Disclaimer: Nope still don't own, but sure wish I did. At least I get to borrow.

A/N: That's just eviiiiillllll! I'd never make Inu hit a girl. Well, maybe a demon girl, but never a human! –shakes head in disbelief- I can't even believe you'd think such a terrible thing! –shrugs- Oh, well on with the show! Duh duh dun! Oh and by the by, I've been trying to udate this thing since Wensday but I couldn't download. Now I can! Woohooo!

WARNINGS – This chapter contains a lemon, though this is the clean version. You must hop to my lemon link to view it.

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Chapter 25- Of Endings and Beginnings

The sound of flesh striking flesh echoed through the silent hall, followed by the dull thud of Shina landing on her bottom with a hand pressed firmly to her offended cheek. She glared up at her assailant. The very angry miko glared right back with the fire of hell burning behind her deep chocolate orbs.

"I told you to never lay your filthy hands on him again!" Kagome growled in a nearly feral way as she took a protective stance in front of her mate.

Shina sneered. "He doesn't belong to you. He can dance with me, if he wants."

Kagome smirked almost smugly. "That's where you're wrong. He is mine. He's my…my husband."

The crowd of onlookers gasped and Shina could do nothing but stare slack jawed up at her younger cousin. Her eyes narrowed slowly. "That's a lie! He wasn't a few days ago, so how is he now!" She pushed herself to her feet.

Kagome's fists balled at her side. "How dare you!" First Shina tormented her, then she tried to hurt her, then she tried to steal her Inu Yasha, and now she called her a liar! It was simply more than she could take. Kagome lunged at her.

Shina, not as battle-worn as the young miko, had only enough time to shriek as Kagome tackled her to the ground. A brief tugging of hair and clawing, along with muffled curses occurred before two pairs of strong arms separated them. But not before Kagome got in one last blow. An open handed slap with her red ring turned inward left a long thin cut on her cousin's cheek.

Kagome found herself being pulled backwards into a familiar cocoon of warmth and security. While Shina was hauled backwards by her elbow a few steps by her new husband, who glared accusingly down at his new bride. "I warned you to leave them alone."

Shina tried to pull away, while rubbing at the thin cut along her cheek. "All I did was tell the truth! She's the liar!"

Kagome growled and struggled briefly in Inu Yasha's powerful arms. She quickly gave up when she realized that he wasn't about to let go of her. A low rumble began in his chest and vibrated against her back, relaxing her though she tried to fight it futilely.

Inu Yasha glared at the female over his mate's slightly muffled hair. "She's not lying." He informed her flatly, his eyes smoldering with anger barely contained.

Shina blinked. "That's impossible! You're not wearing wedding rings and-!"

"Who says we have too!" Kagome snapped. "We have these instead!" She pointed to the mark over her heart. "It's better than rings!"

Shina snorted and tried again to pull away from her husband. "What, some stupid stick on tattoo! Ha! That's not even real!"

Kagome turned bright red as every drop of blood in her body rushed into her face. "Not real!" Inu Yasha had true difficulty holding her this time as her miko aura crackled around her. "At least I love the man I'm mated to!" The crowd gasped, and Kagome wasn't certain if was from her slip in calling Inu Yasha her mate or from accusing the newlyweds of not being in love. Either way at that moment she didn't really care.

Shina, however, had caught the slip. "Mate?" She sneered. "What a fitting word for a filthy little bitch like you."

Kagome gasped. Behind her, Shina's death played out in a pair of golden eyes. Kagome had explained to him once the difference between the meanings of the word in his time and hers. "Watch your mouth, whore, or I'll rip it off." His voice was so deathly cold and low, that Shina took a step back. Fushigi locked eyes with the hanyou for a moment and then nodded, as if to apologize, before dragging Shina away to a secluded corner of the large hall. No one envied her the admonishment she was about to receive.

Kagome turned in Inu Yasha's embrace and wrapped her arms around his waist inside his coat, burying her face in his shirt. The scent of her tears put his nerves on edge even more. He wasn't sure if they were angry tears or sad tears, either way he'd never forgive Shina for causing his beloved to cry. "I ought to tear her throat out!" Unbeknownst to him, he was growling rather loud.

Kagome's arms tightened around his waist. "Inu Yasha…don't…"

He stared down at the top of her head. "Why shouldn't I! After what she said, I-"

She lifted her tear streaked face to smile up at him. "It doesn't matter. She can say what she wants. I'll always have the better end of the deal." She pushed herself up on her toes to capture his lips. She whispered low against his lips. "Besides, she may have meant it as an insult, but I'll take it as a compliment." Inu Yasha felt himself smirk, despite the still prevalent anger inside him.

What was left of the crowd, which had begun to disperse and return to the celebration, smiled and awed at them. The two broke the kiss and each turned a lovely shade of pink. Slowly the reception began to return to normal. Though the crowd gossiped about the newlyweds slipping away to get more 'quality' time with each other. Once they were gone everyone seemed to relax a little more. The band began to play and couples began to dance again. Inu Yasha refused to allow Kagome out of his sight for the rest of the night and after a while they too danced.

Kagome laid her head on her koishii's shoulder as he swayed them in a slow circle to a soft song. He buried his nose in her hair and rumbled low in his chest, a sign of his contentment. Kagome closed her eyes and allowed the gentle swaying, soft music and equally soft rumble to unwind her nerves until she was jelly in his arms. Time seemed to slow down and each song seemed to last a lifetime.

It was growing late when Kagome let out a yawn. Inu Yasha smiled down at her. "Getting tired?"

She shook her head defiantly and muffled a second yawn. "Nope, not in the least."

'She really is a pathetic liar.' He smirked. "Oh, well, why don't we take a break? Are you thirsty?"

She nodded and they walked over to serve themselves some punch. She shivered a bit from the lack of his warmth and suddenly she found Inu Yasha's jacket draped over her shoulders. She smiled up at him. "Thanks." He graced her with his small half smile, before returning to filling their cups. As they settled at the big table beside Sota and Iki, Kagome noticed someone's absence. "Where's Gramps?"

Iki smiled. "He said he was too old for late night dancing parties and went up to bed." Kagome just nodded and settled down to drink her punch. Sota, meanwhile, was busy bombarding Inu Yasha with questions about the feudal era. Most of the guests had already left for the evening and they were seated somewhat away from the others, so he felt comfortable in answering the boy's questions.

Kagome polished off her drink and leaned against Inu Yasha's shoulder as he continued some story about a demon they'd encountered over a year ago. Sota was completely enthralled with the tale and neither noticed as his sister's eyes slid shut.

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The contrast was drastic Kagome's still drowsy mind informed her. One side of her body was cold, while the other was warm. Cold sheets were pressed around one leg, while the other was trapped beneath something very warm and heavy. She rolled towards the warmth and it embraced her. Another sensation also tugged at her mind, the knowledge that she was nude. But a distant rumble drew her deeper into the darkness that was sleep and so the sensation drifted away.

Her dreams filled again with a certain hanyou, but this time a troop of silver haired children accompanied him. She smiled at them as they ran around their parents in circles. Their father leaned in to trail hot kisses down her neck and murmur her name. "Kagome…" Consciousness tugged her toward the light, as he murmured her name once more. "Kagome…."

He nipped her ear and her eyes snapped open. She couldn't suppress the moan that left her. 'Am I still dreaming?' He nipped her again and she gasped. 'Nope, defiantly not dreaming.' She wrapped her arms around his neck.

He lifted up to smirk at her. "I wondered how long you'd sleep."

She smiled. "Now, who's seducing who?"

His smirk grew just before he captured her lips. He chuckled as he released the kiss and rolled over dragging her on top of his chest. "Feh, it's not my fault you're irresistible."

Kagome giggled and was about to give him a cute retort when the phone rang and Iki called for her. She groaned and buried her face in his chest. "Who'd be calling me this early? Everyone else is already gone."

Inu Yasha twitched his ears forward and concentrated. He could hear Iki speaking with the other person over the phone. "It's your grandmother."

Kagome lifted her head and blinked. "Huh? My grandmother?" She sighed and rolled off Inu Yasha, who gave a small whimper of protest. "I'd better see what she wants." She scrambled for her robe and tied it securely. That's when she noted that her clothes from the previous night had been laid neatly over the back of a chair. Vague memories of her mate tenderly undressing her filtered through the back of her mind. She flashed him a quick smile before dashing into the other room to answer the phone.

Inu Yasha sighed. 'A cold bath sounds good right about now.' He too rolled out of bed and stumbled into the bathroom to take a relieving shower. When he emerged, he found Kagome still on the phone. He gave her a sideways look as he was handed a plate of food by Kagome's mother.

"Yes, Grandmother…..Okay, I promise….I don't know, I may not be here…All right I'll try….Yes, Grandmother...I love you too…Okay, talk to you later, bye." Kagome sighed as she finally set the phone back in its cradle. "Wow, she sure can talk when she's in the mood."

"Here, sweetheart, eat something and then get your shower. We need to be out of here by eleven." Iki set a plate before her daughter.

"Thanks, Mom." Kagome cleaned her plate in record time and hoped up from the table. "I'll be out in a minute!" She brushed a chaste kiss on her hanyou's cheek before disappearing into the other room.

Inu Yasha watched her go and was about to wander off into their room, when Iki stopped him. "Inu Yasha, why don't you help me, while Kagome's in the shower?" She handed him the cooler and the small ice bucket. "Go put some ice in this for me, will you?"

He blinked at her. "Huh? But I don't know-"

Iki waved a hand at him. "Now, Inu Yasha, you may be able to get away with that innocent act with Kagome, but I know you know more than you let on." She handed him his cap and guided him to the door. "It's very simple. There's a machine down the hall that says 'Ice' on it. You just push the button and it gives you ice."

Inu Yasha nodded. It did sound simple enough. He grunted an affirmative before putting on the cap and stepping into the hall. After a quick search, he stumbled upon the ice machine. Just as Iki had said there was button on the machine. He pressed it and jumped back as it made a horrendous noise. For a moment he thought maybe the machine was possessed by a demon, until it started to spew out ice. He cursed as the first few pieces fell on the floor and he caught the next few in the little bucket. As the bucket filled, he dumped it into the cooler.

A pair of footsteps alerted him to the new presence just before the person spoke. "I hear that an heir has been named to the Higurashi estate."

Inu Yasha looked up at the man, who had been wed the night before. "Yeah, what of it?"

Fushigi remained stoic, an ice bucket held loosely in his left hand. The machines on the two floors above had seemed fit to be out of order. "Nothing, except to say that I hear your…uh….mate…would be the heir."

Inu Yasha growled. "I suggest that you and that witch of a wife of yours stay the hell away from Kagome."

"I see, so it is true." Fushigi nodded. "Do not worry about Shina. She will not bother you or Kagome any longer."

Inu Yasha's eyes narrowed. "You don't smell like a man who was married last night."

Fushigi lifted an eyebrow. "That has little bearing on the control that I now wield over her. She will listen to me or she will be cut off from both her father's holdings, as well as my own."

Inu Yasha snorted as he dumped the last bucket full of ice into the cooler. "Like I care what that wench does," he hefted the cooler into his arms with little effort, "as long as she stays away from my mate." He pushed past the man into the hall.

"You should be more careful when using such words. There are those who do not understand such things."

Inu Yasha glanced back over his shoulder at the dark haired man with cold eyes. He lifted an eyebrow. 'He smells human enough. What does he mean? Does he know what I am?'

Fushigi continued to look into the alcove with the ice machine. "You should be getting back. They'll be looking for you soon."

Inu Yasha snorted again as he turned down the hall again. The encounter had been strange to say the least. As he neared the suite, the door opened and Kagome smiled up at him. "Mom said she sent you to find ice. I thought maybe you got lost."

"Feh," he brushed a kiss on her forehead as he passed her in the doorway, "as if I couldn't find my way back to you."

Iki smiled as Inu Yasha set the cooler down and she immediately began to fill it with what was left of the food they'd brought. The rest of the group went to pack. An hour later they were ready to go. Inu Yasha again carried the cooler while Kagome carried their bags.

Once they'd placed their things in the trunk of the car, Kagome turned to look up at the hotel. 'Things have changed so much since we arrived. It's hard to believe it's only been two weeks.' She felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her.

"We'll come back some day, I promise."

Kagome smiled. "Yeah, some day. For now though, let's go home." She squeezed his hand and climbed into the car. Once again she sat in the middle between Inu Yasha and Sota. Iki pulled out of the parking lot, leaving behind the Blue Lagoon hotel and a trail of memories that would last a lifetime.

Once they were on the road, Inu Yasha pulled off his cap and twitched his ears. "Inu Yasha, what are you doing?" Kagome glanced around to make sure the road was clear.

He chuckled as he laid his head in her lap. "You made a promise to me."

Kagome giggled as she began to rub his ears. "I guess, I can suffer through it."

"Feh, you know you like it." His eyes slid shut slowly.

Kagome chuckled again as he began to rumble softly. Sota watched them quietly for a while, until he was certain Inu Yasha was asleep.

"Hey, sis, do you think I could…um…?" He reached a hand out to touch one of his hero's triangular ears.

Kagome slapped his hand. "Oh, no, you don't."

Sota pouted. "Oh, come on, sis. He won't mind."

"Yes, he would." Kagome hissed, trying not to wake her mate. He stirred in her lap and both siblings hushed, until his soft rumbling was heard again. Kagome narrowed her eyes at her brother. "Leave Inu Yasha alone, Sota." Sota grumbled but didn't try to grab Inu Yasha's ears again.

Kagome continued her massage until they were almost home. She woke her hanyou gently when they pulled into the drive. They climbed out and Inu Yasha stretched, before he got thrust back into the role of pack mule. Everyone again carried in bags and coolers, and in short order the group had unloaded the car.

Kagome dropped their bags just inside her bedroom door and flopped on the bed. "Mmm, it's good to be back in my own room on my own bed." She closed her eyes and relaxed into the soft comforter.

Inu Yasha paused in the doorway as he entered and watched his mate for a moment in silence. His eyes caressed her round lips and followed the swell of breast with each breath, the trail of her raven locks as the curled down one check to lie across her neck. He was moving forward, before even he knew what he was doing. His demon stalked her like a predator to its prey.

Kagome suppressed the smirk that wanted to spring to her lips. She could feel him getting closer. Even with her eyes closed, she knew he was near and growing nearer. She couldn't help but giggle as he tackled her. Kagome continued the roll and pinned him beneath her.

Inu Yasha grinned up at her, as she straddled his hips. "I like this position, too bad we're not alone."

Kagome blushed lightly and glanced over her shoulder to make sure they were alone. "Inu Yasha, this really isn't the time or place to…"

He smirked as he pulled her down to him. "You promised, we'd get some alone time." He caught her bottom lip and nibbled it. She moaned softly against his mouth as she felt his body twitch and harden beneath her. He rolled them over and racked his fangs along her neck.

Kagome gasped. "Inu Yasha…we can't…not here…" Why was it suddenly very hard to think straight? Her body acted of its own accord as it arched into the hand that cupped her breast.

He teased her again with his fangs and nipped her earlobe once for good measure, before he pushed himself up on his elbows. He panted slightly and she could feel the magnetic pull of his body on hers. It was like being drawn into the sun. "Fine, come on."

She followed him up as he sat back. "Where are we going?"

"Home."

"But what about the others, won't they know if we come back?"

A smirk appeared on his slightly swollen lips. "Nope, we can avoid them for a few hours. I know a place we can be alone." He ran a claw with feather lightness down her thigh. He growled his approval as her scent spiked even more and she closed her eyes to savor his touch. Slowly he withdrew from her, fighting his demon all the way.

Once Kagome's mind cleared a bit, she stood up and started for the door. "I should tell Mom we're going to check on the others?"

"I'll meet you beside the well." His eyes locked with hers and they clearly stated, 'hurry'.

She nodded and dashed out of the room at break neck speed. Inu Yasha, meanwhile, dumped his duffle bag onto the floor and dug out his usual fire-rat clothes. By the time Kagome explained to her mother that they were going to check on their friends and grabbed her small bag of necessities, Inu Yasha was already waiting for her beside the well-house.

He wasted no time in scooping her into his arms and jumping over the well's small wooden wall. The welcoming sensation of time slipping past them came, its blue aura wrapping them in its warm fabrics. When the time slip faded and Inu Yasha looked up to find the bright blue sky with little white clouds floating in it, he smiled. He glanced down at Kagome, who was also smiling. "Home," she whispered.

He grinned. "Yes, our home." With a great push off the solid bottom of the well, he landed them safely outside. But instead of setting Kagome on her feet, he took off at a dead run. He wasn't going to let any of their nosey pack find them just yet. Kagome giggled as he flew through the trees, until they came to a spot that was secluded.

Inu Yasha set her down and guided her toward a small cave. "What is this place?" Kagome stepped inside to find a pile a furs and one wooden bucket.

Inu Yasha blushed slightly. "I, uh, spent a winter here once." He walked forward and began to shift the furs so that the cleaner ones were on top.

Kagome frowned. She wasn't certain if she liked the sound of that. "When you were with Kikyo?"

Inu Yasha let out a deep sigh, his back still to his mate. "Yes, it was around the same time."

Kagome averted her eyes from him. "Did you…uh….bring her here too?"

He was in front of her, holding her face in his hands before she could even blink. "No, Kagome. I've already told you, for me there can only be you. Inuyoukai mate for life. The truth is I never even considered bringing her here. A demon's home is meant for family and members of one's pack. At the time, I didn't have either of those." He brushed her lips with a callused thumb. "Now, I have all of that and more."

"Oh, Inu Yasha." Kagome threw her arms around his neck and he crushed her small frame against his. There was no more fighting the pull between them. One hand cradled her neck, while he kissed her deeply, and the other cupped a round breast. Kagome gasped into his mouth as her own hands searched out the ties that held his robes together.

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He lifted his nose into the air. 'I could have sworn I caught Kagome's scent a while ago.' He continued to follow the familiar smell through the forest from the well. 'She smells different somehow…' Up ahead, he spotted a cave half concealed by ivy. Slowly he made his way forward and into the entrance of the cave.

"What the hell do you want?" growled a familiar voice.

His bright blue eyes shot wide at the sight before him. Inu Yasha sat up beside a barely cover and very nude Kagome. "The question is what the hell have you done to my Kagome!"

Inu Yasha snarled. "She ain't yours, you scrawny wolf. She never was." He shifted a little more forward, placing himself between the intruder and his sleeping mate.

"She damn well is! I laid claim years ago!" Koga snarled back.

Inu Yasha growled even louder and Kagome stirred beside him. "Inu Yasha…" When her eyes fell on the wolf prince, she shrieked and tried to hide every inch of herself beneath Inu Yasha's haori, which they'd used as a makeshift blanket. Inu Yasha's growling only increased with the scent of her anxiety. "Koga! Get out!" Kagome commanded from beneath the haori.

Koga's eyes narrowed. "Kagome, how could you? You're supposed to be my woman! What are you doing with this mangy mongrel?"

Inu Yasha had managed to pull on his loin cloth and hakama, and now stood nearly nose to nose with the interloper. "She's not your woman! And didn't you hear her? She said get the hell out!"

"Back off, puppy!" Koga's scent spiked as if he were about to lay claim to his territory.

"Touch her and I'll rip your spine out!" So caught up in their argument, neither male noticed the young miko was up and had pulled on the haori, until she stepped between them shoving them apart.

"Stop you two!" Kagome wrapped her arms around one of Inu Yasha's.

"As if you could do anything to keep me from her!" Koga continued undaunted

"Are you challenging me for my mate!" The scent of Koga's male pheromones mixed with his challenge made Inu Yasha's demon flare to the surface for a moment, his eyes flashing red.

"Damn straight, dog-breath!" Koga widened his stance into one ready for battle.

"No, stop it!" Kagome stepped between them again. She turned to Koga, her eyes deadly serious. "I am not your woman! I love Inu Yasha and I'm with him by choice. Koga, I wouldn't go with you even if you did win, which I know you wouldn't."

The blue eyed demon growled, his voice thick and heavy. "As if you'd have a choice, wench."

Kagome gasped and visibly paled. She stepped back into Inu Yasha's waiting arms. He pressed her close to his side with one arm, while shaking a fist at the wolf with the other. "You bastard."

Koga seemed to suddenly grasp what he'd just said. His bright blue gaze clouded over with gray. "Kagome…I….I'm sorry…I didn't mean that….I'd never…"

Kagome didn't look at him. Instead, she buried her face against her mate's bare chest. "You should leave, Koga."

Koga took a timid half step towards her, but Inu Yasha's growl stopped him. "Leave while you can still walk, wolf."

Koga slowly turned his back on them and took a step toward the entrance. He paused and glanced back over his shoulder. The powerful wolf prince had been shattered by the small miko, and his eyes told the story well enough. "For what it's worth, Kagome, I really did love you." With that Koga stepped away from the cave, to no longer play rival for the miko's love.

Inu Yasha watched him until he was gone, then he lifted Kagome's chin until she looked up at him.

Tears ran down her checks. It wasn't that she wanted Koga's love, she had never wanted that, but she had valued his friendship. "How could he say something like that to me after all this time?"

Inu Yasha brushed away the tears. "He's a demon, Kagome. They're not like humans or even half-demons. They're instincts are a lot stronger and harder to control. I doubt even Koga knew what he was saying until afterwards."

Kagome blinked up at him with wide eyes. "Did you…did you just defend Koga?"

Inu Yasha scowled. "Aw, damn it, I guess I did. You can be mad at that flea-bitten wolf all you want, just don't cry over him. Okay?"

A small smile broke onto her face and Kagome wrapped her arms tightly around his waist. "Thank you, Inu Yasha."

He ran a hand through her ruffled hair. "Come on, you wanted to check on the others, right?"

Kagome leaned into his touch. "Yeah, I did."

He smirked. "You sound as though you would rather stay here."

She closed her eyes for a moment. "Mmm, I would, but we can't." She sighed. "They're probably expecting us any time now." She slowly stepped away from him and made her way to her clothes.

Inu Yasha let out a soft sigh of his own as he found his undershirt and pulled it on. Kagome handed him back his haori when she was dressed. "Let's go." He squatted down so she could climb onto his back.

In a flash they were off again, this time they headed in the direction of Kaede's hut. Kagome settled against his back, relishing the ripple of his muscles as he ran. All too soon they arrived outside the old miko's abode. Kagome heard the small kit's squeal as she stepped through the door, just before she was nearly knocked on her bottom by the flying ball of fur. Inu Yasha caught her from behind and steadied her.

"Watch it, runt!" He bopped the boy on the head for good measure.

Shippo wailed. "Ow! I just missed Kagome!" He buried his little face in her shirt.

Kagome scowled over her shoulder at her mate. "Inu Yasha, be nice. He missed us. It's been a long time since I've left him alone that long."

Inu Yasha snorted. "Feh."

"Hey, he wasn't alone." Miroku piped up from where he sat beside the fire.

Sango rushed over to embrace her friend in a crushing bear-hug. "Oh, Kagome! We've missed you so much!" Kagome giggled and Shippo squeaked from where he was being squeezed between the two women.

"Hey! What about me!" Inu Yahsa fumed.

Miroku chuckled as he patted his friend on the shoulder. "We missed you to, my friend. But you must admit, Kagome's presence is a lot more soothing than yours." Inu Yasha just scowled at the monk.

Shippo managed to push the two women apart. He sniffed Kagome and made a face. "Hey, Kagome, you smell different."

She lifted an eyebrow at him. "Huh?"

He sniffed her again, while Inu Yasha grunted beside her. "Yeah, you smell like Inu Yasha." Kagome and Inu Yasha both turned a nice shade of blush. Their companions looked from one to the other. Shippo blinked innocently. "Was it something I said?"

Miroku narrowed his eyes. "Is there something you two want to tell us?"

Kagome turned a little redder. "Um, well…" She looked up at her mate questioningly.

Inu Yasha sighed and folded his arms. "Where's the old woman?" For the first time Kagome noticed that Kaede was missing.

"She went to help out with a sick villager." Sango explained.

"We'll wait until she gets back." Inu Yasha started for his favorite spot against the wall. Kagome started to follow when the door flap was pushed aside.

"Ah, so ye have returned, Kagome, Inu Yasha."

Miroku smirked. "Kaede's back, so now will you tell us? What has been happening between you two?"

Kagome set Shippo down as Inu Yasha came to stand behind her. He placed his hands on her shoulders and Kagome covered one of them with one of her smaller ones. They exchanged a small look before he cleared his throat. "Well, uh, you see, Kagome and I are…that is, I mean, we're…"

"We're mates." Kagome finished for him in a small voice.

Their friends stood with wide eyes for a long moment. Kagome shifted nervously and she took a small step back into Inu Yasha's chest. Then like a bomb had gone off, everyone started talking at once.

Miroku slapped the hanyou on the back and laughed. "I was beginning to wonder if you even had it in you."

Sango nearly tackled Kagome with another bear-hug. "Oh, Kagome! I'm so happy for you!"

"It took ye long enough." Kaede interjected.

"What's that supposed to mean, old hag?" Inu Yasha snapped.

"Ye two have been walking on egg shells around one another for years. I'm simply glad it is finally over." Kaede gave them a half smile.

Inu Yasha opened his mouth to make another witty remark when a small voice popped up. "Mates?" The group looked down at Shippo, who wore a confused little frown. "How are you mates? You weren't when you left."

Kagome blushed. "Um." She glanced pleadingly over her shoulder at Inu Yasha.

He groaned and stepped around her to pick up the kit by his tail. "You and I need to have a little chat, runt."

"What'd I do?" Shippo squealed as the two males disappeared through the door.

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A/N: Hahaha! Can you see poor Inu explaining the birds and the bees to Shippo! That's down right hilarious! Onward to the next chapter!