Kagome opened her eyes slowly. The children were gone. Kagome could hear voices outside as well as the earl birds chirping away. She slowly sat up, her head dizzy from all the rest and yet, part of her did not want to move.
She sighed and moved the covers and stood and walked to the door and pushed back the flap and looked out. Sango and Miroku were cleaning up what looked like to be breakfast. Kaede was in the field with Rin and Shippo running around her and that's what lead Kagomes eyes to Sesshomaru. He stood under the trees as if he was afraid of the sun, which she knew he was not.
They were all here.
"Kagome, good morning," Miroku noticed her first. Sango turned to look at her and smiled. "Did you sleep well?" Sango asked,
"Morning," Kagome answered back. "I didn't really mean to sleep that long,"
"Tis required," Kaede stated, coming up to them.
Shippo and Rin hugged Kagome's legs, and Sesshomaru moved to join the group as they gathered around Kagome.
Kagome looked at him. "You're still here," Why? Surely he wasn't worried about her? Kagome looked at Rin. Ah, Rin. Oh.
Perhaps this was the part where they all parted ways, or was it that he was thinking of leaving Rin?
Sesshomaru was about to answer her when he felt the wind shift, and he knew things were about to get a whole lot more complicated.
It hit Kagome a few moments after Sesshomaru. Though Kouga no longer had the jewel shards, he still had speed, and they had become accustomed to his wind shift.
"Kagome!" He came in like a tornado, his two brothers stopping a few feet away, weary of the demon Lord and not wanting to get closer unlike Kouga, who seemed to not care that he was standing there.
"Hi Kouga," Her voice was calm, tired. They all heard the weakness.
"Kagome," He said, calmer with care; he then turned to Miroku and Sango. "Thank you for taking care of her," He then looked at Kagome."Have you decided to stay after all?"
"I didnt really have a choice," She said,
"You mean the well doesn't work?" He Ginta asked, remembering what Kouga had told them about Kagome.
Kagome shook her head, looking down. Kouga grabbed her hands, making her look up at him. "Kagome, I know I've said it many times before, but I mean it this time: come with me, be my woman!"
Sesshomaru wanted to snort. That would not work on her. What an uncouth idiot. Why his brother had allowed the wolf to live was beyond him; he would not have allowed it.
Kagome didnt speak at first, and Kouga squeezed her hands. "I can protect you," No sooner did the words come out of his mouth was Sesshomaru's sword coming down.
Kouga almost missed and backjumped.
"What the hell!"
"Care to test that Wolf?"
"What the hell?!"
"You claim you can protect her, then do so," Sesshomaru stood in front of her, sword ready. But everyone knew Kouga would be no match.
"Sesshomaru," Kagome whispered, making him glance back at her. "He throws words around," He told her. "If he wishes to claim protection, then I shall see it for myself,"
"Who died and made you her keeper," Kouga sneered,
Miroku wanted to smack the wolf himself.
Kagome sighed. "Kouga,"
"Fine, just, just come with us," He ignored Sesshomaru,
Sesshomaru's whip came out and snapped the wolf, who hissed, holding his now burnt wrist.
"You are not capable of caring for her,"
"At least I offered," Kouga growled,
"You say that as if I have not,"
Kougas eyes got wide "You?"
Kagome seemed confused.
"You just want the jewel's power,"
"The jewel's power has no hold over me, wolf, yet why must I explain,"
"You hate humans,"
"I have a human ward,"
Kouga looked at Kagome. "I want to hear it from you,"
Kagome blushed and looked up at Sesshomaru, then back at Kouga. "Hear what?" She asked,
"Kagome, Sesshomaru offered you his protection," Miroku told her,
It hit her like a pie to the face. The only way someone could protect her is to be with her. But she didnt need a babysitter. Her shoulders slumped, "Kouga, I don't know what I am going to do yet, but if we are talking protection alone,"
Kougas tail went between his legs.
"It's not that I dont care about you! I just dont want you to get hurt or your clan to be in danger because of me!"
Kouga smiled. "Ha! See, she cares about me, so if she goes with you, it means she doesn't care about you!"
It was a twisted statement at that, but whatever to wolf needed to tell himself.
Kouga moved, slipping past Sesshomaru and grabbing her hands. "My sweet Kagome, take care of yourself, and if the dog tries anything,"
That was it.
Sesshomaru moved, but Kouga knew it was coming.
With a flash, he and his brothers were gone.
Kagome swallowed; she knew Sesshomaru would not hold back on Kouga, not like Inuyasha had.
Sesshomaru was not Inuyasha.
Kagome actually smiled and shook her head. At least when it came to Kouga, nothing had changed and she needed that.