The Better Man

Chapter Twenty-Five

"Kuzuma is something wrong?"

He lifted his head and looked up into her large red eyes not sure what to say. He had been happy to see her, to see that she was safe. The kiss had caught him completely offguard. She'd never done anything like it before. After the wolf had shown them to the cave, Yukina had informed him why. Seemed she'd had a talk with genkai about their relationship. She now wanted to try and have that type of relationship with him. But it was too late for them.

He couldn't forget what had happened earlier that day. His honor nor his heart would allow him to. He still loved Yukina and still adored her but he wasn't in love with her any longer. Since he'd met Kagome in the rain that day he'd been slowly falling in love with her. He couldn't be with Yukina anymore and she deserved the truth.

"Yukina theres something you should know. Something happened between me and someone else." He wasn't sure if he wanted to give out Kagome's name. She might get upset if he went telling people that they'd slept together. "We can't take that next step now, I wanna be with someone else."

"I see." She smiled at him shocking him, then again she'd never been one to show anger or jealousy. "You and this person are going to have this relationship?"

"I don't know, probably not. I doubt she feels the same way about me."

"If not then are you sure we can't?"

He wasn't sure how to explain it to her. "No we can't. I really want to be with her, no one else. I'm sorry, I don't want to hurt you."

"No need to apologize Kuzuma. Can you still come spend time with me?"

"Sure, we're still friends." She hugged him glad at the answer. He got up and walked over to the other set of furs. "Try to get some sleep okay."

The next morning Kuwabara got up to see Yukina had already gone outside. He stretched his arms and yawned. He was almost outside when the wolf suddenly appeared before him looking very angry. "What do you want?"

"I came to make one thing clear to you. Kagome was mine when she was in the past, I had to wait centuries for her to return to me. She will be mine once more, don't try to interfere." Kouga left it at that and went to sit by the fire.

He felt like running over and chopping the man's cocky ass grin off his face. Had he been Kagome's lover from the past? She hadn't been a virgin with him, that he knew. Was the guy telling the truth? Did it matter? His honor wouldn't allow him to try and steal another man's woman.


Kagome walked outside to see everyone but Rin sitting around the fire talking or bickering. There was only two spots open, next to Youko and next to Kouga. She refused to sit next to him this morning after last night. The persistant wolf had tried to get past her ward last night. Calling out to her, screaming he wanted to talk to her. He hadn't changed in five centuries, why hadn't he found a woman yet? Rin would probably sleep for a while yet so she decided to sit next to the fox knowing he wouldn't be trying anything with her.

He didn't say anything when she sat down next to him. He eyed her for a minute and felt sorry for her, he'd heard the wolf's loud mouth last night. After returning from his talk with Hiei, Rin had already been asleep. So he had climbed into bed behind her, she hadn't stirred as he pulled her against him. He'd been laying there spooning her for several minutes when he'd heard the first loud curse.

The girl had indeed put up a ward to keep the wolf from bothering her. The fool kept trying to get inside of the cave. When Youko had felt Rin begin to stir from the man's loud mouth he'd gotten up to deal with the problem himself. The wolf hadn't taken kindly to being threatened. Even now he was getting cold stares from the man. He was sure half of the anger was due to the fact that Kagome was now seated beside him. In truth he had been keeping the spot open for when Rin woke up. Yet, he couldn't find it in himself to tell her to go sit by the annoying wolf.


Rin rolled over on the furs, hitting the vacant spot beside her. She couldn't remember falling asleep after he had left her. The spot next to her was cold and empty. Where had he slept? Her mind told her she was better off not knowing. There was no need to ask questions of the sort. No matter the answer, there was no way to change it.

The back of her legs were sore as she stretched, time to get up. No doubt everyone else was around discussing the plans. They would be going after Kanna soon, it had been years since she'd seen the woman. It made tears spring to her eyes at the thought. The woman had taken those that had taken her in away.

Wiping the tears off her face she stood up, time to head outside. The sun hit her face blinding her for a few seconds. Growling was heard, her head turned to see several wolves coming towards her. Her heart dropped, she couldn't move.

Hiei appeared in front of her blocking most of her view. She watched in disbelief as the wolves started whining and took off with their tails between their legs. Relief filled her when they were out of sight, "Thank you."

"Come."

She walked towards the others following behind him quietly. The first thing that she noticed was the two sitting next to each other. It pained her for some reason, her stupid pride. She went over to take the seat Hiei had just vacated putting her beside Yukina and Yusuke. It also put her directly across from Kagome and her so called mate. Not wanting to have to watch him publicly state that he prefered another woman she stared at the ground and let her thoughts wonder.

"As I was saying her fortress can only be seen during one night of the month. It took us over a century to figure this out, we tried getting in." Kouga looked over at Kagome then to Rin. "I propose a deal, we couldn't break through the barrier surrounding it. In two weeks time when the moon is full it will appear. When that time comes I'll show you where it is but me and my men are going with you."

"Fine." Hiei stated for everyone, "Whats the catch?"

"Nothing besides you stay here until that time comes. I don't trust you, now that you know the night. You might try to go without us."

Rin heard that! Surely she wouldn't be forced to stay here. Her eyes lifted, would her mate make her stay here? Her heart sunk when she saw Youko not looking at anyone besides Kagome. His eyes were directed straight at her, clearly he was staring at her. The smile that crossed his face as he gazed at her made Rin's breath catch.

The fox heard the miko's intake of breath and looked at her. He could see the anger rising in her aura, he knew why. Obviously the wolf was trying to keep them there because of her. The wolf must think that by forcing her to stay he had a chance to win her over. He smiled at his foolishness, it wouldn't work. The girl was in love with Kuwabara, the wolf didn't stand a chance. He knew first hand and he'd only been trying to get in her pants not win her heart. He was thankful that she had turned him down now, if not it could have caused problems for him. If she had given in to him, he probably wouldn't have the treasure he now had. Thinking about the girl sitting across from him made him smile wider, he'd gotten something better.

Kagome stood up with her fist at her sides, "Fine but I think we need to talk in private Kouga." She stormed off knowing he would follow her. As soon as they were out of hearing distance of the others she turned on him. "What the hell do you think you are doing. It's bad enough that you tried to wake up the whole neighborhood last night now you are trying to railroad me into spending time with you. You are my friend, so I won't purify your ass but I will not have you force your attention on me."

"You are my woman. I should have claimed you the first day I kidnapped you instead of leaving you with dogshit."

"Kouga, it's really flattering that you still care for me. I still don't love you and I never will. Get over it." She yelled in his face wiping the grin off.


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