Authoress: O.O...okay, first off...I've got a few things to say to my adoring...and the few people who flamed my ass...reviewers!!!...

to dreamcatcher5:*blushes* you're so nice...and AFI and Kagome/Sesshomaru pairings are great!

to Ann: ...I shall not tell you...you have to read this chapter to find out if Kagome's dead or not!! FWA HA HA HA!!!...continuing...

to Amanda:...*grins evilly*...read the chapter...*sniffle* she shoulda died...

to DogDemonKinoke:...isn't Yaoi great...I'm glad you liked it!!!...and you asked...so here's your name!!!

to theMaven: my biggest reviewer!...anyway, yes, it is twisted, isn't it?...and thanks for the info...*snifle* I know the furry boa isn't a tail...but from now on, I'll correct myself...and thanks for telling me he's immune to poisons...

to AyameSuzaku: Suzaku?...O.o...HELL YEAH, LET'S MAKE KAGOME SUCK PEOPLE'S SOULS!!!!...sorry 'bout that...

to Dara:...I know, that whoole Sesshomaru/Naraku thing was evil...

to trihn: ^_____^ you like it, really?...I feel so loooved!

to Seshomaruqueen: I want Sexy Sesshy to be happy too...and this chapter will be loonng, don't worry...

to Joseph: o.O...*bobbing head up and down* Very, very, very, very...okay, now here's the update!...

to Blackdragonrider: Koga and Inuyasha...yeah, all my friends who read this said the same thing...and I did warn you...didn't I? *confused look*

to Kojika85: I ramble too when I'm tired...damn caffiene...

to Kellie: ^_______________^...thank YOU!

to friuty: don't worry, read on...

to BLARG!: nice name...after reading the beginning of your review, I wanted my mommy too...

to Colly:...it's getting longer, don't worry...

to young-gurl-15:...yeah, everyone commented on Kagome dying...and the dragon blood was just somefin' to write about...I was bored and the creativity balloon died on me...

to Dragonsdauhter1: I liked having Inuyasha paired off with someone else for once too...too many Kag/Inu and Kik/Inu fics...and a few Mir/Inu ones...O.O;;

to UnlovedBandNerd: *grins* you really like it?!

to Stacerue: yep, it's original...

to whoever is anonymous:...thanks for the translations site...I have to go there some time...

to myrrdinowl: it amused you?!...and I kinda wasn't expecting the yaoi thing either...it just came to me...

to Kyo-sama: yes, lemony-citrusness is good, isn't it?

to bubbley-girl: another person said it's original!...and it will end up as a Kag/Sess fic...hopefully...

to Yokubou/Eien: yes, he is a cute doggie...my Fluffy...*pets Sesshomaru*

to Kristen:...interesting...hope so...

to Lady Icykimi: *sobs* I didn't want to hurt him, I swear!...and I've been reading one of your stories (Poisoned Ice READ IT, IT'S AWESOME!!!!!), it is very interesting...UPDATE SOOOOONNNN!!!!

to pyro gyrl: *sigh* isn't it lovely to be a pyro?...and I loved the human DNA thing too...too much coffee for me at ten at night...

to Chiisuiche: SUICHE!!!...anyways...you like it too!?!

to Seijitsu-Girl1:it's cute...^____________^

Authoress: *gasp, beginning to turn blue* O.O...didn't think that many people reviewed...but anyways, thank all of you for not flaming my ass or reporting me!!!!! *BIG SMILES*...so, since all people who commented recentely said that we should bring Kagome back to life, here it is...(inwardly) damn...but the reader is always right...

Inuyasha:...why did you pair me and Koga?



Authoress:...look, people said it was cute, so don't keep annoying me about it!!!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything...only my mind *does contortionist move and hugs head*...it's MINE, I SWEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chapter Nine

"Inuyasha, please don't keep blaming Sesshomaru..." Koga stated as he sat down next to the hanyou and wrapped his arms around his pouting lover. "If Sesshomaru didn't kill her, then Naraku would have..."

"That bastard...he killed her...how can you tell me to stop blaming him!?!" Inuyasha retorted, glaring at Koga. Kagome...she's been dead for nearly a week... and it's all his fault...Sesshomaru killed her...he could have protected her...HE LOVED HER!!!!...but he killed her... Inuyasha thought to himself, glaring at the ground. He glanced up and saw his brother laying on a futon, sleeping. Sesshomaru hadn't awoken in the past week, and even Kaede (did I spell it right? O.o) was beginning to wonder if something was seriously wrong with the inu-youkai. Sesshomaru's injuries had all healed, only a single scar remaining, one that was where Naraku had pulled the jewel shard out of his back.

"Inuyasha...did you ever think how badly Sesshomaru is taking it? He melded souls with her, he'll probably die soon..." Koga said quietly, holding on to the hanyou. "I know if I was ever to hurt you, I would never be able to forgive myself..."

"But why...why would he do something like that?" Inuyasha asked, tears beginning to form in his golden eyes. "If he loved her, then why would he kill her? There had to be a way to protect her..."

"Ask him if he wakes up..." Koga replied, feeling the hanyou finally wrap his arms around him. "What did Kagome's family say when you brought her back?"

"I left before they could say anything..." Inuyasha took her body back to her home a few days ago, but still couldn't get the saddened faces of Kagome's mother, brother, and grandfather out of his mind. They were counting on me to protect her...and I failed all of them...I failed Kagome...Inuyasha thought to himself, burying his head into Koga's shoulder.

* * * * * * * * *

"She's dead...finally..." Naraku thought to himself, smirking. He looked down at the jewel shard in his hand and chuckled. "and that idiot inu-youkai killed her for me..."

Kagura listened to her master talk to himself, laughing inwardly at his stupidity. If Kagome's dead, then so is Sesshomaru...and he's still among the living...Naraku hasn't thought of that yet...Kagura thought to herself, thinking of a way to kill Naraku. Sesshomaru couldn't kill Kagome, even if he knew that if he didn't, she would die most painfully...he couldn't...and wouldn't...

* * * * * * * * *

"Is Sesshomaru-sama going to be okay?" Rin asked, looking up at Kaede. The old woman sighed as she finished picking herbs.

"I don't know. He is healed, but something is wrong with him...but I don't know what," Kaede replied, glancing over at Rin, Shippou, and Kohaku.

"But, what about Kagome? Myoga said if she ever died, Sesshomaru would too..." Shippou pointed out, making Rin gasp.

"SESSHOMARU-SAMA CAN'T DIE!!!!" Rin exclaimed, tears welling up in her eyes.

"What are you yelling about?" a familiar voice asked as she stepped out of the forest and walked toward the four. They stared at the black-haired nigen for a moment, speechless. Shippou was the first to move, racing towards her, tears streaming down his cheeks.

* * * * * * * * *

"Look, Sesshomaru's waking up," Miroku commented as he walked into the hut, glancing from the demon lord to the half asleep hanyou and youkai. Inuyasha's been taking Kagome's death badly...worse than even Shippou...he always said he was supposed to protect Kagome...Miroku thought to himself.

"Huh?" Inuyasha asked, opening one eye to look at Miroku. He shifted in Koga's arms, waking up the wolf youkai, to look at his brother. Sesshomaru's eyes were open, glancing around the hut as he sat up. He looked over at Miroku, Inuyasha, and Koga. Inuyasha mumbled a string of curses under his breath as he glared at his older brother.

"Where am I?" Sesshomaru asked quietly, his voice hoarse. The last thing I remember is...Kagome...Sesshomaru thought to himself, understanding why his brother had such a hateful look on his face and why he had cursed Sesshomaru to each pit of hell.

"You are in my home, Lord Sesshomaru," Kaede said from the doorway. She walked in and sat down, beginning to sort her herbs.

"Where's Rin?"

"She is with the other children and Sango," Kaede answered Sesshomaru's question. Shippou, Kohaku, and Rin went to play with Sango...Kaede thought to herself, smiling inwardly. She glanced up from her herbs when she saw Sesshomaru getting up. He walked out of the hut, not saying a word or looking at anyone.

"What's up with him?" Inuyasha asked, glancing over at Kaede.

"Go see Sango, and you'll understand," Kaede replied, returning to her herbs. Koga, Inuyasha, and Miroku, their suspicion and curiosity aroused, left the hut quickly, in search of Sango.

"What would Sesshomaru want with Sango?" Miroku asked, glancing over at the two lovers. Koga, still half asleep, yawned and Inuyasha shrugged his shoulders. "Where would she be?"

"Follow Sesshomaru..." Inuyasha said, looking at the houshi. He could tell Miroku was worried about Sango and chuckled.

"Nani?!" Miroku glared at the laughing hanyou.

"He won't hurt her...he's not strong enough to fight her..." Inuyasha commented, still laughing. "Stop worrying about her so much, Sango can take care of herself."

"Hai, you're right..." Miroku replied. They heard laughing coming from up ahead, and when they reached the source of the laughter, they saw Sango, Kohaku, Shippou, and Rin all sitting in the grass, hysterically laughing. "What are you laughing about?"

Sango pointed and the three men followed her finger, then saw what they were lauging at. Their mouthes dropped when they saw the miko standing in front of them, her arms wrapped around the youkai lord, kissing him passionately. Inuyasha was the first of the three to see what the others were laughing about, Sesshomaru, his eyes wide with surprise, was blushing furiously.

"K...Kagome?" Inuyasha said, making the miko stop her assault on Sesshomaru to look at him. She smiled at Inuyasha. "How...but...I...we..."

"Y...you're dead..." Koga finished Inuyasha's stuttering, just as surprised as the hanyou and houshi.

"No..." Kagome replied, chuckling. "We just played a little trick on Naraku, that's all..."

"T...tr..trick?" Inuyasha asked, glancing from Kagome to Sesshomaru, who was still blushing.

"Hai...I just pretended to be dead..." Kagome answered. Inuyasha could see her hand wrap around Sesshomaru's claws and he involuntarily growled, but stopped when Koga poked him.

"Pretended? You were dead for almost a week," Miroku pointed out. 'Her body was cold...she didn't breathe or have a heartbeat...how could she be alive?' Miroku asked himself.

"I know...my body was in a state of deep sleep...but it seemed like I was dead to everyone..." Kagome replied.

"But...we felt you energy disappear," Koga stated.

"No...Sesshomaru just absorbed it..."

"Why did you make us think you were dead?!" Inuyasha asked, trying not to start crying out of happiness.

"I didn't have control of when I would wake up...and it had to convince Naraku," Kagome answered.

"WHY!?!?!" Inuyasha questioned, sniffling. She's alive...Sesshomaru was actually protecting her...THAT BASTARD!!! MAKING ME THINK SHE WAS DEAD!!! Inuyasha thought to himself.

"The jewel shard in my back could only be removed by Naraku..." Sesshomaru replied quietly.

"And?" Inuyasha asked, glancing over at his brother, noticing Sesshomaru had returned to a normal color.

"The jewel shard was beginning to take over Sesshomaru's body...only a little while longer, and Sesshomaru would have been one of Naraku's slaves..." Kagome answered. "If he could control Sesshomaru...he would have been able to destroy all of you...and not including the miko powers Sesshomaru could have used...if he didn't 'kill' me..."

"So...you did all of that...to protect US?" Miroku asked, glancing from Kagome to Sesshomaru in amazement. They both risked their lives...for us...why? Miroku asked himself.

"Hai...we weren't going to let Naraku use our powers to kill our friends..." Kagome replied, smiling. "and he'll be in for a surprise the next time he sees me." Sesshomaru bent down and whispered something into Kagome's ear, making her chuckle. Inuyasha and Koga only caught a few words, but they guessed the two were talking about Naraku.

"Sesshomau..." Inuyasha stated, glaring at his brother. Sesshomaru looked over at him. "I want to talk to you for a minute..." Sesshomaru nodded his head curtly and the two inu brothers walked into the forest, remaining silent until Inuyasha stopped walking and turned to look at his brother. "Well?"

"Nani?"

"Are...are you going to mate Kagome?" Inuyasha asked, glancing down at the ground. Sesshomaru didn't answer him immediately, so he looked up and saw that the youkai was thinking.

"Would you rather I didn't?"

"No!...it's just...I don't want you to break her heart..." Inuyasha replied. He swore he heard Sesshomaru chuckle for a moment, but the inu-youkai's face didn't show any emotion.

"Hai..."

"Huh?" Inuyasha asked, swearing her heard the youkai lord say 'yes,' but then thought it was wishful thinking.

"If she'll have me...hai, I will mate her..."

Inuyasha could hear the truth in his brother's words, which made him burst out laughing, which got him a glare from Sesshomaru. "Gomen...I didn't think that you, Lord of the Western Lands, would mate a human...if it's not too personal...why?"

"The same reason our father mated with your mother..." Sesshomaru replied quietly.

Love...how cute...Inuyasha thought to himself, still laughing. "Then congratulations...I hope I get a few nieces and nephews soon..." He saw Sesshomaru blush slightly at this, making him laugh even harder. "Stop blushing, it doesn't suit you!"

"Stop laughing...baka..." Sesshomaru retorted, walking back to where Kagome and the others were.

"Feh," Inuyasha managed to say as he gasped for breath and wiped his eyes. He followed Sesshomaru back and smiled when he saw Kagome's face light up when she saw Sesshomaru. They really do love each other...when did that happen? Just as unexpected as me and Koga...Inuyasha thought to himself, walking over to his koibito and wrapped his arms around Koga.

"What was all that laughing for?" Koga asked, glancing over at Inuyasha. Inuyasha whispered what his and Sesshomaru's discussion about, making Koga's eyes widen. I thought I'd be Kagome's mate...oh well...I've got a mate already...Koga thought to himself, smiling lovingly at the hanyou.



* * * * * * * *

"Kagome..." Sesshomaru said quietly, catching the attention of everyone around the campfire. The group had begun searching for jewel shards again, with two new members, Rin and Sesshomaru. It had already been a week since they started, and everyone knew that Sesshomaru hadn't mustered up enough courage to ask Kagome yet, so they had begun to spy on the two, hoping that he would ask soon.

"Hai?" she looked up at the youkai lord and smiled. He has been much nicer to Inuyasha lately...and to everyone else...Kagome thought to herself as she stood up, knowing that the youkai wanted to talk to her privately, and followed him out of the camp. When Sesshomaru was sure they were out of earshot of his brother and Koga, he stopped. "What is it?"

"I...I..."

"What is it, Sesshomaru?" Kagome asked, wrapping her arms around Sesshomaru and resting her head on his chest. What does he want? He keeps stuttering whenever we're alone...what could it be? Kagome asked herself curiously.

"Will..." Sesshomaru started out, taking a deep breath, then rushed through the rest of his question, but Kagome understood him. "Will you be my mate?"

Kagome stood, dumbfounded, for a moment, before smiling into Sesshomaru's chest asked, "Is that what you've been trying to ask me for the past week?"

"Hai."

Kagome stood on the tips of her toes and pressed her lips against Sesshomaru's. He met her mouth with his own and licked her bottom lip gently. Kagome opened her mouth and met his tongue with hers. When Kagome broke the kiss to catch her breath, she answered his question. "Hai...I'll be your mate."

She and Sessomaru heard a great deal of noise coming from in the bushes near them. Kagome smirked when she saw Rin, Kohaku, and Shippou crawl out from behind the bush. The three smiled at the two. "Congratulations, Kagome...Sesshomaru," Kohaku said.

"Does this mean Kagome's going to be Rin's kasan?" Rin asked, glancing over at Sesshomaru. Kagome saw the demon lord nod his head, trying not to blush, but finally lost the battle. "And Shippou's going to be Rin's brother!"

"Hai..." Kagome replied, wrapping her arms tighter around the demon.

"Great...now we'll have to deal with those two..."

"Do you think you and Koga are any better?"

"US!? What about you and Sango?!"

"*thwack* what about me?"

"Don't hit Inuyasha!"

Kagome watched as the hanyou flew by, a large bump beginning to form on his head. She saw Miroku, Sango, and Koga step out from behind the bushes, smirking. "So, brother...you better take good care of Kagome..." Inuyasha threatened as he walked back to the group, twigs and leaves sticking out of his hair, and a large, red, bump on his head.

"I will," Sesshomaru whispered, glancing down at Kagome.

Authoress: HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!...sorry...since so many people said we should bring Kagome back, we did...so sorry...it isn't that long...but I'll put up a reeeeaaaallllyyy long chappie up soon, I SWEAR!!! I wanna know what happens to our engaged couple as well!!!

Koga: o.O...are Inuyasha and I really THAT obvious?

Authoress: ...all I have to say to you is WEASELS!!!! (Watch some FLCL, and ya'll understand)

Inuyasha and Koga: *blush*



Sesshomaru: ^________________________________________________________________________________________________________^

Authoress: well...someone's in a good mood...o.o;

Inuyasha and Koga: WE'RE GOING TO BE UNCLES!!!!! ^_______________________^

Authoress: well, everyone's now in a good mood, what about you Miroku?

Miroku: *pulls pocky stick out of non-existent pocket and begins to gnaw on it* ^__________________________________________________________^

Naraku: -_-;...

Authoress: O.O what are you doing here?!...it's okay...you in a good mood? AND YOU'RE GOING TO DIE FOR WHAT YA DID T' SESSHY!!!!!!!!! *points, poking out Naraku's eye*

Naraku: OWWWW!!!...*sticks eye, which was stuck on Authoress's finger, back into eye socket* *glares, with both eyes* ME!?!? You made me do it!!!...

Authoress: o.O...no...you begged me to...

Naraku: NANI!?!?!?!?!??!?!? *evil glare*

Authoress: Okay, people, review! I have a good idea what's going to happen next, but everyone's reviews are soooooooo lovely! ^________________________________________________________________________________________________________________^ ...BYE FOR NOW!!! *kills Naraku and puts puchuu in baboon suit* ...you didn't see/hear that...*glares at screen*