Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of Rumiko Takahashi's characters.

Claimer: I DO own all characters that I add in and my monster's so there :p

All Italics are personal thoughts of the characters.

If you wish to see some fanart I have done from the story, go to my profile and click on the deviant art links I'll have labeled and stuff so you know what scene they are from.

Chapter 8: Overcoming Prejudice

Sakashi glared at Kagome, then turned his attention to His cousin "Inuyasha…I haven't seen you since you were a pup. How have you been dear cousin?" his voice dripped with sarcasm at his question.

Inuyasha's eyes grew hard "Fine." He bit out. He grabbed Kagome's hand and pulled her closer to him.

Kagome looked at Inuyasha "Inu-"

Sakashi growled "Do not talk to him so formally half-blood."

Kagome jumped "H-half-blood?" she growled back at him "How dare you!"

Inuyasha growled as well "Watch your tongue 'dear cousin' or I'll have to remove it for you."

Sakashi laughed "I'd like to see you try." He drew his dagger, pointing it at His cousin. Why did he have to be the next in line? Why the stupid Mutt? He was his Mother's should be the next in line not him.

Inuyasha growled; his aura flared up around him, causing his hair to move about him.

Kagome grasped InuYasha's arm "Leave him alone Inuyasha, he's not worth it." She glared at Sakashi.

That was it! That stupid girl was NOT going to talk about HIM that way! "Insolent girl!" he threw his dagger at Kagome, but a white blur knocked her aside and out of harm's way.

Kagome looked up and saw Inuyasha pinning Sakashi to the far wall.

She gasped; I have never seen him move so fast!

Enahi ran to his daughter and helped her up "Are you alright Kagome?"

Kagome nodded, still watching Inuyasha intently.

Inuyasha was bearing his fangs at Sakashi "I'll rip your throat out if you ever try to hurt my woman again." He seethed dangerously in Sakashi's ear. I just admitted it didn't I? Well shit…damn emotions.

Sakashi was shaking; he had no idea that Inuyasha Taisho had been so powerful. He snapped back "Mother will never allow you to take such filth as a mate!" he shouted into Inuyasha's sensitive ears.

Inuyasha cringed, and then growled "ALLOW THIS ASSHOLE!" He drew his hand back, bringing his fist down into his so called cousin's face, knocking him out cold.

Inuyasha let Sakashi fall to the floor in a pile.

He spit on him and walked to Kagome.

Kagome was in complete amazement and shock did Sakashi say what I thought he said?

Inuyasha grasped Kagome's shoulder "Are you alright Kagome? I didn't shove you too hard did I?" he searched her chocolate depths with his molten amber ones.

Kagome shook her head "No, I'm alright Inuyasha…thank you for defending me." She looked down, blushing.

Enahi looked at the Hanyou "Did I hear Sakashi right? Did he say his mother wouldn't allow you to take whichever mate you chose?" he glanced at Kagome for a moment then back to the Hanyou, who had turned his attention to Lord Enahi.

Inuyasha scoffed "Like they could actually stop me from taking my own choice of mate. I'd like to see them try and stop me." He look over at Sakashi's limp body and growled "that arrogant little bastard, I don't remember him, but I do remember not liking him."

Enahi sighed "That is Sakashi Kurusamu, Son of The ruling Queen Kuriko." He glanced over at the unconscious youth. "He would be heir but his mother isn't the true queen." He looked at Inuyasha and smiled.

Inuyasha sighed and leaned against the wall "Who is the rightful heir then?" he watched Enahi play with his sword hilt "Well….Your mother was the Queen's daughter but before she could take the throne she had to go on a quest of sorts and ended up not coming back, so after the Queen died, her second daughter, Kuriko, took Izaiyo's place."

Inuyasha thought about that for a moment and the slapped his hand on his forehead "Wait. Does that mean what I think it means?" he looked at Enahi, hoping he was just dreaming.

Enahi smiled sheepishly "That would make you, Inuyasha, Heir to the throne of Luciania."

Inuyasha growled "Damn it…why does it keep adding up?" he mumbled to himself.

Kagome walked over to Inuyasha.

Inuyasha stood up straight "Enahi, why is it that you came to find me? And I want a damn straight answer! None of this beating around the bush bullshit." He watched Kagome come towards him, then stop and turn to look at her father.

Enahi sighed "Well you definitely deserve a straight answer. So I shall give you what you wish." He walked over to a chair against the far wall, and sat down.

He cleared his throat and began "Luciania and Sylvicia were at one time a whole country but hatred and a war split them into two. Your Mother and My brother were supposed to get married and stop the fighting."

Inuyasha paced a little "So My mother was supposed to marry someone else?"

Enahi nodded and continued on "But…"he looked down for a moment "My brother was murdered before the marriage, your Mother was sent on a 'quest' to another world so as to keep her safe. They weren't expecting her to not come back."

He sighed and continued again "When it was learned that Izaiyo had had a son, we were overjoyed and set into motion to bring you here…to finish the truce."

Enahi stood up and walked over to Kagome "You were brought here to also finish the truce Kagome."

Kagome and Inuyasha stared at each other for a moment then they both shouted "YOU WHAT?"

Miroku and Sango stood on the stair case that led down to the great hall "Well that can't be good…" Miroku stated under his breath.

Sango smiled "Could be interesting though."

Kagome glared at her father "So wait, you brought me here to marry Inuyasha?"

Enahi shook his head "NO! That's not why! We made it to look that way…but in reality you're both here to over throw Kuriko." He said in a whisper so that only the hanyou could hear him.

Kagome smirked, she could read lips "Oh really? You're awfully sneaky Father."

Unbeknownst to the others Sakashi had just awoken. He caught the half-blood girl standing in very close proximity to Inuyasha. Sakashi growled silently and stood slowly, pulling out a small throwing knife "Die Kagome Higurashi." He muttered as he threw the knife at the unsuspecting girl.

Kagome saw the bright glint of metal and turned quickly, unconsciously throwing her arms up and throwing a shield around herself, blocking the knife.

Sakashi took the chance for her to be preoccupied and attacked her head on.

Kagome yelped and jumped away from the crazy boy.

Inuyasha growled and went after Sakashi "Get away from her you bastard!"

Sakashi swiped at Kagome, who ducked and kicked out at him, she hit him in the stomach.

Kagome grinned; sparring with Sango had been a very good call on her part.

She lunged up and struck him in the face with her fist "I'm not defenseless you moron!" She did a roundhouse to his chest and got her leg caught by Sakashi

"Stupid half-blood, I'll kill you!" he pulled out another knife, shoving it into her calf.

She screamed in pain, she suddenly felt Inuyasha's anger flare.

Sakashi pulled Kagome into his arms and whispered deathly sweet into her ear "I'll make sure that Inuyasha is the last thing you see Half-blood."

Inuyasha stood directly behind Sakashi "What did I tell you before Sakashi? I warned you…but you didn't listen…"

Sakashi's heart was beating in his ears, he had no idea that Inuyasha had been directly behind him.

Inuyasha's hair flew around him, the tips turning black and his irises glowed bright yellow, Sakashi turned to see the pissed off Hanyou. "Y-you can't hurt me!"

Inuyasha grinned darkly "I warned you not to hurt my woman." He back handed Sakashi just as he pulled Kagome from his grasp, hauling her into his arms.

Kagome's mind was so clouded over with pain at the moment that she wasn't shocked at his claim to her.

Sakashi fell to the floor, he looked up "Damn you hanyou…I'm telling Kuriko about this!" and with that he disappeared in puff of mist.

Enahi ran over to Inuyasha and Kagome "Are you two alright?" He looked at Kagome's Leg "Wow. He got you pretty good didn't he?" he looked up at Inuyasha, who had gone back to his normal state.

Miroku and Sango sat there stunned, what had Inuyasha just done? How did he do that?

Inuyasha lifted Kagome into his arms and took her up the flight of stairs "Sango! Come help me dress Kagome's wound!" he called back down to the still stunned slayer.

Sango ran after Inuyasha and looked at the girl in his arms "Kagome, I'm so glad you asked me to teach you…"

Kagome smiled weakly "yeah Sango, me too."

Inuyasha smiled a bit "Good reflexes there wench."

Kagome laughed dryly "Oh if only you weren't holding me, I would so S-I-T you right now."

Inuyasha smirked "Lucky me then."

Sango giggled "Inuyasha, you were amazing down there, how did you do that?"

Inuyasha shook his head "I have to frickin' clue, I just got very angry when Kagome got hurt…"

Sango nodded "I see, so it was like your Demon self?"

Inuyasha looked at the slayer "Nah, nothing like that, I knew what I was doing. I didn't have the urge to rip Sakashi apart" he grinned internally that's not true, I wanted to tear him to ribbons "….Just a very strong Urge to get Kagome away from him."

Kagome blushed "Why…why did you call me your woman?"

Inuyasha looked at her as if she were asking a stupid question "Because you are Kagome." He said bluntly

Sango and Kagome stared at each other wide eyed

Kagome looked at Inuyasha "When did this happen?"

Inuyasha grumbled "Why are you playing 20 questions with me Kagome?"

Kagome growled at him "I am NOT playing 20 questions with you!"

Sango tried not to laugh at the two.

They finally arrived at Kagome's room, Inuyasha kicked the door open and took Kagome to the large bathing room, and he sat her on the corner of the tub. "Take off your dress Kagome."

Kagome blushed and shouted at him "WHAT? I have nothing else to wear stupid!"

Inuyasha growled and took his tunic off "Put that on!" he turned around "I won't look, promise, just hurry up."

Sango rushed into the bathing room and helped Kagome change into the large red Tunic.

"Ok you can turn now Inuyasha" Kagome grumbled.

Inuyasha turned around and tried not to blush; the Tunic was like a short dress on her and showed off her legs nicely.

Inuyasha turned away from Kagome reluctantly and ordered Sango to turn on the bath water.

Sango did as she told and it took her about 5 minutes to figure out how to make it work but she eventually figured it out with a little help from Kagome.

They were much like the bathrooms in Kagome's time.

The bath water filled at the bottom and Inuyasha sat beside Kagome, letting the water reach her ankles then shut it off.

He lifted a cloth a now wet cloth to her leg and began washing the wound.

Sango went to out to find some bandages, leaving the Hanyou and the Young Miko alone.

Kagome watched Inuyasha clean her wound and finally spoke up, the silence was killing her "So…when did I become your woman Inuyasha?"

Inuyasha looked up at her "from the moment I realized that I-"he paused, blushing and going back to his work "that I wanted you as my mate…" he mumbled the last bit.

Kagome's heart caught in her throat, his mate…he wanted me to be his…

Inuyasha looked up, moving closer to her "You will be my mate won't you?" he looked at her hopefully. She nodded smiling at him.

He sighed with relief

Kagome watched him for a moment as he went back to cleaning her wound "what exactly is a mate Inuyasha?" she asked, hoping she hadn't offended him.

Inuyasha grinned a little, stopping again and looking up at her. "It's someone who is completely in tune with another's emotion's and thoughts."

Kagome nodded "Like a soul mate right?"

Inuyasha didn't know what that was but he nodded "If that's what you think it's like Kagome."

Kagome nodded and felt Inuyasha's arms wrap around her waist "Inuyasha…" she looked up at him and her heart caught in her throat again. He looked truly happy. Tears streamed down her cheeks and she chuckled a little I make him happy…after all this time and I'm the one that makes him happy.

Inuyasha looked at her worriedly "why are you crying Kagome?"

Kagome shook her head and wiped the tears away "they are happy tears Inuyasha."

Inuyasha was confused "You cry when you're happy?" he caught a few stray tears with his thumb.

Kagome nodded "Sometimes, when people are so overwhelmed with happiness that it makes them cry out of sheer joy." She explained to the perplexed hanyou.

Inuyasha nodded "oh ok, so you are happy now?"

Kagome nodded "yes I am happy now."

Inuyasha grinned "Good." He leaned forward and whispered against her lips, his breath made her heart beat faster.

"You always make me happy Kagome."

He leaned forward and caught her lips in his; she tasted better than she smelled. Like sweet berries, the taste of her mixed with her smell was intoxicating.

She sighed against his lips, relaxing in his arms, so this is what Love tastes like. She thought to herself as she allowed herself to be lost in him.

He pulled away from her and smiled down at her "I-I" he blushed "I love you Kagome." He looked away from her for a moment. He heard a small whisper and snapped his gaze back to hers

"I love you too Inuyasha." She said with more happy tears in her eyes.

Outside the door

Miroku, Sango and Shippo high fived each other; smiling. Kirara mewed quietly.

After all that time and all it took was a little shove into another world to get them to admit their feelings to each other.

Miroku watched Sango, now it would be his turn soon….

A/N Yeah! They did it finally! But..now that they are together…will it cause more problems? I dunno…better keep reading to find out! Or maybe you you should just keep reading so you can see Sakashi get his ass whooped again and by a girl no less….muahahaha R&R! Ja ne!

Angicakesisinuyashasluvr- Aww thank you!

Sleepinghanyou – You like saying ass as much as Inuyasha says 'damn it!' hehe lol you didn't have to wait long now did ya? Hehe enjoy

Suellen- yup got the point and here's the update enjoy!

MoonKitii- Wish granted! Keep reading and thank you

Babyyangel – yes…yes they are…..and yes….yes he is….drool Mmmm….Inuyasha…..bishi goodness with puppy ears. MUAHAHAHAHA! We shall steal him and keep him as our own! Yes!hides from rumiko takahashi I was just kidding swear!