The day before, Inuyasha bought alcohol and spread the rumor that he was going to be drunk for an entire week. He even staged a fight with Sango near the gates to fool everyone and get to Kagome safely. Everyone knew this wasn't new behavior from him. His second and her second had told him of the rumors that spread every time he fucked up, or punched someone, or got drunk. He promised to slow down if he crashed a car, knowing that this would not happen. But he had stopped for the same reason he started. She was his reason. Fully aware of his reputation, he was planning to make everyone shut the fuck up. As soon as Kagome came with him, they would praise him or get fired, because if she knew all of that, it would be ten times more difficult to make her like him. Yes, it was a perfect plan. He would have to pass another rumor, one that warned everyone who didn't want to lose a limb to stay away from her and not to talk to her. That should do it.

"I have to talk to you," said Miroku

"What the fuck do you want?"

Miroku looked serious, and Inuyasha lifted a brow.

"This is my last mission with you. I've asked for a transfer"

"What?, why?" asked Inuyasha

Miroku looked shy, and that was unusual. "She is in love with someone else"

Inuyasha thought of Kagome, and a sharp pain settled deep in his chest. His face must have made Miroku aware of the mistake, for he said "Sango I mean, she… told me herself"

The pain vanished, leaving an obvious feeling of sympathy and pity. His best friend was hurting. "Yeah, ok. Where will you go?"

Miroku was grateful. Inuyasha was becoming a better person since Kagome re-entered his life and even now, without her, that influence was helping him. Normally he would be selfish and throw a fit, but he knew heartbreak now, and that was helpful at least.

"Sesshomaru said that I can work with him. He needs people he can trust right now. I believe my services will be useful" he looked at Inuyasha with confidence but mostly just sad. He smelled like alcohol, tobacco, and salt, but no women. Thinking about it, he hadn't smelled women on him for a long time.

"Do you... love... her?" asked Inuyasha, not really knowing why he was bothering

"I don't know, I just… I thought she would be there forever you know, maybe I took her for granted"

"I know the feeling, come on," he said, and the night that he was going to spend pretending to drink turned out to be real.

.

Sango had met a guy in the Clan's bar, so he was also a member. A reptile yokai with strange markings, but stoic and kind of cute. She wanted to jump him that first night, but he took her to his place and explained the rules. If she was to become a plaything, then words should be exchanged. It was a pretty boring evening for her and after hearing over ten times that she wasn't enough to be a mate; she felt annoyed. It was fortunate really, for this thing between them to be casual, but now she understood the problems between the trio. Kagome was intended for Inuyasha and then Koga, but Inuyasha hadn't given up. And if the rules were the same for those with royal blood, Inuyasha had every reason to hope now, since Koga was out.

Without so much as a first kiss, she went home.

Inuyasha was in his study when she entered the next day. He smelled an unfamiliar scent. He couldn't remember if he had smelled that on her before. It was a yokai male, a lizard or something. His mind drifted back to Miroku. He would be more attentive from now on.

"What are you going to say to change her mind?" Said Sango.

Inuyasha stopped mid-step. He gave much thought to different methods of finding her and rescuing her safely. But not one of them involved talking to her about coming back or taking him back, either.

Sango understood his expression.

"What did Sesshomaru said to his lover to court her, do you know?

"What the fuck does he have to do with anything," he replied

"Well, if he got a human woman to love him, then he must have done something right. I have talked to yokais about love and stuff, and they act as if love were a transaction"

He looked confused, not only because Sesshomaru whispering shit to a woman was a horrific, unthinkable image, but because he had thought of his interactions with Kagome as a contract too. Since Koga explained nothing to her, he decided to do the opposite and teach her everything about their world. But this wasn't love-talk either. He was going to order he around again but he never gave a thought to her rejection. What was he going to do if she refused? He was going to tell her of the danger, but she already knew that. What could he possibly say?

"Just tell her how you feel," said Sango, trying to be patient and caring.

He glared at her.

"I mean everyone wants that. Think about yourself. Don't you want to know how she feels about you? Or about Koga? Or about you in comparison with every other person in this world?"

"What are you getting at?" he snarled.

"Think about it. Don't you want to know if she wants to mate with you? To pledge her never-dying love to you? To know if she'll live here? Or any of those questions?"

He stood still and quiet, looking sheepish.

"Have trust in me Inuyasha, I want you to be happy ok? You are my friend and I want to help," she said.

He didn't have to sniff to tell that she was being sincere. He nodded.

She smiled. "Then flip it, you stupid dog! Just answer those questions yourself, in front of her, and I guarantee she'll take you back"

She was glowing with confidence, and that made him certain too. Now that his mind was at ease, he realized something.

"You want him to say those things to you?" and again he found himself saying things he normally kept to himself

"Everyone wants to hear those things from someone they love, to hear beautiful answers".

"And you talked about all this with a lizard?" he said

Her face became hot. "Just do as I say, ok?" she said and left his office smelling salty and angry.

He was going to obey. He couldn't tell if she was in love with her new lover or his old best friend; but she really smelled like love.