Kagome looked at herself in the mirror, the bruising was a stark contrast against her normal skin. They were large, blotchy, and a reminder of that she almost died the other night.

She wasn't afraid of death, per say. She was more afraid of what would happen to the others, especially the situation she had been in where the alpha had been a threat towards those she cared about. That included Jackson and Lydia.

Her eyes followed up to the small bandage on her brow. Scowling lightly, she hated the fact that she would have keep her abilities from speeding up the healing process. No, she had to heal like a regular person. Not that there was anything wrong with being normal, but sadly, she had gotten so used to having her abilities that, they had somewhat become a crutch. Well, time to get better at doing things the normal way.

It would involve hard work, and it wouldn't be easy, but the results leave her far better prepared and able to defend her and the others should anything happen again. But that would have to wait until she was alone, because she didn't need others that didn't know about her abilities, to catch her doing things she shouldn't be able to do so soon after she had been tossed around so roughly.

Lifting the collar of her turtle neck back up, she stepped back and walked out of the bathroom. Only, she didn't get very far, her aunt had wrapped her up in a fierce hug.

"It's okay aunt Mel, I'm still here and alive." she brought up her hands and hope to give the arms around her a comforting squeeze.

"I know, but it's the fact that might -not- be is the thing that still has me upset. I'm just surprised that your mom is letting you stay here after everything that's happened so far, that she's been nothing but calm and patient."

Her and her mother had an understanding, that weird things were bound to happen around her, no matter where she was. Though when she had been put on the phone, her mother had been rather upset that she was once again involved with something dangerous. Dangerous and supernatural.

She had explained as best as she could, that she wasn't really involved, but that Scott was and that she was doing her best to make sure he stayed safe until he could figure things out for himself and protect himself. While her mother was proud of her for taking care of family, she had also made Kagome promise that she not do anything foolish or dangerous.

It wasn't a promise she could really keep, but she promised to do her best and -try- not to do anything too foolish or dangerous.

Though Souta had taken control of the conversation as soon as he heard that she was involved with the supernatural all over again. Though he had sobered up when he heard how close to home it was this time around and that they didn't know who the killer was. She had kept the fact it involved werewolves, that her cousin was now one as well and that a certain main suspect that she was interacting with was also one. Or the fact that Scott's girlfriend... ex-girlfriend... whatever she was right no, was the daughter in a family of hunters, with said hunters hunting down werewolves, which Scott now was.

"You okay Kagome?"

Shaken out of her thoughts at her aunt's worried voice, Kagome turned her head to look at her from over her shoulder, hiding the wince of pain. Those bruises were going to be a major pain in the ass. Offering her aunt a soft smile, she decided it was best to answer her question with the truth.

"Yeah, just thinking about the phone call home the other day. Mom was concerned, but she is happy that I'm alright, as well as Scott and the others. Souta is being a typical little brother and asking for all sorts of gifts from America. And Grandpa is being... Grandpa and calling all the shrine guests that he doesn't like demons."

"Your mother is pretty amazing. If I were in her situation, I would have demanded that Scott be on the first available place home."

"Yeah, she really is. Oh, she also said to be prepared to receive a care package from Tokyo soon!" she smiled brightly at the thought of all the things she could be getting. As long as it wasn't Ramen, then she would love whatever she got from them.

With that she moved out of her Aunt's hold and made her way towards Scott's room, she could feel Stiles was in there as well. Knowing Stiles the way she did, she knew he was there to try and cheer Scott up with another hair brained plan of his. But she wanted to talk to them first.

"Hey boys, what's up?"

Her lips twitched in amusement as Stiles jumped up and tried to hide a liquor bottle under his jacket. Biting down on her lip, she watched as he tensed when he realized it was only her, and not her aunt. So when he let out a relieved sigh, she went neutral and raised a brow.

"I hate it when you guys do that! How is it possible -you- can do that to begin with? You're not even a werewolf!" the last bit came out as a hissed, whispered shout... if that was even possible.

"What if I was actually trained by a... ninja?" Sango was no ninja, but the skills of a ninja, to her, were below a slayer. A slayer went up against far more dangerous foe.

"Yeah right. You getting training from a ninja." he paused for a moment and really looked at her, his eyes narrowing slightly before they widened and his brows shot up.

"Were you seriously trained by a ninja?!"

Lifting a brow, she lifted her nose in the air with a huff and looked off to the side casually. "I can't really tell you that. I've already spoken too much."

"I knew you weren't trained by a ninja. Unless you were saying that just to confuse me and you really were." his brows furrowed for a second. "But then again, you could have said that, knowing it would confuse me, thus making me think you were trained by a ninja, only to prove you weren't. But a true ninja would know that, so you -must- have been trained by a ninja!"

"So which is it?" Scott's sudden question was most likely the only thing that had stopped Stiles from continuing on the way he was.

"Huh?"

"Which is is? Was she trained by a ninja or not?" he asked going along with it because it was rather amusing, but he was was actually curious himself. Was this a part of Kagome's past that she had promised to tell him, but wanted to wait until the alpha problem was settled? If she was, it would explain a few things that she showed she was able to do that others couldn't do unless they had the training.

"Uh... she... was trained by a ninja?"

"Why does that sound like a question?"

"Didn't you know it's rude to answer a question with a question?"

Both boys turned towards her, forgetting the topic of their current conversation was still there with them. She giggled lightly, trying to keep from jarring her upper body too much while doing so. She would honestly say, it was nice. The atmosphere around her cousin was no longer so down.

"As for the answer to your question, I was... indeed trained by a ninja. Well... she wasn't exactly a ninja, but I consider her style far more proficient that that of a ninja."

"That must be why you're still alive after your encounter with the alpha."

"Could be, but we'll never know unless we find out who the alpha really is." Kagome shrugged her shoulders, wincing slightly when the move pulled on her still sore and healing muscles.

"Speaking of which, how are you doing? I thought your abilities helped heal your wounds quicker?"

"They do, but everyone pretty much saw me with these bruises and such. I really don't want to have to explain why they healed quicker then they should have. But other than that, I'm doing fine." moving over to her cousin's bed she sat on the end of it, while Stiles took up a spot in Scott's desk chair.

"I also heard your mom was told everything. How is it you're not already packed and ready to leave for Tokyo."

Letting out a sigh, Kagome ran a hand through her hair, figuring now was as good as any to start sharing her own past and experiences. "When I started jr. high, I was pretty much dragged into a situation that was nothing but supernatural."

"Are you saying this is a supernatural situation?"

Leaning back on a arm and looking over towards Scott, she had to raise a brow at his question. "And you think turning into a werewolf isn't?"

"She's kinda right there, buddy."

"As I was saying, I was dragged into the supernatural. But it was different than this one, but also not so different."

"That didn't make any sense."

Rolling her eyes, she turned back towards Stiles. "If you'd let me explain, it will in a minute. Like Scott's, mine had a bad guy that was killing people and trying to get me to... join his side, so to say. But that's were the similarities end. Because, unlike Scott, my abilities were easier to learn how to control, I had a group who understood the situation and needed to stick with each other to help stop the bad guy. After a while of me... being kidnapped, assassination attempts, and me being the target in general, I had enough. So despite the others saying they would continue to protect me, I forced them to teach me."

"Sango, my best friend and the one who I saw as above a ninja, trained me hand to hand combat, as well as how to handle a blade."

"You mean like a sword!? You actually know how to use a sword?! That is so sweet... and also hot."

Both cousins shot Stiles a look, Scott's reading more of a 'back off', Kagome's was more dead pan than anything. It was a rather typical Stiles reaction.

"As I was saying, I had my best friend teach me that. Another, who also had spiritual powers help me further understand my own and how to harness and use them in as many ways as possible. And as a result of all that, an... ally of ours also decided to help me. I was pretty fierce back then, sadly, I slacked off in the last two years." she pouted at the thought, and then shivered of what would happen if Sesshoumaru ever got word what just happened.

He would most like look down on her or force her to go through all that training. Again.

"Wait. So what was the differences between your best friend's training, and this ally of your's?"

"Sango, while she was quick and stealthy, her strong point was using the heavy weight of her weapons, and that of her enemies against them. Our ally, now he had been all about speed and precision. So much so, he could put a doctor to shame."

"I don't get it. Put a doctor to shame?"

"One of his teachings... know your enemy. Not just mentally... but physically as well. I really don't have to explain -that-, now do I?" she really hoped she didn't have to.

"I don't get it. As soon as mom got the call about asking if you could live with us, she had searched online for anything remotely similar to the reasons why. But... she didn't find anything."

Nibbling on her lower lip, Kagome sheepishly looked away. She had really hoped that she had finished explaining a very short summary of her past to the two of them, but no. Scott had to bring up -that- bit and ask why.

"What aren't you telling us?" Scott's tone was curious, but also slightly demanding.

So, letting out a sigh, and gave the two of them a hard look, trying to relay the seriousness of the situation. "What I'm about to tell you must remain an absolute secret, do you understand me?"

They both nodded their heads, Stiles a little more eagerly than Scott, but then both leaned in on her to hear the answer.

"Okay, just, don't laugh. The reason there wasn't anything about it in the news is because... it all happened before there even was the news. About five... centuries before." she trailed off slightly at the end, blushing slightly at their intense stares.

"Did you just say... five centuries -before-?"

"Wait... isn't that, five hundred years ago?"

"Yes."

"Your family is... so cool! You're a werewolf, and your cousin has kick ass powers and traveled through time?! I'm just happy I can be your friend. Although, you shit is invading my life Scott, and as much as I want to ignore a problem until it goes away, the alpha isn't really going to do that."

Kagome couldn't help but blink, not exactly expecting -that- reaction. She woodenly turned towards Scott, needing to see what his reaction was, to put a sense of reality on things. Stiles did have a way to turn serious situations somewhat surreal.

Scott seemed to have ignored Stiles' reaction altogether and was staring at her. With wide blinking eyes.

"Traveled through time?"

"You're a werewolf and my teachers were a slayer, perverted monk and an lord assassin. There's pretty much nothing I don't see as impossible anymore these days." she shrugged her shoulders. "Think about it, there was nothing in the news, nothing what-so-ever about some of the things my mom told yours. And trust me, if anything I went through happened in Tokyo or near Tokyo, it would have been in the news."

"How sure are you?"

"I helped bury hundreds of people in the span of the first eight months. I'm pretty sure if I did that after school, it would have been in the news."

Her somewhat harsh tone seemed to have brought the mood down once again, as they seemed to actually believe that. And with that, they understood that what she said about her ability to time travel must also be real.

"What was it like, in the past?"

"As a whole, different. Everything was freer, cleaner, and far more wild. Every day was a gift, because with me and my group, the next day wasn't a guaranty. There was nothing modern, save for the few things I brought with me. There was no way I was going to travel for days on end without bathing, among other things."

"Other things?"

"Stiles, if you have to ask me that... you haven't paid enough attention to health class." she raised a brow in his direction, waiting for realization to kick in. She wasn't disappointed.

His face went through a series of expressions, first realization, disgust, understanding, disgust and then embarrassment. In fact, he was having problems looking her in the eye now that he knew what she was talking about.

Shaking her head, Kagome shared a bit more, before finally letting Stiles do what it was he came here to do. So with a quick farewell, and telling them to both watch each others back and to be extra careful. The full moon was tomorrow, and already she could sense a slight change in Scott.

Knowing her aunt was a work, Kagome went straight to her room. She wasn't all that surprised to see Derek Hale sitting in the corner chair waiting for her.

"I take it you heard everything." it was a statement, and they both knew it.

So instead of answering her, Derek stood up and made his way towards her and pulled down the cloth of her turtleneck hiding the bruising that was wrapped around her neck.

"Not everything, but enough." when he looked up, having assessed her wound long enough, his lips twitched at his next question. "Time travel?"

"Hey, never said I was your average school girl." shrugging her shoulders, couldn't help but smirk.

"I hardly think after all that, you can still consider yourself a girl."

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were flirting with me." if only her experience in love were any better, she might tell that he actually was.

Derek simply raised a brow and watched as she moved towards her closet and start changing into a set of more comfortable clothing, obviously not at all put off that he was in the room with her. Either she was totally at ease with him, which he didn't mind, or she had grown far too used to being around males with no real sense of privacy, something that didn't sit well with him.

Seeing that she was struggling with her top, he unconsciously moved forward and helped her. Once again, he realized that she was at ease with his presence and didn't say anything against his aid.

When the shirt was removed, he got a first look at her back. It was covered in a rainbow of bruises, covering the scars he had seen the first time they had been in a similar situation. The darkest ones were the ones at the back of her neck, in the shape of the alpha's hands. One on the back, the other at the front.

He had no idea he had been growling, until Kagome spoke up.

"No need to be upset, they'll heal soon enough." with that said, she slipped the looser shirt on, letting the hem fall to her knees before she slipped out of her jeans and into some old shorts.

Her legs were no better. One ankle sported such a bruise, he was surprised she was able to stand and walk on it. There was also light claw marks on the same leg down her entire calf.

"It's a wonder your still alive."

"You're about the... nth person to say that to me. I'll have you know, I got my own hits on the alpha as well. Only, his wounds will look more like burns. Problem is, I don't know if they're healed already or not. Werewolf healing and all that." she casually shrugged her shoulders once again.

A comfortable silence fell over them, that is until Kagome remembered that he had gone through his own against the alpha, had nearly died because of that. "How about yourself? Your wound was far more serious than mine."

"Werewolf healing and all that."

Kagome narrowed her eyes as he playfully tossed her words back at her, ignoring the flutter in her chest because of the smirk he wore. Rolling her eyes, she grabbed the closest thing next to her, which happened to be her pillow, and tossed it at him. She ended up scowling when he caught it with ease, that wasn't exactly what she had hoped would happen.

With a huff, she crossed her arms over her chest and turned away from him. "Jerk. Last time I show concern for you."

The sound of her pillow hitting her in the side of the head, a startled cry that was followed by her falling at the sudden weight unbalancing her. Floundering about, she finally managed to get the pillow off her face and sit up, only to blink wide eyes at a smirking Derek Hale. Narrowing her eyes once again, she decided it was in her best interest to clutch her pillow to her instead of throw it back at him.

"You're really pushing it. I show you concern and you act like a smart ass. I reprimand you, and you toss it back at me." curling up on herself, she was reminded of how Inuyasha would scoff and belittle her whenever she worried over him. It was only natural to worry for an injured friend.

Did she even consider Derek a friend? Furrowing her brows, she decided to think it over, in the midst of completely ignoring Derek for the time being.

Derek, could scent the hurt and anger coming off of her, and all due to the full moon being tomorrow, making her scent somewhat bittersweet, with a hint of something spicy. Like all werewolves, the closer it was to the full moon, the more heightened their scenes were.

Ignoring the warm spicy scent, though it took everything he had, he moved forward and sat on the free space at the foot of her bed. He honestly hadn't meant to hurt her.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you."

"Yeah, yeah. Men and their pride and all that. Does it really make you weak if you admit you were hurt? Sheesh, it's almost as bad as trying to get a guy to admit their lost and ask for directions." Kagome plucked at her pillow, admitting, if only to herself, that her reaction had been a little over the top.

She looked up towards Derek when he bumped her lightly on the shoulder with his own. Blinking for a second, she felt herself blush and put her pillow up to put a a barrier between the two of them. "Don't try and use puppy eyes on me! You're a man, act like one!"

Sadly, she didn't realize or understand the words she had just said, her mind still trying to stop itself from malfunctioning when she had realized how close he had been. Derek, he had heard her loud and clear, and acted on them.

Kagome gasped when her world tilted and her mind quickly supplied her with a few interesting facts. First, she was no longer sitting up right, but was now on sprawled out on her bed. Secondly, her pillow barrier, and a poor one at that it seemed, was no longer in her grasp. Third and lastly, a Derek Hale was hovering over her.

Derek on the other hand was taking Kagome in. The way her hair haloed about her head, the moonlight that seeped into her room making parts of it shine with silvery blue highlights. It also made her pale skin seem to glow and bring out her features, like those kissable lips of hers. And her eyes, those wide, deep blue eyes, seemed to shine with a silver light from within.

Returning to her lips, he watched the way she panted slightly, a near silent groan escaping him as her tiny pink tongue darted out and swiped the full bottom lip. He leaned down closer, hearing her heart increase to such a point, that his eyes darted to her exposed neck, easily making out the wildly beating pulse in the small amount of moonlight.

Following his instincts, he leaned down into the space between her shoulder and neck, brushing his nose up her racing pulse and groaning at her natural scent. Though he growled lowly when he picked up traces of the alpha's scent still lingering on her, his instincts seemed to be in control as all sense of self, disappeared as soon as he opened his mouth and took his first taste of her.

He growled contently when she let out a low moan as he swiped his tongue up her neck. She tasted so sweet, with a sharp spicy undertone, and while he knew that now wasn't the time, he couldn't help himself. Following up her neck again, he nipped at her earlobe, very much enjoying the way she gasped and squirmed beneath him. From the way she reacted to his touches, she had never been with a man, which very much pleased him, meaning he was her first. And he wanted to be her first, and only, in everything.

With that in mind, he went for her lips. Those full, soft looking, passionate and pliable appendages that got them in the situation they were now in. Without a second thought, he dove in and molded her lips to his own. While she was hesitant, he softened the kiss until she finally returned it.

Soon enough, he was swiping his own tongue over her lower lip, but she refused to allow him into that sweet mouth of hers. Opening his eyes, he saw that she her own were open, and he could feel her lips curve up in a smile as she continued to deny him entry. So, taking on a new tactic, he nipped at her lips, earning a gasp to which he used to slip his tongue in past her lips.

The instant their tongues met, her eyes slid shut as her hands rose up so her fingers could comb through his hair. A near purr like growl rumbled in his chest as her fingernails scraped against his scalp, where his own hands took hold of her hips. He twined his tongue around her own, suckling on it, forcing her to take part in the kiss, pulling her closer as he swallowed her moans. When she tried to move away for air, he kept her in place for a minute more before he knew she couldn't go any longer and moved to the other side of her throat.

Kagome panted heavily when he finally released her, swiping her tongue over her abused lips and still able to distinguish Derek's own personal taste. She let out a soft cry when she felt Derek begin to suck at a tender spot of where her shoulder and neck met. Somewhere in her mind, she knew she'd have a large love bite when he was through. She got the feeling, that -that- was exactly what he wanted, and somehow, she didn't seem to mind.

She let out a pained hiss when he nipped at her earlobe. Not from what he had been doing, but because her back had automatically arched up as a reaction, stressing the still bruised muscles on her back. Derek instantly stilled above her, but he swiped his tongue one last time up her neck, even kissing where she knew he left his own mark before moving away from her.

Instantly, she missed the warmth his body provided her, the sense of protection she had when he was above her. "Not exactly what I meant, when I said you should act like a man."

Derek nipped where his own mark now was, his lips curving up in a grin at Kagome's low moan from the action."I don't hear you complaining."

Opening her eyes, she took in his face, her lips twitching slightly as she saw that she had messed up his hair and absently began fixing it up. When she deemed his hair as good as new, she had to force herself to drag her hands away, only for his to catch one. Looking into his eyes, she was not at all liking the guilty look he was showing.

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For what happened to Scott, that you're hurt, that..."

"Hey." she smirked when she caught his attention at her interruption. "I'm a big girl and can take care of myself. I may get a few bumps and bruises, but they'll heal in time. As for Scott, that wasn't your fault, so you have no need to apologize."

She continued to smile up at him, even giggling lightly when he huffed and let his head drop till his brow rested on her collar bone. With her free hand, she once again combed her fingers through his hair, humming when he weaved their fingers together and wrapped his other arm around her waist gingerly and let out a low content growl. Kagome laughed under her breath as Derek made himself more comfortable, brushing his nose against her collar bone, tickling her in the process.

"Comfortable?"

"Very." he nipped her collar bone when she shifted lightly, smirking against her skin at the startled gasp that followed.

Soothing the nip, very much enjoying the reactions he got from the woman beneath him, he rested his ear over her heart. Never before, had a heart beat soothed him in such a way. It was steady, calm, and a sign that she was alive and in his arms.

While he had never been the type to simply 'snuggle', he was content at the moment. The alpha had had her in his hands, could have killed her, but instead, he kept her alive. Drenched her in his scent. He hadn't been sure why, but he had a few ideas, none of which he liked. But tonight, tonight proved, that she accepted him. And that made her his.

And he'd kill any, who thought to take her away.

AN: And Kagome's secret is revealed! Along with some actual Derek/Kagome action. The type every one has been asking for when I first started this story. Huh... Was about to say something, but forgot. Oh well! Other than that; read, enjoy, and review!