“First off,” Kagome said, raising a terse finger. “I’m not a ‘homewrecker’. Second off, congratulations on your engagement, Ayame-san.”

The wolf demoness blinked, promptly deflating. “Huh?” Green eyes turned to Kouga in confusion. “Did she just congratulate us…?”

“Nothing to congratulate,” Kouga barked, crossing his arms stubbornly over his chest. “I never agreed to marry you.”

And I never agreed to marry you! Kagome thought with a glare.

“Yes, you did!” Ayame cried, her clawed foot creating a small crater in the ground where she brought it down. “You promised me, Kouga-kun. On the night of the–”

“‘Lunar rainbow’,” Kouga finished flatly. “Yeah, yeah, you’ve told me that a dozen times before, but I still don’t remember. Anyway, it doesn’t matter. Kagome-chan’s just being nice to you because you’re acting like a brat, but she’s the woman I’m gonna wed–not you.”

“Stop. Saying. That,” Kagome ground out, her hand itching dangerously close to her bow and quiver.

“See!” Ayame pointed toward her angrily. “She’s not interested in you, Kouga-kun. And even if she was, she’s just a human. You can’t take a human for a mate! So give it up, already!”

“Who says I can’t?” Kouga growled back, shoving his face into hers. “I don’t care that Kagome’s a human–I love her, and that’s all that matters to me.”

Kagome’s posture relaxed a fraction, Kouga’s words striking her as sweetly touching despite everything. Unconsciously, her eyes strayed to Sesshoumaru, who was currently staring up at the sky in barely concealed annoyance. Her lips sagged in a frown.

“The Elder will never allow it!” Ayame argued, knocking her forehead against Kouga’s. “He’s already consented to our union.”

“That’s because he’s your grandpa! He’ll go along with whatever you want. Can’t say I blame him–if I had to put up with your bullshit everyday, I’d be beaten down too!”

“…That’s not true,” Ayame whimpered, tears welling in her jade-colored eyes. “I would be good to you, Kouga-kun.”

Kouga drew back guiltily, scratching the back of his neck. Behind Ayame, Ginta and Hakkaku were blinking back tears as well.

“Well…” the wolf prince said awkwardly, his brow furrowing as he seemed to be wracking his brain for some sort of excuse. “Sorry to disappoint you, Ayame, but I made up my mind a long time ago–long before I met you. The woman I marry has to be able to detect Sacred Jewel shards, and Kagome-chan’s the only one who can.”

“What?!” the young miko and Ayame exclaimed together. How flimsy of an excuse is that?!

“Also,” Kouga said, a sly grin pulling at his lips as he tilted up his chin, “she and I have already slept together, so that makes her mine.”

Kagome’s jaw dropped–Ayame’s, Ginta’s, Hakkaku’s, and even Jakken’s jaws dropping open as well. And now Sesshoumaru was looking at her, all right–his golden gaze scorching into her like a laser beam of searing, unadulterated hostility.

Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi

Sorry for the shorter update, y’all! This seemed like a good place to stop…ALSO, the angsty porn muse bit me, and I finished up writing the next >2k-word chapter of The Pact (so hopefully you guys will forgive me lol). Happy Friday! 🙂