Disclaimer: Inuyasha is sooo not mine.

ooooooooooooooo

This chapter is dedicated to a brave soldier friend of mine, his girlfriend, and their lovely baby girl. He's in Iraq right now and I just want to say, stay safe out there, Bryson! To Monique and little Olivia, stay strong.

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Chapter 19

Yuki's leg was getting stronger little by little, but he continued to rely heavily on his walking cane and quite often the pain in his knee was so painful that he had to take to his bed. What was worse, (at least in his mind) his arch-nemesis Kaede had returned in full force to once more take complete control of his existance.

Dr. Yamadera felt that his relative was definitely in need of another surgery to try to correct his leg. Yuki told his cousin in no uncertain terms to "get off his fucking ass and get him signed up for that damned surgery or find himself on the business end of this sweet-ass cane". Akira promised to have his surgery scheduled as soon as possible. He did not want to have Yuki try to beat him down every time he came around. But it wasn't because he was scared of his cousin; Akira just didn't want to get a bad rap for beating up a guy in a wheelchair.

On the eve of his surgery, an unusually calm Yuki lay in his hospital bed watching television when a soft knock came on his door. "Come in," he called out.

The door opened and Hiro walked in, followed by Akira. Yuki smiled at Hiro. "Hey, little brother. How are you doing?"

Hiro returned the smile and took Yuki by the hand. "Better than you. How are you feeling? Are you in any pain?"

Yuki shook his head. "Nah, I'm feeling all right." His warm gaze slid over to his cousin and he regarded Akira in a dreamy sort of way. "Hi, Akira. How're you? You look great." His smile did not falter or diminish in any way and Akira took note of the way Yuki's happy, sparkling eyes were glazed over.

Akira grunted and checked his patient's monitors. "All right my ass, he's sky high right now," he muttered to Hiro, who burst into hearty laughter. Giving Hiro an amused sideways glance, Akira let loose with his own soft chuckle. "I like him better this way, don't you?"

"Most definitely," Hiro agreed, squeezing his brother's hand. "Oh hey, there's someone else here to see you." He stood back to allow his brother to see two people enter his room.

A handsomely dressed couple came in and upon recognizing them brought Yuki out of his drugged state. "Mom? Dad?"

Yamadera Ryuji nodded at his son while his wife, Rini, went forward to take their eldest son's hand. "Yuki," she murmured, giving him a nervous smile. "How are you, darling?"

Large green eyes stared up at her, tears threatening to fall. "Mom?" he whispered, unable to say anything more. She sat beside him, her gentle brown eyes gazing down at him with such love that he shot up off the bed and threw his arms around her. "Mom! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry I ruined your lives! Please... please say you forgive me!"

With an ecstatic smile, Rini's eyes closed. Her arms slid around her son's waist, holding him to her. "I forgave you a long time ago, sweetheart," she told him, kissing his neck. "I just wish you had come home to see your father and I. We've missed you so much."

Hiro smiled over at his father, who appeared to be as overcome as Rini and actually had to turn his head away to keep his youngest child and nephew from seeing his tears.

"I love you, mom," Yuki said, squeezing his eyes shut, "and I've missed you, too. I've got so much to tell you..."

Rini chuckled and pulled back. She reached up with one perfectly manicured hand and ran her fingers through her son's fair locks that were exactly like her own. Her tender, knowing smile lit up her eyes that so closely resembled Hiro's. "Hiro tells me you're in love, Yuki. I'm so happy for you! What is she like?"

Yuki smiled mistily, his mind instantly bringing a picture of Kagome before his eyes. "She's... incredible. She's so beautiful and sweet and loving... Mom, I know you'll love her as much as I do."

Giving her boy a kiss on the cheek, she asked, "Well, what's her name? I'd love to meet her."

"Kagome," Yuki said dreamily.

"Higurashi Kagome," Hiro amended with a shake of his head. "Remember her, mom? She's my best friend."

Rini's brown eyes widened with surprise. "Kagome? Are you serious?" She burst into delighted laughter while her sons looked on in confusion. "Oh, Yuki! Don't tell me you've forgotten!"

Yuki frowned. "Forgotten what? What are you talking about?"

With a sigh, Rini began her narrative. "It all began years ago, when you were about eight years old..."

ooo

A small, tow-headed little boy ran through the shrine, laughter tumbling from his perfect little lips. He was beautiful, graceful, energectic... but for a moment, his energectic beauty could not save him. His graceful movements abruptly ended when he tripped over a small rock. He fell heavily, skinning his right knee badly.

"Mommy! Mommy!" cried the golden haired angel, tears streaming down his sweet little face.

His mother came running outside of the funny old monk's house. "Yuki? Baby? What happened?"

Yuki ran to her, burying his face against her thigh. "I fell down!" he wailed, hating the stinging pain shooting through his leg. "It hurts, mommy!"

With something of a purring noise, his mom picked up her weeping boy and carried him into the house.

"What's the matter, Rini?" another woman's voice said, full of concern.

His mother laughed softly. "Yuki just fell and hurt his knee, Kaori. Do you have any antiseptic and bandaids?"

"Certainly, I'll get them right away."

Laying her little boy on the sofa in the living room, Rini touches his tear-stained face. "It will be okay. You just scraped your knee, my love. I think you'll live." She wrinkled her nose at him, but he only burst into more tears. "Oh, sweetie..."

His little body shook, wracked by his sobs. "But it... hurts, mommy! It hurts me!" He hiccupped mightily, but it did nothing to cease his weeping.

"I know it does, Yuki. I know it does."

When she applied the medicine to clean his war wound, Yuki howled with agony, fresh tears spilling down his smooth, rosy cheeks. When the bandage was finally applied, Rini held her little boy close, but to no avail. He continued to cry loudly, even pushing her away.

Rini looked over at Kaori, who shrugged and shook her head.

That was when Kaori's little girl Kagome came into the room with Rini's youngest son Hiro, who was about the same age. The girl was looking rather distressed. She went over to the sobbing older boy, crawled up onto the couch with him and immediately grabbed onto his hand. The little girl said nothing, but only leaned against him and closed her big brown eyes.

The moment her hand slipped into his, Yuki's wails ceased and he lay back against the cushions with the little girl as she lay against him, watching her curiously... intently...

ooo

Rini laughed when she finished telling Yuki her little story. As for the invalid, he was completely taken aback.

"I knew her that long ago?" he asked, eyes unblinking.

His mother nodded and gave him a sly smile. "But that's nothing compared to what happened later on..."

ooo

Yuki, happy that he and Hiro were accompanying their mother to the shrine again, tripped contentedly along beside her, holding onto her hand. He couldn't wait to see her again... that little girl who was so cute. When they arrived, something diverted his attention and he was off at a run to see what it was. It was only a couple of squirrels fighting, so he shrugged and ran back to the house where his mom and brother were.

He opened the door and went to the living room, where he heard his mom and the little girl's mom talking and laughing together. They were sitting on the couch drinking tea... but he didn't care about that right now. All he cared about was that little girl. Where was she?

Yuki looked over at the other end of the room and found what he was seeking. She was there, quietly playing with some blocks. But she wasn't alone.

His brother Hiro was there too. He was grinning at Kagome and when she needed a block to finish building her house, he gave her one of his, his pudgy little hand holding out a block to her. She looked up at Hiro and smiled sweetly at him, taking the block from him.

Jealousy washed over him and the little blond boy knew only one thing. His brother was trying to steal her away from him!

Yuki marched right up to them and kicked his little brother's carefully stacked pile of blocks. Hiro burst into tears and ran to their mother, but Yuki didn't care. Hiro had been trying to steal Kagome away!

"I hate you, Hiroshi!" Yuki screamed at his brother. "Kagome's my friend, not yours!"

His mother shook her head while she tried to comfort his bawling brother. "Now Yuki, that wasn't very nice of you to speak to your brother that way. Come here and apologize to him."

A flare of rebellion sparked in Yuki's green eyes and he crossed his arms over his chest, his lower lip protruding. "No! I don't wanna!"

When they got home an hour later, Yuki was pulled to his room and made to sit on his bed while his mom gently admonished him for his poor behavior. Yuki only glared silently at her and eventually turned his head away from her.

She asked him what was wrong, but Yuki only shook his head and kept his head averted. His mother looked sad. "Tell me, Yuki. Please? I want to know if something's wrong. Okay?"

Yuki sighed and looked at his mother with exasperation. "She's mine," he whispered miserably.

His mother looked startled for a moment, then laughed softly. "But darling, she's Hiro's friend, too. You have to learn to share."

But Yuki shook his head obstinately. "No, mommy, you don't understand. She's mine." He poked himself in the chest with one little finger and her eyes widened.

"Yuki...!"

With a firm shake of his head, he went on seriously, his green eyes leveled on her and his voice dropped an octave lower. "Kagome is mine, mommy," he repeated, frowning. His eyes glittered with a strange, fierce light and Rini felt at a loss at what to say or do. When had her little boy started becoming a grown-up?

Yuki continued in a grave, very adult tone. "I want her and I'm going to marry her someday. Hiro can't play with her because she's mine. I don't want to share her and you can't make me."

ooo

"Eh?!" Yuki was completely taken aback at his mother's story. "Are you saying... I mean..."

Rini nodded, her brown eyes sparkling. "Yes, darling. You wanted Kagome back then. The only problem was that she loved both of you very much and it appeared to confuse her whenever you got upset at her for playing with your brother." She leaned forward and kissed her son on the forehead. "But whenever you were in the room, her little face lit up and she had eyes for no one else, not even for Hiro while she was playing with him."

"Oh, thanks mom," Hiro groaned and glared at his older brother, who looked positively radiant.

"Sorry, darling," Rini said with a rueful smile and took her other son's hand in hers. "But that's just the way it was. That little girl had a crush on Yuki for the longest time. Kaori and I thought it was so adorable how well Yuki and Kagome played together despite the five year age difference. They always got along... just as long as she didn't show any interest in you. When that happened, Yuki became upset and quite jealous. He always hated having you around because Kagome would want to play with you too." Rini's brown eyes crinkled at the corners. "My Yuki was always such a selfish little boy," she added good-naturedly, ruffling her eldest son's hair.

"He hasn't changed much, mom," muttered Hiro, bending over and wrapping his arms around her shoulders. "Yuki's still selfish." Still glaring at his brother, Hiro stuck his tongue out at him.

"Shut up, Hiro," Yuki snapped irritably.

"Boys, please don't start," interjected their father sternly. He went around to Yuki's other side to take his son's free hand. "I hope that since we made this first step to become a family again that you'll meet us half way. Your mother and I would love to have you in our lives again, Yuki."

Yuki smiled up at his father, gripping his hand tightly. "And I want to be a part of your lives again, dad," he said solemnly. "I've missed you both so very much."

Ryuji's green eyes twinkled and he smiled at his eldest boy. "I'm very glad to hear that. Come Rini, he needs his rest."

"Dad?" Yuki tried to keep his grip on his father's hand but Ryuji gently pulled away.

"We'll be here when you come out of surgery tomorrow, Yuki. Get some sleep, okay?" He leaned over to place a kiss on the top of his son's mussed blond head. "I love you, son."

"I love you too, dad."

Rini and Ryuji left, leaving Akira and Hiro alone with the patient. Akira smiled at Yuki, his green eyes sparkling with amusement. "Whoa, Yuki! I never knew you had a girlfriend back then, you stud. Eight years old huh? Man, you sure got started early, didn't you?"

Yuki lay back down and curled up on his right side, his face thoughtful. "I didn't know it either, Akira. I can't believe that I didn't remember something like that. But now I no longer have to wonder why it feels so right being with her. We were meant to be together practically from the beginning of our lives."

ooooooooooooooooooo

When he came out of surgery the next day, his parents were indeed waiting for him, as were his brother and cousin. Ryuji and Rini stayed for several minutes and left when his mother began feeling sleepy. When they had gone, Akira leaned over him and gave him a reassuring smile. "Your surgeon said it was as successful as he'd hoped. You'll still have a scar of course and possibly you'll still have a bit of a limp, but the pain should be drastically lessened. You may not even need your cane anymore."

Yuki, still groggy from the anesthesia, frowned. "Aw, man. I paid a lot for that cane," he grumbled.

Akira grinned. "Well, by all means, keep it. I'm sure you'll need it to beat down all the men who leer at Kagome after the two of you get married."

"Kagome!" Yuki's eyes widened and he forced back his lethargy. He struggled to sit up. "Call her, Hiro! Tell her I need to see her!"

"Oh, for heaven's sake, lay still, you idiot! You just got out of surgery." While Akira pressed his hands against Yuki's shoulders, he turned to look over his shoulder. "Oi, Hiro. Call Kagome before he hurts himself."

"Sure thing," Hiro said with a grin. He left the room, only to return a moment later... with Kagome.

Yuki lay against his pillows and blinked. "Kagome? You were already here?"

Nodding, Kagome came forward and sat down beside him, taking his hand in hers. "Yes. I told Hiro I would be here to visit you after he told me about your surgery. How are you feeling?" she asked, reaching over to brush the hair from his face.

"I'm... fine, now that you're here." Interlacing their fingers, his stared up at her from between half-closed eyelids. "You won't leave yet, will you? Stay with me, Kagome. I need you here with me." His lids began to droop. "You make me feel so much... better..."

She continued holding his hand as he drifted off to sleep. "Hiro?"

"Yes, love?"

Kagome turned to look at her friend, who sat, looking quite relaxed in the chair on the other side of Yuki's bed."Is it true? Did he really say he wanted me when he was a little boy?"

With a nod, Hiro grinned at her. He'd already told her what his mother had related to them. Kagome had been thoroughly taken aback at what he said. She and Yuki had played together as children... and she had never even known about it. "Yep, that's what mom said."

She turned back to stare down that the sleeping man beside her. "And that I couldn't keep my eyes off of him?" Her hand continued stroking his hair, tucking it back behind one perfectly-shaped ear.

It was Akira who laughed this time. "Well you know, Kagome, Yuki is the prettiest man in Japan. I've seen a lot of people, men as well as women, who were unable to look away from him." He winked at her. "An innocent little girl would be no exception and most likely the most susceptible. But I'll bet he stared at you a lot, too. You are very pretty."

"Akira-sama!" Kagome turned her flaming face from him.

"Oi! Down, boy! Sheesh..." Hiro shoved his cousin away from Kagome when he began inching forward.

To Kagome he said, "Are you okay? It seems that we have more than one molester in the Yamadera family, Kagome. I hope you won't hold it against the rest of us."

Kagome shook her head. "Akira-sama isn't a molester, Hiro. He's always treated me with respect and kindness."

"That's good. But sometimes I worry about him making you upset, darling. He's more like Yuki than he'd care to admit."

Akira snorted indelicately. "Oh please, Hiro. I'm nothing like him. But thank you, Kagome. It's sweet of you to say such nice things about me." He approached her, shooing Hiro away before taking her free hand. "You know if it doesn't work out between you and blondie there, I'm more than available for you." He shot her a blinding smile and kissed her knuckles. "What do you say?" His green eyes narrowed and his gaze grew heated.

"I'd... kill you..."

Everyone jumped and stared wildly down at Yuki, whose angry, glittering emerald eyes never left his traitorous cousin's face. "Sorry there, Akira. Thought you were talking... to me..." Even though he was mostly out of it, Yuki still managed to allow the sarcasm to flow.

There was a tense, heavy silence for a long moment until Kagome leaned down to press a light kiss on Yuki's cheek. "He wasn't being serious, Yuki. Of course Akira-sama wouldn't truly wish to date me."

The doctor smirked. He just couldn't resist making his cousin miserable. Lifting a hand, he rubbed his chin with in a thoughtful manner. "Well, actually, Kagome--"

With a scowl, Hiro jabbed his elbow into Akira's stomach. "Shut up, baka!" he hissed. "Don't get him started!"

"You bastard!" Yuki growled, once more struggling to sit up. "Hiro! Find my cane! Give me my damned cane so I can the beat the shit outta him!"

When he finally succeeded in righting himself, Kagome pressed her palms against his chest. His scowl vanished and he could only stare helplessly at her.

"Yuki, please lay down," she requested softly.

Yuki's green eyes widened a bit, the look in them softening. "But he wants to take you from me. I can't let him have you," he whispered, the panic in his voice forcing it to tremble.

Her hand came up to lay gently against his cheek. "Listen to me. Akira was only playing. Okay? He was teasing me, that's all." She gave him a sweet smile and rubbed her thumb lightly across his lips. "Now don't be upset, Yuki. I want you to lay back down and go back to sleep."

Listening to her soft, enchanting voice, Yuki felt all his anxiety dissipate, leaving him weak and powerless to fight her. "Okay, Kagome," he said, laying back down.

The other two men in the room watched in fascination as Kagome managed to calm Yuki down almost immediately. Both were then amused as Yuki stared at Kagome as though she had placed him under a spell for he had not hesitated to do as he was told.

"That's better," she said approvingly and got up to adjust his sheets. "Do you need another blanket, Yuki? It's rather cool in here."

Silently, he nodded but when she turned to leave, he grabbed her wrist. "Don't leave me."

Kagome allowed him to pull her back towards him, but she looked over at Akira and Hiro, who were both smiling like idiots. "Could either one of you get him another blanket, please?"

Akira nodded and straightened his lab coat. "Sure thing, Kagome, I'll get one. You know, it's nice to know that there's someone out there who's managed to be able to soothe my cousin's savage beast." He winked at her and left the room.

When he returned with the blanket, he found Hiro fussing at Yuki, who had managed to get a confused, yet unprotesting Kagome into bed with him and was stubbornly refusing to let her go. "What are you doing, Yuki?" Akira asked, his voice heavy with exasperation, spreading the blanket over the patient's legs.

Yuki glared up at Akira and reached down to pull the rest of the blanket up over the both of them. "I want her here with me. What's the problem with that?"

"Don't be a fool, Yuki! Kagome doesn't want to sleep in an uncomfortable hospital bed. Besides, she'll have to leave when visiting hours are over."

"Like hell she will. I'll demand--"

Stifling a groan, Akira reached into his pocket and pulled out a syringe, all the while fixing a hard green gaze on Yuki's defiant face. "I don't think you're in a position to demand anything, Yuki." He uncapped the needle and allowed his relative a long hard look at the sharp, pointy object in his hand. "I can have this in your IV in a split second and you'll be asleep in under five minutes. Then what'll you do? You can't hold onto Kagome when you're out cold, now can you?"

Needless to say, Yuki did not take kindly to Akira's threat. Kagome, taking courage into her own hands, stepped in before things escalated into an all-out-brawl and once more coaxed the fretful man into a peaceful slumber.

ooooooooooooooooooooooo

Two weeks later while enjoying the late spring sunshine, Kagome was making her way across the shrine to see if her grandfather or Miroku needed any assistance, when a flash of golden hair in a nearby crowd gave her pause. Her heart was set to pounding when she recognized the color. Yuki's hair! He was here?

The fair head began to move away from the group of people who were silently praying at the shrine and Kagome brought a hand up to clutch at the shirt over her heart. She knew that color anywhere! It was Yuki, without a doubt!

But when yellow-haired person finally emerged, she saw that it was a woman instead. Kagome's face slid into a slight frown. The woman looked vaguely familiar to her. Who was she and why did she have the same color hair as Yuki? Were they related?

The woman turned and Kagome was struck by the woman's ethereal beauty. Her face was perfectly formed and ageless; her skin looked as smooth and as warm as ivory. She was tall and slim... and walking in Kagome's direction.

Kagome felt her mouth go dry. Just who was this woman?

When the woman walked right up to her, Kagome got a glimpse of her eyes. They were a soft shade of brown... so much like Hiro's.

"Y-yes? May I help you?"

The woman smiled at her and the young miko felt that she had just been blinded, so radiant was that smile.

"Kagome! How lovely to see you after so many years!" She leaned forward, wrapping her arms around the startled girl. When she pulled back, she cupped Kagome's face in her hands. "My boys have told me so much about you, my dear. I feel up-to-date with your life." Another smile and this time Kagome was graced with a light kiss on the forehead. "You have singlehandedly turned my beloved Yuki into a love-stricken puppy. I've never seen a man so in love before."

Kagome's eyes flew open and despite the blush fiercely staining her cheeks, she managed to gasp out, "You're Yuki's mother?"

Yuki's mother nodded and pulled Kagome into another warm, sweetly-scented embrace. "My name is Rini, since you've seem to forgotten, my dear girl and I'm here to see the woman who has stolen my son's heart." She sighed blissfully and squeezed Kagome tighter. "Although, in actuality, you stole it when the two of you were just children. Yuki was much too dense to realize it later on, the poor, darling boy. But now that he sees the light... oh, Kagome! I'll finally get some cute grandchildren!" She giggled like a schoolgirl, rocking the suffocating miko.

Buried against Rini's chest, Kagome's eyebrows twitched. "Eh?! Grandchildren? Wait!" she cried, trying desperately to free herself from the overenthusiastic Rini.

"Rini, my love, you're crushing the poor girl to death. How can she give us grandchildren if you kill her before that happens?"

Rini gasped and pulled back suddenly, leaving Kagome to pant for air. "Gomen nasai!" she cried, stricken. "Forgive me, Kagome!"

While Kagome was busy catching her breath, a large warm hand touched her shoulder. "Are you alright, my dear?"

Kagome turned to see a tall, nicely dressed man standing beside her. He was exceedingly handsome with short, wavy brown hair and piercing green eyes. A chord of recognition struck her and she gasped. "You're his father!"

Ryuji nodded and laughed heartily. "Have we changed that much, Higurashi-san? You never even recognized Rini."

"Sumimasen." Kagome hung her head sadly. "I should have realized it sooner. Please forgive me."

Now recovered, Rini was bubbling over with happiness. "No, my dear, think nothing of it. Oh, there's someone else here to see you." Taking Kagome's hand, she led her towards Goshinboku, the shrine's ageless tree.

Near the tree and out in the sunshine was a wooden bench. Upon that bench sat three people: two children and a grown man with shining golden hair. Kagome, Rini and Ryuji stood and watched as Yuki entertained the kids.

Rini leaned over to Kagome. "Those two little dears were separated from their parents and so Hiro went off to find them. Yuki agreed to stay with them until Hiro and the parents returned," Rini explained. She smiled and took Kagome's hand. "Let's go say hi. He's been dying to see you again."

As they approached, Kagome watched him intently, wondering when he would look up and see her. Almost immediately, his gaze went in search of her and when he found her, she discovered that her breath caught in her lungs.

Yuki's body straightened. With determination splashed all over his face, he grabbed his cane and got to his feet. His gaze never left her face.

He walked slowly over to her and it occurred to Kagome that he probably didn't even realize that she was standing between his parents. Certainly he didn't give any indication that he saw anyone but her.

"Kagome," he said softly. His yellow locks were ruffled by the breeze and his eyes seemed greener than she had remembered. He reached out and took her hand, giving it a little kiss on her knuckles. A tiny smile tilted the corners of his lips upwards. "You look beautiful, as always."

She had a vague feeling of his parents stepping away from her... or was Yuki pulling her to him? She didn't know, but it didn't seem to matter which was which when his free arm went about her waist and he leaned down to kiss her. Those eyes kept her from looking away or speaking... or basically just lose any independent thought she tried to have. His spell had returned in full force and she was powerless to stop it from entrancing her as it had done before on that rainy day in March.

As her eyes closed in ecstasy, she reached up to lay her hand against his sun-warmed cheek. He smelt incredible, like soap and aftershave and his lips felt like living satin as they slid delicately against hers. Time seemed to Kagome to have slowed to a stop and all she knew was him. He filled her entire world, her entire universe; she could feel him in every cell of her body, in every beat of her heart, in each breath that she drew. Something in her head called out to her, but she ignored it despite her better judgement.

She knew, without a doubt, that he was the one she would marry.

When he pulled away, time had regained itself and began to move forward. How long she had stood there, his arm around her, his lips against hers, she had no idea. Her eyes fluttered open to see him watching her intently. The look of want in his green eyes no longer shocked or surprised her; in fact she welcomed it, for she felt the same way about him.

"Yuki," she said softly, then paused, frowning. A feeling of... something... passed through her. It was not a particularily pleasant feeling.

"Kagome? What's wrong?" Yuki asked, his brows knitting together.

She shook her head and as she did so, she felt a familiar presence behind her and not long after that, a large hand grasped her shoulder. Upon that contact, she sighed with relief. Even without seeing his face, she could feel Miroku's soul rush up and wrap around hers.

"Kagome, I've been looking all over for you." Miroku let his hand slide down to hers and he grasped it tightly.

Even though he didn't say it, he didn't need to say it. Kagome knew that he had been terribly worried when her soul had not answered his when he called to her. She turned to the young monk and smiled at him. "I'm fine, Miroku. Forgive me for not answering your call."

Miroku's dark blue-eyed gaze slid over to where Yuki stood, looking confused. "It's fine," he reassured her. "I just had... a bad feeling. It's nothing."

A heavy, tension filled moment passed as the two men stood, glaring at each other. Kagome wondered if they remembered that they both were holding onto her.

But before she could say anything, yet another hand grabbed her and removed her from the other two men's clutches.

"Hey! Wake up, you guys! What are you thinking, Yuki? Miroku? Hey, I'm talking to you!" Hiro raised his hand and snapped his fingers. Yuki and Miroku both started and glared over at Hiro. "That's better. Now, if you both play nice, I'll give Kagome back to you. Deal?"

"Oh, darling! Let me have her!" cried Rini, rushing forward to hug Kagome again. "Kagome! Let me taking you shopping, okay? I want to buy you some pretty dresses and--"

Ryuji groaned good-naturedly. "Rini, my love, do leave the poor girl alone. Let Yuki be alone with her for awhile, okay?"

Rini's blond head jerked up. She pouted. "But Ryu! I've always wanted a daughter and since she's going to be my daughter-in-law anyway... Can't we start the bonding process early?" Her large brown eyes batted appealingly at her husband.

"Mom!" cried Hiro, blushing furiously. He didn't know why he was blushing, but he figured that since Yuki wouldn't be embarrassed by their mother's straighforwardness, he might as well be for the both of them. "Kagome hasn't said yes yet!"

"Ah! If you say it like that, then that must mean that Yuki has asked her. Am I correct, my dear?"

Kagome, whose face was once more buried against Rini's chest, nodded. Rini released her and she looked up into the fair woman's beautiful face. Yuki's face.

"I... I'm not ready to get married, Rini-san. I'm a miko for my family shrine and that is all I see for myself right now." Guilt swept over her when she saw Rini's face fall and for one horrifying second, she imagined both Kouga and Sesshoumaru looking exactly like that. She'd already witnessed Kouga's upset when he told her he knew Yuki had kissed her. She didn't want to go through that again. "I'm sorry! I just... I can't!" Kagome cried and ran away. Miroku took off after her.

"Wait, Kagome!" Rini called out. She was visibly upset. Turning to her husband, she asked, "What did I say, Ryu? Did I say something wrong?"

Hiro came forward and took his mother by the arms. "No, mom, it was nothing you said. Kagome... well, she's been under alot of stress this past year. She's had to deal with three different men who all want to marry her and--" He stopped short and shot a look at his brother, whose eyes glittered with fury-filled curiosity. Hiro had forgotten that Yuki had no clue about the other two wanting to marry Kagome.

"What was that you said, my dear brother?" Yuki asked in angry, clipped tones. He moved forward slowly, eyes slitted.

But Hiro was saved from saying anything when his mother went to Yuki and threw her arms around him. "My poor, poor baby! Just don't give up on her, okay? She'll say yes, I know she will." She looked up into his tight face and gave her little boy a sweet smile. "I saw that kiss, my darling. She loves you; anybody could see that, and with the way she kissed you back, it left no doubt in my mind."

Yuki caressed his mother's face. "Oh, I don't plan on giving up on Kagome. After all, didn't I say that she was mine? I always get what I want, mom."

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Miroku finally caught up with her when she ducked into her grandfather's house. As he followed her inside, he could feel her sadness. It wrapped around him like a cloak.

Unerringly, he dashed upstairs and went straight to the room closest the top of the stairs. He knocked on the door and went in without waiting for an answer. Closing the door behind him, he went to her and sat down beside her on the bed. His hand took hers while his arm went around her shoulders.

"You love him."

Keeping her face averted, Kagome nodded.

"You're falling in love with him."

Again, she nodded.

Miroku sighed heavily. "I don't want you to marry him, Kagome."

Her body tensed, but she did not look at him. "Why not?" she asked quietly.

Miroku's arm tightened about her. "When I saw the two of you sharing that kiss, I felt as though something bad would happen if you were to wed him."

This time, she turned to face him. "Like what?"

He shrugged. "I'm not sure, but I knew that I didn't like the feeling. It was... bad. That's all I can tell you."

"How come I couldn't sense that?"

"I don't know, baby." He let go of her hand and reached up to gently stroke her cheek with his fingertips. "When you were kissing him, I called out to you, but you were so wrapped up in the moment that my call went unheeded. Maybe you allowed your feelings for him to block your foresight."

Kagome said nothing and Miroku pulled her to him into a warm embrace. "I want you to promise me that the moment you feel something amiss, call out to me. Okay? Promise me, little one."

"I promise," she said against his chest. Her arms went around his waist and she clung to him.

"But take your time in choosing a husband, Kagome. Personally, I'd rather you marry Kouga. That guy has completely changed for the better. He's actually pretty likeable now. You did a good job of turning him around, him and his boys. A year ago, I'd never have thought they were the same people." He chuckled softly.

She laughed along with him then asked, "What about Sesshoumaru? What's wrong with me marrying him?"

"He's your step-brother, sweetie. You sort of grew up as brother and sister. Don't you think it would feel a bit weird knowing that he is your husband?"

"I don't know, Miroku. He may be my step-brother, but I see him more as my caretaker, protector and friend. I know full well that the the ties between us are not blood. But even so, he is my guardian and you may be right. It might feel weird if I became his wife, but not in the manner you think."

Miroku's arms tightened. "I know. You are worried because of his status. I can imagine it would be difficult, despite being his ward, for you to slip into the role of his wife. I hate to say it, but his lifestyle is far different from yours. That's why I would feel more comfortable if you married Kouga instead. He loves you without restraint, he can protect you without fail, and his social status is such that you would have no need to go through such drastic changes as you would if you were to wed Sesshoumaru. There would be no high expectations, no standards by which you must conduct yourself. I hope I've made Kouga's case for him," he finished with a sigh.

"He didn't pay you to say all that, did he?" Kagome retorted with a chuckle.

"What? No, no, no! I just like the guy, that's all. Kouga's really a terrific guy, Kagome. You should seriously think about him as a potential mate. Yuki is, at best, unreliable."

"How so?"

"What if his memory comes back? Knowing him as you do, what do you think he would do if he suddenly remembered that night? Besides, from what you've told me, he still gets terribly jealous over any man who shows an interest in you. I'm telling you, the man is dangerous. I'd feel better if you didn't see him anymore."

Kagome pushed away from Miroku and got to her feet, but Miroku rose with her and grabbed her by the arms, turning her to face him. "I know you don't see it, Kagome, but you must trust me. Something bad will happen if you marry him." His face was grim and without thinking, he angrily allowed his soul to overcome hers. "He'll hurt you, Kagome! I can't let that happen to you, don't you see?"

"Stop!" She struggled in his grasp, trying to free herself. "Stop it!" she cried, eyes filling with tears. "You're suffocating me!" He released her and she fell back, clutching at her chest. "Don't... do that again!"

Miroku stood still, watching her cry silently on the bedroom floor. He wanted to tell her that everything would be alright. But it would be a lie. There was no way he could tell her what his mind's eye had shown him.

Yuki... his face mottled with rage... the long scar on the side of his face, a bright, ugly red. Glass... glass everywhere... and blood...

And in the center of it all...

Kagome bowed her head and sniffed, wiping her eyes with the backs of her hands. Miroku gritted his teeth. That bastard Yuki would try to destroy her...

"You know I love you. I would do anything for you," he said, kneeling before her. He took her hands in his and pressed them against his chest.

She looked up at him and saw how grim his face was. "Miroku...?"

"Hate me if you must, but I will never approve of his taking you as his wife. I couldn't bear it if he stole my soul's twin from me. Again I say, do not marry this man."

Her eyes regarded him for a long moment, then she graced him with a small smile. "I have not yet said yes, beloved. I appreciate your feelings, but ultimately it's up to me, isn't it?"

He nodded and sighed heavily. "I won't like it, but if that is what you choose to do, I'll support you."

As she reached over to hug him, Miroku squeezed his eyes shut, his arms going around her. There was no way he'd let her be with that monster...