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Finding Kagome	By : MetsukiKaraTen Category: InuYasha > Het - Male/Female > InuYasha/Kagome Views: 8806 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha, nor make money from this story.

Chapter List
- 30
- 31
- 32
DISCLAIMER::
I don't own any of the InuTachi, however I do own Miranda, much to
Kouga's chagrin. . . and any other OC's that might crop up from time
to time.

A/N :: The
concept of 'Power Shopping' in this chapter is not my own, but it is
something that I have personally experienced, and occasionally
indulge in . . . The game described in this chapter happens to be my
eldest son's favorite arcade game, so I had to include it . . . He's
in Iraq right now, so this is my little public tribute to all those
who are over there trying to make our world a more livable place. No
politics implied, just a mom who misses her boy.

FINDING
KAGOME

Chapter
Thirty One

“Here, try
these,” Selene pulled out yet another pair of shorts for Kagome
to try on. “So what do you think of Hojo?”

“Um. . . he's
everything Mikey said he is. . . but, he forgot to mention the 'good
looking' and 'touchy feely' part,” she unzipped the cutoffs to
pull them off.

They had been at it
for an hour of 'try this one', and nothing fit. Kagome was tired of
changing clothes.

“So you don't
like him touching you so much?” Selene sat back on the bed
watching Kagome's reaction.

“I'm just not
used to it, I guess. . . Look Sally, I am about ready to write this
off as a total loss, and just go buy a damn swimsuit,” she
sighed looking at the pile of clothes on the floor. “Oh! What
am I thinking? I can't keep the Jewel hidden in a swimsuit!”

“We don't really
have time to go buy anything, the guys will be here in half an hour.
. .” Selene looked at the leather cord that was securing the
Jewel. “I think I might have an idea. . . wait right here,”
she got up and left the half naked Kagome scratching her mussed head.

She was barely awake
when they had started, she needed more coffee. Selene had called her
cousin and gotten approval for an earlier arrival and the added
guest, meaning Hojo. Kagome sighed. It was as if she had no say in
the matter of his coming into her life.

“Isn't there a
mall on the way there??” Kagome called out, as she reached for
her only pair of jeans off the floor.

“Oh! You're
right! I doubt the guys will want to go shopping though. . .”
Selene returned with an ornate jewelry box in her hand. “I keep
this around for repairs and stuff, I think I have something in here
that will work better than that cord.”

“I can just roll
these up if I decide to go shelling or something,” Kagome
zipped her jeans resignedly, and reached for her tee shirt. Selene
was busy at work with a pair of needle nosed pliers on a length of
heavy gaged gold tone wire. Kagome watched along in fascination as
she formed a spiraled cage.

“Here, put the
Jewel in this,” she said holding up her work. Kagome did as she
was bid, first loosening the knot on the cord, then pulling the Jewel
from the knotted basket Michael had fashioned for her on such short
notice.

Selene then continued
her work, bending the wire completely around the jewel so that it was
encased, with a double loop at the top..

“There, now you
can secure it anywhere you want.” She handed the glowing bauble
back to Kagome. “On your neck with a chain, or that leather if
you want. High, low. . . even in your hair, or around your waist.”

Kagome examined the
finished product. It was not only serviceable, it was quite pretty.
Selene dug in the box and pulled out a gold Figaro chain, handing it
to her.

“That's only 10
karat, so it's pretty tough. Try it and see if it's long enough,”
Selene smiled at Kagome's expression.

“Oh, Sally. . .
this is too much. . .” she held the Jewel up and slipped the
chain through the two loops. “would you?” she asked as
she turned lifting her hair.

“I think it's
just the right length,” Selene secured the lobster clawed
clasp, and turned Kagome around. It fell exactly between her breasts.
“Just don't wear any really low cut stuff,” she grinned.

“Like I would in
the first place,” Kagome smirked. She slipped the Jewel down
into her sports bra, feeling its pulse next to her heart. “With
the right style of suit though, this would work.” She pulled on
her tee-shirt.

“Let's see what
the guys think, maybe they can do a beer run while we make a dash
through the mall. . .” Selene grinned. “Power shop!”
she pumped her arms as though running.

Kagome laughed, her
spirits lifting, as she started to pick up the clothes off the floor.
Selene joined her, and quickly they had the mess in order.

“Coffee. . .”
Kagome moaned heading to the kitchen. “Hey,” she called
as she reached for the coffee pot, “what's on the menu tonight?
Isn't you cousin a veggie?”

“I think she's
seen the error of her ways, she said something about venison. . .
her new boyfriend is a . . . sportsman,” Selene came into the
kitchen. “It's really odd that she would team up with someone
like that, but then it hasn't been that long since she decided to
give up 'anything with a face'. She dropped a lot of weight, had me
kinda worried.”

“You really need
to know what you're doing when you make that kind of change,”
Kagome sipped at her coffee. “I knew a girl in school who ended
up in the hospital, she became so anemic.”

“She told me
that he rags on her constantly about her eating. . . I guess I
should thank him,”she grinned. “So, how do we tell if
he's a good guy or a bad guy?”

This got Kagome's
attention. She looked up at Selene, her brow furrowed. Is there a
way to tell?

“I
wish I knew. . .” she finally answered. “But if he's so
attentive to her, he can't be all bad, ne?”

Suddenly
there was a raucous knocking at the door. Selene glanced at the
clock, and then nodded to Kagome. The men had arrived.

“Good
grief! I haven't even brushed my hair!” Kagome ran to lock
herself in the bathroom. As she ran the brush through her hair, she
tried to analyze the sense of apprehension that was creeping over
her.

She
could hear the others joking beyond the door, and wondered why it was
that she seemed to be so out of sync with them. She had never felt
that way with Michael and Selene before. It had to be Hojo. Why
are they pushing him on me??

“'Gome!!
Hurry up!!” Selene called to her. “That is IF
you want to go POWER SHOPPING!!”

Kagome
took one last look in the mirror. It'll have to do. . .

As
she exited the bathroom, she was met with Hojo's warm, brown eyed
smile. Why does he have to be so nice? Why does he have to
look at me. . . like that??

“Kagome.
. .” he wrapped his arms around her. “It's good to see
you again.”

“Um.
. .” her eyes darted around for a reasonable response. “It's
good to see you too,” she forced a smile, pushing away from the
embrace while patting the middle of his chest gently. “Ready to
go surfing?” she prayed her cheerful tone didn't sound too
forced.

“I
understand you need to make a stop on the way,” his arms were
still out as though poised for another hug. “Anything you need.
. . I would be honored. . . if you would allow me.”

“Don't
be silly, Hojo! My entire life
just landed in a dumpster!” She looked up to find hurt
disappoint written all over his face. That was mean. . .

“You're
still mad about last night,” he frowned. “I can't blame
you, I would be too.”

“I
just want to see if I can find something suitable for the beach
today. That's all. I can handle it.” She stroked his arm
reassuringly.

“'Gome,
c'mere and show Mikey your new necklace!” came a reprieve from
Selene.

Kagome
walked into the kitchen where they were standing and pulled out the
Jewel to show Michael. He reached out to touch the chain, pulling the
wire work around the Jewel up for closer examination.

“See?
It's purtiful, ne?” She grinned, winking at Selene.

“Kami.
. . You weren't shitting me!” gasped Hojo from behind her as he
saw the Jewel for the first time.

Kagome
twisted her neck around at the profanity and stared at Hojo over her
shoulder. Well, maybe he will believe the rest of it with
time. But, what's the point? I'm going to Tokyo, and I'm going to
find InuYasha. . .
“Very nicely done, my dear. . .
very nicely done,” proclaimed Michael, kissing his intended
chastely on the cheek. “Shall we be off, then? Sand and surf
awaits!”

Kagome slipped the
Jewel back into her shirt, wondering if Michael had warned Hojo about
Miranda's boyfriend. Probably not. . .

~o0o~

They
probably should have taken two cars, but Selene had insisted they all
ride together, and mercifully chose softer music for the trip.
Kagome wasn't certain if it was a 'strength in numbers' philosophy or
if it was a plot to get the two of them in the back seat together.
She strongly suspected the latter, after the music was changed from
the customary heavy metal to Spanish guitar.

Hojo's
arm was draped around her shoulders in possessive fashion, which she
tried very hard to ignore. It wasn't working. She was beginning to
wonder if she was going to have any say at all in having a
relationship with this man.

As
they approached the mall, Kagome caught sight of a white stretch
limousine. The fact that it was parked in front of a motorcycle
dealership struck her as a little odd, until she spied a pair of
familiar figures speaking with a salesman. Caleb. . .

Craning
her neck as they drove by caught Hojo's attention, who in turn
twisted to see what was of such interest to her.

“Seems
he's getting around,” he commented softly in her ear. “I
looked him up on line this morning, it appears that his younger
brother Caleb was missing for a number of years, and he just found
him last week in Japan. There was something about amnesia in the
article.”

This
news caught her attention and she turned to face him, forgetting that
he was so close to her ear. Their noses brushed, and she backed away
with an embarrassed giggle, touching her nose.

“Sorry,”
she apologized, still grinning.

“Don't
be,” he smiled pulling her hand from her face, his eyes
focusing on her mouth. “That was kind of. . . nice.”

“It
must be pretty scary to not remember who you are,” she looked
down at her hands, avoiding his gaze. “I'm not sure which is
worse, not remembering or remembering too much.”

That
cryptic statement caused Hojo to sit back in his seat, abandoning his
attempt at a 'first kiss'. He did not remove his arm from around her
shoulders, however while Selene deftly swung into a parking space
which had just been vacated, and turned off the engine.

Michael,
was grinning ear to ear, having surreptitiously watched the unfolding
scene in the back seat, though unable to hear the dialog. He glanced
back to meet Kagome's glare, and quickly schooled his expression,
clearing his throat.

“Ok.
. . you boys can go do the arcade thing, while we girls go do the
clothes thing, sound good?” Selene suggested as she opened her
door.

“Oh.
. .” Hojo looked disappointed. “I was looking forward to
helping Kagome pick something out.”

Michael
stared at him with disbelief.
He mouthed the words ' are you NUTS??'

“That's
my job, surfer boy.” Selene grinned at the exchange between the
men. “You would probably like something that's totally
inappropriate, anyway. I mean, knowing who you keep company with.”
She smirked at Michael, who shrugged innocently. “Ok, on the
count of three. . . one. . . two. . . THREE!! POWER SHOP!!”

All
four piled out of the car running full speed toward the doors of the
mall, Hojo lagging slightly at first not knowing the routine. Once
inside they split off in two directions, Michael having to snag Hojo
by the sleeve to tug him away from Kagome and toward the arcade,
nearly pulling the man off his feet in the process.

Selene
and Kagome ran into the department store, and through it to the
women's department, laughing heartily as astonished shoppers gaped at
them. Kagome stopped at the swimming suits, and began quickly rifling
through the hangers making editorial noises in the process. Selene
hit another rack and began doing the same, sans the editorial.

“Feh.
. . Blech. . . mmm. . . ugh. . . ah. . . OH NO. . .” Kagome
commented shaking her head.

“Ooo.
. . lemme see the OH NO, 'Gome!” Selene peeked up over her
rack.

Kagome
held up a fishnet woven string bikini barely draped on the hanger.
Selene looked at it, then looked Kagome over, and tilted her head
with a raised brow, grinning as she nodded rapidly.

“OH
NO!! The doc said I have to keep my incision out of the sun for SIX
MONTHS!” It was her best excuse, and she used it proudly. “How
many you got?”

“Three.
. . you?” Selene replied.

“Me
too, lets go!” and they darted to the dressing rooms.

~o0o~

“Ok, so tell me, doctor,” Hojo aimed the
rifle at the buck that wandered onto the screen, “is she really
that shy, or is she just playing hard to get?” He fired five
times rapidly to watch the buck wander off the screen again.

“Kagome
is an innocent, I told you that. I don't think she would know how
to play hard to get. She's never been. . . caught.”
Michael pursed his lips, folding his arms across his chest. “Maybe
we should play something else?”

“She seems obsessed with Inudono. . .” Hojo
aimed at the bear this time, a slower target. “Why is that,
Mike?” He again fired five times rapidly and stood back to
watch the bear amble off the screen.

“I'm sure it's because she doesn't know why he
approached her, or whether she can trust him.” Michael grabbed
the rifle away from Hojo with a pointed look, and dropped it into
it's rack, clearly ending the session. “He's only the second
either of us has come into any close contact with,” Michael
scratched at his chin, looking around for something less challenging
for them to play. “Today will be interesting, good chance of
number three.”

“Oh really? And you expect this to happen where?”
Hojo still didn't quite sound convinced.

“Miranda's,” Michael paused a moment,
realizing that he hadn't mentioned this little detail. “Selene
suspects that Miranda's new beau is actually. . . one of them.”

“What would make her think something like that?”
Hojo leaned against the game console, folding his arms.

“Changes in her attitude, and some of the things
she told Sally that the guy had said. . . just a real 'pro youkai'
philosophy,” he glanced around to be certain he hadn't drawn
any attention with use of the term.

“I feel like I have been sleeping under a rock,
you talk about this so easily,” Hojo pulled away from the
console. “Wanna drink? I'm thirsty.”

“Yeah, sure,” Michael glanced at his watch.
“If you wait another thirty seconds, the girls can join us. .
.”

“Huh?” Hojo stopped to watch Michael do a
countdown. “You're kidding, right?”

“Nope, I know how much Sally hates to shop. . .”
he grinned and raised his right hand with two fingers out, dropping
it with the count. “Ten. . . nine. . . eight. . . seven. . .”

“Oh for Pete's sake!” Hojo was near to
laughing.

“Three. . . two. . . one. . .” Michael
looked up and grinned at Hojo's expression as the two women darted
into the arcade, giggling with their cheeks flushed from the run.
“You find what you needed?”

“mmhmm,” they affirmed nodding in unison,
eyes bright.

The sight of Kagome, flushed and smiling moved Hojo
into compulsion. His actions purely instinctive, he rushed to her
and grabbed her into a bear hug, sweeping her off of her feet as he
buried his face into her neck.

“Hojo!!” she squealed as Selene and Michael
gasped, jaws nearly hitting the floor. “What are you
doing!?!?” She slapped at his arms, her shopping bag flailing.

He set her down reluctantly with a sheepish grin.
Backing up a step, he glanced back at Michael, embarrassment apparent
on his face.

“I'm sorry, it's just. . .” he looked into
her eyes, “you're just so beautiful. . . I couldn't help
myself.”

Kagome couldn't close her mouth, as she gaped him, then
at Michael and Selene.

“Well, I hate to admit this. . .” Selene
ventured, “but I am envious. Yo, monk! Where's mine?”

“My dear Selene. . . He may be younger and
faster. . . but I have experience and passion,” he winked as he
drew her into an embrace, whispering into her ear, “and a
lifetime lost to make up for.”

“Promise to stay with me this time? I couldn't do
it without you before, I can't now. . .” her whispered words
caused him to draw back and look into her eyes. A haunted expression
that he didn't care to see made it clear to him that she was
remembering much more than she claimed.

“I
promise you. . . I swear to you. . . I will never
leave you like that again.” It was a sacred vow, and by the
look in her eyes he knew that she understood. “Look at us now.
. . I never really left you,” and he kissed her softly.

“Wow. . . well, I know when I am outclassed,”
Hojo leaned against a video game console sporting a rather dopey
grin.

A
pair of warm golden eyes, and lips that were rose petal soft drifted
through Kagome's mind. She darted a guilty glance at Hojo. Just
let me get through this day. . . Kami don't let him fall in love with
me! I can't return it. . .

“Hey,
let's go! Sun's a wastin'!” Kagome urged them.

“Ok, InuYasha. . . sheesh!” Selene
mumbled, to Michael's astonishment.

“What did you just say?” Kagome peered at
her friend not believing she had heard correctly.

“You know damn well what I said! You sound just
like your mate, I swear his impatience rubbed off on you!”
Selene accused with a good natured grin.

“I
hope. . . when you say mate. . . you mean a really
good friend. . .” Hojo was once again perplexed.

“Oh. . .um. . .” Selene blanched.

Kagome
saw her chance and she took it. Hojo had become too attached already.
Sally had just given her a perfect way to cool his heels.

“No, Hojo. . .” she turned to him, “she
means my life mate. . . my lover, my husband,” She looked up at
him pointedly, “. . . the other half of me. . .” she
trailed off. Having intended to make a point to the overly amorous
engineer, she had inadvertently opened up a horrible hollow place
deep in her midsection instead. “Can we just GO, already??”

“Mike. . .” Hojo looked lost.

Kagome
grabbed Selene's arm and pulled her forcefully out of the arcade,
needing desperately to just get outside. That was being
mean again. . . I hate it when I am mean. . . He can't have my
heart, it already belongs to someone else. . . I just need to find
him.

“I'm
so sorry 'Gome,” Selene shook her head, looking as though she
were about to cry. “I spoke before I thought, I am so so
sorry.”

“You didn't do anything wrong, Hojo is in a hurry
for . . . something . . . something I don't have to give to him.
All you did was make it possible for me to acknowledge my own heart.

“But. . . you can't think that. . .” she
couldn't say it.

“That
he's out there
somewhere? I sure as Hell can
think it. . . You used to tease me about it, remember? Being in love
with the hanyou. . . well, now I know why.”

“The monk says he's dead, Kagome. . . that he's
not out there,” Selene eyes carried a deep sadness.

Kagome stopped walking.

“He can't possibly know,” she responded
shaking her head. “Shippou said he hadn't seen him, that he
assumed that he had used the Jewel. . . but I have the Jewel now,
so. . . he didn't. . . so he's got to be out there, somewhere.”

“What if he did die? What will you do then??”
Selene was becoming frantic, she knew where this was going.

“Then
I will keep looking for him, because I am here,
right? Then he has to be. . . somewhere.”
Kagome's jaw was set, and Selene knew there was no more discussion
when that happened.

The men were slowly approaching them, holding an
animated discussion in heated whispers. Both of them gesturing for
emphasis in turn on some point.

Selene busied herself by checking the clamps on the
roof which were holding the surf board in place, then unlocked the
car, casting a glance at Kagome who for all intent was pouting in
the best hanyou fashion. She looked angry with her arms folded and
hint of a scowl on her face, almost as if she were daring someone to
flick that invisible chip off her shoulder.

“Are we ready yet?” Kagome for all effect
growled with a raised brow at the two men.

“Yes, my dear Kagome, we are quite ready now,”
Michael placated.

Selene changed her music selection to her standard, and
the rest of the ride to Miranda's beach house was made in the
merciful chaos of the wild guitar riffs.

Kagome
laid her head against the back of the seat, and pulled up her Tree,
and again there were those amazing, warm, golden eyes superimposed
on the serene scene. Eyes so much like. . . Caleb's. . .

~ooO0Ooo~

“Oi!!
Woman!! What the hell do
you think you are doing??” Kouga's snarl brought Miranda to
pause, bent in half over the huge stainless steel tub.

“I
think that I am
putting ice in this tub here. . .” she straightened up, arching
against the pull on her lower back., “so the beer will stay
cold?” She turned to face her mate, amazed as always at the
intensity in his eyes.

Her own eyes traced his frame appreciatively, the
changes with his new wardrobe were less than subtle, but he was still
her Kouga. Jeans and a tee shirt, standard beach bum wear for today,
though he had a variety of options in her closet now.

She had talked him into wearing his hair down, pulled
over his delicious, however startlingly unique ears. She had
returned his headband, when he presented her with one of her own,
very similar though her band was a soft cream color.

“That's not for you, damnit. . . doin' work
like that is. . . you should make Ginta do it.” He stood
proudly in his best 'Peter Pan' pose with his hands on his hips,
though the effect was lost somewhere with the new attire and the
absence of his sword. “Or call for me, I'd do it. . . You
should be resting after this morning. . .” his eyes were softer
than his tone, with a hint of worry behind them.

“It's nothing, I was a little nauseous. . .”
she waved it off and offered him a toothy smile, drawing close to
enough to drape her arms over his shoulders. “It's to be
expected with the diet changes, lover.”

“You
puked. . . more than once. . . and it's not the damn 'diet
changes',” he drew her
close and placed his hand on her abdomen, stroking gently. “Please.
. . go easy, Koishii.”

“I just want everything nice, I don't entertain
often. . .” she nuzzled his neck, instinctively drawing her
tongue across her mark, drawing a low moan from him. “I think
you will like my cousin, she's a lot of fun.”

“You need to stop that, my mate. . . or we'll be
too busy with our own fun when she gets here,” he chuckled,
running his hands along the lines of her back.“Come, sit with
me,” he drew her to the steps, and they sat with her back to
his, as he rested his chin on her shoulder stroking her stomach
soothingly.

The sun was high, and it was warm and breezy as the
salt air brushed lightly at their hair.

Miranda couldn't help but sigh contentedly. Not only
had he returned to her, but he had stayed with her, leaving only for
short periods to hunt or fish. Her freezer was full now, with a
variety of things which all had faces at one time, though this didn't
seem to bother her as much as she would have thought.

She
winced as she remembered the altercation between them the first time
he brought her fish. On her protest that 'it has a face' he had
abruptly decapitated the thing with his claw, and announced 'Not
anymore, wench. . . NOW will you fucking eat it?' It had taken
several hours of heated discussion before she finally acquiesced and
had a small portion.

The
making up had been the best part, that was when she had gotten her
opportunity to bite him back. . . not realizing that in doing so she
sealed their union, effectively making herself the chief's mate and
some kind of royalty with their tribe, and that made Kouga very
happy. She didn't
understand it all, but that was alright for now.

Miranda mentally ran through her to do list, hoping she
had not left anything unfinished.

“Stop that. . .” he murmured in her ear.
“Everything's fine. . . it's perfect.”

“What, you read my mind now?” she grinned,
putting her hand over his on her abdomen and dropped her head back
onto his shoulder..

“Nah. . . I read your scent,” he kissed
her neck.

“I see. . . so, you're saying. . . I stink?”
she teased.

“mmhmm,
just like a flower does. . .” she could feel his smile as he
murmured against her neck. “You're my flower. I have to be very
careful . . . to not crush you,”
he squeezed her tightly, which surprised her and made her laugh.

'So, this is what its like to be happy, this is what
its like to truly feel loved,' She
thought as she rubbed her cheek against his arm. Being
with him brought her a sense of completeness. It amazed her how she
had never realized that she was missing anything before.

His head suddenly perked up, his attention intent on
some distant point.

“What is it?” she looked up at his chiseled
features as he concentrated, listening.

“Someone's coming . . . I hear. . . loud music,”
his eyes widened slightly. “and I feel something. . . spiritual
power, it can't be just one person.”

“That would be Selene with her music. . . the
power. . .” she thought a moment, still unable to hear what he
did, “that would most likely be Kagome.”

He nearly knocked her off the step as he jumped up.

“Kagome!!”
he stared at her wide eyed. “You said her friend was a school
teacher, you said NOTHING about
a Priestess!!”

Miranda
smiled, rising from her seat when she realized that the name meant
something to him. So. . . I did something right for a
change. . .

“Think of it as a . . . wedding present of sorts
. . .” she kissed his cheek lightly, and went inside for one
last check of her appearance, no sense in shocking Selene too
abruptly.

88*88*88*88*88

As they turned onto
the beach side road, Hojo perked up from his pout in the back seat.
He sat forward and watched the surf with an excitement and longing
that made Kagome smile. She liked to see people happy, and it was
apparent that the beach made Hojo very happy.

She had to admit to
herself that she really did enjoy the candor and openness of his
expressions. Just so long as they weren't directed at her
personally. That made her uneasy, and a bit guilty. Though she wasn't
certain exactly what it was she had to be guilty for. She hadn't
asked for him to be plopped into her life.

In
fact she had warned Michael to not do
something like this. Why would he do it anyway??

They
pulled up to a lone house of wind roughened wood, along a stretch of
pristine beach. There was a small garden in the front, and a sliding
glass door on the south side that opened to a small deck area that
was festooned with plants.

Kagome noted a
striking figure of a man with long jet black hair standing there,
and as they pulled in to park he was joined by an equally striking
woman with rich auburn hair. The man was definitely youkai.

“What an
amazing spot!! It's like. . . no one is around!!” Hojo gasped,
jumping out of the car and working on the clamps to his board.

“Mikey. . .”
Kagome hesitated. “He won't say anything about the Jewel will
he?”

“Oh, hell. .
.” and Michael jumped out of the car to grab Hojo.

“Well. . .”
Selene smiled at her cousin and waved, holding up one finger. “He
is one, isn't he?”

“Yes,”
Kagome affirmed. “Now we just figure out if he's a good guy or
a bad guy, right?”

“No time like
the present,” and she climbed out of the car, followed by
Kagome.

“Sally!!”
Miranda called trotting down the stairs to give her cousin a hug.

“Woman!!
DAMNIT!!” Kouga followed her, looking like he was about tear
her to pieces.

Kagome blanched at
the fierceness of that look, freezing in her tracks.

“Oh stop it!!
Kouga I am fine!! I can still walk!” she argued as she hugged
Selene a second time. “He's entirely overprotective. Come here,
and meet Sally. . .”

“Have you
been sick?” Selene asked with concern. “Is today a bad
day for this?”

“No, just a
little nausea is all, seems to hit in the mornings. But I am great
for the afternoons!” Miranda beamed, then glanced at Kagome,
who was anxiously holding back from the strange welcoming committee.
“You must be Kagome, don't be shy!!” and she beckoned to
her.

Kouga froze for a
moment, eying the miko. She wasn't the same girl. Had he really
expected her to be the same girl? But this one was every bit as
powerful, maybe more so.

Kagome peered at
the demon in front of her. There was something about him, but she
couldn't put a finger on it . . . something about his eyes pulled at
her. Maybe that was part of it, Shippou's eyes had pulled at her
heart, as had Inudono's frightened her at the restaurant. Caleb's
eyes had taken her breath away . . . but this one's eyes tugged at
her insides. Did she know him?

“Randy. . .
are you pregnant?” Selene asked, wide eyed. Miranda glanced
back at Kouga, who met her gaze with a hint of pride.

“It's looking
that way,” she blushed.

“No, can't
see it . . . yet” Kouga interjected, reaching his hand around
his mate, to hold her abdomen. “But I know,” he nuzzled
her neck.

“Have we met
before, Kouga?” Kagome asked, moving closer to them, tilting
her head slightly. “Something about you is very. . . familiar.
. .”

“Your name. .
. I once new a girl. . .” he trailed off, then shook himself.
“But that was a long time ago.”

Michael and Hojo
joined the group, Hojo carrying his surfboard.

“This girl,
she was a miko?” Kagome pried, peering at him.

“Mikey! Hojo.
. . is it? Come, I have a tub of beer just waiting for you!”
Miranda bid them follow her. “Selene, you brought your guitar??
Where is it??” she called back.

“Oh!! It's in
the trunk,” and Selene ran back to the car.

“Yes, the
girl. . . she was a miko,” alone now, his gaze pierced past
her eyes, like he was trying to identify something deeper. “She
was. . . a dear person to me.”

Kagome had to
school her features. This was amazing, it was unbelievable, she
hadn't felt an immediate sense of recognition with Shippou
consciously, but she did with this demon. Perhaps the link between
this life and the last was growing stronger. Perhaps more of her
relationships with demons had been friendship, rather than enemies.
Kouga did not feel like an enemy.

“Kagome
Higurashi, the miko. . . was my ancestor,” she ventured. “You
must be. . . very ancient if you knew her.”

Selene returned
holding her guitar bag to hear the last of this. Her eyes narrowing
on the demon, she straightened, widening her stance as if ready for
attack.

“What
possessed you to take my cousin as your mate?” she demanded.
“Don't you have enough females of your own kind?”

Kouga stared at the
obviously angry woman in front of him. Kagome held a hand out in
front of Selene, a gesture bidding her friend to stop and calm down.

“You don't
like me. . . that's OK. . . I love Miranda, and she is my
woman,”he growled low, returning the glare, “and there is
nothing you can do to change that. It's done.”

On
hearing these words Kagome's head tilted to the side, as she had a
brief bright flash of memory. Shards . . . he had shards,
and he needed me to find more. . . no, wait. . . he needed me to
find a particular shard, to stop the attacks on his people. . . “I
love Kagome!! She is my woman!!” but. . . I wasn't. . . my
heart belonged to someone else. . . InuYasha, please hurry!!

“Kami!!”
she exclaimed. It was possibly the strongest waking memory so far,
and it frightened her and elated her at the same time. She looked
around herself, trying to focus on the here and now, working to
ground herself.

Selene watched her
friend blank and then come back, looking at Kouga with a strange
sense of astonishment. Michael saw this too, and came running down
the stairs to join them.

“What
the Hell did you say to her?” he demanded, putting a protective
arm around Kagome.

“I spoke to
Sally, not her. . .” an air of confusion surrounded the demon
as he gestured toward Selene who was still in combat stance. “Isn't
that other guy Kagome's man? Where is he? She reeks as much of you as
Sally here! Some of him, but more of you. . .”

“Kouga!!
Settle down, lover. . .” Miranda rushed to diffuse the
situation. “They are all pack mates. . . of course she carries
his scent.” She stroked his arm soothingly.

“I see we
have some cultural differences to work through,” Michael
muttered as Kagome pushed away from him, and offered them all a
bright smile.

“I'm fine!!
Really!! I just remembered something that I didn't remember
forgetting, but it's OK now, because Kouga and Miranda just look so.
. . Happy together!! Don't they?” she fairly well gushed. “Did
you say you have some beer, Miranda? I'm really thirsty!”
She added, really wishing everyone's attention would move on to
something else and away from her.

They could see Hojo
down on the beach waxing his board, as they all made their way to the
deck. He had stripped down to his swim trunks, and Kagome couldn't
help herself as she ogled him sans clothing. The man just looked . .
. nice. She might not want to rush into a relationship with him,
but that didn't mean she was blind. Michael observed this and
grinned.

“You
are going to explain
that little episode back there to me later, aren't you?” He
whispered in her ear.

“Which one?”
she smirked before drinking deeply on her beer. She was determined to
have some fun today, now that she had concluded that Kouga was no
threat.

“Hm. . .
good point. . .” Michael muttered as he watched Hojo run out
into the surf with his board.

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Finding Kagome