Revised on 2006-05-24

MasterFranny: I hope you will like my story. First InuYasha fic, be nice!

I am Italian. English is not my first language. I hope you will consider this.

I am aware of the strange pairing I choose, and the hard work I will have to do since InuYasha, Sesshomaru and Kouga hate each other. So at first, this will move slowly. It's important to keep them all as IC as possible.

I hate Kagome and Kikyou, and Jaken, but I won't bash them. I tried, but it's impossible for me to.

Also, youkai age will be referred here. Usually they can live up to thousand years, but few of them made it without being killed. Those that do, are still looking young. Not many do look as old as Totosai, so I think he's really old.

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Rating: T, later will get higher.

Summary: a new youkai, coming from an old rivalry between the Four Clans, is up to get his revenge on the living heirs. But more is to come. SesshomaruInuYashaKouga threesome. YAOI

Disclaimer: I will never own InuYasha. I only own my OCs.

Warning: this will contain YAOI, which means boy x boy relationship. Also will contain INCEST between half–brothers. And this will also have a threesome, which means three hot guys together. If you don't feel like reading it, don't. I won't be accepting flames regarding this.

"Talking"

'Thinking

–Flashbacks, memories, dreams–

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Circling Paths

Chapter 01: Trust

"Osuwari!"

A sharp and loud scream suddenly echoed through the forest, followed by an equally loud thud; usually, such a foreign sound may have been unsettling, but now it was not. It only meant that a certain hanyou had been told to sit.

It was nothing new, since it was a daily occurrence between said white haired half demon and the girl that liked to boss him, but the fun even for those who watched, had vanished long ago.

The group, which included a perverted monk, a demon hunter, two young youkai, a hanyou and a young girl, had left the security of Kaede's village in the early morning, intending to start again their seek for Naraku, the demon that had ruined their life in ways no one was keen to remember if not necessary.

Kagome was just back from her time, and had appeared with a bag filled with modern sweeties –such as bento and instant ramen, much to InuYasha's delight– so, at least for a while, there was nothing that could stop them.

Unfortunately for them, Naraku was anywhere to be found; his scent had disappeared, and so had his incarnations and his manor. If InuYasha didn't know better, he would believe the dark haired devil had died.

Obviously the fact that he wasn't creating havoc was not a good sign, of this they were aware –that only meant he would come back stronger and they would not let this happen.

It was not just because Naraku was destroying everything around him, but mostly because each of them had a special, private reason to hunt the demon down; could it be a lost love, a curse, or a revenge, nothing mattered anymore but the need to find him and stop his evil machinations.

But even though the quest had a very serious and complex inner meaning, and that InuYasha of all of them felt the weight of the revenge on his shoulders, that didn't deter the quarrels that flared up way too easily.

Miroku, who was standing next to Sango with his staff in one hand, sighed and shook his head, barely suppressing a smirk as he used the commotion to brush his free hand on the girl's butt. Resulting in the dark haired slayer to turn and promptly slap him hard on one cheek.

Nothing unusual here either.

Shippou and Kirara, the 'younger' two of the group, could only stare at each other rolling their eyes at the same time, "looks like I am the mature one here" the fox kit complained lowly.

Kirara giggled and yawned, jumping on Sango's lap as the girl sat down on the grass, curling up and dozing off instantly.

"What did you have to sit me for!" InuYasha quickly recovered from the hit and stood up, eyes fierce and sparkling with rage.

Though he was kind of used to her bossing him around, the hanyou never let her down without a harsh comeback, even though it only caused more sitting on him and an increase of his anger. It was not like he liked to be controlled by a single spell, but despite him getting used to it, lately Kagome had been using it far too much, resulting into a barely suppressed rage that ran deeper than the apparent uneasiness.

Kagome was now used to 'punish' him at every single quarrel they had, no matter who was right and who was wrong. She found in the beads' spell the solution to all her problems, and didn't hesitate in showing it to him.

As if she wanted just to prove him who was the boss.

As if he was… a dog.

InuYasha often wondered if other demons would let her do as she pleased with them, and every time he came up with the same answer –no. he still couldn't understand why should he let her use that spell, it only made him feel powerless and weak, and it dawned on his pride.

He had a very strong sense of pride after all.

He deserved to be treated fairly, not like he were her dog slave. He didn't just help them in battles –often doing all the work indeed– and offered them protection, he also fought at their side, and guarded them from the dangers none of them knew about (just like when he would stay up at night to cease away the lesser youkai that would try to sneak up on them, so his friends could sleep peacefully).

What did he receive back then? Nothing but laughs from the monk, the slayer scolding him for upsetting Kagome, and the latter sitting him repeatedly for being himself.

Maybe he was just exaggerating a little here, but he wasn't in his best of moods and he thought he deserved the right to mope around sometimes.

InuYasha felt sick and tired; slamming against the ground wasn't nice… he only wanted her to stop doing that, was it too much to ask for?

He coveted his pride, and the thing was, they kept humiliating him.

InuYasha shook his head slightly; he didn't like to brood around like this, because this was the part of him that came as heritage from his youkai father.

Truth to be told, the silver haired half demon liked the company of these humans, the only that had accepted him for what he really was, not hating him nor chasing him away. They accepted him, never mocking him for what he was.

But with that acceptance, and the knowledge of them being his first friends, InuYasha knew something else came.

He was well aware of the connection with Tetsusaiga. He knew it was the only thing that could prevent his youkai blood from taking control of him… he wasn't as blind as he appeared, he could feel his blood inside him burn and bubble restlessly.

But knowing he could not depend on the sole sword, because maybe one day it would broke, he wanted to become strong enough to control his demon side alone. He could not accept the fact that one day he may kill ruthlessly Kagome and the others… if Tetsusaiga were to disappear or be destroyed, nothing would stop him from slaughtering everything in front of him.

He was not weak. He didn't want to be; ever since he was a little pup, he had to depend solely on himself, thus his distrust was understandable.

But lately, and with that thought came the worry, something was happening, something wrong that he could not control; that was why he was so restless around his friends and their reactions… and provocations, even though he knew none of them meant any harm.

At times, his consciousness was painfully aware of his youkai blood boil inside his veins even with the sword at his side. It felt as if it was trying to take control of him, pulsating deep inside his body, no matter how hard he tried to ignore its pull.

His life had been long –compared to a human's, even if in youkai standards he was about Miroku's age– and ever since he could remember, his blood hadn't been troubling him in any way; only after his reawakening from the Tree had all of this started.

Having been sealed to a sacred tree, Goshinboku, he'd lost fifty years of age, but that was not a problem for him. To a demon, fifty years were like nothing, and even though he was only half youkai, his human counterpart didn't affect his aging. He would look thirty when he was past over 800 years of age.

Right now he was merely 200, counting the fifty years spent on that tree –not that Kagome knew. She would freak out, like she did when he told her Sesshomaru's age.

Not that he could make out the connection between his age and the awakening of his blood, but he assumed it was caused by his strength increasing.

The point was, his emotions caused his youkai blood to flame up faster, so he had to keep them in check so not to worry his friends. How would they react knowing not even Tetsusaiga was enough to block his youkai? He needed to resolve this by himself.

But the truth was, ever since his blood started reacting even with the sword on him, he'd found hard to stand his human friends' actions towards him –hence his brooding.

Because of that, instead of taking their bickering to the next level –or, let Kagome sit him to the afterlife– InuYasha crouched down and jumped up high, soaring through the air with his arms stretched out to reach the nearest tree, his fingers gripping a branch securely before using it to lift himself up, his silver hair dancing on his shoulders.

As his feet had a secure support on the branch, InuYasha tensed and jumped again, moving away from his surprised friends as fast as he could. His mind was already looking forwards, the ningen behind already forgotten.

All his being asked for him to leave the humans behind and run, and so he did, jumping and launching from a branch to another, flying through the air like a red blur, his hair swaying behind him like silver wings. His golden eyes were shining brightly, feeling excitement for the fast pace.

InuYasha landed on a particularly flexible branch, that swayed under his weight but didn't break, and after a second he was already up high again; he wasn't even looking where he was going, so much he was caught up in the sensations he felt whilst running.

His heart was thumping madly in his chest even if his breathing wasn't ragged, his lungs filling with fresh air, his face welcoming the cool wind against it, his fingers brushing against leaves and bark and enjoying the rough touch.

Lung for a branch, pull up, jump, lean on a tree, jump again, he fell in the pattern of those movements and let himself go.

He felt so free it almost scared him, the feeling that he belonged to this place, something he'd felt almost forgotten. His problems, his worries, all disappearing in the background as he let the voices of the forest speak to him with their melodious, soft tones.

The wind was sharp against his skin, the leaves rustling under his feet, some birds chirping in the distance.

He felt this was where he belonged.

No one to care for, but himself.

The need to move faster hit him again, sharper, deeper, and he complied, the trees and the forest around him now nothing more than a green and brown blur, a mix of scents, noises, feelings, everything seducing his senses as he moved.

He felt alive. It had been so much since he'd been able to feel this way, so he embraced the feeling with all his being.

As InuYasha disappeared in a quick blur, Kagome could only stare at his retreating back in seething anger; lately he'd been running away from their quarrels without letting her conclude them in her favour, but nonetheless Kagome knew she was the winner. She would bet he ran because he felt he was the loser, and the mere thought filler her with pride.

She was the boss here, so he had to obey her!

Kagome smiled in satisfaction as her anger disappeared, then she turned towards the rest the group. She really liked the hanyou, she had admitted that twice to herself, but he was nasty and snappy with her, always thinking about Kikyou, Kikyou, Kikyou, and always treating her like scum, so obviously she wanted to teach him how to behave with a girl.

Kagome knew he would eventually come back –he always did.

"he will come back, when he's calmed down," Sango rolled her eyes. "But why did you sit him this time? There was no reason to".

"He deserved it! He dared to interrupt me when I was speaking! He's so dumb at times!" Kagome sniffed. "He has to remember he can't be rude to a girl, especially to me!"

Sango sighed to herself, shaking her head slowly. She'd noticed that Kagome tended to be quite possessive and bossy over InuYasha, and used the spell around his neck almost as if it was a toy. She looked and acted as if she was much younger than them, when instead she was of the same age.

Sango wasn't keen to defend the girl and her acting, but she had to admit that opposite to all of them, Kagome came from another time. She hadn't had a harsh life like all of them had, and thus could only understand part of how they behaved. She didn't see InuYasha's act as a protection against the world, she only saw it as stubbornness and childish play.

She herself at first had laughed and picked on InuYasha for the way he treated Kagome –Miroku did the same too– but it was part of the hanyou's being, and she had seen the truth about him the moment she'd started to know him better.

Kagome maybe needed some more time to see it, Sango thought.

Shippou jumped in Kagome's lap, curling his tail around himself, "InuYasha deserved it all right!" he shrieked, more because he liked when the girl picked on the hanyou than because he thought she was right, then he stroked his tummy, "I'm hungry now! Can we eat some of the stuff you brought Kagome?" he pleaded with puppy eyes.

"Aa, little Shippou!" she replied making him smile back.

"I'll eat InuYasha's part too!" he concluded happily, bouncing around them all as Sango and Miroku followed the two on the grass, both sighing.

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After what seemed hours to him, InuYasha slowed down, landing on a tall tree and leaning on it to regain his breath; his eyes were shining and his body felt relaxed, after the light strain of running and jumping.

It felt wonderful, even being tired afterwards. He'd felt so free, with nothing to restrain him.

He missed being able to feel all of this…

The youkai in him made itself known, pulsating slowly, but not painfully. Right now, he even found himself liking the sensation. He could feel his body tingle pleasantly, from his feet to the tip of his fingers.

He let out a low growl of contentment, feeling he'd needed the strain to relax himself.

His thoughts turned to his main problem. The fights against Naraku had gotten bloodier before his disappearance, making it harder to resist to the pull of his blood, and even if InuYasha wanted to find the baboon as soon as possible, he was determined to recover and strengthen up as much as he could before resuming the fight against him.

He loved the calm, but he loved fighting more. Watching the opponent fall in front of you, knowing you defeated him completely, blood pouring out from his lifeless body, muscles tensing up for the excitement of the battle…

He liked the sensation when he won a fight.

And despite his resent if he happened to be defeated, he could learn from his losses as well; he was a hanyou, many youkai had defeated him during his earlier years of life, but he'd always won the second round.

InuYasha's trail of thought took him back to his friends. Since they were human, they would never understand what winning was for a youkai. It wasn't a matter of blood hunger, or evilness. Only the lesser youkai had this kind of one–sided mind. Fighting for the lust of blood, and the desire to kill. Some did it to survive.

But the majority were high level, and liked the fight for the feeling of excitement whilst fighting against worthy opponents, the thrill they felt when betting their life on the victory.

And even they had to fight to survive.

Being strong, meant you could live another day. Being weak meant defeat… in many cases defeat was followed shortly by death.

InuYasha had survived many battles in his life, even though he was still young, and inexperienced, because no matter how strong he was becoming, there would always be battles he could not win.

He wanted to be strong with the same intensity he wanted to be a full demon. One because he could survive, the other because he would then be respected and accepted between his kind… and not the low level demons he was used to fight with his friends, but the high society of demons his father had been part of.

The silver haired hanyou had never considered himself human, rejecting that part of him simply because his mother died, but now that Kagome had appeared in his life, and before her Kikyou, he'd started to appreciate that part of himself.

At times he could even surprise himself wondering if he should use the Shikon no Tama to become completely human.

Useless, harmless, but at the same… accepted, at least by one of his two sides.

He wanted to live so desperately.

Shaking away these thoughts with a deep breathe, InuYasha scolded himself. He didn't want to think this way. Being human would mean be weak, as he always felt when spending the night of the New Moon in that form, besides…

That would mean reject what he was. His heritage. His being.

He didn't hate what he was anymore.

Closing his eyes, InuYasha mentally wondered when he'd started to get so thoughtful, but then a strong scent filled his senses, making him tense. He knew whose scent it was, and he didn't like it.

It was… Kouga's scent.

He didn't want to see the Ookami prince right now, not by any chance.

Ookami and Inu clans hadn't been enemies since the very start, like they were now; back in the past both races had been close and had shared a strong bond, two of the four strongest clans of the territory; InuYasha heard his mother say that many times when he was a pup –she'd liked to tell him about his youkai heritage.

He could remember the scene quite clearly, her sitting at the head of his bed, at night, speaking in soft hushed tones, her shape standing against the light of the lanterns, smiling down at him as she told him old stories, her long and silky black hair gracing her lovely face.

She'd looked so peaceful, so serene, before she'd died.

Izayoi always told him there once were four powerful demon clans holding the supremacy, controlling the lands with equal powers. They were the Inu youkai (dog demons), Ookami youkai (wolf demons), Neko youkai (cat demons) and Kitsune youkai (fox demons).

"You are one of the proud Inu youkai family," Izayoi repeated to him smiling and making him grin back at her. "Never forget it".

She continued her story saying of the agreement of the clans to never fight each other, their territories large enough to live comfortably and never bother each other; it had lasted many centuries, thousand years even, the four clans ruling the territory without terrorizing demons or humans, being loved and respected.

It was a long, cheerful period of peace.

But then, after unknown causes, the Neko clan disappeared, maybe because their instinct and love for the mountains had taken the best of them; the Kitsune clan broke down because of internal problems, its members scattering around, leaving only two clans to keep the balance.

At first nothing had seemed to be going any wrong –the two families were bonded firmly together for the strings between dogs and wolves.

Then, something had happened.

The soon–to–be heir of the Inu clan was killed, and the fault fell on the Ookami's. the Inu lord, who at the time was Inu no Taisho great–grandfather, moved against the wolf family; that lead to a bloody war that lasted thousand years, reducing both clans to a fifth of their number.

The war continued for long time, ending with an uncertain truce made by InuYasha's grandfather, forced by the many deaths and by the desire to re-establish some peace among the lands.

After that, none of the two clans ever tried to reconcile with the other. The Ookami slowly started building their clan up, whilst the Inu family, despite their strength, slowly reduced in number.

That was when Sesshomaru was born, and years later, Inu no Taisho met Izayoi.

InuYasha sighed. He himself had no real issues against the Wolf Prince –unless he considered their rivalry for Kagome's heart– and Sesshomaru never considered his younger brother as part of his family anyway, so nothing forced him and Kouga to fight.

But even if his brother didn't though he was worthy of his interest, family pride was family pride. Demons took in high consideration their bonds and their rules, and he was a demon as well, even if only partly.

So he would keep on fighting Kouga, because of their clan's hatred.

Said black haired youkai appeared in a flash under the big he was resting upon, sniffing and moving his head around; after a second, Kouga lifted his head and his eyes met with InuYasha's own.

Kouga cockily smirked in satisfaction, "look who's up there, it's mutt face! What are you doing here, trying to turn into a bird?"

InuYasha sighed and let himself fall down the tree, landing in front of Kouga with grace. Usually he would be eager to start a fight with him because indeed, he thought Kouga was annoying as hell, but this time he couldn't care less.

His youkai was still burning into him, and if he were to engage a fight with Kouga it would be harder to keep it at bay.

He didn't want to lose control of his sanity with the stupid wolf there, it would not be fair.

"What do you want, kisama?" he spat, using the usual arrogance in his face and voice so not to have Kouga suspicious. "I am not in the mood, go piss someone else!"

Kouga bared his teeth, already growling, "you need to show respect to a full youkai like me, especially since I am a Ookami!"

"Yeah, sure, like I would bow in front of your filthy being, begging for mercy! Keep dreaming, you're as stupid as your entire, weak clan is!"

Kouga stopped thinking clearly as he lunged forwards, claws and teeth ready to strike at InuYasha, the shards of the Shikon no tama activating in his legs to improve his speed; when he'd sensed InuYasha's presence alone without Kagome with him, the wolf had been surprised, and more so to feel a slight difference in the mutt's scent. Deciding to come and have a look himself, Kouga had left his pack members behind, eager and curious.

But now, everything faded away as anger took place instead of curiosity. The mutt had dared to insult not just him, but his clan as well! He deserved to be punished!

Golden eyes narrowed seeing Kouga lung towards him, and InuYasha prepared to evade the attack, knowing the other's speed was high and that he needed to keep a close eye on that.

His heart thumped fast in his chest, the adrenaline and the excitement for the battle to come for a second burning through him.

That's when his youkai blood, that was still pulsating inside him, kicked in.

Kouga lunged for the hanyou, claws outstretched and ready to hit, but found himself missing his prey as InuYasha jumped to the right; the wolf quickly moved to follow him, shifting in the air with the help of his reflexes, his other hand waiting for the blow the hanyou would surely send his way.

It didn't come.

InuYasha grabbed a low branch of the tree that was above them and used it to lift himself up with his left arm, turning swiftly and facing Kouga's claws ready to strike with his own; Kouga avoided the attack with a surprised growl –he'd never thought InuYasha to be this fast.

Not to mention the fact that it looked like he was actually reflecting on how to attack –something he never did. Something was different.

Kouga was sure about his suspicions when InuYasha fell on the ground on all four, silver hair hiding his face. Kouga was suddenly aware of a strong aura surrounding his form, faint but definitely there, as though it was fighting against something. Kouga felt a shudder ran through his back.

This was not the InuYasha he was used to fight against.

Silver hair moved from the hanyou's face as if hit by some invisible breeze, and Kouga was faced with two fiery orbs in which crimson was mixing together with golden, creating an imposing shade.

'What the…!' the Ookami thought, before he had to focus back on the fight as InuYasha lunged at him, claws aiming for his throat; they looked strangely longer, much like his own, and those eyes were shining with an amused glint.

Kouga backed away in a flash, but he was a split second slower because of the shock, resulting into one of those claws to cut through the skin on his cheek, drawing a thin line of blood. He yelped in surprise, his eyes widening as he stared at his opponent, who licked the blood from his fingers with a smug smirk and a lust filled flash in the dark eyes.

"InuYasha!" he growled, completely lost.

He felt shame dawning on him –he was actually scared of the hanyou!

It looked like the silver haired half demon was fighting him only to taste his blood…

InuYasha lunged at him again, this time faster, and Kouga moved out of line almost instinctively, stepping to his right and catching the other on the face, making blood leak out of the fresh wound.

Kouga's senses were hit by the smell coming form InuYasha's blood, and he froze.

That smell…

The hanyou smelled like a full demon.

The wolf demon could not think anymore because he was forced to dodge the attacks coming from InuYasha, bloody golden eyes glowing with barely concealed lust, fangs bared, body tense, each blow even more accurate that the one before; Kouga could not fight back.

Not because he was weaker, but because something inside him was yelling at him to not harm the other. Kouga blamed it to the desire to not hurt Kagome by having to tell her he'd killed InuYasha.

But it wasn't the entire truth.

He simply didn't like to fight this way.

InuYasha looked like he was lost somewhere deep inside himself, not aware of what he was doing, as if only part of him was fighting.

He hated this. He even found himself wishing for the old InuYasha back –he would be easier to stop, too.

This InuYasha was… wrong.

He was not himself, and Kouga felt like he would not like winning against him this way; it would be pride less, because coming from a powerful and old clan, for him, meant certain rules even in fighting.

After a while however, he found no other choice than attempt to calm the other down, so they kept on slashing at each other at full speed, neither of them prevailing, and soon enough the scent of blood flooded the air, almost intoxicating even though the wounds were nothing worse than a few scratches. The scent only seemed to make InuYasha wilder, having him strike with impressive precision and strength, so much that Kouga had to use the Shikon fragments at his best to continue avoiding his attacks.

In the end, after who knows how much, both collapsed heavily on the ground, panting hard, trying to recover from the prolonged strain.

That was when InuYasha regained his control over himself.

InuYasha's eyes flashed blood red for a second before turning completely golden again, and the hanyou relaxed his muscles. It hadn't been easy, but with the help of Tetsusaiga still at his side and because of the tiredness he felt after the long fight, he managed to lead his demon blood to sleep again.

"Never… underestimate me… again," he gasped, closing his eyes completely drained of energy.

A tired Kouga stared at him in shock, feeling in the air the blood's smell change again, this time back to normal. The strange scent of full youkai had disappeared like it had never been there, but until a moment before…

"What the heck was that, mutt face!" Kouga asked as he sat up on the grass, glaring at the panting hanyou. "You smelled…different!"

InuYasha opened his eyes and glared back with equal distaste. He didn't want to talk, but he felt like forced to, "not your business, you wimpy wolf!"

"You smelled like… full demon" Kouga continued.

"My youkai blood… likes to have its go when it comes to fight wimpy wolves," InuYasha muttered angrily.

He was astonished as instead of being angry Kouga started to snicker, then to laugh. Hard.

"What are you laughing for, bastard!"

Despite the insult, Kouga could not stop –InuYasha looked so, himself, that Kouga couldn't but think the hanyou looked like he'd needed the fight.

He admitted to himself he'd needed it as well.

"You look like… you needed to vent out your energies," he answered.

Neither of them knew why, but after their battle, they both felt more at ease than before. The tension that usually perked up every time they met gone. They simply laid in the grass, recovering strength.

Maybe it was because they had never been able to stress out the rivalry between them in a fair and clean battle, due to Kagome always interrupting them with her desire to prevent useless fights, or maybe it was because both needed to show off their strength, but now, they felt satisfied.

"Where is Kagome by the way?" Kouga looked around, "I was curious since I only smelled your scent".

"I needed to be alone for a while," InuYasha stood up and stepped towards a small bush, that was covered with berries. Taking a handful of them he returned to sit down and started to eat them, also licking the blood from his arms.

"How do you know they are not poisoned," Kouga sounded like he wished they were, but he was also amused. Copying the other, he started licking his arms as well, his back resting against a rock.

"I know how to survive in a forest, teme," was the angered reply, then, "I don't like how Kagome acts with me!"

He was pissed off again, but they would not start another fight. They were almost… comfortable, and both were tired and weary; Kouga was also curious and there was nothing better to do at the moment… plus they were speaking without insulting each other. InuYasha on his own was speaking because it was rare he had someone of his kind to speak with.

"Why!" Kouga asked. "It's because of the rosary around your neck? Why are you wearing one now that it comes to me?"

The wolf had never bothered to have a decent look at the rosary, but now that he could, as they were sitting still, he could see it was a necklace made of dark beads and little ivory claws.

He remembered Kagome yelling at InuYasha something every once in a while, but he'd always been too busy flirting with her or handling his pack to pay attention. To him, it was clear they had some sort of spell embedded into them.

"I don't like when she sits me," InuYasha growled lowly.

As the thought registered into his mind, Kouga started laughing again, this time harder, "she sits you! No way! Just like a little dog pup!"

InuYasha growled but didn't attack the wolf.

"Come on, I can understand," Kouga controlled his laugh down to a chuckle. "But you are a puppy… I would never allow her to do that to me… such a shame… where is your pride?"

"It's not you with a spell around your neck," InuYasha hissed, his ears flattening against his head.

A light snicker, "Can't break it, ne?"

"Humpf," InuYasha looked away.

There was a moment of silence, welcomed by them both. None could believe they were having a somewhat normal consideration between each other, even if they had tried to kill each other at first…

"You left because your demon blood was asking for revenge," Kouga stated at last.

InuYasha stared at him in disbelief, "How did you…"

"It's easy, dumb head," Kouga smirked with superiority. "Your blood is part youkai, ne? it can't stand the broken pride of being under a ningen, much less accept some human to control you… you feel superior, and that part of you is reacting against that control".

"Feeling superior… that's how you feel around me as well," InuYasha sulked. It wasn't often he could talk like that to a full youkai, and he decided to bring the conversation where he wanted, "You can't stand to be so near to a hanyou".

Kouga felt a frown make its way on his face, but nodded nonetheless, "quite true indeed, you are a waste" he replied.

InuYasha let out a smirk, "then why are you out to get Kagome? You would have half–breed cubs if you get her".

Kouga blinked for a moment, he'd never really thought anything about what would come after having claimed Kagome as his. "You're smarter than you look, mutt face," he admitted. "But…"

He stopped there, grimacing. Truth to be told, he'd nothing against hanyou, nothing at all; there was nothing wrong in being one, and he had no problems, if it ended like this, to have hanyou cubs.

The only reason as to why he used to pick on InuYasha was that it seemed the only insult the white haired hanyou reacted to. He liked to fight against him, but he never hated half demons.

It was a popular belief that half–breeds were weaker and useless, the shame of the youkai world, and once Kouga had been of this opinion as well, but after meeting with Kagome –that would soon become his mate, that for sure– he had managed to get a closer look at InuYasha and the way he used to fight, and even if he would never admit it, he had come to respect and even admire the hanyou.

InuYasha was strong, stubborn and determined; maybe he liked to rush into things most of the time, but Kouga was just the same. Still he believed full demons to be stronger, but he didn't despise hanyou.

"What's wrong in having half–breed cubs then?" InuYasha's eyes flashed with something that was not simple anger, but Kouga could not understand what it was –the moment he looked, it was already gone.

Not taking it into account, and being the smug bastard he was, Kouga decided to pick InuYasha up just a little more, enjoying the conversation, since he never spoke this way with Ginta and the others. "They are weaker, and they aren't pure blood… nothing but the shame of the youkai world!"

InuYasha bared his teeth, looking in fury at the wolf, that could now see clearly the emotion that flashed through the golden eyes –hurt.

Why would InuYasha be hurt by that?

"You're just like them…" the silver haired hanyou hissed, pupils turning into slits. "It's not like it was our fault! It's not like we wanted this, wanted to be chased away, to be hurt, to be abused and mocked by both races! It's not our fault! And still… the blame is all ours" his fist tightened at his sides, arms trembling slightly, and Kouga frowned, thinking that perhaps he'd crossed one line too much. "You try to kill us, you are disgusted, but it's not like we ever wanted to be like this!"

The wolf demon opened his mouth to reply, not understanding why the other was so furious, but was cut off angrily by the Inu, "I am as strong as you, you know it, but still you won't give me respect, because you look down at me feeling superior! You will never understand what it is like, because you grew up protected and loved by your pack, to one day become the leader!"

Kouga swallowed hard. He found himself unable to speak, under the fierce glare the other was sending him.

"You won't understand what's like to be chased, pursued, hated, mocked, every single day of your life, wishing to be able to survive to see the next day but at the same wishing to just die and end it all… end the pain…" InuYasha finally looked away, freeing the wolf from his haunted eyes. "Rejected by both races, not belonging to either of them…"

The Ookami demon simply stood there, speechless, a part of him feeling guilty for the words he'd spoken; he felt sorry as well. Many hanyou in fact had been killed and were still hunted, treated like scum by full youkai, that however craved for the unique taste of their cross mixed blood.

The Ookami closed his eyes in wonder. He always claimed to be a strong demon, but he'd killed so many humans just to feed his pack, when he could have killed animals… he'd done it only because it had been fun. It was only after his meeting with Kagome that he'd stopped his acting and had instead decided to go against youkai who still did what he once had done.

Kouga bit his lower lip, remembering what his father had once said to him. How many centuries before, the four clans to which his was part of lived in peace without harming other species, without spilling blood if not when necessary.

Once, they respected hanyou just the same as humans and demons.

He now did feel the guilt. How hilarious.

Kouga had seen InuYasha fight. He'd seen how many times InuYasha had been hit but had stood up again, showing his strength and stubbornness, without stepping back out of fear.

His human friends called him reckless, and thought he didn't care for his life, deeming him as stupid.

But this was what InuYasha had to do ever since he was young. Risking his life over and over to prove himself worthy.

On his part, InuYasha felt frustrated. He could not explain the sudden rage, but maybe it was because for once he was facing a full demon without fake barriers and hatred, speaking as if they were equal.

Why no one could understand?

"You know… many years ago, we used to have two hanyou in our pack". Kouga was not looking at the other as he spoke, but could tell InuYasha was staring at him in deep shock.

He now found himself wondering. He found himself remembering about the two hanyou, and why he'd never treated them like he treated InuYasha, or why in fact, no one of his pack had ever mistreated them.

He realized that indeed, despite everything he'd believed into, only the lesser youkai had ever showed their disgust and hatred towards the half–breed.

The high level youkai…

Did not care about it, or at least, the majority of them didn't.

The fact that in his pack once had been two hanyou had never been a secret, but at the same time it was not something many knew. Kouga had to admit that he'd even forgotten about them being half–breed until that very moment –because they were just as strong as the rest of the pack members, and no one cared about their blood. Not at all.

And now, he was despising InuYasha… why?

"One of them… one of them was the cub of a human woman and one of our pack, and the other was born from a male hanyou and one of us" his voice was low but clear.

InuYasha frowned and blinked, not quite sure of how to react to this.

"What are you…"

"I never realised that no one cared about what they were, because they were just like us. The pack never rejected their birth. One of them… one of them died protecting my father".

Kouga stopped his speech and let out a mirthless smirk. He'd forgotten that, too.

InuYasha was rendered speechless. This was just too… unreal. It couldn't be true!

"I never hated you because you were a hanyou… I only did that to pick you up a little," Kouga confessed.

The silver haired hanyou blinked again, his anger disappeared. He didn't really know if he should be relieved by hearing this, or furious; he settled on a deep frown, glaring and scowling at the wolf.

"Explain yourself, teme" he growled.

"Hanyou are usually hated by lesser youkai, but those who are superior to this often do not overlook over half–blood… if they are worthy our respect, we respect them. The hanyou in our pack were worthy it…" Kouga didn't like this serious speech, it felt like he was doing something wrong, but at the same time he didn't want to lie. So, he decided to end it with another mock, "you are sure you are worthy it?"

InuYasha was quick to react, "what do you mean, kisama Ookami!" Kouga sighed. Getting InuYasha all riled up was way too easy –he had to admit though, he was as well.

"You can't go all wimpy every time Kagome treats you like trash –you don't deserve respect if you lose your patience like this!" Kouga snarled and stared at the silver haired demon. "I heard her say you are not accepted by your brother because you are not pure blooded. I can understand why he does so! You are still not worthy of his attention! He must be a full demon, right? Respected, feared. You are still nothing. Maybe you should try harder. Besides, didn't you say you hated him?"

"Tch," InuYasha glared at him, taking in all he'd said but at the same time reacting to his words. "I don't hate my brother".

Kouga smirked, "that's not what you say to Kagome".

InuYasha sniffed. "She's human. She would never understand demon bonds and their depths. She's too different. Even if my brother hates me, I would do anything if he were to be in any kind of danger. Because our family ties oblige me to. The same if he were to die… I would revenge his death".

InuYasha waved his clawed hand in the air. To him, it was clear, and he knew Kouga could understand. He would do the same for each one of his pack, because they were family. InuYasha really didn't hate his brother, and deep down he knew he would never be able to truly hate him.

Despite everything else, to InuYasha Sesshomaru was still family.

"He's my family, after all," he muttered.

Kouga was slightly surprised by his tone, but he didn't comment on it. He'd seen a part of InuYasha in these short span he'd never seen before, and was quite astonished indeed. There was more of the hanyou that met the eye, but Kouga wasn't sure about how to act now. He decided to just do as he was used to.

"Why does he hate you then? Shouldn't he consider you part of his family nonetheless of your being a hanyou? Why is he up to kill you?" 'I would too, if you were to come between me and Kagome,' he felt the duty to add to himself, even if it was not necessary.

"I don't know and I don't really care," InuYasha carelessly replied. "Tch, he'll never be in danger so I don't see when I should go and protect him." He shrugged. "He's furious because I got the best heritage from our father, a good sword. It wasn't even my fault, but he seems not to care, and if he doesn't, nor will I".

"But the news of his second sword are well spread through the country, why would he keep on fighting for your sword since he has a better one now?" Kouga stared down at the old–looking sword that he knew would transform into a strong fang if in need. "The sword's name is Tokijin, it's now feared as much as your brother's name alone".

InuYasha was pissed off by these questions, but decided to reply nonetheless, even if with his tone showing his anger, "I don't really know, what? Maybe he takes revenge just as seriously as I do".

InuYasha had pretty much an idea on why Sesshomaru was still up to get Tetsusaiga. He saw the sword as something of their father, and had always thought it unfair that such a thing would be stuck forever with InuYasha; thus, he deemed necessary, to nurse his hurt pride, to get back the sword. It was like a personal insult from their father.

Kouga saw the pensive look in the golden eyes of his so called rival and decided not to ask anymore, but he was curious about this Sesshomaru person, so "Sesshomaru–sama is a bloody youkai, all demons fear and respect him, but lately he's said to have been nursing a human girl, is that true?"

InuYasha shrugged, "I only met her once, she was almost killed by your pack wolves, the day we met" he sneered. "Sesshomaru used the sword our father gave him to bring her back to life".

Kouga blinked, deeply shocked by what InuYasha had revealed him. Everyone had always deemed Sesshomaru to be heartless and he used to kill humans without care. Kouga could only growl lowly, 'Sesshomaru has really a complicate mind,' he had to admit to himself.

"You admire your brother?" he then asked. "Because he's what you want to be?"

These words brought InuYasha back. He'd been deep in thought, but as he heard this, his mind snapped back at him, reminding him of what he was doing.

He was speaking to someone that was indeed a rival and a potential enemy, not to mention a Ookami. And there he was, talking like they were friends.

It was his duty to hate him, not to reveal him all his secrets!

How could he have let himself grow this careless?

His shoulders stiffened and Kouga saw this instantly. What if the wolf revealed everything to Kagome? How would she take the fact that InuYasha could one day take off only because his brother –whom he appeared to hate and fought every time they met– was in danger?

A part of him countered by saying that Kouga would never do this, because of his own pride and ties, and because he could understand. So he just shrugged again.

Forcing the fake hatred and the distaste to reappear again in his voice, he added a mocking tone and sneered towards the wolf demon, "forget what I said, teme!" he growled. "I wasn't even thinking. Kagome is not even here so I think it's useless for you to stay! Especially since she'll never be yours… don't come back anymore if you don't want a worthless hanyou to beat the crap out of you!"

Kouga was confused for a second, then realized InuYasha was probably ashamed that he'd said too much. he still didn't trust Kouga, and the wolf was fine with that.

Some part of Kouga didn't find amusing to tease InuYasha anymore, but he was willingly to continue keeping up this charade if only for the sake of it.

But none of them would ever get along. Even after this. Family pride was stronger, as said.

And both wanted Kagome.

"Then why aren't you heading back to your owner, baka inu!" he laughed. "She'll be crying over the disappearance of her puppy! And don't think I'll ever step back! She's gonna be mine, remember it!"

InuYasha sniffed and stood up, jumping back on the tree. Then, without turning back, he jumped towards the direction he came from, feeling lighter. It was the first time he'd spoken so openly to someone, and it had helped.

He was feeling great, and he was sure he could even handle a multiple session of 'osuwari'.

…

Well, maybe.

Kouga stared at his retreating form, scowling lightly at the prospect of having to return to his pack. He didn't like the idea that much, but he didn't want to follow the mutt to Kagome, not now anyway.

Things were bound to be different now, whether they wanted –or realized– it or not. They would meet again, act as if nothing was wrong, as if nothing happened, but something did happen.

He sighed, and with a shrug he ran away towards the mountains, the shards in his legs making him disappear in a cloud of dust.

Neither him nor InuYasha were aware of the shape that had been hidden in the shadow of a tree all the time, secretly listening to their conversation, eyes lost where InuYasha had disappeared.

……………………………………………

"Here he comes! InuYasha!" Shippou jumped up and down on a low branch as he saw the hanyou approach and stop at their side.

Miroku was confused, because it looked like InuYasha was slightly more relaxed than he normally would, and he also noticed there were many small wounds on his body, but they were already healing.

He decided not to ask.

"Where did you go!" Kagome stepped forwards, angered, since he didn't come back sooner. She had a life, what was he thinking, that she had all the time of the world at her feet?

Of course InuYasha could not understand how hard it was on her, the fact that she had to shift through time so much only to search for the shards, so he could not understand that she had her own life, and didn't want to give up her days like this, no matter how funny it could be certain times.

InuYasha glared at her instantly, but felt something nudge at his mind; Kouga's words were still clear and echoed through him, calming his anger down. He was right. He could not gain what he wanted if he were to keep getting enraged by everything.

He was not her pup, and for how hard it would be, he needed to stop acting so childishly. He could not stop Kagome from sitting him, but he should at least try to not be angered by it.

"You are not my master, Kagome," he snarled at her indignantly –after all, politeness was not something he possessed. "if I feel like having some free time, I will. If you can, as you always are so adamant to remind us, I can too".

He moved away, leaving her stunned, but as he passed near Shippou the little fox kit sniffed the air and squealed up at him, "you smell like Kouga!"

"That's right, we had a fight," InuYasha's ego received a good boost up, even though no one had really been defeated. "that stupid teme!"

He thought back at the way his blood had tried to take control of him. He hoped he would be able to control it better next time.

There would obviously be a next time, and InuYasha found himself looking forwards to it –he'd enjoyed their battle, because it wasn't one meant to kill.

"I wonder why you and Kouga are always at each others' tail, I mean –you are a dog and he's a wolf!" Shippou scratched his head. "Since the very beginning you bickered like cat and mouse! Ok, Kagome is a good thing to fight for, but –hey!"

InuYasha had hit him on the head hard hearing his last words, but then he stared at the kit with perplexed eyes, "don't you know about the four clans' story, brat?"

"I am not a brat!" Shippou pouted, but shook his head.

InuYasha looked at him for a moment; he was aware that on a day not too far Shippou would not have Kagome there anymore to protect him, and it would be better if it were InuYasha the one who taught the kit how to fight. Shippou was young, so much younger than him, and he hadn't the instinct InuYasha had because he'd been with them ever since his father died.

He would not be able to protect himself or fight this way, because Kagome was too keen to keep him safe. Shippou needed to learn how to defend himself properly.

InuYasha cleared his throat. After all, Shippou was a kitsune.

He had the rights to know about his ancestors…

……………………………………………

MasterFranny: this takes place before the appearance of the Shichinintai members.

I usually don't write hetero, but if I am asked I'll do MirokuSango. If not, I'll go for all yaoi and yuri pairings, your choice.

I do own the Four Clans' story.

Lord of the Western Lands –Sesshomaru (Inu Clan)

Lord of the Northern Lands –Prince Kouga (Ookami Clan)

Lord of the Southern Lands –? (Neko Clan)

Lord of the Eastern Lands –? (Kitsune Clan)

Lord of the Dragon Army –? (Later said)

I hope you will review and comment:)

And I know about the whole Magnolia tree thing and how InuYasha's blood would cause him to loose his mind and soul, but I will explain this later in the fic.