Several hours later, Amara woke with a massive headache. Wincing at the pain, she placed her hand against her head and sighed.

"Amara?"

Cracking open an eye, Amara turned her head to look at Inuyasha, who quiet frankly, looked like hell.

"Inuyasha, you look awful. You okay?"

He shook his head at her question and stared her directly in the eyes. At least now, they weren't filled with the pain he saw earlier.

"Do you remember anything from this morning?"

"This morning?"

Frowning, she thought back. Just as she was about to tell him no, it all came rushing back to her. The scene she witnessed between him and Kikyo and her childish actions. She wasn't sure why she overreacted like she did. It was unreasonable, besides, she had no right...what claim did she have over Inuyasha anyway? None, he wasn't hers and if he wanted to be with someone, who was she to stop him? The thought though, of him being with anyone else, was enough to break her heart. Sadness overwhelmed her and she placed her hand over her heart as she stared up at the ceiling.

"I do."

Inuyasha saw how her face changed from slightly confused to complete dejection. Her eyes weren't full of the happiness and love he was so used to seeing and her whole body language screamed with depression. Her heart-broken words kept resounding inside his head.

'Why can't you love me?'

All these years, has she really believed he didn't care for her? Didn't love her?

"Don't you realize how important you are to me?"

His words made her want to look at him, but she didn't want him to see the tears she held back. Why was she being so emotional? He had just talked to Kikyo, that's all, it wasn't like he confessed his undying love for the woman or even kissed her. She was so frustrated with herself right now.

"I know I'm important to you."

"I doubt that, considering what you said earlier today."

The reminder made Amara wince. Her own words coming back to her. She left herself wide open.

"I was delusional. Being poisoned and having a constant fever will do that to a person."

"Perhaps, but the pain I saw in your eyes, that was real."

Amara kept her gaze averted. He was right, it was all real. Her feelings, her pain, every single bit of it was true.

"Do you honestly believe that after ten years, I don't love you?"

She could act like that didn't mean anything to her, but Inuyasha saw the way her eyes darted towards him then away real quick.

"I know I've never said the words aloud to you before, but I have in other ways. When I tell you I can't lose you, how much you mean to me. That's my way of saying, I love you."

Tears gathered in her eyes again. That may be true, but he didn't share her feelings completely. For ten years, Amara's found herself falling for Inuyasha. That's why she threw herself in harm's way for him, that's why she beat the hell out of anyone who insulted him. All she wanted to do was protect him, make him happy, she loved him that much.

'If you truly love someone, you'll let them go. If they come back to you, then it's meant to be, if they don't, then they were never yours to begin with.'

Sighing, Amara closed her eyes, the tears she held back slipping down her cheeks. Reaching out, she took Inuyashas' hand.

"You're so silly, Inuyasha. I know you love me, like you said, it shows in all you do and say. I never doubted that."

"But, you asked me why I wouldn't love you."

Biting her lip, she forced herself to look at Inuyasha, making herself smile just a little through her tears.

"Like I said, I was delusional. I don't know why I said half of that shit."

Inuyasha didn't believe her. Reaching out, he wiped the tears from her cheek, looking into her emerald orbs, which were swimming with tears and sadness.

"Then why are you crying?"

"I'm simply tired, that's all."

Emotionally exhausted was more like it, but she wouldn't allow herself to worry Inuyasha furthermore. Squeezing her hand, Inuyasha gritted his teeth together. She was lying to him. He could tell something was bothering her.

"Amara, your eyes are an open book and right now their telling me that something is wrong. What have I done to hurt you so much?"

Before either Amara or Inuyasha could say another word, Kikyo interrupted them.

"It's time for your medicine, Amara."

Though all she's done so far is help her, Amara couldn't help the wave of rage and dislike that coursed through her at Kikyo's presence. It took everything she had not to glare the woman down as she approached them.

"Inuyasha can give it to me."

Pausing, Kikyo gave Amara a slightly confused look, but didn't argue.

"As you wish."

Handing Inuyasha the cup of tea with the medicine in it, Kikyo started out of the hut.

"You still going with me later, Inuyasha?"

"I promised you I would, didn't I?"

Smiling, Kikyo gave Amara one last look, before stepping outside. Something about that look just didn't set well with Amara, it was like she was challenging her.

"What are you two doing?"

Slipping his arm behind her, Inuyasha helped Amara sit up so she could drink her tea.

"Nothing really. She asked me if I would go with her to this other village to kill a demon."

"And you said yes?"

Nodding, Inuyasha placed the cup in her hands and made her drink it.

"I couldn't very well deny her request."

"Sure you could, it's a simple two letter word called, no."

Placing the now empty cup to the side, Inuyasha sighed.

"Amara, you have to let go of the grudge you have against her. She's already apologized for her mistake. Just let it go already."

It took her a second to realize what he was talking about. He still thought she didn't like Kikyo over shooting him that time. Strangely enough, that wasn't the case now. At this moment, her reason for hating the woman, was the simple fact that she was trying to come between them. But of course, Inuyasha didn't see that. Closing her eyes, Amara laid back down.

"Just be careful Inuyasha."

Caressing her hair back, Inuyasha placed a kiss against her forehead before getting to his feet.

"I will. I'll be back as soon as I can."

Amara watched him leave, her heart aching. Closing her eyes so she could sleep, Amara whispered three little words as she drifted off.

"I love you."