Kagome's dreams were full of fiction stories. She dreamt of almost kissing Inuyasha, and his hands on her face, or holding her close. She was surprised to find herself in his arms when she woke up.

"Ka-go-me…" he whispered, barely audible. She gasped. He was dreaming about her, just as she dreamt about him.

Kagome reached up to move a stray hair out of his face, but he grabbed her hand and held it there. "Inuyasha!" she whispered, surprised.

"Kagome," he sighed, smiling. Then she realized he must still be asleep, but she liked it so much. The way he grabbed her hand and wrapped it around him-how his arms came around her and pulled her tight, and the way his face fell nicely onto her collarbone. Her hands somehow became entangled in his hair and, before she knew it, she was holding this sweet, sleeping Inuyasha. However, she soon realized he could wake up at any moment, and then he would see their embrace and then what? She disentangled herself as gently as possible. Please, please don't let him know about this, she thought.

Inuyasha was having the best dream of his life. He dreamt of holding Kagome, and her holding him. He felt her hands running through his hair, and the warmth of her face near his. It was the most realistic dream he had ever conjured. He felt her slender body in his hands, and nothing could make him let go. Except-except the dream was slipping away. Her arms were gone, and he couldn't feel her sweet breath on his skin, and then someone was shaking him, and he knew it was their fault for waking him up. He wanted to shove them away, but he opened his eyes and there she was. The girl of his dreams-literally. Sitting on his lap, trying as gently as possible to wake him up. Wait, sitting on his lap? Oh no-he had fallen asleep holding her! He stood up quickly and helped her to her feet. They both were mumbling apologies until all was silent.

Inuyasha had to speak, "Kagome I…I've gotta go. I'll be back in a little bit, alright?" he was afraid the roughness of his voice would tell her something, but she simply nodded.

Kagome was all alone, staring up at the stars, and all she could wonder was what was Inuyasha thinking about when he left? Then She saw a light glowing in the forest, and she went to investigate. She saw Kikyo standing in a clearing, and Inuyasha was across from her.

Did they plan to meet up? Was that why Inuyasha had to leave? Kagome wondered. Then Inuyasha was speaking.

"Kikyo, things have gone far enough. I can't keep living this way. Kagome deserves to know, and I'm going to tell both her and you. I cannot continue living this, this lie. No matter what you think, I will love who I love, and you know what I have to do." Inuyasha was serious. Kagome suddenly understood. He was talking about her-telling her the truth. He was in love with Kikyo, and now he had to stop leading Kagome on and tell her. Kagome tore through the forest and waited at the camp, depressed but determined not to show it.

After a rustling in the bushes, Kagome turned her head away, not wanting to see Inuyasha return from his visit with his lover. Then she felt arms around her back, warm, comforting arms, and she wondered if maybe she was wrong. Then she heard, quietly, "Kagome, my love." For a moment she thought it was Inuyasha, but then she realized it was Koga behind her and holding her sweetly. And why shouldn't he? Why was she wasting her time moping about Inuyasha when she already had a man who loved her? Koga wasn't so bad. He was loving, and funny, a little cheesy sometimes but so what? He could protect her just as well as Inuyasha, and she knew how he felt about her.

After all this time, Koga still had not let go. He began to wonder what was going on. "Kagome, are you alright? You've never allowed me to hold you before…?"

Kagome nodded and even snuggled into his arms! This was a dream come true! He had been chasing this girl for so long, and now, here she was, loving him! And he had been so sure she desired that mutt.

"Koga, I have decided not to deny the inevitable. Maybe we were meant for each other, and how will I know that if I don't give you a chance?" And she turned around and hugged him.

He pulled her back to look in her face, overjoyed, "Kagome, you have just made me the happiest man alive!" And then, he did something she did not expect. He kissed her, full on the mouth!

Now, with that kiss, Kagome knew she should not have done this. She had zero romantic interest in Koga, and it was wrong to have led him on. However, when he kissed her, all she could think of was all the times Inuyasha hadn't kissed her. This kiss wasn't sweet or passionate, but it was enthusiastic enough. Koga's lips were soft and warm, though nowhere near as good as Inuyasha's. In fact, in comparison, his lips were a little dry. But at least he knew what he was doing. His hands, on her back, pulled her close to him, so she could feel his muscled body against hers, and that was nice, though not as nice as when Inuyasha had held her, only moments ago, in his sleep. Maybe she was just expecting too much. After all, Koga was a good kisser. It didn't matter that Inuyasha's lips melded to hers, and Koga's simply pushed against them. All that mattered was that she was here, kissing a man who loved her.

Then she heard the crash. Koga was forcefully torn from her, and thrown to the other side of the clearing, and Inuyasha now stood in his place, snarling. "Why you filthy, tick harboring, damned-"

"Hey!" yelled Koga, "I didn't take advantage of her! She was kissing me!"

Inuyasha turned to her, "Is this true, Kagome?"

Kagome was dazed for a moment, but she realized her moment was here. She had to show Inuyasha she wasn't a crushing schoolgirl. She was a woman, and she didn't need him. She stood up tall, and answered, "Yes, Inuyasha, it is true. Koga and I were kissing. He loves me, and I care for him. That's what's important."

Inuyasha was dumbfounded, "But-but Kagome, I thought that we-"

"Well, Inuyasha, it didn't look like you thought that when you were with Kikyo a moment ago!"

Then Koga seemed to realize what was happening. "Kagome, were you only caring for me because Inuyasha hurt you? I may be desperate for your love, but I want your real love, not some vengeful kiss. Let me know if you're ever serious." And he was gone.

Inuyasha stood, frozen for a moment, then glared at Kagome, "Kagome, what is this? I'm tired of these games! What happened and why were you kissing Koga? You wanted revenge or something?" He couldn't understand what could ever make her turn to that creepy wolf demon.

"Inuyasha, I don't have to explain myself to you. I can kiss whomever I want whenever I want. You stay out of my business, and I won't go asking about what you were doing with Kikyo earlier." Kagome strode into her tent without another word, and Inuyasha stood dumbfounded.

How did she even know about that? And what did she hear? Inuyasha couldn't focus on any one question just yet. He couldn't believe how his plans had gone astray. He had told Kikyo that he wouldn't be with her anymore. Any love they had was lost fifty years ago when Naraku had tricked them, and it had taken him until now to realize it.

Kikyo had understood, "Inuyasha, you are very dear to me, but I, too, see how we have come apart. I was too blinded by my rage to save what was left of us, and now it's too late. Good-bye, Inuyasha, and may you and Kagome find joy with one another."

Now, when he had returned to finally tell Kagome, she was kissing that pea-brain Koga! And, she said she had seen him with Kikyo, but why would she be upset by that? Unless…unless she was upset about how he felt about her! Then, she would have ran back, found a way to get him disinterested, then went on her merry way. It all made sense now. Well, if she didn't want him, then he wouldn't force himself on her (unlike that tick-ridden excuse for a canine), and act as though nothing had happened, no matter how much it hurt.

Kagome, on the other hand, was ready to explode. How dare he go back to Kikyo and then be mad at her for Koga! Did he think she would just stand around and be there for him when he was with that-that corpse! She oaced back and forth through her tent, and couldn't decide what to do. Although…with Naraku slain, she did not have to remain here. Kagome pulled the sacred jewel from her back, staring at it. Inuyasha hadn't yet asked about it, but that didn't necessarily mean he didn't want to be a demon-just that he had been a little busy to ask for it. Kagome decided she needed to go home-at least for a while. She popped her head out the entrance and saw Inuyasha again leaning on the tree he had held her by. "Inuyasha, tomorrow I will be going home. I will come back, though I'm not sure how long I would be staying." He nodded.

Inuyasha couldn't believe what he'd heard. Why did Kagome have to leave? He had wanted some more time alone with her to figure these things out. Well, it would just have to wait…unless she never came back? What if he had upset her that much? Maybe she had just lied to him, and she was never going to return. He may have been able to accept her not loving him, but that didn't mean he was ready to be separated from her! Inuyasha debated what to do all night. He then slept until dusk, when Kagome woke him.

"Inuyasha? I'm…I'm off," she said quietly. He nodded, pretending to still be asleep, or at least not fully awake. She sighed and left.

If she needed to go home, he wasn't going to stop her. However, he also couldn't let her go alone. When she jumped into the well, he would go with her, and then leave her alone. Then. If she chose not to return, he would be there with her. Following her, Kagome walked slowly and almost reluctantly, constantly looking back over her shoulder. Finally, when she finally reached the well and Inuyasha was just about to sprint out of his hiding place, she sat down beside the well and cried. Not loud ugly tears, but the steady sweet tears that make you want to kill someone for doing that to her.