Dust danced around the Wolf Demon as he ventured into the forest with one thing on his mind, a young priestess who went by the name of Kagome. She had to be near by; only she carried the scent of trees and flowers in the springtime, regardless of the season. His heart was beating so loud he feared Kagome would find him first before he could pay her a surprise visit. Though the scenery he ran through was beautiful, a sight to behold, he paid no mind. The beauty he had in mind was far more superior. As he reached the edge of the woods he came to halt when ahead he saw a white haired man walking, dressed in a red kimono. Of course I would run into him first...

"Yo! Inuyasha!"

Atop the man's head, a set of white dog ears twitched at the sound of his name and turned to face the Prince. As usual the hanyou was not delighted to see the wolf demon but Kouga recognized a strange look in the dog demon's golden eyes, a lingering sadness. He was waiting for the brash remarks, preparing a slew of insults to yell back at the mutt but instead he got-

"I'm not in the mood for your games, what do you want?"

Kouga was taken a little aback but quickly regained composure as he sniffed the air.

"Where's Kagome? I know she was with you I can smell her," his brows furrowed together as he picked up another scent, "as well as death."

Inuyasha huffed, "Don't you dare let the idea of Kagome being hurt cross your mind. She's ahead with the others."

"Oh really? Then you wouldn't mind if I went ahead to see her?" he eyed his foe carefully.

"Why should I care?! Do whatever the hell you want ya' flea bitten wolf!"

With that the half-demon leaped into a near by tree and out of sight.

"What's eatin' him?" Kouga wondered aloud.

He didn't dwell on the half demon's irritated composure too much, he was much more concerned with his woman's where a bouts. Something didn't feel right. One foot in front of the other it took mere seconds to reach Kagome's pack of travelers but as he spotted the Monk, the Demon Slayer, and the Fox Demon, there was no Kagome. He darted in front of them blocking their path. "Alright, someone has some explaining to do!" Kouga declared resting his hands on his hips.

The group stared stunned by his sudden appearance.

"What can we do for you Kouga?" Sango asked politely.

"I just ran into the liar Inu-trasha! He said Kagome was with you! I wanted to surprise her!" he barked his tail whipping behind him furiously.

Shippo shook his head, "Kagome has returned to the well to go back to her own time. She caught Inuyasha with Kiky-"

Before the tiny Fox demon could utter another word Miroku swept the child off his feet and covered his chattering mouth. He squirmed under his hold and Miroku took over explaining.

"She had things in her own world she needed to take care of. Kagome will return in a couple of days!" he laughed nervously.

Kouga raised a brow, "Her own time?"

Sango blinked, "You mean? You didn't know Kagome wasn't of this world?"

He blushed at the fact this information was new to him; he should know everything about his woman! No wonder Kagome dressed so funny, he never seen a Priestess dress in a Kimono like hers.

"I knew that! Where's this well located?" he attempted to cover up crossing his arms.

Miroku smiled warmly at the wolf demon, "Inuyasha's forest, its said only Inuyasha can pass through the well to Kagome's time but you could give it a shot."

He grinned, "Thanks for the advice Monk. I'm sure if that mutt face can manage I should make it through."

Miroku waved nervously with a free hand, "Okay then! If you fail come on over to the village and feel free to join us for some tasty food!"

Kouga waved back, "Thanks again!" In a tornado of smoke and dirt he was gone once more.

The monk dropped the child to the ground that began to screech at him for keeping him in such a tight hold.

"Do you think he could really make it through?" Sango asked curiously.

Miroku chuckled, "No, even with the jewel shards I find it doubtful but the last thing we need is for word to get out that Kagome was hurt by Inuyasha and she not be here to mediate the encounter. We all know when it comes to Kagome, Kouga would be the first to defend her pride."

"He may be hopeless but he sure is loyal and honorable!" Shippo agreed.

Sango glared at the path behind them, "For once I wouldn't mind seeing Inuyasha get what's coming, I'm not very happy with him."

The monk frowned, "Neither are we Sango, his actions are becoming quite troublesome, quite troublesome indeed."

She had to be close; her scent was so strong Kouga could almost taste the aroma. As he wondered past a family of trees in a clearing ahead was the only well for miles, and there was Kagome perched on the siding prepared to make her leap. The demon slayer's cat flew off into the sky overhead and she waved until it was out of sight. Her eyes were pink as she rubbed at them. He immediately registered that salty smell tainting her perfume. That mutt did do something to her! When I see that mongrel again he's going to get it!

"Kago-" before Kouga could finish calling out for her she had already slid of the ledge and into the well. He raced forward to see if she was still there but alas she was gone. The only thing he could make out at the bottom of the rickety wooden encasing was the dirt floor. The Monk said this leads to another world, her time, where Kagome lives… I have to get through. Kagome needs me. After giving himself some final words of encouragement he grinned as he jumped into the well. "Here goes nothin!" He braced himself for impact but nothing came instead it was as if he were moving in slow motion. Around him was darkness and he felt as if he were swimming in the night sky with the stars around him. Then suddenly above him a dim light came into view.

"I'm home," Kagome sighed greeting her mother as she took off her shoes at the door.

"Kagome!"

Souta, her kid brother came from the living room where he had been watching television to greet his long lost sister.

"Back so soon sis? Did Inuyasha come with you?"

The mention of his name brought on the tears once more and at the sound of her sobs her Mother burst in from the kitchen. "I'm in his way! He wants Kikyo!" she gushed.

Souta stepped back in alarm as he watched Kagome fall to her knees. Their mother rubbed her back soothingly, cooing to her softly like a mother bird singing to its young. She didn't have to know who Kikyo was to see that her daughter's heart was broken."It's alright Kagome, come on up." She smiled warmly as she lifted the teenager to her feet. Her Mom helped her upstairs and into the bathroom where she ran the bath water and poured in some of her favorite bubble foaming soap. Through the tears this made Kagome smile thinking back to when her mother resorted to drawing her a bath whenever she was upset as a child. One thing she loved most about her Mom was she didn't have to go into detail. The only thing that was needed to be known was her daughter was hurting and she felt as if it were her duty to console her.

Kagome was left alone and relax. She didn't hesitate to shimmy out of her skirt and remove her uniform top. After pulling off her knee high socks she climbed into the tub and sunk into the clean water. It was warm and embraced her body like a hot spring in the feudal era, although they were hard to come by Sango and herself always felt so relieved. Most of the time they had to bathe in an ice cold river.

Before she ventured to find Inuyasha in the woods she had just finished washing up in a stream near where they were camping last night. Inuyasha… She thought silently to herself as her eyes begun to sting with sadness and rejection that lingered inside. Over and over again she wasted her time, putting up with his secret meetings with Kikyo and believing all the while that she stood a chance. In the end, if she weren't there interfering with the two lovers, meddling with his feelings due to her presence… he would've already left with Kikyo. She sunk deeper into the tub till she was submerged underneath the water wishing she could disappear.

"A bath was exactly what I needed to cure my lovesick blues," Kagome smiled softly to herself as she wondered into her room, "not to mention comfy cotton pajamas." She collapsed on her bed snuggling her face into the soft pillow she adored so much. From time to time it was nice for her to come home to clean linens and get a chance to refresh. "The little things in life Kagome, the little things," she yawned and just as her eyes were about to droop close a startling noise at her window shot them back open.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

"Inuyasha?"

Tap. Tap. Tap.

"It couldn't be…"

Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.

Her heart began to ache at the thought of pulling that curtain aside to reveal the dog eared hanyou. He was the last person she wanted to see.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Stumbling over to the window she took a sharp breath in as she moved the lush pink curtains aside but instead of meeting the yellow gaze belonging to Inuyasha, she was staring into a pair of sky blue orbs. On the tree limb outside her house sat a wolf demon. The one man she never expected to see outside her window, ever in a million years.

"K-k-Kouga?!" she gawked.