He ran far above the trees, harder and faster than he had ever ran. He had to work off some of this stress. It was his mating

season, and Kagome was in heat. Even though they had confessed their love for each other he was not yet ready to take her

that way. 'Who knows if she'll even want me that way.' He stopped running. 'Would she?' HE sighed and dropped from the trees,

and began the long, slow walk back to the village.

'Why is he avoiding me?' Kagome thought as she pulled back the curtain-door to the hut, looking out at the sky. Alomost

sundown, 'he's been gone all day.' She couldn't help but think it was her fault somehow. The she saw him, far off in the woods,

walking to the hut. She came out and began walkling toward him.

His head shot up as he smelled her scent. He wouldn't be able to be around her unless..."Kagome.." She stopped dead as his

head sank to his chin and he closed his eyes. "We should talk." He turned and began walking to the Goshinbuku tree.

He grabbed her hand and leapt up to his usual sitting place. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her back toward

his chest. She leaned into his embrace and closed her eyes. She felt so safe, but she felt InuYahsa's unease.

"What did you need to talk about?" She threaded her fingers through his. He gathered all his thoughts in an effort to win over his

instincts. He spoke slow, and diliberate. "Kagome, I..."He sighed. "Sometimes, Youkai who have not mated yet, go into a

certain...cycle, and instincts begin to take over, insticts to mate.." He sucked in a deep breath," Kagome, do you understand?"

"I think so..." she thought about what this was implying."Inu....does this mean you want me to be your mate?" She sat up and

turned to look him in the eyes. He hugged her tight and she wrapped her arms around his back. He leapt from out of the tree,

slinging her on his back. "InuYasha?!" He ran toward the well. "Why are we going to the well?" He said nothing, a smirk on his

face as he leapt into the well.

He pulled her out of the well house and placed her on his back again. "InuYasha, you're in for a huge 'You Know What' if I don't

get some answers!" She yelled at him. "You sit me, we BOTH go down wench." He leapt up to her window and opened it

climbing through. He took her arm and sat her on the bed, and knelt before her. "Who would accpet me as your mate

Kagome?" Tears began to form in her eyes as she nodded, afraid to speak. He smiled up at her and ros eup to kiss her. With

gentle force, he pushed her back. "I love you Kagome."