Thank you for the umpteenth time misslovable for her dedicated editing. Be on the look out for her completely original story coming out on fictionpress in a few weeks time! (She just has to figure out a plot first and muster up the determination to stick to it.)

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha

Chapter Fourteen

Wisdom of the Inner Voice

Kagome froze, her arms still up in the air and her mouth slightly open. Slowly, oh so slowly, she brought her arms down to her sides and turned to her left, her face flushed, hoping that her hair would hide it.

Stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid! Where did that come from? Well I know where but why! Kami! Of all the moments to blurt it out, I chose this one! she couldn't bring herself to even glance at Inuyasha. There was a huge chance, no, a certainty that he didn't like her back. Not in that way at least, which meant that enough awkwardness to fill the Grand Canyon would come between them.

Inuyasha's jaw literally dropped, he wanted to say something, anything to break the tension that surrounded them, but the words died on his lips. He replayed the moment in his head and couldn't ignore the stupid somersault his stomach had made when she had said those words. She's undeniably kawaii, he thought, Idiot, your stomachs not supposed to leap, hers is!

At least he thought that was how it worked. He had never really been in this situation before. What was he thinking? What was she thinking? What was there to say? How was he supposed to react? What did she mean by like? Like as in a friendly like? Or like as in I-think-your-hot-and-I'm-attracted-to-you like? Inuyasha shook his head – what a cocky way to phrase that!

Finally he decided that he had to ask, "You like me?"

Kagome groaned and shook her head, still facing her left.

"Is that a no?" he asked, genuinely confused, she had just been insulting him, and the last thing he had expected was a confession. And she says I keep changing. He thought sarcastically.

She groaned again out of frustration, Must he make me repeat myself? I swear his density is an act to embarrass me. This was going to be an intensely uncomfortable conversation, she could tell. Taking a deep breath she answered him, "Please don't rub it in okay? Yes, I like you as a bit more than a friend, but let's pretend I hadn't said it. I don't want to lose our new friendship because it's a good one, a rare one. And I'm pretty sure these feeling will go away soon. Call in infatuation or something. Just don't ask me when it started, don't ask me how and please, oh kami, please Inuyasha, don't ask me why because you know as much as I do when it comes to that one." Kagome rubbed her forehead with the palm of her hand and glared at the ground. Herhead ached, her throat ached and her stomach ached. Clearly her entire being was telling her not to have this conversation.

"Well huh." He said smartly. It wasn't a question. It was just a reaction to her completely unexpected response. At loss for words, all he could think to do was voice his last thought aloud, "That was unexpected."

She stopped glaring at the ground and lifted her head up. "You don't say." She replied dully, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She watched him as he took his turn glaring at the defenceless grass, his eyebrows were furrowed and he seemed deep in thought, a thought he didn't appear to like.

Oh no. Kagome felt her throat constrict further. Please don't tell me we're going to go back to the way things were, I can deal with him not liking me back in the same way, but I don't want to lose this…this thing that we have! This weirdly beautiful friendship we share. If so then I'll just go and find a nice small hole to crawl in and die.

'And give up the chance to see Inuyasha ever again? You'll never be able to live with yourself. And considering that you'll already be dead then you'll have all eternity to regret it. Besides, you already lost your friendship the moment you admitted to yourself that you liked him.'

Nani? Oh wonderful, you're my conscience aren't you? She sighed, this was a sure sign of insanity wasn't it? Even her thoughts were beginning to grow sarcastic.

'Got it in one,' the voice answered back casually, 'Faster than most people.'

Uhuh. So getting straight to the point, what do you mean that I lost the friendship?

'Eager to know aren't we?'

Kagome made an irritated sound and heard Inuyasha mutter something at the same time. She glanced at him strangely.

'Okay, I get it. Let me rephrase what I said earlier, your friendship with Inuyasha depends on what he wants, you can't really change that. However, it's not the friendship you're afraid of losing, it's the chance of having a deeper relationship with Inuyasha that you really don't want to miss out on.'

So what can I do about that?

'Talk to him. Tell him.'

Kagome snuck another peek at Inuyasha only to find him glaring up at his eyebrows as if arguing with his mind. If it had been any other situation Kagome would've laughed at his expression. Seeming to be alerted to her gaze, Inuyasha's direction of sight changed to her causing them both to look away again.

Tell him what? Didn't I just say all there is to say?

'...'

Hello? Conscience?

'...'

Perfect. And you didn't even tell me why I like him either.

'Because he's the only guy who can make you feel like you're on top the world and the only one who can bring you rock bottom without even meaning to.'

She smirked triumphantly, not realising how similar the expression was to a certain hanyou. Back again are we?

'Just listen this time and you'll know why you feel the way you do about Inuyasha.'

I don't know if he's brought me rock bottom quite yet and about the top of the wor-

'Listen. Inuyasha brings out the worst in you. You used to come home and scare Shippo out of his wits after you had and encounter with Inuyasha-'

Yeah but there was also a maths tes-

'Just listen. Even though during those arguments and sometimes hours later you would still be mad, afterwards you would look back on the event and find yourself smiling, even laughing sometimes.'

Especially the day I dumped spaghetti on him.

'You don't know how to listen do you? Don't answer that. When Inuyasha gave you a ride that night you never thought any experience could be that magical, even though you've felt the power of the jewel. When he says your name with no insults attached you wish you could record the moment.'

Only because I'll never know if it'll ever happen again.

'Cut the sarcasm for now please. When you see Inuyasha smirk or grin you think 'how annoying' and yet you'll never grow tired of it. When he caught you singing that poem you didn't hesitate to tell him the history of it, you knew that he would understand.'

Kagome could only nod to herself in realisation.

'When he told you about his past you cried for him as if it had caused you pain. And when he hugged you, you didn't think anywhere else could feel as safe-'

So I never wanted to let go…

Meanwhile, Inuyasha's thoughts were being just as torturous.

How does she expect me to pretend like she didn't say that? Why does she like me? Does she realise she just put me on the spot like that?

'Probably.'

What the? Who the hell are you?

'Take a wild guess Inuyasha.'

Are you a psychic demon who decided to invade my mind? And if so, why would you let your presence be known?

'Baka, what demon in their right mind would bother to invade your thoughts? Anyone can read your face like a book. No, I'm not a psychic demon, I'm your conscience.'

If you're my conscience then why would I insult myself?

'Because I am you, and how do you usually treat others? You insult them. I'm your inner you.'

Is that so. How come I've never heard you before?

'I prefer sticking to the back of your mind. Besides, you've never had to think this hard about anything. Obviously this girl is really playing with your mind.'

Kagome wouldn't do something like that.

'Alright, yeah I know. Not intentionally at least. Bad choice of words. What I mean to say is that Kagome is confusing you a lot ne?'

Yup

'Exactly what is it about her that confuses you?'

She's just really unexpected you know? She always seems happy, genuinely happy, you know she's not putting on an act when she smiles and yet, there is something hidden in her eyes that tells you she's more than she appears to be.

'Wow, talk about unexpected. That was pretty profound considering it's you.'

If you're not going to say anything helpful then don't say anything at all.

'You should listen to your own advice Inuyasha.'

Strike three. I'm not listening or talking to you anymore.

'I think you'll find that very hard. You can't really do much without thinking and I am, after all, the centre of your thoughts.'

Smartass. Okay, gonna tell me what I'm supposed to do about Kagome now?

'Yeah, I think I've tortured you enough.'

A string of incoherent mutterings came from Inuyasha at the exact moment Kagome made an irritated noise. They looked at each other oddly before both turning away and going back to their own thoughts.

'The good news for you is that Kagome obviously still wants to be at least your friend if nothing else. No complaints there right?'

As long as I can still talk to her the way we do. But I don't know if she'll talk to me the same way, it's up to her I guess. I want to keep this friendship as much as she does.

'Are you sure?'

Oh for crying out loud! If you know something that I don't know, that I'm supposed to know then just come out and say it! Stop making me think!

'But it's fun! Besides, I think the stupid look on your face is cheering her up!'

Realising that he had been rolling his eyes upwards in an unconscious attempt to glare at his own thoughts, Inuyasha diverted his gaze to Kagome only to find her looking back at him with a smile tugging at her lips.

Inuyasha groaned, Could this get any worse?

'The way I see it, you've got it pretty good. Kagome an attractive, determined, strong, cheerfully open yet mysterious girl has admitted to liking YOU. Inuyasha, think hard for a moment, you're a dim witted, chaotic, childish boy who still cannot work out what he wants. For the love of kami and for the sake of Kagome's heart, make up your mind!'

Well when you put it that way. He sighed, shooting another wistful glance at the raven haired girl. I can't. Why do I have to make the choice anyway?

'Don't sulk Inuyasha. Do you or do you not have feelings for Kagome?'

Yes. But I don't know what they mean. Like she said, maybe it's just infatuation or something.

'Then answer me. Does Kagome make you happy?'

She makes me want to laugh and smile more than I ever have before.

'Do you look forward to seeing her?'

A wry grin crossed his face. I freaking wake up earlier and stay up later just for the opportunity.

'What do you think when you see her blush?'

She's too cute for her own good.

'What did you do when you thought she got lost in the forest?'

I went in to look for her. I panicked every moment until I found her.

'Why are you happy to carry her yet you rarely let anyone else get within five inches of you?'

It makes her happy and I know she's safe with me. Inuyasha frowned, surely the answers should've been harder to find than this. And yet, all he was thinking was the truth. The plain and honest truth.

'How did you feel when she cried?'

Those tears were for me, if my pain hurts her then I'll wear dorky knee pads and a helmet everywhere I go as long as she knows I'm safe. He grimaced, now his thoughts were getting down right corny.

'Why did you tell her about your past?'

Because I know my secrets are safe with her. He ran a hand through his hair, eyes closed. And I know that she'll understand.

'When you held her in your arms…'

It killed me to let go.

So there you have it! Fluff for flufflovers! Surprisingly it was extremely easy to write! It just kept on flowing! Which is why I have updated early! (Takes a bow)

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Adiosu!

Cat