Chapter Four: Lonliness Isn't Love
When Kagome and Inu-Yasha got close to Kaede's, she made it a point to stop and have a little chat with him.
"Inu-Yasha." She said firmly, "This can't happen again."
Inu-Yasha's back faced Kagome as they stood there in silence. With his arms crossed, he let out a reluctant, "I know..."
"You made a choice."
"I know... but I..."
"There's no 'but's Inu-Yasha! Do you love me?"
"Kagome... I..."
"DO-YOU-LOVE-ME?"
Inu-Yasha tried to turn and face her, but his eyes remained glued to the floor.
"I've told you before Kagome, but... I love... Kikyo..."
"Then let me be..." Tears began to stream down Kagome's cheeks. "Earlier you asked me if I had feelings for Koga... and at first I felt like couldn't tell you the truth..." Kagome's body began to shake.
"Kagome I-"
"No. Let me finish... I felt like my feelings for Koga were somehow... some tragic betrayal..." She wiped her eyes and shouted, "Look at me!"
Inu-Yasha turned to face her, but his eyes immediately turned toward the ground.
"Look at me Inu-Yasha!" He slowly gazed upon her and his eyes met with hers. Suddenly, he understood what he had done. "Koga doesn't think I'm serious about him... and you made things worse."
Inu-Yasha felt guilty, but he never seemed to feel guilty enough to appologize.
"You say you're in love with Kikyo, and I get it: I look like her, but I'm not Kikyo." Kagome forced herself to stop crying, and gain her composure. She walked over to Inu-Yasha until they were 3 feet apart. "Look... I can't imagine what it must be like for you to endure the pain of her passing... and be reminded of her every time you see my face... every time you hear Naraku's name... but... I was hurt by you. I was hurt by the fact that you acted like I didn't exist every time she'd cross paths with us... I was hurt by that fact that you tossed me aside the minute she came to you for protection... but I'm not hurt anymore. I have Koga now... and even though he hasn't said it... I know he loves me... and would do anything to protect me. He would do anything... to ensure my happiness... and I want to do the same for him. You need to leave us be."
A tear fell from Inu-Yasha's eye and what came next caught Kagome by surprise. "I'm... sorry... for hurting you... and for messing things up with Koga..."
Is he... apologizing?...
"Sometimes I get... lonely I guess."
LONELY?! HOW IS THAT AN EXCUSE?!
"INU-YASH-"
"I won't interfere."
Inu-Yasha turned and began strolling toward Kaede's.
"Are you coming or not Kagome?"
"Huh?"
He turned to face her.
"Look... it's not like we can't be friends... Right?"
He continued strolling toward the village, ears perked up, awaiting the sounds of her succeeding footsteps.
So that's what he was worried about... losing me as a friend...
Kagome's angry expression diffused into a smile, and it didn't take more than a second for her to catch up, and walk, cheerfully, beside him.
She could finally begin her relationship with Koga, and she wouldn't have to worry about this mess any longer.
Inu-Yasha will be just fine. He already has someone he cares for... and he's right: We'll always be great friends.