InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Just A Break ❯ Challenges ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: No I don't own them!!

 

 

 

 

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“I can't believe you did that!” Kagome fumed as she threw open the door of her home and sent it crashing into the wall.

 

“What?! You were taking forever! We never have any time alone, and you were taking away from it!” bit back an equally irritated Inuyasha. The hanyou stormed in front of his mate and turned to glare at her. One narrowed pair of eyes met another as the two mentally faced off.

 

“Still Inuyasha! You could have been a little more subtle! Now they're all going to know…what we were going to…” she trailed off, suddenly embarrassed.

 

“Not like they didn't know anyways!” he snapped, and then smirked arrogantly as an afterthought. The miko merely rolled her eyes at him, dismissing his attitude. Pushing him to the side, Kagome stalked past Inuyasha and headed to their room, determined to ignore the pompous hanyou.

 

 

The day had started out as any other day did. Kagome had awoken in Inuyasha's arms when the early morning sun shone through and hit their sleepy eyes. All was peaceful until two speeding little bundles pounced on the couple that still lay in bed. Inuyasha had lightly growled in playful annoyance, and Kagome just yawned a sleepy smile at her precious ones.

 

 

~*~*~*~

 

 

Years had passed since the end of their feudal era journey. The shards were collected and fused together, and they won the fight against Naraku. It had been the bloodiest battle any of them had seen, but everyone came out of it alive.

 

Kagome had feared for years that when the mission was completed, Inuyasha would follow Kikyou to hell, or tread on the lonely path with the undead miko and wonder the earth aimlessly. With both possible courses of action, Kagome had found herself shuddering in fear. No matter what Inuyasha did…it meant that she would be alone without her love, and without a purpose. Kagome had known she didn't truly belong to one era…but she found that with Inuyasha, anywhere she was felt like home.

 

 

She no longer belonged in the future, having been unable to finish high school. After two years of juggling school and the mission, Kagome finally gave up on the future and stayed in the past to complete the task at hand. The day she had come to tell the group that she was staying in the feudal era for the remainder of the mission, was one of the happiest days of Inuyasha's life. But naturally, the stubborn baka hanyou was incapable of showing his emotions without sticking his overly large foot in his mouth. He had responded with his infamous gruffness and insensitivity. True to his nature, the filter between his brain and his mouth had malfunctioned. Inuyasha had meant to say “I'm so happy you're staying!”, but somewhere in the transition it converted to “about time, bitch!” True bakayasha fashion.

 

 

After her decision, Kagome had remained in the past for weeks at a time, only going home to gather supplies and to let her family know that she was still indeed, alive. Now that she had disappeared from the future, she no longer belonged there. Kagome had known she only belonged in the past for the sake of the mission and was terrified to even fathom the idea of its completion. Selfish as it sounded, a small part of her had desperately wished it never had to end. If it never did, she would never have had to find a place for herself. She wasn't really part of the future, but not really part of the past either. At that point, Kagome had had no idea where she truly belonged. All she had known was where her heart resided, but whether that came into play was still to be determined.

 

 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~ flashback ~*~*~*~*~*~

 

 

 

After the final painful shrieks from Naraku and Inuyasha's battle cries, the mission had been successfully completed. It was at that time Kagome's fears reared their ugly and unwelcome head. Kikyou stood diagonally across from Inuyasha's right, as Kagome naturally stood diagonally across on his left. Time seemed to painfully creep to a stop and remain in a magnified space of a few vital seconds.

 

 

Inuyasha leaned heavily on his bloodied sword for support as he breathed harshly in an attempt to calm his ragged and beaten breath. Only the whispers of the wind sounded in the barren battle field. Every other being instinctively acknowledged the importance of the moment, and words refused to leave their mouths.

 

Sango and Miroku remained in their positions on the ground, their bodies angled to watch their companions. Kirara curled up on Sango's stomach in her smaller kitten form and Shippou remained transfixed on Miroku's shoulder. Waves of palpable tension flowed from the two powerful priestesses, and coursed through the dusty air.

 

 

Kagome knew this was the defining moment. Her heart pounded in exertion and in fearful anticipation. These next few seconds could either crush her fragile heart, or repair the broken splinters from past traumas. Whoever Inuyasha went to now, was the one his loyalties would lie with. Kagome cast a quick glance at Kikyou from the corner of her eyes and saw the miko staring intently at Inuyasha, almost beckoning him with an invisible force.

 

Kagome held her breath and stayed dead still, slowly glancing up at Inuyasha, who still seemed unaware to the fact that her and Kikyou stood before him.

 

 

Kagome knew, just knew, he was going to make his final choice at this exact moment. The heroic hanyou finally fazed out of the battle trance he always entered in a fight and his golden eyes caught the image of both mikos in front of him. Without a second thought, Inuyasha dropped his sword on the ground with a clattering bang and ran towards the woman that held his heart in a vice grip. The pure ferocity of his speed blurred his red-clad image.

 

 

 

Inuyasha caught Kagome in his tired arms and spun her in the air, laughing with relief and utter happiness. Kagome on her part, was momentarily stunned having been sure she was just looking at the oblivious Inuyasha. Regaining her senses, she looked down at her captor and saw the gleam in his eyes, the smile on his lips, and heard the laugh issuing from his chest. Unable to stop herself, Kagome's lips broke into a wide smile as her breath hitched in her throat, and happy crystalline tears began to form in the corners of her sparkling blue-grey eyes.

 

 

Inuyasha placed her back down after a few more spins and embraced her fiercely. He held the tiny woman before him in a death grip, and Kagome clung to him just as desperately. Her arms found their way around Inuyasha's waist and gripped the material between her fingers until her knuckles whitened.

 

The two broke apart a fraction of an inch and looked into each other's disbelieving eyes. Inuyasha gave Kagome a brilliantly happy smile before leaning down to close the remaining space between them. The kiss was gentle and sweet, conveying more emotions than words possibly could. Sango and Miroku watched with smiles tugging at their own lips. Inuyasha broke the soft kiss and looked into Kagome's eyes once again, a blush staining his cheeks.

 

“I… I should've asked…sorry. I didn't mean to just…I didn't know what…fuck!” Inuyasha cursed.

 

Kagome bit her bottom lip to contain the laugh that threatened to break through. Surprising herself with her courage, the miko leaned forward and answered him with a chaste kiss. Inuyasha broke out into a grin and lightly ran his tongue over his lips, which tingled in wonderful new found sensations. Somewhere in the background Miroku cheered, which was soon followed by a thump that sounded suspiciously like hiraikotsu. Reality suddenly hit like a bucket of ice cold water. Inuyasha and Kagome's fuzzy brains sobered, and quickly realized other people had a clear view of their affectionate actions.

 

The two, still holding onto each other, slowly turned around as one. Kagome's wide eyes caught Miroku's delirious smile and a blush quickly dusted her cheeks. The embarrassed flush Inuyasha sported flamed into a remarkable impression of a tomato. Stuttering with broken phrases the two broke apart, neither of them able to mutter anything comprehensible. They quickly glanced at each other and looked away, suddenly mortified at their very public display of affection.

 

Sango offered a small knowing smile, and…Kouga offered a scoff. The ever ignorant prince slowly made his way toward his woman, but froze in mid step when a cold female voice pierced his ears.

 

 

 

“Inuyasha…doing such things in public. How terribly degrading! Has it been hard for you? Trying to replace me with this…shadow? It can be changed… Come with me, we can spend eternity together. Just like it was meant to be. It's time our destinies were fulfilled.” she paused, and then continued with a softer, greedy tone, “Come to the afterlife with me, Inuyasha.”

 

 

The slight menace in her voice remained unmasked and her eyes gleamed evilly. Kikyou's obvious displeasure was written cross her face, as if painted on with black ink. How dare her Inuyasha run and embrace that want-to-be without so much as casting a courtesy glance her way? The image of the crushing hug flashed before her eyes repeatedly, causing her lips to curl in disgust. Biting back the bile in her throat, Kikyou prompted,

 

“Well?”

 

Inuyasha simply stared at his former love, an almost bewildered look etched on his sharp features. Forcing the dry words to leave his parched throat, the great inu-hanyou stuttered his response,

 

“B-but, you said I was free…”

 

“I don't know what you're talking about Inuyasha.” Kikyou stated unemotionally.

 

“Yes you do! We talked about it nearly a year ago…remember?” Inuyasha's heart thumped painfully against his ribs. “I told you I didn't want to go to hell…and you said it was okay. You said I was free…”

 

“I simply meant we wouldn't descend to the afterlife until Naraku was defeated.”

 

“You know that's not what I meant when I said it!”

 

“Did I?”

 

“Yes!”

 

“I don't recall…”

 

 

Her gaze flickered off to the side, staring passively at the incinerated backdrop of the battle. Flames still burned dully off in a distance, and trees were snapped haphazardly across the field. Chunks of acrid flesh twitched lifelessly on the ground, sluggishly oozing a thick, black substance. Long, sickly tentacles curled everywhere, detached from their master. Naraku's head shined oddly bright in the midst of remains. His wide, horrified eyes, and the angry scream stilled on his lips remained frozen on his features. Decapitated from his body, Naraku's head seeped an acidic, black blood from the grotesque crack along his skull. Kikyou lowered her gaze to the defeated hanyou's head, and smiled at his death.

 

 

Inuyasha took a step forward, away from Kagome. Kagome dug her toes into her shoes to stop herself from shooting forward and pulling him back to her. She gripped her fist tightly at her side, willing her body to stay still. Her fears rang inside her head, Kikyou's icy voice mentally taunting her and disabling her ability to function. A shiver crashed through her body violently as tears sprang to her eyes. Her darkest fear, carefully repressed and ignored for nearly three years, echoed loudly in her head. Amassed in the stoic voice of her silent rival, it mocked her, and used snide comments to dilute her confidence in Inuyasha. `What if he never comes back to my side?'

 

 

Inuyasha sensed the complete fear rolling off Kagome in waves. A heavy weight settled in his chest, crushing his windpipe and slowly suffocating him. With great effort, he forced one foot in front of the other until he was a mere two feet away from Kikyou. Inuyasha reached his hand forward and grasped her arm, staining the white cloth red with his own split blood. He shook her gently, though urgently, with poorly masked desperation.

 

 

“I know you remember…” he whispered.

 

“Forgive me Inuyasha. I really have no idea what you're talking about.” Kikyou glared at the `dirty' hand soiling her clothes.

 

“Yes you do! That night, back in winter…you summoned me from the village. You told me it had taken you days to track me down back at Kaede's. I came to you after I saw your Shinidamachu.” Inuyasha paused for a reaction. With none he continued, “We talked about Naraku…then I told you…well I blurted it out, whatever. Kikyou…I know you remember!” His eyes became frantic, and shone with an unspoken plea.

 

 

The priestess looked off to the side, turning her head away. Inuyasha grasped her other arm and spun her to him, forcing her to look into his eyes. Kikyou's cold stare chilled his blood, an involuntary tremble shaking his body. She looked up into his pained, golden orbs, and felt nothing. She wanted him to be hers. She wanted to be the one to heal him, to love him, and to own him. She was the one who was destined to spend her life with Inuyasha, not that girl they called her re-incarnation. Kikyou knew Inuyasha stupidly loved that shadow, and overtime, that wretched human girl erased her from Inuyasha's heart. She wasn't going to give him up so easily, Inuyasha belonged with her, to her.

 

 

“I remember nothing.” Kikyou said flatly.

 

“I told you!” he shook her, “You knew it wasn't easy! I didn't want to hurt you, but, it had to be done! I promised to still protect you and to avenge your death didn't I? And I did...Naraku is dead beside your feet! You understood, I know you did… You set me free of my other promise…”

 

“I did no such thing.”

 

“Yes you did! I know you weren't happy about it…but you said you wouldn't take me to the afterlife anymore. You said you'd let me live!”

 

“Until Naraku was defeated.” she corrected.

 

“You never said that!”

 

“It was implied.”

 

“Fuck…” he swore as he closed his eyes.

 

 

Inuyasha dropped his hold on Kikyou's arms and pressed his palms to his eyes. He took and step back before he locked eyes with her once more.

 

“You let me believe I was free.” he accused darkly.

 

“It's not my fault your ignorance has brought you to this point Inuyasha.”

 

“But why?”

 

“Why what?”

 

“Why do you still want to fucking drag me to hell?!” he exploded, suddenly more angry than frightened of the situation.

 

“We were meant to be together. I gave my life for you. Are you really going to forget my sacrifice and let me wander in the depths of hell alone? You owe me your life.”

 

“I don't want to go to hell…” he whispered more to himself than anyone, “…but I owe you my life…” the conclusion weighed heavily on his heart.

 

“If you do not want to go to hell, then we can live.” Kikyou offered.

 

Inuyasha paused for a second, silently repeating her words in his head.

 

“…What?” he asked carefully.

 

“Use the jewel to restore me, and we can be together, as man and woman.” she offered with a cold smile.

 

“But what about…” he couldn't truly find a reason to refute her suggestion. `But what about Kagome?'

 

 

Kagome stood rigidly still in her position, silent in her hate. She was tired of this, tired of all the drama in their lives. Why couldn't things go her way for once? The normally quiet and submissive priestess refused to stand on the sidelines of a conversation that had the power to alter the entire course of her life. Swallowing the bitter taste of anger, Kagome stepped forward and spoke out.

 

 

“No.” she stated simply. Inuyasha's head snapped to her direction, and Kikyou eyed her menacingly.

 

“No?” Kikyou asked, almost amused. “When did you have a say in this, little girl?”

 

“When it became my problem too. You're not the only one who cares for Inuyasha, Kikyou. His decision affects me as well. He's never said it…but in my heart I know he cares about me…” Kagome whispered, almost afraid of her own words.

 

“This is between Inuyasha and me. Remove yourself from this conversation.” Kikyou brushed the admission away.

 

 

Kagome turned away from Kikyou and ran towards Inuyasha. `I have to say this before I lose my nerve…' Inuyasha opened his arms for the girl, and hugged her close when their bodies touched. Kagome embraced him with all her remaining strength, gripping his clothes tightly until her knuckles whitened. Inuyasha shuddered, the warmth of her body a sharp contrast to the cold of Kikyou's arms. His arms locked around her waist, desperately pressing her into himself. Kikyou stood three feet away, the glare in her eyes nearly sharp enough to slice through flesh.

 

 

Kagome pulled back, and lifted her hand to cradle Inuyasha's cheek. Her thumb rubbed away the blood staining his skin, and soothed over a small gash that ran on his cheekbone. Swallowing again, Kagome gathered all of the courage she had and looked into his eyes.

 

“Inuyasha…” she started, “Don't go. Please don't go.” Kagome begged quietly.

 

“Kagome, I-” he whispered to her, conflicted by his sense of honour and his true feelings.

 

“We can live together. We can have a life together…me and you. I never said anything before because I knew it would only confuse you. You're a proud man Inuyasha, and it'll be the death of you. But live, please live. I need you to live… I know now is not the time to sit by and let that baka head of yours decide for you. So…” she trailed off, her voice growing stronger with her resolve, “I'm deciding for you. You're going to live. You're going to live a full, happy life. And if you want, it'll be with me…”

 

Inuyasha crushed Kagome in his hold, desperately clinging to the one who held all his hopes of life. Her words, blatant and bold, warmed his heart and filled him with a sense of longing deeper than ever before. He could have those things, everything she just said, with her. She made it sound possible, made it something more than a figment of his imagination. It was just within reach, a whisper away from his grasp. But he didn't hold the key to the future, he threw away all power of deciding his fate when he promised his life to Kikyou. Inuyasha breathed in the metal tinged scent of Kagome's hair and pressed his lips on her temple.

 

“I wish I could…” he muttered quietly in her ear.

 

Kagome tensed in his embrace before roughly pushing him away. Her hands remained firmly planted on his chest, balling the opening of his haori. The tears brimming in her eyelids tumbled down her cheeks, leaving a watery trail of despair. Inuyasha begged for forgiveness with his eyes, the gold shimmering against its liquid blue counterpart.

 

 

Inuyasha turned away from Kagome, his hands clamped on her arms. With his head lowered and silver bangs covering his eyes, he pleaded to Kikyou in a quiet, defeated voice.

 

“Please Kikyou…” he begged, “You set me free…”

 

Kikyou eyed him curiously, a strange pull tugging something within her. What she nearly mistaken for compassion proved to be her soul attempting to escape the confines of her body. Kagome stood rigid in Inuyasha's hold, so wholly and completely enraged at the situation. A flicker of white wisp floated out from Kikyou's chest and slowly glided over to Kagome. The fog slipped into Kagome, fueling her contempt.

 

“No.” Kagome whispered as a larger wisp escaped from Kikyou. “No.”

 

Kikyou reeled back in surprise and held her hand to her chest in a futile attempt to trap her soul. Her eyes snapped towards Kagome and pierced her gaze.

 

“What are you doing?!” she hissed, clutching her heart. Kagome looked blankly back at her, the emotions in her eyes not wavering.

 

“You're not taking Inuyasha away.” Kagome clenched her fist, “Not again.”

 

Another ghostly wisp shot out of Kikyou and into Kagome, the speed of the transitions increasing rapidly. Inuyasha watched transfixed, unable to do more than watch. Kikyou took in a labored breath and stepped back to distance herself from the girl recalling her soul.

 

“Inuyasha!” Kikyou cried out in frustration, “Stop her!”

 

The hanyou's eyes flickered towards Kagome, confusion lacing his features. Kagome continued her intense stare, focusing on Kikyou. Another wisp floated by and Inuyasha reached a hand out and drew his finger through it. The ghost glowed and curved towards him, startling Inuyasha out of his stupor. It winded its way towards Kagome before it touched Inuyasha, and entered her body.

 

“Inuyasha!” she cried out again, “Stop that little witch!”

 

“What?” he uttered dumbly.

 

“Stop her!”

 

Inuyasha turned towards Kagome once again and questioned her,

 

“Kagome?”

 

“I-I cant stop! I'm trying to, honestly!” Kagome snapped out of her angry daze and attempted to stop the calling of her soul.

 

Kikyou stumbled backwards and gripped her chest tightly. A wave of weakness wracked her body and left her fingers numb. She glared at Inuyasha, who watched her with sad eyes. Kikyou lifted her hand and pointed a shaky finger towards Kagome.

 

“You're not winning.” she hissed, “Inuyasha's mine and he'll return to me one day!”

 

With that, Kikyou forced her legs to move, swiftly moving away from Kagome in order to maintain what was left of her soul. She rigidly walked across the barren field, but paused right before she left the clearing. Kikyou spoke with an utmost confidence and whispered,

 

“You'll come to me one day, Inuyasha. Once you realize that girl of yours can never compare to a true woman like me, you'll come crawling back like the pathetic dog you are.”

 

 

As Kikyou left the battle grounds, her soul snatchers circled around her in an eerily seductive way. Inuyasha audibly sighed, incredibly relieved. The muscles in his body relaxed and rejoiced in comfort. Kagome loosened her tired arms and slowly looked up to Inuyasha, insecurity swimming in the blue-grey pools. Inuyasha grinned lightly and nuzzled her head with his cheek before placing a small kiss on her temple. Quietly, he whispered in her ear,

 

“It's going to be okay now…wench…” he added nostalgically.

 

 

Kagome smiled at him and ran her hand across his smooth, dirtied face, brushing his bangs aside. Pushing herself to the tips of her toes, Kagome placed a happy kiss just below his chin, unable to stretch beyond that. She felt Inuyasha suddenly stiffen at the gesture, and was momentarily puzzled before she was snatched away from a slightly lethargic Inuyasha by a fuming Kouga. Surprised, Kagome let out a small `eep' in response.

 

 

“Okay that's it! Enough is enough! Stop man-handling Kagome mutt face!” Kouga barked, ironically.

 

 

Inuyasha was momentarily stunned. Momentarily. Inuyasha issued a loud growl before he stomped over to Kagome and Kouga. Step by step, he snarled his way over to the cozy couple. Kouga's bright blue eyes widened in surprise as he backtracked a few steps when the hanyou's nose threatened to touch his. Still growling, Inuyasha lifted a fisted hand and silently threatened to beat the wolf prince into next week. The hanyou's demeanor was so powerfully intimidating that even the ever-arrogant wolf demon lost his balls for a few seconds.

 

 

“Let go of Kagome you skinny-ass wimpy wolf.” Inuyasha breathed, merely a few intense inches away. Unfortunately, Kouga chose this moment to regain his composure. Jutting his chin to the air defiantly, the prince tightened his hold on Kagome.

 

“Ha. That's a laugh! You can't tell me what to do! Kagome is my woman and since the mission is over, I'm taking her back, shit face!” he yelled.

 

 

Kagome was uncomfortably sandwiched between the two fuming hotheads. Kouga's arm circled around her waist, holding her snuggly to him. He held her close enough that the soft fur of his pelt tickled her bare thighs. She was slightly stunned from all the quick movements and remained obediently still. After a moment, Kagome regained her senses and realized just how tightly the two were squishing her together. Pink dusted her cheeks when she realized her breasts were firmly pressed against Inuyasha's heaving chest. Embarrassed, the miko spoke up.

 

“W-wait! Hold it you two! Relax! We just beat Naraku! This is a time to be celebrating! Not a time to fight over something so stupid!” she shakily spat out. Kagome awkwardly wiggled her way out of Kouga's embrace and pushed the two males apart with all her strength. Resuming her position between them, thankfully with more room in-between, Kagome pressed her hands on both their chests. Using all the remaining energy she had, the miko tried to push her two suitors away from one another.

 

“Come on you guys! This is ridiculous! And stupid!” she reasoned.

 

“Stupid? This isn't stupid! But mutt-face here IS stupid. He can't seem to realize that you're coming with me now.” Kouga retorted, glaring at Inuyasha. Kagome sighed loudly and opened her mouth to correct him when Inuyasha's impeccable timing beat her to it.

 

“Listen here you pathetic excuse for a youkai! Kagome isn't going anywhere with you! And I swear to god, if you lay a hand on her again I'll fucking rip your balls off and stuff them down your throat so fast you won't even know you lost your incredibly small balls until you're choking on them!” Inuyasha growled out with an amazing display of insults.

 

 

Inuyasha's outburst only served to add fuel to the already flaming fire. The two looked pissed. Heat radiated from their roaring blood and fanned out in waves of tension. This fight seemed much more serious than the others, as if this was the fight. Kagome got the sick feeling that if she didn't stop the verbal abuse before it escalated, someone would end up severely injured. Worried, Kagome tried once again,

 

“Look you two! Calm down! Why are you guys so worked up all of a sudden?! Can't we just talk this over like…” she stopped her useless rambling when she noticed that neither of them was paying her any attention. Not only that, but they seemed to be squishing her between them again. One hard testosterone pumped male chest pressed against her back, and another flush against her chest. Her body faced Inuyasha while her back was awkwardly pressed against Kouga. Kagome timidly glanced up and saw that she was beneath the heads of a growling hanyou, and a snarling demon.

 

 

The two bakas started bickering again and Kagome rolled her eyes in disbelief. Trying to think of a way to stop their fight, she pushed on Inuyasha's chest in a futile attempt to force him back. Racking through her brain she found absolutely nothing. Another couple minutes loudly echoed by and tested Kagome's thinning patience and understanding. Annoyed, the miko wrapped her arms around Inuyasha, pushing her face into his chest in frustration and gave out a pathetic whine she hoped the hanyou would notice. Neither of her suitors seemed to acknowledge her plea for freedom.

 

 

A growl of her own threatened to break free. The animalistic threats escalated in violence and Kagome caught part of a promise that sounded like `and shove it where the sun doesn't shine!' Trying to think of something to get their attention on her again so that she could stop this absurd argument, Kagome did the only thing she knew would get Inuyasha's attention…or hopefully still would. Pushing herself on the tips of her toes, the miko reached and placed a small, gentle kiss underneath Inuyasha's chin. The string of curses flowing from Inuyasha's mouth instantly stopped, and Kouga froze mid insult with his mouth still twisted in a vulgar manner. Slowly, Kouga backed away a short distance and looked down at Kagome's relieved eyes in horror.

 

“You…you…!! You didn't do that! Not again!” he sputtered out, staring intently at Kagome, almost whining with his pleading tone. Kagome smiled lightly, glad they finally stopped squabbling. She remained oblivious to the extremely goofy smile plastered across Inuyasha's face, and the horrified look that Kouga was wearing.

 

“Finally you two! God, I thought you'd never-” she managed to get out before being cut off by Kouga.

 

“She doesn't know what it means! It has no meaning! Let go of her!” the prince tried, grasping for any excuse possible.

 

“Keh.” Inuyasha snorted at Kouga's attempt, regaining some of his senses.

 

“What's up with the two of you?” Kagome asked, genuinely confused. The miko lightly released her tight grip on Inuyasha and turned to face the wolf demon. Inuyasha sluggishly plastered his heavy arms around Kagome's waist and locked his hands on her tummy.

 

“Y-you just submitted to him! You kissed him under the chin! …TWICE!” Kouga choked out, disbelievingly.

 

“I…what? What are you talking about Kouga? That was just the highest place I could reach! And I couldn't think of a way to stop the two of you…but Inuyasha seems to pay attention when I…kiss…him so I did…” Kagome trailed off, embarrassed. Inuyasha didn't really give a flying rat's ass as to what was going on. He just stood there smiling in a far off spacey, happy manner.

 

“You… See she doesn't know what it means! Let go of her!” Kouga tried again.

 

“Is that why you grabbed me before Kouga? Because I kissed him under the chin? It's not that big of a deal…” Kagome answered, peering at Kouga curiously. Kouga growled unpleasantly and glared at the clawed hands wrapped around his woman. Kagome followed his line of gaze and landed on the arms she had ignored. Suppressing a nervous giggle, Kagome slowly, but firmly, tried to pry the hands away with no avail.

 

 

 

Off to the side, Sango and Miroku continued watching intently, and Shippou smartly commented,

 

“What do you call this anyways? A love square? Since there's four of them? It's like one love spat after the next! Naraku was just killed! Shouldn't we be treating wounds and eating ninja food in celebration?” the small kit asked curiously, “But then I guess Kikyou tried to take Inuyasha... Now Kouga is trying to take Kagome. Talk about drama!” The tiny kid sighed, eliciting a giggle from Sango and an amused smile from Miroku. The little fox demon shook his head at the disputing couples.

 

 

 

For the next ten minutes, a strained Kagome tried to explain to Kouga that he didn't need her to find the shards anymore. And that she…wasn't going with him. After a strong fight from Kagome, and unbelievable repetition, Kouga finally sighed in defeat.

 

“…So you're really staying with dog turd?” he asked dejectedly. Kagome nodded lightly with a sympathetic smile gracing her features. “I guess I can't really do anything can I?...” Kouga continued, “But remember! If he ever does anything to you, just call for me and I'll be right there! I can beat his tiny ass down anytime!” he offered with a final smirk. Inuyasha's chest shook as he began growling again, clearly agitated.

 

“Thank you Kouga.” Kagome agreed jokingly.

 

 

The innocent miko walked over to Kouga and gave him a lingering hug. Inuyasha's annoyed growls increased in volume at the affectionate action. Kagome gave another squeeze before releasing the wolf demon from her embrace. Kouga gave her one last sad smile before he dashed off into the mountains. Kagome stood in the dust, waving him off as Inuyasha walked up to her.

 

“You know you don't have to be so nice to him. And what the hell was that about?! You hugged him! I-” Inuyasha stopped his unnecessary ranting when Kagome experimentally placed another small kiss under his chin.

 

“That shuts you up pretty good doesn't it?” she asked laughing. The same goofy smile appeared on his face as he just hugged Kagome to him and lazily nodded his head. “I can get you agree to almost anything right now can't I?” she asked, again he just lazily nodded his head. “Can I keep Kouga?” Inuyasha nodded his head, before snapping it up with a horrified look dancing in his molten eyes. He stared down at Kagome with an open mouth ready to fire when she laughed, kissed him again and stroked his cheek with her palm, “I'm just kidding! But this really does work really well… less painful than the rosary ne?” she innocently asked. Inuyasha growled back at her playfully in response.

 

 

“Okay that's enough you two!” Sango interrupted. Inuyasha and Kagome looked at each other for a moment, and then looked at their companions. They realized for a second time that day that they were, sadly, not alone. The two blushed considerably and sprang three feet apart from each other. Inuyasha turned his head to the side, refusing to make any eye contact. Miroku's quiet sniggers reached Inuyasha's ears and the blush he sported crawled down his neck.

 

“All in a days work! Our arch enemy Naraku has been defeated, Kikyou has been dealt with for the time being, Kouga finally accepts that Kagome is not leaving with him, and I daresay Kagome has learned a new and useful trick.” Miroku chimed in, grinning brightly. “And…one more thing.” he trailed off. Miroku's delighted hand inched towards Sango, and a moment later the sound of a slap echoed in the barren battlefield.

 

“Hentai! Give it a rest will you!” Sango yelled, plainly annoyed.

 

“It's not my fault! My hand has a will of its own, it's cursed!” Miroku begged in a prophetic voice, sighing dramatically at the end of his spiel.

 

“You're curse is gone you moron!” Sango retorted, rolling her eyes. Miroku's playful demeanor vanished as he quickly realized the truth of the situation. He took off his protective beads and took a painfully relieved look at his now fully formed right palm. His violet eyes widened with glee and he practically jumped Sango as he gave her a full kiss on the lips. Sango blushed heavily as Miroku laughed happily. The cheerful wiggle of his hips soon blasted into a full on happy dance as he pranced around, swinging a dismayed Sango.

 

 

“Yeah and they give us a hard time about public displays of affection...” Inuyasha mumbled. Kagome smiled beside him and turned to face her wonderful hanyou.

 

“Miroku's right though.” She said, placing a small hand on his chest.

 

“About what?” Inuyasha asked, lowering his head expectantly.

 

“I did learn something useful today.” Kagome teased, lifting her lips to ghost Inuyasha's.

 

“What?” he breathed quietly.

 

“I can make you do anything I want, and all I have to do is kiss you.” she hushed, with a bright gleam in her eyes.

 

“Keh! Why don't you think I kissed you before now? I couldn't bend to your will during the mission!” realizing what he just admitted, Inuyasha tried uselessly to redeem himself, “…I mean! Not that I'm going to now! You know! I-” Inuyasha ranted.

 

“Shut up will you?” Kagome teased and pulled him down for a tender kiss.

 

 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~ end flashback ~*~*~*~*~*~

 

 

 

Smiling, Kagome looked over to her annoyed mate, whose back was rigidly straight in determination. Comforted by the images that danced behind her eyelids, the miko silently thanked whatever force reminded her of just why she loved her stubborn, baka hanyou so much.

 

 

 

 

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R/R =) Reviews are greatly appreciated, *hint hint* lol.

 

This was originally a one-shot…but I decided that I'm going to add chapters on and make it into a story! Thanks for the positive feedback so far!! You guys are the best =)

 

Update: I keep re-reading this, and I can't get it to my liking! Any suggestions??