Title: Intricate Love
Author: Moi!
Rating: T for swearing
Summary: Many loves entangled into one. Most come and go but one man stands by. One hanyou. Jealousy, hate, and love blended together doesn't make a very good result...
Pairings: Kagome/ InuYasha
Kouga/Ayame
Other side pairings

Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha, which I later may get tired of saying. I'll deal though.

A/N: My gosh, I realized there were a few spelling and sentence errors in the last chapter. I was so rushed to post it up. I'm terribly sorry, and I'll make sure to triple check this time before posting. Arigato.
Also, I'm trying to post in different prospective during the story to make it more interesting. The name after the chapter title will usually tell you who is saying all of it. If I should just keep the perspective neutral, please tell me via reviews. Thanks a bunch.
Sorry this has gone on so long, for one: I'm a procrastinator. (xD That is so the truth.) Another, I've been working on a couple other stories, and I keep coming up with new ones, and that gets very annoying. Kami, it's so annoying… anyway, here it is. Koga is a dear character to me, so I made this one in his honor.

Chapter 2
A Sudden Realization

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

I growled.

What the hell was he doing to my Kagome?

He always goes around yelling at her and telling her how useless she is. Now he's lulling her to sleep? Ok, that just really didn't seem right. Now, if she was with me? Yeah, I would treat her right. But she just has to keep with that mutt.

I waited until she was definitely asleep before making my move.

"Hey mutt…" I whispered, just to make sure I didn't wake her up. I, for one, respected her wishes, I thought with a smirk.

The hanyou looked up at me with golden eyes, and I wasn't surprised when he said, "You should really stop stalking people. It's an unhealthy habit."

"Just checking up on my woman." I replied casually, with yet another smirk, one that he could see this time.

He frowned, not bothering to control his emotions as he growled out, "She's not your woman!"

"Yeah, she is mutt-face-"

"No she ain't!"

"Quiet mutt, you'll wake my woman."

"She AIN'T your woman!" he said again, quieter this time, as he put his hand on her hair.

My eyes narrowed as I saw this. Who was this mutt to think that he could touch my Kagome? I growled, making known to him that I didn't like him touching what was mine.

"She ain't yours either." I glared at him as one of the corners of my mouth turned upwards. This made the desired effect, as he withdrew his hand from her hair, and whipped his attention from where it previously was, on Kagome, to me.

"What did you say?" he whispered dangerously.

"She. Ain't. Yours. Either." I answered, gleaming in triumph.

He seemed to look depressed for a second, well, that's in my opinion, but then he snapped out of it and went back to his usual mood.

"What makes you think I want the wench?" He shot me with a Don't-Mess-With-Me look, and I replied with, "Because you're so damn possessive of her. What would you do if I, oh, I dunno… just took her?"

He narrowed his eyes, but didn't say anything, turning his gaze back to Kagome. He had this look in the golden depths that scared me. His eyes displayed warmth and deep affection for the girl laying in front of him - my woman.

I breathed deeply when I noticed. Yes, some of my pack calls me naïve. I finally realized I was as I looked at InuYasha.

"You love her, don't you?" I said slowly and quietly, in a pointedly tone.

This time, he looked more surprised than the last question, and I was surprised he didn't get whiplash from standing up so fast.

"WHAT!" he bellowed, clearly mad. I really didn't know if it was one of pure anger, because I had accused him of loving one he did not, or that he was just trying to cover up his obvious feelings. I hoped it was the earlier one, for if that look he was showing her was genuine… then I had no chance against the hanyou. I would have to come to terms with my love for Kagome. As much as I disliked it, I knew it was true. And, surprisingly, it felt right. Kagome and InuYasha. InuYasha and Kagome. Like I belonged to my pack, they belonged together.

And at moment, I did something I never thought I could do.

I let go of my love for Kagome.

I don't think I'll ever stop loving her, I don't think I could ever. But, I had a promise to look to. I had a promise with a little girl… who wasn't so little anymore.

"InuYasha." I said in a determined voice. He must have been in one of his angry rants, because he looked a little confused and angry that I had interrupted him.

"I'll never forget Kagome. I'll never stop loving her," I started, and paused to smirk as he growled, thinking it was one of my awesome (if I do say so myself) 'Kagome's mine, and she will be forever more!' speeches. But, as I continue, he looks on with unbelieving eyes. "But… I just have to let go. She will never love me, since she already loves someone, and I have someone who loves me and is waiting on me. But, InuYasha…" I said in a low voice, "…I will not tolerate you hurting her. Think of what you have, instead of what you don't. Like that clay pot. She's dead, InuYasha. Gone." I growled out all these between clenched teeth. This was harder than I'd thought.

I heard InuYasha growl, and knew that he still wasn't over that girl. "InuYasha, I'm serious. If you hurt her, I'll hurt you." I stated dangerously, eyes narrowed. "Don't."

He looked surprised at my words, and to say the least, I was surprised too.

I walked over, and kneeled by Kagome. Figuring InuYasha would be mad at me for kissing her on the lips, I settled with her cheek. InuYasha growled, but I ignored him, looking at Kagome sadly. "I'm letting you go… but, know I'll come to visit you and stuff." I whispered to her, stroking her cheek. I know I overstayed my welcome when I heard yet another growl from InuYasha, and I got up and started to walk away, chuckling at InuYasha's unknown sense of over-protection.

"'Bye mutt-face!" I shouted back at him, waving back. I started to run, but slower than usual, so I was still in his hearing range. "Take care of my woman!"

Silence followed, and I started to pick up my pace. I laughed out loud, as I swore I heard in the distance, "SHE'S NOT YOUR WOMAN!"

My smile turned to a frown as I realized that I had made a sudden serious decision. But, surprisingly, I didn't regret it, for I knew Ayame was waiting patiently for me. And it was finally time I came back to her and honored that promise.

x-x

I arrived in the mountains a couple days later, and searched for her pack.

I found her with a few others hunting.

As soon as my scent was in range, her wolves turned towards me, and growled ferociously. She turned around, and her green eyes widened as she looked at me.

She walked up to me and narrowed her eyes in a quizzical matter.

"Kouga?"

As soon as her wolves saw I wasn't a threat, they stopped growling and came up to me, starting to smell me.

"Off, off, off!" I said to them, pushing them gently away. I mean, if this was going to be my pack, or at least an addition onto my pack, I didn't want them hating me.

"Kouga, what is it?" she asked sadly. "Aren't you supposed to be with the Miko?"

"Ayame…" I said, stepping close to her.

She blushed, and I smirked at how I could make both her and Kagome blush so easily. I guess the girls love me…

I hugged her, and she stiffened, and looked up at me with hurt eyes. This was a totally different reaction than I thought it would be… what happened to:

-x-Kouga's Version-x-

I walked up to Ayame, love shining through my eyes.

"Oh, Kouga!" she screams, as soon as she sees me. She throws herself into my arms and we hug each other tightly before she reluctantly lets go. I let go too, taking her lead. I look at her questionly, wondering what could be the matter.

"Have you grown out of love with me, my dear Ayame?" I ask her, hurt evident in my voice.

"Of course not Kouga! I'll love you, forever and always and ever!" she looks at me with sparkling eyes, and I embrace her again.

"What about… her?" she says against my chest. Turning away slowly, tears start to form in her eyes.

"Who? Kagome? Ayame, I love you and only you now."

"Oh, Kouga! I love you so much!"

"I love you too…" I finish, ending with a chaste kiss on the lips.

-x-End Kouga's Version-x-

'Yeah…" I think, scratching my head with one hand, holding Ayame with my other arm. 'Not what I thought… she's not even wearing the sparse clothing I'd imagined her wearing. Clothing that barely covered…' he stopped himself before he started to drool.

He needed to get this said. It was important.

"Ayame, I realized what I want. And I remembered your promise." I stroke her hair, and she looks at me with hope filled eyes.

"You did? Really, Kouga?" I also see doubt in her eyes, and I want that to go away. Guilt fills me at the thought of what I dragged her through. Making a promise to marry her after rescuing her, then totally forgetting about it. How could I do that to her?

"I'm sorry Ayame…" I whisper against her hair, "I'm letting go of Kagome. It might take awhile, but I'm ready to dedicate myself to you, and only you. And to fulfill the promise I told you years ago."

She pulls away hesitantly, and backs away a little. I watch as she mutters something to her wolves, and they return in the general direction to their den. She turns to me, and walks back up close to me. She draws closer, and closer until her face is inches from mine. My breath gets caught in my throat, as I realize what she is going to do. I close my eyes in anticipation. I wait a little longer, and I'm just about to open my eyes again…

…when I get a smack on the cheek.

No, not a kiss smack - a hit smack - a hard hit smack.

"Owww…" I mutter, since it caught me totally by surprise. I look down at my feet slowly, and wonder what I did to mess it up with her. I look up at her, though, and I don't see an angry face, but a smiling one. 'What? She's smiling? Didn't she just smack me?'

My face must show utter confusion, for she chuckles, and comes towards me. She comes closer again, and cups my cheek in her hand, and all I find myself thinking is what a beautiful laugh she has.

She leaned closer and closer, and for the second time that day she was inches away from my face. I shut my eyes tightly, ready for the pain again on my face. After all, I deserved it.

But, instead of getting the pain like I expected, I got something quite the opposite of pain.

She was kissing me.

I got this feeling in my stomach of joy, as felt the softness of her lips. I should have been thinking of how bi-polar she was… but I thought I definitely deserved it.

And Kouga found himself thinking this was the only choice in his life that he didn't regret, one that would make him happy in the end. Finally he was happy.

Finally…

A/n: Yay! Alisha updated! FINALLY! That's what you all are saying, isn't it? Haha…. Uh… yaah… I needed to make it longer, so I added some Kouga and Ayame stuff. Yaaah. I think it still might be short; it's hard to tell with this stupid Microsoft Word. Gah.

Ok, PLEASE REVIEW! It means the world to me; you should've seen me last time when I got just three. I was jumping around the house! Please, please, please! It makes me update faster! Seriously!

Ok, that's enough author notes. Sorry for blabbering.

Thanks to my reveiwers:
-hugs all reviewers-

Micahskitty: Thanks! I'll try to get one in from his point of veiw. Well, actually that's a given. Since, you know, it's InuYasha and all!

Kamira: Thanks for reviewing! It really, really makes me happy that you and the others took your time to review. Arigato!

InuKagPar4Life: Thanks for being the first reviewer! Lol, I was all like, "Whoooo! I got a reveiw! I got a review! I got a review!" Because... well, I didn't think I would get any. ; Thanks! -huggles- Sorry I didn't update soon. I am a procrastinator to the highest decree. xD Hopefully I'll get in sooner updates!

Ja Ne!

REVIEW! Please!