InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Enemy Mine ❯ Chapter 4 ( Chapter 4 )

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Inuyasha. Those are the property of one Rumiko Takahashi. I thank her whole-heartedly for giving us such an amazing manga/anime to read/watch.

Author's Note. While this chapter maintains a strong PG-13, future chapters will contain adult material that warrant an NC-17 rating.

I'd like to thank my daughters, Himeko and Kojika, for helping come up with names for characters introduced in this chapter.

Enemy Mine - Chapter 4

By Urd-chan

Kouga was awake before the sun was up, feeling stiff from sleeping against the hard stone outside his den. Halfway through the night he had awoken and had to fight the urge to go into his den and crawl into his own bed. It was his den, after all, but he knew Kagura was in there and he was in no mood to deal with the wind user. Instead, he had repositioned himself and tried his best to get some rest.

His legs were still tingling as he stretched and stood up. The cool morning air felt good as he took several steps. Other than the tingling, his legs felt almost back to normal. But, he reminded himself, they would never be back to the way they were when he had the shards. Before the shards he had been the tribe's fastest runner. After he gained the shards, he could outrun any youkai he had ever fought. Now, he wasn't sure what damage Naraku's miasma had done to his legs. Despite Kagome's purification of Naraku's poison, he worried that there might be some permanent damage that even his youkai powers couldn't reverse.

"Kouga." Ginta walked up to him and looked nervous. "I didn't think you'd be up this early."

Kouga grunted and shook his head. "Considering I usually don't sleep."

Ginta shifted his weight to one foot and kicked softly at the ground with the other. "Did you need me for anything, Kouga?" By the tone of his voice it was obvious that he was worried about being put in charge of watching Kagura.

Kouga opened his mouth and then noticed the nervous expression on his underling's face. "Just stay here for a few minutes. I need a break."

Ginta nodded as his leader walked away. He could only hope that Kagura would remain inside the den until Kouga returned.

Kouga turned away from Ginta and made his way to a mountain stream he knew of. A small waterfall made splashing sounds as he stripped out of his armor and plunged into the warm water, coming up just under the waterfall. It didn't take him long to scrub away the dirt and ash that had coated his skin since the battle with Naraku and he made his way back to the bank and grabbed his clothing. He dressed quickly and headed back to the village.

On the way he ran into two young females from the tribe. The first one smiled shyly at him while the second slipped her arm around his and pressed up against him.

"Kouga, I was hoping I would find you…alone."

The first female shot her friend and angry look. "And, what does that make me?"

The second female laughed. "I just meant that I had hoped to find Kouga here when he wasn't stuck guarding the prisoner."

Kouga shook off her arm. "For the last time, Madoka, Kagura is not my prisoner. I promised Kagome…"
Madoka growled. "And since when does the great Kouga make promises to stupid human females?"

"Kagome is not stupid!"

"Of course she's stupid. If she wasn't, she'd be with you now, and not with that lowlife hanyou."

Kouga growled again. "As long as I'm leader of the tribe, I expect you to show me respect. And, you will show respect to those who are my friends."

Madoka leaned towards Kouga and hissed softly in his ear. "Perhaps you prefer the company of humans and murderers over that of females of your own kind."

The first female had become nervous at her friend's outburst. "I think maybe you should just leave Kouga alone."

"Fine by me, " Madoka snorted as she turned away from Kouga and walked in the direction of the waterfall.

Her friend followed silently.

Damn it, Kouga thought to himself. He wasn't used to members of his tribe acting disrespectful, but knew that it was something he would have to get used to. It would take them time to accept the wind user in their midst. Of course, by the time they were ready to accept her - if they were ever ready to accept her - she would be long gone.

He found himself hurrying back to the village, vague feelings of unease adding speed to his step until he was almost running.

Ginta was lounging against the wall just outside the den. He snapped to attention when his leader came into view.

"Kouga!"

The wolf youkai slowed to a walk and approached his underling. "Any problems while I was gone?"

Ginta shook his head. "Nothing to report, Kouga." He glanced at the door to the den. "Was there anything else you wanted from me?"

Kouga shook his head. "Just bring some food when it's ready."

Ginta nodded and ran off to look for Hakkaku.

The wolf youkai moved towards his den, listening for Kagura's movement. The den was quiet and he walked in to find Kagura curled up on the skins of his bed. He thought at first she was sleeping, but then caught the glint of reflected torchlight in her open eyes.

"So, you're awake." He glanced around the den, not sure what he was looking for. It wasn't like he expected the wind user to do anything while he was gone.

Kagura sat up, her normally bunned hair gathered into a low side pony tail. "You don't think I could sleep with your stench all around me."

Kouga snorted. "It seems to me that you're the one with stench that's unbearable. You reek of Naraku."

Even before the words left his mouth, Kouga found himself regretting them. He watched Kagura for a reaction, but was surprised when she closed her eyes and turned her head away. "You think I like his smell any better than you do?"

Kouga watched closely, worried that the wind user might respond in anger. She stood slowly and walked to the edge of the stream running through the den. "I would peel off my own skin to rid myself of his fucking stench, if I could."

The wolf youkai hesitated, unprepared for Kagura's reaction. She seemed almost sad.

"It seems that perhaps it would be better if I just leave." Kagura suddenly turned and glared at him. "Your entire tribe hates me, and I'm sure you'd be happier without having to play bodyguard to me." She walked to his bed and bent down to retrieve her fan, which still lay next to where she had slept. She slammed the closed fan against her palm and stormed towards the door. "Don't worry, I'm sure my stench will fade in a few days."

Kouga moved towards her, grabbing her wrist. "You're not going anywhere," he hissed as he pulled her away from the door.

Kagura tried to twist free of his grip before swinging at his head with her free hand. He grabbed her other wrist before her knuckles could make contact with his jaw and pushed her roughly against the wall.

"I said, you're not going anywhere."

"Get your fucking hands off me, you moron," Kagura hissed back. She tried to wriggle free of his grip, but only succeeded in dropping her fan.

Kouga kicked it into the center of the den.

Kagura's voice rose louder and louder as she continued to demand that he let her go, shouting obscenities until they reverberated from the stone walls of the den.

"Damn, it, Kagura! Stop struggling and shut up already!" Kouga glanced nervously at the door, sure that his idiot underlings would come storming in any moment. By now he was sure the entire tribe had to hear Kagura.

Kouga shifted, pulling Kagura's hands together until he could firmly grasp both wrists with one hand. He took his other hand and placed it firmly across her mouth, leaning in close to her ear. "If you don't shut up I'll just let you go out there and see how far you get."

Kagura glared at him as she tried to bite the hand covering her mouth.

Kouga glanced at the door. It wouldn't be long before someone came by to be sure he was all right. Come to think of it, he would have to yell at Ginta and Hakkaku for not being on the ball. In other circumstances he would demand that they check things out

"Damn it, Kagura!" he yelled as her mouth finally found its hold on two of his fingers. He shook his hand.

"Get your fucking hands off me!" Kagura screamed as she continued to try to free her hands from Kouga's grip. Her gaze fell on her fan, which was half-way across the den.

"Like you think I'm going to let you get to your weapon, " Kouga snarled. He could feel Kagura shaking; could hear her breathing and heartbeat quicken. He was ready to give her another retort, but stopped when he she gasped and closed her eyes.

"What the fuck?" Kagura's expression had gone from a look of surprise to one of fear.

The wolf youkai released his hold on the wind user's hands, watching in concern as she fell forward onto her knees and then onto all fours.

Kagura raised one hand to clutch at her chest. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" Her breathing was labored and her entire body was shaking.

Kouga dropped to his knees by her. "What…?"

"If you think I'm going to let you take if from me…"

"Damn it, Kagura. What the hell are you babbling about?" He reached his hand to touch her shoulder lightly.

"My heart." Kagura's voice was barely a whisper. Her chest felt so tight she could barely breathe, and the pounding of her heart echoed in her head. The heart which had only just been returned to her felt like it was ready to burst inside her.

Kouga gripped her shoulders and shook her lightly. "Damn it, Kagura. Calm down." He looked worriedly at the wind user. He could sense nothing wrong, but the fear reflecting in her eyes was real.

The wolf youkai moved one hand, sliding it palm down on her chest, just above where her heart raced. He could feel the increased beating, but could detect nothing wrong.

"Calm down," he commanded. "There's nothing wrong with your heart. You just got yourself all worked up. It will slow down as soon as you calm down."

The wind user nodded slightly and closed her eyes. She was still gasping for breath.

"Take slow, deep breaths," Kouga instructed. He could feel the rhythm of her heart slowing even as he spoke. He watched as Kagura's expression relaxed and her breathing returned to normal.

Kagura rocked back to sit on her heels, her hands sliding towards her body. She took a deep breath and opened her eyes slowly.

"I don't know what the fuck just happened," Kouga mumbled. "Do you act like this every time you get yourself excited?"

Kagura glared at the wolf youkai. "Maybe if you took your hands off me, I could calm down."

Kouga pulled his hand back, suddenly aware that he had kept one hand on her chest the entire time. "The last thing I want is to be touching you, " he snapped. "I was just trying to check your heart beat." He found himself getting angry, although it was not at Kagura but at himself. "Next time I'll just let you frighten yourself to death. It doesn't matter to me."

The wolf youkai stood and walked to the door of the den. "Oh, and don't try to leave. I'll be right outside. After all the fucking commotion you caused just now, I really wouldn't suggest you try to go out there. I'm sure half the tribe is standing by, waiting to come to my aid if I call them."

Kouga stormed from the den, pausing just outside the door when he realized that his own heart was racing. He glanced around and saw Ginta and Hakkaku standing nearby, looking at him nervously.

"Uh, Kouga," Ginta started. He moved his hands nervously. "Is everything all right?"

"You fucking idiots. Yeah, everything's okay, but if it hadn't been, it would be too late to help me now."

The two underlings shifted nervously.

"We brought food like you told us," Hakkaku said as he held out a large bowl in Kouga's direction.

Their leader grabbed the bowl and scowled.

Ginta glanced at his partner. "Was there anything else you needed, Kouga?"

Kouga glared over his shoulder as he turned toward his den. "Just make sure you two aren't that scarce when there's a real problem."

Ginta and Hakkaku hurried away. Kouga could hear them muttering to each other, each blaming their partner for their leader being angry at them. They quickly disappeared from sight.

The wolf youkai was alone. He paused just outside the den, not sure why he was suddenly so hesitant to enter his own room.

He found himself remembering the fear in Kagura's eyes, the racing of her heart as he placed his hand on her chest. She had been so vulnerable. He was confused by his own reaction to her at that moment. The feel of her skin under the thin, silk kimono - and her scent.

For the first time, Kouga realized that her scent had changed. Instead of Naraku's foul stench, Kagura's own scent had emerged. It reminded him of Kagome, only muskier.

Damn it, Kouga thought to himself as he leaned against the hard stone just outside his den. What the hell was happening to him? It wasn't like him to act and feel this way around any female, let alone one like Kagura. She was strong, arrogant, and obnoxious, but still there was something about her that was starting to get under his skin.

No. He wasn't going to let this happen to him. He would do what he promised Kagome - take care of Kagura just until she was able to fend for herself. Until then, he would keep his distance and delegate responsibility for her to his two half-witted underlings. He had a tribe to take care of, after all, and he needed to focus his energy on rebuilding their territory.

Kagura remained sitting where she was as Kouga left the den. Her heart had calmed, just like he told her it would, but she was still confused. How could she be sure that nothing was wrong with it? It wasn't like she knew what to expect of it. Thanks to Naraku, she had only had a matter of days to get used to its rhythmic beating inside her chest.

And, why, too, did her chest feel tight when Kouga touched her? The touch of his hand on her chest had been almost electric, sending her heart racing even faster for a moment. The look of concern on his face appeared to be genuine. Was it possible that he really didn't hate her, even after what she had done to his people?

The wind user closed her eyes and found herself remembering the events of the day she met Kouga. Naraku had sent her on a mission, and she had followed orders blindly. She knew that if she didn't obey him, he would destroy her with just one squeeze of his hand.

But, the thrill of experiencing her power for the first time had overshadowed even her fear of Naraku. The freedom of flying through the wind on her feather. The control of the wind with her fan. The sheer magnitude of what she could do with a single wave of her hand.

The wolf youkai didn't stand a chance against her. Her attacks had ripped through them without warning, leaving them lifeless at her feet. She had laughed at her newfound ability to make their carcasses dance for her, watching as Kouga and the others looked on in horror.

The lifeless faces of the warriors were replaced with those of the women of the tribe. She could remember the looks of sheer hatred as they confronted her the day she arrived with Kouga. It was their mates that she had killed so ruthlessly, so heartlessly.

Heartless. Yes, she had truly been without a heart then. But, now, why was she feeling this way, like she wanted to scream at nobody in particular?

The sensation of a tear running down her cheek startled her. She opened her eyes and wiped at the drop of salty water that had come from the corner of her eye. A tear? She had seen others cry, but had never cried herself. Why, then, was she suddenly crying?

Kagura could hear Kouga returning and quickly rubbed the dampness from her eyes and stood up. She turned so that her back was to him when he entered the room.

The wolf youkai walked in and placed the bowl of food on the low table. "There's food here for you."

Kagura turned slowly, doing her best to give Kouga her usual, arrogant look as she walked slowly to the table. She hadn't realized just how hungry she was until the smell of cooked meat reached her, and she now found her stomach making unpleasant noises.

"Eat," Kouga demanded as he grabbed a hunk of meat and took a bite. He did his best not to look at Kagura, but found himself unable to keep from glancing at her from the corner of his eye.

The wind user lowered herself to a cushion on the floor and reached gracefully to the food. She did her best to maintain a dignified air as she tore off a piece of meat and bit into it. It was still warm from the cooking fire, and cooked to perfection. Despite her hunger, she took her time and ate slowly, trying to watch Kouga without him noticing her attention.

The two ate silently. Finally, Kouga pushed the bowl towards Kagura.

"Go ahead and eat. A baby would eat more than you." He turned to leave the den.

"Kouga." Kagura's voice was uncharacteristically soft and gentle.

The wolf youkai turned and raised an eyebrow at her. "Yeah?"

Thank you. Kagura found her voice sticking in her throat, unable to say what she really wanted to say.

"When the hell can I get out of this hell hole?" Her usual roughness was edged with a touch of the something Kouga couldn't decipher.

"You're not ready to be on your own, yet," he grumbled as he once again turned to leave.

"I just want to go outside, damn it. I've been trapped in this fucking den since I got here. I just want to get out of here for a while."

"I'll see what I can figure out, " Kouga said as he left the den.

He paused just outside the den and glanced back over his shoulder. Now, what the hell was that all about? Kagura had, just for a moment, seemed vulnerable. He shook his head and chided himself softly for letting his imagination get away from him.

"Kouga."

The wolf youkai started, suddenly aware of a female close to his own age standing near him. She was a bit shorter and her hair was a dark, reddish brown. She was dressed in the typical clothing of his tribe.

"Damn it, Ruka, why do you always insist on sneaking up on me?"

"I'm hardly sneaking up on you. Besides, it's not my fault you aren't paying attention to your surroundings. You're just lucky I wasn't an enemy."

Kouga smiled and laughed. "It's good to see a friendly face."

Ruka stepped forward and hugged Kouga briefly. She inclined her head slightly in the direction of his den. "So, how are things going with her? I couldn't help but hear what went on earlier…"

Kouga shrugged. "She wants to come outside. For the life of me, I don't know how I'm going to manage that." He glanced in the direction of several members of his tribe, who were glaring at both him and the door of his den. "Kagura's not a prisoner, but I feel like I have to treat her like one just to make sure she's safe."

"The others will come around in time, Kouga. You can't force them to forget. It's too soon for them. For me, time has helped me heal."

Kouga shook his head. "If you have any suggestions, I'm all ears."

Ruka smiled and placed her hand lightly on his arm. "Let me talk to her. If nothing else, maybe I can convince her that she's better off inside - at least for now."

"You'd talk to her?"

"Of course. I believe what you said the other day, about her not being the enemy. We need to move forward."

Kouga glanced nervously at the entrance to his den. "If you really think you can do some good, go ahead. I'll be right here in case you need me."

Ruka laughed. "Like I'd need your help. I could beat you with one hand tied behind me, so I hardly think I need your help."

"Damned wench. It's no wonder Tsuzuki loved you so much."

Kouga watched as Ruka walked into his den.

Kagura looked up when Ruka came in. "Who the hell are you?" The wind user glanced back at the door, worried that she was going to have to defend herself.

"I'm Ruka," the female wolf youkai said as she came around the table and sat on a cushion opposite Kagura. She reached for the bowl and tore off a small chunk of meat, quickly chewing and swallowing it. "Kouga always gets the best food in the tribe. I should come by and eat with him more often."

Kagura narrowed her eyes. "What do you want?"

Ruka smiled. "You don't have to worry. I just wanted to come in and talk. You know, get to know you a bit. Kouga has some tribe business to take care of so I thought I would keep you company while he was away."

The wind user shifted uneasily. "So, are you here to remind me that I murdered your mate?"

Ruka shook her head and sighed. "My mate died during a battle with the bird youkai that have been fighting us for this territory for a long time. Perhaps that is why I can see Kouga's point regarding this whole situation."

Kagura snorted. "And why should I believe you?"

The wolf youkai paused as she reached for more food. "Why? I don't have proof, if that's what you mean. But, I don't lie. If you don't believe that, you can ask Kouga. He knows me better than anyone."

The wind user gave her visitor an appraising look. The female wolf youkai was very attractive, and seemed to be very sure of herself. Even though she didn't appear to be lying, Kagura was not about to trust her.

"I'll be leaving here soon anyway, " Kagura said in a monotone voice.

"Well, I can see that you're not really in the mood for company," Ruka said as she rose gracefully to her feet. "I meant it when I said I'd like to get to know you. Kouga seems to trust you, and I trust his judgment." She paused briefly before leaving the den. "If you don't mind, I'd like to come and visit you again."

Kagura narrowed her eyes, studying her visitor. "I'm not going anywhere, it seems," she said sarcastically.

The wind user found herself feeling uneasy. Something her unexpected visitor had said came back to her. If you don't believe that, you can ask Kouga. He knows me better than anyone. Just what was the woman to Kouga? And, why the hell was it bothering her so much anyway? She glared at the door and grabbed another piece of meat.

"How did it go?" Kouga asked Ruka as she came outside.

"She's very closed," the female youkai said. "She's not ready to trust anyone yet, and to be honest, I really can't blame her. From what you told me about Naraku and everything, and then the way the rest of the tribe is reacting to her, it's a wonder she's as calm as she is."

Kouga shook his head. "Why Kagome had to ask me to help her, I'll never know."

Ruka laughed softly. "I have a feeling you would have done it without being asked. You're a softy on the inside, after all."

Kouga snarled. "I am not a fucking wimp! Look, Kagura defied Naraku's orders to attack me. Then, she helped me fight against Hakudoushi. On top of that, she helped me get back to the tribe. I owe her something for that. Nothing more."

Ruka laughed again as she walked away. "Say it enough times and maybe you'll start to believe it."

Kouga glared at Ruka's retreating back. Despite their friendship, maybe it was time he reminded her who the leader of the tribe was. He turned to look at the door to his den and shook his head. He had hoped Ruka would make more headway with Kagura. But, it was a start. There hadn't been any shouting - or violence. That had to say something.

"So, when the hell are you going to let me go outside?" Kagura demanded as Kouga entered the room.

"Hello to you, too, " the wolf youkai said as he glanced around the den. Nothing seemed to be out of place. So, things really had gone better than he had expected.

"I want to get out of here," Kagura hissed. For some reason she seemed nervous.

"I'm working on it. By the way, how did your visit with Ruka go?"

The wind user rose slowly to her feet. "I don't need your little playthings trying to get into my mind. I just want to be left alone!"

"Playthings? What the…" Kouga looked at Kagura as the implication of her words set in. What exactly did she think Ruka was to him?

Kagura turned her back to him, her head held high as she tried to remain calm. She was more confused than ever at her reactions to Kouga.

"Look, not that it's any of your business, but Ruka is a friend. A good friend," Kouga started. He leaned against the hard stone of the den wall and shook his head. "I guess she didn't explain who she is."

"Apparently not, " Kagura hissed.

"I've known Ruka since we were kids. There were three of us. Ruka, Tsuzuki, and me. We did everything together. You couldn't tear us apart."

Kagura stood silently, doing her best to show no emotion.

"Tsuzuki's father and mine were brothers, so that made him my cousin. Ruka's father was my father's best friend. So, it was only natural that we got to know each other when we were young. In time, Tsuzuki chose Ruka for his mate, and she accepted. Then, my father died I took over as leader of the tribe. Even then, the three of us were best friends."

Kouga shifted his position, sliding his back down the wall until he was sitting on his heels with his arms resting on his knees.

"Tsuzuki and I always went on patrol together. We were a great team. But, one day I stayed here to take care of tribe business and he went without me. He never came back." Kouga's voice had dropped to not much more than a whisper. "If I had gone with him, maybe he'd still be alive."

Kagura reacted in surprise at Kouga's story. From what she had seen of him and his relationship to his tribe, she would have guessed him to be a loner. What surprised her even more was the emotion in his voice. It was obvious that Tsuzuki's death had hit him hard.

"Maybe not," Kagura said softly. "Perhaps you wouldn't have returned, either."

Kouga looked at Kagura's back, surprised once again by her response.

"Tsuzuki and Ruka had a kid. I guess you can say I've been kind of her surrogate father since Tsuzuki died. Reiya's a good girl, and Ruka is a wonderful mother. But, it's been hard on them. I do what I can to help, but I have a tribe to take care of, too."

"What about you and Ruka?" Kagura surprised herself with her own question. Once again she felt an unusual tightness in her chest as she turned to look at Kouga.

"Ruka? She's a friend. Hell, she's more like a sister." The wolf youkai stood up and glared at Kagura. "Not that it's any of your business, anyway." Damn it, he thought to himself. Why was he letting Kagura get to him?

Kouga walked over to Kagura and grabbed her wrist. "You said you wanted to go outside? Good. Let's go."

Kagura tried to protest, but found herself pulled unceremoniously outside of the den. Just as she tried to pull away, Kouga released his grip and she fell backwards, landing hard on her backside.

"Damn it, Kouga!" She quickly got to her feet and made at attempt to swing at the wolf youkai. He dodged her fist and grabbed her wrist again, twisting it down and behind her back.

"Now, just be a good girl and you can get some fresh air."

Kagura struggled against his hold on her. She could feel his breath on the back of her neck as he hissed quietly for her to settle down. Something about the way he pulled her back against him sent her heart racing and made it hard for her to breathe. She was not about to let him get the upper hand, though, so she reached over her head with her free hand and grabbed onto his hair, pulling hard on his pony tail as she tried to wrench her trapped arm from his grip. She found herself facing him just as they lost balance and fell to the ground in a tangle of arms and legs. Kagura landed hard on her back, knocking the breath from her as Kouga landed on top.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" he demanded as he brought his knees up on either side of her hips and quickly pinned her arms above her head. From this position his face was only inches from hers and he found himself noticing her scent and the racing of her heart. She was breathing hard and his eyes locked momentarily on the rise and fall of her chest. Her kimono had loosened in their struggle and gaped slightly in front, exposing a large triangle of her ivory skin and just a bit of cleavage. Kouga forced himself to look away, focusing instead on her face.

Kagura struggled for a moment before laying still under him. She knew she should be trying to get away from him, but something in her made her stay where she was. She could hear the pounding of her own heart in her ears as he leaned in close to her. His vibrant blue eyes mesmerized her and she could hear his heart beating in rhythm with hers. For just one moment, Kagura felt something she had never felt before.

"Yo, Kouga! Need any help?" "Looks like our prisoner was trying to escape." Taunts and laughter came from a small crowd of Kouga's tribe that had gathered to watch the wrestling match between their leader and the wind user.

Kouga jerked his head back and glared at his people. "Just get the hell out of here! "

He then pushed himself to his feet and leaned down to throw Kagura over his shoulder before storming off in the direction of his den.

"Put me the fuck down!" she yelled as she started pounding her fists against his back. She struggled against his hold on her, prompting him to tighten his grip on her thighs.

"Just shut the hell up. This was all your fault, bitch." He entered his den and almost threw her from his shoulder, making her fall hard once again onto her backside.

Kagura leapt to her feet and lunged at him. Kouga sidestepped and grabbed her by the wrist, spinning her towards him and locking his arms around her struggling form. Her back was to him and his arms crossed her chest, pushing the silk folds of her kimono further apart as he held her arms at her side.

"How dare you call me bitch, you… you…" Kagura was practically sputtering with anger, fighting against both his hold on her and the way it was making her feel. Her head felt light and she fought to get loose. She was feeling warm in places that were foreign to her.

"You had it coming," he rasped. Kouga's lips were so close to her ear she could feel them. His breath was warm and moist on her skin as he tried to get his own breathing under control.

Her effect on him was maddening, and he found himself getting angry at both her and himself. But, for Kouga it was a losing battle and he found himself getting lost in her scent, pressing his nose into the space between her ear and neck. He could feel the softness of her chest as he tightened his arms around her. He smiled to himself when he heard her gasp.

"Ko…Kouga?" The surprise in Hakkaku's voice was obvious.

The wolf youkai released the wind user and spun to face his two underlings who stood just inside the entrance to the den.

"What the hell do you want?" he demanded as he tried to regain his composure.

"Uhhh… We heard about what happened outside and just wanted to be sure that everything was all right."

"Once again, it would be too late even if I did need you," he snapped. He had to get out of there. Every minute he was alone with Kagura was eating at his resolve. He didn't understand why he felt the way he did when she was around, and he wasn't sure he wanted to.

"Well, since you're here, you can take a shift watching Kagura. I have things to take care of." Kouga walked quickly from the den, not looking back at either the two wolf youkai or the wind user.

Kagura quickly tightened her kimono and glared at Ginta and Hakkaku.

Ginta stuttered. "Um…we'll be right outside if you need anything. We'll bring food when it's done." With that he and Hakkaku turned and left the den, each taking up a position on opposite sides of the door. It was going to be a long day.

Kagura leaned heavily against the stone wall of the den and closed her eyes. Part of her was relieved that Kouga had left, and yet deep down inside her she wished he would come back. She could almost feel his arms around her again, holding her tightly as his breath warmed the skin at the back of her neck. Stop this, she chided herself. She knew one thing, and that was that she would have to get away from here as soon as possible.

Kouga had stormed from his own den, determined to put some distance between himself and Kagura. Why she was having such an effect on him was something he wasn't sure he wanted to know. After all, the most obvious possibility was totally ridiculous. So, he made the decision to stay away from her at all costs. He had Ginta and Hakkaku to do his dirty work, and of course he could count on Ruka. She didn't seem to mind spending time with Kagura, although her single contact with the wind user had been brief. She might not be as willing to help as she got to know Kagura better.

The wolf youkai flagged down several of his men and told them to gather as many of the tribe's fighters as they could find. He was going to have an informal meeting. It was about time he started focusing on matters of the tribe. Kagura would just have to make do without him.

"What about Ginta and Hakkaku?" one of the men asked.

Kouga shook his head. "They have an assignment. I'll fill those idiots in later."

A small group of male wolf youkai gathered in the tribe's central room. Kouga cringed when he saw up close just how few men he had to work with. As much as he hated to admit it, he would most likely have to resort to enlisting some of the females to help with patrols. He was already on the shit list of almost every female in the tribe. This decision wasn't going to make matters any better.

"Kouga?" He snapped out of his own thoughts and started the meeting. It was going to take time to bring his tribe back to their full glory, and time wasn't a luxury they could afford.

They talked for a while about what had been happening while Kouga was away. He filled the rest in on Naraku's destruction and the loss of his shards. Kouga and the others talked and planned for several hours, doing their best to come up with new schedules for their patrols and plans for enlisting some of the younger males who were just short of the normal age for joining. The meeting was going smoothly, and Kouga thought perhaps he could finish without any disruption when suddenly a small group of female wolf youkai appeared at the door.

"And, just what do you plan to do about that murderer?" Madoka stood at the front of the group, acting as their spokesperson.

"I've made myself clear regarding Kagura. She is not a prisoner, but an invited guest. Kagome asked that I help her until she is ready to take care of herself. She has never been away from Naraku's care - or control - before."

Several of the females expressed their distaste at having Kagura forced on them. She was, they reminded Kouga, the reason their mates were dead.

"Kagura was only following orders. She had no control over what happened. I already explained this to the tribe."

"No control over what happened? From what we were told, Naraku was nowhere near the murder scene. So, it seems that Kagura did have a choice. She's a murderer, and I don't think it's fair for you to expect us to accept her."

Kouga shook his head. How was he going to convince them about Naraku's hold on Kagura? He argued back and forth with the females for a while, but soon realized that he was not going to win his argument that way.

"Okay, as leader of the tribe, I'm orderingyou all to lay off of Kagura. She's here as our guest, and I expect everyone to just leave her alone. She won't be here much longer, so just back off!"

Kouga turned and left the room. He had accomplished what he intended with the meeting, and was just too exhausted to deal with the mob mentality that seemed to be developing there. Of course, as long as he felt Kagura wasn't safe with his tribe, he would have no choice but to help watch her.

Kagura paced for a while, listening to Ginta and Hakkaku 's chatter outside the den. She was bored, but more than that she was confused. Why had she reacted so strongly to Kouga? Even now, just thinking about him, her heart seemed to speed up and she felt a growing tightness in her chest. What was he doing to her?

The wind user turned with a start. Ruka was standing at the door. Next to her was a young wolf youkai - obviously her daughter.

"I hope I'm not disturbing you, Kagura," Ruka said with a warm smile. "I figured you might like some company, and my daughter wanted to meet you."

The young female stepped forward shyly and extended her hand. "My name is Reiya." He held her other hand behind her back.

Kagura glanced from mother to daughter. She didn't sense any malice in their manner, so she started to relax. She simply nodded in acknowledgement of the introduction.

"Do you mind if we come in?" Ruka asked.

"You're already in, so it really doesn't matter," Kagura drawled. She continued to eye the duo suspiciously. Surely they had an underlying motive for coming to see her. They were members of Kouga's tribe, after all, and everyone in the tribe seemed to hate the wind user. Everyone, that was, except for Kouga himself.

Reiya walked slowly to Kagura and brought her hidden hand forward. In it was a small bouquet of wild flowers. "I picked these for you," she said shyly.

Kagura glanced from the flowers to the girl, and then to her mother. Her confusion was obvious.

"Reiya wanted to bring you some flowers as a welcoming present. She picked them herself and thought you might like to have them."

Kagura nodded slightly, still uncertain what she was supposed to do about the gift. Ruka walked across the room and found a small bowl in Kouga's belongings. She filled it with water from the stream and placed it on the table. "You can put the flowers in there, Reiya," she told her daughter.

The girl smiled and ran to the table, dropping a flower on the way. She made herself busy arranging the flowers in the bowl, changing them around over and over until she had them just right. "There!"

Kagura noticed the dropped flower and bent down to pick it up. It was red and had large, heart-shaped leaves.

"Smell it," Reiya instructed.

Kagura lifted the flower to her nose. Its scent was pleasant and she inhaled deeply. She had never really taken the time to notice flowers before.

"I think she likes it, " Ruka said to Reiya. The girl smiled and walked closer to Kagura.

"You dress funny," the girls observed.

Kagura found herself smiling, despite her unease at the uninvited guests. The child's manner was friendly, and totally innocent. "My other clothing got ruined."

Reiya giggled. "You can borrow some of my mommy's clothing," she offered.

Ruka laughed. "I don't think Kagura would be comfortable wearing them, Reiya." She turned to the wind user. "Of course, if you would like something like this, I'm sure it could be arranged."

Kagura shook her head.

"Mommy, are we going to the river now?" Reiya asked.

"Oh, I almost forgot," Ruka said as she turned to Kagura. "I know you wanted to get away from the den for a while, so I thought you might like to go down to the river to wash with Reiya and me. It isn't far, but it's a nice walk. I'm sure by now you're dying to get some fresh air."

The wind user glanced at the door, sure that Kouga would come in and stop her. But, the way out remained clear and she quickly agreed to accompany her guests to freedom.

Ginta and Hakkaku reacted to Kagura's departure with fear and concern. "Kouga's not going to like this, Ruka."

"Well, Kouga's not here, and since Kagura's not a prisoner, there's no reason she can't leave the den." Ruka said as she pushed past the male youkai. She turned back when she realized they were following her. "And, don't you dare try to follow us. We're going to the river to bathe, and I'll tear the eyes out of anyone who dares to peek."

Kouga's underlings looked nervously at each other. They would surely be punished for letting Kagura leave, but there was really nothing they could do about it.

The three women headed in the direction of the river. Reiya skipped ahead, stopping every so often to pick a flower, or look at something that caught her attention. She made sure to point out a butterfly to Kagura, and later a dragonfly that hovered near the path. It wasn't long before they could hear the sound of a waterfall.

Ruka had picked a time of day when the river would be deserted. They rounded a bend and the waterfall came into view. "Well, we have the place to ourselves," she commented as she stripped out of her clothing. Reiya practically jumped out of hers and went straight to the water, splashing them as she ran into the river.

"This is one of my favorite places," Ruka explained to Kagura. The wolf youkai followed her daughter into the water and turned back to the wind user. "Aren't you going to join us?"

Kagura glanced around before untying her kimono and letting it slide from her shoulders to the ground. She walked cautiously into the river, expecting it to be cold. She was surprised to find the water was warm.

"There's a hot spring nearby, so the water is always pleasant. That's one of the reasons I like it here so much," Ruka explained. She waved her hand at the waterfall. "That's the other reason. I love the sound of it, and of course, it makes washing my hair easier." She walked under the cascading water and undid the tie that held her hair into a ponytail. The water streamed over her head as she scrubbed at her scalp. After a few moments she turned and lunged into the water, totally submerging herself before coming sputtering up to the surface.

Kagura started to relax. There was something about Ruka and Reiya that she liked. She stood quietly for a while, just listening to the sound of the waterfall and the breeze blowing through the leaves of the trees near the river. She closed her eyes, and for a moment pictured herself on a feather, flying effortlessly through an infinite sky. She longed to just get on a feather and go. To get out of this place, and as far away from Kouga and his people as she could.

The reality of her situation hit her. Even if she were to leave, where would she go? With Naraku she always had some place to go back to. Now, she had nothing. And, nobody. She glanced over at Ruka and Reiya, watching as the mother helped her daughter wash her hair. Ruka's mate might be gone, but she still had her daughter, and the tribe. She would always have some place to call home.

Kagura suddenly felt more alone and isolated than she had ever felt. She didn't belong here, and Kouga's tribe had made it clear they didn't want her. Nobody would even care if she just disappeared. The wind user started flailing in her own self pity when a tiny voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Aren't you going to wash your hair?" Reiya was splashing around in the water near Kagura. Her smile was almost magical and Kagura nodded and followed the girl to the waterfall.

The force of water surprised the wind user, almost knocking her over as she walked under the cascading water. She untied her hair, letting it fall around her shoulders as the water saturated it. It didn't take long for her to scrub her scalp clean, but she remained under the rush of water, letting it wash over her body. She wanted more than anything to be free of Naraku's stench, and from what Kouga had said, she still reeked of it.

"Kagura, perhaps we should be getting back," Ruka suggested as she helped Reiya back into her clothing. She wriggled back into her own clothes and picked up Kagura's kimono.

The wind user walked slowly from the water, hesitant to return to Kouga's people. She accepted Ruka's help with the kimono, which the wolf youkai held out for her. The thin fabric clung to her wet body as she quickly tied the sash and reached up to put her hair back into its usual topknot.

"Your hair looks prettier down," Ruka commented as she helped Reiya gather up the treasures she had found on their walk to the river. "The way you had it earlier."

Kagura reached up hesitantly before releasing her hair. She pulled the loose strands to the side and made a low ponytail.

"Yes, that's better," Ruka announced as she led the way back to the village.

Once again, Reiya skipped ahead of the two women, gathering even more flowers as they walked slowly along the path. It was too nice of a day to hurry.

Kouga headed directly to his den after leaving the meeting. He had a gut feeling there would be trouble, and found himself walking faster as he approached his home. He could see Ginta and Hakkaku looking nervous as he came into view. Something was definitely wrong.

"What the hell's happening," Kouga demanded as he pushed past them and into the den. A quick glance told him that his worst fears had been realized. Kagura was not there.

He stormed from the den. "Okay, now spill it. Where's Kagura? If anything happened to her, you're both going to be wishing you were any place but here."

"We tried to stop them," Ginta started.

"Who?" Kouga realized he was shaking, although he wasn't sure if it was from anger or something else.

"Ruka said it was all right," Hakkaku added.

"Ruka?" Kouga asked. Something was wrong. Ruka was his friend. Why would she want to hurt Kagura?

"She said if we followed them, she'd tear our eyes out."

Kouga turned and grabbed Ginta's arm. "If anything happens to her…"

"They just went to the river to take a bath," the frightened wolf youkai stammered.

"Bath?" Kouga turned and sprinted in the direction of the river, almost tripping over Reiya, who had bent down to pick one last flower.

"Yo, Kouga," Ruka said when she saw her friend.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Kouga was frantic as he tried to unwrap Reiya's arms from around his leg, where she had grabbed hold of him, begging for a ride.

"We simply went to the river for a bath. I don't know why you're getting so worked up," Ruka stated as she tried to dislodge her daughter from their leader's leg.

"And, you. I told you to stay in the den," he practically yelled at Kagura.

Kagura lifted her chin and started to walk past him without a word.

Ruka looked worriedly at Kouga. "Did something happen?"

"Let's just say that there are still some members of this tribe who would rather Kagura not be here. I'm not sure just how far they'll go," he whispered to Ruka as she came up to him.

Kagura continued to walk ahead of them, doing her best to act like she hadn't heard Kouga's words. But, she did hear them. She stopped and started to look around nervously. Her fears were founded when she saw several of the young women who had protested her presence when she first arrived with Kouga. By the looks on their faces, they weren't happy. And, they were coming directly to where Kagura stood.

Kouga hurried to where Kagura stood, stepping between her and the approaching females. Ruka reached Kagura's side and took her arm, trying to get her to hurry into the den. Kouga turned to face the women, his mouth set and eyes narrowed.

Suddenly a scream broke the tension. Reiya had stepped off the path to reach a particularly pretty flower. The others had been too busy with the situation to notice the bird youkai that had swooped in to pluck the young girl from the side of the mountain. Several more of the bird youkai hovered nearby, waiting for a chance to attack.

"Reiya!" Ruka screamed.

Kouga attempted to jump the bird holding Reiya, but without the shards, he didn't have enough range. Reiya screamed in fear and pain as the youkai tightened its talons around her tiny body.

The other females of the tribe scattered as the rest of the birds attacked. Each time they flew in and flew out before the wolf youkai could attack. Kouga felt helpless as he tried again to reach Reiya.

A blast of energy erupted behind Kouga, and he turned to see Kagura standing with her fan open. She waved her hand and sent a second blast at the birds, ripping all but the one carrying Reiya apart.

"Kagura, can you get me up there?" Kouga asked as he ran towards her.

The wind user nodded and produced a feather from the folds of her kimono. In seconds she and Kouga were airborne, heading straight for the last of the bird youkai. Reiya's screams had faded and she hung limp in the bird's claw. Kagura flew in close enough for Kouga to make a jump onto the bird youkai's back. He grabbed it around the neck and twisted hard. It was enough to make the creature release the girl, and her body plummeted towards the rocks below.

Kagura dove under the bird, catching Reiya and taking her to the ground below. The wind user stood over the girl and opened her fan, sending a last blast at the bird just as Kouga jumped from it. The creature screamed as Kagura's attack sliced it to shreds.

Ruka ran to her daughter and gathered the girl's limp body into her arms. "She's breathing," she whispered as she checked Reiya's condition. Within moments the girl started to whimper and wriggle in her mother's arms.

Kouga ran to them. "Is she all right?"

"I don't think she's badly hurt. That youkai must have knocked the wind out of her," Ruka said as she hugged her daughter to her.

"Take her to the healer," Kouga suggested. He watched as Ruka gathered her daughter up and ran in the direction of the tribe's doctor. He waited until they were out of sight before turning to Kagura.

"You saved her," he stated simply.

Kagura shrugged and started walking towards his den.

"Damn it, Kagura. You just saved Reiya. At least let me say thank you." Kouga grabbed the wind user's wrist as she walked by him. Unlike before, his touch was gentle as he pulled her around to face him.

"You said it, " she commented dryly as pulled from his grasp and continued to his den.

Kouga caught up with her at the entrance. He waved Ginta and Hakkaku away and they ran off, glad to be done with their assignment. It had turned into a stressful day and they were ready to get away.

Kagura walked into the den and stopped as Kouga followed her in.

"You already said thank you, " she said as she studied his face. There was something about his expression that made her heart flutter inside her.

"You didn't have to," he said as he leaned towards her.

Kagura pulled back, suddenly aware that Kouga's face was almost touching hers. She could feel his warm breath on her own lips as he spoke. Something inside her told her to flee.

The wind user turned away from him quickly. "Yeah, and if I hadn't, your tribe would really hate me. Not that they could hate me more than they already do."

"Why do you do that?" he asked.

"Do what?"

Kouga smiled and grabbed her wrist, pulling her towards him. "Act like you don't care."

"Let go of me," she demanded as he cupped one hand under her chin and lifted her face to look at him. There was a softness in his vibrant blue eyes that was mesmerizing, and Kagura felt like her knees were ready to buckle beneath her.

"You just saved Reiya. I think that means something."

"Damn it, Kouga!" She pulled her wrist from his grip and turned away from him. Her heart was beating wildly as she fought to keep her breathing even. Why was she reacting this way to him? One minute she wanted nothing more than to hit him, and then the next she…

What was it she wanted? The feelings stirring in her were alien to her and she had no words for them. They scared and confused her to the point she simply wanted to run away, to get away from the very thing that caused them.

"Leave me alone," she demanded without facing him.

"Leave you alone? Leave you alone? Fine. It's not like I don't have better things than to babysit you!" Kouga turned and stalked to the door. He paused for a moment before leaving the den. "Why the hell Kagome asked me to help you out, I'll never know. Believe me, I don't like this arrangement any better than you do!"

Kagura could hear Kouga call to Ginta and Hakkaku, snarling out instructions for them to watch the den. He ignored their questions and left his underlings to whisper between themselves.

He was gone. Kagura turned and looked at the door. Why had he acted that way? For just a moment, he had looked at her in a way that left her light-headed and out of breath. Then, moments later, he was being his usual arrogant self. Damn you, Kouga, she thought as she lowered herself to her shaking knees. What the hell are you doing to me?

Kouga mumbled to himself as he made his way to Ruka's den. He paused outside the door, doing his best to get his anger under control before entering.

"Ruka?" He entered without waiting for a reply.

Ruka sat next to Reiya's bed. The child appeared to be sleeping and her mother stood up and approached him.

"How's she doing?"

Ruka glanced at her daughter. "She's going to be fine. She was lucky. That damned youkai gave her some bad cuts and bruises, and she has a broken arm, but she's young and healthy. She's already starting to heal."

Kouga nodded and walked to the bed. Reiya looked small and pale against the furs she slept on. "She had me worried."

"Believe me, I was sure I would never see my daughter again. Thank goodness for you and Kagura."

Kouga snorted. Kagura. Of course, with his own abilities diminished with the loss of the shards, he had felt totally helpless as the youkai rose up in the air, clutching Reiya in its talons. If Kagura hadn't acted when she did…he didn't even want to think of the alternative. The wind user had acted quickly, and without hesitation. The look on her face had been one of anger and concern. Could she really have been worried about the child? It didn't seem so from the way she had acted in his den, but at the time, it seemed she was honestly concerned for Reiya's safety.

"Kouga?"

The wolf youkai looked up at Ruka. "Sorry, I was just thinking." He moved to the entrance of the den. "I'm glad she's all right, Ruka. Of course, if you need anything, you know all you have to do is ask."

Ruka studied her friend's expression. "It's funny, but right now it looks like you're the one who needs something. Do you want to talk about it?"

Kouga shook his head. "It's nothing. I'm just worried about those damned bird youkai. We're not really ready to defend against them."

Ruka nodded. "Sure, Kouga. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help." She walked to her daughter's bedside and turned to look at her leader. "I'm here if you need to talk."

"I'm fine."

"Oh, and Kouga. Be sure to tell Kagura thank you. I'd tell her myself, but I don't want to leave Reiya."

"I already thanked her," he mumbled as he left the den.

Kouga kept himself occupied with tribe business. There were reports to hear from the scouts that patrolled their territory, and additional volunteers to add to their slim ranks. The attack by the bird youkai had succeeded in showing them just how serious their reduced numbers were. That, and the fact that Kouga no longer had the shards made it almost impossible to defend against the aerial attacks of the youkai. If it hadn't been for Kagura stepping in when she did, Reiya would most certainly have died. Plus, the youkai wouldn't have stopped with one child. Kouga didn't like to think about what had almost happened.

"Yo, Kouga," Ginta called as he strolled up to his leader. "I'm back from my watch. They said you wanted everyone to report to you when they got back."

The wolf youkai looked at his underling who stood looking nervous in front of him. Hakkaku stood just behind his partner.

"Well, do you have anything to report?"

Ginta shook his head. "The bird youkai seem to have retreated - for now." He fidgeted and glanced back at Hakkaku. "It's only a matter of time before they attack again. They know our condition, and with the threat of Naraku gone, they're starting to fight for more territory."

Hakkaku stepped forward. "Word is they attacked a human village not far from here. Looks like they aren't afraid of us any more."

Kouga growled softly to himself. The news wasn't good, but it wasn't anything less than he had expected. Actually, he was surprised that the attacks hadn't happened sooner. They would have to prepare.

"Um… Kouga." Ginta again shifted nervously.

"Spit it out, idiot! I don't have time to wait for you to figure out what to say."

"Today, when we were attacked…I was just wondering…why did Kagura help?"

Kouga shrugged. "How the hell should I know? Maybe she was afraid they would go after her next. Like I give a shit about what Kagura does." He turned and started walking away, but shouted back over his shoulder. "By the way, I need you two idiots to stand guard at my den."

"Ummm… Kouga? How long are you going to be gone?"

"Plan on spending the night there. I'll arrange for someone to bring you food."

Ginta mumbled as he watched his leader disappear from sight. "Why do we always get stuck keeping an eye on Kagura?"

Kagura sat quietly for a while. Her mind was in turmoil as she tried to sort out the feelings awakening inside of her. She had never experienced the reaction she had when Kouga had wrapped his arms around her before. She could still almost feel the warm touch of his bare arms against her chest. The thin silk of her kimono offered little protection against his touch, and had gaped as he tightened his hold on her. The feeling had been almost electric, sending shivers of excitement through her body.

Stop this, she demanded of herself. She was not about to let anyone get the upper hand on her - especially not a flea-bitten wolf youkai like Kouga. She would have to show him who was boss.

His scent still clung to her so she stepped into the stream at the back of the den, dropping her kimono into the cool flowing water to rinse Kouga's smell from it. When she felt the kimono was clean enough she tossed it over an outcropping of rock and knelt in the stream, splashing herself with water and doing her best to scrub any evidence of his touch away. When she was done she stepped out of the water and grabbed her short green under kimono. Ginta and Hakkaku had brought it back after washing it. It still showed signs of distress from their battle with Naraku, but would have to do until her new kimono dried.

She tightened the sash around it and retied her hair before walking to the low table and taking a seat on one of the cushions. Well, she got what she had wanted - to be alone. Only suddenly she found herself wishing Kouga hadn't left. His den was large and relatively empty. The silence seemed to close down on her, leaving her mind open to her own thoughts. Right now, she didn't want to think. Her memories were too painful, and her prospects for the future didn't look any brighter. The confusion she felt inside when Kouga was around was preferable to the empty feeling that crept into her when she was alone.

Ginta and Hakkaku arrived wordlessly with food. Kagura simply nodded when they set it on the table, acknowledging the fact that she knew it was there. They left as silently as they came in, leaving her to stare at the plate of steaming meat. Several pieces of fresh fruit had been placed on one end of the plate, so she picked one up and bit into it, not even really tasting what she ate. It was a mechanical response to the feeling of hunger in her stomach, since her mind was occupied with the alien thoughts and feelings flowing through her.

The wind user remained where she was, aware of the passage of time without seeing the sun go down. Ginta and Hakkaku talked softly outside the den, eventually taking turns at sleep while the other kept watch. It was night, and yet Kouga hadn't returned. Kagura slowly rose and walked across the den. She felt unusually tired and curled up on the soft furs of Kouga's bed, falling quickly into a fitful sleep.

Kouga forced himself to stay away from his den. He busied himself with tribe business until the sun started to set. Finally, he secured a jug of sake from one of his men and found a corner in the large common room, drinking quietly and staring into the fire burning in a pit in the center of the room. The stone wall pressing into his back was uncomfortable, but he knew he couldn't return to his own bed. Kagura would be there, probably already asleep. He found himself picturing her curled up on the furs, her face gentle and peaceful with sleep.

No! He refused to let himself think about the wind user. He quickly finished off the sake and made himself as comfortable as possible where he was. It was going to be a long night.

**************************

Author's note:

While I realize the pairing of Kouga and Kagura isn't canon, it's one I love and the idea of this story has been in my mind for over a year. Unfortunately, events in the manga, starting with chapter 370, and most specifically with chapter 374, have changed the possibilities of this story. Despite events in the manga, I will continue writing this story as planned. Chapter 374 has hit me hard, emotionally, and I will do my best to honor Kagura in my representation of her in this story. Urd-chan

"I am the wind. The free wind." Kagura (from chapter 374)