Chapter 1: First Encounter

This takes place after season 2 episode 21. If you haven't gotten that far you shouldn't read this because it contains a few spoilers. For mature audiences (possible lemon in a later chapter)

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN INU-YASHA OR THE RIGHTS TO ANY OF THE CHARACTERS IN THIS STORY

Kagome had traveled back to her own era. She lie warm, in the comfort of her mothers arms, as she grieved over the events that had taken place earlier that day.

She had seen Inu-Yasha draw Kikyo into an embrace after rescuing her from a demon, who had attemped to eat the borrowed souls that allowed her to maintain her unnatural existance. He stood there consoling her with the promise of her perpetual protection: protection that he had, at one time, soley offered to Kagome. He had declared to all his friends that he could no longer see Kagome, in an effort to stay faithful to Kikyo. After Naraku breathed his last breath, he'd accompany Kikyo to hell. He had promised to live and die by her side, and it was a promise he intended to keep.

Kagome had seen too much. His affection for her was everlasting. The last time it was an embrace, before that, a kiss. What would it be the next time? What would it take for her to learn that, in Inu-Yasha's eyes, she pailed in comparrison to Kikyo?

Although Kagome's heart was shattered into a million pieces, it had been her fault that the shikon jewel had previously suffered a similar fate. She knew she had to return to the feudal era, but she cringed at the thought of listening to Inu-Yashas delicately worded rejection. She decided to take a few days to heal (three days to be exact). She would then return to her comrades with a business driven mindset: she would serve as the groups shard detector, and that would be her only role in that respective era. She looked at the jar containing the shards that she and her friends had collected together. Happy memories of Shippo, Sango, and Miroku overpowered her troubled thoughts.

I'll do it for them. Even heartbreak won't justify ending three great friendships.

Upon returning to the feudal era, she greeted Inu-Yasha with an extenuating "Sit!" and a loving hug from the elated Shippo.

I feel better already.

Miroku and Sango decided they would not bring up the events that had occured earlier that week to maintain a light atmosphere amongst the group. Inu-Yasha, however, felt he owed Kagome an explanation.

Later that day he pulled Kagome aside and forced her to have the discussion she'd been dreading.

Why couldn't he have just let it be?

The conversation led her to relive the trauma her heart had experienced, and although she'd left the chat with a smile on her face, she later journeyed into the forrest: a place that would allow her to privately subsist in complete brokenness.

Why did he have to do that? I was fine acting like none of it ever happened... so why?

She collapsed into the fetal position beside a tree, and the tears began to flow. It was then that she felt a gust of wind pass near her body. She looked up, her face wet with tears, only to see an empty forrest.

It must have been the wind...

"Kagome?" A trailing voice called out.

"Kagome?" Louder this time, as the figure had backtracked toward the tree he'd so quickly ran past.

Standing before her was a man dressed in animal skins, with a sword at his waist. His long black hair was drawn into a ponytail, and his blue eyes shined bright with concern for his weeping beloved.

"Koga?" She wiped her eyes, "What are you doing here?"

"Well I was on my way back to the den, but that's not important right now. Who the hell did this to you?"

Kagome, confused, shot him a questioning look.

"Who pushed you? I'll kill him."

"No one pushed me Koga?.."

"Then why are you on the ground in tears? Just tell me who it was and I'll beat him to a pulp."

A smile grew on Kagome's lips. "Koga, no one did anything to me, I was just feeling emotional, so I cried. It's not a big deal."

"Well it's a big deal to me. Where is that dog boy? He's supposed to be taking care of you while I'm away!"

Kagome's gaze transitioned toward the floor, and her mouth took the shape of a frown. Upon picking up on her sudden change in demeanor, Koga squatted down to rest a hand upon her cheek.

This must be about that idiot mutt...

"Care to tell me what happened?"

"Koga, you don't have to pretend you want to hear it. I know you hate him."

"I don't hate you. So if it helps lesson the load on your shoulders, I'll listen."

Kagome knew she shouldn't tell him. Koga cared for her, and her heart had never been in it the way his was. Talking about how heartbroken she was over another man would not be easy for Koga to take in. However, Koga's hand on her cheek, and the warmness he radiated toward her, caused her to open up beyond her better judgement. After hearing everything she had to say, Kagome could sense his slight discomfort. For a while they sat, side by side, backs toward the tree trunk, ruminating in awkward silence.

"He doesn't deserve you Kagome." Koga began gently, trying his best to not sully Inu-Yasha's name while Kagome still cared for him. "You realize that you deserve someone who will always prioritize your well being, and will be there to protect you, right?" Kagome sat with her gaze fixated on the ground. "I'm sorry, but he's an idiot, who is this Kikyo anyway? No woman even comes close to you. I'll kill him!" His hands began to form fists and his temper started to get the best of him.

Kagome looked over at him and smiled. "You don't have to get all worked up Koga." She reached for the hand that layed closest to hers, and rested her palm on his distended knuckles. "Thank you. You've actually made me feel a whole lot better."

Those eyes. Those cheerful eyes are finally back.

"I'm glad." Koga remarked, blushing at her touch. Taking the hand she had offered him, he helped her up. "I better get back to the den before my men start to worry. Do you want me to walk you back to your group?"

"It's okay Koga. I can get back on my own."

"Nonsense," he pled, lacing his fingers through hers, "I want to make sure you get there in one piece. You are my woman after all."

Kagome rolled her eyes, but kept her fingers interlocked with his, as they made their way back to the village. "I'm not your woman Koga", she declared with a blushing smile on her face.

"We'll have to see about that."

[Hope ya'll enjoyed my very first fanfiction]