Inuyasha looked grimly at the now-still wolf before him. He had seen this before. Wolves were howling in sorrow all around him, the firelight flickering on their grief-stricken faces. But he could tell that they had been through this before, too. Their sorrow was sincere, but not surprised. Kagome, on the other hand, was desperately trying to revive him. She had thrown herself on the ground next to him as soon as they reached him and was now clutching at his arms and shooting multicolored sparks at his chest. He pulled her up and she struggled against him but he held her firmly.

"There's nothing you can do. He was a life slave and his owner broke the bond. He probably gave up on finding him."

"That's what happens when you break a life bond? It literally takes your life away?" Kagome asked, turning to look at him with wide, shocked eyes. He nodded. Other wolves started to gather together to carry the body away. Kagome stood still, staring at them for a moment, then spoke again. "But all these wolves... did they all run away knowing that their owners could kill them at any moment?"

"No," Kouga answered, coming up behind them and surveying the proceedings. "They're not all life slaves. Some are more common."

"But the ones that are..." Kagome continued.

"They would rather live free for a couple weeks then get the luxury of death than live bonded for a full lifetime."

Kagome went silent again, and Kouga moved past them to lend his support. Inuyasha pulled her back, away from the crowd. She followed him stiffly.

"Are you ok?" he asked softly.

"Of course not." He nodded, and didn't know what else to say.

"What if... what if I bonded everyone to me?"

"You can only have three life bonds."

"Normal people can only have three life bonds. Who knows what I can do?"

Inuyasha looked at her eyes. They were serious, but also strained. He knew that she had expended a lot of energy today and that she'd poured out everything she had left trying to revive the wolf. He wanted to tell her to try bonding everyone tomorrow and rest today, but he doubted she'd listen. "You can try," he said finally. "But pick the first one carefully, in case you really can only bond three."

She nodded, clearly relieved to have a course of action, and called out to Kouga. He took a few moments, but finally separated himself from the group and came over.

"What's wrong? Do you need me to hold you?" Inuyasha suppressed his growl and settled for a glare out of respect for the situation.

Kagome simply brushed it off. "Who's the youngest life slave here? The one with the most life left to live?"

"That would be Shippo. Why?"

"Can you bring him?"

Kouga melted back into the crowd and returned swiftly with a small fox demon nestled in his arms. Kagome took him gently and cradled him to her chest. "This may feel a little weird," she said gently. Then she closed her eyes and took on the look of intense concentration that she had had each of the earlier times she tried this. Inuyasha watched closely and warily, not liking the way her hands were shaking this time. Shippo gasped, and suddenly Kagome's body went slack.

Inuyasha felt his heart stop. He immediately extended an arm to steady her, but she wasn't merely dizzy. Her whole body folded over his arm and he caught her with the other just before she hit the ground. Then he lifted her nervously, cradling her head and checking for signs of life. Pulse, check. Breathing, check. But she was pale. He tried to bat the kid away, but he dug his fingers into her arm and Inuyasha didn't have time to pry them loose. He took off towards Sango's hut to find her a place to lay down.

When he kicked open the door, Sango and some human male looked up.

"What happened?" Sango exclaimed, running towards him.

"A wolf got his bond cut. Kagome spent too much energy trying to help."

Sango nodded. "Not the first time that's happened. Which wolf...?"

"I don't know. But he's by the fire."

"I'll go there, then. Unless you need me here?" He shook his head. Sango nodded and pushed her way out the door, the man following closely behind. When they were gone, it was suddenly very quiet. Inuyasha carefully arranged Kagome in the bed, wrapping the covers tightly around her. The fox demon nuzzled in tightly, too. Inuyasha wished he hadn't come, but figured that something emotional must happen to demons when their life bond was switched. It certainly had to Kouga. Hopefully that at least would wear off.

He settled in on the floor next to her, leaning against the frame of her bed. Before he knew it, he had fallen asleep.

A/N: Oh, hey guys! Long time no see! What's that you say? It's my fault it's been a while? I'm a total slacker and you're mad at me now? Well...oops. Sorry. Hope this chapter makes you feel a little better.