Koga pov

I had started running south with Nikki in my arms as soon as that witch vanished. Kagome wanted to come with us, but I left no time for anyone to follow. It was almost dark again by the time I had to stop for a break. "Man...Why does everything have to be so far away?" I hissed and sat down panting. Nikki had lost all of her body heat and her breathing had all but stopped, but I would rather die than give up on her.

I gave myself twenty minutes to catch my breath before I was up and running again. "You...Need...To...Slow...Down..." I heard Nikki say as I was running. "I can't, Nikki. You're going to die if I don't hurry, I'm not going to lose you." I huffed, leaping over a fallen tree. When dawn came, I had no choice but to stop and breath. Nikki felt nearly dead in my arms as I held her close. "I promise it save you." I whispered.

Nearly three days later, I could finally see the first signs of magic. First was the sparkling butterflies that could sing, then the talking animals and lastly was the crystal water. I put in the last bit of strength to reach the lake and just tumbled in with her. "Please, please save her!" I yelled to whatever was there. A voice seemed to just flow from the water. "Leave the girl with us...Leave the water..."

I growled and gave Nikki one last glance before leaving her behind. Sitting on the very edge of the bank, I waited and watched for the panther girl to give any sign to waking up. Nothing happened, even as the minutes turned into hours. "Please, Nikki." I whispered standing up to pace as hopelessness started to creep into my heart,

Nikki pov

I was back in that cold darkness of nothingness. Just floating around and waiting for anything. What seemed to be lifetimes later, a ghost of a being was with me. "Nikki, panther demon of another time and practicer of the magics. We welcome you to the tranquil waters." It said and I nodded. "Koga made it then." I smiled and the being bowed. "He pleaded that we save your life, but he brought nothing in exchange. We ask you for something of value to give you life."

"I don't have anything on me...But the only thing I treasure more than belongings is my gift of memory. If it will be accepted...I will give it to you." I said, bowing my head. The being thought it over before answering. "The memories you hold are dear and needed for the coming troubles. But, we shall take you skill on remembering things as if you had painted a picture. Be at ease, you will keep your beloved past." And it was gone faster than when it came.

The darkness was filled with a flashing light before I found myself in the middle of a clear lake. "Good thing I know how to swim." I said, floating over to the bank and sniffing around for the wolf who brought me. I found him with his head in his hands behind a boulder. "Well, looks like I get to carry you back to the pack." I giggled, causing Koga to jump up and latch onto me. "I started to wonder if you were ever going to wake up." He cried, lifting me up and refusing to let me go. I gave out a sigh and buried my face to Koga's shoulder. "Let's go see the others." I whispered, to which the wolf nodded and walked off.

Koga pov.

Nikki was back and more alive then ever. She kept laughing and talking with me, not that I was quiet or anything, I laughed and talked more then she did. It took quite a while to get back to the pack, I didn't realize how far I ran until we slowly walked back. It took us a good three weeks before we caught any sign of the traveling pack, and when we did Nikki noticed Kagome was back in her time seeing as we were heading towards the forest of Inuyasha. "Looks like we get to visit Mama Higurashi again. " Nikki smile as she looped her arms through mine and walked beside me, giving out a yawn as she did. The magic forest may have giving Nikki's life back, but her strength was still having to build back up.

Shippo was the first to smell us out and tackle Nikki, in her tired state she fell over and just stayed there. "Good to see you too, Shippo. " She said, cuddling with the kitt and almost falling asleep. "Hey, at least wait until we get to Kaede's to pass out." I chuckled, lifting the panther and easily carrying her to the village. "Koga, Nikki! I'm so glad you're okay!" Sango cried, getting up to check on the girl in my arms. "That trip must have wore her out." Miroku said from beside me, eyeing Nikki as she slept.

Inuyasha walked in with a smirk. "Looks like that glitter puff girl actually helped." He sniffed, as Kagome tumbled in and went straight for Nikki. "Ok ok, let the girl breath. She's been toughing it out until she got here. You all can talk when she wakes up." I growled, sitting by the cooking fire to get warmed up. Everyone gathered around me. "How was the lake?" Kagome asked leaning in with glittering eyes. "I didn't take the time to notice." I mumbled, gently rubbing Nikki's ears feeling her piercings along the edges. "How long did it take you to get there?" Sango asked as she started to braid Nikki's hair. "About four days I think, it took another for the lake to bring her back and three weeks to walk back." I explained to them. "She is a tough one to last that long while nearly dead." Inuyasha pointed out as he sniffed her to be sure she was still breathing.

Everyone talked and asked questions the whole night as the panther slept on without a care in the world. As soon as the sun came up, Nikki was rubbing her eyes an yawning awake. She was then tackled by the two females, crying and hugging the poor girl. She just laughed and hugged them back with a smile. "I missed you guys too...By the way, when's breakfast?" She asked, a hopeful glint in her eyes. The two girls looked at each other and laughed. "You're in luck today, I brought bacon." Kagome stated with a proud smirk as Nikki launched herself from my lap to the smirking priestess. "THANK YOU!"

Nikki pov

I was happily munching on my bacon while Kagome made sure I ate enough. "Are you sure you don't want any eggs?" She asked, a spoon was waiting over my plate. I shook my head and pointed to the meat, best part of bacon was that I loved it. Once breakfast was over, I stretched and looked over at the hanyo. "So, when are we leaving?" I asked, leaning back into Koga. "I was thinking about giving you a few days to rest up, you've been through a lot lately." He mumbled as Kagome gave him a nod. I gave my own and wrapped my tail around my ankles.

The day was passing by slowly as I lazed around up a tree. I leaned against it's broad trunk and simply looked at the clouds floating across the sky. "A beautiful day to simply enjoy the weather." I sighed, letting one leg dangle from the limb. A yawn escaped me as I placed my arms behind my head, thinking of what the ghost took from me. Sure, I could remember everything. But it was harder to picture what it was I tried to remember. It was no longer sharp and clear, it was more of a fuzzy computer screen. I sighed and gave up on remembering the details of any memory I had. "You keep sighing and you're going to sigh you life away." Kagome called up to me.

I looked down to the brown eyes girl and smirked. "Well, I'm not testing that theory." I jumped from the tree and landed by my friend. "We leaving yet? or we gonna relax for another day?" I asked, slinging my arm over Kagome's shoulders as we walked back to the village. "Inuyasha said one more day wont hurt, Mama also wants to see you before we set off again." I gave a smile before running off. "Last one to the well buys pizza!"

We ran through the village, knocking over Inuyasha and Koga in the process. "Where the heck are you going." The wolf said as he easily caught up. "Last one to the well has to buy the others a treat and I intend ti get treated!" I yelled and dove into said well as Koga fell over it. He can be such a clumsy wolf. I jumped out of the well and ran inside the shrine to where Mama Higurashi was baking something amazing. "I was wondering when I would get to see you, How have you been Nikki? Last I saw you, you almost...Died." She said, tears coming to her eyes as I engulfed her in a hug. "I'm alright now, promise."

"Nikki, Kagome has to buy." Koga said, waltzing into the room and claiming a seat while Inuyasha walked in before the poor priestess with a thinning wallet. "Awesome, Kaggy, you know my usual." I smirked and gave my wolf boy a peck on the cheek, it's not like the boys had any way of paying for stuff anyway.

"Hi...Yes I would like to order three large pizzas...one with extra bacon, jalapenos, pepperoni and lots of cheese...One cheese and the last a supreme...Yes...Cash...Thank you." The priestess hung up the phone and sent a glare my way. After all the years we have known one another, Kaggy has yet to beat me in a foot race. Though that may be the demon in me...but who cares, I get pizza!

An hour later and the heavenly food arrives, Kagome then pays for everything and sets the boxes on the table. "Ok Nikki, here's yours." She handed me my box and I was off to the roof to munch, best place ever if you ask me. Koga soon joined me with a slice in his mouth. "This stuff is pretty good." He mumbled through his food and I took a massive bite of my own. I handed Koga one of my slices (Better be thankful for it cause I don't share pizza with just anyone) and stuffed another slice in my mouth.

With my pizza gone, Koga and I just sat on the roof and enjoyed the sunset. Listening to the waking night sounds as the stars made their debut. It was a peaceful time and I knew peace only lasted for so long. Naraku was still hoarding the jewel shards and wanted me to be a pawn of his, as if that was going to happen...Right?

A/N: HAPPY NEW YEARS GUYS! Hope you guys like the update, I know my writing is all over the place But I have fun. Anywho, let me know your thoughts on the story so far! Thank you so much!