Inuyasha sheathed his Tetsugaiga and let out a snort

Inuyasha sheathed his Tetsugaiga and let out a snort. "Stupid youkai." The little girl who had been taken hostage's mother walked up to the male hanyou. "Thank you." She said, bowing her head. "Hey!" Ranma said, standing next to Inuyasha, "I helped too." The woman ignored the teen and walked away. Akane put her head in her hand. Baka.

--

The two hanyous, teens, demon slayer, houshi, and Kitsune were all sitting in Kaede's hut, conversing. "What in the world was that stupid 'attack' you pulled on that youkai?" Kagome asked with a laugh. Ranma sweat-dropped. How was he supposed to know how to fight a real demon?

Akane laughed, "Come on, Kagome," she said to her cousin, "Don't tell me you've never seen those movies where the guys fight dirty by fighting like that." The female hanyou shook her head. Inuyasha stared at his mate with a blank look. Kagome shook her head as if to say 'never mind'.

"Hey, Kagome," her cousin said, "Can I talk to you?" Kagome nodded, and the two young women stood up. Inuyasha reached up and took her hand in his. "I'll be back soon." She said reassuringly. Inuyasha released her hand and Kagome slipped out with Akane. The night was cool and the air was crisp, making for a nice evening for the girls to take a walk outside.

"What is it, Akane?" the female hanyou asked her cousin. "Well about that test thing…" Kagome's eyes darted to the ground, her face lit up a bright crimson. "Uh… yeah what about it?" Now it was Akane's turn to blush some, even they were cousins, and practically like sisters, it was very awkward asking her about something so personal. "Did you, you know...?" she asked, trailing off, leading her cousin as to what she meant.

"Oh," Kagome said, "Yeah." Akane leaned over to her cousin. "And?" she asked anxiously. A smile tugged at Kagome's lips. "I am." Akane squealed with delight for her cousin and hugged her. "I'm so happy for you!" Kagome smiled at her older cousin. "So how far have you and your fiancée gone?" she asked, with a mischievous smile and a wink. Akane blushed a bright scarlet. "We've kissed twice, kind of." Kagome's expression registered confusion.

"Well when Ranma was in his neko-ken (idk if that's wat its really called) he went crazy and I called him to me and he sat on my lap, then kissed me of course he didn't remember it." Kagome smiled, "Aww. And the other time?" the hanyou asked. "It was for a Romeo and Juliet play and I put tape over his mouth." Kagome fell over anime style and grabbed her cousin's shoulder to pull herself back up. Once she was standing again, she said, "You really did that?" Akane nodded and her hanyou cousin laughed and shook her head.

"You really should be more open about how you feel about him. I should know Inuyasha and me were like you and Ranma for a long time." The female hanyou advised. Akane smiled at her cousin. Even she was a year older, Akane had a felt admiration for Kagome, She always seemed to have more experience, but she had met and fallen in love long before she had. Kagome looked up at the waning crescent moon. "We should probably be getting back. Knowing Inuyasha, he's probably in hysterics." Akane let out a short laugh. "Yeah."

--

Kagome sighed. All the others had long since fallen asleep. Even Inuyasha, who had done his best to stay up with his mate, had eventually fallen asleep. She reached out her hands to the small fire that was barely live. She shivered and almost simultaneously, she felt Inuyasha place his haiori on her shoulders. "Thanks Inuyasha." she said as her mate sat next to her. The male hanyou wrapped his arm around her small waist. "Your welcome, Kagome." He said.

"So are you excited, Inuyasha?" Kagome asked. The male hanyou smiled. "Of course I am," he said, "My precious mate is going to have my pup. What's not to be happy about?" he smiled. Kagome smiled back. "You know tomorrow night is the beginning of the lunar month." (new moon) Inuyasha sighed. "Yeah, I hate that night." Kagome placed her head on Inuyasha's chest. "Don't worry." She said. "I'm not." He responded and kissed his mate's forehead.

Akane sighed and watched her cousin and her hanyou lover sitting together and talking quietly. I wish I could have a love like that. But if I told Ranma how I felt he'd probably just laugh at me. I don't know if I could handle that. Besides that I've got my stupid pride. Of course so does Ranma, so wouldn't admit to loving me, even though he almost did once. The girl sighed again, then turned over, and went to sleep.

At the same time, the black haired boy from Nerima was also watching the two lovers and his thoughts were also of regret. He sighed. I wish Akane and I could love like those two. But she'd laugh in my face or just kick my ass if I tried anything. She's so stubborn. But, I don't know why, I like that about her. I guess I really am in love with her. Ranma couldn't believe he had really finally admitted it to himself. But the hard part was going to be admitting it to Akane. He sighed and closed his eyes and slipped into sleep.

--

Akane was out with Kagome and Kaede picking herbs. Akane leaned over a medium sized plant that had heart-shaped leaves. "What's this?" she asked. "That's a Camellia Sinensis, tea leaves." The old miko said. Akane picked a few leaves and put them in the small woven basket she was carrying. At the same time Kagome picked a plant with a long stem and small purple flowers. "This is a Agastache rugosa, right?" she asked. "Aye," answered the old miko, "In fact such a plant is…" Akane zoned out of Kaede's lesson and sensed a presence from behind her. She turned around to see Ranma. "Come with me." He whispered. The teen nodded and the two walked through the woods and stopped by a river and they both sat down.

"So what is it, Ranma?" Akane asked, sitting with her fiancée. She could sense his nervousness, and he sensed hers, too. "Uh…" the black haired boy said, trying to put his words together in his mind so he wouldn't say it the wrong way or have her take it the wrong way, which was inevitable. He gulped, "Akane, I… there's something you should know. Something I've held back for a long time." Ranma felt as though his heart would burst out of his chest, it was pounding so hard.

"Akane I…" he couldn't bring himself to say it he was two words away, but his ego wouldn't allow him to say the second word. " Well…I…" he felt foolish tripping over his words like he was. "Ssh." Akane said, placing her fingers on Ranma's lips. "I know what you're trying to say and I feel the same way." She smiled as she spoke.

"You really are cute when you smile." He said. "You know that's maybe the first time you've ever complimented me." Akane said, sticking her tongue out at her fiancée. "Now that was un-cute." Ranma said. Akane's jaw dropped in surprise. "Why you…" she started, but was cut off as Ranma pressed his lips against hers. Ranma pulled back and smiled at his fiancée. "I can't believe you just did that." Akane said, teasingly. "Neither can I." Ranma said and smiled.

Akane let out a content sigh and laid her head on Ranma's shoulder and closed her eyes. Ranma put his arm around her small waist and whispered so that only she could hear, "I love you." Akane lifted her head off her fiancée's shoulder. "I love you, too." She said and laid her head back on his shoulder. Both felt as though as heavy weight had been lifted off their hearts and now their feelings were out in the open. This is how it should have been from the beginning. Ranma thought as he and his fiancée sat by the river, alone, free and for the first time, open about their love for one another.

--

Ranma and Akane returned to Kaede's village hand in hand. When they went into her hut, they found they had six pairs of eyes on them. Ranma quickly released his fiancée's hand and turned away. Akane sighed. So much for being open about our feelings. She thought. As if he'd read her mind, Ranma sighed, too then sat down. As he did a small voice cried, "OW!" Ranma stood up to see the flattened form of Shippo. "Sorry 'bout that little guy." He said apologetically. "Why me…" the young kitsune whined as he stood up. Everyone else laughed.

Without warning, Kagome jumped up and ran outside. Inuyasha was right behind her. Kagome kneeled in the grass and emptied the contents of her stomach. She groaned and Inuyasha sat behind her, his strong arms around his mate. "Ugh. I feel awful." Kagome groaned. "I'm sorry." Inuyasha said. Kagome sighed. "It's okay. It'll be worth it in the end." She said and smiled. Inuyasha smiled too. "Yeah." he agreed. Both hanyous laughed. Inuyasha closed his bright amber eyes and inhaled the sweet scent of his mate's hair.

"You're right. It will be. And I will be with you through it all. I love you." The male hanyou opened his eyes and saw his mate's amber eyes looking back at him. "I know." She said. "And I love you, too." With that, she kissed him on the lips. After the kiss broke, the two embraced. "No matter what I will always be with you." Inuyasha promised. "I know." Kagome said and snuggled closer to her mate.

Just as the two were enjoying the moment and the closeness, Akane came out. "Kagome, are you okay?" her cousin asked. Kagome raised her head from her mate's shoulder. "Yeah." She said. Akane smiled. "I was kinda worried when you rushed out like that." She said. Kagome smiled appreciatively. "Don't worry, Akane." She said.

Both hanyous stood up. "We should go inside." Inuyasha said and Kagome nodded and followed her cousin and mate inside.

You may notice i'm now doing this myself. i know it's not as good as when me and ranmano1fan were teamed up, but i can't tlk to him anymore, so i'm finishing it myself. i'll try to update ASAP. thnx all.

-Inu Hanyou Babe