Disclaimer: Thing one is that I don't own Inuyasha, and Thing two is

that I don't own a cat or his hat…

How Kikyou Loved her Hanyou

They had walked for a day and a half before they even reached Kaede's

village. No one was in a very good mood about losing two weeks off of

their voyage. Kagome especially was annoyed with Inuyasha, who still

didn't know of her sacrifice to save his life.

"You annoying little turd!" Kagome yelled in frustration. He just

didn't know when to quit, did he?

"I'm only saying that that Kouga guy is a weak little wolf that isn't

suitable for protection." Inuyasha reasoned. Lord, this chick doesn't

like to listen to people, does she?

"I think they are gonna fall in lo-ove." Sango, with Shippou on her

shoulder whispered loudly to Miroku who whispered his agreement back.

Inuyasha and Kagome stopped arguing and stared at them. Sango,

Miroku, and Shippou failed to notice and continued whispering and

walking past the village. Kagome sighed and Inuyasha grunted.

"Aren't they just so weird…" Kagome marveled.

"Yeah, they're one's to talk." Inuyasha grumbled.

^

^

^

^_^;

^

^

^

They had been walking for an hour or so past the village when

Inuyasha suddenly grumbled.

"I smell something nasty." Kouga suddenly skidded to a halt in front

of Kagome. "Yup, really nasty." Inuyasha mumbled.

"So, Kagome, why are you guys way back here. I tried to find you a

day after I had left to scout out the path ahead, and couldn't find

you at all. What happened?"

"A demon encounter." Kagome answered stiffly. She wished she didn't

have to do this…

"Are you alright?" Kouga asked worriedly. He really did genuinely

care about her; why couldn't she love him that much? She had been

pondering this for awhile though, and she knew what she had to do,

but she was going to wait until they set up camp to do it. She was

going to at least give him the courtesy of doing it in remote

privacy; especially not in front of Inuyasha…

They set up camp that night and started talking to each other in

little groups and Kagome recognized the golden opportunity with a

sense of dread. She had contracted a feeling like there was a cold

stone churning in the bottom of her stomach. Her mind whizzed with

excuses about why this wasn't the right time; or how she really did

love him, but she knew the truth. That truth was that she just might

have loved Kouga once, but never the same way that she knew Kikyou

loved her hanyou. Kagome walked over to Kouga, who was in an argument

with Inuyasha about something having to do with the rules of arm

wrestling, and pulled him aside.

"Can I talk to you alone over there?" Kagome asked nervously. She

fidgeted with her fingers. Couldn't this just be over already? Kouga

smiled.

"Sure, sweetie." He gave Inuyasha a look and the hanyou glowered.

They walked behind the trees and Kagome sighed. Here was the hard

part…

"Kouga," he looked up expectantly, not to mention painfully for

Kagome "you know I care about you, right?"

"Of course I do, and you know I love you, Kagome." Kouga said,

however counter productively.

"Well, that's what I came to talk to you about. I think we should

break up." Kagome sucked it a breath. So it was out. Kouga just kind

of looked at her and blinked.

"But, you're my woman…" Kouga started to say, but stopped. "Okay, it

that's what you want, Kagome, but I'll always be here for you. We are

still friends, right?" Kouga searched her eyes hopefully. She smiled

a relieved smile.

"Of course we are Kouga-kun, for a lifetime."

^

^

^

^-^

^

^

^

The following morning Kouga said that he would probably be more help

back with babaa-sama's village protecting her and the village.

"Because," he said with a wink at Kagome "that village is a famous

bad-guy hangout for unknown reasons." With that, he was off. Kagome

waved cheerily after him. They had talked most of the night, just

about memories and such, but they had a wonderful time.

"So, did you do it?" Sango asked Kagome in a hushed voice.

"Yeah, but we're still really good friends." Kagome smiled. She

didn't think that it could have gone any better.

"Good," Sango laughed "I think Inu was beginning to think that you

guys were having sex back there." Kagome was shocked. Inuyasha cared?

"Why would he care?" Kagome asked gruffly, in a not very being gruff

sort of way. Sango laughed.

Take a wild guess, child. Cause he's coming this way." Kagome looked

up to witness a very angry Inuyasha huffing his way over to them.

"Inuyasha…" Kagome whispered.

(A/n: Kinda short, I know, but that was where it needed to end. Sorry

for the delay on the last couple-a chapters, life and things like it

need much attention sometimes. More chapters are comin' up! This

story ain't near done yet!)

*Mwah*

mumu

PS. Candy for reviewers!