Sorry I had to take a week off because I had so much homework to do and I am behind on my writing right now. But new chapter! Anyways part of this chapter (the hangover part) might have been sliggghtly inspired by my own experience 0_0 so take that as you will. As always if you like please review!


Kagome's eyes slowly opened and she groaned, she needed a few more hours of sleep, scratch that she needed a few days, maybe a month. She looked around, not understanding why her room looked different, but she was quite buzzed still, even then she didn't feel scared, she felt…safe in this room that reminded her of pine trees.

She got up stretching her limbs out, careful to not sway too much, looking around, and her eyes rested on a figure laying on the floor, even in the dim light she could tell it was kouga, sleeping on his side, his arm beneath his head. He didn't have a blanket, and she realized why. She had most of them.

She got up quietly, holding a blanket and tiptoed to him, and placed it over him, as she was about to go back to bed his arm grabbed onto her wrist.

"Kagome?" his voice coarse from sleep, and it sent a warmth down her belly, but he was too tired to notice, "are you okay?"

"S-sorry." she whispered, "I thought you would be cold."

He gave her a sleepy smile, "I'm okay, take it with you so you don't freeze." his eyes closed again, sleep calling to him.

"Just take it." she said, still half whispering, the man was stubborn even in his tired state.

"I'm fine kagome, take it." he said, bundling up the blanket and handing it to her.

She rolled her eyes and shoved it back to his arms, but underestimated that she was still not completely sober, and where his arms actually were, and with the low light not helping, she ended up falling on him.

He sighed, "stubborn woman.". He was half awake now, especially after cushioning her fall, his arms wrapped around her back, her hair tickling his face and he couldn't help but groan at her scent, she smelled nice like citrus and spring, this must have been some nice dream. She unfortunately took that groan as in her crushing him and she reddened.

"That's the last time I try to make sure you don't freeze." her voice muffled against his chest, embarrassed over her fall she hid her face against him.

"I mean if you were so concerned with me freezing you could have just cuddled me." he teased, rubbing her back.

She shot up, cheeks blooming red, and she threw the blanket on him and he laughed when she went back to his bed, pulling his cloak around her.

"I was kidding." he joked, failing to hide his mischievous grin.

She humphed and turned over, eventually falling asleep.


Kagome had never been a big drinker, hence why when she woke up she felt like the world was pounding away at her head. She groaned as the light hit her eyes.

"I'm never drinking again." she vowed to herself pulling the blanket over her head.

"Good morning sleepy head."

His voice cheerful as he walked in, holding two bowls and several cups.

"It is most definitely not a good morning." she groaned, her voice dry and parched.

Kouga chuckled, "I did warn you that wolf sake was different."

She nodded as slowly as she could, "I am never drinking again." she repeated, and then the nausea hit, and he was quickly at her side handing her a bowl and she emptied out her stomach, as he held her hair back.

"Don't be embarrassed." he said, rubbing her back, already sensing her shame.

But she was, she felt absolutely embarrassed that he was seeing her this way, and another wave hit her.

Oh god his nose is so sensitive, how is this not bothering him.

"It's okay." his voice sympathetic, "do you feel a little better?" once her hurling subsided.

She nodded, after emptying her stomach she did feel much better albeit mortified, but better.

"I know you probably don't want to eat," he said, putting the bowl in the corner, "but I brought you some clam soup and some tea that's good for your head, but it tastes disgusting." he warned, setting them in front of her.

"I also brought you some water." handing her a cup.

"Thank you." she croaked, greedily gulping it down.

"I'll go get you more." and he left grabbing the bowl from the corner, leaving alone to choke down her food and tea, he was right the tea tasted vile, but by the time he came back holding a few cups, she was feeling better.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, sitting on the floor, watching her eat.

"Much better than I deserve," she admitted, drinking her water, it was ice cold but it felt so good against her raw throat.

He laughed quietly, "Well at least you're doing better than ayami."

Kagome couldn't help but laugh, even though it hurt, "that bad?"

He nodded, "yea, she drank way too much last night, she was not doing good this morning." he remembered her being outside, alone and throwing up, but he felt little sympathy for her, after the shit she pulled last night he was in no mood to go help.

"Ayame's not doing well, worse than you but not as bad as ayami, ezume's taking care of her."

"Poor ayame." she thought, finishing her food, "Kouga, why am I here?"

"I was going to leave you in your room, but some wolves were in there."

She tilted her head in question. Why were wolves in there?

"And I wasn't about to interrupt them."

"Oh. Oh!" she pinkend at the thought. And he laughed at her shyness, humans were too shy to talk about sex so openly, unlike wolves.

"I got you your things." guiding the conversation along not wanting her to feel anymore awkward.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. I'll leave you to change."

He left, leaving kagome alone with her thoughts, and the memory of their almost kiss came up, and for once she didn't feel any shame or remorse, ayame had made it perfectly clear that she approved of the match…so could she? It was far too soon to be moving on, but the idea didn't seem so far-fetched.

She changed into her regular kimono, the cold air nipping at her skin and she shivered, rubbing her arms to ease the goosebumps, she was glad they were leaving soon, she enjoyed playing in the snow, but she missed indoor heating. Then she eyed kouga's old blue cloak, the one he had given her when they first arrived.

"I think I'll keep it." she said to herself, feeling the softness of it.

"Keep what? Can I come in?" his voice startled her thoughts and she felt color rise to her cheeks, as if she had been caught.

"Y-yea you can come in."

He saw her holding the cloak and a guilty expression on her face, "is this what you said you were gonna keep?" he asked, raising his eyebrow.

She nodded sheepishly, "I was just joking." she was half joking and half considering it.

A warmth spread through his chest, and he couldn't help but grin, "you can have it." The thought of her keeping his cloak made him happy.

"No I couldn't possibly keep it, I was kidding." she brought up to him, and he shook his head gently pushing it back.

"It looks better on you than me."

"Are you sure?"

He nodded, "yea, it fits you."

She nodded, trying to compose herself she asked "What time should everyone leave?"

"Oh everyone left hours ago." Everyone that wasn't hungover had at least. Some wolves had known when to stop but there were a few stragglers left that would leave on their own time.

"What! They left without us?"

He shrugged, "I told them to go, I didn't want to wake ya, you were up late. And you had too much to drink last night."

She groaned, "don't remind me, my head still hurts." if she ever smelled that sake in her life, she would throw up again.

He chuckled, "which is why I didn't wake ya, we'll take the trip home slowly, we can even camp out once we're out of the snow if you'd like."

She thought about it, she was quite honestly exhausted from this trip, and wanted to be home as soon as possible, but making a few rest stops also sounded nice.

"You can make up your mind once we leave, we'll leave in an hour. Do you need help with anything?"

She couldn't help but smile at how helpful he was.

"I just need help carrying a few things."


"You're upset." he was trying his hardest to sleep, truly he was, but he couldn't help but feel her emotions rolling off of her. She had been upset right after he had told her. But the more he thought about it, it puzzled him. It couldn't be that? Could it?

"No I'm not." was her small reply, her back still turned towards him, she couldn't sleep, at first she had thought it was being away from home and being so out in the open, it had been years since she had camped outside, but she couldn't help the feeling tugging at her heart, she wasn't sad, she wasn't angry but she was something, and the worst thing was she didn't know why.

Oh she knew exactly why, she just didn't want to admit it .

"Kagome." his tone was serious and she knew he wanted her to turn over.

But she was not going to easily surrender to his request, if he wanted her to turn and talk he would have to say it.

"What?" she hated how bothered she was by his comment, it wasn't his fault. He wasn't going to wait forever for her, could she blame him if he regretted his actions?

He sighed, laying on his back, "you know I can feel your emotions right?" It wasn't just that, it was almost like he was experiencing that himself, like some sadness, and his mind went to what Ayame and his friends brought up, mates, and he shook his head. It was a myth, not every pair felt that, sometimes it was wrong, but he also couldn't help the feeling of unease creeping up on him. His parents experienced it, but it wasn't real.

"You…what?" this finally got her attention and she turned to look at him.

He turned his body to face her, "I can sense your emotions. You're upset with me."

"No I'm not." she couldn't make out his face very well, but she knew he was giving her a look.

"Yes you are, tell me why."

"I'm not upset with you I-"

"Kagome." he stopped her gently, "is it…what I said earlier?"

She fell silent, how could she possibly respond to that? Did she want him to kiss her? Was she more upset that he didn't or at his response?

"I- no, I'm not upset about that, I have a headache still, that's all."

He quieted for a moment, he could smell her lie, but they wouldn't get anywhere if they continued, turning onto his back he gazed at the stars thinking on what to say, "well I lied," he paused, "I don't regret trying to kiss you."

She didn't answer, and nothing more was said between them. She pulled his cloak up to her chin and slipped into an uncomfortable sleep, replaying what had happened earlier.


The cold wind stung her face as the wolves pulled her, they could have been faster had it not been for her hangover, but kouga made no fuss about it, letting her to have breaks every hour, he told her he was hungover as well, but she knew he was lying, he had stayed sober all night, probably to watch over her. Their almost kiss kept creeping up and it was not easy to brush aside. Everytime it came up in her mind, she couldn't help but redden at the idea.

Kouga had remained observant, he could tell she was deep in thought, but about what?

And then he also remembered what could have occurred and he mentally slapped himself.

Did I cross the line? I made her uncomfortable didn't I?

But the thing was…she didn't seem uncomfortable around him, she hadn't pulled away last night, and she had…she had looked like she wanted to kiss him too, and she was still acting the same around him. Had she wanted to kiss him too? Or maybe she was uncomfortable that she was sick in front of him?

"Do you want to stop here for the night?" he asked, signaling the wolves to slow down.

They stopped in a flower field, and made their way towards the river to get water and let the wolves rest, the sun was setting but they could have continued, the weather was just slightly chilly but her headache was gone and she no longer felt nauseous. A part of her wanted to get home as soon as she could, but the other part of her wanted to spend some alone time with him.

"Yea that's okay with me."

He helped her set up her blankets and they worked in silence, their hands brushing occasionally to unfold the blankets and each time they turned away, avoiding eye contact.

"Thank you for taking care of me today." she yawned, their dinner had made her tired but she refused to sleep, they needed to talk. She hugged her knees to her chest, leaning her head down. How could she bring it up naturally?

"You don't have to thank me." he said, leaning against a tree, stretching out his legs.

"But I do, I mean you're always there for me.."

He shook his head, "you're pack."

He paused, it didn't feel like it was the right time, but he had to make it up to her somehow, " I'm sorry I tried to kiss you last night." His words washed over her like ice.

"W-what?" it semed that kouga had beat her to it, and she couldn't help but feel a wave of disappointment hit her. He did regret it after all, but she hadn't.

"I shouldn't have tried to kiss you, it was a mistake, you were drunk."

She nodded, "yea you're right."