Chapter 28: Inuyasha's Gift and Kouga's House Call

After this realization comes crashing down on him, he presses her to him tightly. He really loved her. The thought sent thrills through his body and soul, and yet a small voice sprang from the deep confines of his mind, 'Yes, but is it unconditional? And even if so, does she love you as much, or indeed at all?'

He didn't know the answers to these questions, and indeed, didn't pretend to. At the moment he was perfectly happy to keep enjoying this feeling he'd finally been able to label. Another thought arose in his mind, still consciously unaware that the woman he just discovered he loved was placing her arms around him as well. 'What will I give her?' It couldn't be just anything, not after what she'd given him. It had to be special, something significant to him, and yet delicate as well.

Suddenly, a thought seized him, and he took a liking to it immediately. There happened to be a piece of jewelry that he'd inherited from his mother that perfectly fit the occasion. Normally he wouldn't have even considered showing her anything of his mother's, but now, now he knew nothing else would do.

Excited at the thought of having thought of the perfect gift, Inuyasha wastes no time in gathering her up and taking off, ignoring her startled yelp of protest.

Meanwhile, Kagome was just about as confused as a girl could get. 'Where is he taking?' is all she thinks. It had to be somewhere special; she'd never seen him so excited. The idea that he was thinking anything of an impure nature didn't even cross her mind. She knew him to well and respected him too much to even imagine anything of the sort. So she was left to wonder, and, in the back of her mind, enjoying the warmth of his body when he had her tucked in his arms as he did.

Soon enough he reaches his room, putting her down outside the door before walking in, Kagome close on his heels. As he drew closer to his safe, he became less and less certain. What if she didn't like it? He didn't think he could take it if she didn't. Well, he'd come this far; he couldn't back down now. And so he continues, taking down a rather large portrait of his father to expose the door to his safe, the place he kept his most prized possessions. He's acutely aware of Kagome's attention resting on him, and can't help but feel nervous. He slowly opens the safe and rummages carefully through it, finally finding the right piece. Suddenly he hears her quietly ask "Inuyasha? Are you alright? You're a little quiet."

He lowers his head, trying, for once, to remember everything that his mother and father had tried to teach him about manners and how to give a gift. In his strange mind set, for the first time, he wanted to be sure that he did everything exactly right, and he wasn't positive he would. He starts softly and slowly "Kagome, first off I want to thank you for the necklace, it's…it's the best gift anyone's ever given me. Secondly, I want to give you something too, but before I do, I want the same promise you had from me alright?"

He hears her nod before saying, "Okay Inuyasha, I promise."

Trying to gain back a bit of his usual arrogant air, he says "Good, 'cause I'd have to rip your tongue out if you laughed." He smells her relax a bit, now knowing that nothing was extremely wrong, and smiles slightly before turning around, a simple lacquer box in his hands. He takes a deep breath as discreetly as possibly before giving it to her, placing it lightly in her hands before saying "Remember, you better appreciate it."

She nods before lifting the lid, gasping when she sees what lays inside, amazed. It was a simple necklace as well, made of thread and has wooden slivers spaced through the entirety of it. The thing that took her breath away though, was the jewel at the bottom of it. It was a small sphere, a misty purple color that seemed to glow in the dim light. "Oh Inuyasha, it's beautiful."

A small smile can't help but find itself onto his face. He quickly begins to explain it in a quiet voice "It was my mother's. She once told me that whoever had it would get their hearts desire if they wished it hard enough. It's called the Shikon No Tama."

Outside and far away, in the deepest part of the woods, two figures were silent and facing each other. One standing and the other kneeling in front of them. The standing figure shatters the dead silence with his baritone voice, saying simply "You know what you have to do. Go, and remember, don't bother coming back if you fail."

The other curtly nods "Yes my alpha." Before he's not there anymore, all that's left in his wake were the disturbed leaves near where he had been.

Not five minutes after, his silhouette overshadows a village, the sun to his back, one can barely see the merciless smirk on his face, "Ah," he comments under his breath with no real emotion, "home sweet home." With that the figure calls out harshly, summoning a pair of wolves to his side. "Take them alive and bring them here. Go."

The wolves rush down the hillside, making straight for one house, silent as the wind. They disappear from sight for a moment before reappearing, something in each of their mouths. They come back to their master, dropping their load in front of them like obedient dogs, sitting afterwards and wagging their tails, waiting for his next command. Instead of his voice, the next thing heard is a voice that is quite a bit more high-pitched and youthful as one of his victims pulls their head from the snow, "Hey! What do you think you're doing you mangy…wolf." The voice dies as the victim looks up at the figure "You! What are you doing here?! I thought that…"

The figure interrupts at this point, "Well, apparently you were wrong. And you are going to help me and my alpha get what we want." The figure smirks before adding, "Souta."

A.N. Finally I got another chapter up! Sorry if Inuyasha seemed a bit out of character, my excuse is that those in love can act highly unusual at times lol. So, how'd you like Kouga's reintroduction? I decided that this would be more logical then having Kouga put Grandpa in the looney bin. Next chappie hopefully we'll get some Kouga butt kicking! Well, now time for some Reviewer Replies!

Neko-Yuff16- I'm just glad to have been able to inspire you in some way. No, I haven't played FF8, but my brother has a little, so I at least know what you're talking about with the characters a little. Yeah, Sango and Miroku are really cute together, I wish I could find a way to fit them in more then I have. Thank you once again for reviewing and I'll update asap.

ThatOneNerd- Thanks for the critique girl, you know I appreciate it. Thanks for the compliments as well, I really appreciate them too. I promise to update as soon as I can, promise.

RoseMaiden- Lol, yeah, I definitely agree, it took him long enough. Now that that's in his head, we can finally get the romance ball really rolling! He'll still be Inuyasha, but (hopefully) a little nicer, though probably a bit awkward (this IS Inu-chan we're talking about lol). Thank you for reviewing and I'll update as soon as possible.

Kiara-Star- Yeah, it was really sweet. Oh, and yes, glass candy is a real candy. I've had it once or twice; it's really good. We may or may not be seeing more of Fluffy; I'm not entirely sure yet. Thank you very much for the compliments and I promise to try and keep up the good work.

MeMe- Well, now you know. Honestly, I think it was quite ingenious if I do say so myself lol. Christmas and New Year's were wonderful, thank you for asking. See you to next chappie!

Rosakara13- Thank you very much.

Codfael3- Thank you very much. I like stories with Inu/Kag pairings too, don't read anything but lol.

Oki489Tsubasa- Thank you very much. I promise to let you read more asap.

Inu Youkai Gurl 101- Well, now you know at least slightly what Naraku and Kouga are planning. I promise to update as quickly as possible. Thank you for the compliments.

Hanyou Vixen- Thank you for your compliments, yeah, I like to think that my idea's original and I try to update as regularly as possible. As far as Inu-chan looks like, think of him in his demon form, but covered entirely with snow-white fur. Sorry for not being very clear on that. Thank you for your review and I'll update asap.

Well that's all for now, R&R please.