*Note: I do not own Inuyasha, its characters or storyline.

Chapter 4: Koga

Other than Inuyasha's constant whining, the walk towards the eastern wolf tribe was relatively quiet. Kagome and I were at the front of the group with Miroku and Sango in the middle and Inuyasha trailing at the end. Shippo and Red were intermingled within the group depending on where their games led them. Red was getting stronger and able to run a little on his own though he tired quickly allowing Shippo to out run him with ease. At the moment, the group was discussing how they were going to find the wolf demon tribe's den and approach the subject to Koga.

"Do you remember when the wolf demon tribe's den is," I asked Kagome after reflecting on what she had told me about her first encounter with Koga.

"Not really. Koga was running rather quickly when he kidnapped me. All I remember is that it is behind a large waterfall," Kagome responded with a melancholy tone. The idea to seek out the wolf demons to find me a set of armor was a good plan, it just was difficult to execute.

"I guess we'll just keep heading east, and have Inuyasha and Kasatka sniff them out," Sango suggested to the group.

"Works for me, though I'm not sure how well I'll be able to track a smell. When I hunted in the present era, I followed tracks," I commented while glancing back at Sango. In my distraction, I wasn't paying attention to where Red and Shippo were, and nearly tripped on the little buggers when I turned back around.

Then Miroku piped up the next dilemma, "How are we going to convince Koga to help us?" Though the question was asked to everyone, it was more directed towards Kagome. All of us looked at her expectantly waiting for an answer. Kagome noticed our stares and started to become nervous. Not only could I read it by her body language that she knew we were all starring at her, but an odd salty smell wafted in the air which I could only confirm my conclusion.

"Why are you guys staring at me? How am I supposed to know how to ask Koga," Kagome asked frantically.

"He did profess his affection for you. Surely you could bribe him with a kiss."

I didn't have to turn around to know who had suggested that strategy. I thought Sango surely was going to slap him at any moment, but I never heard contact. Instead, I heard a larger resounding thud. Upon looking back to check out what had happened, I saw Inuyasha shaking his fist while standing over a very stunned Miroku. Sango was standing very still next to the scene while successfully holding back her laughter.

"Inuyasha! Sit boy," Kagome exclaimed, forcing Inuyasha to join Miroku on the ground.

"What was that for?! It was Miroku's own fault! How dare he suggest you kiss the wolf!"

Kagome realized why Inuyasha had reacted so violently towards Miroku's suggestion and started to twiddle her pointer fingers while mumbling some sort of an apology to Inuyasha.

"Can't you just ask him as a friend," I proposed, trying to refocus the discussion.

"I guess I could just ask him," Kagome said absentmindedly.

"Then it's settled!"

…

The sun was starting to set behind the mountains, casting the valleys in a mosaic of orange, red and violet hues. The group had been searching for the wolf demon tribe den all day with no luck. The smell of wolf was everywhere and none of the tracks led to anywhere definitive. Currently, we were in the forest looking for a place to settle down for the night.

Shippo tapped by leg to gain my attention and asked innocently, "Do you think Red belongs to the wolf demon tribe?"

I hadn't put much thought into the origin of Red. Didn't wolves roam naturally in this era without having to be affiliated with a demon like they did in the present era? I didn't have an answer to my own question. Red smelled like the surrounding area, like a wolf, but I hadn't smelled normal wolves either so I had no comparison. Deciding it was best to not ignore the little demon I answered his question with one of my own, "I'm not sure. Do normal wolves smell like wolf demons?"

"I think they smell the same," he answered back hesitantly, probably thinking over my question too.

"If he is a part of the tribe, will you leave him," Kagome questioned after overhearing our conversation.

Her question made my stomach drop. I hadn't put the pieces together until now that I might not be able to keep Red. Taking care of him for a couple of days didn't leave much time for bonding, but I had already become heavily attached to the little wolf pup. Red reminded me of one of my dogs from the present era, and I wasn't ready to part with him yet. My reluctance to answer must have been enough of an answer for Kagome because she placed her hand on my shoulder in a comforting gesture.

"I guess we'll cross that bridge when we get there," I finally answered while swallowing the lump building in my throat. It felt like Red knew we were talking about him because as I finished my statement he came jogging over to plop down in front of my feet. He seemed tired from all of his playing with Shippo throughout the day. Like every other teenage girl, I fawned over him and swept him into my arms.

My moment with the little pup was interrupted by an unsettling rustling coming from the surrounding woods. Immediately, Red was alert in my arms, his ears perked searching for the location of the sound. Unfortunately, the noise wasn't coming from one location, but many. Intermingled with the rustling of leaves and cracking of twigs was the yipping of wolves. At least that means we're in the right location.

Kagome grasped my arm firmly and dragged me close to her. Miroku and Sango stood guard on our sides, their weapons out, while Inuyasha blocked us from the front. Whether they thought I couldn't protect myself or it was just that Kagome had brought me into the circle for protection, I wasn't sure. Red struggled in my arms as we waited for the wolves to attack us. He obviously didn't like waiting for the action to start, much like myself.

"Inuyasha," I said in a controlled manner, handing Red to Kagome as I walked to be even with him.

"Yeah, what is it?"

"Let me handle this," I ordered, and on cue the pack of wolves revealed themselves surrounding our group. Glancing over my shoulder I commented, "Wolf demons can control wolves, right?"

"That is correct," Sango answered.

Thinking back to my training with dogs, I did the only feasible thing I could think of and demonstrated my dominance to them. With hackles raised and hair on edge I didn't feel like a human anymore. My demon blood was finally showing its true colors as a fierce growl ripped through my throat and rumbled in my chest.

At first, I thought there wasn't going to be a confrontation between the wolves and the gang. The wolves showed a bit of submission and started to shy away when they appeared confused and resolved back to their attack mode. They were ready to lunge at us when I felt soft fur scurry past my calf. Red had escaped from Kagome's hold and was trying to protect us. I took a step forward, ready to grab him in case his little show of aggression did not faze the adults.

Surprisingly, the pack settled down and the head wolf approached Red. This wolf was larger than the rest of the group and had a distinguishing scar on its right shoulder in a crossed shape. She towered over Red as she sized him up and put her face near him, sniffing to see if his scent was familiar. Slowly her tail started to flick back and forth until it turned into a complete wag, and with a smiling face she lapped at Red's face. A sense of realization appeared on Red's face too and he became a joyous puppy again, bouncing around the larger wolf in a playful manner.

"Do you think they know each other," I heard Kagome ask from behind me. The group made remarks towards her question, but I kept my guard on edge. It wasn't uncommon for coyotes in the states to be friendly with domesticated dogs in order to lure them away into an ambush, and I wasn't about to let that happen to Red if that was the case. Red nuzzled the wolf affectionately and nipped at her neck as she submitted to him, flashing her white belly and pretending to lose to him. A few of the other wolves joined in on their game and began to play with Red as well. The pack began to howl as they played until all of them were howling in unison, even Red.

"Guys, remember what happened the last time a pack of wolves howled like that," Miroku cautioned.

The wind contained within the small alcove of trees began to whip around viciously, kicking up twigs and dust. As the forage settled, my nose picked up on the entrance of a stranger before my eyes did. The stranger smelled of wolf too, leaving me to conclude it was a wolf demon. It was like déjà vu, but not at the same time. Kagome had mentioned that this exact type of scene had transpired when they first met Koga.

The wolf demon that appeared behind the pack of wolves was young. His long black hair was held in a high ponytail and wolf pelt accompanied his armor. Blues eyes scanned the wolves searching for harm, but found none. He said to the wolves with an annoyed tone, "What are you guys yapping about now?"

Awareness that he was not the only one in the alcove seemed to have registered in his mind because he became tense until he locked eyes with the group. My lingering suspicions as to the stranger's identity were answered as him and Inuyasha made eye contact. Inuyasha went to lunge at him until he was forced to the ground by Kagome's command of the necklace.

"I thought you hated wolves mutt-face, yet I see the new addition to your group is a wolf demon," Koga said.

Inuyasha's retort was muffled since his face was smashed into the dirt. Seeing as he was no help at the moment, I moved into Koga's line of vision and blocked his view of Kagome. He wasn't going to be whisking off my cousin again if I had anything to do about it. Locking eyes with him, I said coolly, "And you must be the troublesome Koga who kidnapped my cousin."

Koga looked taken aback by my comment and stammered, "What? I haven't kidnapped any wolf demons!"

At this point in time, Kagome piped up, "Koga, this is my cousin Kasatka."

He looked at her questioningly, debating whether to believe her statement and finally asked, "Then why are you guys in wolf demon territory this late at night?"

Again, Kagome answered and said enthusiastically, "I'm so glad you asked!"

…

"Stupid mutt-face!"

"Rabid wolf!"

The insult match continued between the two dominating males as we started to "settle" down for the night since the den of the wolf demon tribe was still quite a ways away. I looked to Kagome signaling for her to keep her boys in check.

"What do you expect me to do about it," she questioned depressed. I could tell all of the arguing and bickering was starting to get on her nerves, and if she said anything to stop the fighting Inuyasha would interpret it as her defending Koga. Jealous shit.

"The fire is ready for us to start prepping the food, but we don't have very much water left," Sango told Kagome and me. Our low reserves of water were a perfect solution to the bickering problem. I sprung up from my sitting position on the ground, slightly startling Kagome, and walked towards the boys with purpose. They were metaphorically ripping out each other's throats and it looked like a fist fight was going to start when I stopped next to them.

"Boys," I said coldly.

Inuyasha and Koga turned to snap at me for interrupting their match, but recoiled when they saw my glare. I had been told in the present era that I had a fierce glare that would scare anyone. The fact that two very power demon and half-demons were cowering in its presence only reinforced its authority.

Inuyasha started to scuttle away slowly as Koga hesitantly asked, "Yes, Kasatka?"

"We need to go get more water," I replied cheerfully, completely changing my demeanor. My bipolar behavior through him off, though he still followed me away from the campsite.

…

As we walked towards the river, I picked up on Koga's stares. He would glance at me from the corner of his eye for about a minute or two and look away when I looked back at him. "If you take a picture, it'll last longer," I said in a monotone.

"Huh?"

"If you have a question, then just ask," I said exasperated.

"How are you related to Kagome? She is a human and you're a demon," he asked.

I knew that question was going to pop up. It was only natural for him to question how a human and demon were related by blood. I was admiring the moon when I answered him, subconsciously rubbing my wrist where my bracelet used to be, "Newly wolf demon. I was human a couple days ago or at least I thought I was. I'm from the present era like Kagome, and as a young child I was adopted into Kagome's family. A bracelet I had worn my entire life shattered, revealing my true form."

"Well I'm not surprised. There's plenty of weird magic in this day and age," he commented comfortably. He seemed to have calmed down from the hype of fighting with Inuyahsa. His shoulders were lax and his hands cradled his head as we continued to walk towards the river. The tree line was starting to thin signaling we were getting close.

"No kidding," I replied back to him.

"Are you the one who found the wolf pup," he bounced back.

"Red? Yeah, he was being attacked by a lizard demon. I stitched and bandaged his wounds too. Of which, those might need to be taken out soon," I said, though the end part more to myself and not him.

"So you're the healer," he asked.

"Unofficially, but I much more view myself as a fighter," I replied with a cheeky grin. I was great at medicine, no doubt about it, but I wasn't comfortable with the pressure being placed on my shoulders. Here in the feudal era, I was lacking many of the common tools I used and I worked on animals in the present era, not people. Fighting on the other hand, didn't change with the times. I didn't have a lot of experience in the field of fighting, but I was much more comfortable with throwing a punch at someone who attacked my friends than trying to mend an internal would without a surgery ward.

The twenty questions stopped when we reached the river. It was flowing quietly, the bright moonlight illuminating just how clear the river truly was. I could see the water plants interspersed among the rocky base clearly and a random fish could be seen every now and then.

Thinking back on what Kagome had mentioned about Koga, I think she was correct in her assessment. Koga put off a hard exterior, but was actually nice and had a guanine interest in people. Closing the cap on the water bottle, I faced Koga and mentioned casually, "You know, Kagome was right…"

"About what," Koga interrupted urgently. It was evident he was hoping Kagome had said something along the lines of returning his unrequited love.

"That you're not all that bed despite your rough exterior," I piped up with another cheeky grin.

He seemed disappointed by my answer and began shuffling his feet some as we walked back to the campsite.

"I would discontinue your pursuit of Kagome. She has fallen hard for Inuyasha, even if she hasn't fully realized it. You'll only be upset with yourself later for chasing a lost cause," I told him solemnly. It was a hard truth, but a truth that needed to be said.

"You seem to have experience with this. Does that mean you're taken too," he exclaimed frustrated while pointing an accusing finger at me.

I was prepared for his reaction, not his words. It was flattering that he was upset at the thought of me being unavailable. I threw up the white flag, my hands, and said with a light laugh, "No. I've never had a boyfriend. I'm just older than Kagome."

"I see. So what are you guys doing out here anyways," Koga asked as we reentered camp.

"Even with as much as we bonded, I think I'm still going to leave that to Kagome," I said sheepishly as I pawned the task off onto Kagome.

She must have overheard my comment because she looked back at us and asked, "What am I doing?"

"Telling Koga why we are out here," I chimed.

"Oh, right!"

I strategically placed myself in the circle next to Inuyasha while waiting for dinner to be ready so that Koga and he would not be adjacent to each other. As I was getting comfortable in my sitting position, Red came bounding over and placed both front paws on my chest while licking my cheek affectionately.

"He really likes you," Koga noted as he took his seat next to me.

"Oh course he does, I'm awesome," I exclaimed as I picked Red up to place him into my lap. Koga seemed a little put off by my confident answer so in order to cease the encroaching awkwardness I asked, "Is he from your pack?"

He answered, "Yes. He went missing about a week ago. We thought a demon had eaten him."

"Almost," I commented.

In the background I heard Kagome say dinner was ready which was convenient because I was suddenly starving, a loud growl rising from my stomach. Everyone took their share of the food and sat contently as we ate.

…

As dinner was slowing down, Koga again asked with a look of seriousness, "So why are you guys looking for me again?"

Kagome took it upon herself to answer his question and said, "Right! Can we get some armor made for Kasatka?"

"The tail makes human clothes inconvenient," I piped in while swishing my tail.

"Anything for you Kagome," Koga said sweetly.

Ugh. I told him to stop chasing after her. A sweat drop of annoyance appeared on my head.

Before I could continue the rant in my head, Koga finished his statement with, "It'd be rude of me not to assist a fellow wolf demon." He started to lean closer to me as he talked and before I could do anything, he was ruffling my hair.

"Hey now," I exclaimed while yanking my head out of reach and attempting to fix the mess he had made. My naturally curly hair did not appreciate someone's hands very well. Red came to my defense and playfully nipped at Koga telling him to knock it off. He then tackled Koga in retaliation. The force was enough to throw Koga off balance and he fell onto his back making me laugh. It was quite the sight to see a demon being thwarted by a puppy.

"Serves you right," I bolstered while still trying to tame my hair.

…

Kagome watched as Kasatka and Koga played like children across the fire from her. She knew Koga had a soft side when it came to his pack, but she wasn't expecting him to be this playful with her cousin, whom he'd just met. Kagome looked towards Sango and motioned for her to examine the scene too.

Sango looked at the two wolf demons and understood what Kagome was referencing. She leaned in towards Kagome and whispered, "Does Kasatka have a thing for Koga?"

"It looks like it," Kagome whispered back mischievously.

From behind the two gossiping girls Miroku further noted, "And Koga hasn't being fawning over you either Kagome. Maybe he likes Kasatka too."

Kagome and Sango yanked away from each other and looked at Miroku accusingly. Sango hissed, "That was a private conversation!"

"I didn't mean to intrude," Miroku said while raising his hands in surrender. Miroku then proceeded to rubbing Sango's rear as he continued his apology resulting in a usual slap.

…

I stopped laughing at Koga's misfortune when I heard a resounding slap and snapped my head toward where Miroku had been sitting. Even with only knowing the gang for a couple of days, I had figured out Sango slapped Miroku frequently for his inappropriate behavior. He wasn't sitting where he had eaten his dinner. Instead, I saw him cowering behind a fuming Sango and annoyed Kagome with a large, red bump on his head.

"What'd you do this time Miroku," I questioned.

"I did nothing wrong," he answered while feigning innocence. Sango did not appear to appreciate his answer and went to hit him again, but missed.

"Sure you didn't," Shippo piped up from Kagome's side making everyone, other than Miroku, laugh. Once everyone had regained control, we settled down for bed.