WARNING: Inuyasha swears alot in this chapter, so I apologise to anybody I may offend

Enjoy and Review please!

xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Hostile Jealousy

-Seven-

"That's far enough!" Inuyasha called to them as they stopped within metres of them, "who the hell are you?"

"You are the ones being pursued by Skelos warriors, the guardians of Spearaah. You are the ones who are in the eternally dark lands. Who are you?" asked one of the men, (evidently the leader). They didn't know what to do. After all that they'd seen in their travels across feudal Japan, they knew it'd be a pretty stupid thing to do, to give a bunch of demon slaying strangers your names; they did not answer. But as impatience rose in the leader's face, they realised they'd better think of something - and fast. "Tell us your name outsider or we'll have to take into our custody."

"My name is Kagome Higurashi," replied Kagome, figuring she was relatively safe - after all, she didn't even come from this era, he wouldn't be able to do anything to her with just her name - would he? In either case, it was too late now.

"And your friends?"

"You have my name, that's all you're gonna get," answered Kagome, as courteously as she could manage, "what are you?" Okay maybe that wasn't the most polite way to phrase that question. They seemed as if they were not going to give it, but they saw Kagome had been more than fair giving them hers so they answered:

"The warriors of Glisnia," the leader say, giing her a short, curt bow, making Kagome have to gnaw on her lower lip to silence her giggles. "You are approaching our home strangers; who is your leader here?" the man asked.

"I am," replied Inuyasha boldly (the complete opposite to how his body felt - and looked), Kagome felt sure he would have collapsed had she not been supporting him, holding him up with one hand and held Tetsusaiga, (which he had dropped earlier on) in her other, all the while eyeing the young man suspiciously. He was too polite, too normal looking. He seemed to keep glancing down at her as he spoke to Inuyasha.

"Then I shall ask you, what is your purpose?"

"We're being followed. We came to seek help from the Glisniai," replied Inuyasha, feeling a warning tug on his arm from Kagome, signalling that he should mind his temper. Not that he listened.

"It looks as if you need it," said the warrior just a little less polite than it should have been when speaking to Inuyasha and his fiery temper, but looking into Kagome's eyes as he said it, studying her carefully, strange eyes glancing over her figure more than just once or twice. His biggest mistake, was letting Inuyasha catch his wandering eyes falling over the priestess' form - it infuriated him. He ripped himself free of Kagome's grip and darted straight for the man.

"Maybe I shouldn't ask for help from you! We don't need another lecherous creep!' Kagome stood in his path.

"Stop, it's all right he wasn't being that way," Kagome tried to convince him, "or maybe it wasn't about that at all." Inuyasha looked at her; he knew she had guessed what he was angry about, and he flushed in embarrassment, stopping in his tracks. If he didn't calm down, he might reveal something - or things that weren't intended for Kagome's ears. Having his anger pass he felt pain again, reluctantly leaning on Kagome to support him once more. Tetsusaiga, which was still held loosely in Kagome's hand, caught the man's eye.

"Should a small girl like you really be carrying a thing like that around with you? Do you even know what that thing could do?" He asked her kindly. Knowing the way in which he'd meant it, Kagome tried not to be offended.

"Well yes I do know what it can do; technically I'm the one who found it, but it isn't mine anyway, it's Inu – his," she replied hastily, nearly forgetting not to give Inuyasha's name away.

"Well, we are just returning to Glisnia; if you wish to seek help from our queen you may accompany us. If, as your friend says you are being followed, we would be happy to protect you, Miss Higurashi," said the man friendlily, this man enraged Inuyasha.

"You can talk to someone else besides her you know," he snapped.

"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't know you'd already spoken for her," said the man apologetically. Inuyasha blushed darkly, his crimson complexion rivalled only by Kagome, as Shippo refrained from giggling on her shoulder.

"I…I haven't…I mean, that is to say…she's not…oh shut up already you're pissing me off!" Inuyasha said in confusion.

"Oh, but I was under the impression you two were together," the man continued, his skin was quite pale, differenting from Inuyasha's which had a sun-touched tint to it, he smiled as he spoke, knowing exactly that his smugness was pissing Inuyasha off even more.

Whether he was sincerely ignorant to what he was asking, or whether he was just trying to make Inuyasha look stupid in front of Kagome, the others weren't sure. However, Inuyasha knew it was the latter, and this made him angrier and angrier.

"I think that's none of your business," replied Inuyasha in a false politeness.

"You speak as if I am your enemy; I asked only a simple question, of which the answer does affect me, sir." The warrior moved forwards, Inuyasha's body tensing, readying to leap at this creature and rip out its overly confident tongue. But just then, Inuyasha felt a small, familiar pulse reverberate through his veins, and he tilted his head to gaze upon the sky; and the sun's silhouette could be seen through the dark veil. Inuyasha's hair faded into its usual silvery silk, his dog ears had reappeared and his eyes turned golden once more. "What are you?" The man asked in awe, taking many steps backwards in an unconcious response to Inuyasha's transformation.

"I'm complicated," he shot back. Inuyasha swiped his sword from Kagome's grip, the transformed blade glimmering brilliantly as he gripped it loosely at his side; but the man was not intimidated by it, foolishly, on the contrary he found it very amusing at the thought that Inuyasha assumed he could beat him, even with the large blade in his grasp.

"Please, stop making a scene and come away," Kagome whispered to Inuyasha, but he ignored her.

"Do you still want an answer?" Inuyasha asked cockily, the confidence surging through his blood at the feel of his father's sword in his hands again.

"Yes." Inuyasha smiled at his answer. Raising his sword, he paused mid-swing as Kagome subtlety put her hand over his and held his arm down. Shippo smirked; he knew this man would not like Kagome showing Inuyasha affection very much - no humans readily accepted demons harbouring affections for humans, or vice versa. However, if he was opposed to it, he never let it slip. "I'm so sorry, where are my manners? My name is Lieutenant Kazama," seemed to be talking to Kagome more than Inuyasha still. Sango and Miroku came closer to Inuyasha, prepared in casehe tried to hit Kazama, which they could see he was close to doing.

"So Miss Higurashi, do you still need us to accompany you?" Kazama asked.

"Umm, I think that wouldn't be my decision," Kagome replied safely, so as not to enrage the half-demon by her side, but also so that Inuyasha could feel like she wasn't going along with Kazama trying to make him look stupid.

"I don't think we need your protection, but perhaps you need ours," said Inuyasha, uplifted slightly that Kagome wasn't showing anything more than casual politeness to the overly friendly stranger. One pervert in our group is quite enough, Inuyahsa mentally growled, but having a feeling he wouldn't warm up to this lecher, unlike he had to Miroku.

"Not really, but I won't deprive your party of our company because you are somewhat...hotheaded," said Kazama, turning to rally up his men; Inuyasha went to raise his sword arm but Kagome stopped him, shaking her head slowly at him. it wouldn't do to fight with warriors from the place they required help from. "Well my men are ready, shall we go?"

They walked before the soldiers with Kazama, (which didn't please Inuyasha) but he mostly talked to Kagome and when he didn't he only spoke to his men.

"Inuyasha, you needn't have been that way, he was only being polite to me," Kagome whispered to Inuyasha when she was sure Kazama wasn't listening.

"He was being a bit more polite," argued Inuyasha quietly, "he was flirting with you!"

"Perhaps, but I wasn't flirting back."

"He was doing it enough for the both of you!"

"Inuyasha," she sighed, rolling her eyes at his jealousy, "you worry too much." Taking his hand as they walked, in an act to reassure him, she smiled brightly at him, almost finding it sweet that he was jealous over such a stupid thing. This at least seemed to silence him on the subject of Lieutenant Kazama; but seeing this, the Lieutenant's mouth arced in a very 'Miroku-like' smirk, as he turned his attention to the two in another attemptto show Inuyasha up.

"How long have you two known each other?" he asked.

"Over three years, why?" replied Inuyasha.

"Well you've been together for a long time then. I can't imagine nothing would've happened in that large amount of time." Shippo, seeing (even in his youth) that Kazama was on his quest to make Inuyasha look a fool, decided to do what he did best – annoy him. It was true enough Shippo spent nearly every waking moment making Inuyasha look dumb, or irritating him, but on the whole he looked up to Inuyasha, and he wasn't about to let someone else take his role of making the volatile hanyou look stupid. He jumped off Kagome's shoulder and onto Inuyasha's.

"So, how long have you been in the army for?" Shippo asked in an innocent voice.

"It's not really the army it's the-"

"-Really that's fascinating, how many people have you killed with your sword?"

"Well I-"

"-Cool, we've killed lots of things, do you have to walk everywhere? I don't I get carried most of the time…"

Shippo went on like this for a while, until Kazama retreated to one of his men at the side and began to talk to him. Inuyasha and Shippo secretly relished in the kitsune's triumph.

"Honestly, you two are really banding against that man, you're just as bad as each other," said Kagome, though she smiled as she spoke, Shippo always managed to make her laugh when he was being devious - well he was a fox demon after all, and if he wasn't using his cuteness and tears to blackmail her into giving him sweets, he was usually scheming for something else.

That night they all stopped together (some of them more reluctant than others). The Glisniai soldiers built a fire, though the men spread round the perimeters (much like the soldiers of Spearaah did), so that the only ones round the fire were Inuyasha, Kagome, Sango, Miroku, Kilala, Shippo, Kazama and his second in command whose name was Hiroshi. Inuyasha set on his guard up to this man until he realized that Hiroshi had his eye on Sango, which secretly infuriated Miroku but allowed Inuyasha to relax a little - even make jibes under his breath at his friend's misfortune at having 'his girl' wooed by some stranger. Sango fell asleep next to Kagome and Shippo, with Kilala curled up next to her, Miroku slept beside them. Inuyasha sat up from his loyal place beside the young priestess, tirelessly gazing into the fire, until Kazama spoke.

"Have you told her how you feel?" His voice was sincere and kind, he seemed to be talking to Inuyasha seriously.

"What?"

"Have you told her?"

"Mind your business and keep them wandering eyes off her," growled Inuyasha, but the man continued, not to be disuaded.

"There is a bit more than friendship hidden behind your eyes, I can see it when you look at her."

"I don't know what you're talking about. I…it's complicated, things between me and Kagome aren't as simple as it seems..."

"She seems to return the same sort of friendly affection towards you...but you'll lose her." Inuyasha looked up at him. "You'll lose her to someone else if you don't tell her."

"You'll lose those teeth if you don't shut up," he growled,glaning thoughtfully at the fire a moment before allowing his eyes to flicker back over to Kazama. "I suppose you think this someone else is you do you?"

"Yes."

"I've had to deal with idiots like you before, who think they can beat me, in more ways than one," said Inuyasha, remembering then, Kouga, the wolf tribe leader, who'd disapeared not long after Naraku had been defeated, probably trying to hang onto his jewel shards a little longer. "You don't even know her; you don't even know where she's really from, or who she is."

"You don't always have to know someone before you fall in love with them."

"Give me a break, that 'love at first sight' rubbish is just a loada crap. Besides, I wouldn't ever let a whelp like you take her," said Inuyasha calmly.

"If the day ever comes, where I want to ask her; you will have to fight me to stop me."

"Then I will," Inuyasha replied simply, "but if you value having all your limbs, I'd stay away from Kagome, because if you don't, I'll cut your fucking head off." And after that they said no more, merely sitting there in silence all night, staring daggers at each other across the fire.

Eventually Inuyasha grew tired of Kazama's face, propped himself up against beside Kagome, and reluctantly falling asleep. Awaking suddenly not long after, he was sure it was still night, or at the most early morning. He sat up, looking for Kazama, but he wasn't anywhere to be seen, he put his hand down beside him, and jumped, a light, awkward flush to his cheeks - about to apologize for touching Kagome when she was asleep, only then he realized, Kagome was gone as well. Inuyasha shot up, Tetsusaiga in his hand and into the dead forest beside the road; he stopped as he entered the trees, sniffing the air cautiously, he could sense Kagome was nearby. Darting off in the direction of her scent, he felt the air whip his hair off hid back as he leapt through the treetops, until he found her leaning against a tree she seemed to be alone. That was, until the half-demon saw Kazama at her side, talking to her. Of course Inuyasha didn't see this as innocent as it could have been, he saw it as Kazama trying to flirt with Kagome out of Inuyasha's view.

The half-demon marched angrily out into the open, and Kazama smiled in satisfaction as he saw Inuyasha's temper had near reached its limit.

"Inuyasha," said Kagome, she ran over to him with confused eyes, stopping in front of him, "Inuyasha, are you okay? What's the matter?" she asked, catching his eyes with a heartbreakingly sweet stare as he gazed down at her. She hadn't known, Inuyasha reminded himself, trying to keep his temper under control.

"Come on Kagome, let's go," he said to her in and undertone, glaring angrily at Kazama.

"Okay," agreed Kagome, no argumentativeness or suspiciousness in her voice, taking his arm and turning to walk away. The priestess would normally have shouted at him for being so chauvinistic and controlling, and would've simply ignored him (followed by a sharp 'sit'); but she could see that for one: Inuyasha had dropped his temper for her sake, and two: Kazama had tricked her into testing Inuyasha's patience, and she didn't want to make him look stupid – but Kazama did.

"You don't have to listen to him Miss Higurashi," said Kazama bluntly. The half-demon spun round in anger.

"SHUT YOUR MOUTH, YOU INTERFERING PIECE OF SHIT!" yelled Inuyasha, fuming, Kazama grinned in triumph, causing Inuyasha's temper to sky-rocket.

"Are you so sure you'll be okay when he's like this Miss. Higurashi?"

"I'm okay," she answered quickly, "Inuyasha wouldn't hurt me."

"I wouldn't be so sure if I were you," he replied plainly. Inuyasha made to advance on him, but Kagome blocked his path.

"Inuyasha stop, please!" she pleaded.

"Out of my way Kagome," he ordered still in an undertone, but the girl stood firm, clinging to his arms and stared him in the eyes, determined not to let him move. "Kagome move, or I'll make you." Kagome stared up at him, knowing his threat was empty as he stared dead ahead at the beaming soldier, avoiding his traitorous eyes which were slowly turning red.

"Please Inuyasha, be the better person, ignore him," the half-demon tried to release himself from her grip, but he couldn't.

"I can't Kagome." He answered simply. She didn't understand, but then how could she? How could a human girl know about the demon society's views on honour and claims?

"Please," she begged him quietly, "Please Inuyasha, do this for me," Inuyasha tried to free himself again, but she wouldn't let go.

"Don't ask me to do that Kagome; he's doing this just to piss me off!"

"I know he is, but please, don't rise to it; if I'd realized what he was doing I never would have come here with him," Inuyasha looked away from her pleading eyes. "I would do anything for you, please do this one thing for me," the half-demon glanced down at her; all he could see was her hazel eyes, pleading him not to move any further.

"I can't Kagome, I would do anything if you asked me, but I cant now," she released her hold slightly, and he yanked his arms out of her grip and flew towards Kazama.

He threw everything he had at Kazama, who hadn't expected him to ignore Kagome, he had made the mistake in thinking Inuyasha was a housebroken dog, completely under Kagome's control.

"Inuyasha stop!" yelled Kagome, she knew Inuyasha was completely out of control, he slashed at Kazama with his claws, Tetsusaiga laying forgotten on the forest floor. She knew if Inuyasha caught him, he would kill him. "INUYASHA!" She yelled, but he ignored her. Inuyasha caught Kazama, he pinned him to a tree with Tetsusaiga through his shirt, and kicked him in the stomach.

"I TOLD YOU!" Inuyasha yelled, "I TOLD YOU I'D KILL YOU!"

"INUYASHA, NO!" yelled Kagome, she raised her bow that until now had hung over her shoulder, and shot an arrow at Inuyasha, it skimmed his hair and he turned to face her.

"Kagome?" he said, Kagome ran towards him. Inuyasha ignored her and started thrashing violently at Kazama once more. Kagome grabbed his arm.

"Inuyasha stop!" He ignored her still.

"INUYASHA…SIT!" The half-demon's necklace glowed brightly and Inuyasha pounded to the ground. The pink light fading, Inuyasha recovered himself, rubbing his abused head.

"Kagome stop interfering!" He yelled at her, Kagome stood beside him, holding her bow angrily in her hand. Kagome couldn't help but see that as well as his hatred for Kazama, Inuyasha was most probably unleashing some pent up anger from the Kouga situation, and she felt guilty for it. She held out her other hand to help him up, he took it, but instead of pulling himself up, he pulled her down onto the ground with him, and hugged her tight. "I'm sorry," he said quietly in her ear.

"For what?" She asked, her temper melting away as he held her.

"This," he said, and threw her aside. He threw himself back into the battle against Kazama.

"SIT! SIT!" She yelled desperately, but he just leapt straight back up after each collision with the ground. She ran towards Inuyasha, and grabbed his arm again.

"Kagome, get off!" He yelled angrily, his patience with her wearing thin. Kagome had only one choice; she threw her arms round Inuyasha's shoulder, wrenching him away from the human with all her strength, pulling his body round to face her. Inuyasha shut his eyes tight, waiting for her to slap him, but she didn't. She kissed him. Inuyasha's eyes widened in shock, but then he closed his eyes, kissing her back. Kagome held onto his kimono, in case he should try to turn back round to finish with Kazama, but he didn't, he seemed to forget all about the human - all about everything, his temper subsided. Kagome opened her eyes, to find he was kissing her back, her face flushing, and pulled away slowly.

Releasing her hold of his kimono, she met Inuyasha's eyes as he stood gazing at her in awe for a moment, before his face turned as red as hers. Kagome dashed over to Kazama, pulling out Tetsusaiga from his shirt sleeve, and he fell to the floor. She held Tetsusaiga in her hand, and it transformed back into its archaic form, as she passed it back to Inuyasha.

"I'm sorry," she muttered to Kazama. Inuyasha had not hit him badly, well, not considering anyway. He stumbled to his feet unsteadily; Kagome took Inuyasha's arm roughly and dragged him away from the man as he made his own, slow way back to camp.

"What did you do that for?" Inuyasha asked quietly as Kazama disappeared from view and they entered the camp area, everyone still asleep.

"He was trying to make you angry Inuyasha, why couldn't you have just come away?" she asked stiffly.

"Because he was only doing it because he thought you could tell me to stop and I would listen, and I didn't mean that anyway…" he raised his free arm, tracing over his lips where hers had been moments before. "Why did you kiss me…?" She fought blushing as she answered him.

"There are only two ways I've ever got you to listen to me, and that was the one of them," she replied simply, still a little angry with him. Then she remembered something, and turned to face him. "Why did you kiss me back?" She asked curiously, Inuyasha went nearly as red as his kimono, he didn't look at her. "Inuyasha, why can't you answer the question?" Inuyasha ignored her, and went and sat back down where he had fallen asleep, Kagome following and sitting beside him. The half-demon still didn't reply, he didn't look at her either, but she saw his face was very red with embarrassment. "Inuyasha, tell me," she demanded, but he looked at her, his face showing no sign of embarrassment now, held her hand, but did not reply.

TBC