CHOICES

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Inuyasha. If I did, I'd be making a show about this instead of writing about it. Oi…

SUMMARY: Inuyasha and Kagome get into another fight. Only this time Kagome realizes a hurtful truth. As Kagome leaves to think she comes across someone who'll give her a choice that'll change her life forever.

I know the Inuyasha/Kagome fight has been played out, but it's been playing in my mind since the first time I started watching Inuyasha and I just never got a chance to write it out. So humor me guys, it's my first fanfic. Enjoy!

CHAPTER 1: The Fight

The sun shone brightly down on Feudal Japan. It was another beautiful day. Fresh air. Clear skies. Demonic parts scattered around a half demon and a human girl yelling at each other.

"Gaaaahhhh! Inuyasha you're so infuriating!" the girl yelled at the top of her lungs. She glared daggers at the amber-eyed hanyou with both her fists clenched at her sides.

"W-WHA!" Inuyasha sputtered angrily. "What did you say! You're the one who's always getting in the way!" He fired back, his fangs bared.

"I was only trying to help!" Kagome defended herself. She felt hurt that Inuyasha would say something like that.

"Feh. Help? How was getting in front of the demon helping? You could have been killed!" That was the reason Inuyasha was giving her a hard time. She scared him. He thought she was going to get hurt when she tripped in front of that demon. His heart had nearly stopped. He kept thinking if he was a second too late, she could've died.

"It's not like I tripped on purpose!" Kagome was seething. This argument was really starting to get on her nerves.

"That's what I mean. You're a damn klutz. You need to just stay out of the way."

"What!" Kagome was furious.

"You heard me, wench! I said you're a damn klutz!" Inuyasha said this slowly and through clenched teeth.

"Inuyasha you arrogant jerk! Maybe I should just leave then, huh!"

"Go ahead! Run along home, Ka-go-me." Inuyasha mocked. Even if Kagome did go home, she'd always come back. He knew she would. She promised she'd always stay by his side.

Kagome glared at Inuyasha furiously. "Hmph! Well who said anything about going home? Maybe I should just go with Kouga." Kagome threatened as she turned her back on Inuyasha with her arms crossed.

"WHAT!" Inuyasha growled.

"At least Kouga appreciates me, even with me faults. I'm not perfect, you know." Kagome had had enough, but of course she would never go with Kouga. Whether she was wanted or not, she'd stay by Inuyasha's side. He was her life.

Inuyasha was beyond angry. He was almost seeing red. He didn't like hearing nice things about Kouga, especially by Kagome. He had always felt threatened by Kouga. Not because he was scared of him. No, he could kick that filthy wolf's ass. He felt threatened by Kouga because of Kagome. Hearing Kagome;s comment about running off with the wolf made him so angry that reason left his mind.

"No, you're not perfect!" Inuyasha growled, baring his fangs. "You're always getting in the way and making mistakes. Not like Kikyo. Kikyo never got in the way. She always knew what she was doing. She would know how to really help out."

Kagome felt her heart break at these words. She felt torn, feeling tears well up to her eyes. But she kept them in and with her back still facing Inuyasha, he couldn't see how much he was hurting her.

"I know you think Kikyo is so much better than me." Kagome replied with contempt.

"She is!" Inuyasha verified. "She knows how to protect herself. She could take care of herself without much problem. She's calm and collected. She knows how to shoot an arrow without missing. Medicine was natural to her."

Kagome could feel a knife stab into her heart, and with each comment about Kikyo, Kagome could feel the knife twist. It hurt. It hurt a lot.

"She's beautiful. She's the first woman I trusted and gave my heart to." Inuyasha continued. He didn't know why he was going on like this. He wasn't even thinking about it, things just came out of his mouth. "I would do anything for her! You just get in the way."

Kagome bit her lip and hugged herself with her arms. She felt empty inside. Even her tears were gone. Her mind finally accepted a simple fact, however. She finally understood.

Inuyasha stared at Kagome's back. He was still angry, but all the anger started to ebb away as he started to recall what he had just told Kagome, and how it must have sounded. He watched Kagome's stiff back. He couldn't believe what he had just said. He knew she was hurt, and just for that he wished he could go hurt himself. He felt terrible. Kagome was probably going to 'sit' him and yell or feel hurt and go home. He was such an ass.

"Um…Kagome…" Inuyasha began, wanting to apologize and tell her he didn't mean all the things he said.

"No…Inuyasha." Kagome interrupted. Inuyasha felt his ears flatten, waiting for the inevitable 'SIT'. He deserved it.

Kagome felt cold inside. She needed to get away. "I…I understand."

"Kagome..." Inuyasha said softly wanting to comfort her. "What ---?" he began, not really understanding her.

"Inuyasha, please. Just…I understand." Kagome sighed. She brought her arms down. "I'm going for a walk."

"Are…you going home?" he asked uncertainly. He was hoping she didn't. He really hated it when she goes home and leaves his side.

"No. I'll stay here, but I just need some time alone." She replied softly. She really needed to get away fast.

"Kagome, I don't think you should go anywhere alone."

"I'll be fine. Please, Inuyasha. I'll be close by. I just…need to go for a walk to clear my mind. Promise me you won't follow me."

"Kagome…"

"Please."

Inuyasha didn't like this. He felt awful. He really didn't want her going anywhere without his protection. But then, he owed her this for what he said. Damn! He wished he could take it all back. "OK Kagome. But don't take too long. It's dangerous to be out there by yourself."

Kagome nodded and started walking on her way.

Inuyasha's heart fell. He then realized that he didn't even see her face through that.