Consequences and Kikyou

The following morning:

Kagome thinks at first that she is dreaming. Inuyasha is curled up around her in her sleeping bag by the fire, dozing peacefully. But as the fog of sleepiness clears, she realizes that this is very much real.

Inuyasha didn't seem to care anymore what anyone else thought of their being together, so long as she didn't—and she didn't. Hell, she wanted to proclaim it from the rooftops! Or in this time, treetops.

--

The day before, after they had made love, Inuyasha and Kagome had returned to camp hand in hand—and, to her surprise, Inuyasha hadn't pulled away once they were in sight of the others. He seemed to be sending a message to anyone with eyes--"she's mine!" And it it pleased Kagome immensely.

The taijiya addressed them with the biggest smile Kagome had ever seen, obviously happy for her friend. Also pleased with this turn of events, the kit greeted them with a "Wow, Inuyasha, you're holding Kagome's hand! You must really like her!" The young one beamed at the suddenly blushing couple. Still, the hanyou hung onto the miko's hand as if she would disappear if he let go.

But Miroku....As might be expected, the monk tried to make suggestive comments about the pair with entwined fingers, for which his woman gave him a heavy 'thwack' to the head--and Inuyasha flashed him a 'don't go there' death glare. The houshi, fortunately, had sense enough to back off then. After all, inside, he was as happy for them as anyone else in the group.

Even Miroku's suggestive comments failed to persuade Inuyasha to drop Kagome's hand. The hanyou didn't even reply in anger to the houshi's inappropriate comments, or defend himself as he normally would.

Kagome was in awe. She felt like asking whomever had caused the abrupt change, "Who are you and what did you do to Inuyasha?" But since the group had encountered no one else as of late, she had to assume—much to her disbelief—the she was that someone. She smiled at the thought.

At long last...

The half-demon kept his cool about the matter. Kagome wasn't complaining. She definitely approved of the change. Although...she did worry at first that this change had turned Inuyasha into someone he wasn't.

Breakfast on 'the morning after' allayed her fears.

--

"Damn, Kagome, how long does it fucking take to boil water? I'm hungry! Can't you hurry your ass up?" asks the grumpy hanyou impatiently.

"I have no control over how long it takes to boil water, Inuyasha!" Kagome replies. "You'll just have to be patient!"

"Keh" is his only response. Kagome smiles to herself. Inuyasha may have changed—for the better—but he is still the same rude, selfish half-demon she had fallen in love with.

--

Then it happens. Soul collectors. They slink into camp, and swirl around Kagome's lover and mate.

The young woman's jaw drops in shock. "Oh...I forgot about her..." she squeaks, unaware that she has spoken her thoughts aloud, hurt and fear evident in both her voice and her scent.

"Kikyou." Inuyasha mutters matter-of-factly. He rises, makes his way over to Kagome (who now has her head tilted toward the floor of the clearing)...and holds out his hand.

Kagome's head pops up in utter disbelief—to see a hanyou smiling down at her, his hand outstretched. "You comin' with me or not?" he asks gruffly.

Kagome grins up at him. She rises and takes his hand.

As the pair walks off, following Kikyou's messengers, she thinks to herself, He really has changed.

The End

A/N: Well that's it folks! Thank you to everyone who read, reviewed, and added me to their lists! I love you guys! :-)

And not to be forgotten, thanks to my beta Brakken!

Finally...I would very much appreciate your review!