If you can believe it this one-shot (might be long term story) came to me in a dream. I guess that's what I get for watching a jumbled pile of trash tv before I go to bed lol.

I really do love the way this came out and the new kind of speedy type of writing I am developing. I hope you all like it as much as I liked typing it.

Keep an eye open for future chapters. This might be too good of a plotline to be left sitting in my unfinished works file.

Only time will tell! Much love to my fellow Kouga&Kagome lovers!

Turn My Nightmares Into Dreams

There wasn't enough sorrowful words in the world to describe the loss of someone you love. Someone, whom without you felt as though your entire soul had been ripped from your body and shattered into a million unrecognizable pieces.

That type of pain. It was crushing, and to some who had just that one person worth living for. It could destroy them entirely.

But, out of the utmost sorrow. Life can bloom.

It had been three long happy years that Kagome had resided in the feudal era. She had chosen to live that life instead of the one she was born into.

She had called the past her home, and began building a life there just as she had always hoped she would.

Inuyasha and her had married. They shared their lives together one day at a time until everything she had ever hoped for. Came true.

The loved, they fought, they were happy.

At least until it was all ripped away.

Years Inuyasha had fought. It was who he was. Kagome had accepted that after the defeat of Naraku. That the half demon would never really forsake his primal urge for battle.

He would help neighboring villages who called for aid. He would slay demons who needed to be slain. But, never did Kagome think it would end the way it all did.

One mistake. One mistake was it had taken to tear her world apart.

Inuyasha had died.

He had left her alone in this world. And torn her from the life she had come to cherish.

With his passing the magic that had brought her to the feudal era to begin with had faded away. The sacred bone eaters well, had pulled her into its depths without a trace of warning.

She had awoken in the present. In her families shrine that she swore she would never see again.

The devastation she felt was unreal. She had even lost the will to go on. So completely destroyed by the death of her one true love she wanted nothing more than to join him in the after life.

But, she couldn't. Because in an ultimate cosmic irony once she had returned to he modern era, she had discovered something unthinkable.

She was pregnant.

Inuyasha had left her this world, but not before seeding his child deep within her womb.

It was that discovery alone that forced Kagome to endure and survive for the soul sake of their now unborn child.

She was going to be a mother, and her child would need her. Her will to live had thrived and after what seemed like an eternity of tears and broken sobs. She had found the strength to push on.

She had entered her once home, expecting to see the family she had left behind. Her mother and brother, and perhaps even her even more aged grandfather.

It was the ray of hope and comfort she needed and down right craved to feel them all embrace her with open arms.

But, the moment she shoved the main hours doors apart. She found the familiar confines of her house, cold and empty instead.

It was clear her trio of support hadn't resided here for some time. Luckily with the help of the family answering machine, still in the same spot they had once left it. She had been able to piece together where they had gone.

Vacation. Of all things. They were currently touring not the city but other countries, and wouldn't be expected back for some time.

It looked as though, yet again Kagome would have to face the uncertain future alone.

It surprised even her how fast she had taken back to modern life. Choosing to the clean the house top to bottom and thankful that though her family was away. They still saw fit to keep the essentials of house hold life on going.

Though there was one problem. Food was non existent.

The realization had hit Kagome hard. She couldn't care for her child without caring for herself. And she couldn't care for herself without money.

This wasn't the feudal era she had adapted too. She couldn't find work as a priestess or demon slayer. She was back in the world she was born into. She was a citizen of Tokyo, and an unemployed one at that.

And so her search began. And all to abruptly ended.

Kagome sat in the center of the largest park the city had to offer. Her soft thumbs tearing through a pack of crackers an unknown stranger had left behind to feed the birds now gathered at Kagome's feet.

Defeated Kagome threw the tiny shreds of bread away watching as the local pigeons pecked it off the concrete pathway.

For years she had dreamt of nothing but maybe someday returning to the present. Seeing her family, revisiting the spots that only three years prior she had called second homes.

It was a cruel kind of irony that her wish had been granted the way it had.

With a heavy sigh Kagome buried her heated face in the soft pads of her palms breathing deeply the late spring air and trying to hold herself together.

Apparently her high school diploma wasn't the greatest of job experience citification. She had been to every local shop, café, and any wanted help sign holders businesses. And every single one had turned her down flat.

If she couldn't find a job what was she expected to do? She didn't have money. She hadn't had the need for the past few years.

Adjusting to normal life had never felt so hard. And never did she think she would miss the war stricken feudal era so much.

Life may have been harder five hundred years in the past. But, she had been happy with it. And here, the places she had known all her life. She never felt so miserable, or alone.

Reassuring herself Kagome straightened up placing a soft hand over her hidden navel. She couldn't feel anything yet. She couldn't have been more than a few days pregnant.

But she knew who was there. Someone who depended on her. And someone she would fight to her last breath to see was provided for.

Taking a deep breath Kagome straightened out the wrinkles of her summer dress briefly thinking how thankful she was her mother had kept her room completely intact. Including her closet.

Her cloths still fit well but weren't exactly her taste any longer. She was young, but she wasn't the naive teenager she had once been.

Her chest had widen, her hips were fuller and her frame much more feminine. Surprising really, she never thought she would have a figure like this and throughout the day it had drawn unwanted attention.

Kagome rolled her hazel eyes at the countless catcalls and whistles she had suffered through on her job search. If only she could fill her refrigerator with compliments. She would be eating like a queen.

Tiredly Kagome ran her hands through her long wavy raven locks. It would be dark soon and she still had a long walk back home. She had better get started.

She had every intention of doing just that before the fading light of the sun set darkened suddenly and Kagome looked up to find herself in the shadow of a unknown figure towering over her.

"Excuse me miss? Can I have a word?" The figure spoke and Kagome after a moment of eye adjustment realized a man was standing beside her still sitting form.

She blinked in confusion. Who was this person? Better, yet why was he talking to her?

"Pardon my rudeness. But, I couldn't help but watch you from my seat over there. You look a little down?" The gray eyed man asked. In a tone that might have passed for concern if Kagome wasn't so well adapted to people.

It was eerie and left a lasting chill running up the length of her spine.

"I'm fine." Kagome said sternly climbing to her boot covered feet, adjusting the straps of her worn slightly empty purse.

"Well I can see that. You are one incredibly beautiful woman. Tell me, have you ever considered modeling? I know a few people in the beauty industry-" The stranger said admiringly. His gaze lingering a little longer on Kagome's curvaceous figure than it should have.

Kagome felt her temper flare. What was it about her that these guys found so irresistible? It was beyond annoying, and she had heard enough for one day.

"I have to go." Kagome said sharply spinning in the opposite direction the man still stood.

"Hang on a second miss-" The stranger added reaching out for Kagome and gripping a hold of her wrist.

Infuriated Kagome tore her hand away. How dare this man touch her!?

"Don't touch me!" Kagome warned feeling her spiritual energy surge. She may not be able to purify a human but that didn't mean she wasn't willing to try all the same.

"Whoa whoa-" The man stammered putting both his hands up in seeming surrender. That was until his eyes actually reached Kagome's glaring hazel orbs.

Then for the first time, his face turned from a lecherous stare to a serious almost surprised look.

It was if he wasn't looking at her physical appearance any longer, but something deeper. Something radiating from within.

He had seen that very look before, many many times.

They eyes of a fighter.

With this discovery his tone and approach immediately changed.

"You're not as delicate as you look." The man admitted sincerely.

Kagome stood still visibly tense and wondering just what the stranger might try next.

"You know what. No tricks." He surrendered reaching into his back pocket and pulling out his folded wallet.

He thumbed through his billfold until he retrieved a small square platinum card.

"If your interested. There's a place for people like you. For your skills." The stranger stated blatantly, but not in the same lecherous tone before. He sounded believably serious.

"There quite generous. Given the opportunity." He smirked and Kagome felt her hazel eyes widen in disbelief. She could have sworn she had just seen fangs?

But before she could be sure the stranger dipped his head placing his neatly trimmed card on the park bench and then he was brushing past her.

"Think it over." He nodded with a now cautiously closed mouth smile, and then just as suddenly as he had arrived he was walking down the pathway and out of sight.

Kagome watched him go in suspicion before her harden gaze fell to the card still gleaming back at her.

Every instinct in her body told her not to pick the little piece of sculpted paper up, but the churning in her stomach overturned her better judgment.

Sternly Kagome scooped the card up and stuffed it deep down into her purse hoping secretly it would remained buried there unseen and unread forever.

The stone tunnel walls vibrated loudly with the stomping of feet overhead and the booming roar of the crowd waiting just outside the welded metal door entrance.

The lone figure inside the trembling hallway listened through pointed ears as the announcer took to the center of the dirt floored arena.

An overweight and chipped fanged man with patches of missing hair holding tightly the battered microphone as he faced the deafening crowd towering over him from their damaged bleacher seats.

He lifted his flabby arms causing the mass crowd to hush slightly as he placed the device to his dry cracked lips.

"Are we ready!?" He roared loudly causing the elevated crowd to surge.

"Tonight we have for you viewing entertainment. A man-" The announcer paused with a trace of humor in his voice "Or should I say beast? From the far reaches of the island borders. The mountain of muscle. The pillar of pain. The challenger!" The announcer boomed

Suddenly the matching tunnel on the opposite side of the pit like arena shook and the lifting gate pulled upwards allowing the massive figure hidden from inside to charge forward.

A rippling hunched figure stampeded into the arena causing dirt to flare up around his hoofed feet. His beady eyes red and gleaming with a glossy hue his snout dripping with saliva and dried blood.

He was a mountain alright, a mountain of soon to be bacon. Or that was the lone figure in the opposite still sealed tunnel thought anyways.

He smirked a pearly white fang filled grin. This was going to be worth it.

"Now, an animal that needs no introduction. The reining ruler of the pit. The blue eyed bruiser! The wolf who clawed his way from hell itself! Your champion!"

A hurricane of applause and shouting roared from over the top of the tunnel and the demon from within beamed with the carnal lust for battle.

The gate ahead opened and the blue eyed wolf demon. Stepped through.

Sitting on the cool tile floor of the kitchen and staring at the empty refrigerator ahead. It could have been defined as cruel and unusual torture.

Or that is how Kagome saw it. She sat there knees tucked to her chest inside the dark chamber of her home trying to hard not to think about food.

She couldn't remember being this hungry before. She never really had been. Anytime she or Inuyasha had felt puckish and food amongst the village was scarce one of them had simply opted to hunt down a boar or two.

But, that was the past. And she was stuck in the present. She couldn't very well go bow and arrow in hand and hunt down the neighboring live stock. It wasn't how things were done now unfortunately.

She had to eat, but not just her. Her child was depending on her too. They needed food to survive and she didn't have the money to fulfill that basic need.

Kagome sat there trying to fight back tears. She had one obligation in this world now. Take care of her unborn child and she was failing to even do that.

She didn't know what to do, and that is exactly what had led her to her current situation. She could feel it even now, the card she swore she wouldn't touch until now clutched in her palm.

Everything about the man she had met earlier seemed wrong. He had sent warning bells going off in her head with just his presence. She could only image what would happen if she dared to venture to the address that had revealed itself to her when she hesitantly had peered down at its shiny cover.

But, he had offered her work. Hadn't he?

Then again what type of work had it been? Kagome may have been thrown back into the modern era but that didn't mean she was naïve to the danger it posed.

She knew what a man who exuded that type of presence was usually after. And if that was the case, he could forget it! Kagome may have been desperate for money but that didn't mean she was willing to sacrifice her self respect!

Inuyasha had been the only man to ever touch her, and that is how it was going to stay!

But desperate times did call for desperate measures, and the gnawing hunger still lingering in her stomach reminded her just how desperate she really was.

The stranger had come off untrusting but once he had taken a real look at her. Not at her body but into her eyes, he had seemed to change his entire domineer.

Did that mean he had suddenly taken her seriously?

When that thought crossed her mind a growling in her stomach answered. She knew the risk if she didn't eat soon and she would rather die than ever let something happen to her and Inuyasha's child out of self preservation.

Being a parent wasn't about what she wanted or what was best for her. It was all about the person growing in her womb.

A person who needed her, and needed her now.

Kagome swallowed hard. Her mind was made up. Climbing to her bare feet she pulled the small card to her face and memorized the address.

She shoved the paper into her purse now firmly in hand before heading towards the door. She didn't know what she was walking into or just how dangerous or reckless it might be.

But, she would face it head on regardless. She was alone in this, but she would handle it as she had everything else.

By putting the life inside hers needs before her own. No matter what.

Azure eyes pierced the thrashing crowd below. The solo figure sat at the top of the cracking bleachers reclined tiredly watching as the boarded in circular pit below drew the masses of demons attentions fully.

Two feminine frames tearing at each other in tattered clothing hair wild and fangs gleaming as they drug one another across the dirt covered floor.

Kouga smirked a pearly fang filled grin. He liked watching the girls have at each other. It was almost more entertaining then fighting himself. Almost.

Tensely Kouga ran a calloused hand over his rugged and stained t-shirt covered torso, feeling the swell of his pectoral and the developing bruise the damn pig like demon had left behind.

The now deceased monster of a demon had managed to land one good hoof clawed blow to his chest, that surely had cracked a rib or two. Kouga couldn't really bring himself to care though. It would heal in an hour or two. Just enough time for him to finish his last fight of the night.

At least it wouldn't scar. Kouga wasn't sure how much more unmarred bronze skin he'd have left if opponents kept getting lucky shots on him.

The badly gashed trio of diagonal scars running the length from the bottom right side of his jaw to the bend under his arm the most noticeable of all.

Kouga could still remember the day he had gotten such a drastic injury. He had been drinking, heavily and entered the pit half drunk. Long story short, he had learned his lesson not to make the same mistake twice.

Now he did all his drinking outside the arena, and only after his fights for the night were up.

Tiredly Kouga dug around in his torn jean pocket before fetching out the crinkled pack of half bent cigarettes. He pulled one from the carton before placing it between his handsome lips.

He fumbled around his worn brown leather jacket for his lighter ignoring the lasting throb it caused to radiate through his torso before he found the metal square object he sought.

He clicked it open before bringing the small flame to the tip of his cigarette. Instantly the paper tip flamed orange and he breathed deep the smoke it provided.

Holding inside for a moment or two he exhaled watching the cloud expand overhead into the already existing circle of smog radiating from the countless others that were lighted up around him.

He leaned back against the empty row of bleachers at his back holding the paper wrapped tobacco between his lips as he took in the sight of the girl fight still raging on beneath him.

One of the girls, the brunette, looked familiar he was sure he might have slept with her a few weeks prior. Who knew? It was impossible to keep track of them all.

Kouga kicked his feet up on the vacant bleaches beneath him leaning further back. He wanted to enjoy his time off for the time being. After this match wrapped up it was his turn back in the pit.

Some other up comer trying to make a name for themselves. Idiots. He was positive he'd have'em knocked out or dead within ten minutes. That's usually how these things went.

Kouga took another puff off his cigarette before exhaling only this time watching as a familiar figure stepped through his heated cloud.

"Rekin. Just the person I didn't want to see." Kouga huffed with a narrowing of his sharp azure eyes.

"Great to see you too Kouga. Taking care of yourself I see." The sharply dressed gray eyed demon replied flatly.

Kouga puffed out intentionally large cloud of smoke towards the face of the suit dressed demon standing before him.

"Always." He smirked behind his cigarette.

"How'd the fight go?" Rekin asked uncaringly.

Kouga reached down grabbing the hem of his t-shirt before pulling it up shamelessly revealing the hard scarred sculpt of his abs and chest but also the slightly purplish wound he sustained.

"What'd you think?" He asked coldly before letting the bunched material of his shirt fall back down into place.

"Let me guess. You killed this one too." The gray eyed demons sighed.

"Maybe." Kouga chuckled darkly. He was only sorry the suit dressed demon he had known for dozens of years hadn't been there to see his client die in five minutes flat.

"You realize, this just makes my life harder? Every one you kill I have to replace?" Rekin growled lowly. God he hated this wolf demon.

"That's the fun part." Kouga admitted with a smirk. He had to make his own entertainment at this hell hole after all.

"Besides. Maybe next time you go out you'll find someone worth my time." Kouga added with another huff of his smoke while running his fingers through his short cropped raven hair.

"Speaking of which how'd tonight go? Find any new talent?" He asked with a rise of his raven brow.

Rekin eyes narrowed for a moment. He had handed out dozens of cards to a few potentials, but one stood out more than any of the others.

"I might have found a good contender. For the woman." The grey eyed demon admitted. Thinking of the raven haired beauty he had spotted while making his way through the park.

Before Kouga could reply a sharp cry rang out the already buzzing crowd and both conversating demons peered down to the pit where the match had suddenly come to an end.

The non brunette female stood battered and torn but triumphant as the woman Kouga might have known laid in a growing pool of her own blood. Either dead or just knocked out he couldn't tell from this high up.

Kouga smirked before climbing to his feet taking one last hit of his cigarette before flicking it away lit and all, the escaping embers dying out when they made contact with the floor.

He brushed past the gray eyed demon patting him on the shoulder roughly as he passed him by.

"Good. Look's like were going to need it." He chuckled darkly.

He would have loved to talk about the potential incoming meat, but he had a new victim awaiting him and he was all to eager to meet them face to face.

Kagome clutched her boot covered feet together tightly in reluctance. Her hazel eyes wide with disbelief at the place the little aluminum card she currently clutched had led her too.

She was on a run down street that until now she had no idea existed in the city of Tokyo. It was filthy to put it kindly. Trash and cracked pavement littering the street all leading to a massive badly weathered warehouse that for some unknown reason dozens of people were lined around the block to get inside.

What had she gotten herself into? If she was smart she would've just turned around and found the first bus out of this place. But, she knew she had come to down here for a reason. She couldn't just leave without at least looking inside?

Who was she kidding that is what she should do! Right now! But, why wouldn't her feet move? It was almost like something was pulling her towards the door. Most likely her lingering hunger pains.

Kagome cupped her hand over her flat stomach for support. She would just look inside. That was it. Maybe it was just some kind of bar? A very rowdy…loud…dirty bar.

Work was work and money was money. Maybe if she got hired tonight she could scrape enough together to last the week and until she found another more suitable job.

Kagome was still rolling over the possibilities and consequences in her mind when a much taller figure over shadowed her.

Suddenly on high alert Kagome turned to face a monstrous size of a man dressed in all black tattered clothing and staring right down at her.

He opened his wide and gaping mouth to say something, most likely something foul and profane the way he was leering at her, but instead his sharp beady eyes fell to the card she clutched in her palm and he paused.

"You one of Rekin's girls?" He asked in a low and very intimidating voice.

Kagome blinked. Who was Rekin?

"This way. I'll get you signed up. You missed tonight but we'll get your information and call you in tomorrow." The towering man said firmly pushing past Kagome directly to the front of the thick line across the street.

Kagome hesitated for a moment resisting the urge to run in the opposite direction but against her better judgment she followed after him.

So she had missed her chance for a shift tonight? She couldn't say she was entirely upset by the news but it seemed promising if she could at least work a few hours tomorrow. She wondered what she would be doing. Bartending? Waitressing?

She walked shadowed in the towering mans frame as he made his way through the crowd until he cut ahead to the very front of the winding line.

Once over the threshold of the colossal warehouse entrance. It was clear by the way he moved he knew the layout, and it was soon obvious he also worked here. Most likely a bouncer judging by his frightening size.

Kagome eyed the weathered and hole spotted ceiling. Rusted support beams that looked like they might give way the first heavy rain.

Desperate times, desperate measures. Kagome had to keep repeating that phrase over and over in her head or else she would have turned tail and ran back the way she had come.

She was guided through the massive and visually packed structure until they reached the opposite side of the building where another large set of doors remained parted open leading to a wide set of stairs.

Dozens of people coming from the lower unseen level with a look of excitement and thrill that almost scared Kagome.

Just what was down there? Her curiosity was heightened but so was her caution. What was she about to walk into?

She took the first step nervously her hand fighting the urge to grab the support railing welded to her side. She didn't want to know how many germs contaminated the metal bar.

She followed the nameless bouncer further down until harsh buzzing light overhead made her squint. The overpowering and sickening scent of smoke and musk assaulting her nose.

Reflexively Kagome cupped a hand over her mouth and nose trying to block out the awful smell filling the atmosphere around her.

The other hand instantly going to her right side ear where seemingly hundreds of people roared at the top of their lungs. Enthralled by something going on further down.

Kagome stared ahead where row after row of bleaches began to descend into a coliseum like structure. The entire construction circled around a deeply dug hole boarded up by thick wooden planks to separate the pit and the crowd.

Kagome shook her head in disbelief. This place wasn't a bar. It was some kind of arena? And something foreboding told Kagome this wasn't a normal boxing match, but possibly something far worse.

It wasn't until she neared the rim of the circular entrapment pushed on by the rushing hoard shoving into her back that she saw directly into the dirt grounded ring.

There was no one inside the pit but dug up earth and blood stained ground that made Kagome's stomach churn uneasily.

She didn't know what this place was and she didn't care. It was obvious this wasn't the place for her. She didn't care what she had to do to make money, anything was better than suffocating in here.

Kagome began to struggle through the weight of people crushing against her eager to get a closer look. All driven forward by the sudden arrival of the disgusting looking announcer.

Kagome was forcibly turned back to the railing that circled the arena. She was temporarily trapped.

"Are we ready?!" The announcer boomed causing the crowed behind Kagome to surge.

Kagome gasped in discomfort at the amount of people shoving themselves against her. Of all the nights she had chosen to wear a denim skirt! She was one push away from getting forcibly groped, accidentally or not.

"The last fight of the night! All bets have been placed. Who is ready to win some money!?" The flabby man asked from the center of the dome.

The crowd roared deafeningly loudly and Kagome fought to cover her already ringing ears.

"Next up we have the warrior from the west. The creator of chaos! The challenger!" The announcer roared and the massive gathering of people in the dome booed and cheered all at once.

A gate Kagome hadn't seen before at the right side of the pit lifted open and a red skinned thick necked creature stepped through on clawed feet.

Kagome felt her heart drop into the deepest part of her stomach. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. This wasn't some costume or make believe creation.

She was seeing a demon. In the flesh.

Kagome was dumbfounded, sure she knew there were bound to be a few demons scattered around the city. They were almost impossible to kill unless trained to know how. But, she didn't think she would ever see one so undisguised. He was standing out in the open, in front of people!

Kagome glanced around and for the first time she actually looked through the haze of smoke and she could see not only was she surrounded by humans, but visible demons as well! This place was a free for all!

What had she missed in the last three years? Had demons come out of hiding? Or was this isolated arena some kind of dark oasis?

The crimson skinned monster lifted his clawed hands up proudly causing the horde of people mixed demons to cheer loudly.

"Next, a demon you all know to well. The still undefeated master of the pit! The reigning supreme and top blood thirsty killer of all Tokyo! Your champion!" The announcer boomed and the crowd currently entrapping Kagome thrashed crazily.

Kagome tired desperately to slink away as the opposite gate on the pit wall began to rise. She didn't want to see two demons go at each other in what she was sure would be extremely harsh and meaningless violence.

She had seen enough for one lifetime.

But her attempts were useless, she might as well had been welded to her ringside seat. The wall of people behind her were unmoving and clearly eagerly determined to see this to the end.

Kagome wanted to close her eyes and wish herself away. She didn't want to be here. She should have never come here! This was all just one giant stupid mistake!

Or so she thought. Until the figure now entering the ring emerged from the shadows into view.

The color drained from Kagome's face and the room faded into an absolute silence. Her mental and absolute shock drowning out every roaring scream and clapping of clawed hands.

This wasn't real…it couldn't be…

Time slowed and Kagome could have sworn she stopped breathing. The person now taking center ring opposite to the nameless demon currently staring him down…it was…

Kouga.

Kagome felt a tremor of sheer disbelief rock her body to the core. His appearance was drastically changed but it was him. Those eyes, that face. There was no mistaking it.

It was Kouga. The wolf demon she had known five hundred years in the past.

The one she had fought beside, admired, even cared for as a deep friend. He was here, he was real and he was standing completely unaware of her presence.

Kagome gawked in an utter trance like shock as she took in the full sight of him. He was thick and definitely well built with defined and carved muscles. His torso carved with hard lines that attributed his virtually fatless body. The sculpted lines on either side of his hips especially holding her attention and the small thin line of hair that trailed down from his navel to the rim of his ripped jean covered waist.

His once long and flowing raven hair was now cropped incredibly short coming to rest just above his pointed ears pushed back in his still maintained fur headband.

His eyes were just as azure as they had been before maybe even more brilliantly glowing. Though it hardly distracted from the countless of scars that now riddled his body.

Some were small and very light to the point of almost being invisible, but most weren't. They were dark and scarred over deep no doubt from countless years of battling with other demons.

The worst being the triple lined one that oh so barely reached his jaw to run the length all the way down to the bend of his arm.

It was shocking but not in an unappealing way. Just incredible to be hold that a body could withstand that kind of punishment and recover. Then again, Kouga was a full fledged demon.

She just couldn't believe this. Five centuries and Kouga was standing before her just as young in appearance as he had looked in the past. She knew demons aged differently but she had no idea time almost virtually stood still for them.

It wasn't till the sudden jarring sound of a bell ringing that Kagome was sent spiraling back to the present as she watched helplessly as Kouga began to circle the now glaring demon before him.

Kagome felt her heart skip a beat. They were going to fight! She had to stop it!

Frantic she looked around for some type of salvation. Since being thrust back into the modern era Kouga was the only person she knew they only person she had a chance to reconnect with! She wasn't about to lose him to some stupid brawl!

Gripping the bar ahead of her tightly she shouted at the top of her lungs!

"Stop! Stop the fight!" She cried out, but her voice was drowned out by the overwhelming sound of the cheering masses at her back.

It was useless. What could she do? She couldn't jump down into the pit it was far to deep and she knew she would undoubtedly break an ankle in the process.

She couldn't do anything except watch the horrid scene unfold before her.

Kouga planted his feet firmly at the far end of the ring his head cocking to the side feeling the comforting popping sensation that followed just beneath the skin.

The yellow eyed ogre like demon standing ahead of him sneered his overly large white fangs flashing in attempt to rustle Kouga's expressionless demeanor.

It worked, but not in the way the demon had hoped.

Kouga only smirked in return the tip of his own fangs overhanging his bottom lip in amusement.

The crimson skinned demon raged from the insult widening his stance before he furiously charged forward his pitch black claws shining with the overhead buzzing light and flexed to tear directly into Kouga's unprotected flesh.

"Kouga!" Kagome screamed. Her hazel eyes wide and filling with absolute panic.

Kouga felt his body flex. It was quick but he had heard his name over the roar of the crowd. Hadn't he?

He didn't have time to dwell on it. He stood perfectly still until the last possible second of the demons impact. Skillfully he kicked off the dirt coated ground flying upwards into the elevated arena and spinning in mid air.

While twisting his body the faces of the hoard circling the pit blurred into a constant unrecognizable shade of gray. All but one face, a face that all to briefly faded away.

Kouga hit the ground back into the arena hard his azure eyes wide with confusion and uncertainty. That couldn't have been real. He could have sworn he had just seen-

His thought was cut short once again with the flare of approaching danger surging just beneath the skin. Kouga spun to face the once again charging demon.

Inhumanly fast he ducked his head low just in time to avoid the ogres attack! His dagger like claws missing their mark and instead spearing themselves through the wooden planks of the arena walls.

While the demons hand was temporarily out of use Kouga shoved his leg up delivering a brutal kick to the ogres face sending him stumbling backwards blinded by pain.

Kouga took the opportunity fully.

Usually he liked to play with his opponents make them struggle for every breath before he finished them off. But, not right now. The face he had or hadn't seen in the crowd it was taking over his mind and he wanted to face them again, now!

Mercilessly Kouga lunged forward his own claws flexed and dangerous as he tore at the yellow eyed demons throat.

Instantly a spray of ink black blood coated his fingertips as he felt the ogres crimson skin shred under his claws. The massive demon gargled out in agony before gripping its now torn throat replacing Kouga's hold as he ripped his now blood soaked fingers away.

The demons frantic eyes rolled back weakly and then lifelessly the ogres knees gave way as he fell to the dirt covered floor below.

A cloud of dirt erupted from beneath the now dead monster and before the dust could even settle a booming roar of the crowd followed! Countless patrons screaming at the top of their lungs from the carnage they had just witnessed.

Kouga turned to face them. His azure eyes intense and focused as he scanned the seemingly endless ocean of faces. None of them were the same.

The person he had seen, earlier. Wasn't there.

The announcer reemerged back into the pit walking to Kouga's side and stepping over the dead beast uncaring, microphone already firmly in hand.

"Again our champion and still undefeated. Kouga!" The speakers boomed and the masses screamed.

Kouga drowned them out as he usually had, by pretending they weren't even there. But, the lingering urge to search through them all remained. That face. That person. Where had they gone? Were they even there?

Kouga shook his head stepping towards the pit exit flicking the still collected black blood that stained his hand and forearm. Only one thing on his mind now. He needed a drink.

It was only about five minutes before Kouga made his way to his dimly lit dressing room. Shoving the rustic door open and heading straight for the slanted cabinet on the opposite side of the small room that held his bottled collection of alcohol.

Not even bothering with the empty overturned glasses sitting on the shelf below Kouga took hold of the neck of the bottle screwing the lid off inhumanly fast and rocking the entire glass jar back.

The alcohol inside scorched all the way down until Kouga could take it no more and he threw the now empty liquor container away.

It smashed the moment it made contact with the floor and already Kouga felt his head begin to spin with the tingling sensation the booze provided.

There were great thing about being a demon, and some things that just flat out sucked. One he had an incredibly high tolerance for any kind of alcohol. The down side. The fuzzy cloud it rendered his brain and body to only lasted for a minute or two before it was burned away.

Disoriented he ran his unstained hand over his face and through his cropped raven locks. His sharp azure eyes meeting the hard reflection of himself in the jagged taped up mirror on the nearest wall . The stained glass glaring back at him harshly.

Kouga took in his reflection with a harden expression.

What the hell was happening to him? He thought he had gotten over all those damn flashbacks and unwanted memories. At least for the last few years. He hadn't had a nightmare in weeks, he had taken that as a good sign.

But, apparently he was having delusions now. In the crowd, had that been some kind of phantom of the past? But, why…

Why her….

Kouga shook the thought away. He needed to take some time away from the pit. He apparently was getting way to many blows to the head.

He wasn't going back down that route. Thinking about every little thing that happened centuries ago. The wolf who had suffered through all that tragedy and despair had died a long time ago.

He wasn't that man anymore.

Still, unwillingly Kouga felt his blood stained fingers trail over the small twin sized indented scars that still remained on the slope of his shoulder.

His azure eyes darkening with the remembrance of the auburn haired demoness who had put those very marks there centuries ago.

Furiously Kouga tore his hand away at the memory. He wasn't going to think about this! Not anymore! The past was dead, and he didn't care to revisit it ever again!

Storming across the off colored room he headed towards the slightly parted closet that his brown leather coat and shirt still hung.

He was going to scold himself in the shower then get the hell out of here. He was starving, and in desperate need of alcohol that worked a hell of a lot better than the one he had just guzzled down.

Maybe then all these damn thoughts would go back to where they belonged. Back into the past. Where they should have remained. Dead, and buried.

Tensely Kagome held the collar of her onyx colored coat tighter around herself. Trying to fight off the lingering cold that the midnight air caressed her with.

She didn't think she would miss anything about the nightmarish hole she had just climbed out of, but the warmth it had provided was tempting.

Defiant though in her vow never to set foot in that horrible building again Kagome stood firm at the rear of the rusted warehouse . Her bare legs crossed and her back planted firmly against the concrete wall for support.

Her body was still but her mind was absolutely racing. After all this time, and all the odds in the world stacked against her. She had found someone she had known five hundred years in the past!

She had seen Kouga with her very own eyes, and though he looked almost like an entirely different demon she knew she couldn't bare the thought of leaving without facing him at least once.

Though the decision hadn't been easy considering the blood bath she had unwillingly witnessed while trapped at the front of the arena.

She had watched him kill that other demon without any hesitation at all. It wasn't something entirely new to Kagome, defending one's self. But, that hadn't been defense. Kouga could have left at any time and instead he chose to stand in a fifthly pit and fight another demon to the death. And for what? Entertainment?

It seemed so below the wolf demon she had once known. Then again, that was a very very long time ago and dozens if not hundreds of things were bound to have changed since then.

Including him.

Kagome hesitated at the thought. It had been such a long time. What if Kouga wasn't the same man she remembered? What if he didn't even recognize her?

She couldn't bare the idea of it.

Kouga though visually rough around the edges was like a god send. He was a lifeline to the past she had been forced to leave behind. She had so many questions. So much want to piece together what had happened in the past after her departure.

He was the one person who could help her straighten this all out.

But would he want too?

Kagome shook the question away. She didn't care about any of that right now. She just wanted to see him! To know he was alright and still maybe the friend she so desperately needed.

Which is why she waited so patiently in this darken spot behind the now slightly emptying club. She had heard from some hushed voices in the crowd that this is where the fighters existed after a 'performance'.

That had been good enough for her. So far she had seen a handful of demons and humans alike exit the warehouse but none were the person she sought.

So she waited. A few feet away from the rusted metal door that acted as the exit and on the opposite side that a small group of scandalous looking woman huddled nearby.

The way they chattered on about the fight Kagome was sure they were some type of fan girls looking for an autograph or phone number of the demons they had watched fight.

Either way Kagome wasn't concerned about them. Even if they did snicker in her direction from time to time.

Just then the sealed door Kagome stood a few feet behind swung open and a broad framed figure stepped through.

Kagome felt her body instinctively straighten up at the sight. It was him! H-He was finally here!

Kouga pushed past the club exit with his shoulder his hands to busy thumbing through the wad of money he had collected from tonight's fights.

His azure fixed down on the folded paper before he shoved it all uncaring into his back jean pocket. His hands burying themselves in the pockets of his brown leather coat instead to bring out a lighter that undoubtedly was for the unlit cigarette planted between his lips.

Kagome stood frozen in Kouga's shadow unable to move or speak. She had felt so sure before of what she would say or do. But, now that the moment was staring her in the face she was motionless.

She couldn't find the strength to react in any way. What could she possibly say after all this time? They were virtual strangers to each other. Weren't they?

Kouga walked forward on the cracked sidewalk completely unaware of the person planted at his back his azure eyes peering forward the huddle group of girls that suddenly fixated on him.

"Hey Kouga!" One girl winked teasingly.

"Great fight!" Another one smiled a crimson smirk that Kouga groaned at in response.

He didn't have the energy for this tonight. Usually after a good enough fight he still had tons of energy to burn, which is where these girls came in.

They were easy, cheap and he didn't give a damn about them the next morning. But, after the things he had unwillingly gotten to relive tonight. He felt exhausted.

He was in no mood for sex right now. He just wanted to eat, smoke, then sleep.

Kagome felt her hand extend out finally breaking her petrified state but it wasn't enough. Kouga was walking forward and there was nothing she could do to stop him.

She didn't know what to do. Was that person even Kouga? S-She didn't know. She was to afraid to risk this.

Her hand fell limply back to her side and she resigned herself to letting him slip away. Maybe she wasn't meant to hold onto the past.

Her decision had been made.

Or so she thought.

Faintly a light gust of spring air breezed past her causing her loose raven locks to tussle around her porcelain face slightly, the wafting fragrant scent of herself drifting directly forward towards Kouga's still marching form.

The moment the sweet smell of cherry blossoms reached Kouga's heighten nose he froze mid step.

The burning cigarette in between his lips fell silently to the concrete ground below the embers scattering around his feet as his entire body shook with disbelief.

His azure eyes were three times wider than he could ever remember them being as he continued inhale the sweet perfume that surrounded him.

This couldn't be real…this scent. There was no mistaking it.

It was hers.

Almost fearful his mind had finally cracked from the years of mental and physical abuse he had forced it to endure Kouga ever so slowly peered over his leather covered shoulder.

His jaw slacked and his eyes filled with complete and utter shock.

Kagome felt her heart pound in her chest at the sight of Kouga finally meeting her hazel eyes. He was looking at her, like he had seen a ghost.

Did that mean he did remember her? He knew her?

Running on pure instinct Kouga turned to face the once priestess staring back at him fully. Those eyes, that hair, that unmistakably beautiful face.

She was here. It wasn't a dream, or some kind of delusion.

It was really her.

"Kagome." Kouga whispered breathlessly.

At the sound of her name Kagome felt her entire bravery façade crack. Her eyes flooded with hot tears and her body lunged forward of its own accord.

She ran towards Kouga like she had never run before her arms unfolding and she crushed herself against him.

Unprepared Kouga had to take a sudden jarring step back just to balance himself from toppling over from the weight of her embrace.

Her hands clutched his back incredibly tight as she buried her heated face into his chest. Her body shaking as she began to sob against him.

"I-It really is you." Kagome cried against him desperately. Kouga had known her. This wasn't a dream. She had found someone who had known her, truly known her and the person she use to be.

Kouga's arms were wrapping around Kagome with equal force and desperation before he could even speak a word.

How the hell was this real? Kagome was human. She should have died hundred of years ago. And yet here she was. Right in his arms!

"God Kagome!" Kouga gasped cradling her to him inescapably tight.

She was so warm. So perfect in his arms, she was really here. She was back! From the dead or otherwise he didn't care! All that mattered was she was here, and she was alive!

The person of very few that he had loved and cherished in the all to brief life he had forced himself to forget.

He buried his hot face in the crook of her neck feeling the cool strands of her hair trace over his bronze skin.

He didn't know how this was possible, and he didn't care!

All he knew was at this very moment, he would never ever let her go again!

Some plans to continue. Just have to find the time to dedicate to this story, and wrap up a few of my other ones. Hang in there guys!

Thanks for all the support!