-This chapter may answer some questions you might have, if it doesn't be sure to e-mail me! : )

Please read and review! I do not own inuyasha, characters and such are copyright of Rumiko takahashi!

Chapter 14: The three words of bliss

"Inuyasha!" Kagome squealed, leaping into his embrace. "I thought I'd never see you again!". Inuyasha was confused, he had been with her during the previous moments.. Why was this moment any different from them?

"I'm hanyou again.." He breathed, returning the embrace.

"Thank kami!" She nuzzled his neck, breathing in the all too familiar scent of him.

"But.. What was wrong with me as a human, Kagome?" He asked, sheepishly. She beamed at him, but quickly got rid of the smile when she noticed his expression.

"Inuyasha?" She questioned, softly.

"I just.. Felt better about myself that way. I knew that people would accept me if I was human, that my family wouldn't have to be burdened.. That you wouldn't have to be burdened.."

"Burdened? Inuyasha, what are you talking about?" She scolded, knowing inuyasha was self-conscious about his appearances, yet he knew it never bothered her, why speak of it now?

He sighed, thinking back to the past...

–Flashback–

A ten-year-old inuyasha walked alone down the stone walkway of the schoolyard, heading to the playground, where he could be alone after a long day of school. He had stayed late because he wanted help with math and he didn't think anyone would be there this late. The sun was just about set.. he thought he could hear voices, he decided to see what was going on.

There were three boys and one girl, who was being pushed around by the three boys, She was helpless.

"What's wrong, freakette? Waiting for the freak, are you? Baka.." one of the boys snickered, pushing her into one of the other boys grasps. She yelped in pain, she had twisted her ankle earlier in their taunting, so she didn't have the strength to run.

"Awwwwwww, look guys, she's in pain. How sweet! Well, you're not going to run back to the freak just yet, we're going to have a bit of fun with you first." The boy who was holding her pushed her to the ground, into a cold puddle of dirty water.

Inuyasha flinched when he saw this, he knew he couldn't interfere, the boys were older than he was, he would only make matters worse, but when he heard her cry, the girls voice was familiar. He decided to get a closer look. He crept to a bench about ten feet from the scene, which he hid behind.

"Get up!" The eldest boy yelled, kicking her in the ribs. "I SAID Get Up!" He grabbed her by the hair and threw her towards the bench, When she lifted her head, she noticed the boy crouched behind the bench. "Inuyasha.." She smiled, weakly and tried to squiggle closer to him, but failed when one of the boys approached.

"Inuyasha. Well, Come to save your girlfriend?" One of the boys snickered, again. Inuyasha sneered, getting up and running over to Kagome.

"Inuyasha, I've been waiting since 3 this afternoon, where were you?" She asked, the smile never leaving her face, A wave of guilt washed over him. How could he have forgotten that they were walking home after school together? She had waited all this time for him and he forgot about her. Now this happened, how could he..

"Kagome.. Come on, I'll take you home.." He said, extending a hand. Her smile brightened and she took it. The other boys rolled their eyes

"C'mon guys, this is getting too lame for me. Let's go raid the cheerleaders locker room.." The eldest said, while the other two agreed and left.

He watched them leave, with Kagome in his arms. She was safe now, but he felt sick to his stomach in grief.

"Gomen ne...Kagome.." He mused. She looked at him strangely.

"Nani? Inuyasha.. What do you have to be sorry for?" She spoke softly.

"What do you mean? You were just beat up because of me?!?" He yelled.

"No, Inuyasha. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.. They were just looking for someone to beat up. It had nothing to do with you." She smiled, giving him a hug. But he knew she was wrong. Their taunts still echoed in his mind.. Words like Freak.. He knew they were talking about him.

"Don't worry Inuyasha. I'd take a bullet for you, besides, no harm done." She rose up and started to walk away, limping. Inuyasha stared at the ground and sighed before running after her, linking his arm in hers and helped her home. She had told her mom she had tripped down the stairs, but the guilt of that day never left him...

—End Flashback—

He reared up his head and stared at her with a malicious stare.

"Every bad thing that happened to you when we were younger was because of me! Why can't you admit it?!? It's TRUE, Isn't it?!" Kagome stared at him, remorse in her eyes.

"Inuyasha, why are you so self-conscious? I told you before, I don't care about your appearance, so why should you?" he look at her, shaking with anger. She had been beaten so many times because of him. He had tried to run away countless times, yet Kagome would always followed him, so he had to always come back, after all, he couldn't take her away from her family. Sometimes he wished that he had, things would have been so different for her if he had just left. With or without her.

"It's my fault! IT'S MY FAULT!" he yelled in frustration. Kagome's tear stricken face held no emotion. She walked slowly over to him, slapping him across the face.

"I swear Inuyasha, If you say one more bad thing about yourself.. I.....I ... I don't know WHAT I'll do." She stormed off, leaving a wide-eyed Inuyasha standing there, holding his left cheek. He had never seen her this angry. He ran after her, like he always did, a faithful dog.

"Kagome.. Gomen, ok?".. She turned around..

"Why can't you understand, Inuyasha? Why don't you see why I don't care what everyone thinks? Why must you blame yourself when I AM the one to blame?" She screamed at him.

He stood there, dumbfounded.

"What are you talking about, Kagome? What's the reason?" He questioned. She turned around, she couldn't meet his eyes, but the words that came out of her mouth didn't need an expression from a face.

"I love you.."