Okay. I know I said I wasn't going to put on any new stories until I finished at least one, but I couldn't help myself. ' The reason I decided to put this one on is because it's going to be really short, ten chapters at the most. I guarantee that this one will be finished. Believe me; I have my entire summer vacation to do it.

NOTE: SPOILERS WILL OCCUR! This happens after Kikyo's second death, Naraku's new body, and Kagome's encounter with that freaky looking baby (not quite sure of his name).

Disclaimer: I don't know why I even bother with the disclaimer because if I owned Inuyasha, I would know the name of that freaky talking baby, know how to spell Mount Hikizue or whatever it's called where Naraku got his new body, have killed Kikyo off ages ago, and my name would be Rumiko Takahashi, which it's not. So there!

Protecting You

Ch 1: Leaving


Kagome sighed as she gathered her things in Kaede's hut. The group had just got back from an exhausting battle that landed them with a jewel shard.

But it was received without getting something in return. Sango had a broken leg and Miroku had a deep gash in his thigh. It wasn't even half as bad as Inuyasha's injuries. He sported another whole in the stomach and shoulder along with many small scratches and bruises.

She knew he would get over it though. All he need were rest and bandaging (which was already taken care of thanks to her) and he would be running around in two days. She wasn't so sure about the others. It would take weeks for their wounds to heal. The group wouldn't be able to hunt jewel shards for a while; just the excuse she needed to get home without a hassle from Inuyasha.

Belongings finally packed, the raven-haired girl headed out of the hut to first find Sango, Miroku, Shippo, Kirara, and Kaede; she would deal with Inuyasha last. She found Sango, Miroku, and Kirara sitting under the cool shade of a tree, resting. Sango's head lay sleepily on her future husband's shoulder while Kirara stretched out on her lap. Kagome couldn't help but feel slightly envious of the couple.

"Hey guys," Kagome called to them. Their heads snapped up at her arrival.

"Going home Kagome?" Sango asked, noticing her bulging yellow backpack.

Kagome nodded and waved. "See ya in a few days, ok?"

They all nodded and went back to what they were doing. She walked to find Kaede and Shippo. Soon enough, she found the old miko in her herb garden. They both said their goodbyes and Kagome was off again, in search of Inuyasha and Shippo, who was probably with him if not with the others.

Knowing exactly where to find him, she set off in the direction of his favorite tree. Her assumption was correct since she found the hanyo sitting up in the highest branch of the tree, trying to get rid of the irritating little kitsune.

Suddenly, he flung the defenseless kit off the branch. Kagome ran to catch Shippo before he turned into yokai pancake, dropping her bag in the process.

"Inuyasha!" she yelled. "You could have really hurt Shippo, you know!"

"Keh!" was his simple reply as he turned his back to her. She gave a frustrated sigh. She didn't have the nerve to sit him, fearing of injuring him more than he already was.

Erasing all her negative thoughts for the time being, she smiled lovingly at the small yokai in her arms. "Shippo, go back to the village please. I'll see you in a few days, ok?"

Shippo panicked. "You're going home? Is it because Inuyasha upset you?"

Kagome shook her head. "No, I just have some things I have to get done in my time. It has nothing to do with what Inuyasha or anybody else has done."

"Ok." With that said he jumped out of her arms and ran back towards the village.

"Inuyasha," Kagome started as soon as Shippo was gone. "I'm going home for a while. I'll be back in a few days. You know we won't be able to gather any jewel shards with Sango and Miroku injured so—"

"Go ahead," Inuyasha stated, cutting her off.

She blinked a few times in surprise. "N-Nani?"

"I said go ahead. What are you asking me for anyway? I don't have the right to keep you here." He remained turned away form her.

Kagome was dumbfounded. Was that it? No fights? No Arguments? No sits? Was this the same Inuyasha?

No, a voice in her gut said. This Inuyasha's colder...

She couldn't help but believe that voice. The signs were there, after all. His body language and mood had changed since Kikyo died again. He was just like he was when she first met him, arrogant on the battlefield, but cold when around other people.

Hatred, loneliness, and pain had been the cause of that. But now...now it was different. It was just...pain. He had become so overcome with pain that he was pushing everyone away again. She knew how he felt. She had done the same before, earlier in her lifetime.

She sighed a good one, one that felt good to get out. She picked up her fallen bag.

"Inuyasha," she watched for his ears to twitch before continuing. "If you ever need to talk about anything...I'll always be here."

Without waiting for an answer, she started slowly around the village toward the Honekui.

Inuyasha listened to her footsteps until they died out. Could she really help him? Would she really always be there for him?

No, he told himself. It was a lie. As soon as Naraku was defeated and the Shikon no Tama was restored, she would leave. She would return to her own time and leave this era behind her.

She would leave him.

That's what upset him the most. That's what plagued his nightmares and thoughts every waking minute of his time.

He may not have realized it before, but he needed her. He needed her as much as she needed him to protect her. And hell knows he hasn't been a very good protector.

He had let Kikyo die. Again.

He had failed her. Again.

He had let her fall into the hands of Naraku. Again.

He wasn't going to let happen to another. He would protect Kagome...

As long as he lived.

Well that was an interesting chapter. Lot's of drama. I know it was short, but I had to end it there. If I kept going, the chapter wouldn't sound right.

Japanese translations:

hanyo: half-demon

yokai: demon

kitsune: fox demon

Nani: What

Honekui: Bone-eater well

See you in the next chapter! Oh, and one more thing...

Review!