A/N: It may have been a little while since I updated last, I can't really remember, but this weekend was pretty hectic with a Halloween Party and a Northwestern homecoming game to go to. I didn't realize how much the last chapter sucked until I actually read it over in one go. I tried to make this one better. Originally this story was only going to go on for about twenty chapters, but now I might wing it over to thirty if I can. Enjoy the chapter, and keep reviewing.

Review Responses

Sesshomaru's Lover: Thanks for all your reviews.

Kouga's #1 Fan: Yeah, Miroku manages to get the girls even when he's not trying. That happened to me once, as cliché as it seems, and it's very much a blessing and a curse.

Inuyasha Freak777: I know, but if I drag the problem out longer than necessary this story will never end!

Princess Stephanie: It's always nice to know that a loyal fan is warming up to Miroku/Kagome parings. Inuyasha and Kagome is okay too, but Sesshomaru and Kagome? What the hell? I'm beginning to think that I'm the only one that keeps into account that A) Sesshomaru thinks humans are scum, save for Rin and B) Sesshomaru is evil! Just because he is against Naraku too doesn't make him want to kill Inuyasha any less. It just knocks Killing Inuyasha down to second on his list of priorities. Sesshomaru and Kagome is just wrong, and not many people seem to realize that. I can only think of two pairs worse than Kagome/Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru/Rin (She's a child you sick-minded freaks! Not only that, but she is like seven where as Sesshomaru is centuries old, if not millennia's!) and Jakotsu/Bankotsu. (And it's not just because it's a gay pairing either! I know Jakotsu is extremely flamboyant, but I never got the impression that Bankotsu was homosexual, and even if he was, THEY'RE BORHTERS! Gay incestial rape. Doesn't get any more disgusting that that). People who do those couples disgust me. And don't hate Sango too much. She's one of my favorite characters, and besides, it's not her fault that Miroku has so much mack he even uses it on accident. Anyway, thanks for the review!

Hayai-Hakai: Don't worry I know exactly how you feel. I have a girlfriend and schoolwork too, so I know it can be hard to get in little things like reviews.

Chapter 24: What the Hell Were You Thinking?"

Miroku drained his bowl of stew in one go. He was beginning to get impatient; it had been a week since Kagome went to her world to get herself straight. "Inuyasha, please ask Sango to serve me some more stew." Miroku requested of the hanyou.

"Miroku wants more stew." Inuyasha told Sango.

"I heard him." Sango shot back, ladling some stew into Miroku's bowl. "Miroku, this is getting ridiculous."

Miroku said nothing. He had stopped speaking to Sango the day Kagome left. Inuyasha couldn't blame him really. Would you speak to someone who had ruined your marriage? Inuyasha passed Miroku his bowl of stew.

"I have to agree with Sango buddy. I mean, I know you're angry, but can't you at least talk to the damn woman?" Inuyasha asked.

"I might think about it if Kagome is still willing to marry me." Miroku answered.

Sango gave him a pleading look. "Come on Miroku, how many times do I have to say I'm sorry?"

Miroku glared at her. "Inuyasha, please tell Sango as many times as it takes to bring Kagome back."

"He says as many-" Inuyasha started.

"Shut up!" Sango shouted. "I can hear him."

"Don't get mad at me Sango." Inuyasha complained. "I'm just the messenger."

Sango rolled her eyes at Inuyasha's foolishness. "Miroku, I know Kagome will be back soon. She still loves you, I'm sure she's just cooling her head."

Kagome was doing just that at the same moment, five hundred years in the future. She had gone out with her friends to get her mind off Miroku, but the plan had failed miserably. "That stupid Miroku!" she thought angrily. "How dare he let Sango kiss him like that? I can't believe he told her he loved her! Even if he didn't mean it as more than a friend, he could've said so! Besides, he should've figured where that would get him! He knows Sango is still in love with him! That doesn't mean she's any less to blame though. She kissed my fiancée! A dirty backstabber she is!"

She and her friends were having lunch at McDonalds, and luckily Kagome wasn't involved in the current flow of conversation, that is, until Yuka's eyes strayed to Kagome's left ring finger. "Kagome!" Yuka exclaimed, dazzled by the gemstones. "Where did you get that?"

"Huh?" Kagome asked, snapping out of here train of thought.

"You okay Kagome?" Eri inquired. "You seem kinda out of it."

"Sorry." Kagome apologized. "What were we talking about again?"

"Yuka wanted to know where you got your ring. And I would very much like to know too. Looks pretty pricey." Ayumi commented.

"Oh this?" Kagome questioned, regarding the ring as if it were the kind you could get out of the bubble gum machine. "Miroku gave this to me."

"Miroku gave you that? He must be loaded! I say marry him, straight off." Eri joked.

"Heh heh." Kagome gave a half-hearted laugh, earning a look from her friends.

"Come on Kagome, you could at least pretend to like my joke." Eri drawled.

"Actually, there is something kind of funny about it. You see the reason Miroku gave me this ring is…" Kagome trailed off, reconsidering telling her friends, knowing they would freak out.

"The reason is…?" Yuka repeated, trying to coax an answer."

"He kindaaskedmetomarryhim." Kagome mumbled as fast as she could.

"Come again?" all three said simultaneously. They thought they heard right, but with Kagome mumbling and talking as quickly as she could, there was no being sure.

"Miroku asked me to marry him." Kagome said again, slower and louder this time.

"OH. MY. FREAKIN'. GOD!" Kagome's friends shouted in unison.

"You're ENGAGED! What were you thinking?"

"What do you mean what was she thinking? You saw how hot that guy was! I would've said yes too in her position!"

"I'm happy for you and all, but are you even old enough to get married?"

Kagome sank deeper into her seat. She had expected this type of reaction. "He is." Kagome whimpered, answering Ayumi's question first, since Are you old enough was easier to answer than what were you thinking.

"How old is he?" Ayumi asked, now having the floor.

"Twenty." Kagome responded.

"Thought he'd be around there." Yuka hissed in an accusing tone. "Kagome, you have got to break it off. I bet he only proposed to get into your pants. Who does he think he is, asking a girl four years younger to marry him? Pervert."

"He is not a pervert! Or at least not anymore." Kagome added as an afterthought.

"I agree with Kagome." Eri said, getting in her two cents. "He must love her. He wouldn't unload that much cash to just get Kagome in the sack. Besides, I bet he could get most girls into bed with him in or outside or wedlock if he tried." Kagome blushed scarlet, considering she was one of those girls. Her friends didn't happen to notice.

"I have to go with Eri on this one." Ayumi cut in. "Kagome's a big girl she can make her own decisions. I mean you do love him, don't you? If you want to marry him, I say go for it!"

Yuka sighed. "Well I suppose anyone is better than that player of an ex."

Kagome returned to her home after lunch and a movie with her friends. She scampered up the shrine steps to the well house. She looked down into the depths of her time passage and mentally debated whether to return now or not. "It has been a week." Kagome said to herself. "And he even respected the fact that I didn't want him coming to get me. I guess if he really is sorry I can forgive him. I'll have a mouthful to give to Sango though!" Kagome said mentally as she entered the wormhole.

Miroku was waiting by the well, he had been doing so everyday since Kagome left. The sun slowly began to disappear over the horizon. Miroku sighed. "I guess Kagome isn't coming back today either." Miroku thought. He stood and turned to head back towards the village when he heard a voice behind him.

"Hey. " Kagome greeted him. "I've come back."

Miroku turned, and upon seeing Kagome he dropped his staff and ran to her enveloping her in a hug that cut off her circulation. "Kagome I'm really sorry about what I did. I know I shouldn't have led Sango on like that, I didn't even mean to it just came out the wrong way. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?"

Kagome gave him a smile. "I guess. But you so owe me now."

Miroku smiled back. "Don't you worry I know exactly how I can make it up to you." He said, his tone making his intentions obvious.

"I'm counting on it."