I Hate You!!

Disclaimer: Alas, I do not own the characters of Inuyasha, and you know it too :(

A/N: ( ) Kagome talking to herself

"Useless wench!"

"OSUWARI!"

I turn on my heel as I hear Inuyasha's form hit the ground. Good for him. He's such an idiot. Who does he take me for? I am not going to let him stand there and insult me!

Behind me, Inuyasha groans. I know he is muttering curses under his breath. I can just see the smoke fuming from his ears. His adorable soft puppy ears... What the?! What am I thinking?! I can feel my face growing red.

(STOP THIS, KAGOME!! Don't be stupid!! You are not going to have a crush on someone who is OBVIOUSLY in love with someone else. You saw Inuyasha and her together. You saw the way he looked into her eyes... You watched them embrace tenderly under the night sky...)

I could feel my heart sinking even as I thought these words.

(And that's why you are not going to fall in love with him. Aitsu nanka suki na wake nai... Daikirai.)

Yes, I hate Inuyasha. That's what I told myself over and over again, trying to make myself believe it. Maybe if I say it enough, I can stop the blush that spreads across my face at the sound of his voice. Maybe I can stop the shiver that runs through my body when he says my name... Kagome... Kagome...

"KAGOME!"

"AAH!"

I jumped with surprise as my daydream became reality. Inuyasha had his face right next to my ear, his eyebrow raised in irritation.

"Baka! Don't scare me like that!"

"ARGH. I've called your name 10 times!!! We're leaving."

I heard him mutter "Kawaikune" under his breath. He never says anything nice to me. Why on earth would I even THINK of liking him? Just because he covers me with his haori when it's cold or carries me on his back when I have blisters on my feet.... it doesn't mean anything!! His actions don't mean anything. He already has someone... Thinking about anything more than friendship would just be painful. I don't even know if I can call him a friend sometimes. He's always so rough towards me, so harsh...

As I am about to pack up my stuff, Inuyasha turns sharply back towards me.

"Hurry up! We can't leave until you're ready, and we haven't got all day!"

I glance at his back as he walks away. Over the months, I have learned to listen for the true meanings behind his cold words. He is taking back his remarks about me being a "useless wench." I am an important member of the group. They need me. He needs me.

"Inuyasha, arigato."

Without looking back, he responds with a "Keh." I follow him with my eyes and watch him sit down next to Miroku. The wind flutters his white locks ever so slightly across his back. All I want at this moment is to run up and tackle that back. I want to hold him tight as though we were flying through the trees at hanyou speed.

I realize that right now, I need him, no matter how painful it may be.

"I can't help it. Suki da yo, Inuyasha..."

Translations:

Aitsu nanka suki na wake nai – There's no way I'd like him

Daikirai – I hate him (or I hate you. It's the same in Japanese)

Baka – stupid (very well known word, I think :p)

Kawaikune – Not cute, not friendly (another phrase often used, especially in fanfics for a certain anime 0)

Arigato – thank you

Suki da yo – I like you