2. The Question

They ate under silence, every now and then Sango could see the gentle smiles Inuyasha flashed at her and she could not help it, but blushed darkly. He had changed during his visit to the western lands and his brother. He seemed to be more gentler and caring, and did so openly. They both cleaned up the table and she went outside to watch the sun go down behind the temple hill. She jumped a bit when she felt Inuyasha wrap his strong arms around her waist. "Why is he doing these things?" But she melted back into his embrace, savoring his warmth and strength. It felt too good to pass up on. She hadn't felt like this in ages and she would be a fool to turn down his care taking. Sango closed her eyes as the skies darkened and the stars were lit.

"Sango, I want to ask you something," Inuyasha said with a low voice.

"Mmm what?"

"Do you want to be my mate?"

Sango stopped breathing for a moment, her heart raced and pounded against her ribs. "Did he really ask me to be his mate? Did I hear him right?" She turned around in his embrace and looked up into those pools of molten gold.

"W-what did you say?" she stuttered.

"I want you to be my mate Sango. During the time you slept, I realized I have feelings for you, feelings that I never have had before."

"But what about Kikyo and Kagome? I do not want to be anyone's replacement."

"The things I felt for Kikyo was never this strong. I never saw her as a potential mate. And as for Kagome, she was and still is, my best friend even if she never will return to us." Inuyasha brushed a few black tresses of hair from her worried face.

"I… I don't know.. Why me?"

"You are strong, beautiful, loving, passionate… I have thought of you during these years at my brother's castle, and every time my stomach made flips. That never happened with Kikyo or Kagome. And if I remembered Kagomes funny papers right, these jolts were signs of love. I think I love you Sango-chan."

"He loves me? O great Kami I think I will faint again." Sango buried her face into his strong chest, clasping her arms around his torso. She could feel his arms encircle her body, pressing her against him. "Would I dare to let my heart out in the open once again? Can I trust him not to leave me?" She muffled her own words when she came to remember her fathers lecture on inu-youkai mating. Once they have taken a mate they remained together forever. Inuyasha would not leave her, not ever. She looked up into his face and kissed him lightly on the lips.

"Yes Inuyasha, I will be your mate. If we can have a ceremony in the village too. I kind of like Kaede-sama to perform it."

"Of course Sango. That would be nice," said Inuyasha and lowered himself to his knees.

He received a confused look from Sango, but he just smiled gently as he took her hands into his.

"Sango, I here by proclaim my everlasting love for you. I will respect and honor you as my Mate. And I am asking you to be my wife and mate. Will you accept me as your husband and mate?"

"Yes Inuyasha, I accept,"she said and pulled him up to embrace him.

He kissed his soon-to-be mate with all the love he felt for her. He lifted her up bridal style and carried her inside the cave.

TBC