.Somehow Kagome managed to be sitting on the bed when he go there. He wasn't sure when she had gotten so fast. Her hair was down and her kimono was still tied around her. But it seemed only to still be on because it was tied behind her. Inuyasha crossed the few feet between them in record time and kissed her long and hard. He had been taunted by he lovely hips all day and it was now a relief to have them pressed so tightly to him .Kagome was working at his shirt when he pulled away. Breathing hard he tried to calm himself, "Wait" Kagome stopped abruptly and waited. Good thing Kagome was patient, he pulled back to sit next to her at eye level and took both of her hands into his, "There's something I need to ask you. Before we… Go any farther."

"Hmm?"

"Kagome… Would you be my… My mate?"

Kagome turned red, "What?"

Inuyasha scratched his head, turning red himself, "Well, Myouga told me about it once… It's um… Kinda like what humans call… Barriage?"

Kagome looked up at him wide-eyed and extremely red, "You mean MARRIAGE."

Inuyasha looked away further embarrassed by his mistake, "Yeah… Anyway… First we have to… Well that's taken care of but… I think all you have to do now… Is agree."

Kagome looked him in the eyes. Deep brown meeting gold. Damn those eyes, Inuyasha's internal self growled. Suddenly he was finding it hard to breathe. "Will you do something for me first?"

Inuyasha's eyebrows went up, "What?"

Kagome was now extremely close. Less than a half-foot away. He gulped, "Inuyasha… I love you… Say you love me."

"I do, Kagome."

"Yeah but I want… No I need to hear you say it." There was a plea in her voice. Was she begging him to say it. Was she that desperate to know that he cared.

"Kagome…" He didn't care if his voice sounded like a cry for help. This was the one thing he could not do. He had tried dozens, no, HUNDREDS of times. But every time he tried it came out wrong. Ninety percent of the time they ended up arguing afterward. He didn't want to, but they did. It was inevitable. "I don't know if I can… I don't-"

Kagome stood abruptly and batted away imaginary dust off her kimono, "Fine… I understand… I can't force you to say it if you don't want to…Well, perhaps we should head back don't you agree? There is a lovely party out here just waiting for us." Her voice sounded sad. She looked him in the eyes, her eyes were angry and sad and accusing. Then he felt a slight bang of quilt. Kikyo… Kagome's eyes were accusing him of still loving Kikyo. Of not being able to love her because of it. Of using her for his own guilty pleasure and luring her to go to bed with him. And the thought of it broke her heart. When did Kagome get so easy to read? Honestly? He hadn't thought of Kikyo for weeks. Not since the new moon. There was no need. But now he came to a sort of realization. He hadn't excepted that even if Kikyo's soul still walked the earth they could not be together. The image of Kikyo that remained with the living was not the Kikyo he knew. He could care for Kagome with all his heart and still think of Kikyo. Kikyo was the first to win his affections but that did not mean she had to be his only infatuation. He'd never be able to forget Kikyo, even if he tried with all his will he couldn't. If he hadn't know her he wouldn't be who he was at this moment sitting watching the most amazing women he'd every met walk out the door. In his mind he saw Kikyo just before he went under her spell. A look of painful despair, mixed with pure hatred. No, this couldn't be right. He was three words away from having that amazing girl be his forever. That girl wasn't Kikyo and it wasn't hatred, only anger. Anger could be cured, hatred was harder. And now she was half way to the door and already in tears. It wasn't that he didn't feel that way. He did. A thousand times over. He just couldn't express it. Without thinking he took two big strides and Kagome was in his arms, she tried to push him away and surprisingly almost succeeded but Inuyasha was stronger.

"Kagome, please try to understand. I know it's hard to believe but I just CAN'T say no matter how much I want to. I say it the only ways I know how-"

"What? By playing mind games and arguing and using m-"

"By protecting you, keeping you close. I'm just a man Kagome. I can't change that. We aren't as good as women when it comes to emotional crap. You can say how you feel but… It's hard for me Kagome. I can slay demons with a stroke of my sword but I can't tell the one I care about what she needs to hear. No matter how much I want." Kagome looked up at him but he was looking at the floor. "Stupid right?"

"Yeah…" she said giving a small sorrowful laugh and looking away. "Really stupid." There was a brief silence. "Inuyasha?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you… I mean are you still in love with-"

"Kagome, you've like guys in the past right?"

It took her a second to answer, "Yeah?"

"Do you still love them?"

"Well… No not really…" She wasn't sure were this was going. That made him feel better. Neither did he.

"I can't forget Kikyo. I can't. But you and her are… Different people. You've said it a million times. And each time I've heard it. But my brain-"At Kagome's abrupt gaze of surprise he glare. "Yes I have one of those! My brain never got around to analyzing it. You and Kikyo aren't even close to being alike. Perhaps you have her power and there's a slight resemblance but Kikyo never…" He paused. How could he put this. "She never accepted me as a half-demon. She wanted me to become all human. But you…" He squeezed her a little. "You said you like me just as I was. I might not be able to fully forget Kikyo but only because she taught me… She taught me how important trust is. Without it things just fall apart. That's why we've managed to make it this far."

"You trust me?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

"It just never seemed that-"

"I do trust you. I trust you with my greatest treasure. The one thing I once swore I'd never give to anyone else."

"What?"

"I trust you not to break my heart…"

Silence. "That was kinda cheesy." More silence. Then suddenly Kagome raised her head and looked at him, "I never answered your question did I?" she spun around, to Inuyasha's confusion Kagome smiled through her tears, "I will Inuyasha." She was joking. She had to be. But she took one of his hands in hers. There was a slight pull and he felt as if their very souls had connected where their hands were laced together. The connection started out frail, then it held fast. They were one. Man and women. He felt as if he'd shared her life time. As if there was no time they had ever been apart. After being so angry and alone, even when surrounded by friends, it was nice to be with the one he care for most. "I'm sorry I-"

He smiled and put a finger to her lips, "Don't be." then scooping up his princess and carried her to the bed.

...o0OO0o...

Sango sat in her room. She had stayed at the party long enough to through in a flower then went back to her room. She was unable to watch that… WOMANIZER! He was there no more than a minute and he was flirting with the women. Pretending he didn't want them to share his room tonight. HA! She was satisfied with sitting here in here room destroying her extra pillow. "Why should I be mad! I'm not jealous of THEM!" she slashed her pillow some more, "Why should I care what that man DOES! It's not like he cares about MY FEELINGS! WHY SHOULD I CARE!" On 'care' she threw the sword at a wooden beam pillar hitting the center of a knot hole. Leaning against the wall she slid to the floor, hugging her knee and halfway to tears, "I just do…" Suddenly there was a rapping at here door. "One minute!" she yelled grabbing the remains of her pillow and stuffing it under the one that was still intact. "Come in!" she said before realizing she'd left the sword in the beam. The door opened and speak of the devil. It made her wonder how much he'd heard. He was holding a pillow under his arm.

"Ah, Miss Sango, I was wondering if you had an extra pillow? Mines hard as a rock."

"You're not at the party?"

"Obviously… I was tired and thought I'd come back. The women were being kinda… Clingy." He looked at her. "You realize you're covered in feathers don't you?"

"No." she answered to quickly. Miroku came in and closed the door.

"What's wrong…" she didn't answer. "Sango…" his voice sounded hurt and it made her angry. What did he care if she didn't voice her problems to him, when HE was the reason she felt so shitty. What did HE care if she was hurt by his flirting. She didn't need or want his concern.

She clenched her teeth and answered slowly, "If you honestly don't KNOW then you should leave now." She then turned away and tried to cover up the fact she was in tears by brushing off the feathers from attack on her pillow. But he didn't leave. Instead he shifted and quite oddly, chuckled. She grabbed a jar that was sitting on the night stand and threw it at him. He cushioned the blow with the pillow he was holding and the jar shattered. He was staring at her as he took a step closer, and that just made her madder. She pushed him and suddenly she was in his arms with her head snug under his chin.

"I'm sorry Sango." he chuckled. "I knew you got angry when I flirted with women but I didn't realize the severity of the situation. You see Sango… I like it when you get mad. When you hit me and fuss when I flirt with pretty girls. Quite frankly it just make me want you more. It's not that I'm not serious about you, but even if we someday defeat Naraku, I may not live to see that day. But if I do I want to share every moment after with you. Until then though we cannot be much more than companions. I don't want to hurt you Sango."

Sango looked up. Miroku was smiling but his eyes were sad. She wished there was something she could do to ease his pain. It took everything she had to control a blush when she realized why she cared. She wanted Miroku's attention, his love, his thoughts. She wanted him to want her. Just as she wanted him. And he did. Though he'd flirt and admire other women, she was special to him. Suddenly she reached up and kissed him. It was the softest, sweetest, most tender kiss she ever had and she didn't want to let go. At that moment she vowed never to willingly kiss another. After a few long moments she pulled away meeting his eyes and wishing he could read her thoughts. Miroku's eyes were wide but he eventually nodded, and let go of her. Leaving her to her thoughts and cleaning up the innards of her pillow with a smile. For now a kiss would have to do.

...o0OO0o...

Kouga woke up in his tribes lair. The kid (Zara he believed she called herself) was curled up in a corner, still asleep. It had taken him all day yesterday to make the trip which usually only took a couple of hours. Turns out the kid was afraid of heights and he had to run on foot. He also had to stop a few dozen times to get her something to eat. Girl was no taller than his waist but ate anything he caught, and was still hungry. Last night he had to tell her five stories before she fell asleep half way through the sixth about a cat demon who stole stars from the sky. He sighed. When Kagome joined his tribe they were NOT having children. He'd come to realize that this child couldn't be Kagome's and planned to return her that afternoon. She was a handful. Stretching he went to check on his clan. They all were lounging about lazily. It was late morning and the hunting party had retuned before dawn with breakfast. Of course a large chunk of meat waited for him on their makeshift table. Just as he was about to take a bight he felt a tug on his clothes. Looking down he met Zara's large brown eyes, and groaned. Leaning on his elbow, he swiped the plate off the table to the ground, where the girl munched on it happily. He sighed. No jewel shard was worth this. Suddenly he heard the warning call of his pack mates. They were under attack.