no where to be seen.

"I left them at Kaede's village. Kagome decided to go home while I fetched you."

A gasp left her lips, but her eyes danced with mischief, "you mean you willingly let Kagome go home? What did you do, hit your head or something?"

He growled at her then and swung out to hit her. She jumped backwards, laughing gleefully, "now now Inuyasha, no need to get rowdy."

"I'll show you rowdy," he picked her up and threw her over his shoulder.

The air in her lungs left in a wheeze when her stomach connected with his shoulder. She braced her elbows on his back and laid her head on her palms. This was not the first time that he had done this when she was being a pest. She didn't mind really, the contact kept their souls at ease and it was fun picking on the silver haired man.

"Let's go," Inuyasha began walking toward the opening of the valley.

"Nani? Wait," she struggled against his hold, "don't I get to say goodbye. Inuyasha. Wait."

The hanyou growled when she continued to struggle against him. He didn't want to put her down. His soul had been driving him crazy. When she went home, his soul was sad, but it was easier to deal with. But, her being here in the past and not being near had hurt him far worse then he had ever experienced before.

"Stop struggling."

Akemi growled at him.

He merely returned it with one of his own before speaking to her in the ancient inu dialect that they both knew none of the youkai around them could understand, "I don't want to place you down. I have suffered enough the past two weeks."

The language to the ookamis sounded like a mix of barks, yips and growls. Even though they could speak to each other in such a form, the sounds inus make were much different then the ones they made. Usually youkai of different breeding spoke in the youkai language known to all, but each breed of youkai had their own language that only their kind could understand.

"You will not be suffering any longer," she replied the language sounded natural, even coming from her, "Inuyasha, may Koga-kun join us?"

"Nani," he snipped, "you want me to let that flea-bag come along?"

"Inuyasha, do not be so rude. It would please me greatly if Koga-kun could come along."

His body stiffened under hers, "he will keep you from me."

Akemi shifted and he set her down gently on her feet, "no, he will not. Inuyasha, I felt the pain of being separated from you as well. Do not think I felt nothing at your absence from my side. But, I love Koga-kun, Inuyasha. I really do. Please do not deny me the summer with him. Not when the future is so uncertain."

"Fine," he hunched over and looked visibly defeated.

"I apologize," she touched his arm bringing his eyes to look into hers, "please forgive me for using such tactics, it was wrong of me."

"But you spoke the truth," Inuyasha's voice was heavy with sadness.

"The truth it may have been, but it would hurt nonetheless," she shook her head, "I do not wish to bring you sadness, brother. I wish only for your happiness."

"You are the only one of us that thinks about what might happen after the jewel is complete," he told her, "the rest of us live in a dream world where we believe it would change nothing."

"Do not fret, brother," she smiled at him, "we will see this through and together we will know what the future holds. For now, we should think of the present and live naïvely allowing ourselves to live in hope that nothing will part us."

He nodded at her, choosing to say nothing more. Her hand clinched into fists at her sides. She was the only one that thought about the possibility of never being able to return once the jewel was complete. It weighed so heavily on her heart because she never wanted to be parted from her brother or her friends. Now even more was at stake.

Pushing away the thoughts she walked back over to Koga a beautiful lazy smile spreading across her face at the sight of him, "Ano... Koga-kun."

"Hai," he glanced down to the girl standing before him.

It was weird seeing her talk that way with Inuyasha. The barks and yips sounded as if she really was a inu youkai. But it was even weirder to hear her talk in such a formal way. She never talked formally, always joking and laughing, living happily in her youth but in that moment when he saw the look pass across her face she looked far older, as if she had lived centuries instead of years.

"I know that you are the leader here," she shifted uncomfortably when her nervous blush flushed her face, "but I was wondering if maybe you would like to join us for the remainder of the summer."

He startled not having been prepared for such a question, "you want me to join you?"

"It wouldn't be long. I'm only here for another two and a half moon cycles," she finally met his eyes, "but, Inuyasha agreed that you may come if you like."

"Is that what you were talking about," his curiosity getting the better of him.

"Hai," she nodded waiting for his answer.

Koga didn't like the look on her face. Her eyes were hardened and hidden behind a layer of ice. The dark orbs looked like a bottomless pond as her pupil had grown dramaticly and only a small ring of blue was visible. Her eyes usually looked like the sky and during their moments of intimacy they clouded over into a grey-blue storm, but never had he seen her eyes this way.

Her whole face showed no emotion at all. Like she was trying to hide from him in hopes to not influence his answer. If he left his pack, his father would hear of this. His father would hear that his son was intending to take a ningen mate and had left the pack in someone else's hand simply to attempt wooing her. Father would believe he was dishonouring him, Taiyoukais didn't take ningen mates,it was almost unheard of and those who did were thought to be weak and killed off.

He would be punished for his choice, "I will join you. I have matters to attend to first. I will catch up when I am finished."

Koga couldn't bring himself to regret his decision when the ice melted, her eyes glowed with happiness and a smile spread widely across her face.

"Arigato!"

She proceeded to say goodbye to everyone she had befriended then headed to Inuyasha to begin their trek back to Edo. She knew that he would carry her there, it would take less time. Koga, Ginta and Hakkaku had let her walk the whole way here which was why it had taken four days. Being carried would take only one day and to Inuyasha, time was everything.

-x-

Akemi let out another bout of giggles. She was currently riding on Inuyasha's back, his hands hitched under her thighs holding her in place while her arms draped around his neck. The air whipped against her face as the hanyou sprinted in another burst of speed to overtake Koga. The dark haired youkai merely laughed and picked up his pace.

The two had been racing since Koga caught up to them. It hadn't helped that the ookami had insinuated that Inuyasha was slow and now that hanyou was bound and determined to prove him wrong. Her giggles turned into a squeal of delight when she finally caught sight of Edo. Inuyasha glared at her for creating such a loud noise so close to his ears.

She tugged one of the silver triangles before gently rubbing it with her finger nails. He liked it when she did that, but he was to prideful to say such a thing. It was embarrassing that he found joy in such a stupid act. She didn't seem to mind though, never saying anything demeaning against him about his inu nature.

Their group of friends stood just outside the edge of the village waving. They exchanged a curious glance when they noticed Koga with them. Akemi dislodged herself from Inuyasha when he came to a stop and she threw herself into Kagome's arms. Once again she was passed to each in turn, enjoying the home coming.

"This time," Akemi smiled, "I'm here to stay."

"I hope you don't mind me asking," Sango said, "but what is Koga doing here?"

Koga smirked, "I was invited."

"Really," Kagome looked between Akemi and Inuyasha, "you are okay with this?"

"Akemi had a point," he shrugged.

"Which was," Miroku asked.

"Nothing," she blushed furiously, "nothing at all."

Inuyasha smirked, "if she won't tell you, it's not my place."

Koga glanced at the blushing girl causing the red shade to deepen, "well.. I need to talk to Kaede-sama so I'll be right back."

They watched the girl dash off, the only one knowing why she had reacted that way chuckled at her antics. She wasn't ready for Koga to know the extent of her feelings just yet and Inuyasha knew it. It would be a great way to tease her.

Akemi didn't let her pace slow until she reached the fields. Kaede was obviously in her hut as she was absent from the herb garden. She pushed open the bamboo covering and entered finding the older woman in the middle of grounding up some herbs.

"It is good to see ye, child," Kaede smiled.

"It's good to be back," she sat down gracefully across the fire pit from the elder miko.

They sat in silence as Akemi tried to gather her thoughts. Her eyes stared blankly at the steady hands mashing the herbs into a paste.

"Is there something bothering ye," Kaede noticed the tension in her body.

"Kaede-sama," she began, "I have only used the blood magic with Inuyasha seven times. The last time we kept the link open for four days, while we had never kept it open for more then a few hours. After I closed the link, I noticed something strange."

The herbs were abandoned and the elder gave her, her full attention, "go on."

"Usually right after the link is closed all of the abilities I receive from Inuyasha disappear. But it's been over a week and a half and it seems my sense of smell, hearing, taste, sight and even touch has intensified. It's much stronger now then even when I'm connected to Inuyasha."

"That is not it," it was a statement of fact.

"No, no it's not. My instincts are strong," she said, "the instincts of a inu youkai. I can speak in the ancient inu dialect that I have never seen or heard, not even in Inuyasha's memories. I know all the affections every sniff, every lick, every nuzzle, I can tell what their meanings are without being told. I have also begun to think the way they do. I identify Inuyasha as pack."

"It is possible that ye soul in Inuyasha is that of a inu youkai. It is also possible that ye are actually a part of Inuyasha's pack. Did ye ever know ye parents?"

"No, they died when I was young."

"Have ye thought that maybe ye family was youkai? It is possible that someone of Inuyasha's family lived that long and decided to have a child."

"You mean... that my parents could have been youkai?"

"It would not be a surprise."

"But I'm a miko."

"Maybe," Kaede said thoughtfully, "there is hope that mikos and youkais will find peace together. I have never heard of the two mating before. Who knows what could come of such a bond."

"It is possible then that I am a descendant of Inuyasha's pack?"

"It is true that Inu No Taisho's brother still lives."

"Where?"

"In a land far across the ocean."

Akemi sucked in a breath, she was born in America. It was all fitting together way to well. Panic filled her being and she had to struggle with herself to remain sitting.

"I was born in a land we call America, on the other side of the world," her voice was tight as a lump in her throat built.

"All the more possible then."

"I'm scared," she whispered.

"It's to be expected child," Kaede laid her withered hands on her shoulders, "ye must face this."

"I know."

Everything she had even known was being turned upside down again. Her whole life she was just a miko who failed to control her powers, a mockery. Then at eleven to find out she was a witch, she had been excited and scared all at the same time. At magic she excelled, she was in a lot of advanced class and enjoyed it, but mocked for being a muggle born. Now it was more then likely she was a inu youkai, would she be mocked for this too?

Tears poured freely and dripped quietly onto the dark red hakamas. Fate was being cruel to her. Why couldn't she be normal? Why couldn't she have a break? Would she ever be able to be accepted? She knew her friends here would accept her as a youkai, but would the ones in the future? After all, magical creatures were treated poorly by witches and wizards.

She prayed that Koga would still like her once her soul righted itself. Her future was now much to unstable for her comfort. Fear clutched her heart and a sob ripped itself from it cage in her throat. She sat there, completely unmoving as the sobs slipped from her lips and the tears fell from her eyes. There was too much sorrow to be able to suppress it.

Inuyasha was in the hut in a flash and he wrapped the girl in his calming embrace, "what the hell happened?"

Kaede shook her head telling him it wasn't her place to tell him. Inuyasha gathered the shaking girl in his arms and walked out of the hut. The group stood anxiously watching the girl in the hanyou's arms. The man passed her to Koga, who easily accepted her, but he looked curiously up at Inuyasha. Pack never left other's to comfort one of their members.

Akemi seemed to calm immediately, pressing her face into Koga's neck and inhaling his scent. Her sobs stopped but the hot tears continue to drip steadily.

Kagome looked to Inuyasha, "she calmed so quickly."

"She has a connection to him, much different then the one to me," Inuyasha told her, keeping his voice low so neither of the ones they were speaking about could hear.

"Inuyasha must be speaking of the love that is shared between them," Miroku offered, "youkai often find the scent of the one they love as a blanket that calms them."

"Isn't it a bit soon to fall in love with someone," Sango asked.

"No," Kagome shook her head, "but it is too soon for Akemi to act on it, I know her. She falls quickly and easily, but she is hesitant about committing. She will wait to make sure because Koga is an ookami and they mate for life. She wouldn't want to give him false hope."

They waited patiently for Akemi to completely calm down in the clearing around the well. Koga had yet to let go of her. He sat against a tree with her curled on his lap and the others sat around in a large circle about them. Finally she moved, turning so her back was pressed against his chest and looked out at her worried friends.

"I should have told you when I arrived that things have become difficult in the future," Akemi bowed her head with a sigh.

"What do you mean," Kagome asked.

"Many years ago there was a dark wizard who hated muggles. He hated muggles so much that he hated any witch or wizard that had a muggle in their family. He hated people like me the most, as I was muggle born which means both my parents were non-magical. He thought he would do the wizarding world a favour and kill everyone that wasn't pure-blood.

Many people rose up to fight him, but none were able to kill him. That was till he heard a prophecy that spoke of a boy that would be his equal, that would rise up and defeat him. Tom Riddle was scared of such a thing, so he looked for the boy. Harry Potter was hardly even one years old before he was found.

His story is so largely told, as The-Boy-Who-Lived. Tom Riddle went there to kill him, but his mother stood in the way and died to protect the child she loved so much. Her love, stronger then any magic protected Harry when Riddle tried to use the killing curse on him like he had his mother. The curse turned on Riddle and stripped him of his living body, but his soul continued to live.

So many years passed and everyone was sure he would never return. That he was gone from the world but such was not the case. At the end of the school year, Harry and I were competing in the final challenge of the Triwizard Tournament. Krum was being controlled by someone so I pushed Harry to the goblet that would let him win and I took the full blunt of Krum's attack. But, we found out later that the goblet took Harry off to see Riddle.

He used the boy's blood to bring himself back to life. Now the Dark Lord has returned and he will be fully intent on doing what he failed to do so many years ago. My world is in danger, and maany people will die because of this. It is a war that I will be fighting in," Akemi told them.

"You mean that boy there with you when we picked you up," Kagome gasped.

"That is Harry Potter, Hai. The one that is suppose to rise up and kill the man we know as Lord Voldemort. Harry is my age," she told Kagome, "I can not let him go into this fight alone."

"What about the others, will they help," Inuyasha asked.

"I'm sure Ginny will, Hermione and Ron are Harry's best friends, they would never leave him defenceless. But it is more then likely that I will have to fight Draco and Blaise," she felt tears sting her eyes.

"Why," Koga asked her, his breath warming the skin on her neck.

"Their parents follow the Dark Lord," she said quietly, "the boys would do anything to make their parents proud even if that means following Voldemort. Even if that means having to kill me because I'm one of the few Slytherin that isn't evil."

She felt his growl vibrate against her chest. Inuyasha was also showing his disgust and anger by baring his teeth.

"Why are you their friends if you knew something like this could happen," Miroku asked.

"It's not their fault they were born into the families they were," she smiled weakly, "they can't be blamed for the way they were raised."

"I admire your bravery," Sango told her.

"I'm not brave," she sighed, "Kaede proved that."

"What did you talk to her about," Shippo bounced into her lap looking up at her.

"Another thing I should have said," she pulled the boy into her arms but continued to watch his face, "after the link between Inuyasha and I closed I realized something startling. My senses all five of them were much stronger then even when I was connected to him. They continue to grow everyday."

"You mean," Kagome sat forward expectantly, "that your souls might be righting themselves?"

"We don't know," she looked down at the ground, "but Kaede is convinced that the other half of my soul is inu youkai."

"Nani," Koga's shocked voice made her jump.

"I thought it was odd," Akemi shifted further back against him, "but it makes sense now. All the things I know, all the knowledge I have of inu youkais that Inuyasha doesn't. The way I can speak in the ancient inu youkai dialect that I have never heard before. And the way that my instincts tell me that Inuyasha is pack."

"You feel it too," his eyes widened.

"It would seem that Inu No Taisho's brother is still alive," Akemi sighed heavily, "and he resides in America."

"But that's where you were," Kagome gasped.

"Yeah, that's where I was born. Kaede believes that is why I identify Inuyasha as pack, because I am actually born of his blood line, just as a cousin then as a sister."

"How would your soul became sealed within Inuyasha," Shippo piped up.

"Youkai aren't accepted in the future, it's possible with magic that they sealed away my soul, not knowing it would come all the way here. The magic probably just picked someone in my pack that was the most likely for me to meet."

"If you do get your soul back, will you change," Koga curiously asked.

"Maybe in appearance," Akemi turned to look at him, "but none of my emotions or personality will change."

He smiled at her, leaning back content with her answer. He didn't care if she was youkai or not. He loved her just how she was and it wasn't going to change. He would be there for her, he could tell that she was having a hard time coming to terms with the thought of being a youkai. She would need him there to give her confidence.