This chapter is slightly longer! Enjoy. Also I have been re-watching Inuyasha to remember certain things. I'm glad you got a shirt kkmunchkin! I didn't know Hot Topic sold Koga things I'm gonna have to check it out, he is a green flag 3

Kagome waved back at her friends until they were a spot in the distance and she silently mouthed a prayer for the family. They had stayed a few days to help out Sango, but it was time to go back. Ginta and Hakkaku could handle everything find with Ayame's help, but she knew Kouga had been getting antsy and she had done as much as she could to help Sango's pain and help miroku get more comfortable with holding the baby, but no matter how much she tried to prepare them, parenting was never easy. Sure she didn't have kids herself, but she had helped her mother raise Sota, and that had been difficult.

"W-will the wolves..try to eat me?" Shippo's worried voice brought her back.

Kouga laughed looking down at him, "no they won't, and if they try" he punched his fist against his palm, the smacking noise made Shippo jump.

Kagome couldn't help but giggle, "I don't think they will Shippo, everyone's really nice and they changed."

"There's a few cubs out you can play with, but they do like to roughhouse."

Shippo gave another worried glance at Kagome, but he puffed out his chest "I can play with the kids."

Kouga and Kagome looked at each other and grinned, "I think you'll have fun Shippo, it'll just be for a few days until they can adjust better, but after I'll take you back so you can take care of them." she replied, and Shippo nodded. He was excited about becoming an honorary uncle to them.

"Let's go home."

Kouga set down kagome as she unwrapped her arms from around his neck, her heart still drumming in her ears from the mix of adrenaline and from the proximity of being so close to him. She found it harder and harder to hide her nervousness, and Kouga hadn't mentioned anything. But Kouga could tell, he could feel how shy she would get especially when her heart spiked as he had hooked his arms under her legs, he said nothing but he couldn't help grinning to himself.

She sighed stretching, "it feels so good being home now." she paused as did kouga, this was her home now.

He nodded, "everyone's probably out hunting with the cubs, it's about that time. Hey shippo you wanna learn how to hunt kid?" He didn't know much about shippo, only that he had been a part of kagome's group and everyone took care of him.

Shippo gave kouga an odd look, "me?" he said pointing a finger at himself. Him? Hunt? He could barely kill a bug. But hunting could probably be a good skill…

"Alright spill it." ayame wiggled her eyebrows at kagome, and she burst out laughing.

"No you first," kagome replied just as eagerly "I need to know what happened after the party."

Ayame buried her face in her hands and she groaned, "don't even remind me, if I smell that sake again I will throw up." making a disgusted face, "buuuttt…in the morning he took care of me and when we left…he.. confessed in a field nearby." she blushed and kagome couldn't help but squeal. The moment should have been more romantic, had it not been for the fact that she had been massively hungover, but she left that part out.

"Really!"

Ayame nodded, "he…told me he's liked me for a while, but he respected my marriage to kouga and we're…courting now." she looked down at the ground shyly.

"I'm so happy for you!" kagome threw her arms around ayame and ayame hugged her back giggling softly, trying not to topple over.

"Alright alright, now it's your turn, tell me all of it! Something happened between you guys didn't it?" she grinned at her.

Kagome's face pinkened, "well, I..hmm, yea something happened but I don't know what it makes us…" she had an assumption about what it made them, but she didn't want to dive in immediately.

Ayame stared at her, "Well! What happened?"

"He…we kissed." heat burned her cheeks and she looked down at the floor. Sure, Ayame was dating someone else, and was supportive but talking to your boyfriend's (?) ex wife was still a little awkward for her.

Ayame gaped at her and a huge smile spread across her cheeks, "you don't know what that makes you? Kagome!" she shook her shoulders, "I don't know how more clear he can make his intentions." she rolled her eyes and shook her head. Dummies. Both of them.

"H-hey! I-well I like him too, but I don't want to rush into things, also what if he just kissed me because he was I don't know just…'cause?"

It was a weak argument and she knew that.

"Kagome. How many times do we have to go over this? Kouga is in love with you! He does not kiss anyone, he's never even messed around with anyone, well…" she trailed off and she shook her head. It wasn't her story to tell.

Kagome tilted her head, "has kouga been with someone before?" interest piqued at her.

Ayame bit her bottom lip nervously , "that's for him to tell you, but I think so, it was a long time ago , way before you and I. Anyways, what I'm saying is that Kouga has never been serious about anyone, and I mean anyone! I mean" she burst out laughing, "on our union day he kissed my cheek!"

Kagome couldn't help but laugh, "No! You're lying!"

Ayame nodded, "you would have thought that he was marrying one of the birds of paradise." she snorted, at the time it had been slightly humiliating not kissing him, but she had waved it off, excusing his behavior as a sign of respect for everyone to not show too much affection, in hindsight she probably should have ended their union a long time ago.

Kagome laughed, "oh ayame I'm so sorry." she held her stomach.

"It's okay," she giggled, "but do you see my point? Kouga wouldn't mess around like that, I mean you've seen how many girls were eying him at the party, he's crazy about you." Only you.

Kagome nodded, "I think you and sango and literally everyone is right about it," she buried her face in her hands, "but I don't know if this is too fast for me, I mean oh- oh! I saw inuyasha."

Ayame's eye twitched, "please tell me you purified him."

"W-what of course not!"

Ayame rolled her eyes, "you're a better person than I am, no offense but I hate your ex."

Kagome snorted, " I wish I could say the same about yours."

Ayame grinned, "but what happened?"

"He tried talking to me, but I didn't say anything much, then kouga showed up and saved me from talking to him, and he said I looked… good."

"Kouga said that or inuyasha?"

"Inuyasha."

"Ew, that was all he said? Gross." she made a face like she was going to barf. She had only met inuyasha a few times, and each time he had seemed really callous with kagome, he was very possessive of her yet he hadn't seemed very committed.

Kagome nodded, "yea, I mean after… I kinda almost broke down but kouga helped me calm down, he's…really great. Where's ezume?" trying to steer the conversation back to her friend.

"Oh he went back to his pack, he's becoming pack leader soon and he has to take on more responsibilities now." she sighed.

"Hm I see, are you going to be able to see him?"

"I hope so, he said he'll visit from time to time," she sighed resting her face on her hand, "I…miss him." It had only been a few days and she had been acting like a lovesick wolf.

"Hey he'll visit you, hopefully soon." she squeezed her hand.

Ayame smiled, "Hopefully."

Kagome yawned, stretching her arms out trying to shake off the tiredness, she had slept in longer than usual because of her late night talk with ayame, but she enjoyed their conversation. Kagome was about to stand when something caught her eye, flowers laid right next to her, a bundle of primroses carefully bundled at the end with string. Blush rose to her cheeks, and she couldn't help but pick them up and smell them, they smelled sweet yet earthy and she smiled.

It was no surprise who brought them but wh- and the memory of ayame speaking to her at the party.

"'...Different from humans, but the guy usually is the one to make the first move, he'll give her little gifts, like flowers maybe"' and goosebumps pricked her skin, was this his way of-?

Stop second guessing everything Kagome, everyones told you he loves you. For goodness sake he kissed you!

She pursed her lips. She would have to get him flowers eventually.

She looked over to wake shippo but he wasn't there "Shippo?" she called out looking around the room. She frowned, shippo was still new here and he didn't wander often.

She walked out her room still holding the flowers and looked around, and the cave was….empty?

Not quite empty, there were a few elders sitting and she approached an older woman.

"Good morning Koni." she greeted.

The older woman smiled at her, "kagome." she nodded.

"Where is everyone?"

"They we-"

As is summoned the group appeared with cubs and with…Shippo?

Shippo was being carried by Kouga who gently set him down on the floor, and shippo wobbled for a bit looking queasy.

"Shippo!" she ran towards him and he collapsed at her arms, "what happened?" she asked looking up at kouga, and he gave her a sheepish grin.

"I took him out hunting."

"Is he okay? What happened?" She checked him over, looking for signs of an injury but could find none.

"well…I taught him how to hunt…well I tried to and he wasn't a fan of it." he shrugged, "but he managed to hunt down… a fish." he chuckled, nodding at someone, and they stepped forward, setting down a tiny fish.

Shippo got up and he groaned, "I will never hunt again, that boar ran after me!" he squeaked, and Kouga patted his head, he didn't have the heart to tell him that it was a young boar, and it had taken pity on shippo when he fainted.

"It's alright kid, you don't have to do that anymore. At least you tried."

Kagome laughed with Kouga joining her until his eyes fell to her hand and a tinge of red spread across his cheeks and nose, her eyes followed in suit and she realized she was still holding his gift.

He cleared his throat, and she felt her face heat up. Would he say anything? Should she say anything? A heavy pause filled the air and she decided to be brave.

"The flowers were a lovely gift."

"Did you like them?" his voice was calm but his heart started racing. He had woken up with Kagome being the first thing on his mind, and in that moment he had decided to get her flowers, he remembered how receptive she had been when he first gave them to her.

"A thank you from yesterday's food."

"How cute!" her face lit up while she pulled inuyasha behind her as he made fun of the small gift he gave her.

"I guess…girls like stuff like this."

Kagome had barely given any thought to Inuyasha's protest, the flowers had been daffodil's, her eyes had finally been pried away when Shippo cried out after Inuyasha smacked him.

Kagome nodded her head timidly, "I love flowers, I really like these ones thank you."

He felt himself relax at her approval, Kagome knew what the flowers meant. She should know, he had told her how wolves courted yet worry chipped at him, and he hoped she would accept his affection.

He nodded, "let's go eat, the cubs took down a boar." a young one, but still an achievement, and he supposed that even the Kitsune had provided some meat, even if it was for himself.

Shippo was fast asleep on her bed, but for the life of her, Kagome couldn't stop tossing and turning, and she groaned, tossing the blanket aside, and frustration built up. Why couldn't she sleep? She rarely struggled with it, so why was tonight so different?

You got used to sleeping at his side. After days of sleeping next to Kouga, they had gotten into some rhythm. They would sleep with space between them and in the morning, she would either be spooned by him or be cuddled up next to his chest, honestly it had been the best sleep of her life.

A gentle knock at her room cleared her thoughts.

"Kagome?"

It was kouga, he was being quiet to not wake shippo. She got up carefully, and pulled the blanket over shippo's shoulder.

"Is something wrong?"she asked, peeking outside.

He shook his head, "I was about to ask you the same thing, I could hear you moving. Are you..okay?"

She sighed, "I can't sleep. Sorry, did I wake you?"

He shook his head, "nah, I'm usually awake." lies "Do you…want to go outside?"

"Outside? At this time?" She looked at him like he had grown three heads.

He nodded, "sometimes when I can't sleep I go on a run."

Alarm spread across her face and he couldn't help but laugh, "But we can walk if you want."

She looked back at Shippo.

"He'll be fine, 'sides the wolves are close by they won't let anything happen to him."

She nodded slowly, maybe a walk would do her good.

The cold air nipped at her skin as they stepped out, and she cursed at herself inwardly, fall was starting to come in and the night was a lot colder than she would have liked it to be.

As if he could read her mind, he offered her his cloak and she accepted it readily. He didn't need it, but he knew that she got cold easily.

"Thank you." she murmured as they walked quietly next to each.

He didn't respond, he looked ahead and kagome frowned, he looked deep in thought until he stopped, and looked down at her, "about the flowers."

Don't think too much of them. They meant nothing. That's what he's going to say.

"What about them?"

"I-" he paused, looking unsure, "I hope you liked them, that's all."

Her frown deepened, there was something he wasn't telling her, "is that all you wanted to..say?"

He nodded, "just makin' sure."

She nodded and looked down at the ground, "I never really got flowers, except one from Hojo but never from anyone else" she looked back up at him and smiled, "but I think I appreciated them more…when they came from you."

His heart raced at her acknowledgement and he looked up at the sky "the moon is beautiful tonight isn't it?"

She glanced up, "it really is. The sky is very pretty tonight"

"Kagome, come with me."

She didn't know where he was taking her, but she wasn't worried she trusted him, he was taking her up on the hill but the grass was slightly wet making it difficult for her to walk, and her foot slipped, before she could tumble he turned around and steadied her, he turned back facing forward and grabbed her hand.

She blushed as she laced her fingers through his, his hand was warm and rough against her but she liked how it felt, and- oh, she could feel his veins protruding and it made her blush harder.

Innocent thoughts here kagome, innocent thoughts.

"Where are we going?" she finally asked.

"Almost there a few more steps," he answered gently, "and we're here."

They were on top of the cliff that overlooked the waterfall and she glanced down, it felt peaceful.

"Kagome."

"Hm?" she looked at him.

"Look up."

And she did, and gasped. A spatter of stars littered the sky, illuminating it a bright cream light, almost in a diagonal line and she frowned, she had learned about this in school, what was it called?

"The milky way!"

"The what?"

She pointed at the stars, "see that line of stars? It's called the milky way, when I lived in my world I could never see it." Tokyo's light pollution had always made it incredibly difficult to see any stars unless you went out to the countryside, and even then it was still difficult to see stars.

He sat down, leaning against a boulder and admired her as she stared up at the sky in awe.

She had seen stars before and even the milky way, but tonight felt…different from all the other times.

Because you're with him.

She sat down next to him, leaving space between them and they sat in comfortable silence for a bit while she studied the stars.

"Do you still miss home?" he asked.

She thought about it, "I'll always miss my home, my mom, my brother and my grandpa and of course Buyo."

"And your dad?"

She shook her head, "my dad died when I was nine, sota was still a baby. I don't really remember him."

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay," she smiled at him, "but yea I miss my home…but this," she gestured around, this has become my home now, and I like it."

He could have sworn his heart panged a little when she mentioned she missed her family, and Kagome's mother came to mind, he had made a promise and he would keep it.

They talked for a bit until he felt her nodding off, she had scooted over and was resting her head on his shoulder.

Should he wake her? Or should he carry her?

"Kagome?" he gently nudged her and she mumbled something, "kagome?" he could try one last time, and her eyes opened slowly.

"Oh, I didn't mean to fall asleep." she yawned.

"It's okay, but we should head back, do you want me to carry you?"

She shook her head, "no it's okay, I can walk." he got up and held out his hand and she took it, she was grateful he did because her legs had fallen asleep and she stumbled against him, and instantly his arms went around her.

She looked up at him and locked eyes with him. The world seemed to fade away and he leaned down slowly, giving her time to move but she didn't, her feet remained planted in their place and he kissed her. She felt her body tingle as his mouth pressed more firmly against her, and she felt her heart pound against her ears. His kiss was still gentle on her but there was an urgency to it.

Her lips were so soft against him, as she kissed him back shyly and he couldn't help but groan and pull away when he heard her whimper against him and the smell of cinnamon hit his nose. He reddened at the thought.

"We should stop." he murmured against her hair, his hand fell behind to her back and he hugged her against him, carefully pulling back his lower body away from her.

"Why?" her voice sounding foggy and confused and he sighed.

"Because…" he blushed

She sighed and rested against him and something pressed against her stomach-

"Oh."

Shit she felt it.

"Sorry.." he mumbled, shy at her discovery.

She bit her lip nervously, "it's okay, it's natural…" she trailed off, and the cinnamon smell got stronger. Wait a minute…it got stronger.

Does that mean she also…?

"Um w-we should head back, I'm tired." she said, stepping back from him, and he nodded and went to follow her when he grabbed her hand, he had to clarify something.

"Wait kagome."

She turned to look back at him and saw him visibly swallow, his adams apple bobbed nervously.

"C-can I…kiss you?"

"Right now?"

He shook his head and she couldn't help but feel a tinge of disappointment.

"Not now…I mean later…"

"You can touch me kouga." and she paused, "n-not like that!" and he smirked.

"I mean…yea you can…hold me and kiss me…"

He nodded, this was a start.

He was still holding her hand and she laced it through his, he was sure he was grinning like an idiot but he didn't care. They were heading in the right direction.