The Dog Becomes a B-

The night sky was bejeweled with stars. Moonlight filtered through thin wisps of clouds, hanging over the mountain and bathing it in its light. Behind her there were lights and loud music and sounds lots of people made, but here in the forest it was almost serenely quiet.

Kagome ducked away from the stage as soon as the official part of the festival was finished. Now the crowds were slowly trickling away, sellers tidying up their stalls. The team that was supposed to take care of cleaning was about to arrive too.

Kagome ran down the well-known path, lamps hanging overhead providing dwindling light. She didn't really need that, she could kinda see the youki with traces of her own reiki radiating from the meadow.

When she ran out of the trees and into the grass growing under the Sacred Tree's foot, Inuyasha was still standing there, hid head bowed, bells held in his hand. The heavy mantle draped down his shoulders and back. the design obstructed by his hair.

Kagome didn't call out to him, she didn't send him a thought, she just pounced. As she soared through the air, the shrine guardian swirled around and caught her, his hands gripping at her waist and securing her before she could hit and topple him. Kagome laughed out loud when he spun around, her hakama fluttering around her ankles, before he put her on her feet. Her arms were around his neck by then and she looked up at him, flushed and smiling. His cheeks were dusted with pink as he looked down at her.

"I did it! You did it! We did it!" she cried out happily. "I'm so glad!"

"Keh, it was just a ritual dance. Give it a few years and you will get used to it. Ow!"

She tugged at his hair in playful retaliation.

"It was a big deal and it will always be! Thank you so much, Inuyasha" she smiled at the shrine guardian. "For helping me and for being there with me."

"Kagome... I..." he started, his voice low and uncertain.

"And everyone liked it! The whole festival, it was so great how so many people came together and had fun at our shrine!" Kagome grinned, remembering the crowds, the excited children and chatting adults admiring the place. She was so proud and happy, it was hard to contain all the relief and joy she felt.

"Kagome," he tried again, but his hesitant call didn't quite get through her happy haze and bubbly babble.

"And the kami! Inuyasha, why didn't you tell me that the kami would show up! And read my stories!" the miko exclaimed. "He smiled when we finished, I saw him, you know, before he vanished!"

"Would you've believed me if I told you that?" he asked, his ears cocking to the side cutely.

"Oh, I'd probably laugh at first, but since I became the keeper I've seen some shit, so I'd totally believe you," Kagome assured him a bit more seriously, but then immediately went to her giddy grinning. "And, oh, my, our energies were so pretty twining together! It was just like a fantastic light show That was so amazing!"

With that she hugged the hanyou and laid her head on his shoulder. Her body was relaxing after a long day of tension and nerves, her adrenaline and endorphin rush was about to dissipate in a pool of boneless relief. It was fortunate he was still holding her, just in case she was too tired to keep herself standing straight.

"Kagome..." he started after a moment of just standing with her against him.

"Hmmm?" she hummed happily.

"Can I... I mean, do you..." he tried to voice something, that seemed to be important. Kagome lifted her head up to look at him, frowning when he looked away from her. "Damn!"

"Inuyasha?" she asked, tilting her head like a confused puppy. He growled under his breath. "What's going on?"

"Just be quiet!" he barked and cleared his throat. Kagome blinked at him, but nodded. His hands on her waist were tense and his ears were laying back. He looked as nervous as he had been when they had been in the presence of the kami. "Do you think... Can I... Can I be your... your b... b-"

Kagome's face lit up with a big grin. The poor awkward puppy, getting so worked up over such a tiny thing.

Of course you can be my beta," she assured him.

"Damn, wench!" Kagome steadied herself against him as he shook her, a scowl on his face, his ears now completely hidden in his hair. "I didn't mean blasted beta! I wanted to ask if I could be your bloody boyfriend!"

Kagome's fingers went lax where she'd been gripping at his shoulders, her eyes looking into blazing golden ones glaring at her. For a second neither of them moved, as realization dawned on them both. His words hung between them. Well, now she certainly wasn't drowsy and wanting to fall asleep on her hanyou companion.

Kagome's head spun. She'd heard him, it was hard not to hear him. It definitely was a sample of his vocabulary/ It was Inuyasha who had asked that question. He asked her. Her handsome, grumpy, reliable hanyou asked her if he could be her beau. For real, not just to pretend in front of her friends. She'd been daydreaming about him doing that.

And now he was standing there, staring at her with these wide eyes, understanding of what he'd just said filling the golden depths. His grip on her tightened for a moment, then started to loosen.

It was not the time to be a space case. She had to act and fast. He looked as if he was on the verge of fleeing.

Her hands gripped his and pressed them to where they had been around her waist. The hanyou blinked at her and Kagome gave him a brilliant smile.

"You can't be my bloody boyfriend," she said, holding tight and not allowing herself a dramatic pause. "Blood is sticky and smells terrible. And it means someone got hurt. But you can be my badass boyfriend. Or my brave boyfriend. Or my better-kiss-me-often boyfriend. Or my brooding boyfriend. Or my b-"

He cut her off by pressing his lips against hers. It wasn't the most passionate kiss in the history, it was way too awkward for that, but Kagome didn't mind. She smiled against his mouth and buried her hands in his hair, pulling him closer and kissing him back just to make sure no more silly words left them.

"So," Kagome took a deep breath, the night air cool against her blushing cheeks. She glanced up at him, his eyes shining in the shadows like twin suns. "We're now a cozy couple, right? A cute couple? A completely c..."

"Kami, dammit, Kagome!" Inuyasha laughed and ducked his head to press his mouth against hers. This time his lips weren't dry from anxiety and his kiss wasn't as shy. Arms wrapped around her and pulled her closer to him and Kagome closed her eyes, tilting her head up. Sleep could wait for just a while longer.

AN: I apologize, I can't into romance