Chapter 2 The Next Morning

Koga walked along the road, heading back to his tribe.

He had already bathed again, washing all traces of Sesshomaru's scent off his body.

But would the stains ever be washed from his soul?

He paused, scenting the air quickly.

"You might as well come out," he called, trying to sound like his usual arrogant self.

"I know that you're there, mutt-face."

Inuyasha came into view quickly; his golden eyes strangely blank as he walked up to him.

"Koga," he said tonelessly.

"What do you want, dog?" Koga snapped, starting to walk away along the road again. "Go away."

He frowned in annoyance when Inuyasha followed him, feeling shaky as he moved up to walk by his side.

"Why?"

"Why? Because I don't like you," he growled in answer, glaring in his direction.

"No, I meant, why did you let him do that to you?"

Koga's heart nearly stopped at his question, and his feet most certainly did.

"What do you care?"

"Because he hurt you. He's hurting you. Even now. I can see it."

"And why should I talk to you about it? You'll never understand, mutt."

"I already do understand some of it!" Inuyasha screamed, finally snapping. "I just don't understand why you let him treat you like he did!"

"Again, dog, why do you care?"

"Because I can't stand to see you in pain like this! Please… Just… Talk to me? Help me to understand?"

"You can't possibly," Koga protested, his resolve wavering at the tone of the other man's voice.

But he knew that he couldn't trust him. They were enemies.

He shivered as he felt a gentle hand touch his arm, looking up into Inuyasha's soft, golden eyes.

"Try. Please?"

"I… I care about him. I need him," he confessed compulsively.

"I think… That I could love him. I want to love him. But… He doesn't love me. I'm just his plaything. I know that, but it doesn't change my feelings. I don't know… If he can love. He's so cold… It's not good for me. I need someone… Warm. Caring. Passionate. Someone… Who will tell me that they love me. Who won't care if I make noise, or cry out their name during sex. Who would want me to do so. Can you understand that?"

"Perfectly," Inuyasha said truthfully, confusing Koga further when he held out his hand. "May I have your permission to try to win your heart myself?"

Koga went very still, his eyes widening in shock and filling with moisture, a faint blush tingeing his cheeks as he looked away.

"If this is some sort of sick joke," he said softly, his voice filled with his intense pain. "Then please don't- I can't take any more pain…"

"It's not a joke. Please?"

Koga sighed, reaching out to take his hand in his, shaking it.

"Alright. Just… Please don't hurt me…"

Inuyasha nodded, pulling him closer by his hand to brush his lips against his gently, tenderly, trying to heal him, I only a little for now.

"I promise…" he whispered softly, pulling back from the kiss, but not away from him.

Koga was looking up at him with a dazed look in his eyes, panting slightly.

"Wow…"

"What is it?"

"I just never thought that you would be the one to give me my first kiss…"

Inuyasha blinked at that, stunned at his confession, kissing him again gently, briefly.

"Yeah, wow…"


Ginta and Hokaku were standing guard at the entrance to the Tribe's cave, their slightly-bored expressions turning to shock as Koga came into view, followed by Inuyasha.

They walked up, Koga turning to face them.

"Was everything alright when I was away?"

"Yes," Ginta answered him.

"No problems at all," Hokaku added quickly.

"Good. I'm going to go sleep for a while then."

"Umm… Koga?" Hokaku said.

"Yes? What is it?"

"Why is Inuyasha with you?"

"That's not really any of your concern, but he is here to talk to me about something."

"What?"

"That's definitely not any of your concern. It's not about the Tribe. All you need to know is that you are to let him in and out of the cave whenever he wants. Is that understood?"

"But, Koga-"

"Is that understood?"

"Yes."

"Good."

They watched as their leader and Inuyasha went inside the cave in confusion and concern.


Inuyasha followed Koga into a side-cave that was several feet from the entrance of the big cave, watching him sit down on his bed of leaves on the floor, moving to sit beside him.

"So, I guess your Tribe doesn't know about your former-arrangement with Sesshomaru?"

"No, and I have to ask you not to tell them. They wouldn't understand, and they wouldn't respect me anymore. They might even choose a new leader to take my place…"

"Would that be such a bad thing?"

"I don't know. Maybe not. But I can't handle any more change right now.

I'm barely holding on as it is. Inuyasha?…"

"Yes?"

"Were you serious about wanting to… To be with me?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I don't know, Koga, but… When I saw what he did to you… It made me so angry… It wouldn't have bothered my so much if I didn't feel something for you, right?"

"I don't know either. I don't have any answers, Inuyasha. But, I do know this, if anger is all you feel, then you shouldn't do this. This, I'm, not a let's try it and see if it works out type thing. If you win my heart, it's forever. Wolves mate for life. If you think what Sesshomaru does to me is bad… It's nothing compared to what would happen if you made me fall for you and then grew bored and left me. It would destroy me completely… So… Just make sure that it's what you want…"

"It is," he answered firmly, moving closer to Koga and pulling him into his arms, pressing a quick kiss to his lips and guiding him down to lay on the bed of leaves, holding him close and whispering in his ear softly."And I'll prove it to you, no matter how long it takes…"

"I'm looking forward to that," Koga said, smiling and snuggling closer against him, both of them falling asleep quickly in each other's arms.