Last chapter up of this story. Hehe, aren't I evil? Wait for the sequel I tell you! If I make one which won't be for a while...

No one ever asked me where I got the title to this story. Well it came from a little piece of literary genius called Romeo And Juliet by William Shakespeare. Skip to where Juliet is speaking of Romeo and what they will do now that they are married.

"For thou wilt lie upon the wings of night

Whiter than new snow upon a raven's back."So goodnight and sweet dreams to all of you.

Samanda

KagomeOfKikyo: There might be another lemon in the sequel. Who knows? But there is one I wrote that is MirKag. It's hosted on Ongaku-san's site. Read it if you're over 17... How about we just say that one is dedicated to you? Works for me.

Rest of the reviewers: Thank you so much for reading my story! It meant a lot to me that everyone kept reviewing. I hope to entertain you with another shortly.

Like Snow Upon A Raven's Back

Chapter Seven: I Adore You

Written By:

Samanda Hime-sama

Inuyasha wasn't stupid. He knew what Kagome and Miroku had been up to while they were gone. The air in the hut smelled of sweat and other things not spoken of in polite company.

Inuyasha saw the aftereffects on the two of them. He saw the way their eyes caught and held each other. The look wasn't aflame with desire like a couple who had yet to explore each other and burn up together. Rather, it was a sated look that said that the two had banked their fire but the passion was far from extinguished.

The looks didn't last more than a second longer than they would look at each other normally but to even a half demon, it was obvious. And painful to watch.

Seeing the two of them like this had awakened a depth of understanding in the hanyou that he rarely sought to master. Inuyasha tried to untangle the mess of confusion that was his feelings for Kagome.

He often mistook what he felt towards the time traveler as simply 'friendship.' Well there was a strong core of that in what he felt but he realized that there was more than just that. He did love her but the type of love was the question he sought.

With Kikyo it was simple. He had loved her. She had been good and kind to him, the half-breed that had no place in either of the worlds that had spawned him. The only person to have been kind to him since his mother died.

That is, until Kagome came.

Kagome had a quality about her that Kikyo had lacked. She didn't watch from afar or have that cool, aloof quality about her. Kagome participated in everything that came her way. She joined in with a joyfulness of spirit that showed what kind of heart she truly had.

Kagome had made this little group of outcasts and orphans into a group of close friends. She was the glue that held everyone together emotionally and she made wherever they were seem like home. That was her talent.

But when it came down to it, Inuyasha couldn't figure out who he loved more. The Kikyo that he once knew or the Kagome that stood in front of him. And that indecisiveness might have cost him to lose something precious.

"Outside, Kagome." Inuyasha's voice was strained.

Kagome looked confused. "Right now? But my ankle-"

"Don't pull that on me," Inuyasha snarled as he grabbed her wrist. "Your ankle is fine. I'm sure Miroku can attest to that!"

Kagome paled then reddened as Inuyasha pulled her out of the hut and outside. "Yeah? What do you want?"

"I want the truth." Inuyasha dropped her wrist and turned his face away slightly.

Kagome gave him some attitude. "What do you want to know?"

"Did you and Miroku..?" Inuyasha couldn't finish the question.

Kagome flushed. "That's private and none of your business, Inuyasha."

"What if I want it to be?" Inuyasha said softly then turned to look at her.

Kagome was shocked. This was what she wanted in the beginning when Sango had come up with the plan but she was no longer sure she wanted that. All she knew is that when she was around Miroku something sparked between them. Something was growing between the two of them. Love and more than that linked them. It didn't yet equal how she felt about Inuyasha but she was willing to wait and give it a shot.

"Inuyasha... do you still love Kikyo?" Kagome asked hesitantly.

His eyes dropped from hers and that was the only confirmation that she needed. Kagome shook her head sadly because she knew he wasted precious love on a thing that no longer cared. On remnants of a personality with a body long dead and a soul that had fled at death..

If only he loved only me, she thought but spoke aloud. "You love her still. Do you love me?"

Inuyasha's head came up. "Yes," He said honestly.

"Who do you love more?" Kagome's throat had dried up, so she whispered it.

Inuyasha was visibly torn. "I don't know."

"You offer me half a heart, Inuyasha." Kagome's voice was shaky. "You gave me no reason to hope for anything more than friendship from you. I watched as Kikyo flirted with you and you were taken in by your memories. So I lost hope and turned to someone who didn't see me as a reflection of my former self."

Inuyasha flinched. "I never meant-"

"Yes, you did." Kagome cut him off. "Do you see me as a separate person now, Inuyasha?"

Inuyasha nodded. "You're Kagome if that's what you are asking."

"No, that's not what I meant." Kagome sighed and smoothed back her hair. "Have you stopped seeing memories of Kikyo when you look at me?"

Inuyasha couldn't answer that so he didn't bother to. "Please, Kagome. Give me a chance."

"I can't Inuyasha." Kagome's eyes were full of pain. "I need someone who see's me. Not bittersweet memories of a lost love or a tragic past."

"Fuck you!" Inuyasha snarled at her. "I do love you. But that's not good enough for you. I'm sorry that I can't give you everything you want. But I need you, Kagome."

Kagome was almost undone by the lost look in Inuyasha's eyes. But she spoke gently. "You have me as a friend, Inuyasha. But the rest of what you want... it's too late for that."

Inuyasha spit out a mouthful of curses at her and then bounded away, hurt beyond words. Kagome watched him leave while the numbness weighted down her limbs. Finally someone came up behind her and took her hand. She turned to see it was Miroku.

Miroku searched for something to say as Kagome's gaze fell on him. She looked sad, he though. She looked far away and he guessed she was probably reliving memories of happier times with Inuyasha.

In the end he found no words that might help her. Instead he held out his arms and encompassed the fragile body that seemed more defenseless than ever. Kagome was stiff as a board for a few moments before she relaxed and leaned into the comfort he offered. It took less than a minute for the tears to come.

"Damn him," She choked out. "Why now? Damn him..."

And all Miroku could do was hold her and murmur comforting words into her hair. Kagome cried out her anguished heart and prayed for an answer to light her way.

But God in His wisdom, never answered her. He trusted that she would find the answer on her own and in her own time.

And as Kagome's tears finally lessened, a thought struck her. Maybe she needed no answer after all. He had already sent out her answer in the form of a lecherous monk who longed for perverseness like some long for ice cream.

"What?" Miroku asked her as Kagome looked up at him with tear stained cheeks and watery eyes. "Are you feeling better now?"

"Yes, I am now." Kagome said and smiled. "You know, I adore you Miroku."

Miroku smiled. "You cannot help it and neither can I. I adore you too."

~Fini!~