Where My Heart Lies

The young female demon walked into the small cave that parted from the larger cavern. Looking down at the sleeping human, she laid the morning's breakfast next to the bed. This other woman should have been her rival by rights, but after yesterday, she had known better. The dearest to her own heart had brought the girl back to the den. He had designated her to watch over the human. The morning after she had realized why. The young human was absolutly distraught. Her tender heart had been broken. Unsure of what to do, the wolf demon had wrapped her arms around the sobbing girl and did her best to comfort her. A tentative liking for each other had started to grow. The demon was starting to leave when she heard a small noise. The girl was starting to wake.

Kagome stretched on her bed of straw. The cave she had been brought to was warm, and surprisingly comfortable. It was her second day here, now that the morning sun was reaching it's faint light into the smaller cavern where she slept. She looked to the side and saw she was being watched.

"Ayame. Hi." She gave a small smile.

Ayame turned in and knelt by the girl for a moment. She could see her face was still slightly puffy from crying. Ayame sympathized. How often was it that she had cried over Koga? Part of her felt that she should resent Kagome. In fact, a large part of her had, until Koga had brought the girl home. Then she had realized that Kagome was cursed in almost the same fashion she was, and also that Kagome did not share Koga's feelings for her.

"How are you feeling?"

Kagome looked down. She felt tired, the bone-weary feeling that always follows such emotional tears. She lifted heavy lids to Ayame. She was glad the demon girl was there. In her, she had found an unlikely ally. Ayame had comforted her as a friend, despite the fact that Koga had returned with her.

"I'm better. I'll be up in a minute. I would like to go for a walk, will you come with me?"

Ayame nodded and rose. She left Kagome to get ready. The clothes that the girl had arrived in were soiled from her run in the woods and had since been mended and put away. Kagome had needed clothes for the time being, and Ayame had given her some items that she could use.

Kagome smiled to herself. Ayame exited the smaller room and Kagome rose to put on the outfit of slight armor and skins that the other woman had lent her. Brown leather leggings fitted snugly against her legs, ending in mid-calf, around her waist was a wrap of soft yet durable coyote fur, it was perhaps the length of a mini-skirt, ending at the tops of her thighs and tied at the side. Her shirt was made of deerskin and sleeveless showing about two inches of flesh above her belly button, with brown thong lacing to tie up at the neckline. The final article was a short vest of the same fur as her wrap. She slowly wiped the sleep from her eyes as she recalled the past couple of days, from the night she had found InuYasha and Kikyou.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Flashback ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

The tears she had wept had finally dried. She heard a footstep behind her and had immediatly thought it was InuYasha. When she turned her head, she found her initial assumption had been completly wrong.

"Kagome... what's wrong? Why are you crying?" The concerned voice was gruff, but welcome and familiar.

"Koga... What are you doing here." she dodged his question with her own question.

Koga held out his hand to help her up. She took it, trying to hide her tear-stained face and red eyes. Koga was concerned, and unsure of himself. Kagome assumed it was due to her current state.

"I was in the area, I came to visit. Why are you crying, Kagome? Did that mutt do something?" His last question was marked with a growl.

Kagome shook her head. It would do no good to have Koga angry with InuYasha. Her mind was so weary, she didn't think she would even be able to do anything about it.

"Nothing... I don't wanna talk about it right now." Kagome averted her eyes to the right and sighed. Her next words came out in a whisper, almost to herself. "I just need to get away for a while."

She felt his hand on his arm, read the concern in his eyes. He didn't know what had happened, but he made it clear he was willing to help and be there for her. He had offered to take her back to his den, to stay with his tribe, if she liked. He was well beyond forcing her hand in anything. For a long time now, he was less pushy with Kagome, willing to accept that she thought of him as a friend. Kagome considerd his offer, then her other options. She took the proffered hand and accepted the idea. Before they left, Kagome searched for a way to leave a message to her friends. Koga had offered his own claws to carve it into a nearby tree.

After carving the message into the tree, Koga was ready to leave but Kagome had stopped him again. She knew that her companions would attempt to find her, and that InuYasha would be able to scent her. Her heart lurched at the idea of facing him again. How would she wipe the place of hers and Koga's scent? She remebered how she had traced the poison from Nioaku's arrows in InuYasha's body. Would it work the same way? She decided to give it a try.

After putting some fair distance between themselves and the clearing of the well, Kagome closed her eyes, seeing her scent marks as blue, Koga's as an earthy brown. She felt the power slowly ripple through her, down her arms and out her extended fingertips. She imagined her powers following their traces back to the clearing, around the area, burning the scents away. She only altered it when the power reached her carved message. There, she only removed Koga's scent.

When she opened her eyes, Koga was staring at her.

"How the hell did you do that? You just wiped out our scent, but there's no destruction."

Kagome shrugged. She felt it would be safer to keep the history of her blood a secret for now. Instead she had explained it as new miko spells Kaede had taught her. Koga had accepted it, almost distrustfully, and they had left.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ End Flashback ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Kagome walked out of the den and into the bright morning light. She slipped her hand into a small pocket she had found on the waist of her fur wrap. Her hand slipped around the jewel. She had forgotten about it for a short time, but the chain had remained wrapped tightly around her fist. She wasn't sure how to repair the necklace, it was much safer around her neck. She would have to find a way soon. She couldn't afford to lose the almost complete jewel.

"Kagome! Are you ready?" Ayame approached the musing girl.

"Do you like the boots?" Ayame admired her handiwork. The wolf tribe didn't have much use for a lot of footwear, but she knew the human couldn't walk around like the demons did. Ayame felt an odd desire to become friends with Kagome, despite the jealous little voice in the back of her head that told her the other girl was a rival. She was finding that the voice was getting smaller. And so, she had attempted to make some sort of footwear for her new friend. It was difficult, but the women of the tribe were in charge of making clothing. Ayame followed the pattern of Kagome's shoes as best she could and thought she did quite well.

Kagome looked down at her feet encased in soft deerskin boots.

"They're great, thank you." Kagome looked up again and smiled.

The girls were attempting to strat on the their walk when Koga came running up.

"Kagome! How are you? I was wondering when you would be back up again."

Kagome smiled at the generous wolf demon. She liked him, how could she not? The moment she had needed help, he was there to offer it. Her feelings towards him were only of friendship, though he wished it were otherwise. Still, she valued him and his tribe as comrades. Her thoughts were halted when she had noticed Ayame tensed next to her.

"I'm well Koga, thank you. Me and Ayame were just going for a walk."

"Great. I'll walk with you. Ayame, you're a great fighter, but you never know when a demon will come after Kagome and her jewel shards, so I should be with you, just in case."

Kagome inwardly cringed. She had made it clear to Koga that she didn't return his feelings on several occaisions. Though he didn't treat her as his own personal possession anymore, it didn't stop him from making known he wanted it otherwise. It didn't help that Kagome knew of Ayame's feelings for the young wolf lord.

Kagome lagged behind as they started their walk, watching Ayame who kept sad, adoring eyes on Koga, and Koga who walked ahead, oblivious.

A thought struck Kagome. She was sure Koga had some feelings for Ayame... he would have to. He had asked for the female demon's hand long before Kagome had come around. Her msicheivious mind started to churn once again. All the two really needed was some time alone, without Kagome. Just a little push in the right direction.

"Hey! Kagome! Watcha walkin so far behind for?" Koga called over his shoulder.

Kagome rushed to catch up, grabbing Ayame as she went. When they caught up with the young male demon, Kagome purposfully placed Ayame between her and Koga. There were a few attempts at conversation, and they hadn't gone over well. Kagome never thought she could hear a conversation be mangled, but somehow, these two managed it. This would take a bit more work.

The mortal started to plot her match-making plan. It kept her contented, as well as freed her from dwelling on her own troubles of the heart.

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InuYasha walked alone. He didn't know where he was going, and he wasn't even sure when he would stop, but he knew he wouldn't be at the village for a long time. Kagome had now been gone about a week and a half. Miroku and Kaede spoke to him, but in cold dismissive tones. The only time he had seen Miroku truly angry was the day after they had found Kagome's note. The normally passive monk was vicious, causing the same explosive blows with his words that Sango had with her fist.

Remebering the exterminator, InuYasha flinched again. Sango was probably the worst of the four. She and Shippo had not spoken to him since Sango had struck him, in fact, barely even looked at him, unless he accidently came into their line of vision.The exception had been the day before yesterday. The hanyou had attempted to talk with Sango regarding Kagome, but it was of no use. Both tempers soon flared, and Sango's fury over what he had done, again, finally reached it's boundaries. She had grabbed Hiraikotsu and swung it, catching him in the middle, lifting him up and send him flying through the air. He was lucky she hadn't actually thrown it at him. After that she had turned and left. A short time later, he had told Kaede that he would be leaving for a while, and that he wasn't sure how long. He hadn't looked back at the village since.

His heart still ached, his soul still felt like something was missing. Again he cursed himself. Why could he not do what he always did. The one thing that that could hurt Kagome, and he found it and exploited it. Why was something so simple, so hard? His self abrasive thoughts were interrupted by another. The jewel shards. He was pretty sure Kagome still had them, he hadn't found them lying around somewhere. But there were still many to be found, and he had no hope of getting them without her. He didn't even really want to serach for them. It had always been a reason to be with Kagome, what tied them to together. That had changed now.

And then there was the well. Kagome hadn't told him about it, yet the others had known. He had been to angry at himself to truly consider the fox-demons words at the time but now that he was by himself, InuYasha had plenty of time to think. Why had Kagome not told him? He knew the answer before the thought had fully formed. Because she didn't want to upset you or make you angry, fucking baka. Self-disgust rose in him again. Kagome was forever mindful of things that truly bothered him. She knew he would have felt guilty over being the reason she stayed. And he did, even more so now. He didn't deserve her kind of loyalty, her love. Would anyone else have been so patient with him? So understanding? Gods, he was an asshole. Now it was his fault that Kagome could never return to her own era. She was forced to remain here.

InuYasha sighed. It was getting late and he had walked far. As he perched himself in a nearby tree, he looked into the star-filled sky. He wondered where she was tonight. Wondered if she knew how sorry he was, how much he loved her. In that moment, part of him said he would have renounced Kikyou a thousand times if Kagome would return to him. Pain struck a chord in him again. Another part refused to release the memory of the miko, holding to the knowledge that he was reason she had died. InuYasha closed his eyes tightly. He had failed Kikyou years ago, and in his unending attempt to amend his actions, he failed the trust and love Kagome had always offered him. His eyes stung.

Just like old times now... alone again.

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Sango was rustling around in the hut. Miroku stood outside listening to her mutter and curse as she seemingly searched for some utensil. She was cooking tonight. He entered the shack and offered to help her.

"No thank you, I'm fine." Her response was abrupt.

Miroku sat down and leaned against the wall. "I'm sure Kagome is ok. If there was any risk of danger, InuYasha would have been after her long ago."

It was the wrong thing to say. Sango whirled on him, eyes flashing. Miroku quickly raised his hands to fend off her anger.

"I'm not saying I'm on his side in this, I'm just stating the obvious. If she was in any real danger, you and I both know he would have taken after her the minute he read that message."

Sango sighed. He was right. She hated it when he was right. Sitting down next to him, she propped her arms up on her raised knees.

"I know. I just hate what he's doing to her. And now, I don't even know where she is. I can't be sure she's ok."

Miroku wrapped an arm around her companionably. "I know. I'm worried about her too. But I trust that she is safe, and that she will return to us soon. I am also worried about you, Sango."

Sango rested her head on the monks shoulder. She had become more and more comfortable with him. He was becoming her confident and had listened to her vent. When he squeezed her around the shoulders, she wrapped her opposite arm around his waist and hugged him back. She had to trust in Kagome's decision.

Miroku leaned down, meaning to give her a comforting kiss on the forehead. Sango chose to raise her head at the same time. By matter of coincidence, their lips met. Both paused for a moment, unsure of what to do. This was an awfully awkward time for passion. Their minds were quickly overcome by their instincts. The tension had been building within them. It had been originally created with their attraction to each other, Sango's increasing more so. The comfort each now sought in the other, only heightened it. Sango closed her eyes and softened against the monk as his mouth pressed against hers. The kiss wasn't the kind of heated passion, but one of trust and reassurance, the soft gentle touch of giving and receiving. As he dropped sweet tender kisses on her top and bottom lip, Sango felt as though the houshi could kiss her troubles away. Miroku felt the gril relax in his embrace. He had wanted her to know that he would always be there to comfort her and hold her, but could not find the right way to say it. He had chosen to use his lips in another way. Although he always felt a small burn of desire for Sango, he did not feel the need to pursue his own yearnings and broke the compassionate bond.

Sango had leaned forward, almost into his lap. Wordlessly, with the comfort of one who had been in a close relationship for years, she slid herself further into his open arms. Sango sat inbetween Miroku's spread legs, and leaned her head back, turning so that her cheek pressed against his chest. She could hear his heartbeat. Miroku laid his staff next to him and wrapped his arms around the taijayi. They sat like that for some time, wondering if there would ever be a time that they could all be happy.

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The demon master looked on in his scrying pool. He had watched the misery of the wretched hanyou with pleasure. It wasn't the exact way he had wanted to be rid of the revolting creature, but it would have to do. In fact, the youkai was a little concerned. Before the ties between the human girl and the half-breed had been broken by the undead miko, he had been unable to reach her mind. From the time that she had shown the mutt her amulet, to the time she had seen the hanyou and the priestess together, the girl's mind had been completly unattainable. It suggested something the youkai was not comfortable with. Therefore, the farther away the two were from each other the better.

The water rippled as the image changed from the tortured half-breed to two other humans embracing. The youkai recognized them as friends of the girl. He noted the concern they had for the young woman, and the affection they had for each other. It might come in handy later. The image rippled again as it reformed to the picture he truly wanted to see. Kagome. He had realized her name and it warmed his cold veins with delicious delight. He watched on as she walked behind a couple of wolf demons. The young girl was cunning, he could tell. She had successfully prevented the half-breed from following her by using powers that she didn't fully understand. Now she was trying to help some new friends. It was almost cute the way she was directing the male demons obvious affection away from herself and onto the pretty female demon that walked with them. Pity she was using it for such benevolent means. He could think of much better things that her sharp mind could make use of.

He smiled a chilling smile. He could reach her now. That half-breed dog demon couldn't protect her, and neither could her friends. This wolf demon she was staying with now was cocky, much like the mutt had been. But this one didn't have the power as did the silverhaired hanyou, the power that kept her mind free of him. The youkai's smooth, handsome features were decievingly lightened with a teeth baring grin. He knew how to get to her. He would let her believe she was safe. Then... then she would be his.