Chapter 10 – Swimming

"Keh." Inuyasha grumbled.

"It will be fun, Inuyasha. Honest."

They were going for a hike. It had been one week since the incident with Sesshomaru, and, although Kagome was still pale and wore bandages on the cuts over her shoulders, she was pretty much back to normal.

"You and Bella won't be able to keep up with us anyway."

Bella smiled charmingly at him. "Which is why you're walking normal speed for part of the way."

"Keh," Inuyasha said again.

Kagome sighed. After he had almost attacked her, he had withdrawn into himself. He had tried to stay as far away from her as possible, and she desperately hoped it was only because he was afraid of hurting her again. It couldn't be… not that he… didn't love her anymore?

Thankfully, she had been unconscious while Carlisle had worked on her, though the knowledge had still made her shiver.

She hadn't been to a doctor for years.

The Cullens had learned, through experience, that she freaked when they drove at their version of 'normal speed'. So today, with many protests from Edward, she and Inuyasha were hitching a ride in Bella's battered old Chevy, which went at a maximum of sixty miles an hour, and was currently trundling along at a healthy thirty.

"We're here!" Bella called cheerfully, jumping out of the truck.

Kagome and Inuyasha followed. As they were exiting, Inuyasha looked at her and smirked.

"You know Kagome, these past few weeks, I think I've seen less of your legs than ever."

"SIT BOY!"

Inuyasha grinned from the floor.

45 minutes later…

They were walking along a beaten track, by the side of a river. The vampires and the hanyou were walking ahead, perfectly at ease with the rocky and steep terrain, while Kagome and Bella struggled along behind them.

"You don't do this kind of thing often, do you?" Bella grinned at Kagome from beneath her sun hat.

"Well, we walk around a lot, but never hiking. That's one delight which has escaped me so far."

Kagome was beginning to miss the Feudal Era. Her friends would be fine without them, but she couldn't wait to see them. She contented herself with sending letters to Souta, who then threw them down the well. Something to do with, probably, the fact that she possessed them, enabled them to pass through time.

"Hurry up!" Inuyasha growled, pulling her out of her reverie.

"Shut it, Inuyasha."

"Whatever, wench."

She threw her water bottle at the back of his head.

He turned sharply.

"Ow! What was that for?!"

"Calling me a wench!"

"I've always called you that! You've never minded that much in the past!"

"Yeah, well, I do now!"

"Why!"

"I don't know! Just accept it and stop calling me that!"

"No!"

"Yes!"

"Wench!"

"Fine!" Kagome cried, tears actually springing into her eyes. "Fine! Just go ahead, call me names, insult me, just like normal!"

"Kagome…" he stammered. He hated it when she cried. "Kagome, I-"

"No!" she said fiercely, wiping her eyes roughly with the back of her hand. "Stop it, Inuyasha! Just leave me alone!"

He was interrupted with a smack on both shoulders.

"Ouch!" he yelped, looking at the perpetrators. Alice and Rosalie. "What was that for?!"

"Being an insensitive jerk!" Alice yelled.

"I… what?" he looked around helplessly.

Rosalie shot him a withering look, and her and Alice walked back to where Bella and Kagome were lagging.

"I… what did I do?" he asked, looking around. No one answered.

They stopped for a short rest half an hour later. The humans were getting worn out. Kagome sat up against a tree, hugging her knees, tears sliding down her face.

Maybe he doesn't really love me, she thought to herself. Maybe our night was just that. A night together. No more. But… oh Kami, it hurts! I love him. Why can't he see that? She stood with a sigh and walked over to the edge of the river, gazing at her reflection in the water. I know I'm not as pretty as Kikyo. And I'm… I'm stupider, just like Inuyasha said. How can he go from loving someone as amazing as her, to… well… me?

Her form in the water was joined by Inuyasha. She turned her head away form him.

"Hey," he said, in a gentler tone. "Kagome."

She still would not look at him.

"Kagome, I'm sorry. I just… I don't want… to hurt you anymore."

"Oh!" she cried, "You don't want to hurt me?! Then don't tell me you love me one minute and then avoid me like the plague the next!"

"Kagome, I… I…"

"Just don't, Inuyasha!" she turned on her heel and walked angrily away.

Unfortunately, she was so busy being angry, she didn't notice the ground she was walking on. And she didn't notice when a root was sticking out at a dangerous angle.

SPLASH!!!

Kagome came up, spluttering and treading water.

"Oh Kami, this water is FREEZING!" She yelled.

Inuyasha felt laughter beginning. He couldn't help it; he just had to laugh. She was immersed in the murky water, an angry and bewildered look on her wet face, her sopping hair plastered to her head.

"OH, YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY, DO YOU?!" She screeched. "SIT BOY!!!"

Of course he landed in the water.

"Hey!" he yelped.

"Na na na na na!" she grinned vengefully, swimming just beyond his reach.

He splashed her.

She shrieked.

"Oi!" She splashed him back.

"Gotcha!" Splash.

"You're making me wet!" Splash.

"You're already wet!" Splash.

"So are you!" Splash.

Splash, splash, splash, splash…

They emerged, dripping, a few minutes later, much to the amusement of the Cullens.

"We fell in," said Kagome sheepishly.

"We heard," Edward chuckled.

As they walked off, Inuyasha and Kagome were holding hands.

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I know it's kinda fluffy, but what did you think? Thanks for reading! xx