"Kagome!" Kouga screamed shaking her limp body. Nothing he did woke the unconscious Miko. Her breathing was steady yet her body was limp, almost lifeless. A thousand things ran through the wolf demon's head at that moment, and every one of them had to do with Kagome. He was losing his woman, his friend, his life... he felt her slipping through his fingers.

"Kouga! It's coming!" Shippo cried holding close to the now transformed cat demon.

Propping the priestess against a tree a few feet away he took his stance in front of her. They weren't going down without a fight and no one or nothing was going to take down his woman. A black shadow that was about the size of the monk was now but a few feet away and stopped in it's stride towards the group. What the hell is that thing? Kouga growled. He snarled at the shapeless being whilst Miroku withdrew a talisman from within his robes. Ginta and Hakkaku took formation in front of Kouga and their sister.

"What are you two punks doing?" Kouga glared at his comrades, "Get behind me!"

Ginta shook his head, "We have to protect our sister-"

"And you boss," Hakkaku finished.

Idiots! You're going to get yourselves killed! The Wolf Prince growled as the the creature began to take form.

It was but a man, draped in a shadow. There was no telling what he looked like for he had no eyes, no nose, just a blank face. "Pathetic humans," the being hissed, "it seems as though you have finally formed an alliance with demons." As the creature spoke his non-existent mouth motioned as if it were moving yet he had no lips, or a hole to reveal a set of teeth to outline his words.

Sango nervously grasped the giant boomerang on her back eyeing the strange man. His form was the definition of fear. Only the shadow's words cast any sort of emotion from him. From the voice it had to be a man, and he sounded almost disgusted, yet proud. His head turned to face the human girl that laid passed out against the tree. Kouga immediately noticed this and took a step back before releasing another growl.

A dark chuckle echoed around them.c"You're breeding with them as well, interesting, no doubt your species will be unstoppable with the blood of the Youkai on your side." No one said anything, just held their ground, ready to attack. "Where is my manners, you may call me Kyoufu," it then stared at Miroku, "I can smell your blood boiling beneath your calm exterior for the demon Naraku, the one who released me. How very interesting. In fact I can feel hatred seeping away from all of you at the mention of his name... not to mention... fear."

"No one is afraid of Naraku here!" Kouga declared with a menacing roar.

Another evil cackle escaped Kyoufu. "No? Not one of you? I'd be horrified with all of the things he has done to you. Sending his demon minions to kill your pack and using their dead bodies to try and murder you. Aren't you afraid the same thing will happen to the rest of them? To you?"

He looked back to Kagome, then to Ginta and Hakkaku who stood ready to battle in front of him. What if he did hurt his pack? His woman? What if none of it was under his control?

"Don't listen to him Kouga! Remain brave, you would never let anything like that happen to your family and friends! Or Kagome!" Shippo encouraged with a whimper.

"Monk, I know you're the son of the one who cast me away. You have been cursed by Naraku with the vortex in the palm of your hand," Kyoufu turned to Sango, "And you demon slayer, who allies herself with demons!" He called to her proudly. "Your entire village was slain because of Naraku and your brother is under his control." His black head from what they were able to tell was peering at Kagome. "Then there's the girl who doesn't belong here. Somehow she found a crack in our world's exterior and has been accompanying you to find the Shikon No Tama. Naraku despises that she is in fact the reincarnation of the priestess Kikyo. Her fears are delicious." Kyoufu chuckled darkly. "Right now she is under my spell and feeding my power. Silly human girl. Pathetic human girl. She fears the closing of time... She fears that she may not be of any help to her ken. I'm drowning in her fear!" He laughed maniacally.

Kouga and his men who knew practically nothing about Kagome's friends was now getting the play by play from a mysterious being who seemed to know everything. They all shared a common goal and that was to destroy the Youkai who started this mess. Courage. The wolf demon felt his every fear disappear and the cold emotion was being replaced with bravery. He had to protect Kagome, his tribe, and his new friends. He gazed around at the humans who began to melt under the pressure of Kyoufu. "Oh shut up!" he shouted catching the faceless beings attention, "I see your motives, trying to talk us into being afraid and it won't work! YOU GOT IT ALL WRONG!"

This snapped Sango and Miroku out of the shadow's spell. Though they could not see Kyoufu's expression they could tell Kouga had struck a nerve when he cocked his head to the side. "I am wrong?"

"Heh, yeah," he scoffed, "You see we may have been wronged by Naraku and lost friends, family, even a little bit of ourselves and sure, there is some fear involved but what you're missing is that fear makes us stronger and gives us the courage to destroy him and all of his little minions. That also includes you!"

Sango unsheathed her boomerang and Miroku began to chant holding the talisman to his nose. The paper flicked with each breath he took reciting the prayer. "We will send you back where you belong!" Miroku yelled before tossing the parchment in his direction landing on the black mass's face.

Kyoufu cried out in agony while his body took on a new form. His human body grew larger and shaped into a person they all were familiar with. He embodied the shape of Naraku. His black hair whipped about him dangerously before jetting out into black tentacles aiming for them. Sango cried out and released her boomerang to slice away at the growing tendons that lashed out at them. Miroku fought them away with his staff. The hole in his hand would not solve this mess. He had to use his monk abilities to defeat him, yet he needed a priestess as well. He glanced over to where his friend sat motionless, eyes closed. Kouga was using his arms and legs with the help of his comrades to defeat the beast and keep it's arms away from Kagome. "Kouga! You have to get Kagome to wake up!" Miroku shouted over to the wolf demon.

"HOW?!" Kouga grunted kicking a tentacle.

The monk blocked another one Kyoufu's blows but barely. "He's feeding off of her fears, try to project yourself in her mind!"

The Youkai shook his head, "You're nuts monk!" He had to try. What if she never woke up? They'd die and with no one to protect her, what would become of his woman? "Kagome! Come back to us we need you!" the wolf demon called. Kouga stared at the young girl and motioned for his comrades to try and hold off the futile attacks.

Her body stirred slightly as she whispered, "You guys have Kikyo now... and Inuyasha doesn't want me there... He's the one who brought me back here in the first place..."

"What?" he glared at the young girl. That's why the monk demanded he project himself into her mind. Kyoufu had created an illusion. His pointy ears twitched slightly as he picked up on the rest of the girl's soft murmuring.

"The well is closed, I can't go back..."

"Your friends need you, I need you! Please, come back to me," Kouga begged kicking away a threatening tentacle that aimed for Kagome's head.

"Kouga..."

"KAGOME!" He defended her from another fatal blow and that's when her eyes fluttered open.

She stared in awe at the scene before her. The creature had turned into a tentacle wielding Naraku. She had to save her friends. They need me! She yelled at herself mentally before surveying the area. Two feet to the left was her bow and arrows. It was the only thing she knew, the only Miko ability she possessed. Anything had to work and as of right now, she just needed to slow it down. Crawling over to the wooden bow she grasped it and an arrow from her pouch. She aimed at the shadow figure, and she aimed to kill. "Hit the mark!" She released the arrow that went flying through the air and landed in the middle of the monk's talisman that was still glued to Kyoufu's forehead.

Another ear piercing screech escaped the beast as his body flailed about uncontrollably. One of his hair extensions aimed for her again. Just as she thought this was the end Kouga came into view. He went to scoop her into his arms but instead she felt another pair of arms grab her. The wolf demon just barely escaped and shouted at whatever was carrying her. Blinking in surprise she looked up at the holder of the comfy, familiar arms, and it was none other than Inuyasha.

"Inuyasha," she muttered, "you came back."

The half demon smirked, "Of course I did. I'd never leave you in danger Kagome."

When they landed on the ground, she wanted to scurry out of his arms yet she allowed him to hold her close. She missed him, and it killed her. The way the wind fingered through his long white mane, and his golden eyes scanned over her for injuries just as they usually did after every battle. She wanted to think things were just like old times. Both turned their attention to the being who was now gone, the only thing left behind was a shikon jewel shard.

Miroku approached the remains but didn't touch it. The shard still was surrounded with an evil aura. "It seems as if Naraku had to use a shard to give Kyoufu life again, I knew it couldn't have been that easy to release the beast from a monk's and priestess's hold," Miroku explained.

Ginta and Hakkaku raced over to Kagome shouting, "Sister! Sister!" "We're glad you're okay!"

Noticing she was still in the half demon's hold she scrambled to her feet.

Kouga followed his comrades glaring at Inuyasha. "Do you realize I could've been killed back there mutt?" he grumbled.

"Heh," Inuyasha raised a brow, "I thought that was the point."

"ARGH! I'M GOING TO WASTE YOU!"

Kagome sighed, "Knock it off! Both of you!" She stepped in between them a hand out-stretched to stop both of them from coming at each other. "This is not the time to be trying to kill each other! Let's all be thankful that we're still alive," she commanded.

"Yeah," Shippo scoffed, "no kidding, that thing was crazy scary!"

The men stepped away from one another crossing their arms, one eye open to keep on the other. Kagome went to grab another arrow and hovered it over the small glowing shard. With a bright blast of light the jewel went from a deep purple to pale pink. After it being purified she felt more comfortable to pick it up and place it in the small bottle around her neck.

Sango placed hiraikotsu on her back, stretching out her arms. She glared at the newly arrived party member. "Amazing, we were able to defeat such a strong enemy without your help."

"Whatever," Inuyasha huffed, "Kagome probably wouldn't even be here if I hadn't shown up!"

Kouga looked like he was about to say something but noticed the Miko's warning stare and held his tongue. There was no reason to make her upset and worry about the dog demon running off again, though he personally wouldn't have mind. They both knew Kouga would've made it to Kagome in time. Sometimes it's best to just let laying dogs lie, Kouga concluded.

Inuyasha was beginning to notice that not all of his group was very welcoming to his presence. He sighed, "I'm sorry I ran out on you guys."

Kagome stared in shock. It wasn't like Inuyasha to outright confess that he did something wrong. Normally it'd take days just for him to decide if his actions were worth fighting for.

Miroku gave a nod, "Are you here to stay?" The Monk held no grudges and found that the half demon's brute strength was an attribute to the group.

The hanyou glared at the wolf demon, "Is he staying?"

Kagome tossed a him glare which he immediately caught. "We already had this argument Inuyasha," she said.

He was determined to discover if something had grown between the human girl and the wolf demon. What if there is chemistry? The reality of the situation was Inuyasha had no idea. Better I just wait it out, no need to jump to conclusions. "Fine, we better find a place to make camp; I'm not about to sleep here," Inuyasha huffed heading off the path and into the forest.

Kagome was relieved to have Inuyasha back. A part of her had been worried about him but she was glad to see he was being his normal self despite their previous argument. He even came to her rescue, though she didn't really need his help. This only goes to show he still truly cared about her safety. She glanced over at Kouga whose gaze had been on the dirt floor. It was because of him that she even woke up from the crazy hallucination. If he hadn't been there in her mind, encouraging her, then she would have been stuck there with the thought that everyone moved on with Kikyo and Inuyasha at their side. They kissed. Kagome and Kouga had kissed. Not really though, she corrected herself, in your dream you kissed! It felt real,\ but such was the strange creatures power. The way her family and friends reacted to her return, even when she broke the trance with the wolf demon's kiss, everything felt real. A part of her yearned to know if that was truly what his lips tasted like. His breath, hot and sweet, whilst his lips were slightly rough and dry against hers. Her train of thought was interrupted by a hand grasping hers. She looked up to meet Kouga's bright blue orbs.

"I'm so glad you're okay Kagome, I was afraid," he whispered softly leading her into the woods.

She tried to make light of the serious situation, "You afraid? No way."

He grinned down at her, "I was. Losing you would be a heavy weight to carry on with."

"Oh?" she raised a brow, "but you could get over it I'm sure."

He stopped her. She watched as the rest of the group still carried on despite them being in the middle of their traffic.

"Kagome, I don't think you realize, I decided you're it, you're one," he frowned, "if I lost you I'd live my life out alone. No one else could ever take your place."

"Kouga," she whispered gazing up at him, "I'm sorry."

The Wolf Prince wasn't sure what she was saying sorry for. Sorry, I don't like you that way? Sorry I worried you? Sorry I said that? I feel sorry for you? That apology buzzed through his head. He wanted to ask why she was sorry but he instead said with the biggest smile he could muster, "You don't need to be, it's okay."