I just want to give a big thank you to Inu-Baby 91 and GoddessOfLifeandDeath for being the first two people to review my story! Thank you so much for your kind words, and I hope that you continue to keep reading!

Disclaimer: I unfortunately do not own InuYasha…I wish I did though!

"Everybody stay back! I can handle this thing with one swing!" InuYasha boasted unsheathing his Tetsaiga from his side. He studied the towering snake demon and grinned. 'This is going to be too easy!' He glanced backwards at his companions, eager to make sure that they, especially Kagome were watching him. As in every battle, he was anxious to catch Kagome's eye. 'Why do I feel like I have to impress her?' Still when he caught her shyly glimpse at him, he couldn't help but to grin.

"You had better be careful InuYasha." Miroku voice butted into InuYasha's happy thoughts, and he scowled at the Monk.

"Ah what'cha want now?" He shouted over his shoulder, steadying his powerful blade in front of him.

"You had better take heed to Miroku's words." Sango spoke from her place at Miroku's side. "We don't know what this beast is capable of yet."

InuYasha glanced over the demon again, and chuckled. "Keh! Well from the looks of him, he doesn't look capable of doing much! Just let me at him! One hit from Tetsaiga, and that snake will be dust!"

"Don't forget, we've been fooled by their appearances before." Sango replied gravely as she drew her weapon from her back. "Everybody, take caution!"

"Keh!" InuYasha muttered while rolling his eyes. "The only one here who should take caution is that demon over there." He felt the familiar pulsing of his sword, and he grinned. Tetsaiga was calling out for the taste of the demon's blood, and InuYasha was more than happy to oblige it. He took a few steps from where he stood to meet the demon. He liked to look them in the eye before he killed them.

"Wait InuYasha!" He heard Kagome call. He turned around to find the young priestess sprinting towards him.

"What the hell are you doing Kagome?" He fumed, glaring back at the demon. "I thought that I told you to stay back!" Kagome reached his side and InuYasha instantly recognized the emotion that had possessed her eyes, fear. 'Kagome!' He thought alarmed at her pale face. "What's going on? Are you feeling sick?" He instinctively wrapped one of his arms around her tiny shoulders. 'Please be all right!'

"Something doesn't feel right here." Kagome said flatly, searching her surroundings. "I can't explain it, but it frightens me. I think we should leave." She looked InuYasha dead in the eye. "Something is going to happen to us!"

InuYasha felt alarmed, but forced him self to smirk. "Everything is going to be okay Kagome." He drew took her hand into his and gave it a little squeeze. "I promise. I'm here to protect you. You know that I wouldn't let anything happen to you." 'I'll protect your life with my own.' He silently vowed to her. 'No matter what happens to me, all that matters is that you're safe.' He was relieved when the panicked look slowly melted from Kagome's face. Her eyes shone up at him revealing to him, her deep seeded trust.

"I know that you won't let any harm fall to me." She replied softly. "I'm sorry that I worried you. I'm fine now." A tiny smile came to her lips. She stood on her tiptoes and to the surprise of the half-breed, gently kissed him on the cheek. "I believe in you."

InuYasha felt his heart beat faster. No one had ever trusted as Kagome has, and the feelings that he felt when she had told him she believed in him were exhilarating. He felt his arms go around the small framed woman again, this time, pulling her close to his chest. He buried his face in her hair. "Kagome." He whispered breathing in her sweet scent. He was amazed at how effortlessly her name escaped his lips, and he relished the feelings that overcame him as he said it. "Kagome." He suddenly felt whole for the first time in his life. He wanted to hold her forever.

The feeling of hot wind on his face broke him from his trance, and his eyes snapped open in alarm. The Snake-Demon had decided to strike, and the dry grass, which was only a few inches from InuYasha's feet, was scorched.

"InuYasha! Lady Kagome!" Miroku cried as he rushed to their side. "Are you all right? Sango and I saw him attack you. We thought you were goners!"

"Keh! It's going to take more that a little fire to stop me!" InuYasha bragged. He felt Kagome tighten her grip around his waist, and heard her whimper softly. "Kagome! Are you okay? Did he hurt you?" He felt a growl rise from deep within his chest. 'If he has harmed her…' He sighed with relief when he felt her shake her head no. 'I can't place her in harm's way again.' He gently tilted her chin with a clawed finger so she was now looking into his face. "Kagome, I need you to do something for me." He gently explained. He could still sense the aura of fear around her and cursed silently. "I need you to run as fast as you can to the old bridge. Do you remember where it is? We crossed it on the way here. It isn't too far off. When you get there, stop and wait for me. I promise I will come for you as soon as this battle is over." He forced himself to look away from her. "Take Kilala with you…for protection."

"But what if something happens to me, and you aren't there?" She asked. InuYasha smiled at her and gently caressed her cheek.

"If something happens, I'll be there in a heartbeat Kagome. I can always sense when your life is in danger. You have no need to worry." He saw Kagome hesitate, and frowned when she shook her head.

"InuYasha, please don't make me leave you. I-I just have this feeling." He saw tears spring to her eyes. "I feel like if I leave you now, then I am never going to see you again!"

InuYasha smirked at her. "Come on Kagome. You know that you can't get rid of me that easily!"

Miroku had been listening to their exchange silently. "He is right my Lady. You need to get to safety and leave this serpent to InuYasha, Sango and myself." A loud rustling sound brought their attention back to the enemy. The serpent was rising to attack again.

"InuYasha, Miroku! There isn't much time! He is going to charge!" Sango cried as she raised her weapon and readied herself to strike. "Get Kagome out of there!"

InuYasha nodded, and gave Kagome a firm push towards the direction that would lead her to the rickety bridge. "Go now!" He demanded. He watched her run into the distance, hesitated, and then spoke again. "Sango, send Kirara after Kagome. She can protect her until we return!" With Kagome's safety no longer an issue, he turned back to his prey. "Okay ya puny demon!" He taunted it. "Let's see how you like the taste of my Wind Scar!" He raised his sword high above his head, and struck the ground with all his might. "Die!" But something was terribly wrong. Instead of hitting the serpent, his attack had instead, turned against him, and engulfed his body in light. 'What the hell is going on?' InuYasha panicked. He looked around in desperation for a way to escape. He found none. "I'm sorry Kagome." He whispered as his vision faded to black. The air was silent all around him, and he could pick up no scent. 'Is this what it feels like to be dead?' He wondered.

"Hello InuYasha." A woman's voice softly greeted him. "I've been expecting you." InuYasha felt his ears perk up at her familiar sound.

"Kikyou?"

The dead Miko smiled sadly at him as she neared.

"Kikyou, what the hell is going on here?" InuYasha demanded. Kikyou only smiled sadly and placed a cool finger over his mouth to silence him.

"I've summoned you here InuYasha." She said coolly. Her eyes locked with his, "You've forgotten about me."

InuYasha's eyes widened in horror, and he instinctively grasped her hand in his own. "That's a lie Kikyou. You know that I could never forget about you!"

Kikyou angrily snatched her hand away from him and turned her back to him. "You have InuYasha. I am no longer in your heart, therefore you have forgotten me."

"You don't understand!" InuYasha protested. "You have never left my heart. You never will!"

"Don't fool yourself." Kikyou spat at him, facing InuYasha once again. "You have disgraced me and betrayed me by developing strong feelings for her. You've made a mockery of the love we once shared."

"Kikyou, listen to me!" InuYasha pleaded. "I love you. I've always loved you, and will always love you! Can't you realize that?"

"We shall see about that." She said gravely. InuYasha reached out for her, but she vanished before his eyes, leaving him once again alone.

"Kikyou!" He hid his face in his hands, and reflected on the words Kikyou had left him with. 'She thinks that I love Kagome. I don't love her, do I?' He felt more confused than ever.

"My, my InuYasha!" Another familiar voice broke into his train of thought. The stench of death filled the air and InuYasha growled.

"Naraku! What are you doing here? Have you finally come to fight me?" He demanded, placing his hand to where his sword hung. He gasped, it was gone.

Naraku chuckled. "You should really learn how to control that temper of yours mutt. I am much stronger than you'll ever hope to be, and soon I will take care of you InuYasha. You will die a most painful death." He chuckled again. "No InuYasha, I have not come to fight you, merely to show you my new toys…"

Suddenly in a flash of white light, Kagome's form appeared in front of InuYasha. She looked at him with frightened eyes, and InuYasha felt his blood starting to boil. "Stay away from Kagome!" He tried to move towards her, but his legs would not move. "Kagome!"

"Now InuYasha, let's not be too hasty." Naraku mocked. "You still have to greet yet another special guest to this occasion." There was another flash of light and Kikyou appeared by Kagome's side.

"What is your game you coward!" InuYasha spat. "Leave them alone, your problem is with me!"

"The game is InuYasha, which one of these lovely ladies is going to meet her death tonight. A death that no one can return from. You see, her life force will be sealed up in the deepest, darkest pit of hell for all eternity. Not even the lovely Kikyou can escape this kind of death. Your job is to decide who will live, and who will die." With these words, Naraku released his grasp on InuYasha's legs. Kikyou and Kagome had started to fall. InuYasha gasped in horror. "You better not delay InuYasha, or else they will both die!"

InuYasha hesitated a moment, and then making up his mind, he lunged for the woman that his heart truly called out for, grabbed her hand, and pulled her to him. He could hear the other woman crying, calling his name, cursing him, and he felt himself start to weep. Though he cried for the other woman, he stroked the soft hair of the one in his arms, and covered her face with soft kisses. "It's okay." He assured her. "Everything is okay now. You're safe with me." She clung to him and sobbed into his chest. "I promise you." InuYasha whispered, "I will never let anything happen to you again, and I am so sorry that I couldn't protect you from having to go through this. I love you…"

A/N: Who did InuYasha choose in his dream? Was it Kagome or Kikyou? If you want to know, then please review! Thanks for reading!