Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or anyone in this story. Poo.

Summary: Inuyasha can protect Kagome at any time right? Kouga attacks on the night of the full moon and steals Kagome away, leaving Inuyasha for dead. Will Inuyasha rescue Kagome or leave her in the hands of a more worthy protector.

Authors Note: Please comment! This is really my first chapter story, and 2nd Inuyasha story, so please let me know what you think!

Worthy Protector
Chapter 1

Kagome looked up from the inside of the well. She could see the bright sky above her, no longer the timbers of the well house. Suddenly a head blocked the sunlight. "Kagome!"

"Shippo! Where is everyone?" Kagome asked as she climbed out.

"Down in the village. Inuyasha hasn't been around tho…" Shippo looked away as he said this. "Probably with Kikyo again since Kagome was gone…"

"Oh well, he'll be around soon. He knows I'm back." Shippo jumped onto her shoulder as she headed to the village. Kagome had been home for 2 days, taking tests. Inuyasha would have come on the third day like usual, but Kagome was back early.

The back of her neck prickled as she walked with Shippo. "Inuyasha, is that you?" No answer. "Inuyasha…?" A rustling behind them, and Kagome was knocked over. Shippo went flying. Slightly dazed, Kagome stared at the large bear demon above her. "INUYASHA!" Throwing her hands over her head, time seemed to stand still as she waited for the strike.

"IRON REVER SOUL STEALER!"

The demon faded away in a flash of light.

"Kagome! Are you alright?"

Kagome opened her eyes, seeing a red haori. She threw herself at him. "Oh Inuyasha! I was so scared" She was nearly sobbing.

Inuyasha looked shocked for a moment before he started rubbing her back. "It's ok Kagome, I took care of the stinkin' bear demon. You're safe now."

She sniffed. "Thank you Inuyasha."

"Keh. Let's get to the village. Come on Shippo!" Inuyasha picked Kagome up, Shippo jumping onto his back as he ran towards the village.

Kagome's bump to the head was better and the group was on the move, searching for jewel shards and Naraku's presence. Sunset was approaching when Miroku suggested they stop and set up camp.

"That's a great idea, we've been walking all day." Sango set her giant boomerang against a tree in a little cleaning. Miroku went to gather firewood as Kagome got everything ready for dinner. Inuyasha just huffed and jumped into a nearby tree.

It was the night of the new moon and the only light was from the campfire. Inuyasha joined them around it for dinner. Everyone looked as he stepped into the light. Kagome sighed. "He's so beautiful as a human." Inuyasha's hair was black now, with human ears and violet eyes that danced with the fire.

He sat next to her, giving her a funny look. "What?"

"Nothing." Kagome looked away with a slight blush.

Inuyasha looked away as well. He was grumpy, always was on these moonless nights. He was scared, not that he would ever admit it to any of them. Inuyasha stared into the fire, lost in thought. There was some small talk between the others, but he wasn't listening. He looked up from the dying embers and realized that they were getting ready for bed. Shippo had already fallen asleep, and Kagome was laying out her sleeping bag. Sango and Miroku bedded down across the fire from each other. Miroku would take the first watch. But he was sitting a little to close to Kagome's sleeping bag than Inuyasha liked. Inuyasha sat against the tree, a few feet away from Kagome. She was lying in her sleeping bag, looking at him with concerned eyes. He gave her a small smile and snuggled against the tree to try to rest. Kagome smiled back and closed her eyes.

Inuyasha hadn't been able to sleep. But then, he never could as a human. He was too nervous. He felt unsafe, unprotected without his demonic abilities. He stood. He wanted to take a walk. With one last look at Kagome's sleeping form, he headed out of the cleaning.

Kagome woke up with a weird feeling. She opened her eyes and looked at the tree. Inuyasha was gone. Kagome sat up and looked around. Miroku was still awake. He nodded to her and inclined his head in the direction Inuyasha had walked off in. Kagome nodded and headed after him. After about 5 minutes, she found him in a small glade. He was sitting by a trickling stream, staring into the water. He wouldn't be able to smell her, she knew, and she didn't want to startle him. "Inuyasha?" She called softly.

He looked up, surprise and confusion in his violet eyes. Kagome hung back for a moment, afraid of bothering him. Sensing this, Inuyasha patted the ground beside him once and smiled at her. Kagome sat close to him, staring into the small stream. He watched her. "You alright Kagome?"

She smiled. "I'm fine. What about you?"

There was silence. "I hate this body. This weak human body."

Kagome sighed. She figured as much. "You know not all humans are weak."

He looked at her, worried she had taken offense. "I know that, especially after traveling with you and Sango and Miroku. I just… I feel so much weaker without my demon blood. I feel helpless, useless." He pouted and flicked a small pebble into the water.

"It's nice to see you showing some humility for once." She smiled at him.

Inuyasha tried to pout more, but couldn't help smiling back at her. She was so wonderful. Then his smile dropped. "Kagome… why do you stay with me? I can't protect you like this…" He looked away, ashamed. "And I'm so mean to you. I just don't know how to act around you, around anyone. I'm not used to people liking me."

"Oh Inuyasha." Kagome gave a slight smile. "Sure, you can be hard to deal with at times, but I care for you, we all do. And we enjoy traveling with you." She sighed, looking up into those violet eyes. "Why are you so rude to all of us? To me?"

Inuyasha was startled. He turned to stare back into the stream, thinking about it. "Honestly… I don't know. I've never been around anyone who liked me. Everyone I grew up around hated me and made fun of me. When I was on my own, I had to fend for myself and had no friends. When I found Kikyo… I thought I found someone who didn't hate me, but I know I disgusted her. That's why she wanted me to turn into a human. So I wouldn't disgust her. And she wouldn't have to protect the jewel, she could be normal. I see it all now, she was very selfish. She still is, I guess, wanting to take me to Hell with her. I don't want to go, but I feel like I owe it to her, that the whole situation was my fault. I don't know how to be nice to people…" He trailed off, confused.

Kagome just stared. This was the first time she heard about how Kikyo acted with him. And she was mad. "That selfish Kikyo. " "But we're not like that Inuyasha. Sango, Miroku and I, we all care for you. And you can be nice. You're being nice now." She smiled at him. "I really care about you Inuyasha. You protect me all the time, take care of me. I want to be able to help you. I'll do all I can to protect you." She leaned her head on his shoulder as she spoke. "I miss you when I go home and am away from you. I enjoy our travels together. I don't think you're any weaker as a human, Inuyasha." She sighed, watching the stars reflect in the stream. "I want you to be happy."

Inuyasha couldn't help but stare at her. She was so kind… "She wants me to be happy? Do I even know what happiness is? I feel pretty good now tho…Kagome." He slipped an arm around her waist. "You make me happy Kagome. I'll always protect you. You're the first person to care about me, worry about me, cry for me." He remembered all the tears she had shed, many because of him. "I'm sorry I hurt you so much Kagome. I never want to be without you. I… I really like being with you. I know I'm impatient when you're gone. It's not because of the jewel shards or Naraku… I miss you Kagome." He turned his head, burying his face in her hair. Even without his demon senses he could smell her sweet scent.

Her heart was beating in her throat as he buried his face in her hair. "He likes being with me? He misses me? Oh Kami… could he?" Kagome held her breathe as Inuyasha seemed to struggle internally.

"Kagome, I… I… I think I…." "Could I really? Is this love I am feeling? This human emotion of love, strongest for Kagome on the moonless nights…" He had to tell her, but what if she hated him for it? What if it disgusted her? But, she had said she cared for him. He would tell her; he had to. "Kagome…" His voice was soft. "I love you Kagome."

Her heart nearly stopped. She turned to look at him, pulling him out of her hair to see his scared eyes. Her own eyes had tears in them. "Oh Inuyasha! I love you too!" She threw her arms around his neck, falling against him.

He was grinning like an idiot. He knew he was, but didn't care. He drew Kagome closer, wrapping both arms tightly around her. "I love you Kagome." He whispered into her hair as he pulled her over on top of him. She giggled as they fell over and lay there. They both drifted off in each others arms.

It was still dark when Kagome awoke. Something was bothering her. And she felt uncomfortable. Trying to move, she found it nearly impossible. She was trapped. Looking around, she saw Inuyasha's violet eyes staring at her. He almost looked afraid. "What if she gets mad?" He couldn't help but think it.

Kagome leaned down and kissed his cheek, smiling at him. "He's so cute. And I love seeing his emotions."

Inuyasha smiled at her. Then, almost shyly, he leaned up and tenderly kissed her lips. A kiss that she deepened. He pressed up against her and she fell over, pulling him with her. Kagome lay on her back, pinned under Inuyasha's human body. "He may be a human, but he's still stronger than me." His long black hair fell in a curtain around them. Kagome stared into those violet eyes, so full of love.

Suddenly the glade was full of wind, dirt, and leaves. "Hey! Who are you? Get off my woman!" Kouga stood a few feet away from them, ready to fight for Kagome. He didn't recognize Inuyasha. "I said get off of her!"

Sighing, Inuyasha stood up from Kagome, offering her a hand up. She took it and was halfway standing when she suddenly found herself on her butt. Kouga had yelled and kicked Inuyasha's hand, letting her fall. The two were squaring off.

"Who are you? What do you want with my woman?"

"She's not your woman, you stupid wolf! So shut up!"

"Dog turd? What happened to you? You smell… human?" Suddenly realization struck. Kouga laughed. "You're a human! And that means you can't stop me from taking my woman with me!"

"Never! I won't let you take Kagome from me!" Inuyasha lunged at Kouga, but he wasn't fast enough as a human.

Kouga jumped and slammed his leg on Inuyasha's back, slamming him into the ground. "You can't protect her like this, mangy mutt! She's coming with me!" Kouga proceeded to beat Inuyasha senseless.

Kagome was begging Kouga to stop. She pleaded. She yelled. And then she screamed. Inuyasha had gone limp on the ground and she could see blood staining the dirt. Suddenly Kouga was in front of her. She cringed.

"Now Kagome. You're coming with me to be my woman. Dog turd can't stop me." Kouga grabbed her, threw her over his shoulder and took off.

"INUYAHSA!" Her cry resounded in the glade long after they were gone.

Inuyasha couldn't believe it. She was gone. He had failed her. He couldn't protect her as a human. She deserved someone who could protect her all the time. His body hurt, but his heart hurt even more. And Inuyasha did something very rare indeed. He cried.

Sango had been on watch for the past hour or two. Miroku had told her Kagome and Inuyasha were walking, so she was keeping an ear open for any trouble. Demons wouldn't hesitate to attack Inuyasha in his human form. It had been quite for a while when suddenly she saw a small tornado moving closer. "Kouga." She hurried to wake up Miroku. They needed to make sure the others were ok.

Miroku and Sango hurried through the forest. They had heard the sounds of fighting. And Kagome's scream. They were almost to the glade when Kagome screamed a second time, this time Inuyasha's name. They burst through the trees as Kouga took off in his whirlwind. Sango threw her Hiraikotsu, but Kouga easily dodged it. They were gone.

Sango caught Hiraikotsu and turned to Miroku with a sad look. Miroku was looking at Inuyasha's beaten and broken body. "We can't move him. When his demon blood returns in the morning, he will begin to heal. Until then, we'll have to move camp. I'll bring everything over." Sango nodded and began to build a fire near Inuyasha.

With the fire roaring, Sango was seated next to Inuyasha, tending to his wounds as best she could. She could never forgive herself if he died tonight. He had to live for Kagome. Tending to a particularly deep cut on his face, Sango saw tear stains in the dirt covering him. She smiled sadly, knowing they were not shed for his own sake. Sango stayed beside him until dawn approached, making sure he survived until his demon blood could step in. Miroku had gone back to sleep, finishing his rest. Once dawn broke, Sango turned to find a white-haired Inuyasha sleeping soundly. He had lasted the night, and she knew he would survive to save Kagome.