A/N: Well, as it says in my summary, this is a collection of one-shots based on this random list called 'The Rules of Love' [go to google images then type in 'the rules of love' to find the exact list]. Ah, honestly, I told myself I wouldn't post any of this until I finished the rest of the one-shots but... I don't know. xD. Throughout this entire thing, characters may seem... well, out of character. But before you beat me to a bloody pulp, keep in mind that I'm trying to get in touch with everyone's... softer side. OH, and go easy on me- this is my first time writing any Inuyasha fan fics.

OH, and if I manage to get more then four reviews, I will be extremely happy(:
No really, that's the most reviews I've ever gotten. ANYWAY...

The Rules of Love: Chapter I

Wetting your Lips- I'm waiting for a kiss.
Tender Kiss on the Side of your Lips- You're mine.

Kouga x Ayame

Kouga sat outside his abode, just looking out at the sky and thinking about his life. Life... life before becoming head of now two wolf tribes... life before seeing Naraku nearly single-handily killed more then half his brothers... life before meeting Kagome... and his life now. A lot had happened since that final battle, and all the events had crashed down on him.

The wolf-demon sighed, thinking about the most recent events. For one, he got married. Something that he wasn't exactly proud of, for falling for a woman proved some sign of weakness (in his mind, anyway). The other thing that was different about his marriage was that he wasn't sure if he was... in love...with the girl he had married. Hell, at the time she had first returned into his life he was chasing another woman, Kagome.

His wife, Ayame, was also like Kouga, being head of a tribe of wolf-demons and all. She was considerably younger then him though, and seemed to be more than different personality-wise. She could be loud and demanding if she wanted to, just as she could be sweet and naïve. And then there was the fact that she was desperately in love with him, a fact that sometimes even scared her.

Kouga had never intended on marrying her, apart the time when they first met and recently of course. This made him question why he had even agreed to her proposals in the first place. Maybe it was because she had asked him so much that he was just worn out, or maybe it was because he had made that promise oh so many years ago. Or maybe... maybe it was because he felt guilty? That he had felt that he hurt her enough? Whatever it was, it confused him. Kouga wasn't the type of guy to get all soft, so... why did he do this anyway?

And he had to admit, Ayame's presence wasn't exactly a bother, either. She would just smile when he caught her staring at him, or lick her lips when she was worried and wanted to be comforted. He had noticed all these little things in just a week. But something was... off with Ayame. The girl who he had once known to be loud, happy and demanding seemed somehow weaker, vulnerable. The weird thing? Kouga found himself hating to see her like that. He hated when she would apologize over something stupid, or the lack of petty and pointless arguments they used to have over nothing.

"H-hey," A voice called from behind him. Kouga spun around to see just the girl he was thinking of.

"Oh... hi Aya." 'Damn, speak of the devil!' He thought as he flitted with a strand of his hair.

"It's getting late... Uhm, I was just going to find us some dinner. Did you want me to look for anything special?" Ayame's voice seemed gentler and softer then usual- and that fact alone was making him go insane. She had been like this all week- but why? Had... had he done something wrong? Great, leave it to Kouga to mess up his marriage after only a couple of days. It's pathetic, really.

"No, anything's great." He said, half furrowed in his thoughts. The look on Ayame's face was so... careful? Like she was trying really hard to be different, in a sense. "Thanks by the way."

She smiled for a second before speaking. "Okay! I'll be back in less then an hour." And with that, she began to turn away, her auburn hair flying behind her.

"Wait, Ayame!" Kouga called out to her, grabbing her arm, causing her to jerk around. Her eyes were full of confusion, concern.

"What is it?"

"Uh..." He felt a slight blush creep onto his cheeks. "Why have you been acting so weird this week? I- Uh, did I do something wrong?"

Ayame's licked her lips nervously, eyes wide. "Oh, no! Really, I'm fine! It's just... uh, forget I said that. It's nothing really."

"Aya, be serious here. What the hell is bugging you?"

"You really want to know?"

"No, I'm just asking. Yes I want to know!" Kouga couldn't help but fight the urge to murmur "Yesh, women" under his breath.

"Uh, okay then." The girl glanced down at his hand, which still had a hold on her arm. That alone was enough to make her blush. After all, for a married couple, they weren't very gushy. The most that they'd done together was the lone kiss on the lips when they got married. "I know that I've been out of character lately, it's just... I feel like I forced you into marrying me. And I feel really bad about it, okay? I just wanted to prove that I won't be a nuisance, that I can be a good wife too! And that I'll stand by you if you need me and that it was worth marrying me! Or that I'll always be there for you and... " She trailed off, looking flustered. "Err, Kouga, why are you staring at me like that...?"

He moved his gaze from her before speaking. "That's why you're so quiet? Seriously? " She blinked a couple of times, before nodding courtly. "Godammit, Ayame! I married you didn't I? You're my woman! My mate! Doesn't that tell you that I'm not leaving you any time soon? You don't have to prove anything!" He shook his head, half-shocked at his own words, the other half horrified with her sudden change of heart. She had changed because she wanted to please him? Even Kouga, the lump of crap he could be sometimes, still thought that this was wrong. He actually kind of missed her cheerful aggressiveness.

And there she was, licking her lips again in that worried, nervous manner. She found his words difficult to believe, after all the times that she was told that she 'wasn't his woman' and never would be. She rejected his words, actually. She couldn't believe it.

Kouga inwardly groaned. 'God, pesky wolf. Why is she trying so hard to impress me? We're married already! Why doesn't she believe me?' He stood there for a moment, just pondering on what to do.

"Ayame... I'm not going to leave you." He said, trying hard to be gentle. This was fairly new to him, everything. First, he was married- something he definitely had never done before. Second, since when did he ever even care about Ayame? That alone made him wanna call himself a baka at any given chance.

She looked so... confused- and he hated that. Kouga found himself leaning forward before he could even stop himself... and that was when the real debate began to start. He knew that he wanted to kiss her, in hope that she would cheer up- or that he could prove his point.

But... where exactly? On her cheeks or on her lips? A sweet peck on the cheek was reassuring, sure, but they were married godammit. But would a kiss on the lips be too awkward? Kouga groaned internally, for seemingly the thousandth time today. 'Cheeks? Lips? Cheeks? Lips? Cheeks... oh screw this.'

He settled for a place in between- placing a kiss on the corner of her mouth. Ayame's breath hitched in her throat, not sure from shock or happiness (though it was most likely shock). Chaste and sweet, he pulled away, taking a step back. A light blush stained both of their cheeks, and both seemed to be ashamed of themselves (they were freaking married, and this innocent little kiss was almost an insult- though none of them would ever want take it back).

"Uhm," Ayame looked up at her husband somewhat awkwardly, the light blush still stinging her cheeks. "So... I'm going to go find us dinner."

"'Kay, I'll see you when you get back." Kouga said plainly, his blush refusing to leave as well. He watched as she sauntered off with a grin playing at the corner of his lips. Some things never change... but at least Ayame's back to normal.

Kind of.