Disclaimer: See Chapter One

Legend:

'……' thoughts

"……" speech

Enter the Wolf's Den

By: wolf demoness

Chapter Twelve: See Clearly, But For the Dark

After that first day the pair established a system. Inuyasha knew that he was too ill to go off on his own so he would wait for Koga to come home in the afternoons and they would go for a very short walk before Koga had to get back to ruling his pack. They would go to the tree stump outside Koga's front door or, when the hanyou was feeling a little better, they would walk down to a nearby grouping of boulders overlooking a cliff edge. They never ranged far afield, but Inuyasha was happy to be outside and was increasingly frustrated with his prolonged convalescence. Koga eventually got the silver haired young man to open up to him and tell him about his last few months in Kaede's village. There were a lot of issues that the demon had to work through. His friends turning on him had been the final offense in a long chain of insults and casual disregard from his family and the world in general that had convinced the hanyou to give up utterly and completely.

It was amazing what a change of environment can do though. Not having to deal with the humans who'd betrayed him and being around the wolf demon tribe was slowly bringing the hanyou out of the depression he'd fallen into. Seeing that Inuyasha was cheering their leader up and still being grateful for his help in defeating the Birds of Paradise the wolf demons made it a point to make the hanyou feel welcome in the den. Ginta and Inuyasha became especially close after Ginta offered to lend the hanyou some books, to help alleviate the hanyou's boredom while he was confined to bed. After Inuyasha finished one of the books the two would talk about it and Inuyasha slowly began to trust Ginta. Really, what else did he have to do? It was just nice to have another person to talk to, not that Koga wasn't around, but lately he felt uncomfortable around the wolf, he wasn't sure why. Koga had been a rival and an enemy so long that he had an easier time opening up to Ginta, who had been fairly neutral in every confrontation the half demon had had with the wolf. Inuyasha had nothing against Ginta, he seemed like a decent warrior and an all around good guy. He was honest at least, as far as Inuyasha could tell anyway. The silver haired demon eventually began to ask Ginta about the wolf demon tribe.

Koga, for his part, was glad to hear of it. It was encouraging, seeing the half demon take an interest in something rather than just waiting in bed to get well or for someone to tell him to leave. Koga suspected that the hanyou was wary of all the help he was receiving and was waiting for the other shoe to drop, so to speak. His conversations with Ginta were also the way that he came to understand the pressure that Koga was under to preserve the rapidly decreasing wolf tribe. Lone wolves were arriving everyday asking to join the last pack that remained. But even these new arrivals couldn't offset the number of wolves lost in demon attacks and to Naraku's minions. Too few cubs were being born these days and every mated wolf was under pressure to produce children. Since it was not the nature of wolves to mate for any other reason that love the Council would never dream of encouraging mating within the tribe, but the urgency they felt for their situation transformed itself into pressure upon the one wolf who could be coerced into mating. The Council pursued the naming of Koga's next chosen with all the fervor of a pack of zealots.

Inuyasha was sympathetic, he understood what it felt like to be forced to do things you didn't like, and soon Koga found that they got on rather well together. The inuyoukai was able to provide another perspective on the wolf's problems. An opinion that was especially valuable because Inuyasha had no political agenda that he was trying to encourage Koga to follow. He gave astute unbiased advice that often time's was not feasible, no matter how much Koga liked the sound of it. An example that Koga especially liked was to walk into the Council chamber and stuff the scroll of names down the throat of the first Councilor he saw. Fun? Yes. Satisfying? Yes. Politically suicidal? Yes. But it was fun to think about doing it anyway.

Eventually the two became close enough to be comfortably called friends. The half demon was nearly back to his old sarcastic, moody self, but Inuyasha did retain the easy way of making friends that he'd gained over the last few months. Koga began to hurry home every day to take the hanyou on a walk. Once when Koga was unable to get away for the midday meal he asked Ginta to help Inuyasha take a short walk, to which he readily agreed, but Ginta returned not ten minutes after leaving. Koga cast a questioning look at Ginta when he entered the room. Ginta shrugged noncommittally and took his place on the chamber floor next to Alpha. When the Council meeting was over Koga asked Ginta what had happened to make him return so early.

"He wanted to wait for you," Ginta said.

"What?"

"He said that he wanted to wait for you."

Koga walked home that night trying to figure out what that meant. He did enjoy being with the half demon; maybe Inuyasha wasn't just in it for the fresh air either. It was late, but Koga was determined to take Inuyasha out if he was up to it, the stars were especially bright tonight. Koga looked up into the night sky as he walked to his den. He had the strangest feeling that he was forgetting something. When he got home Koga went to Inuyasha's room. The Alpha wolf felt a slight pang of disappointment when he saw that there was no light coming from the hanyou's bedchamber. Inuyasha must have gone to sleep early. Deciding to get something to eat before turning in for the night, Koga padded down the hall to the cooking area and made himself a small dinner before walking to his own room. When he got into the room he lit the oil lamp by his bedside with a candle he'd brought from the kitchen.

"Took you long enough," said a voice coming from the middle of the bed. Koga whirled around his hand going to the hilt of his sword. "You must be tired. You're reaction time's crap today," Inuyasha observed from his position sitting up in the middle of the bed, wounded leg stretched out in front of him, arms folded across his chest.

Koga stared at the human sitting in the middle of his bed. "I forgot," he said.

"I figured as much when you didn't come home this afternoon."

"Did you walk in here by yourself?" Koga asked.

"Yeah," the human gave a crooked smile as if he was amused by some private joke. "I thought it would be weird to ask Ginta to drop me off in your bedroom and all. Might give him ideas."

Koga sighed, "Let me see your leg." Inuyasha shifted the wounded limb toward the wolf and pulled his pants down just enough to display the bandages, but not low enough to damage his dignity. The normally white gauze had a rusty red stain on his upper thigh. Koga moaned when he imagined what Yuuka would have to say to him when she got back.

"I know. We're both dead men. Who do you think she'll kill first you or me?"

"Me. Definitely," Koga said as he began to unwrap the bandages. "She'll wait for you to get better before she kills you."

"Quick death?" Inuyasha asked as he watched the demon wash his wounds from a bowl of water on his nightstand and replace the bandages on his leg with fresh gauze and linen.

Koga snorted, "You wish. Actually, I wish." The wolf demon paused a moment before asking, "Why did you come in here?"

"I didn't think anyone would barge into your room without you being here."

"How did you know that this was my room?" Koga asked, gently smoothing the linen over the top and inside of the human's creamy white thigh. He tried to concentrate on what he was doing and not the soft and silky skin beneath his fingers that radiated such delicious warmth. Had he ever felt anything so warm and yielding, Koga wondered. Beneath the satiny skin were powerful muscles, that offered a hard resistance, barley felt by a delicate touch. The dichotomy of the limb was fascinating to the Alpha and he was momentarily startled when the other male answered his recent, but long forgotten question.

"Your scent's all over this room," Inuyasha cocked his head to the side as he watched Koga tie off the end of the new bandage, wondering if the light blush that covered the wolf's cheeks was actually there or simply a trick of the dark on his weaker human eyes. Inuyasha, not for the first time, cursed his human blood. He couldn't trust his eyes, but wouldn't it become interesting if the wolf really were blushing?

Koga reluctantly drew his hands from the dark haired human, his task completed. "I always thought humans couldn't smell very well," he said casually trying to cover his embarrassment, thoroughly confused by the emotions the half demon brought out in him.

"Can barely smell anything."

"Then how…"

The hanyou interrupted the wolf and said, "I've been in here since Ginta left."

"Then you must be hungry. I'll be right back." Koga took his candle and went back into the kitchen to make the hanyou a plate. He quickly selected the choicest bits of meat from the roast deer he'd just finished feasting on himself. As an after thought he grabbed a loaf of sweet bread that Hakakku's mate had made especially for him, knowing how much he liked her sweet breads and wanting to cheer him up from all the current unpleasantness he'd been dealing with in Council.

"Thank you," Inuyasha said when he received the plate filled with food from Koga.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure," the human said around a mouthful of roast deer.

"Why didn't you go out with Ginta today?" The dark haired human mumbled something under his breath in response. "What?"

"I said that I wanted to go with you," the human glared at the other side of the room.

"Oh," Koga was stunned. The hanyou wanted him there?

"Hmmm," the hanyou shrugged and went back to eating his dinner. "Sit down."

"What?" Koga asked still trying to process the events of the last few minutes.

"Don't just stand there like an idiot. Sit down," Inuyasha gave a careless wave toward the empty space on the bed next to him. Not knowing what else to do Koga sat next to the dark haired man. He watched the human eat from a few moments, suddenly feeling very awkward. Nervously the Alpha wolf stretched his legs out and settled his back against the bed's headboard. Trying to act as if he didn't notice the wolf fidgeting next to him, Inuyasha finished his meal and reached over to place the plate on the nightstand opposite him. Then he took a deep breath as if he were bracing himself for something and leaned back until he was lying full against Koga, resting his head on the wolf's chest. Koga waited a few moments, hardly daring to breath, before he slowly lifted his arms to encircle the dark haired man's waist, being careful of the human's injuries. They stayed that way until the sun rose and the young demon lord's hair bleached silver and his eyes returned to their golden yellow color.

When the sun had risen full in the window, Koga looked down to see that Inuyasha had fallen asleep sometime during the night. Carefully he lifted the demon into his arms and carried him back to his room. He checked the bandages on the demon's leg and left a basket of food for the hanyou when he awoke before going to the river for a quick bath. It wouldn't do to walk into the Council chamber smelling of Inuyasha and humans, especially with all the fuss over his next chosen. If the Councilors even thought he was looking at a male demon there'd be hell to pay.

******

That afternoon when Koga arrived home he saw that the half demon hadn't woken yet and the basket of food remained untouched. Feeling the hanyou's forehead he swore when he realized that the half demon was running a temperature. Immediately checking the reopened wound Koga saw that the bandage was stained with blood and the flesh around the wound was red and swollen. Some swelling was normal as the body tried to heal, but this was too much. Koga didn't need Yuuka to tell him that an infection was setting in. There was also what looked like a bruise forming on the hanyou's thigh. Koga wondered if the silver haired demon had fallen on his way to his room last night, which would certainly have reopened the wound.

"Koga?" a weak voice called.

"I'm here," he moved up to where he could meet the hanyou's eyes.

The hanyou smiled up at the wolf and asked, "Bad?"

"No, just needs some medicine and you'll be fine," the wolf reassured the hanyou.

"M'kay," Inuyasha sighed and closed his eyes again. Soon his breathing became deep and even.

"Damn it," Koga swore quietly before setting off to find Ginta. He found his second in command sparring with a youth on the training field. "Ginta!" Koga called as he ran up to the wolf.

"What's wrong Koga?" the soft-spoken young demon asked.

"Inuyasha's running a fever and one of his wounds has reopened."

"I'll get what I need from Yuuka's hut and meet you there," with that Ginta sped off the training fields.

Koga watched him go before directing his gaze at the young wolf Ginta had been training with, "Go to the Council chamber. Tell the Councilors that the evening meeting has been canceled."

"Right away, sir," the young demon sped off to relay the message to the elders. Koga watched him go before running at full speed back to his home. Ginta arrived moments later and began treating the hanyou's injury.

Ginta did the best he could, but as the hours passed Inuyasha's fever grew higher, the bruise on his leg darkened, and the wound became obviously infected. The wolves could smell the odor of spoilage that accompanied such infections reeking from the wounded demon's leg. After scarcely a day and a half Ginta came to Koga and told him that the infection was beyond his skill to heal. Koga agonized for a couple hours over what to do, but at last he decided to bring the high priestess Kaede to the den. She was the most skilled healer in the area and if her got her himself he could have her here in less than four days. That was too long though, he reasoned. Inuyasha might not last so long. Eventually Koga remembered that there was a group of hawks to the north that owed him a favor, he'd been hoping to call that favor in on securing trade routes through their territory. It would greatly benefit the pack, but if he sent one of his men to retrieve the priestess the hawk could have them both back before nightfall. There was really no other way to help the hanyou. And Koga didn't want the demon to die.

The mere thought of it sent chills down his spine and his instincts told him that it wasn't right. He felt that he should do everything in his power to help the demon. The Alpha was confused. Why should he feel such loyalty to the hanyou? Inuyasha was not a member of his pack. Yes, at first Koga felt he had a responsibility to the silver haired demon because it was his woman that had put the demon's life in peril. But, Kagome wasn't his woman anymore, was she? And even if she were his responsibility for her actions only went so far. He'd repaid his debt, hadn't he? Yes, he knew he had. Why then should he bother with the hanyou? What benefit to the pack was there in saving this demon's life? The trade route would bring them wealth, comfort, and weapons to ensure their safety in these dangerous times. He should honor his pack and strive only for their betterment, but he didn't want the demon to die. It was unbearable. The hawks, Koga thought, it was worth a try.

After some haggling, Koga arranged passage for one wolf and the priestess with the hawk leader. The Alpha wolf sent Hakkaku with the demon bird to bring the old woman back to the den. Now all he could to do was wait. And standing on that mountaintop, watching as the powerful bird lifted into the sky, he knew that he'd just performed the first selfish thing he'd ever done in his reign over his people. Was he any better than the old wolf he'd deposed, he wondered. At that moment he truly didn't know.

******

The high priestess Kaede was saying goodbye to the children she tutored in their letters when she felt a strange presence in the air. The old woman walked out into the field that surrounded her house in time to see a giant bird fly overhead. As the bird began to circle over head she saw Kagome, Sango, and Miroku run up to stand between her and the landing demon. As soon as the animal touched ground a wolf demon leapt from its back and ran to kneel in front of the old woman.

"Priestess Kaede, the Wolf Demon Tribe of the East, humbly asks your assistance. Your skill as a healer is known throughout the land. We humbly ask you to ply your trade, a demon in our pack is fatally ill and our healer is unable to aid him. Koga, Alpha male of the Eastern tribe, requests that you come immediately to our den and minister the fallen demon. He guarantees your safe travel to and back from the den and promises to reward you richly for your help," the wolf demon finished his rather formal speech and waited for the Lady's response.

"Koga, seriously?" Kagome asked.

"A most strange request," the monk mused as he studied the kneeling demon.

"Yes. I've never heard of a wolf demon asking a human for help," Sango agreed.

"But guys, its Koga," Kagome said. "Of course he'd ask for our help. He's our friend."

"I don't know Kagome..." Miroku began to say.

"Enough!" the priestess Kaede cut off the human's deliberation. "I will go with you to tend your friend."

"Really? You will?" the demon looked up hopefully, momentarily forgetting the formalities. "Thank you, Lady. We're all very worried about him."

"I'm sure you are. Now come young man," the priestess waved for the demon to rise and follow her. "I must gather my things and you must tell me what ails this demon you speak of."

Hakkaku swiftly began to follow the woman back to her hut detailing the symptoms of Inuyasha's illness. The old woman gathered her things into a small satchel and donned the cloak Inuyasha had made for her to protect her from the chill of the long flight. She wondered how the hanyou was. She'd never gotten to thank him for this lovely cloak. A few days after the party Kagome had confessed to fighting with the hanyou that night. Everyone assumed that the argument drove the demon off, but he'd never been gone so long before. It was now nearing seven weeks since the hanyou had left the village. They all wanted him to come back soon. It seems that some things are most sorely missed when they are gone.

When the old woman was seated onto the hawk, Miroku, Sango, and Kagome ran up with their traveling things. "We're going with you, Kaede," Kagome smiled up at the old woman.

"My orders are to bring back no one other than the priestess," Hakkaku said. He hoped this wouldn't be a problem, Koga said it might. And he'd be damned to the lowest circle of hell before he brought that traitorous human bitch within ten miles of the hanyou while he was injured.

"What? Why?" Kagome asked puzzled.

"The hawk can not carry that much weight and no one but the priestess is invited into the den," Hakkaku explained as respectfully as he could, keeping his anger so firmly in check that he could feel the bile rising in his throat. It sickened him to have to deal with this woman; he would love to pay her back for everything she'd done to Inuyasha and to Koga. However, Hakkaku was observant enough to realize that hurling recriminations at the human was not the fastest way to bring the priestess to the den and therefore would not aid his friend. There was very little time to loose and aside from all that it was not his place to deal with the Miko. Koga would or Inuyasha, when they got around to it. It wasn't his place to interfere in their affairs.

"Wolves are very secretive about their lairs," Sango said.

"What if just I went? I'm sure the hawk could carry me and Koga won't mind if I come for a visit," Kagome asked.

"Lady Kagome you are banned from the den of the wolf demons and Koga has revoked his claim on you. You are not welcome in our lands and for your own safety I suggest you stay away. Koga has ordered that you are not to be harmed, but there are plenty of wolves angry enough with you to temporarily forget his orders." Ginta tried to maintain control over his voice, but he knew he was unsuccessful when the last part came out as a low growl in the back of his throat.

"Is that a threat?" Miroku stepped forward.

"No, I am merely warning the Lady so that nothing bad will happen to her." Hakkaku turned to the priestess and took several deep breaths before continuing, "Please, Lady. He hangs between life and death. Might we go?"

"Yes. But I expect some answers from your leader when we arrive." The wolf nodded and jumped onto the hawk's back, making ready to take off.

"Wait! Why has Koga banned me from his lands?" Kagome yelled.

"You should know that already," Hakkaku snarled and kicked the hawk into flight.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N:

1) Yes, I know, I made Inuyasha sick again. Gomen nasai, but we really are on the home stretch I promise and I do have a reason for the puppy to be passed out, but you have to read the next chapter to find out what that is. ~_^

2) Aren't I evil for what I just did to Kagome? Mwahahahaha

3) Happy belated birthday Letta!