A/N: Sorry for the somewhat long wait, it took me awhile to finally write something I was happy with, who knows how many folded up attempts there are, that's right I hand write it out first! :O and I didn't want to put out something that I wasn't happy with.

A/N 2: So I wrote my first fight scene, I was pretty nervous about it because I was worried about it coming out awkward but I think it's alright! Enjoy!

Chapter 8

Mimiru slipped her phone into her pocket, slowing her pace long before she reached the wolf city. While they won't take notice to a snake demon in a taxi entering the city, they might take notice of a demon running at high speeds towards the heart of their city. She decided it would be safer to lose sight of her target for maybe twenty minutes then to be detected.

She slowly made her way into the city, she knew she couldn't travel on the roof tops due to the fact that the wolves kept heavy security all over the city; she reigned in her youkai, keeping a barrier tight around her. A spy being sent into the area, for whatever reason, would be viewed as a threat to Kouga, the pack's glorified Kouga for his work to keep them safe and they coveted him like a god.

In the heart of the city was where she would meet back up with her target, it was where Kouga ran the cit. Many of the wolves believed that what Kouga did to keep them safe, allowed them to live in solitude with the ability to continue like they did in the past, but she knew that another of her division reported back and forth between Kouga and Sesshomaru.

Getting inside the city was easy, that building… not so much. The building wrapped around a training yard for the classes that were held there and she assumed that would be her safest entry point.

Ryu walked quickly through the large halls of the building, sighing with relief, being able to leave the rude receptionist behind him. It had taken some persuasion and intense flattery on his part but she had finally directed him to find Kouga.

He was currently training a class of pups combat techniques and could be found in the training yard in the center of the building.

Ryu breathed in the fresh air as he walked into the courtyard. It was a beautiful garden, a small pond and exquisite flowers beguiling the senses with a feeling of peace. The quiet sounds of the classes combat drew him into an area surrounded by tress.

Ryu sat down beneath one of the tress, nodding to Kouga when he glanced over. The receptionist said the class was in process for atleast another half hour and he planned to nap.

"Well class, I hadn't planned for this today, but I see no time better then the present. Today you will see the techniques of a snake demon and how to combat them" Kouga clapped his hands together and grinned, motioning for the stunned Ryu to come his way.

"Wha-What" Ryu said shakily, shaking his head as Kouga dragged him in front of the class.

"This is real Ryu, I don't plan to hold back" Kouga whispered so that the pups couldn't hear, "if you want me to listen to what you have to say, you will fight with me so that my students may learn."

Ryu sighed heavily; he really wanted to know all that he could, so he decided to play Kouga's game. Shaking his jacket from his shoulder's he hung it over a tree branch, he kicked his shoes off and peeled his socks from his feet.

He breathed deeply, the sand beneath his feel cool and coarse, he closed his eyes, centering himself for balance.

Opening his eyes he noted Kouga's stance, legs wide, palms showing, a slight snarl on his face.

I won't lose, he thought, hoping he could get through this without getting too banged up.

Kouga began to bob back and forth, like a canine that had just spotted a new toy. Ryu stood firm, waiting to strike.

Kouga pounced, his claws flashing as he leaped for Ryu, he knew Ryu would never make the first move and figured now was as good as ever.

Ryu leaned back, Kouga's nail scraping his neck. Ryu brought his right arm up quickly, connecting with Kouga's wrist, he closed his hand around the wolf prince's wrist and fingers.

Kouga gritted his teeth as he felt his middle finger crack, the snake demons grip making his left hand unusable. Ryu pulled the hand to his chest, spinning Kouga into his arms. With each breath Kouga could feel Ryu's grasp tighten.

Kouga began to kick his legs, his foot connecting with a bench, he used it to force Ryu back, causing him to fall over. Ryu released Kouga, rolling back to get to his feet without having to fight of an attack. When he looked up Kouga had disappeared.

Ryu slowly crept forward, a rustle above proving this to be a poorly thought plan, he looked up to see Kouga crashing down.

The wolf prince grinned triumphantly as he pinned Ryu down.

"Did you note his languidness class? Starting slow, moving to quick strikes once their opponent is close. He almost had me, I'll admit" he chuckled to himself, "but the best thing a wolf has at his disposal is ingenuity."

The young pups erupted in cheers for their great teacher, laughing at the struggling snake demon as he attempted to get Kouga off his chest.

"Dismissed" Kouga laughed, patting his legs off as he got off of the now breathless Ryu.

They waited for the students to leave the courtyard before they started discussing any business.

"So Ryu, what do I owe this pleasure? Done cleaning up after Sesshomaru's agents and ready for some wholesome work" Ryu shook his head.

"You know I still work for Sesshomaru, the pay is good, among other things" he said, absentmindedly patting his stomach, "I was wondering if you could give me some information."

"Depends on what you want to know" Kouga watched as Ryu pulled his socks back on.

"Well you see… I've recently been hearing bits and pieces about some girl, that apparently mated Inuyasha and died? I don't know, but I met her today and it busted my curiosity bubble, I had to find out more" Ryu rubbed his arm nervously, wondering if Kouga would question more.

"My beloved Kagome, I could never win her over. Perhaps it… well both of our mates died, hopefully her death wasn't as gruesome as Ayame's…"

Kouga held his two babes close to his body. Their scent mingled of Ayame's, it offered some solace after the burial ceremony. The Clad had blocked off his previous housing because of the severeness of Ayame's death. There was nothing but the small baby's in his arms left of her.

He laid them down gently as Inuyasha walked into the room.

"You know, these pups are a mystery to me. They look like us in shape, their scent is ours, but their coloring is like nothing I have ever seen before" Inuyasha nodded, taking the raven haired baby into his hands. He slowly ran his fingers through her soft curls.

"Have you noticed the gold that sprinkles through her hair" Kouga nodded, the baby yawned, waving her arms as she opened her eyes, mewing in hunger. "Look at her eyes" Inuyasha stated in awe, soft gold circling around her pupils in rings, "They're beautiful."

Kouga nodded, "Her name is Hope, she was the last babe born, her cries gave me hope that atleast one was alive."

Inuyasha placed Hope gently next to her sister. She was identical to Hope in features, her colors however were just as bizarre. Her hair was a deep red where her sister's was black, and where Hope's hair was gold, her's was the darkest of blacks.

"Is her eyes like her sister's" Inuyasha questioned quietly.

Kouga nodded, "The very same in look but with the same color pattern as her hair."

"Her eyes… are red?" Inuyasha sat next to Kouga.

"Yes" tears filled the wolf prince's eyes, "it's as if all of the blood from her mother has stained her body."

"Look Kouga, there's not much that I can do, but let me bring Kagome here so that she can help you adjust. Maybe give you some herbs for your pain and teach you how to care for the pups."

Kouga ran his hand over his face, wiping the tears away, "That would be good" he mumbled. "Thank you" he muttered out as Inuyasha leapt from the cave.

"Inuyasha was supposed to be back in a week's time" Kouga shook his head, rubbing his thumb and pointer finger over his eyes to prevent any tears from falling.

"I don't know what he found there, I don't know what happened to her, just that he wasn't there when it happened, you'll have to go to him if you want to know everything."