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. Enjoy ^_^


Chapter 2- The Fight


Ayame was stunned by Kouga's rude departure, glancing uncertainly at her Grandfather. The Black, Gray, and Red Elder's looked a mixture of stunned, going on insulted, soon to be pissed. Angry Elders were not a good thing. She quickly rose to her feet, bowing her head lightly as she brushed off her white fur dress.

"I apologize... I'll go speak with him. I'll be back as quickly as possible. Please... feel free to continue. I sincerely apologize for the interruption," She said before nodding at her Grandfather and hurrying out of the room, following in the direction Kouga and his beta's went. It didn't take long before the red head finally caught up with the three browns, calling out to catch their attention as she hurried towards them, her hair billowing out behind her.

"Kouga! Kouga, wait!" She cried. She frowned slightly as she caught up to him, catching her breath. Kouga sighed heavily, stopping, hearing Ayame chased after him.

"That was rude. I can't believe you did that! Do you have any idea how bad you just made the rest of us look? How could you not think of the consequences? And now they're probably discussing what to do and you will be clueless because you rushed out of there with your nose up your ass," She said.

She looked apologetically at the two betas, a pleading smile upon her lips. "I know I probably have no right to ask... but please... could you go back and sit in for Kouga? I'll try to talk some sense into him... but this still concerns your pack too. You shouldn't be left out."

Ginta and Hakkaku nodded, having always liked the nice white princess. "Sure, Ayame-neesan," they replied, deep down glad to get away from their leader. Kouga could some times get violent when he was in a bad mood... bringing back the memories of sore heads.

Kouga folded his arms of his chest, keeping his back to her, annoyed she had stopped him. Even more annoyed that she had asked HIS betas to return to the meeting in HIS stead. But he kept the irritation of that to himself. "What do you want NOW Ayame?" he growled. "Come to lecture me again?" Ayame growled back at him, her eyes burning like jade fire. Her petite white fangs glistened a pearly white as the tips peeks out from beneath her pink lips.

"You don't need a lecture, you need a swift kick in the ass!" She cried frustratedly. "What was that all about? I demand to know the reason why you would embarrass me and my Grandfather in front of the others like that!"

He looked back at her dully, his arms still folded and sighed. "Ayame, I didn't embarrass you back there, just that black pup. I don't see what the big deal is."

"You don't see what the big deal is?" She asked stunned. "You just blew off the Elders!" She reminded him. She sighed deeply as she brushed her unruly bangs out of her eyes.

"What was so important that you had to do that anyway? What did Mikhail say to you? Do you know each other or something?" He lowered his gaze to her, deep down in mind screaming out the real reason but shrugged it off.

"The guy just annoys me," Kouga answered.

Ayame frowned at his casual shrug, before crossing her arms over her chest. "I see. So instead of being a gentleman and letting it go like Mikhail, you storm out of the meeting like a pup," She stated before turning her back on him. "Fine. But if you don't mind, I am going back."

Kouga twitched, anger, envy, and annoyance jolting through his body as he growled. "You think he's better than me?!" Ayame whirled around, her hair and dress swinging out around in a half arc as she turned back to stare at him in shock.

"What the hell are you talking about? Why would I think that? I don't even know Mikhail. This is the first time I met him. What is your problem?" She asked. "What are you... jealous?"

He glared coldly at her in defiance. "Of course not!" he snapped.

"Then what is it? You just don't like him just for the hell of it? Stop playing these stupid games Kouga. If you're not jealous, then what is the problem? And don't you DARE lie to me!" Ayame snapped as Kouga rolled his eyes.

"Keh, what does it matter?" he growled, as he turned away, not sure of the answer himself. He couldn't explain his sudden burst of anger, why it felt like she was implying Mikhail was better than him, and he didn't want to have to try and explain himself to her.

"It matters to me. You've been acting strangely all day. Ever since you got here that I know of. Your attitude earlier this afternoon... and at the meeting... and now... if you have a problem, just say it!" Ayame insisted.

He spun back to her. "I DON'T have a problem!" he snapped.

"Then why are you over reacting?!" She snapped back at him.

"As I said before, Princess, he got on my nerves!"

She shook her head as she narrowed her eyes. "Problem my ass. You're jealous of him aren't you?"

"What would I have to be jealous of?" he declared. "I'm NOT jealous of that little shit!"

Ayame narrowed her eyes on him, her gaze like jade daggers as she glared at him. "Well you're being an ass for no reason then. You're acting so high and mighty, when you don't even know him. You didn't even apologize to the Elders. Do you have any idea how RUDE that was? Or do you not care about anyone else but yourself? You have no consideration do you?"

He growled, getting more pissed. "And YOU'RE any better?!" he snapped. "You can't even face reality! You just cling to dreams and words long ago!"

She stared at him in shock for a moment, not expecting such a cold blow from him. She clenched her fists at her sides, her knuckles so tight they started to turn white as her shoulders shook with her fury. "Maybe you're right Kouga! You've been nothing but trouble ever since I met you! You know what, I wish I never had!"

"I'VE been nothing but trouble?! Like YOU'VE been easy to handle!" Kouga glared back at her, a fire almost dancing in his cold blue eyes. She bit her lip, her eyes watering as she suddenly let go, pain and defeat in her eyes.

"You have no idea what I've had to handle. Rejection... heart ache... You lied to me, you led me on, I grew up on a lie and when I finally found you again, you brushed me aside for a human girl. I wish you had never saved me. I wish I had never met you. I wish I'd died when those demons attacked me. Anything would have been better than this." Ayame said coldly.

"Leave Kagome out of this!" Kouga snapped, before her last words hit him, leaving him cold in shock. His eyes widen slightly and his anger left him. "You... you what....?" Ayame shook her head as she turned around, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing her tears as they watered just under her eyelids.

"You heard me."

"Ayame..." Kouga began, walking over as he grabbed her arm. "Ayame, don't... don't ever say that." She yanked her arm out of his grasp, turning to glare painfully at him.

"Why do you suddenly care?" He looked down at her, his face serious.

"Ayame, I've seen almost half my pack slaughtered, and you talk about killing yourself?" She growled as she bared her fangs at him.

"I'd never give YOU that satisfaction, Kouga. All I said was that I wished the past could have changed that way. But no, I'll suffer for my childish stupidity." Ayame stated firmly as Kouga glared at her.

"Fine, if you want to be a stupid bitch, be my guest," he snarled. She looked at him, her eyes pained and heart broken. She couldn't take it anymore, pushing past him and running blindly through her tears as she ran for her den. Kouga watched her go, somehow feeling bad deep down for making her cry, but he shoved it back into his mind and walked back to the meeting since he had to pick up his betas.

~*~*~*~

The Elders had gotten up with their respective offspring and began to leave, since the meeting had now ended. However, Mikhail had lingered behind. The Black Elder stopped and looked back at him, quite puzzled with his son’s behavior. Mikhail was normally soft-spoken and well-mannered, not one to snap and snarl at others like he had today. It had been quite embarrassing, but at least Mikhail apologized for his actions, redeeming himself. Yet, it was still odd; it wasn’t like him to try and pick a fight with another ookami, especially one who was leader of his own tribe.

"Is something wrong, son?" he asked him, and Mikhail shook his head.

"No, Father. I just want to speak with the White Elder for a moment. I shall follow you home after," he answered.

"Well, alright. Just don't be too long," And with that said, the Black Elder left. Now, Mikhail was alone with the White Elder, or well almost alone. Kouga’s betas sat off in the back, muttering to each other, no doubt waiting for their alpha male to appear.

Feh, that Kouga.

Who did he think he was? What a rude ookami, and chasing after a human miko, so the rumors had been told, what was he thinking? Had he no pride for his tribe? For others? Mikhail mentally shook his head and took a deep breath before approaching the old Elder, just a tad bit nervous.

"Elder?" he asked, bowing in respect.

"Ah, Mikhail," the White Elder responded and returned with a nod, allowing Mikhail to stand. "What is it?"

Mikhail’s chestnut brown eyes danced about warily, quickly scanning the room around them and took another step closer to the old man. "There is something I would like to ask you," he whispered softly, as if afraid of someone overhearing.

The White Elder frowned slightly in confusion, now anxious as well. "What is it?"

Mikhail bit his bottom lip and leaned in closer. "Is... Is Ayame promised to anyone?"

"What?" the Elder asked, blinking in shock. Briefly, the old wolf thought back to when Ayame was just but a child and the promise Kouga had made her, but the brown prince had refused his granddaughter and dissolved the engagement.

"No, she’s not," he answered. Hope glimmered in Mikhail’s brown eyes as he smiled at the elder wolf.

"Honorable Elder, I ask your permission to court Ayame, to see if she will be willing to be my Mate?" he requested. The Elder didn’t have to think this over very long. A match between two tribes would prove to be helpful and who knows? Maybe this would help to spur peace throughout the rest of their tribes. Besides, Mikhail seemed to be a nice ookami; he may had been a tad bit childish this meeting, but at least he apologized. And what’s more, he wanted to ask for Ayame’s permission to be her mate, so he was considerate. It seemed like a good match. He smiled at the black wolf.

"You have my permission," The White Elder consented.

A wide grin spread across Mikhail’s face. "Thank you, sir!" he replied, gave a quick bow, and turned to leave.

As Kouga reached the door, heading into the meeting room, it opened itself, and the various Elders and their offspring left. He looked in and narrowed his blue eyes in anger as he saw Mikhail talking to the White Elder. He strained his ears, trying to hear them, but couldn't understand one damn word. He growled, the strange feeling of anger surging through him once more.

Why the hell is he talking to the Elder? he thought, standing there. Finally, when Mikhail stepped away, Kouga walked in. The two princes stared at each other for a moment, before Mikhail finally began to walk away. The Brown Prince went over to his betas, and looked over at the White Elder, fixing to walk to him. The White Elder smiled as he watched Mikhail head out of the room, before his gray eyes landed on Kouga. Curiously, he watched the expression playing across both of the male's faces before they finally moved away from each other. The Elder walked over, a soft frown upon his lips.

"Ah Kouga... I was hoping I'd be able to speak to you before you left again," His voice held a serious tone to it, after a few minutes, it softened until he spoke to him as a father would his son. "Kouga... was there something troubling you at the meeting? You left so suddenly... quite rudely as well. Did Ayame find you? She left right after you did."

"Ayame..." He paused, trying to figure out how to word it. To mention their argument of the fact that his granddaughter ran off in tears wouldn't be good. "Ayame went back to her room," he answered.

The elder ookami frowned slightly in confusion. "Off to her room? Without returning to ask me about the meeting? That's odd... well I'm sure she'll be fine. Was there something else you might have wanted?"

"Not really. I'm sure the tribes will come to their senses. The brown tribe doesn't have any problems," he answered. "As for Ayame, I think she just needs some time alone."

"Well....perhaps you're right..." The White Elder said, thinking to himself. "I wonder if she'll be well enough to speak to Mikhail. I know he wanted to talk to her before he left with his father to return to their territory. Fine boy, that Mikhail. He's got a lot of potential."

Kouga twitched at the mention of the other male. "Why would he go talk to her?" he growled.

"Why not? He asked to speak with her, so I didn't see any reason why he shouldn't. Why... is there a problem Kouga?" The Elder asked, doing a fairly good job of hiding the smile on his lips, but the amused curiosity in his eyes was still there.

Kouga almost glared at the Elder before he stopped himself. "No..." he growled. "I was just wondering since you're normally so protective of her of why you would let a pup visit her alone."

"Mikhail isn't a pup, Kouga," The Elder said. "And besides... it is between Ayame and Mikhail. If you have any questions you should ask Ayame. It's her business." Kouga couldn't help but roll his eyes.

"Yeah, well, I better be going. See ya," he replied, and turned to leave.

The White Elder smiled as he watched Kouga head out the door, smiling to himself softly.

"Ah.....young love."


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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