A/N: What, you didn't think I was actually going to leave you in suspense long about Kagome's response, did you? The end of this chapter is a little unexpected but I think you'll all like it. Thank you to Perminately Lost In Thought and IchigoandInuyashaFan for their reviews on the last chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Inuyasha characters, manga, anime, movies, etc. They belong by copyright laws to Rumiko Takahashi et al.

Her Knight

Ch. 19

The silence after Inuyasha's declaration was deafening. Nothing could be heard downstairs where three very interested parties were waiting for the young miko's response. Mama, Souta, and Grandpa had all stopped what they were doing the moment the shouting began. Afraid to miss out on the rest of the "conversation," they crept up the stairs as quietly as possible and waited with bated breath outside Kagome's room.

On the other side of the door, Kagome stared shell shocked at the half demon in front of her. Never in her wildest imagining had she pictured his confession of love being delivered via a shout seconds after telling her to shut up. She should have though. In typical Inuyasha fashion, he'd blundered badly. There was no doubt that he hadn't meant to yell it, but the situation had deteriorated once he'd mentioned going to see Kikyo after she'd fallen asleep. The young priestess knew he'd only gone then so she wouldn't worry or get upset but even after being reassured that the undead miko didn't have the majority of his attention anymore, Kagome still reacted with jealousy.

"You…you love me?"

"Keh, of course, wench." Inuyasha relaxed, feeling the tension leave his shoulders now that he'd told her.

"What's 'of course' supposed to mean? How was I to know that you loved me?"

"I said we're a team didn't I? That we'd raise Shippou together?"

"But we've been doing that…"

"You don't know anything about demon culture, do you?"

"No! Only what I learned from Sango last night. And what little you've shared with me."

"Only promised mates or official mates can adopt a child into their pack, Kagome. You promised to become my mate the night we agreed to raise him as our own pup." He watched tears form in the corner of her eyes and sighed. Her scent was emotional but she wasn't sad.

"That's what Sango said." Kagome inched forward until she could place both hands against his chest. He was still wearing the black uniform. "You really love me?"

"Yes, I really love you." The half demon put his arms around her and held her as she cried, releasing all the worry and angst of the past. "If I hadn't loved you from the start, I never would have known something was wrong that night until I came to get you the next day. Distance doesn't matter when it comes to a demon's mate. He just knows when she's in danger. Time didn't matter this time either. Our souls are connected, Kagome. Haven't you ever felt when I've been in trouble?"

"I love you, Inuyasha, so much." Tears still making her eyes shine, she lifted her head. "Yes, I've known. That time when you were recovering from Sesshoumaru's attack. I tried going out on a date with Hojo because I was mad at you but the only thing I could think about was you and your injuries."

"I need you, wench. You're my reason for fighting. Keh, my reason for living. If it wasn't for you I'd still be stuck to the Sacred Tree."

"Inuyasha," she breathed and more tears slid down her cheeks. He wiped them away gently, intending to kiss her but a soft sigh on the other side of the door drew his attention to the three eavesdroppers.

Going to the door, he pulled it open only to have Souta fall into the room. Mama stood there, a handkerchief to her eyes, sniffling while Grandpa just looked resigned to the inevitable. The half demon didn't know whether to be glad Miroku wasn't among the trio or irritated that they'd been spied upon in the first place. Not that he could blame them. His shouting that he loved his miko, and then the dead silence afterwards must have made them very curious. Curious enough that Mama had gone against her normal policy of leaving them alone to sort things out by themselves and allowed the others to do the same.

"That was so romantic," Mama commented, smiling at him.

Yelling his confession was romantic? Had she gone completely nuts? Never mind, this was Kagome's mother; of course she'd find his delivery "romantic." No doubt the older woman was thinking about grandchildren already. She was probably envisioning them with his ears although he'd never understand why she'd want dog ears on the top of their heads. Both Higurashi females were strangely enamored of the appendages that marked him as a half demon.

"Yay! Nii-chan is going to marry Sis!" Souta got up off the floor and grinned at the two teenagers. Kagome blushed at the exclamation but didn't contradict her brother.

"I guess it was only a matter of time," the old priest lamented before walking away. He'd give his granddaughter his blessings, knowing anything else would hurt her and drive a permanent wedge between them. "You'll be finishing school first, young lady," came drifting back to them as he went down the stairs.

Stunned, Kagome nodded, although her grandfather couldn't see her ready agreement. "I've got to go tell Sango," she said suddenly, grinning. Moving quickly out of the room, she gave her mother a brief hug before skipping down the stairs.

"Oi wench, you just can't go tell Sango like she lives down the street. Kagome!" Cursing under his breath, Inuyasha looked around wildly for his Fire Rat robe.

"Hurry, where are my regular clothes?"

"In the wash, dear. There's a clean shirt and pants for you in the bottom drawer of Kagome's dresser. Souta, go try to stall your sister." Equally concerned, Mama entered the room in hopes of hurrying the process along.

Inuyasha watched the younger boy go, having serious doubts about Souta being able to delay his sister. With his luck, the first person she'd meet coming out of the well would be his brother.


Kagome didn't wait for Inuyasha to catch up to her. Too excited to stay in her era, she'd rushed into the well house to go tell Sango her news without considering how she was going to climb out of the well once on the other side. Still debating whether to call for Kirara and Shippou to come bring help or whether to wait in the bottom of the well for Inuyasha to catch up, she was greatly surprised and more than a little worried when she felt her future brother-in-law's youki. It didn't matter that in her era he was somewhat of a nice guy, here he was still a major jerk and his presence near not only the well but the village was not only unusual but worrisome.

"Are you going to stay there all day, miko, or come out and face me?"

"Well, I'd come out but with my injured wrist I can't climb the vines. I don't suppose you would care to lend me a hand?" Or a pelt, she thought as his fur snaked down to draw her out of the well.

Held suspended in midair, the priestess faced the demon lord with surprising calm. Her friends would be here soon so she wasn't worried Sesshoumaru would do anything to her. "Thank you. Is there something I can help you with?" She almost called him big brother but knew that would be going too far. She'd have to wait until she and Inuyasha were married before pressing her luck that way.

"Hn, you are alone. Where is my brother?" he demanded. Although he was curious as to why the wench had been in the bottom of the dry well to begin with, he refrained from voicing it.

"Oh, he should be along in a few minutes. I left before he could change clothes."

"You left the safety of wherever it is you were without him and injured. Why did the half breed allow this?"

"He didn't allow it. I skipped out before he could stop me. There was something really important I have to tell Sango."

Sesshoumaru was of two minds. He could assuage his curiosity as to where his little brother had been for the last moon cycle or he could do away with the priestess. However, he had a feeling she was an important piece of the puzzle in how to kill Naraku and until she did her part he would have to allow her to live.

He set her down gently, sensing the monk, demon slayer, and nekomata approach from behind. "Where has he been?"

"With me. I was attacked by bandits near my home and he hasn't left my side since." Looking around the dog demon, she saw her friends. "Excuse me." Leaving him to stare at the well, or wait for Inuyasha, she hurried to her friends. Taking Sango's hand, she tugged the older girl away. Miroku remained alone to face the demon lord.

The monk stood, watching the demon lord closely while he waited for his friend to come. "You dare much, human."

"Often," the monk replied. "You have been keeping Naraku away from here, haven't you? Too many rumors have gone around about Inuyasha not being here or traveling for him to not know. Yet the only people to have shown up are you and Kikyo."

"Naraku has gone to ground, no doubt hatching some scheme."

"I was afraid of that. Kagome won't be fit to travel for another few weeks. And Inuyasha won't let her until she can use her bow again."

"That is wise. I see he has decided to be true to his mate."

"Yes, it's not entirely his fault, you know. There wasn't anyone but Myoga to teach him what it means to have a mate. We both know how unreliable the old flea is."

Sesshoumaru took at threatening step towards the houshi. How dare the human presume to tell him he'd failed his brother? Inuyasha was not truly old enough to have a mate and hanyou rarely lived long enough to reach that age. About to teach the insolent monk a lesson, he was stopped suddenly by the magic of the well.

Turning in surprise, he moved back to stared down at his brother. Instead of demanding where Inuyasha had come from, the only that came out of his mouth was, "What the hell are you wearing?"

The shock on his brother's face was worth the extra time he'd taken to change and he could hear Miroku snicker from behind Sesshoumaru. "What's the matter, Sesshoumaru, surprised?"

Quickly regaining his composure, he glared down at his younger half sibling, now spoiling for a fight. "You've abandoned the rest of you pack."

"No, I haven't. I check on them every five days. Kagome needs me at the moment more than they do." Inuyasha's unusually calm and confident attitude grated on the elder Taisho. He stepped back and allowed the half demon to jump out of the well.

"Hn, my question is answered," the demon lord uttered before walking away. He would not lower himself by fighting the half demon. There was nothing to be gained in that direction. For the moment, he would allow his little brother to live.

Inuyasha and Miroku stared after the dog demon in confusion but didn't speak until he'd been out of sight for several minutes. "Uh," the half demon began before stopping. He couldn't think of anything to say.

"It was almost as if he was worried."

"Hn," was the only response Inuyasha could come up with.