Okay! Me again, and let me just say...WOW! You make me feel so loved! 181 reviews in only 19 days! is that some kind of record or something?

Well, you've been asking for the next installment, and I think that 181 deserves this.

Also, a very happy birthday to AngelEyes1223, who will be celebrating her birthday on tuesday! Happy birthday sweety, consider this my present to you!

I'm still running my game, and there will be a prize to the person/people to guess correctly. The game is:

Guess the identity of the Demon Seamstress.

The clues are, she isn't from Inuyasha, but she is from another well-watched anime. The other clue, she's owned by the wonderful women of clamp.

Inuyasha awoke just before the first rays of sunlight kissed the horizon. He loved the way the colours slowly rippled across the sky, never actually reaching a definite colour. It had been one of the few things he could count on to shed even a touch of joy to his weary flesh, but that had all changed one fateful day a little over three years ago, when Kagome had removed the arrow that bound him to the Goshinboku.

The memories of that day were still fresh in his mind. He remembered the anger that boiled in his veins when he first saw her. He'd thought she was Kikyo, the one who had killed him, and had been more then ready to return the favour, but he knew, deep down, he could never have brought himself to actually harm her.

Sometimes he really didn't understand why Kagome had stayed by his side so long. In the beginning, Inuyasha had been rude, cold and distant, but her warmth and light had melted the icy shell around his heart. She stole his pain and sorrow and replaced it with friendship and love. Because of her, he had a pack, a family. In truth, it was the oddest pack in the history of inu youkai, but it was his, and he wouldn't change a single member for anything. They accepted him for who he was, not what he was, they fought as hard as any youkai and he was proud to be associated with them.

Kagome...she looked so much like Kikyo in the beginning, but now, to him, they couldn't be more different. He had always loved Kikyo, but now he had to wonder, did she love him for who he was, or what he could become. When Kagome entered his life, he had something to compare her to. Kagome's eyes were filled with fire and passion, while Kikyo's held cold conviction. Kikyo was graceful, proper, almost austere, she viewed the world with a critical eye, her movements carefully calculated. Kagome was a complete klutz, she couldn't take two steps without tripping on something, but she had a bubbly nature that drew people to her, and her laughter was infectious. She gave him hope when things seemed impossible, and inspired the strength needed to fight, even with un-counterable odds stacked against them. Inuyasha had realised long ago where his heart lay, but he knew he would never be able to love her freely until Kikyo was laid to rest. In a way, he had to thank Naraku, for if it weren't for his desire to defile the Shikon Jewel, Kikyo would've never died, and he would've never met Kagome.

The first rays of sunlight crept over his face. Sighing he silently leapt down from his tree branch to land softly beside the miko who held his heart. Inuyasha knelt down next to her, gently shaking her shoulder. "Good morning," she yawned, slowly stretching the kinks out of her body. "Good morning," he replied, gently ruffling her hair, "Come on, the sooner we get moving the sooner we reach the seamstress." Kagome sighed, she hadn't had to use the subduing spell for a few months, except for the times Koga decided to drop by, and when she wanted to go home. They had come to an understanding, finally. Kagome had actually offered to remove the necklace, but Inuyasha had refused, so Kagome agreed only to use it when absolutely necessary, and in return, Inuyasha had become decidedly friendlier, he even gave her gentle wake up calls, but only if they travelled alone.

Inuyasha began to stoke the fire, bringing the flame to a decent heat. He remembered the day she'd offered to remove the stupid necklace he'd grown to hate. The hanyou had been sorely tempted to have her take it off, but no matter how much pain it caused to his body and pride, he couldn't do it. The subduing charm was the first thing that had ever connected him to the excitable miko, and he wouldn't trade that bond for anything. Of course, he could never tell her that wearing it made him feel closer to her, so he'd instead opted for a way to stop his demon side from hurting her, even though he knew it never would. His demon side could be uncontrollable and blood-thirsty, but he'd learnt that his demon side already regarded Kagome as his mate and would never raise a claw against her. He might try and dominate the miko, but all it would take would be a single tear from the girl and his demonic side automatically switched into comfort mode.

He couldn't understand how one woman could hold so much power over him. He would move the heavens and earth if it would make her smile. Her laughter gave him wings, but one tear made his heart shatter into a thousand pieces. A single touch, and his heart beat a million miles and hour, and when she left him for her own era, he sunk into depression.

Kagome sat down by his side, Kyo in her arms, and ramen in her hands. Inuyasha smiled cockily, no matter how much control she had over him, she still bantered to his every whim, especially where ramen was concerned. Gazing at her face as she began to cook the ramen he made a decision, next time he saw Kikyo, he would end it.

They ate their breakfast in silence before packing everything away. Inuyasha threw the backpack over his shoulders while Kagome scooped Kyo into her arms before setting out. They headed past the village and began to climb a mountain. Inuyasha crouched down for Kagome to climb on, settling Kyo inside his haori, before leaping off the mountain path and jumping through the almost impassable forest crowning the mountainside, before stopping in front of the mouth of a small cave.

I hope you enjoyed this little interlude, next chapter, find out the identy of the seamstress, so if you want to win the prize, get your guesses in quickly.

I'd also like to point out that Inuyasha's view does change a bit throughout the story due to his own insecurities. When things are great, he knows his heart, when they're not, he begins to doubt.

I do post regularly, but I will update quicker if I reach 215. (Yes, your love has turned me into the one thing I thought I would never become...a review bitch!) So please, give me your loving (in the form of words of course) because I seriously need a fix!

May your thoughts and creativity flow,

Lady Ami DragonHeart