Summary: The dust had long settled. Everyone has moved on; almost everyone. Two old dogs were unable to forget. Constantly reopening their sore wounds of rejection and pain, they had spent so much time chasing after those who did not belong to them. eventually lead them to each other.

Chapter 1: The Fool Who Loved Too Much

So far six years had passed, and what had happened with Myoga was a thing of the past. We never spoke of it. As if it had never happened, and quietly swept under the rug. It was difficult but they had managed to move on. Times were good now; peaceful. We had earned peace; we deserved it… she deserved it. I smiled at Sesshomaru and Kagome. His hand rested on her round belly. I had never seen the grouch happier. He had fought to get to where they are now. Even though he had been his obstacle more than once, and Kagome? She beamed with light. Her skin glowed. She leaned on her mate. Surrounded by her friends and family, their sons. Looking down at her belly, most likely wondering if her third child would take after her or Sesshomaru as the first two had. I had never seen her smile so much. She deserved this, this happiness. I wanted it for her

It was bittersweet you know. Watching them be happy. It was what they wanted. It was the happiness that they deserved. Still, I would be lying if I said that it did not hurt. Seeing your best friend with the only woman you have ever loved and probably will ever love. Married, soon to be having their third child. I scoffed inwardly. Gods, I sounded so jealous and miserable and I did not like it. This was their baby shower, it was supposed to be a joyous occasion; their baby shower, and here I was brooding. I dragged my hand across my face and took a swig of my beer. I had lost count of how many I had had so far. Add that to the numerous times I had gotten shots at the open bar. Maybe it would be best if I left early.

"Fix your face boy."

I turned my head. It was Sesshomaru's mother. I took another swig.

"I am a man, not a boy."

She smiled slyly. "A man would not behave as you are behaving right now. Especially not so obvious."

Ouch. That had stung.

I shrugged. "I am trying."

She flipped her platinum tresses over her shoulder.

"Not hard enough. Anyone here who has eyes has already noticed. You have been staring at them the entire time. Don't you think it's time to let go wolf?"

I cleared my throat setting the bottle down. She wasn't wrong.

"Tell them I left, early will you?"

I all but ran out the front door, clawing at my tie trying to get it off. I sucked in the night air, exhaling deeply. Had I been that obvious?

"Wolf."

I sighed, turning to her.

"My name is Kouga, not a wolf. What is it? Did you follow me out here to poke fun at me some more? Yo laugh at the fool who was in love with someone he could never have?"

Her shoulders slightly sank.

"Look W-Kouga. I apologize. It was not my intention. I was trying to help. In my way, I suppose."

I snorted. " You and your son are alike. You know that?"

She gave me a small smile. "I take that as a compliment, but honestly I am sorry. I know what it is like to be... the fool that you speak of."

"I doubt it," I told her.

She gave me a small smile. "I do. More than you know. Perhaps I will tell you the story sometime. Enjoy the rest of your night. Kouga."

She had turned and headed back inside.

"What a strange woman."

I groaned at the sound of my alarm clock blaring. I grabbed it from underneath my blanket throwing it at the wall. I exhaled at the peaceful silence.

"I'll just replace that later," I mumbled.

I could feel myself falling back into a deep sleep, then the dammed phone rang.

I grabbed it angrily. "Who is it?" I grumbled.

"Is that any way to speak to your closest friend?"

"What is it Sesshomaru? It's the weekend."

"Open the door."

"You have a key for a reason," I said.

"You asked for boundaries. This is me giving them to you."

I sucked my teeth, dragging myself out of bed and over to the front door; angrily swinging it open.

"Why are you here?"

"My mate insisted that I check on you. Seeing as you left the function so early after drowning yourself in alcohol." He looked me up and down. "You're hungover."

I sighed. "I'm fine. You can go."

He slipped past me, walking into the apartment. "You are not a good liar wolf."

Wolf. Like mother like son.

I watched him make his way over to my sofa, taking a seat he stared at me. I groaned closed the door and took a seat. I wonder what kind of one-man intervention this was going to be. His eyes darted around me before landing back on me.

"Your apartment is a mess." He would.

"Did you come here to be rude?"

"Yes and no."

I blinked while scoffing. "Okay, you need to go."

"You need to move on. It has almost been seven years. Sitting here wallowing in your self-pity and licking your wounds is beneath you. The longing looks and pouting are nothing short of disrespectful at this point."

"I'm fine." I lied.

It sounded as though I was trying to convince myself, more than I was him.

His eyes narrowed. "All of those years ago, you stood across from me and told me the truth. What I needed to hear. That is why I am here, to return the favor."

I clenched my jaw. "Sesshomaru. I am fine. So, please leave."

He leaned back into the couch. "No. Not until you've heard What I have had to say."

I dragged my hand across my face. "Fine. Let me hear it. Your grand speech."

"This isn't healthy. Holding onto something that can never be. To someone that you will never have. It is only going to hurt you. Last night at the shower, your eyes were glued to her the entire night. While I did feel bad for you. I would be lying if I said that it did not anger me, to have another man pining after my wife. Not to mention it made her uncomfortable as well. She cares about you. As do I. We both want you to be happy, and for you to move on. I know that it will be difficult to let go but I need you to try harder. Your feelings for her have put me in a difficult position. I thought that they would disappear once you realized that she would never be yours. She is my wife. She is my mate. She is the mother of my children. When you look at her with such longing. It infuriates me. As your brother I want you to move on, find someone new and be happy. Just so long as you do not think that person will be my wife. As her mate, I am telling you she will no longer be allowed around you until you get your feelings in check."

I stared back at him with wide eyes. "You can't keep her from me Sesshomaru. She is my friend. You both can't just cut me out like this."

"I can and I will. It was her idea. I'm sorry. She does not want to be the one thing that comes between us. It hurts her to know that every time you look at her, you become overwhelmed with sadness because you know… you know that you will never be together. She does not want to be a constant reminder of your heartbreak. She does not know what else to do. Quite frankly neither do I." He sighed pinching the bridge of his nose. "I'm sorry, but there's no other way. Again. I am sorry. I hope for all of our sakes you can get it together." He said walking away.

I sank into my couch, listening to the door close behind me.