A/N: Thanks, and welcome to the next chappie!

Inuyasha: Just get it started! Jeez!

ILM: OK, would you please do the disclaimer?

Inu: Feh, fine. The author owns no one in the manga or anime Inuyasha. If she did, Naraku would have died long ago! There, happy?

Chapter 2

Inuyasha entered the second hot spring, his back to Kaori's.

"So, I hear you're a great fighter." Kaori started a conversation with Inuyasha.

"Uh, thanks. I hear your mother was slain a month ago?"

"Yeah. She had a shard and wouldn't join Naraku, so he had Kagura kill her."

"That's awful! So what are your fighting techniques?"

"Thanks. I learned archery, claw techs, and some swordsplay. I'm a bit rusty with my swordsplay, though."

"That's ok. What happened to your mother's Shikon shard?"

"Before Kagura arrived, Ma gave it to me and told me to run. I did, never looking back. It's in the pouch at my belt, under my obi."

"That's good. At least Naraku didn't get another shard."

"He'll get my shard over my dead body! I'll never join him, not after my mother's murder."

"How's your sense of smell?"

"Well, I found my way to the village by following the scent of the jewel shard."

"You mean they have a scent?"

"Yes, and I can tell the number of shards by the strength of the shard-scent."

"Interesting." Inuyasha sniffed the air. "I smell wolf." Kaori also tested the air.

"Two shards."

"Koga." As Inuyasha growled the hated name, a whirlwind arrived and dissapated.

"Hey, Mutt-Face! How could you lose my woman?!"

"She was never your woman, Wolf-Shit! She no longer searches for the shards and is living with my ass of a brother!"

"Who is he? I'll kill him and take Kagome back!"

"My brother is Lord Sesshomaru of the Western Lands. If you can't kill me in a fair fight, then there's no way for you to defeat him! You're promised to Ayame, take her!"

"I'll take this one instead," Koga said, grabbing for Kaori.

"Hands off of me, you mangy wolf! That is, unless you want to lose your shards," Kaori snarled at Koga.

"How do you know about my shards, wench!" She tapped the side of her nose.

"Canine sense of smell. I know the scent of the jewel shards, and your legs reek of it."

"Fine! See ya!" With that, Koga dropped Kaori and took off. Inuyasha was turned to face her back, as he had been watching Koga speed off toward the west. Kaori turned around to thank him, and they both got an eyeful. Blushing deeply, each quickly turned away.

"Inuyasha, thanks for your help."

"With what?"

"Koga. He's disgusting in my book. Repulsive. Given a choice, I'd rather have you court me than him."

"Why me? I'm just a hated half-breed."

"I don't think Lady Izayoi would want you to talk like that."

"Whoa!" Inuyasha looked closely at her face. "Oh Kami! Inukoishii, is that you? I haven't seen you in about 75 years!"

"Inu-koi?" He nodded. She smiled widely, showing glinting white fangs.

"Inukoishii, you've filled out beautifully. I didn't even reconize you!"

"Our mothers chose to betrothe us. I've been searching for you for the past 50 years! I thought I'd never see you again!"

"Same here! Oh, I'm so glad you found me."

"I'm ecstatic that I found you! I missed you so much!"

"So, may I court you?"

"You may." After getting out of their springs and dressing, they gave each other a quick peck on the lips. Then the Inu-hanyou couple strolled back to Kaede's hut, hand-in-hand.