Hi guys! For all of you who still want to read this story… here's a new chapter after I don't know how long. School's dying down, so hopefully I can update more… eh.. often. But, the large amount of time off gave me plenty of time to come up the complete plans for the story. Enjoy! (Warning, LOTS O' FLUFF!)

A Stranger's Kindness

Chapter 4: "Getting to Know You"

"Oi, don't hurt yourself, take it easy! You just got stitches," He picked her up off the ground; one arm under her knees the other supporting her back. She yelped at the sudden closeness "You wouldn't want to go back to Miroku do you?"

"No!" Kagome yelled.

"Well then, no running away from me!" he responded with a smirk. He leaned in the whisper in her ear, "Cause I'll catch you." Kagome blushed a deep crimson at his suggestive tone.

Inuyasha started to walk off down the street, deciding to carry her the rest of the way before she killed herself. 'Yep,' Kagome thought to herself as she continued to blush, 'just a big softy.'

The sun was shinning brilliantly as a smile danced upon both Inuyasha's and Kagome's lips. Today was a day to remember.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

The pair continued to walk in an uncomfortable silence the rest of the way to Kagome's house. The two past the Tashio shrine once again and Kagome felt the same longing and desire to live at the magnificent shrine. She wanted to know more about it, but
one look at Inuyasha's face told her that it was not a good time to ask. Although, she needed to talk about something, the silence was killing her.

"So… Inuyasha…" she began a little hesitantly which was replied with a casual grunt. She took it as encouragement, and continued a little more confident, "Um, do you even know where I live?"

"No"

Kagome smiled uneasily, "Um then where are you taking me?"

"To your house."

Kagome was a little riled and confused at his seemingly lack of sense and logic. She stopped limping to get the facts straight.

"Inuyasha," he turned to look at her, annoyance evident on his face.

"Why are we stopping? I want to get to your house before the sun goes down… I can't be helping a stupid clumsy girl like you walk around all day. I have a life you know!" He crossed his arms rather child-like and turned his back to her, nose in the air.

Kagome would have laughed at the sight if it weren't for the insults he just threw at her. She was seething, "Well excuse me your Lordship! I'm sorry I'm wasting your precious time on little old clumsy me! Let me release you from your arduous duty!" She huffed, turned her own back and started to walk away as angrily as she could, which was rather difficult due to the sharp pain through her leg. "You can go on your merry way Inuyasha, and continue living your wonderful life!" She turned her head over her shoulder to take one last look at the man she thought was helpful, who she thought could possibly even be a friend, who she thought was a big softy. "You… You're such a jerk Inuyasha!"

Inuyasha tried his hardest to continue being the tough guy and not turn around, to not go back and ask for an apology. He didn't mean to hurt her. It wasn't his fault she took everything the wrong way and completely flipped out at him… was it? 'Course not! Crazy chicks like her get guys like me in serious trouble.' Inuyasha thought to himself. However, his resolve slowly weakened and cracked as he heard each stifled moan and grunt of pain escape her sweet lips. 'Still she is hurt…' Inuyasha was torn. First she had called him a jerk and stormed off on her own accord, he didn't have to take care of her anymore. 'But I guess I have to finish what I started,' Inuyasha decided. He slumped his shoulders, defeated, and walked over to her.

'Stupid, arrogant jerk…' Kagome was livid. How can anyone be so rude and uncaring? And here she was starting to like the guy as a possible friend. 'Ugh, I was fooled… again,' Kagome's anger turned to depression, she was never very could at keeping her friends. 'Why can't I, just once, find someone who doesn't…'

"EEK" Kagome squealed. She was completely interrupted from her own thoughts as the red clad stranger hoisted her up onto his powerful shoulders and continued walking in the direction she was headed.

"What do you think—?"

Inuyasha cut her off, "No complaining, be happy that I'm helping you and point me in the direction of your house." Kagome wasn't going to complain, and she was very happy for the help. Walking all the way to her house would have been a real pain… literally.

"Well?" Inuyasha brought her back to the present situation.

"Um, just keep walking that way…" she sputtered out finally. She took into account of where exactly she was, high up on this handsome man's shoulders… very high up. "Inuyasha! Put me down!"

"I said no complaining!" She started to squirm from his grip fiercely, "Hey if you don't quit it you're gonna fall!"

"I don't care! I don't like high places!" Kagome shrieked.

Inuyasha chuckled, "Scared of heights are ya?"

"No… it's just I think I'm gonna fall!"

"Well, if you stop moving you won't!"

Kagome was getting really frustrated, "Just put me down now!"

"Well if you're not afraid of heights I don't know what the prob— "

"YES! I'm scared of heights ok?! Now put me—" Without a word Inuyasha skillfully flipped her down off his shoulders and continued to carry her bridal style.

Inuyasha noticed the shocked look on her face and smiled briefly. He loved how expressive she was, with every change of emotion those eyes of hers would sparkle and flame with life. He couldn't get enough of it. When she was angry the deep blue hidden in the brown depths would shine like the waters of a wind tossed sea, when she was upset or sad, the blue would turn grayish like rainstorms in the steaming summer. And when she was happy, they were simply amazing. They sparkled and shone like the rarest sapphire he could never hope to afford. Those eyes reminded him of how priceless a girl like her was, a girl a guy like him could never be around. Just the stranger as she was, he could already tell many things about her, she was just so open with everybody. She just seemed to pour her heart and soul into everyone she meet. Anyone who looked into those magical pools of hers could tell anything about her. 'How can someone be that self-disclosed and not get hurt by anyone?' Inuyasha had tried to be open once, but it resulted in the deepest heartbreak ever imaginable. He would never be that open again. He vowed to himself never to let his true feelings show… it was all for the best. And now, this girl seemed able to drain everything out at a single moment, how was it possible?

Inuyasha continued his musings , and almost didn't hear the girl in question speak in a muted voice, "What did you say girl?"

"I said, 'Thank You,' jeez you don't have to be rude about it." Kagome blushed a little, Kami knows why. Maybe it was how he was holding her, maybe it was her having to apologize to such a rude man, or maybe it was because of how this man was looking at her. He golden globes were staring at her. The glistening eyes were as soft as a child's. They seem to be probing her, asking her the question "Why?" over and over again, much like a child would trying to discover the world. And as soon as she noticed those eyes, they were gone.

"You're welcome…" A steel curtain covered his emotions, and they returned to how she was used to seeing them, detached and cold.

'How can someone be so confined to the world?' Kagome sadly thought to herself. Although he did his best to conceal his feelings, she noticed one slowly seep through his stone guard… sadness. 'He must be lonely…' Kagome had to resist the urge to stroke his handsome face and tell him everything was going to be ok. She wanted to soothe him, to hold him, and let her motherly instincts take over. 'If only I knew you better… then I would,' she reminded herself that she only knew Inuyasha a couple of hours now and that her feelings were ridiculous.

Inuyasha was somewhat nervous at her long silence and glanced down at her form to make sure she was ok. She looked fine; she seemed completely focused on him. Her mystical eyes bore into him with an emotion he never witnessed before… and it made him feel strange. He decided to stop the feeling rather then explore the unknown… new things scared him.

"Oi! What'cha staring at?"

Kagome snapped from her reverie, "Oh nothing, sorry, I didn't realize I was staring." She blushed even more and shifted her attention elsewhere.

"Well, stop. There's nothing to stare at here anyway."

"I think there is…" Kagome whispered to herself. Inuyasha heard it.

"Excuse me?" he was angry, "Do I look funny to you?" hurt was badly hidden in his rage, "Is silver hair, and gold eyes not you're style princess? Sorry but I can't change for you."

"Stop Inuyasha! That's not what I meant!" Kagome took her defensive stance.

"Then what did you mean?" Inuyasha prodded her.

She blanched, not wanted to tell him what she really meant by her words. She needed to tell him though; she didn't want him to continue to feel self-conscious. She steeled her resolve.

"What I meant was… that I find you very attractive… so there really is something to stare at." She was suddenly very aware of their closeness.

Inuyasha tripped slightly at her statement. He swallowed hard, "Oh." He tried his damnedest to look straight ahead the rest of the way. Truth is he found her very attractive too. 'What did I say? Crazy chicks like her get guys like me in trouble.' He flashed a smile, 'Crazy good looking chicks…'

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Ok ok, I know It's short, (really short) but it just seemed like a good place to end it. I'll have the next one up probably by tomorrow. I promise it will be longer. And don't worry if it seems their relationship is moving fast, it really isn't. A lot of these are just thoughts. And the end of the story will make everything clearer… which by the way; I think this story is going to be a long one. So those of you who want to stick with it I applaud you! So please Read and Review and tell me anything you want to motivate me and keep me going, so maybe they will finally get back to Kagome's house!

Lots of Love, Inus lil Miko