Disclaimers Notice: No, nay, nope, nuh-uh, no way.

Authors Beginning Note: Sorry for the delayed update, but the computer had a virus!

Shout it outs!

Draechaeli- I love funny endings, they're my fave to write! I really like it when others find them funny too!

Angelprincess22- No one can!

shinna- Hmm...well, if nothing else, we do know one thing...it will be hystericle when it happens!

Rayame325- I'm glad you could review! Goodluck on your website too!

Valese- I'm glad you thought it to be so funny! I laughed too when I was writing it.

Animefreak808- Lol! That's a first.

Chapter 47

A Wolf's Decision

The wolves were gathered in their den, still organizing and talking over weather it was worth it to fight or not. Kouga listened impatiently. Nearly four days of talking, and still no agreement had been decided.

"I say we fight!" Said Chibu. His hair was unruly on his head and around his chin. He was strong, but didn't think things over.

"And I say we stay here. What will we accomplish in this fighting?" Arguments burst out from every direction. Some were neutral; others were all for fighting, and most were against it. Kouga stood up and left the den for a moment, unnoticed and looked out through the rain. Hoping for a sign. Anything that would help him.

Ayame sat under an area concealing her from the wetness that drizzled down and listened to her tribe discuss the matter over.

"But look how many we have lost already? If we fight this war, we will be extinct come the end of it!"

"And if we don't fight? Naraku will keep running us off. Even Kouga's territory will be attacked before long. What's more is that this area is scarce enough for wild game."

"Then we will keep moving."

"But..."

"If we fight, we die; we stay, we at least have a chance of life." A she wolf spoke. Ayame looked directly at her and knew, if she were to step down from her place as leader, that Sumi would have it.

"If we stay, we will die! With nothing to oppose Naraku, he will sweep us up in our small number and enslave us to do his evil work, or kill each other for a small bowl of rice! You saw what he did back at out home, what makes you think it would be any different now!" Ayame's blood boiled. She knew by instinct and knowledge that what she spoke was the truth. They all looked down in silence. Natsuko and Mariko seemed to squirm.

"All in favor of fighting." Said the old wolf Masanori. Ayame looked out among her numbers.

"All in favor of staying until we find other suitable living arrangements?" Everyone raised their hands, avoiding Ayame's eyes as best as they could.

"Then it is unanimous. We will not fight in this war." That was it. No one would fight. Ayame was angry, her blood rose to an impossible peak.

"You cowards! You pups! You flee from a fight were we are needed! You run away because you think you will be killed! You hide behind the fantasy that if Naraku wins, we will be spared!" Ayame spat on the ground. Some looked angry, and others ashamed.

"I will not run! I will fight! I may die, yes, but I will die an honorable death!"

"And what is honorable about fighting this Ayame? Has your love for Kouga blinded you so much, that you fling yourself into something you hardly understand?" One of the men spat. Ayame looked hurt for a moment, but brushed it aside, this matter is too important to let folly insults get in the way.

"The honor is in the fact of knowing that I fight for a just cause. I fight for you, me, and all others, so that we can one day be rid of Naraku. The honor is in knowing that what I am doing is right, regardless of any feelings I may or may not have for Kouga." Ayame said with feeling. Everyone was still in silence.

"Will anyone fight with me?" Ayame asked quietly, so soft that no human could hear, but all who had the hearing of a wolf undoubtedly knew what she said as if she had yelled.

Ayame's eyes welled up, not with anger, but with pity for her tribe and with defeat.

Where did I go wrong...Oh Grandfather...when you were leader...everything was right...but...now...why can't I make them see...what danger they put themselves in...

Ayame turned her back and steadily walked out of sight, none bothered to follow her.

Ginta and Hakkaku were running about the village everywhere. Even though all of the other warriors had left to fight, there was still much to do, and Keade was not shy about making them work.

Finally the two slumped backs to each other.

"My arms are aching."

"My legs are aching."

"My head is aching."

"My feet are aching."

"My gluteus is aching."

"Do you even know what a gluteus is."

"No but it's aching."

"How can something that doesn't exist ache?"

"It does to exist. Sister Kagome even said so!"

"She did not."

"Did too!"

"Not!"

"Enough you too. Come inside and eat, then off to bed. I have more chores for you in the morning." Keade shouted over their bickering from the doorway. The two slumped and groaned at the mention of more chores.

"Kouga! Where are you!"? The two whined in unison, before their stomachs rumbled, and they rushed off to eat.

Sango stretched out her body, working out the kinks and sore muscles she had conjured up that day. The monks may be holy men, but they knew how to fight, and Sango was thankful for it.

"Are you up for another spar?" Sango turned around and saw Miroku grinning. Seeing Sango stretch was definitely a pleasurable sight any time. Sango snorted, knowing his lecherous thoughts, but ignored it for the moment.

"So where have you been all day?"

"Do I dare ask, was my Sango worried about me?" He teased. Sango blushed.

"So are we going to spar or not?" She said changing the subject. Even though they were engaged, she still didn't know how to act towards Miroku when he was like that. Normally she would have slapped him, or knocked him unconscious, or denied every bit of it.

"Ready when you are." He grinned, setting himself in a fighter's stance. Sango did likewise and stood facing him.

"Let's have a bet, shall we?" Sango raised and eyebrow. Miroku raised his staff towards her, and she easily blocked it with Hiraikotsu, and pushed him back.

"If I win, I get to choose where our first official date is."

"And If I win you get to make dinner tonight." Sango threw Hiraikotsu at Miroku, who easily dodged it. Sango caught it with her left hand and with quick swiftness, placed it on her back.

"Deal." And the real fighting was on. Sango would throw a punch, and Miroku would block. Miroku would swing his bladed staff, and Sango would dodge. Both went on, not once holding back, and never once able to land so much as a bruise on the other. A crowd, which kept its distance, had accumulated to watch the combating duo. Even bets had been made among some of the demons, hand-to-hand combatants, and monks, on who would win.

The fight went on for quite some time. Sango's hair was caked to her face and clung to her neck with seat. Her clothes clung even more tightly, new blisters arose on her hands, and dust stuck to every part of her, causing her to invertantly lick grit every time she wetted her lips.

Miroku's hair was in a more disheaveled sight than ever, his rat-ponytail out, lost at one point during the fight, and hair sticking to his scalp. Dust clung to him too, as surely as his sweaty robes to his body. Sango was not the only one to go with blisters either, for he had acumulated his fair share on his hands and feet.

"Hiraikotsu!" Sango said throwing her boomerang, but not in the air, on the ground, which kicked up so much dust, many had to cover their eyes. When no one heard any movement from the sight of the couple, they new the fight was finished.

"Who won?"

"It was the girl."

"It couldn't have been.The monk was more agile, he could have easily dodged it."

"But the girl is just as swift, and strong too. Have you seen her weapon, let alone tried to pick it up?"

"But Miroku's staff..." Whispers and grunts went around the crowd until the dust began to settle. When it did, everyone looked in amazement.

Sango held her Katana at Miroku's throat.

Miroku held his staff at her throat.

It was a draw.

Both were panting heavily from their intense exercise.

"Well, my dearest Sango, I do believe we have found ourselves in a stale mate." Sango grinned. She felt tired, hungry, and dirty, but it was a good feeling. They both lowered their weapons and as tradition holds, shook hands out of good sportsman ship.

The crowd slowly disappeared, talking idly about who was to spar with whom the next day, challenges being made, ideas of food, and the previous match.

Sango rotated her shoulders, her neck, her waist, then went on to do some more simple stretches.

"Is something wrong?" Sango looked at Miroku who was staring off in the distance. He smiled at her.

"It's nothing." Sango cheeks flared.

"Liar." He looked slightly startled at her accusation, and sighed.

I should have known better...

"I was just thinking about the others. That's all." Sango's anger flooded out.

"I'm sure they're just fine. If Anything, Inuyasha is trailing Kagome, and Shippo can't be too far behind." Miroku nodded but he was still uneasy about something. He just couldn't place it.

"Lets get something to eat and rest. We have more walking to do tomorrow. Not to mention, we're going to have our fair share of sparing partners to deal with." Sango said walking over and resting a hand on his shoulder. Miroku grinned, and Sango's face went deadpan.

Smack!

"What was that for?"

"For groping me."

"I'm deeply wounded by such an accusation." Miroku feigned. Sango looked over her shoulder as she looked into his eyes.

"No you're not."

"But we're engaged!"

"So you admit to your leachery?"

"I...no...yes...but..."

Sango grinned a wild smirk at finally catching him admiting to what he did. Miroku stopped, he had been caught.

"It's not like I haven't touched you there before."

Smack!

Sango went back to camp, followed by Miroku, who looked like a reprimanded child.

I should have quite while I was behind...

"Kouga. The tribe has decided." A young male wolf said stepping out and placing a hand on his leader's shoulder. Kouga looked into his comrade's guarded icy green eyes. Nodding, he followed him back in.

The warrior sat down in his previous place, slightly wet, as Kouga stood there with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Well?" He said, demanding to know.

"We have decided...not to fight." Kouga's teeth ground against each other, and his tail twitched in dissatisfaction. He had hoped for better.

"May I ask why we are refusing to aid in the war?"

"Kouga. It's not that we don't want to. But it's impossible to even think we would be a match against Naraku's army. Look at the Birds of Paradise? It took a half breed mongrel to come before we could fight, even with you and your shards." Kouga growled at the memory.

"We wouldn't be fighting alone. There are thousands of others their fighting, including my mate Kagome." Whispers rang out through the den. Kagome's participation had not been previously mentioned. Once silence had been achieved, the spokesmen of the tribe's decision shook his head.

"I'm sorry Kouga. We still refuse to fight." This got Kouga's blood boiling. Not only was his pride being shot to the ground, but the tribe he had had so much hope for and in, and thought had great potential, was showing their true colors at the face of danger. They were cowards, and Kouga couldn't help but blame himself.

"So, we are to stay here with our tails between our legs like frightened dogs?" He growled.

"Kouga. You aren't thinking straight. I'm sure if you had a good nights rest..."

"I'm thinking fine, it's you all who aren't! Cowards! Do you know what could happen if we don't fight?"

"Yes, but do you know what could happen if we do?" Kouga's challenger, Hotaka spat. Kouga growled.

"I know perfectly well what could happen. The last I checked I was the leader, and as such it is my responsibility to do what's best for the tribe, and..."

"And nothing. I think you're doing what's right for Kouga, not us!" Kouga was shocked at the accusation. Never once had he put himself above any of his members. Never. And this was not one of those times.To be accused of such was the highest insult a leader, especially one that has lead for so long, could ever have thrown in one's face.

He looked over at the Yukai he thought he knew. All of them seemed to agree.

"I blame myself for your pathetic state." He looked down at the ground. None moved.

"If you will not fight, so be it, but you'll be needing a new leader. Maybe he or she can do a better job of making you into true warriors. I see I have failed. For any of you that want to, you are welcome to come with me and fight by my side. I would have no higher honor than to have a fellow brother fight with me." Kouga left outside, the den in silence. In that simple act, and words said, he had given up his place as tribe leader for a higher cause. His heart was torn.

The tribe he loved and protected, the one he held above all else, the fierce band of warriors he thought he could always depend upon, was just an illusion of the past.

Kouga sniffed the damp air and looked in the trees.

There a small form began to make its way slowly towards him. It began to grow larger, and larger, until Ayame stood before him. Hair and furs damp, shoulders slumped, and body shivering.

"They won't come." She whispered. Kouga's mouth drew into a small rigid line as he took in the frail figure before him. She had looked so strong earlier, but now...

"Than we're the only one's." Kouga said and Ayame looked up.

"Even your tribe? But I thought..."

"Ya well, I thought a lot of things too." He growled and Ayame nodded. Kouga jerked his thumb toward his back.

"Get on. We're leaving." He said. Ayame stared dumbly at him. Kouga shook his head, and in a blink of an eye, had whipped the girl onto his back and was shifting through the forest, faster than the rain could fall. Ayame's body quite shivering, as her body pressed against his armor and bare shoulders, her neck on his, and his wild black hair teasing her face from time to time as it swished in it's ponytail.

As they neared the edge of what was Kouga's territory, he let out a long mournful howl and Ayame joined. Then they were gone.

Authors Ending Note: It's kinda sad (tear) but I like it. It leaves room for other happenings to begin and true colors to be shown. After all courage is not having no fear, but doing the right thing even though your more scared than you have ever been in your life.