Author's notes—(rubs head from the abuse she had to endure from her reviewers) to those who asked: yes, Fallen Balls did have a double meaning! Congratulations to those who noticed that. ; We're nearing the end, two more chapters left counting this one. Next chapter is the lemon for the aff.net readers.

And just because I got such awesome reviews, I'd like to point out some reviewers who really hit the nail on the head. I swear they read my mind! Kanzen ne Tsuki, PJ, and Crispy Muffin! Don't think I don't appreciate my other reviewers, you guys are all awesome!

Last time:

"Wait…Inu yasha…" she said in disbelief and held them in her cupped hands. "He kept them."

She looked off towards where the hanyou had run off and stood, swallowing her discomfort and allowing her courage to overtake her. She had to ask the hanyou…she had to.

Quiet Temptations
Chapter six

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She always protected him. It didn't matter that he had kidnapped her, it didn't matter that he was using her, it didn't matter that he normally started the fights, it didn't matter that he totally disregarded his promises, Kagome always protected that stupid wolf.

Inu yasha punched a tree as he passed and found that he enjoyed watching the tree come crashing to the ground and smirked, feeling some of his tension rise from his shoulders.

Of course, he was still angry with Kagome.

Didn't she understand?

Didn't she realize that Kouga had kidnapped her because she could see jewel shards? That's the only reason he declared his affections for the schoolgirl. He loved her powers, not her. Not like hi—

Didn't she realize it though? Inu yasha growled at the schoolgirl's ability to love everyone. It was something that made Kagome Kagome. She was so pure of heart, it was impossible for her to harbor any hateful feelings, as she had proved many times before leading up to the final battle with Naraku. She was so pure and kind, it was impossible for her to realize that perhaps someone was using her kindness…

Kagome always ended up taking Kouga's side. Perhaps it was because she felt sorry for the wolf prince, or maybe she knew that he could take care of himself…but none-the-less, whenever Kagome ran to the wolf youkai or protected him, Inu yasha felt the small ping of hurt vibrating through his chest…beginning at his heart.

And today was no exception. She had protected Kouga when he had challenged his claim on Kagome. It was something that youkai did occasionally. Youkai don't just go out and claim a mate just in a snap, it takes years and years of courtship and many different steps before the male can claim the female. Whenever another youkai came into the picture, it was the job of the courting male to stake his claim on the female.

Truth be told, he'd been claiming the young girl since about a week after meeting her. Once the courtship is laid, its set in stone. Even if he wanted to he couldn't have withdrawn the claim unless another male wished to court her.

In Kouga's case, that was his 'job'.

The youkai had kidnapped Kagome, something that was practically forbidden in youkai society and had tried to stake a courtship on the woman, even though another male's was already in play. It was an important law in youkai society that no other youkai male may interfere with the courtship of a bitch. If the youkai so wished to go up against the male, he was allowed to challenge the male with the claim. If the claiming male loses, the winning male had the right to the youkai bitch.

However, during their fight Kagome interfered with their battle. She continued to do this many times. Kouga had fallen to the ground and had growled out his defeat. Another youkai law was the loser was to be slain, something that youkai tradition held very important. Honor and integrity was not taken lightly in the youkai laws, and therefore Inu yasha, by law, was instructed to take the youkai prince out of his misery.

However, Kagome's bleeding heart had screwed him again. She had protected the youkai prince and thus gave the prince the nonexistent hope. During the battle, the bitch was to remain idle and was prohibited to interfere with the battle. If the claimed woman did so, she was to protect the suitor she loved most. However, Kagome had been unaware of these laws and had protected Kouga.

Thus, Kagome had unknowingly sent Kouga the wrong idea and made the wolf youkai believe that Kagome fancied him.

And whenever Inu yasha tried to rightfully and officially stake his claim on Kagome by eliminating his rival, Kagome would prevent it…all because of her caring heart.

In a way, he admired Kagome for her undying love. But in this case, he really despised her soft interior.

Inu yasha growled as he punched another tree. It really wasn't Kagome's fault, how was she to know all this? It was something exchanged between Kouga and him self, something unspoken that only youkai knew of. For her to understand or much less know was absurd and he didn't harbor feelings against her ignorance. He did, however, despise the idea of Kagome even remotely liking the wimpy wolf.

He didn't realize how far he walked until he was back in the filed where he and Kagome had first fought. He blinked and took a sniff, and found that Kagome and his scent still drifted in the still air of the field. Trees surrounded him and he sat down in the tall grass, staring up at the sky and sighing deeply.

Though he hated to let the wolf go, he would always do as Kagome wished. And in the end if she went with Kouga, he'd be happy for her…glad that she could find love in someone. No matter how much it would hurt, he'd never hold Kagome back…

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Kagome stood in a shocked state before taking off after the hanyou. His speed set a great distance between them, however the fallen trees and destroyed underbrush helped make an easy path for her to follow. She swiped away stray branches and continued her trek towards where the hanyou had retreated.

She hadn't realized…hadn't realized how deeply affected Inu yasha could be. Kouga's words still rang through her mind, "What makes you think that a beautiful and powerful Miko would want to find companionship with a stupid hanyou? Hanyous shouldn't be able to live, they should all be killed and slaughtered when they take first breath."

Even though Inu yasha hadn't shown it, he was deeply hurt and something was on her mind. Though she wasn't sure if it was the comment of killing hanyou infants, Kagome felt it was her right to comfort her crushed warrior. The look he had held when she had told him to spare Kouga's life. Even after what he'd said, she knew that there was something deeper there, something that he wasn't willing to tell her.

Kouga's comment about the children angered her, however. "Hanyous shouldn't be able to live, they should all be killed and slaughtered when they take first breath." How could he stand to say that? How could he not cringe at the idea of murdering small and innocent children who had so much to live for?

She imagined Inu yasha…remembered what he said after they had gone to see Jinenji, his melancholy voice penetrated her thoughts. "Not a demon. But not human either. No place to belong. So…I thought the only way was to carve out your own place, by force. That's how I survived. And by the time I knew what was happening, I was all alone…that was the only way…I ever knew…"

The way he had looked when he had said that, recalled nameless memories that he'd never shared with anyone. The look on his face as he spoke of having no place to belong. How many times had Inu yasha endured the anger and disgust of humans and demons alike? How many times had Inu yasha been cast aside a merely a half breed, unworthy of any human emotion or any demon respect?

"…slaughtered when they take first breath." Kouga's words rang through her head. How had Inu yasha survived, had his mother protected him? Hidden him away from the people who sought to murder and slaughter him?

She felt tears prickling the inside of her eyes and she blinked rapidly, trying to force the overflow of emotion away, until she had regained control of the situation and spoken with Inu yasha.

"…slaughtered when they take first breath."

Kagome's eyes widened a fraction as her thoughts drifted back to the wolf prince who supposedly harbored affections and love in his overly cocky heart. But…he was a youkai and she was a human.

Wouldn't that mean that their children, if they ever had any, which they wouldn't, would be hanyou?

Kagome drew in a silent gasp. "Hanyous shouldn't be able to live, they should all be killed and slaughtered when they take first breath."

Kouga…would he kill their children?

Kagome couldn't stop a stray tear to escape her eye. Kouga would seriously consider killing their children. He would rip their small infant bodies away from her own breast in order to rid the world of an innocent half-breed. All because of its blood. All because it was a half demon. "…slaughtered..." That had been the term Kouga had used. He would take away her children and actually slaughter her children, and expect her to do nothing about it.

"He'd kill my baby," Kagome said with a ping of realization rushing through her blood and making her whole body shiver.

Kagome felt the trees beginning to lessen and she knew that she was approaching a field. She quickly tried to get rid of the feelings of pure sadness and regret for Inu yasha and Kouga as she cleared the trees and was met with tall grass. Just above the tall grass she could see a tint of red and silver and knew immediately it was the object of her affections.

She walked towards him and decided that she must be downwind for the hanyou to not notice her. Or perhaps he was still steaming from before. It had taken her a good half of an hour to catch up to the hotheaded demon.

She sat beside him and he sat up quickly from his position on his back, "Kagome!"

She smiled shyly at him, "Hi."

"How'd you find me?" he asked in shock.

"The trail of destruction," Kagome joked and giggled.

She giggled again when she saw that the hanyou's cheeks were turning a soft shade of pink. "At least the village will have firewood this winter," she joked and felt relieved when she saw Inu yasha crack a small smile.

"Inu yasha I'm—"

"Its ok…" he said before she could get her full apology out. His golden eyes stared at her for a long moment, as if contemplating something intense before returning his gaze to the sky, watching clouds drift by in the blue sky. "Its not your fault," she could tell he'd forced those words out and he turned away.

Very quietly Kagome wrapped her arms around her hanyou, her hands clasping together in front of his collarbone and she squeezed very lightly, not wanting to choke him. She smiled when she felt his hands covering hers, the small trace of claws prickling her wrists as he tried to get a good grip on her. She rested her body against his and felt him let out a small sigh of relief.

"I forgive you, too," Kagome said before he could force himself into an even more embarrassing situation. She knew how much he hated to apologize, and admitting he was wrong was always a big blow to his pride. So, she took it upon herself to forgive him before he could get the apology out. She felt him squeeze her hand in reply and she rested her head against his shoulder blade, staring off to the side, watching a gentle breeze ruffle some leaves in the trees around her.

"Kagome…" he murmured and closed his eyes, bathing himself in the scent of Kagome.

"I'm here…I'm not leaving," she whispered, answering his unspoken plea.

They sat in silence, enjoying the company of one another…