HELLLOOOO WOORLLD! Here it is...the exciting...the amazing...the extraordinary...CHAPTER FOUR! WOOOHOOO! Sorry, it's late, and I'm hyper! This is the beginning of the exciting twists of my crazy mind! The beginning was all the play stuff. Now it's time for some real action. Anyway, here is Chapter four. A special thanks again to Nesta. Thank you for your compliments on my writing, you flatter me!

Disclaimer: C'mon, you know it by now, I don't own the show...but imagine if I did...that would become an interesting show to say the least...Sorry, anyway..

Chapter Four-Surprises and Heartbreak

It was well into the afternoon before either couple emerged from their respective rooms. Although Sango and Inu-Yasha were loath to see them go, Kagome and Miroku had work to catch up on so they sneaked back into their rooms, and began to start their daily routines. The previous night stayed in the forefront of Miroku and Kagome's minds.

Inu-Yasha and Sango met in the dining hall, which was quite an expansive room. Windows that practically reached the ceiling adorned one wall, the heavy draperies pulled back, allowing the sunlight to enter into the room. The mahogany table was extended across the room, which could easily place fifty people, including elbow room. Both nobles decided to eat an early dinner, so they could have the rest of the evening to spend with their respective partners. The twinkle in Sango's chocolate eyes could only mean one thing in Inu-Yasha's mind, and he grinned.

"I assume you and Miroku had a good evening, Cousin?" The blush that stained Sango's fair skin confirmed his suspicions, and Inu-Yasha laughed heartily. His golden gaze took in her slightly still rumpled hair, as well as the light smudges under her brown eyes, indicating her obvious lack of sleep the previous night. If he had took the time to look at himself, he would have seen the same thing in his own features.

The two of them sat down side by side, awaiting their meals. As they waited they spoke of their night to one another.

Sango was the one to initiate the conversation, knowing Inu-Yasha wouldn't say a word about anything otherwise.

"So...did you have a good time last night? It was your birthday, so it's important that you had a good time." Inu-Yasha cocked one black eyebrow, knowing she was fishing for some details.

"If you have something you want to ask, then just ask, Sango." It was Sango's turn to raied one elegant brow. This was not the Inu-Yasha she knew. The Inu-Yasha she knew would run from any type of probing into his private life. Kagome worked a miracle on this hanyou. Just as Sango opened her mouth to ask a question, two servants came in, carrying their meals. Both Inu-Yasha's and Sango's eyes lit up in delight as well as laughter upon identifying the two serving them as Kagome and Miroku. The laughter came from the sight of Miroku dressed as a kitchen maid, from the small white hair resting jauntily upon his head to the plain wool gown that adorned his body. Miroku grinned, and went to Sango, leaning down to whisper in her ear.

"Don't laugh, my love. I am your kitchen maid to order about as you please." That sent Sango into another fit of laughter, as well as make Inu-Yasha laugh, due to his sensitive hearing. Kagome was the only one completely lost. Inu-Yasha knew this, and drew her closer, telling her his own bit of fluff that sent her into peals of laughter, along side him. After making arrangements to meet later, Miroku and Kagome left the dining hall. As soon as the pair were safely out of hearing distance, Sango turned to Inu-Yasha.

"So? Did you ask her?" Inu-Yasha cocked his head to the side in confusion. He didn't have a clue as to what Sango was talking about. Sango sighed, rolling her eyes at his idiocy.

"Come on, cousin, you are not that stupid. What is the one question you have been wanting to ask Kagome since you were twelve?" The question rose immediately in his mind. Marriage. It was the only thing he wanted to really ask her, but was too afraid of her rejection to ask.

"Not yet, cousin. I was building my courage to ask her tonight, and I will do it tonight!" A determined gleam came into Inu-Yasha's eyes as he spoke. After he stated that, the duo began eating their meals in a rush. They were eager to see their lovers, so they finished with all due haste, in order to dress and make it to their destinations.

Inu-Yasha made it to the outskirts of the castle, where a thick forest sat peacefully. His pace quickened as he drew nearer to a cave within the forest. To any normal passerby, the cave looked dark and forboding, but as Inu-Yasha made his way deeper inside, the cave had been decorated lightly with fabrics Kagome found, sprucing up the place abit. Swatches of brightly colored silks and satins flowed from their stationary positions on the walls of the caves. Four candles had been lit and placed around a room like part of the cave. As one entered this haven for the two, the walls widened into a round-shaped room, before narrowing out again and continuing in a narrow passageway.

Inu-Yasha glanced around, knowing Kagome was in her. When his eyes spotted her, his jaw dropped. Kagome was standing in a hot spring, nude as the day she was born, with only her chestnut hair hiding her bare chest, and a large boulder she stood behind hiding another part of her he wished he could see. Kagome said nothing to him, simply raising her arms as her only invitation. Inu-Yasha wasted no time stripping and getting into the water with her. As they settled in the spring, with Kagome lying her head on his shoulder and her hand uon his chest, and Inu-Yasha with a comfortable arm wrapped around her shoulders, Inu-Yasha contemplated how to ask her the question.

"Um Kag, I have something to ask you. Well," he began as she sat up and looked to him. "I just wanted you to know that I love you more than anything else. You are my best friend, my mate, and I hope you will become my wife, and my princess." Kagome remained in the same position, looking into Inu-Yasha's eyes as she absorbed his question, actually, his statement. When it all sunk in, her eyes widened and she pulled away from him slightly.

"You want to marry me? Inu-Yasha, are you crazy? I am just a servant, you can't marry me." Inu-Yasha shook his head, silver/white bangs falling in front of his eyes.

"I want you as my wife, no one else. I won't take no for an answer. Please, be my wife." Kagome's heart melted as he looked to her with those sad golden eyes.

"I would be honored to be your wife, my love." Kagome drew Inu-Yasha nearer, and lightly brushed her lips against his. Inu-Yasha's arms tightened about her and pulled her closer for a more thorough kiss.

Within the garden of roses in which their relationship first bloomed, Miroku and Sango walked slowly, hand-in-hand. They spoke, not of their own bond, but that of Kagome and Inu-Yasha.

"I am not saying that Inu-Yasha does not love Kagome, I am simply saying that what if love isn't enough? What if his father makes him choose between his love and the crown? Will he still love her as he does now?" Sango stopped, and looked to Miroku, fire within her chocolate depths.

"My cousin loves her more than he loves his position as Prince. He wouldn't think twice about giving up the blasted crown, if it meant that he could stay with Kagome. He has loved her for as long as I can remember, just as she has loved him for as long as you can remember. Love like that isn't so easily thrown aside for a title, my dear." Miroku nodded slowly, contemplating her words.

"Perhaps you are right, Sango, my dear. What ever would I do without your calm thinking?" Miroku pulled Sango close to him, wrapping his strong arms about her tiny waist. Sango sighed softly, relaxing in his grip as she looked to the setting sun. The sky was now shades of orange, yellow, pink, and blue, which Sango found absolutely stunning, just as she found Miroku stunning.

"Oh Miroku, I love you." Miroku kissed the top of her head softly, and looked to the sky.

"I love you as well, Sango."

As the saying goes, when the cats are away, the mice will play. In this case, it had been when the dog hanyou was away, a dirty wolf would run to the king.

Koga stood before Inutaisho, bowing properly until the king waved for a servant to bring a chair for the young wolf king to sit in. When the oversized chair was delivered, Koga sat comfortably within it, waiting for Inutaisho to wave the other individuals in the room out so he could speak. Since the ball, Koga had been busy identifying the angel. Surprise of all surprises, the mutt-face had fallen for a mere servant girl.

"Inutaisho, I have some disturbing news. You will not be pleased to know that your son, Inu-Yasha, has been cavorting with one of your kitchen maids. From what I have been told, your son is planning on, if he has not already, asking this girl to be his wife and princess. Now, I'm not sure about you, but I have a feeling the girl has enchanted your son in order to gain position and wealth. I thought it would be best for you to know about this startling information."

Inutaisho scrutinized the wolf, not sure whether to believe him or not. He knew all about Inu-Yasha's and Koga's tension, although he wasn't sure why it was there. After a moment, Inutaisho rose, and walked to Koga, shaking his hand.

"Thank you for telling me this, I will deal with this matter in all due haste, so you will worry no more. Thank you once more, and have a good day, Koga."

Koga knew that was all he could do for now, so he stood, bowed and left. All that was left to do was wait.

Inu-Yasha and Kagome returned to the castle shortly after sundown. The two snuck silently into the back servants passage that would lead Inu-Yasha to his room, and Kagome to the kitchen. The pair shared one final kiss before parting ways. Neither had any idea what was in store for their next morning.

The following morning began the same as every other normal day. Inu-Yasha had gotten hardly any sleep the night before. All his thoughts were trained on the fact that Kagome had said yes to becoming his wife. With that obstacle defeated, the next was to inform his father on his decision. Inu-Yasha knew his father would be angry on his choice for a wife, but Inu-Yasha was confident Inutaisho would be accepting, especially since he, too, had married a human woman.

After dressing in a clean, starched white shirt and black breeches, along with his black hessian boots, Inu-Yasha made his way to Inutaisho's study, spirits high. Inu-Yasha knocked softly, and upon hearing the command, "Enter," he did just that. Inu-Yasha found Inutaisho sitting at his desk, fingers intertwined, and resting upon the mahogany surface. His golden eyes took in Inu-Yasha critically before pointing to the seat across from him, indicating Inu-Yasha should sit down. After he was situated, Inu-Yasha went to speak, but Inutaisho silenced him.

"I wish to speak first, Inu-Yasha. I hear some rather startling news, son. People tell me you have been meeting a servant girl for afternoon trysts, midnight tumbles, and early morning fun. That in and of itself is not the startlying part. The part that has me worried is that I hear you intend to ask her to marry you. Tell me, is this true?" Inu-Yasha's chin tilted up slightly, his molten gold eyes clashing with his father's identical ones.

"It is, in fact I asked her just yesterday, and she has agreed. I am in love with her father. You, of all people, should know what that's like." All too quickly, both dog demons' blood began to boil.

"There is a difference between your mother and me, and you and a servant!" Inu-Yasha almost growled at his father, but instead snarled out an argument.

"How could that possibly matter! I am in love with her, and she with me. I will marry her!" Inutaisho and Inu-Yasha glared at each other for what seemed like an eternity, before Inutaisho smiled grimly.

"Fine, if you love her as you say you do, go and marry her, but you will not longer be my son, nor prince of these lands. The choice is yours." Inu-Yasha paled.

"Father, you can't make me choose between those two things. Both are my world, how could you make me choose?" Inutaisho would not listen, he could only hope his son made the right choice.

"Inu-Yasha, you have 24 hours to come up with an answer. If, by that time, you do not answer, I will assume you wish to remain with the girl, and you will no longer be of any kin to me." Inutaisho turned his back to Inu-Yasha, and stared out of the window, a sad expression falling over his features. That look teared at Inu-Yasha's heart. After standing there a few moment's longer, Inu-Yasha could only hope that Kagome would understand what he was about to do.

"I will not marry her if that is your wish, Father." Inutaisho cringed at the stoic voice he heard. All of Inu-Yasha's happiness and charmed seemed to evaporate with his decision. Inutaisho refused to look at Inu-Yasha, and finally Inu-Yasha left. Only then did Inutaisho sit down, and look at the door Inu-Yasha left through.

"I hope I did the right thing."

Hey! Sorry to leave it there, but I am dead tired, and I have work in a few hours so I need sleep. Anyway, please R&R, because I need reviews in order to know if I am doing things right or not. The next chappie should be up tomorrow, so check out for it!

TK