Clash of Alphas by sarhea

Skye's Prompts - Regrets

Prompt: Priestess Skye’s Prompts – Regrets (req’d 450, actual 810)

~ooO Regrets Ooo~

Ayame found herself back in Japan less than two years after her last visit, for similar reasons only this time she got the wedding invitation in time.

“I didn’t expect to see you here.”

She stiffened minutely and turned slowly to glare at the owner of the voice. “Hello Kouga,” she said thinly.

He looked down at her with an odd expression. “Hello Ayame.”

“Goodbye Kouga,” she added acidly before stalking off.

Ayame didn’t want to talk to her old love. She didn’t want to look at him. Every time she had she was engulfed in ancient bitter regrets and stupid childish wishes, that he would see her as something more than just an unwanted suitor. Well screw him! She was done hoping for anything from Kouga. She wasn’t going to waste anymore time on the bastard.

Angrily she wiped away her tears and pushed through the crowd, wanting to get away from her old love. Then she ran into stone and bounced back. Luckily someone grabbed her arms before she fell on her ass.

“Are you all right?” a warm concerned velvety voice asked from above her.

Ayame looked up into an attractive but bland face with brown hair and eyes that turned red at certain angles. He looked vaguely familiar.

“Yes, and you are?”

He laughed. “Forgive me! I’m Kazuma Soujiro.”

Green eyes widened in shocked recognition. “You’re one of Kagura’s children.”

He rubbed the back of his head. “More like great-grandson,” he confided.

Ayame waved her hand. “Doesn’t count among youkai. Everyone is the clan matriarch’s child unless they mate into a different clan.”

He smiled. “Then you are right. You are Ookamiko Ayame, correct? Of the White Wolf clan?”

Ayame nodded. “Yes.” She turned to the front of the Reception Hall. “You’re here for the groom?”

“Both actually,” he corrected.

Ayame was taken aback. “You know the bride?”

“Eri was one of my classmates.”

“How old are you?” Ayame bit her lip aghast at her rude question but Soujiro just laughed not taking offence.

“Old enough,” he teased. Then he took pity on her and explained. “I created a false background to go to school with her and Kagome-sama. To keep an eye on Kagome-sama.”

Ayame’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Don’t tell me. You’re in love with her too.”

Soujiro looked confused. “Who? Eri?”

“No! Kagome!”

“Actually no,” he corrected. “She’s someone from Kagura-baa-san’s stories, someone to be respected from a distance. I just wanted to make sure she was okay when she was younger. The best way was as a classmate.”

Ayame relaxed minutely. “Sorry. It’s just that every guy I run into is completely head-over-heels in love with her,” she confessed.

“With the idea, not with Kagome-sama,” Soujiro corrected gently. Then he smiled impishly. “She was a little sister that needed to be watched over until she met Sesshoumaru-sama again. And now she has.”

Ayame studied Soujiro more carefully. He was not a pure ookami-youkai but that meant little in modern times. Besides she was not looking for true love straight off the bat, just someone who’d see Ayame.

“So, Soujiro, are you seeing someone?” she asked in a studied off-hand manner.

“No, why? Are you asking me out on a date?” he asked in a careless manner though his eyes were oddly watchful.

“Just for coffee. To get to know each other,” she said quickly.

He smiled more openly down at her. “I’d like that.”

~o~

Several feet away a blue-eyed ookami-youkai watched with a pained expression but he refused to do what his instincts demanded, he would not pull Ayame away using an old, long-abandoned, claim. She deserved better after all he’d put her through.

Kouga thrust his hands in his pockets and watched the unexpected pair make their way to the reception line for Shippo and Kagome’s old friend. He already had plenty of regrets for things he’d done, and not done. He didn’t want any more regrets.

He did not know he was being watched by a daiyoukai and his miko-mate.

~o~

“I feel sorry for Kouga,” Kagome murmured.

“He brought it down upon him with his own choices, actions and inactions,” Sesshoumaru murmured as he stroked her hip. “He refused to listen, to bend and adapt as the world and beings changed around him. And he prefers to chase females that do not belong to him. First he chased after you, then the wind-witch, now the wolf-princess.” He bent and brushed a kiss against her temple. “Forget about the fool. You are not responsible for him.”

Kagome relaxed and turned towards her mate. “You’re right. Kouga is responsible for his own happiness. If he opens his eyes and heart he’ll find someone meant for him. Like InuYasha found Hisana.”

Then, when her mate kissed her, Kagome forgot all about Kouga. Sesshoumaru was the one that mattered, him and their pack.

~ooOoo~ooOoo~ooOoo~

The End.