A/N: Hello people! I'm back! Hehehe... took me long enough, ne? Specially after that horrible cliffhanger... Gomen! It's because I started with two new stories, and I had to return to school for a day to claim my class cards. Class cards, AKA college report cards. Creepy.

Damn class cards... the main reason why I haven't updated sooner. I was so out of it after I got my grades! I did pretty well, actually, but one of my professors gave me a grade that I totally do NOT deserve! The grading system goes like this... 1 is the highest, 3 is passing, 5 is the failing mark. And she gave me a goddamn 2!!! I was *expecting* at LEAST a 1.5 or a 1.75, but noooo... she gave me a 2!!! Dammit! It's like getting a B when you deserve an A or an A-. I did sooo well in that class! It's so unfair!!!

Anyway, enough of my ramblings. I just love spilling my guts, woes and anger in my a/n's, though I know it's totally inappropriate. I can't help it!

Here's the chap! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

-----/---@

SEVEN WEEKS

Unbroken

-----/---@

"You lied to me about WHO YOU ARE! Kagome... why? I trusted you, Kagome! No wait, that's AZALEA, isn't it?" Inuyasha asked, half-angrily, half-sadly as more tears spilled from her eyes. "How could you ever expect me to trust you again?"

-----/---@

"Inuyasha..." Kagome pleaded as her vision continued to blur with tears. "I know it was wrong, but... but I had to do it! I would have told you eventually... Please, listen to me..."

"I still don't understand why you didn't tell me... but for now," Inuyasha then turned back to Naraku. "I shall see to it that this bastard dies... for kidnapping you. Go back to the cave."

Inuyasha was furious at Kagome, but whether he was mad at her or not, he wanted to hear the reason from her. He wanted to know why she didn't tell him... why she had kept it all to herself... he wanted to talk to her.

And no matter how mad he was at her at the moment, he still loved her.

He always will.

Naraku stopped laughing abruptly when Inuyasha turned murderous eyes his way. His golden orbs almost glowed red with his anger, and the evil man could practically feel the short hairs on the back of his neck start to stand on end.

Inuyasha raised Tetsusaiga and with a flick of his wrist, transformed it into the gigantic fang. Kagome backed away instinctively, clutching her right wrist with her left hand unconsciously.

"Be careful," she whispered almost inaudibly before turning and heading back to the cave.

Inuyasha heard her though, but did not say anything about it. True, his trust in her had been swayed terribly, and he was fuming at her lack of faith in him, but her words, as always, were comforting. He was glad that she wanted him safe. He would have smiled had the situation not been so darn agitating.

Naraku stepped back and nodded almost imperceptibly to Kanna, who continued to stare blankly at all that went around her.

"Naraku, you bastard. I don't know how the fuck Azalea managed to tear away from you... Now give me that damn jewel," Inuyasha said sharply.

Naraku just stared at him in amusement. "And you think I will do as you say because...?"

"Because I may decide to kill you quickly and painlessly if you do."

"Oh, I'm terrified. I'll give you the jewel in exchange for Azalea," Naraku said, holding up the Shikon no Tama.

"Keh! Over my dead body, kusoyarou," Inuyasha replied heatedly. "She may have been a damn liar but she's still MY girlfriend!"

Naraku stiffened, his scarlet eyes full of icy malice. "She is mine, hanyou."

"Go to hell!!!" Inuyasha yelled as he charged at Naraku. The man didn't move... didn't duck... didn't even bat an eyelash... as Inuyasha slashed right through him.

His golden eye widened as he cut Naraku into two. It was strange... too easy...

He stared as Naraku's white pelt fell slowly to the ground. 'Wait... his pelt?' Inuyasha thought in bewilderment. The white robes fell listlessly to the ground, containing nothing but a small wooden doll.

"What the hell?" Inuyasha yelled to the skies as he watched the small wooden doll slowly burn itself. He looked up to find Kanna still blankly staring at him, holding her mirror behind him. He growled lightly and was about to pounce when something heavy thumped into him from behind.

He flew a few feet away from Kanna from the impact, landing painfully, face- first onto the ground. He instinctively turned onto his back as he felt a presence behind him, and he moved away just in time to avoid Kouga's fist from bashing his face into the dirt.

"Kouga! I thought I fucking decked you!" Inuyasha rallied as he pushed off from his crouch on the ground with his hand, landing gracefully on his feet a few meters away. He glanced in Kanna's way to find that the tiny wisp of smoke was coming from her mirror again, forming a ring around Kouga's neck.

"How many times do I have to deck you to get you out of the damn spell!?" Inuyasha shouted as Kouga lunged at him again. He was NOT in a good mood! 'I find out that Kagome is really Azalea, this fucking ookami is possessed and I can't kill him, and I've still got fucking wound from his earlier attack. Damn, I'm fried!' he thought angrily. He wanted nothing more than to punch Kouga's face into his skull and go shake the truth from Kagome.

'No wait... that's Azalea, ne?' he thought grimly. He dodged another blow, racking his brain for a way to get Kouga back to his senses. 'Kagome is usually the one who thinks of plans...'

Kouga threw a powerful kick in Inuyasha's abdomen, and because of his small distraction with his thoughts, Inuyasha got the full blow. He cried out as he felt the kick bruise quite a few ribs, but kept his balance as he began to stumble backwards. He put a bracing arm around his painful torso, breathing heavily. He saw Kanna still standing with her mirror in his peripheral vision.

He considered calling Kagome for a moment to make her smash the mirror, but thought better of it. After all, she hadn't been able to do it the first time. There was probably a small problem that she wasn't able to handle. 'I just wish I knew why she didn't destroy the mirror!'

And speaking of Kagome... Inuyasha just noticed that in all the earlier excitement, Kagome had somehow dropped her bow and arrows in the middle of the battleground, just a few feet away from Kanna.

-----/---@

Kagome gasped fearfully as she watched Inuyasha take a blow to his stomach. He was obviously distracted, and she had a very good idea why.

Her guilt was eating at her. 'This is all my fault; and if I didn't lose my nerve and just shoot the damn mirror... Kouga-kun wouldn't still be under a spell right now!'

"What could I do?" she mused softly, not tearing her gaze away from the panting hanyou. She saw him shift his gaze to the bow and arrows that rested near Kanna, and his breathing seemed to be growing more labored by the minute. "I'm useless."

She watched as Kouga began to rush at Inuyahsa again, and in his pain, narrowly managed to avoid the attack. 'If I don't do anything, he'll die! Demo... I would have to break the mirror...'

She resolved right then to help Inuyasha, even if it meant breaking the mirror... and Souta's soul. Her brother was dead - she knew that all too well - and knowing Souta, he would gladly give up his life if it were for a good cause.

'Demo... this is his soul!' Kagome thought desperately as she began to exit the cave she was in. 'But if I don't do this... Inuyasha and Kouga will be in trouble. I can't let Inuyasha die!'

She steeled herself against her tears, silently praying to Souta's soul for forgiveness. She knew what she was about to do would make Souta gone from her forever... But she had to make a choice.

She ran swiftly towards Kanna, putting her worries in the back of her mind. 'When I get the Shikon back, I will make it up to you, niichan.'

Kagome ran for the bow and grabbed her arrows from the ground, rolling on the ground as she made a wild swipe for the quiver. She notched up the arrow and aimed straight for Kanna's mirror.

The young youkai's eyes widened ever so slightly, and she objected. "Would you really be willing to destroy your brother's soul?"

Kagome steadied her shaking hands as she took careful aim. "Yes... if it means keeping Inuyasha safe," she said softly. Kanna backed away slightly, and Kagome grinned as she pulled her bowstrings tight, and yelled out as she let the arrow fire.

Kanna was too surprised to move, and the arrow hit the mirror dead on, turning its luminescent surface into a shower of shining splinters. Kagome grinned despite her worry and fright for her brother's soul. 'At least now Kouga will be free.'

And Inuyasha will be safe.

-----/---@

Inuyasha ducked another attack, landing painfully on his back as he did so. But now that he did land... his broken and cracked ribs were making it entirely difficult to get up. He closed his eyes as he saw Kouga aim straight for his face, bracing himself for at least a broken nose. But... the pain never came.

He opened his eyes and realized that Kouga was now slumped beside him. Inuyasha blinked as he realized that the wisp that held Kouga was gone...

He looked up and gave a soft gasp. Kagome was standing before Kanna, her hand still bent back from releasing the arrow. Kanna's arrow was in splinters, and the small youkai was staring dumbstruck at the princess.

Kagome was grinning, but the tears that stung her eyes were threatening to fall. Her lips moved softly, and Inuyasha strained his ears to hear her words.

"Gomen... Souta-oniichan."

His eyes widened. Was her brother somehow tied to this? Was that why she lied? Was that why she hesitated in smashing the mirror earlier?

Kouga gave a soft groan, and Inuyasha turned to him abruptly. He nudged Kouga in the ribs, a bit too hard actually, and asked. "Oi, ookami. Daijobu?"

Kouga raised dazed eyes at him and uttered a soft "Gomen," before collapsing back into unconsciousness. Inuyasha noticed that Kouga's side was bleeding rather generously, and realized that he must have wounded the guy somehow.

He was taken out of his musings when he felt strong winds stirring the thick dark clouds above him. Kagura was landing, or rather, reaching down to grab her sister and take her to safety.

Kagome was somehow out of arrows, and she shielded her eyes against the dust that Kagura stirred up. Inuyasha rose to his feet, raising Tetsusaiga and firing it up shortly, a small cloud of youki forming around the blade.

"Kaze no Kizu!!!" Inuyasha yelled, swinging his massive sword in the direction of the retreating youkai siblings. Their eyes widened for a moment before the youki was upon them, shredding their clothing in the process as they screamed their pain.

The light formed by the Kaze no Kizu slowly began to subside, and Inuyasha stared in complete confusion as he realized that the two youkai had completely disappeared. 'They couldn't have melted into nothingness,' he mused, but was cut off when Kagome rushed over to him, tears in her eyes and dampening her cheeks as she put her arms around his neck, sobbing uncontrollably into his haori.

"Inuyasha!" she cried, clutching him like a lifeline.

Inuyasha's anger dissipated at the sight of her desperately sad face. 'No matter if she lied to me... I still love her.' He lifted her face and wiped her tears with his thumb and kissed her lips lightly. He then disentangled her arms from around him and gave a weak grin. He held his torso in one arm and led her away from the grounds with his other hand.

Inuyasha paused. "Come on. We have to talk, and you know it," he said. He then looked over and found Kouga lying on the ground. "But first, let's get ookami to safety."

Kagome nodded tearfully.

-----/---@

They had bandaged Kouga in silence before laying him on a secluded corner of the cave to heal, and Kagome had also pulled Inuyasha's bandages tight over his torso to fix any possible dislocations. He had quite a few broken ribs from Kouga's strongest kick, and thought Kagome knew that thought he healed quickly, Inuyasha could still feel pain.

Kagome had bandaged his wounds and torso with utmost care, and he knew that as usual, she was trying to keep him from as much pain as possible. Inuyasha held back whimpers and outbursts of pain as she carefully fixed him up, praying to all Kamis that he wouldn't collapse right in front of her.

Besides, they still had a lot to talk about.

Dammit... at least the wolf was unconscious.

Kagome sat back as she finished bandaging him up, staring down at her knees as she sat with her legs tucked up beneath her. The slowly setting sun cast a reddish glow upon her form from the opening in the cave. She winced when Inuyasha spoke.

"Kagome... look at me, onegai," Inuyasha asked her softly. Kagome just sat with her hands clasped tightly between her breasts and shook her head. Inuyasha saw small droplets fall to the floor as he smelled salt in the air again. She was crying.

"Kagome, please. I wanna talk to you. I..."

"Gomen..."

Inuyasha looked at Kagome as she slowly looked up at him, her star mark gleaming in her hand as she made them rest on her lap.

"Since the day we met," Kagome began. "I have been nothing but trouble," Inuyasha began to object, but Kagome hurriedly continued. "I have always been in your way, getting you into unnecessary trouble, surrendering your sword to Kagura while I was under a spell... I stole your image of Azalea..."

"You stole it?"

She nodded. "I was hoping that if you lost it, you wouldn't figure out who I really am..."

"But Kagome... why?" he asked, his anger slowly returning. "Why the hell didn't you tell me?!"

Kagome sniffled. "At first... it was because I thought it would be best that you didn't know who I am, so you would let me fight alongside you. I knew that... if you knew I was Azalea... you would not want me in danger. When I got to know you better I began to chicken out. I knew you would be mad that I didn't tell you sooner. And when I fell in love with you..."

Kagome closed her eyes, and Inuyasha could see that her hands were shaking. "When I fell in love with you... I kept it a secret because I wanted to spend my time as Kagome... before I had to return to the palace... with you. I wanted to be a normal girl..." she said softly.

"I wanted to have this time with you... I decided that I could never have you if I were princess, so as long as I still don't have the power, I would let myself be with you. I wanted to keep you, Inuyasha... and your sense of honor would not allow you to touch me if you knew who I really am..."

Inuyasha stared hard at her. "Look at me, Kagome."

Kagome did as he asked, and was surprised when she stared into his intent golden orbs. He was pained... but was that forgiveness?

"Now I know," he began, "Why you were so hesitant to agreeing to go back to my world with me. Why you know so much about Miroku and Sango... about Crystallia. Kagome... I love you! How could you think that I wouldn't accept you if I knew the truth?"

Kagome cried even harder. "I'm sorry... I know it was selfish of me... that I shouldn't have let you love me when you would lose me... I didn't think! I... didn't even pause to consider that you would be hurt too."

"But this is hurting me worse, Kagome!" Inuyasha said gently. "If I had known who you were... I wouldn't have kept hoping that I could keep you until I leave Crystallia. I would have accepted the fact that I would eventually lose you. But you kept me hoping, Kagome! And now... the sudden knowledge that it would be impossible just hit me right in the kisser. I... would have loved you anyway, Kagome. At least the pain of losing you would have been less... because I would have known that loving you meant losing you."

"I'm sorry. I know what I did was wrong... Please forgive me!" she cried, bending down and laying her forehead on the ground before him, bowing to him, pleading with him...

"Get up, Kagome. I don't want to see you do that!" he said, pulling her up and into his arms. He cradled her lovingly as she sobbed into his chest.

"I don't know why I even thought that way," Kagome cried. " I trust you, mind body and soul, Inuyasha! I made this mistake because I love you so much."

"I love you too, Kagome. I always have... I always will..."

"Please don't hate me..."

"I just told you that I'll always love you..."

Inuyasha held her tightly, stroking her raven hair in a comforting gesture. This seemed to calm Kagome, and he listened as her sobs very gradually decreased.

"I'm sorry," she said again.

"I forgive you," he said softly as she looked up and stared into his eyes. He cupped Kagome's cheek with the hand not supporting her, then he tilted her head back and kissed her softly.

Kagome eagerly deepened the kiss, her hands roaming his chest, shoulders and back through the fabric of his haori. Inuyasha licked her lips and she opened them promptly, letting him taste her sweet essence as she explored his own mouth with her tongue. Kagome then pulled herself higher and wrapped her arms around his neck, playing with his long silver hair as they passionately kissed.

Inuyasha broke the kiss when they both began to run out of air, and Kagome leaned her head on his chest as she quietly spoke. "I'm also sorry that I didn't destroy the mirror at once. It was just that..." he eyes grew teary again. "They had Souta-niichan's soul in it, and destroying it would mean destroying Souta..."

Inuyasha blanched. "Then... did you get his spirit out before you destroying the mirror?" he asked, already knowing the answer as he remembered her tears after she shattered the mirror. She shook her head and he sighed heavily.

"Kagome... you did that?" he asked, tilting her head up again to look into her azure orbs.

"If it meant keeping you safe... I would risk anything, Inuyasha."

"Oh gods, Kagome!" he said, squeezing her tighter against him. "I'm so sorry..."

"I love you so much, Inuyasha."

"I love you too..."

The pair then kept silent as Inuyasha held Kagome in his arms, on his lap, each lost in their own thoughts.

-----/---@

Kouga had been awake through the whole exchange, and he listened in growing sadness as the pair spoke of their woes. 'Inuyasha would have to leave... and Kagome has to go back to being princess. They would be apart inevitably.'

He knew how hard that would have to be, and he felt absolutely sorry for them both. They loved each other... why was it so unfair?

He was jealous, no sense in denying that. But he was also not as dense as he seemed. He knew that Kagome would only be happy with Inuyasha, and being that he loved her, he had no other wish aside from her happiness. And now... even that was to be stripped from her.

He wanted to stop the tears from flowing through her eyes... he wanted to be the one to make it all better... but he knew that the power to make Lady Azalea smile did not lie in his hands...

I lay only within the hanyou who held her so tightly, so protectively as her small frame wracked with desperate sobs.

He smiled in spite of himself. 'At least... she felt happiness... even for a short while.'

-----/---@

Kagome and Inuyasha awoke, still in each other's arms the next day. Kagome gave him a soft look and a smile before she got up. She had barely left his lap when she gave a small gasp.

"Doushite?" Inuyasha asked as he looked off into the direction Kagome was looking in. She pointed frantically to the place where they had earlier lain Kouga, and he gave his own sound of surprise when he found Kouga gone. In the wolf prince's place was a small bunch of berries and a note.

Kagome picked up the note and read it aloud. "It says...

*Oi, inukkoro!

Arigatou for dressing my wounds up for me. And sorry that I wasn't much help in healing Kagome. But I'd bet you wouldn't have wanted me to have been there when you healed her, ne? You take care of her, alright?! I love that girl, and you hurt her in the least and I'll send the wolves of hell to gouge your eyes out. Ja!

Kouga*

"I guess he's not really mad that I got you before he did..." Inuyasha said in confusion.

"Nope," Kagome said softly. "The ookami are known for their righteousness, despite the fact that most of them actually eat human flesh. I think he understood that I love you..."

"Yeah. But we have one thing we should do," Inuyasha said, and upon Kagome's confused look, he continued. "We should tell Miroku and Sango about you. To keep them from collapsing right off the huge cat in shock."

Kagome laughed. "Oh, you mean Kirara? She's a neko youkai... a nekomata, actually."

"Nekomata... a two tailed cat?" Inuyasha asked. He had never actually seen the cat in person.

"Yeah. Kirara-chan is Sango-chan's pet."

"Oh. Well, what do you think? Should we tell them now or wait until they catch up?" Inuyasha asked, already taking the amulet out of his robes.

Kagome smiled. "Well..."

-----/---@

A/N: THERE! I hope this chapter made up for the last one. That was so sad! And I had to end it so horribly, too! At least this one isn't as sad as the last one! LOL!

Anyway, RESPONSES!!!

fetchboy69: Thanks! I'm glad you like my fic. Oh my... I missed a few words, didn't I? Gomen. ^_^ I'll read over my fic and find the ones I neglected to indicate and post their meanings in the next chapter. And sure! I'll check your fic out once I have time! Thanks again!

Justmeh: Took me long enough to let him know, too. Yeah, I was all depressed while writing the last chap, but I kinda like the way it came out. ^_^

A Friend: I'm glad you liked my last chap. And yeah, he's forgiven her, though he hasn't gotten over it quite yet. But like you said, this is INUYASHA we're talking about!

DevilWench: Thanks for the review!

hyperchica11: Yeah... Depressing, ne?

Litwolf689: Don't worry... he'll die eventually. I'm glad you liked the last chap! And about Inu trusting Kag... THAT may take a while. I dunno if I will make Inu go full demon, but if you want to see full youkai Inu in this fic, just tell me and I'll make him go demon, lol! And I don't mind the shouting... a shot of Pepsi does the same to me!

Trina/Paulina: Oh, don't worry! Hindi ko magagawa kay Kag yun!

Sukuri: I'm glad you liked it! Mir and San will catch up in a chapter or two... they probably would next chap if I'm in a good enough mood! You got DSL? Cool! Though I'm not very envious of the treadmill thing... Gah! I hate exercising! Oh, you're not a chicken at all! My friend Josh has never tried it, and he's been to Hawaii tons of times! And the guy's a damn diver, too. I'm glad you don't think I'm pathetic. Anyway, I hope this chap answered your question about Kag's star and powers. And your review is sooo not short! I loved it! It was one of the longest that I got for the chap. Thanks again! ^_^

yupperz2003: Glad you liked it! Sure, I'll check it out... as soon as I get the darn ff.net search to work!!! Damn find button!

starry-sky26: Yeah! Haha!

KrysTheAngel: Of course I haven't forgotten you! I don't really mind that you didn't get to review a couple of chaps... I know life can be totally hectic - I once had to pass three term papers in one day and I was stressed for a whole week. I'm glad you sympathize with my situation. Oh cool, you're Canadian?! Nah, I don't really believe the dumb rumors, but they say that it could get really cold in there. I live in a tropical country, and I don't think EJ is too used to the low Western temperatures. He gets sick easily, and I can't help but worry. Yeah, I hope we could stay in touch til he finally manages to drop by... Anyway, I'm glad you liked my last few chaps, and I'm gonna make Naraku pay for that. You are so right about what characters can make you write. Toilet scene? Sounds cute! I promise to go check it out. Your fic is here in ff.net, ne? Ok... that was a dumb question. I've got to admit, this is one of THE longest reviews I have ever received, and I LOVE IT! Arigatou for taking the time to give me this long review. You didn't bore me at all! Thanks again!

The Literary Dragon: I hope this chap answered your questions. And I had them make up, too! Arigatou for the review!

RavenShadow: I'm glad you liked it! Oh, I could never make Inu reject Kag! I'd be crying my eyes off with that, and I really don't like making myself cry...

There! Did I miss anyone? Hope not! Again, ARIGATOU for reading, and please review! Ja!

ScarletRaven1001