A/N: I'm happy, happy, happy, happy, happy! ::dances about chanting "happy":: I got 37 reviews! Yes! ::punches air in victory:: Wheeee!!!!! ^_^ Eeep. Sorry. Must be all the reviews; they're so encouraging and uplifting that I must be insanely happy! Thank you all for being so kind! I apologize once again for neglecting to update… Finals are coming up soon… o_O I should be studying my @S$ off right now… but, eh-heh, I decided that my reviewers' loyalty must be rewarded! So there! ::sticks tongue out at teachers:: Nyaaahh! Anyway, here's the second to last chapter! Enjoy, and kindly leave a review when you're done! ^_~

Why Do You Love Me?

~ By Four-eyed Bookworm

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. Nor do I own the rights to any of the characters in Inuyasha. Please don't sue.

Summary: The quest is over, Naraku is dead, and the Shikon no Tama is whole again. Kagome has decided to stay in the Feudal Era. Kouga is pestering her to become his "woman," and Inuyasha (Oh wonders of wonders) has admitted that he loves her. However, her heart has been broken one too many times to trust and love the hanyou again so easily. So she declares a contest between her two suitors, to determine which one she will choose to stay with. Their challenge will be to answer a simple question: "Why do you love me?"

Rated: PG-13, for cursing and mild violence. (I had to change the rating… ^ ^;)

*** Last time: "I love you, Kagome." He said roughly, his own voice breaking emotionally as he spoke. "I love you too, Inuyasha. I love you so much…" She answered, gently playing with the strands of silver hair along his back.***

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"If you love something, set it free. If it comes back to you, then it's yours forever."

~ Chapter 3 ~

They stayed in each other's arms for another few minutes, rejoicing in their proximity. At last, after all this time, they could finally be together without any restrictions. Inuyasha's hand ran up and down her back as he pressed her close to him, breathing in deeply to immerse himself in her scent. She smelled like sweet honey and cool mint, combined with a whiff of lavender flowers and sunshine.

It's been a while since I could just breathe in her scent like this, without interruption… We've been so busy fighting Naraku these past few months, and gathering Shikon shards, that I feel like I've barely even gotten to touch her for so long… The hanyou nuzzled her hair affectionately. I never want to let go…

"Inuyasha?" A tentative voice quietly asked. He looked down at Kagome's black-haired head and pressed his hand against her back in response. "Do…don't you think we should go tell everyone else now?" She kept her head tucked away, afraid to meet his gaze.

He paused before answering softly, "I guess so." But he didn't move.

Kagome was loathe to stir as well, but she nudged him gently with her nose, saying, "I have to tell them that I've chosen…"

Inuyasha sighed softly, inaudibly. "Yeah…you're right…" He still didn't release her. The practical part of his mind told him that he could still hug Kagome later. But deep down inside, a small voice kept on claiming that if he let go of her now, he would lose her forever. He closed his eyes to tune out the world around them, and focused all his senses on the young woman before him. A deep breath whooshed in, then out, disturbing the hair that lay near his mouth.

He utterly her name in a tender voice that she had never heard before. "Kagome."

Kagome "hmm"ed against his chest.

"Would…will you, promise me that you'll come back? I'm afraid to let you leave me…" Afraid that I'll lose you again, like I nearly thought I did last time.

"Oh, Inuyasha…" Kagome whispered softly, "I will never leave you. Remember that promise that I made you, that time when I left through the well after I saw you hugging Kikyou?"

"Yeah…It seems so long ago…I thought then that you were leaving me forever. But I don't know why…I let you go…"

Kagome smiled against his chest. Her blue eyes held a faraway look to them as she recalled what had happened more than three years ago.

"I had thought that I wasn't coming back, either…But then, I just…did. Inuyasha." Kagome lifted her head to look at the hanyou. Her brow furrowed slightly for a second before smoothing out into a smile. "You know, Inuyasha. It wasn't by chance that you and I met. I want you to live; I want to live with you. And as long as there are happy times, I want us to smile often. I don't know if I'll be able to do anything, but…I'll always be by your side. Forever. I promise."

The words were almost exactly the same as what she had told him three years ago, standing by the well. So familiar, yet so full of new meaning and hope for the future. Inuyasha's golden eyes were suspiciously bright, but he blinked rapidly, and no moisture escaped. Giving her one last squeeze, he reluctantly let go of her warm body. She stepped back, instantly missing his embrace.

He looked away, saying gruffly, "You go on ahead. I'll be a couple steps behind you. I just need to do something first." She nodded. " …Kagome."

Having just started to turn away, she turned back to face him. He stepped closer to her and laid a light hand on her shoulder. "I…" He stopped, unable to figure out how to tell her what he wanted to say. Shaking his mane of silver hair in frustration, he stared intensely at her with unreadable amber eyes. Then, dipping his head down, he touched his lips lightly with her smooth, warm ones. The kiss was so gentle that if Kagome's eyes had been closed, she would have thought that a butterfly's wings had accidentally brushed against her lips. Before she could respond, Inuyasha had pulled away, leaving a lingering sensation upon her lips.

"That's for until I see you again…" He whispered, then leaped away, running faster than the wind. As the red blur disappeared from the clearing, Kagome stood frozen. A trembling hand reached up to touch her lips. He…kissed me. That… was my first kiss. She smiled in remembrance of the sweetness of his lips. Then, she sighed softly.

Well, I suppose I'll have to go and face the music. Whatever am I going to say to everyone? And I wonder where Inuyasha is going?

She strolled back towards the others. Once they came into view, Kagome noticed that Kouga was lying on his stomach, flat on the ground, twitching. If she didn't know any better, the young lady would have said that the wolf prince looked remarkably similar to Inuyasha whenever he got "sat." She walked closer, quirking a curious eyebrow at Miroku and Sango, who were hovering above the prone wolf demon with rather shamed expressions on their faces.

Kagome took in the sight of Miroku's grasp on his staff and Sango's giant boomerang. "Um… guys? What did you do to Kouga…?" She trailed off.

The two glanced at each other guiltily. Sango replied, "Gomen, Kagome-chan. Kouga was just being an ass… We couldn't help it."

Actually, being an ass was an understatement. The youkai couldn't hear what the two had been saying, but the salty scent of Kagome's tears had sent him into overdrive. He'd been complaining and growling angrily, insulting Inuyasha with every breath, and practically itching to go over there and "beat that ignorant pup into a pile of dog turd," as he had so eloquently put it. Eventually, both Sango and Miroku had gotten weary of his constant griping and grumbling. Simultaneously, they'd reached for their weapons and clunked the poor wolf on the head.

Kagome sweat-dropped. "He's not… dead, is he?"

"Ah! Kagome, I'm moved by your concern for my well being!" Kouga cried out, leaping up off the ground and clasping her hands. "Your sweet angelic voice has brought me back from the brink of death! So have you gotten rid of that dog bastard? You're finally ready to leave with me and come live in my tribe, right?"

The miko stiffened slightly at the insult to Inuyasha. Then she sighed, resigned to the fact that Kouga would never be able to take a hint. "Well, actually, I've come to a decision, and I'd like to announce it to all of you."

All three of her friends straightened slightly in interest. Miroku broke the tense silence by speaking for them all. "Well then, Kagome-sama? What is your choice to be?"

The taija-ya gave her best friend a warm, encouraging smile, adding, "And know that no matter what your resolution, Miroku and I will support your choice without question."

Sango's firm assurance led Kagome the strength that she needed. Taking a deep breath, she spoke quietly yet steadily. "I've decided, that, the winner is…Inuyasha." Her eyes softened as she spoke the hanyou's name. "He's proved that he loves me for who I am, not what I can offer him. Inuyasha is willing to accept my flaws and refuses to demand anything in return for his love. He loves me, for just being myself, as you have heard. And I love him as well."

The young miko would have continued, but Kouga jumped in when she paused for breath. "Wait a second. You can't possibly be serious. After all that I've done for you and your little rag-tag group of friends, you still deny me? After all the reasons I've given for loving you, you still choose my rival?"

Kagome stared uncertainly at the wolf. His appearance seemed altered. His normally warm eyes had turned a steely blue. His posture was tense, his tail quivered furiously, and his fangs were partially bared. I have to explain to him…I have to tell him why…

"Kouga-kun…"

"Don't call me that!" He lashed out at her in a growl before she could speak. "You've been toying with me all along, haven't you?!? You never did love me, nor did you ever plan to choose me, did you??? Admit it, Kagome! You've always loved that poor pathetic excuse for a half demon! How long were you planning to keep stringing me along?!? Until you had that asshole's fucking pups??? You lying, conniving, back-stabbing bi-"

He was cut off by a sharp, resounding slap to his face. He brought a slow hand to his smarting cheek, and looked up. Kagome stood in front of him, one hand still halfway raised. Her eyes were narrow and shone with an inner blue flame. Her eyebrows were lowered dangerously in righteous anger, and her nostrils flared. If Kaede had been there, the old priestess would have sensed a wave of pure spiritual power hovering about the young miko's frame. Nevertheless, Miroku, Kouga, and even Sango could tell that Kagome had unconsciously summoned her dormant powers. When she spoke, her voice was lower, rougher, and rather angry.

"How…dare… you…" She enunciated each word clearly, chest heaving with passion as she spoke. "You insulted me, you insulted my friends, and you insulted Inuyasha. You dared to claim me like an object, and then you accuse me of betraying you. Well, let me make this clear once and for all, Kouga."

She jabbed a finger at him for emphasis. "I. Have. Never. Loved. You. Okay? Always, since the day we met, has my heart belonged to one person alone, and that person was not you. I love Inuyasha. This is true. Yet you wrong me by assuming that I had any foul intentions toward you, Kouga. I've always considered you as a friend. You were the one who always had to take it one step further. You were the one who insisted on pushing your luck. You were the one who said I was your "woman" without consulting me first. You treated me like a prize, like a commodity that you wanted to win. You never took into account the fact that I might not have reciprocated your feelings."

She took a deep breath, and gestured sharply at him to cut him off from speaking. "And before you accuse me of "toying" with you, allow me to point something out. Have you ever, even for a second, considered that maybe, just maybe, the reason I didn't love you was because you didn't love me? You proved to me today that you've always thought of me as a materialistic gain for your tribe. You claimed to love me for everything that I could offer you. But you never loved me, Kagome, as a human being. You wanted the power, the prestige, the privilege, of saying that you had a miko for a mate. I never intended to hurt you, Kouga. I thought…"

Kagome suddenly deflated. "I thought… that if you truly loved me, you would be able to tell me why. If Inuyasha hadn't loved me for being myself, I'd hoped that you would prove to have a truer heart. I would have tried to learn to love you, Kouga. Yet my expectations were wrong. You have just shown me the shallowness of your feelings. And while I am sorry that you hold me in such low regard, know this."

She drew herself up to her full height, managing to look impressive even though the wolf towered above her. "I love Inuyasha with all my heart and soul. If you even dare to speak of him in such a way again, I won't hesitate to treat you like the common, lowly scum Youkai that I've fought before. I'm sorry. I refuse to be a possession that you can flaunt to your fellow wolves. Perhaps someday you will find someone who can teach you the meaning of true love. I wish you well, Kouga. When we next meet, I hope that you'll have changed your thoughts. Until then, the best of luck to you and your tribe."

She stalked away, blue aura still burning brightly about her. Sango and Miroku stared in awe at her retreating back. They glanced uneasily at Kouga, who seemed to be in a state of utmost shock. Then, looking back at each other, they nodded in silent agreement, and chased after their friend, leaving the frozen figure of the demon behind them.

~~~ Kagome's POV~~~

I can't believe him! He has the nerve to spend four years chasing after me like I was a stupid milkmaid, then claims the right to own me because he's helped us a couple of times during our battles?!? How dare he?!? I wanted to punch him right then! He's lucky I was able to keep my temper, or that wolf would be missing some body parts right now.

She growled angrily under her breath, then suddenly halted in her trek through the forest. Oh dear. Did I just growl? Eek. It seems as if Inuyasha's habits have rubbed off on me. As if the thought of the hanyou was a charm, Kagome's breathing immediately calmed. With a peaceful smile on her face, the young woman continued walking, slower now. I wonder where he went… And speak of the devil…

A familiar tinge of youki brushed against the edge of her miko senses. She turned around. A rapidly approaching aura was identified as Inuyasha, and she smiled in welcome. And sure enough, the red-cloaked figure soon appeared in the treetops. The hanyou hopped gracefully from tree to tree before jumping down and landing in front of her lightly.

Kagome opened her mouth to greet him, but before she could do so, she was enveloped in a fierce, silent hug. She remembered how Inuyasha had tugged her forward and embraced her in farewell before pushing her down the well last time. Her cerulean eyes softened and she whispered softly, "I'm back, Inuyasha."

He breathed in deeply, taking in her heavenly scent. Despite her previous reassurances, he'd been desperately afraid that she would abandon him, leave him in the Feudal Era with a broken heart. Of course, he would have deserved it, considering that he'd done it, many times over, in the past. Inuyasha breathed a silent prayer of thanks to whatever Kami were listening. He'd been so afraid of losing her that he'd run at breakneck speed to fetch something important from a nearby cave. He was almost certain that he wouldn't be able to find her again. But there she was, safe and sound in his arms. In a quiet, awed voice, he spoke. "I let go of you…but you came back…"

Kagome's mind rang with his words, and she suddenly remembered something that she had read in a book somewhere long ago. "If you love something, set it free. If it comes back to you, then it's yours forever."

"I'm yours, Inuyasha. I'm yours, always and forever, and I'll never leave you again." She promised fervently.

A/N: Right-o then! That's that! Hope it wasn't completely plotless… I got rid of Kouga at least, ne? Eep. ::crowds of rabid Kouga fangirls stampede towards her:: Oops. o_O That's…not what I meant, really. ^-^, Anyway, there's about one chapter left in this little waff fic, and possibly a nice itsy-bitsy epilogue afterwards, if you all behave! Next time on Why Do You Love Me, a ceremony, (*wink*) and a great transformation! Stay tuned!

Review Responses:

Many thanks to:

Ayama, binx, k, Silent Teardrops, Aile Anna, Nero, Chinese Kyootie, Crystal Lily, and Tenshi for reviewing! Luv you all!

And…

Iya-chan ~ Was Inu in character? Good… I was worried for a sec tehre… I may actually have…some extension of this one after it's finished. Possibly an epilogue, and maybe a Kouga one-shot for all those Kouga fans out there… ^_^

Yunaleska ~ I'm glad you liked the "speech!" I spent a looong time trying to get it right without making it *too* sappy… But mine's not the best, so keep trying! You'll get your own tear-jerking speech someday!

loozer-09 ~ Dun worry, I think I've done that before too… o_O And no, it's not quite over yet.
Miss Coolio Paws ~ Whew. Glad you don't all hate me for the pairing! I actually thought that Kouga is smarter than he usually seems. He's usually a big dope, but…ya know, he could be rather insightful… Who knows… ::shrugs::

Archer of Suzaku ~ Well, I don't necessarily hate Kouga; I think he's good comic relief most of the time, but I definitely don't approve of Kag/Kouga pairings. Inuyasha and Kagome forever!

Inu-san ~ Thanks so much for the long review! I enjoyed reading it! Awww… Did I make you cry? Sowie! My writing tends to get rather…sappy… ^-^ And of course, Inu/Kag forever! And I'll try to stay away from cliffhangers… but I think they're rather fun… ::wicked grin:: Bwuahuaha! Beware the evil authoress who's out to "cliffhang" you all! I'll try to update sooner next time! Honestly, I will!