A/N: I don't own Inuyasha, but you knew that already...

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Inuyasha's nose twitched. There were faint aroma's surrounding him. There was the distinct smell of acorn's and grass tainted with something sweet that his nose didn't recognize. That was no doubt the kitsune child with his unfinished lollipop. He inhaled deeply and a strange blend of ash and almond; rosemary and ink; and daffodils, dirt and vanilla wafted into his awareness.

The brat, the cat, the lecher and the huntress are all here still, huh?

Soon, however, the rich aroma of lavender and lilacs consumed all of Inuyasha. He felt his heart beat more rapidly and his head swam in ecstasy. His skin suddenly burned with energy and he felt energy building in a pit in his stomach. He let out a soft growl to bring himself back to reality. He couldn't believe what a glimmer of the miko's scent could do to his body!

A small smirk curled on his lips as he recalled the night he had first transformed and revealed to Kagome that he enjoyed her scent. He remembered the fear floating through his veins that night as he thought the poison would bring his life to an abrupt end. He wanted to tell Kagome how special he was to him, but before he had a chance, sleep engulfed him and the morning light came, transforming him into a hanyou once more. He had dropped the matter when he survived the night, but he wish he hadn't let it go so quickly. Her scent was heavenly.

His ears twitched atop his head. He could hear the footsteps of ants that had made their home beneath the hut. He heard a small chirrup as a grasshopper launched itself from a blade of grass and inadvertently began a small symphony of his own. A sweet duet drifted to his ears and two swallows sang of their undying love for each other. He savored the sweet melody that came to his ears. He felt small compared to the great message that it held. A small prayer leaked from his heart and seeped into his mind and he found himself snuggling into Kagome's lap a bit deeper to console himself.

Today's the day. I have to tell her, especially after how carefully she tended to me last night. I can't back down anymore.

Inuyasha opened his amber eyes and took a gander at the room in which he had spent the night recovering. There was a small chest in the far corner, undoubtedly where Kagome had discovered the old sheets, but no other furnishings of which to speak. The kitsune and fire cat were no where in sight. However, Inuyasha could hear splashing outside of the hut and he knew Kirara was entertaining the young demon to give the others some time to rest.

Inuyasha turned his attention back to the small hut that had protected him and the others from the storm last night. The walls were riddled with holes and brown stains that Inuyasha's olfactory senses distinguished as the tangy, metallic scent of blood. There were no windows, but there was a rather large hole where two walls met the ceiling. It appeared to Inuyasha that some kind of demon, no doubt a weasel demon judging by the size of the hole, had crawled in to the hut and snacked upon the previous tenants.

The dog hanyou pulled himself away from Kagome's lap and sat up, the tug around his neck alerted him to the weight of his arm that still rested in the sling. He felt no more than a faint ache in his shoulder now, as if he had done nothing more than pulled tetsusaiga a bit too roughly from his sheath and sprained a muscle. He carefully pulled his arm out of the worn fabric and removed it from around his neck. Other than a small tug, his shoulder was back to normal. He smiled a bit, thanking the youkai part of his blood for helping him heal faster.

"Its about time you woke up," said an exhausted monk, startling Inuyasha from his thoughts.

"Keh. I needed the rest Miroku and you know it just as well as I do, even though I hate to admit it."

"Relax. I meant nothing by it."

Inuyasha's face contorted into a wicked smile as he carefully rose to his feet, cautiously testing his broken ankle. A few steps indicated that he needed a few more days for the joint to knit back together, but he swallowed his pain and limped to the open doorway. His eyes were greeted by the lush grass and the fertile forest on the horizon before he turned his attention to Miroku.

"So what do you think you're doing with Sango there, eh?"

A single bead of sweat rolled down Miroku's forehead and his grip around the demon huntress's waist tightened. His anxiety was written in the tension in his muscles. However, his face never changed, except for a pale pink hue that invaded his cheeks and ears.

"Lady Sango and I are…um. Well what I mean to say is…"

"Miroku and I are courting, Inuyasha," piped in an exhausted demon hunter as she pulled out of the monks embrace and took his hand instead.

Inuyasha blinked, caught completely off guard.

"You mean to tell me that you find the man attractive, Sango? I thought you thought he was nothing but an insolent pervert!"

Sango's face flushed and her grip on the monk's hand tightened. Never did she think that she would be interrogated by Inuyasha. She paused for a bit before she opened her mouth to explain herself.

"Well, I did think that. But Miroku and I got to talking last night after everyone else had nodded off," she began, unsure of herself.

"That's right. I had realized some time ago that I had always treated Lady Sango a bit differently. I had never asked her to bear my children…"

"Miroku," Sango chimed, her voice steady and even.

"…and I had never openly flirted with her as I did the other village girls…"

"Miroku," echoed again from her lips a bit firmer this time. She had closed her eyes in anger and squeezed his hand furiously out of jealousy.

Miroku's eyes opened widely, feeling his prayer beads digging into his hand under the pressure of Sango's grip.

"Uh! What I mean to say is that I treated Sango differently and up until recently, I thought it was because I wasn't attracted to her. Now I realize it was because I was falling for her and I was afraid I'd push her away."

Miroku's faint blush deepened tremendously having confessed his feelings aloud for the second time that morning.

He had always been so afraid to have his heart broken, that he had resisted falling in love with Sango for quite some time. However, he couldn't deny himself the happiness that would come with being with her and last night, he had finally admitted his feelings and found that Sango felt the same. He felt Sango's grip lessen in intensity, but he never looked up at his hanyou friend's face. Instead he turned to Sango and smiled.

Inuyasha's face blossomed with admiration for the man in front of him. He could never see himself proclaiming his love in front of someone else the way Miroku had. He turned his attention back to the beautiful sunrise and lost himself in thought.

"Thinking of Lady Kagome, huh?"

Inuyasha turned around fast, ready to deny everything when he felt a catch in his heart. If he denied it now, he'd never have the courage to say anything to Kagome. If he denied it now, he'd never be able to live with himself again.

He settled for ignoring Miroku's inquiry completely, turned his attention back to the woman he loved and limped to her side.

A smile spread on Miroku's lips.

At least he's not denying it anymore.

Almost as if cued by Inuyasha's return, Kagome began to stir. She inhaled slowly and stretched her arms above her head, exposing a bit of her flat tummy. Inuyasha hurried to hide his blush and turned his face away from her as her eyes came to rest on his figure.

"Good morning, Inuyasha."

He turned to her, smiling.

"Good morning, Kagome."

Inuyasha caught Sango's gaze briefly. She was encouraging him to proceed with his plan. She wanted him to reveal his heart. She was boosting his confidence from across the room.

"Uh, Kagome?" Inuyasha began slowly. His voice was coarse with a fear that was soon lost as her deep pools of blue met his orbs of amber.

"Hmm?"

"I was wondering if you wanted to go take a walk. There's beautiful sunrise this morning."

She smiled and felt a something catch in her chest. She was filled with a nervous energy and overcome with hope.

Maybe he really meant what he said last night after all!

"Okay, Inuyasha."

She rose to her feet and began to walk when Inuyasha stopped her. A blush rose to both of their faces as he took her hand and began limping next to her, out the door.

"I hope he knows what he's doing," said the monk quietly.

"I'm sure he does Miroku. I just hope he has the courage to do it this time."

Miroku nodded a bit and gazed lovingly into Sango's hazel eyes. Butterflies floated through his stomach, sending his mind ending into a confused frenzy. He had already told Sango how he felt, but in some part of him, it felt unreal.

He had always admired the way the sun glinted off of her dark brown tresses. He adored her smile when Shippo leapt into her arms. He loved the feel of her hand against his face, even it was only felt in the sharp pain of her slap. He was just happy to be able to hold her hand whenever he felt the need.

"Sango?"

"Miroku?"

"Can I…I…"

He gulped, momentarily losing the ability to speak and brought his gaze away from hers.

I can't do it. Its too soon. Its…

His thoughts were cut short as Sango lifted his chin, coaxing his eyes to hers once more. There was a fiery glow of warmth that made him melt and inspired courage.

"Would it be alright if I kissed you, Sango?"

Instead of answering him with words, Sango brought her face closer to him. She could feel his breath on her lips as he closed the distance between them. It was the sweetest kiss either one had ever tasted.

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They had walked for a few minutes until Inuyasha had stopped to rest, settling on a fallen log near babbling stream. His feet were damp from the rain of last night mingling with the dew of the early morning. He felt his stomach tying itself in knots in an attempt to catch the gathering of butterflies that had taken up residence in his gut as well. He watched the pink and orange sky as Kagome sat next to him and he tried to draw strength from her scent.

"Wow, the sun is beautiful this morning, Inuyasha! It's also good to see you walking today. Has your ankle healed already?"

"No. That'll take a few more days at the least. I just don't want to be a burden to you anymore."

"You could never be a burden to me."

A blush crossed her face as she looked into his eyes.

Now's my chance while she's caught up in her own embarrassment.

"Kagome, there's something I need to tell you and please, don't interrupt me ok?"

She only nodded in response.

Where is he going with this?

Alright, here I go, Kagome.

"Last night, when you were helping me, I realized something. I realized that I had taken you for granted."

"Inuyasha…"

He ignored her plea for intervention not wanting to lose his courage.

"I realized that over the few months that we've known each other, I haven't always been kind to you and I don't think there's enough words to say how sorry I am for that. We've been through a lot together. More than anything I ever went through with Kikyo."

He watched as a look of hurt registered in his hers as the deceased priestess's name rolled off his tongue. He ignored the urge to stop there and fix what he had said and chose instead to barrel forward.

"I realized last night that you've always seen me for who I am, and I mean truly for who I am. You've never drawn away from me because I'm a half breed. You've never asked me to become something I'm not. You understand that this is who I am."

He paused trying to find his footing in an emotional thick swamp of words.

I realized last night as I fell over the edge of the cliff that I was willing to do anything it took to protect you. I was willing to put my life in danger and cast it away if it meant that you would live in my memory."

"Inu-"

He placed a finger on her lips to silence her. The soft skin beneath his fingers drove him insane with the desire to feel her lips them against his own.

"Kagome, I realized as I had fallen twice that night. I had fallen over the edge of that God damn cliff, but I had also…"

Suck it up, Inuyasha!

Inuyasha gulped and slowly pulled his finger away from her lips.

"I had fallen for you as well. I-I love you, Kagome."

Her mouth dropped open in shock.

He's telling me this as a half demon?

A flicker of doubt ran surged through his body.

Oh no, has she changed her mind already?

"In-Inuyasha. I think I know what you mean. I love you too."

She looked away in embarrassment, but brought her eyes back to his quickly. She knew she would have to be a bit forward if this conversation were to ever go farther.

She inched herself closer to him on the log and turned to face him. Her hand went to his shoulder and she watched as he gulped a bit.

I can't believe this is happening. I've waited so long to tell her, but I never thought it would work in my favor.

He felt his heart doing somersaults and all sorts of acrobatics as her hand came to rest on his shoulder. He knew where she wanted this to go and he decided to take the lead and ease there himself. Before she had a chance to pull away, she scooped her up and brought her close to his body in a warm and meaningful embrace.

Kami, she smells so good!

Kagome's mind reeled with excitement. Her heart was finally winning what had always wanted deep down and she couldn't believe it was happening. She gave herself over to the rush of adrenaline as Inuyasha slowly pulled away from her and his face crept towards hers.

Is he going to kiss me?

She closed her eyes and an electric shock of excitement ran through her entire being as his lips met hers cautiously and with shyness. Even with gentle coaxing from her own lips, he wouldn't open up. He just to shy.

He pulled away from her, a touch of pink on his cheeks and his lips slightly swollen from the contact. However, he couldn't disguise his happiness. It was written in his eyes and it curled on his lips. Kagome couldn't be happier for him and she was certainly happy that she had finally reached Inuyasha on an emotional level.

He nuzzled her neck gently before he spoke again.

"I really and truly love you, Kagome."

"I love you too, Inuyasha. I think I always have."

Inuyasha drew her close to him, craving the feel of his love against his body, as the sun drew away from the ground and hailed a new day and a new beginning.

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A/N: Sadly, this is the end of my story! I'll probably come up with a sequel or maybe something new altogether. I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it! Thanks!