Chapter 1

It had been a year since the death of the child that had clung to him and although he never showed it, he still weighed heavenly on his heart. Even as he fought alongside his brother, even when the miko that stayed by his brothers side had tried to help him forget the pain, he wanted nothing more than to kill the bastard that had stolen the only thing that had ever warmed his heart. As he stood alongside his brother, the two faced that evil hanyou while the miko began to take aim. They had talked it over and had already planned their final attack. With the demon slayer and monk out of the way Sesshomaru, Inuyasha, and Kagome unleashed their attacks all at the same time and ended the evil demons life. He had finally avenged the girl's death but nothing helped...he would find her reincarnation and he would mark her as his as he would have been when she would have come of age.

After watching the lord of the west take his leave, Kagome walked over to the now completed, yet still tainted, shikon no tama and picked it up as she whispered, "It's over, it's finally over."

"Feh, we need to get out of here." Inuyasha growled out as he struggled to get to Kagome's side.

"Sango, Miroku...are you guys alright to travel?" Kagome called out as she met Inuyasha half way and helped him walk straight.

"We're fine Kagome-Chan" Sango answered as she helped a shocked Miroku up and to his feet.

Once they were altogether the group made their way back to the village never knowing of the unexpected visitor that awaited them. Since Inuyasha was injured and since Kagome wanted to tend to his wounds, before they reached Kaede's village. She knew that evil demons would be after the jewel but it didn't matter, to keep the man she loved safe, and to keep her friends safe, she was use her now fully mastered miko powers to protect them all. It had been thanks to her combined efforts with Sesshomaru and Inuyasha that her arrow and miko powers had been able to purify Naraku before he could completely regenerate once again.

Once they had reached the small hut that they had used in the past to rest, Kagome turned to Inuyasha and said, "Alright, let me see your wounds."

"Feh, I'm not like you weak humans…I'm fine." Inuyasha growled out as he turned away from her while leaning against the far wall of the hut.

"Inuyasha I know you're not weak, I just want to make sure you're alright…please." Kagome whispered.

"I'm fine wench…let's just get back to Kaede's!" Inuyasha growled out. A part of him didn't like the fact that Kagome had to have been so close to the battle while another part of him was proud of her. During the battle Naraku had been able to not only hurt her but Sango as well and she had been able to heal the two of them within minutes. Knowing that she could do such things only made him feel as if she no longer needed him.

"Uh…I don't need this." Kagome stated as she placed on hand on his shoulder and allowed her miko powers to flow onto the hanyou so that she could quickly heal him. Once she had finished, she turned her back to him and said, "I'll just check on Sango and Miroku and then we can leave like you want to," in a cold and hurt voice.

'Damn it…there I go putting my foot in my mouth again.' Inuyasha thought as he nodded his head and stood up straight.

Once Kagome had been able to check on her friends and make sure that they were alright, Kagome had checked on Kirara and healed her of her wounds before the group set off again. They had the jewel, she had no idea why he was in such a big rush to get back when they could take their time and rest after their big battle. It was what they usually did whenever they had a big fight with a very strong opponent. 'Um…I wonder why he is in a hurry to get back…I wonder if I should be worried.' Kagome thought as she walked out of the house only to walk into Sango.

"Kagome-Chan…are you alright?" Sango asked in a worried voice.

"I'm fine…just thinking." Kagome answered with a smile on her face.

"Well, are you girls ready to go?" Miroku asked as he walked over to them with Kirara at his side.

"Yeah, we're ready." Kagome answered before Sango could question her on anything else.

"Feh about time wench, let's get going." Inuyasha growled as he offered her his back.

Having had enough, Kagome turned to Sango and Miroku as she ignored Inuyasha's offered back and asked, "I'm sorry but would be alright if I rode with you Sango?"

"Oi, the hell is your problem wench?" Inuyasha growled out as he stood up straight to face the angry miko.

Having had enough of the hanyou, Kagome turned around and yelled out, "You're my problem! I haven't done anything to you that would give you the right to treat me like this at all! Just leave me the fuck alone!"

"Wow." Miroku whispered.

"Just who the hell do you think you are…" Inuyasha began to say only to stop as he was slammed into the ground.

"Inuyasha SIT BOY! SIT, SIT, SIT, SIT BOY!" Kagome roared as she got on Kirara with Sango.

"That looks like it hurt a lot." Miroku told the hanyou as he watched the girls go up ahead.

"Feh…wench is going to regret that." Inuyasha growled as he struggled to stand up.

"I hate to say it but you deserve it, Lady Kagome has done nothing to you for you to be treating her this way." Miroku pointed.

"Just hurry up before the girls get there before we do." Inuyasha growled out as he began to stretch his back so that it wouldn't hurt so much anymore or while he ran.

"Uh…I have a bad feeling about this." Miroku mumbled to himself.

It hadn't taken the guys long to catch up to the girls. Every time Inuyasha would get to close to Kagome she would use her miko energy to put pressure on the necklace so that it felt heavier to him. This why he would stay away from her until she cooled down and she wouldn't have to say the 'S' word on him again. She really hated doing it but sometimes she just couldn't control her anger. Just as they had reached the path to the village, Kagome had asked Sango to let her off since she wanted to walk the rest of the way there. Since Kirara needed a break, Sango agreed and the two girls got off of Kirara.

"Do you want me to hold her for a while?" Kagome offered her best friend as she began to walk ahead.

"No, I think she's fine on my shoulder. But thank you for offering Kagome." Sango answered with a smile on her face.

"Is there a problem?" Miroku asked in a worried voice once he caught up to the girls.

"No, Kirara just needs a break and I felt like walking." Kagome answered as she took in a deep breath and turned away from Inuyasha.

"Oi, come on wen…Kagome…I'm sorry ok." Inuyasha growled out.

"Like I care…you're just going to be mean to me all over again in a few hours." Kagome hissed out. God how she loved him but sometimes, very rarely in fact, she would hate him for the way he would treat her.

"I didn't mean to be that way…I just wanted to get you guys here so that you could rest." Inuyasha growled as he looked away to hide his growing blush.

Kagome turned to face Inuyasha with narrowed eyes and couldn't help but ask, "Really?"

"Yeah…" Inuyasha growled as he turned to lock his emotion filled eyes with her. He knew he cared for her dearly, but he just never could figure it out that he loved her more than he had ever or could ever love Kikiyo.

"Alright, well lets go and ask Kaede what she thinks we should do with the jewel." Kagome stated with a smile on her face as she took hold of Inuyasha's hand and led him into the village. When he had taken her hand into his as well, Kagome couldn't help but smile.

Once the hanyou and the miko were out of hearing range, Sango turned to Miroku and said, "I have a feeling that this is not going to end well."

"As do I, I suggest we catch up to them." Miroku replied as he and his fiance ran ahead so that they could go ahead and catch up to the two.

After catching up to Kagome and Inuyasha the four walked into the hut only to freeze at what they saw. As soon as Kikiyo had come into view with Kaede in the hut, Inuyasha had quickly pulled his hand out of Kagome while pushing her a bit more away from him. Sango and Miroku knew what that had done to their friend but there was nothing that could be done, Kagome tried to hide the hurt from her eyes but the only one that could see it would be the old miko that had trained her and her friends.

After taking in a deep and calming breath, Kagome smiled and said, "I'm going to go and take a dip in the hot springs."

Not wanting to leave her friend alone, Sango turned to her and said, "I'll go with you."

"Thanks." Kagome whispered before quickly walking out of the hut with the jewel still around her neck.

Once the two were out of the hut and out of hearing range, Miroku turned his anger filled eyes and locked them with the hanyou and undead miko before asking, "So, what brings you here Lady Kikiyo?"