A/N: OK, guys, I'm so SO sorry that I wasn't able to update but I had to be called in a lot during the past two weeks of work because one girl quit and another had a car accident and was in the hospital. Don't worry, though, I have most of the weekend off so I should be able to update soon. Anyway, I'll do my acknowledgements next time because I'm about to go to work right now XP. But just know that they meant a lot to me. Hope you guys like! Tell me what you think and I'm always up for suggestions.

CHAPTER TWO

Enter Eros, the determined god

He also knew that he would have to make a connection with Kagome first, let her know that he was the one for her. Just as he knew she was the one for him.

Once the sparkling water became an inky black at the touch of his hand, Eros knew he was in trouble. The dormant water suddenly began churning wildly, lapping at his robe and distorting the image of the village. Watching the image of the girl in the water disappear, Eros's heart pounded in his chest and he frantically plunged both of his hands in the water. "No," he whispered fervently. "Bring her back."

The god was still frantically searching the water when he suddenly felt unnatural warmth circling him in the water. Gasping, Eros stared in wonder as the water began to glow around him and he had barely a moment to gather his surroundings before he was pulled harshly under the surface. The water rushed past Eros with an unforgiving chill and he was sure that if he hadn't been immortal he would have died.

Please, Eros begged silently and closed his eyes while he plummeted toward the bottom of the lake. Let the pain end…I can't take it anymore…

And, as if his prayers were enough, it did. When he noticed that there hadn't been a bone-jarring collision, he opened his eyes cautiously and was awed to realize that he seemed to have fallen into the sky. Little starbursts of light floated around him, swirling around him as he drifted through a rich, unknown darkness. For the first time in his life, Eros was truly terrified. Here he was, alone, in some sort of empty place and he knew no way to return to the garden. Was this where he was to remain, floating endlessly with no companion? The old witch probably wanted to punish him for his actions.

Even now he could imagine her cackling maniacally. If I ever get out of here…

But his fears soon quieted when he realized that he wasn't alone. Just below him, a girl floated through the space, her black hair swirling around her face. Well, at least her top was floating. The rest of her disappeared through a hole beneath her. Who is she? Eros wondered and looked closer at her face. Surprise shot through Eros when he realized that it was the girl from the lake…The Girl Who Loves Eternally. Without conscious thought, Eros drifted towards her, his heart catching in his chest when he realized that her eyes were screwed shut in fear.

Opening her eyes, she looked at him in wonder and more than a little bit fright. Slowly, Eros extended his hand to her, trying to convey with his gaze that she didn't need to be afraid of him. For a moment, they both stayed suspended in the air, both looking at each other uncertainly.

Please, Eros thought, trying to reassure her with his smile and show her that he would never do anything harmful towards her. Trust me.

She looked at him through her curtain of hair and her cocoa eyes suddenly lost some of the fear as she reached her hand out to grasp his. Eros tried not to let out a whoop of joy. He didn't want her to think he was strange, after all. But that didn't stop a goofy grin from spreading across his face as he squeezed her fingers and began to pull her towards him.

I don't care what I have to do, Eros vowed as the girl looked up at him with wide eyes. I'll find a way to get back to Mt. Olympus and she can stay with me. We can build a life together after she has been granted immortality and I could make her happy…I know I can.

Someone's angry shout shattered the intimate bubble the two had been in, causing the girl to look down. Whoever it was, his voice was gruff with desperation and anger. Slowly, the girl was being pulled downwards while screams were still drifting through the air. Frowning, Eros began to apply his own pressure, trying to tug the girl away from whoever was intruding. Who is this trying to take her? Eros thought angrily, tugging harder. What does he want with her?

The thought of someone dragging her down and possibly harming her didn't settle well with the panicked deity. Tightening his grip, Eros grabbed the girl by the forearms in an attempt to lift her out of the enemy's grasp. The girl's mouth was open in a silent gasp as Eros began to win the little battle that was going on, steadily bringing the girl closer to him. Soon that gruff voice sliced through the void again, and something about what he said seemed to wake up the girl before Eros. While her eyes had been dreamy and dazed before, they now hardened with resolve.

With a deft pull of her arm, the girl tried to free herself…

from him?

Eros stilled from the shock and hurt that assaulted him while he watched the girl try to wrench herself from him. With a slight frown, Eros looked her in the eye, letting his eyes communicate to her that he was trying to protect her. She ignored his gaze this time, turning her head away and continuing to struggle with all her might.

What is she fighting me for? Is it that man-

But Eros's thoughts were cut off when the man on the other side of the portal let a mighty roar of anger and that was the last thing that Eros was aware of before the girl was swiftly jerked downward, taking him with her.

Unable to hold on any longer, Eros felt his fingers release their clutch on her and for those few seconds that Eros was airborne, he thought of how he failed to keep her safe. Then he fell unceremoniously on his rear, giving a very ungodly squeak of pain. Rubbing his hand over the sore area, Eros looked up and the sight that greeted him kick-dropped his heart to his fine, strapped sandals.

The girl, the one that the Oracle told him would love him alone, was in the arms of the strange creature from the image in the lake.

His eyes clouded with fear and confusion, Eros bit his lip to keep from shouting when the being with white hair placed one large hand behind her head and closed his eyes contently. Must he hold her so…tenderly?

Why would the Oracle bring me to her if she is already attached? Eros grieved, his hand clenching his tunic with a sorrow that consumed him. Even when I'm trying to find love, Fate decides to smite me.

Through his distress, Eros watched as a strange red-headed child lifted his head from the ground and locked eyes with him. Eros stared at this child, questioning what kind of world he fell into that allowed children to have short, tanned tails and the feet of a fox. The bizarre child jerked up and said something to the embracing pair nervously in a dialect that Eros didn't understand.

Lifting his head, the boy with the strange ears looked at him and before Eros could take in another breath, the being was hovering over him menacingly, pointing a ridiculously large sword at his face, snarling in the same strange language as that child. Looking up, Eros was confused by the ominous grumbling coming from the young man.

Is he actually growling at me? What kind of animal is he?

Behind the growling brute, the girl peeked over at Eros and the god suddenly forgot all about his surroundings.

I never got a good look at her before, Eros thought dazedly as he craned his head to get a better look at the reason he was here. She's perfect.

Actually, the girl was not perfect. Her hair spilled down her back in a disordered array while in Mt. Olympus the women usually had their hair pulled up in beautiful, carefully constructed braids. Her robe was extremely short while in his home, the women wore robes that fell gracefully to the ground. Her eyes were an ordinary brown instead of the extravagant eye colors the women have in the other realm but the warmth that gaze had caught his breath. And, best of all, she had an adorable smudge of dirt on her cheek while most of the goddesses he grew up with wouldn't be caught dead looking anything other than faultless.

Now that I think about it, Eros mused as he stared at the girl stupidly. I don't believe I've ever seen one of the women back home looking anything but perfectly coiffed within an inch of their lives.

And that was exactly where her appeal began.

Sitting up, Eros smiled up at the girl, ignoring the way the creature she was traveling with took a slight step back in surprise before snarling again. Looking down at him, the girl blinked slowly before moving around Strange Ears Boy, moving cautiously towards him. Eros held his breath as the girl crouched before him, her beautiful face only a small distance from his. Looking at him in what he could only interpret as concern, she spoke to him and it didn't matter that he couldn't understand a word she was saying. Her voice, sweetly innocent, reached his immortal ears and he was sure that the smile on his face was the biggest he had smiled in his life.

Her mouth slightly open, the girl's cheeks tinged with pink as she spoke again, this time breaking eye contact.

"What is your name?" Eros breathed and the young woman only shook her head slightly, fluttering her hands about to let him know that she didn't understand him.

With a puff of frustration, Eros did the only thing he could think of: he reached out and touched her cheek lightly, only using the tips of his fingers. At the contact, warmth spread through his body and the girl's eyes widened. Soon all the sounds faded around them and Eros smiled winsomely at the young mortal before him. Reaching out, Eros allowed his mind to touch hers.

Ever since Eros hit puberty, the mischievous god was able to make mortal women fall in love with him with just one glance. You want me, Eros commanded of her conscious. No one else but me. His spell seemed to be working until the girl shook her head slightly, pressing a hand to her forehead. When she broke the eye contact, Eros could feel her mind blocking him out with such force that Eros was physically pushed away a little, causing him to lean back.

"Huh, that was weird. My head feels funny all of a sudden," the girl murmured thoughtfully and Eros was too stunned to notice that he understood what she was saying.

Impossible, Eros thought as he looked at the bewildered girl. By now any mortal woman would be swooning. How can this girl have the ability to deflect a god's spell? She's remarkable!

The girl was wrenched suddenly away from him and he was faced with what seemed to be a red wall. Looking up, he saw Strange Ears Boy baring his fangs, his eyes flashing with red. "I don't know what game you are playing," he snarled, curling his hands into fists by his sides. "But you keep the hell away from her, ya hear?"

Blinking in confusion, Eros stared up at the boy, which seemed to infuriate him further.

I can understand them now…why? It must be from that girl's touch, the surprised deity thought and Eros's fascination with the girl grew.

"That's it," Strange Ears Boy shouted, unsheathing his sword once again. "You had your chance to explain yourself. Now prepare!"

"InuYasha, wait!" The girl shouted, causing both of the men to turn to her in confusion. "Don't hurt him!"

"W-what?" Strange Ears Boy (well, the girl called him InuYasha) squeaked, his lips hanging open while he stared at her as if his heart had been ripped out.

"I don't think he wants to hurt me," the girl said, her certainty warming something inside of Eros…

"Well, that don't mean I can't shove Tetsusaiga up his ass for trying to kidnap you."

…There went that tender moment.

"But he could've hurt me by now if that was his goal," Eros's future bride protested. "Besides, can't you see he's hurt?"

Confused, Eros looked down to where she was staring only to realize that his left wing was brutally bent. The odd thing was that Eros was not even aware of the injury and still did not feel pain from it.

"You should let InuYasha get rid of him," the Fox Child piped up, looking up at the girl with watery eyes. "What if he tries to take you away again?"

Petting the child's head affectionately, the girl turned her head in Eros's direction with a slightly puzzled frown.

"I don't know what he is, but he isn't a demon," the girl said thoughtfully and Strange Ears Boy crouched before Eros, sniffing at him.

"Yeah, he ain't no demon. But he sure is strange looking." The boy agreed and Eros had had enough.

"Of course I'm not a demon," the displeased god said, surprised to hear that he was speaking in their tongue. "I came from Mt. Olympus."

"Mt. Olympus?" the girl gasped, pushing the dog creature aside so she could kneel before him excitedly. "I heard about the stories in my history class! But I thought that your kind didn't really exist. Oh, this is too cool! I'm talking to a piece of history!"

Growling, the dog strategically placed himself between Eros and the girl, causing Eros to frown at this blatantly possessive gesture.

"What do you mean his kind?" The boy asked irritably, cracking his knuckles while staring at Eros threateningly.

"Well, I learned in class that Mt. Olympus is a place where Greek gods live and the ruler of them all is Zeus, who can turn people into spiders and make thunder and lightning," the girl explained and Eros sat up straighter, smiling at her beyond the boy.

"You know of my people! How wonderful you are!" Eros exclaimed happily, causing the girl to blush and the dog to pounce, gripping the front of his robes and pressing him to the ground.

"You stop talking about her as if you know her!" Strange Ears Boy shouted, huffing heavily.

"InuYasha," the girl said sternly and, to Eros's surprise, the boy loosened his grip before turning away in disgust.

The girl, cradling a now very curious fox child, stood above them. "Don't be mad, InuYasha. Don't you get it? He must be a god."

Eros stared proudly at the girl who not only possessed beauty but intelligence as well.

Ah, Zeus, you have truly blessed me to find this girl, Eros mused while he heard the dog boy grumbling under his breath, his hand still cautiously on the sheath strapped to his side.

"What is your name?" Eros asked again, needing to know her name more than anything else in the world.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot my manners. I'm Kagome Higurashi," she said, bowing slightly before patting the boy in her arms on his head. "This here is Shippo and our friend over there is InuYasha. Don't mind him; he's only acting like that because he thought that you were trying to steal the shards from me."

"Shards?" InuYasha blinked stupidly for a few seconds, and then scowled fiercely at the girl.

"Is that all you think I care about?" The strange dog-man shouted while Eros pondered the girl's name.

Kagome…

Eros let the word linger in his mind, as he stared up at her. I like it.

Effectively ignoring her still-cursing friend, Kagome turned towards a bemused Eros and offered him a hand to help him up, sending him a mischievous grin that made her appear as impish as the little creatures who ran giggling in his garden at night.

"So, what is your name?" she asked and Eros grasped her hand as he stood up, suddenly feeling the pain of his broken wing.

"I'm Eros, the god of love," Eros said standing up and the close proximity to Kagome leaving him with a dry throat.

"Eros," Kagome repeated and Eros could only grin at her like a silly mortal. He like the way her cute accent caused her to pronounce the "r" in his name like a "d."

Say it again, he thought fuzzily but InuYasha stepped between them again with a ferocious growl.

"Kagome, what the hell do you think you're doing? You don't even know this bastard." Her companion admonished and Eros glared at his back.

"Hey, I'm just trying to help the poor guy! He's obviously lost. We should take him to Kaede and maybe she'll know what to do."

"Don't be stupid, wench. The dolt tries to kidnap you and you wanna help him? You're such an idiot sometimes."

"Well, excuse me for being a nice person!" Kagome shouted, taking a step towards the fuming dog boy.

"Oh, and I'm not?!" The boy's voice was rising dangerously

"What does it matter to you whether I want to help him or not? It's not like it's any of your business!"

"Because I can't stand the way he's looking at you!"

After the boy shouted this, the pair stilled and the child in Kagome's arms blinked at them both.

He doesn't like the way I'm looking at her? Eros thought despairingly. Is he in love with her?

The thought caused Eros to feel ill. Staring at the two he could see his happiness slipping away.

"InuYasha," Kagome said softly and the awe in her eyes cut Eros to the quick.

"Never mind," InuYasha grumbled, turning away from her with burning cheeks before glaring at Eros with a barely reigned temper. "And you, what the hell is your purpose for being here?"

At this, Eros glanced at Kagome, who was still staring at InuYasha. A confession of his desire to take Kagome back to Mt. Olympus with him hovered on the edge of his tongue but he held the fervent declaration in check. Firstly, he knew that just blurting out a marriage proposal to a girl was not the least bit romantic. And, as a being that created and destroyed love, Eros knew about romance. At least, he thinks he does.

He also knew that he would have to make a connection with Kagome first, let her know that he was the one for her. Just as he knew she was the one for him.

So he would keep that to himself.

"I have no idea what I'm doing here," Eros stated with a feigned air of innocence. "I was pulled into a void and, upon seeing Kagome, tried to help her but ended up in this world when you brought her back. All I want is to return home." The statement was the true, at least partly of the true.

InuYasha twisted his lips in a silent snarl and seemed to be getting ready to say something when Kagome spoke up. "See, I knew I could trust him! Before you rescued me, Eros really did try to help. I didn't really understand him or anything but it was something about his eyes…that made me trust him…" Kagome trailed off and blushed prettily, pressing her forefingers together nervously.

Eros felt a swell of flattery. He knew that his cobalt eyes were always sighed over by women, immortal or not. Why, Erato, one of the great muses, composed a ninety-line sonnet on his eyes alone.

Now that I think about it, Eros pondered with a slight frown. Erato does seem a little unbalanced.

But flickering said blue eyes in Kagome's direction, he wouldn't mind if she suddenly spouted out a thousand-lined poem on him.

"Well, he ain't coming with us," InuYasha said gruffly, and Eros glared at him, wondering just how much of a problem this creature would be with his plan to take Kagome home with him.

If I find my way home, that is…

"C'mon, InuYasha," Kagome pleaded and looked around her nervously. Somehow, while the trio had been speaking, villagers came out of their strange huts, carrying with them burning torches. And they didn't look too happy.

"OK, how about this? We camp out tonight before heading back to Kaede's and if we can somehow find a way to get Eros home then everyone is happy: Eros will be able to return to where he belongs and we can continue on as if this whole thing never happened."

It was ridiculous for Eros to feel hurt by Kagome's words, but he couldn't help but feel as if he was just an inconvenience to her. Besides, Eros thought determinedly. I'm not leaving here without her.

InuYasha shook his head violently. "I don't trust him," he growled and Eros was tempted to strike this arrogant creature down.

"Me neither," the child that Kagome held shouted out, baring his baby fangs at Eros in a growl that seemed to try to emulate InuYasha's and failed miserably.

"Well, then trust me," Kagome said, placing a hand on InuYasha's sleeve. Oddly enough, the dog boy seemed flustered by her touch, looking at her hand anxiously. "The last times I wanted us to help people it turned out fine. Miroku and Sango always helped us greatly in battle and remember that my wish to help you allowed you to stay with us, Shippo. What would have happened to you if we didn't want to help you?"

Shippo seemed humble for a moment, gazing up at the generous girl before snuggling into her arms. "OK, I guess if it's fine with you, then I can be alright with him," the little kit acquiesced. Smiling, Kagome turned her head to InuYasha, who huffed and turned his back to the group.

After a moment of silence, InuYasha glanced over his shoulder. "And if we get him to go home, we can continue looking for the shards?" InuYasha asked and Eros scowled.

After Kagome voiced her agreement, InuYasha sighed and nodded, causing Kagome to cry out in delight. "Alright, a brand new mission! I was getting a little bored with just shard hunting, anyway." Kagome may not have noticed InuYasha's shoulders stiffen at her words, but Eros did.

Interesting…

Bright with enthusiasm, Kagome led them out of the village where its inhabitants looked about ready for a mob scene. As she walked ahead, her dark hair bounced attractively and the hem of her strange robe swayed with each enthusiastic step.

Zeus, Eros thought with a slight smile, I never knew that mortal women had such exquisite legs.

When they reached a clearing, Kagome promptly began to get ready to sleep, rolling out a strange material over the ground while Shippo ran about getting wood for a fire.

Which left Eros and InuYasha; facing each other and glaring for all that they were worth.

"Once we fix this problem, I don't want you to ever return to my pack. And if you even think about touching Kagome, I'll kill you." Once InuYasha uttered these words with enough malice to poison the air around them, the canine turned and walked towards Kagome, demanding that she make him something to eat.

Hmm, he thinks I'm a threat, Eros thought as he watched Kagome place water in a strange contraption to boil. That must mean I'm doing something right.

A shimmering in the air between Kagome and InuYasha halted his thoughts, though. Soon it flickered, disappearing only to return and its presence caused Eros to feel dread. For, even as a god, Eros was not able to physically see the bond between two mortals unless they were connected within the depths of their souls.

Concentrating on the illustrious sliver cord that extended from Kagome's chest to InuYasha's, Eros was astounded to realize that their connection was the brightest that he has seen in all of his existence.

What could possibly bond these two so completely? Eros questioned, even as his very heart shattered at the sight of their connection. That doesn't matter. Whatever it is has caused me to have no chance with her. The two argued while Kagome handed InuYasha a steaming cup, completely unaware of the strand linking them together that was destroying Eros.

But Eros gasped softly as other colors developed over the silver cord, their shimmering brightness catching the despairing god's attention. Through the pure silver color that represented devotion and trust, other colors swirled within its beauty: the dull blue of miscommunication, the harsh, shiny red of self-doubt, and the vivid green of jealousy danced between the two, giving the god a slight bit of hope.

Since these conflicting emotions existed the pair's relationship, that must mean that they weren't official or anything like that. This meant that Eros still had a fighting chance.

"Here, are you hungry?" Kagome asked, extending her hand which held a steaming cup of foreign food before him, efficiently startling Eros thoroughly.

"Huh?" Eros stuttered and wanted to strike himself for his stupidity. Here was Kagome, the one that he went through all this trouble for, and he couldn't even speak with her. "Oh, well I don't necessarily need mortal food."

Kagome's face fell as she stated, "Oh, of course. How stupid of me to forget. You look so human that I forgot who you were. Well, besides your wings you look normal. How are you feeling, by the way? Are you in any pain? I've never dealt with wings before so I have no idea what I should do to help you-"

As she babbled on nervously, Eros's heart warmed and he reached forward and took the food from her, purposely allowing his fingers to brush against hers. He may not need the nourishment of mortals, but he wouldn't die from it, either. "I'd be happy to eat your cooking." Eros interrupted and Kagome paused for breath before bestowing upon him a smile that was as dazzling as it was beautiful.

Yes, Eros thought as she handed him strange sticks and began to show him how to use them. I could definitely love this girl.

After Eros was done with his meal ("noodles" as Kagome had called them-delicious!), Eros looked up at Kagome, hoping to get a chance to speak with her some more.

"Enough fooling around, you guys!" InuYasha barked and Kagome scowled at him, sticking out her tongue petulantly to Eros's amusement, before bidding him goodnight and sliding into her strange cocoon next to an already snoozing Shippo. Strangely, InuYasha waited until Kagome was asleep before settling next to her, his sword cushioned in his folded arms and resting against his shoulder. After sending Eros a glare that would strike a lesser man dead, he closed his eyes.

Eros was not fooled by the boy, though. If Eros took one step in Kagome's direction, he was positive that the possessive dog would slash him to ribbons. Eros could not find fault with that, though. Had he been with Kagome, he would be just as overprotective, if not more so. Because the girl – in the few hours that he knew her – already showed that she was no mere mortal maiden.

And…maybe that was why the Oracle believed that she was destined for him.

Eros frowned as he gazed upon her sleeping face, remembering how Kagome had been able to easily deflect his spell. Of course, no mortal, no matter how powerful, were able to resist his arrows that sway the motion of the human heart. Whether it was his golden arrows that awoken love, or his leaden arrows which led to indifference, he would have been able to make Kagome love him. Of course, Eros wasn't exactly expecting this predicament, thus his arrows were perched on his bed in his chamber in Mount Olympus.

The thought didn't cause him to despair. In fact, Eros had a slight smile gracing his lips as he closed his eyes. I will have to woo the woman with my own abilities, not as a god, but as a man. This should be interesting, to say the least.

That's it for now but I'll see you guys soon! Love, peace, and chicken grease!