Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha…I just worship it

Chapter 10: "What did you do to my woman?"

Kagome blinked repeatedly.

"Kouga?" InuYasha unsheathed the Tetsusaiga and waited for the demon to appear. Sango, Miroku and Shippo slowly inched away from InuYasha and Kagome, knowing what would ensue once Kouga reared his head.

"Oh boy, just wait until Kouga sees Kagome." Miroku whispered into Sango's ear. Sango nodded dumbly along with Shippo. Suddenly a tornado of wind swirled into the clearing. When the dust clouds dissipated, Kouga ran up to Kagome and clasped her hands in his. Kagome smiled nervously, knowing that InuYasha's outburst would happen any minute now.

"Kagome I heard what happened with you and..." Kouga sniffed Kagome's neck. Kagome backed up and looked at Kouga nervously afraid of his reaction.

"Kagome, why do you look and smell like a hanyou?" Kouga brought his nose to Kagome's hair and inhaled. Kagome rolled her eyes.

'Oh boy…Captain obvious to the rescue…'

"It's cause she is a hanyou, you flea bag." Kouga turned to InuYasha and snarled. Kouga lunged at InuYasha and pinned him to the ground by his hands. Kouga got up right in InuYasha's face and growled.

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY WOMAN!" InuYasha growled back, and tossed Kouga from him. Kouga landed on the ground with a soft thud.

"She is not your woman, and I didn't do anything...kind of." Kouga looked at Kagome, hoping that this wasn't true.

"Kagome, what happened to turn you hanyou?" Kagome sighed and sat down on the ground. This was going to be a long story to explain

"You know what happened with me and Naraku, right? Well anyway, I told InuYasha, Miroku, and Sango to make a wish on the shikon no tama. So because of what InuYasha wished for, resulted in this." Kouga glared at InuYasha ten times icier than before.

"What did you wish for?" Kagome placed her hand on Kouga's shoulder. InuYasha noticed this and growled. Kagome looked at him and gave him a reassuring glance before addressing Kouga.

"Kouga, look, you're a great guy, and I treasure our friendship, but I don't love you. I'm in love with InuYasha and no one else. So please, Kouga, I am not your woman, but I am your friend. Can you just accept that?" Kouga stared at Kagome longingly, and finally crossed his arms and sighed.

"All right. I can see that you really love him, but if he ever does anything, you better tell me." Kouga glared at InuYasha. InuYasha "Keh…" and turned away. Kagome smiled, happy that maybe the two of them would get along now that this whole triangle was settled.

Later That Night

InuYasha and Kagome sat in front of the fire in Kaede's hut. They both leaned against each other as they watched the dying embers of the fire.

"I love you." InuYasha pulled Kagome against his chest. Kagome snuggled into the warmth and closed her eyes contentedly.

"I love you more." InuYasha smiled.

"No, I love you more." Kagome laughed.

"I love you more then my life." InuYasha froze at those words, and hugged Kagome tighter to his body. Kagome sensed his fear and turned around in his arms. She pulled his chin up to stare into his eyes, searching for something to give way to his emotions.

"What's wrong?" InuYasha buried his head into her shoulder, inhaling her scent, trying to calm his nerves.

"Don't ever say that. I'm just a worthless hanyou, your life is not worth mine. It's bad enough that I'm with you, when you deserve so much more. But I keep you for my own selfish reasons" Kagome frowned at his words.

"You are not a filthy hanyou, remember I'm one now too." InuYasha placed his hands on the sides of her cheeks.

"Yes, you are a hanyou, but your not filthy, you're a beautiful person, who deserves someone better." Kagome sighed and gripped InuYasha's chin in her hand.

"InuYasha, are you saying that a worthless hanyou is not capable of love? You are capable of everything InuYasha. Loving isn't a selfish need, it's something everyone needs, no matter who they are. InuYasha, I choose you because I love you for who you are. You are not a filthy hanyou. I would gladly give my life for you, if it meant your happiness, and nothing will ever make me feel any differently. I love you as you are, and I always will." InuYasha's eyes misted over. Kagome's eyes widened. Was he about to cry? InuYasha sobbed quietly into Kagome's shirt. Kagome's eyes softened at InuYasha letting her see his raw emotions up close.

"I was afraid, and scared. I thought I was going to lose you." Kagome stroked InuYasha's hair soothingly.

"InuYasha, I'm fine now, and it's all over." InuYasha kissed Kagome's jaw lightly, thanking her for her kind words.

"Yea, I know." InuYasha pulled Kagome down to the ground and rested his head above hers.

"Kagome, will you be my mate?" Kagome blinked. Mate? What was that?

"What's a mate?" Kagome lifted her head and stared into amber orbs. InuYasha blushed lightly.

"It's kind of like a husband and wife, only in demon standards they are called mates. Inu-Youkai mate for life, so we would be mated for life." Kagome smiled.

"Yes, I would love to InuYasha." InuYasha smiled and pulled Kagome under the covers of the sleeping bag they were laying on top of.

Outside

Sango, Miroku, Kaede, and Shippo stood before a shrine on top of a hill. The hill silently overlooked the sunset.

"So, this is Kikyo's resting place?" Kaede nodded.

"Yes, please Miroku, help me place a strong ofuda to make sure that no one disturbs her grave again." Miroku nodded and placed a sutra on top of the slab. Miroku pulled out an ofuda and silently prayed before placing the parchment on the grave marker. Sango silently dropped onto her calf's and prayed for the now resting miko. Kaede nodded her head in acceptance and lead the two of them back to the hut. Miroku stopped as they reached the flap.

"I think we shouldn't disturb Kagome to change her bandages…" Sango turned to Miroku and questioned his statement.

"Why not houshi-sama?" Miroku pointed through the window, into the second room inside Kaede's small hut. InuYasha and Kagome were embracing under the warmth of Kagome's sleeping bag. Sango smiled, happy that the two of them could finally be together, after watching all of the trials they had faced.

"Yes…let's try and be quiet."

A/n: Stay tuned!