She'd known it would happen eventually. It hadn't been something she'd counted on, but being away from the village for so long was a clear indication of what was to come.

Kouga never did have any tact.

He was a wonderful friend, protective and loyal to the end, but there were certain boundaries he liked to push—or was completely unaware of. Miroku had quickly figured out that touching her in that way would lead to the loss of a limb, but Kouga never listened to anyone long enough for any advice to sink in.

She found it slightly ironic that he'd shown up the one time Sesshoumaru had been off with Shippou, but maybe the wolf had planned it that way. He was cocky, but he was still an alpha, and being around another of the same standing always put them on edge.

He landed gracefully on Inuyasha's shoulders, shoving the hanyou not-so-gracefully into the dirt before approaching her. "Kagome! How's my woman? Took me forever to find you."

Kagome kept her hands firmly clasped behind her back so as not to encourage him. "Hello, Kouga. Did you need something specific from me?"

He raised an eyebrow, then slung his arm over her shoulders. "Do I need an excuse to see my favourite girl?" Miroku and Sango cleared their throats, but Inuyasha pulled himself off the ground first.

"I always knew you were a moron, but I didn't think yer nose was broken too." He grabbed the wolf's arm before he could blink, yanking him away from her. She shot him a grateful smile, edging away from the pair. Kouga was harmless but considering what had happened when her scent had disappeared, she was a little worried about what Sesshoumaru's reaction might be.

She'd always hated when Inuyasha and Kouga fought over her, their jealousy on full display, but Sesshoumaru's possessiveness was…different. There was a softer side to it, and she knew he had her best interests at heart—and wasn't throwing his weight around just to come out on top.

Heat rose to her face at the memory of their recent walk, and she rubbed her neck. She could still feel the pressure of his lips against her skin, and though he hadn't left a mark, he'd left something.

Unfortunately, Kouga misinterpreted her reaction and let out a victorious yelp as he dodged Inuyasha's claws. "Check it out, mutt-face. She's so happy to see me, she's blushing."

All three humans collectively groaned.