A/N: This is put after Renkotsu's attack from episode 107.
Ship requested by: Ember Reverie
Beta: Lord Yaulendil (go check their story BTW)
Warning: some Kouga bashing. And some OOCness. I did my best to squeeze it in canon as much as I could. The results you must judge by yourselves. Enjoy.

Second Best

Kouga left his pack brothers, Kagome, Shippou and the mutt in the secluded spot just beside the sacred barrier surrounding the mountain. He wasn't fully healed yet, but he needed some alone time so he could think.

The vision of his woman pressing her face against the mutt and frantically asking if he was alright came to his mind unbidden. He growled and kicked a rock, since Inuyasha was too far to reach and he didn't fee like looking at the smug mutt.

He had to be realistic and honest with himself - his woman wasn't really interested in a lasting relationship. She seemed to be okay with brief meetings and some flowers. A friendship instead of his eternal, true love.

Now, when he was thinking about it, he didn't even know humans could experience love the way youkai could. Probably not, they were so weak.

Kouga sighed and decided that for the benefit of his pack and his own heart he should stop thinking about Kagome this way. He could rationalize with his heart.

Besides, it wasn't like he had to stick to her. He had females swooning over him, unlike Inuyasha who was a loser. He, Kouga, was a real pro - strong, cunning, handsome, a true alpha male.

For example Ayame. The girl was insisting to call him her fiancee. She was the heiress of a powerful, wealthy tribe, a pure-blooded youkai of royal descent. She'd give him power and many warriors to lead. And many pups, since her line was known for their fertility. She wasn't too hard to look at, too, which was always a nice bonus.

Yeah, he could go and try to build a relationship with Ayame. In contrast to Kagome she was ready to bear his pups and was more than willing to go with him to his den. She was the second best candidate for his mate.

As Kouga was thinking he was slowly making his way through a thick forest. He could hear a waterfall on a river nearby. Various scents of the forest and animals dwelling in it filled his nose, along with the lingering scent of graveyard soil. And a scent of a certain she-wolf.

'Ayame? What's she doing here?' The surprised wolf youkai left his path, following the scent of his soon-to-be love interest. He was stealthily making his way through the bushes and trees when he heard Ayame's laughter. Frowning at the mirthful sound he looked ahead and saw a meadow filled with sunlight, tall grass and colorful flowers.

In the middle of the glade stood a man in a white clothing, black hair braided in a thick rope falling over his shoulders and down back all the way to his butt. He was holding a giggling Ayame by her waist above his head.

"Bright Eyes!" Ayame greeted the man when he put her on her feet. Koga blinked at the nickname and an affectionate, excited tone of her voice.

"Hey, Red Locks," the man bent his head down and kissed her deeply. Kouga, crouching behind a bush, almost lost his balance and fell to the forest floor, his eyes getting unusually huge.

He observed the pair sitting down, Ayame leaning against the man. Only now Kouga noticed a huge weapon laying nearby.

"So, what's up, lovely?" the man asked, running a hand through her hair and tugging at her ponytail. "I heard you're running after a guy and it isn't me..."

"Oh, Ban," she looked up at him with a small pout. "You know, after you went away to become a famous mercenary and warrior worthy of a Northern Wolves princess and then dying I felt so sad and alone. I didn't know what to do without you."

The human man hugged Ayame and she continued.

"So, when my grandfather reminded me about a decently strong and bearing similar to your features wolf male I decided to give it a try. You know, Kouga was always my second best choice for a mate after you. But since you're back I can just ditch the ungrateful cur, who pins after a girl who doesn't love him."

"His loss. So... You want me?" he inquired and got tackled to the ground, the she-wolf sitting on his stomach and kissing him passionately.

"Just survive this stupid mission you got from your payer and we can go to my den and be together," she replied. The male smirked up at her and rubbed her sides.

"I like this plan," he said while the female above him went to undo his clothing. "i see you have some plans for the meantime?"

Kouga couldn't watch it anymore, he fled his bush ad went back to his pack brothers and Kagome, more gloomy than before, biting his bottom lip and balling his fists in anger.

But, he realized it now, he couldn't be angry at Ayame. After all, she just did what he would do, she choose her first best.