[[I do not own InuYasha.]]
Inuyasha opened his eyes when he heard the others beginning to stir around, it was a chain reaction he knew too well. Peru rolled over, bumping into Ame, she shifted around, causing her sister Kout to do the same, kicking Sango in the process, causing her to muzzle into Inuyasha as she began to wake up. Whenever she began to sit up it caught the attention of the children, causing them to begin sitting up as well. Inuyasha should've suspected the following as well, but to his knowledge, he'd just been unconscious. The four swarmed him, like one big dog pile- no pun intended.
"Inuyasha!" "Doggy!" "Inyuasha!" "Inayusha!"
"H-hey, what's the big idea?! Get offa me!" He called out, smothered beneath the attention of his surrogate family.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome said as she can in as well, thankfully she had just enough self control not to join in- or maybe she just couldn't find a good place to land, who knows?
"Inuyasha. Glad to see you have recovered." Said Kaede who soon followed into the room, along weigh a few other familiar faces.
"Still alive mutt? Surprised you made it, given how many times I had to rescue you while you were conscious." Said Koga.
Inuyasha wanted to argue with Koga, but the cuddling of the three children along with Sango was really making it hard to do much. He growled. "Alright, everyone out!"
Everyone notoriously didn't listen, at least until Kaede decided that it had been enough, shoo-ing everyone out. Minus the four latched onto him it seemed. "Sango, let me know if his condition changes." She instructed as she to left.
Sango finally released Inuyasha, smiling at him until she eventually struck him atop his head. "Just what were you thinking, huh?!"
This quickly got the kids to vacate Inuyasha though they still lingered around until Sango told them to go for a bit so they could talk.
"Geez, what was that for?!" Inuyasha complained as the kids were leaving.
"Koga told me what happened, you damn near got yourself killed!" She shouted.
"I.. got distracted is all." He said.
"That's supposed to make me feel better?!" Argued Sango
"I couldn't remember him until now, but I kept seeing something on the edge of my mind. I finally remembered where I know him from." Said Inuyasha, growling lowly. "He was the one who attacked my mother..." neglecting to point out the obvious.. that it was two hundred years ago.
#
"Bite me wolf!" Yelled Inuyasha, growling at the other.
"Heh! I'll rescue those weak half demon fangs of yours the embarrassment." Reported Koga.
He really hated being in Koga's debt. Soon it was Inuyasha and Kagome fighting back and forth. Then it was Koga and Kagome. Then it was back to Inuyasha and Koga. It was like the good old days all over again. Yeah, right...
Sango sighed as the conversation made a full circle. "Would you three knock it off!? Inuyasha, thank him properly! Koga, shut up about it! And Kagome, just be quiet, you are just making it worse!" Scolded the mother, as the three immediately reacted like children, obeying apologetically.
Miroku looked on with a sigh of his own. "I'm surrounded by children..."
Kohaku began finding places for the refugees as quickly as he could, but the house remained rather full. Thankfully Kaede opted to stay with Kohaku, taking Shippo along with her despite his will to stay with Kagome.
Inuyasha was confused as to why Kagome wouldn't be going with them, or why she wasn't insisting upon Shippo bring allowed to remain. He let it slide though. "So Koga, you going to return to your pack now, or should we find a hole for you to curl down into.." Said Inuyasha.
"No, no, it's okay- I'll find room for him." Said Kagome quickly, waving the question away.
"Suit yourself, I guess, but you better keep an eye out." Said Inuyasha. He was oblivious to be sure. As Kagome wanted him to be presumably. Sango caught it though, choosing to let it slide for now, she sure didn't want to bring about another round of arguing from the three. She was surprised that Koga wasnt playing it up to harass Inuyasha about it though.
"There's no need for that, after all- She is My Woman now, I can do what I want." Said Koga.
"There it is.." Said Sango with a sigh.
"Excuse me?!" Said Inuyasha.
"Excuse me?!" Said Kagome.
Inuyasha and Koga, Koga and Kagome, Kagome and inuyasha. Sango eventually growled. "Alright, you two go argue in Miroku's room! Inuyasha, you are coming with me!" Said Sango, as she dragged a growing Inuyasha from his new target, Koga. The moment fer fingertips dug into his sensitive ears, he was quite complacent to follow her, despite the many curses and profane comments he was making as he did it.
"What's your problem, Inuyasha?!" Said Sango as she slammed the door to her room, their room, whatever.
"My problem?! They are the ones with the problem!" Said Inuyasha.
"And what business is it of yours?" Asked Sango furiously.
"She's MY wife, I think I have a say in who does what with her." Said Inuyasha with a matter of fact tone.
"So should we ask Miroku if he is okay with you sleeping with me too?" She pointed out.
"He'll no, it's none of his business what we do!" Said Inuyasha.
Sango paused for a moment, expecting him to get it any moment before yelling the answer at him. "Like it's none of your business what Kagome does!" She glared.
"...! Tch!" Inuyasha failed to respond.
"So what is it? Want her back now that Koga is around again?!" Said Sango
"... Heh, no, I think I'm happy where I am." Said Inuyasha with a smirk.
Sango was prepared to argue some more, but found herself merely bashful instead. ".. well, damnit, don't just say things like that..." She muttered, impulsively deciding to move into the half demon, if only for a few minutes.
Once Sango managed to suppress the stirring within her heart, she decided to check in on Kagome and Koga, make sure they hadn't torn a hole through the floor, or ceiling. She approached the door, already hearing that the battle was still raging.
"It ISNT true though, is it Koga?!"
"How would I know? I haven't done anything yet."
"AND IT WONT BE TRUE THEN EITHER!"
"What's it matter what he thinks anyway?!"
"It's my business to share it with him, or not! NOT YOURS! If I wanted him to know, I'd have told him already!"
"So why didn't you?!"
"I didn't PLAN on seeing him again so soon, hell the collective amount of time we had to talk since you blabbed your mouth was when I was tied up, and when you two were arguing! WHEN was I supposed to have told him?! Thanks for rescuing me InuYasha, I appreciate you risking your life to save our neighbors, just wanted to let you know that I'm 'KINDA' seeing Koga?! That would've been great timing in your mind probably!
"What do you mean KINDA seeing me?!"
"I mean it EXACTLY as I said it, and if you don't stop butting into my friendship with InuYasha, I'll be seeing you leave!"
"Tch! So, what you still care about him or something?!"
"He's my friend! Like it or not, he will always be a very close friend of mine!"
"Heh! You just mean you didn't want him to know in case he gets bored of Sango and returns to you.."
"Leave, Koga!"
"See, I'm right!"
"No, you aren't you idiot! You just don't understand a girl's feelings, and if I keep talking to you, I may actually kill you!"
Sango realized she had been eavesdropping for a while now, and decided to stop- though admittedly, something about such drama was addictive.. she was just glad it wasn't hers perhaps. "Kagome? Is everything alright in there?"
The door swung open, Koga marching by Sango with a fuming expression. Kagome sighed as he did. "Sorry about that Sango. I'm starting to think he's worse than InuYasha is."
"Seems about the same to me."
Kagome collapsed in grief. "That's what bothers me..."
"Listen, I'm sorry about how InuYasha acted- I've calmed him down now, so if you want to talk to him, he 'shouldn't' be in an arguing mood at least." Said Sango.
"No thanks- that's the last thing I need, Koga will just think he was right if I go to InuYasha now." Moaned Kagome in frustration.
"He isn't right, right Kagome?" Asked Sango, though she showed no evident concern about it from her stance as InuYasha's companion, but rather out of concern for Kagome's feelings.
"Of course not! I admit, I do still care for InuYasha, but I'm not with Koga to make InuYasha jealous, or to replace him even- Koga's just a friend, and I do kind of like him, he's sweet- when he's not being himself at least." Commented Kagome as she sat down against the wall.
"Sounds like InuYasha again."
"...Would you stop seeing similarities? I know they are alike in many ways, but they're also different too- Koga's not so.. well, he's.. look, he's different okay?! He may get jealous just like InuYasha, and get angry just like InuYasha, but when he isn't those things, it's completely different. InuYasha didn't like to show his feelings hardly ever, I can count the romantic things he did on one hand, and three of those things were when we were traveling, before we were even married. He only did two things that I know of, one was when.. well, we got married.. in a more demon-ish fashion I guess you could say. The second was when he arranged all that Christmas stuff, and that wasn't even for me! That was for you! So, out of five all together romantic things, I wasn't even the recipient in them all! Koga's definitely nicer normally, he actually listens when I tell him something.. well, usually.. clearly not all the time." She said as she took in a deep breath, realizing she had been rambling for a good minute there. "He's sweet, and nice, and actually seems to enjoy taking care of me- but.. just the same, even though I care about him individually, I'm afraid that it's the similarities they do share that make me care about him." Kagome admitted, looking to Sango for some form of comfort as she continued. "I know they are different, but I don't know if my heart can tell the difference when I'm with them. I thought I was getting past it, but when I was tied up- I kept hoping InuYasha would come in, and there he was; even when Koga came after I had escaped, I almost didn't even consider asking for his help, I was just so sure InuYasha would take care of everything. I'm so used to depending on InuYasha, that I don't know if I can depend on someone else anymore..." Said Kagome.
"Kagome.. what don't you like about InuYasha?" Asked Sango.
"Oh, don't get me started- he's rude to everyone, he constantly thinks he knows everything, he never keeps his mouth shut, he's always getting in fights, he accuses me of everything from wanting someone else, to making attempts on other guys even! He's the absolute worst when he's like that! And I won't even go into how arrogant he is all the time!" Said Kagome.
Sango sighed, she really didn't want every flaw of InuYasha depicted before her, maybe a generic run down would've sufficed. Though admittedly, some of those were true indeed, but likewise, some of those- she didn't understand either. After all, the InuYasha she had come to love, had come to love her just as much. To the point that it embarrassed her when he randomly chose to share that fact, she had gotten better at coping with expressing their feelings, but there are moments where it still had it's effect- like earlier. She pushed those thoughts away and continued. "And what do you love about InuYasha?" Asked Sango.
"He's cute when he sleeps. Not that he actually sleeps much, he usually is just resting, but when he is actually asleep, you can tell- he's like a little kid, curled up and makes funny noises. I always know that, even if we're fighting, or if we're just eating breakfast, that I'm always in his thoughts. Or.. was, y'know.. I mean, not now obviously.." She said.
Sango chuckled silently as the girl spoke, she knew exactly what she meant- that's exactly who InuYasha was- an energetic kid when he was his true self, when he wasn't trying to be a demon or a man. No concept of appropriate timing, or understanding of how complex a situation could be. "What do you love about Koga?" Asked Sango.
"He's always sharing his feelings, even though they aren't always good, he is relentless about them under normal circumstances even- they're usually right, but as you can see today, not always. He always lets me know what he is feeling, and would do anything to show that, at least I believe so." Said Kagome with a smile.
"Then it sounds more like what you don't like about InuYasha is what they have in common. I don't think you have to worry about replacing InuYasha in that regard." Said Sango
"...I don't know if that's entirely an accurate way to put it.. but thanks Sango, I do feel a little better now.." Said Kagome with a smile, as she rose to her feet again. "I had better go calm Koga down, before he scurries off on me." She added as SAngo began to escort her back to the living room, assuming Koga hadn't left yet of course. An accurate assumption.
"And then she gets all upset because of some stupid thing she only thought she saw!" Said Koga. Kagome halted before entering the doorway, feeling rather awkward about being the subject of the conversation. She felt bad too, after all, he was still upset- so there was no way she could talk with him now.
"I know, right?! I don't know how many times I told her that I had no interest in this one woman in town, the moment she saw that woman again, she acted like I was over there drooling at her or something!" InuYasha said.
Sango was shocked to say the least. Koga and InuYasha we're talking, and NOT arguing! Even if Kagome hadn't been eavesdropping herself, Sango would most likely have for a bit as well, if only to know the game that was being played.
"Oh, that woman in red? Yeah, I think she's still kind of attached to you- whenever I was leaving you after delivering you to Kaede, I saw her- laid some pretty thick thank yous.. It was a good thing Kaede cleaned you up before you got back, Sango might've kiled you." Said Koga.
Sango fumed. 'He didn't even tell me about it! I'll kill him!' She thought.
"Wha?! Again!? Damn, that woman will be the death of me, I tell ya. Never rescue a human female- they're all trouble, I tell ya." Said InuYasha. "That's how Kagome started getting attached to me, y'know? I said I'd protect her, and pretty soon she's trying to get me to promise to ALWAYS be there to protect her- it's ridiculous! Humans, I tell you- just cause they live short lives, they get all kinds of attached to the idea that someone can keep them alive a little longer.." Said InuYasha.
"I know! Same thing happened to me! Ayame, some stupid childhood promise, REALLY? It's been centuries! Let it go! She was attractive enough, why bother seeking me out?!" Said Koga.
"Oh, man- women. I swear, even Sango; sure I got a little irritated about you and Kagome, but that is understandable, right? No, Sango makes it into some big conspiracy that I'm out to get Kagome back or somethin'!" Said inuYasha.
"Of course it's understandable! I wouldn't have any respect for you if you just ignored it! What kind of man doesn't get at least hostile when another demon moves in on his woman!? Kagome doesn't understand that at all! She thinks that we should just share our women I guess!" Said Koga.
"Sometimes, she does get that way, but don't ever tell her that- we once fought over something similar. She got all upset because I threw Miroku out for groping her. Talking about how I thought I owned her.. I did own her! She ain't about to let that go, if it were up to her, I'd sit down and stay while she flirted with some other guy; yet hell, one woman brings me food, and all of a sudden, I'm the lowest kind of dirt." Said InuYasha.
"It's despicable, these humans! What kind of rules are these?! I remember last week, Ayame visited me to discuss something about our packs; you should've seen the mood swing! Kagome was practically yelling at me for flirting with her, and then the moment Ayame showed up, she was practically yelling at me for not flirting with her in front of Ayame, like I was keeping her a secret or something! And now she gets upset because I didn't let her keep it a secret?!" Commented Koga.
"Yeah, they just don't get it- if you're going to move on another demon's woman, you better have the guts to challenge him for them, or you ain't gonna last in our world." Said InuYasha. "I'd have torn your guts out if Kagome had to tell me about it."
"And I'd understand that, sure I'd probably have had to kill you for attacking me, but at least you'd die with some true demon pride that way! Never let someone take whats yours!"
"I know, right?! Women.. humans.. who needs em."
"Damn right- better off with a good pack and plenty of enemies, at least you can win a fight, damned if you do and damned if you don't with women."
"Yeah, ain't that the truth." InuYasha agreed, before feeling an intense chill run up his spine. "I sense danger..." He said, as his senses focused.. "Oh.. crap."
"Oh, hell..." Said Koga a moment later, feeling the animosity aimed at them from beyond the doorway, even without seeing whom it was.
#
Later that night, InuYasha and Koga lingered out along the woodline.
"Women..."
"Let's not start that again, otherwise we're never going to get back inside..."
"..Feh! Speak for yourself, I ain't sleeping out here..."
"..Like hell we would, demons don't accept this kind of treatment! If anything we should be making them sleep outside!"
InuYasha sighed. "I wouldn't go that far. Prepare yourself Koga, for a battle like none you have ever faced..." Said InuYasha as he took a moment to ready himself, before marching back inside, discussing the strategy with the wolf.
Within the hour, they were safely back within the house, having won the battle but at a terrible price. Koga felt his demon's pride severely wounded, nearly fatally. InuYasha had suffered such indignity many times over with Kagome, thankfully Sango was a lot more receptive, though like most times when it came to this.. he wouldn't be sleeping that night either, even despite the woman's pleased smiles and restful sleep.. yup, no rest for the wicked.