After a long hiatus, the entire duration of which I now feel as if I spent living in my mom's station wagon, I finally got chapter 12 up. Hang on to your heart(and your lunch)as you read the fluff-ridden:

Romance

Kagome sat at the kitchen table, staring at her reflection in her cup of tea. Another morning spent alone. She sighed, blowing a few strands of hair off her face.

This isn't what I thought marriage would be like.

Kagome's eyes darted to the bedroom door, hoping that maybe, just maybe, they'd open and Inuyasha would come join her for breakfast. That he'd greet her with a morning kiss like he used to. Kagome's mouth curved upwards slightly as she remembered the mid-summer day he'd asked her the question.

"Kagome? Can I ask you something?"

"What is it, Inuyasha?"

Her smile grew when she pictured the look on his face. Scared and soft and determined and hopeful, all at the same time.

"Kagome, do you think…I mean…"

"Yes?"

She'd wanted to hug him just for how vulnerable he'd looked then, even though her heart was thumping like crazy.

"Kagome, will you marry me?"

The memory dimmed and Kagome's smile faded. They'd been so happy the first couple of years together. But now, it seemed, things weren't the same. Kagome left for her job in the morning before Inuyasha even awoke. He worked late and the only words they spoke over dinner were a few stilted 'how was your day' exchanges. He even seemed to avoid her gaze now. Whenever she looked toward him, his eyes flicked away. Sometimes she got the feeling that he wanted to say something to her, but he always remained silent.

Even today, Valentine's Day.

Kagome pushed her cup forward and laid her head down on her arms. This unexplained tension between her and her husband was sapping her usual energy. On the cabinet across the table, the clock ticked resolutely onward, reminding her that she had to leave for work soon. But I'm so tired, she thought. Maybe if I just close my eyes for a few minutes…

Kagome's eyes fluttered open. Did I fall asleep?

The bedroom door was open. Inuyasha must have left for work. Realizing what that must mean, she sat bolt upright and stared at the clock.

"Oh, no! I was supposed to be at work two hours ago!" Kagome jumped out of her chair and rushed to the phone to call her boss, mapping out an apology in her head. She had the receiver in her hand and the number half dialed when she noticed the message light blinking. Who would have called this early? She pressed the message button. Her boss's brisk voice came from the machine.

"Kagome, just wanted to call and tell you that since your husband called to say you'd be staying at home today, I'm going to have Kikyo work on your project. Hope to see you at work tomorrow."

Inuyasha called…? Her momentary panic waning, Kagome slowly walked back to the table. She sank into her chair…and let out a small gasp. Her mug was gone and the table empty except for one thing. She hadn't noticed it before in her mad dash for the phone.

It was a rose. A single red rose lay on the table, reflected in the polished wood surface. It was the most beautiful flower she had ever seen. Kagome reached out and picked it up, her breath caught in her throat. A piece of red paper was wrapped around the stem. She unrolled it with trembling fingers and read the words written there in silver ink.

For all the times I wasn't there

The times I didn't say I cared

The loving moments I let slip by

Every tear I failed to see in your eye

For every time I forgot to say

I love you

Happy Valentine's Day

I'm sorry.

Love, Inuyasha

A tear rolled down Kagome's cheek and fell onto one of the crimson rose petals. She felt a radiating smile stretch across her face, and suddenly, the world seemed a little brighter.

The End

A/N: I still wasn't quite satisfied with the ending of this one, but no brilliant flashes of finishing-touch inspiration reared their sparkly heads, andI got tired of waiting to post it. I'm not a romance person, but as I set out to come up with something for ALL the genres, this fluffy-tailed plot bunny and the Hallmarkian poem that accompanies it came into being. Note that if I EVER hazard to write romance, the pairing will generally be canon. And of course, as I mentioned before, the brief cameo-esque mention of Kikyo in this fic is as far as she ever made it into this series.