Holy CRUD! 599 reviews! That's 48 in less then a day! You guys rock!

Thank you to everyone who reviewed. Thank you InuKagzLoverrr, for the twinkie. Inu-Addict, I think they teach us the cock-pit controls so that in case of an emergency (and the stupid pilots have somehow managed to pass out or die), we know enough to drop the plane to a safe altitude and hope for the best.

Anywayz, lectures were ok today...we went on a field trip to the domestic terminal. That was kewl...I got to check out the QANTAS and Virgin Blue club card lounges.

Enjoy this next chapter...I upped the fluff metre this time...so it should be able to withstand the pressure this time.

Inuyasha travelled the first couple of hours in silence as he listened to Eriol and Kagome talk. The youkai traded stories of his greatest tricks and accomplishments, for Kagome's tales of her time, Miroku's advances on anything in a skirt (especially Sango), Sango's various ways of dealing with said advances and of the actual shard collecting journey itself. All three males listened with rapture as she paid particular attention to the fight scenes, describing them in amazing depth with as many details as possible.

Inuyasha began to blush heavily when she had described him. The way she depicted him, he sounded like some kind of shining knight, or deity, with him being battered and torn, yet still courageously surging forward before finally dealing the final blow, or when he'd mastered the tetsusaiga, sundering masses of demons with one swing, as he charged head-long into the fray to save his friends, paying no heed to the many wounds he received in the process.

In an attempt to counter the massive blush staining his face, he began to recount all the times her arrows had obliterated Naraku's shields, or countered his poisonous vapours, or completely destroyed an enemy about to kill him, and then, about how she'd faced down his demonic self, while his hanyou mind was slowly being trapped in the mirror, and brought him back to his senses. When he had finished with his own tales, he snuck a peek at Kagome, to find her face as red as his haori. After allowing her to stew in her own embarrassment for a few minutes, he declared that it was time for some lunch.

Inuyasha sent Eriol to get the water as he built a fire in preparation for ramen. Once they had settled down to the meal, Eriol finally spoke up, "It's clear that you two care about each other a lot," he told them, causing Inuyasha to choke on his ramen. Kagome reached over to pat his back until the coughing subsided. "Of course we do," she laughed, making the hanyou start choking all over again, "He's my best friend, and I'd trust him, not only with my life, but with those of my friends and family. He's my confident, and although he's already opened up to me a great deal, I just hope he realises that he could tell me anything, and if it's something I can do to help, that he knows I would move heaven and earth to make it happen. He already knows that whether he becomes full demon or full human, he's still the same Inuyasha, and I'll support him and stand by him either way, because that's what friends do."

Inuyasha stopped coughing only to blush heavily. She truly was a gentle soul. Eriol regarded her silently for a moment, she really was an exceptional creature. "Eloquently put," Eriol told her, "I doubt I could have said it any better. It is true that friends should stick together, no matter how the wind howls, but then again, so should mates and lovers. You know, everyone, ningen and youkai alike all say the same thing, that your mate should be someone you can confide in, someone you love and cherish more then life itself, someone you could picture yourself growing old with. For a relationship that will last the ages, you should mate your best friend, because once the passion fades, all that will be left will be the bonds of friendship. That choice should be even more important for hanyou and youkai alike, for the only way out of a demonic mating is death."

Kagome began to blush, but Inuyasha's face was completely red, as he understood the real meaning behind Eriol's words. Eriol's lovely speech had just outlined all the reasons why he should let his demon side have his way with Kagome. Inuyasha swept those thoughts from his mind as he packed everything away in Kagome's bag and slung it over his shoulders before scooping her into his arms. Kyo took up his usual place on Inuyasha's shoulder as they set off towards Keade's village.

After a while, Kagome fell asleep, something she found she couldn't do with Eriol. As much as she liked him, he just didn't have the same relaxing effect on her that Inuyasha's strong embrace did. Once she was fast asleep, Inuyasha bent his head to meet her lips with his in a fleeting, butterfly kiss, pulling away as quickly as he'd approached.

"Inuyasha," Eriol chided, "Did you just take advantage of a sleeping woman?" Inuyasha nodded guiltily. "Well done," the youkai exclaimed, "I doubt I'd have the guts to, and besides, you're in love with her, so it's not like you're going to hurt her or anything." The hanyou brightened considerably. Staring down at the miko in his arms, his smile faded as a sudden thought popped into his head. "Eriol?" he asked timidly, "Before the jewel is completed, I'm going to make my choice between a chance with Kagome, or the certainty of hell. If she rejects me and goes back to her time, I don't know if I could continue on knowing how empty my life would be without her, so would you do me a favour? If she goes home, would you kill me? I don't want my demon side to slaughter countless lives, and I know if you, Tomoyo, and that Syaoran kid teamed up with Sango and Miroku, that at least one of you would be able to bring me down, so would you?"

Eriol stared at the hanyou, knowing exactly what would happen if he chose the woman sleeping in his arms. "If it means that much to you," he sighed, "I solemnly swear, on my honour as a youkai, that should your chosen mate reject you, I will, under pain of death, do all in my power to eliminate you and end your suffering." Inuyasha nodded to Eriol, giving him a sad shadow of a smile, "we should speed up a little if we want to reach the village by dinner time."

The two men began to walk quickly, finally reaching the village long after the sun had set. Walking with Inuyasha, Eriol entered Keade's hut where he was introduced to Sango, Miroku, Keade and Kagome's other son Shippo while the hanyou woke the miko. The youkai ate dinner with Inuyasha's pack, entertaining them with stories of the pranks Inuyasha and himself played on many weary travellers, while slipping Shippo pre-packaged pranks to use on the hanyou. At various intervals throughout the meal, the members of his pack made comments about how Kagome was practically sitting in Inuyasha's lap for the whole meal. "So what?" the increasingly irritated hanyou finally snapped, "Last time I let her stray too far she twisted her ankle, so now she doesn't go any where without being either in my line of sight or within four feet of me."

To prevent any more comments of their sitting arrangements from angering the hanyou she quickly faced him. "Could you pass me my pack?" she asked before anyone else could speak. Inuyasha reached behind him to grab the yellow satchel and place it gently in front of her. "Thanks," she smiled at him, "Now we all know how dashing little Kyo looks in his new fire-rat robes, but as soon as Tomoyo heard I had another son, she decided, and I agree with her on this one, that it would be super kawaii if both brothers wore clothes to match, so this is for you Shippo," Kagome told him proudly as she handed the kitsune a small package.

Unwrapping the parcel, the tiny fox found robes just like Inuyasha and Kyo, but made of a deep, sapphire blue, instead of red. "It's made of the silk of the sea-dragons' cacoons," she told him, "Go try it on. I want to see how it looks." Shippo raced out the main room and into Keade's back room to change before hurrying back out to his mother. He stood before Kagome, slowly turning around on his little pawed feet so she could see him from every angle. The colour matched the bow in his hair perfectly, and Tomoyo had made sure there was a split in the back for his fluffy tail. The miko asked Kyo to stand beside him. Once they were both standing side by side, she pulled them into a tight hug while crying out 'kawaii', before finally setting them down. Once the others saw them both together, they realised the reason behind her scream, the two children really did look very cute together, and with both of them standing before Inuyasha and Kagome, they just looked like a perfect family.

Eriol finally bid goodbye to everyone, telling them that while he'd love to stay, he had a new mate he had to return to, and she'd want to know exactly how well Shippo's outfit looked on. Once he'd left, Sango and Miroku left for the hut they had built. Keade insisted on Kagome staying in her patients' quarters until she was completely healed, so Keade could give her herbal mixes to speed along the healing, but Inuyasha refused, telling the old priestess that Kagome would be sleeping in her own hut, which wasn't that far away, and if they needed her, he would carry Kagome to her.

Scooping Kagome and her pack into his arms, he stalked off to the hut he'd built especially for Kagome, her two sons trailing along behind him. "Shippo, Kyo," she said as soon as they entered her hut, "Go to bed. It's been a long day. I'll join you shortly." Once the two had marched into her room she faced the hanyou who was about to leave. "Your feet must be sore after all that walking today," she told him, "Especially with carrying Kyo, myself and my bag." Inuyasha 'feh'ed in response. "I want to thank you for it," she told him, "So could you please take a seat and use a wet cloth to wash your feet?"

Inuyasha stared at her for a moment. "If it'll make you happy," he grumbled, complying with her demands. Kagome took a small bottle of lotion out of her bag before sitting herself down in front of him. Taking one of his clean feet, she placed it in her lap, then took the lid off the bottle and dribbled a small amount on to her palm. Her thin fingers then set to work, gently rubbing the lotion into his foot as the heel of her hand began to relieve the tension. The hanyou sighed in contentment as he felt all the aches and pains being gently smoothed away. Kagome stopped her ministrations only to change feet.

All things had to end sometime, and for his feet, it was after ten minutes of rubbing. "Now take your shirts off and lie face down," she told him as she placed a blanket and pillow on the floor. He stared at her for a while, unsure of what she was going to do. "I'm going to do to your back what I just did to your feet," she told him. The hanyou instantly complied, he wouldn't tell her as much, but he really liked how his feet felt.

Sweeping his hair over one shoulder, she straddled his bottom, causing both parties to blush uncontrollably, as she set to work easing the muscles of his back. Inuyasha began to growl contently as her fingers ran all the way over his back. He never wanted it to end. He could feel every single one of his muscles relax under her gentle massage. He could also feel, that for once, his demon side was present without trying to take over. It was as if it simply wanted to feel the calming touch of its chosen mate working out every kink. Kagome worked on his back and shoulders for over and hour before finally slipping off of him.

Inuyasha rolled over to sit up, before encircling the miko in his arms, bringing her to his naked chest. "If this is what I get for carrying you for one day," he murmured huskily, "What do I get if I carry you for a week?" Kagome blushed under his intense gaze, smiling shyly, "You'll have to find that out for yourself." The hanyou drew her into his lap for a moment while he held her close. "Come on," he told her as he gently lifted her in his arms, "Time for bed."

He padded softly into her bedroom and placed her on the futon beside her pups, completely forgetting both his shirts as he settled down beside her. Pulling the covers over all of them, he wrapped his arms around her waist once more, feeling her two pups shift instinctively in their sleep for her warmth. He reached over and brought them to her side, draping his arm over all three of them, while marvelling at how wonderfully right it felt, to hold both her and the two pups. Kissing her forehead gently he bid her good night, before slipping off into dreams of her and her magic fingers.

Yes, it's true, Inuyasha was a massage virgin (and I didn't think there were any left in the world).

Okay...for next chappy...I think we can make it to 645! (You guys are fantastic...I'm sure you'll reach that in a day).

Now...it's that time again...it's...

COMPETITION TIME!

For the next few chapters, I'm running another competition. Now, we all know Kagome's going to a halloween party, and we all know it's a costume party...but here's the competition...What will her costume be? (I've already written the chapter...so I can't change it)

Winners will be posted on the revealing chapter...and they will also recieve a prize. (in other words they get a sneak peak at the next chappy)

So get your thinking caps on, and keep those guesses coming!

May your thoughts and creativity flow,

Lady Ami Ryuukokoro.

Thank you to Misstress of the Wolf Clan for telling me what 'DragonHeart' was in japanese.