A//N: Sorry that it has been so long since I last updated. Internet got shut off and my quarter started so I've been a busy woman without my favorite luxury! But I'm back and I'm going to try and get chapters up steadily again. I will not fail this story or my reviewer(s)!!!

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters within InuYasha. The characters I do own are Yumiko, Kotsuroki, Yoru, Taiyou, and Sayuri.

~~Spoiler Alert~~

This story is based off of the MANGA and after the series is over. Thus, there are bound to be a few spoilers.

Narrator

The little green demon scurried about as the bodies were collected and laid to rest at the foot of the mountain. Never before had he seen his Lord give such care to other demons but he had to consider that the Ookami Lord was a good friend of the Lord's father. Yes, that made sense and there was the debt that his Lord had for the Ookami Lord for taking care of the Western Lands while his own Lord went about his own quest for his father's treasured sword. Lord Hisashi was a good man and even Jaken knew that. There was a respect for the Ookami Lord but it would never compare to his loyalties to Lord Sesshoumaru! Not ever! But the kappa couldn't help but wonder why Sesshoumaru took so much time to make sure each demon that fought for the Ookami clan was put to rest. Why not just put the honored pair to rest? But there was reason to his actions.

The Western Lord was searching, to see if they could all be accounted for. There were many minor Ookami that he would simply throw into a shallow grave much like the others. Jaken tugging along most of those but he took great care in the burial of Hisashi and his mate. To Sesshoumaru, they were somewhat like parents, watching over him when he was younger and lost his father. Hisashi was quick to try and teach him what his father was suppose to. His wife, always smiling and willing to point out what needed to be fixed and being a good wolf mother. He had grown up with their daughter, thought of her as a friend because of their youth. He was there when the heir was born but he was searching for them. Why weren't their heads on display as well? Did the Orochi and Ryu forget about them or did they simply not care? The Western Lord would find out soon enough that it was because they were not there.

The heir and the daughter had escaped.

Narrator

The sun would rise, painting the sky in several colors. Pale blues would start to fade into the sky. Purples and navies would remain of the darkness. Pinks, yellows, oranges, and reds would melt into the world where the sun was coming into the world. The wolves of the Southern clan were rising to greet the day and Yumiko and Kotsuroki were among them. The small boy had crawled up next to his sister in the middle of the night, fear gripping him from his nightmares. It was something he was doing on a routine basis. Taiyou often slept curled up next Kotsu to keep him warm but also in her protective manner being the surrogate mother. Yoru would sleep nearby Yumiko since he was now her sole protector. Not to mention, he didn't trust many within this pack to keep their grubby hands off of his little girl. Yumiko would wake as Kotsu would crawl next to her and she would cuddle him so that he didn't feel alone and so he knew that she was there. He needed that and he knew it. She was his safe place. When morning would come they would stir together, Yumiko sleeping lightly and the entirety of the morning he would keep within her lap or trailing after her, holding the tip of her tail.

At the moment, the wolves were having their breakfast and Kotsu was sitting in Yumiko's lap in silence. The children were up after they had eaten and were playing near the center of the den. Kotsu's eyes were on the children, his lips sucking in and out as he watches them. Yumiko would look up to watch them every so often, knowing that he would go to them eventually. Kouga on the other hand was watching from his own little place, sitting with Hakkaku and Ginta. His blue eyes trained on Yumiko and the kid. One of the children would stop in the game of tag, her bright blue eyes looking over to the ever shy Kotsu. She would give a bright smile, wrinkling the freckles on her face. She would then skip towards him, her bright red pigtails bouncing as she did so. She would simply hold out her hand to Kotsu who would stare at it a moment.

"Go on and play with Sayuri. I'm not going anywhere," Yumiko says softly, encouraging the boy.

His green eyes watch his sister for a moment before taking the girl's hand and following after her. Yumiko would just give a bit of a smile and cross her arms over her chest as Taiyou follows after to find a place where she can watch him. A soft sigh escapes Yumiko's voice but Kouga watches as the boy joins the other children. He would give a bit of a laugh at this. The girl had come every day since he arrived to get him to play with them. At this point, Kouga would wave off whatever his two companions were saying as he got to his feet, coming up behind Yumiko. The girl only looked forward, watching as her brother was pulled into a game of tag but in moments he was laughing and playing with the others.

"He'll do fine," Kouga says softly, loud enough for her to hear.

The female only smiles and clasps her hands on her crossed legs before leaning back, her hair falling past her shoulders and down her back. Those crimson eyes would look up to meet his blue ones and he just gives a little smirk.

"I know he will. But you should know, sneaking up on a lady is pretty rude," she retorts in a playful manner.

In all truth, Yumiko rather liked talking with Kouga and teasing him only added to that fun. She sometimes wished that he would tease her too, just so she knew he was comfortable. He only smiles a bit and shrugs his shoulders.

"Should have heard me coming. Pretty important if you are going to be a warrior," he replies coolly.

She frowns at this before leaning forward a bit as he walks around to be at her front. Yoru lifts his head a bit and then gets to his feet, stretching out his body.

"Come on, might as well get started," the male says, reaching his hand out for her.

The ebony haired woman looks to his hand curiously, knowing what he was talking about. She then shifts herself and reaches out to take his hand. To her, his hand was calloused and rough but smooth. She could tell that he had earned the hardened skin which meant he also wasn't some softy of an Alpha. To him, her hands were soft and somewhat chilled. The skin was soft and felt nice to touch and it proved that she wasn't a fighter but a lady. He couldn't help but let a small smile slide onto his lips as he pulls her up. She does come to her feet but stumbles forward a bit, leaning into him. Their hands between them and at his chest and near her neck. Her face is planted into his chest and it at this close distance that she can take in every scent of him. To her it reminded her of the upturned earth and burning wood. In the back of her mind she knew that she enjoyed the scent, instinct told her she wanted more of it but this wasn't right. Kouga didn't budge as she bumped into her. His eyes widened a bit as she lingered but he also took in her scent. It was the smell that is after rainfall mixed with honey. She would stumble back a bit, her fingers loosening around his hand and he would let go of her hand as well. Both still feeling where they had come in contact. Yoru gave a bit of a grumble at the interaction and would casually walk between the two, bumping against Yumiko's leg to bring her back to reality. The heat would rise to her face, causing a faint tinge of red. Something that Kouga would notice immediately and would almost give a grin if he wasn't trying to keep her from embarrassment.

"Oh sorry," she would mumble, losing eye contact with him.

He would reach up and rub the back of his head, shrugging his shoulders.

"You shouldn't get to so worked up over contact. There will be plenty of it when we are training," he replies, trying to get her to relax a little.

Oddly, the blush became a little darker but other thoughts flashed through her mind. He didn't notice at all that the shade had changed. She does smile a bit and gives a nod.
"Alright, then where should we go?" she asks, tilting her head slightly to the side.

"Near the lake, there's an open area there," he replies and starts walking towards the entrance of the cave.

For a moment, Yumiko stands there while Yoru lazily followed after Kouga. Her crimson eyes shift to watch the pair go towards the waterfall and she jogs to catch up. With a quick glance towards her little brother she then bursts through the waterfall. The water is cold against her skin and she gives a slight shiver. But she does catch up to Kouga and Yoru, keeping pace with the both of them. By the way she walked it was as if she didn't want to be following but more equal. Kouga barely noticed this at all but he wouldn't have minded her standing alongside him instead of following his lead.

They would arrive in the little clearing and Yoru would sit off to the side, watching to make sure that nothing happened to Yumiko.

"Alright, let's see what you already know," Kouga says with a bit of a smirk.

It was then that he turned quickly and went to throw a punch at the woman. Wide eyed, Yumiko quickly ducked and crouches along the ground. Thoughts quickly sped through her mind, stunned that he started so quickly and she had no idea what the hell she was doing. This would go on for a few minutes, her dodging his punches or being swiped by them a few times. A kick would come in contact with her body on occasion as well. Then he would stop and she was stare at him wide eyed and confused.

"What the hell..." she whispers, breathing heavily.

"You are already not bad at dodging but you need to watch your opponent to find out where the hit is coming from. Look, most people swing with their body and it gives away whether or not they will be punching, kicking, and even where they are aiming," Koga explains.

Yumiko leans over a bit nodding along, taking deep breathes to fill her starving lungs. Yoru just watches and with every hit that she sustained a slight growl did form in his throat. Even if he did know it was better for the girl he couldn't help but dislike this physical contact.

"Alright, so, I watch you to see where you are going to come..." she was caught mid sentence as she saw the movement in his hip.

Yumiko would quickly jump back and out of the way of the kick with a frown on her face. He really was a rough teacher wasn't he? This time around she would keep her eyes out for where she could see his movements but every so often he would change it up so that he wasn't swinging so much with his body and she would get hit a couple of times. This went on for a few hours before he finally sat down and she would collapse on the ground, nursing the bruises that were starting to form. Fingers poke at a few on her arms and her sides before looking up to Kouga who is watching her, as if observing her.

"I didn't hurt you too bad did I?" he asks, concern laced within his voice.

Yumiko just shakes her head, her black hair tossing from side to side.

"No, not too much but it only gets better as I get better right?" she asks with that little tilt of her head.

For a moment Kouga couldn't help but think she looked cute when she did that. His eyes tear away from her for a moment, lips curling into a bit of a smile.

"Yeah, it only gets better," he replies.