Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE INUYASHA CHARACTERS!!!

"Talking"

Thinking

Narrator speaking

Time. Isn't it just a wonderful thing? I sometimes think that it is. With out it what would we be? The passage of time is what I value most in this world; with out my passage I will not be able to change the course of history. The story, I guess, starts in the future or would it be the past? I'm not sure it's so confusing so I'll just say that it started in the year 2001. There was a girl who fell down a well and when she came out she was 500 years in the past. (and now before you ask I am not that girl I know her, well I did, I mean I do, man this is sooo confusing, I'll get to why it's confusing later on.) There she found a boy, no an inu hanyou boy, pinned to a tree by an arrow. Now you all know where this is going so long story short girl releases boy, boy tries to kill girl, girl gains control of boy A.K.A. "Sit Boy!", the Shikon no tama come out of girl, girl shatters the tama. Boy and girl travel together to find the shards, they find a kitsune, a monk, and a demon slayer. Then some where in there around the time of the monk joining the group the "bad guy" enters the story. The girl the boy the kitsune the monk and the slayer band together to try and destroy the "bad guy" while collecting the shards of the Shikon no tama. Some where along the line the boy's half brother comes along as does a wolf youkai. They also want "the bad guy" gone. Throughout the groups travels the boy falls in love with the girl and visa versa. That's where the story truly begins, on the night that the boy professes his love for the girl.

"Come on every one I want to cover as much ground as possible before night fall!" InuYasha yelled over his shoulder to the rest of the group.

"InuYasha we are moving as fast as we can, we're only human!" Kagome said from her place in the back of the group. "Why don't you just slow down, what is so important that we need to basically need to kill our selves to cover more ground?"

"I don't want to be out in the open tonight that's all and there is a forest not far from here."

"But why? We've been sleeping out in the open for the past week, what's so different about to night?" she yelled stopping in the middle of the road. "InuYasha stop and get over here and talk to me face to face! You have been avoiding me for the past few days and it is starting to get on my nerves, have I become repulsive or something, do I smell, do I offend your sensitive nose?" she bellowed at the top of her lungs stomping her foot on the ground.

It was true, her scent was affecting him greatly, but it wasn't a bad scent. In fact it was the best thing he had ever smelled, Kagome was in heat and it was taking all of InuYasha's self control to not jump here right then and here. He had been staying away staying away from her to prevent doing just that. He gave a low growl and stopped in his tracks. He let the rest of the group catch up and once Miroku's eyes met with InuYasha's he knew to just keep walking and let him and Kagome talk. He walked up to the spot where kagome had stopped and looked her straight in to the eye.

"First of all Kagome, tonight is the moonless night, second of all there is a very good reason that I have been distancing myself from you." She just gave him a confused look. "Oh Kami Kagome, you're in heat right now and you are giving off the most wonderful scent, I have been staying away from you because first and foremost I don't want my demon side to come out and decide to claim you, and secondly with the moonless night being tonight my human emotions are more predominant, and I don't want to say something stupid like how I truly feel about you." His hand slapped over his mouth as the last sentence came spilling out of his big fat mouth. "Shit, I didn't meant to say that, this is precisely the reason that I was trying to stay away from you at least until you were out of heat." He sat down on the ground Indian style and he put his elbows on his knees and his forehead on his palms. Kagome was just too stunned to say anything so she took a few steps back and sat down on the ground just like InuYasha was. After a few minutes Kagome regained her composer and turned to InuYasha.

"I'm sorry that I forgot that to night is… well you know…that night, I should have remembered. I'm also sorry that I yelled at you. I wish that you would have told me that I was…"

"In heat?"

"Yeah I would have stayed away from you if you had told me." She sat there in silence pondering about his last statement, "How I truly feel about you..." she kept opening and closing her mouth in an attempt to say something about it but every time she did she lost her courage to follow through, and just as she gained he courage InuYasha stood up and pulled her to her feet as he mumbled something about needing to get moving again. So instead of bringing up the subject again she just gave him a slight nod. InuYasha found the rest of the group a little bit a head and he took his place back in the front and Kagome too her place in the back. The group regained their fast pace and kept the un-nerving silence that InuYasha and Kagome brought back with them.

Just before the sun was about to set the group made it to the forest. Kagome finally broke the silence.

"InuYasha since we have reached the forest can we stop and make camp? I know everybody is tired and hungry, plus I still have two packs of ramen left."

"I thought that you said I ate all the ramen!" he said glaring at her.

"Well I was digging through my bag and found two more cups."

"Can I have both packs?"

"Sure you can."

"Then yes we can stop and make camp."

"Thank you InuYasha, could you go grab some fire wood so I can build a fire and make dinner?"

"Sure." He said as he turned to go gather some wood, his silver hair flowing in the slight breeze that ran through the forest, with the last light of day filtering through the trees.

Kagome sat back and unpacked her bag digging out the last to packs of ramen. Thank the Kamis that I hid these from him, if I hadn't we still might be walking. She looked up from her bag to see InuYasha with his arms full of wood, but instead of his silver hair flowing in the breeze, his hair is jet black. Kagome went about cooking everybody their food, and after they were finished she tucked Shippo in to bed, and watched him fall asleep. Just as she was about to drift off she saw InuYasha get up and walk off on his own in to the dark trees. Where is he going on his own in this condition? Her curiosity got the best of her so she grabbed her bow and arrows and silently followed him, never did she get with in fifty feet of him, and she didn't want him to know that she was there. Little did she know what was going through his mind.

I can't believe that I said that, I almost told her that I loved her. I know she doesn't feel the same way, I can just tell by the way she acts around me, and the fact that she sits me every chance she gets. She thinks that I still love Kikyo. I can't stand Kikyo anymore, she the undead, and she hates me. She has hurt Kagome more times than I can count; I have hurt Kagome more times than I can count. You shouldn't hurt the person you love. Next time that I see Kinky Hoe, I mean Kikyo, I am going to tell her that I won't be going to Hell with her anymore and that I won't be seeing her again…ever.

InuYasha came to a small pond surrounded by large flat rocks he went to the nearest one and sat down. He still didn't know that Kagome was behind him so he didn't realize that she was going to be able to her every word he was about to say.

"Why can't I tell her that I love her? I can say it when she's not here to hear me. Kagome I love you, Kagome I love you, Kagome I love you, but when she's near me I can't even think straight, for the past three years that we have been shard hunting I have loved her, ever since I almost lost her when her soul was taken and transferred back to Kikyo I have loved her. Kami I need your help, I need to be able to tell Kagome before she decides to go off with the damn Mangy Wolf or that Hobo person. Kami please help me." He said setting his head in to his hands.

Kagome stopped dead in her tracks. Did he just say what I think he said? Did he just say that he loves me? Oh my Kami he did. InuYasha love me Kagome Higarashi! Inside of her head she did a little victory dance. After she was able to think straight again she walked up to the rock.

"InuYasha?" She asked quietly.

InuYasha spun around at the sound of her voice.

"Kagome, how long have you been standing there?" His voice was stammering.

"Long enough to hear what you said, about loving me."

"Kagome …I."

"Shhh please let me finish. I heard you say that you love me, I have been waiting for three years to hear you say that. Ever since I saw you for the first time when you were pinned to Goshinboku I have loved you. For the past three years I have loved you with my entire heart. Every time you went to Kikyo's side it tore my heart apart because I love you. Now I know that you return my feelings."

InuYasha's heart was beating a mile a minute. She loves me. HAHA she really truly loves me. For years I have been too scared to tell her and I have had no reason to because SHE LOVES ME!!!

InuYasha had been too caught up in his thoughts to notice that Kagome sat down beside him. She leaned her head against his shoulder and laced her fingers in to his. On her face she wore a huge toothy smile. He kissed the top of her head, and inhaled her sweet citrus scent. His lips traveled down from the top of her head down to her ear. He nibbled on her earlobe from there he moved down her jaw line. He pulled away from his nuzzling and rested his forehead against hers; he gazed in to her chocolate orbs.

"Kagome, I love you." He said his voice was husky and sweet.

"I love you too Inu-Kun." Kagome replied.

He lowered his lips upon hers, for a first love filled searing kiss. InuYasha nibbled on her bottom lip asking, no begging for entrance in to her moist cavern. Slowly Kagome opened her mouth. His tongue searched every inch of her mouth, earning him several moans from his Kagome. He nipped at her tongue, inviting her to do the same with him. She shifted herself so she was sitting in his lap. She was savoring every moment that the kiss lasted. He snaked her hands up in to his long raven tresses. They both pulled back due to lack of air. A blush came to both of their cheeks. Kagome leaned against his chest, and pulled his arms around her. They just sat there in complete silence just enjoying each other's company, slowly Kagome fell asleep in his arms, and for the first time since he was a small child InuYasha fell asleep on the night of the new moon.

As the sun rose and the first light hit their sleeping faces, InuYasha began to pulse. His fangs grew, his eyes and hair returned to their normal color. His eyes opened and he gazed down upon a still sleeping Kagome. A smile spread across his face as he remembered the events of the previous night. He brushed a stray hair out of her face, and as his fingers brushed across her skin she began to awake. Kagome opened her eyes to the early morning light.

"Good morning Beautiful." InuYasha cooed in to her ear.

"Morning Inu-Kun." She said stifling a yawn.

"Did you sleep well? I know that I did."

"Yeah I did, I love the feeling of sleeping in your arms." She said with a small smile.

"You can sleep in my arms anytime sweetheart." He said nuzzling her neck.

"Mmhh I would like that."

"Kagome," he said pulling back, "would you be willing to court with me? Can I mark you as mine?"

"Isn't courting in this era like dating in my era?"

"It's similar but there are a few differences. In this time it's like a pre-engagement period, it involves me marking you on the neck, so everyone like that Mangy Wolf and that Hobo person know to keep their hands off. Other than that it is the same as dating. Well there is also the fact that someday you will be my mate , but if possible I would like to wait and mate with you after Naraku is dead, I don't think it would be a good thing because if you ended up pupped you wouldn't be able to travel."

She sat back and thought about what he said. "Inu-Kun, I would love to court with you and one day after Naraku is gone I would absolutely love to be your mate." She leaned in to give him a light kiss on the lips. She went to pull away but was stopped by his arms pulling her closer to him. She melted in to the kiss, her arms wrapped around his neck and her hands snaked up to the furry appendages on top of InuYasha's head. Kagome started to rub the base of his ears; he let out a low growl. Startled she pulled away.

"What's wrong, did I hurt you?" she asked searching his eyes.

"No quite the opposite, it felt really good. Sorry if I scared ya, I couldn't stop my growl of pleasure."

"Well now I know to do that more often, if it's that pleasurable for you."

"I'd like that." He whispered leaning in closer to her, "Kagome is it ok if I mark you now? It's going to hurt but only for a moment."

"Do you promise that the pain won't last long?"

"I promise and if it does you can S-I-T me as many times as you want."

"Ok, how are we gonna do this?"

"I am going to bite down right here," he said kissing the spot right above her collar bone on her left side right above her heart. "and leave my fang marks on you there, the quicker is scars over the more we belong together. Are you ready my love?"

"I'm ready Inu-Kun." She said pulling the collar of her shirt away from her neck.

InuYasha lowered his fangs to the soft flesh of her neck, he gave the spot a light kiss before he quickly sank his fangs in. he felt Kagome flinch beneath him. He with drew his fangs and lapped up the extra blood, and before he could even finish cleaning up the blood the wound had scared over.

"That was so fast." He said lightly touching the scar with the tips of his fingers. He leaned down and inhaled the scent that was radiating off the scar, it was HIS scent!

"You were right it doesn't even hurt anymore. Is it scared over yet?"

"It scared over before I finished cleaning off the blood. Do you know what that means Kags?"

"It means that we are supposed to be together."

"Now you are officially marked as mine." He said nuzzling her neck, he was working his way back up to her mouth for another searing kiss but was stopped by the sound of someone fast approaching. He pulled back, his ears swiveling his nose sniffing the air around him.

"What's wrong InuYasha?" Kagome asked worriedly.

"Sesshomaru is here." He spat lifting both Kagome and himself to their feet.

"Sesshomaru? Why is he here?" She asked a bit worried.

"I don't know but I intend to find out. Sesshomaru come out I know you're here." InuYasha yelled in to the forest.

"Very good, little brother, it only took you five minutes to realize that I was so close." Sesshomaru said walking out from the forest edge.

"Why are you here Sesshomaru? If you are here for MY Tetsaiga, you can forget about it." InuYasha yelled turning to his brother.

"No I have given up on trying to get the Fang; I am here for a more…personal reason."

"Personal reason?" Kagome asked confused.

"Yes, I know that you have entered a courtship with my brother, so I came here to tell you both of the deal I made with my father the day InuYasha was born."

"How did you know of our courtship, I just marked her less than ten minutes ago?" InuYasha asked pulling Kagome closer to him.

"You were really raised in ignorance weren't you?" he sighed. "When one member of an Inu-Youkai, or in your case Inu-Hanyou, decides to start a courtship with someone that member's elder male guardian just knows. Normally the guardian is that member's father but if the father is dead it transfers to the next male in the family which in your case is me. Since you marked her as your mate that makes me her guardian also." He said nonchalantly.

"I don't need your guardian ship, Sesshomaru." Kagome spat from her place in InuYasha's protective arms. "I am perfectly fine with InuYasha."

"Indeed, but as my father asked of me I am to stay both of your guardians until the day either the both of you die or I myself die. If you die and leave a child behind I am to take the child in and raise it as my own as a lord or lady of the Western Lands. After you two mate your future first child shall be next inline for the throne of the Western Lands. I do not as of any time soon plan on taking a mate and the Western Lands are in need of an heir. I am obligated to care for this child from the day of its birth, you will be its primary care taker, but I will be there in the background for its whole life, I shall personally train it in the ways of a Lord or Lady. This child is my ticket out of taking mate sometime soon."

"So you are doing this for your benefit not ours, or a child that has not even been conceived." InuYasha asked glaring at his brother.

"I do not like you; you know that, so yes I am doing this for my benefit and to protect my honor."

"Well it is nice to know that there is someone to care for our future child, but you will NEVER get your hands on it. It will stay with us until it is ready to leave on its own."

"I have said all I have to say." And with that Sesshomaru turned and left.

InuYasha pulled kagome in even closer to his chest. "He will never get his hands on out child, never." He vowed to her. They just stood in silence for a few minutes and were interrupted by a new intruder.

"Kagome, InuYasha I finally found you." Miroku said coming up from behind the couple. "We have been so worried about you, we all woke up and the two of you were missing, and Shippo said he smelled Sesshomaru close by, we were all so worried."

"There was no reason to be worried Monk, Kagome and I have been fine all night."

"I can see that." He said a lecherous grin spread across his face. "You two were out here all alone all night long?"

"Yes." Was the only reply he got from the couple.

"You look pretty comfortable in his arms Kagome, have you been in them all night?"

"If you must know Miroku, yes I have been, not that it is any of your business, and before you even ask, we both had our clothes on the ENTIRE night."

"Miss Kagome you know me far too well." Miroku said. "Can we return to camp so we can be off for the day the others would like to know that you are safe."

"Fine we will be there in a minute." InuYasha said releasing his grip on Kagome. She turned to look him straight in the eye.

"How are we gonna tell them?"

"Tell them what?"

"About us?"

"We can just come straight out and say it, I don't care really, all I care about is being with you, my dear sweet Kagome." He leaned down and captured her lips with his once again. He pulled back and rested his forehead against her and just gazed in to her eyes.

She laced her fingers through his and started to walk back to camp.

When they returned to camp InuYasha in his normal straight forward way told every one how he and Kagome were not courting and he briefly told them that Sesshomaru came by but didn't say anything about why, to him, they didn't need to know. The group continued their search of the jewel shards.

Days turned in to weeks and weeks turned in to months, and Kagome and InuYasha continued to court and InuYasha was starting to become worried. The mating season was just a week away and he didn't know if he would be able to hold back from claiming her. He decided to just come straight out and ask her if she was ready.

"Hey Kagome can we talk for a minute…Alone?" he asked standing up from the ground in front of the fire.

"Sure Inu-Kun." She replied taking his out stretched hand and walking off in to the dark woods.

They came to a beautiful clearing and he sat down in the middle and she sat down in his lap. His arms wrapped instinctively around her, he sighed.

"Kagome do you remember the day we started courting?"

"Of course I do how could I forget." She said putting her hand on the scar that still rested upon her neck.

"Do you remember what I said about when we would mate?"

"Yeah you said we should wait until after Naraku is gone."

"Well I was hoping he would be gone by this point, in one weeks time the Youkai mating season begins, and I am not sure if I will be able to suppress my youkai blood and keep myself from claiming you. Would you be willing to mate with me now?"

"InuYasha… I…"

"I'm sorry for this I swear I am I seriously thought that he would be dead and that we would be living freely.

"Please let me finish. I am ready to mate with you but not just tonight, can it wait until tomorrow I want to be able to prepare for it and not just rush straight in to it."

A smile so huge spread across his face, he captured her lips with his.

"I thought that you would like that answer." She said when they broke the kiss.

"I love that answer."

The next night Kagome had set everything up that she need to mate with her beloved Inu-Kun. That night under the covers of the night sky they mated. I am sorry but I will not go in to detail of the mating and you will all understand why later, for me that would be just gross (Narrator shudders at the thought.)

When InuYasha woke up the next morning the first thing he noticed was the major change in Kagome's scent. He opened his eyes to inspect his newly acquired mate. Why does she smell this way? He carefully un-wrapped him self from her grasp, and what he saw shocked him. Kagome began to stir from the lack of warmth. She opened her now ice blue eyes and stared up at her mate.

"Morning Inu-Kun." She said pushing her self in to a sitting position.

"Morning Sweetheart. How do you feel?" he asked tentatively.

"I feel fine, really good actually. I expected to be sore but I don't feel any pain. How are you, you look kind of weird."

"I am fine but I don't really know how to say this Kagome you're…"

"Oh my Kami am I pregnant?"

"No you're not pupped, you're a hanyou."