"Kouga-kun. Kouga-kun?"
"..."
"Gomen ne."
The side of Kouga's mouth quirked. It began as a soft chuckle and slowly increased in volume. Kagome just watched blankly as Kouga laughed uncontrollably, hands held to his stomach and eyes tearing. Kouga saw the dazed look on Kagome's face and laughed even harder. It was so ironic, actually. All along he had thought his only rival was the dog turd, which with being a full youkai he was superior to. The Lord of the Western Lands, eh? Dog turd isn't going to be very happy about this. Imagining the angry and shocked look on Inuyasha's face was amusing to say the least. It helped to know that the dog turd would be feeling the same loss.
"Don't worry Kagome. It's against a wolf youkai's nature to mess with another's mate." Kouga grinned. "But now, you better find a safe place to hide from Naraku."
Kagome smiled slowly and surprised Kouga with a short hug. Kouga reddened and scratched his head awkwardly. Kagome helped the injured youkai up and moved to a nearby ridge where he would be able to see the battle from a distance. No matter how much Kouga wanted to exact revenge on Naraku, he was in no condition to fight Naraku at the moment. Kagome glanced worriedly over to where Sesshoumaru stood, barely visible at this distance. Inuyasha and her friends were also fast nearing Naraku's location. Her hands fisted at her sides. Her mate and her friends were all in danger and she stood here, doing nothing.
A figure clothed in miko clothing caught her eye. Kikyo was heading towards the battle. Kagome didn't know what the undead miko was going to do but she had to do something. Kikyo may hate Naraku but she had also sworn to drag Inuyasha to hell with her. Kagome grabbed her bow and arrows but didn't know what to do about Rin. The little girl seemed wary of the wolf youkai or Kagome would have left Rin in Kouga's care. Bringing the little girl with her into battle was impossible. As it was, Kagome had no choice but to leave Rin with Kouga even if she was scared of him. Worrying over the problem, Kagome was startled when the ground suddenly shook. Spinning around she found herself face to face with a two-headed dragon. Unable to tear her eyes from the creature a hand's length from her, Kagome swallowed nervously. Dimly, she heard Rin's cries, which oddly, sounded quite happy. From her peripheral vision, she saw the little girl run forward and hug one of the creature's legs.
"Aun. Aun."
Kagome released the pent up breath she hadn't even realized she had been holding. She had thought she was going to be eaten by the creature. But the fact that Rin knew the creature was good timing. Rin and the two-headed creature appeared to be good friends, if the way the creature's heads nuzzled the little girl was any indication.
"Rin? Who's your friend?"
"Oh, Kagome onee-chan, this is Aun. He follows Sesshoumaru-sama, like Rin."
"Sou ka. Ne, Rin, would you like to stay with Aun for a while. Kagome onee-chan is going to go find our Sesshoumaru-sama and bring him back to us."
"Hai. Rin usually waits with Aun when Sesshoumaru-sama has something to do."
Kagome patted the little girl on the head and gave her a quick hug. She hoped everything turned out all right and she did return with Sesshoumaru. If they failed this world would be finished. And even if they succeeded what would happen to her once the Shikon no Tama was complete? But this was no time to be thinking such thoughts. There was no way she was going to let Naraku win. Whatever happened after will happen. Everything will turn out fine. Makenai!
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