DISCLAIMER: I do not own Inuyasha in any way, shape, or form.

Some warnings: This this is mostly Kouga/Inuyasha centric, although it will definitely take awhile to build up. To be honest I've never even thought of liking this pairing until recently...it's probably not a huge fan favorite but, I don't care, I'm writing it! :P Other pairings are Sango/Miroku, Jakotsu/Bankotsu and just a smidgen of Sesshomaru/Rin.

Enjoy!

Chapter 1

Enter the Lone wolf

Kouga sure as hell loved dogs, but he was always more of a wolf kinda guy.

As a kid he was determined to have his own pet wolf. He was completely convinced that he could domesticate one to do his bidding and be his only friend in the world. Looking back, Kouga realized how lonely he really was in his youth, just like a lone wolf that howls at the moon, lost and driven by the impulse to cry out loud. It was sad, really, but understandable considering his background.

Kouga had a rough childhood, an orphan no less, and he was passed around from family to family and no real place to call home. It only began driving him crazy, surprisingly, when he attended high school and believed wholeheartedly that unlike every boy his age, he was a man. To him, the system was just keeping him down from reaching his rightful maturity. Kouga decided that his only aspiration was to venture off and make something of himself. His two foster brothers, Hakkaku and Ginta, became practically inseparable, and even for just meeting in high school the trio considered themselves brothers. Together they vowed to get part time jobs and buy an apartment, and eventually they made their dreams a reality. Their family was supportive to all this, they taught them anything they needed to know about being adults and taking care of themselves. Hakkaku and Ginta loved them so much that they almost didn't want to leave, but Kouga thought differently. It was only natural for them to want to push nearly grown up boys out of their life, who wouldn't?

Luckily the three of them survived the initial year after graduation. They cooperated like a family, working and taking care of their newly owned apartment, and soon after applying to the same college and amazingly being accepted. They were living the dream life... that was until reality hit them. The lease stealthily began increasing, too quickly for them to handle, and school became even more demanding. Kouga had to quit his hours at the animal shelter due to his studies eating up his entire soul and to avoid exhaustion. Miraculously, Ginta and Hakkaku were fairing fine, lucky bastards, but they all admitted they needed a solution...and that solution involved cutting their costs completely. Dropping school was out of the question, and staying employed was a no brainier. Sure, school was a little pricey, but they had to keep on top of the payments to avoid drowning in debt. The only logical solution was to move out of the apartment, cancel paying rent out of the equation, though they hated to admit it. The small, cozy apartment grew to become a real home to them, even though they technically didn't own it. It was sad and they mourned their decision, but they sure as hell weren't mourning their bank accounts when they moved into the much, much cheaper school dorms. The only downside was the fact a room of three wasn't an option, but the place was relatively small, so Kouga could check on Ginta and Hakkaku whenever he wanted. It was a perfect plan to start the new year and new semester...

But for Kouga, things didn't exactly go as planned.

For one, he didn't foresee a pain in the ass roommate who tested the very little patience left in Kouga's being.

Now, here he was, his only chance to make things right with his roommate and he was hiding out in the public bathrooms, periodically washing his hands over and over to pass time to ease his nerves. He couldn't even slip into Ginta and Hakkaku's dorm because there was no way he could avoid passing his own room, which risked meeting his roommate. He was so fucking embarrassed, how could he be so out of control!

Kouga had to admit to himself that they didn't exactly get off on the right foot. Literally. Within practically five minutes of their initial meeting, some subtle remarks were uttered, harsh words were being thrown, and without a second thought, Kouga slammed his 50 pound luggage directly onto his roommates feet. Adrenalin was kicking itself up to the max, things were zipping by way too quickly, and before Kouga knew it—he was high tailing out of there, as if getting out of the room would magically turn back time upon returning. He acted out of pure emotion, and looking back on the situation, his senses weren't exactly crystal clear. He pretty much tried the guy without any evidence or jury, so to speak, but at the time was so sure his roommate was that guy.

Could it be that Kouga made a mistake? There weren't many guys on campus with that style of tousled, long, unkempt black hair, and that fixed scowl on his face...or were there? All the information he had to go on was that his roommates surname was Taisho, and that wasn't exactly mind blowing.

Kouga exhaled a distraught breath as he lowered his head to look down into the sink drain. He wracked his brain to the memory of his last semester, specifically one night in particular that had him on edge as soon as he faced his new roommate.

That party.