When they arrived at the Takahashi home, everyone greeted and cheered as InuYasha was returned safely, but Inu just wanted to sleep for the rest of the moonless night and no one argued.

Kagome went back to her room, showered, and changed into her sheer white nightgown before dropping onto the bed in exhaustion.

InuTaishio noticed the two acting strangely.

"Sesshomaru, Sango, Miroku, what happened back there? Those two aren't acting right."

Even in his stoic exterior, Rin could see the irritation her honey was hiding.

"Sessh, what happened?"

"In order to get the upper hand, InuYasha kissed Kikyo in front of us. Her shock gave him the opportunity to cut her down, but Kagome fainted after seeing them together."

Rin clung to him as she felt pain for her cousin, "what a horrible thing to witness."

Miroku also felt pain for her, "it was a sight, him lying there with his shirt off and pants down, making out with the woman. I can understand why it broke our dear Kagome."

(with Kagome)

She gasped awake as images continued to plague her. InuYasha kissing Kikyo, holding her, practically naked. Tears fell as she sat up, no longer able to sleep. She wanted to see him, even if it pained her to do it.

Slipping out of her room, she made her way to his and snuck in. There he was in his bed, but not sleeping.

"Kagome?"

Standing in front of his bed, she couldn't stop the tears from falling.

"InuYasha, you're such a jerk!"

He sat up, but immediately fell back as Kagome jumped on him, pummeling his chest as she cried.

"How could you! You should have never shut the door on me! How could you sit there naked, kissing her?!"

Every hit to his chest, he allowed it because he felt like doing that to himself for causing her so much pain. It didn't take long for her to exhaust herself as she collapsed on top of him.

"Kagome, I'm so sorry. I had to do it, but I never wanted you to see."

"Not seeing wouldn't have changed the fact you still did something wrong. Something that hurt so much."

Wrapping his arms around her, he tried to comfort her.

"Kagome, what can I do to make it better? You have to know I never wanted to do that, but I thought it was the only way I would get to defeat her; catch her off guard so I could plunge that blunt knife into her heart."

"I know you didn't want to."

She looked longingly into his eyes, "oh InuYasha, I wish I could feel your emotions like when you're a half-demon. Then, I wouldn't have such negative thoughts."

He couldn't stand it any longer! Grabbing the back of her head, he pulled her down and kissed her deeply. The warmth of her lips was the only thing that mattered at that moment, and she melted into the sensations he elicited. InuYasha moaned as he flipped them so Kagome was under him. She gasped into the kiss as his hardening arousal pressed intimately against her. Truth, she didn't want to deny him, but if they made love now, she wouldn't become his mate at the same time.

"InuYasha."

Kissing her neck, he lifted her gown up to feel that soft heated core he yearned to be in and Kagome whimpered as he slipped a finger in.

"Oh God, Kagome you're so ready for me."

"Please, wait InuYasha."

Stopping, he lifted his head, "what is it, Kagome?"

"If we do this now, we won't be mated afterward."

"My senses are dulled too, not like in my half-demon form."

Sitting up, Kagome placed a calming hand on his chest, "then let's wait until you're back to normal, okay?"

"Sure, I can go with blue balls another night."

Giggling, she laid back down and grabbed his arm to lay over her.

"Let's get some sleep Inu."

Rolling his eyes InuYasha scooted her close and cupped her breast.

"InuYasha!"

"Come on, Kagome, it's comfortable there."

"Fine, but no moving okay, no squeeze, flick, pinch, or fast rubbing on my nipple, are we clear?"

"Crystal."

He made mental notes of what she likes done to those round heavenly breasts as sleep finally claimed them both.

In all the excitement, InuYasha forgot one very important piece of the puzzle, and that piece was right outside the mansion, glaring at them with piercing red eyes.

"So, you succeeded in killing my Lady Kikyo, then I shall make your torture extremely painful."

The next morning, InuYasha woke up before Kagome and smirked.

"Let's see what turns you on."

His hand that was cupping her breast, began massaging and squeezing the delicate flesh, causing her to moan. Okay, so let's see how she reacts to this. Taking his index finger (being careful with his claws) he rubbed over her pert nipple, back and forth. This caused her to whimper and her breathing to quicken, and all the while still clothed…no skin to skin contact yet.

What he didn't expect, was how bad he was getting turned on by her display. She arched her back to give him better access and he obliged by squeezing her eager nipple between his two fingers. Opening her mouth in a silent scream, Kagome started to move and clench her legs together to ebb the growing arousal.

Right when he was about to go under the gown Kagome's eyes shot open and she slapped him across the face.

"Why couldn't you wait until I was awake?!"

Rubbing his cheek, he smirked and shrugged his shoulders, but reached for her and nuzzled her neck and she giggled when he tickled her sensitive skin.

The sounds coming from his room alerted one nosey pervert and he grinned as he put his ear to the door.

Sango crossed her arms as she walked by, "what do you think you're doing, Miroku?"

"They're getting along quite well."

Curious, Sango also put her ear to the door, and that is how Sesshomaru and Rin found them.

"What are you guys doing?"

Sango lifted her head, "we're listening to them having fun. It's just so surprising with how cold Kagome was being last night."

That couple also decided to listen in, but five minutes later, the door opened and every one of them were caught as they looked up at the bemused hanyou.

"What are you guys doing at my door?"

Sango and Rin turned red, while Miroku laughed nervously, but Sesshomaru stared with an eyebrow raised.

"We were not oblivious to your tension last night, and were quite surprised to hear you getting along so well now."

Smirking, InuYasha maneuvered around them and made his way downstairs as Kagome walked to the door, hair disheveled and face as rosy as a ripe strawberry.

"Excuse me, guys, but I need to take a shower before heading to class."

She slipped by and shut the door to her bathroom, thankful to be away from their inquisitive stares.

InuYasha was eating some homemade pancakes and sausage when Kagome glided down the stairs. He stopped before eating another mouthful to gawk at her appearance. His woman was wearing a see-through oversized, off-the-shoulder brown sweater with a black tank underneath, and a short pencil skirt with black leggings and brown knee-high three-inch heeled boots. Her hair was flowing with the side up a little with bobby pins. Radiant and glowing…and too hot to go out.

"Kagome, are you going to school like that?"

Making her coffee, she smiled and took a sip, "yes, why?"

"You don't think it's too revealing?"

Bothered, Kagome and his mother looked back at him like he grew another head. Izayoi cocked her brow at him.

"Kagome is dressed in quite appropriate attire for school and you need to leave her alone about it."

Grinning, Kagome walked over and kissed her on the cheek, "thanks, Mom."

"You're welcome, sweetheart, now grab your breakfast and get going."

Walking over to InuYasha, she leaned against the table and snatched one of his sausage links, putting it halfway in her mouth. He watched and gaped at her as she looked at him seductively, before taking a bite and walking off.

He shook his head and turned around to watch her leave.

"Don't let any sorry sacks try to hit on you!"

"I won't! Love you!"

"I love you too!"

Hearing the door open and shut, InuYasha felt kind of lonely and out of sorts without her. Maybe it had to do with all the chaos they went through to be with each other, but something was nagging at him. There was something he needed to remember, but what was it?

Kagome walked on without Sango, but the brunette caught up.

"Hey, you could have at least waited on me."

"Let's say it was payback for you eavesdropping on Inu and I this morning."

Rolling her eyes, Sango walked in tow with her friend as they approached their college. Splitting up, the girls got to class ten minutes before it started. Kagome thought of the way her hanyou acted about her outfit and giggled. He was being so silly, but she kind of liked his possessiveness, because it meant that she was precious to him.

"That's a silly smile you've got, Kagome."

Looking over, she saw Koga in his usual stance.

"Hello, Koga."

"Kagome, I've been doing a lot of thinking, and you're right. I'll find a girl that wants to be with me one day, but I would still like to be your friend if you'll let me."

Smiling, Kagome nodded her head and breathed a sigh of relief.

"I would like that very much."

Taking the seat next to her, he grinned wide.

"Then can I sit here?"

"Sure, of course you can."

A few minutes later, class started and everyone took their seats.

Kagome was feeling so relieved and happy that Koga only wanted to be friends now. Life was finally starting to come together in a beautiful picture filled with friends and InuYasha. Who knows, maybe she could start planning her wedding. With that thought, she practically sprinted out the room when class was over, so she could be with her love again.

"Kagome!"

Turning around, she smiled and waved.

"Hey Ban! I didn't get a chance to thank you for holding down the fort while we rescued Inu. It meant more to me than you could ever know."

Her eyes sparkled with gratitude, and he turned a little red in the face as he cleared his throat.

"Well, that hanyou is the only thing that makes you happy, so I didn't see another option. It's just great to have the old you back."

"It's great to be back. Now, I better go find Sango before we head back to the mansion."

Making her way to Sango's class, she watched the fiery brunette leave and chuckled at her dramatic exit as she raised her hands in the air and groaned.

"Holy crap! Who knew there were so many poisonous demons?!"

"Is your brain thoroughly fried, Sango?"

"Girl, it's not just fried, it turned into an omelet."

They laughed as all three made their way off campus, but the moment Kagome saw silver hair, she bolted and jumped into his waiting arms.

InuYasha spun her around and claimed her lips in a heated kiss. Nothing else mattered or even existed as the world fell away and even the air itself seemed to stand still. He could feel her in a way he never thought possible; in one kiss, he could feel her joy, excitement, and even fear. She was scared that he would be taken from her again.

Kagome was having a similar sensation as she felt his love and adoration for her, as well as his excitement in being with her again. She moaned in his mouth when he rubbed his tongue rhythmically over hers, and her knees weakened.

Someone cleared their throat, and the two finally remembered where they were as they broke the kiss. Hiding her face in his chest, Kagome couldn't believe that intense connection they shared, but was mortified to have an audience.

Chuckling, Inu kept a tight hold on her and kissed the top of her head.

"Don't be embarrassed, love. At least it was in front of our closest friends."

Smiling, she lifted her head and grabbed his hand as they made their way back over to Sango and the others.

The brunette grinned at them, "you would think you haven't seen each other in months. Come on, let's get over to Inu's house."

Elbowing her lightly in the side, Kagome smirked at her.

"Can't wait to get back to your lecherous boyfriend?"

Sango kept walking, but deeply blushed at the comment.

"So, there's nothing wrong with that. I just don't understand why he wasn't with InuYasha."

The hanyou shrugged, "he left in a hurry and said there was something he had to check out."

Getting to the mansion, Sango rushed in and looked all over for Miroku, but he wasn't anywhere to be found. After his near-death experience with Kagura, she couldn't help but to feel something was wrong as she tried his cell phone over and over. Pacing the floor, her hand holding the phone started to tremble as she tried one last time.

"Why isn't he picking up!?"

It was that moment, they noticed footsteps coming up from the basement. Miroku opened the door and looked at everyone as they glared at him.

"What did I do now?"

Launching herself at him, she held tightly to his arms and let a few tears fall.

"You jerk! How could you make me worry like that!?"

"I'm sorry, Sango, it was never my intention, but I have something important to tell all of you."

Pulling away from him, Sango gave him a good slap on the face before walking back to the others.

"Okay, now you can speak."

Rubbing his sore cheek, he sighed.

"I'm sorry, Sango, but I remembered something Kikyo said, and had to speak with the Demon Worm Charmer."

Everyone moved to sit on the couch as they listened.

"When we were in the maze and InuYasha was still in his demon form, Kikyo mentioned someone, a demon named Goshinki."