As promised re-vamped chapter two. Trying to remain as true to the original characters and my writing of them as possible. Let me know how it's going. Thanks.

Disclaimer: All original characters are owned by Rumiko Takahashi. Any events taking place are of my own imagination. Any similarities to actual people or events are strictly coincidental.

Chapter Two: Ookami

It was cold. And wet. Blinking, Kagome opened her eyes as another drop of water fell from the ceiling and onto the center of her forehead, between her eyes and just above the bridge of her nose. She turned her head to the right noting that she laying was on her back on something soft, and upon opening her eyes more, she saw what looked to be a brown and white soft fabric. Reaching with her right hand, she brushed up against it, soft fibers tickling her fingers. Fur.

It was at this opportune moment that her mind recalled her last waking moment: Kouga. Eyes widening, she sat upright garnering extreme pain from her right shoulder. Crying out, her left hand came up to grab at it, closing her eyes to cope with its intensity. Biting her lip to muffle her whimpers, she could barely hear what sounded like big but soft footfalls approaching her.

Upon opening her eyes a big, black nose was in her line of sight. It exhaled heavily, its breath blowing back her bangs, causing her to close her eyes. When she opened her eyes a second time she could see a large, black ookami drawing back from her. Its eyes were crystal blue in color. She pulled back slightly as a first reaction, but the ookami wasn't having any of that. It nuzzled into her chest under her chin and nudged her face toward him.

Kagome couldn't help the warm smile that graced her features at its endearing action. She reached up with an unsure left hand, to which it pressed its head against. Her eyes softened. It seemed to know she was distressed. In gratitude, she scratched behind its ears which earned her a happy growl sound from deep within its chest. Kagome giggled slightly at the ookami's antics.

This caught the attention of the other twenty ookami she hadn't known were surrounding her as she shivered subconsciously. Seemingly noticing her discomfort, a white ookami with amber-colored eyes rose some five feet away. Kagome looked at the white ookami apprehensively as it approached her, but the black one seemed to pay it no mind, which caused Kagome to relax once more.

The ookami stopped at her back and bedded itself down behind her, curling away from her body but pressing against her to share its warmth. She retracted her hand from the black ookami to stroke the white one's back; it rumbled deeply in its chest in response.

A small smile graced her features as her eyes softened. It had been some time since she'd felt this safe. This accepted by something.

The black one laid down before her, pressing his nose into her hand as it curled into her body creating more warmth. Her eyes were growing heavy in the calming atmosphere when two sets of footfalls neared her.

"Uh oh," Hakkaku muttered quietly, "do you think they are too close?"

"Uh, I don't know how Sis will react if she wakes up to find two huge ookami on either side of her," Ginta replied.

"Yeah me either," Hakkaku stated.

"I guess she got cold," Ginta replied before he took a step forward.

Kagome decided to ease their fears, "They weren't that close when I woke up," she said softly. The black one's ear twitched slightly as she spoke.

"Sis!" They simultaneously said loudly. This caused the black ookami to rumble deep in his chest, which only caused Ginta and Hakkaku to stare.

Kagome opened her eyes to look at the two ookami youkai before her a slight smile on her lips at their warm welcome.

"You've been out for two days," Ginta began.

"Yeah, Kouga's been worried," Hakkaku finished.

Kagome's eyes narrowed slightly. "Is he okay? All I remember is the dragon. He showed up then you two shortly after," her brow furrowed in thought. Sensing her distress, the black ookami nudged her hand gently.

"He's fine," said Hakkaku looking at the black ookami strangely.

"He is. There wasn't a scratch on him," Ginta said mirroring his puzzled look.

"Hey," Hakkaku said still staring, "Isn't that Kouga's ookami?"

"I think so," Ginta replied blinking at it.

"Kouga's ookami," Kagome asked curiously.

"Yeah, sometimes the female ookami don't want to raise their young, so we do by hand to ensure our pack is taken care of," Hakkaku replied.

"This one Kouga raised from near infancy. His mother died after pupping," Ginta finished.

"Yeah, hard to believe he was the runt," Hakkaku said smiling fondly at the black ookami.

Kagome looked up at the aforementioned ookami, who seemed to not take anything they said to heart. She raised her left hand to stroke his fur. "He's beautiful," Kagome said softly, the ookami rumbled deeply in his chest in response before licking her palm. The action itself caused Kagome's laughter to echo off the cave walls, giving the space a certain measure of warmth.

Ginta and Hakkaku grinned. Kagome would fit in well with ookami life in the den, that is, if she could ever leave Inuyasha.

"Welp, we have to go tell Kouga you woke up," Hakkaku started as he turned to exit the den.

"Yeah otherwise he'll be really angry," Ginta replied hurrying after Hakkaku.

Hakkaku waved over Ginta's shoulder, "See you in a couple of minutes, Sis."

She watched them disappear down a turn in the den. She guessed she was further in than she originally thought. Lifting her head she glanced around the cave. It wasn't how she remembered it being when Kouga first kidnapped her from the Inutachi. It seemed...roomier.

She laid her head back down resting against the pelts. Absent-mindedly, she stroked the black ookami before her lost in thought.

By the look, and sound, of things, Inuyasha hadn't come after her, and she doubted he would. A sinking feeling resonated in her gut. The least he could have done was to come to see if she was okay. If she was alive even. Just because he had done what he had didn't mean they couldn't be friends anymore.

Sighing she tried to roll over on her back but found her actions inhibited by the white ookami behind her who grumbled at her attempt to move. She smiled softly as she stroked its fur. For now, she was warm, she was safe, and, for the first time in a long time, she felt wanted...even if it was just by two ookami who were sharing her body heat.

Kouga had set out on an early morning hunt. He needed to clear his mind that was so wrought with worry over Kagome. She'd been out for nearly two days, and, according to the healer, she could be out for many more. She was a human after all, and poisons took time to recover from.

He shifted the large boar on his back that they had managed to scare from its den. Food was scarce this time of year, and they were lucky to have gotten something this large. Normally, they came back with a handful of squirrels sometimes hares if they were lucky, but a boar was a good find.

He glanced back at Izuma who was tailing him. The male needed a break from his mate. Not that he didn't love her. It was just exhausting being by her side day in and day out waiting, anxiously, for their pup to arrive. He could understand his need for a run.

Kouga turned his gaze toward the den to see Ginta and Hakkaku running full speed at him. His eyes narrowed. Was something wrong with Kagome? He kicked off of the next branch leaving it nearly in pieces to reach his second and friend faster.

"What's wrong," Kouga said already lifting his nose as he landed before them.

"Sis," Hakkaku spat out bracing himself on his knees.

"Sis is," Ginta tried.

"Kagome is? Kagome is what?" He asked anxiously. Now his nerves were a wreck. He nearly launched himself from the ground before Hakkaku spoke.

"Sis is awake," he managed to puff out.

Kouga released a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. Then he raked his hand over his face, "Damn it, the one time I leave in two days and she wakes up."

Ginta raised his hand to say something as Kouga took off with the boar on his back. "A-oh..," he finished watching his leader speed off toward the den.

Izuma watched his alpha run and muttered shifting his own load of hares, "To think he'd exert that much energy to see a Ningen."

Ginta and Hakkaku's eyes widened significantly at Izuma's statement. "Don't ever let Kouga hear you say that," Hakkaku warned his eyes narrowing slightly as his upper lip twitched.

Izuma just scoffed as he took off after his alpha toward the den. His amber eyes shined brightly against the sun and his auburn hair glinted slightly as he sprinted toward his unborn son and mate.

Kouga had dropped off his kill in the main chamber of the den to be cleaned and taken care of and was currently making his way back toward his private cave within the den. His body was on a mission but his mind was elsewhere.

When Hakkaku and Ginta had come up to him sprinting like that, he thought that maybe the mutt had finally made an appearance but he hadn't. It had been two days since he had saved her and still no sign of him. Why wasn't he coming for her? Not that he minded her being here or wanted her to leave, but in the past, if he so much as glanced at Kagome the mutt was all over his case. And, none of the other members of his 'pack' had come in search of her either.

That left him to wonder: what happened to the group once Naraku was defeated? The other two didn't die did they? And what about that kitsune? His mind flooded with thoughts that all stopped at the sight of his private cave...that was littered with ookami. He inwardly groaned.

He had forgotten that they had taken a liking to his private chambers since it held the heat in better than the larger, main cavern of the den. Kagome must have been terrified when she woke up.

He lifted a hand to place his fingers on the bridge of his nose in annoyance when he heard a giggle resonate through the room.

He opened his eyes and he stared at the scene before him as they widened. His black ookami, Youru, was laying in front of her, on his back, paws in the air, tail wagging, with his tongue out as Kagome scratched his belly wiggling like a cub. Then on the other side of her his white ookami, Hikari, was in the same state but laying right behind her. She giggled again as Youru licked her cheek.

Kouga's eyes softened at the sight. Right now, she really did look like an ookami youkai with all the ookami laid around her in a scene of serenity as she played with some of them. It all seemed to fit. How could anyone deny she'd be good for them, for him, when she was doing things like this that only an ookami youkai would dare do?

He put a halt to his fantasy, though. He knew that she had made it clear, for three years, when he pursued her that she wanted nothing to do with him, but she was here now and damn it. He wanted her but he wasn't going to drive her away by chasing her. Not again.

It was then that sapphire eyes met blue skies. She was smiling at him. Kouga smirked as he made his way toward her. "I see you've made friends," he stated his smirk broadening.

He sat down on the other side of Youru who had turned his body to greet him with a wet, pink tongue. A rather large, wet, pink tongue.

Youru licked up the whole right side of Kouga's face good-naturedly, "Youru," he said raising his arms to cover his face, "stop that!" Youru had no intention of listening though as he licked him one last time in defiance before resting on his paws, "Stubborn cub," Kouga retorted agitatedly but scratched him behind the ears nonetheless.

It was then that Hikari barked loudly from behind Kagome, "Yes Hikari, I see you too," Kouga growled as Youru made his desire to wrestle known by grabbing onto Kouga's arm with his mouth.

"You know," he said rubbing Youru's head affectionately as he was still latched to his arm, "I didn't come to see you." Youru seemed to scoff as he released Kouga's arm before resting on his paws once more. "Really?" Kouga retorted at the ookami, "I can't come to see Kagome?" It appeared as the ookami thought about it before resting on his paws once more. He did nothing more and Kouga took this as acceptance as he sighed.

Kagome had been smiling through the whole exchange. She could tell that the ookami really loved Kouga and Kouga loved the ookami. It was endearing. She ran her fingers through Youru's fur gently before lifting her eyes to Kouga's. They were concerned.

"How are you doing? You were poisoned by that dragon," he said his eyes moving to her right shoulder.

Kagome touched it with her hand tenderly, "It hurts but I don't think the poison remains." She eyed the wound curiously.

"You were supposed to be out for several more days," Kouga retorted resting his chin on an open palm his elbow resting on his knee, "I didn't think you'd be awake so I went off hunting, and left you in a cave full of ookami," he sighed.

Kagome laughed softly as she stared at the ceiling of the cave, "You forget that Mikos have regenerative healing abilities. It probably happened naturally in my sleep," she mentioned off-handedly.

Nope. Kouga didn't know that about Mikos, but he filed it away for future reference. A semi-comfortable silence fell between the two.

The last time he'd seen her, other than last night, was nearly two years ago before the defeat of Naraku. He'd told her his final goodbye. His heart still ached thinking about it. She matured some, but she still looked no older than he did. What really changed, though, was her personality. She was still the kind and loving Kagome he'd fallen in love with, but that feisty nature of hers was hidden. Under wraps. Something was bothering her. Something was wrong. He could feel it.

Kagome chanced a glance at Kouga. His blue eyes were unfocused as he was lost in his thoughts. He was exactly the same. His features hadn't changed a bit. He was still that kind person she knew two years ago, but he didn't profess his love for her from mountain tops. He didn't hold her hand every chance he got. He didn't even call her his 'woman' anymore. It seemed the wild, young, rebel-hearted ookami prince had matured some in his two years apart from her, and secretly she wondered if it was Ayame.

"So, I guess you and Ayame are getting mated soon," Kagome said randomly to stifle the silence that had become suffocating to her.

"Eh?" He retorted being abruptly pulled from his thoughts, " I guess so," he said a bitter edge to his voice.

Kagome's eyebrow raised slightly, "I thought you liked Ayame, Kouga."

He scoffed running his own hands through Youru's fur comfortingly, "Like her. I don't have anything against her. I just don't want her," he grimaced, "I just don't like the prospect of having my life decided for me," he said sighing.

Kagome's eyes saddened. "I'm sorry Kouga."

He waved it off. "Nothing you can do about it. The Elders made up their mind years ago it seems," he paused taking in her features before asking quietly, "So, what about you and m-Inu-yasha."

Her face fell and overwhelming sadness tinted her aura almost immediately. Kouga's eyes widened at the sudden change in her aura and a lot of the ookami around them lifted their heads to look at her. Youru lifted his head to look at her and even Hikari looked over his back to see what had plummeted her good nature.

"What happened Kagome," Kouga asked curiously. His hand itched to take hers to comfort her, but he knew she'd think he was trying to claim her again so he refrained. He settled for moving closer.

Kagome's eyes nearly brimmed with tears. She didn't mean to let her mood drop so harshly. She fully intended to brush off the question, but with the fatigue from her injuries, she just didn't have the strength to conceal her aura any longer.

"About a year ago, Inuyasha took a mate," she started, "six months before that he told me that he'd never want anyone but Kikyou and that we should just remain friends. Which I was okay with. I understood that there was a bond between them that I could never compete with, but...then he goes and mates an inu hanyou like himself. Which is good. I should be happy for him, right?" She turned her head to look at Kouga enabling one of her stifled tears to fall down her face.

Kouga was too shocked to be angry. For three years, he'd chased her. For three years, she'd denied him all because the mutt had given her hope that there was a relationship possible between them. Then six months after Naraku's defeat, he drops her?

"Why- didn't you- tell me," Kouga asked after finding his voice.

"You were promised to be with Ayame at the time. It's not like anything can be changed. They've been together a year now, and she's with pup," she said the last part barely a whisper.

Kouga sat back his emotions running wild. Kagome wasn't claimed. Inuyasha was mated. He couldn't take her from him, but he was still promised to court Ayame. Why did timing never work out for him?

He leaned back sighing actually raising two fingers to the bridge of his nose. One thing at a time. Right now, Kagome needed him. He'd deal with everything else later.

Taking a breath he looked down at her with a smile. "Well, that means I get to rough him up when he gets too close to my den." He saw the slight twitch of her lips and a certain spark in her eyes returned, "It seems the mutt is long overdue a good thrashing anyway."

"Kouga," she started.

"Don't worry Kagome," he said as he rose to his feet, "I won't let him bother you. Besides," he said smirking over his shoulder at her as he turned, "muttface isn't the only one who's grown stronger."

Kagome's eyes narrowed slightly at his remark but didn't attempt to argue with him. She may be awake, but it was clear she wasn't fully rested yet. Her human blood wouldn't allow her to remain conscious much longer.

Kouga saw her fingers thread Youru's fur before closing her eyes. Her face turned to the side and she buried her nose in Hikari's fur. The white ookami didn't even shift at the contact. Kouga's lips drew into a smile. If Hikari was unperturbed by her, then the rest of the pack would accept her just as well. He had to be the most untrusting ookami Kouga had ever laid eyes on.

He began walking away from the cave as his hands fisted tightly and a snarl marred his face. That stupid halfbreed. He'd really messed up this time. He'd finally broken Kagome's heart. It was just as well for him, but...she was really hurting.

He knew that the mutt wouldn't treat her right. He'd even said so on top of the mountain that day that the Birds of Paradise fell. He wasn't good enough for her. From the look of it, he'd nearly crushed her spirit, and she'd been bearing this burden, for years, in the dark. He sighed again releasing his fists.

It will be easier this way. Kouga nearly jumped at the unexpected intrusion of his inner youkai. It had been five years since it had spoken to him. The last time being when he saw Kagome for the first time.

It had spoken with a comforting tone, but it was a harsh thing to say no less. She's still hurting from it. It will take time to, sway her. She may never want me. Kouga lamented this. It was the truth. In the past, Kagome never seemed to pay him a second thought. What would change her mind now? In time, she will see we were the better decision to make.

Kouga was broken from his conversation as he approached the main part of the den.

"Kouga!"

"Hey how's Sis?" Hakkaku asked as both he and Ginta scrambled to their feet to greet him.

"She's sleeping. Don't disturb her," he barked as he leaned against the wall of the den near the opening. He crossed his arms once he reached the floor his blue eyes scanning the surrounding area, "Ginta."

"Yes Kouga," he said blinking at his cold behavior.

"Tell the next watch to inform me immediately of the Inuyasha's appearance." Ginta flinched at the venom inflicted in his alpha's voice. The anger was rolling off of his aura and scent in waves.

"Right," he said as he turned to inform the next group of ookami youkai gathering to set off.

Kouga's blue eyes hardened as the sky began to darken. This had been going on for far too long. The mutt was long overdue for a lesson, and he was more than willing to give it to him.

"Inuyasha," Kaede was practically begging, "Please go look for Kagome. It has been two days since ye have seen her. She may be in trouble."

The golden-eyed hanyou scoffed as he sat beside the fire pit. "She's not my concern any longer old woman. If she's gone then it is because she left. She doesn't have to stay here."

Kaede's eyes narrowed as the fire popped, shedding the new firewood if its bark, "She cares about this village Inuyasha. Ye too even though ye seem not to see it. She wouldn't just leave in the dead of night in the middle of winter."

The inu shifted on the other side of the pit. He knew she was right. He just didn't care. Ever since he'd mated Youka, he didn't care about much else. He assumed it was the mating mark. It ensured loyalty. It made him wonder how his old man ever had him at all.

"Keh, fine. Tomorrow. I'll go look around a bit," he relented slightly, "Don't expect me to bring her back though. She probably left with some youkai knowing her. Damn ookami youkai probably came and took her by now."

Kaede's eyes narrowed slightly but she dared not say a word against him, "Thank you, Inuyasha."