Thanks to the reviewers loozer-09 (don't worry, I didn't take offense to your review; you were just upset ^_^), Lupe Garou, Hanamaru285, Guardian Angel of ALL Anime (I gotta say that your reviews are so funny! I love getting them ^_^ especially this one with Inuyasha getting sat. Priceless!), Shadow Wraith (I'll clear some stuff up below for ya), Kairinu ^kathcart2001@yahoo.com^, Troi, Yoka, Whitney Linn, RogueRebel, Gueshoe (if you could email me about the humor thing you were talking about, I'll try and incorporate it into the storyline), and Moonlight Shadow4. Thanks all of you!

            And, yes, the color I'm painting my room is red! Let's see… loozer-09 and Hanamaru285 and Shadow Wraith and Gueshoe guessed the color! I don't have anything to give you besides congrats on guessing! You super sleuths you… ^_^ Boy am I in a good mood right now *tee hee*

            Okay, Shadow Wraith to answer your question on Sango and Miroku… Well, yes they're dead. I just didn't know how to incorporate them into the story so just assume they died in the Hathar/Uranin battle. And about the adultery/affair thing: I won't have any of that in the story. This is an Inuyasha/Kagome fic all the way, and they'll get together without Finn and Inuyasha getting married. I'll break Inuyasha and Finn up somewhere! ^_^ I hope that clears things up for you.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything from the anime/manga Inuyasha; some characters that are not from the show are mine. I don't own the lyrics either.

I want you to want me
I need you to need me
I'd love you to love me
I'm beggin' you to beg me…

Feeling all alone without a friend you know you feel like dying
Oh, didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you cryin'…

-I Want You to Want Me, Letters for Cleo (lyrics borrowed from spynets.com)

            Kagome tightly gripped the railing of the deck she was currently standing on. The rough stone felt odd on her hands and she unconsciously withdrew them to her side. At the moment she was watching Finn Orpheus and Inuyasha ambling through the snow covered garden of the Yogo royal palace. They walked hand in hand –Kagome ground her teeth- and he smiled admiringly at her –Kagome wanted to rip her face off- and she would stop, get on her tip-toes to plant a kiss on his cheek. Kagome was more than ready to throw herself off the deck and mercilessly pound on Inuyasha and his lovely betrothed. Lovely? Oh, yes. As much as Kagome did not want to admit it, Finn was quite lovely. Finn had long and shiny silver hair pulled up into numerous curls just behind her delicate dog ears. Her skin was pale and elegant, eyes bright gold, and her teeth very straight and beautiful.

            As if sensing her eyes on them, Inuyasha turned toward the deck and spotted Kagome standing rigid with a look that could kill plastered on her face. He could not figure out why she would be in a foul mood, but dismissed it.

            "Hey, Kagome!" Inuyasha called up to her. "Come down with us, eh?"

            Instantly Finn whipped around, her golden eyes going from soft to severe in one second flat. She pulled on Inuyasha's arm to get his attention, and once she got it whispered something in his ear. Kagome noticed every few seconds Finn would shoot her harsh looks; Inuyasha completely oblivious.

            When Finn stopped speaking, Inuyasha addressed Kagome, "Won't you come down?"

            All Inuyasha got in response was an anger emphasized "Humph!" and cold retreating back. Try as he might, Inuyasha could not think why Kagome would not come down and why she had been so cross with him the past week of her stay. As far as he knew he had not said anything mean to Kagome, but then again he seemed to enrage people quite often without really doing anything.

            "Uh… Finn…" Inuyasha paused, "I have some work to do and have to oversee the preparations for the party you wanted to hold. So, I'll see you later?"

            Inuyasha held is breath incase Finn could read through his lies. He really did have work to do, but the party preparations were being done by a paid professional –he conveniently forgot to tell Finn that. What he really was doing was going to talk to Kagome. Her behavior toward him lately confused him since they had been so close in Mythora and on the airship ride here.

            "Fine," Finn said and turned away, waving her hand nonchalantly.

            "Thanks!" Inuyasha exclaimed perhaps too happily as he planted a kiss on the back of her neck.

            He cautiously jogged across the icy pavement of the garden to the small door leading to the interior of the palace. Not even caring that where they went, Inuyasha peeled off his jacket and gloves while dashing down the corridor. At the end of this corridor he would turn left and go up some stairs and start looking for Kagome at her room, but a person or thing stopped him. Whoever it was let out a grunt while falling to the floor causing Inuyasha to cringe and close his eyes. When he opened them, there on the floor was a very furious Kagome rubbing her bum while glaring daggers.

            "Ah! Kagome, I'm sorry," Inuyasha said as he pulled Kagome to her feet.

She crashed roughly into his chest, for he used too much force, but quickly pulled away.

"Inuyasha," Kagome said while rubbing her temples, "you sure are in a hurry."

"Um… yeah. I was trying to find you," he said sheepishly while massaging the back of his neck. "I did, I suppose."

"Yeah, you did," Kagome sarcastically responded and made to go around him, but Inuyasha stepped into her path.

"What's wrong, Kags? You haven't talked much to me since you got here and I would like to know why," Inuyasha demanded and instantly smacked himself for taking on that tone of voice with her.

"You'd like to know why?" Kagome asked with eyes wide with rage, but the tone of her voice conversational.

Inuyasha the rock completely missed her expression and told her he would like to know why.

"Bullshit you do!" Kagome spat and went to go around him once again; her plan foiled once again.

"I do!" Inuyasha yelled back. He was really surprised how bad and loud this conversation had gotten. "Tell me."

"Fine," Kagome hissed. "You have a fiancé. You failed to tell me and acted all lovey-dovey with me behind her back. Now, I'm not protecting her dignity by saying this is your fault even though it is –I truly don't like her-, but you didn't tell me. You didn't tell me! Me, Inuyasha! You lead me around like a pack horse to water, and I drank longingly. But the river dried up and left me alone and the man I cared for engaged. How the hell do think I feel Inuyasha?" she paused to catch her breath. "Finn Orpheus hates me, and don't say she doesn't because she does. I see the glares she gives me when you look at me, I notice when she whispers things in your ear and the hard expressions her face takes on while you attempt to talk with me. Besides, I've met someone who actually understands me and likes me; he is unattached."

Kagome left Inuyasha completely stunned and took this chance to leave him behind. She had managed to get at least half way down the hallway before Inuyasha gained his senses.

"Who have you met?" he inquired.

Kagome said over her shoulder," His name is Kouga."

"WHAT!"

************************************************************************

            It was now night in Hathar. The winter sky was covered in clouds, allowing no star or moon shine to light the land. This is just how he, Naraku, liked it. Dark and lightless; completely dark. Naraku drew away from the window and stalked down the hallway of the Hathar palace. He was quite proud of himself and Kanna for their speedy annihilation of the Hathar force. But there was that young woman who destroyed his puppet, and that worried him slightly. She would have had to possessed miko powers in order to accomplish something like that, but he had not seen nor heard of any rumor of this girl since the battle ended. That was fine with him though; it let him sleep when he felt the urge to.

            Naraku opened the solid oak door that stood in his way and stepped inside another small hallway that led to a large sitting chamber. From the way it was furnished and the way it smelled, he guessed it was the late King Dion's room. It smelled like a well groomed man's room and his demon nose was not sure he liked that. But despite that, Naraku decided this would be his chamber when he stayed here in Mythora.

            He sat down on one of the well upholstered chairs, sinking back into its fluffy depths. Naraku started to think about today and how productive it had been. Early in the morning he made a declaration of new leadership to the conquered people of Hathar, letting them know it would be him that ruled them. The afternoon brought good news of his newest creation that was in the last stages of development back home in Uranin. It was Kohaku, he recalled, that told him the splendid news. Speaking of Kohaku he could feel the boy's presence come ever closer to this chamber, and within moments enter the room and come before him.

             "Lord Naraku," Kohaku bent down on one knee, lowering his head. "Kanna informed me you wish to speak with me and so I come."

            "Very good, Kohaku," Naraku nodded and let his long locks of black hair down. "I did tell Kanna to find you. Tell me what you know of Kagome."

            "I know no Kagome, master Naraku."

            "Ah, Kohaku. You do; I know this, but you do not remember," Naraku scratched his chin in thought. "Perhaps you would better remember if you saw her…"

            "Perhaps I would, master," Kohaku agreed in his monotone. "Could you help me?"

            "Yes. I can and I will, but you must do something for me in the process. Would you?"

            Kohaku eagerly nodded," Of course, Lord Naraku."

            Naraku smiled to himself, This boy is so innocent…

************************************************************************

"You told him all that?" Yiloku asked Kagome.

They were both sitting in the palace kitchen nursing scalding hot cups of tea. Kagome had just finished telling Yiloku about the conversation she had with Inuyasha this afternoon. It was strange, Kagome found, that she had gained Inuyasha's aunt –of all people or rather demons- as a good companion. Every night since she arrived here in Yogo, Kagome and Yiloku made it a point to spend time with each other in the palace kitchen and just talk. Most conversations surrounded the goings on in their days.

"Yes, I told him that," Kagome grumbled before taking a sip of her tea.

"Good for you," Yiloku said and patted Kagome on the arm. "You told him exactly what he needed to hear and exactly what you needed to say. Do you feel better now?"
            "Yes and no," Kagome shrugged. "I feel good about telling him the truth, but awful about falling for him while he was engaged. But I suppose that is to be expected…"

Kagome trailed off as the swinging kitchen door flew open and Finn gracefully walked into the room. She had her hair braided and wore a nightgown with flowing sheer cover. Finn kept her eyes on Kagome as long as she could until her head would have to turn 180 degrees to keep Kagome in sight. Kagome could hear her fill a kettle with water and set in on the stove. Then she sat next to Yiloku at the table, folding her hands nicely on the table, and keeping her head high.

"Good evening, Finn," Yiloku greeted mildly for her sentiments towards Finn were much the same as Kagome's.

"Good evening," Finn said back while keeping a high-and-mighty tone to her voice. "What might you ladies be doing in the kitchen at this hour?"

Kagome mock gasped and put her hand over her mouth momentarily, "Oh, no Yiloku! We're in a kitchen and its night!"

Within seconds Finn's hard eyes shifted from Yiloku to Kagome and she looked as if she meant to kill Kagome by glaring. Yiloku, meanwhile, was trying her hardest to suppress laughter at Kagome's statement. Finn's eyes then softened and she let out a short giggle.

"You are quite silly, Kagome," Finn said, though Kagome could tell the statement was meant to be kind and yet an insult.

"Yes, I can be silly, Finn," Kagome said and smiled as sweetly as she could manage. "But I'm sure you can be silly to."

"Is that so?"

"It is," Kagome nodded.

"I have never been silly in my life."

"Well there's a first time for everything and your water is boiling," Kagome said when she heard the kettle whistle.

"Thank you," Finn said as she stood up and walked to the stove.

Kagome watched her before turning to Yiloku whose eyes were wide with surprise –she expected Finn or Kagome to take a swing at the other- and mouthed "Pay attention" and stood up. Kagome spotted a bowl of chocolate pudding sitting inoffensively on the counter top and she smiled sinisterly. 

"You know Finn," Kagome tried her hardest not to laugh as she picked up the pudding bowl, "you have beautiful hair and pretty complexion."

Finn turned around with a big smile on her face –she thought Kagome was being sincere-, "You think so-Ah!"

Kagome had shoved the bowl of chocolate pudding into Finn's face and let it go. Moments later Finn pulled the bowl off her face and gently set it on the counter, and started wiping the pudding out of her eyes. It was a humorous scene, truly. Finn's visage was transformed from pale to gooey brown in seconds and Kagome was quite proud of her handy work.

"I think brown really suits you," Kagome finally spoke with false enthusiasm.

"Does it?" Finn asked, the pleasant tone gone from her voice and replaced by a normal one.

And Yiloku, dear surprised Yiloku, looked on in horror at the scene playing out before her. But instinct checked in and she fled the room to find Inuyasha; only he would be able to break them up if they chose to fight.

"You know," Finn said, "I do not care for chocolate pudding."

And with that she lunged at Kagome, but Kagome was faster. She quickly side-stepped Finn and the other woman crashed heavily into the counter. Kagome took this chance to run out of the kitchen, but Finn was hot on her trail.

"Come back here you whore!" Finn screamed. "I know what this fight is all about so stop running and fight me like a man…er…woman."

That got Kagome to halt and face her. Each woman faced the other, standing unwaveringly and bravely. Finn was fighting to keep her man while Kagome was fighting for various reasons beside that of keeping Inuyasha. After staring blankly at each other for many seconds, they finally charged forward. Kagome swung and hit Finn square in the face, causing the sheltered noble girl to crumple to the floor, clutching her nose.

"You bitch," Finn whined as she managed to stand up, "I think you broke my nose."

"Isn't that a shame," Kagome teased and shoved Finn to the floor once more. "Leave me alone, Finn. You can have Inuyasha!"

And with that Kagome walked away, but felt the clawed hand of Finn latch onto her right shoulder and spin her around. In a flash Kagome felt pain on her right cheekbone and her back contacting the hardwood floor.

"You probably thought that someone like I would not be able to strike you-"

"Finn? Kagome? What the hell are you doing?" Kagome heard the voice of Inuyasha sound from behind and above her head.

Then Kagome noticed her body being hefted off the ground and Inuyasha commanding Finn to go to bed. Finn complied while giving Kagome a rude gesture and horrid look. Inuyasha then picked her up and walked purposely to her room, or so she guessed. Her guess was correct when Inuyasha stopped to open the door to her room. Inside Yiloku sat on her bed while just setting a basin of water on the nightstand.

"Go and take care of, Finn will you?" Inuyasha said lightly and set Kagome on her bed.

Without saying anything Inuyasha picked up a cloth, drenched it in water, and put it to Kagome's cheekbone. She winced with the cool fabric on her hot and painful skin. Inuyasha repeated this act many times with the knowing care of a grandmother, always keeping the cloth cold.

"You are going to have one heck on a shiner tomorrow," Inuyasha finally broke the silence.

"Good. It was worth it," Kagome whispered.

"Was it now?" he asked while taking a freshly moistened cloth out of the basin and placed it on her face. "If I was you I wouldn't think so. Why did you fight with her, anyway?"

"It doesn't matter, now does it Inuyasha," Kagome paused. "Whatever I say you shouldn't believe; you should believe Finn. Maybe I started it, maybe she started it. Who cares? We fought, its over with and I'm moving on, and you should too. Besides, shouldn't you be comforting and taking care of Finn?"

"I'm not."

"Why?"

"Because I'm taking care of my best friend right now, that's why. Friends first, right?"

            Well, there we go! It's kinda a stupid chapter, but I had to establish the hate between Finn and Kagome since that seemed to be what most people and I wanted. Next chapter will get into Inuyasha and Kagome getting back together, slowly while pushing you know who out of the picture permanently. Plus I put in a little Naraku action. We all love that, c'mon! *cough*Just*kidding*cough*

            Yeah, and twelve (or around there) reviews for the last chapter! You guys who reviewed are so awesome and I really appreciate it greatly, especially the ones from people who have stuck around since chapter 1. That is really great and thank you all!

Well, I have to go now and post this chapter. My room is finally done after a week of painting and crap, but it looks awesome!

            Thanks for reading!

^_^