AN: Thank you all for the reviews, I really appreciate them! And new fans, you can thank PhoenixDiamond for suggesting that I change the category to just Inuyasha.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot line, so don't sue! I make no money from it!

Enjoy~

Ch. 8: I Can't Help but Wonder

With Inuyasha~

Inuyasha was impressed. Self-control wasn't something that Kouga was usually familiar with, in fact, he was impulsive to the max, and the half-wolf in the cave was a prime example of that. However, Inuyasha was reasonably sure that he himself wouldn't be able to pull off what Kouga just did.

It was impressive.

Inuyasha didn't know what to think when he burst into the clearing a couple nights ago. He was mostly expecting to see Kouga and Ryoga going at it like bunnies, but it was the exact opposite. He was relieved, but the obvious pain that Kouga had been in made him feel exceptionally guilty for failing in his self-appointed duty. He knew Kouga could handle himself, Inuyasha was loathe to admit it, but they were pretty equal when it came to strength and fighting, so he shouldn't be worrying about him.

The problem is that he was worried about the mangy wolf.

Despite the physical pain that Kouga had been through, Inuyasha could tell by looking at him that he was suffering far more emotionally. Emotional problems aren't wounds that can heal overnight and Inuyasha was rubbish at dealing with his own emotions, let alone someone else's. He hopes that Kouga doesn't make an appearance for a long time, or maybe deals with them himself, because Inuyasha doesn't know what to do to help him.

He wonders why he even cares.

For so long, Kouga was synonymous with anger, annoyance, and general dislike. Inuyasha had at one point wanted to hurt the wolf so bad that he ran away with his tail between his legs and never come back, but things seemed to have shifted in their…relationship, if that is what one could call it. They used to be rivals, but now it seemed like they were more like competitive friends.

But Inuyasha had felt another shift in their friendship. A very recent one.

It made him nervous.

When he had seen Kouga the other night, standing in the moonlight, looking so demonic, Inuyasha had felt a strange stirring inside him. Admiration? Inspiration? Respect?

…fear?

He didn't know, but it was intense.

With Ryoga~

He felt so ashamed. Mostly because he didn't feel bad about what had happened the other night, which made Ryoga so confused. He should be feeling bad, shouldn't he? He killed someone the other night, in cold blood, for no reason. There wasn't even a fight, it was a slaughter! He should feel bad about it, but he didn't, not about that anyway.

Oh boy, did he feel bad though. He had thrown himself at Kouga, and had been rejected. He figured that if he was in the right state of mind, he would be happy that Kouga didn't take advantage of him, but right now he was angry and sad, and so, so confused. It was weird but he felt really bad about himself because of the rejection. Was he not good enough?

He should be! He's strong, reasonably fast, and a damn good fighter! Any flea-bitten wolf would be lucky to be his mate!

But, Kouga had responded for a short time, hadn't he? Ryoga gripped his arms where he could still feel the phantom warmth of Kouga's hands. He remembered feeling triumphant when Kouga accepted his advances; Kouga was strong, stronger than even he was. He was a worthy mate, but Kouga rejected him.

Ryoga fingered the bite mark on his neck and felt sullen. Kouga had given him that mark meaning that Kouga had wanted him at one point, right? But not anymore?

'That isn't how this works!' Ryoga wasn't sure how he knew that, he just did. That had been happening often in the last couple of days. He was confused, so very confused.

Kouga's eyes had looked so conflicted that night. He didn't recognize it at the time, but when he looked back on it with a slightly clearer head, he realized it. His movements were jerky and if felt like he had been fighting something during the whole encounter. But what? There wasn't anyone else there that Ryoga could see, hear, or smell. Just him and Kouga.

The whole situation was just annoying him. His emotions were all over the place, going from sad to angry to hopeful and then back again. No matter how many times he thought about it, it just didn't make any sense to him.

Not to mention he was still sexually frustrated, which annoyed him even more.

"Aaaagh, DAMNIT!" He vaguely registered his fist hitting the cave wall, but his anger and frustration were taking over his senses. "Kouga, once I get my hands on you I'm gonna…gonna…agh!"

'I can't even decide whether I want to hurt him or screw him!'

He was so confused.

With Kouga~

It had been two nights since Kouga had seen the others and he still ached from Ryoga's 'attack'. He was reasonably sure he hadn't broken anything; it would hurt more if he had, but his body didn't seem to be healing much. At night, when the moon empowered him, he couldn't feel the pain and the heat seemed to take a back seat to the increase in energy running through his body, which was nice because things were getting pretty bad. His heart ached horribly, but he felt so calm.

He couldn't remember ever feeling this calm before. It was like he was completely at peace with himself.

Could it be that fighting and subsequently beating his urges did this? It is a possibility, but Kouga wasn't an expert in these types of things. He was never one to look inside himself and try to figure out his feelings. That just wasn't something demons, let alone men, did.

He just knew that he wouldn't be able to fight himself like that again. His body was exhausted after that ordeal and he wondered if that had something to do with his lack of healing now.

He had collapsed right after Inuyasha was out of hearing range and didn't get back up until very late the next day and he was in no way refreshed. If anything, he was even wearier, but he still couldn't get over this feeling of peace.

He should be worried that he felt so weak and wasn't healing normally, but his thoughts never remained on that for long. He kept thinking about Ryoga.

The past week must have been hard on him; it was a lot to take in. Kouga was kind of ashamed for making things more complicated for the half-breed, but he knew that Ryoga would get through it. He had a certain strength about him, which was covered quite well under his adorable shyness and surprisingly soft exterior. His lips had been soft, which wasn't all that surprising, but his hands had been soft, too. That was surprising, Ryoga seemed like he was used to roughing it and a stranger to the silly comforts that Kagome insisted upon. It intrigued Kouga, even more so now that he had the strange and inexplicable need to find out more about the half-wolf. He wanted to spar with him, go hunting and share his kill, or climb trees and play the silly games he hadn't since he was a pup, or maybe just relax in the sun, picking at the grass and talking.

It seemed like such a normal thing to want, things he had seen the wolves in his pack do with their mates. He found himself wishing that such things could be a possibility.

Then he thought about what he had been trying to accomplish. He needed to avenge his pack-mates and kill Naraku, and then he would need to return to his pack and become the leader he should have been before. Would Ryoga be willing to return with Kouga? Would he even want to be his friend? The battle with Naraku wasn't Ryoga's fight. He doesn't feel the same pain that Inuyasha and he, along with everyone else that Naraku has wronged, do. He is from a completely different era, what if he wished to return home, like Kagome had said?

How long would he last without Ryoga by his side? He didn't want to think about it, but it seemed like an increasingly bigger problem that he would have to deal with eventually.

With Inuyasha and Ryoga~

"Inuyasha?" The half-dog demon jumped at Ryoga's voice. He hadn't intended to doze off, but it was the only relief from his thoughts and unbearable heat, not to mention the call of mating season wasn't getting any easier to ignore. He decided that staying down-wind of Ryoga would be the safest thing to do, considering the effect that the heat was having on Ryoga.

"Yeah?" Ryoga had a hint of amusement in his eyes and Inuyasha scowled.

"Can I ask you something?" Inuyasha shrugged and signaled for Ryoga to take a seat, which he did. "Is it…well…" Ryoga looked away, embarrassed. Inuyasha rolled his eyes.

"Well, spit it out!" Ryoga glared before taking a breathe and letting it out slowly.

"What happened the other night…was that normal?" At his question, Inuyasha's mind went back to what he had previously been contemplating.

"No, it wasn't. Well, the thing with you going all demon, that was relatively normal for your first time. It is different for every demon, but the thing with Kouga? That wasn't normal at all. I don't think I've ever heard of a demon pushing away the one they marked. That would take a lot of self-control, which most demons don't have at this time. It was especially rough on Kouga, I can imagine. Why?" Ryoga looked away, his heart dropping a bit. So, Kouga didn't want him. Inuyasha noticed the pained expression on Ryoga' face and could only imagine what was going on in his head.

"I don't think he would have done it unless it was for a good reason." Inuyasha tried, hoping it would put Ryoga at ease.

'Being rejected must've been pretty rough on him.'

"Like not wanting to mate with me?" Ryoga asked, his voice getting a little watery.

'Ah, so he's feeling self-conscious.' Inuyasha didn't really know how to reply to that. He wasn't even sure about Kouga's reasons behind rejecting Ryoga, but he knew that it wasn't because he didn't want Ryoga. Of that he was positive. It was hard to mistake the longing and suffering in Kouga's eyes that night.

"I don't know why Kouga did what he did, but I can tell you it wasn't because he didn't want you." Ryoga looked up at him sharply, his eyes glassy, but there was a hint of hope in them. "I know Kouga marked you because his instincts told him to, but you got to understand that a demon's instincts are hardly ever wrong. Besides that, Kouga has been around for a very long time, even though it doesn't look like it. He has encountered many demons in heat and he never marked one of them, not even during mating season. He even thought he was in love with Kagome, but he never marked her, probably because his instincts never gave him an indication to." Inuyasha hoped that Ryoga was seeing where he was going with this, but by the intent look on his face, he guessed not.

"Ryoga, he didn't even know your name when he marked you. He smelled your scent the second he had a chance and his instincts told him he needed to know who was omitting it. When he did, he knew what it meant. It may have been completely stupid of him to mark you, but he did it because his instincts said he needed to and his instincts have never lead him astray before, so he trusted that it was the right thing to do." A look of understanding dawned on Ryoga's face and Inuyasha grinned.

'Kouga, you so owe me one.'

"I see, so his instincts told him he needed to reject me!" Ryoga went back to being confused after proclaiming this. "Wait, what?" Inuyasha sighed in annoyance.

"I'm not sure Ryoga, but just be aware that it wasn't because he suddenly didn't want you. I can't tell you how that idiot's mind works." Ryoga cracked a grin before standing up and stretching. Inuyasha tried to ignore the sliver of skin that it revealed and the interest it stirred in his body.

'No! Bad Dog!' He wasn't sure why Kouga's voice was in his head, but it helped him tear his eyes away. Ryoga, however, smirked and tapped his nose, letting Inuyasha know that he could smell his interest. Inuyasha spluttered as Ryoga sauntered back into the cave, snickering the whole way, but not before sending a playful wink back at him. Inuyasha spluttered some more before shaking his head.

'What was that about?' The both of them thought at the same time, both more or less confused.

HA! I got the next chapter out before finals! Yay! Hopefully this will keep everyone happy for the next week! I know it was really wordy and very little action but I wanted to show the reactions and make them realistic because something like what happened in the last chapter doesn't just happen and have no repercussions, ya know? Plus, as you can see, Inuyasha is starting to make a few discoveries and his part is going to get bigger in the story. Hopefully, this chapter doesn't bore you all and if it does, I can always make the next chapter part of this chapter when I write it and it'll be like a super chapter or something. I tried to make this one a little longer but I don't know if I succeeded. Hope you all like it! Reviews are awesome!

Peace!