InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The World Through His Eyes ❯ Thinking Over ( Chapter 13 )

Disclaimer: I have a stomach virus right now, so I guess you could say that I “own” that. But that's all I have…and now that I think about it, I'm willing to give it away, so if anyone wants to trade the rights to Inuyasha for these yucky germs I'm game (^_*)…for a look at past, and more informing disclaimers look at chapters 1-12…

 

 

AN: I think Sessho's just a little bit ooc in this first part, but I couldn't resist. Forgive me.

 

 

 

 

 

::RECAP::

“Hey!”

…and Inuyasha's turn to remind her to keep her temper. Sesshomaru waited as patiently as he could for them to stop fighting again. Finally he just had to interrupt.

“It is this Sesshomaru's opinion that even though your mate is a human, and a miko on top of that, she seems strong enough to honor our clan. Next time, Inuyasha, try to at least attempt to honor the inu-youkai traditions. I know you're only a hanyou, but even you can do something right once in life. I do not want to have to have this journey again when your first pup is born. Do you understand?” He sent his half-brother one last scathing glare before turning around to leave. Rin had been in Jaken's care too long as it was. Sesshomaru wondered what peril he's need to save her from this time.

“What do ya' mean, first pup?” Inuyasha growled at his departing back. Sesshomaru looked back at him and raised an eye brow.

“Do not expect me to tell you what happens when a male and female come together Inuyasha. I refuse.”

“What…no! You damn well know that's NOTwhat I meant!”

“Ask your worthless little servant if you truly have no clue. I have no time to enlighten you at this moment. I have to attend to my responsibilities in the Western Lands.” With those words he started walking away again.

“Oi, aren't you going to at least fight with me?” Inuyasha called, confused a bit by his brother's strange attitude.

“Our only fights were over the sword our father left you and the weakness in your blood. Since I no longer need your sword, and I can do nothing about the blood in your veins, this Sesshomaru doesn't see the need to fight you any more. I tire of all our squabbles, one of us has to be the mature son and let the past go. Since I doubt that it will be you…” He left the rest of the sentence hanging and turned to go again for the third time just as a green toad youkai burst onto the scene.

“Sesshomaru-sama! I can't find Rin!”

 

 

::END RECAP::

 

 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Chapter 13: Thinking Over

 

There are two roads to walk down and one road to choose

---Thinking Over, Dana Glover

 

 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

 

 

What had once been the perfect fairy tale day was now anything but. The sky was still clear, the air was still fresh, and the birds were still singing, but the atmosphere on the knoll top where they all stood had long ago turned sour. Although Kagome couldn't be sure, because surly it was impossible for such a thing to happen, she thought she saw the ever-stoic Sesshomaru's left eyebrow give a funny twitch at the little toad youkai's words. She blinked and whatever emotion she'd thought she saw disappeared from his face.

 

“This Sesshomaru grows tired of your incompetence Jaken.” The groveling green servant was pelted in the head with a rock that seemingly came out of no where. Kagome inched closer Inuyasha, not feeling quite safe being between the youkai lord and his servant. Inuyasha didn't acknowledge her presence by looking at her, but he did reach over and pull her closer to his side.

 

“Sesshomaru-sama! I am very sorry! But that little human refuses to listen to a word I say! She plays vile tricks on your servant when you're not around to reprimand her for her foolishness!” Inuyasha looked at Kagome to see if she understood what was going on, but she could only shrug.

 

`Do you remember the little human girl that's been following Sesshomaru around for the last few years? I think her name is Rin…Anyway, I think she's gone missing and your brother doesn't seem very happy about it.' Kagome was a bit bothered by how naturally she used Inuyasha's power to hear her thoughts to communicate with the hanyou. She was supposed to be finding a way to lock him out of her mind, not inviting him to make himself at home reading her thoughts. Inuyasha tightened his grip on her waist and growled low enough that only she could hear him. She looked up at him and his eyes told her he'd heard her most resent thoughts and wasn't happy about her plan to lock him out.

 

“It's my mind, I don't have to let you in…erg…Damn I did it again.' Inuyasha could barely hold back the smirk that threatened to take over his mouth. Kagome choose to ignore his twitching mouth, but she poked him in his side anyway, before turning her attention back to the two youkai in front of them.

 

“Jaken go find Ah and Un and stay with them. I will be there shortly.” Sesshomaru quailed the desire to hit his servant with more rocks or better yet to see just how many times Tenseiga would bring someone back from the dead after they'd been cut into tiny pieces. Now was not the time to test that out on the quivering amphibious youkai in front of him, he had already lost enough face in front of his half-brother for one day.

 

“Oi, Sesshomaru! What's all this about?” Inuyasha demanded as his brother started off yet again, this time in the opposite direction. He couldn't believe that his brother would be this concerned over a human child. There had to be a more logical explanation to all this.

 

“This is none of your concern, little brother. Take your woman and go back to your village, all you need concern yourself with is there.” Sesshomaru dismissed Inuyasha just like a king would a dirty beggar. Inuyasha would be angered by this, Sesshomaru knew, but he had more pressing matters to tend to. Let his miko woman cool his temper down if needs be.

 

“Why you son of a bitc—“

 

“Inuyasha! Kagome-chan! Has Shippou-chan been this way?” Sango called as she broke through the clearing a little as the right of where Jaken had burst out not twenty minutes ago. Kagome felt worry tug at her heart. She started to imagine all the horrible things that could happen to a child lost in the woods, totally forgetting the fact that Shippou's youkai senses made it almost impossible for him to get truly lost. Inuyasha let go of her waist to take hold of her hand. His thumb going in little soothing circles across the back of her palm, as he tried to dispel her fear for her adopted son's safety.

 

“We haven't seen the brat all day, but I wouldn't worry too much about him he's a youkai after all.” Kagome relaxed a little bit at his words, but she was still worried. Shippou might be youkai, but that didn't change the fact that he was still young and didn't know everything about defending himself.

 

“I saw him last about an hour and a half ago, right before I went to find Sango so that we could partake in a late lunch. On the way back from the forest we looked for him, but he wasn't in the village. We got worried when some villagers reporting seeing a youkai that fit Sesshomaru's description and decided to come find you two,” Miroku indicated the before mentioned inu-youkai with a small wave of his monk's staff, “but I see we are a little late with that news.”

 

“That's the understatement of the century.” Inuyasha mumbled under his breath, and Kagome would have poked him for it, but his grip on her hand kept her from it.

 

“Sesshomaru didn't come to fight, he came to see Inuyasha about…things…”She racked her brain trying to remember if they'd mentioned his impending visit to their companions. Apparently not, by the incredulous looks she was getting at suggesting that Sesshomaru had come to talk to his younger half brother. “But he has lost on of his traveling companions, a young girl by the name of Rin, while you were searching for Shippou did you happen to see her?”

 

Miroku and Sango thought about it for a moment, but had to shake their heads. Neither of them had seen a strange girl wandering around in the village while hunting Shippou.

 

Sesshomaru stood still, listening to his half-brother's companions as they conferred back and forth. When he had learned nothing useful from their conversation save that Rin wasn't in the human village, he decided it was time to find the little girl and start back toward his kingdom. With the village out of the equation that left the forest for her to be hiding in. Rin wasn't as stupid as most humans tended to be, and she knew that Jaken's senses were nonexistent at best when tromping through dense undergrowth. Sesshomaru would have felt pride in her ability to outsmart Jaken yet again…if he didn't find it so annoying.

 

“Hey, where are you going?” Inuyasha yelled again when Sesshomaru began to walk off for what had to have been the fifth time.

 

“This Sesshomaru is going back to the Western Lands if you must know hanyou.” His patients with Inuyasha's rudeness were running thin.

 

“Aren't you going to look for that little girl?”

 

`Yes, but I'd never admit it to you.' He never stopped walking toward the tree-line at the base of the hill they'd all been congregated on.

 

“Are you going to answer me? Hey you can't just leave her here! She's your responsibility!” In a movement too fast for any of them to see, except probably Inuyasha, Sesshomaru stood towering over Inuyasha, growling deep in his throat at the insolent little hanyou who dared try and speak to him about responsibility.

 

“My patients with you has run out. What right do you have to speak of responsibility when you have yet to fulfill your duty to that human wench that cowers at your side? What do you know of it when you can't even live up to your birthright as a prince of the realm?” Sesshomaru cracked his knuckles so that the deadly poison his claws possessed would start to flow out from beneath his nails. Inuyasha was surprised that his taunts had affected his stoic older brother this much. He cursed himself for not keeping his mouth shut. Sesshomaru was the most dangerous when he was like this and with Kagome standing so close to him, Inuyasha was wary of doing anything else to upset the inu-youkai lord until he could somehow get her out of striking range.

 

“Sesshomaru I don't know what your problem is, but I'd back off.” Inuyasha placed his hand of Tetsusaiga's hilt, but did not draw the sword. Sesshomaru's only response was to start to circle around Inuyasha slowly. Kagome saw Miroku and Sango crouch down in their fighting stances and she began to wish she'd brought her bow and arrows. All of them were so intent on what was going on with the two brothers that they never noticed the two small children who wandered up clutching bags of candy pilfered from Kagome's bag in their hands. Shippou looked over at Rin with skeptical eyes when he saw that Inuyasha and Sesshomaru were about to fight.

 

“I don't know Sesshomaru might be the tallest youkai you know but I'm seen bigger, plus he's only got one arm.” While walking around to find the grown-ups they'd been arguing about which youkai would win in a fight, Sesshomaru or Inuyasha.

 

“My master can beat up anyone `cause he's the greatest youkai in the world!” Rin declared in proud defiance of Shippou's words as she fed Mame-chan a bite of her candy bar. The little squirrel happily took the offered snack and munched on it as the two kept right on fighting.

 

“Whatever, Inuyasha killed a dragon and this mouth-youkai thing, and both of the Thunder Brothers, and lots of other nasty things! I bet Sesshomaru couldn't do all of that!” Shippou glanced over at the brothers to make sure Inuyasha hadn't heard him. Bragging about Inuyasha to this pesky girl was one thing, letting Inuyasha hear him was another.

 

“Yes he could! You take that back!” Rin dropped her candy and stood glaring at Shippou with her hands on her hips. Mame-chan hopped to the ground and started dragging the forgotten chocolate bar away so that he could eat it before the girl realized it was gone. Rin's yell reached the ears of the adults and even the brothers stopped circling each other long enough to look over at the children. Sesshomaru stopped the flow of the corrosive poison that dripped from his hand the moment he say Rin. He would not kill his brother in front of the girl.

 

“I can't take back the truth! He looks like a girl too, with that fluffy thing he wears around his neck!” Inuyasha cut his eyes over at Sesshomaru to see what his response would be to Shippou's insult and was surprised to see his eyebrow twitch.

 

“That's his tail you dimwit!” Kagome made a move to stop the two children from fighting but Inuyasha pulled her back. He wanted to see if this would lead to Shippou getting his butt kicked by a human girl or not.

 

“Who are you calling a dimwit, stupid?!?” Shippou tossed aside his bag of potato chips not caring about the snack anymore. The squirrel spied the brightly colored bag and left off eating Rin's candy bar just long enough to dash after the chips.

 

“At least I'm smart enough to know that a half-demon can't hurt a full demon!” Rin pointed her nose up in the air and did her best impression of Sesshomaru looking down on a lowly dung beetle. Inuyasha's smirk changed to a frown while out of the corner of his eye he could see that Sesshomaru now had a small upturn at the side of his mouth. Stupid bastard though that was funny did he?

 

“Erg! I don't care if you're a girl; I'm going to get you for that!” Before Shippou could pounce on the human child a hand appeared out of no where and caught the back of his shirt. He tried in vain to struggle out of the hold but couldn't seem to get loose. Rin didn't seem to mind that her opponent couldn't get down; in fact she liked it better that way. She reached up ready to pinch Shippou in any place she could when she too was hoisted into the air. It was only then that she noticed that her beloved Sesshomaru-sama was holding up the wiggling Shippou by his collar.

 

“Sesshomaru-sama!” She smiled brightly at him and gave a little wave forgetting that she was mad at Shippou entirely. “I made a new friend today and he has a pet squirrel that I helped name while we were hiding from Jaken. Can I have a pet squirrel too? I promise I'll take care of her, Jaken won't have to remind me to feed it, I promise! Please, oh please, please, please can I have one?” Sesshomaru looked at her strangely, wondering why the girl seemed so much more…energetic…than normal.

 

“You need to teach your pup more manners, although I suppose he can't help his rudeness…” Sesshomaru handed the still struggling kitsune over to Inuyasha and reached out to take Rin from him.

 

“Yeah, well your little girl was about to pinch him while he was defenseless, maybe you should teach her a thing or two about honor.” Inuyasha pointed out as he sat Shippou up on his shoulder. Sesshomaru didn't respond, he just looked down at his human ward to see if she was hurt in any way but besides a few tears in her kimono she was fine.

 

“Um, Sesshomaru, I think Shippou gave Rin some of the food from my world that's very high in sugar. She might be a bit hyper for a few hours before it wears off.” Kagome held up a candy wrapper she'd wrestled away from the squirrel for the youkai lord to see. He looked down at Rin how could barely contain herself as she sat perched in his arm.

 

“So can I have a pet? Maybe I can have a youkai squirrel, cause that would make my pet better than Shippou's!”

 

Oh Kami-sama, he really hated his brother.

 

 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

 

 

Kagome sighed as a pleasant breeze flowed over her skin. She sat quietly and watched some birds feed their young in a nest high above in the braches of the God Tree. If felt so peaceful here in this spot where she'd first spotted Inuyasha, as if everything was finally returning to normal.

 

`Well, as normal as life here in the past has been this last month.' Sesshomaru's visit had been strangest thing Kagome had experienced in resent memory. He'd left as abruptly as he'd come, carrying a wiggling child in one arm, and mumbling something about haflings under his breath. Even though the emotions he'd shown in front of them had been slight, if was a phenomenal amount for the youkai Lord. Kagome wondered if Sesshomaru's more obvious emotional state was due to the little girl he kept with him. Children had a way of softening the heart.

 

Kagome took her eyes off the birds and looked off toward the village. She was alone for the first time in weeks and a part of her was glad for the time to herself, but another part of her was feeling lonely. Everybody was doing something productive or helpful, and all she was doing was sitting here watching birds.

 

Sango was assisting Kaede in the birth of the newest member of the village. And Inuyasha, Shippou and Miroku were out doing things like gathering firewood and catching fish for their dinner. Kagome had really wanted to help out with the birthing herself, but she didn't want to force Inuyasha into something like that. Witnessing all the pain and anguish it took to bring a child into the world would surely traumatize him into never wanting children on his own. So instead of forcing him into that, she'd forced into some male bonding time with Miroku and Shippou. At first he'd argued, saying he couldn't leave herside because of the spell, but she'd convinced him that the God Tree was centrally located enough in the forest that he'd never really be out of her range, and other than a tug now and then she was right.

 

Kagome lay on her back in the grass so that she could stare up at the sky. Dusk was coming on, painting the sky in a myriad of glorious colors, but she really couldn't enjoy them. Kagome's thoughts turned from the sky to other things as she laid there. Well really she was only thinking of one other thing…

 

The Kiss. The kiss that could have been sooo much more. The kiss that had turned all her theories about Inuyasha and her feelings for him upside down.

 

Yeah, that kiss.

 

“Your mine.” His words from the day before played in her head as she touched her lips with an unsteady hand. “Please trust me… I need you.” Maybe it was time that she did that. She'd loved Inuyasha for years, but when it came right down to it; did she trust him with her feelings? She understood that that's what he was asking for. Understood that he was trying to prove that he just didn't want her because of that stupid, wonderful spell.

But she wasn't sure she could trust him like that.

 

People said that the hardest thing to do was to love someone who didn't love you back, and up until recently Kagome would have agreed whole heartedly to that statement.

 

But now she wasn't so sure.

 

It wasn't as hard as it seemed to have a one-sided love because one-sided loves could be safe things. As long as you knew that the other person only saw you as a friend you didn't have to act on your feelings. You never had to go out on a limb. You didn't have to trust the other person to take care of your heart…

 

But if that person suddenly decides to return your feelings, then what? How could you trust that person with your heart when you've spent years trying to keep it safe from him? And did that kiss even mean that Inuyasha was ready to return her feelings? When he said he needed her, did he mean her friendship or something more? There were other questions hovering like vultures in the back of her mind, like what would happen to them after the quest for the shikon shards was over? If the well locked her out what would happen to Inuyasha?

 

`Everything's just moving so fast and it's just now sinking in that I'm married to Inuyasha. No, it's much more than that, I'm tied to him forever now. This is all so much deeper than just wanting him to pay attention to me, or snuggling in his lap. This is forever…I never even imagined he'd think of me as more than just a friend. I love Inuyasha, but can I trust him with forever? Oh Kami-sama I'm so close to being overwhelmed by all of this. Something inside of me just won't let it go though. I can't feel good about this, not when Kikyou…

 

You're only using her as an excuse.

 

No, I'm not!

 

Before you didn't even want to tell Inuyasha, you just wanted her to fade away. If she fades away he can be free to love me: that's what you thought.

 

I know but—

 

Kikyou's time has passed. You are only using her as an excuse to prop up your own insecurities. It comes down to this: Can you trust your hanyou with your heart? If you love him like you say you do then it shouldn't be such a hard answer to find within yourself…'

 

Night had fallen around Kagome without her notice. She realized that it was way passed the time for Inuyasha for have come for her. Kagome shifted, ready to get up and go look for him when she felt a hand close upon her arm. She jerked away; startled by the suddenness of the touch before realizing that it was only Inuyasha.

 

“Why'd you have to scare me like that? I should say the `s' word…” She glared at him, trying to cover her embarrassment with anger. Just how long had he been there anyway?

 

“Keh, I've been here since right after the sun went down. I made enough noise for you to hear me…but you were thinking to…hard.” The way he said the word `hard' gave Kagome pause. It was like he was unsure, hesitating to mention what she'd been doing for some odd reason…

 

`Oh shit…I forgot…!' If there had ever been a time when Kagome had wanted to be swallowed whole by the earth it was now. She buried her face into her upraised knees and groaned.

 

`How could I have forgotten that Inuyasha can hear my thoughts? What am I going to do?'

 

“You think too much. Why can't you just accept that what's happened has happened? I'm not going to hurt you.” His words were muffled and Kagome moved her head just enough so that she could see that he was mimicking her position, with his arms wrapped tightly around his knees and his head resting lightly on them.

 

“It's not that I don't trust you Inuyasha. Please don't think that. You've protected me for a long time and I don't doubt you at all…It's just…hard…for me to just accept all of this you know? Even after this stupid spell went wacky, in the back of my mind I still thought it would be you and Kikyou together in the end. Now...” She shrugged but didn't finish. Some how saying `you're stuck with me for eternity' didn't seem appropriate.

 

“I know it's hard for you because as a human you don't have instincts that kick in like I do. To tell you the truth, part of me is just as scared and confused as you are. But another part of me…is content…like this is the way things are supposed to be.” He kept his face hidden from her as he said this and Kagome was a little glad. She didn't want him to see the shocked look of her face when he said those things to her. Inuyasha…was content?

 

`But up until a month ago, you loved her more than life itself. How can you be content with me, when I'm not her?' She couldn't force the question out of her tight throat but she needed him to answer it anyway. Inuyasha's shoulders stiffened and he raised his head to look at her. Kagome gasped at the pain she saw there, the confusion that swirled in his amber depths. He wasn't as okay as he said he was, and her questions had unmasked him.

 

“I didn't love her more than life, but maybe I should have. That's the kind of love she deserved.” Inuyasha's voice was rough with regret and Kagome felt a stab of guilt in her heart for forcing the issue. Why had she insisted on being so self-centered? Of course Inuyasha was in pain over this! He was losing so much more than she was. His freedom, his true love…

 

“Don't try to make me into a saint Kagome. I'm not losing anything I wouldn't willingly give up if asked.” He held her eyes for a moment then buried his head back into his bent knees. Kagome felt her heart lurch. Was he saying what she thought he was saying? She waited for him to continue, to say something else that might clue her into what he was thinking.

 

Inuyasha drew in an unsteady breath before looking back up, he could see the questions swirling in her eyes, could feel them dancing wildly in her head, but he wasn't ready to dive deeper into that subject.

 

“Life isn't fair,” He continued on with the previous thread and tried to ignore the confusion that still fluttered behind her eyes, “and Kikyou got a raw deal because of me, but I think as long as she is resting in…peace…I will be happy.” Inuyasha was taking all the blame for the disastrous ending of his first relationship with her incarnation again and it made Kagome's heart hurt.

 

`Why do you insist on always blaming yourself? Can't you see that it was Naraku's doing, all of it!' Kagome didn't even try to put her thoughts into words anymore. Inuyasha would understand her intent more this way, she reasoned, with her thoughts and emotions combining to give him a truer picture of how she felt.

 

“But I didn't fucking trust her! I should have trusted her!” He was getting angry now, at himself for the past, and at Kagome for…for just being Kagome.

 

“She was human and a miko, Inuyasha. Two things that you'd learned to fear and hate, not to mention that you wanted the shikon! Both of you were sworn enemies and no matter what you felt for each other trust is a hard thing to build. You were both like skittish animals waiting for the opportunity to run a---“

 

“But I trusted you!” He interrupted her flow of words with a hoarse yell. His eyes met hers and all the self-loathing reflected in their tawny depths almost made her choke. He swore again and turned away from her with jerky movements. Kagome was still too shocked to move.

 

Inuyasha trusted her?

 

Before even consciously making the decision she was moving over toward him. Kagome wrapped her arms around his shoulders and rested her forehead atop his bent head. He stiffened but she just tightened her grip.

 

“I'm sorry.” She whispered into his ear, as she brought on hand up to smooth through his hair, copying the move he always used to calm her down. She wasn't sure what she was apologizing for, but at the moment it didn't matter. He was in pain and she was there to offer comfort. In her mind she found the piece of her soul that was a mesh of both of them and focused on drawing away his negative energy.

 

Inuyasha's shoulders were the first thing to relax, then the rest of him followed. He allowed Kagome to comfort him, allowed her to pull the proverbial plug on all the guilt and self-hate he was feeling, and even turned so he could wrap his own arms around her waist. It was ironic it really, she was the reason for the guilt, but her touch washed it all away.

 

Kagome slowly ran her fingers throw his long hair and listened as his breathing evened out. Behind them the moon started her nightly assent into the sky to commune with the stars, and Kagome shifted a fraction so that she could watch as the first moonbeam touched Inuyasha's face. It was ethereal, painting his features in an unearthly glow that made him appears supernatural. She was never so aware in her life that he wasn't all human, but he'd never looked so beautiful to her than at this moment.

 

Inuyasha opened his eyes straight into hers and gave a little smirk at the expression on her face. The atmosphere was changing again between them as they shrugged off the last remnants of revelation. They were both tired, mentally and physically, drooping suddenly from the stress all that had happened today.

 

“Inuyasha—“

 

“Shh.” He turned slightly so that he could pull her off her knees beside him and into his lap. Kagome didn't even put up a token struggle. This was where she felt the most at home anyway. Everything in her soul told her that she belonged with this man for better or for worse, and at the moment she had no intentions of arguing.

 

“The others will come looking for us soon, you know.” She pointed out as she wearily pressed her head against his shoulder.

 

“Keh, shows how much you know. I told them we were going down the well for the night.” One of his clawed hands was absently drawing soothing circles down her back, the motion lulling both of them into a sleepy half-daze.

 

“And what about my bag?” She mumbled, playing with the ends of his hair, braiding a few of the strands together, only to stake them out and start over again.

 

“You don't need it.” He rested his forehead against the side of her face and contemplated never moving. If they stayed right here the whole world would cease to exist, there would be no sorted pasts to deal with, no jewel shards to hunt, and no psycho half-demons bent of world domination to kill, because at this moment, here in the place where they first met, only Kagome could exist.

 

“I need my school books.” She pointed out dryly. Inuyasha gave a short muffled growl in disagreement.

 

“We're only going to be there long enough for you to go to the doctor.” He pulled her closer and shifted her around so that she wouldn't fall out of his lap when he stood up. He'd made his decision, tonight they would stay on this side of the well, but they weren't going back to the village.

 

“But I need to go to school; I've already miss—hey! Where are we going?” Kagome felt the rush of air as Inuyasha jumped up into the branches of the God Tree. She looked down to find the ground much too far away for her taste. That could he be thinking?!?

 

“I'm thinking that I'm tired, but I'll be damned if I sleep unprotected on the ground.” He settled on a wide limb and twisted her around so that her back was pressed to his chest. Inuyasha locked his arms around her frame so she wouldn't fall out of his lap during the night and closed his eyes. Sleep was blissfully close at hand, but apparently Kagome had other plans. As soon as she figured out that he meant for them to sleep in the tree she started to struggle.

 

“Why don't we just go back to the village? I can sleep in my nice warm sleeping bag and if you really want to sleep outdoors you can campout in the tree in Kaede's yard. Inuyasha cracked one golden eye open and looked down at her. Why did she have to insist on arguing over everything?

 

“No.” He dropped his head down on to her shoulder and breathed in the sent of her hair. If she'd only stop wiggling he could get some rest…

 

Kagome went still when she felt him nuzzle her neck and then she relaxed. She felt him smirk against her skin but she'd lost her will to fight him anymore tonight.

 

“Just so you know I'm not happy about sleeping in this tree.” She told him as her eyes began to droop closed. The only response she got was the slight tightening of his arms around her waste and the sound of his even breathing.

 

 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

 

 

All was quiet in the little hut that Kaede owned. The old miko was gone, having decided to spend the night with the new parents to help settle them in with their bundle of screaming joy. Shippou was sleeping in the corner under a pile of blankets he'd pilfered from the room Kagome had used to recover in recently. No doubt her lingering smell on the covers was the reason he'd buried himself so tightly inside the nest he'd made for himself. Yes every thing was peaceful and quiet as it should be…

 

“Touch my backside Houshi-sama, and you will have to go on a special quest to find all your missing parts.” Sango calmly stated as she poured a cup of Kaede's strong herbal tea for herself. The monk, with his wandering hands pressed firmly to his sides, plopped down beside her with his pseudo-pious look plastered firmly on his face.

 

“You must have been mistaken---“

 

“We both know I wasn't.”

 

“---my hands were nowhere near your backside, as tempting as it is, Sango-sama. I was simply admiring the view…” His eyes wandered down from her face, but the sound of her throat clearing brought his bluish-purple gaze back up to safer ground, “…of the stars.”

 

Sango sighed, knowing that there was no winning with him, and instead offered him a cup of tea. He accepted it with a smile and turned to stare into the dying embers of the fire. Sango faced the fire too, mimicking his position with a frown.

 

“Everything will work out in the end, you know.” Miroku said without looking toward her.

 

“How do you know?” She faced him and sat her cup down with a little too much force. The contents sloshed out onto her hand and she gave a curse as the pain brought tears to her eyes. Miroku was at her side in seconds, taking her hand in his and patting the hot liquid off on his robes.

 

“I know that everything is going to be okay because some things are just meant to be. Inuyasha and Kagome will find their way through all of this just like you and I will.” He reached inside his robe with his free hand and drew out a soft length of cloth. He began to wrap it around her abused hand with care while she tried to process what his word might mean.

 

“Me and you?” As much as she hated to admit it, his gentle touch was making her a little fuzzy headed.

 

“Yes, you and I have just as big a part in this as Inuyasha and Kagome do.” He smirked, but made sure to tilt his head so that she couldn't see him.

 

“How can that be?” She watched him tie a neat knot at the top of the make-shift bandage and marveled at how much better her hand felt already.

 

“Well, someone has to encourage them toward the right path. If we left them on their own it would take them hundreds of years to confess their feelings for each other.” Sango realized that he was still holding her hand and she jerked it back. She quickly stood and walked toward the side room where she was going to sleep.

 

“Thank you…for the hand. I'll see you in the morning Houshi-sama.” Sango waved as she disappeared behind the grass mat that covered the doorway.

 

“Good-night dear Sango.” He whispered long after her breathing had evened out in the other room.

 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

 

“Inuyasha, if you're going to insist on going to the doctor with me you're going to have to at least put on a pair of jeans.” Kagome held put a pair of dark blue denims that one of her cousins had left after the last family reunion. Inuyasha ignored her in favor of torturing her chubby cat. Kagome drew in a deep breath then exhaled slowly. If that was the way he was going to be, well two could play this game just as easily as one. She calmly sat the pants down and left the room. She only had a few minutes to finish getting ready before her mom called her downstairs. If Inuyasha wanted to come too, he'd have to put his butt into gear (and into those jeans), because she was leaving in 10 minutes with or without him.

 

“You can't leave without me!” He shouted, coming into her room behind her as she sat down at her vanity to brush her hair. She noticed with a slight smile that he'd brought the pants with him when he'd chased after her.

 

“I can if you don't put on some normal clothes.” She put her brush down and reached for a ribbon to tie her hair back with.

 

“My clothes are normal.” His voice was sullen and Kagome suppressed her desire to rub at the ache that was forming between her eyes. She watched through the mirror as he sat on her floor and crossed his arms in a pout.

 

“Of course your clothes are normal, for your time period. If you're going to go with me to the doctor's office you're going to have to wear pants and shoes.” Thankfully the same cousin had left a pair of sandals along with his pants. Kagome figured Inuyasha would be more comfortable in sandals than in sneakers anyway.

 

“Oh no, I draw the line with shoes!” Inuyasha was shaking his head wildly in testament of his unwillingness to at least meet Kagome half way.

 

`Kami-sama, I am so tempted to just beat my head against the wall until this all fades away. Why can't he just cooperate with me for once?'

 

“Hitting your head against the wall isn't going to make me go away.” His voice was close by her shoulder but Kagome ignored him.

 

“Ignoring me won't work either.” Her left eyebrow started to twitch. She stood up and walked around him to get to her closet were she hunted around for her own sandals.

 

“I'm not going to put on those stupid clothes!” He told her as she moved toward the door, “But I have to go with you anyway because it'll hurt you too much to be that far away from me.” The door was slammed in his smug face before he could follow her out of her room. Inuyasha mumbled curses under his breath as he wrenched the door open and followed her down the stairs. He kept a close eye on her to make sure she wouldn't trip like the last time.

 

“Mom are you ready to go?” Kagome asked her mother when she reached the bottom of the staircase. Mrs. Higurashi looked up from reading the paper and smiled at her frazzled looking daughter. Of course she'd heard most of the shouted conversation between her daughter and Inuyasha, but she wasn't one to ask questions.

 

“I'm ready when you are,” she glanced over at the seething hanyou who was trying to get Kagome's attention by tugging on her sleeve, “I take it Inuyasha isn't going with us?” Kagome just snorted and reached for an apple out of the bowl of fruit sitting on the table.

 

“Of course I'm going!” Inuyasha hissed, taking the apple from Kagome and slicing it up with his claws into bite sized pieces like she liked it. Kagome accepted the fruit without looking at him and sat down at the table to eat her quick breakfast.

 

“If you're going you might want to change into those pants and sandals Kagome found for you. The blue jeans are going to be a little baggy because my sister's boy is a bit on the chunky side, but I don't think that'll be a problem for you.” She eyed the puffiness of the red pants he was wearing then the jeans and nodded her head.

 

“The sandals will probable be roomy too…” She looked down at his bare feet with a mother's critical eye. Yes, those sandals would be about a half size too big, but since he wasn't used to wearing shoes it was probably good that they would be loose.

 

“But I---“

 

“Inuyasha you only have ten minutes.”

 

 

Ten minutes and a lot of cursing later Inuyasha found him self sitting in the back of the Higurashi family car. He glared down at the sandals strapped to his feet and the strange pants that covered his legs. They weren't as bad as he'd expected, but he still loathed every minute of it. At least the damned females had let him keep his white shirt that he normally wore under his fire rat fur.

 

Kagome was still mad at him.

 

She was staring out the window, still refusing to acknowledge his presence, and her emotions and thoughts were a maelstrom of conflicting feelings. Her fist clenched and unclenched unsteadily in her lap and she was worrying her bottom lip so roughly that he was sure it would start bleeding soon. With a glance toward her mother who was driving, Inuyasha reached out and touched her shoulder.

 

“Kagome, look at me.” His voice was quiet but she heard him. Kagome glanced up briefly but didn't quite meet his eyes before looking back outside. Inuyasha frowned with impatiens and just reached over and gently maneuvered her around to face him. Inuyasha then tipped her chin up until she met his eyes.

 

“Tell me what's wrong.” He commanded softly. She shook her head no and glanced toward her mother. Inuyasha understood that she didn't want to talk in front of the older woman, but he wasn't going to let it go until he knew that he was forgiving for his earlier bad behavior.

 

“Are you still mad at me?” He leaned in close to her so that her mother wouldn't hear his whisper. Kagome sighed and leaned her head against his shoulder. She shook her head `no' but didn't speak. Inuyasha wrapped an arm around her shoulders patted her back. Kagome sighed and let herself lean against his chest for a minute. She was dreading going to the doctor because after regaining her sight he'd most likely release her to go back to school, and if it had taken this much effort to just get Inuyasha into some pants, how much would it take to get him into a uniform? No, she'd have to quit school now that they were bound to each other. But what would she do if the well closed and she had to live totally in her time? How would she get a job if she didn't finish school?

 

“Shh…don't think about all of that shit right now.” Inuyasha murmured in her ears. She was about to say something back when she heard her mother clear her throat. With a reluctant sigh Kagome pulled away from Inuyasha and moved back over to her side of the car.

 

`Thank you.' She felt him slip his hand into hers. Kagome looked down at their joined hands and smiled.

 

Maybe she could trust her hanyou with her whole heart after all.

 

 

 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

 

 

 

It was a few hours later and Kagome was finally out of the doctor's office. Inuyasha had almost gone insane waiting for her in that tiny office filled to the brim with sniffling kids and crying babies. One little boy with huge brown eyes and a runny nose had stared up at him the whole time he was there. No matter what move he made the kid just wouldn't look away. Mrs. Higurashi thought it was cute that he had an admirer but Inuyasha was slightly creeped out by the stoic little boy.

 

`Sesshomaru must have been like this as a kid.' He had mused as the child nearly fell over backwards when he stood up. He'd never been gladder to get away from a kid in his life!

 

He turned toward Kagome and nudged her in the arm. She looked over at him and he raised an eyebrow.

 

`What do you want?' She asked with a frown as she started to get into the car.

 

“Walk with me.” He motioned to the sidewalk and nudged her again. Kagome sighed, and waved to her mother.

 

“Looks like we're going to walk home mom. I'll see you later.” Mrs. Higurashi nodded in understanding and told them to stay out of trouble. Inuyasha smirked at that.

 

“Your mother doesn't know you very well if she thinks that you, of all people, can stay out of trouble.”

 

“I wouldn't get into so much trouble if I didn't hang around you so much.” She retorted. She let him take her hand as they started walking down the street in silence. Kagome was lost in her own thoughts and Inuyasha was content for the moment to let her stay there because he knew that she would talk to him (willingly or not) before they reached the shrine.

 

“Higurashi?” The way Kagome jerked around to face the young human male who had spoken to her sat his nerves on edge. Inuyasha sniffed the air as the boy approached and felt a growl bubble up inside his chest when he recognized the sent as one of Kagome's “friends” from this time. He wrapped a possessive arm around her waist, but let her step in front of him to greet the boy whose goofy grin was so big it was in danger of falling off his face.

 

“Houjo? What are you doing here, isn't school going on today?” Kagome didn't appear to notice the arm Inuyasha wrapped around her waist. She was too busy trying to figure out how she would explain Inuyasha to Houjo and vice versa.

 

“Oh, there was a small fire in the chem. Lab so school dismissed early. But Kagome, you can see! I called your house to check on you a few weeks ago and your grandfather told me you'd left Japan for treatment. We were all so worried when he told us that lightening had struck you. In fact I was going to your shrine right now to see if your mother would mind if I bought you a seeing-eye dog. But I guess you won't need that now!” Without warning the overzealous young man pulled Kagome into a hug…or at least he would have, if Inuyasha hadn't yanked her away. Houjo had managed to catch her arm though, and for a moment she found out just how it felt to be the rope in a game of tug-a-war.

 

“Inuyasha put me down!” She hissed while yanking her arm out of the other boys grasp. Inuyasha complied, but definitely kept a hand on her hip. She glared at him then turned to glare at Houjo who, to his credit, was looking rather sheepish. She opened her mouth to scold both of them by Inuyasha cut her off.

 

“Kagome's mine now, so don't think I'm going to let her run home so she can do on `dates' with you anymore.” His voice was smug, and he even had the nerve to squeeze her hip suggestively.

 

Kagome sputtered and turned three shades of red. Houjo's eyes were huge as he looked at her with something akin to hurt and shock. She reached out a hand to him but Inuyasha clasped her open palm in his own hand before Houjo could take it.

 

“Higurashi? I thought…Well, I assumed…you and I…but…Is this…Is he the reason you never really made it to any of our dates?” His voice was reserved, with none of the hurt she saw in his eyes reflected in it. Kagome opened her mouth to say something but then shut it. What could she say: `I'm sorry about leading you on for all these years, but you see I'm kinda married/mated to this jerk now.'? In the end all she could do was nod her head.

 

“I'm sorry.” She couldn't meet his eyes as she said this, and instead focused on a spot beyond his shoulder.

 

“Think nothing of it Higurashi-san! I wish you luck, and I'm glad you got your sight back.” Houjo smiled stiffly and waved before turning around and going the way they'd come just minutes ago.

 

“Keh, you don't have to act so upset about it. I know you really don't like him that much.” His words lit a dangerous fire in Kagome's stomach and she had to remind herself that in the middle of a crowed street was not the time to have this out with Inuyasha.

 

“Inuyasha, we're not very far from the shrine. We'll talk about this when we get there.” Her voice was deadly calm, but he could feel her anger coming off her in waves. Inuyasha felt his ears begin to droop under the hat, and was glad that Kagome wouldn't be able to tell how intimidated he was of her anger.

 

“Keh.”

 

 

As soon as they'd climbed all one hundred steps Kagome reached out and poked him in the ribs. Hard.

 

“Ouch, bitch! What was that for?” He asked, stepping away from her and rubbing his abused side. He'd hopped that the silent walk to the shine had cooled her temper some, but apparently he'd been wrong.

 

“Tell me, do I have a sign of my forehead that says `Property of Inuyasha'?” She yelled while pointing to her forehead. Inuyasha looked at her funny, not really following what she was talking about.

 

“That's a stupid question.”

 

“No, I really want to know, because obviously you think I do! Every time something doesn't go your way, or you feel insecure you grab me up and start telling anyone who'll listen that I'm yours! Well, I'm tired of it Inuyasha!” She poked him the in chest again, but this time he didn't step away from her.

 

“But you are mine---“She was his mate. Maybe not in every sense of the word, but all of that would come when they were both ready to take that step.

 

“In what way am I yours? Just because of a stupid spell ties us together I have to sign away my life for you?” Her poking turned to pounding as she fisted her hands. He was too caught up in her words to stop her though.

 

“No, it's not like that---“

 

“When do you become mine, Inuyasha? When do I have the right to get mad every time you think of Kikyou?” He reached up and finally grabbed her hands. The act pulled her in closer to him, but neither noticed that they were practically leaning against each other for support.

 

“Kagome!”

 

“No, you listen to me! I'm so tired of always bowing to your needs! I decided to quit school because of this spell, even though I need my education if I'm going to survive in my world! I always come back to the past no matter what's going on here. I miss birthdays and family reunions and Souta's school plays. I-I-I do it all for you! Because you need me…Not so you can treat me like a possession---“He finally got tired of her interrupting him and did the first thing that came to mind to shut her up. It was a hard kiss at first, and she struggled to pull away, but his arms wrapped around her waist and made moving away just a pipe dream. After a moment, she responded and the kiss softened to a gentle apologetic caress.

 

Kagome sighed and pressed her head into the hollow between Inuyasha's shoulder and his neck, feeling all her anger draining away like sand through her fingers. He rested his forehead against her head and tightened his hold on her a fraction.

 

“I'm sorry.” He whispered into her ear. She nodded her head, but didn't try to speak. She wondered absently if they'd ever get beyond all this fighting and yelling. If the spell wasn't so permanent she'd seriously think they were headed for divorce. Inuyasha couldn't help the quiet growl that formed in his throat when her thoughts floated before his minds eye. He didn't know what `divorce' was but he understood the emotions behind it.

 

“We'll figure all of this shit out, just give me time and let me take care of you like I'm supposed to. Don't worry about your damn school or any of that fucking stuff, you won't need it now.” He picked her up and carried her up to the roof of the shrine before she could respond. Inuyasha could feel that this was going to be another one of those long conversations with Kagome that he wouldn't want to have interrupted. He figured the roof would be the last place her family would look for them. He settled them on the roof, but he wasn't fast enough to keep Kagome in his lap. She sat down and few feet away and stared out toward the city. Kagome was silent for a moment, drawing her wits about her for the up coming battle. Inuyasha wasn't going to like what she had to say, but it had to be said.

 

“I can't just forget about my education, Inuyasha. I'm not the same naïve little girl that thought she could find all the shikon shards within a week. I know there is a possibility that when all the shards are finally found that I won't be able to come back down the well. I…I…” she stopped and Inuyasha watched as she worked to keep her breath from hitching in her throat. He wanted to pull her into his arms and make her forget about all her worries; to make her stop taking nonsense. There was no way in hell that he'd let her become separated from him. The very thought…before he could stop himself, a quiet whine formed in his throat. He swallowed it and tried not to curse aloud. No matter how much his instincts were screaming for him to make her forget about all of this, he was not going to beg for her touch.

 

 

“I…I have to learn how to survive without you. You won't be able to take care of me if we're…separ—“

 

“Don't say that. Don't fucking say it!” He couldn't let her say that word. The whine he'd been fighting down turned into a growl. She wasn't youkai; she couldn't understand what her words were doing to him inside. She couldn't comprehend the cataclysmal torrent of emotions that threatened to rend his heart into tiny pieces at the thought of being separated from her for a moment, much less the rest of his life. Protecting her, taking care of her was second nature to him. And like breathing, if he couldn't do it he was sure he'd die.

 

“Inuyasha, we have to consider this. We aren't children anymore! The well could seal tomorrow and whatever Kami or unseen force that caused me to be able to come here could revoke that privilege! What if I don't belong in the past?” Kagome was trying her best to hold in her sobs. Did he think this was easy on her? She'd loved him for years, and now a relationship with him was finally within her conceivable grasp, but she had to be grown up about this no matter how much it hurt. It was for his own good. If he knew there was a possibility that she could be gone next week, maybe it wouldn't seem like Kikyou all over again for him.

 

“You're just saying this because your afraid! You don't want to trust me, so you're trying to give me a reason to back off! You think if you turn yourself into another Kikyou I'll stop caring! Well, I'm not going to!” He was angry. Angry that she would even suggest such a thing, but inside he was struggling not to be overcome by fear. He'd never considered the fact that Kagome could be taken away from him. Sure, she'd left him and threatened not to come back, and he'd even tried to keep her from coming back himself a few times, but they'd never been able to go through with their separations. One of them always gave in at the end.

 

“Please don't think I want this to happen Inuyasha. Don't you think it's hard for me to suggest this? And I am afraid! I'm afraid that you'll hate me if I have to leave you! You don't own me Inuyasha. There's no way for you to keep me with you if…” Kagome left the sentence hanging because she couldn't stand to speak the possibilities out loud again. She moved closer to him and held out her hand like she wanted to comfort him but wasn't sure her touch would be welcome. It was then that he realized he was still growling.

 

“I don't care what you say, I'll always be there to take care of you and protect you. Your mine Kagome. Mine. And…I'm yours.” The way he said it and the way he looked into her eyes so earnestly during that last part, Kagome could almost believe that he loved her, truly cared for her in a deeper since than just mere friendship. He was so convincing too, as if the Kamis and fate had nothing to do with the way the world was ran, that for a moment she decided to believe him. She let the tension drain from her body and the tears she'd fought so hard to keep inside found release at last. Inuyasha saw those tears and lost control of the impulse to pull her into his arms. He never could stand the sight of tears, having seen his mother shed a few thousand too many as a child, but Kagome's tears effected his on a much deeper level and he couldn't help but hold her close.

 

“It'll be okay, Kagome, you'll see. We'll make this work, koshii.” He kissed her forehead as she clung to him for support. He reached out mentally and found their link without trouble. Inuyasha worked on reinforcing his words with feelings, hoping to calm her down before the sun sat. He didn't have a clue what his change would do to their link so be wanted her emotions stable before it happened.

 

His words were like a balm to her soul. Kagome felt the last of her worries slip away. Suddenly realizing just how tired she was, Kagome was glad that Inuyasha's arms were around her for support or she probably would have collapsed into a heap on the shrine roof.

 

`I can't go to sleep now it's not even sundown yet. I have to make my decision about school before I go back to the past tomorrow. Oh Kami-sama don't I have a test I'm supposed to be studding for? Wait, tonight's the new moon! I definitely can't go to sleep now…!'

 

“Japanese History.”

 

“What?” She managed to look up at him, although it was hard considering how tightly he was holding her.

 

“Your test is in Japanese History. You told your mother while we were waiting for the doctor to see you.”

 

“Oh.” She put her head back down on his shoulder, trying to build up the strength needed to push him away. It was getting harder and harder each time he held her like this to let go. Kagome bet that stupid, wonderful spell had something to do with it.

 

“I'm going to put you to bed now, no arguments.” He tightened his hold just a fraction when he heard Kagome suck in air to argue with him. “You don't have to sleep for the rest of the night, just rest for a little while. You can do all that shit when you get back up.”

 

“But tonight's the new moon. I can stay a wake until after you've changed.” She protested with as much strength as she could gather up to use. Which wasn't much considering how comfortable she was in his arms while he carried her into the house and up the stairs. Inuyasha just smirked at her, knowing better. He lay her down on the bed, and made to move away from her, but Kagome latched onto his arm and wouldn't let go.

 

“Kagome?”

 

“Inuyasha, don't go. At least stay in here with me until after the sun goes down.” He could see the blush staining her cheeks clearly even though the room cast in shadows. Inuyasha was confused about what she meant, though. He always stayed close to her when she was sleeping no matter what time they were in.

 

“I always stay in here, wench. Even when you get it into your head to kick me out.” He informed her, still leaning over her bed because of her hold on his arm.

 

“No, what I mean is, I want you to hold me,” Then seeing the look in his eyes she rushed to explain, “Just until the sun goes down or I go to sleep, then you can go do what ever you do when you're here at night, I just…I'm worried that the spell will go all wacky when you turn human…” Her voice trailed off when he shifted to lay down beside her on top of the covers. Inuyasha wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back up close to his chest, then he made himself comfortable on her pillow. The bed wasn't very big, but he didn't mind having to pull her close so that they'd both fit. In fact, he rather liked it's tiny size, he smirked to himself as he buried his nose into her hair.

 

“You don't have to do this if you don't want to, you know.” Her voice was slurred and Inuyasha knew that it wouldn't be long before she fell into dreamland.

 

“Go to sleep, Kagome. And don't worry about sun down. I'm sure nothing will happen.” She was almost certain she felt him nip her neck after he said that, but she would never be sure, because she drifted off before she could voice her surprise.

 

Just as her breathing evened out in sleep, Inuyasha felt the first twinge that meant his youkai blood was waning.

 

`I hope I was right!'

 

 

 

 

 

T.B.C

 

 

AN: Wow, I'm glad that's over. This was the hardest chapter for me to write, not because the inspiration wasn't there, but because real life kept getting in the way.

 

I don't know if this chapter flows right or not, but please give me a few days to rest before you start pointing out problems…The last few weeks of my life have been…hard…. And this last Friday at 2:00 am my grandfather died. He was down from North Carolina visiting us, but I never got the chance to see him before he had his stroke. My parents left today to drive the 15 hours it takes to get to his house for the funeral, but I'm missing it because I have classes I can't miss this close to the final.

 

I guess you can say I'm a little down. Writing made me feel better, but then I feel bad because it's been so long since I updated and because I can't even figure out if this chapter's a mess or not.

 

Just keep me in your thoughts for the next few days okay?

 

 

 

 

Review Responses:

 

 

 

 

Pruningshears: Nara-dearest isn't dead yet….But I didn't want this to turn into a story about defeating him. I guess you could say this is one of those times when they almost beat him and he goes into hiding…or something like that…eesh I don't know…Her wounds don't mirror on him…and whether they fix it or not…well…that's for me to know and you to find out *winks*

 

Green Bird 2071: I hope this is fluffy enough? Although the fluff had a bittersweet edge to it…but hey, that's how some people like their chocolate…

 

Inu-Chan 613: He didn't kill Houjo, just hurt his feelings really bad.

 

Badgerwolf: It seems the fighting will continue…but I think Inuyasha won this time.

 

 

WhiteDloud: Thanks, I tried hard to get Fluffy-sama right.

 

Inuyasha-Loves-Kagome: I can go both ways, I like it when an older Rin is his love interest and when she's his dauther. I don't really like her paired with anyone else though…I guess I'm just a hypocrite at heart…Thanks for the encouragement, your words helped make this chapter.

 

Katergator: Shippou's part was very funny. I wanted to write about Inuyasha in the dr. office, but I didn't want this chapter to turn into a whopping 30 pager…so I cut it short.

 

Galalorton: It is hard to remember, so I try to copy and paste when I use the whole thing. No he's not death defying, but just give the little guy a chance to prove himself!

Mirokulove: Thanks

 

White Wolf Youkai: I'm glad I got Kouga right. I get tired of him being painted as evil or selfish…

 

Thaelia15: The squirrel will not be eating anyone, at least for a while yet anyway…he's to small to swallow them whole and it would take him too long to naw them to death…Thanks for the cookies! And I hope you got some yummy King Cake.

 

 

Mvdiva: It is creepy. I'm doing my research paper on it now.

 

Toku: ff.net doesn't work very well sometimes…I have a love/hate relationship with it most of the time…

 

 

Dreambraider: Ahh…Blissful Ignorance…I love that site!! And about the lemon…eeh…Do you know that a few chapters ago I had someone hounding me NOT to do a lemon? You're the first person to ask for one…And I'll tell you truthfully…I don't think I'm experienced enough to write one at this time…If I feel that it's really really needed I'll write one, but it will only be posted on BI…I don't want some overzealous loony reporting me to the FF admens for posting a lemon…

 

Palm*tree: I'm gald you like the chapters long…because I can't seem to write anything but long monster chapters…but I think I'm late on the Spring Break…sorry…

 

ArtemisMoon: You don't know how much your review picked me up after the trying time I've had over the weekend. I just got finished reading Easy as 1,2,3 for like the fifth time…God I love that story! You're one of my favorite authors, although I'm not sure if I've ever reviewed anything…sorry…now I feel guilty now…Anyway…thank you for taking the time to notice me…My heart is swelling just like the Grince's when he decides to give Hoovile back Christmas…

 

Animeprincezz

 

Blah41

 

Suki1

 

Krista

 

Phoenix

 

EvilBunny

 

Delenne

 

Defafaeth Mechqua

 

KougasMyMan

 

Lilo

 

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Mucomi9

 

Benjis-riot-girl-9

 

Lachwen

 

Sango13

 

Cattbrie393

 

 

 

Oh and before I go, We have FANART!!!

 

http://www. fyresight.com/kristensk/sketches/non-sk/iy_ family_ colorsnippet3.jpg

 

Thanks goes to the loverly Kristen Sharpe for drawing this pic! It's not quite finished yet so check back often!!

 

I'm not going to give you a chapter preview because this too big to give away! And No it has nothing to do with Inuyasha's change! Guess again!