Chapter 29: Tidying up the loose ends

Kagome edged towards the door carefully and winced when she heard the rustle of cloth that belonged to a pouncing Inuyasha. "Don't even!" he exclaimed as he sat on her. "You and me have to talk about all of this, and if you run I'll track you down." He leaned down and flicked his tongue carelessly across her ear and whispered, "And then I'll have to give you your punishment."

Kagome shuddered and flipped him over, "Evil little mongrel!" she laughed. "We have to get dressed! If my dad walks in again and finds us in this position again, then we are screwed!" Inuyasha sighed and allowed her to pin his arms above his head. "Well, I suggest you let go of me, things could end up badly if I'm in this kinda arrangement."

Kagome clambered off him and smiled, "Wouldn't want that with such an ugly dog!" Inuyasha's golden eyes smouldered with desire as he said softly, "Ouch, time for your punishment, little kitten…"

Kagome leaned down when the door burst open yet again and a frantic Sango flew in. "Inuyasha!" she cried and leapt at him. Kagome jumped back and asked politely, "Sango, dear, what is it you want?" Sango stopped strangling Inuyasha and glanced at Kagome. "Umm…I don't really know, but Miroku here insinuated that Inuyasha was doing something to you. I swore I'd protect you…and…umm…"

"Ah…" sighed Kagome. "I see…MIROKU!!!" Said houshi popped his head in with an apologetic grin, "Well…it seemed bad and I can't openly defy my lord, but Sango here can so I let her take her revenge." Inuyasha crawled to Kagome and lay sprawled at her feet. "I'm tired of being interrupted, so I might as well say it—" he got onto his knees and smiled slyly, "Will you, Kagome of the Southern Lands…" Big pause. "Help me up?" Kagome flamed red and kicked her downed to-be-lover as she stomped away.

"Uh oh man," whispered Miroku as Sango followed her out. "You just signed your own death. Number one rule, never tease a woman, especially youkai, about marriage or you will suffer." Inuyasha rubbed his sore side and sighed. "I was gonna ask, but she got this look of intense, intense fear and I just couldn't finish it. What the hell was I supposed to do?" Miroku growled, "I dunno, I've never been married and I've never attempted to marry; I just ask girls if they'll bare my child, I never say I'll marry them."

Inuyasha glared, "Yeah, but I'm not a complete baka like you, I do want her to bare my children, but I do want her to marry me! What would you know anyways about true love? You just go around sneaking into every woman's bed." Miroku's face went blank, "Nothing, I know nothing." He started to walk away slowly. Inuyasha let him go and stayed on the floor tiredly. There were so many things to fix now; first talk to Kairudo, next Miroku, last Kagome. He was more afraid of Kagome than anyone else. He could handle her dad and he could handle his best friend, but that fiery neko?

Kagome was sulking. She knew he wouldn't really propose, love was all fair and wondrous, but marriage was a bind, a link that could let a youkai mate know the emotions of their lover. Why would he want that? Males only wanted the scorching passionate love, not the commitment to follow. Admittedly she would like to do the same but she was a 'lady', whatever, fine, she would use him and throw him away then. Sango finally caught up to her.

"Kaggy? Are you okay?" she asked concern dripping in her words. Kagome turned with a blazingly fake smile and replied, "Of course." Sango backed away fearfully. "I don't trust you when you do that creepy ass smile!" she accused. Kagome dropped the smile and sighed. "I'm kinda annoyed, but it doesn't matter." Sango hugged her, "Look, tell me why, I mean it was just a joke…" Kagome buried her head in Sango's shoulder and said, "I know, I just feel really silly, that's all. Actually, I'm really pissed off, why can't I ever find the right guy? Instead I get idiots and perverts and maniacs! Why always me!"

Sango suddenly became angry, "Well damn it all Kag, at least you have a man who'll settle down and who's loyal! What the fuck do I get?! A lech who'll leaves the next night!" She burst into tears. "It's not fair…" she said quietly her voice small and uncertain. "I don't even know what it is I want, but the one youkai I love will never truly return the feeling. I'm nothing special."

She looked up, "I'm a nobody, I have no lands, I have no titles, and I have no family." Kagome grabbed her face tightly and whispered low, "You have me and I will give you lands, a title and I will find your brother…in the meantime, can—can I be your sister?" Sango laughed and just slumped into Kagome. "Ha, ahahaha, oh kami-sama, this is just—just like you, isn't it?" Sango said wetly, rubbing her nose. She hugged Kagome tightly, and added, "Thanks Kag, I'm sorry." Kagome hugged her back and said lightly, "Aw, nuthin' to be sorry about, is there? Now, I have to track Inuyasha down."

She turned away and made for the door but a firm hand caught her wrist and ordered, "No playing around, he wants you in more than one way and I'm not talking about sex. Either you forgive him for that stupid joke or you will be miserable the rest of your life; married to a fat, ugly, old youkai lord. Hell Kag, it doesn't even matter he's hanyou, I know you better than anyone else on this world and I know you love him." Kagome sighed, "He knows I love him, I told him, but that's not the issue, is it?" She pulled away and left Sango to her thoughts.

Miroku had been wandering. He wasn't quite sure what he was looking for but it was important and his nose was tracking it. He couldn't understand why he was feeling so damn guilty but he knew that the scent in his nose was taking him to it. Sighing, he opened a door to a very familiar room. It was empty but her scent was lingering. She had left only minutes ago.

Exhausted Miroku went to her bed and lay across it. There was nothing so perfect as her. Her scent was so fresh and clean and pure. He snatched a pillow and buried his nose in it. He could catch up to her if he wanted or…his lithe lover would have to come back to the room for her belongings, wouldn't she?

Kagome sought out Inuyasha. His scent was everywhere and it was hard to stay on track; she decide the best way would be to just ask if anyone had seen him. Kirara was giving Shippo rides on her back, bucking and prancing around for his amusement. Kagome paused to admire how kawaii they looked. Shippo caught sight of her and her luminous smile and jumped over to her side. "Lady Kagome!" he said happily. "You finally came to visit." Kagome smiled and gently tickled him, "Yes, we can go play outside if you and Kirara would like?" Shippo was already pulling her towards the outside doors followed by miniature Kirara.

Sesshoumaru had his hands full with Kagura. She seemed very depressed about the death of her father, but he couldn't do much about it. How can you forgive the killer's brother, when he did nothing to stop it? Sesshouamru knew it was better for everyone that Naraku was gone, but Kagura was sad and that's what mattered most about the entire situation. He had o choice but to try and comfort her. She lay alone in her bed awake and dreaming about nothing in particular. "Kagura?" he called softly. "Yes Sesshy?" "How are you feeling?" She sat up in surprise, "Did you just ask me how I was feeling?" Sesshoumaru nodded and sat down beside her. "I know you are upset about your father's death are you not?" Kagura smiled, "No, it's not that, it's just that everyone seems ready to just instantly fall in love and I feel more like concubine than anything else."

Sesshoumaru pulled her into him and cuddled her, "Never will you be a concubine to me, I love you Kagura and that's all that really matters." Let's just leave those two alone, they have some business to undoubtedly take care of, eh?

Inuyasha was sitting in a tree watching her. Kagome was so care free when she played with Shippo. It was very enchanting to watch. He sighed and descended, he needed to ask even if she slaughtered him.

Sango pushed open the door to her room wearily. Exhaustion ate away at her. She'd been exercising in the courtyards to burn of some of her inner conflict and she was bummed out. Miroku lay across her bed in a very suggestive pose and crooned, "Sango, love, I've been waiting." Sango laughed—laughed hard—and went to see him. "You're an idiot," she whispered. Rose petals littered the floor and he wore only the loose sheet around his waist, but other than that he was stark naked. He smiled and tilted his head to one side. "Eventually I'm going to ask you to marry me, you realize?" he asked softly. Sango smiled and kissed him. "I'll say yes, but I think some else's wedding will be approaching quite soon."

Familiar arms wrapped tightly around Kagome's waist from behind and squeezed her tightly as a soft mouth placed a kiss into her neck. "I'm sorry," Inuyasha whispered. Shippo and Kirara caught his look and wandered away innocently. "I'm sorry if I offended you." Kagome turned to face him with a blank face and she dropped to her knees. Inuyasha was visibly startled. "Kagome?" he said uncertainly. She raised herself on one knee and holding a small golden ring the colour of his beautiful eyes she asked, "Will you marry me, Inuyasha?"

Silence and a faint swoosh of wind as Inuyasha dropped beside her and held her tightly. He kissed her and whispered, "Aw, ya ruined my fun, I was gonna ask you!" Kagome giggled and nibbling his ear paused and asked, "So is that a yes or a no?" Inuyasha kissed her hard until they both had to break away for air. "I believe I would hafta say yes."

The end.

I'm sorry all of you for the ENORMOUS wait, but here s the last chapter and I hope you all enjoyed it. I have many new fanfictions in the air right now and as soon as I'm satisfied with them I will post them. They show more promise than this one and I will be writing lemons on mediaminer under the name yukichan89. Muahahaha!!!! Erm, anyways, ya, so thank you all, it's been fun I'll post new ones soon—if all goes well—and yeah, chao.