The night was fading fast, faster than Kagome cared to admit… and when the morning came, they'd be in search of the invisible force known as Fear. She herself felt frightened... Scared that she would let down her friends and let down Kouga and who believed in her so much. The wolf demon who sat beside her started out solemn at the beginning of their meal but slowly returned to being his normal self. He was laughing merrily and slapping Ginta on the back as they talked about their many adventures they endeavored in their youth. The human girl tried to think about anything but tomorrow's task.
"I'm not kidding! This kid was in constant competition with me!" Kouga grinned.
Ginta chuckled, "More like the other way around boss, and you were so bound and determined to beat Hakkaku and I at everything!"
The wolf leader puffed out his chest, "Well, I had a potential title to live up to."
"Potential title?" Sango raised a brow.
"Yep, I wasn't always the leader of the tribe. It was only a matter of time though. I was next in line," Kouga explained.
Hakkaku smirked, "Don't let him fool you guys; he wasn't always proud of it. There was a time when he wanted to wonder the country side and travel to distant lands."
Shippo blinked in surprise, "You mean there was a time you didn't want to be the leader of the wolf tribe?"
The Wolf Prince sighed and shook his head from side to side, "Yeah, I always wondered what else was out there but as I grew up I began to realize that this cave, with these people, this is where I belonged. I felt at home and I still carried on with adventures outside of hunting trips, traveling to other lands from beyond the mountains. It was on one of those trips that I met you guys and of course Kagome."
Kagome blushed as she met Kouga's gaze. Of course, how could she possibly forget the day she met Kouga? He kidnapped her to use the abilities she possessed to see the Shikon jewel shards. His pack was being picked off one by one by neighboring demons called the Birds of Paradise and their leader had absorbed the jewel shards to kill off all of their enemies. Before they went into battle Kouga claimed her as his. She denied him this pleasure and was rescued afterward by Inuyasha. He came for me… of course he came for me… I can see the jewel shards! What would he do without me? She smiled sadly to herself. That's the only reason why he came to rescue me, Kagome concluded, what if he never did?
"Are you okay? Was it something I said?" Kouga asked worriedly grabbing one of her free hands.
She smiled sweetly, "No it's not you. I was thinking about that day and it just made me think of Inuyasha and how he came to save me."
Kouga's eyes moved to the ground, "Oh, yeah…"
"What would have happened if he never came?" Kagome asked curiously.
The Youkai looked at her in surprise. The thought itself wasn't surprising, he often wondered what would have happened if the mutt had never shown up to take his woman away. What was surprising to him was that she was thinking about it now.
"Well I- um… uh…" Kouga's cheeks began to bloom a bright red.
"No doubt he'd try to catch your eye sis-" Ginta began to explain.
Hakkaku finished, "Before any other wolf demon could snatch you up."
Sango giggled in response to hearing this, "Even if Inuyasha wouldn't have come for you Kagome, and we thought you were in danger, we'd try to save you."
"Or die trying!" Shippo exclaimed before taking a bite of his boar meet.
Miroku smiled at the fox demon, "I recall you bravely following Kouga to protect our precious Kagome, and you were the one who lead us to the battlefield."
"Oh yeah," he muttered his mouth full of food.
Kouga grinned, "You got guts kid."
Shippo's eyes sparkled at the compliment. Normally he'd expect a rude comment from the dog demon, Inuyasha, but without him around he felt his confidence growing. "We're just relieved you're not a bad guy," the Kitskune replied thankfully.
"Kouga is one of the most noble men I know," Ginta mentioned, "We don't even eat humans anymore."
Hakkaku chuckled, "Not everyone is okay with that still but they have to follow the alphas orders."
The Priestess smiled at the Wolf Prince. He forbids them to eat humans? She felt her heart flutter. He had to have done that for her. "Really?" she asked.
Kouga gave a nod, "Of course, I told you things have changed here Kagome."
Things have changed. Last time she was brought to the wolf den, at the smell of humans wolf demons were ready to attack but now her and her friends were nestled around the camp fire talking of battles, dreams, and mutual likenesses they shared. No doubt this change was for the better, Kagome noted, now the pack can work civilly with humans if they ever run into a problem with one another. At that moment she felt something wet pressing against her neck. Kagome jumped at the strange sensation and turned to see a furry brown wolf sniffing her, starting at her neck and all over to the back of her clothes the creatures nose traveled. She stood still until the animal made a small whimper and laid its head in her lap.
Kouga smirked, "Nice try but she's mine pup."
The wolf breathed through its nose heavily as if scoffing at the wolf prince and remained by her side. Kagome stroked the wolf's fur carefully. She'd never touched a wild animal like a wolf before. The human girl wasn't accustomed to their likes and dislikes. Was scratching behind the ears okay? Or… the tummy? She scratched the top of the wolf's noggin with the tip of her fingers just to be safe. A giggle escaped her as the wolf that she assumed was a he, turned its head to push her hand under his chin. Kouga watched in amusement. Can't you see Kagome? This is where you belong. A few more joined in trying to get the young girl's attention. The other wolf demons in the den laughed as Kagome was being piled on by wolves that yearned to have their chest and heads scratched by the stranger.
"Once you pat one, you have to give them all attention," a female Youkai laughed from the side of the room.
"Now you tell me," Kagome chuckled as she attempted to pat each wolf or give them a small scratch.
As much as Kouga enjoyed watching his woman play with the wolves of the pack he knew they had a long day ahead of them tomorrow. It was time to rest.
"I think it's time we turn in for the night," Kouga suggested.
"We will need our sleep for sure," Miroku agreed.
With that they all stood and headed farther into the cave. They followed the Wolf Prince who led the way past the curtain of fur and through a tunnel. Light was scarce, the hallways lit by a torch every couple of feet. The first entrance the Youkai motioned towards was empty but two beds of furs and the walls covered in drawings.
"This is where visitors from neighboring tribes' sleep," Kouga explained while eyeing the monk and demon slayer, "I don't know what your relationship is but-"
"Friends," Sango answered immediately.
"Which is why I thought this would be ideal for you two," the leader finished with a smirk.
"Right," Sango blushed fast waking into the room.
Her cat demon companion followed her in and saved her masters boomerang that she had propped against the wall that started to fall over. Miroku turned to the Youkai giving him a mischievous grin.
"And where will you and Kagome be sleeping?"
Kouga composure wasn't weakened by the Monk's sly looks, "I have a place for both her and Shippo to sleep."
Miroku stared at him carefully, "Alright, if for some reason you two need us you know where we are." With one final look at the wolf demon Miroku strolled into his and Sango's sleeping quarters.
Shippo jumped onto Kagome's shoulder as Kouga ushered them farther down the hall. The next door way had a large animal pelt over it. Kouga moved it aside to reveal a room filled with children of all ages running around and playing with one another. "I thought you'd enjoy some company that wasn't boring adults," Kouga smiled at the fox demon.
"Thank you," Shippo said softly.
"Hey pups!" All of the children in the spacious den stopped moving at the call of their Alpha. Kouga picked up Shippo by the back of his shirt and placed him in the door way. "This here is Shippo, it's been awhile since he's been around kids his age," he explained to the room of children, "be nice to the fox, if I hear about anything, and I mean anything that includes tormenting my new friend, you all will be punished." The Kitskune met the gaze of their leader who gave him a nod. Soon as Shippo set foot into the room he was bombarded by wolf demon children who asked him a series of questions.
"Are you a fox demon?"
"He said you're name is Shippo?"
"Do you travel with the humans searching for Naraku?"
"What are your battle techniques?"
All of the children sat around him in a circle. Shippo felt his face grow hot with embarrassment but quickly recovered soon as he met a young wolf girl's admirable gaze. He cleared his throat as he began his story. "My name is Shippo, I come from a family of honorable fox demons. You see, my family was killed by two demons who had went by the title of, the Thunder Brothers-"
"How did you escape? I heard of the Thunder Brothers before!" One of the many children cried.
Shippo puffed out his chest, "You see I was trying to steal Kagome's jewel shards to defeat them, but instead, I found that befriending her and the half demon Inuyasha worked more effective. We annihilated the Thunder Brothers!"
Kouga closed the curtain winking at Kagome, "I think he's going to be just fine."
The human girl nodded in agreement as she followed him to another dimly let hallway. All of the tunnels reminded Kagome of a never ending maze. She noted their turns carefully but found herself stumbling in the dark. As they came to a halt she ran into the back of the tall man who had been guiding her though the labyrinth of stone. He chuckled clutching her hand briefly and letting go. Another fur pelt hung over a carved out doorway that he moved aside making his way in. Kagome stared at the door dumb founded. Am I supposed to go in there? Kouga poked his head out waving his hand at her. "Come on, what are you waiting for?"
Scrambling through the door way she wasn't surprised to find such a spacious room like the others she had seen thus far on their journey through the wolves dwelling. She was more surprised to find the large bed of fur pelts, bigger than the others she had seen. In the corner was a smaller fire pit than at the entrance of the cave and on the other side of the room a doorway. She wondered what that lead to but was distracted by another thought… Am I sleeping here with him?!
Kouga noticed the look of worry that crossed her face as she admired the room. Of course she'd worry about that, he smirked. Grabbing one of the many pelts he laid it next to the large bed and sat down on it. "Kagome, you will sleep in my nest," he informed her.
What?! "No, no, no! Kouga please let me sleep where you're at, I couldn't possibly take your bed!" Kagome exclaimed.
"Non-sense, you're my woman Kagome-"
"I'm not your woman!" She denied.
The Youkai scoffed grinning from ear to ear, "That's not what you said last night." Her face turned a strawberry red at the wolf demon's comment and glared at him. He patted his hand up and down on the bed next to him. "I promise I won't bite."
Kagome stomped over and sat herself down on the bed and felt her worries slip away with the soft touch of the blankets. Never had she touched anything so soft. Relaxing into the bed she began to get warm quickly as she draped herself with one of the pelts. Under the covers she kicked off her shoes letting them fall to floor.
"Does my bed win or what?"
"You win; I like your bed better."
"Yours smells nice," he complimented.
"You smell nice," she whispered her eyes drifting shut.
"I smell nice?" he sat up quickly.
She sat up too as the words that leaked out of her mouth returned and slapped her in the face. Get your head together Kagome! She scolded herself trying to hide her face that began to get hot from the eye contact she made with the wolf demon. "Uh, your bed, I meant you as in your bed… that is yours!" She stammered.
He raised a brow, "What does my bed smell like?"
"Great," she answered simply.
"Thanks, but I mean does it have particular aroma?"
I knew it! She can smell the mating scent as well! She can't deny it! Kouga's heart thumped wildly in his chest at the idea. This was it, the moment he had been waiting for.
"Ice cream," was the first thing that came to her mind so she answered with it.
"Ice… cream?"
He knew what ice cream was, he had it in Kagome's world but that wasn't exactly the response he was hoping for. If she truly smelt the same thing he did, he being a male she'd smell a forest or maybe even a pine aroma. So the story goes, yet, it still wasn't his.
"Yes! Good night!" she chuckled nervously wrestling back under the covers.
He laid back down as well after extinguishing their only source of light. With the torch out the room was incredibly dark. Kagome was used to sleeping under the stars but in a dark rock. She could barely see! In fact, she was starting to not like it. Sleeping alone, in the dark, blind to whatever was hiding in the shadows of the cave. What if Miroku's prayer didn't work? What if the invisible force was hiding in that room with them? She was desperate to leave but remembered the strong wolf demon by her bed side. Desperate times call for desperate measures. "Kouga?" She whispered softly.
"Hmm?" he replied.
"Will you, will you- I mean- will you-"
Before she could finish her stammering sentence the Wolf Prince was climbing into the bed of furs with her. His armor was gone, leaving his chest bare and exposed. The only thing she felt as he climbed in was his fur kilt. His strong arms encased her small frame pulling her into him. He knew she was scared and needed him. All those nights she spent in the wild with her group of travelers, frightened of her own shadow at night, Inuyasha avoided her. Kouga welcomed her in. He wanted to make her feel safe and wanted. Placing her head on his chest his hair tickled her nose. She bit back the giggle that dared to escape. Every time she went to breathe his black mane played at her nostrils. Reaching her hand out to blindly push the hair away she was surprised to find that it wasn't in its usual high pony tail. His hair was down around his shoulders like a black shroud. She longed to see what he looked like. Her face became hot and her heart began to beat wildly. They were so close, she felt so nervous yet, safe. Safe in Kouga's arms.