A/N: Hey guys, sorry about the delay in this chapter. It was mostly written, and then I had a death in the family and I've been dealing with that for several days. My uncle passed away, and since I did not have my real father in my life, he was the only father figure I'd ever had. It was unexpected, and it devastated me. I hope this chapter is up to par with the rest of my writing because getting back to writing was difficult for me.

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Chapter 48: Confessions

"You will do no such thing!" Kouga bellowed back at his mate, a growl on his throat. Tamako had told him about Kagome, he'd even met the undead miko, and he was not having it. Tamako wanted to go stay with her father for a night to ensure his safety and to try and figure out a way to save her mother.

And of course it turned into an argument. She wanted to take the pups too, so her mother could meet them. Even though she promised to be back tomorrow morning, which he didn't doubt, he didn't trust Kagome.

His mate growled right back at him, shaking her head. "You will not tell me what to do, Kouga! This is my mother here."

"And you are my mate! And those are my pups! I will not sit back and watch you put them and yourself in danger! No. I don't trust her. That is not the Kagome we knew. That is not your mother! Its a walking pile of bones, graveyard soil and clay!" he yelled out.

This made Tamako grip her hands into tight fists, shaking her head. "It IS my mother! She won't hurt us, much less our pups, HER grandchildren. She didn't get to meet them, I just want her to meet them!"

Kouga moved to rest his hands on her shoulders, shaking his head. "But you are my family. You even said that this could be a trap. I don't think its wise to do this, especially in your condition..."

Tamako blushed a little when he mentioned that, looking away and crossing her arms across her chest. "I'll be fine. I'm not sick anyway..."

"You're not?" he asked, blinking a little. She'd been sick and he was worried about her, but he just assumed it was her human part that made her sick.

Shaking her head, she bit her bottom lip as she crossed her arms tighter. "No. I...I'm...I'm pregnant." she said. At first she hadn't been sure, but after her dad made that joke, she realized it was most likely true. She started paying attention to her body, and she could tell the subtle differences, the signs that she was carrying another pup.

Her declaration made Kouga's eyes widen and then he shook his head. "Now you're definitely not going. Nope. I put my foot down. You are carrying my pup, you will not be put in danger. Not again."

"I'll be fine! Its my mom..." she said, looking up at Kouga slowly.

"Its not your mom, Tamako! Its something else. Your mom is dead."

"How can you say that!?" Tamako yelled, tears starting to form in her eyes. She may be a little over emotional with being pregnant.

"You forget I was around when Kikyou was brought back. She was cold hearted and a bitch. Its not her real self, Tamako...its just a shell of what she used to be, her image. You can't let yourself be fooled by her. Look, I know you want your mother back, I get that. But that is not your mother..." he reasoned.

Slowly Kouga moved his arms around Tamako's shoulders, bringing her against his chest in a tight hug, kissing the top of her head. "Think about our pup in your stomach, hm? What if it is a trap and something happens? I...I can't see you that upset again."

She closed her eyes halfway as he pulled her into the embrace, trying not to move too much against him. "What can I do, Kouga? I cannot let my mother walk around like that. I have to help her. Please..." she said, looking up at his face slowly.

Holding her against his chest, he rubbed her back slowly, shaking his head. "I cannot consciously let you put yourself or our unborn pup in danger..." he said, closing his eyes slowly. "I cannot loose you. I just got you back...you cannot ask me to be okay with this."

A pout formed on her lips, but she sighed, slowly moving her arms up and around his waist, gripping him a little. "And I cannot sit and let my father fall into a trap when I can fix this. There has to be a way..."

Opening his eyes halfway, he looked down at her and sighed. "If you insist on helping, the only thing I'll agree to is you trying to find a way to help. You may not take our pups to that house with that woman. If she wishes to meet them, fine, but it will be here, under guard. I am sorry but I am not as trusting when it comes to dark magic." he said.

Glancing up at his face, she smiled slowly. "Aww, you're compromising..." she said, leaning up and kissing him softly, hugging him a bit more.

He kissed her back, brushing his nose against hers and closing his eyes halfway. "Yes, yes I am. But only a little. You and our pups are my life, Tamako...and I will not see you in danger. I know its your mother, but somehow...its not your mother at the same time."

"I know that. My mother deserves to rest in peace...and she obviously cannot do that in our world." she said with a sigh, closing her eyes as she rest her cheek against his chest, cuddling into him. "I just want to help her..."

Kissing the top of her head, nuzzling his nose against it slowly. "I understand that. And we will help her, as best as we can."

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Weeks passed with no real plan. Tamako's pregnancy was beginning to show, and she hadn't been back to the human village since. Until today. She'd done some research and had come up with a possible solution. But she needed to speak to someone that might be able to help her, and that person lived in the human village.

That person was Sango. Sango had once been a demon slayer, had known many miko, and she'd always thought Sango was wise and Sango had pretty much been her mother for those years before Kagome came back.

She'd picked her time carefully, knowing the girls would be gone, Miroku would be at work, along with Kohaku. She hadn't faced Kohaku since she woke up that morning in his arms. But she truly didn't know who else to turn to, Sango was her only real option.

When she came up to the door, Tamako took in a deep breath, knocking on the wood next to the bamboo door flap.

Inside, Sango came up and pushed open the door, smiling as she saw Tamako. "Hello there Tamako. Come on in, you know you don't need to knock honey, you're always welcome in my home." she said. Reaching out to gently bring Tamako into a hug before she brought her inside.

Sango had aged well, she was in her late thirties, almost forty. Her long black hair fell over her shoulders in the same low pony tail she'd always wear. She no longer wore her demon armor, but she still trained with her brother Kohaku occasionally, keeping her in shape. Her kimono was all green with small green flowers along the fabric.

Once they were both inside, Sango let the bamboo door fall back into place, smiling. "Look at you! With child as could be. How far along are you?"

Tamako smiled to her, nodding softly. "Thank you." she said as she walked in, chuckling. "Is it that obvious already? Gosh I feel like a cow." she said, resting one hand on her protruding belly, rubbing it slowly. "About four months, give or take. We don't know how many yet though. Last one I had two."

Sango nodded to her with a smile. "Oh I know. Poor thing, you'll have multiples more often possibly. Animal demons tend to have litters instead of just one. I'd suppose just one is possible though."

The younger girl shrugged, walking with Sango to the fire pit and slowly settling herself down onto the ground. "Its not that bad. I just hope the birth isn't during my human night again. Kami I can't imagine doing that all the time." she said, looking at Sango slowly. "It is exhausting though. Kouga talks of this big, big family and I just want to look at him and tell him if he wants to carry all these pups he is more than welcome to have that many."

Helping Tamako down before Sango moved to kneel across the fire pit from her, chuckling and nodding. "Thats what I told Miroku. Gosh, I cannot believe little Tamako is old enough to be a mom. My own girls are old enough too..." she said, shaking her head as she started to get a pot with water in it to get tea ready.

"Did Sara ever get married?" Tamako asked.

Nodding a little. "Oh she did. A few weeks ago. Sorry you couldn't come. One of my girls being gone is upsetting. When the rest are gone I won't know what to do." Sango explained, getting two cups for the tea ready.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there. Kouga's been...reluctant to let me leave the den since I came back."

"I know why. Men get like that." Sango said. She also remembered Tamako losing their first child due to a demon attack. But, she knew better than to bring that up. Looking up at the tea, slowly taking it off the fire and pouring some into each cup.

"So, what do I owe the pleasure of this visit? Not that you need a reason, but I assume there is one." Sango asked, offering Tamako one of the cups of tea.

Reaching and taking the cup, Tamako took in a breath and looked down at the liquid. "Well...you know about my mother being back?" she asked, looking up at Sango.

A soft nod came from the former demon slayer, sighing a little. "I do. You also must know its not completely your mother. It reminds me of Kikyou..." she said with a sigh.

And Tamako nodded. "It does. Which is why I'm here..." she said. Resting her cup down on the floor just in front of her, looking down at it. "I need to find a way to help my mother cross over...I need to find a way to make sure her spirit can rest, so she won't be used against us." she said, looking up at him.

Sango nodded in agreement. "Yes, but how can we do that?"

Tamako bit her bottom lip, looking up at Sango. "I've been reading books, coming up with theories. This is what I've come up with..." she started, resting one hand on her stomach, looking up at Sango. "Her spirit needs to move on. Thats the best option. But...another option...is a spell. You can lock a spirit away in a mirror, if you're strong enough. That spirit will be locked there until released. It'll...it'll give her a chance to be at peace."

Listening to her, her eyes widening at the mention of the mirror. "Oh Tamako, you do not want to play with that sort of magic. Locking a spirit away in a mirror is not all fun and roses as you'd believe. Its a place of darkness so they say..."

"Only if you hide the mirror. My thought is not to hide it, to hang it in my den. What she lives in the mirror will be a reflection of the real life world..." Tamako suggested.

But, Sango was wary about the idea, looking at Tamako. "There is no way this will work. You think your father would willingly lock Kagome away in a mirror?"

Sighing and shrugging a little, Tamako looked down. "I don't know what else to do. My mother...my mother is tortured. You can see it in her eyes sometimes. She's not at peace, she keeps being brought back. A mirror, protected by a seal would ensure she would not be disturbed."

Sango looked at her, biting her bottom lip slowly. "I'm not sure about this. Sure, its an idea...but its basically a prison."

"You don't know that!" Tamako said, looking up at Sango. "My mother could be at peace there, live her life..."

"But what of your father?"

Tamako's face paled a little before she looked away, shaking her head. "I...I don't know...I'm not sure." she said slowly.

"Inuyasha will not allow you to take Kagome from him..." Sango said, looking up at Tamako slowly. "Unless...you'd lock him away with her..."

At the suggestion, Tamako's eyes widened, shaking her head and looking at Sango. "I...I can't..."

Sango shrugged a little, taking a sip of her tea, looking at Tamako. "Regardless...you are with child, it is not smart for you to be playing with your miko magic. It is a demon child you carry...if you use too much miko power it could harm your child."

Pouting, Tamako nodded a little. "You might be right. I'd have to wait until I have the baby." she said. One hand rested on her stomach, looking down at the small bulge that was her baby.

"Yes, you would. So you have months before you even need to worry about this." Sango said with a soft smile. "You shouldn't worry now. You should be happy. You're having a baby."

Tamako chuckled and nodded a little. "Yeah, I just can't help it." she said, looking up at Sango. "I am happy. I can feel the baby move a little, and its amazing. I love being pregnant to a point. When it gets nearly impossible to sit down and stand up on my own, thats when I hate it. The middle part, where I'm just showing isn't so bad. The sickness could stop though.."

A giggle came from Sango's lips, nodding. "Ohhh when I was pregnant I was so moody. Poor Miroku definitely felt the brunt of it. Being pregnant was exhausting. Being a parent is exhausting."

Nodding in agreement, Tamako laughed. "Yeah, I sometimes get moody. But, Kouga fights back. Not like physical fighting, just sort of yelling over stupid things. I yelled at him the other day because he was eating like a horse."

That made Sango burst into laughter, shaking her head. "Seriously? Ohh poor Kouga! I remember yelling at Miroku for stupid things too. Like picking up after himself. He'd tend to just leave his things all over the place. I got so angry."

"Oohh I yell at him for that too." Tamako said, giggling and looking at Sango. "Hey, its their fault, right? They got us pregnant, they should have some sort of misery in this."

Sango laughed, nodding. "I whole heartedly agree." she said.

"But see, the fun thing about Kouga is he'll yell right back. Of course it'll piss me off for a while, but making up is the fun part." she said.

Sango was about to say something before the bamboo door opened and Kohaku walked in. Both girls looked up at him. He was in his demon slayers black leather outfit with the brown armor covering his shoulders, elbows, knees and stomach, the green straps holding them. His sword was at his hip and his hair was up in a pony tail. He didn't see them right away as he untied the top tie to his suit, bringing the collar down and wiping his neck with a cloth he held in his hand. He was sweating, sweat dribbled down the side of his face and neck from the job he'd just gotten back from.

He looked up, seeing Tamako and Sango. Blushing when his eyes laid on Tamako. They hadn't seen each other since that morning he'd woken up in her bed. Looking at her, his eyes drifted down, seeing her pregnant belly that made his eyes widen. Could it be his? In his mind he quickly tried to calculate how long it'd been since he was with Tamako.

When she hadn't come to him it'd broken his heart. He wanted to make her his own wife, have a family with her. He thought more about her than he did about his job like usual. He'd never thought there would be a woman he wanted to put before his own job. Demon slaying was his life, it had been ever since he was a child. When he lost most of his family because of himself, and once his mission to defeat Naraku was over, he'd thrown himself into demon slaying, saving people. Really, he never thought about having a family of his own until he woke up in his village that day to Tamako's shining face. Even though she was a half demon, she was a good half demon, not like the ones he'd slain, but like her father Inuyasha.

"Aren't you going to say hi? Kami Kohaku, don't be so rude." Sango said to her brother.

Kohaku blushed deeply and nodded. "Oh...oh s-sorry...hello Tamako-chan." he said, bowing softly to her.

Tamako gulped a little as he said that, nodding just slowly to him. "Hello Kohaku. How have you been?" she asked, putting a smile on her face. Nobody really knew that she slept with someone that wasn't Kouga. It was only her, her father, Kohaku and Kouga that knew she'd slept with someone else. And Kouga didn't even know it was Kohaku. She really didn't need Kouga storming into town in a rage trying to kill him.

"May I...speak to you for a moment, Tamako?" Kohaku asked, resting his cloth down on a table and offering Tamako his hand to help her stand up.

She couldn't help but look nervous, but she nodded a little. "Uh s-sure..."

"What? Going to tell her about this mystery woman you're in love with, but not your own sister?" Sango asked. She'd been trying to get her brother to tell her who he was in love with. She had no idea it was Tamako.

"Sister, its nothing like that." Kohaku said, glancing at his sister before looking at Tamako, still holding his hand out.

Reluctantly, Tamako took his hand, standing up with his help. She wasn't sure what he wanted to talk to her about.

Holding onto her hand, his touch lingering and squeezing her fingers a little before he let go. Walking to the door and opening it for her. As Tamako walked past him out the door, one hand brushed the small of her back, just wanting to touch her at least a little bit. The little touch did not go unnoticed by his sister, either. But, Sango didn't say anything.

Walking outside with Tamako, walking around to the other side of the house before he stopped her. Gently he shifted her so her back was against the wood of the house, leaning down and brushing his lips against hers, kissing her softly.

The kiss caught her off guard, she took in a breath as her back pressed against the wood of the house, her palms resting flat against the side, her eyes widening a little.

Kohaku slowly rest one hand against the side of her neck as he kissed her, leaning close to her. He was sure nobody could see them since he'd moved them to the side farthest away from the road. He'd just needed to kiss her so bad.

Once he leaned back from the kiss, he shifted both hands to rest on the wood on either side of her head, opening his eyes halfway. His brown eyes looked down into her golden ones and he spoke before she could. "Is it mine?" he asked in a soft whisper.

Tamako's ears twitched a little, looking up into his eyes and blushing a little, shaking her head. "N-no.."

"How do you know?" he asked, brushing his nose against hers, resting his forehead against hers slowly.

"Just because its not. It can't be. Look I...I'm not...completely sure, okay? But...but I won't know until the baby's born, okay? And even if it is yours...its not yours." she said slowly.

Kohaku gripped at the wood, looking at her and shaking his head. "You will not take my child away from me. Tamako...please, what happened to giving us a shot?"

"My husband happened." she said, looking up at his face, biting her bottom lip. "I can't deny what I feel towards Kouga. He's my other half. That night...us...was a mistake, you know that."

"No." he snapped, gritting his teeth. "It was not a mistake. I love you, Tamako-chan..." he added.

With his confession, Tamako's eyes widened and she shook her head. Moving her hands up, resting on his chest slowly. "Kohaku...you don't love me.."

"Don't tell me how I feel. I know how I feel. I love you. You're the first woman I've ever felt something towards. When I saw you when I woke up I couldn't help but think about you all the time. I've thought about you every moment since we were together. Thats when I knew I loved you, I want to be with you. I want to make you my wife." he said.

Tamako looked down, shaking her head slowly. "No. No you don't. You can't. I'm not your wife, I'm already married. Kouga doesn't even know you're the one I slept with.."

One hand slammed against the wood, hitting it hard when she said that. "Then lets go tell him. I'll challenge him for you if thats what it takes."

Looking up at him, she shook her head slowly. "You can't do that!"

"The hell I can't. Thats how demons work, isn't it? One male can challenge another one for a woman. I'll do that for you. Kouga does not scare me, I'm a demon slayer remember?" he asked.

Gritting her teeth as she looked at him, shaking her head. Moving one hand up, resting on his cheek slowly, rubbing her thumb over it slowly. "I don't want to see you fight Kouga...you can't do that. I'll loose either way, either way if you win or he wins, I'll loose. Kouga is my mate, Kohaku. I need him. My life is connected to his. He's the father of my twins and possibly this baby too. I was with him the day after I was with you. I was with him a lot after I went home..."

Shaking his head, he hated hearing that she was with another man, even if it was her husband. "Enough about you being with him! I can't take that." he said.

"But its the truth! He's my husband, my mate. I love him. And I don't want you to go fight him.."

He leaned down, pressing his lips against hers again tightly, a bit harsher than he had before, making her take in a sharp breath as she leaned back against the wood. Shifting a little against it, her hands lightly pushing at his chest.

Once he leaned back again, she looked at his face, shaking her head. "Kohaku! Enough. Stop this. We are not together." she said. Gently pushing him back and moving out from in-between him and the wall. Shifting away from him and starting to walk back towards the front door of the house.

But, he grabbed her wrist, pulling her back to him and looking down at her. "I'm going to have you. You and our child. Its ours, not Kouga's. You know it."

Looking up at him, Tamako shook her head. "But I don't. Technology now isn't what it is in the future, I don't know the exact moment I got pregnant. But yes, theres a chance. No, I will not be okay with you confessing that you could be my baby's father. I'll deal with that if I must." she said, yanking her wrist away from him.

"I will not stand by while that man has my family!"

"We are not your family!" she snapped. She was trying to be nice, but he was persistent. Turning to look at him, growling softly. Bringing her head to one side and moving her kimono to show Kouga's fang mark on her neck. Shifting the fabric so he saw Kouga's name written in soft blue kanji just above her collarbone. "This means I'm his. I belong to him. As barbaric as it sounds, I belong to Kouga. I like you, Kohaku, I do. But I'm Kouga's mate, his wife, and his family. You have to stop this...please." she said.

And with that, she turned away, walking away from him as she brought her kimono back up to be fixed. She felt bad about throwing it in his face like that, but she couldn't help it. She had to get away from there, she felt so bad about hurting him, which she knew she did. So, instead of going back inside, she just went on home.

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When she got home, Tamako tried not to think about her altercation with Kohaku. Kouga had only thought she was going to see Sango, which she had, but she still hadn't made up her mind on what she wanted to do about her mother. Her thoughts were swirling around in her head as a jumbled mess. She hadn't the slightest idea of what to do, who to do it with, who was right and who was wrong.

So, for the night she'd just returned to the den just in time for dinner. She'd eaten dinner and then went to actually cook something for dessert. It was a traditional sweet roll that her mother had taught her how to make when she was young. She needed to get her mind away from obsessing over trying to help her mother. Sango had been right, she was pregnant, there was no using her miko power now, her child was a demon and the pureness could easily hurt it.

So she'd decided she was going to lay off for the night, play the doting wife. After putting the kids down to bed, she got the treat she'd baked and walked out into the common area of the cave. Seeing Kouga sitting with his friends, she smiled as she walked towards them, holding a plate with the sweet bread. Waving her other hand when the guys with Kouga saw her, telling them she wanted to be with Kouga alone. And the men knew that. They nodded to her and moved out of the way.

Kouga looked up at his mate, smiling a little. "Well, what do I owe this pleasure?" he asked, sitting back a little bit and reaching out so he could help her sit down by him.

She did take his hand, but instead of sitting next to him, she sat herself into his lap, cuddling into his chest slowly as she sat, sitting sideways in his lap.

He moved his arm around her back, his hand resting on her side as he rubbed it slowly, smiling a bit. "Mm, I missed you too my love." he said, leaning and kissing the side of her neck slowly as he brought her close.

A smile spread across her lips as she giggled a little, cuddling against his side as she looked at his face. "I just wanted to dote upon my husband. Look, I've made you something. A sweet bread. My momma taught me how to make it, my dad loves it." she explained. Resting the plate on her knees, she tore a piece and offered it to him with a smile.

He looked at it before opening his mouth, leaning to take the piece of bread into his mouth and eating it, smiling as he looked at her.

"Like it?" she asked warily.

Once he finished chewing and swallowing the piece, he nodded. "Mmm, delicious. Almost as yummy as you." he said, leaning to kiss her slowly.

And she kissed him back. Leaning back to brush her nose against his. "Good." she said. Taking another piece and feeding it to him again with a smile.

He ate the other piece, holding her close to his chest. "You're in a good mood." he stated, looking up at her face. Reaching to tear a small piece of bread from what was on the plate, offering it to her, smiling when she took the piece.

Chewing slowly and nodding. "Mmmm yummy. Well, I'm sort of in a good mood. I had to get my mind off things. And what better way to do that than to dote upon my mate?" she asked, looking at him. "Besides, I've missed you."

He chuckled a little. "Its been only a few hours."

"A few hours too long." she whispered, kissing the tip of his nose and feeding him again.

Laughing as he chewed the bite of food, leaning and kissing the middle of the side of her neck. Slowly kissing up to her jawline, moving his free hand to rest on her stomach slowly. "You're too cute, koi. I like this mood you're in."

She giggled at the feel of his lips on her neck, shuddering as she leaned her head to provide him better access to her neck. "Mm, I'm not quite in that mood yet. That'll come later, dear. I promise."

"Oohh so you promise I'll get some tonight?" he asked.

A blush spread across her cheeks as she nodded. "Yes, I promise. But not here, in the middle of the den."

"Mm, why not? They hear you scream anyway. Besides, you think they'd stop us? I'm their leader." he teased, kissing down her neck again as his eyes glanced up to see the blush on her cheeks. He loved making her blush, it just made her even more adorable if it were possible.

And she did blush deeper at that, letting out a giggle. "Naughty! Stop. We're not having sex right here in front of everyone. All sorts of nope on that one, love." she told him.

Playfully he pouted to her before he sat up straight. "Ohh party pooper." he said, laughing and leaning to kiss her lightly.

Hitting his shoulder lightly, she laughed, cuddling up to him slowly. "You'll get your party later."

"Fine, if you're sure." he said.

She just smiled at him. "Oh I'm sure." she said. Cuddling into his chest, laying her head on his shoulder as she fed him slowly, looking up at his face. "I just want you to hold me."

He ate each piece she put to his lips, looking down at her as he rubbed her side slowly. "Is something the matter?" he asked.

Shaking her head slowly, eating a small piece for herself, more than half of the loaf she'd made was gone by now. "Mm, no..." she said as she chewed, swallowing what was in her mouth. "Nothings the matter. Hey, I'm pregnant, I can feel cuddly all I want. Might I remind you, its you that did this to me." she said, looking up at him and smiling.

At first he thought she might be starting a fight, but when he looked down at the smile on his lips, he chuckled and nodded. "I know, I know. Its all my fault. Seesh. You act like I jumped your bones."

"Well...you sorta did." she said, laughing.

And he laughed too, grinning. "Okay fine, so maybe I did jump your bones just a little."

"A little?"

"Okay okay, a lot." he said, shaking his head. "But...I'll hold you for as long as you want. I'll never let you go." he promised, bringing her up close to his chest.

"Never? Promise?" she asked.

"On my life." he answered, looking down at her.

She smiled as she leaned to kiss him slowly, moving one arm around his neck and closing her eyes as she kissed him. They weren't usually so lovey in front of everyone. Not lately anyway. Before the whole Ayame thing they had been, but this was the first time she sat on his lap like this since then. And he'd missed it, a lot.

They sat there, she fed most of the sweet bread to him, eating some of it for herself before she put the plate to one side. Her arms moved both around his neck, leaning close to him as she placed small kisses on his lips, chit-chatting about small things, nothing too important or anything.

It was getting darker outside, the sun had started to set as the day came to an end. Their attention was brought from each other by commotion at the entrance of the den. Tamako looked up from Kouga, blinking a little as she saw people standing up. Looking forwards the entrance of the den, her eyes widened when she saw Kohaku's face, seeing him standing there, full demon slayer gear and all. Hushed whispers went along the wolves as they murmured, wondering what a demon slayer would be doing at their den. None of the wolves killed humans anymore, they lived peacefully there in the den.

But Tamako knew why Kohaku was there. Shaking her head slowly. "Oh no..." she whispered.

Kouga looked up. "Whats wrong?" he wondered out loud, looking at the entrance and seeing Kohaku stand there. And he was just as confused as everyone other than Tamako.

As Kohaku walked towards them, the wolves parted to let him pass as he walked up to Tamako and Kouga.

Tamako looked up at Kohaku, shaking her head. "Kohaku don't..." she started to say.

But, he shot her a glance. "I am not here to speak to you." he stated. Looking up at Kouga instead. "It is you I wish to speak with. Stand and address me like a man." he said.

Kouga was confused. Shifting Tamako off his lap before he moved to stand up. Offering one hand to his mate to help her up, too. She took his hand, standing next to him, her fingers seeming to grip his a little more.

Once she was safely on her feet, Kouga looked to Kohaku. "What is it you want, kid? You were not invited in here." he said.

Kohaku stood up straight, shaking his head. "I am not a kid, I am a man. You'll do well to remember that. I am not a child anymore." he said.

But Kouga just shrugged. "Kid, man, whatever. You're interrupting my evening with my mate. I would like to return to my plans." he said.

"Yeah well I'll interrupt them even more. I am here to officially challenge you for the right to be with Tamako. Its my child she carries, not yours." he stated.

The statement enraged Kouga. Gripping his hands into tight fists, a growl raising in his throat. "It was you she slept with?" he asked in a hush whisper. Nobody knew about Tamako sleeping with Kohaku at all, much less the fact that the child she carried could be the child of someone other than Kouga.

"Yes, it was me. And that child she carries is my child. I challenge you for the right to be with her." Kohaku said again.

Tamako shook her head, moving to grab Kouga's wrist. "No please, stop...both of you." she said, looking up at Kohaku. "Its not yours, you're crazy. Stop this Kohaku...please..."

Kohaku only glanced at Tamako before looking at Kouga. "Will you let your woman speak for you? Are you not man enough to take my challenge?" he asked.

The hit to Kouga's pride made him even angrier. Pulling his hand back, Kouga looked at Tamako. "You will do well to be quiet, woman. Let the men speak. This is not your fight, its mine now." he said, looking up at Kouga. "I accept your challenge. We'll fight tomorrow. There is only one winner here, you understand that right? You will die by my hand."

Kohaku just nodded to him. "I understand. I also understand it is you who will die by my hands, demon." he told him.

"We shall see about that." Kouga said with a growl, his fists gripping tightly. "I will rip you apart for touching what belongs to me."

And all Tamako could do was stand there and bite her bottom lip, shaking her head. "Kouga...please..." she whined softly. This was definitely not good.

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A/N: I don't think I've showed too much of Kouga and Tamako being a loving couple. At least, not nearly as much. So, I thought I'd show a little bit of that in this one.