Miroku began telling the tale of Nuraku's defeat, occasionally looking to Kagome for assistance. Inuyasha made a few cross remarks concerning Kouga, but mainly stayed quiet during the monk's story. When everything was told, Inuyasha turned to Kagome.
"You killed him all by yourself?" He found it hard to believe.
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes at Inuyasha's insolence, "Do you question the Lady of the Western Lands?"
Inuyasha was pissed all over again, "...and why do you keep saying that?!"
Kagome put her hand on her mate's and looked at him reassuringly. She turned to Inuyasha and told him the truth of it, "I have taken Sesshomaru-sama as my mate."
Inuyasha fell back as if her words had physically struck him. "You did WHAT?" He started to rise when he felt a comforting arm circle his waist.
"Inuyasha, does it really matter that my reincarnation has chosen this demon as a mate?" Kikyo's words were just short of being an insult to the two youkai.
Sesshomaru's temper flared once more, "For a corpse, you certainly think highly of yourself."
Miroku thought it was going too well. He had to think of a way to keep the peace. He popped his staff a couple of times on the ground to once again gain some order, before they ended up fighting once more. The jingle of it brought everyone's attention back to the monk.
Miroku looked at Inuyasha narrowly, "Besides Inuyasha, it appears that your romantic interests lay elsewhere." With that the monk nodded toward Kikyo.
Inuyasha was seething at the thought that Kagome chose to mate with his hated brother. He was glad Kikyo was here by his side, or he may have gone mad. He looked up to her and she batted her eyes at him, as if to say 'tell them it doesn't matter.' But it did matter... to him at least. 'I'm not gonna give Sesshomaru the satisfaction of thinking he bested me.' He leaned close and took Kikyo's lips with his own in a brief but tender kiss. "Well, it don't matter to me anyway. I have the woman I've always loved."
His words hurt Kagome. Even though she loved Sesshomaru, she spent a huge part of her life yearning for Inuyasha's love. His cold indifference to her just now was just an act. Kagome was well aware he held feelings for her, however, his words spoke the truth. Inuyasha had never completely returned her love, because he would always yearn for Kikyo. "I'm glad your finally happy, Inuyasha. You deserve that." Kagome glanced up at her mate when he let out a guttural 'humph.'
Inuyasha shrugged it off and turned to Miroku, "So basically, what you all are saying is that I'm stuck as a human."
Sesshomaru started to add his own comment to that, but he seen the look in Kagome's eyes and thought better of it.
"Unfortunately that is the case," Miroku replied.
Sesshomaru stood and waited for Kagome to join him. She looked at her friends then to Inuyasha and smiled. "Everything happens for a reason, Inuyasha." There was no spite in her voice, only a mixture of comfort and hope. She took her mate's arm and walked with him back to where Jaken had set up camp.