OMG, Monty. I don't know why I haven't read this earlier. This was an awesome story from beginning to end. I usually root for Inuyasha and Inupapa in stories, but they were douchebags in this one. Inupapa being served by an all-male staff. Those are his just rewards, the perv. He'd have to watch males make his bed, cook his food, and maintain the manor. I'm sure he'd go mad unless Inuyasha brought around his friends, namely Sango. I kind of feel bad for her, knowing she'll be his new pet until he gets tired of her. I could only see him having an old crotchity man for a son fifty some odd years down the road, now that he's completely human. LOL.

I could only imagine Inuyasha having to adjust to being human. Knowing him, he'd throw temper tantrums about how weak and pathetic he is, probably break things when he recovers now that he's human. And there would most likely be a tutor among the staff, the idiot. At least he can't push the staff around. Inuyasha just might end up with home health care when he becomes old and his father will end up having to bury him.But there's one question that was nagging at me as I read this: what ever happened to Inuyasha's mother? Did she die? Did she have the courage to leave? Hmm, I loved it no matter what.

Awesome, awesome, awesome.

this was excellent. keep up the great work and writing. i was sad to see it end

I am really happy with a lot of the explanations that came out in this chapter. I'm embarassed that in all my ranting I forgot to mention that I wondered why Sess choose breeding over a mating mark, but you already have that planned.You really have great insights  in your chapters, and I love that with time everything becomes mapped out. Due to the late hour I will finish at another time

Overall, I disagree with several points that were brought up in the chapter 22 notes and by Sess's mom, but I overall enjoy the story and it is a piece of fiction; In my case I feel like recognizing that Sesshoumaru's upbringing meant that he made mistakes is the most I can sympathise, but in the same token real people make mistakes and I don't begrudge Sesshoumaru for making mistakes.

Please note that I'm I'm trying to give a well rounded review-I'm not knocking your point of view and feel that you are the author and should direct your story as you see fit. I really enjoyed this piece and I'm only writing out my objections so that you don't take them as a flame (which is not my intent) but just critique.

 However, what Sesshoumaru has done is legal in the world I created -Just because something is legal doesn't mean that it is right, or doesn't violate another's rights as a basic human being.I think my feelings stem from my cultural experience. I am African-American and growing up emphansize has been put on how slavery and segregation were legal ways of oppression and justifying treating a group of people wrong. I realize that in the world you've created marking is better than slavery, but it reminds me of what I saw in a film about the Taliban's rule on women in the film Osama, in that the husband of the film was allowed several wives because he was wealthy, but none of them choose to be married and that the system created great hardship on them.

and he's never actually harmed her- Emotionally they have both been harmed. Maybe the marking system was needed in the past, but in modern day society Kagome didn't need Sesshoumaru to perserve her gifts. She is living in a time where her family was well off enough for her to study aboad and probably would have been able to comfortably send her to college. The same intelligence he admired her for would have allowed  her to gain a scholarship if money was an issue and Kagome would have been free to make her own life choices  adnd grow her gifts as she saw fit. As Kagome stated, his handling of things demoted Sesshoumaru's actions towards her as how one would handle a prize or a treasured pet. It's not like he tried to approach her and see if she was interested, he just grabbed her up and marked her.

The sad thing is that she tried to educate herself on Japan before she went, but no one would explain the law until after she was caught up-not that there was anything she or her family could have done to repel it (this in hindsight is actually extremely frightful-what if Kagome had happened to be gay? What if she was in love or met someone she loved after being marked?What about the fact that she had no choicein child bearing?) Things worked out because you wrote it out that they loved each other, and I did enjoy that this wasn't based on he gave her stuff, but because of the above reasons I don't think that any of this is Kagome's fault as she never had any choice but to adapt and eventually accept.I don't feel like she should be blamed if by chance she didn't.

I do have to give you a lot of credit for your forward thing on rape and I hope that more people understand it better before they make rape is love stories.

I  realized I typed the security name in wrong and some reviews didn't reach you.

I am extremely happy that a lot of the negative things Sesshoumara did were called out. It restored my faith and respect for Kagome that she stood up for herself. It made Kagome more consistant as a character that she didn't say in one breath that clothes didn't matter but still allow Sesshoumaru to essentially "buy" her just because his culture and beliefs were different and her life had improved.  This might be off topic, but if Bella from Twilight had had the same realization that Kagome had and confronted Edward it would have held one less inconsistancy.

I'm also glad that you revealed that he was snooping in her e-mails. Overall I really see the strength in this story through Sesshoumaru's past- he genuinely wanted to live differently than how he was brought up, but he didn't really learn how and ended up doing the very thing he wanted to avoid. I'm sure you will work this out of him, but your work promises to do so with the perfect mix of trial and error through the characters and satisfying the need to get things right at the right pacing.

I'm enjoying your story immensely and would have left the review at that, but I want to thank you for your A/N at the bottom of chapter 22. It's incredibly upsetting and frustrating when I'm reading a fanfic that decides "Well, because the character is attractive and her body responded to him, she wouldn't possibly be upset about being raped".

THANK YOU for making the distinction and for pointing it out :)

Hello =) I'm just dropping by to congratulate you on your very inspring story. It is so rare for me to get moved by a story to the point that tears fall out of my eyes, and let me tell you, this has been by far the most incredibly fic I have had the pleasure of reading.

I can't really empathize with Kagome, in my opinion not once has she tried to see her situation from Sesshoumaru's cultural point-of-view, which is silly in and of itself. If you are going to spend any length of time in a foreign country the least you could do is make sure you have some sense of the culture you are walking into, and just because you don't like certain aspects of that culture does not mean that when you go there you can pick and choose which parts you'll pay attention to, if you think of doing such you might as well stay home and not go and cause trouble.

As for Sesshoumaru, well he asks like I thought he would, so I have no complaints there.

WHen i first started reading this story i really didnt like it but something compelled me to keep reading and I'm glad i did . All of the characters developed and i most say ive fallen in love with sesshomaru

Your story is beautiful and I love the way it develops as the portrayal between two cultures goes.  I have a western background myself despite being born into an eastern culture family so I can feel the clashings at time.  Love your work and hope you create more beautiful pieces.

This has been the most intensely involved fanfic that I have EVER had the pleasure of reading. Honestly I could praise so many things about this story, that I simply don't have enough room to list them all. I will point out a few of my favorites though.

First off, I absolutely LOVED your portrayal of Sesshomaru. I don't think, in my 5 years of reading Inuyasha fanfic, I have ever seen him quite like this. I get that he's considered heartless and cruel, thanks to the show, but I will admit when stories insist on keeping him totally in character, it gets rather repetitive. I enjoy it so much more when Author's take a chance, and step outside of the mold- even moreso when they make it such a delightful experience. He still has shades of the cruelty that he's known for (and most people expect) but it's softened by passion, moments of tenderness, and more importantly love. Without a doubt one of the most brilliant characterizations of Sesshomaru ever written.

Kagome was kept excellently in character (something I, as opposed to an OOC Sesshomaru, actually prefer, because she's such a unique individual.) I will admit to moments of aggravation over what she looked like. Normally with such established characters, I'm able to picture them in my mind, something that only adds to my enjoyment, but now that Kagome lacks that Japanese ethnicity, does she still look the same?

Also, though not terribly relevant to the story as a whole, I really enjoyed Kagome's relationship with Jaken. I actually like the annoying little bugger, and more often then not in stories, he'll make his distaste of Kagome loudly apparent. So it's nice to see the two friendly towards one another. Wow, you're all about shaking up fanfic stereotypes aren't you? I love it.

Again, this story was simply amazing. It's apparent that you are an extremely gifted writer who I only hope to see more from!

One of the best I ever read!!!!! This is EXCELLENT!! GENIUS!

Congratulations Cultural Differences has won second place for best completed in the Dokuga 4^th quarter awards. You can pick up your awesomely made banner, complements of the lovely Priestess Skye, at http://www.dokuga.com/images/awards/banners/9/17/1975.png. Congrats again and keep up the amazing work :).

Congratulations Cultural Differences has won third place for best Kagome portrayal in the Dokuga 4^th quarter awards. You can pick up your awesomely made banner, complements of the lovely Priestess Skye, at http://www.dokuga.com/images/awards/banners/9/13/1925.png. Congrats again and keep up the amazing work :).

Hello

I would just like to say that this story was amazing...very unique and thats exactly what i was hoping for. I am on bed rest right now because of a sprained knee and This story took me out my own world and into yours. for a few hours i felt very much content to stay in my bed all day

thank you

Congratulations! Your story has been nominated by the Inuyasha FanGuild for Best Romance: Other for the Fourth Quarter of 2009. If you would like to track the progress of your story through the voting process, or simply find out more about the IYFG and perhaps join the group yourself, you can find everything you need to know on our website: www.inuyashafanguild.com (Inuyasha Fan Guild dot com)

If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to contact our moderators at IYFGModerator@gmail.com (IYFG Moderator at g mail dot com). Congratulations again!

~ Lyiint

Where do I start?   I dont even know where it was so great.

This is the best written story I have ever read.   You should really think about a writting career cause I promise you, you'll def. make it.  You have a great potential. 

I really loved this story.  It was so sweet and sad at the same time.   I always say a great story is one that can make you cry.  When you can feel the emotions of the people in the story.  I def. felt the feelings.   It made me sad then happy then worried.  My emotions were all over and i love stories like that.  They keep me interested in the story. 

You did a great job on the characters also. 

Sesshoumaru :  WOW.  You did amazing on his personality.

You are a great writter and I hope you cont. writting.  I cant wait to see the next story you come out with.

:)  sarah