Shaking the mist from her hair, Kagome crossed the threshold into Kouga’s den. Wolves–on two legs and four–scampered about the huge stony cavern, arms and jaws laden with old bones and sake bottles and dusty furs. Shooting her apologetic glances as they bowed and darted past, the youkai cleaned up the den like their lives depended on it–the ones who weren’t clearing out the place hastily sweeping it up with brooms made from Birds of Paradise feathers or frantically airing out the floor pelts. As the sentry–whose name she now remembered was Kiba–ushered her toward the raised slab at the back of the dwelling, two wolves who had been idly watching a boar roast sprang to attention, smiling abashedly as they cranked the spit so fast the massive pig spun like a top.

“That meat better be ready soon,” Kiba growled over at them. “You’ve been roasting it all day.”

The two cooks sweat-dropped. “J-just a few minutes more, Onii-san!”

With another glare for good measure, the beta wolf turned back to Kagome, smiling warmly. “You’ll eat with us, won’t you, Onee-sama?”

“Oh, I…I wouldn’t want to impose!” she laughed lightly, throwing up her hands even as her stomach gave a loud rumble at the delicious aromas wafting toward her.

At Kiba’s behest, she took up the place of prominence on the stone platform. Kneeling down on the hide at the center, she folded her hands awkwardly in her lap as the members of Kouga’s pack came by to greet her. Sesshoumaru stood coolly off to the side. Though he wasn’t directly in her line of sight, she could almost feel his expression darken a fraction more each time another wolf called her ‘sister’. Even Jakken was giving the taciturn daiyoukai a wide berth, as he crept around to Kagome’s other side–not-so-subtly placing her between them as a human shield.

When lunch was ready, Kagome was graciously offered the still rather rare liver–which she politely declined, opting for a rack of ribs instead. She felt bad for the young wolf who approached Sesshoumaru with a shank of meat–his frosty glare and what she suspected was a low-frequency growl sending the poor adolescent running away with a tucked tail and a whimper. As Jakken prodded sourly at the pig hoof dropped before him, Kagome ate with relish.

“So,” she said pleasantly, forgetting herself for a moment as she swallowed down a mouthful of tasty pork, “when’s Kouga-kun coming back?”

She felt the sudden flare of Sesshoumaru’s youki like a whip lash. Cringing, she played off the mistake as best she could, looking innocently around at the gathered wolves. Since they’d stumbled upon the den, she hadn’t sensed Kouga or his Jewel shards nearby. With Ginta and Hakkaku gone as well, Kagome figured he must be out hunting or patrolling his lands or doing whatever else it was a wolf prince did.

Kiba glanced uncertainly at his pack mate beside him, who frowned as well. “We’re not sure, Kagome-onee-sama. When Kouga-onii-sama left yesterday, he didn’t tell us how long he would be gone.”

“Left?” Kagome’s face fell as she set the ribs aside.

Kiba nodded. “Our northern brothers are under attack. Onii-sama and a few other members of our clan went to help them.”

“…Who’s attacking them?” Kagome asked, a sinking feeling settling in her stomach.

Kiba’s expression was fearful and grave. “An army…of the undead.”

Kagome’s fists clenched at her sides. Naraku… she thought fiercely in dread. At once she stood, the wolves sitting up attentively as she adopted a fighting stance.

“Where can I find him?” she asked Kiba, her blue eyes gleaming with determination.

“Head straight north from here, and you should find him,” the beta wolf answered after a moment, gazing at Kagome in awe. “…Truly, you’ll go to his aid, Onee-sama?”

“Of course,” Kagome said absently, adjusting her quiver.

She blinked as Kiba and the rest of the wolves collapsed around her in the deepest of bows. Blushing, she stood there awkwardly on her literal pedestal.

“Onee-sama, you are peerless among women,” Kiba rumbled, the others growling along in assent. “Kouga-onii-sama could not have chosen a better mate!”

Kagome’s face exploded in scarlet. She didn’t even dare to look in Sesshoumaru’s direction as he strode from the den, but if the dark sear of his youki was any indication, he definitely wanted to kill someone.

Most likely her.

Not even Jakken was foolish enough to follow his precious lord out. Assuming the imp to be her servant, the wolves saddled him up with meat and wine, despite his infuriated grumbling.

“Return to us soon, Onee-sama,” Kiba said as he and the others bid her goodbye.

Heart rising in her throat, she passed through the waterfall once more. A short distance away, Sesshoumaru stood next to Ah-Un, his claws flexed at his side as he stared out over the the valley below. Jakken scuttled behind her as she walked over to Entei, the horse youkai giving her a distinctly questioning look.

“Um, Sesshoumaru…” she ventured cautiously.

Without so much as a backward glance, he leapt lightly atop Ah-Un, setting an immediate course north. Jakken wailed as Sesshoumaru departed without him, his bulbous yellow eyes swiveling toward Kagome in an accusing glare. For once, she felt like she might actually deserve it.

“Come on,” she muttered gloomily as she snatched him up, depositing the huffing imp on Entei’s back as she settled behind him, taking off after the demon lord.

Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi