Once back in the village, Kagome found a bowl and grinding stone. She sat in the remains of a house she found them in. As she worked alone, Kagome sensed a jewel shard immediately behind her. She turned quickly, raised her arm defensively, and all she was a flash of something. She had released a scream as her forearm was cut by a bone-hand scythe. Kurama, Hiei, and Shippo ran into the house to help her.

"Kohaku," Shippo shouted in shock.

"Get Sango, Shippo!" Kagome shouted to him, and with a nod, Shippo bolted out. Hiei immediately had Kohaku pinned against the wall with his katana at his throat. "No! Don't hurt him!" Kagome begged as Kurama helped her to her feet, as she held her bleeding arm. Hiei glared at her over his shoulder, but he did not falter in his restraint of Kohaku.

"Heh, Naraku sent me to make sure you got his message, wench." Kohaku said in his zombie- like tone. Kurama started getting mad, but his hand in her good hand to tell him it was okay. Suddenly Sango busted into the shambled house.

"Kohaku," Sango cried out and then stopped in her tracks, as Miroku came in after her.

"Naraku now knows you're back Miko wench. He also knows of your new companions and your lack of the half- breed Inuyasha." Kohaku said coldly. Suddenly half of the roof was forced in. Kurama shielded Kagome as Miroku did the same to Sango. A giant feather plummeted from the sky but stopped just about the ground.

Kagura stood up and waved her fan. "Dances of Blades!" She called and the wind blade flew. However, Hiei deflected each blade with his speed and skill. Kohaku, now free of Hiei, jumped into Kagura's feather.

"Kohaku!" Sango called and tried to go after him, but Miroku pulled her back.

"Come on everyone! The roof is caving in!" Miroku shouted over the falling rubble. He pulled Sango out. Kurama rushed Kagome out and Hiei followed. They watched as Kagura fly off with Kohaku and a hoard of demons.

"Kagome, are you okay?" Kurama asked gently as he brushed her bangs back.

"Yeah, this isn't the first time I've been cut." Kagome said dismissively as she looked from him to Sango. Miroku was comforting her as she cried. Her heart bled for Sango every time her brother was ripped away from her by Naraku. "I'd be just upset if it was Sota." Kagome whispered as she remained looking at her friend. Kurama took her good hand and led her out of the village. He took a seed from his hair and rested it in the palm of his hand. "What kind of seed is that?" She inquired curiously as she looked at it.

"The demonic kind," Kurama said calmly as he closed his hand around the seed. Then his hand began to glow with his demonic powers. His hand opened as the plant grew. Once it had grown, he broke off a part of the plant.

"What is it?" Kagome said curiously as she looked at the plant.

"It's basically a fast actin aloe vera." Kurama answered as he squeezed the inside of the plant out. "It's one of the ingredients in the paste I gave you." He whispered as he gently applied the gel to her arm. Then he pulled out a roll of bandages.

"Heh, you came prepared," Kagome said as he wrapped her arm. Kurama smiled as he finished.

"They say luck favors the prepared," he said calmly as he cupped her cheek. Kurama leaned toward her and then kissed her gently and tenderly, like she was a delicate flower. Kagome rested her hands on his chest as they kissed. Suddenly he embraced her tightly to him as they continued to kiss in the woods. Kagome felt herself melt into his arms and when they broke away, she rested there for a few moments.

"There is not place I'd rather be than here - in your arms." Kagome sighed contently. Kurama rested his head gently against hers and embraced her a little tighter. "I truly wish we could stay like this forever," she whispered gently. Kurama gently pushed her back and looked into her eyes.

"As do I, but now we must join the others." He reminded her then brought her right hand up to kiss it. "One day we'll be bonded forever - and I won't take no for an answer." Kagome turned deep red as she was shocked by his proposal. "After school of course," he stated with a smile. She had never imagined being proposed to before sh was twenty years old. Kagome took his hand in hers and started back to the village.

When they entered the village again, they saw Miroku still with Sango and now kirara. Yusuke and Kuwabara were complaining about missing the action. Botan and Shippo were treating the woman and now conscious child with her first aid kit. Hiei stood leaning against he remains of a house.

"We finished burying the people." Kuwabara lowly informed Kagome, stopping in front of them.

"Thank you," she said suddenly becoming sad. She looked at the surviving villagers and then walked over to them. "There's a village a little ways southeast of here. It would be a good place to go." She told them gently. The old man stood up and gave her a grateful nod.

"Thank you all for your help." He said with a smile. Then he helped the woman and child up. Kagome turned and then ran back toward where she dropped her bike. Her stuff was poured out from Shippo going to get her first aid kit. Kagome quickly shoved it all back into her bag, and then picked up her bike. After that she had a rather bumpy ride back into the village. Kagome skidded tow halt in the center of the village.