Hell Hath No Fury

(A/N: It's that time again! Time to reply to reviews!!!! Waaaaiiii~~~!!!



Selina: As usual, one of my most favoritest reviews! Love ya!!!! And yeah, I decided I wanted Kouga in the story just a LITTLE bit more! Originally...I wanted to make Kouga Kagome's brother, buuut...I figured there'd be more drama with Kouga as Inuyasha's planned half-brother/guardian, but the question is will Kouga step up or no...? Will there be a budding romance between Kagome and Kouga...? And dear sweet God, there was an unusual amount of drama! I swear to God, I have NEVER had that much drama hit me at once, especially within the span of one month! And I do have a LJ! I still need to get it set up, lol...But I have one!!! At anyrate, so much drama, so much little time! Friend me on LJ! I'm VixenHime on there, and like I said, it's pretty dead right now, but you know, I seriously need more ways to talk to you!!! The basic plotline for the drama is as followed: Man trouble, money trouble, job trouble...OMG! Anyway, lol, I'll inform you on it whenever we find a way to talk that isn't replying to reviews and leaving reviews, lol! PS: HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY!!!! My bday is/was Feb 3rd!



Ai: Good things come to those who wait! Which means the lemony scene between Inu/Kag MAY be on hold...until I just burst and decide to give you all what you want!!! Buuut...since you asked nicely, lol, look for a lemon in the upcoming SOON chapters, tee hee!!! Lol! And yeah...I was nervous about how everyone would recieve Momoeiko after learning what she'd done. It's like, she had both good and bad intentions...Oh, a mother's struggle, lol. And until further notice, Kikyou is gone from the story, lol! But not forever...!



Smartgirl2006: Thankies! And here is your update!!! (and yes, there will be lemons soon, lol!)



Inuyashalover: OMG! ALL CAPS! THANK YOU!!! LOL! Seriously, thanks SOOOOOOOO much!!! You seriously made my day with that comment! I'm glad it's reccomendable! Hope you continue to enjoy! MWAH!!!



And now, as usual...on with the story that deals with love, fate, war...and everything in between!)



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Breakfast couldn't have been more akward even if Inuyasha announced that he was gay and was going to run away with Miroku. Atleast, that's how Kagome saw it. She was almost certain that Inuyasha coming out of the closet would have been more endurable than what she was sitting through right now. Breakfast in the Taishou house was usually energetic and full of life. The only one seeming to not notice the air of tension was Ryouta, and he was busy indulging himself in his second piece of fish to be concerned about what was happening in the lives of the four others sitting at the table in complete silence. Kagome glanced sideways, up from her bowl of rice and saw Kouga eyeing Momoeiko from across the table. If Momoeiko sensed Kouga's eyes on her, which Kagome was certain she did, then her future mother-in-law was playing it off quite well. Kagome recapped on the interesting two days following Kouga and Ryouta's arrival. Kagome remembered sitting up with Kouga all night after his fight with Momoeiko and treating his wounds. When she woke up, she found herself lying in her own futon. Even to this day, Kagome scanned her memory of how she'd gotten there, but she was certain Kouga had something to do with it. Kagome was becoming more and more comfortable with Kouga and Ryouta's presence. Inuyasha and his mother? Not so much. And who could blame them? What did anyone say at a time like this? The silence was about to drive Kagome mad, so if she didn't say anything soon, she'd go insane...!



"So...Kouga-Kun, how does it feel to be in charge of Chikyuuryu in Kikyou-San's absence?" she asked the boy on her right.



"It's troublesome as all hell, but I'm settling into it pretty well. Oh, Kagome, do you mind coming to Chikyuuryu with me for a while?"



"Sure, why?"



"Well, there's something I forgot to give you. I figure now's a better time than any." he shrugged as he finished his soup.



Momoeiko could sense Inuyasha's aura spiking big time. She could only imagine that if Inuyasha were a cat, his tail would be whipping back and forth in feline fury. Momoeiko actually never considered a romance between Kouga and Kagome. She looked down at her cup of tea with a sigh. Would history be repeating itself if Kagome fell in love with Kouga? Sure, Kouga's conception was to throw history off track slightly, but what about complications...?



"And how do you like spending time here with Momoeiko?" Kagome asked Ryouta.



Ryouta grinned just as big as Kouga and held up his two chopsticks. Kagome noticed that Ryouta had adjusted very, very well to living without his mother in a short time. Something that both concerned Kagome and made her happy at the same time.



"It's a lotta fun being here with Momo-Obaachan!"



The table went as silent as death the moment that dreaded phrase left Ryouta's mouth. All eyes went to Momoeiko, who they were expecting to rampage at the child for calling her 'Obaachan'. Momoeiko just giggled and finished off her tea.



"Yes, it's been very enjoyable having him. He's much more useful than two gentlemen I could mention..."



"Hey...!" Inuyasha and Kouga yelled in unison.



Kagome stifled a small giggle. Finally, some of the tension was beginning to wane. That is, until Inuyasha and Kouga's chopsticks clashed for the last piece of fish. God, did everything have to be a power struggle between these two? Then again, she knew she should count her blessings--This was probably the most interraction between Inuyasha and Kouga in the short two days they'd began living together. Kouga and Inuyasha growled at one another as they stood up, their chopsticks nearly creating sparks as they clashed with each other's.



"I saw it first!" Inuyasha growled.



"Like hell you did!" Kouga replied.



They pulled their chopsticks apart and both dove in for the kill. Inuyasha was the first to swipe it just as Kouga's chopsticks hit the bottom of the plate and cracked. Jamming the fish into his mouth with a triumphant sound, Inuyasha wondered why Kouga wasn't raising hell about it. Inuyasha glanced over to Kouga who was casually waving a bottle of wasabi sauce back and forth with a sly smirk. It didn't take long for Kouga to remember Inuyasha's key weakness from when they were children--Inuyasha may have had a stainless steel stomach, but he couldn't handle anything that was spicy or hot. Inuyasha stood up from the table, making unidentifiable gasping and weezing noises. Panicked, Kagome reached for Momoeiko's second cup in front of her and quickly offered it to Inuyasha.



"Here, drink this!"



"Wait...!!!" Momoeiko quickly said standing.



But it was too late. Inuyasha gulped the strange purple liquid down and had barely finished it when he got a blank look on his face, accompanied by a small hiccup. Within seconds, Inuyasha fell backwards, out cold. Kagome glared at both Momoeiko and Kouga.



"What was in that cup?!" she demanded from the headwoman of the house.



"Kagome-Chan, you know as well as I do that every morning, I always have a glass of very concentrated raspberry wine, mixed with the crushed and grinded bones of a canary and the fermented blood of a sparrow. It's probably the strongest and potent drink out there. It's also a well-kept secret, which," Momoeiko glanced at her K.O'ed son. "Is probably for the best. Your body has to be used to the alcohol to recieve the positive properties of it"



"Which are...?" Kouga asked, standing up and looking over the table at his half-brother. Out like a freakin' light.



"It helps strengthen your bones and your mind. It makes you quicker, both mentally and physically. It heightens your senses by one-hundred fold. I have a cup every morning."



Kagome had always wondered what the woman's secret was. After all, it was she who'd taught both Inuyasha and at some point, Sango and Miroku and they were the strongest fighters she knew.



"But Inuyasha, well...I suppose that alcohol is much to strong for him."



Kagome groaned, burying her face in her hands. So much for a peaceful breakfast.



"I guess that means he's not coming to school today...Kouga, why did you have to challenge him like that?"



"A grudge of food is the deepest! He knew I had my eyes on that fish."



Much to Kagome and Momoeiko's surprise, Kouga walked around the table and helped the passed-out Inuyasha up. With a smile Kagome could almost mistake for a sense of nostolgia, she watched Kouga all but drag Inuyasha to his bedroom.



"Glad to see some things never change, though..." he sighed slightly, but all in good humor.



Momoeiko and Kagome glanced at one another, before the two smiled and began to help clean up the kitchen. By the time they were done, Kouga was walking back into the kitchen with his school bag. He walked over to Ryouta and hugged the little toddler who didn't seemed to be bothered by the amusing interlude between Kouga and Inuyasha.



"Be good for Obaaaaaachan today." he smirked slightly.



Kagome was doing all she could from keeping Momoeiko from sticking the same wand she used to beat the futons up Kouga's you-know-what. Kouga chuckled and hurried out of the door, Momoeiko chasing him with a vengence. Kagome kissed Ryouta on the forehead and hurried after the insane twosome. Despite her wanting an eventful breakfast, she had to admit, she didn't expect it to be this eventful. Almost everyone seemed to be back to normal. Almost. It would be twenty minutes later when Kagome finally caught up with Kouga at the train station. He was sporting several bruises on his face and was walking somewhat funny. Kagome panicked and wondered if Momoeiko had been serious about sticking that wand where the sun didn't shine. Kouga absolutely refused to talk about it. As they boarded the train, he muttered something about not getting a spanking since he was a little cub. Kagome was both relieved and amused, but get spanked? At eighteen? By a wand used to beat something thick and heavy? Kagome was certain Kouga wouldn't be walking straight for the next week. Once the train was in motion to Chikyuuryu, Kagome pulled out her cell phone and began texting Shippo, Sango and Miroku the situation. She was greeted by quick replies that emphasized how hilarious they all thought the situation was. Sango replied back a second time with a text that promised Mizuryu would be safe for a few hours while she was gone. Kagome gave a sigh of relief and placed the phone back into her pocket. This was the first time she'd been away from Mizuryu since she'd became leader. She was so lost in her thoughts, when they pulled into the next station, she didn't realize how close she and Kouga had been shoved together and against the opposite doors, nonetheless. Kagome chided herself for blushing the way she was as Kouga braced himself against the train doors, with his arms on either side of her, to keep from crushing Kagome. Kagome stood with her back to the doors, gripping her single-strapped brown school bag. There was only a distance of two inches between her chest and Kouga's, but that changed drastically when more people piled onto the train. Kagome gasped slightly as Kouga was pressed closer to her and soon, the two were chest-to-chest. Kouga offered her a sheepish apology at the uncomfortable situation he would have never imagined himself in. Especially with Kagome. He glanced down and had to admit, Kagome was too damn sexy for words in that blue and white plaid mini-skirt, short-sleeved white blouse and light blue sweater vest. Add the baggy socks and brown, platform penny loafers and she was probably every man's secret wet dream. He could smell her scent as it played hell with his nose and note exactly in a negative way. She smelled sweet...like the flowers of spring after a rainshower and her hair smelled exceptionally wonderous, like a playful mixture of cucumber mellon and cherries.



It was hard to believe she was engaged to Inuyasha. He'd heard rumors through the grapevine that Inuyasha was engaged to the new leader of Mizuryu, but...



"Nee, Kouga-Kun...?" Kagome almost sounded strained to him.



"Hmm? You okay?"



"I...can't breath."



And it probably had to do with the tree trunk of a young man crushing her against the two steel train doors. Kagome could feel his muscles through his own white blouse, sans the normal green tie the men at Chikyuuryu wore. His blouse was undone at the top two buttons, revealing the black undershirt beneath it. His own scent was very alluring as well--Pure, masculine, and all male, while also radiating her favorite brand of Axe, "Vice". She glanced up at him, her vision going midly blurry as she locked her brown eyes with his startling blue ones. Her mind was starting to get foggy and she and Kouga both knew if they didn't get off that train soon, it would be lights out. Kagome closed her eyes for what only felt like a few seconds, but mentally, images of Kouga leaning down and kissing her filtered in and out of her mind. He had a funny way of kissing her--He'd always hold her nose when he did it. Kagome closed her eyes once more. When she opened them, she could feel the cool spring wind brushing against her. She also got the feeling she was floating and what was that ice-cold feeling on her cheek? Moreover, what was that feeling of something cool and refreshing flowing down her throat? With a groan, she slowly opened her eyes and found herself staring up into the eyes of Kouga. He tried for a chuckle as he helped her sit up and sat the waterbottle in his hand down.



"What happened...?" Kagome wondered warily.



"You got overheated on the train. I tried giving you...um...CPR...then...well, yeah. That did okay and once I was sure you'd be breathing on your own, I carried you on my back to Chikyuryuu."



Kagome took the time to look around. Sure enough, they were on the ever-green grounds of Chikyuuryu high school, sitting beneath a shady tree. A small blush covered her cheeks as she saw Kouga offer her the water bottle. He looked away from her, trying to hide his own blush.



"And...yeah...I passed some of this water from me to you...via mouth. You think you're okay to drink it on your own?"



Kagome could only nod as she drank the water in gulps with a sigh. She didn't know why she was so embarrassed--after all, Kouga had saved her, big time. They sat in slight silence before Kouga suggested heading to Kikyou's personal room within the school. As they walked, several students bowed their heads in high respect for both Kouga and Kagome. They knew of the little prodigy to take over Mizuryu practically over night. When they'd finally made it to the tatami room where Kikyou and Kagome first met, Kouga asked her to sit down while he searched for what he'd been meaning to give her for a while. Kagome watched as he raised up one of the tatami mats, only to reveal a hidden floorboard. Kagome watched with avid curiousity as he moved the floorboard aside and pulled out a very familiar, long, cloaked item. Kagome recalled seeing it with Kouga the first day she'd met Ryouta and Kouga himself. Kouga rearranged the floorboard and tatami mats and then sat down in front of Kagome. With a deep breath, he unwrapped the long object, revealing a beautiful, shining black sheath, decorated with red butterflies. A beautiful and yet haunting design.



"Kagome, this is the Tamashii wa Mune no Arashi. The 'Soul and Heart of the Storm'. Kikyou told me Souta left this for you. Here."



Kagome hesitantly took the sword as Kouga placed it gently in her open palms. Kagome could feel a strong and powerful energy coming from the sheathed blade. She closed her eyes and for a moment, could sense her Dragon stirring slightly. Kagome slowly unsheethed the blade, listening to it ring as she pulled the entire sheath off. The blade was pure steel, sharpened and stainless. As Kagome held the end of the blade, she could feel it pulsing through her, as if listening to it's heart beating. She quickly sheathed the blade and released a deep sigh before looking at Kouga.



"It's a powerful blade..."



"Yeah. Souta wanted you to have it, but there is a catch for you to possess the soul of the sword fully?"



"And that is...?" she asked warily.



"You'll have to offer your blood to this blade."



Kagome paled and didn't ask for further explainations, simply because that had been all Kouga had been told. So, she was given two of her brother's 'heirlooms' and she didn't have a clue what to do with either of them. She gave a small sigh and Kouga noticed how lost in thought she was. Would it be wise to ask her to share those thoughts with him...?



"Kagome, what's the matter?"



"I'm just worried. Worried for you, worried for Inuyasha, worried for our family...worried for Kikyou and Ryouta. Kouga, please,"



She leaned forward and put her hand on Kouga's. Surely, Kouga had to know something about Kikyou's motives. There was no way he could spend so much time with her and not know.



"If there is anything you can say or do to help me understand why Kikyou left the way she did..."



Something shifted in Kouga's eyes for a moment. He quickly turned his head away from Kagome, but didn't make her take her hand off his.



"Keh, why would I know anything?"



"You're lying."



Kagome sat backwards a little, pulling her hand off of Kouga's and sat there grasping the blade. She wrapped her arms around it until she looked as if she were in pain.



"Why...? Why wouldn't you want to help Kikyou?"



"I am helping her, dammit!" he snapped quickly.



Surprised by Kouga's outburst, Kagome's gaze turned intense. She was being lied to and now yelled at. She hated how everyone still treated her like a little fucking kid, when all she wanted to do was help.



"Kouga, why did Kikyou leave?!" she asked, raising her voice.



"You wouldn't..."



She reached out and grabbed him by his long ponytail and pulled him forward. He went to reply in the form of a growl, but when he saw the pissed off look and the storm brewing in Kagome's beautiful blue eyes, he knew he'd be wise to not only insult one of the strongest leaders out there, but also, his fellow housemate. She'd stayed with him two nights ago and helped him. Didn't he atleast owe her some form of explaination? No, he rationalized, he'd helped her when she'd fainted on the train. But was that really her fault? Kouga bit his lip in irritation, but Kagome's hold on his hair didn't relinquish.



"I'm sure Kikyou told you that whatever it is, she could handle it. Well, what if she can't?" Kagome asked.



His eyes locked with hers, as if he hadn't even considered that possibility. Sure, Kikyou was strong, stronger than him, even, but...What if Kikyou really couldn't handle it on her own? Kouga only bit his lip and heaved a heavy sigh.



"Fine. Let me go."



Kagome released Kouga's ponytail and it fell softly out of her hand. Kouga sighed heavily.



"Look, I don't know much, but...Kikyou had made some sort of deal with that bastard Naraku."



Kagome's blood ran cold at the mentioning of that name. His name wasn't such a distant memory it didn't bring back the crimes he had his main henchman, Bankotsu, and his brothers had committed aganst Mizuryu, nor did it allow her to forget the justfied punishment against him.



"What deal did she make with him, Kouga?" Kagome knew her voice was like ice, but she couldn't help it.



"That if Kikyou...if Kikyou got close enough to capture you...then...Naraku promised to use your soul to revive Souta."



Kagome's blood ran as cold as ice. It was as if she weren't understanding any of this, yet understanding all of it at once. So many questions were raised, but at the same time...



"My brother is...d...dead?"



"No one really knows, but Naraku must have gotten Kikyou to believe it. Kikyou promised Naraku that she would give him Ryouta as collateral."



"A hostage?!" Kagome raged.



"Y...yeah..." Kouga's voice quieted.



Rage ran through Kagome's body at the thought of Kikyou using her own son, and her nephew as a hostage...All for the sake of killing her and trying to transplant her soul inside of her dead brother's to revive him!



"But...she didn't. Is that why she's hiding Ryouta with us?"



"Yeah...At first, I honestly believed that Kikyou would go along with the agreement and once she was close enough to you, capture you and take you to Houryu. But...she didn't. I think, I really think, somewhere in Kikyou's mind, Souta is truly dead and it's probably because you look so much like him that she probably couldn't kill you. You...were too nice, Kagome. I think when Kikyou expected to meet you, she expected you to be more...dislikeable. But in reality, you remind her, me and everyone, of Souta."



Kagome wasn't sure if she should be relieved or upset for that fact. Was everyone just treating her like a replacement for Souta? She lowered her head. Right now, she didn't need anything shaking her confidence in the least.



"Is Souta really...?"



"No one knows. Kagome, I know Kikyou went to Houryu...God only knows the things those sick fucks will do to her!"



Kouga bowed in the lowest form of pleading. His forehead rubbing the ground, he grit his teeth as he pushed back the extreme urge to allow his pride to keep him from doing more damage.



"Kagome, please, I'm begging you! Help me get Kikyou back! I'll do anything! Lend me the strength of the Four Devas of Mizuryu! Talk to Sesshoumaru and beg him to help as well! I want Kikyou back, goddammit!"



Kagome knew Kouga had always been a proud someone, so...to beg for help couldn't only be a massive blow to his pride. Kagome bit the thumb of her nail nervously before taking a deep breath. She had no qualms about helping Kouga, of that, there was no doubt. But...



"Will you do anything, Kouga?" Kagome asked calmly.



"Yes!"



"...Make peace with Inuyasha and his...your mother."



Kouga's head snapped up so quick, Kagome almost thought he was going to belt her, especially when he saw the rage in his eyes.



"Fuck that! Never!"



"Hey, do you want to save Kikyou or not?! Think about it--It'll only be a little while more before they come after Ryouta too!"



That was, assuming Kikyou didn't tell them where she'd hidden Ryouta. Kagome knew Kikyou wouldn't stoop that low, so there was some hope. Kouga grit his teeth and balled up his fists.



"There is NO way I am making peace with those two! That woman...!"



"That woman had you because she wanted to give your life a greater purpose!"



Kagome realized too late what she'd said. Kouga now knew that Momoeiko was his mother...Kagome lowered her head with a sigh. She might as well tell him the majority of the story. Momoeiko could fill him in on details later. Kagome reached out and put her hand on Kouga's. He seemed almost in shock by the overwhelming news...



"Kouga, your mother loves you dearly. It was the decision of your father and her that you even be born. Your purpose in life is to help break the chains of fate and watch over Inuyasha. You know that, don't you?"



Kouga turned his head away, rage building in his eyes. He'd known about his duty to protect his 'cousin' but he'd never heard of the reason why. He tried not letting his mind wander to a time when he and a very young Inuyasha played and trained together. They were rivals, but they were best friends. They'd done everything together, from training, to camping out together, to even sleeping in the same futon when they were children. Then...he watched Inuyasha's father, his own uncle, kill his 'mother' and father and disappear without another word. Momoeiko didn't appear and come forward until it was too late and his childhood was lost forever. After that, Kikyou and her family had taken him in and he'd lived a pretty damn good life. He'd never seen or heard from Inuyasha or their mother again, until Kikyou resumed power over Chikyuryuu just three years ago. That was the first time in a very long time Kouga had even heard about Inuyasha being one of the Four Devas at Mizuryu.



"Kouga..."



"How can I just forgive them like that?"



"Do you honestly think Inuyasha had any clue you two were brothers?! Dammit, Kouga...! You think of your pain only! Think about what Inuyasha had to go through after being exhiled from his family, along with his mother! Inuyasha can't stand the thought of his father being responsible for your father's death!"



Kouga glanced at Kagome slightly. This woman was so passionate for Inuyasha and everything about him. How? How did she just have that power to seem to warm people's hearts and make them open up to her? Kouga leaned forward and rested his forehead on Kagome's shoulder. He reached behind him and pulled his ponytail out of it's green holder. His long, black hair formed a curtain around his face, but Kagome could feel his tears seeping through her blouse. Kagome wrapped her arms around him gently and sighed.



"Kouga...your mother loves you. Do you know how hard it was for her to make the decision she did? She decided to give you a life of peace with Kikyou, which is why she took Inuyasha and left. Kouga, your birth was no accident, nor was it a crime. Ryokan-Sama, your father, and Momoeiko, your mother, decided to have you so you could give Inuyasha an easier life. Inuyasha..."



Kagome bit her lip as she faught back tears to the very end.



"Inuyasha's life, like so many Toushi, is on borrowed time. His fate is supposedly set in stone and he'll die long before any of us. Kouga, your parents loved you so much, that they trusted you enough to take care of Inuyasha and watch over him. That is an honorable thing...to be able to watch over your brother. To protect him from fate."



Kouga looked up at Kagome, his eyes slightly red and tears still spilling down his cheeks. Kagome placed her hands on Kouga's cheeks and he felt a warm comfort coming from this woman unlike any he'd ever felt. He felt like a child again. He opened his eyes and saw small tears trailing down Kagome's own cheeks, yet she still smiled.



"Kouga...please...make peace with Inuyasha. Make peace with your mother. Know that more than anything, Momoeiko longs for her baby boy and Inuyasha longs for the playmate he saw like a brother once upon a time. If you can attempt that, I promise, you'll have the full support of both Mizuryu and Yukiryu."



Kouga clenched Kagome's blouse tightly and nodded his forehead against her chest. Kagome continued to hold him, lovingly and gently as she stroked his long, black hair he tried to hide his tears with. Kouga wondered what it was about Kagome that made him want to fall asleep in her arms, just like a child. Kouga didn't much more thinking on the subject, because before he knew it, he was asleep. Kagome seemed equally startled by Kouga's weight shifting forward, but, just as she had before, she lowered his upper body onto his lap and let him rest. Kagome reached into her pocket and pulled out her cell phone. Pressing one of her speed dials, she gave Sango a call. Their talk lasted about twenty minutes and in that time, Sango had been informed by her good friend of a plan to help a friend in need. Kagome didn't give Sango full details, but the Mizuryu beauty got the gist of it. Kagome asked how the school was still holding up and if Inuyasha had shown up. Sango laughed slightly, replying that Inuyasha had actually shown up, but was sporting such a nasty hangover. It only intensified when Sesshoumaru had shown up with the overly excitable Rin who kicked the door down and straight onto Inuyasha, worsening his headache. Miroku was currently sitting with Inuyasha in the infirmary. Kagome's entire body shook with mirth and she promised she'd be at the school sometime in the afternoon. After hanging up with Sango, Kagome gave a small sigh and placed her free hand on her new weapon. It only made her wonder if Souta were really alive or really dead. Nevermind the fact no one knew why Souta had disappeared in the first place. But regardless, Kagome couldn't be and wouldn't be mad at Kikyou. She'd tried to stop the betrayal to the best of her advantage. Kagome closed her eyes tightly and promised she'd do all she could to help Kikyou, help Kouga and help end this war. She knew the end was nowhere in sight, but...how could it be when the war was really just beginning? Two hours later, Kouga was awake and feeling better, surprised that Kagome had stayed with him the entire time. After washing his face and placing his hair back in it's signature ponytail, he escorted Kagome to the gates of Chikyuuryu. Kagome made him promise not to do anything and go off on his own. He promised that he'd be home the minute school was over. He watched Kagome walk until she was out of sight and he turned and headed back into the school. He still had his duties to tend to in Kikyou's absence, after all.



It would be later that evening when Kouga arrived home, that he was greeted energetically by Ryouta. Ryouta was obviously excited about something, but Kouga wasn't sure what. Ryouta led Kouga to the living room where he saw Inuyasha, Miroku, Sango, Kagome, Shippo and Saiyuri sitting around the kotatsu, with chips, snacks of all sorts and drinks. Kouga was a little surprised Inuyasha didn't rip his head off for that stunt with the fish he'd pulled earlier, but instead, offered him a can of soda. Kouga caught it with one hand, popped the top and sat down next to Kagome and Sango.



"Ryouta, why don't you go and play with Momoeiko for a while?"



To make sure he'd be rewarded for his obedience, Kagome offered Ryouta his new favorite snack--Strawberry pocky. Ryouta stood up, hugged his aunt, took the pocky and headed out of the room, closing the shoji door behind him. There was a silence in the room that Miroku decided to break with his usual suaveness.



"So...we hear you're in need to help, Kouga?"



"Yeah. I think we need to go to Houryu and talk to Naraku. I'm almost certain that bastard has Kikyou." he said stealing some chips from Kagome's bag.



"Shippo, is there anyway of confirming that Kikyou is actually at Houryu?" Kagome asked the little techie.



Shippo pressed a few buttons on his PDA, which was connected wirelessly to Saiyuri. In the middle of the kotatsu, projecting from Saiyuri X's glowing eyes, was a hologram of the entire Houryu high school. Everyone was surprised at how big it was, but now was not the time to be impressed with size.



"As you can see, Houryu is enormous. We'd have to send atleast a team of four spies into the school and map out the entire place from the inside. That way, we could get a better lock on what it's like from the inside."



"Shippo, don't you have a device that allows you to see inside of a building and detect all traces of life, regardless of whether it's human or not?" Sango asked.



"Yeah, unfortunately, it's in Beta and by Beta, I mean it's programmed inside of Saiyuri-X. There is no way I'm sacrificing her, especially since she is essentially the Mizuryu database."



"Well, then, we obviously need spies, but who could we get to agree to do something so dangerous?" Inuyasha asked to no one in particular.



"That's where Yukiryu and Chikyuuryu come into play." Kagome grinned.



All eyes were on the Mizuryu leader who was busy trying to get her hand down a tube of BBQ pringles. This was actually the very first time they'd all hung out together and so casually, nonetheless, despite the fact they were still discussing school issues.



"The way I see it, we have a student from Yukiryu, a student from Chikyuuryu and a student from Mizuryu transfer to Houryu for the time being. Sesshoumaru already said he has the perfect canidate for it, so that only leaves one from our school, and one from your school, Kouga. Shippo will forage the fake transfer documents and provide the spies with their fake names."



Kouga crossed his arms over his chest and thought for a minute. Chikyuuryu's Elite Four consisted of himself, as the respective leader of the group and three others...



"Well...there is someone else I'm thinking of, but it'd be a gamble since they're both women and we know how much Houryu loves to treat female students. Who is Sesshoumaru sending to Houryu?"



"Much to my surprise, he's sending his own girlfriend." Miroku chuckled, obviously amused by it.



"Rin?!" Inuyasha asked.



"Nope, Kazetori Kagura. They've been dating for almost forever. Anyway, I've already chosen a spy from Mizuryu." Kagome said casually.



"Who?"



"Honekou Kirara. She's a second year, but I've been watching her for some time. She's already accepted the mission, so all that's left would be a student from Chikyuryuu. Kouga, any ideas?" Kagome asked, turning to him.



Kouga rocked back and forth in thought for a minute before he finally decided.



"Yeah...Thing is, if something happens to her, I'm not sure what's going to happen."



"What do you mean? We all risk losing something if one of our is taken." Miroku stated.



"Well...the girl I'm thinking about, Inuyasha, you probably remember her, right?"



Inuyasha raised an eyebrow in Kouga's direction. He had no idea who he was talking about. Kouga shrugged and decided to lay it all down on the table, figuritively speaking, of course.



"How can you not remember her? She's your kid sister too."



Inuyasha's eyes widened slightly and Kagome felt a familiar headache start to take over her entire body. Not another sibling...!



"Inuyasha, who is he talking about?" Sango asked.



"Ayame. She's our kid sister...on Inuyasha's side."



"Wait, I thought you and Kou..." Kagome began.



"Nah, my old man got drunk one night and knocked up a random maid right after Kouga was born. I won't go into details, but that's how Aya was born. Anyway, do you really think she'll go for it?" He asked Kouga.



"Couldn't hurt to ask. She's all over Chikyuuryu, though and she's involved in a lot of clubs and shit, so...I'd have to say it's worth a try."



No one dared ask what the fuck was wrong with Inuyasha and Kouga's parents that they didn't know the meaning of 'monogomy'. Nonetheless, they didn't question it. After a little more planning, the meeting was ajourned and Sango, Shippo, Saiyuri and Miroku all headed for their own, respective homes. After a short dinner, Kouga and Inuyasha decided to take the bath suggestion as a way to talk. Kagome hoped they wouldn't try and drown each other in the tub. As Inuyasha and Kouga sat at opposite ends of the large tub, Kouga's long, black hair trailing down into the water and Inuyasha's black hair pinned up, it was Inuyasha to break the silence.



"So...when it comes right down to it, my father wasn't justified in what he did to your father or his wife."



Kouga tensed for a minute and then sighed.



"Fuck, I guess not. Especially if he went and fucked a maid right after we were born."



"Guess so. Anyway, how has Ayame been? It's been a while...probably since we were little pups." Inuyasha sighed.



"She's good. Her grandmother, the mother of the maid that got knocked up by your dad, lives in the country, so Ayame commutes to school everyday. I guess she still thinks our relation is by blood cousins, right? Heh, I wouldn't doubt it. By the time all of the drama with our families came into play, Ayame had already been sent away. Like, what, a year before it all happened?"



"Yeah, sounds right. Anyway, what is it you wanted to ask me earlier?" Inuyasha asked, opening his eyes.



Kouga took a deep breath and then shrugged.



"Are you seriously considering marrying Kagome?"



Inuyasha's eyes widened. With all the talk of war and drama and such, he hadn't given it much more thought. Sure, he promised he'd marry Kagome...



"Yeah, I plan on marrying her. Given we survive this age-old fiasco."



Kouga got silent for a minute before he turned his back to Inuyasha. Inuyasha sensed there was more that Kouga wanted to ask him...



"Kagome trusts me with her life. Would...you ever consider putting your life in my hands?"



Inuyasha seemed so alarmed by the question, Kouga would have found his expression rather comical if he hadn't meant the question in a serious way.



"Wh...why would you ask such a dumbass question?! I can take care of myself!" he stammered.



Kouga chuckled and shrugged. Why was he even having this conversation with Inuyasha? He heard Inuyasha heave a great sigh.



"But...as long as you don't get killed in the process of trying to 'protect' me and I'm not the one saving your ass on a daily basis, I don't care."



Kouga turned to look at Inuyasha who was in official pout mode. Kouga just felt relieved. Though he wouldn't ever show it or express it, no matter what had happened between their families in the past, Kouga was just glad. Glad that Inuyasha had 'given' him back his original purpose for living. Kouga sank into the bath and a content silence drifted over the two brothers. No words were needed at this moment. Just strength for the upcoming battles that tomorrow brought.



~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*



(A/N: And yet, another chappy up! Hope you guys liked it! And I know Kouga is a bit OOC, but I believe if Kouga actually had all of this drama happen to him, he'd still be arrogant and such, but he'd also...know when to let down his defenses, I guess? Anyway, hope you like it nonetheless! Hopefully there will be another update soon!!! Much love!!!)