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Violets are blue,

Fanfiction is written for fun,

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Shippo was absolutely peeved at being left behind. Having slept for what seemed an innumerable amount of time curled up near the Houshi's fireplace, he had woken up only to find the rest of the group still gone, probably off on some grand adventure that they considered too "dangerous" for kids. "Huh," he sniffed, angrily chewing on an apple swiped from the orchard nearby, "What do they think they're doing anyway, leaving me here like this?! It's always so boring here!"

Actually, he took that back. He often lived with Miroku and Sango and Kyoko on and off, especially in the winter months when the weather was harsher and it wasn't fun to be living from tree-to-tree, and he always liked it inside the cozy little house, where Miroku was often going in and out for exorcisms and Sango was always cooking something delicious. However, the complete silence at the moment was almost too much to bear. "I wish they'd get back," he muttered to himself, spinning around a little top that he had materialized out of thin air.

No sooner had he made that wish when suddenly he heard the distinctive noise of someone being smacked outside. "MIROKU HOUSHI!" he heard Sango's angry voice ring out near the doorway. "I am so very disappointed in you!"

Shippo grinned as he heard the sound of another smack and an undignified "ow!" coming from Miroku. The couple suddenly appeared in the doorway, an infuriated Sango carrying her husband's robe and Miroku looking quite sorry for himself. "But Sango-chan!" he whined, rubbing his bare forearm. "I didn't do anything! They jumped on me!"

She just glared at him, holding his robe out at arm's length as if repulsed. "Hm! Why didn't you beat them off, then?"

Miroku sighed painfully as he snatched it back. "What was I supposed to DO, use my Wind Tunnel?!"

"Perhaps!"

"So you'd rather have me sucked off into oblivion rather than being forced to finger three amorous girls who refuse to take no for an answer?!"

"Miroku Houshi, you are ABSOLUTELY- mmmpf-"

Shippo rolled his eyes as the two both set to kissing and touching as if they had neither kissed nor touched before. They always did that, starting off with an argument and ending up being GROSS like that. They probably didn't know he was here though, otherwise Miroku probably wouldn't have been so obviously grabbing her behind like that... "AHEM!" he coughed, hopping up onto the table to announce his presence.

They both let go immediately, reddening slightly as they both noticed the little fox demon for the first time. Sango laughed nervously as she pushed Miroku away. "Oh -heh- didn't see you there, Shippo!"

"Where was I SUPPOSED to be?!" the little fox retorted. "You left me stuck out here all day without even telling me where you all were going!" He cleared his throat pompously. "I have to give you credit, though; at least you're not as hard to catch as Inuyasha and Kagome are!"

The couple's collective amusement faded at the mere mention of it, and Sango opened to her mouth to ask the question that everyone was itching to know, but before that could happen Kagome suddenly appeared in the doorway, shortly followed by an irate-looking Inuyasha, who snarled angrily as one of the suitcases he was carrying got caught going through. "Dammit, Kagome!" he growled through clenched teeth. "WHY did you have to bring so much junk?!"

"Because I need all of it, stupid!" Kagome snapped, her nose in the air. "Oh, and by the way...you forgot that one!" She pointed out at one of the bags forlornly lying on the ground outside.

The half-demon huffed and raged for about a full minute but eventually went out to get the bag, pitching it down with the others, all the while muttering something about a "minxy little twit" bossing him around.

"You'd best watch him when he's handling your things, Kagome," Miroku piped up, stifling a laugh. "He likes to eat your tampons."

At this Kagome's eyes absolutely blazed with fury. "You did...WHAT?!" She screeched into the suddenly puppyish half-demon's face. "You ATE a WHAT?!"

Inuyasha looked uncharacteristically mortified. "I didn't know what it was!"

Kagome considered telling him gruesome, play-by-play details, but she figured that she'd probably end up embarrassing herself more than him. "Whatever!" she responded uppishly, turning her back to him. "But if I EVER, EVER find you playing around with those again I'll stick 'em where the sun don't shine!" Everyone laughed when Inuyasha began to look particularly frightened at this comment.

$RT&&

Laughter, however, wasn't the eminent thing on their minds later that night, when the moon had risen and all in the village appeared to be still. After arriving at the village early that evening, the first thing that Kagome and the others proceeded to do was to tell Kaede the events of the previous nine days. They all sat in a half-circle around her hearth, everyone explaining their bits of the story (minus certain parts on Inuyasha and Kagome's part, of course), not stopping to even catch their breath. The old priestess often looked grim during their tale, and on occasion opened her mouth to let out a vehement exclamation, but didn't let forth her opinion until Inuyasha had lastly told about the encounter with Sesshomaru.

"But what I don't understand," Sango said hastily as soon as he got to the part where he had turned tail and left, "is why he returned the Sacred Jewel to Inuyasha. Wouldn't he prefer it in Naraku's keeping?"

Kaede thought for a moment but finally shook her head. "I don't claim to know much about the Demon Realm," she began slowly, "but I have heard tales from travelers and the odd passing myth about their kingdom in the Western Lands. Going by what I have heard, I would never believe that aristocratic class would want the Shikkon Jewel in Naraku's hands, even if it meant its destruction. Naraku does not only wish to enslave the humans, but he also wants unrivalled dominance over the Western Lands as well. Such possession of the Shikkon Jewel would allow him to do so, not to merely terrorize human villages as he does now."

"Then why don't THEY do something?!" Inuyasha sniffed, scratching at the dirt floor with his claws. "Instead the morons actually SIDED with him!"

"They may be in his service," Kaede reprimanded him gently, "but that doesn't mean he has their unwavering loyalty. Do remember what Sesshomaru told ye, Inuyasha, after all. It's becoming clear to me that he did not give it to ye on a whim. The demons cannot afford a direct confrontation with Naraku, as it would mean their lives and integrity of their kingdom, but they want a confrontation all the same. And as ye have continually thwarted any of Naraku's machinations-"

"So what you're saying," Inuyasha cut in contemptuously, "is that he's getting me to do his dirty work!" He sniffed bitterly, looking away from the others. "Me and my mother were cast out from their precious kingdom when I was born! Why would they want a dirty half-breed like me to do them a favor?"

Everyone fell silent at his confession. Kagome stared at him sympathetically, at the obvious conflict in his eyes and at the wave of pain that had suddenly seemed to overtake him. She also remembered what Sesshomaru had said, about "biding his time"... Were they really just puppets entangled in an alternate plan of the ruthless demon's?

Kaede sighed. "Even so, I believe that this course of action would be the best. If you are lucky enough to survive Naraku's trials I am sure that you will still reunite the Shikkon Jewel and use it, am I right? The Jewel would then most likely cease to exist, and no demon will ever grow half as powerful as Naraku is now. With it gone and Naraku overthrown, it would no longer be a threat to anyone."

Kagome's heart fell as Inuyasha, still looking down, nodded silently. "You bet I'm still gonna become a full-fledged demon!" he announced, looking at Kaede sharply. "You can be damn sure about that!"

"I see," Miroku cut in, looking grave. "So what you're saying is that we should take advantage of the situation given to us, no matter what the risk." He looked around at the group. "I for one must make sure that Naraku is dead at any cost! I don't think I've got much time left..." He looked ruefully down at his right hand, clasped as it always was with prayer beads.

Sango nodded. "Me too. That bastard manipulated my brother," she added angrily, shifting restlessly. "He might still be for all I know! Even if it means his death if the Shikkon shard is taken out, I will make him rest in peace at any cost..."

Miroku patted her arm comfortingly, surprised that the normally taboo situation had come up. "If it is any reassurance he is probably long dead, Sango... I can't imagine that he kept him around once the shards were seized."

She knocked his arm away angrily, ignoring him for the moment. "Anyway, I'm in! Naraku must pay for what he has done to my family and village!"

"And I'm coming too!" Shippo piped up. "I go anywhere you guys go!"

Kagome smiled weakly. "And you need someone to purify the Jewel once it's whole, right? That means I need to come too!"

Kaede looked at them all gravely. "I see, then," she said softly, standing up. "So you are all willing to at least try, for one reason or another. I wish you all the best of luck, as I am sure you will be leaving quite soon. I cannot offer you any advice other than to stay on your guard at all times and to look for any open opportunity to reunite and purify the Shikkon Jewel without Naraku's knowledge. That however, would be miraculous..." She cleared her throat, glowering slightly.

"Tell me, do you know much about Naraku's castle?" Miroku piped up softly. "We really don't have much to go on, except that he has raised a terrible army..."

Kaede nodded in agreement. "His castle is heavily guarded by creatures of all kinds. Not only does he have a quarter of the garrison of the Demon Realm's army, but he also has many terrible demons of his own. Shadow dragons, wyverns, clay corpses... Going by anything other than rumors and reports of village attacks, I cannot say anything for certain. As I said, be on your guard and make sure that your skills with the Tetsusaiga are well-honed, Inuyasha."

The half-demon's ears perked up but he did not bother to ask how she knew that he could use the sword again. "At any rate," Kaede went on, ignoring his reaction, "I am sure that you are all tired. I have had the side room of the shrine made up for you, and you are welcome to sleep there when you are ready."

Miroku rose, yawning. "I can vouch for that, Kaede. However, there is first some unattended business that Sango-chan and I must see to. I take it that Kyoko is asleep in your hut?"

The old priestess nodded. "For once. Your little daughter must be the most energetic child I've ever seen in a score of years."

"We'd better go tuck her in again," Sango said hastily, ushering Miroku out of the shrine and Shippo skipping along in their wake shouting, "I'm coming too! I'm coming too!"

The remaining occupants of the room looked at each other. Kagome yawned after a moment, breaking the stillness as she picked up the one bag she had brought along and swiftly crossed the room. "Well, I think I'm going to bed," she added, poking her head around the doorjamb, not bothering to hear the soft mumbles of "good night" coming back at her as she hurried off to locate the room.

Only Inuyasha now remained with Kaede, still staring in the fire as he had during the last half of the conversation. He looked up and momentarily locked eyes with the old priestess, who was staring at him curiously. "Tell me, Inuyasha...about you, about the Tetsusaiga...have you been transforming of late?"

"No, old woman, not for a while. Why?" he added brusquely, turning away from the venerable priestess.

"And were you before all of this started?" she continued, ignoring his inquiry.

He looked at her sharply, a shadow of pain flitting through his eyes, but he answered the question in an uncharacteristically soft voice. "I did...I did it all the time, especially when I felt regret. I could feel the blood flowing in me; without the Tetsusaiga, I - I just lost control." He shook his head, taking especial care to not reveal to her the pure emotion conveyed upon his face. "Sometimes I'd hurt myself; badly, even...there were days when I'd wake up lying in a pool of my own blood..." His head suddenly snapped up, his eyes burning intensely. "But why the hell am I telling you all this?! I KNOW it's all my fault, I KNOW that I was too weak-"

"Inuyasha, that is not the point," Kaede interrupted, softly but firmly. "You know what this all comes down to. Your soul is being devoured. I would like to think that your safety is as simple as holding Tetsusaiga, but there are situations when you cannot always wield it. No..." She shook her head, watching him flinch slightly as she looked directly into his eyes. "If you succeed in seizing the Shikkon Jewel, you must make your decision. If you remain the way you are now, then eventually your own blood will devour your soul."

"What do you care?!" Inuyasha snarled angrily, reddening and looking away.

Kaede ignored his comment, though she raised an eyebrow. "Do not act hastily or foolishly, Inuyasha... You should know as well as anyone that Kagome is your salvation. Do not endanger that!"

Though he had heard every word, Inuyasha stared stonily at the floor, knowing full well that her one eye was fixed directly on him. Presently he looked up at her again, a question forming in his mouth though he didn't have the strength to ask it.

"Is there anything that you would like to ask me, Inuyasha?" she asked him kindly after a few moments had passed, turning to draw the curtains in the front of the room.

The question, when finally formed, was startling but thoughtful. "Old woman---just - just how powerful is the Shikkon Jewel?"

Kaede shook her head. "No one really knows, although one assumes that it is every bit as powerful as the priestess from whence it came."

Inuyasha, having heard the legend of that priestess from Sango, nodded. "That powerful?"

She looked at him suspiciously. "Why do you ask? If you are asking whether or not it can transform you into a full-fledged demon, then the answer is most definitely yes."

The half-demon frowned. "No, that's not it..." He stood up, looking slightly put off, his nose shoved high into the air as he headed for the main entrance. "Agh, forget I asked, old woman! You wouldn't understand!" he exclaimed halfway out the door, apparently heading for the woods.

Kaede, however, was not finished. Staring down at the flames, she said in a voice barely more than a whisper: "The Shikkon Jewel is the embodiment of the soul of the most powerful priestess this land has ever known. It can alter almost anything involving the living being: appearance, birthright, even your very soul... It can even breathe life into those long dead. A lot of potential rests here, Inuyasha; I urge you to choose wisely."

She knew that he could hear her. He was a half-demon, after all...

&(&(((&((

"Geez, where is everybody?" Kagome muttered to herself as she pulled her pink camisole pajama top over her head. Fifteen minutes had passed since she had entered the room, and no one else had appeared yet. (Where has Inuyasha got to anyway?) she thought more than a little crossly as she snuggled down into the colorful bedding made up for her by Kaede. (Dammit, he's ALWAYS had the worst sense of timing in the world!)

Shrugging it off, she rooted through her backpack and located one of her favorite books, deciding to read the time away until the others got back. She was tired, but her mind was currently so active that she doubted she could have fallen asleep anyway. There was the whole matter about Inuyasha and the Shikkon Jewel, for one thing...

So he still was intending to become a full-fledged demon. She couldn't believe it. Hadn't he learned ANYTHING during their travels? The majority of demons were ruthless and bloodthirsty by nature, and once he had taken his place among them there was a good chance that he would be the same. Would he try to kill her once he had totally given away his human side, his feelings for her vanishing like socks in a dryer? She couldn't figure out what would hurt her more, the thought of her dying or the thought of being hurt by the person dearest to her right before her death. It was so painful to think about, yet the threat was so real...

Then again, she thought dryly, this was a prime example of the nature of the Shikkon Jewel. It was capable of doing the impossible, yet the only sure things around it seemed to be pain and death. In its entire tragic history it had never once been used for the good...if Inuyasha used it would the endless spiral continue? (Why can't he just stay the same anyway?! I like him the way he is---but he doesn't seem to think he's good enough for anyone else. The fact that he is what he is makes him -well- HIM, and changing that would be taking away a part of it...)

She was too entangled in the Shikkon Jewel's sticky web to back out now. Quitting like she had before was not an option, as it would most probably endanger the future. She was the only one other than Kikyo who had the power to reunite and purify the Sacred Jewel; without her, the whole quest would be fruitless. The most that she could do if he tried to kill her would be to defend herself; after all, wasn't that what the rosary had originally been intended for?

She started slightly when the door behind her suddenly opened and then banged shut, revealing Inuyasha, his silvery hair dripping wet. "Where were you?" she asked him somewhat crossly as he sat down next to her.

"Just out," he replied, grabbing a blanket for himself. "Thinking."

She stared at him curiously as he stared blankly at the fire, apparently reluctant to divulge what he had been thinking about. "Where are the others?" she asked him quietly, quite aware of the tension in the room.

"They went home. Probably Miroku's doing, if you ask me." He snorted arrogantly, leaving Kagome a good guess as to why he thought so.

She wrinkled her nose. "You're perverted."

He continued to stare into the fire, appearing deep in thought. "Yeah...I probably am..." He trailed off. leaving her bewildered and confused. Something was obviously bothering him, but whether it had to do with her or Naraku or the Shikkon Jewel was currently a mystery. She slowly put her hand on his arm, but he dreamily pulled it away, purposely looking in the other direction.

Kagome sighed. He obviously didn't want to talk about it---she wouldn't push the matter; trying to get Inuyasha to talk about something that he didn't want to talk about was like trying to move a boulder with your pinky: it just wouldn't happen. She picked up her book, continuing to read as she waited to become sleepy.

"Er---Kagome?"

She looked up, curious at his sudden breach of silence. "Yeah?"

He looked at her nervously, his face becoming every bit as red as his haori. "Will you - do you want to -er- uh-"

"Do I want to what?" she asked him patiently, wondering what he was on about. Nothing much could ever fluster Inuyasha, perhaps with the exception of girls, -er- wait just a minute-

His question came very fast, and with the force of a sudden deluge of water. "Kagome, wouldyoubecomemymate?"

She wrinkled her brow. "Huh?"

He took a deep breath...and then proceeded to say it twice as fast. "Willyoubecomemymate?"

She rolled her eyes, cocking an ear over towards him. "What was that? You're talking too fast."

Now he looked about to hyperventilate, looking wild-eyed and his face redder than a tomato. "Will...you...become...my...mate?" he managed to choke out, catching her completely by surprise.

Kagome was only able to gape at him wordlessly, absolutely speechless at his sudden request. "Your...mate?" she finally managed to spit out, her face turning equally red. "Me?"

He immediately got on the defensive. "You don't have to if you don't want to, of course," he added quickly. "I'm not Kouga. I'm not gonna force you. You'd hate me anyway."

She was still completely speechless. Was this true? Was this REALLY what she was hearing? If it was then he was basically asking her to be the equivalent of his wife in demon terms...was he really doing this, even if he was planning to become a full-fledged demon later on? Even so, to hell with rationality. She knew what she wanted to do.

She leapt into his trembling arms, startling him as much as he had her. "Of course, you idiot! Of course! What made you think that I wouldn't, anyway?" She thought she heard him breathe a sigh of relief as he returned her embrace, pressing her up tightly against his firm body...

His face showed a look of set grimness when they both pulled away. "Are you sure about this?" he asked her concernedly, lightly massaging her tiny hand within his own large one. "I'm dirt poor...AND I'm a half-demon."

"Don't be stupid," sniffed Kagome. "I don't care about any of that! ...How shallow do you think I am, anyway?!"

He laughed humorlessly, still idly playing with her hand. "Not at all, I guess... But are you sure?"

She stifled a chuckle at the sheer seriousness on his face. "I'm positive."

"Really?"

"Really," she finished, leaning in towards him. Their lips met in a sudden rush of fervor, his tongue reaching in to mingle with hers as his strong arms reached out to snuggle her fragile body against his. His body was so warm, so firm against her; the strength of his hands alone was more than that of her entire being. He was so strong, so dangerous; most girls, perhaps, would have run away screaming from him, but somewhere deep down she had always sensed that those strong hands would never hurt her...

They pulled away when they were both aching for breath, a light smile forming on Inuyasha's lips as he whispered softly: "You're mine then. Forever..."

Kagome could only smile in return. To anyone else she would have said that 'forever was too long a word', but for Inuyasha -well- an eternity was hardly enough. She didn't know what the future held, she didn't know what would become of the two of them, hell, she didn't even know whether or not they would survive the final battle with Naraku, but she definitely knew one thing: she wanted to be here with Inuyasha, right here, right now. There were so many things that could -no- WOULD go wrong, but most important was the fact that right here, right now, the person she had chosen to fall in love with was right there before her very eyes.

She smiled again, lightly tweaking his ears; she always liked the indignant gasp that he let forth whenever she did so. "And this means that if I'm yours then you're mine too, right?" She lowered her hand to twine his silky hair around her fingers, positioning herself so that she sat on his lap. She felt him stiffen at the sudden contact, but she went on smoothly, "Because I'm a very possessive girl, after all. I like to touch what's mine."

He smiled a rather uncharacteristic, tight-lipped smile. "Don't go getting yourself into more than you bargained for, wench...because what few things I do own I like to use a lot."

Before they knew it they were kissing again, this time she taking the initiative every bit as much as he had before. His lips were soft and warm against hers (although also against her neck, her collarbone, her cheek, and even her nose, as he seemed to want to kiss her in every place possible). She held in a pained gasp as his fangs suddenly sunk into her neck, sinking into her white, vulnerable flesh almost savoringly. "I hate that you do this to me," he whispered into her ear hoarsely after he lifted his head. "I've got demon blood in me. A human girl like you shouldn't drive me mad like this."

Kagome drew back from his reddened cheek, still playing with his loose tendrils with one small hand. "Only the same way that you drive me mad," she replied softly. "Just please don't hurt me again, whatever you do. That was a lot for me to bear for three whole years."

His eyes bore straight into hers. "Never again...and I could stake my life on it. Pain? Hell, I want to give you the opposite."

They both dove for each other at the same time, his lips searing hers once again as his one of his strong hands partially encircled her waist, the other reaching up to smooth her tangled black hair. A small moan erupted out of Kagome's throat during an especially deep kiss, and her barely-functioning mind registered that though his first kisses with her had been slightly awkward and clumsy, it seemed that he was getting better with her each time. Too better, she observed darkly as his hand especially hit a nerve when straying down to caress her behind. She normally would have been predisposed to keeping him from getting more risque, but she wanted what he was giving her just as badly as he did...

She heard Inuyasha's breath coming out in short pants. "Can I - can I claim you?" he asked her breathlessly as he pulled away from her, his face just inches from her.

She was immediately confused. "Claim...me? As your mate?"

He nodded, reddening. "Yeah..."

She looked at him curiously for a moment, trying to figure out just what he meant exactly. She stared at his handsome, embarrassed face, down to the rosary which hung around his neck, which barely hid the hints of an extremely well-developed, muscular body underneath, and then down to his bulging pants----wait a minute. Oh.

So THAT was what he wanted. Immediately a burst of excitement and anxiety coursed within her; her friends had told her that it would hurt, that trying to please the guy instead of yourself was the main thing you should think about. Then again... For some reason it didn't scare her as much as it normally would have; somehow the prospect of Inuyasha causing her a little pain seemed almost welcoming. Not to mention the thought of that adonis-like body so intimately near her..

"Of course," she finally replied steadily. "...I'm your mate, aren't I?"

He shook his head vigorously. "You don't have to because of that. I mean, if you don't want to-"

"Oh, shut up." She lightly put her finger on his lips, removing them only to kiss them herself. He wouldn't respond at first, but within a few seconds his arms were tightly wrapped around her again, holding as if he would never let go.

"Are you sure?" he murmured as they pulled away, lightly stroking her ebony tendrils away from her face.

"Is that your favorite question tonight?" she replied, smiling as she noted the embarrassed and bewildered look on his face. He even looked scared, partly---either that, or he had no idea what the hell he was doing. Inuyasha looking scared and vulnerable: it was a sight she had had yet to see until now. Tonight would be an interesting night, most definitely...

Author's Note: OK, I'm sure you guys obviously see where this is going. Therefore...anyone who wants the lemon now must go to the following link of mediaminer. Go to my bio and click on the link to my homepage; it's a hidden chapter at mediaminer and virtually unfindable otherwise. Since my mediaminer readers are only on about chapter 13, I don't want to give them the chapter without posting the things leading up to it. I'm warning you, though, this is my first lemon, so I'm positive it's quite crappy. For those of you who do not want the lemon, just go on to the bottom; it has the last few lines of the chapter and review replies.

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They were now both done, but their bodies still both seared with burning heat; Kagome contentedly snuggled up against him as he stretched out, his normally firm muscles loose with relaxation. She burrowed her head against his neck, his sticky hair partly fanning out against her cheek. Her nose tickled as it took in his usual musky scent, now mingled with sweat; he twined his right arm across her stomach, giving it one last caress before he surrendered to sleep. "I can't believe we just did that," he murmured hoarsely into her ear, stroking her damp hair gently.

"I can't believe it either," Kagome answered honestly, too drained to even move, "but I'm glad we did."

And they collapsed in each other's arms, both succumbing to the most peaceful sleep that either had had in years.

Author's Note: So what did you think? I thought that the actual lemon wasn't my best, but OK other than that. You usually need to write at least a few lemons before you get lemonade---heh, sorry for the stupid pun. The "morning after" is in the next chapter...with slightly funny results.

angelica incarnate: Yep, Sango gave him hell. He needs someone to keep him in line, at any rate... :) Glad you liked the funny chapter. I wish I could have had the chance to do another funny one like that, but I figured that I probably needed to keep the main plot on track.

Akashadir: Actually, I AM my own worst nightmare where my writing is concerned. I like to think, "Better me than someone else", but I admit that I probably agonize over the little mistakes way too much. Thanks! :)

Laura: Heh, I thought that Miroku getting a taste of his own medicine was looooong due in coming. :D And I hear that Japanese is a hard language to begin with, so I definitely sympathize with you. I'm taking Latin myself and I spent three hours doing my assignment today. Ick.

sibby4ever: Unfortunately, no, you don't see her friends anymore, although Sota will put in another appearance. When you get to the end you'll see why...

Crystal Twilight: Yeah, I can see why you say that... She sort of actually struck me as normally studious though obviously not at the moment because of a certain brash dog-demon turning her world upside-down... :)

AngelOfLight: Amen about Hojo. He will never show up in this fic again, much to your delight, I'm sure. :D

Green Glitter Haruko: Oh, I know what you're talking about. Well, when Koga said that, he was, um...implying that Inuyasha -er- batted for the other team. Orally. In fact, I probably shouldn't have used that insult because it's politically incorrect. Really sorry if it offends you.

earthshine411: Seriously, Kagome's friends bother me too. They're all about dumb as doorknobs, and for someone as fairly bright as Kagome, they just don't fit together with her very well. Not only that, but they keep on her about Hojo when she obviously wants nothing to do with him. And I beg of you, please do not look for that fanfic, it causes chronic insanity. I have half a mind to submit it to the GAFF forum and let the pros rip it apart; it definitely deserves it.

Also thank you to Inu Sweet Pup Ears, kagome, Delonwethiel, brigurl, Draechaeli, Wildly Shy, Neko no Baka, SakuraBaby, Angelchi, oncealonelygirl, dawne, Angel6582, Ranger000, and Mini Nicka for reviewing!!!

THIS IS MY FIRST LEMON. CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM EXTREMELY WELCOME!!