InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Consequential ❯ Impulsive ( Chapter 3 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Thank you everyone for the reviews and for enjoying the Inuyasha/Kouga vibe. I apologize for the delay, the semester caught up with me.

I must address one issue however, an issue that will be prevalent in all of the fanfiction I write: I don't believe in the seme/uke thing. I'm not sure who thought of that, if that was just some general ingredient in yaoi manga and shonen-ai, but I don't agree with it. Two men loving each other shouldn't include one of them being the female in the relationship, or in endless submission and all of that general nonsense. Would they not trade positions in the bedroom, merely to spice up the romance? Yes, yes they would. I know I would. Meaning, there is no bottom/top or anything of the sort in this story, or anything I'm writing/will ever write.

I apologize if that sounded slightly introverted/me attempting to convert you all to my anti-seme/uke philosophy, that was not my intent in the least. I'll never bring that up again.

Songs that suit the general mood of this story:

Be Mine~Kristina and the Dolls

Broken Arrow~Pixie Lott

Dig~Incubus

Spin~Lifehouse

This is where things get a little hot. Also, this is more than likely the longest chapter, aside from the ending. And to clarify, my lame attempts at humor emerge here. Kouga always struck me as a funny fellow, so I rolled with it. 8D

If I owned this, the world would never be the same.

"If I love you, what business is it of yours?" ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

He had done it. Somehow, in the expanse of the hours that passed since he revealed himself to Ayame, took back his previous commitments and admitted his romantic intentions for Inuyasha to his brothers, two steps out of his five-step master plan was complete. Kouga had never felt so victorious in all of his life, not since that time when he had convinced his father that in order to learn how to be a grown-youkai, it was necessary for him to stay up all night with the older wolves as they discussed the politics and obligations that the joined clans were expected to follow through on.

The fond memory brought a smile to Kouga's lips, though he knew that during that night years previous, he had fallen asleep against his father and woke up much, much later, to Ginta's frantic shouting that the kill that morning was especially juicy.

'Not much changes.' Though it seemed as if he was dangling on the precipice of the most massive transition of his life, one that would make all other things in his life pale in comparison to step three, he could state that contradictory fact. The little things stayed the same: the bright sunlight that dappled on the forest floor, the delicious taste of fresh-blood from the daily kill, and his ever-vocal pack mates. Significant and looming matters came and went, but family was eternal.

'Now listen to me; I've gone soft.' As if to stop the thought from progressing further, Kouga paused in mid-stride, skidded to a halt, and leapt on the top of a well-positioned boulder. He and his pack mates had been running for a few hours, stopping only for water and the occasional checking of their surroundings, to make sure that they had not veered off course.

Ginta and Hakkaku had not argued against the latter, and for that Kouga was thankful. With the way that his mind was racing, coming up with poorly-fashioned analogies left and right, all the while thinking about how wonderful it would be to see Inuyasha again, it was necessary to keep pausing to make sure he was going in the right direction.

No matter if wolves were known for their innate sense of direction, romance and the pulse-pounding stupidity it evoked canceled out all lessons about instinct.

Thankfully, they were right on track. Whatever god that was looking down on him right then must have wanted for this meeting to happen. Kouga still didn't believe in fate, in that overly used word known as "destiny", for it really was just a word that stated that if one didn't move, didn't try to make things happen for themselves, that it would fall in said person's lap tied in brightly-colored ribbons. Kouga wished he could fashion "destiny" into a physical entity, and then squarely knock their lights out and leave them tied upside down in a forest, for that was just not the way things worked.

'It's way more satisfying that way though.' If things were that easy, there would be no point. He lived for the challenge, flourished off the friction that led to a more satisfying result.

"Hey...are we going the right way?" Ginta appeared at his side right then, and it shook Kouga from his very vivid and satisfying thoughts about destroying ideals and the fanciful faith it evoked in others.

"Yeah, we're doing fine. I just thought it'd be best to make sure we're going the right way." He nodded, and when he turned his gaze on his pack mates again, they were exchanging smirks.

"Oh, don't worry Kouga, we know how important it is that you see Inuyasha today," Hakkaku started, his eyes flashing with effusive mischief. "That's why we want to help ya out with something."

Kouga's elated mood evaporated immediately, and it was replaced with the kind of terror that came when one accepted help with personal matters. "That won't be necessary." He cleared his throat, hoping his fear wasn't revealed on his face, much less in his voice. "Besides, don't you think I'm capable of getting him myself, without any help?" To add to this bold statement, Kouga placed his hands on his hips and narrowed his eyes in what he hoped was a "hero" pose that would elicit wonder in all those who happened upon him.

"Well, sure! But there's nothing wrong with lookin' the part!" Before Kouga knew what was happening, he found himself thrown off the rock and tackled into the leaf-strewn overgrowth.

"Hey! What's the big idea? We need to get going..." Kouga had no time to acknowledge just how long these two were planning something, nor how they managed to catch him this off-guard, for those questions and answers didn't matter. What mattered, was that right then, Ginta was holding his hair in one hand, and Hakkaku had what looked like a large plant in his hands, a plant that was coming ever-closer to his mouth...

"We know Kouga, we're sorry! We just want you to be happy! And when someone's trying to woo someone...well, don't they take grooming into account?" Kouga opened his mouth to reply that yes, it was important, but before he could say a word, a bright piece of fruit was placed in-between his teeth. Or, something that looked like fruit anyways. Shock made his incisors lock down on the aforementioned fruit, his taste buds exploded with flavor, and he had no other choice but to continue chewing.

Once the fruit was swallowed, he promptly beat both of his brothers over the head. Almost as if to make the act more final, Kouga stood up and dusted off his armor, all the while cracking his neck and back a few times. "That was for throwin' me off my rock." Before they became too concerned, Kouga turned around and gave them a wry smile. This was to show that he wasn't angry at them, and that the comment about owning a piece of nature was just to prove that he was the furthest thing from irritated. "Now, what'd ya have in mind?"

Both wolves ceased rubbing the sore spots on their heads and rushed over to him, looking for all the world like the happiest creatures known to earth.

"The fruit you just ate will give you really good breath!" Kouga opened his mouth to comment, but all that came out was a small laugh.

"Good breath, huh? Keep talkin'." Kouga blew a puff of air out of his mouth into his hand, and quickly sniffed his palm. By the gods, they were right! There was no correct way to explain the scent, but all that mattered was that his breath was fresh and didn't smell like dried blood or meat. Although it was foolish that he was taking such pettiness into account - doing something that would be different than who he was - for the moment, he figured that presenting the best version of himself was crucial. When all odds were stacked against you, sometimes it was imperative to have good breath.

"Also, we figured it would be alright to brush your hair." Kouga blinked a few times, shrugging his shoulders in nonchalance. He enjoyed personal grooming, but it wasn't like he cared much about vanity or looking good.

"Sure, why not?" He unbound his hair from the restraint and began roughly raking his fingers through his tangled mane, attempting to get rid of all the knots and the occasional twig that managed to get in there from their day's journey.

Ginta promptly emitted a small cry of horror. "No! Not like that! I actually have a comb you could use!" A comb?

Kouga gave him a look that suggested that Ginta had suddenly tore off all his clothes, rolled in a pile of berries, and was promptly singing travel-songs at the top of his lungs. In short, he was surprised.

"A comb?" Ginta nodded furiously and revealed a hand-crafted comb made from what looked like tiny animal bones. The teeth were small, but they appeared sturdy enough to tackle the mats in his hair that had been accumulated through their rough travel of pursuing Naraku. "Tell me, just how long have you had this comb on you?"

Ginta scratched the back of his neck in a bemused state of mind. "Um...just for a bit. I wanted to give it to you after we defeated Naraku." That was both the dumbest and the nicest thing Kouga had ever heard. Kouga couldn't help picturing the three of them dancing on top of the oni's dead body, and in the midst of the celebratory chaos, Ginta bestowing him the comb for a victory gift. Though common sense dictated that the comb would have proved useful in their travels beforehand, Kouga knew that wasn't what mattered. What mattered was that his pack mates thought of him, more than he dared to imagine, and for that, he felt grateful that they were with him.

Also, he knew that after this day, he was going to be crowned as the biggest sap on the face of the earth. Kouga the Rock Whisperer and Kouga the Sap would be his new state of address.

So, to cover up for his new title, Kouga busted into laughter. "Well, thank you! That's very thoughtful." He clapped Ginta on the back, inciting relief from the younger wolf. "I'm sure Inuyasha will notice that I combed my hair." The remark was meant to be gentle sarcasm, but Ginta beamed even wider.

"Of course! A healthy coat produces healthy cubs!" Kouga couldn't help snarling at the comment, but it only served to amuse Ginta.

"I'm just kidding! That's impossible!" Ginta made a twirling motion with his hand, revealing that he wanted for Kouga to turn around so that he could be the one to comb his hair out, and Kouga grudgingly complied, though he could have easily done it himself. "Now, just relax! While I'm doing this, Hakkaku will make you smell good!"

Before Kouga had the chance to say that all of this, while it was nice and it showed that he cared about his personal appearance, was hardly necessary, Hakkaku appeared before him with the plant that, upon proven assumption, grew the fruit that made one's breath fresh.

"Alright, this plant! I found it one day and I realized that if you rub the leaves against your ears and neck, you smell really nice all day!" Hakkaku picked a few of the leaves off, and held them in front of Kouga's nose, almost as if he wanted for Kouga to smell for himself before he proceeded to rub the smell all over his body.

Kouga took a whiff, and he had to admit that the smell was extremely fresh. The scent was unnameable, but it reminded him of the aroma of snow-storms, and afterwards, the luxurious oils granted by hot springs. "I like it. You can make me smell like that, sure." Hakkaku grinned and gently rubbed the leaves underneath his ear-lobes. With the way that he was being pampered, Kouga could not help but feel like a royal that was preparing to attend some ceremony of sorts. It made him feel both comforted and very on the spot.

To put it in vulgar terms, shit got real.

To dissuade any doubt that attempted to slither into his mind, Kouga struck up casual - albeit nonsensical - conversation. "Where'd you get the smelly plant?"

Hakkaku laughed, but it didn't distract him from the situation at hand. "It's kind of a funny story. I was chasing a rabbit through this field and I tripped over a large tree-root and tumbled into a whole patch of this stuff!" Kouga stifled the laughter that threatened to escape his throat, for he knew that Hakkaku would be offended. "I figured out that it smelt nice, for I got it all over me, and when I landed, a piece of the fruit landed in my teeth." He said this with such innocence, that Kouga couldn't help but smile along with him. If it wasn't for that rabbit Hakkaku would have been inclined to chase, he wouldn't have had this meticulous dual team working on making him look - and smell - his best.

'The gods really do have it all planned out.' "And you just hid the plant as we ran?" Hakkaku nodded, and then tossed the leaves away from him, stating that he was done making him smell good.

"Yup! Well, you were so distracted with your thoughts, that I ran off into the clearing and grabbed one! Me and Ginta just want for you to be happy, no matter who it's with, and if we can help even a little, it'll pay off!" Hakkaku nodded, and his optimism would have infected even the most strong-willed pessimist for a few moments of unrestrained faith. Also, his complete willingness to help him "get the guy" touched Kouga so deeply, he didn't know whether to express his gratitude in words, in tears, or in a ten-second brotherly embrace.

Tears and the hugging would have solidified the claim that he was turning into a sap, so Kouga chose the former option. "Thanks." Hakkaku began to say that it was no big deal, but Kouga gently cut him off. "No, really, thank you. Both of you. A guy couldn't ask for better pack mates. I'm honored to travel with you guys and...OUCH!" As he was speaking, Ginta was working out a particularly large knot in his hair and with the way he tugged, Kouga wondered if his scalp was now bleeding.

"Heh, sorry Chief! Before you kill me though, you should see your hair, it's a lot shinier!" Kouga decided he would let the use of the word "shinier" slide for now, for he was the one who was thinking up the poignant thoughts on life, and confessing his feelings to his pack mates. Any self-respecting wolf prince wouldn't do such a thing. That being said, being a self-respecting wolf-prince was extremely overrated. There was no sense in having such respect for oneself, and then having the complete inability to drop one's ego a few notches. Pride came before the fall - or so some old guy a lot smarter than him had once said - and he had no intention on falling or tripping anytime soon.

So, Kouga let the adjective use slide and he ran his hands through his hair. He gave a snarl of approval, and his pack mates promptly busted into a short, jovial dance. They certainly were strange, but they were his strange friends and brothers. Besides, with all of his asinine thoughts and the sappy thought pattern as of late, he was in no position to point fingers.

"Thanks. I'm sure this will help a lot." Both of his brothers scuffed the ground for a few moments, looking for all the world like the most bashful beings to ever walk the planet. "Really, thank you. A guy couldn't ask for more supportive pack mates, or a better family." When he mentioned family, both Ginta and Hakkaku knew that Kouga didn't place the word there to give them false hopes for a compassionate future, only to mock them later. He wasn't that cruel, nor did he think he would have ever done that in his past. He used this term with affection behind it, true affection, the kind that was extremely rare.

"Aw, Kouga, it's nothing! Like we've said, we just want you to be happy! No matter if it's leading us against Naraku with a female at your side or...with Inuyasha. He'll like you, I know it!" Kouga chuckled, knowing that it wasn't as simple as whether or not Inuyasha liked him - for he was a man, and not some human girl with a crush on the local village neighbor - but something much deeper than that. Although, simplicity did play a key role in what he was about to attempt, whether or not Inuyasha harbored any emotion other than deep-seated animosity and the primal urge to pound his face to sawdust. He would just have to find out the old-fashioned way.

Kouga laughed for a moment, and then nodded. "Thanks! Really, thank you both." He eyed them both for a long moment, a moment where he knew that there was a fine line between being masculine and merely being a huge softie - softie! He was using words like softie now! - that he was indubitably beginning to cross. "Now, let's go; I got a date with destiny and all that shit."

Without a word of approval or protest, Kouga took off down the path, ignoring the frantic cries that with his speed, he would mess up his hair. A little messy hair never hurt anyone. Who knew? Inuyasha might have preferred someone a little unkempt with their appearance.

ikikikiki

Timing was everything, the most crucial part of any plan, no matter how well-thought out it was. If it came down to the right moment to act, to speak and one didn't take it, then everything was pretty much doomed. However, if one did act and threw themselves bravely in front of what could potentially destroy them, everything would work out.

Or, so Kouga tried to tell himself as he leaned back on his haunches, watching the group from his vantage point, a place that hid him from view by the protection of the bushes. The group in mention was before him, a few yards to his immediate left, taking what looked like a lunch break. Kagome had that yellow sack out, and was rummaging around in its depths, looking either for more treats for her companions or something that would benefit the group. She really did try very hard, even if she could be extremely brazen and spirited. Some man would be a lucky bastard in her affections.

It wasn't him though; it would never be.

The team was all there, and for a moment, Kouga felt as if he was witnessing something he wasn't meant to see, something that challenged the sanctity of privacy. There was little Shippou, gulping down snacks and noodles as if it was the first meal he had eaten in centuries, and the fire-neko was purring at his feet, lapping at the few crumbs that slipped from his puckered, crumb-littered lips. The youkai exterminator gently scolded her steed and as she leaned over, the monk with the self-proclaimed "cursed" hand took the time to grope her backside. Sango scowled and slapped him, all the while muttering that men had no manners and never would, even if they were given the remainder of the century.

Kagome chuckled a few times, though Kouga could tell that she was doing her best to disguise it. She said something to the effect of Miroku never learning and then handed everyone a small, boomerang shaped treat. Shippou gave a little cry of triumph, Sango calmly accepted the treat, Miroku forgot entirely about the facial assault, and Inuyasha...was wonderful.

Maybe just sitting there didn't make someone wonderful. However, with the way that the faintest traces of amusement came upon Inuyasha's face when the other members of the pack weren't looking, Kouga found something terrific there.

Perhaps there was nothing special about the way those white ears of his twitched with every little sound, or nothing especially peculiar about the way his hair practically glittered in the sunlight...

'Yup. I'm mental. Who uses words like glitter?' Kouga was taken aback for a moment, for he knew the risks of infatuation, of setting one's hopes too high on a sole being, and using pathetic words to describe a guy's hair. This was utter insanity, a madness that was not as discreet as he would have liked, and he would have liked nothing more than to high-tail it in the opposite direction. 'Why back down now? Snap out of it you moron!'

Why he'd thrown the word love around so pettily in the past remained beyond his understanding. Before, Kouga had no clue what it was like to feel this intense rush through his body, the rush that came by merely being in the proximity of the person he desired, no matter if he was watching him from the bushes. This sensation left him feeling thunderstruck, so changed that he was sure he would no longer recognize his own reflection. He was safe in the monotony of flirting with Kagome, comfortable in treating Inuyasha as a rival and using the surname "useless mutt." There, he knew himself, and he knew precisely what to expect.

'Nobody gets anywhere by playing it safe.'

Though now, minutes before he was about to say his piece, moments before he proved that all of his agonized and frustrated planning had come to fruition, he found himself scared out of his wits. His palms were slick with sweat, his knees trembled, and he was certain that if he was to temporarily leave his body all to see what he looked like from an outside-in approach, he wouldn't recognize the tense, anxiety-filled being he had become.

All from the wonderful, uncouth, creature known as Inuyasha.

Said wonderful creature suddenly swiveled around and gave the bush Kouga was presently hiding in the most resentful glare that he had ever seen from Inuyasha.

'Time to face the music; I've been found out.' Kouga squared himself, took a deep breath, and ran down the small incline that led to the campsite, knowing it was far better to confront the fact that he had been found out, than deal with the golden wrath of the most beautiful scowl he had ever seen in his life.

Though technically, they were one in the same, in a terrifyingly interchangeable situation.

"Hey there Kagome, everyone." Kouga nodded to everyone in the camp-site, knowing that his presence had gone undetected from all but Inuyasha. Thinking about it in the ten-second panic he had at being found out, Kouga suddenly found it very odd that neither the kitsune nor the fire-neko noticed that he was crouching in the bushes like a forest robber intent on stealing valuables from the group, but once the ten-seconds passed, he found himself on the spot. Again.

Both the youkai exterminator and the monk nodded their assent, Shippou and Kirara cocked their heads at him at the same time, and Kagome jumped a little.

She was the one to speak to him first - thankfully, for Inuyasha was too busy giving him the stink-eye to strike up casual pleasantries - and he was even more indebted to her. "Kouga?" She looked into the forest, almost as if trying to see where he came from. She shrugged and merely smiled at him out of polite habit. "Hey there, want some snacks? I think I have some chips in here somewhere...you could share with Ginta and Hakkaku!"

While she dug in her bag, Kouga felt as if he had swallowed a large rock. The words that usually flowed out of his mouth without effort had dried up entirely, and he was left with only silence and idle chit-chat to follow through on.

"That's alright Kagome, I'm not hungry. Thank you though. I came here for two reasons: I need to speak with you and Inuyasha privately." Kagome dropped her bag, exchanged an inquiring look with a fuming Inuyasha, and shrugged.

"Okay! Come on Inuyasha, let's see what he has to say." When Inuyasha didn't budge, Kagome's brow furrowed, not in anger, but almost as if she was in deep concentration. Those hard chips of sunlight - look at that, even more pathetic analogies of beautiful eyes in a panicked frame of thought - miraculously softened when they met Kagome's eager gaze.

"Keh. Whatever you have to say, say it here and now; I don't feel like movin'." This was the first time that Inuyasha had spoken outside of Kouga's frame-by-frame recollection of the hanyou's voice and from the shock of hearing it again, from the awe it elicited in his core, Kouga couldn't help the shudder that ran through his body. It was stupid, being so affected by a voice, and it was also incredibly foolish to feel so anxious about a mere conversation.

"Actually, I need to speak with you guys separately. Kagome, c'mon, this won't take long." Inuyasha's ears twitched in what Kouga assumed was a mechanism triggered by anger, his dark eyebrows narrowed, and the faintest brew of a snarl escaped his lips.

"Alone? The fuck you are! Say it right now to her, or else." Well now, someone was being incredibly difficult today. Kouga loved him all the more for it, no matter how damn infuriating it was that the guy wouldn't trust him for two minutes alone with the girl.

'Calm down. Breathe. Focus on the plan.' The plan...ah, yes. Pride be damned.

Kouga shrugged and crossed his arms, allowing his signature wry smile to fall into place."Inuyasha...fine." Kouga turned to Kagome, gave her a small bow of his head, and launched into what was sure to be the moment where any traces of his Kouga, badass facade would obliterate into the den of the seven hells. "Kagome, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for throwing myself at you, for flirting, and for claiming you were my woman. I have no claim on you, for I don't love you like that. Maybe as a friend, but that's it."

Silence. Even more silence. There was an intense quiet that was more deafening than the loudest scream of protest, of hysteria.

And then, Kouga knew his world would never be quite the same. Shippou sprang up, blinking up at him with his wide green eyes, gazing at him so intently, that Kouga wondered if the little fox was some sort of seer in disguise, or one of those mind-reading youkai that could literally probe the inner-most thoughts of whatever unfortunate person crossed their path.

Shippou blinked a few times, then shrugged. "Geez Kouga, it's about time you realized that. You're not as stupid as I thought you were." He had to hand it to the little guy: he was really cute, but on any other day he would have glared at the fox until he cowered for daring to disrespect him, even in jest or to get a point across.

"Well, thanks." He nodded to Shippou, then his gaze focused on Kagome. "I just needed to tell you that. I was tired of dragging you down; I know what it's like to have unwanted attention. Sorry if I embarrassed you." Talking was all he could do to prevent any nervous habits from emulating: scratching his head or neck, scuffing the ground, or worse off, chewing the inside of his mouth raw. The lesser truth was out in the open now.

The youkai exterminator and the monk exchanged a shocked glance, but then they beamed at him.

The monk spoke first. "Well done, Kouga. That's very brave of you to admit your mistakes to a woman like that, especially when matters of the heart are involved." Kouga knew there was a double-edged meaning to the monk's words, one that stated that if he was toying with Kagome's feelings by saying he wasn't in love with her to elicit some obligatory attraction on Kagome's part, that he was being a coward. Kouga knew he never would have caught this if he had been the old him.

Though, he was the same him, just not the same him. Gods help him, he had lost it.

Now, it was time for the reaction he needed the most, aside from the reaction he truly craved: Kagome's response.

She met his eyes unabashedly, smiled at him and promptly gave out a sigh of relief. "Kouga...I'm sorry that I can't be your woman. I don't love you in that way either." Kouga knew that she had said this to him many times before, though it was vaguely underlined in her painfully polite ways. It made him feel like a terrible person.

Her smile of acceptance and above all, forgiveness erased his self-derision and his mind knew peace. "I hope we can still be friends?" She offered her hand out to him, the hand that he had always liked to grab as he confessed his profuse love for her once upon a time two months previous, and the year before that. It was symbolic then, for it was starting a new leaf and all that crap that he once believed was crap.

He took the hand, kissed it one final time and smiled to her. "Of course! You can count on that."

Silence. Damn this quiet...

A faint rustling behind him, a frenzied red image and the most handsome face he had ever seen suddenly appeared before him. Inuyasha was standing directly beside Kagome, almost as if to shield her petite frame from any sudden change of heart Kouga had about making Kagome his. That would never happen, but Inuyasha would never know that to be fact. Besides, if Inuyasha knew what was going on in his mind right now, he would have had an entirely different look on his face, for his thoughts were flooded with a profound amount of physical lust and attraction.

When thoughts failed him, Kouga resorted to staring. If it was possible, Inuyasha's body looked like it had acquired even more strength from when he had seen him last. The multi-layered garments he wore hid what was sure to be a beautiful body, and Kouga imagined that his skin was the same sand-baked color as his face and hands, skin he would thoroughly ravish if he had even an iota of a chance with him.

A snarl rumbled in Inuyasha's throat, and Kouga knew he was withholding what was sure to be a string of profanities for a moment, before he unleashed a fury that the heavens would know about. "What the hell? You spend all your spare time tracking us down all to see Kagome, and now you claim you don't love her?" Inuyasha glowered, staring in such a way that would make even the dumbest person know that there was no trust whatsoever in his eyes. "For all I know, you could be doing this just to spend more time with her as her friend. I don't like this at all. You're being too...I don't know, calm."

Calm. Inuyasha didn't trust him because he was being calm about speaking and not at all like his usual brusque self; Kouga understood that. It was still such a funny thing to suspect someone for.

Before Kagome could intervene, Kouga rebutted. "It's not like that at all. And so what if I'm calm? I've changed more than you know in this month Inuyasha and nothing you're going to say to me will stop that. Also, I meant every word I said and if I ever lay a hand on Kagome, you have full permission to kick my ass from here to Naraku's hideout."

Miroku stifled a chuckle, disguising it as a cough, Sango giggled, and Shippou continued to stare, almost as if he enjoyed Inuyasha arguing with him. Kagome shook her head, but from her smile, he knew that he sounded more like himself, more like the Kouga that this group knew.

Inuyasha's reaction was the most cherished. Instead of launching into a ranting spiel about how he would take only the greatest pleasure in kicking his ass, going on about lingering suspicions about theories that weren't even linked, Inuyasha laughed. Inuyasha fucking laughed and it was sweet music to Kouga's ears...no. It was way better than any music he'd ever heard, for it was directed towards him.

"Well, whatever. I will bank on that, flea-bag." The insult was meant as a physical jab at his pride, as intangible bait for a verbal battle. He wasn't biting.

Instead of talking, Kouga figured that he could push his luck even further. Currently, he was about ten-feet away from Inuyasha, for he wanted to give the guy his space and elbow room. Ten steps became seven and Inuyasha's mouth turned skyward in a smirk, for the half-breed suspected that he was about to launch into a typical verbal tirade about how stupid he was, or how ugly, or something to that effect. "Good. I want you to follow through on your promises, they're pretty important Inuyasha." Kouga revealed no insult, nor would he, ever again.

Seven steps became five. Inuyasha looked fairly confused but not uncomfortable...yet. "Um, yeah...I know. What, you didn't hear me or somethin'? A little too dumb to catch it the first time?"

It was probably a really, really stupid decision to choose that moment to look at Inuyasha's mouth. It was also pretty dumb to watch the way Inuyasha's lips formed his words, showing flashes of pearl-white teeth, the darker pink skin of his mouth, and above all, his tongue. It clicked against his teeth a few times during his speech, and for whatever reason, it was all Kouga could focus on. He was utterly pathetic, not to mention dead obvious.

'Good; let them all see it!' No one really saw it, the truth of the matter, but the group must have known that there was something going on with him, something that was absurdly out-of-character for his usual boisterous, arrogant self, a self that was always attempting to woo their shard-seeing friend.

"Yeah, I heard ya. How's about you return the favor and listen to me now, Inuyasha: later on tonight, meet me by that mountain pass. You know, the one with the huge drop that shows the sunrise. You know the place?" Kouga figured it best to safely assume that Inuyasha did, and if not, he would draw him a map in the dirt if that was what it took for Inuyasha to come to him.

To Kouga's relief at not having to find a stick and a good enough plot of land to draw a map with, Inuyasha nodded. "Yeah, I know of it. I don't see why you can't just say whatever it is that you need to say right here and now though." It would have been so easy to do, but so painfully awkward to do it. Besides, since he didn't care about his pride, much less his sanity anymore, he would have said it. For Inuyasha's sake however, it had to be later. Just because he didn't care about his pride, didn't mean that he was willing to shatter Inuyasha's ego, especially in front of his pack. You didn't just do that to someone, put them on the spot like this in front of people Inuyasha had earned the respect of.

"I guess I just like being difficult." Three steps now, and things became very personal. Inuyasha backed up two feet, Kagome stepped to the immediate left, and he was certain that the entire quintet of travelers - plus a fire-neko -  thought that he had promptly lost his mind. "So, what do ya say? You gonna meet me or not?" One step, one and a half...

"If that's all you wanted, there was no need to hide in the fucking bushes like a coward." Kouga could physically feel the burning gazes of both the slayer and the monk on his face, but he refused to acknowledge them. So he'd been found out, big deal! There were worse fates.

"Always blowin' my good entrances. I gotta hand it to you: your senses are sharp." Yes, he had just complimented Inuyasha in front of his group, and yes, it was time to leave.

Before he had the chance to see Inuyasha's reaction to his compliment, Kouga nodded to the group. "Thanks for hearing me out, I appreciate that!" Then, he focused his attention on Inuyasha, and for the moment, the group of humans and youkai alike and their scrutiny didn't matter. As stupid as it sounded, both he and Inuyasha were alone right then, without the strange looks that were directed solely at him.

Kouga took one step forward and he cast an unspoken prayer to whoever was listening that this worked. "So, how's about it Inuyasha? Wanna meet me later? I have an explanation, and something to give you."

Inuyasha's eyes slightly narrowed and his eyebrows became even more slanted, if such a feat was possible. His ears stood erect, as if he was waiting for some hidden clause in his words, one that Inuyasha had made it his mission to find and expose. Inuyasha would find nothing there, for he meant him no ill-harm. "Hn. Sure, what the hell? I got nothin' to lose. I like gifts. "

'You don't have anything to lose.' "Great! Until then!"

Without so much as glancing or meeting a certain pair of honey-colored eyes, Kouga took off from the campsite, hardly believing he had the guts to follow through with all that.

'By tomorrow this time, step three will be complete.'

ikikikiki

Kouga didn't mind the long days of spring. There was more sunlight, more opportunity to find fresh kill, and rich scents throughout the forest. Everything was alive, thrumming with thriving energy that let the world know it was spring. It was a time for rebirth and all that.

However, the day couldn't end quickly enough and the evening remained out of his reach. After he had spent a full hour telling Ginta and Hakkaku everything that had transpired from the meeting, even going so far as to act out some of the parts just for their sake, he found himself feeling strangely restless. He wanted to stick around the future area of meeting, but once the traveling to said future area of meeting, there was nothing to do. Nothing but to mull over the entire situation one more time, which he didn't want. Dwelling never did anyone a bit of good.

He was done with the second-guessing, with pretenses and the pitiful attempts at flirting Inuyasha up; he was just going to do what he had planned, and if it didn't work out, then it was just the way it had to be. People could fall in love more than once, and other creatures did take on other mates if their old ones died.

The sad fact about that was, that when wolves mated, or in this case, had their heart set on a specific vulgar-yet-wonderful someone, it was for life. Kouga doubted that any other being in the world would gauge such a reaction from him, would give him such a thrill to merely be in such close proximity. He tried picturing others with different features, the imaginary someone who he was supposedly destined for...but it just didn't work. It always came back to Inuyasha's brief smile, the citrine eyes that held him in such thrall...and everything the hanyou was.

During the afternoon, when he was hunting, he wondered if there was some sort of sick narrator who was enjoying playing with his heart, and Kouga had half a mind to look in the branches for a blindfold-wearing, arrow-bearing Cupid, for he had a few ideas about what to do with that damned arrow. When hunting down metaphoric folk-lore didn't work, he ate, attempted and failed with intelligent conversation, and then gave up any inkling of this day being salvaged for productive reasons.

It was inevitable: he was stuck in limbo until Inuyasha chose to show up that night.

When he nearly yelled at the sky to get dark already, Ginta and Hakkaku ran off, promising not to return until later in the morning. They left him to his thoughts, but not before they gave him a few bits of advice from their optimistic points of view. The advice was accepted, but mentally shoved aside, for none of it applied to what he was going to do.

Night came, bringing with it the brilliant shades of the sunset. The orange, gilded light submersed the land with an ochre hue, the bright ball of fire setting deep in the west. The sky flickered with the colors of shadow and inferno, and Kouga hoped that it was a good sign, that the gods were painting the heavens especially for him.

That sounded extremely introverted, but it was the best thing he could do to encourage himself. This would be the hardest step, and he wondered for the ten-thousandth time that day if he was man enough for this, valorous enough to attempt this, much less follow through and suffer the aftermath of. He would find out.

Kouga walked out onto the smooth stone of the overpass, all the while thinking that there was no way in hell that he was backing down. He had come so far in one fucking day, so who knew what another day would bring? He had done everything right - no matter how unorthodox or strange his methods - and he would continue to move forward.

Mulling over this sappy, sentimental shit only made him want to tear out his hair; acting on impulse, on that instinct that wolves made their driving force was what would prove his victory.

And it all began with the skidding of earth-worn heels on the ground.

"You actually came." Kouga didn't bother to look, for he knew that Inuyasha was there behind him. There was a tingling sensation that ran down the base of his spine, all along the skin of his neck. His breath was lost, and that damned thump thumping of his heart escalated, almost as if he had taken the longest run of his life.

A short chuckle. "Well yeah, you invited me. What, are you backing down now? Did you really drag me all the way up here for nothin'?"

Had Inuyasha been able to see Kouga's face, he would have surely known that there was something more going on than a simple meeting. The grin Inuyasha's voice caused him made him look like he was viewing something that was both precious in his sight, and very amusing. Kouga turned and focused every ounce of the smile on Inuyasha, to let the hanyou know that he was genuinely pleased and thrilled that he followed through on his promise.

"No, I'm not backing down. Thanks for coming, really." The look on Inuyasha's face was somewhere in-between the emotions of immense confusion and downright shock. Kouga briefly wondered if anyone had ever looked so pleased to see him in his entire life, which was one of the most depressing trains of thought he could have ever considered. The world was hardly as accepting of half-breeds as he was, which he didn't want to think about at the moment.

"Yeah...sure. So, what is it? Why'd ya drag me all the way up here? You said you had a gift for me, or something."

Kouga nodded, knowing it was the moment that defined who he was to the hanyou, and on a grander scale, himself.

"I'm giving you something back. Hell, it was never mine to begin with. I just hope you're not squeamish." Without any warning, Kouga extracted the claws of his left hand and gouged his right arm open. When Inuyasha hollered at him that he'd lost his marbles and that the gift of his suicide wasn't what he had in mind, Kouga persisted. The shards were not that deep in his arm, but it was still a hell of a chore to dig them out.

"Shut-up...you sound like I'm fucking killing myself..." the shards came out of his right arm, and Kouga breathed a sigh of relief. Now, for his leg. Just when Inuyasha ceased his hollering, he started up again. As melodious as Inuyasha's voice was, Kouga would have much rather preferred that he wasn't screaming at him to stop "cutting his fucking limbs off." "Alright...Inuyasha...shut-up! I've almost...there!" The shard came out, and it was a bloody, glimmering thing in what remaining sunlight was left. "I've got it!"

Kouga set the three Shikon shards on the ground before him, and then began licking the self-inflicted wounds he gave himself. When Inuyasha gave him a look of disgust, Kouga shrugged. "Oh please, don't tell me you've never healed yourself like this; it's the youkai way Inuyasha." His saliva began congealing the blood, and within a few minutes, he was his old self again, albeit bereft of the speed and strength the shards gave him.

"Uh...why the fuck did you do that?" Kouga sighed and then promptly busted into laughter. Inuyasha was very smart when he could be, but he was so blind to the obvious.

"The shards, I don't want 'em anymore. Take them, have them, they're yours. Your pack is the one searching for the pieces, and I figure that the stronger you are with the power, the better off you'll be against Naraku." When Inuyasha didn't budge, Kouga gripped the shards in his hand and stood up with the purpose of hand-delivering the blasted things.

It didn't quite go as planned. The blood loss was minor all things considered, but that didn't stop the way that his world suddenly slanted and his entire body fell slack to the right. Inuyasha emitted a sharp cry, and before Kouga hit the ground, Inuyasha was over at his side in a flash of crimson.

"Easy now, come on. What'd you think, you could really stand after all that blood loss? Yeah, you've gotten smarter alright." Kouga dismissed the sarcasm because of the warmth of Inuyasha's body, the wondrous, sensational heat...

Kouga decided to use this to his advantage. As much as he hated to be the weak link, for the moment he didn't give a shit. He leaned into Inuyasha's chest, making his body go completely limp for the sake of this charade. "Yeah...you're right. I don't feel so good..."

In truth, he felt fine, but this was just too terrific an opportunity to pass up. Also, if he needed any more physical proof that he was attracted to the Inuyasha who was currently holding him and not the Inuyasha he'd construed from memories in his mind, this was it.

He'd heard stories from the members of his pack simply loving the way their mates fit into their arms, and that feeling of being so complete, so integrated in whomever's embrace. Kouga had thought that was a lot of lover's nonsense and dismissed it.

Now he wanted to kick himself in the head, for that was exactly how this felt. Inuyasha was so damn warm and he smelt terrific, and with the angle his right ear provided, he could listen to the hanyou's steady heartbeat. Inuyasha had a strong pulse, a strong heart led by the will of endless fights, accepting his identity and a past that Kouga knew nothing about. It was the strongest heart he'd ever heard.

"Well, just lie there then I guess. Do you feel good enough to talk?" This surprised Kouga, for the Inuyasha he knew would have let him fall to the ground, and later when it was most convenient for him walked over to see if he was alright, stepping on him in the process. The one thing the hanyou was not however, was unnecessarily cruel, for he fought for the weak, for the helpless. For now, Kouga was the helpless one, even if it was feigned for the sake of a few moments of stolen intimacy.

"Yeah, I'll talk. What do you want to know?" Kouga knew that he was merely beating around the bush for the sake of staying in this exact moment for a few minutes longer, but he couldn't help it. As long as he covered a few important points, he would be in the clear.

"Well, for starters, why the hell were you cuttin' your skin up? That looked painful." Kouga chuckled but chose against raising his head. He looked clear ahead at the trees, at the gravel-paved road, at anything but the hanyou's eyes. Besides, if he raised his head to look, Inuyasha would probably drop him, for he would see that he was faking the pain of his self-surgery.

"I wanted to show you that what I said was true. I couldn't just remove them before you came, for then you might have thought they were fake shards or somethin'. You're pretty paranoid. That's why." Inuyasha stiffened and for a moment, Kouga was afraid that the previous statement about Inuyasha dropping him suddenly would ring true. It didn't happen, and Kouga fell even harder for him then. Without actually falling that is, he thought with a small smile.

"I see. You wanted to prove your loyalty. Alright then, but why? Why'd you give them up right now?"

Kouga figured now was the best time to end this masquerade of frailty. Besides, if he stood up, then he could easily follow through on the final and most important step of his plan. He moved his head and Inuyasha gently released him, staying close just in case he toppled over again. For that, Kouga loved him even further. Inuyasha wasn't as hard-hearted as everyone accused him of being.

"I'm fine now, don't worry. Take the shards, they're yours." Inuyasha looked to where the bloody, glittering objects shone and after a long moment, nodded. He bent over and grabbed them in his claws, placing them in one of the many pockets of his red haori, almost as if he were afraid Kouga would change his mind at any moment.

Then, Inuyasha promptly added his opinion of Kouga's sanity. "You're one crazy guy, you know that?" Kouga laughed a few times, cracked his neck, and nodded his assent.

"Yeah, I know. I'm fine with that." Inuyasha raised an eyebrow, and his confusion was a beautiful thing.

"So. What about answering my questions, huh? You just gonna dodge them?" Kouga shook his head and turned to look at the view, almost as if he wanted to gain inspiration from the clearing. He opened his mouth, prepared the words that were long overdue...and then Inuyasha jumped right in front of him.

"Hey, I'm talkin' to you! First you're polite, then you go bat-shit crazy and start tearing at your skin, and now you won't even look at me! What gives, Kouga? What the fuck is it? Tell me, now. I don't like to play games."

It was then that Kouga realized the proximity level between him and Inuyasha, how close they had become, almost to eye-level. Also, Kouga realized that Inuyasha was several inches shorter than him, and despite the height difference, Inuyasha had no problem getting in his face. He was very brave, though it was a bravery that bordered on stupidity, but brave nonetheless. Kouga loved that.

"Want to know?" Kouga took one step forward, and prayed that the look on his face didn't send Inuyasha screaming and running off in the other direction. "Are you sure? Are you absolutely sure that you..."

"Just fucking tell me! What the hell do you want from me?" The look on Inuyasha's face revealed anger, and the words came out as a mere snarl. His claws were flexing at his hips, as if he was itching to tear something apart, his fangs were bared, and his eyes had narrowed into smoldering ovals of citrine. Never had Inuyasha looked more sexy to him than at that moment.

Before Kouga could talk himself out of it, talk himself out of doing this important thing, he kissed Inuyasha. He grabbed Inuyasha's back, closed his eyes, and pressed his mouth to Inuyasha's lips. It was incredibly messy, an imperfect mesh of mouths, but in what sweet brevity that it created, Kouga knew it was worth the hassle.

Kouga figured Inuyasha would be scared shitless and that he would more than likely jump out of his skin, hurl him backwards, or both. However, he never expected for Inuyasha to take four large steps backwards - four significant steps backwards - and nearly take the both of them over the cliff-face.

The kiss broke when they exchanged sharp intakes of breath and scrambled to right themselves. To do that however, Kouga grabbed Inuyasha's clothing, tugged him forward...and they wound up tangled in each others limbs, rolling backwards to immediate safety.

When the dust settled, Kouga expected shouting. He expected to be thrown to the ground and beat into submission, and then thrown over the cliff-face for his act of impropriety. Nothing happened. That could have been because with the way that they had fallen into the ground for dear life, Inuyasha's face was now in his armpit, or the shock was just so severe that said hanyou just couldn't move from his armpit. That...or maybe the smell from his armpit was so overwhelming, that Inuyasha had promptly passed out.

Kouga moved his right arm and Inuyasha rolled away from him, promptly springing to his feet. The wolf-prince expected to get yelled at, tackled to the ground once more for violent intentions...but he didn't expect silence.

Meaning, he had to speak. "That's why. I fucking love you." Inuyasha's head shot up, his eyes widening as if he had seen Naraku behind him, and was frozen to that spot for a few moments, as if trying to come up with a good line, a good response to that. For the lack of a better phrase, one that Kouga was incapable of creating, Inuyasha was at a loss for words.

"..." Silence. Even more silence. The crickets were out, and if not for the occasional brush of their wings, Kouga would have known the world of quiet once more.

'Come on...say something, say fucking anything!'

"...it makes sense now." Inuyasha gestured to where the shards had once lay. "The way you gave up Kagome, and gave me the shards I mean." Dead silence. Deader than dead silence.

Things weren't looking up. "Um...yeah. Yeah, it's what I was going for. I had a plan to...to...woo you." Inuyasha raised an eyebrow, and his mouth fell open a few centimeters, almost as if he couldn't believe his ears. Kouga couldn't believe the luck, for he had Inuyasha's attention, which was a good sign. "Yeah, you heard me. I have this master plan to woo you, to make you mine. This was step three: return the shards and then kiss you to gauge your reaction."

Inuyasha growled then, and Kouga wondered what could have possibly made him mad out of that sentence, aside from everything. Either his anger was spiking up right then, or he had said something stupid and would live to regret it.

"I'm not a fucking prize!" Always the latter. "I'm nobody's conquest or trophy, you understand that?" Kouga found himself nodding furiously, and babbling incoherently that he would never think that, before he was promptly interrupted. "Also...I see now why you didn't really want to do...that in front of the others."

With the way that Inuyasha was talking about the kiss, Kouga felt as if he had been stung, slapped across the face a few times, and worse. However, all was not lost yet, for the situation could still be salvaged. "I don't really want others knowing of my intentions yet Inuyasha, if you know what I mean. You're the leader of your pack, and that would be irresponsible of me to embarrass you that way." Kouga took a deep breath, and completed the hardest part out of that sentence. "Sorry if I embarrassed you now."

Inuyasha gave him a long look, as if Kouga had suddenly broke out in hives, or bites from the fleas they had once preached so passionately that the other was infested with. Simplicity was free-falling from that cliff-face right then, and within moments, within the time when Inuyasha would give him a reaction, it would splinter to oblivion.

"The choice is yours Inuyasha. I don't want to pressure you or anything. I'm not tied down by anything though. I let Ayame down, and I released my claim on Kagome. There's no one else." Kouga figured that if he added that there was no one else for him but Inuyasha, he would lose what little chance he had of remaining in the hanyou's good graces.

The crickets provided a steady symphony all around them, and Kouga resisted the urge to scuff the ground with his feet. He had to keep steady eye-contact on Inuyasha however, for he wanted to judge what was going through the hanyou's mind, whether it was anger or some other emotion.

"So...whattaya say to all this? It's a lot to take in, I know. Just...give me somethin' to work with here." Inuyasha still looked floored, and with the way that he began touching his mouth, caressing his lips as if he could still feel Kouga's mouth there, it was something that was very concerning to him. Kouga wondered if Inuyasha thought that the whole thing, males being together intimately, was wrong. Did he think that it went against his personal morals or something, or that it would damn his soul?

"No." Inuyasha looked up, and he shook his head to solidify his words.

"No?" The world before Kouga seemed to dissolve. He hated over-the-top displays of dramatics, much less the descriptions they conjured up in his sappy mind. However, there was no arguing that there was so much more shadow now, and that the moonlight was far less brighter. Inuyasha didn't want him, end of story, he could go home now...

"No, I don't think it's wrong." Kouga saw the light again, and he nearly cheered from relief. But what wasn't wrong? The kiss? The thought of two guys being together? What?

"What's not wrong?"

"Two guys...ya know...together. It's whatever. I never saw anything wrong with it." If there were such things as angels - Kouga figured there had to be, for he was a youkai and everything had a counterpart - he would have figured that the music he heard in his ears at that moment was angel-song: sweet, calming baritones meant to inspire and relax him to clarity. Meaning, Inuyasha didn't find a thing wrong with it, and that made Kouga's world that much better.

Now, for the next question. "Well...um, good. My next question is...are you in love with Kagome, or anyone else?" Kouga wasn't sure if Inuyasha had anyone else, but then he mentally berated himself for thinking so less of the one his heart was set on. With the way Inuyasha looked, and through strength alone, he would make any woman incredibly blessed, if only they over-looked his lineage and the blood. Kouga could give a shit about that, for Inuyasha hadn't only kicked his ass plenty of times, but he also beat his stuck-up brother in combat on many an occasion.

Inuyasha gave him a long look, and then shook his head. "Actually, Kagome and I have an understanding. We're not in love with each other. She's with some guy in her own time. Me and Kikyou...I don't love her like that anymore. I want to..." Inuyasha stopped speaking then, and Kouga knew that this was a topic that Inuyasha was not comfortable with sharing. That was fine, but Kouga hoped against hope itself that Inuyasha would one day share it with him. "Anyways...no. I'm not...involved with anyone." The hanyou squinted at the ground suddenly, as if the pebbles would reveal to him the mysteries and wonders of the universe. That, or he wished the ground would suddenly become a gaping hole and swallow him so he that he wouldn't have to endure this conversation anymore.

Pathetic, extended metaphors or not, Inuyasha was available. Kouga couldn't help the sly smile that broke across his mouth, or the way the world seemed so much brighter now. He really, really hated that the way he viewed the world was based on the reaction of his heart's intended, but he knew that was a given. Susceptibility was both a blessing and a curse with this damned emotion.

"Well, I'm happy for Kagome, really. You seem alright with it." Inuyasha nodded, and there was no bitterness in his eyes, or any wooden set to his movements; he was truly happy for Kagome.

"I am...and yeah, I guess I'm on the market or whatever. I'm not meat though, or a fucking prize, or something someone can easily get. Believe me...you don't want me."

The comment floored Kouga and his shock must have been so effusive, Inuyasha gave him a strange look that spoke volumes, specifically that he was the oddest creature he had ever come by. "W-what? I want you! I do!"

Inuyasha looked at him, gave him a sour look, and then promptly busted into laughter. "You made that very clear. I just...I have bad luck with love, bad tastes you could say. I fuck up a lot. You'd wind up wanting to kill me or somethin'; I don't know how to...do that."

Kouga knew exactly what he was referring to, and it hurt his chest, for it reaffirmed a belief he'd had from the very beginning: that Inuyasha had been burned by the flames of love. That's why love was always linked to fire, for it was both brilliant and hot when one felt it, but it devastated just as easily.

It was very, very stupid of him to make this claim, much less admit it so openly. When one promised something, it was very important they kept it, which Kouga was prepared to do.

'Then maybe it's not stupid.' "Inuyasha...I'll never do that to you." When Inuyasha began to protest and look extremely uncomfortable with where this conversation was headed, Kouga gently interrupted him. "Please hear me out, for just a bit longer. Then you can run off into the forest and vomit and wipe your mouth on poison ivy or somethin'." Inuyasha managed a small laugh, and then nodded, which was an agreement in itself. "Alright...if I ever fuck with your heart, cheat on you, or you find out that everything I just did was a lie...kick my ass. Kick my ass until I don't have an ass anymore. Kick my ass until I won't be able to relieve myself anymore. I swear to whoever the fuck runs this whole universe that I'll never play around with you like that, or make this some sick game. You're not a prize; you're the fucking best and if it took me this damn long to realize that, then somethin's very wrong with me." Inuyasha made several faces during this speech - the bulk of them being when he talked about kicking ass and disrupting normal bodily functions - but then remarkably enough, Inuyasha's face softened. Not to say that Inuyasha trusted him, for Inuyasha didn't trust easily, but this was progress, albeit the tiniest step in a world constructed of sprinting.

"Hn. I'll take ya up on that." Inuyasha took a deep breath and closed his eyes, as if in the brief silence, his mind was attempting to piece this new information into some semblance of sense, something he could work with. "Well...ya want to woo me?" Kouga nodded, wondering where this was headed. "I can't say that grosses me out, or that you're not a good kisser or anything...but we don't even know each other! We've fought, bickered, and bitched enough to last a life time...but this is the first time we've been...you know, civil."

Kouga couldn't help the smirk that crossed his lips, or the way that he immediately folded his arms across his chest. "I'm a good kisser? Good. Plenty more where that came from." Inuyasha's eyes widened in such shock that Kouga couldn't help but laugh. "Kiddin', kiddin'. And you're right. I made the attempt to get along and so far...it's working, right? We're not antagonizing each other, or tearing at each others throats, or anything like that. Ya gotta admit that's a miracle!"

Inuyasha nodded and then met his eyes, as if he had come to a conclusion of sorts. "Kagome was kind of the source of our rivalry, and the jewel shards. Kagome's with that Hojo guy in her time and I have the shards. I guess there's nothing keeping us from being nice to each other anymore." Kouga nodded furiously, almost as if his very existence depended on the bobbing of his neck. "Let me get this straight though: you want to woo me. You want to...make me yours..." Inuyasha trailed off, almost as if the thought took so much out of him, the pause was necessary for his mental stability. "That's...new to me. I've never had someone be so forward about their intentions before."

Kouga nodded his head, though he had no idea why there weren't others constantly throwing themselves at him. If they even gave Inuyasha so much as a second thought, or really looked at him...That being said, if they did that, then Kouga would have more competition, and even getting the guy to listen to him was a hard enough challenge, much less fighting off women left and right.

"I just need to know if you even want me to try. Say the word right now, and I'll stop. I don't want you to have to deal with my unrequited bullshit." Inuyasha muttered something, but with the way his stumbling lips formed the words, Kouga heard nothing but a jumbled sentence. "Uh...what?"

"I said, it's not unrequited or bullshit. I don't know much about love, but what I do know is that it has to be taken seriously." Inuyasha narrowed his eyes to the ground, his facial expression stating that there was no way that he had just revealed that. He had, and that reaffirmed Kouga's hopes. Those words gave Kouga the hope that his stupid, half-baked scheme would actually have a chance. "You really, really want to try?"

Any onlooker, or anyone who just happened to walk in on this conversation right then wouldn't have caught the sheer vulnerability that practically emulated off of the hanyou, as if he was afraid that this was some scheme of Kouga's to trick him, make off with the jewel shards, his precious sword and then team up with Naraku or something.

Kouga wished that Inuyasha had the ability to read minds. He knew that older youkai, ones that could assume their true form, were capable of telepathy. If only right then Inuyasha could copy that ability onto himself and see that there was no ill-intent going on and that his intentions were pure, then everything would be perfect.

That was part of it though: trust, no matter how foolish it was.

"Yeah. I really wanna try. If I have even the slightest fucking chance..." Kouga shook his head, knowing he had stopped what would have surely been the biggest rant of his life. "I want a shot. Will you give me that?"

Inuyasha gave him a long look, a scrutiny that was the last attempt on the hanyou's part at uncovering this imaginary scheme formed by his own paranoia and a life of mistrust. Kouga wanted to end Inuyasha's mistrust right then, but it wasn't to be on this night.

Inuyasha exhaled, and then nodded. "Fine. Go for it...just don't be weird about it is all. You can fucking join my pack for a bit, if you want, just to see if you actually like spending time with me." Inuyasha shook his head, almost as if he couldn't believe that he was actually saying all of this, or going along with this very, very impulsive plan. "All this time, I thought you hated me. I guess we both learned a little somethin' about love tonight." The lines between love and hate were extremely blurred in this instance.

"You got that right." Kouga sighed and looked to the sky, wondering what his ancestors were saying about him right then. They were probably tripping over themselves in their attempt to communicate with him right then, telling him that it wasn't too late to find a nice wolf princess. 'Sorry elders, my life is my own.' "Heh. Ginta and Hakkaku will like that. They love Kagome's food." Both of them shared a small laugh at that, no matter how serious this situation proved, or how awkward it was. "So, you really mean it? About giving me a chance?"

Inuyasha gave him a long look and then unfolded his arms from his chest. "I have nothing to lose except for my pride. Also, you are nowhere near smart enough to try and fool me with some reverse plan on trying to get Kagome, steal the jewel shards and go on Naraku's side, so it's probably best if you stick around so I can prove myself wrong." Kouga blinked a few times, and then laughed so hard, he thought that he would die right there, because of loss of breath, and the sheer amount of happiness this caused him.

"I...you...think..." Kouga doubled over, knowing several things in that moment: that he and Inuyasha were actually getting the fuck along, Inuyasha was the most paranoid guy he ever knew, and that his plan somehow worked.

Inuyasha chuckled and got down on his haunches beside him. "You're freakin' crazy. And weird. I don't even know why I agreed to this." Inuyasha said the last part with a smile, and Kouga stifled his laughter long enough to nod.

"I'm as crazy as they come!" Kouga stood up and gave Inuyasha a wry smile. "So, any ground rules before I completely change your world?"

Inuyasha blinked rapidly a few times, and Kouga made a mental note to tone down his flattery, for he didn't want to scare the guy off not ten minutes before he made his intentions known. That being said, he knew that being oneself was essential for this love thing, and that if he couldn't even do that, then Kouga would have wound up very screwed.

"Uh...just don't be too weird in front of the others. Just be you. Not like the nervous wreck you were earlier. That was just painful to watch." Inuyasha smirked, and Kouga restrained himself from throwing himself at the hanyou right then, and kissing the guy breathless. That could wait.

'Operation seduce the sex incarnate is a go.' "Alright, I can do that. I won't watch you while you sleep or anything, I'm not that much of a stalker." Inuyasha cocked his eyebrow and shook his head, which elicited more laughter. "I'd never do that to ya. As pretty as you are, I don't need to do that. You're already in my fuckin' dreams..." Inuyasha looked taken aback at that statement, and Kouga cursed his luck, wondering if that would be the final straw that broke the poor, overworked camel's back.

"...I'll pretend I didn't hear that. Anyways, just show up tomorrow and I'll explain that we've come to an agreement, or formed an alliance or something. Or, you can just tell the group about your intentions if you want. I don't think they'll care that much, but expect some strange looks for the next century and a half if you do."

Inuyasha took a deep breath and shook his head, as if he found himself in permanent disbelief on the slight of hand fate had dealt him. "This is crazy." That was spoken more to himself than anything, but Kouga was the furthest thing from offended. He remembered feeling that way before, and even still, the vise of insanity didn't want to unclench its hold on him any time soon.

"Yeah, I know. Thanks for giving me a chance though, I won't let you down!" Inuyasha gave him a long look, and in those drawn out moments, Kouga swore Inuyasha was trying to catch any cause for suspicion, both in the words and in his eyes.

"...yeah. See you tomorrow." Inuyasha gave him one last look and then took off down the path, as if he could not wait to get away from him. Kouga knew that he was just nervous and scared of affection. Hell, he would be too if he was born a hanyou and had an innate sense of suspicion. Kouga just hoped that with who he was, personality wise, that the hanyou he was so set on would be a compatible match for him.

Doubting could wait though. For now, Kouga couldn't help feeling happy, and he wanted to share it with the world. He was insane, yes, but so what?

Meaning, his insanity justified the fact that he suddenly took an impulsive leap through the air, ran to the edge of the cliff, and shouted for all the world to hear that he was lucky to be alive and that he wasn't a coward. If he woke up a few animals and a handful of villages then in the process, then so be it.

And if Inuyasha heard him, it was just a bonus for this excellent turn-out.

The next two chapters will involve a merging of seasons, the next chapter being summer and fall, and the final being winter. It could correlate to the theme song of Inuyasha, the "Four Seasons" masterpiece.

More comedic banter and sexy times are afoot, I promise. Thank you all for your support thus far.

~Luna
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