The Tattoo

Disclaimer: I don't own any members of the Inu cast. This was an idea I actually came up with based off a drawing my fiancee did for me. It was a picture of Ayame, looking over her shoulder, her hair down, and in the middle of getting dressed. Her backside was exposed, and a pretty green tattoo was decorating the small of her back. Since no one ever really sees Ayame naked, let along her back, who's to say a tribal tattoo couldn't exist? This fic was actually written by both myself, Lilz(aka White Wolf Ayame)and my really good friend B-chan. With later contribution from my fiancee YourouzokuAlpha.

YourouzokuAlpha helped write this chapter with me. Couldn't have done it without you baby. On a side note, I hope everyone enjoys the long awaited update to this chapter. I want to thank Viz for airing new episodes of Inuyasha for me to find my love of writing again. IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU, I'D NOT HAVE BEEN INSPIRED TO UPDATE

Chapter 13- The Rescue

Anger.

Rage.

Frustration.

Now was the time to dance with all of those emotions at once. Kouga always wore his more brutal emotions on his furred cuffs. If he was angry, it was well known. And as he walked with a heavy purpose back towards the dens, the other wolf demons that witnessed him passing, paused and stared at the raw energy that was pulsing from his being. He was seething, and it was obvious. Whatever had made the wolf prince so upset, was not something to be questioned at this time, or one risked possibly losing their life in that moment. Each step he took was filled with deadly purpose, even if he had no current target for his anger, the purpose could still be felt with each stride that he took. As his feet touched the ground when he stormed past it left a distinct and heavy footprint in the dirt covered stones.

He was clad in only his furs, the wraps on his legs, the sleeve on one arm and cuff on the other, and the waist pelt, his tail twitched in an agitated manner behind him. His fists were clenched so tight that anyone who had spared a glance at his hands could see the whites of his knuckles. Some stared at him in fear, others stared at him in disbelief, while others stared at him in utter confusion-not sure why the wolf prince was in such a foul mood.

Ginta and Hakkaku stood at guard duty, and it was hard not to notice their alpha heading in their direction and obviously upset about something. Out of all the other wolves present, it was only Ginta and Hakkaku that Kouga would speak to without ripping their skulls off from the rest of their bodies in that moment. But even knowing that Kouga wouldn't hurt them, didn't make either of the two betas eager to ask their prince what upset him so...

Hakkaku shoved Ginta with his elbow, Ginta glaring at Hakkaku with a serious pout, "What was that for?"

"Ask Kouga what's wrong!" Hakkaku whispered loud enough so that Ginta could hear him.

"What do you think I'm crazy!?" Ginta snapped. "Kouga looks pissed off! No way am I gonna bring it up and ask him what's wrong! I do not want to invoke his wrath!"

The mohawked wolf demon raised an eyebrow at Ginta, "What's wrong Ginta? Scared?"

"I'm not scared!" the two-tone haired male retorted quickly. "I'm just being smart about this!"

"Yeah... right... you're scared," Hakkaku stated flatly.

"Shut up, Hakkaku! I don't see you going to ask him what's wrong either. So you must be just as scared as I am!" Ginta snapped again.

Hakkaku opened his mouth to give a witty come back, but just as he was about to let his words escape his mouth, Kouga was upon both his betas. Both Ginta and Hakkaku visibly shrunk and chuckled nervously.

"Eh heh... Kouga... We ugh... were just..."

"Stop it," Kouga ordered, his tone flat and filled with venom - however the hate in his tone wasn't directed towards them.

They both closed their mouths and nodded wordlessly at their prince.

Kouga's gaze looked as if it were focused on his betas, but under closer inspection he was staring at something beyond the both of them... focused on something invisible - something that only he could see. Ginta and Hakkaku swallowed a nervous lump in their throats. Normally when Kouga looked this determined or angry, that meant he was going to do something incredibly brash and sometimes stupid. But it wasn't their place to question him.

"We are leaving," Kouga stated, in a 'no questions asked' tone.

His betas blinked in confusion, not understanding what Kouga was talking about. But their prince left no room for questions from either of them. He had turned on his heel and marched off towards the smaller den where they were staying as long term guests of the northern tribe. Moments after Kouga had disappeared into the mouth of the cave, he reappeared with the rest of his armor on, and his katana at his side.

"Let's go..." the dark haired prince nearly spat. And in a windy torrent he was off.

Ginta and Hakkaku stared blankly at the area where Kouga had once stood. They glanced at each other and then at the dens they had been calling home for the past few lunar cycles. With a heavy sigh, they gathered what was left of the underlings from their pack, and followed behind their prince. What had gotten into him? What had made Kouga that upset to want to leave the northern mountains? Now wasn't the time to ask...


~*~*~*~


Ayame stared at Areku, words refusing to form themselves enough for her to protest... to question... all that was left for the time being was to wonder.

Could Areku be right?

It just didn't make any sense to the young princess. She struggled to make sense of everything she had experienced the last several days, everything big and small, all the changes Kouga seemed to be going through of late. But she was having a hard time wrapping her thoughts around Areku's suggestion. It seemed too impossible... so outlandish... too much to dare hope for. She couldn't bear getting her hopes up for even a sliver of a chance that Kouga might actually be looking at her in a new and unfamiliar light.

It would be too much to ask for her heart to bear.

"I can't... I just can't see that," Ayame said softly, her green eyes misting with unshed tears as she struggled to keep from letting it overwhelm her. Areku wouldn't say such things in a cruel or hurtful manner, but he couldn't possibly know. He was mistaken, and she was certain of it. Otherwise... why would Kouga have revoked his promise? Why would he have turned her away? Why would he brush her off like she was such a bother to him? Such a nuisance?

"Ayame... you are putting yourself through so much unnecessary pain," Areku said softly, approaching his nee-san, wrapping his arms around her as he turned her to bury her pain in his chest. He held her gently, running his hand comfortingly over her hair as he rested his chin on the crown of her head.

"I wish I could give you a simple answer, Princess. I wish I could knock some sense in Kouga's thick skull. I wish I could help you get over him, so you could be happy with Mikhail if that's what you wanted. I wish I could take your pain away, just to see you smile again. Like you used to when you were a pup," Areku said softly.

"I appreciate it, Areku, I do. But I have to do this on my own," Ayame said softly, almost in a broken tone. Areku nodded, not entirely sure how else to help her.

"We should head back. Do you think you will be up to that?" Areku asked, brushing his finger against her cheek, brushing away one rebellious tear that escaped her misty green eyes. She didn't answer him, silently nodding instead as she closed her eyes, and took a steadying breath. He admired her strength, and her determination. And yet, she was in so much pain, Areku felt helpless to guide her out of it.

"I have known you since you were an pup, Ayame," Areku stated, patting the top of head as she pulled out of the hug, trying to gather herself enough to set back for the dens. "You are stronger than you think, and I know you will find what your heart aches for. Whatever that will be. Someone so lovely shouldn't live their life so lonely," He said with an encouraging smile, kissing her forehead as she sighed softly at him.

"Sweet words, Areku... but I doubt it. My heart aches for what I can't have. I need to just harden my heart and try to live my life the way the packs need me to. When Mikhail asks me to be his mate, I will say yes," She said with a heavy heart, turning her back on her brother-like friend. He frowned to himself, and narrowed his eyes.

Damn that stupid male for not realizing what he had in front of him. Kouga would find no better mate than Ayame. She was brave, she was strong, and she was beautiful. She was so many things a human could not be... but he refused to see it.

"If Kouga doesn't open his eyes to the truth..." Areku suddenly stated, his tone cold and slightly angry. "Then he deserves the loneliness he will bring upon himself," The white ookami stated coldly, with so much conviction in his tone it made Ayame turn around to stare at him in surprise. The expression melted on his face however, and he smiled warmly at her, nodding her on. It would be sunrise soon by the time they arrived home at this rate.

A soft rustling above them made both wolf demons pause, exchanging a glance at each other before their eyes were drawn to the source of the sound. It wasn't far, but it seemed to be coming closer. Curiously, they stood their ground, hackles raised just in case, as the two wolf demons quietly exchanged nods at one another, moving closer to the protective canopy of the trees nearby.

Something felt wrong... and there was a foul scent in the air that was only rapidly getting stronger.

The source of the disturbance made itself known only moments later, with a loud shrieking noise as it broke above the dark foliage of the trees above them, twigs and leaves flying everywhere as the massive demon soared high in the sky above them, its wings spread wide as he cried out again. Both wolf demons clamped their hands to their sensitive ears, crouching low to the ground as sharp eyes narrowed on the bird demon, and Ayame gasped as her heart began to race.

"It's a Bird of Paradise Demon!" Areku cried with a growl, cursing himself for not coming out here with a weapon to protect the two of them. Worse still, if something happened to Ayame, he'd never be able to forgive himself.

Ayame... the thought made him turn towards her, glancing in her direction. His eyes widened, cursing loudly as he saw the terror in her eyes. "Damn it Ayame, come to your senses! It's just one!" He growled, his gaze snapping back to follow the flying demon as it soared overhead.

"I... I know!" Ayame cried with more confidence, narrowing her eyes as she readied her attack. Areku hadn't brought a weapon, it would be up to her to do something about this creature. This wasn't like before, she wasn't a pup like before... And there would be no Kouga to save her this time either. She wouldn't need him to. There was only one demon, after all, she and Areku could handle it, right?

She let out a furious cry as her wrist snapped forward, razor sharp leaves slicing through the air, and through the feathered wing of the demon overhead. The creature shrieked even louder, its cry echoing around the forest as it struggled to stay aloft despite it's wound, and suddenly it dived at Ayame, talons outstretched and ready to shred the female wolf demon to pieces.

"Ayame! Watch out!" Areku screamed, leaping in front of her just in time to roughly shove her out of the way, as the talons scrapped deeply against his back, blood spattering the grass as he fell, gasping in pain.

"Areku!" Ayame cried, but her terror amplified as she whirled around, a louder, angrier shrieking coming from the forest behind her, in a completely different direction of the first demon. It wasn't alone, and Ayame screamed as it's companion broke the tree surface, and dove for her. She barely had time to dodge out of the way, but not before it's talon had sliced a large gash in her thigh.

Ayame screamed in pain. But things were about to get so much worse, as her green eyes widened in full blown terror. The second Bird of Paradise flew beside it's companion, and then another flew over ahead, and another, and another.

"Oh no..." She breathed in terror. She and Areku were hurt, and there was nothing two injured wolf demons could do against seven Birds of Paradise. They must have been hunting... and they'd found their prey.


~*~*~*~


He made sure they were traveling south. That was the direction of their original dens, and it was Kouga's only focus right now.

They had to leave.

The fight he had with Kaito, and Ayame's interaction - how she hadn't taken Kouga's side in the matter - was still making him deeply upset. He ran as fast as his legs could carry him, and he knew that his betas were behind him, albeit much further behind him... but he had no doubt in his mind that they would eventually catch up.

The wind changed directions, and the scent of blood assailed Kouga's nose. He stopped dead in his tracks. All his former thoughts of being mad, angry, upset, and pissed off suddenly vanished. Because it wasn't just the scent of blood... it was a certain individual's blood.

Ayame's blood.

As he stopped he made sure to hold perfectly still as he raised his nose higher up in the air and took a few long sniffs. The scent was fresh, and not far away. Ayame was in danger. But there was another scent mixed in with the smell of her blood... a scent that he hadn't smelled in a very long time. It made his heart skip a beat.

The Birds of Paradise were supposed to be all dead. So why did their scent linger with Ayame's?

Regardless of his current feelings he knew he had to investigate. And in a split second, he turned in the direction from which the scent originated. He traveled faster than he had been before, the sense of urgency driving him into a dead sprint, the funnel of wind that twisted around him as he ran, flew around him at a furious speed. He felt as if he had been running for hours, but it had only been a matter of minutes before he came upon the scene at hand.

Seven large Birds of Paradise were attacking not just Ayame, but another wolf demon as well, one of the white males from her pack. Kouga immediately recognized the male as Areku, one of the few males in Ayame's pack who wasn't interested in mating with the female, because he had grown up with the princess, and saw her more as a sister than a life-mate.

These Birds of Paradise were much larger than the ones Kouga remembered encountering in his own territory. They were at least double in size, and instead of having gray and white robust bird like demon lower halves, and blue humanoid upper halves, these were instead more slender in their lower section. The face on the avian form had jaws that drew back wider than a regular angle making it look as if they could unhinge and swing all the way back towards their feet, and they were blood red and dark blue in the color of their feathers. The upper sections where the humanoid forms rested on top were jet black, and they weren't nude, but instead clad in thick armor that matched their lower avian sections in color. Their hair was ghostly white, and even the ones that were distinguished as males had their hair long, and pulled back into tight tails or braids at the tops of their heads. Their eyes glowed red with demonic energies, and the same eerie red hue shone with intensity inside their mouths as they opened their jaws to squawk at their intended prey.

He had only heard rumors of legends of this particular sub-species of the Birds of Paradise - called the Royal Birds of the Underworld, and since they were so rare it was difficult to ever say if they truly existed. The only other wolf demon he knew of who had actually scene the Royal Birds of the Underworld before was Ayame's grandfather, and that was the old wolf's reason for being the head elder.

When he was Kouga's age he had slain the leader of this rare Birds of Paradise flock, and it had been thought that the rest were driven away to extinction. Centuries had passed since then, and it had given these Birds of Paradise time long enough to rebuild what had been shattered of their dieing flock.

The avian demons hovered over Ayame and Areku, their talons pointed towards the two white wolves, but they weren't swooping down for another attack, at least not yet. Ayame and Areku were surrounded, and the Royal Birds of the Underworld were enjoying torturing their victims before doing anything more to them.

Kouga growled in the back of his throat, his ears twitching as what appeared to be the leader of this small flock spread it's wings to their full span and let out a wicked cackle. The leader was female, and she was much larger than the already large bird demons. Her hair was longer than the others and it came across her shoulders and chest in two thick matted braids, inside the mats were bones, skulls, and fangs of her former conquests. She waved her hand and the other Royal Birds of the Underworld ceased in their squawking so she could speak.

"Fortune smiles upon us this night!" She proclaimed, her voice was deep and rattling, that had an after effect of a hollow echo.

"I can smell from your blood little wolf-bitch that you are a direct descendant of the wolf-bastard who killed my grandfather! We have waited, and waited, and waited for this day... to exact our revenge! How fitting it is for us to have come upon you! While I would have rather it been your grand-sire, you will do just perfectly. How it will torture that bastard to know that one of his loved ones was slain by the demons he drove out of the mountains so long ago!"

Ayame narrowed her eyes at what had to be the leader of this rare flock, growling low in the back of her throat as she tried to ignore the pain burning in her leg. She glanced over at her companion, thankful he was breathing, before she shot her glare back up at the female avian demon who had spoken.

Ayame had only heard rumors, stories, about these creatures. She thought they'd been nothing more than a bedtime story her grandfather used to tell her when she was but a pup. But now, apparently there was truth to the story. Still, frightened as she was, Ayame growled and clenched her fist angrily.

She was terrified, that much was true. Memories of her past ripping at her mind's eye, flashes of the terror she felt when she was a little girl so very long ago. Back then, she'd been lost and afraid, and terrified she was about to become lunch for the Birds of Paradise. And Kouga had come to her rescue out of no where. And saved her. But this time, there would be no one she could depend on to get her and Areku out of this situation, as hopeless a situation as it seemed. But Ayame fought back the fear, and focused instead on Areku. She couldn't leave him to die out here, and she couldn't just run and hope to find help along the way.

"Heh... ironic... if I should die now, by these foul creatures... when I probably should have years ago," She said softly, rising slowly to her feet, and biting back the growl of pain that shot through her as she struggled to stand on her injured leg. She could smell her own blood making her slightly dizzy, but she knew Areku was in worse shape. He'd dived in front of her, taking the attack that was meant for her.

"It's not going to be that easy to kill me, bitch," Ayame snapped back, her tone harsh and angry. She was angry at herself for putting herself and Areku in harms' way. She was angry about how the males in her own tribe had been acting around her lately. She was angry about all the stupid expectations everyone had of her. And she was angry about the situation with Kouga.

"A-Ayame... r-run...." Areku said weakly, struggling to pull himself up, gripping the bloody blades of grass under him as he tried to pull himself closer to Ayame. She smiled at him softly, shaking her head gently.

"I can't just leave you here Areku," She said softly, her expression full of pain and disappointment. "You risked your life for me, I should at least be brave enough to do the same for you, Oniisan," The red headed princess spoke softly, her gaze lifting once more to the female demon leader.

"You want me, come and get me bitch," Ayame growled. "You may succeed in killing me, but not before I take you with me!" She snarled, slamming her fist into the ground at her feet, a swirling tornado of razor sharp leaves bursting from the ground and swirling furiously through the air, directly at the female leader.

The attack was meant to at least do some damage. But the eerie red glow that was in the demon's eyes and mouths suddenly covered their entire bodies, even as they hovered in the air. The razor like leaves dissipated into thin air as they hit the glowing red barrier. The lead female threw her head back and cackled.

"For what little time you have left little wolf princess, you may call me Queen Akujo. Your little attacks mean nothing to the power of our barriers. We came prepared this time! When my grandfather was murdered by yours, our kind was weak and defenseless! This time we battle not just with armor and weapons but also with mastered knowledge of our demonic capabilities! Behold!" She extended her wings, the large unhinging mouth of the bird section of her body opening up wide, teeth the size of daggers were lined up row after row. A large massive ball of red energy gathered in the throat, but instead of firing off the giant sphere, a single line of pure destructive energy shot from the center of the ball. It burned along the ground, slowly, purposefully, making its path towards the half fallen male white wolf who was laying prone on the ground and struggling to get back up.

He was an easy target, and if the princess knew any better she wouldn't risk her life to save his... not when he was bound to die so easily.

Kouga's legs felt heavy, as if they were made of solid stone and were being held down by the mountain in which he had been trying to run away from earlier when he was pissed off. No matter how much he wanted to move them, no matter how much he willed his feet to budge to try and jump in and save Ayame and Areku... they just wouldn't budge.

But nothing magical or other-worldy was holding him down. His feet weren't really stone, he just stood there, staring at what was going on. Yes, Ayame was in danger and so was Areku, but Kouga's anger hadn't completely gone away, it had only subsided long enough until he came upon the white wolf princess and one of her pack mates. The angry and spiteful side of him felt that this was Ayame's punishment for not siding with him in the fight with Kaito. She deserved this.

But did she deserve to die for that? Did Areku-an innocent - deserve to also fall because of Kouga's unwillingness to act on this situation?

No.

Neither of them deserved to die. And as he shook his head, he mentally chastised himself for thinking such horrible things in the first place. He was a prince of the yourouzoku! It was his duty, his life, to protect the pack. Even if the northern tribe wasn't his pack in any close proximity, they were still fellow wolf demons, and therefore still brethren.

The laser of energy was getting closer and closer to Areku and Ayame, burning whatever was in it's path and leaving a giant trench in it's wake. Queen Akujo cackling wildly as the line of destructive power drew closer and closer to the two wolves.

Ayame could only watch in horror, helpless as she saw the burning power of the demon tear apart the land as it inched its way closer to her and the severely injured Areku only steps away from Ayame. She hurried to his side, painful as it was, and there was nothing more she could do. She hoped she might have just enough time to pull the other ookami from the dreadful, destructive path, at the pace it was going.

But Ayame knew deep in her heart it would be a futile effort. Areku was too severely injured, and even if they managed to dodge the attack, she knew there would be others. And they would die. Ayame wouldn't let Areku die alone though!

Suddenly, Queen Akujo's eyes went wide in shock and fear, her wicked laughter was replaced by a sudden gurgling and choking noise. The other Royal Birds of the Underworld quickly glanced around in a panic at what had attacked their leader. But it was too late. Her body crackled with electricity and fell to the ground in six separated, burned, and bloody heaps of flesh. Smoke curled around the burnt chunks and as the smoke cleared, a form appeared.

It was Kouga! Ayame thought her heart would stop completely, as she say the image of the male wolf demon stepping from the smoke. This couldn't be right. Surely her and Areku had been caught up in the blast, and she was now dead. This was impossible...

Yet, there he was.

His legs were spaced in a defensive stance, his left hand balled into a fist at his front while his right arm was flexed slightly behind him, and the Goraishi shone with a magnificent power. Even in the dead of night it sparkled as if it were mid-day, but that was more so from the crackling electric energy that still surrounded the claw like blades at the end of each of Kouga's fingers and thumb.

"Didn't mean to crash your little get together..." Kouga growled. "But it seems that you just so happened to choose the wrong prey to pick on! I'll teach you to mess with the Yourouzoku, especially my mate! You all will pay for this! With your lives!" He moved, faster than the Royal Birds of the Underworld could keep up with. One by one they all met the same fate as their Queen Akujo, being sliced to bits by the electric powers of the Goraishi and Kouga's swift hand.

'His... mate?' Ayame thought in shock, confusion, and disbelief. 'What is he talking about?'

When the last of the demons were dead, their bodies no longer even twitching from the electric shock that had been sent through them, did Kouga finally turn towards Ayame and Areku. His facial expression remained monotone and emotionless as he approached the two white wolves.

He didn't say a word, just stood over them both.

"K-Kouga?" Ayame breathed in absolute shock, her eyes wide in complete disbelief. How could this be? He'd saved her again.. and not just her, Areku as well.

How did this male always know when to rush to her aid? How did he always get there just in time? Was it some twist of fate? Her heart ached in relief at the sight of his arrival, and she let out a soft sigh of exasperated relief. She didn't know how he'd gotten here, or why he'd been in the area and able to get there just in time, but she was never so happy in her entire life to see the wolf prince.

But words lingered in her mind, and she continued to stare at him in shock.

For the life of her, she couldn't speak, she was in such a state of awe. She could feel the faint warmth across her nose and cheeks, and she knew she was blushing, but she didn't care. Why had he made such a bold declaration? What did it mean? Was he serious? Was he only saying that in the heat of battle? Or did he truly want her, to belong to him and him alone. Could Areku have been right?

"Kouga... you... came..." Ayame finally managed to stammer softly. Areku on the other hand, despite his injuries, was about to find his tongue much better than Ayame had.

"Kouga... perfect timing... as usual... my... friend." Areku stammered, wincing in pain as he struggled to move. His back was torn in a bloody mess, his armor the only thing that had saved him from dying on the spot. But it was still ruined completely, and his back wasn't much better. At least however, he would live. He too, had heard Kouga's declaration, and despite the pain burning in his back, he weakly turned his head to half smile, half smirk at the female wolf demon that was like a little sister to him.

"I... told you..." Areku chuckled weakly.

Ayame blushed, frowning at Areku, before she swallowed the nervous lump in her throat, and managed a smile at Kouga, embarrassed and exhausted in her state. She wasn't sure what this meant, but even if he didn't realize what he'd said, she'd heard him crystal clear.

Maybe Kouga did care for her, more than he was letting on. She couldn't deny that fact, and her heart swelled slowly as she smiled up at him. She felt warmth tingling from her chest, her heart slowly racing as she smiled appreciatively and affectionately at the brown ookami.

"Thank you Kouga. You got here just in time...." Ayame began, as she raised an eyebrow curiously at the dark haired wolf demon standing in front of the two injured wolves. "But did you just... call me... your mate?"

"KOOOOUGA!" Ginta and Hakkaku called out from a short distance away. The wolf prince kept a flat expression on his face as his betas caught up, stopping just short behind him to see the slain corpses of the demons around the injured Ayame and Areku.

"What happened!?" Ginta and Hakkaku asked in unison. "You two help Areku, I got Ayame... we have to take them back home so their wounds can be tended to immediately," Kouga ordered. His betas didn't question him, but instead nodded to his commands and walked over to where Areku was laying on the ground. Hakkaku frowned and Ginta let out a small hiss as he saw the extent of the open gashes on Areku's back.

"Don't worry Areku, we'll get you back to the dens," Hakkaku said as he and Ginta bent over and helped the white male to his feet. Areku did his best to smile despite the pain that coursed through his body. The three other male wolf demons got a head start since Areku's wounds were much worse than Ayame's.

Kouga stood with one hand on his hip defiantly while the other one hung at his side. He flexed his hand in and out, the Goraishi's blades scraping together as he bent his fingers back and forth with his hand. Kouga wasn't necessarily comfortable discussing this with Ayame right now.

Yeah he called her his mate. So what? That's what she wanted right? For the two of them to be mated?

He took in a small breath and let it out quickly before flicking his wrist, the Goraishi disappearing from his hand and the spirit of the weapon retreating into his body. His now free hand mirrored his other arm, resting on his hip as he focused his icy blue eyes on the she-wolf before him. She was sitting on the blood stained grass... stained from her own blood and the blood of the demons that he had slain.

"You have to be more careful, Ayame," he stated as he let out a frustrated sigh and his posture somewhat relaxed. He extended a hand to her, "With that gash on your leg it will be forever for us to get back if you were to go on foot. So, I'll carry you."

She graciously took the hand he'd offered her, blushing softly at her own thoughts as she nodded up at him, and allowed him to pull her into his strong arms. She was grateful Kouga hadn't been alone, and having Hakkaku and Ginta take Areku back to the dens lifted a weight in her chest. They would be careful with him, but they would get him the help he desperately needed, and Ayame was certain her brother-like best friend would survive, even if he did carry scars for the rest of his life as a reminder of this night.

He wasn't avoiding her question though... his own words still rang through his head. But they could at least discuss all this on their way back to her dens so she could get someone to bandage up that wound. He took her hand, and bending at the knees he scooped her up into his arms. For just a brief moment his eyes averted away from hers, and landed on one particular tree. He narrowed his eyes, suddenly recognizing this entire area... this was where he had first met her, back when he had first saved her, when she was nothing more than a growing young pup.

"Heh..." he snorted as he shook his head. "This little patch of forest has it out for you Ayame. This is the second time you have almost died at this tree," Her eyes trailed to the tree he'd been talking about, as absentmindly, she wrapped her arms around Kouga's neck, letting out a gentle sigh as she nodded in agreement with him.

"Maybe... or maybe this forest just likes teasing me," She murmered instead. "This is also the second time you have saved my life," She pointed out with a blush and a smile.

"Maybe this place has a curse on it, and we just keep tripping over it,"Ayame pondered tiredly.

All this stress was exhausting the young white princess, and her emotions were only making matters even worse. Once again, she'd been close to death, so close she could almost feel the sweet embrace of the end upon her. And then, once more, Kouga had leapt to her rescue, defeating those that threatened her life, and scooping her up, taking her home.

"Or maybe we're just stuck in some kind of loop of fate." She added with a shrug. "One day, you might not get there in time..." She said softly.

Kouga scoffed, "What are you talking about?" He shook his head at her words. "If you just stop all this stupid courting crap with those other males and just let me take you as my mate then I'll always be here to protect you," He stated boldly, before he could even catch the words that were coming out of his mouth. But he had meant every single one of them.

Ayame blinked at him, shock and confusion still filling her eyes as she stared at him in uncertainty. He was seriously... making his claim on her? It was almost more than she'd ever dared dream. Mikhail had asked her permission to court her, to make sure she was fully over the very male who was now caring her back to her dens. The very male who was verbally claiming possession of the female demon. Kaito... she thought of him nothing more than a dear friend, though she knew of his feelings for her.

Feelings she tried her best not to encourage.

Kouga hated the fact that she had nearly given up on him, granted he had been the one that pushed her away, but what else was he supposed to do? He had every expectation of dying when it came down to the final battle with Naraku. It would be easier on her if she had just taken another to be her mate instead of him since there was no guarantee that he'd live. That would have been the smart idea, but Kouga knew it was something he didn't want either, now that he had time to think about it. Maybe he was just being selfish.

"Tch..." he scoffed again. No this time was different. He had almost lost her again, and she had to survive this. The packs would be at eternal war with each other if she died.

It was his job to protect her. But he knew it was more than just a sense of duty, loyalty, and pride towards the yourouzoku.

Ayame wanted to be mated to him because she loved him. And he cared for the red headed princess, a great deal. But he wasn't exactly sure if he fully understood what it meant to love someone. Yeah he claimed he loved Kagome, but it was never serious, at least not anymore.

He remembered seeing the look in Kagome's eyes as InuYasha had nearly died, how upset she was and how she tended to his every need. Kouga only guessed that's what it meant to love someone. His chest suddenly grew heavy at the thought.

He was a wolf demon, not a human, the same ideals and emotions weren't the same for them. The standards weren't the same. A male chose a female and they mated for life. No questions asked. Love was hardly ever an issue. But in this case, he realized it WAS the issue.

Ayame wanted to fully experience that emotion that the humans clung so desperately to, the emotion that helped them for the most part, survive in these hard times on the land. And this emotion wasn't something that made the humans weak, it in fact made them stronger. Strong enough to even rival the power of demons. Maybe Ayame was really on to something then?

He turned them away from the tree and started their walk back to her dens.

"I made a promise to you a long time ago, Ayame. I intend on keeping it," was all he said on the matter. If she wanted more details - which he knew she would start firing off questions at him left and right about the matter - then that was something he'd answer for her as she asked those questions. But there was no doubt in his mind anymore. What little he did understand about love, he knew he felt it for the princess in his arms.

His princess.

"Kouga..." Ayame murmered softly in confusion. "I don't understand. You said you revoked the promise. You said you didn't care about other males seeking my hand. You said, you didn't care about me, or the promise," She frowned at him, tilting her head as she looked up at him, her eyes studying his own questioningly.

"Yeah well I changed my mind," He said as he purposely avoided her eyes.

"Changed your mind?" She asked, raising one bright red eyebrow at him. "I can see that apparently. What changed?"

"Does it really matter? I changed my mind. That's that," he said.

He was getting frustrated. Would spending the rest of their lives together be like this? He hoped not. This should be the only aggravating part from here on out, right? But as he tried to look her in the eyes again, he could see the honest confusion on her face. He had been sending the poor girl mixed signals and he knew he had been, so it wasn't really her fault. It was his fault, and he did owe her an explanation.

He sighed, "Alright... I'll explain... Well frankly, I realized something." Kouga paused and his eyes glanced up as he carried her in his arms. She wasn't heavy or anything, but the last time he had carried her home, she was on his back with her arms wrapped around his neck as she clutched onto the flower of her names sake in her tiny hand. However her injuries this time called for him to carry her as if he had already taken her as his bride and was carrying her into their mating dens.

It was just a bit awkward he thought with a faint blush.

"I remember at one point, Kagome had said something... it wasn't directed towards me... but those words still stick in my head," Kouga explained. "She said that if you love something enough you have to be willing to let it go. If it comes back to you then it was meant to be, if it doesn't come back to you then it wasn't meant to be and you have to be happy knowing that your love for that moment will always be a good memory."

He turned his gaze back towards the woman in his arms. "When you were little, I honestly made that promise to you because I thought it would make you feel better. But also because promising something that like marriage for our people isn't just for the sake of being mated, it's offering protection. I wanted you to feel that you would always be safe, and to not be afraid while your grandfather was training you to be the warrior princess you are today."

He shook his head, "The true concept of love was never a part of that promise for me, Ayame. You were a little girl and I was a brash and brazen young male. And true love has always been something that was just beyond our reach as demons. Only the humans fully understand it... and yet, you understand it too."

"You have changed so many traditions with in the past few lunar cycles trying to find a suitor," Kouga said, glancing down at her. "Had this same thing happened half a century ago, then even though I had made a promise to marry you, another male could have easily come in and just taken you as his mate before I could even return to you. Then both of us would be shit out of luck. You wouldn't have much of a choice in the matter. But things are different now and you are a lot stronger than a good majority of any of the males who were competing for your hand in marriage."

"They know you are stronger than them Ayame. You would be the dominant to them, but you don't need a submissive husband. You need someone who can top you. And that's me," Kouga stated plainly, smirking slightly to himself as he noticed her blush. At the same time, he mentally cursed himself for sounding so arrogant, but he knew he couldn't take it back. He just continued his explanation in hopes that his arrogance would be over looked by the rest of what he had to say.

"When I claimed that Kagome was my fiancee, it wasn't because I truly loved her," Kouga said softly. "I just wanted her for the powers she had to sense the sacred jewel shards. Over time it grew into something more than that, I had to protect her, and in the process of all of this, I've grown more tolerant of humans. I don't send my wolves into human villages to eat anymore. I've even saved the lives of humans just because Kagome has greatly changed my view on the world."

"But she also showed me what it was like to really love someone," Kouga continued. "When that stupid mutt almost died, I did my best to comfort her but she wanted nothing to do with me. I wasn't stupid, I backed off for the time being. But I watched her as she took care of him, as she did whatever she could to make sure he was safe and in good health once again. I didn't fully understand how she could do something like that, until I came upon you and Areku just moments before now."

"I knew I had to protect you and save you. And it wasn't just for the sake of making sure a fellow wolf demon didn't die. It was because I was overwhelmed with the sense of protecting you, Ayame. I'm doing the best I can to fully grasp this entire concept, and I know you don't want me to just say that I'll mate with you and not have any feelings for you." He hadn't realized how much he had been talking, but they were already over half way back to the dens and he still had more to say to her.

"You want me to love you when I take you as my mate. Well I'm telling you now, Ayame, I want to take you as my mate, and in doing so... I want to do this because I understand to some extent what it means to love someone. I have to protect you, and that means spending the rest of my life at your side. So... that's what changed. If any of that even makes sense. I'm not good with this talking about my feelings crap..." he confessed as he rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"I'm better at just beating the living stink out of things," Kouga muttered in embarrassment.

Ayame listened in speechless awe at his confession, his declaration in answer to what she'd asked him. He had so much to get off his chest, and she remained silent as she let him.

It had seemed like such a simple question at the time. Something she genuinely and curiously wanted to know, because her heart demanded the truth. She had so much riding on this moment, she realized the truth of it deep in the depths of her very being. She cared about Mikhail, that much was true. He'd shown her that someone could show her the kind of affection, adoration, and love she had been dreaming of since she was a little girl.

But she also knew, despite all that, there had always been something missing.

Even when she'd gone to visit him, trying to give him a fair chance for him to win her heart, she still felt conflicted. And when he'd kissed her, it had only speared her heart painfully even more. Because in that moment, she realized what her heart wanted, perhaps it couldn't actually have. And she'd be forced to settle with someone who wasn't the one for her.

Kouga was the one for her, and she knew he always had been. But that still didn't alieviate the guilt she felt about the situation. One she knew she had to remedy.

She was surprised it had taken so much for Kouga to come around, to realize what he wanted, and that what he wanted was her.

It was still something she was getting used to. If she was a more sensible demon, she would probably turn him away, his chance with her over and give Mikhail the chance he deserved. But somehow she knew, it wouldn't be the same. Things would never be perfect between Kouga and Ayame, she knew that much without a doubt. But she also knew the reason things transgressed the way they did was because of the strong bond they shared. She'd always heard legends and rumors when she was little, of life mates and soul mates... and Ayame knew... Kouga was hers.

She still didn't respond however for several precious moments, chewing nervously on her bottom lip as she tried to make sense of what she should do next. Kouga staked his claim on her, even more than Mikhail had, which of course was typical of the alpha male.

Mikhail was sweet... caring... Kouga was brash, but brave. He acted first, and unfortunately she found that side of his personality incredibly appealing. But Kouga was right, she did need a dominant male to her already dominant female personality. But one that could top her, and actually one up the young princess.

Mikhail was nice, this much was true, but he was a submissive ookami, and thinking about it now, she began to realize their marriage never would have worked out, not truly. She'd never grow to be happy with him, she'd never grow to love him, and she might always wonder... what if... what if she'd never given Kouga the second chance he subconsciously was asking her for?

"Kouga," Ayame said softly after a long pause, refusing to look him in the eye at first. "I never wanted you to be confused... or upset like this. This wasn't a test for you, and I am sorry if you perhaps feel that way. I was genuinely trying to find someone who could take your place in my heart... but I'm glad, I really am, that things have turned out this way. Despite how things seemed to have worked out... I love you. And I always have, and always will." She said softly, tilting her head and trailing a soft, sweet kiss on the edge of his pointed ear.

"Kouga, I have waited a very long time to say this... Yes, I will be your mate."

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AN: To check out the cover art for "The Tattoo", specifically the image that inspired this story, please visit my fiancee's deviantArt page at the following link below. I want to thank YourouzokuAlpha for the time and patience put into this work. It's beautiful.

http://yourou.deviantart.com/#/d2qdp3f