It was two hours before sun rise and Ayame stretched from her meditation position. The first thing that she always did was map out her day in writing so she went to her study and sat at the table that she used to take care of business and started to write out the plans for the day. After she finished the list she realized she had a lot planned for the day. She thought to herself how busy being the ruler of the northern land was. The first thing on the list was breakfast. That brought out the memory of the wolf tribe she would have to entertain, and it brought on more thoughts of Kouga. She realized he had been occupying her thoughts a lot more than she had liked him to. She put the thought in her mind that she needed to get a hold of herself quickly.

Ayame rose she needed to get dressed for the day. She went to her bathing chambers today she felt she would do bit more than usual …. Sometimes a girl just feels like doing a little extra sprucing, that was her excuse and she was sticking to it. She bathed and put on her kimono, she didn't much feel like pants today. She wore a purple kimono with green octagons on it with a dark green obi. Later she swept her hair up into an elaborate bun light on the accessories and stuck the iris in her hair as a finishing touch, she felt ready but she checked her reflection in the mirror just to make sure.

With a nod of her head she turned to walk out of the room. She had to be sure that the chef was awake and he food was being prepared. When she got down to the kitchen she saw that the chef was indeed awake and preparing the food to her prior specifications so she went down to the dining commons to be sure that the tables were set correctly as well. As soon as she saw that everything was in order she caught a familiar scent walking into the room.

"Fumiko-sama you do realize that you have about an hour before breakfast is to be served, correct?"

Yes Ayame sama I was just coming to make sure that everything was in order, though I do not like this Kouga person he is still a guest and all of our guests are treated with the utmost kindness"

"Did you not tell me that you would get to know Kouga-san before you decided on your opinion of him?"

"This I did Ayame-sama but I still view new people as guilty until proven innocent"

"To be a just ruler, should it not be the other way around?"

"Who said I wanted to be a just ruler? I was married to Fuzen after all and he was far from just "

"This is true but I like to think that you are a far better person than Fuzen-sama was"

"You win this round Ayame Sama, but I must say past actions speak for a person's character a great deal, and he was a great fool for letting a chance with you slip away"

"You flatter me with your words Fumiko-sama"

"'tis not flattery but the truth Ayame –sama"

"Well thank you for the compliment Fumiko-sama it is a great Honor coming from someone of your caliber"

An hour past and it was time for the breakfast to begin, the first person to arrive was Kouga followed closely by Hikaku and Ginta. The rest of the pack stared to trickle in one by one until everyone was in the room and ready to eat. Once the food was out and Ayame offered a thank you for coming speech, the pack began to eat like they had never eaten before.

Ayame looked at Kouga and said

"They have a healthy appetite"

Kouga blushed a little embarrassed at how little couth his pack had shown

"Sorry about that, they act like they have never eaten before"

"It is quite alright it is very rare in these times of my life that I get to see such little reserve. I truly envy how comfortable they are with one another"

"I'm sure you pack used to be like that"

"Yes, they did but with the new standing you have to learn how to behave with dignity at all times because you are never quite sure of whom is watching, looking for a reason to belittle your name and status"

"True I guess, but Ayame you can't forget to have fun in your life"

"I have much fun in my daily dealings Kouga –san, there is no need for your concern"

"I guess, I just can't get over how much you've changed"

"I hope you see the changes for the better" Ayame said with a bit of a flirtatious tone

Kouga dealt out one of those killer grins that Ayame had been weak for since she was a child. (And between you and me they still did a number on her). Ayame gave a subtly shake of her head, just enough to get the grin of her mind.

"Did I mention how good you look?" yet again dishing out another one of those lethal grins.

"No, but its good to hear" she said with a flirty smile

"I'm sure you hear it all the time"

"You'd be surprised how little"

"you've gotta' be kiddin' me!"

"Well I would presume most men can not find the time to compliment the woman who is throwing them around like a leaf in the wind"

"Wow, how often do you fight?"

"Well it is not as if I go out in search of the altercations…anymore"

Kouga was stunned, even though he should not be. He distinctly remember back when she was the old Ayame. She had liked to fight then the time when she had tried to kill Kagome came into his mind. He shook his head at the thought. Any memory of Kagome took a blow at his pride.

"And by anymore you mean?" Kouga Asked shaking himself out of his reverie

"Well in my past days I would go around initiating …quarrels with demons of a certain power level"

"You used to go around fighting strong demons? Why?"

"Can you think of a better way to train one's self?"

"Guess not"

"You do not sound like you are very convinced"

"I just can't believe it….you don't look like the type… you didn't used to be the type"

"it is true, I do appear much more fragile than I am, however more about me than just my outer appearance have changed, I worked hard to become the person that I am today, Kouga-san, I am sorry you do not like the person that I am, but changing is not an option"

"I never said I didn't like the person you are now, and I never said I wanted you to change"

"Well it pleases me greatly to know that you do not dislike me"

"Would I be here if I disliked you?"

"You were always hard to understand"

"Nope, you just like to over think simple things" Kouga said leaning back in his chair.\

"Simple is right" theforgotten Fumiko thought as she looked her best friend flirt shamelessly with the man she had sworn she no longer had feelings for.

A maid walked in and looked around the crowded table that held the entire Eastern wolf tribe. She spotted Ayame and scurried to her quickly with a serious face she bowed and began speaking.

"Ayame- sama there is a problem, there is a war brewing between the monkey and bat clan. The leaders are still fighting over territory and it's getting bloody, in the process of trying to break up the fight many of our soldiers were hurt. What shall I do?"

Send a message telling Chine that I am on my way to assist him, also prepare my armor, send the message first. Dismissed" She said with authority

"Shall I go instead Ayame-sama?"

"No Fumiko – sama this is the second time I have had to deal with them, this time I will not be so lenient, Fumiko –sama today was a very busy day for me. In my place will you attend the crowning of the northern crow clan's prince?"

"Yes Ayame-sama"

"Also I do not trust anyone else with this, Fumiko there is a scroll with my seal on it, please will you give it to the designated person, it is extremely urgent and must be dealt with using much delicacy"

"Yes, Ayame-sama you do not have to worry."

"I should be back in time, but if I am not, there is a list of important things that I was to do today on my desk, see that you do them all if I am not to return in time enough to do them today. "

"yes Ayame –sama"

"I apologize for throwing all of my reonsibilies on you on such short notice."

"it is no problem at all Ayame-sama, it is my duty as second in command"

Ayame nodded her head and turned to wave down a servant who was standing on the side

The servant ran to her without hesitation

"Go and locate Mimaru and see that he comes to my bed chamber immediately"

"yes Ayame-sama" The servant scurried off

Kouga watching on with amazement as Ayame switched gears so suddenly, giving orders and making sure that all the right people were doing all of the right jobs. He was watching intently when he heard her telling the servant to bring a man named Mimaru to her chambers. This did not sit well with him for some reason. Did she not say that she did not allow men in her chambers; though she said in a joking manner he knew that she was very serious about what she said. So what made this Mimaru guy so special? He wanted to ask, even tough it was none of business, but that never stopped him before, the only thing that stopped him this time is the urgency of the situation, if it had not been for that he would not have hesitated.

Ayame turned to Kouga and said

"I must apologize to you and your clan for cutting our breakfast together short. If I am back in time for dinner, I hope that you and your clan will join me."

Ayame gave him a slight bow and turned and walked away as if nothing at all serious had happened.

Kouga was once again struck by her beauty and confidence. Not only did she maintain complete and utter control while others were panicking, she was so calm, by looking at her you would not be able to tell that there was any danger at all.

Fumiko watched Kouga as he watched Ayame.

"You look as though you are wondering who Mimaru is"

"Just wondering why he is the only male that is allowed to her bed chambers"

"He is a very appealing being"

"Really?" Kouga said trying to maintain calm but a twitch slipped away.

"Yes, he is also one of the very few men that Ayame trusts"

"I see"

"He loves Ayame unconditionally" 'like a sister' shethought.

Kouga didn't like that part at all now his fist were clinched but he kept his face normal

"How long have they known each other?"

"From what I understand he followed Ayame when she became Ruler of the northern wolf tribe. They used to play together quite often. His clan was a friend of the northern wolf tribe"

Just then Mimaru, a cute little wood sprite with a bald head, about Jaken's height and a leaf coming from his head, (if you don't remember) walked inside in search of Fumiko he spotted her and ran over to her.

"Mimaru –san" Fumiko said with a nod of her head

Kouga looked at him and relaxed, no way Ayame would fall for him.

Then he tensed up, but when she was younger she did have a fascination with cute things.

"Have you seen Buchi? I can not find her anywhere and Ayame wants us to make sure to keep the Eastern wolf tribe entertained in her absence"

"No Mimaru-san I have not seen your mate" Fumiko said to Mimaru

Once again Kouga relaxed. But wait, why was he tense in the first place? This was Ayame. The girl he had protected from the birds of paradise. Not a potential mate. Why was he even thinking of her that way? Sure she had become beautiful, but he did not start liking every beautiful woman that he sees if that was the case he would have mated a long time ago. Okay so she was more beautiful than any female, Youkai, human, sprite or otherwise than he had ever seen. That didn't mean anything, she was still Ayame. He will not look at her that way any longer.

Then it dawned on him, Ayame was going to end a war! Little Ayame was going to fight two clans that had bloodied up soldiers. soldiers! Men trained to fight! He could not let Ayame do that alone, yes, she was the Ruler of the northern land, Yes, everyone seemed fine with the fact that she was going, yes, even she seemed sure that she would return (though she did not know what time) that didn't mean anything to him. She was still Ayame and in his eyes, still a woman, still in need of protection. That just means he would have to follow her.

He waited as the little sprite, Mimaru if her remembered correctly, made sure that his clan had ample to do before he slipped away in search of Ayame.

When he found her he seen that she was giving orders to a few more of her servant, last minute, orders he figured. He was amazed at how everyone in the castle had something to do. Yes he ran the Eastern wolf clan, but he could see just from watching Ayame for this last hour, that it was completely different from running the entire land as Ayame now does daily. He had a new respect for her immediately. Every moment he spends with her he can see that she has become greater than what she used to be. Every moment he learns something new about her and he could see that he has not even scratched the surface.

Ayame knew Kouga was watching her, even though he didn't know she had seen him, what kind of ruler would she be if she did not recognize the presence of someone who was not supposed to be there? But she figured if he wanted to be secret she would let him think that he was. The question that was going through her head was, why was he following her?

Then it dawned on her, he felt like he needed to protect her. Is he serious? Does he not know who she is? Does he not know that this simple problem was nothing and she would handle it in no time? The answer was, he knows who she was. He knows that she used to need protecting and that she was going to war. And that she was a woman. The person that he was would not allow a woman to go to war unattended. She didn't know whether or not she was flattered or offended. It had been such a long time someone noticed her gender as it was, treated her as a woman and not as the ruler of the Northern land. But on the other hand, she had worked hard for that reputation. Worked hard to be seen as just as capable as any man, more so than most. She decided to leave it alone. If following her would calm his nerves she would allow it, maybe it will give him the chance to see that not only is she capable of handling the problem, she is quite good at doing so.

Fumiko had followed Kouga out. She had no intention on following him completely. He just looked suspicious and she wanted to know where he was going.

When she seen that he was following Ayame all she could do was shake her head in disgust. Clearly the fool was underestimating her. Thinking she needs something as trivial as protection. It made her laugh. This is why she hated men. They were so full of themselves. So ready to think that women are helpless and cannot survive without him. Had it not occurred to this Kouga person that she had been the ruler of the Northern land for quite some time now, and had been doing a great job of it without him AND she is doing better now, than she was doing when he was WITH her. Obviously not. All the fool could think about was protecting her.

Many men have been blinded by Ayame's beauty. They thought her weak because of her womanly figure, but all of them found out immediately that there was beyond spice behind her beauty and figure. Her head wasn't filled with air and the body that they find so alluring is one of the most deadly weapons on this earth. All of them found that out and This Kouga was no different.

Fumiko was about to turn around and return the the castle, but she looked at Ayame's face, and she clearly knew that Kouga was following her. Fumiko expected this. The only person around that doubted her abilities was the fool following her. What Fumiko did not expect was the smile that was full of happiness on Ayame's face. Why was she so happy that Kouga was following her? Fumiko observed the situation a little more closely. Was that a blush on Ayame's face?! What was going on here?! Ayame never shows her emotion to anyone! EVER! And now all of a sudden this man comes along and she's blushing???

Fumiko could now see that this man was dangerous. She had never seen Ayame so loose, so free with anyone, except her and her grandfather. And this man comes along for all of two days and has Ayame smiling so happily that she only lost the smile when she had thought the man disliked her? This simply would not do. It was clear to Fumiko that this man was not looking for a long term relationship, and Ayame was to important to her and their lands to let some man come along and destroy everything she had worked for. If Fumiko had to stop things herself she would do so. She had experienced herself how it was to become weak at the hands of a man, and Ayame had experienced what it was like to have her heart broken by the same man that she was so ready to forgive. Yes, Fumiko had promised to give the man a chance, and that she would, when he left and stayed far away from her friend. Ayame deserved a good man that would be sure that she had everything that she needed physically, mentally and financially, if this Kouga person could not do all of these things and more he is not fit for Ayame and he will dismissed, by force if necessary. Fumiko thought with a tight face as she looked upon Kouga.

Authors note: this has got to be by far the longest I have ever taken to update my story…. And for that I apologize whole heartedly and to the readers who continue to read and review, thank you sooooooo much. I truly appreciate it! It means a lot to me when you guys review it motivates me, the next chapter has been started and the romance is moving along for those who can't wait for it…

Once again remember to review….