Disclaimer: I don't own Inu Yasha

Part 4

A sweet smell assaulted Inu Yasha nose and his ears twitched a bit.

"Hey sis, I think he's waking up," Souta pointed out as his ears twitched again. He forced his eyes open and saw a worried face looking down at him.

"Feeling any better?" Kagome questioned helping him sit up. His eyes found hers and they stared at each other for a minute. Guilt soon filled his eyes and he looked down to the cover.

"Why did you save me?" he questioned, "You should have let me die."

A hand came out of nowhere and smacked him across the face causing him to growl out in pain.

"Don't question me. If your truly still feeling guilty for what happened half a year ago then maybe I should have left you on that battlefield to die," Kagome snapped jumping to her feet. Without another word she turned on her heals and walked out of the hut. God, he knew how to piss her off.

"Are you totally clueless?" Souta questioned as Inu Yasha gave him a confused looked. Souta sighed to himself as he handed him some food, "there is obviously something going on between you and my sister. I can see it on both of your faces. Stop holding back, take a stand man."

"What do you know? Your just a kid, there is more to the story than that, there are complications," Inu Yasha stated.

"I know something horrible happened to her, it's written all over her face but she can't bring herself to tell me. I'm assuming you had something to do with it. A misunderstanding took place and even though you might not have been the one involved, you feel like you were," Souta explained as Inu Yasha's jaw dropped, this kid didn't know what had happened but he got all of that out of it?

"Maybe I underestimated you kid."

"I'm not a kid! I'm 15 thank you very much," Souta bragged and Inu Yasha laughed.

"As I said, kid."

-

It was getting pretty late and Kagome still hadn't come back, Inu Yasha was getting worried. He stood to his feet and felt pain shoot through him as he grabbed his sword.

"Where are you going?" Souta asked from his bed.

"Stay here, I'm going to find your sister," with that he walked out of the hut and into the forest.

It didn't take long before he caught her scent by the lake and slowly walked that way. The sight before him made him stop and stare, Kagome was sitting on a rock looking at the crescent moon in the sky, the light reflected just right and she looked like a goddess.

"If you're done gawking come sit by me," she whispered knowing that his ears would pick up her voice. He slowly made his way to her side and sat down.

"You were gone for awhile, your brother was getting worried," he lied. Kagome knew it was a lie but let it slide; she was always out this late.

"I love coming out here and admiring the beauty of the life that is around me, it gives me peace," she smiled looking towards Inu Yasha, "sorry for earlier."

"Don't be sorry, it is I who should be sorry. I hurt you really bad in the past and there is nothing I can do to change that. I wish I could because you seem like a really nice woman," Inu Yasha confessed.

"You're not that one that hurt me, it may have been you order but I'm sure that if you knew you would have stopped it. Don't be so hard on yourself."

"But you were hurt because of me," he argued.

"And it made me realize that I needed to become stronger and actually practice more on my skills. Before I knew I had the Shikon jewel I never listened to my sensei and I slacked off a lot. I still tried to do that but by doing so I put myself in danger because I wasn't prepared. I know now that no matter what I am in danger for having the jewel."

"I didn't know you had it until Naraku said something," Inu Yasha said as Kagome looked at him.

"At first I thought that was why I had been captured. I thought they wanted the jewel but when I found they thought I was Kikyo I was somewhat relieved. They hadn't found out my secret and with me in there, Naraku would never find me. So I guess it was a good thing in a way except for all the physical abuse that went on," Kagome cringed as they looked at each other. Inu Yasha lifted his hand to gently caress her cheek; she leaned into his touch and closed her eyes. She didn't know the feeling that arose in her but she embraced it.

"Please tell me how to make it up to you," he whispered and Kagome could feel his breath on her lips. Her eyes fluttered open and she was met by his face. He placed his forehead on hers and stared deeply into her eyes, "please tell me."

Goosebumps appeared on her skin and she didn't know how to answer. She had suddenly lost her voice in her throat and she was pretty sure he could hear the quickened heartbeat in her chest. Was he going to kiss her? She wanted him to, she wasn't sure why, she didn't understand, shouldn't she hate him? Seek some kind of revenge on him for her losing 2 months of her life from being in jail? But she couldn't, she couldn't bring herself to hate this Inu Hanyou no matter how hard she wanted to.

"I-I don't know," she finally answered unsure of herself.

"I'll do anything you want me to," he ran his hand through her hair and he thought she was going to be pushed over the edge, hypothetically of course. She could feel her pulse everywhere in her body as she took in a shaky breath. Inu Yasha winced in pain and that brought Kagome back to reality.

"You're still hurt, come on, let's get you back to the village," she grabbed his good arm and helped him stand to his feet. She supported him on the way back and he didn't push her away like she expected him to, instead he leaned on her and enjoyed the closeness. He was glad she didn't hold a grudge against him but he still felt really guilty.

Inu Yasha woke up early the next morning and found the two occupants in the hut still sleeping. He smiled to himself before getting up to go outside. He thought about just grabbing all his things and leaving at once but he couldn't bring himself to just up and leave. Even if he felt like a burden to Kagome he knew that she would be upset if he left without a word. His heart skipped a beat as he thought about the night before. He was honestly going to kiss her if his injury hadn't ruined the moment. He knew she wanted him to and he wanted to kiss her too but was it right? He had done something horrible to her, almost killed her and broke her spirit, but she took it with a smile on her face. He questioned if anything could break this girl down but he didn't want to find out. There was something between them, like they were meant to be with each other, as cheesy as that sounded. Had fate set it up this way?

"Inu Yasha?" he heard a tired voice from behind him and he turned around to smile at her.

"Yes Priestess? Would you like some assistance in cooking breakfast this morning?" he questioned walking up to her.

"Please, Kagome would be just fine and sure you can help if you would like. I was thinking about going down to the lake to catch some fish," she said as they made their way to the forest.

Inu Yasha laughed as he watched Kagome in the water trying her hardest to catch a fish. Once again she had failed, only this time she fell back into the water onto her butt. She sat there for a moment before shooting a glare at Inu Yasha who was currently on the ground rolling with laughter.

"I thought you said you were going to help!" she yelled clearly frustrated at the fact of being laughed at.

"I was until I found it so entertaining to watch you attempt to catch a fish," he laughed again.

"If it's so easy get your butt down here and show me," she snapped standing up. Inu Yasha walked into the water right next to her and waited for a fish to come. Once he saw one he waited until it was close enough and grabbed it then threw it in the bucket on the bay, "showoff."

Inu Yasha just smirked as he took hold of Kagome's wrists showing her how to do it right. She tried to pay attention, she really did but his breath on her cheek was driving her crazy. The next thing she knew a fish was in her hands and wiggling to get free. She quickly threw it into the bucket with the others and she heard a splash from beside her.

She gasped as she saw Inu Yasha sitting in the water giving her an evil look.

"Warn a guy, would ya?" he said as she started laughing, she had knocked him over, "you think it's funny?"

Inu Yasha pulled her leg and she landed right next to him in the water. They both glared as each other for a minute before laughing at the situation. It was Inu Yasha who stopped laughing first and moved his hand to push some of the hair out of Kagome's face. A few more giggles escaped her lips before she smiled up at him. Amber eyes searching blue as he slowly began to move forward. Her eyes began to close as his breath tickled her lips. Kagome placed a shaky hand on his chest as he put an arm around her. He was about to claim her lips when they heard something and pulled away. There on the bay was their bucket of fish, knocked over and empty. Kagome placed her head on his chest and sighed, all that hard work for nothing.

They headed back to the village in silence, neither one wanted to bring up the incident that just happened. Whenever Kagome would think about it her cheeks would burn red and she would bow her head so her hair would cover her face.

"Sis, why are both of you wet?" Souta questioned as they walked into the hut.

"Just went fishing," Inu Yasha murmured before taking off his top. Kagome ignored him and started to cook the meal before going to her room to change. She entered the room once again wearing a white top and purple bottoms, she looked like royalty, Inu Yasha thought as Kagome handed him some dry clothes.

"They were my fathers before he passed away, they will be better than the wet ones you have on," she explained and he nodded walking away.

Breakfast went by quickly and Kagome was off to the temple to pray, Inu Yasha beside her.

"I want to thank you for being so kind to me," he said as they entered the doors.

"Well I couldn't just leave you there to die," she whispered getting on her knees to pray. Inu Yasha watched in curiosity but didn't say anything, he didn't want to interrupt, and "Naraku killed my parents when I was just a little girl. After that the village priestess took me and my brother in. That's when we found out I had the jewel. I didn't mind that much, I vowed to protect it with my life and keep it out of the hands of evil."

"You know you don't have to do this alone," Inu Yasha said as she took a seat next to him.

"It's my duty, if someone helps their life will be in danger and I couldn't live with myself if anything happened to them," Kagome explained as he grabbed her hands with his own.

"What if they wanted to?"

"Then they must be pretty crazy and I would tell them so while trying to explain that I'm better off alone," she said looking up to him.

"What if they wouldn't listen to reason?" he questioned turning to get a better view of her. Kagome didn't know what to say.

"What are you implying Inu Yasha?" she asked as his face came closer to hers.

"Your not alone, you don't have to fight alone anymore," he whispered cupping her face in his hands.

"I don't understand," she whispered as his lips captured hers in a kiss. Kagome closed her eyes and melted. Her arms made their way around his neck as she kissed him back. Their hearts were racing when they pulled away and stared at each other.

"I don't know what it is but something in me is telling me to protect you," he said.

"You just feel guilty…"

"No, it's not that. It's different, when you left I felt a piece of me leave with you, that's why I came here but I ran into Naraku. Please, you must know. I'll do anything you wish of me," he moved some hair behind her ear as a blush formed on her face, "everything happens for a reason."

"I know but…"

"Don't, you can't honestly tell me you don't feel something between us," he argued pulling her against him into a hug.

"I can't lie to you but we can't be together," she shot back pulling out of this hold. He didn't understand what she was talking about.

"Because of the jewel?" he questioned and she nodded. She couldn't sway from her mission; she couldn't be in love with that hanyou that sat before her, "Bullshit!"

"What?" she said as he held both of her hands to him.

"Please you must understand, I can help you protect the jewel, don't push me away. I want to do this and if you push me away I will just keep coming back even if you don't want me to," he placed his forehead on hers once again, "but if you truly detest me that much, I will leave and you will never hear from me again but I will never be too far away. I'm falling for you and I know you're falling for me."

"Inu Yasha, this will just complicate things," Kagome didn't sound too sure of herself.

How? What will happen if someone was around to protect you, to love you for the beautiful woman that you are?" he questioned but she couldn't think of anything to say, "You're scared."

"I am," she whispered looking towards the ground, "everyone always dies when they get close to me."

"I won't leave you," he reassured her.

"But what about your responsibilities in the Westernlands, you have a duty to your people."

"Not as must as I have a duty to you. My brother will remain in power until his pup is old enough to take his place. It will be better this way," he kissed her forehead to try to calm her.

"I just need time," she finally confessed.

"You can have as much as you need," he whispered in her ear.

Alright…Part 4 of 5... Yes I have it all finished it's just a matter of typing it all up. Let me know what ya think and I will be forever grateful. Read and review -