I'm super glad the rewrite is going well! I hope to see some of my old fans reading this version, but it's highly unlikely since I've been away from the Inuyasha fandom for a great many of years.

To all my new readers, thank you for reading & hopefully you enjoy! If you take a gander at my profile, you'll see I have a lot of stories under a lot of fandoms that are written through different stages of my life. My writing has changed significantly so please keep that in mind while you're perusing. I started writing on FFN when I was 13 and I am turning 28 this year so… it's been a great many of years!

Anyway~

Enjoy & please let me know what you think!


A loud bang was heard outside of the inn and, almost immediately, an explosion rocked the building, causing Kagome to hurtle across the room. The only reason Kagome even stopped her trajectory was because she collided with the wall opposite of the crash. The Tetsusaiga fell beside her with a loud clang.

Inuyasha, however, wasn't anywhere to be seen.

A shadowy figured, enveloped in grey smoke with wispy tendrils snaking out from its body, stalked in to the room. "I've come to eradicate this halfling and free you from your prison, miko."

The pain that shot through Kagome's left arm was near unbearable, but was used to pain. The last three years had put her in so many hellish situations that Kagome was concerned when she wasn't staring death right in its eyes. With great struggle, Kagome managed to sit herself up with her right arm and painfully reached over to grab the Tetsusaiga with her left.

I think I broke my arm. She thought tearfully, but that wasn't what was important to her. She would get over the pain… she always got over the pain when Inuyasha's life was potentially in danger. The large entity that shattered the inn began floating towards her, the wispy tendrils gravitating in Kagome's direction. Kagome pulled Tetsusaiga out with her right arm and held it in front of her while scanning the room for Inuyasha as well as her bow and arrows.

Where is he?! Kagome thought, panicked. He was just there—and I have the Tetsusaiga… Her bow and arrows were nowhere to be seen either, which meant that Kagome was defenceless with Inuyasha's untransformed rusty sword. The only thing she had going for her was that the sword had the capability to ward off any demon, but she wasn't too sure how long it could keep that up.

"INUYASHA!" Kagome screamed, hoping that the sound of her voice would get to him. Throughout her many years of travelling, she knew he was always there for her when she needed him the most. At that moment, though, she was more worried about him. Inuyasha was in grave pain before the monster attacked and Kagome didn't care if she got hurt, she wanted to know where he was.

However, unlike every other time, screaming his name proved to be pointless. He didn't respond.

He didn't show.

Please be alive! Kagome managed to get to her feet and swing the Tetsusaiga with no aim, effectively knocking the demon back and sunning him for long enough to scramble out of the shattered village inn. Where is he?! Kagome tried to sense his aura, but it wasn't working… she couldn't feel his presence. In fact, she couldn't even feel the aura of the demon that attacked her.

Something isn't adding up.

With her left arm pressed tightly against her body and Tetsusaiga's scabbard tucked under her left arm, Kagome clutched the blade with her right hand and sprinted as fast as she could towards the exit of the village. Something was wrong with the village, she knew it, and she needed to remove herself from the vicinity before she could begin to figure out what to do—she needed to be safe before she could save Inuyasha. It did nobody any good if she got hurt.

Also, becoming bait for the demon meant that it wouldn't be looking for Inuyasha.

Which meant that he would be safe… and that was all that mattered to Kagome.

"Come back here, miko! Your halfling mate is gone, and now it is your turn to be purified."

Kagome glanced over her shoulder and stumbled to her knees, screaming when she saw a single purple eyeball just inches from her. A smoky tendril had shot out of the body of the demon and held onto the eyeball protectively. "Stay away from me!" Kagome swung the Tetsusaiga and it impacted the side of the eyeball. A bone chilling shriek reverberated through the demon and the tendril recoiled back with the eyeball, pulling it into the body of the demon.

"Now you've made me angry."

Eyes widening in horror, Kagome was frozen sitting on the ground as she saw two mouths begin to appear on the body of the demon along with the purple eyeball. One mouth licked its lips and the other smirked maliciously. The purple eyeball just above the two mouths blinked. The demon was something unlike anything Kagome had ever seen. Her fear had her frozen and her mind could only think of one thing: Please be alive, Inuyasha. Please be safe… Please, I want this demon to kill me and forget about Inuyasha.

Kagome was ready to die for Inuyasha. She always was…

"I'm going to kill yo—"

The demon's words were cut short and both mouths were hanging open. The purple eye rolled to the back of its torso. Kagome watched in horror as a giant hole exploded through the core of the demon, its innards flying everywhere. Through the hole emerged the one person that she would've sold her soul to the devil to see—

"INUYASHA!"

Except he was full demon.

Kagome had expected as much since she was the one clutching onto his Tetsusaiga, but she wasn't afraid. Though his full demon couldn't tell good from evil, she knew in her heart that he wouldn't hurt her. It was something he had proven time and time again; Inuyasha would kill anybody that crossed his path, but he wouldn't hurt a single strand of Kagome's hair.

"Never," his voice was lethal and gravelly, "touch her." Fingers flexed, Inuyasha reared his hand and slashed through the demon with a mighty senkon tessou. With a cloud of smoke, the demon began to evaporate in to the air and the village was, subsequently, encompassed by a bright light. Kagome looked to her left and then to her right to see bodies of people appearing out of thin air, all looking dazed and confused.

What… is going on?

Her attention was quickly taken off of the suddenly appearing people and onto the murderous looking youkai standing before her. His eyes were bloodshot and the purple Daiyoukai marks on his cheeks were stark, proving his royal lineage and bloodline right to the Western Lands. Dropping to his knees so that the was eye-level with Kagome, Inuyasha brought his left hand up and gently, which thoroughly surprised Kagome, cupped her cheek.

"Are you hurt?" His voice was strained. Kagome knew he was exercising an inordinate amount of willpower to remain in control. I don't think I've ever heard him have a conversation while in youkai form. Kagome mused while ushering his sword to him.

"I'm okay." She whispered. "Here. Take this."

The youkai's eyes flickered to the sword and back up to Kagome's eyes.

Take the sword, his human blood roared, take the sword and help her. Can't you see she's in pain?

The youkai's eyes travelled to her left arm and saw that it was caked with blood. It also looked like it wasn't sitting right… like it was… broken. His blood began to boil; if that fucking demon wasn't dead, I'd kill him thrice over. His youkai's anger echoed through his body, but his human blood kept him in control for as long as it could.

You need to control your anger. Kagome needs you!

Hearing that Kagome needed him brought the youkai back to his senses and he quickly retrieved the outstretched Tetsusaiga. Within seconds, his demonic blood receded and the hanyou was back, eyes shining with worry. Kagome let out a sigh of relief and allowed her shoulders to sag which, inadvertently, sent a fiery shot of pain to pulsate through her left arm.

"Crap…"

"Kagome!" Inuyasha slid his left arm around her back to support her. Kagome turned her body just slightly so that there was no pressure on her left arm, the scabbard however, was still tucked tightly in her grip. "Are you stupid? Why did you think you could take him on?!"

"I didn't think that." Kagome revealed softly as her eyes searched Inuyasha's. He didn't look like how did just before the attack, where it seemed as if the air was sucked out of his lungs. "I was trying to get it away from you…" Her eyes locked with his and her worry was palpable. "You were in pain before it attacked… all I was thinking of how to save you."

"Stupid girl…" Inuyasha brought his right arm over so that he could gently pull Kagome into an embrace. "Protecting you is my job."

Tears welled in Kagome's eyes and she snapped them shut. Thank you, Inuyasha…

.xx.

Kagome's arm was resting in a makeshift sling with a wooden board and cloth being used to be a temporary cast. The duo was sitting in the village leader's hut surrounded by some of the village men and the headman himself. Kagome was sipping on some fragrant jasmine tea while Inuyasha just sat, glowering.

"I wish to offer you two my deepest gratitude." The headman bowed his head. His hands were on his knees and his forehead was inches away from the floor, expressing great respect and honour. "The demon," he spoke, his head still lowered, "showed up at the village some time ago and one by one, my villagers began disappearing."

"We didn't sense any demonic aura from it." Kagome revealed.

After the people of the village reappeared, the headman quickly sought out Kagome and Inuyasha at the village sanatorium and wished for their audience. They told him that they were the shard hunters of lore that were seeking out Naraku to destroy him completely and that their travels had brought them to the village.

"Our village monk and priestess didn't sense anything from it either." The headman revealed. "We don't know what kind of demon it was but… it's gone now, thanks to you both. If there is anything you require from us, please let us know. We are eternally in your debt!"

Kagome glanced at Inuyasha whose eyes flickered to her and back at the bowing headman.

"Your villagers have just returned so we won't ask for anything." Inuyasha stood up and offered Kagome his arm which she took gladly, helping herself stand up. The headman rose from his bowing position and gawked at the shard hunters. Inuyasha looked down at the man and wrapped an arm around Kagome's waist, pulling her close to him to show everybody present in the room that she belonged to him and was his alone to protect.

"But if we ever have to pass through, we expect a roof over our heads and food in our bellies at no cost."

The headman nodded vigorously. "We can arrange that!"

"Good. Now, we're leaving." Inuyasha grabbed Kagome's yellow backpack (which survived the onslaught, as Inuyasha predicted), and ushered her to follow him. Kagome glanced over her shoulder and smiled gently at the headman before quickly walking to catch up with her half-demon companion.

Despite having a rough exterior, he truly was a gentle soul.

.xx.

"We're going to Kouga's den." Inuyasha revealed as they left the threshold of the village with a crowd of villagers seeing them off. "I need him to get somebody to look at your arm before we continue our journey." Inuyasha's eyes travelled over to Kagome who was walking in tandem beside him. "I would've liked to take you to your time, but the well is too far off and we need somebody skilled to take a look at you immediately. That village healer was borderline pathetic. No. Not borderline, he is pathetic. Keh!"

Kagome smiled at him and nodded. "Yeah, I think I can agree with you on this."

Inuyasha could only roll his eyes. "Keh! You make it seem like it's so rare that you agree with me."

"Not really commonplace for you to say something that I can agree with."

"Fine," Inuyasha crossed his arms and Kagome tried her damnedest not to laugh. He looked hysterical: garbed in his haori and hakama with a stark yellow backpack... he seemed extremely out of place in his own era. "Then I supposed you won't agree with me when I suggest we set up camp near a hot spring shortly."

Kagome's eyes widened, ever so slightly. After the group disbanded she hardly ever asked to stop by a hot spring, so hearing Inuyasha say they could was a rare treat. She needed to play her cards right, though. While trying to maintain an indifferent façade, Kagome shrugged her right shoulder. "Nah, I don't think I will agree. We need to get to Kouga's as soon as possible…" Kagome tried not to peek over at Inuyasha. "We can't afford to let your shard detector's arm heal wrongly, now can we?"

"No, we can't, so quit your bullshitting and keep walking." Inuyasha voice was tight and gruff. He caught on to her bluff. "There's a fucking hot spring not too far ahead. We'll camp for a bit before we go to Kouga's den. I'll carry you there, it'll be faster."

Being indifferent proved to be a difficult feat. Kagome let out a squeal of happiness and Inuyasha bit his cheek to stop himself from smiling. It always warmed his soul to see Kagome so happy, and it was always the smallest things that brought her joy…

You could do little things for her more often, his demon blood chided, she would prove to be a strong mate that gives us equally strong pups.

Inuyasha's human blood blanched. Shut up! We are not thinking of mating Kagome.

Being a half-demon meant that Inuyasha's two bloods were always at each other: his demon blood wanted to follow the youkai traditions while his human blood was more empathetic to human emotion. It was one of the big reasons why he was always so pissed off; he was confused with what course of action he needed to take at any given moment. Did he react like a youkai or respond as a human?

Although he hated it, Kagome always told him he had the best of both worlds. How the hell is being half-blooded lucky in any way?! He always thought, but he knew in his soul that Kagome cared for him because he was a half-demon. If he was anything else, pure youkai or pure human, he didn't know if she would care for him as fiercely as she did.

"So," Kagome recovered from her little bout of excitement and looked over at Inuyasha in all seriousness. "Are we going to tackle the elephant in the room?"

Frowning, Inuyasha looked around. "I don't see an elephant…? I actually don't think we've ever encountered an elephant, Kagome."

"It's an idiom, you idiot. Kagome snorted. "It means are we going to talk about the most awkwardly obvious thing right now…"

Inuyasha raised an eyebrow. "And that is…?"

"What caused you so much pain before that demon attacked?"

Inuyasha's ears drooped. "Ahh, that. First, that has nothing to do with an elephant, and second it was probably part of the demon's powers."

Kagome frowned and chose to ignore his former elephant quip. "I somehow don't think—"

"Wench," Inuyasha cut her off, "it's never happened before. Now, all of a sudden, we are in a possessed village and I'm in excruciating pain. It's too coincidental to not be related! They are linked and that's probably what it was… As soon as you left the inn with the demon, I was able to breathe again."

Kagome studied him, wondering if he was lying but couldn't tell. Maybe he's right…

"I guess."

"Yes, you guess. Now, stop slowing down and keep your pace up. The faster we get to Kouga's today, the faster we can get your arm looked at." It truly touched Kagome how much he cared, and it wasn't often that he showed it. By even suggesting that he was willing to swallow his pride and venture in to Kouga's territory was enough to let Kagome know just how much he cared about her.

It hurt her heart though, knowing they couldn't ever be together that way, but being able to be near him and be somebody he cared so deeply for made her happy all the same.

.xx.

True to Inuyasha's words, there was a hot spring along their route and they came across it just in time for lunch. Kagome, with a little bit of help from Inuyasha, was able to loosen her yukata and went for a short dip while Inuyasha left to catch their lunch. With great difficulty, Kagome was able to strip out of her yukata and slowly lower herself into the hot spring. Because she didn't want to get her left arm wet (there were still the remnants of a medicinal herb rub on her arm designed to numb her pain), she found a low enough boulder that allowed her to sit waist deep in the springs. Lazily, she threw her yukata over her torso to hide her exposed chest.

Her mind was abuzz yet blank at the same time; Kagome didn't know what to think about, didn't know how to feel, and didn't know what to do! She decided not to think about anything and simply rest her body and mind. Closing her eyes, she lowered her head to rest on her right arm that was leaned against a higher boulder beside her. Exhaustion was kicking in and before Kagome knew it, she had fallen into a light slumber.

.xx.

Inuyasha returned with a few bunnies and some berries to find that Kagome was still at the hot springs. He dropped his game near their camp and slowly went to where he scented Kagome only to find her asleep at the hot spring, completely in the nude. His heart thudded against his chest as he saw her glistening body half submerged in the hot spring; her hair cascaded down her back and her left arm was held tightly against her while her head rested on her right.

She looked so peaceful and at ease… an expression he hardly ever got to see on his companion's face. As quiet as a fox (well, dog, in his case), Inuyasha crept over to Kagome and gently tugged the yukata off of her lap and wrapped it around her body. Seeing her naked caused a fire to rage in his loins, but he wasn't going to act on it.

He was a young man in his prime, it was only natural that he wanted to sink his fangs into Kagome… she was a young and beautiful woman that had stuck with him for three long years… It's only natural I want to couple with her, right? But was it normal that his heart pounded against his chest whenever he was near her? Was it normal that no other woman made him feel the way Kagome did? Was it normal to not feel remotely attracted to Sango's naked body, but to feel like his loins were on fire when he saw Kagome's?

Is any of this shit normal?!

Ensuring Kagome was covered, he gently pulled her out of the hot spring and carried her back to the camp. Kagome moaned slightly, but otherwise didn't stir. He placed her next to the fire and shrugged his haori off to cover her with it; her yukata was a little damp and he didn't want Kagome catching a cold. She has to be exhausted to not wake up with all this movement, Inuyasha thought as he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and watched her sleep for a brief moment.

After Inuyasha was sure his companion was comfortable, he began to work on skinning and gutting the rabbits. By the time Kagome woke up, he would have their lunch ready for her to eat. The quicker his preparations were done, the quicker lunch would be served and the quicker they'd be able to leave for Kouga's den.

.xx.

Kagome woke up, her brain a mush and her senses groggy. She felt the warm radiance of the fire pit and let out a loud breath of air. "Inuyasha…" She called her voice crackling with dehydration. In a heartbeat, Inuyasha's face was peering down at her, his hand extended out for her good hand to grasp. Sitting up, Inuyasha repositioned his haori so that she was covered and moved to offer her a bunny leg and a small gourd of water.

"Hungry?"

"How long have I been out for?" Kagome groaned before downing all the water that was in the gourd. She didn't realize how thirsty she was.

"Not long," Inuyasha shrugged. "Just long enough for me to make lunch." He eyed her partially exposed skin. "Do you need help getting dressed?"

Kagome groaned and looked down at her partially naked body. She tried to fight the heat of her blush, she didn't want Inuyasha to see that his gaze made her blood roar. It was hard enough to hide the scent of her feelings. "It's times like this where I wish Sango was still around."

"Keh… it's nothing I've never seen before, wench."

Kagome scowled. "If I didn't need you to do basic necessary tasks for me, I would've made sure you were in an Inuyasha-crater."

Grinning stupidly, Inuyasha slowly chewed on his bunny. "Does the all-mighty miko need to rely on this lowly hanyou?"

"You aren't lowly and I've always relied on you, idiot." She muttered as she bit in to her bunny leg. "But to rely on you to help me get dressed?! You better keep your hands to yourself."

"Keh, as if I'd want to touch you."

"What?! Am I not desirable?!"

Inuyasha's eyes bugged and he gawked at Kagome. "Uhhhh…"

There. Is. No. Right. Answer. His mind roared at him and he could do nothing but open and close his mouth like a fish out of water. His erratic senses told him to just say NO and be done with it, but the other side of him that knew Kagome's personality like the back of his hand said that no matter what he told her, he was in trouble.

"What the fuck can I say that won't be a reason for you to make a me-shaped crater?" Inuyasha finally decided to ask and Kagome giggled.

"It seems that you're tangoing with diplomacy." Kagome watched as Inuyasha's scowl deepened. "Fine, no Inuyasha- crater. Just help me get dressed, will you?"

Inuyasha put his bunny meat down and stood up. "Yeah, yeah, come on let's get itty bitty Kagome all dressed up—AHH!"

"Osuwari."

.xx.

Kagome was glaring at an annoyed Inuyasha as he helped her in to her yukata. He was irritated that she sat him despite saying she wasn't going to, and she was annoyed that he had the audacity to make fun of her.

"I broke my arm for you." She tried to argue but he wasn't having any of it.

"Bullshit. You broke your arm when that demon caused the explosion."

Kagome bit her lower lip. "… I'd break my arm for you though, if I had to!"

Rolling his eyes, Inuyasha picked up her backpack and slung it onto his shoulder before leaning down to scoop Kagome up bridal style. With her broken arm, it would be impossible for her to ride on his back, so he had to opt with carrying her bridal style instead. It would be harder to fight off surprise demon attacks, but at least she wouldn't be in pain.

Her comfort was his main priority. Second to her life, of course.

"I know you would, but I'll always protect you so don't go thinking you're gonna have to break your bones for me, understood?"

"Yeah yeah…" Kagome muttered as Inuyasha leapt into the trees and began his run towards Kouga's den. "You're the all-mighty hanyou that can protect himself and Kagome."

"I am and I can." Inuyasha muttered as he soared in to the sky and glided for as long as he could before touching down on a branch, only to leap up again. "As long as I have fight left in me, I will."

Kagome's heart pounded against her chest as she gaped up at him. Inuyasha…

It was one of the rare times where she didn't mask her feelings for him. She didn't think to; she was just so overwhelmed with his words. An assault of the essence of pure and unhindered love filled Inuyasha's nose and his heart raced in his chest—Kagome…

He knew she cared for him. He cared for her too…

But a woman like Kagome would never be happy with a hanyou like Inuyasha.


Wrap on chapter two :) Thoughts?

And for those of you wondering: To Dance with the Devil is undergoing a major edit & revamping process but it will be continued!