Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait everyone! I had hit a small snag in my story line, one that poked a very large hole in the plot line and I could find no other way around. So I have basically rewritten a vast majority of the story, though I believe it is for the better. This chapter is set the day after the last chapter, beginning the morning before the ball. No flashbacks in this chapter as the action and drama needs a bit of room to build under the influence of strong Yokai wine! However, the next few chapters will have quite a few time jumps. Also this chapter has made me take many liberties to the overall world of Inuyasha, so please do not be offended if you feel it is not something that could or would happen in this world, it is simply my artistic license and I feel these elements were necessary to the story. I do not in any way shape or form own Inuyasha or any of the characters.

TRIGGER WARNING: There is an attempted rape in this chapter, though I will attempt to keep it brief, this section will be outlined with dash marks at the very end of the chapter- please feel free to skip ahead if you feel the need, it will not hinder the story.

With every possible thing that could have gone wrong that night, she had no idea how falling asleep with her hair down was the straw to break her back. Kagome sat at her vanity, early morning light pouring through the large window and revealed the horror of a matted mess atop her head. Her scalp felt like it would peel off as Hoshi attempted to delicately comb through the knots.

"M'Lady forgive me but your hair is so fine it knots to easily, please allow me to put it up before bed. I hate to cause you so much pain, please forgive me."

Kagome flinched once again as Hoshi tugged timidly on a particularly nasty section. She did her best to smile at her maid, knowing full well it was her own careless fault.

"I have been through much worse than this Hoshi. But please if I ever do this to myself again, just cut it all off."

Her maids eyes went wide as saucers. "No M'Lady your hair is so beautiful! Prince Kouga must love it like this."

Kagome giggled, forgetting that her maid was not accustomed to her lady joking with her. Even though the rats nest above her neck was inconvenient, her mood was as light as clouds. She had slept like the dead, as if the stress of the day before melted like warm honey. Today was the day Kouga would announce their intention to mate at the council ball. Although her nerves were wracked with worries, his kisses from the night before left a lingering feeling of butterflies. Kagome could not have imagined feeling excitement at the prospect of mating, yet for an unknown reason it had settled nicely in the confines of her thoughts. She would be Kouga's mate. For the benefit of human and demon kind, but also for her own hidden desires.

Yet one part of the equation was still left open. "Hoshi… Could you please explain how exactly a yokai couple mates?"

Hoshi looked at Kagome in the mirror, her face as red as cherries. "M'Lady did… no one ever tell you of… the eel in the cave?"

Kagome could not contain her laughter, it trickled from her lips like bells and echoed through the room. Hoshi broke into a grin and giggled with her, understanding her misinterpretation. Kagome composed herself and clarified. "What I mean to say is, how are their energies bound? Is there a sort of ceremony or ritual where we recite pledges or prayers?"

Hoshi nodded, biting her lip as her brow furrowed. "In most cases the tribe elder or the elected councilor will perform the ceremony. Before the two are bound, they prepare the whole day purifying their bodies in a bath and are covered in a scented oil made of Jasmine, Lavender and Sage. These oils are meant to stimulate the partners attraction for each other and makes it easier for the yokai energy to surface. During the ceremony the couple sits holding hands while the officiate recites his part. After the speech is over, the couple's palms are pricked and they each lick the wounds clear of blood."

Kagome cringed at the thought, her complexion paling and tinged green. Hoshi continued on, "This is where the yokai's begin to swirl together. The couple is immediately ushered into their private rooms and-"

"Kouga explained the remainder of the binding. We mate and at the point of greatest pleasure, he will bite my neck and our energies become one."

Hoshi smiled, nodding her head and fell silent as she continued her work, smoothing each strand and finally twisting it upward into a formal style. Kagome handed her the beautiful jade comb from the box on the vanity, watching as she easily slid it into place atop the knotted bun, securing it in place.

"You are finished M'Lady. Where might I escort you to this morning?"

Kagome hesitated, originally she had wanted to seek out Kouga to discuss the ball, yet a deeper concern had her attention.

"Hoshi can you take me to the library? I wish to speak to Ko about something."

Sesshomaru's library was vast, larger than the war room by at least two fold. Rows of dark bookcases stuffed to the brim with books of all sizes, some looking to be ancient and falling to pieces while others had not a single wrinkle on the spine. Large oak tables were placed in the center, yet the room was utterly empty except for the wise old turtle sifting through a pile of large volumes at the very end of the table.

Kagome approached him quietly, at first not wanting to disturb his concentration. She hesitantly stood before him and smiled, waiting for him to notice her presence.

"My dear it is not wise to sneak up on an old turtle. He always knows you are there." Ko lifted his head to look at her with kind, cloudy blue eyes. His mouth stretched into a wrinkled grin and he patted the table in front of him, inviting her to join him.

Kagome lifted her kimono to sit on the long benched seat in front of him. "Forgive me, I didn't mean to sneak up on you. You just looked so content in your reading I hated to interrupt."

He turned his page, the smell of perfumed bamboo paper and dried ink wafted into her nose and made her gag on the emotion it brought. It reminded her of all the times she helped her grandfather organize the artifacts shed, her forehead drenched in sweat from lifting boxes all morning and him silently flipping through the ancient books.

Ko's expression faded into worry. "You seem troubled young girl, is there something I can help you with?"

Kagome broke from her memories, returning her usual smile and nod. "Actually there is. I wanted to ask you what you knew about human and yokai matings. Not many know the details of how they spiritually work. The physical aspect is rather simple I'm sure but to be mated the same as yokai, will it truly be a mating at all?"

Ko let out an amused chuckle, closing the old book with a quiet thud.

"I knew you would come to ask me that question, just as InuTaisho asked me about his human mate. Human and yokai were spiritually never meant to mingle, the way our energy exists is vastly different. Most humans have very little actual energy in their bodies besides their soul itself, making a true mating pointless as the yokai has nothing to latch onto. In fact in some cases, a mating has killed the human counterpart as the yokai attempted to attach itself to their soul life force, crushing it like a bug."

Ko stopped to gauge her reaction, though it remained unmoved. Kagome would not be swayed from Kouga so easily. She simple nodded in understanding, urging him on.

Ko met her eyes, judging her silently with a small smile and rose from the table slowly. He walked several steps back to the nearest bookcase, running his wrinkled scarred hands along the book spines, mouthing their names to himself. His other hand scratched at his back, across his browning shell that Kagome noted looked like it could use a proper polishing. After a few moments he grasped a tattered yellowing book, shuffling back to the table. Once seated again, he pushed it across the table toward her.

The cover looked to be well-worn, it's corners cracking and peeling at the edges. She read the title with fascination.

"The Lord of the West owns a book about miko's and reiki?"

Ko nodded and answered, "The Lord of the West rarely steps foot in this library. This collection has been growing for centuries. Though I do believe it was InuTaisho that brought that very book here."

Kagome glanced up in surprise, never imagining Sesshomaru and Inuyasha's father to read books on holy energy.

Ko continued, "Reiki and yokai are not as different as one might imagine. Both spiritual energies are housed in the same way, attached to the soul by a silver string. Though miko's might have holy energy and yokai's might have demonic energy, they manifest the same at the control of it's host."

Kagome opened to the first page and looked it over in awe. It had a full mapping of the chakra points, a study she knew from modern day. The third eye chakra was drawn the largest with a small note to the side reading, 'Center of spiritual energy.'

"Flip to the third to last page."

She did so and frowned as the ink was diminished and browning. The page was written as a sort of journal entry, the date set as 'The Fifth Year of the Rule of Lord Kimchi.' The entry itself was hard to read, the kanji faded in a way that made it muddled and hard to tell which phrase it was meant to mean.

Kagome looked to Ko and asked, "Can you tell me what it says?"

Ko nodded slowly and cleared his throat. "That entry was written nearly seven hundred years ago, when the land was wrecked with havoc. Humans at the time were still very much so connected to their spirital roots, though now it is hard to find a miko such as yourself with such immense power. The entry speaks of a truce between a demon lord and a human emperor. The demon Lord Kimchi was an Inudaiyokai with immense power who came to power by killing his father, the previous Lord. His power and the army of the emperor were nearly even, and to propose a truce the emperor had no choice but to promise Lord Kimchi his only living daughter, a devoted miko."

Kagome gasped, her head spinning from all the information. She had never imagined a mating between a yokai and a miko ever happening before now.

"That entry goes on to speak of how their energies met and fought through the entire ceremony. Supposedly the force was so great it swept several observers off their feet. The yokai and reiki were so evenly matched it was not until he marked her that they settled and to everyone's surprise, harmonized. The miko gained the life span of her mate, as well as his physical strength. Lord Kimchi's power grew ten fold as well, making their union one of the most powerful in history. However, it goes on to state that this was their downfall. Their energies were bound so tightly that when the miko died in childbirth, Lord Kimchi died just two days after, his body drained of all it's power."

Ko paused, running his hand through his long white beard. He seemed to be lost in thought, while Kagome's mind went blank. She was in complete shock with her mouth slightly agape.

Ko's voice turned serious and almost as quiet as a whisper. "That is the only written or known happening of a miko and yokai mating. A yokai mating a normal human most times will see nothing to latch onto, and the yokai will never accept the human as a true mate and it will only be a physical bond. This is why most times a mating never happens to begin with. Yet if the human has even a small amount of spiritual energy, the yokai will split itself and give it's own energy to the human. This was the case between InuTaisho and his human mate. The bond weakened him, leaving his energy with the woman. However in theory, since your reiki is so strong, Kouga may not be weakened at all and your energies will harmonized after a brief struggle."

Kagome nodded, taking a deep breath and configuring her mind to comprehend it all. Her reiki even now was rising in her stress and she fought to control it. She had sensed that Ko was leaving something out.

Her voice shook like a leaf as she asked, "What if our energies do not harmonize?"

Ko met her eyes with a look of steel. "Then I imagine both energies will continue to fight until one is destroyed."

Kagome listened to the bustling city below as she stared into the koi pond. The water rippling as they fed off the dragonflies who dared to land on it's surface. It was mid afternoon, the sun straight over head with the heat beating down on her exposed forehead. She had sent Hoshi to bring Kouga to her as her legs were to weak to search for him. Instead Hoshi had guided her outside for the fresh air and stone benches to rest on.

Speaking with Ko had opened up an entirely new batch of worms to the whole predicament. She knew she wanted to mate with Kouga, and even more importantly she had to mate him in order to gain access to the council, yet the risk it imposed was deadly. With only one case of this sort of mating, it was more than difficult to judge the outcome. After some time to think and decide, she had settled on just two things, one of which was that no matter the risk she had to take it. The second thing she had decided was one she was very unsure of and she worried she might regret, but necessary all the same. She would not tell Kouga about the knowledge Ko had given her. In the worst case scenario, she may die, yet choosing not to mate him would bring her only unhappiness and possibly the extinction of an entire species.

The sound of footfalls drew her attention as she glanced behind her and her throat closed at the sight. She had always known Kouga to be handsome, yet with his blazing smile and tanned skin in the sunlight sent butterflies through her body.

"Couldn't wait for tonight to see me huh?," he said with his usual boldness.

She smiled as he took a seat beside her, his eyes meeting hers after he glanced over her entire body. His skin glistened with drops of sweat, his natural smell was like he bathed in pine needles and cinnamon shavings.

She giggled as she timidly took his hand. "I just wanted to see you."

His other hand wrapped around her, easily covering hers with his long fingers as he drew circles into her palm.

"I'm glad. I've been so bored with my father and uncle berating me in attempts to talk me out of our mating. They practically begged me to not announce it tonight at the ball. My uncle went so far as to attempt to injure me during our morning training."

Her brown eyes widened with concern as she clutched his hand hard. She hastily asked, "Are you alright? Did he really hurt you?"

His eyes wrinkled at the edges and warmed from glaciers to mellow ponds, every bit of his smile reaching them as it only did in her presence. Her concern for his well being was one of the many reasons he fell in love with a human woman with a heart the size of mountains. He knew she would be a fierce mate, and even more ferocious mother when the time came.

Kouga shook his head at her, bringing her hand up to his lips to place a searing kiss on her cool flesh. His lips were soft like silk, the thought of being ravished by them made her cheeks warm and her stomach flip. She had never felt such desire before, the feeling brand new to her but not a horrible sensation at all. He smelled her scent spike and chuckled, a sound that reverberated throughout his chest.

"I am not hurt at all, in fact I am more than eager to show them how very set I am in having you all to myself," His tone was teasing but his eyes seared her, drawing out her passions like a flame from dry tinder. He continued, "I was hoping to announce our intention to be mating within the week, if that is what you wish. I'm not sure I can hold myself back much longer than that. I finally have the woman I've waited my whole life for, I intend to spend the rest of it with her starting as soon as possible."

Her throat was dry like sandpaper as she spoke, "I wish that as well. A week from tonight."

"I believe you are ready M'Lady," Hoshi spoke as she looked her over in awe. The kimono that Kagome had picked out suited her in every way, with silk the color of evergreen tress and silver embroidery in shapes of flower petals swirling across her more desirable features. The obi was pulled taught around her slender waist, and fell modestly along her curves. Her ebony hair was braided upward into a tight knot, combs of silver and ruby decorating it like a tiny crown. Hoshi had even insisted on smudging kohl across her eyelid and rouge on her lips and cheeks. The outcome was subtle, yet intriguingly beautiful. The kitsune maid had never known a human woman could be so naturally beautiful.

Kagome glanced at herself in the mirror, a small amount of pride swelled her chest and for the first time she truly saw beauty in herself.

"Thank you Hoshi. Can you lead me to the ball room? I don't believe I know the way." Hoshi nodded, leading Kagome from her room and down a series of hall ways towards the front of the castle. They passed the war room and library, following a wider hall toward a set of opened doors as high as trees. The door way was littered with female yokai in expensive gowns and kimonos with male warriors who refused to leave their armor in their chambers beside them with goblets in hand. Music echoed through the hall accompanied by tinkling laughs and bellowing declaration of war stories.

On the walls hung tapestries painted with intricate murals, pillars of stone held torches no doubt lit with fox fire with an eerie green glow.

Kagome looked to Hoshi who had a large smile across her delicate face, her eyes shimmering in torch light. Kagome reached forward to take Hoshi's hand and squeezed it lovingly. She had grown to treasure her presence, as if she were a beloved friend.

"I believe I am on my own for the night. Please take tonight to rest, I will have someone escort me to my room. I wish for you to take some time for yourself, understood?" Kagome spoke firmly, but with as much kindness as a mother.

Hoshi nodded and expressed her thanks before disappearing back through the maze of hall ways. With a dignified sigh, Kagome faced the entrance and walked as gracefully as she could into the large ball room. She had not been able to see above the group of yokai, but once fully inside she nearly gaped from the sheer size and beauty of the room.

The ceiling arched upwards like a fine church, with paintings in gold and silver portraying stories she had no knowledge of. The walls were as white as bone with banners hung from the corners, one for each of the regions. On each side were large tables with a plethora of food and goblets filled with plum wine. The smell of perfumes and smoked boar were sweet and made her mouth water as if she were famished. At the center was a raised dance floor with couples dancing beautifully, the skirts of the women flowed hypnotically across their bodies. Strong men led them with large hands across their backsides, pulling them closer as if only they existed.

Kagome smiled at them, hoping to join them once she had found her intended. She glanced around the room, yet there was no sign of her long-haired hero. She skirted around the edge of the dance floor, nearly avoiding a large bear yokai clearly several cups of wine in as he swayed dangerously. She spotted the southern council members looking morose in the left corner next to the largest tray of wine goblets, though Lord Gorou seemed to be missing. To her right were a small flock of kitsune women in pastel blues and pinks smiling her direction. The tallest woman had a long mane of chestnut hair and eyes the color of coal. Her presence was commanding, yet not overbearing. The color of the gown was a soft yellow-gold and displayed her rows of golden necklaces for all to see. She beckoned Kagome foward with a wave of her hand.

Kagome cautiously smiled and approached them with a low bow. As she rose the other three women giggled and whispered to eachother, yet the tall woman still had her eyes locked on Kagome as if she were sizing her up.

She spoke with a calm and gentle voice, "Hello Lady Kagome, I have been looking forward to meeting you. I am Lady Takara, Shun has told me wonderful things about you."

The shorter kitsune closest to Takara's side beamed at Kagome, with a spritely face and wispy golden hair that hung below the waist of her peach kimono.

"My name is Lady June, I am Hayate's intended. Lady Takara was just telling us about your adopted son Shippo. We were wondering how he has been under your care," her voice was high pitched and bubbly, a sound that suited her tiny frame and pinched face.

Kagome relaxed in their company, feeling neither threatened nor inferior. "Shippo is doing very well in my care I believe, though it takes an entire village to raise a child. He is growing everyday and I have missed him in the few short days I have been away. I hope to send for him shortly. I believe he will be overjoyed to be with some of his kin again. I wish there were more kits for him to play with and learn from."

Lady Takara's shoulders shook lightly in her quiet laughter. "Yes, it takes an entire army to raise a handful of kits in our tribe. We are happy he has been well looked after. I look forward to seeing him again as his mother was a good friend of mine."

Kagome nodded, feeling her concern for Shippo was genuine. "I'm sorry for your loss Lady Takara, I know Shippo missed her very much. I only hope to guide him like any mother would."

Lady June intercepted with a giggle and locked her arm with Kagome, bringing her closer to the group. "Enough of sad talk, we wish to hear about your intended! We are so very curious how you two met."

The group laughed and Kagome's face flushed. She stuttered out, "Well Kouga and I-"

"Now now ladies, don't embarrass the poor girl yet. We wouldn't want to frighten her away from her beloved now would we?" Lord Shun cut in and saved Kagome from her fluster. He smiled at her and bowed his head slightly, kissing Lady Takara on her cheek lovingly. Lord Hayate followed behind him, chuckling as Lady June left Kagome's side to link arms with her intended. Both men held goblets of wine, hanging their ladies their own.

"Lady Kagome I have brought you one of your own if you wish to partake," The voice from behind her spoke. Kagome jumped slightly as she turned sharply to find Lord Yuudai smiling down at her. His frame was even more large than she remembered from the council meeting, yet his expression far less fierce. He held out a goblet to her as he sipped his own. Kagome gave him a nervous smile and took the goblet from him slowly.

Lord Shun laughed deep from the pits of his belly and addressed Kagome, "Don't worry my lady, Yuudai may seem terrifying but he has a soft spot for beautiful women. I have been told he has a very gentle heart beneath that mask of death."

Lord Yuudai shot him a glare and the edge of his lips snarled half-heartedly. Kagome held her giggles to herself as she sipped the plum wine slowly. It's taste was sweet like berries with a tell-tale sign of alcohol underneath and decided it wasn't an unpleasant beverage.

"Be careful Lady Kagome, that is yokai wine, very potent for humans," Lady June warned as she sipped her own delicately.

Kagome nodded, already feeling a small weight off her shoulders and a warmth in her stomach from just one sip. She took another small sip as she glanced around the room once again to no avail. She looked to Lord Yuudai and asked, "My Lord have you seen my intended tonight? I cannot seem to find him."

Lord Yuudai nodded and answered, "Last I saw him he was conversing with Lord Sesshomaru in the throne room. He should be here soon. In the mean time, would you like to dance?"

Kagome was taken aback by the question but nodded with a smile as she handed her cup off to Lord Shun as Yuudai led her onto the dance floor, even offering his large paw-like hand to help her step up. She was surprised to learn that Yuudai was a true gentleman, even bowing to her before asking for her hand and placing his other paw modestly high on her backside. Even with his large stature, he glided her across the floor easily, leading her with ease as he twirled and turned her.

After a few minutes he spoke softly to her, "Lord Kouga is a lucky man to have such a strong beautiful woman such as you. If he had not already staked his claim I would have asked you myself."

Kagome flushed and looked up at him with wide eyes, to which he chuckled at. "I meant no harm my lady, but a man cannot ignore a beauty such as you if he tried."

She smiled at his kind words and replied, "Thank you Lord Yuudai. I had no idea you were such a romantic."

They laughed together heartily as he twirled her elegantly, when she caught the sight of two glacier blue eyes looking up at her from the edge of the dance floor. The pair stopped to acknowledge him with a pair of smiles.

Kouga looked every bit as handsome in a formal yukata as he did in fur armor. His hair lay flat across his chest and back instead of his usual ponytail. Kagome's breath hitched at the sight, brown eyes meeting his. He spoke to Yuudai though his eyes never left hers, "Lord Yuudai may I cut in? I would love to dance with my intended."

Lord Yuudai bowed to her and then him, exiting the floor while giving Kouga a firm pat to the shoulder and recovering his drink from Hayate, finishing it in a single gulp.

Kouga stepped up onto the dance floor and wasted no time wrapping an arm around the small of her back, the other clasping his hand in hers. Kagome could not resist putting a hand to his chest, this being one of only a few moments she had caught him without his breastplate on. He smiled down at her and pressed a feather-light kiss to her forehead before guiding her into the next song. The beat was much faster, clearly a fun quick-paced dance. In moments he had her twirling and following his wide steps easily, her heart pounding and both of them laughing in good spirits. She had stepped on his feet several times, though he did not seem to mind at all, even pulling her closer to press their chests against each other.

They never seemed to notice the songs changing to a slow-paced serenade, their bodies simply responded to it, slowing to a sway. They were closer than before, her cheek rested against his collar bone, his nose buried in her hair. Kagome nearly closed her eyes she felt so at peace.

Softly she spoke, "I never would have guessed you would be a dancer."

His chest vibrated with his quiet chuckle. "Yes I can dance. I have been on this council for quite some time and even before that, my father dragged me to these balls. One must learn at some point, though I've never enjoyed it until now."

She smiled and looked up at him, his eyes smiling for him. He looked at her as though she were the most precious person to ever exist and she couldn't help but melt at the sight of it. His face inched closer to hers as her eyes closed, yet before their lips met a loud horn played at the front of the ball room, breaking them from their trance.

Lord Sesshomaru stood in front of the orchestra and a hush spread throughout the room, all eyes on him. His eyes scanned the crowd before he addressed them.

"Lords and Ladies thank you for attending tonight, you all know I am not one for speeches so I will get down to the point. I have a guest who would like to make an announcement, if you please Lord Kouga."

Kouga gripped her hand firmly, leading her off of the dance floor to stand next to Lord Sesshomaru, facing the entire room. Her palms were coated in a cold sweat but she refused to let her nerves show in front of a room of yokai. Her expression was calm, with a small smile as she gripped Kouga's hand.

"Thank you Lord Sesshomaru, and hello to everyone. I am pleased to announce my intention to mate the Shikon Miko, honorably known as Lady Kagome. She is the miko who played the largest part in defeating Naraku and restoring the Shikon no Tama, as well as the only person to ever be able to destroy it. Whatever your feelings are toward humans, I am here to say that I believe she will slowly win over every yokai in this room. Her determination and loyalty is unmatched in any human I have ever known. Her kindness is boundless, yet it does not impair her strength. She saved my entire pack from The Bird's of Paradise, and the lives of all of her friends. I am proud to say that she will be my mate in just a weeks time."

The room was so silent if a pin had dropped, it would echo throughout. After a moment, a series of applause thundered from the group of Kitsune as well as Yuudai. Slowly more applause broke out, like a virus it spread throughout the room. Kouga beamed down at Kagome with pride, and she stood in surprise and joy from the sheer amount of acceptance that she had never imagined she would get. An entire room full of yokai celebrating a human and yokai mating. She felt for the first time, this was the start of change.

After several more hours and just as many cups of wine, Kouga was clearly inebriated and Kagome even more so, though at the very least Kouga could walk straight. He was leading her slowly back to her room, his hand firmly on her back to keep her steady.

She found it more and more difficult to silence her laughs as Kouga retold the most ridiculous stories of his adventures. She staggered, holding her gut as he kept her vertical. His hands ventured to her waist, making her already blushing face hot as coals. They had finally reached her room and she gazed up into his heated eyes. Before she could bid him goodnight his lips conquered hers. She pressed herself against him, craving his heat as his hands roamed her backside and she lost her breath. Sensing her need for air he parted their lips to kiss along her exposed neck. Her eyes closed, she tangled her hand into his hair.

"Kami Kagome just one week and I'm not sure I can hold off much longer. Your scent is intoxicating."

He nipped at her tender flesh, leaving her gasping quietly, clinging to his shoulders. After a few more nips he calmed himself and pulled his face away from her. Kagome moaned from the lack of contact and tried to pull him closer again, to which he laughed.

"I have to leave now love. I fear what I'm capable of if I don't." His eyes met hers, attempting to conceal his vulnerability. His yokai begged him to take her then and there.

"Kouga can't you come in just for a few minutes." Had Kagome not been inebriated she would have mortified with her forwardness.

"Kagome I can't. You're in heat and we are not mated- I can't trust myself. We only have a week, be patient and I will be all yours."

She pouted her full bottom lip as he gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek before ushering her into her room. Without a single care, Kagome stripped herself of her upper kimono layers down to her small cloth and released her hair from it's prison of combs before collapsing on her bed and falling fast asleep.

_WARNING_

Kagome awoke in the dark to feeling of clawed hands running up the bare flesh of her thighs. At first she smiled, the alcohol not fully out of her system and the only person she imagined to caress her so carefully would be Kouga.

"Mmm Kouga I thought you had gone."

Not being able to see his face, she gasped as the claws lightly stroked her nether lips over her cloth, making her gasp. The pleasure at first was amazing as she had never been touched so, but the chuckle in response to her noises made her blood freeze in her veins. Her first instinct was to scream, but before she could open her lips a large hand clasped over her mouth and claws punctured her cheek.

"Not so fast Miko. I will have my fill of you before that wolf. How will he love you after this? Do you think he will accept a defiled crippled woman?" His breath was hot and smelled of bile, making her feel ill. She thrashed against him as his full body weight pressed against her, suffocating her.

She panicked, squealing in vain as he ripped at her cloth. She slammed her eyes closed, screaming for help in her mind. Suddenly as if he body headed her wish, she felt a warmth spread across her skin and even through her closed eyelids she could see the flash of bright pink light. She heard the screeching next to her ear, deafening her until the weight of his body was blown away from her.

Bolting upright in her bed, her skin still glowing, she could see the face of Gorou burning away until a pile of ash lay on her bedspread. A lone feather left of him floated down onto her lap and as if an invisible barrier broke, she screamed as loud as she could, "KOUGA!"

The light faded from the room as she was left alone in the dark room again until her door was wrenched open, the light from outside showing the figure of her beloved. His expression one of fury and fear as he called out her name though it was muffled. He rushed toward her bed in slow motion as he vision faded, her body going limp as he reached her. Kagome felt as if she were under water until nothing surrounded her but silence and darkness.