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Kouga again left his pack home two weeks after his encounter with Inuyasha, intent on talking to Kagome. The elders had given him an ultimatum. Find a mate by the end of mating season or lose his position as alpha.

He had until mid June; it was now early April which gave him two and a half months to convince Kagome to be his mate. Being the alpha prince he was the only male allowed to breed and bring pups into the pack. This kept the population from becoming too high and overwhelming the resources in their territory. If he would not provide the pack heirs, the elders said they would appoint one who would.

It had already been too many years and as the rest of the pack members aged, there were no younger ones to take their place. The elders were also worried as their numbers were far too low as it was after the wind witch Kagura had killed many of their comrades. Although they understood the necessity of him going after Naraku, they felt he should spend more time with the pack and re-establishing their numbers.

They had already picked his replacement if he should fail. Rezaa was a rather large wolf demon, hair a dark brown tinged with red. He was one of Kouga's best warriors and an excellent protector and hunter. Problem was, as Kouga saw it, was he was also a bit dense. Rezaa rarely did anything on his own initiative and would have trouble being in a leadership position unless told what to do.

That's probably why the bastards chose him, so they could have control. He knew better than to argue as the council of elders held immense power and respect within the pack and could possibly have him exiled if he didn't agree. At the very least their differences could cause a rift in the pack which would lead to its downfall. Kouga could not allow that so he agreed to their conditions.

He was still confused and unsure of what to do about Inuyasha. Since that day of their battle he had thought of the hanyou often and even more embarrassing, had some of his most intense orgasms while thinking of that pleasurable lick while he masturbated.

He growled low in his throat, even now the thought of it causing him some discomfort in his lower regions. Damn this time of year, why'd that stupid mutt do that anyways? I'm going to thrash him senseless when I see him again.

"Inuyasha, are you upset that Kagome has gone?" Miroku asked his friend who had been grumping around the village for the last few days. "You know she will be back soon."

"I know, it's not that," Inuyasha replied. He was still irritated by what had happened between the ookami and himself. He couldn't seem to get that scent out of his mind, or how great he thought the wolf tasted. What the hell happened? That stupid wolf did something to me. It's all his fault. I'll rip him to sheds next time I see him.

"Well, what is it then?"

"Nothing," said Inuyasha standing up from his sitting position on the edge of the well. "It's not important."

The two boys headed back to the village when suddenly that scent passed Inuyasha's nose again. He hurried to the village, Miroku jogging to keep up with him. "What's wrong, Inuyasha?"

"That damn wolf is in the village," he growled out.

"Hey, where's Kagome?" asked Kouga narrowing his eyes at Inuyasha as he approached with the monk trailing behind him.

"What's it to you, flea bag," Inuyasha replied his hands clenching into fists as he stood in front of the wolf prince. Damn, he smells better than he did before......What the fuck am I thinking?!!

"Now, now you two," Miroku interjected between the two rivals. They were beginning to draw a crowd. "Kouga, Kagome has gone home for awhile. Her grandfather has taken ill and she's gone to help her mother," Miroku told the angry ookami who was still staring daggers at Inuyasha.

Kouga turned his head to look at the monk. "Oh," he replied crestfallen. "When is she coming back?"

"What the hell are you telling him stuff like that for?" yelled Inuyasha, jabbing his finger into Miroku's chest.

"Calm down, Inuyasha," Miroku told him, gently pushing his hand away. "It can do no harm, now that Kouga knows he can go back to his pack."

"Yeah, get lost ya mangy sack of fleas," Inuyasha smirked.

"No way, I'm staying right here until my woman returns, you lousy half-breed mutt." Kouga was screaming at the top of his lungs his face inches from Inuyasha's.

Two seconds later the two of them were fighting again, many of the younger boys of the village surrounding them in a circle and egging them on.

"What is going on out here?" Kaede questioned irritably scattering the young boys and grabbing both Inuyasha and Kouga by their ears.

"YIII!! Old woman, let go," yelled Inuyasha. Kouga pulled loose and glared at her, rubbing his sore ear.

"What is the meaning of all this?" she questioned letting go of the hanyou's furry ear.

"Same as always," replied Miroku with a sigh. Kouga wants to see Kagome, Inuyasha is jealous..." He never got to finish his sentence as he was laying on the ground, a large lump forming on his head, his eyes spinning in circles.

"Kouga, Kagome is not here, go back to your pack," ordered Kaede crossing her arms in front of her chest. Inuyasha standing behind her, smirked at the wolf as he turned and started to head out of the village.

"This isn't over yet, mutt. I'm going out into the forest to wait for her. You're not getting rid of me."

"Now just a damn minute..."

Kaede stopped him from chasing after the wolf. "Leave him be, Inuyasha. You will stay here and help Miroku," she exclaimed, pushing him towards his fallen friend that was moaning on the ground.

Kouga was sitting in the hotsprings, scrubbing at his tail just as the sun began to set below the horizon. I'm not a mangy flea bag, he thought surprised that Inuyasha's words had hurt him. Why should I care what he thinks, stupid hanyou. He sighed and sat, watching the sunset with his head on his crossed arms, his upper body leaning out of the water onto the rock ledge. His eyes were just starting to drift shut when he heard a rustle just off to the side of where he was sitting.

"Thought I smelled your stink," scoffed Inuyasha as he came out from the shadows. He looked at the wolf in the water, his long, dark hair untied and drifting around him and swallowed.

"What are you doing here?" Kouga growled out at him feeling exposed and vulnerable without his clothing. He sunk down under the water a bit further. His sword was also by the rock behind the hanyou and although he rarely used the katana, he felt better just having it on his person.

"I'm here to take a bath in my hotsprings, get out." Inuyasha crossed his arms and stared hard at the wolf in the water trying not to let the interest he had in seeing the wolf wet, naked and with his hair down show outwardly.

"Fuck you," Kouga snarled. "I'm not leaving; you want to bath you'll just have to share." No way will he come in with me, the wolf prince thought with a smirk.

"Get out or I'll drag you out," the hanyou snarled, showing his fangs to his rival.

Kouga could feel his hackles rise, something that did not happen often, his blood began to sing with the promise of battle. He stood up taking a fighting stance, forgetting for the moment that he was completely naked.

Inuyasha's eyes widened and he felt his cheeks begin to heat up. What the hell? I'm blushing like a little girl. Still he was unable to take his eyes of the body before him, the very tanned and muscular body. That scent assaulted his nostrils the moment the wolf had stood, the light breeze blowing it directly towards the hanyou.

"Well, are you going to fight or not?" retorted Kouga beginning to feel uncomfortable with the way Inuyasha just stood there staring at him.

"Huh?" Inuyasha came out of his fog and brought his eyes up to meet Kouga's blue ones.

"The hell with it," the wolf grumped, getting out of the water and stepping past Inuyasha to retrieve his clothes. His cheeks were beginning to get very warm and he wanted to put some distance between himself and the hanyou's strange glare. "Take the damn springs," he said in a voice tinged with frustration.

Inuyasha could see something was bothering the wolf; normally he would not have given up so easily. He took in a large breath of Kouga as he stalked past him. "Why do you smell that way?" he asked curious as to why he thought the wolf smelled so good.

"What are you talking about, what way?"

"You smell different, I just wanted to know why," Inuyasha turned his head away from the wolf prince so he wouldn't see the blush that had again began to rise to his face.

"Probably because it's mating season," Kouga blurted out angrily, upset that he was wasting precious time with Inuyasha instead of being able to talk to Kagome. He was pulling his few garments on roughly in his agitation to cover himself from the eyes of his rival and gave a soft yelp when he inadvertently pulled his tail as he yanked his fur pelt over his hips.

"So you're in heat," intoned Inuyasha watching and licking his lips as Kouga tugged his tail out from behind him and smoothed out the hairs on it.

"I'm not in heat, stupid. Only females go into heat. You're inu, don't you know anything?" he returned wondering why the hell Inuyasha was asking about this stuff. He got the last piece of fur in place and pulled his hair up into his customary pony tail.

Actually Inuyasha had no idea about such things. Having grown up with and around humans it was not something he had ever been taught about. The hanyou never had a change in his scent because he was only half demon. His human side was preventing him from releasing the pheromones that were coming off Kouga. It also kept his testosterone level down to a more normal level whereas Kouga's was pretty high, lending him more strength and aggression during this time in case he had to fight to claim a mate.

"I know plenty," Inuyasha ground out. "Why the hell do you want to see Kagome so badly for, planning on..." It finally kicked into the hanyou's head. Kouga was here to claim Kagome just like he always said he would. He wants to take her for his mate. Inuyasha began to worry that if Kagome got a chance to smell the wolf she would think he smelled great too and go off with him. The hanyou knew she had a bit of a weak spot for the ookami and his worry began to increase. If his scent has this effect on me, Kagome won't stand a chance. "You're doing that on purpose," he yelled out to the blue eyed demon, his anger rising at the thought of Kouga trying to trick the human girl into being his mate.

"What the fuck are you talking about," Kouga yelled back, his patience running thin.

"That scent, it makes others want to be with you, it's some kind of spell. That's a dirty trick even for you, flea bag."

Kouga blinked stupidly at Inuyasha. "I can't control the way I smell you moron," he retorted. The corners of his lips twitched up in a mischievous smirk. "You're the one talking about it, does it make you want to be with me?" he asked suggestively, taking a step closer to the now wide eyed hanyou.

"Hell no," he cried out, taking a step back from the advancing wolf. His unconscious retreat causing Kouga's predatory instincts to kick in and he began to stalk the hanyou, countering the moves Inuyasha made as he tried to get away from the wolf prince.

Inuyasha was getting angry that Kouga wouldn't let him leave. "Get out of my way, you jerk," he yelled grabbing the front of Kouga's armour and pushing him back.

Kouga latched his claws into Inuyasha's haori and brought his other fist up to punch his aggravating rival in the face. Inuyasha grabbed the wolf's wrist as he swung his fist.

The two of them began to fight in earnest, growling and clawing at each other, even going so far as to use their fangs to inflict more wounds. Inuyasha began to realize he was quickly becoming the one on the losing end as he felt the strength of Kouga's blows increase. He caught a flash of red around blue irises and was doing all he could to just block the heavy blows that were being thrown at him. He started to reach for the Tetsusaiga when Kouga managed to send a flying kick into the side of his head, effectively knocking him out.

Kouga stood panting over the prone half demon. He pulled out his katana and was about to deal Inuyasha a final death blow when he stopped. Kagome would never forgive me, for some reason she likes this asshole. She'll never agree to be my mate if I kill him. A pang of guilt and worry snuck through him as he looked down at the unconscious boy. He pretended that he could care less about the mutt as he leaned over and gave Inuyasha a small shake. "Hey, wake up; I didn't hit you that hard."

His worry increased when he got no response, especially as he saw the blood begin to pool beneath the hanyou's head and flow into his white hair.

"Shit," he yelped, grabbing the towel from the ground that Inuyasha had been carrying when he first came to the springs. He gently wiped the blood away and pressed the towel to the wound, waiting for Inuyasha's demon healing to kick in.

Inuyasha awoke, his head cradled in the lap of his rival, that lovely scent flowing all around him. He looked up groggily into blue eyes that carried an unconcealed look of concern.

"Hey, are you...umph," was all Kouga managed to get out as Inuyasha reached up with his hand and pulled the wolf's head down to lock their lips together.

Inuyasha again tasted that sweetness that he had not even known he had missed until now. He ran his tongue out at the exact moment the wolf opened his mouth to take in a lungful of air, preparing himself to yell obscenities at the crazy half-demon, unintentionally allowing the hanyou access into his warm cavern.

A bolt of pleasure went through him at the touch of Inuyasha's tongue against his own and instead of pulling away like every fibre in his being was telling him to, he moaned softly and returned the kiss, swirling his tongue in battle with the hanyous between their melded lips.

They broke apart in order to breathe, confused and shocked gold eyes looking into confused but needy blue ones. Inuyasha sat up quickly, knocking their heads together and shoved Kouga away from him. He scrambled to his feet and stood over the wolf, anger and shame flowing off of him in waves. "What are you some kind of pervert?" he screamed down at the ookami prince, grabbing the side of his head as a small wave of dizziness passed through him from standing up so quickly.

"Me? You're the one who grabbed me, asshole," Kouga returned, rising to his feet also, his face blazing red.

"You're the one who was holding me on your lap, what the fuck was that about?"

Kouga, still blushing madly, scowled back at Inuyasha. He did not want to explain that he had felt remorse for knocking him out and that he had been worried for the hanyou when he had not woken after a few moments.

"Here's something else, Kagome is never, ever going to go with you! She is only being nice to you because she feels sorry for you and you're too stupid to see it. If she wanted to be with you she wouldn't be with me you jackass! We only need you for your shards, nothing else." Inuyasha stood there panting, his hands clenched into fists. "You know," he continued, lowering his voice back to a normal level, "I'm not even going to stop you from trying, I know she doesn't want you so I'm not going to worry about it anymore, you're not worth the effort you pathetic wolf." Inuyasha turned on his heel and stalked away, leaving Kouga stunned and hurt by his outburst.

Can that be true? She feels sorry for me? I know she's trying to collect the shards but is that the only reason she's nice to me, just to get my shards? And the way he said that, he's really not worried that she'll go with me. Kami, I've been so stupid, the wolf berated himself. I'm going to lose my status in the pack all because I was too dumb to see the truth. Maybe I don't deserve to be leader after letting that mutt kiss me and worse I responded to it. How will any female want to be with me if I allow myself to be so weak, with another male no less.

Kouga had always been proud of the fact that even during this time of year he was able to control himself and not chase after every woman like a love sick, horny cub. That control had gone out the window when Inuyasha had given him that kiss, his first kiss. He put his fingers up to his still tingling lips, feeling shamed that the hanyou was able to get him to respond so wantonly, that he was able to make him want more. I hate you, Inuyasha, he thought as his eyes began to water.

Inuyasha stormed back into the village not believing what he had just done. What the hell is wrong with me? Why would I even want to kiss that stupid wolf? And want to he had, he tried to tell himself that he had been confused upon waking in that warm lap and had thought he was with Kagome, but he knew it was a lie. He had known the second he woke up where he was. It's his damn smell; it hypnotizes you, makes you do things you don't want to. This he also knew wasn't true. He hadn't felt hypnotized or coerced in the least.

"What's wrong, Inuyasha?" questioned Shippou looking up from the ground where he was playing with a toy as the hanyou swept past him, his brows furrowed in anger.

"Nothing's wrong, just shut up," he screamed at the young fox causing Shippou to cringe back in terror.

"Inuyasha, what's wrong with you? Shippou was just concerned about you," Sango admonished him, getting up from her seat on the porch of Kaede's hut.

Inuyasha didn't apologise, instead asking irritably, "Where the hell is Kagome? I thought she was only going to be a couple of days."

"Oh, yes. She came back a little while ago while you were away, she said her grandfather is still quite ill and she's afraid she's going to have to stay awhile longer."

Inuyasha growled in frustration. "Damn it, I'm going to go get her, how sick can he be anyways, the old coot."

Sango jumped in front of him, holding onto his arm. "She looked really worried and upset, I don't think you should try and force her to come back. I don't think her grandfather is faking an illness just to keep her away from you."

"Feh," he huffed angrily. Sango was probably right, but damn he wanted to see that girl and try and forget what had happened earlier. I do not like men, he shouted at himself, trying to forget the sweet taste and the pleasant feeling of Kouga's lips on his own, especially when he had returned the kiss.

"Come into the hut, let's get some rest. Maybe Kagome will be back tomorrow to let us know more, okay? I'm sure she wouldn't mind a visit from you if you want to see her."

The hanyou didn't reply as he shoved the screen aside and stepped into the hut, going to the corner he normally occupied at night and slumping down. He hugged the Tetsusaiga to him a large scowl adorning his face and closed his eyes. Everyone else settled down soon after, walking on eggshells so as not to irritate the pissed off hanyou any further.

A few hours later and still no closer to getting any sleep, Inuyasha left the hut quietly. He sat out on the porch looking up into the starry sky. Now that he had had a few hours to calm down, he was feeling guilty at what he had said to Kouga.

There were four things bothering the hanyou as he pondered what had happened. One was the fact that when he first came to he definitely saw how worried Kouga had been for him. Second was that utterly wounded look he had received after his tirade. Which lead to number three, Fucking wolf wears his heart on his sleeve. He doesn't have it in him to pull off some tricky spell. I must have really wanted to kiss him.

This was part of the reason Inuyasha did so well in fighting with the wolf. He could read him like a book. The ookami had never been able to hide his emotions, letting them show plainly in his body language and expressions. Inuyasha could almost tell what the wolf was going to do before he even knew it himself, he couldn't be deceitful if he tried. The real pisser for Inuyasha was number four...he had enjoyed that kiss.

Now he sat here feeling like shit and unable to get any sleep because of how hurt Kouga had looked. He had absolutely no idea why it should bother him so much, after all Kouga was here to claim Kagome, which was something Inuyasha was not going to allow to happen. But still he felt bad.

Damn it! He left the porch and started to walk back to the hotsprings, for the first time in a long time intent on making an apology to someone.

Getting closer to the springs he slowed down. He could smell that Kouga was still there and he could also smell the salty tang of previously shed tears. What? Was he crying? Inuyasha approached quietly, now feeling worse than he had before, sure the wolf wouldn't sense him as he was downwind. He peeked out of the darkness and saw the wolf curled up under a large tree, his tail wrapped around his tucked up knees.

"What do you want Inuyasha, I know you're there," Kouga said dejectedly, not moving to turn around.

"Nothing, I wanted to wash the blood out of my hair. I thought you would have left by now," he replied coming towards the water. He was surprised that Kouga had sensed him. He's not so stupid after all. Now that he was here he had no idea what to say and the tone in Kouga's voice was making him feel even guiltier if that was possible.

"Don't worry, I'm leaving in the morning, I won't bother Kagome again."

Inuyasha's head snapped towards the wolf who was still lying in the same position as before. "Kagome will be gone for awhile longer, her grandfather is still sick," he told Kouga not knowing why he even bothered. He disrobed and stepped into the springs dunking his head under the water and giving it a quick scrub before surfacing again. Kouga was still lying in the exact same place.

"You stole it," he accused the hanyou quietly.

"What?" Inuyasha had no idea what he was talking about.

"My first kiss, you took advantage of me and you stole it." And you made me enjoy it, he thought but did not voice.

Inuyasha's eyes widened in shock, his ears drooped when he smelled the scent of fresh tears. He left the springs throwing his clothing on haphazardly before standing beside Kouga. "I...I'm sorry," he stuttered out.

"And Kagome, you have her too."

Inuyasha stood staring down at the unmoving wolf. "What's wrong with you, you never give up so easily especially not over anything I say."

"It's not just what you said, stupid," returned Kouga, some of the old fire showing in his voice. He sat up and wiped at his eyes quickly. "It's because it's true, she's not ever going to love me, is she," he demanded.

Inuyasha was going to yell back at the wolf but there was that hurt and wounded look again, like Inuyasha had just drowned his pet puppy or something. "I can't speak for Kagome, I don't know. I was just mad at you, since when do you take me so seriously all of a sudden."

"Since when do you care?"

"Since...since...now," he finished, amazing himself by his honesty as he looked into those sad blue eyes.

"Why are you really here," Kouga asked, frowning and crossing his arms.

"I just wanted to tell you...I don't think you're pathetic."

"How wonderful of you," Kouga returned sarcastically.

Inuyasha glared back at the wolf. "Stupid wolf, I wanted to say...I'm sorry I blamed you...I...I...liked it okay. Are you happy now?" he yelled. "I liked kissing you!"

Kouga sat on the ground staring up at the white haired hanyou above him in total shock.

"What? Look I'm not that way. I don't like guys so don't get any funny ideas," Inuyasha shot down at him blushing furiously.

"Me neither," returned Kouga as he rose to stand in front of the hanyou.

"You just smell so damn good," growled out Inuyasha taking a step closer to the blue eyed wolf.

"So...it's no big deal, right?" asked Kouga, also taking a step closer. He hadn't wanted to admit it but he had enjoyed that kiss as well and right at this moment he wanted nothing more than to feel those luscious lips on his own again.

"No big deal at all, it's just a kiss. People do it all the time." Inuyasha leaned in until they were standing nose to nose. He inhaled Kouga's seasonal scent, closing his eyes so he could just concentrate on the smell.

"Nobody needs to know," Kouga whispered before letting his lips touch the half demons.

Inuyasha brought his arms up and placed his hands on Kouga's shoulders feeling extremely self conscious. He returned the ookami's gentle kiss, pressing his lips a bit more firmly against his rivals. They broke apart from their tentative kiss, both blushing and trying not to look at each other.

"So I take it you liked kissing me too," Inuyasha mumbled.

"I wouldn't have done it again if I didn't, stupid mutt," Kouga scoffed but with a gentleness to his tone.

"Don't call me stupid you scrawny wolf," Inuyasha retorted, beginning to feel a twinge of irritation.

Kouga sat back down on the ground crossing his legs Indian style. Inuyasha sat as well, stretching his legs out in front of him and leaning back on his hands. They sat in silence for a moment looking up at the stars twinkling above them.

"I have to find a mate by the end of mating season or I can't lead my pack any more," Kouga told the hanyou.

So that's what's going on. "I'm not going to let you take Kagome," Inuyasha returned firmly.

"I was thinking maybe that wolf girl, Ayame. It would make the elders happy at least; they weren't too fond of the idea of me having a human mate anyways." Kouga just didn't have the heart to chase after Kagome any longer. One, he didn't feel like upsetting Inuyasha any longer about it and second, he knew that the girl was not going to leave the hanyou. He really wasn't stupid; he remembered all the longing looks she had given the half demon, ones he had wished she had given to him. He had just not wanted to accept the fact that she probably loved the aggravating mutt. He always had the hope that he could have changed her mind; something that he knew now was not going to happen.

"Oh," Inuyasha said, a bit surprised about Kouga's change of heart. The two sat in silence for a bit longer each lost in their own thoughts.

Kouga looked over towards Inuyasha trying to make up his mind if he should ask what he wanted to. Well we did kiss...ah what the hell. "Can I touch...," He started and then got flustered by what he wanted to ask.

Inuyasha sighed. "My ears," the hanyou finished for him. Why the hell is everybody so fascinated with my ears?

"No, your hair," Kouga was blushing again but he was a bit of a hair nut and even though it didn't look like he did much with his, he did keep very good care of it. He made sure it was always brushed out nicely and trimmed to keep the split ends from ruining it. He never felt completely clean unless his hair had been washed at least twice so it squeaked when he ran his fingers thought it. He had always been curious as to how the hanyou's hair felt and had sometimes been distracted when they battled noticing the way it flowed and sparkled when the light caught it.

"I...I guess," answered Inuyasha, feeling a bit weird at allowing his former rival to touch him like that.

Kouga moved to sit behind the half demon and reached out to run his fingers gently through the long white hair pleased at how soft it felt. He frowned slightly when his claws snagged into a knot and he gently began to tease the tangle out.

"So...what about this, I mean between us," Inuyasha asked as he closed his eyes enjoying the gentle tugging on his head. Neither of them understood consciously that what Kouga was doing by grooming the hanyou was typical canine bonding behaviour.

"I don't know. I've never done this before. Maybe we should just see how it goes," Kouga answered keeping his attention on the snarl and shrugging his shoulders.

"Ummm," Inuyasha sighed. The sat there for another half hour until Kouga had picked out every knot and snarl from the mass of white hair.

Inuyasha had never felt so relaxed in all his life but as the sun started to rise and wake the world around them, he knew he had to leave. "I've got to get back before the rest of them wake up and come looking for me," he told Kouga.

"Okay. You'll come back tonight?" he asked as the two of them stood up.

"You want me to?"

"I wouldn't have asked if I didn't. Jeeze, sometimes you're stupid you know that," the wolf prince teased.

Inuyasha growled, his back stiffening. "If you don't stop calling me stupid, I'm going to kick your ass."

"Humph, as if you could," Kouga returned his eyes snapping with mischief.

Watching the wolf Inuyasha finally realized he was being teased and gave his now friend a grin and a punch on the arm. "You know I can," he stated as he began to walk back to the village, feeling the best he had since Kagome had left.