Disclaimer: The characters do not belong to me but the story does

Showing Inuyasha the way

Those in the group that were freed walked to the only one who was not. Kagome stopped the rest from walking into the spell. "I want you guys to stay out here while I go and help Inuyasha."

There was a bit of protest from the other three all at once.

"You said that we were a family and that family helps each other," Shippo said quoting what Kagome had said earlier in the evening.

"Kagome you may need our help convincing him," Sango stated reasonably.

"Lady Kagome what if you get trapped in there?" Miroku questioned with much concern.

"You guys," Kagome interrupting all arguments, "we have no idea what Inuyasha's fear is but it could be that he fears turning into his demon half. I'm the only one who can help him in his demon form and if you guys go in he may hurt you. Plus the strange lady who put us in the spells may come back and not want Inuyasha and me to get out so you need to fight her."

"Strange lady?" came the chorus. All of them were confused by this new information.

Kagome then realized that none of them knew about the spell caster that made them face their fears. She explained to them about the odd woman she had seen.

After a bit more of an argument they decided that it was a good idea that Kagome go and help Inuyasha and the other three stay in case the spell caster came.

The miko took a deep breath, steeling her resolve and plunged into the mist.

When she found Inuyasha he had his back to her. She hadn't been making excuses when she had thought that he may have turned into his demon self but Kagome thought that that would be what he wanted rather than a fear. She tried to think of things that could manifest in the hanyou's spell and the only thing she could think of was Kikyo.

Then she remembered what the spell had shown her. Her stomach tightened and her heart hurt at the memory. She had said the truth when she had told the mirage that she thought that he would eventually go back to the dead yet undead priestess.

The miko shook her head. She can't think about that right now.

Inuyasha was only a few feet away from her but just in case he was in his demon form she called out, "Inuyasha?" He didn't respond. "Inuyasha are you hurt?" she asked worriedly. Not thinking of his demon half anymore she took the few steps to him and put a hand on his arm.

His eyes were closed and he didn't try to open them. In a gruff voice he said, "I thought you were leaving, going to find Koga."

Kagome was confused at first by his words and put her hand to her side. Then she understood, he saw her. Her heart leapt at the thought that he would see her. She had to make sure so she got her insides under control and asked, "You saw me, before now, the person you saw was me?"

He finally opened his eyes and the gold in them was dark with anger. "What do you mean? Of course I saw you."

To Kagome his golden eyes, even when they were darkened by anger, were mesmerizing and she felt that she could get lost in them. She pulled herself out of her thoughts and said, "I know this might sound weird. What you saw wasn't real but I need you to tell me what it said to you."

"Not real?" Inuyasha repeated dubiously.

"Yes," said Kagome patiently.

The hanyou looked at the miko uncertainly and then closed his eyes again. Kagome was about to say something when she realized what he was doing. Inuyasha was trying to make sure she was who she said she was by her scent.

When he opened them his eyes held a lot of confusion in them. He spoke warily, "The person earlier smelled just like you except it had a sour smell to it. Your scent is like it normally is."

Kagome gave him a small smile. "We are in a spell. In this spell it shows us our fears so I need to know what the fake me told you so I can help you fight it so we can get out."

This time Inuyasha looked down as if in embarrassment. "I saw you. You said you were leaving because I was a monster and that you were afraid because I hurt you." Kagome put her hand back on him as he went on, "You gave examples of when I turned into my demon form and I hurt you. Then you told me that I hurt you when I am not in my demon form too."

He stopped there and Kagome didn't need him to say it because they both knew that at least the fake got it right for once. Kikyo's link to Inuyasha did hurt Kagome. She squeezed his arm in comfort.

Kagome didn't want the unsaid words to linger in the air so she asked, "What does Koga have to do with it?"

Not looking at her his jaw clenched before he said in a relatively even tone, "You said that you didn't want to travel with me and you were going to find Koga. You told me that you were going to be his mate because you knew that he wouldn't break his promise to protect you and that he was a true demon."

At first Kagome didn't know what to say about his fears so she sat down on the ground next to him. "I saw you," the miko said softly but she knew he would hear her. Kagome didn't look at him but she could feel his eyes turn to her. "When I was in the spell," she clarified but Inuyasha already knew that was what she was talking about.

"You told me that you were leaving me and going to find her." Kagome couldn't say Kikyo's name. "You also told me she was a better priestess than I am even if she is dead," her voice broke. Kagome cleared her throat, looked up at the hanyou and said, "See you were my fear too."

There was a pause before she continued, "I don't think that you are a monster. I like you just the way you are, the good and the bad. You are kind and wonderful even if you do have a bit of a temper. I wouldn't want you any other way though. And about Koga," Inuyasha stiffened at the wolf demon's name. Kagome saw but kept on going, "he doesn't even come close to you."

Inuyasha put out his hand to help her stand up. She took it and stood in front of him, a bit closer than they had before. "Kagome you are an amazing priestess. I won't leave you for Kikyo and I will protect you."

They looked at each other seeing that the other was telling the truth. Without another word they kissed, a short but passionate kiss. The mist around them shimmered and started to disappear on its own. The two held onto each other's hand as they watched the spell disappear and seeing their friends.

"So you are not a naïve girl after all. And you all passed," came a woman's voice from behind them. They all turned around to face the new danger.