No honorifics because I'm terrible at them and the times I do try, I end up down a research spiral and wake up in a proverbial ditch three weeks later and this is one of the reasons I rarely write canon/canon-divergent fics. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Please know you're free to yell at me in the comments. I invite it with relish.

Kagome was surprised to find she slept all night. The air was crisp and cool and just comfortable enough in her sleeping bag that she hadn't started to sweat. No noises, no vibrations, not even her dinner kept her from resting. It wasn't often she had a bad night sleep, but it also wasn't often that she made it the entire way.

The sun was just barely peeking through the trees when she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. Nothing around their little campsite needed to be tended and when she turned to find Kouga, she was surprised to find him still asleep.

He was on his side facing her, his arms wrapped tight around his chest. It was weird to see him with his hair down and the fire hadn't been bright enough to appreciate it the night before. Long, thick, and luxurious, it splayed out over his shoulders and trailed a bit on his chest. The deep color almost made his skin appear darker which she almost thought wasn't possible.

He was so different from Inuyasha.

The pang she used to get when thinking about the hanyou wasn't quite there anymore. She missed him — Kagome was certain she would always miss him — but it was the loss of friendship she found she was missing most. Being able to talk and laugh and fight and simply be his friend. Hard to do that when he didn't know who she was. From what she saw when she was dropped back in the forest by the well after the jewel ruined her life, he hadn't changed much. He was a little calmer, a little more guarded, and settled into a life she would never know.

She hoped he was happy.

All of her old friends that she'd been able to find had seemed lighter, like a weight was lifted off their shoulders. It made sense; ridding the world of Naraku made a big difference. There wasn't all that death and pain and betrayal. Everyone was able to carve out the life they were supposed to have.

It was only Kouga and his pack that seemed the same. Still brash and guarded and very prejudiced toward humans. Then again, most youkai were. Kagome couldn't fault them for that.

Hakkaku and Ginta warmed up much quicker than she thought they would. It was fun to see the ways they stayed the same and she was grateful for the opportunity to get to know them. Before, Kouga crowded her and kept her to himself. Now, she had seen so little of him that she learned so much about his two betas. Enough to know that she would have enjoyed their friendship before.

The rest of the pack fit the mold. They acted as she remembered them in the beginning of their journey, little differences here and there. Nothing she could fault them for.

But Kouga — Kouga was the biggest mystery.

Physically he looked no different, but he felt different. Almost like she had never noticed the strong line of his jaw before. Or maybe it was the intelligence behind his gaze that made the blue shine. His laugh was louder though far less frequent and she'd only started seeing his smile over the last week. She hadn't seen it once while they were in the den, only that mocking grin he kept shooting her.

Even now in his sleep, he was striking. He'd always been fit and she'd known it before, but she noticed scars on his hands now. Calluses on his fingers and the sharp points of his fangs and the fan of thick eyelashes over his high cheekbones.

Had he always been this attractive? Would she have felt this way if she hadn't met Inuyasha first? It wasn't something she liked to think about. Kagome loved her time before, loved her journey and everything she'd learned from it. She would have never traded it for the world.

Which only reminded her of the jewel and her wish. Why did it do this to her? Was this her punishment for wishing the wrong thing?

Kouga shifted, a deep breath expanding his chest and then he huffed it out. A thrum of tension spread down his torso, muscles in his forearms flexing just before he opened his eyes.

Just in time for Kagome to realize she was staring at him.

A blush spread over her face as she smiled, trying to fight back the embarrassment. "Good morning." Maybe if she acted normal, he wouldn't think she had been studying him in his sleep.

His lips twitched into a small, crooked smile that said otherwise. "Morning." His voice was rough and raspy and deep with sleep and she wanted nothing more than to sink into it. "How'd you sleep?"

"Good," she answered honestly. "Better than I have in a long time."

He nodded, a question crossing his face even though he remained quiet. Instead, his gaze swept down the length of her sleeping bag before he turned onto his back. Kagome looked away as he stretched, focusing on getting ready for the day. She'd have to stop by the hot spring first and do a quick wash, but that should be the last of it for now. Hopefully. Some months were wonky.

"Did you sleep well?" she asked when Kouga sat up.

"Yeah," he said, almost surprised. "I did."

It was on the tip of her tongue to ask further, but Kagome bit back her words. It was a step she didn't know if she wanted to make, building that connection. The week had already painted him in a new light and showed her more of who he was, but this was different. She didn't know what was going on with the jewel — how could she risk falling for someone who might forget her? Again?

"Where do you want to go now?" Kouga asked after he packed up their supplies.

Maybe it was the memories from this morning and maybe it would only hurt, but Kagome was sure of her answer. "Do you know the taijiya village?"

…

Kagome could feel Kouga's hesitance the closer they got to the village. It made sense — a youkai walking into an area filled with trained taijiya wouldn't feel very welcome, but it didn't stop her. She had to know. How had the jewel touched the village? Would anything feel familiar to her?

The closer they got the antsier she became, her mind racing with all sorts of possibilities. Sango didn't remember her, that much she was certain of. And if Sango didn't, Kohaku wouldn't either. But the cave — she had to check out the cave. If the jewel was still here, the cave would be here and maybe the cave would have some answers.

"Are you okay?" Kouga asked her when she stopped at the foot of the hill that led to the entrance.

"No." She took in a breath and blew it out. "No, I'm not."

"We can go back," he offered, shifting from one foot to the other.

"No." She looked at him and almost smiled at the look of concern on his face. That was familiar. "I want to go."

Kouga studied her then nodded, walking with her up the rise. She wasn't sure what she expected; if people would stop them at the gate or meet them outside or if Kouga would even be allowed in. Sango had never shown a distaste for youkai of Kouga's caliber, only the lower-classed, mindless murderers that fed on humans, but that didn't mean her thoughts would be mirrored by others.

And Kouga's pack still ate humans, she remembered suddenly. Kagome hadn't seen that happen since they captured her and hadn't heard anyone refer to it while she was at the den, but she also hadn't heard him declare otherwise—

"Who goes there?" a sure voice called from the top near the gate.

Kagome didn't recognize the voice, but that didn't mean anything. "My name's Kagome, I'm a miko. This is my traveling partner, Kouga."

He shot her a look full of amusement at what she called him, but otherwise kept quiet.

"Kouga of the ookami pack?" the man growled.

Kouga lowered his head in greeting. "That's me."

"What are you doing with a miko? Your kind doesn't take well to humans."

"Miko don't take well to youkai, either," Kouga said in answer.

Kagome looked at him, confused. That answer didn't offer anything, did it? But it seemed the man understood because he nodded and his stance relaxed just a bit.

"What brought you here?" he asked, his tone still hard.

"At the risk of offending, I want to request a showing of Midoriko's cave," she said carefully, going right for it. Trying to deceive this man wouldn't do them any favors, her gut told her. Honesty would be the only way through.

The man's eyes widened slightly. "That's a bold request."

Kagome gave a short bow. "Being a miko, I've heard the stories passed down. I wished to see if it were possible for me to visit."

"And you thought traveling here with a youkai was the best way to achieve that?"

"I thought this opportunity might not appear again and I would regret it if I didn't try."

He considered that, his brows furrowing. "I'll let you share your request with our leader when he returns," he said. "Until then," the man's gaze darted toward Kouga, "I'm afraid I won't be able to let you both in."

Kagome started to protest, but Kouga caught her eye, his gracious half-bow surprising her. "Is there a spot we could set up camp?" It seemed he expected this.

"There's a river that runs not far off the other side of the village. You would be welcome to set up anywhere between the village walls and the river."

"And we'll be able to speak to the leader when he returns?" Kagome asked, wanting to make sure they wouldn't be forgotten.

"I'll make sure to tell him where you've settled."

It wasn't the best option, but it was what they were given. She gave another bow with Kouga, then turned and descended down the hill. Why wouldn't they let them in? Kouga wasn't human, yes, but she was a miko. Surely they would know a miko wouldn't travel with a threat?

"That went better than I expected," Kouga said as they followed the road along the side of the village.

"Really?"

"They didn't run us off."

She stared at him, a shifting in her chest almost throwing her off balance. "Were you expecting them to?"

He shrugged, his eyes watching the path he was leading her down.

"Kouga?"

"From what you told me, the village had been killed before you met the last of them," he said, "which means I've had more interactions with them than you have."

An unease uncurled in her stomach. "Have they been bad?"

He glanced at her, his face hiding any of his thoughts. "Let's just say they wouldn't have given me a welcome like that."

…

Setting up camp with the sun so high in the sky was weird. For the last week, Kouga and Kagome had made it a habit to travel until night had fallen. This seemed a little indulgent as Kagome gathered a few dried sticks from the brush under the trees.

"The river isn't far," Kouga's voice said from behind her. "We should be good to camp here for however long we need."

"When will you need to get back to the den?"

When he didn't answer, Kagome turned. He was staring at her with that unreadable look on his face, his eyes dark and stormy as the lines in his neck shifted.

"What? I don't want to waste your time?"

He glanced away, that jawline hardening and then he took a step forward. And then another step. By the time he was standing in front of her, Kagome remembered this wasn't the old Kouga she used to know.

"I think you forget, miko," his voice rumbled over her skin as he bent just enough to catch her gaze, "that if I didn't want to be here, we wouldn't be."

A blast of heat raced up the back of her neck, her breath catching in her chest. "That's—"

"When we need to head back to the den, you'll know."

"We?" she barely got out.

His smile was similar to the ones he'd first given her — hard and filled with something she didn't understand. "You think I'm not going to take you with me?"

"But—"

Kouga's nostrils flared, his eyes shut, and she watched him tense in front of her. A heavy silence stretched between them before he stepped back. "You need to wash up." His eyes were ringed red when he opened them again. "I'll find us something to eat while you do."

She understood enough to take the out he offered.

…

The water was cold, but Kagome welcomed it. It cleared the fog that had settled over her when Kouga stepped close, his youki pouring out of him and caressing over her in waves. She wasn't used to feeling it that warm, that potent. Usually, youki that strong carried violence; this one carried something far different.

The cold water also gave her time to think through the last few days. She had gotten closer to Kouga, that was certain. She got to see a side of him she hadn't seen yet from her time in his den, more of his personality than just the alpha that efficiently ran his pack. She'd been able to learn the differences between the Kouga she knew and the Kouga she had, who he was now, and how he worked.

So where did this sudden shift come from?

It took the entire length of her short bath to admit that this side of Kouga had always been there. This was the side she'd avoided in the den, the one who threw her off balance and had a host of ulterior motives she couldn't figure out. The pack knew what was going on in his head, but refused to explain anything to her. It was always the same response: she'd understand if she paid attention.

Now she was paying attention, she fumed silently, and she still didn't know!

Pulling on her clothes, Kagome examined what she knew. The Kouga who talked to her and camped with her wasn't the Kouga from the den — mostly. The night before when he asked if there was room for him to join her in the spring and the one just now who spoke of returning to the den, that was the alpha she'd watched from afar. The one who gave off the impression of steel covered in velvet when it came to her.

Even though he was sometimes gentle, he was unbending.

Fishing her brush from her backpack, she found a warm, dry rock near the river and sat down. It would be a struggle to get through the tangles with her lack of conditioner, but it would give her more time to try and piece together the puzzle Kouga kept throwing at her. It made sense for an alpha to be that way. Any good leader knew how to be stern, but also knew when to give. Had this week been the Kouga who could give? Was that why the two sides of him were so jarring?

A small voice in the back of her head piped up — that's the side that emerges when he shows interest in you.

"Miko," Kouga's voice through the trees broke her from her thoughts. "The leader is here."

Shoving everything into her backpack, Kagome hurried back to the campsite. Kouga was waiting next to her pile of sticks as she stored her things under the roll he'd set out.

"They're waiting for us in the village," he said, his eyes touching over her damp hair.

Kagome didn't waste any time and walked with Kouga back up the hill, anticipation thrumming through her veins. Would they let her go to the cave? Would she really be able to enter? And would she find any answers?

The guard they spoke to earlier was waiting for them at the gate, a more welcoming disposition reflected in his stance. "Please follow me."

"Both of us?" Kagome clarified, not wanting to leave Kouga alone.

The guard nodded. "Yes, both of you."

Kagome blew out a sigh of relief and followed him in, stuttering in her steps as she looked at the village she remembered.

There was just so many people.

Even having listened to the stories Sango shared, Kagome hadn't realized how many people had actually lived here. They were everywhere, walking in between the huts carrying weapons and bones among them, a group of women were near an open area hanging up linens to dry. Fires were lit and the smells of food being cooked filled the air.

Kagome couldn't help but take in the sight. Oh, how heartbreaking it must have been to see what Naraku had turned the once-thriving village into. While she always understood why Sango was so quick to join them and leave her home, actually seeing it made such a difference. There was no mistaking the loss that happened during a time Naraku existed.

All of these people that were able to live and find happiness… Maybe it was worth her losing everything.

She followed the guard through the main walkways, ignoring the stares they caught. If they had anything to say about a miko traveling with a youkai, they kept their thoughts to themselves. The villagers were content to simply watch them walk through in silence.

It wasn't long before the guard stopped outside one building in particular. It was small and quaint and Kagome wondered what it was used for. Planning? Strategy? It seemed she would find out soon.

"Send them in," a voice called from inside and with a wry smile, the guard held the door for Kagome and Kouga to walk through.

A tall, strong man was standing on the other side of a table, his dark hair pulled back in a short ponytail and his face a few days since his last shave. It was shocking to recognize him through her memories of Kohaku and how much he must have taken after his father.

There were three others in the room, all dressed in similar armor Sango wore whenever they prepared for battle. One extremely familiar, but Kagome hurried to push that out of her mind.

"Forgive me our precautions," the man said as he motioned toward the heavy guard in the small room. "I hope you understand the necessity."

In more proof that this Kouga was different, he didn't say anything. It seemed he was leaving this meeting up to Kagome.

"We understand," Kagome replied. "I'm Kagome and this is Kouga."

"I am Matsuba, the leader of this village," he answered in kind. "I hear you have an odd request for me."

It was a leading statement and Kagome could tell he already knew, but she decided to humor him anyway. "Yes, I'd like to see Midoriko's cave."

Matsuba's eyebrow twitched, but he showed no other reaction to her statement. "Not many people outside this village know about the great miko," he said. "We tend to keep that knowledge to ourselves."

How to explain that his daughter was the one who told her in a time that no longer existed? "I trained near the village Kikyo lives in," Kagome said carefully, choosing the right words to keep from outright lying. "Stories of the jewel had a way of referencing Midoriko and this village."

"Not many stories," he responded, his shoulders dropping slightly, "but they do exist." He studied her, his silence so heavy Kagome knew he had more to say. "Word tells it that Kikyo lost the jewel."

Something in his tone caught her attention. "You don't believe it?"

"No." His answer was swift, sure. What would have him so convinced? "Something else must have happened for it to no longer be in Kikyo's hands."

How desperately she wanted to explain that something had. Instead, she focused on the reason she was there. "I know this is an unusual request. I mean no disrespect with my presence there."

"And yet you would bring a youkai?" he asked with no amount of judgement in his tone.

"I'm traveling with Kouga and we were passing this area," she explained, exactly as she'd told the guard. "I couldn't pass up the opportunity."

Even so, she wanted Kouga there. Having someone who knew what happened to her, who knew the importance of discovering what was going on, who knew her. After so many weeks alone in this time, she finally had someone she could be free with. Kagome was not eager to see him disappear.

"I'm willing to grant you your request on one condition." He nodded toward one of the taijiya who stepped forward. The man reached into his bag and pulled out a dark sphere that he set on the table between them. "We found this in the home of a lord who asked for our services yesterday. The servants said the lord had died just before we arrived, this stone next to him on his bed. Do you know what it is?"

Kagome recognized the story, Naraku impersonating the lord when he killed Sango's family. It seemed these fake jewels didn't just prey on youkai — or the lord had been keeping secrets even before Naraku.

"We've encountered a few others," she answered. "Fake jewels that give powers similar to the Shikon no Tama, but slowly drain a soul until there's nothing left."

"Is there anything you can do?"

Did he know? Kouga shifted behind her at the question, letting her block as much as she could. They learned over the last couple jewels that her body shielded a lot of the reiki that lashed out and left Kouga mostly unscathed.

Reaching out, Kagome readied herself for the same—

Crack!

Just as it happened countless times before, a wave of reiki exploded from her finger as soon as she touched the stone, a crack cutting straight through to the center. The flash of pink light shocked everyone in the hut, all of them drawing weapons and readying for a fight, but it was gone as fast as it appeared. Kagome watched each of them reassess and slowly relax.

"I don't know why it happens, but I purify the stones as soon as I touch them. It's happened like that with every other one we've come across."

Matsuba slowly stepped forward, his eyes fixed on the now-clear stone. He reached out before stopping, looking up at her for guidance. "Is it safe?"

"Be careful of the crack," she answered while nodding. "It will cut you, but it's now just a broken stone."

He picked it up, holding it up and studying it in the light. He passed it around the table and let each person examine it before he gave it to Kagome. "How many of those have you purified?"

"Too many," she said, tucking the stone in a small pouch on her hip. "I was hoping if there were answers, I might find them in the cave. When dealing with anything about the Shikon no Tama, fake or not, it made the most sense to go to the source."

"Are you hoping to find it?" he asked, his tone growing harsh. "It's our understanding that after the Shikon no Tama disappeared from Kikyo's possession, it hasn't reappeared anywhere else."

"No," she said even though his gaze was fixed over her shoulder on Kouga. "I have no interest in hunting for the jewel."

"And you, ookami?" Matsuba clarified. "Why are you on a miko's journey?"

"She is a member of my pack," came the answer and it was not one she was expecting. "I watch out for those that are mine."

Matsuba nodded, the answer apparently making sense to him. "You're camping down near the river, yes?"

"Yes."

"I'll meet you at dusk and then I'll take you to the cave. Midoriko seems to welcome visitors best after the sun's started to set."

…

"When did I become a member of your pack?"

They were back in the clearing, food in hand as a gift from the village. Part of a small deer was roasting over the fire and silence stretched between them until Kagome couldn't keep the question to herself any longer.

"When I brought you back to my den," Kouga answered easily, seemingly not aware of the many more questions that sparked.

"And you didn't think to tell me?"

"You knew."

She waved that aside. "But you didn't say anything."

When he turned and looked at her, Kagome almost took a step back. "Did I need to?" he asked quietly.

Her mouth dried.

"I knew what I wanted, but you weren't ready to hear it." One hand reached up, caught a strand of her hair in between his fingers. "You're still not ready to hear it."

"Hear what?"

Kouga looked at her. "You've been a part of my pack from your first step in my den. We've treated you as such, too."

"You treated me as a prisoner," she spat.

"Would a prisoner have freedom to walk along the river?"

"A prisoner would always have a guard on her."

"So would a mate."

At that, she did jerk back, her hair falling out of his grasp. "What?"

"Before, how did I claim you?"

His question threw her off. "You said wolves only mate once and that I was your woman, but only because I could sense the jewel shard."

His jaw ticked. "Are you sure?"

"Well…no. You kidnapped me because I could sense the shards, but you said I was your woman after I got Shippo to safety."

"Anything else?"

She wasn't sure why he was asking, but she wet her lips and continued sharing her memories. "You would catch up to us every once in a while, grab my hands, check my health, and pick a fight with Inuyasha."

"And you loved Inuyasha."

Her gaze flickered, not wanting Kouga to see what that sentence dragged to the surface. It hadn't been included when she told him her story, but it was impossible to hide.

"Now you're free and I knew that." Kouga stepped closer again. "There's no other scent on your skin, no other name on your lips when you sleep. But you're human and you're strong and I knew I couldn't simply call you mine and expect you to go along with it."

"So you feigned concern and took me away from the pack for a week?"

"There was," he snarled, the frightening sound filling the clearing, "nothing feigned about my reaction to smelling your blood."

Kagome backed up again and he followed, over and over until her back hit a tree.

"Your scent in my den was already driving me crazy. Clinging to my betas, lingering on the air, I could taste you on my tongue. And then you started bleeding." Clawed hands went against the tree on either side of her head and Kouga caged her in. He was so close, she could feel the heat off his body.

"Do you know how good you smelled? How good you still smell?" He brushed his nose along the line of her jaw, breathing in deeply. "And then to have you to myself this entire week, watching your barriers drop until you finally relax around me. You don't have the slightest idea what it's been like for me."

"K-Kouga—"

"Nothing I have done toward you has been feigned in the slightest," he growled, "but if you want me to act on all the things I've hidden, just say the word and I'll do it."

He pushed away from her and stalked off, the line of his back stiff. Kouga paused at their campsite, his neck angling as if he were going to turn back to her, but he shook his head and continued on toward the river.

When he disappeared through the trees, Kagome took a breath. And then another. Three slow, deep breaths trying to calm her racing heart as his words echoed in her ears. She could still feel the heat from his body, the rumble in his voice. So much exploded out of him at once, so hard and demanding and potent, she didn't know how to react.

How she wanted to react.

She moved without thinking, checking on the deer, laying out the bed rolls, trying to put some semblance of coherence on the thoughts bouncing around her head.

He wanted her. Mate, he'd said. Kouga tossed out the word like it was easy, like it wasn't new and scary and something he'd never thought about it. He said it like— like he had been thinking about it. And then the rest of it? So close and so demanding, even though he hadn't made a single demand of her. He'd commanded her attention and kept it, laying out everything she'd ever been confused about.

"Alright Kagome, it's okay. Just…" She blew out a breath, knowing that talking to herself was far from the worst of her current problems. "One: Kouga is still attracted to you. It looks different from last time because he's different, but it's still there."

And oh, was it still there.

"Two: things are different and Inuyasha has moved on." It hurt, but it was a healing hurt. One that already scabbed over and just waiting for the new skin to grow. "Three: he— it's— you— What are you going to do?"

She liked him, she knew it. It wasn't as strong as what he felt for her or what she once felt for Inuyasha, but it was there. It had been growing since the beginning if she were honest with herself. Why else would she have been so out of sorts whenever he paid attention to her at the den?

Because you didn't know what he wanted.

Huh. She sat down on her sleeping bag, watching the deer to make sure it didn't burn. What a revelation. She didn't know what he wanted, so she couldn't allow herself to fall for someone who didn't want her. But now— now she knew. He made it completely clear.

Kagome had no idea if that helped or not.

…

When Kouga returned, she expected the silence to be awkward and strained. It was at first — his armor was in his hands, his wet hair over his shoulders, and she tried to look anywhere but him. She had a hard time doing it. He set his armor down on his bed roll, ran a claw through his hair, then kneeled down across from her, reaching for the deer.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice carefully controlled. He sliced a piece off the deer, held it in his hands to cool, then passed it over to her.

She took it, tasted it, and didn't bother to misunderstand what he was asking. "I don't know. It's…it's a lot."

He nodded, cutting off more. "If I had known how much you didn't understand, I— well, I hope I would have told you differently."

"Is that why you didn't want to let me go through the well?" she asked.

His nostrils flared — a reaction she was coming to understand as surprise — and he slowly nodded. "The thought of losing you before I could have you isn't something I like to consider."

"And you were still going to let me go?"

Kouga passed over another larger piece to her, took a large once for himself and sat down on the bed roll. "Would you have been happy if I didn't?"

No — and he already seemed to know that. "You didn't care if I was happy while I was stuck in the den?"

A weak chuckle left him as he took a bite. "Yeah, I know."

She let the silence stretch out, waiting for an actual answer.

"Part because I didn't know what to do with the jewel. You need to be around it to keep it pure and I needed to be around you to keep you from being attacked." His claws flexed, but he focused on the piece of meat in his hands. "The rest was because you weren't unhappy."

"What?"

"You weren't happy, sure, but you weren't sad either. You were mourning and I didn't know why at the time, but I figured the pack would offer an easy place to mourn." He met her gaze again, the look in his eyes something she recognized. "We monitored your scent, made sure you didn't spiral. When we thought it was getting close, Ginta or Hakkaku would take you out and let you sit in the sun or we'd sent the pups to fall asleep on you. It seemed to help."

Each word hit her, everything he revealed a different blow. How much those little things actually helped, she realized. And he knew? He knew the entire time?

"When I learned what you were mourning," he shook his head, "how could I keep you from going home? I didn't know you had a home. You should have been there from the beginning."

"We tried that," she joked, even knowing it would fall flat. "Didn't really work."

Kouga's eyes didn't leave hers, didn't acknowledge her attempt at making light of a heavy situation. "I have a home for you, but you have to want it for yourself."

Her mouth ran dry again, the deer turning to sawdust, her heart thumping at the meaning behind his words.

"I've made it clear how I want you to settle in our pack, but if you want something different I'll give it to you."

He was going to let her choose. Her hands clenched around the meat.

"You just need to let me know what you want."

Kagome swallowed. "So…if I want to just be a part of your pack and nothing else, you would accept it?"

His jaw bunched and his eyes narrowed, but he kept his gaze locked on hers. "I made it through five days of you bleeding without claiming you," he growled out. "It won't be easy, but if that's what you want, that's what you'll get."

Her mind spun at the emotion in his voice, her heart racing at the next words on her tongue. "And if I didn't? If I wanted what you want?"

A low sound filled the air rumbling from Kouga's hard chest. His eyes closed, his claws speared through the meat in his hands, but he kept himself still. "Don't tease me," he finally bit out. "I'll let it go now because you don't know what you're asking. If you ask me again, you'll taste my answer."

Twigs breaking through the grass caught her attention. She looked over Kouga's shoulder and saw Matsuba along with three other men from the village standing at the edge of the clearing.

"Are you ready?" he asked. "The sun is about to set."

Kouga's eyes flashed red when he opened them before seeping back to that bright blue. "I'm ready if you are, Miko."

She nodded, tucking their conversation in the back of her mind. There was a lot to think about and she would have to figure it out soon, but it would have to wait. They had a cave to get to.

…

The cave came into view as they emerged from the trees, exactly as she remembered it. The leader stopped well within range of the cave, nodding his head at them.

"This is where we stop," he said. "We'll wait until you both come back from the cave."

Something in his tone spoke of a disbelief, but Kagome ignored it. Nothing was going to stop her from getting the answers she needed. She thanked them and headed toward the cave. Before, it was their sympathy toward the dead that allowed them through the barrier. She didn't know what Midoriko was looking for now.

"You've been here before?" Kouga asked softly as they approached the cave opening, the first words he'd said since the villagers interrupted their conversation.

"Yes," she answered, focusing on her memories. "There's only one barrier here on the outside of the cave and hopefully Midoriko will let us pass."

"Even though I'm youkai?"

"Yes." They hadn't had a problem before — only when Inuyasha revealed his selfish intentions of the jewel was he ejected from the cave.

"Do you think it'll be the same?"

It was like he knew. "No," she said with a sigh, looking up at him in the dimming light. "I want it to be, but something tells me I'm not going to like what I find."

He studied her, his eyes almost glowing ."You think we're going to find a fake."

She shook her head, not wanting to admit it.

"Let's go," he nudged her forward. "We won't know until we try."

Kagome took a tentative first step and then another. She passed through the entrance with no issue and turned immediately to watch Kouga follow her unimpeded.

So far so good, even if it didn't feel like she remembered.

They walked through the tunnel as the cave darkened, the already setting sun not offering much through the twists and turns. But she kept going with Kouga by her side, over the rocks and skeletons, all the way until it opened up to the statue she was looking for.

It was exactly as she remembered it. Midoriko was there, standing in a youkai's jaws and stuck in a battle she would fight until the end of time. Souls trapped in the jewel, all fighting for power.

"What's that?" Even though Kouga's voice was soft, his baritone cut though the silence. "There in that hole. What is it?"

Kagome dug through the fabric of her clothes, reaching for the flashlight she'd hidden deep in one of her pockets earlier. Clicking it on, she pointed the light at Midoriko, looking for whatever had caught Kouga's eye.

It was a fake jewel. Right where the real one had formed.

"How did it get here?" Her voice echoed off the walls, a loud, harsh spurt of sound. "What is going on?!"

"Miko—"

Frustration fused with anger and consumed her, taking over all thoughts as she scrambled over the dead bodies with little care. "It shouldn't be here," she almost shouted. "How dare it be there, where Midoriko sacrificed herself!"

"Kagome—"

She tossed her flashlight as she started to climb, light flashing around the cave. Kagome's focus was solely on the imposter sitting in the most disrespectful place it could be. Her nails scratched over the rock surface, her feet looking for every nook and cranny she could find. Finally, she hoisted herself high enough and reached out, her only goal to destroy the thing that dared replace what it could never be.

"Kagome, wait!"

The explosion was bigger than anything she'd ever seen before. Reiki burst out with enough force to throw her off the statue, filling the cave with a blinding pink light. Kagome landed hard, knocking her breath from her lungs and she saw the stone shattering completely through, shards raining onto the ground.

Something dark and ugly and twisted slithered out from Midoriko's chest, aimed straight for Kagome, and then she knew no more.