Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha (Rumiko Takahashi-san and Viz Media do), but if I did, I think I would have made Kōga and Ayame both ~12 yrs old for the lunar rainbow episode when he promises to marry her because that was kind of weird.

A/N: I am so grateful for the reviews on these stories and am overjoyed that so many people have read my entries! I will be posting a Kohaku chapter on Friday and hope to have all the entries after that posted on time as well. If anyone has a request for one of the free days, please comment or PM me. Please enjoy this chapter (but let me know if you don't)!

DAY 9

Kōga + Co: Jealousy (Part 3)

Kōga raced ahead of his companions, the Sacred Jewel shards increasing his speed. Kagome was just over the next hill. "Why don't you do something about it then." Kōga recalled his taunt from last week, hoping Inuyasha would take it to heart. He didn't desire Kagome anymore, but he counted her as a friend and he cared about her happiness. She deserved the hanyō's honesty.

What should I do this week? I really should have planned ahead. Maybe I can track them down later and present Kagome with a wild boar? I could always ask her to marry me again. Or act like I'm going to carry her off? No, bad idea - I don't feel like dying, especially if it's mutt-face killing me!

"Kagome!" He called out to her as he approached. "I missed you!"

"Hi Kōga," she said when he stood in front of her.

The hanyō stood a little closer to her than he usually did, but he only rolled his eyes. Ginta and Hakkaku caught up and stood off to the side, ready to be entertained by Kōga's latest attempts at wooing the miko.

"How are you doing, my beautiful flower?" Kōga laid it on thick. Inuyasha's lack of reaction unnerved him, but he plowed on. "Has the mangy dog been taking care of you properly?" Kōga grasped her hands, hoping for a dramatic effect.

Kagome pulled her hands from his grasp. "I've been fine, Kōga, but it's nice to see a friend like you again. I've actually been meaning to talk to you," Kagome hesitated. She really wasn't good at saying no or letting people down. "I, uh, I've been thinking about last week…"

No, no, no! That was supposed to push her and the idiot closer together. Please, Great Ancestors, don't let her accept my offer!

"... and I realized that maybe I was leading you on all this time, and I'm really sorry, but I only think of you as a friend, Kōga, and I really wish you'd stop calling me your woman because I'm not and it's starting to make me feel really uncomfortable," she finished in a nervous rush.

Praise the kami! Thank you ancestors! But how do I get mutt-face to make a move now?

"Oh dear Kagome, how you wound me," Kōga declared, going for broke, "I would love and cherish you for the rest of our lives, not a day would go by where I wouldn't tell you just how beautiful and appreciated you are! Your presence would fill me and my people with joy and our children would fill the dens! I would treat you so much better than mutt-face ever could!" Please don't kill me.

"Just what the hell is wrong with you," Inuyasha asked, shoving Kōga away from Kagome. "Do you not know what 'no' means? What's next? Kidnapping her again?"

"Why don't you do something about it then," Kōga repeated his challenge. "Do you wish she was your woman, instead of mine?"

"Kagome doesn't belong to anyone, she's not some possession to be won!" Inuyasha took a swipe at Kōga and he leapt out of the way.

"Yeah, because she's obviously not yours," Kōga pushed his luck, "but maybe you want her to be."

"If that's the only way to make you back the fuck off," Inuyasha snarled, "then fine, Kagome is my woman! We're together and you lost!"

"Finally," Kōga exclaimed and everyone looked confused. "I've been trying to get you to admit your feeling for Kagome for forever, but you're just so damn stupid that I was worried it would never happen!"

"So, if I understand correctly," Miroku said, stepping closer to them but not foolish enough to step between them, "Kōga does not actually wish to win Kagome's heart and this was all just a poor attempt at matchmaking on his part?"

"Yes," Kōga admitted.

"What the hell is wrong with you," Inuyasha asked again.

"It worked, didn't it," Kōga asked slyly.

"Keh, whatever."

Kagome elbowed Inuyasha. "I think it worked, Kōga-kun. Without your efforts, I don't think Inuyasha would have ever understood how I felt when he ran off to see Kikyō."

"Don't give him all the credit, Kagome," Inuyasha protested, but there was no fire behind his words, "you deserve some too. I mean, if you never admitted to being jealous…"

"You wouldn't have poured your heart out to me, yeah I know," Kagome said, smiling at Inuyasha, "and I definitely wouldn't be doing this." She stretched up on her toes and kissed him.

"I believe my work here is done; maybe you'll thank me later, mutt-face," he said, grinning wickedly, "maybe you'll even invite me to the wedding!"

"Can we come too," Hakkaku asked. "I love weddings!"

"I can't believe you've been playing with Ayame's heart this whole time just to get these two together," Ginta exclaimed. He was not pleased. "Why didn't you tell us about this before? We could have helped, ya know."

"Ayame will forgive me," Kōga declared confidently, "besides, I wanted to make her chase me."

"That's still not very nice," Ginta retorted. "I hope you plan to treat Ayame's feelings with more care in the future."

"Yeah, if you don't, then maybe she'll find someone else," Hakkaku chimed in. "You really didn't think of her feelings at all."

"We were only kids when I made that promise! I don't even know her that well."

"Then maybe you should get to know her," Hakkaku countered, "because Ayame is really great and she deserves your honesty."

"I will, after I've killed Naraku and avenged our fallen brothers!"

"Speaking from experience," Inuyasha cut in, "waiting until 'after Naraku' is a stupid idea." He smirked and put his arm around Kagome, pulling her even closer to him.

"Why would I take advice from an idiot like you?!"

"He does have a point," Hakkaku insisted, undeterred by Kōga's temper.

As the wolves fell into a bickering match, Sango commented to Miroku, "I really hope he doesn't try to make a career out of matchmaking…"

"That would surely be disastrous," Miroku replied as his hand wandered yet again.