"Hyah," Inuyasha cries as he slices down trees. "If she dies, its all my fault."

"I've said it before and I'll say it again," Sesshomaru's voice scraped at Inuyasha's ears. "You've become an obedient lapdog. You should be happy she is dying, you'll finally be free."

"There's no point in living-let alone living freely- without Kagome." He said plaintively. he blushed realizing what he said "I mean-um...who would I pick on."

"That's a pathetic excuse," Sesshomaru hissed. "You love the mortal girl, don't you?"

"Show yourself, Sesshomaru," Inuyasha demanded. "Say that to my face." 'Actually,' he thought. 'Say it to my claws.'

"Another time little brother," Sesshomaru sighed. "Soon, we will battle again, and soon, you will die."

"Do you think Kagome is going to make it Myoga?" Sango asked.

"Well," Myoga the Flea pondered. "It will depend uupon her willpower. And as you all can tell, Lady Kagome is a fiery little thing. Her chances look good, but we should still keep our fingers crossed."

"I'm way ahead of you Myoga," Miroku said in a far away voice. "I've been praying to the Buddha to let this young woman stay in the land of the living. She's worked so hard for others, its not fair if her life were to be cut short."

"What I don't get," Myoga frowned. "Is who or what is the Harmony Harpie? And why did Kikyo have to come back for a day and toy with Master Inuyasha's heart?"

"Inuyasha will be fine," Shippo reassured Myoga. "That is...if Kagome lives. There's a hidden love in their history. Shippo mumbles the next sentence. As much as I hate the thought."

"Master Inuyasha," Myoga twittered anxiously. "In love with a mortal...there's no way. But perhaps he really does take after his extraordinary father."

Inuyasha enters Kaede's guest hut where the rest of the group is. "S-Sango," he stuttered. "How-how is the doing?"

"There's still no change in her state," Sango replied. "Why don't you get some rest? You can't keep beating yourself up about this. You are not to blame!"

"But if I hadn't teased her so much," Inuyasha's eyes misted over. "Then she wouldn't have ran off on-never mind."

"Inuyasha," Miroku intervened. "You have to let people in."

"I did let someone in," Inuyasha bellowed in rage. "And look where its gotten her."

Meanwhile, I was lying on the ground, trying to muster enough strength just to open my eyes. 'He must feel something for me,' I said to myself. 'He's worried about me and he blames himself for what happened to me. Well it is kind of his fault! If he hadn't been such a jerk to me, I wouldn't have ran off into Inuyasha's Forest to get to the Bone Eater Well. I wouldn't have wanted to run away to my home in Future Japan.'

"I-Inuyasha," I muttered in a strained voice. Everyone got very quiet.

Inuyasha stepped forward uncertainly, "Yes Kagome."

"I'm sorry," I sighed and fainted again.

I felt myself slipping on a rock in a pit that was leading down to a light. When I looked down into the unearthly bright light, I saw my grandmother. Then, it was as if someone else was controlling my actions. I watched myself jump straight into death's grasp. My deceased grandma had her arms outstretched to me, and as I was about to reach her, I felt five claws grab my forearm in an iron grip. I looked up to see Inuyasha's tear stained face looking down at me. He said, "Don't leave me Kagome."

"I won't," I mumbled, once I realized I had indeed been looking up into Inuyasha's real face. "Inuyasha, have you been crying ?"

"No," Inuyasha denied the obvious. "I got dirt in my eyes while I was out and my eyes have been watering ever since."

'Oh Inuyasha,' I smiled. 'You never were a good liar.'

"You are such a liar Inuyasha," Shippo tattled. "You were practically bawling all over Kagome."

"Shut up you badger," Inuyasha growled as he plonked Shippo on the head.

All of a sudden, a real fast whirlwind started to pick up outside. It was super powerful, almost a demonic wind.

SWOOSH! The door was blown open by a small tornado. Then, abruptly as the tornado came, it disappeared, and left in its place was a wolf demon.

"Kagome!" Kouga howled.

"I was so worried about you." Kouga proclaimed. "I felt your pain when you were injured. looks straight at Inuyasha After all, as your mate, we are connected by an unbreakable bond."

"Um...Kouga," I interrupted. "I never actually agreed to be your mate."

"But you will," he said confidently. "Its our destiny. Once I kill that insolent puppy, there will be nothing holding you back."

"Yeah-whatever," I sighed. "But could you have your rematch when I'm feeling better? I'm so weak, a shock like that could kill me." took his hand and gave him a pain stricken smile

Inuyasha saw my acting, but took it as the real deal. "Get your filthy paw out of Kagome's hand," he barked. "Or I'll kill you."

"Don't worry." Kouga sneered. "I am going to obey Kagome because she is wise, and I love her." With that, he ran out the door and turned into a tornado. Within a minute, he was gone.

"What was with you holding that mangy wolf's hand?" Inuyasha roared.

"Yes Kagome," Sango agreed. "Are you starting to return Kouga's affections towards you?"

"No." I laughed. "The reason I held his hand, was to make what I said hit him more effectively. What I said was true for the most part. But if I hadn't given him that gesture, he wouldn't have been satisfied, and wouldn't have left." 'Whew,' I thought. 'That was stretching the truth to its limits. Why did I grab Kouga's hand.' A voice in my head answered my question for me, "To make Inuyasha jealous!"

"So you're not in love with Kouga." Inuyasha smirked, trying not to sound too relieved.

"Oh, I don't know, I might." I teased. Then seeing the sheer hurt in Inuyasha's eyes I added, "CHILL! Kouga's not my type, I'm not into wolves." 'I'm into dogs.'

Sango came over to me and, as if reading my mind, whispered. "No, that's right, you're into dogs."

"I am not!" I squealed defiantly.

"Sure you aren't." Sango teased.

"You aren't what," Inuyasha asked.

"Oh nothing," Sango giggled. "I...was...just teasing Kagome. directs the next comment at Kagome I was just bluffing, but thanks for confirming my beliefs."

"Oh great." I muttered.

"Don't worry," Sango consoled me. "I won't tell anyone. narrows her eyes in a mischievous squint As long as I can have half of whatever is left of the cake."

"Go ahead," I sighed a sigh of relief. "And if Miroku gives you a hard time...um...tell him I'll bake him a cake for himself."

"Hey!" Sango began to protest.

"A deal's a deal."

"What are you two whisperin' about?" Inuyasha wanted to know. "Are you two girls talking about me?"

"Oh please Inuyasha," I dismissed his thought with a wave of my hand. "Grow up! The world doesn't revolve around you; its not all about Inuyasha."

"You rude, disrespectful little brat! I can't believe I had cared you were going to die-even if it was only for a half a second."

"You're calling me rude?" I argued. "It's the pot calling the kettle black."

"WHAT!?"

"Never mind."

"Why are you always throwing sayings at me that don't even exist yet?"

"Because I like having the satisfaction of being superior to you."

"Superior? What does that mean? Did you just insult me?"

"Inuyasha, SIT BOY! Inuyasha crashes to the ground I love you...so could we stop fighting?"

"You love me?"

"Of course. We've been together for so long, that I've become attached to you. I'm gonna stand by you...cuz you'll protect me like a big brother."

"Oh...you love me like your brother...good...cuz I don't want you gettin' any ideas."