Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha and his cast of friends.

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What the Hell Happened Last Night?

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The sunlight danced in and out of the trees, nudging the sleeping figure awake. The boy twitched his nose, his dog-like ears flattening against his head. The first thing he notice, just before coming completely awake, was the increditable thirst he had. The second, the pounding ache in his head. He raised his hand to his head, eyes still closed.

'Oi. What happened last night?' He thought, stifling a groan. He tried to bring his other hand up as well, but it seemed to be trapped, held down by something soft. As this thought filtered through his brain, his eyes opened. They closed just as quickly when the sunlight hit them. This time he did groan. He opened his eyes slowly, bare slits. As they adjusted to the light, he opened them a little wider. A curtain of black shining stuff filled his vision. 'What is this?' the thought flashed as his eyes opened wider. 'Hair?!?'

His head pounding now, he sniffed cautiously. 'Kagome's hair.' he confirmed. He raised slightly, wincing with the pain stabbing through his head. Kagome was laying on his arm, back to him, and wearing his shirt. 'My shirt?' he looked down and realized he was nearly naked. He flopped back down thinking, 'What the hell happened last night?'

He racked his mind, trying to remember. The last thing he could think of was Miroku teasing him into drinking something called sake. His eyes closed with another low groan. Did he get... drunk? He opened his eyes again, looking over at the girl in his arms. 'What's with this? How did Kagome wind up sleeping with me, and why are we out in the woods?' He shook his head and groaned loudly when the pain raced through it once again.

Try as he might, he just couldn't make sense of why or how he wound up in this position. He started to get nervous. Kagome would be waking up soon, he was sure, and then he'd have a lot of explaining to do. Only he had no idea what happened!

Although, despite his aching head, and the awful taste in his mouth, he couldn't think of a better way to wake up in the morning. 'Kagome's going to kill me!' he thought. He cautiously put his arm around her waist, and snuggled up against her back softly, smelling deeply of her hair. Just for the moment, before she awoke and he had to run for his life, he wanted to enjoy how this would feel.

Kagome stirred under his arm, sighing sleepily. Inuyasha was poised for flight when she grabbed his hand at her waist and pulled him closer, snuggling against his chest. The hanyou opened his eyes wide in shock, holding still and not sure what to do. 'What the hell happened last night?' he thought yet again.

Not wanting to be caught in such a position by the girl-miko, he tried to pull his hand out of her grasp, and ease himself away before she fully woke. His heart now pounding as hard as his head, he eased as far as he could slowly, trying not to wake the girl. He was so dead.

Kagome drew in a deep breath and rolled over, bringing her closer to his chest. He was now looking down into her face, and wonder warmed his soul. His breath caught at how close she was, how sweet her lips looked. He closed his eyes and groaned again.

"If you're going to keep groaning, I'm going to leave." Her sweet voice speaking softly caused him to open his eyes wide. She was looking up at him, a shy smile playing on her lips.

"Ka.. Kagome?" he asked in a shocked voice.

She frowned as she looked up at him. "Were you expecting someone else?"

He closed his eyes, and ground his teeth. "What the hell happened last night?"

She laughed and his eyes flew opened again. He looked down at her, not sure why his question was so funny. "You mean you don't remember?" She gasped when her laughter died down.

He started to shake his head, but stopped with the not so subtle reminder he was in pain. "I remember taking a drink of sake, and that's it. That's all I know." He closed his eyes and leaned back, willing himself to not groan. "I have no idea how it is we are now the way we are. Why my head hurts so bad, and why you're wearing my shirt!"

Kagome smiled at the miserable hanyou, and touched his face softly, wanting him to look at her. "Then I guess you don't remember what you did or what you said, hmmm?" Amusement danced in her eyes.. as well as ...something else?

Staring down at her, uncertain of what she was talking about, and unsure of how to reply, he settled for silence. He kept trying to clear the fog in his brain to allow him to think, to allow him to remember. He needed to go for a run, take a cold bath, but most of all, he needed to know what the hell happened last night.

"Oi woman, I have no idea what I said or did, and right now my head hurts too much to try and think about it." He gave in to another groan. "I guess since you're not trying to kill me, I didn't do anything too bad." He peered at her. "Did I?"

She started giggling and leaned forward until her lips almost touched his. "Why would I want to kill my husband?"

Inuyasha jerked back in surprise. "HUSBAND?!?" he yelled loudly, causing his head to pound even harder.

Kagome sat up and laughed loudly, shaking her head. "Oh Inuyasha. You really don't remember do you?"

He thought about it for another minute. 'What the hell happened last night?' he thought in despair. He sat up and looked away from her as he whispered, "No, I don't."

Taking pity on him, she touched his hand softly and said with warmth, "You did nothing I didn't let you do. And you did nothing to be ashamed of." When he turned sorrowful pleading eyes to her, she gave in. "I'll tell you what, I need a bath, you need a bath, and we both need to eat. I'm sure the others are up and breakfast is made. After we eat, and you feel a little better, I'll tell you everything, ok?" Her eyes held such warmth in them for him his heart started pounding loudly again.

He swallowed hard trying not to think of what he could have done to cause such warmth and emotion from this girl. "Kagome... I .. uh... we ... we didn't.. uh... " He flushed and looked away.

She smiled again and laughed softly. "Inuyasha... no, we didn't. In fact you were a prefect gentleman. Which really surprised me. Makes me think I'll have to get you drunk more often." With that, she rose and began to walk toward the bathing area. She stopped and looked over her shoulder. "Are you coming?" then with the briefest pause, and dripping in amusement, she added, "Beloved husband."

He started at her words and looked at the girl, standing in full sunlight, clothed only in his shirt, his white shirt. He realized his shirt didn't hide anything the way she was standing and the morning's strong rays shone through the shirt, showing him her curves. He closed his eyes, and groaned. At the impatient stomp of her foot, he rose and picked up his haori they had lain on. He paused for a brief moment to collect himself, and turned to follow the girl to the bathing area.

When they reached the bathing pool, he paused again, starting to feel uncomfortable. "Uh, Kagome, maybe I should go back to the hut while you bathe.." he began.

She laughed back over her shoulder at him. "Oh Inuyasha, I'll just go on the other side of the rock outcropping. It'll be okay. I promise not to look." She gave him an outrageous wink, and disappeared on the other side. He heard her shocked gasp as she dove in the water, and her delighted laugh as she splashed around.

Groaning, trying not to image what she was doing a few short feet from him, Inuyasha stripped and stepped into the water. He made quick work of washing, sped up by not wanting to be caught nude by this .. this unusually behaved Kagome, and his need to find out just what the hell happened last night.

He was dressed, albeit wetly, and waiting for her when she came around. He glanced at her for a moment before draping his haori over her. His shirt clung to her wet skin, making it worse than if she had been naked. He swallowed hard and tried not to look at her as she laughingly wrapped his haori around herself.

"You know, this isn't the first time I've worn your clothes after taking a bath." She giggled.

He cast his mind back, trying to remember the incident she spoke of. Then he had it. The Peach Man. He had been in his human form, bleeding quite a bit from the Peach Man's restraining vines, when he burst into the kitchen where Kagome had been taken. And there she was, dripping wet, nude in a large vat of sake, looking like a goddess. He groaned, just thinking of it, wanting to sneak a look at her, but not willing to see the rejection in her eyes if she saw what his held.

They walked in silence back to the village and Kaede's hut. Inuyasha had the thought that he really should build his own place, as much time as he and his friends spent here. Kaede needed her space for her work and the peace to study. He began to form plans in his mind, and thinking of a likely spot on where to build it, when Kagome spoke and shocked him into stopping.

"I think the spot you showed me last night for our home will look beautiful. It's perfect! Close to the well, and close to the village, but not too close." He shot a look at her, but her eyes were half closed in a dreamy sort of way.

"Kagome." He said before she got too far ahead. When she turned to look at him, he asked seriously, "What made you think of that?"

She smiled and unconsciously scratch an itch on her chest. "Well, I was thinking how we should to find our own place as Kaede-sama really needs her place for her work, and we all make way too much noise." She ducked her head shyly. "And last night... well last night you showed me where you want our home to be." A blush bloomed crossed her cheeks.

His mind whirled. 'How is it that we could have had the same thought at the same time?' Shaking his head despite the pain he asked aloud, "What the hell happened last night?"

Kagome laughed lightly, and grabbing his hand, she pulled him along. "I'll tell you as soon as we eat. Everything, and until then, I'll even stop teasing you, okay?" She smiled brightly up at him before they entered the hut.

Sango and Miroku looked up as they entered. Miroku looked worse than Inuyasha felt. Despite how he might be feeling, the lecherous priest grinned brightly taking in Kagome's look, and winked at the hanyou. "So how was your night, ne? Have fun?" He yelped when Sango hit him on the head.

Sango jumped to her feet, and came to the couple. She smiled up at Inuyasha and pulled Kagome behind the changing screen. Inuyasha's ears could pick up the excitement in the whispered conversation, and many giggles as Kagome change clothes. He closed his eyes. 'Oi, I can't wait for this day to end.'

"Oi, Inuyasha, where did you and Kagome-sama disappear to after you took off?" Miroku asked gesturing for the hanyou to take a seat. "I mean, it's kind of fuzzy to me, but I do recall you throwing Kagome-sama over your shoulder and making for the trees."

Inuyasha groaned. "I have no idea."

Miroku glanced at him. "Huh? What do you mean?"

The hanyou looked at his friend, and replied softly, "I don't remember anything after you handed me that cup of sake. I don't know what happened."

Kagome said coming into the room, "I said I'd tell you after breakfast, and not a minute before. Besides, that bouzu was almost as bad as you. If he tried to tell you anything, it would only confuse things, and make it worse." She dropped his shirt and haori in lap, and touched his shoulder, her fingers lingered on his bare skin.

Steeling himself to not shiver with the desire her touch caused, he picked up his shirt and put it on quickly. It smelled like her in a combination of her end of the day smell and her freshly bathed smell. He closed his eyes and covered the moan that rose from the center of his being with another groan turned to growl. At Miroku's startled look, he glowered at him and said menacingly, "Don't ever give me sake again!"

After his outburst, breakfast became a quiet affair, at least until Shippou woke up to find his beloved Kagome had returned. He flew at her and buried his face in her shoulder. He wiggled and hugged her in his excitement, causing the girl of his affection to giggle and pet him, ignoring her food.

Inuyasha growled deep in his throat, startling himself. He felt an overwhelming need to pull the kitsune away from Kagome, and force her to finish eating. 'Why am I acting like this? It never bothered me that way before to have the kit jumping all over her like that. Why now?' As he looked at the two, seeing the light in her eyes as she spoke with the obviously delighted kitsune, he felt a pang of jealousy and possessiveness he'd never allowed before. 'What the hell happened last night?' he groaned to himself.

Kagome settled Shippou in her lap and allowed him to eat the rest of her breakfast. She looked over at Inuyasha, and was surprised to see the look he gave her. It held possessive tenderness, and love. 'What? huh... I wonder if he's starting to remember last night?' She smiled brightly at him and looked down to answer Shippou's question.

When the breakfast things had been cleared away, Inuyasha cleared his throat looking pointedly at Kagome.

She looked at him, and blushed. "I think we probably should take a walk, or something. There are some things I don't think you want everyone to know about." She shot apologetic looks at their three friends. "After I tell him what happened, if he wants to share, then it'll be up to him."

Inuyasha nodded, and started for the hut's door, snatching up Kagome's hand as he passed. He pulled her along with him gently, but firmly. He had waited long enough. His head had finally stopped pounding, and he thought his senses were back in order. He only needed to know what happened to make it all better.

They were out of the village and walking towards Inuyasha's forest before he slowed enough to let her speak. Unconsciously, he held onto her hand.

Kagome caught her breath. Now that it was time, she felt very self-conscious of what had happened. She noticed he hadn't released her hand, and that gave her the confidence she needed to at least start...

~~The Night Before~~

"Come on Inuyasha, I thought demon's liked the vices of the world." Miroku teased. He poured himself another cup of sake, and downed it in one swallow. His vision was beginning to get blurred, and he definitely felt no pain. He tried his most suave smile on Sango, in the hopes she'd let him touch her where he wanted without hitting him again.

The hanyou growled and grabbed the cup the monk just poured. He hated having his lack of skill in any area demonic thrown in his face. He had swallowed just as Sango yelled, "Inu DON'T!!" She hit Miroku hard. "Don't you know you're not suppose to get hanyous drunk!?! The alcohol effects multiply rapidly for half-breeds, especially human/demon half-breeds." She looked worriedly at the oni-inu sitting across from her, not sure what to expect. "He could do anything, and there's nothing we'd be able to do to stop him."

Kagome turned to Inuyasha, worry in her eyes. She watched as he tried to set the cup down, and wound up dropping it. He swayed and steadied himself. He looked at her with a wide silly grin.

"Oi wench, come 'mer." He leaned over to her, and scooted closer. She watched as his eyes closed, and his lips pucker. Kagome became alarmed when she realized what he was about to do and jumped back, pushing his face away from hers.

"Hentai!" She screeched. Inuyasha crashed to the floor backwards, and lay still. Kagome looked over with concern. He wasn't moving. She didn't push him that hard. What happened? She stood over him looking down. His eyes were closed, and that silly grin was still plastered on his face. She leaned closer and suddenly she was in his lap, his arms around her holding her tight.

"That's what I like about you, wench." He grinned at her. "You're fiery, and you care." He kissed her then, and the world seemed to stop. Inuyasha's drunken stupor seemed to have lifted, instead being replaced by something tender and nice. Once their kiss broke, he released Kagome with an apology. And promptly asked her out for a walk.

They walked along the river path, talking lightly of subjects Inuyasha hardly spoke of before. He told her more of his childhood, growing up hated by the humans in his village, hated by his half brother. He told her of the thoughts and ideas, dreams and plans he had, and none had to do with chasing Naraku or hunting for Shikon shards. He asked her of her dreams, and what she thought of. He was genuinely concern for things she cared about. At one point in their stroll, he pulled her along with him, excitement exuding from his every pore. She followed in a bemused state. They had past the Bone Eater's well and were close to the other side of the clearing when he stopped.

"There." He had let go of her hand to dramatically present a small alcove in the trees.

Kagome looked at the spot, and back to the hanyou. His eyes were bright with excitement shining in them. He looked very happy, very relaxed, like he'd never had a bad day in his life. She looked back at the spot and asked tentatively, "There?"

He hooked his arms about her waist suddenly, and holding her tight against him with one arm, he smoothed back her hair with his other hand. "Koishii, I have waited for this day, waited to tell you how I feel. This spot … this spot is where I will build our home, and we will raise our pups." He looked down on her face intently, smoldering emotion flashing in his eyes.

Trying to catch her breath, her mind whirling with the shock of what she was hearing, she stammered, "W..w..what?" All the while wondering if it were the sake talking or really what he felt.

Inuyasha kissed her, showing her with his mouth how he felt, showing with his gaze. Setting her down, holding her until she found her footing, he said softly, "Come." He took her hand and led her to where the house would be. He place her in one spot and told her not to move. Talking all the while of where rooms would be, what they would do, even the name of their first born boy and girl, he ran around the clearing gathering stones to form the outline of the house.

Kagome giggled, and began to get excited with him. She argued where the bedrooms should be placed, and what direction the door should be in. She pointed out spots for flower beds, and a garden. In their happy little dream, they met in their 'bedroom' and he took her in his arms again. They kissed, lips meeting gently.

"I love you, Kagome. I have since the day you stood before me, bravely telling me your name. Your name had been tattooed on my heart since." He whispered in her hair, pulling her closer.

Kagome's heart skipped. Oh she wished she knew for sure if what he was telling her now were true. She gave in to his feelings. For one night, one magical night, it wouldn't matter. She would have this night, a night of dreams. She breathed out his name, "Inuyasha... " She lifted her head to see his face, pulling back from his arms. "I have loved you from the moment I looked upon your face, and first rubbed your ears." She smiled up at him, letting all the emotions she normally hid shine through this night.

He snatched her up in his arms and growled lovingly down at her. "That does it. We're getting married!" He announced. She started to protest, but he stopped her words with a kiss. Carrying her close to his chest, he ran back to Kaede's hut.

Miroku looked up from his cup as Inuyasha and Kagome burst through the door. He rose staggeringly to his feet, wondering what chased the couple.

Sango rose from the corner where she had put a very drunk sleepy kitsune to bed. Shippou got curious after seeing how drinking that stuff made both Miroku and Inuyasha act, he snuck a drink. Sango stood shocked by the happiness her two friends radiated, and was further shocked by Inuyasha's incessant demand for Miroku to marry them. She looked at Kagome, who blushed and shook her head slightly.

Miroku grinned delightedly. "I'd be happy to marry you my friend."

Kagome gasped and demanded to be put down. Her husband to be immediately complied and released her. Crashing to the floor, she lost her breath. Catching it suddenly, she cried out, "SIT!" Inuyasha dropped like a rock, on top of her.

He grinned, his face pressed to her chest. His muffled laughter could be heard. Kagome gasped as his laughter, where he was, created excited sensations deep inside her. As soon as he was able, he sat up and helped her as well. He looked at her with such love and desire, it caused her heart to skip again. She looked away with a blush.

Sango pulled Miroku aside and whispered angrily, "You cannot marry them! Inuyasha is drunk and has no idea what he's doing or saying. There's no way I'll let you do this to Kagome-chan!" She threatened him with a wave to her massive boomerang.

Miroku gulped. He was drunk, but not stupid... yet. "I'll fake a ceremony. But what do you think will happen on their marriage night?" His thoughts did just thought, earning him a thump on the head.

Sango bit her lip, uncertain. 'Maybe I could slip something into his drink and make him sleep it off.' She thought, and discarded it. She doubted he would drink it. She called Kagome over, and held a whispered conference with her. Sango asked again, "Are you sure? I could try to make him sleep..."

Kagome shook her head. "I couldn't do that to Inuyasha. I don't think he'll try anything. But if he does..." Her voice drifted off and her gaze turned to the object of her thoughts. "If he does, I guess that will be alright as well." She smiled brightly at the girl next to her. "Don't worry Sango-chan. Everything will work out just fine. I love him, and he loves me. I can't believe it's just the sake talking." The girls hugged and returned back to the two men waiting for them.

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Kagome's voice drifted off softly. She was nervously twisting her fingers together. They had returned to their 'home site', and Inuyasha walked around, looking at the outline laid out on the ground, and back to the girl.

He could see she was nervous, and briefly he wondered why. She told him herself what she told Sango, that she didn't think it was just the sake talking. Then a thought struck him. "How did you wind up in my shirt?" he asked softly.

She blushed, and replied "You were... well, after our 'marriage', you did throw me over your shoulder and ran out the door." She glanced up at him. He was staring intently at her, his face expressionless. "I made you carry me on your back since you wouldn't put me down. Everything was fine until you tried to show me what a good ma... mate you'd be." She giggled softly. "You kept leaping into trees, and running around. It was rather scary even if it was fun. You decided you had perfect balance, and tried to cross the rocks at the rapids. You slipped and dropped me." She laughed at the memory. "You felt so bad. I was standing in the river, wet and shivering." She shrugged. "You took off your haori and shirt, and ripped off my clothes to cover me with your warm ones." At this he did blush and looked rather uncomfortable. She reached out and took his hand. "Really Inuyasha, you were so very nice. I never once felt afraid of... of anything."

Holding her hand gently, he turned it over in his to look at it. So small, so soft. Such a tiny thing to hold so much... He looked at her softly, tenderly, and said, "You didn't say how we wound up sleeping in the forest."

She took a step closer, wanting to touch him, wanting his arms to be around her again. Head lowered, she continued the tale in a low voice, "After that, there really isn't much to tell. You carried me to the trees, and laid out your haori. We sat and talked some more. You were laying down, and after I told you some story, I realized you were asleep." She looked up at him shyly, and finished her story. "I curled up next to you and fell asleep myself." She stopped, and waited for his reply. A minute went by and he said nothing. She nervously dug into her pocket and pulled something out. She opened his hand and placed the object into it, adding, "I took this off you last night. It seems rather silly to use it any more. You.. you don't pose the threat I thought you did before."

Inuyasha looked at the subdue bead rosary he'd worn these past two years. His hand went to his neck. They had been gone for hours and he didn't miss them. He tried to take in all she had told him. He looked at the home his drunken self had outlined. He had done it. He had actually told this woman child how he felt about her, and where she fell into his life. Amazingly enough, she agreed! She sounded eager enough as she told of the events from the night before. She obviously wasn't angry. In fact her scent carried the warm emotions of love, trust, … even desire.

He realized he'd been silent too long when the girl pulled her hand from his and nervously played with her fingers again. He shook his head, not believing his luck, wishing like hell he could remember.

"I understand." She whispered quietly, her voice starting to crack.

Inuyasha looked at her startled. What caused this? "Kagome?" He stood next to her immediately, holding her arms, trying to peer into her face. She hid it from him, buried it in her hands. He pulled her hands away gently, asking why she was crying, why she was upset. 'Did she not want what she told me was her dream night?'

Kagome buried her face in his chest, crying softly. He was still being so nice, even if he didn't love her like he said. It was just the sake after all. She felt his arms around her, holding her, stroking her hair. His cheek brushed hers, causing her to look up at him. His eyes carried concern for her. His hand stroked her cheek, wanting her to feel his love, to accept it.

"Kagome, my only regret about last night is not remembering it. I would love to be able to share that memory of you. Sharing our first kiss, and remembering when I tell you how I really feel about you." He ended his short speech with his lips on hers. Kissing her mouth soft and gentle, and as she responded, more demanding, showing her the depth of his want, his need for her. Breathless, he pulled back, still holding her in his arms. "Kagome, never doubt what I said last night. I love you, and do want you to share this dream, with me." His arm waved back behind them, encompassing the alcove, the meadow, and the village beyond.

Kagome smiled. She felt happy now. Happier than she'd ever been in her life. She knew she could show him, and he wouldn't be upset. Stepping back, she drew her shirt down to the rising swell of her breast and showed him. "It happened last night. It was the last thing you did before falling asleep."

Inuyasha looked closer. Recognition dawned. It was a mate mark... his mark. He felt a pulsing throb deep in his loins as his fingers brushed the mark. No wonder so many things that confused him about the day happened. He looked at the woman before him. She stood proud now, staring him in the eye, challenging him to take it back. "You never said..." his fingers brushed the mark again.

She smiled, reassured. "If it were the sake talking last night, I didn't want you to feel obligated. I couldn't do that to you because of my need for a dream night with you."

He pulled her back into his embrace, his hand in her hair. He kissed her, feeling the pulsing throb of his loins again. The thought he needed to officiate their marriage went through his brain, as he kissed her. He pulled away to say, "Silly girl. Didn't you know that once a mark is given, until that mate dies, he will always be yours. Nothing and no one could keep that from happening." He pulled her close, whispering into her hair, "You are mine now."

The sunlight shone down from overhead, it's rays dancing through the trees, highlighting the youkai and his woman, as they turned to their home and began to plan their future.

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