DISCLAIMER: Do we really have to go through this? I DON'T own Inuyasha or any of the Inuyasha characters or ideas that come from the series. The original characters are my own. If you want to use them in a fic go for it, just let me know so I can see what crazy stuff they end up doing.

Chapter 6 Part two

Draft version: I haven't even read over what i wrote so let me know what needs to be fixed, lol.

+++Back in the Den+++

"Ketsui, I have a few teams out searching for the supplies you've requested," Kouga stated as he walked into the room. "Is there anything else you need me to do?"

"Yes," she replied. "Come," she began while motioning for Kouga to come to over to where Inuyasha was laying, "I need some help bandaging him."

Kouga went over to help Ketsui as much as he could. Holding the half demon whenever she needed wrap bandages around his torso as well as cleaning some wound that were still bleeding. Throughout the ordeal, Ketsui was noticing how careful Kouga was with Inuyasha. He was taking every precaution, not to aggravate the wounds and especially while she was bandaging his ribs. She noted that while Kouga was holding the half demon, he seemed to be absentmindedly stroking the hanyou back, as if to try to comfort him.

"More information that I should save for later", she thought.

After what seemed like hours or watching Inuyasha struggle stay alive, Mazui and Zurui returned with the supplies to help fight the venom in Inuyasha's system.

Ketsui immediately began preparing the medicines as soon as the two trackers arrived. As she finished the first, she handed it to Kouga.

"I need you to clean the wound on his leg really well then administer a generous amount of this salve on his leg. It will help fight the venom. While you do that I will prepare another to help fight off infection."

Ketsui continued concentrating on her work, while Kouga went over to Inuyasha. The half demon was covered in sweat and still battling the venom plaguing his system.

"Don't worry puppy…this will help," Kouga whispered as he began to prep the hanyou's leg for the salve.

"…weak…didn't ask…mangy..." Inuyasha mumbled in is delirium.

"Heh…that's right puppy, keep fighting. And you aren't weak…" Kouga said as he continued to apply the salve.

After a few minutes, Ketsui came over to Inuyasha with the second of two medicines. "Kouga, I can take over from here. You need to make your rounds."

"But what about…"

"Kouga, I'm not gonna pretend to not know that you care for the hanyou as more than just a friend. But, you need to make your rounds of the pack to make sure everything stays in order.

"Ket…"

"Kouga, go. I'll take care of him and send for you if anything comes up. The pack needs you."

Kouga nodded and slowly left the room, but not before turning to get one last look at the injured half demon resting on the bed behind him. After leaving the room, he slow headed toward the main entrance of the den to get a report from the guards. On the way there he was stopped by one of the trackers from earlier.

"Kouga…umm…how is the halfbre…I mean… how is Inuyasha?"

"Now, kill him. Rip his throat out!! Show him what happens when someone disrespects what is ours."

"QUIET! I will not kill a pack mate… not when they were unaware of what they were doing."

"He should be fine, thanks to you and your teams, Mazui," Kouga stated ignoring his enraged inner demon struggling to get free.

"Prince Kouga, about my comments earlier…I didn't mean any disrespect I didn't know that…"

"It's okay Mazui, you're forgiven. How could you have known about my intent towards Inuyasha, when I, myself, had just come to terms with it myself."

"That is no excuse. I am supposed to be one of the top trackers in the pack. I should have pieced it together long ago that you would possibly have had feeling for the Hanyo…I mean Inuyasha. It is my job to be alert to changes both inside and outside of the pack, this is a sign of me being an incompetent tracker. If there is anything I can do to make up for my lack up judgment please…"

"Mazui," Kouga interrupted him again, and placed a hand firmly on his shoulder, "don't worry about it. You have already apologized, and by going out and gathering the herbs and other supplies for Ketsui, you have already done more than necessary to apologize for your actions. Please don't beat yourself up over this, okay." He finished as he continued towards the front entrance of the den.

"Yes, sir…"

"Oh, words of advice, Mazui," he began as he was walking away, "don't hide your feelings, for the one you love. One day you could end up in my situation realizing that you could lose a good thing. Deep down, I knew I had feelings for Inuyasha, but it took him nearly dieing before I admitted it to myself. Don't be like me," he finished disappearing out of sight.

Hours later found Kouga with Ginta and Hakkaku.

"How are you holdin' up Ginta?" Kouga asked as he entered the room of his two closest friends.

"I'm fine, it's Hakkaku over there that you should be asking that question," he said pointing over at the sleeping demon.

Kouga laughed, "What's up with him?"

"He's been fretting so much over me so much. He finally wore himself out," he replied. "He should know me better than that. After all the times I've been injured, you'd think he'd be used to this by now," he laughed out loud.

"Yea you are a magnet for danger it seems," Kouga said lightheartedly.

"So…uh…how is he? Inuyasha, I mean." Ginta asked.

Kouga remained silent for a few moments. Ginta could see Kouga's anguish and began to regret asking the question.

"He's being cared for by Ketsui as we speak," Kouga eventually replied.

"Will he be okay," another voice asked from across the room.

"Oh, so you're awake," Ginta mocked his mate, "your snoring could wake the dead," he laughed trying to lighten the mood.

Hakkaku blushed unaware that he snored.

Kouga smiled at the two. "I haven't been back in the room for several hours. Ketsui won't let me back in. She told me that I would only be in the way and that she would let me know if something were to change in his status."

"And how are you holdin?" Ginta asked.

"What…I'm fine…why wouldn't I be?" Kouga questioned in shock.

"He's asking 'cause you look like you are about to collapse right there," Hakkaku replied.

"Oh, I look that bad huh?"

"Worse," Ginta added with a smirk.

Kouga glared at him, but quickly relaxed his features, showing he didn't really mean it. "I've had a lot on my mind lately. This whole thing, with finding a mate and trying to do what's best for the pack, is starting to wear me down. And now having to take care of Inuyasha, its all just starting to become overwhelming."

"Kouga the pack will be fine, no matter what you decide to do," Hakkaku stated, "so don't worry about that."

"Yea Kouga, I think your main priority should be Inuyasha…"

"Drop it…Inuyasha would never accept me for a mate…I mean…" Kouga tried to correct himself but it was too late.

"HA!!! I knew it…" Hakkaku blurted out, "I knew you wanted Inuyasha."

"That's not what I meant…" Kouga tried to interject.

"So what did you mean, Kouga?" Ginta chimed excited about hearing Kouga admit that he was interested in the hanyou.

"Fine..." Kouga sighed admitting he had been caught, "I like Dogbreath. There are ya happy now?"

"Just like?" Ginta asked curiously, "I betting that there's another bundle of soiled sheets in your chambers that says you more than like him."

"What do you want from me," Kouga asked exasperated. "you want me to admit that I dream about taking him to some secluded area, having him submit to me, mark him as mine and spend night after night make him moan my name in pleasure till he is with pup?!?"

"…"

"…"

Kouga turned to look at his two friends who were staring at him shocked. After another moment of silence, he realized what he just said.

"Ah damn it," he exclaimed.

"Wow Kouga," Ginta said, "you've got it bad."

"At least now we know why you've been out it since Inuyasha has been with us these past few days," Hakkaku added.

"If you two tell anyone…" Kouga began.

"Come on Kouga, we're your best friends. We won't tell anyone." Ginta said.

"Good, I'm gonna get some sleep before I start telling everything.

With that Kouga left the room head for his own chambers.