DISCLAIMER: I don't own Inuyasha (though I wish I did). So don't you dare sue me!

CHAPTER 1: Demons will be Demons

"Inuyasha!" Kagome shrieked shrilly for about the fifth time, this time hitting a pitch Inuyasha didn't think possible. Ears twitching, the furious half-demon reeled on the annoying girl, his lips curled into a snarl. "What is it!!?" he cried viciously.

Kagome's eyes clenched shut as she pointed to the cause of her fear. "Get the spider!!"

Inuyasha's shoulders fell as he sighed in defeat, and he began to mutter angrily under his breath as he walked toward the spider that was no bigger than Myoga.

Kouga slumped against the cliff, savoring the peaceful sound of nature at work. He listened to the waterfall's gentle roar and felt its friendly mist tickle his face as it mingled with the breeze; he caught the whiff of spring's flowers and aromas. And suddenly, he found that his thoughts began to drift off to a certain girl. The wolf chuckled softly. I wonder what Kagome's doing right now.

Surely she was the kind of woman that would stop and marvel at the spring's magnificence, right? He loved the way she could be so loving and gentle, yet at the same time, courageous and daring, exactly what he wanted in his woman. The memory of her hand flying across his left cheek swam back to him, causing him to smile in admiration. Before her, no one had ever dared done what she'd done, and this made her bravery stand out like a wolf in a dog-tribe.

Speaking of dog . . .

An image of Inuyasha clouded over Kagome's, and Kouga growled subconsciously. That stupid puppy. Dammit! What can she possibly see in him? That idiotic, mutt-faced—

He paused a moment as his ears perked up at a sound that was definitely not the birds. He continued to listen until his eyes widened in realizationA scream. A faint, bloodcurdling scream. And he knew that voice anywhere.

"Kagome!!"

"SIT BOY!!!" Kagome hovered over Inuyasha, fists clenched at her sides.

"What the hell was that for!!" Inuyasha yelled, his voice muffled into the soft dirt of the hut floor. "I killed the damn spider!"

"Yeah! And right onto my favorite summer outfit I was gonna wear tomorrow! Look at this!"

The devastated school girl grabbed a handful of cloth of the outfit and held it in the air, revealing an all too noticeable stain.

"Look, did you want me to kill the spider or not?!"

"Not on my outfit!!! You—,"

"Kagome!!"

Oh no.

In the blink of an eye, Inuyasha was on his feet, his face positioned with such hatred and loathing that Kagome knew that it could only be one person (well...demon...you know what I mean).

Kouga burst through the cloth door, a look of determination and anger written on his features as his eyes roamed the room and landed on a very confused Kagome. In a flash, he stood before her, his hands tightly clasping each shoulder and his eyes scanning her body for wounds.

Meanwhile, a dumbfounded Inuyasha was obviously taking in the awkward scene in an entirely different way. What the—? "H-hey," he stammered hesitantly, "s-sto—, STOP THAT!!!" Clumsily, he dashed foward, using his claws in a desperate attempt to pry Kouga's hands from Kagome's shoulders. "What do you think you're doin', you pervert!?"

The accusation flew over the demon's head unnoticed as he stood back in confusion, regarding Kagome with raised eyebrows. "Why did you scream, Kagome?"

Kagome blinked a few times before her cheeks turned a bright red in guilt. Though before she had a chance to explain, more company arrived.

"Lady Kagome! Inuyasha!" came the monk's alert and worried voice. "I sensed a demon outside but I cannot tell whether or not it's Naraku's aura! I suggest we leave right now before..."

Miroku paused as he entered with Sango and Shippou to find Kouga standing in front of Kagome with a fuming Inuyasha positioned beside them. "A little late there, aren't you, monk?" Sango scolded him from behind.

Perched safely on the demon-slayer's shoulder, Shippou nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Miroku, you're terrible at guard duty."

Inuyasha broke the silence with a scoff and turned his back on Kagome, folding his arms tightly. "Well, Kagome, go ahead, tell wolfboy why you screamed bloody murder."

He'd known Kagome long enough to know that telling Kouga that he raced all the way there just because she'd gotten a stain on her shirt would make her cheeks go hot with embarrassment.

Kagome forced a smile and laughed nervously. "Oh, Kouga, it was really nothing. I...er...he just...um..." How embarrassing—.

Inuyasha smirked to himself. Victory!

"What did that mutt do to you this time?" Kouga asked sternly while his mouth formed a hard frown.

Inuyasha's face fell. Swiftly, he spun around to glare at the wolf. "What do you mean, 'What did I do?'" he snapped to defend himself. "She's mad because she got a stupid little stain on her summer outfit!"

An awkward silence followed.

Inuyasha waited impatiently for Kouga to erupt, only to have his hope diminished to disappointment when it didn't come. He was absolutely appalled when instead, Kouga rushed by him to close the distance between him and Kagome. "Well then, since I'm already here," he began slyly, holding her hands in his, "I might as well see how my Kagome's been doing."

How could he just forgive her so easily like that? She had made him worry for no reason! He knew if she cried wolf to him, he would be nowhere even close to being that forgiving! He'd never understand either of them.

Kagome smiled again as she pushed herself away from Kouga's iron grip, both relieved and surprised that he let her go so easily. At the same time, Inuyasha snapped out of his pondering as he prepared to tell the annoying wolf off.

"What's been going on?" asked a curious Shippou, not following the situation at all.

Inuyasha turned to the bewildered little fox. "Nothin' at all, brat," he sneered, "Kouga was just leaving."

Kouga bared his fangs as an intimidating growl rumbled deeply from his chest. "Who are you to tell me when I can and cannot visit Kagome? Huh? After all," he added, raising his chin in pride, "she's my mate."

Like a mirror image, Inuyasha duplicated the other demon's challenging growl, moving his hand to settle on the hilt of the Tetsusaiga. "For the last time," he stated in a low dangerous voice, his eyes narrowing, "Kagome is not your mate!"

Feeling greatly uncomfortable, Kagome swept up to stand between the two children, interrupting the growing momentum of hatred in the room. "Guys! Guys!" she cried cheerfully, desperate to soften the mood. "Relax! We really don't need you guys fighting right now, okay?"

"I agree with Lady Kagome," Miroku stated while nodding. "With Naraku nearby, it would be wise to focus on our goal, instead of quarreling needlessly."

The two opponents continued to keep eye contact another moment, before reluctantly deciding to relax. "Heh. They just know I'd kick the crap outta you...stupid puppy," Kouga muttered smugly under his breath.

Inuyasha's ears twitched in irritation, his acute hearing catching the offensive words. "Arrgghh!! THAT'S IT!!" he declared as he drew the Tetsusaiga from its sheathe. "YOU'RE GOIN' DOW—!!"

"Inuyasha! Sit!!"

"—NNNNN," the battle cry was finished painfully as her command halted him in midair and sent his body careening into the ground. Dammit. Why does she always have to do that?

"So...um...how've you been, Kouga?" Kagome asked lightly, deciding to put the situation in the hut behind her.

Kouga looked down at her and returned her grin. "Actually, me and my tribe are doin' pretty well," he replied cheerfully. "That is, considering there's still an empty spot by my side needing to filled."

The last part Kagome caught a little late, but when she realized what he meant, she once again felt her cheeks grow warm and found she was at a loss for words. If it weren't for Inuyasha interrupting at that moment, she probably would have said something totally stupid.

"Hey, Kagome! Your stuff packed yet?" Inuyasha called as he stepped out of the hut. "We're leavin' now!"

Kagome sighed as she could still notice the hidden malice in his words. Knowing Inuyasha as she did, he'd probably continue to hold a grudge against her for at least a couple more days. Aware of this knowledge, she wearily lugged her bag over her shoulder as Inuyasha approached her.

Meanwhile, the wolf prince cursed silently. Damn! Any time I finally get to be alone with Kagome, that stupid puppy has to come along. He watched with agitation as the half-breed approached his woman casually, a look of dull anger still in his eyes from the earlier situation.

"Actually Inuyasha," Kagome began, the energy suddenly drained from her voice, "I'm gonna head back home for awhile."

Inuyasha's eyes grew wide in shock. "Back home? But—,"

"You're going back home, Kagome?" Sango queried as she made her way to stand next to a confused Inuyasha along with the rest of the gang. "Do you think that's a good idea with Naraku so close by?"

Kagome gave a tired smile. "Well, I have to go home because SOMEONE," the sudden emphasis caused Inuyasha to cower back slightly, "messed up the outfit I was gonna wear tomorrow. So I gotta go home and wash it. And besides," she shrugged, "I thought I'd just stay there awhile to, you know, catch up on school work and stuff like that."

Kouga couldn't suppress the smirk that threatened his lips as he reveled in seeing the cocky half-breed cower in fear of Kagome. His smirk faded though when he suddenly thought about something Kagome had just said. "Exactly...where do you live, Kagome?" He couldn't believe he'd never thought about it before. He'd always assumed she'd lived in a normal village, but then again, what kind of village wore that kind of clothing?

"Oh!" exclaimed Kagome, shaking her head mentally. How could I have forgotten? Poor Kouga. He has no idea that I live in a totally different era. He's probably been lost during this whole conversation. "Um..." How do I explain this? "I live in the Bone Eater's Well."

Dumbfounded, Kouga merely stared blankly at his mate. To be completely honest, he didn't know what to say. Good goin', Kagome snapped to herself, now he thinks you're crazy. "Look," she giggled lightly while waving her hands innocently in front of her, "it's a really long story, and I'm just too beat to explain right now."

"Ah, that's okay," Kouga assured her, waving his hand in dismissal.

Inuyasha didn't like to be ignored. "Well that's fine with me!" he lied. "Maybe when you're gone, we'll finally get some peace and quiet!" Then in an almost uncharacteristic manner, he turned on his heels and stomped off in the opposite direction

Kouga and the gang turned to Kagome and watched in fascination as her face reddened in rising anger. Of course they all knew what was coming, but frankly felt that it was Inuyasha's own fault. "SIT!!" Over the grunts and groans of pain, Kagome spoke loudly and distinctly. "Sometimes I really think that you'll never grow up, Inuyasha!" And with that, she turned on her heel as well, and continued into the woods without looking back

"Wow, Inuyasha," Sango spoke with sarcastic surprise, "three sits in one day. You're on a roll."

"Spare me!" came the mumbled response as the dog-demon struggled to pick himself off the ground.

They stared after her a moment longer, waiting for her body to disappear from view, when Kouga decided that was his cue. "Well, see you humans later! I should probably be getting back to my pack."

Before they could even say good-bye, he left them in the dust, sprinting into the woods as fast as his legs could carry him. But first, one tiny detour.

A/N: yeah, people, this is my first fanfic. Yeah!!! um...well, I don't know what else to say. So----I'll keep updating. (That was lame. Sorry 'bout that.)