WOW! 551! I feel soooo loved! You guys have totally made my day!

I've just spent the whole day at my course to be an airline hostess learning about all the cock-pit controls and all the parts of the plane and how they work (I swear I almost fell asleep like ten times at least...how embarressing would that be...to fall asleep inthe middle of a lecture) and I was sooo mentally exhausted...I think my brain turned to mush...but you guys, and your reviews, have perked me up again!

I feel so much better since reading all your wonderful, kind words. Thank you to everyone who reviewed. Now on with the story!

Inuyasha had just finished packing Kagome's bag, when the blue-robed trickster strutted into the hut, looking incredibly pleased with himself. "Good morning," he greeted the miko as he bowed gracefully, "I am the amazing trickster, Eriol Hirigiziwa." The youkai grabbed Kagome's hand, bringing it to his lips for a gentle kiss, before flipping his hand over and producing a rose. Inuyasha began to growl as Eriol handed her the flower.

"My," he exclaimed, "You truly are a rare bloom. Had we have met earlier, I would have courted you instantly, but, alas, I am already mated." Inuyasha's growling stopped out of shock as he gave the youkai an incredulous stare. "It seems that the lovely seamstress has had quite a crush on me for sometime now, and when I appeared, it was love at first...ahem...bite," he told them," And the rest, as they say, was a hell of a lot of fun."

"Prove it," the hanyou growled, inching closer to Kagome so that he could place himself between her and the trickster, while still trying to avoid them realising. "With pleasure," Eriol replied, lowering the high collar of his robes to reveal the many hickies, and the smattering of bite marks that covered his neck, "Tomoyo is rather aggressive when amorous." Inuyasha quickly clapped his hands over Kyo's ears, "And you just had to say that in front of the kid," he growled, "You're worse then that damn monk."

"Calm down Inuyasha," Kagome laughed, "I'm sure the whole village will hear about it when you mate Kikyo." The miko suddenly found herself silent, but still refused to allow him the knowledge of how much it hurt to think of him running off with the clay woman. "I mean, the jewel's almost finished, and we know where two of the missing pieces are, and you already said you don't want to become full demon, so why not use it to bring her back. I'll go back to my time, and you can bring her back to life. Then you can live like you wanted to, before Naraku came along." She smiled sadly, "Just promise me you'll take care of Kyo when I'm gone."

Eriol stared in shock at the young woman. She was such a gentle soul, that she was willing to sacrifice her happiness for the hanyou's. He couldn't believe that Inuyasha couldn't see how much she truly cared for him, let alone that he still hadn't told her of his feelings for her. He'd just have to knock some sense into that thick head of his during their small journey to Inuyasha's forest and the village it bordered.

Inuyasha sat in stunned silence at the miko. Did Kagome really feel like that? Had he run to Kikyo so often that he'd ruined any chance of her ever returning his feelings? Or was it because she could never lower herself to love a hanyou? Kyo tore himself free of the slightly-trembling hanyou to throw his arms around his mother. "Are you really going to leave us?" he whimpered into her blouse.

"I really don't belong here Kyo," she murmured softly to the sobbing pup, "I come from another time, and as much as I'd love to take you and Shippo with me, I doubt you'd be accepted. Don't worry about that for now, we still have a while before that decision comes to pass, and if I do return home, Sango and Miroku will care for you as if you were their own son."

Inuyasha dropped his gaze to the floor to hide the pain. He refused to think of what he would do if she ever left. He knew, deep within his heart that if she left, never to return, his demon side would take over and rivers would run red from the blood lust his demon's sorrow would bring. He solemnly made a promise to himself, that by the time the jewel was completed, he would tell her how he felt, and if she rejected him, well, he just didn't want to think about that.

Eriol knelt in front of the miko, "Kagome," he spoke gently to her, "Would you honour me with your presence and allow me to carry you? At least for the first part of the journey. I would love the opportunity to get to know you better." Kagome began to giggle before turning to face the hanyou. "Inuyasha," she chuckled, "You never told me your friends were so charming." She spun back to face the sapphire-eyed man, "I'd be delighted," she replied, "But are you sure I won't be to heavy for you?"

Inuyasha glanced at the pair. With Eriol mated, he knew that this truly was just an act of friendship. "Don't worry Kagome," he told her as he tousled her hair, "To me you're as light as a feather, but considering how wimpy Eriol is, he may have some trouble, but if your weight breaks his back, I'll make sure I catch you, between laughs of course, before you hit the ground."

Kagome glared at the amber-eyed hanyou, poking her tongue at him, "I hope that was a comment about him being weak and not me being fat." Inuyasha chuckled as he stared at the young woman, "You're not fat okay," he told her before darting a hand forward and catching her tongue between his fingers and thumb, "And don't stick it out unless you wanna use it." He released her tongue and sat back, only to have her tongue dart out at him before being quickly retracted. Inuyasha leapt forward, pinning her against the wall behind her as he brought his face within an inch of hers. "You keep doing that," he murmured as his nose touched hers, "And I'll find a use for it."

Gazing up into his golden depths, she was mesmerized by what she found. His eyes were clouded over with love and desire, but were they directed at her because he loved her or because she looked like Kikyo? Inuyasha stared down into two cerulean pools, shining with love, trust and arousal? His nose snuffled lightly, taking in her scent. Yep, definitely arousal. Could she truly be that turned on by him just being that close to her? He could feel his demon side howl at him to take her then and there. Inuyasha shoved himself away from the wall, walking over to her bag, throwing it over his shoulder as he strode to the door as he tried to get his blush under control.

"You coming or not?" he called over his shoulder. It took all his strength not to turn his head to look over his shoulder, because he knew if he did, he'd loose his resolve and rush back to claim the miko still breathing heavily against the wall. Eriol held in the laugh threatening to bubble from his throat at the hanyou's antics. It was clear the demon within him had almost taken control and mated the miko, but it was obvious from his actions that he didn't realise how receptive the miko would've been to his advances. Striding forward he bowed gracefully before Kagome once more. "My lady," he said before lifting her into his arms, shocked to find the tiny hanyou automatically jumped on to his shoulder so he could ride with his mother.

I'm sorry...but the fluff levels were killing me...I just had to make Inu and Kagome question what they had.

Erects shield to protect me from any projectiles that may be thrown my way

Okay...for the next chapter..590 reviews...and because I like Eriol, and he plays a somewhat important role in this fic, he'll be in the next couple of chapters too.

Well...that all from me...I'm off to revise my notes from todays lectures.

May your thoughts and creativity flow,

Lady Ami DragonHeart