A.N.: The last two fluffy chapters were rather short. Here's an extra long one! But he warned: This chapter contains sexually suggestive themes and references. There will be no outright smut in this fic, but be aware that from this point forward, sexually suggestive themes and references will be possible. Proceed with caution if you are sensitive to such themes.

Kagome reclined in the cool grass, hiding from the heat of the day under the cool shadow of a large tree in a more secluded corner of on of the palace gardens. She had a pile of perfect, pink little flowers on one side, and on the other, a growing pile of naked stems. Teeny pink petals covered her abdomen, making her dress look less and less yellow with each petal she pulled and discarded.

Maybe "he loves me, he loves me not" was a childish game to be playing at this point in her life, but right now, she really didn't care.

She was... confused, and needed some clarity. Any clarity.

Even silly, childish clarity.

So far, the results were inconclusive.

Things had been going, well, weird. She cast her mind back over the last months from the start of all her confusion and apprehension.

The night after she'd been crowned story teller supreme at the Feast of Tales, Loki had congratulated her in the sweetest way. His voice was deep, soft and hypnotizing as he'd thanked her for her courage and her story, and then he'd lifted her hand and pressed his lips to her knuckles. She'd been completely gobsmacked. She hadn't even been able to glare at Fandral and his maniacal giggling at her expense. Since then, Loki had been everywhere. Not in an overwhelming, stalkerish way, but they did seem to spend more time together alone.

She was not complaining. After all, she'd come to terms with how she felt for him months ago, but it was confusing her poor little heart the way he was treating her.

And Fandral's comments about him liking her were not helping.

'Stupid Fandral. He gets too much joy out of teasing me. And my stupid heart finds too many things to be hopeful about.'

She sighed and let her eyes fall closed, feeling tired and disgusted and just straight up annoyed with herself.

'I can't POSSIBLY be letting a century old heartbreak get in my way NOW. I'm too old for that. I was practically a child when I loved Inuyasha, at least compared to how old I am now.'

But she had loved him, enough to give him everything. And it had apparently affected her enough that even in a solid century she hadn't felt this way for... anyone.

Not until Loki.

And he was just so far beyond perfect she couldn't believe he might actually be looking at her that way.

'So I guess I have no confidence. At least, not enough to think I can snag a prince. A GOD prince at that.'

She once again combed back over every last interaction they'd had in the time since the Feast of Tales, trying to decipher every word, move and expression. Even with the benefit of being able to read his aura, Loki could be hard to figure out. His very nature left him a bit of an enigma, and most of the time he just came across as smugly satisfied, like he was always several steps ahead and she had no doubt that he was.

There were also the times he was secretly amused about something, smirking to himself in the most infuriating way.

But there were so very many times his aura around her was soft and sincere. Her heart beat faster just thinking about it.

She did, however, giggle a little at how grumpy Thor had been about how close she'd grown to the younger brother. She was supposed to be his best friend and little sister. Not Loki's. It didn't matter how many times she insisted she was not Loki's sister, he was not pleased at all.

The faint tendrils of an all too familiar aura began to tickle the edges of her senses and her heart beat picked up its pace in response. She could feel the mischief and chaos writhing in it even from here, and her curiosity got the better of her.

She stood up, brushed the petals from her dress and reached out with her senses, locking on to the spot she could tell the source of the aura was coming from.

'He's... in the garden?'

She walked as quietly as she was able, soon enough coming upon his position hunkered down and hiding behind a garden wall covered in ivy. She crept up and marveled that he hadn't noticed her, biting her lip to stifle a giddy laugh. She bent forward so that she hovered just behind his ear which she normally couldn't reach with how tall he was, but as he was crouched down, casting some illusion on a thorny bush, she had the height advantage for once.

When she was but a hairsbreadth away, she sprung her attack.

"Whatcha doin?"

She startled him so badly he jerked completely upright, gasping out loud and spinning around, pinning her with a wide, shocked gaze.

She stood upright but nearly fell over in laughter, laughter that ended in a strangled squeak when he covered her mouth with his hand and pressed her back against the wall with his body.

"Shhh, you'll ruin everything!" He whispered and she nodded frantically, eyes bugging out of her face and heart beating wildly as every inch of her body in contact with his nearly burned.

He removed his hand when he was sure she would remain quiet.

"What are you doing?"

"Thor is taking some girl on a walk through this very garden and I've hidden the thorn bush so he'll walk into it."

"Isn't that a little childish?"

He smirked and shrugged and Kagome's cheeks burned when she realized he was still pressed against her.

"Just a bit of fun."

He stepped away then, peeking back around the wall and spotting his target moving right on schedule, and right into his trap.

His ears tickled as he heard a quiet, secret voice behind him.

'Kami-sama that was... intense. I hope he can't tell how fast my heart is beating.'

He turned back around and eyed her. She was staring at the ground with fierce blush, one hand pressed over her heart. He added it to his list of confirmations of her feelings and decided he was done with his teasing and flirting. He was never so certain as now that he wanted this woman, and though the move he was about to make might be the slightest bit underhanded, he was going to make the move anyway.

"You truly dont realize, do you? Even after all this time?"

"Realize what?" She asked, face flushed and the blue of her eyes wavering with confusion.

"That I can hear you when you pray?"

He watched as dread bled into her expression and all the color drained from her face.

"When I... pray?"

"Yes."

"But... But... but I'm not praying to you! I.. how?!"

"No, you aren't really praying to anyone specifically, or else I wouldn't be able to hear you. But Kami just means god, and I am a god. If I'm the closest one to you, I'll be the one to hear."

"But... but... but..." panic and embarrassment crushed her, made her face glow a deep, staining red. "But I'm not... how? I'm not trying to... not to anyone here!"

In her embarrassment her voice threatened to break past a whisper.

"Oh no oh no oh no oh no oh NO! This is... this awful!"

The sky opened then, a surprise summer shower dumping over their heads.

He dashed forward and wrapped his arm around Kagome's shoulders, ushering her into a nearby alcove hidden enough out of the way that they'd be safe from the rain. It was small and cramped, and he found himself pressed against her gain, but her face was hidden in his chest, as she had no where else to hide.

"It's not so terrible. I'm very flattered."

She glared at him and he couldn't help but grin at the adorable way her nose scrunched up.

"Do not make fun of me. That's mean."

"I would never."

Her flat stare told him exactly what she thought about that statement.

"Alright, I would. But I'm not. I really am flattered Kagome, and why shouldn't I be? You're a lovely, incredible woman."

Her eyes were big and round with shock, and her bright red blush made her eyes seem just that much more blue.

"What?" Her voice was whisper soft, and it drew his eyes to her lips. Since realizing he may have certain preferences for her, Loki had endeavored to spend more time in her presence, and every second there made him more certain that she was something special, something he wanted for himself.

With the pad of his thumb he wiped away a stray drop of rain trailing down her forehead.

"Indeed, you are very beautiful. Beautiful, brave, strong, honest. You are remarkable, Priestess Kagome."

Scarcely breathing, unable to believe this sudden turn of events, Kagome blinked, searching his gaze desperately for signs of his duplicity.

"Is this one of your pranks?" She asked, voice small and choked with emotion.

"You tell me."

She searched his aura, finding no evidence of mischief or falsehood. Her eyes fluttered closed at the light touch of his hand as he wiped the rain away from her skin.

When she felt his lips press lightly to hers, her heart stopped completely.

She lifted up on her tip toes, pushing closer, throwing her arms around his neck, all the pent up longing rushing up and out and shattering her resolve.

He deepened the kiss, cradling her face in his hands, tangling his fingers in her hair, skimming them down her shoulders, her waist, her hips, swallowing her jittery sigh, her breathy little moan. Pushing up the skirts of her dress, he lifted her up and pushed her more firmly against the wall. She wrapped her legs around his waist and the feel of his hands gripping the skin of her thighs ignited her blood. Her head dropped back with a sigh and her hands slipped into his hair as his mouth left hers, trailing down her neck as the air in their little sanctuary thickened and their minds went hazy with lust. They missed it completely when Thor tripped over Loki's illusion and became tangled in thorny vines.

His shout of pain and anger broke them apart and they looked in the direction of the successful prank with wild eyes and heaving breaths. When Loki met Kagome's eyes again, he could read her reluctance to part, a reluctance that matched his own.

He swooped in on her again, taking her mouth over, stealing all of her breath, all of her thoughts. He stepped back, and with a magical zip they were falling into his bed, out of the rain, away from prying eyes and angry brothers.

Alone.

Clothes were ripped away, buttons pinging off the floor, getting lost in the sheets, and words gave way to breathy pants and sighs.

Lips and tongues and teeth and skin, Kagome's foggy mind found just enough clarity to wonder if this wasn't happening way too fast. But how long had she known him? Over a hundred years, and she was more than old enough to move as fast or as slow as she liked. She ran her fingers through his hair again, felt him shudder as her nails scraped his scalp.

Too fast? Not fast enough.

He hovered over her, his rain damp hair mussed from her roaming hands and making him appear as boyish as he acted sometimes. In his eyes was a question. Ever the cunning prankster. Ever the slick tongued liar. Ever the gentleman.

She smiled confidently, he grinned devilishly. His beautiful green eyes glowed with wicked triumph and something more tender that she would certainly avoid trying to place in such a hazy state of mind.

His mouth found her neck, his hands found her skin, And Kagome, purest of heart and soul, gave herself wholly to the God of Mischief.

Waking up on a firm, bare chest was certainly a new experience.

Her gradually awakening brain reminded her that that wasn't the only new experience she'd had of late.

Her eyes widened, and she flexed her fingers where they rested on his skin. Loki's skin.

His hand, which rested atop hers, closed, ensuring she wouldn't be able to move it. He shifted marginally, his arm around her shoulder tightening and pulling her closer. He sighed, and Kagome risked a glance upward. He was still asleep, his face softer, though not exactly appearing innocent as faces tended to do when unconscious. There was always a secret slant to his features, a subtle suggestion that he may be up to something, anything.

He was beautiful, she'd always thought so.

His door began creaking, and his eyes opened. Soft footsteps approached and his brow furrowed. He glanced down at her, reading the confusion in her eyes and acting as quickly as he was able to pull the cover up from her waist and over her shoulder. She clutched it there, wondering what was going on when a voice spoke softly and filled her with dread.

Thor.

Come to get his revenge, he rounded the corner with a large vase sloshing with water, no doubt intent on dumping it all over his brother in retribution for the prank that had been played on him just the day before. It was an even more childish prank than he'd fallen for, but he didn't have mayhem in his blood and bones, either. And he was not counting on an additional member to the pranking revenge party.

"Looooookiii... wake up, you nasty-WHAT'S THIS?! OH-HO-HO What do we have here?! Odin's beard, Kagome! What would mother think?!"

He cackled merrily while Kagome retreated completely under the covers, more embarrassed than she could ever remember being in her life. Loki summoned one of his knives and heaved it at his self satisfied brother, a dark sneer marring his face.

"Thor, get out!"

He danced back through the door, his water vase shattered on the floor and his spirits high with his newfound ammunition.

It wasn't often one got an edge on Loki, and he was ready to savor the upper hand.

Breakfast would not come soon enough.

Loki sighed and rubbed his hand down his face, agitation roiling through him.

Thor had to ruin everything.

"Is he gone?"

Kagomes meek, humiliated voice drew his attention, and his face and mood softened instantly.

"Yes. You can come out now."

"No thanks. I'll just... stay here forever. If you don't mind."

"A tempting prospect. Certainly I wouldn't mind that, at all." His voice was thick with suggestion, but his hands were gentle as he tried to lightly tug the sheets from her grip.

She grabbed on even tighter.

"That's not what I meant."

"Was it not? That's a shame."

Sly as a snake, loki slipped under the covers and began slithering up her body, dropping soft nips and kisses on his way up toward her face.

In her distraction, she'd let loose her grip on the covers, allowing him to push them back away from her. He emerged, gave her a languid, lingering kiss, and met her now clouded gaze.

"There you are. Hello lover."

The sweetest shade of rosy pink bloomed across her cheeks.

"Hi." She replied, her voice tiny and shy, but she met his eyes bravely. His smile was sweet and indulgent and it made her heart flutter.

"Would you like a bath?"

Her face lit up and Loki appreciated how it made her eyes glimmer.

"Oh that sounds lovely!"

He rolled away from her, yanked the sheets off, scooped her up, and ran chuckling with a shrieking Kagome into his private bathing room.

An odd tension simmered over the breakfast table.

She and Loki had arrived to breakfast together first, and sat together talking quietly until Frigga joined them and bid them good morning.

Then Thor arrived, saw them seated next to each other, developed the most shit eating grin she'd ever seen, and had squirmed in anticipation in his seat ever since.

Loki sipped his tea completely unbothered. Kagome had no idea how he managed it, her nerves were completely shot.

"Say, Kagome..."

Her heart stopped, Thor addressing her now could mean nothing good.

"Did you get an adequate amount of sleep last night? I came to your room to walk you to breakfast and your maid Dalla said you never came to bed last night. Was everything alright?"

His smirk belied his concerned tone.

"Thor... what are you-"

"Oh my dear," Frigga replied with concern coloring her tone, gently grabbing her hand. "what happened? Where were you?"

Thor's eyes lit up and Kagome wondered if she'd survive to see lunch time.

"She was with-"

"She was with me."

Frigga's hand stilled where it had been patting Kagome's, her eyes going wide.

"I beg your pardon, dear?"

Loki was serene as he clarified, as if they'd simply asked about the weather or how good his breakfast was. He met Thor's eyes in an obvious challenge.

"Kagome spent the night with me last night."

He delicately lifted one eyebrow.

"She did not get adequate sleep."

She'd attempted to hide behind her large drinking cup, but that had been a mistake. She choked and spluttered in her shock, coughing on the sweet liquid and attempted to catch her breath. Loki rubbed her back gently.

"Are you alright, darling?"

She nodded and waved him off, ready to have the attention off of her for the next century.

"That's not fair Loki, I was going to tell her!"

He simply sipped his tea again.

"I know."

"Loki... my son... have you thought at all... it's just... well Kagome is a beloved part of this family dear, a fling like this is... it's ill advised."

Loki wrapped his arm around her and drew her close, leaning closer to his mother and into her space. She gave up all attempts to seem like she had it together. She was dying, she just knew it. 'This is it, the bitter end.'

"Mother, does it look like i have simply used her and plan to cast her off? Please. I have more class than that."

Frigga pursed her lips, regarding him steadily.

Finally she smiled.

"Alright my darlings, just... be good to one another. Be careful. That's all I ask."

Kagome wondered if she might combust.

Thor pouted audibly, grumbling and complaining about his foiled plans.

"Loki you really are the worst."

"You're just angry you couldn't tattle on us like a bothersome child. And what would be the point? We're all grown Thor. You don't see me tattling on you every time I find you behind the drapes with some female or other"

Frigga shrieked, and Thor had the good graces to blush and look sheepish.

"Thor Odinson!!! My drapes?! Do you possess no manners at all?!"

Loki took another sip of tea.

"He does not."

Kagome grimaced, giving Thor a look of disgust, grateful that the heat had blessedly been shifted onto someone else.

"Gross Thor."

It had been a day.

A very very weird day.

Thor could barely look at her without bursting out laughing.

Loki didn't hover, but he did sit next to her at meal times instead of Thor, who seemed put out to have his place taken.

And she... was a tumultuous storm of insecurity.

She just didn't know what any of it meant.

Well that wasn't totally true, she knew what it meant to her.

But what had it truly meant to Loki?

Dinner adjourned, and she made her way to the family wing with every intention of sinking into her bath and thinking long and hard about the best way to go about asking Loki if he wanted to take their little encounter further without combusting from the embarrassment.

A small surge of magic was her only warning that she should be paying attention. She collided face first with Loki's firm chest, briefly remembering what it looked and felt like without his usual leather tunic, and her face flamed bright crimson as she reluctantly met his eyes.

He had one brow raised in question, so she cleared her throat and tried to speak.

"Um... hi."

He tilted his head, considering her for a moment, the look in his eye so shrewd she felt exposed.

"Where exactly do you think you're going?"

She glanced around and noticed they'd stopped in front of her bedroom door.

"Um... bath?"

"In here?"

"I... Yes?"

"You're nervous. Why? What's on your mind? Don't forget I'll know if you're lying."

Kagome floundered for a moment. This was not how she wanted to do this, though she'd probably sleep better if she got it over with.

"It's um, it's about what you said earlier, to your mother?"

"Yes?"

"You... didn't want last night to be a one time thing?"

"Did you? I had not thought you to be that type of person."

Kagome straightened her spine and crossed her arms, letting her stubbornness be her strength.

"I'm a grown woman. I can have casual sex with someone one time if I want to."

Loki smirked, clearly pleased with the direction she was driving the conversation.

"That you can. Is that what you wanted? Casual sex with me, just the one time?"

Blushing again, Kagome felt her newfound determination begin to trickle away.

"Uh... I... is that what you want?"

Loki stepped closer, narrowing the distance between them, overwhelming her with his presence.

"Is there a reason you won't tell me what it is you want little priestess?"

"I... I..."

He reached out, absently twirling a strand of her hair around his finger, watching it slip like silk across his skin. It made her heart falter. "Go on. Think long and hard. What do you want?

"I want... I... it doesn't matter, it's not all about me!"

"But it can be."

She paused, considering that, but ultimately shaking her head, clearing that thought away. "No, I'm not selfish, it can't-"

Framing her face with his hands, Loki looked deeply and intently into her eyes, drawing all of her attention, snaring her, forbidding her to look away.

"Look inside yourself. Past your purity, past your duty, past your crippling need to put everyone else's wants and needs above your own. Selfishness is something I know well, Kagome. Lies and mischief and chaos, these are all selfish notions and they are intrinsic to my very nature. Trust me when I say you will not unravel for one moment of self indulgence. Now tell me, woman, what. Do. You. Want. With. Me? Is it one night of passion? Tell me so now and I will walk away. Is it a burning affair of the flesh? I can more than oblige you."

Her heart caught in her throat and in her eyes, shining openly with all of the breathtaking honesty that filled every part of her, and Loki accepted his victory before she even spoke. "I... no. No I don't want a torrid affair or a one night stand. I... want more than that."

He leaned down, closing the space between them even further, hovering over her mouth with his own.

"Tell me."

She felt his whisper hot on her lips as clear as she heard it. Her eyes fluttered closed and she took a moment to still all her swirling thoughts, to silence all the parts of her that revolted at taking anything for herself.

But she could take. She always gave more than enough.

"I want... you."

"Then I shall be yours. But make no mistake Lady Kagome, you were already mine."

His mouth then closed hard over hers, and like a conqueror he swept her away. In an instant they were out of the hallway, out of her doorway, and she was back in his arms.