Kagome stared up into his eyes in a stunned silence. How had three years passed and he looked just the same as ever? Her mind was racing with everything she wanted to say, all the things she'd left unspoken, all her regrets. And he just gazed down at her with those deep blue eyes, the ones she had drowned in so many times. She had expected him to look at her with anger, resentment, maybe even a little jealousy, but all she could find in his eyes was longing, and it took all the self control she possessed not to reach for him.

"Kagome?" Inuyasha finally broke the silence, "Is everything ok?" Kagome cleared her throat, hoping it was dark enough that he wouldn't catch the blush spreading across her cheeks.

"Of course. I'm fine. I just…you caught me off guard. It's been such a long time." She rubbed her palm across the back of her neck sheepishly, sweeping her long black hair over one shoulder in hopes she could catch a breeze and alleviate the sudden heat that engulfed her body. Was it nervousness? The throbbing between her legs said otherwise. She cleared her throat again, determined to calm herself, and asked, "What are you doing here, Kouga?"

"I had some pack business to take care of in the area, and when I ran across mutt-face here I decided it had been too long since I'd checked in with all of you. You know, Kagome, Ginta and Hakkaku sure miss having you around."

"Oh Kouga! How are they? I'm sure they haven't stayed out of trouble." Kagome teased. Inuyasha reached out suddenly, his arm encircling Kagome's waist and gently pulling her against his side, leaning in and kissing the top of her head. It was an action that in any other situation would have been tender, but when Kagome saw the responding fire in Kouga's eyes, she knew it had a very different meaning between the two demons. It meant possession. Kouga exhaled sharply through his nose, and when his eyes met hers again all traces of that fire were gone.

"They're great. Same as ever. Well, there's one significant difference now, I suppose." He gave her a smirk before continuing, "They're mated." Kagome's answering grin was ear-to-ear,

"Mated? Oh, Kouga, that's so wonderful!" Kouga nodded, smiling back at her,

"Yeah, it wasn't even two weeks after we defeated Naraku that they decided it was time-" Inuyasha cut him off,

"Hey, Kouga, can we continue this conversation in the morning?" He gave Kagome's waist a squeeze, "I have some really important stuff to talk to Kagome about tonight." Kagome looked up at him questioningly, before casting an apologetic look at Kouga, who just shrugged.

"Sure. Miroku and Sango invited me to stay at their place tonight to catch up. I'll see you all tomorrow." He looked straight in Kagome's eyes, all smoldering intensity, before he finished with, "I plan on sticking around for a while. Got a lot of catching up to do." And without another word he turned and started down the path back to the village, whistling as he went. Kagome shivered involuntarily, causing Inuyasha to pull her closer,

"You cold? He murmured in her ear, his breath ghosting down her neck.

"Yeah." She replied, "Let's go inside."

An hour later found them both full and ready for sleep. Inuyasha had been quiet the entire time they ate, his eyes faraway, which Kagome recognized as a sign he was deep in thought. Once their meal was finished, Inuyasha removed his robes and helped Kagome extinguish the fire in their fire pit, and then pulled her with him to their futon. The moonlight shining through their window provided the only illumination in their home, casting a dim glow on the entire room. Once Kagome was settled next to Inuyasha, he leaned in close, their noses almost touching, arms holding her close against his bare chest, and he took a deep breath in and then spoke,

"I've been doing a lot of thinking since I've been away, Kagome. It's been three years now we've been together, and I know I haven't given you what you deserve. I've pushed you away, and I know how wrong I've been for it. But now I know, I love you, Kagome." Kagome gasped. She had waited patiently for so long now to hear those words. Tears leaked out of the corner of her eyes as she wrapped her arms around Inuyasha's neck and pulled him close against her,

"Inuyasha!" She cried, "I thought you'd never say it." He chuckled, resting his chin on the top of her head as she burrowed against his chest,

"I know. I know, but I mean it, Kagome. You've stuck by me through everything, and I love you for it. I always have, I just didn't know how to say it." Kagome pressed a soft kiss against his chest, his skin slightly damp from her tears, "I want to be your husband. And your mate." Kagome grinned, looking up into his eyes. When their gazes met, no more words were needed. Inuyasha pressed his lips to hers and held her tight against him. The kiss went from tender to passionate in record time, and it wasn't long before Kagome could feel Inuyasha's arousal pressed hard against her thigh. She reached down to stroke the length of him and he moaned quietly in the back of his throat, hips bucking against her hand. Inuyasha wasted no time rolling her on her back, filling her with one quick snap of his hips. Kagome groaned at the sudden intrusion, holding tight to his shoulders and pressing her heels down on the mattress so she could raise her hips to meet his hard, fast thrusts, desperate to find her release. Inuyasha pressed kisses down her neck, his moans echoing in her ears as she lost herself in the feel of him. She squeezed her eyes shut tight when she felt the beginnings of her orgasm bearing down on her, and the image her mind presented to her when she did made her gasp more from shock than from pleasure. Kouga, exactly as he had looked the last time he had loved her. His thick black hair cascaded down his muscled shoulders as he looked down at her, the sweat glistening on his tanned skin causing a few lone strands to stick to the side of his face, his eyes boring down into hers, bottomless pools that she lost herself in every time. Kagome clung to Inuyasha's shoulders desperately, the image of Kouga above her exactly the catalyst she needed to send her into the hardest orgasm she had experienced in the past three years. Her back arched off the mattress and her toes curled as she screamed her pleasure to the night.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha's cry tore from his throat as he followed right after, spending himself inside her. Inuyasha pulled out of her with a groan, rolling over and gazing up at the ceiling. Unwanted tears rolled down Kagome's cheeks as she finally opened her eyes, guilt heavy in the pit of her stomach. She crossed her arms across her chest, hugging herself, and they lay in silence until Inuyasha rolled on his side to face her, "Why are you crying?" He asked quietly. Kagome turned her head to look at him. She had everything she'd ever wanted. He loved her. Everything was finally as it should be. So couldn't she stop herself from staring at him wishing he was somebody else? The amber eyes staring back at her suddenly seemed so wrong. 'You're just shaken up from seeing Kouga so suddenly after you'd just had that whole conversation with Sango' she silently assured herself 'everything will be fine in the morning, you'll see.' Kagome forced herself to smile,

"I'm just happy, Inuyasha." She answered. Inuyasha's grin was ear-to-ear,

"I love you, wench."

"I love you, too."