~Chapter Two~ ~The Danger comes forth~

~Hope may be on the horizon of fate, but there can also be doom where your love lays waiting. Once your heart has made it's final vow, your world may be plagued by the evil of the other whom is searching for revenge. Should this happen, hold tight, and protect what is yours. Protect the heart that you swore to protect, for that heart, is the one thing that holds the sun up in the sky, through your eyes.~

~With Sango, Miroku, and Shippo~

Shippo looked off towards the forest trees once again for the millionth time that day. It was already late in the afternoon, and Kagome had never returned, as he expected, but he was so hoping that she would, though. He sighed. Sango patted his head as she did Kirara's, her adorable little cat, and smiled. "Don't worry about her, Shippo. She's probably at her home by now, resting up for the long journey that we're going to make once she returns to us." She explained in a kind tone. Shippo again sighed. "But what if she never comes back! She looked so sad too when she left!" He exclaimed. Miroku walked up to the two and sat beside them. "Inu-Yasha hasn't been seen all day……you don't suppose that he's……well….doing you know what with Kikyo! And all day too!!!!!" He stated in a shaky voice. Sango glared at him and sighed in annoyance. "Miroku, I'm surprised you haven't drowned in your sick and nasty thoughts! Of course Inu-Yasha hasn't done "that" with Kikyo! I think…." She explained. Miroku sighed. "Well! It was just a thought! Who knows! He might be getting it on REALLY good right about now!" "Who might be getting it on right about now?" A very familiar voice interrupted Miroku's babbling. Miroku twitched, and forced himself to turn around to see Inu-Yasha starring down at him in a strange look. He began to laugh nervously. "Ah……Inu-Yasha! How good it is to see you! You're looking suspiciously pleasant!" He exclaimed in a shaky tone. Inu-Yasha sighed and hit Miroku in the head with his fist. "STOP TALKING SICK THINGS ABOUT ME!!!" He yelled. Miroku fell to the ground and kept himself down. He didn't want to get up, even betting on his life! Sango cleared her throat and began to speak. "So…Inu-Yasha. Why did you leave so suddenly to go with Kikyo? Is she really that special?" She wanted to know. Inu-Yasha turned away. He hadn't thought about what he would tell his other companions about his change of decision at all! All he had thought about the whole way to Kaede's village was Kagome! He smiled a fake smile and looked to the ground. "Just to let you guys know…..Kikyo….is no longer apart of my life." He stated simply before quickly changing the subject. Sango, Miroku, and Shippo all starred in shock. *OH MY GOD!!!!! HE'S REALLY TURNING OUT TO NOT BE A TWO TIMER!!! BUT NOW WHAT WILL HE DO WHEN IT COMES TO KAGOME, I WONDER!!!???* Miroku shouted in his mind. *My goodness! Talk about your change of heart! Wonder why he decided not to be with Kikyo?* Sango explained calmly in thought. Shippo just starred in confusion at the others. As Miroku and Sango came out of thought, they realized that Inu-Yasha wasn't even paying attention to them, as they had expected. In stead, he was searching the area with his eyes for something, or someone. "Hey! Where's Kagome?" He finally questioned. Sango and Shippo immediately shut up, but Miroku had to explain. "Well, when we told her that you had gone off to see Kikyo, she got pretty upset, and left us, to go back to her world I might add." He stated. Inu-Yasha's expression was far from what the monk was used to seeing. "Oh….she did? How long ago?" Inu-Yasha asked in a serious tone. Miroku looked to the sky. "Oh, about mid morning by the looks of the sun now. I imagine that she's already resting peacefully in her world." He explained. Inu-Yasha nodded, but as his nose hit the air, he could pick up the faint smell of Kagome, and he knew that she was still in his time somewhere. He decided not to tell where he was going to the others, and simply excused himself, rather politely I might add, and headed off into the woods, which where becoming dark as evening approached. He had to find her, and tell her what he had been dying to tell her for the past 2 years of his life, but Kikyo had been holding him back until now. The three words he would state rang out in his mind, then faded as he put his attention to following Kagome's scent. He would find her before the ending of the day, and he would tell her, if it was the last thing he did.

~With Kagome, whom is still writing in her journal I might add~

Kagome wrote her last few words down quickly. Her hand was sore from scribbling down each and every word of her feelings, but she didn't mind. She held every one of her deepest secrets in that small, purple colored book, and she dared not leave out anything, no matter how depressing it was. She knew that at least there was someone that she could express her feelings to, and that was herself, through writing anyway. She looked up through the tree branches as she put her journal away, and was shocked to see how late it had gotten. Time went by fast when she wrote in that small book. She sighed heavily. "Dang. I should have waited until I got home to do this." She stated as she pulled her bag onto her shoulders. As she began to walk through the forest towards the sacred well, she got the strangest feeling that someone was watching her from somewhere far off. She stopped and looked off to the shadows of the trees. They seemed to whisper as she starred for a moment, before continuing on. It wasn't long though before she stopped yet again, and this time she was sure she could feel the presence of someone near by. Someone evil. She decided to question the air, although it seemed pointless. "Um….is anyone there? Inu-Yasha? Sango? Shippo? Miroku?" She wondered aloud. Suddenly, the bushes began to shuffle, and the person who walked out of them was more then shocking. Kagome let her bag upon her back slide off and hit the ground as she starred, stunned of whom stood before her. Kikyo smirked as she saw Kagome's horror through her eyes. "You are Kagome, my reincarnation, are you not?" She questioned. Kagome was speechless, but nodded swiftly. Kikyo smirked once more before stepping forward and looking Kagome in the eyes. "We have a lot in common, don't we." She began in a stiff voice. Kagome finally found words, and fixed her expression a bit. "Yes…..I guess we do." She explained. Kikyo suddenly began to smile sweetly! Kagome just starred in a still way though. She wasn't all that too fond of Kikyo, and she knew the same went for the former priestess as well. "Yes. We do, don't we. Our looks are a bit similar, and our powers, and our archery is at the same level almost." Kikyo stopped in her sentence and turned her friendly look to an evil one. "And our longing for Inu-Yasha." The words slipped right out of her mouth as if she had planned on saying it, and she did. Kagome looked away. She hadn't wished on talking about this, with her rival. The woman that she could never live up to. Kikyo chuckled a bit. "Yes. We both long for Inu-Yasha, but I long for him because I need his soul, not because of love." She paused to glare again at Kagome. "You love him, do you not?" She wanted to know suddenly. Kagome starred in surprise that Kikyo would ask such a question. "Well……um….Yes….I do." She finally got out. Kikyo took hold of Kagome's chin and squeezed it. Kagome was stunned at how swiftly Kikyo had moved. "Good…..because that's the only thing that can save you, now….." She stated. Kagome's eyes widened as Kikyo began to pull her into the ground! She tried to break free from Kikyo's fingers holding onto her chin, but in a mere instant, Kikyo was holding Kagome down by her arms, and then her legs! She couldn't move!!! As she searched her mind for a reason why this was happening, it suddenly hit her. Kikyo was dragging her to hell instead of Inu-Yasha!!!!!!!!! But why!!!!! Had something happened between them that Kikyo had no one else to use but her????? Kagome didn't have time to think about that, all she could do was try to break free from Kikyo's grasp, but it was too strong. Just as her eyes level was leaving the ground though, Inu-Yasha was the one to run up in her sight. His eyes widened in shock once he saw his beloved Kagome being dragged into the ground by Kikyo!! "NO!!!!!!!!!!!! KAGOME!!!!!!!!!!!" He screamed out as he began to run towards the hole where she was being bragged into. Kagome managed to hold out her hand in a pleading way towards him. "INU-YASHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" She cried out, before the ground closed up. Inu-Yasha violently got onto his hands and knees and dug to the ground where she had vanished with Kikyo, but nothing came up. He suddenly remembered Kikyo saying that she wasn't through yet with her plots, and he realized that Kikyo had drug Kagome to hell! A place where he could never go!!!! He starred to the ground helplessly. He looked over to see Kagome's yellow bag sitting beside a tree. He reached over and picked it up. He then held it tightly into his arms, baring his face into the yellow material, which smelt of Kagome's scent. Just as he thought again about how he could not ever get to hell to save Kagome, tears formed in his eyes. Tears that he had never shed before, since he had been a young child. How could he get the one he loved back? HOW?! Inu-Yasha sat on the ground for a long while, simply crying. Crying because he could never see her again. Never see her, whom was Kagome.

~Back with Sango, Shippo, and Miroku~

Sango and Miroku looked off towards the woods. Darkness began to fall over the hills and valleys. Shippo already had fallen asleep under a blanket at Kaede's hut, but Sango and Miroku were far from tired. "Miroku? Did you hear that scream just a moment ago?" Sango questioned the monk in a serious tone. Miroku nodded and sighed. "I heard more then one scream. I heard Inu-Yasha's voice, and Kagome's. What do you suppose happened?" Just then, Inu-Yasha came out of the trees, carrying Kagome's bag in his arms. His eyes were swollen from his sobs, but Miroku and Sango didn't say anything. They knew that something had happened to Kagome, though. "Inu-Yasha? What has happened?" Miroku asked calmly. Inu-Yasha didn't make eye contact with the monk, but only starred to the ground. "Kikyo. She's dragged Kagome to hell with her. There's nothing we can do." He explained in a stiff voice. Sango and Miroku's eyes widened, and they were stunned out of their wits! "WHAT DO YOU MEAN, INU-YASHA!? PLEASE TELL ME!!!" Sango screamed out. "ISN'T THERE ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO SAVE HER!?" Miroku included in Sango's cry. Inu-Yasha turned away from their faces as yet another tear was forced out and down his cheek. "Just shut up. There's nothing. You know that there is no way we can get to hell. And even if we did, there would be no hope of getting Kagome back, alive anyway." He stated in a harsh tone. As Inu-Yasha began to walk away from the group though, Kaede walked out of her hut with Shippo in her arms and starred towards the dog eared half demon. "Inu-Yasha. Everyone. Come inside with me. I over heard the dilemma you're all in, and I believe I can help." She explained in a gentle voice. Sango and Miroku nodded and walked inside. Kaede waited passionately for Inu-Yasha, who stood a few yards away in a stiff position. "Inu-Yasha. There might be a way to get Kagome back alive. Please come in. There isn't much time." She explained before departing into her hut. Inu-Yasha sighed and quickly held back more tears before deciding to go on ahead and see what Kaede had planned.

Sango, Miroku, and a now sobbing Shippo sat on the hut floor with Kaede when he walked into the small house. A fire stirred in the fire pit as Kaede pocked at it gently with a stick. "Please. Sit down." Kaede motioned for Inu-Yasha to sit beside Miroku. His nerves twisted when he heard the word, "sit", which was a word that he had often listened to in Kagome's voice. He sat down and sighed once more. The room fell silent for a moment. Only Shippo's soft cries were to be heard. Then Kaede began. "Well, as we all know now, my sister, Kikyo, has dragged our beloved Kagome to the depths of hell, but what you all don't know, is that I can still fell Kagome's presence in this world. She has not yet been thrown into hell. You still have time to save her." She paused to observe the others expressions. Sango and Shippo looked overjoyed that Kagome was still able to be saved. Miroku smiled in a soft way. But Inu-Yasha looked shocked. "WELL! KEEP GOING OLD HAG!! WHERE IS KAGOME NOW!!!?? WHERE CAN WE FIND HER!!!?? HOW LONG DO WE HAVE!!!???" He screamed out. Kaede looked out her hut door. Darkness had almost completely fallen over the countryside. "Yee all have 24 hours to retrieve Kagome. She is at the gate of hell, which is about 50 miles off over the mountains, inside a cave where demons rest in the daytime. If yee hurry, yee may be able to save Kagome, and bring her back here, but if yee do not, Kikyo will drag her down into the pits of hell, and yee will never see her again." She finally finished. Inu-Yasha stood up immediately. "Right. I don't care if any of you come or not, but I'm so outta here in less then a second." He stated. Sango and Miroku stood. "We'll both go. It'll be faster if we take Kirara along with us." Sango stated. Miroku nodded in agreement. Shippo starred up at them. "I ant to go, but I think I might hold you down" The young fox demon explained. Inu-Yasha smiled to him in a friendly way. "It's okay, Shippo. You stay here with Kaede and wait for us. We'll be back here with Kagome in no time." He stated. Shippo nodded and then jumped up onto Kaede's shoulder. The three, being Sango, Miroku, and Inu-Yasha, walked out of the hut. "Kirara! Come on!" Sango called out. The little cat pranced up, and then transformed into his tiger form. Sango and Miroku hopped onto his back. Inu-Yasha turned back to Kaede and Shippo, who stood to watch their departure. "Good luck, Inu-Yasha. I know Kagome means a lot to you, so bring her back safely." Kaede stated with a soft smile. Inu-Yasha nodded, then jumped onto Kirara's back behind Sango and Miroku. "I'll bring her back! No matter what!" He exclaimed as Kirara lifted up off the ground, and began to fly off towards the cave which was the entrance to hell.

~With Kikyo, and Kagome.~

Fire surrounded Kagome as she opened her eyes slowly, and began to focus on the things around her. She was in some sort of cave, and Kikyo stood not too far from her, looking down into a hole in the earth, where she could see fire jumping up like a water fountain. She knew where she was. "Kikyo….are we…" She was paused by Kikyo's glare. "Yes. Kagome….we are at the gate of hell. Are you happy, sad….or mad?" She questioned. Kagome's attitude immediately turned to anger. Kikyo chuckled a bit. "Yes. I've brought you here so that you may parish with me." She stated. Kagome starred. "Why didn't you take Inu-Yasha? He said himself that he would die with you!" She stated, sounding more shocked then she wanted to. Kikyo's smirk turned to a frown. "Inu-Yasha. He does not wish to be with me any longer. He went to me this morning and told me so." She began. Kagome's mouth dropped open. *So…Inu-Yasha DIDN'T go to see her because he wanted to!?* She stated in thought. Kikyo continued. "So….I came and found you…and decided that if Inu-Yasha can not be tricked into this, then I will trick you. So here we are now, talking about the one person that got us both into this mess." She explained. Kagome's teeth grinded. "INU-YASHA DIDN'T PUT ME, OR YOU INTO THIS MESS! IT'S YOU WHO'S CAUSED ALL OF IT!!!!" She screamed. Kikyo snapped around and gave her a hideous look. "I'd be silent, if I were you. Inu-Yasha is nothing but a worthless half breed. Lord knows why I even had the brain to fall in love with him so long ago. You're a fool to love him for who he is! He is nothing but a useless, improper, and very ugly mutt!" She exclaimed. Kagome's heart filled with hatred for Kikyo as she talked of Inu-Yasha in this tone. "SHUT UP YOU BITCH!!!!!!!!!!! INU-YASHA IS BETTER THEN ANYONE ELSE ON THIS EARTH!!!! AND HE'S WAY BETTER THEN YOU ARE!!!!!!!!!!!!" She cried out. Kikyo took Kagome suddenly by then neck. "Hold your tongue, girl. You'll die soon enough, once hell opens it's gates, I'll drag you down, and then you won't have anything to wine about." She stated. Kagome shook Kikyo's grasp away and sat back down onto the cave floor. *There's no way out. I can sense demons protecting the way out, and I can't get past Kikyo either. Inu-Yasha…..please come and save me. I have no power against her now.* She thought in worry as she starred up the cave, hoping that her one true love would come to rescue her soon.

~Back with Sango, Miroku, and Inu-Yasha~

Kirara moved swiftly through the air, as the three companions set off over the mountains to the gate to hell to save their other friend. Inu-Yasha starred down to the ground sadly as he watched the scenery move along under his feet. "So….Inu-Yasha." Began Miroku suddenly. Inu-Yasha looked up and starred to the monk that sat in front of him. "I've been meaning to ask you…..what brought your mind to not love Kikyo anymore. You went through so much worry over both her and Kagome, and finally figured that Kikyo was your choice! Why did that suddenly change over night?" He questioned. Inu-Yasha looked away from eye contact and faced the sky above them. "Kikyo…..she's not the one for me. That's all. I went to tell her that, but she made herself to go down and pity her own lost soul, and because she couldn't tale me to hell, she went after Kagome." He explained. Miroku nodded, then continued. "So…let me ask you now. Is Kagome your choice, or are you no longer in a bond with her other then being friends?" He wanted to know. Inu-Yasha again looked back at Miroku's eyes. "Miroku." He started. Miroku nodded. "What do you think?" Inu-Yasha suddenly snapped, then turned away. Miroku sighed and returned to his looking ahead of Kirara's flying direction. *I really can't tell! Is Kagome his favor at heart, or is she only his friend!? This is giving me a headache!" He stammered in thought. Sango starred off in front of Kirara as well. She sat in the very front row, and wasn't really paying attention to the two men's conversation behind her. *Poor Kagome. I hope she's still alright! We have to save her! She's my best friend! I've already lost my whole family and villagers! The only others that I have are Inu-Yasha, Shippo, Miroku, and Kagome! And Kagome is like my sister. She has to live! She has to!!!!* She stated in thought as tears walled up on the brims of her eyes. "Are you alright, Sango?" Questioned Miroku suddenly. She turned around and smiled weakly. "Yes! Never better! Let's hurry now! We don't have all that much time!!" She explained. Miroku nodded. Inu-Yasha looked over the ground again with his eyes. *Damn it! Where in the world could that cave be!?* He stated in thought. All of a sudden, he picked up the faint scent of Kagome, Kikyo, and fire, and he knew that they couldn't be too far. "I SMELL HER! I SMELL KAGOME! SHE'S DOWN THERE! BY THE BASE OF THAT MOUNTAIN!!" He called out to his two companions as he pointed downward. Sango motioned more Kirara to land off by the mountain side, and the three, along with the now transformed little Kirara, all ran off towards a smoking cave, where Kagome's scent was the most strongest. They stood at the mouth of the cave in no time flat, but then suddenly stopped. "What's wrong, Inu-Yasha?" Miroku questioned in an instant. Inu-Yasha starred into the cave with a strange look. "Kagome's in there alright, but there are so many demons guarding the entrance to this cave that I can't even count! Let's be prepared for what's coming our way! Yah got that you two!!!" Inu-Yasha exclaimed. Sango and Miroku nodded, then arranged their weapons for battle. Sango pulled her boomerang in front of her, and Miroku placed his staff, along with his right hand, facing forward. Inu-Yasha yanked out Tetsusaiga as well, then the three charged into the cave at full speed, ready for anything that came their way. Almost immediately, demons leaped from the shadows to face them, others waiting to go next if the first were defeated. Inu-Yasha didn't waste time thrashing most of the first demons, then thrashing the others that came at him. Sango threw her boomerang into the air so perfectly it was almost graceful, and plowed down many demons at a time, then did it again. Miroku waited peacefully behind the two, so that once the remainder of the demons were all that was left, he could simply suck them up into his wind tunnel, and be done with it. After the first batch of demons seemed to be all defeated, the three rushed on forward, knowing that at the bottom of the cave, there would be Kagome, waiting for them to save her. Unfortunately, more demons came at them, then more and more! The cave was a living zoo for them all, and the group found that it would take a miracle to get them even half way into the cave. As soon as they had defeated one lot, another would soon arise after they had gone a few feet more into the darkness. Miroku looked to Sango quickly in a gaze that she knew well. It meant that they should keep on fighting, but Inu-Yasha had to go on. She turned to Inu-Yasha, who had just finished thrashing through a few demons with Tetsusaiga. "INU-YASHA!! YOU HAVE TO GO ON!!! WE'LL HOLD THEM OFF WHILE YOU GO AHEAD!!!" She called. Inu-Yasha spat to the ground as he hit more demons to the cave floor. "GIVE ME A BREAK! I'M NOT GONNA LEAVE YOU TWO ALONE!!" He screamed. Miroku looked to Inu-Yasha along with Sango. Sango knew deep down that if Inu-Yasha didn't go, Kagome would be dead before they reached her. "INU-YASHA!!!!! YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN SAVE KAGOME!!! YOU KNOW WHERE SHE IS!!! GO AND SAVE HER!!!!! AT LEAST SHOW HER THAT YOU'RE HER FRIEND! SHE CARES SO MUCH FOR YOU!!! SHE'D ALREADY BE LONG GONE TO SAVE YOU IF THIS WHOLE THING WAS SWITCHED AROUND!!!!" She cried out. Inu-Yasha starred, and finally realized that Sango was right! He simply nodded and began to run off deeper into the cave. Miroku sucked up the demons that began to chase after him. "Do you think he'll come back with Kagome?" He questioned Sango afterwards. Sango looked to the ground. "I hope so, Miroku. I hope so."

~With Inu-Yasha~

Inu-Yasha ran as fast as he could go, trying to increase his speed, but finding that the rate he was going WAS his fastest. Demons came and went, and he swiped them out of his path with his claws quickly. *I HAVE TO FIND KAGOME!!! I HAVE TO!!! SANGO'S RIGHT! I'M THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN SAVE HER NOW…* He stated in thought. Suddenly, as the cave began to narrow, and then finally come to a small opening in the wall, Inu-Yasha quickly pushed himself inside of it. Kagome's scent came closer and closer, but Kikyo's scent also hung in the air around him. As he came out of the tunnel, and into a brightly lit up room, which was so hot that he began to sweat instantly once his skin touched the atmosphere, what he saw stunned him more then anything else had that day. Kagome hung from some sort of chain, dangling from a steal rob, which was clinched to a rock. He could tell from where she hung, that she was hanging over flames of heat. It was the gate to hell, and Kagome was dangling over it helplessly. Her eyes were shut, as if she was in a deep sleep when he walked up to the side of the cliff. He looked down into the large gate below his feet, and was shocked to see flames that shot up and around. It was so hot that he couldn't even bare to look at it! He looked back to Kagome. *How am I going to get her down? She's hanging out too far for me to reach her, and there's nothing to climb onto! And even if there was, it would be way too hot to touch!* He exclaimed in thought. As he starred up at the one he loved, her eyes slowly opened, and she stared back at him. After a moment, she spoke. "Inu-…..Inu-Yasha?" She questioned. He nodded slowly. Her eyes widened. "I didn't think you'd come! I thought you were glad that I had been pulled down with Kikyo!" She explained sadly. Inu-Yasha didn't like the tone of her voice. It sounded hurt, and lonely, and he didn't want her to be like that! All he had ever wanted was for her to be happy! He had simply wanted to hold her in his arms when he got back and tell her what he had wanted to tell her, but now, it seemed like she wanted to die right there in front of him! Did she really thing he hated her this much!? He looked up and into her brown eyes. The eyes he had so admired from a far. "Kagome…I'd never forget about you! I've come to save you from Kikyo!" He exclaimed. Kagome starred in shock. "I….I thought you hated me though….." She explained, but was paused by his stare. "I could never EVER hate you." He said softly. The way he spoke sent chills up Kagome's back. Never before had she heard him speak to her in such a tender way. But she denied her hopes of him loving her. He didn't! He loved Kikyo! Didn't he?

Suddenly, Inu-Yasha held out his hand towards her. "Can you try and push yourself towards me!? I need to get you outta here!" He exclaimed. Kagome starred, then somewhat smiled, but just as she was about to swing herself over to Inu-Yasha's out reached hand, Kikyo's chuckling entered their ears, and they both looked down to see her floating in the fire, her hair across her face, dancing about her priestess Kimono. "Inu-Yasha….so I see you have come. Interesting. I didn't think you cared THAT much for this young girl!" She stated. Inu-Yasha glared. Kikyo suddenly flew up and pushed Kagome farther away from Inu-Yasha's reach. "Although…Inu-Yasha. You came all this way just to get the girl back….I'm afraid you're just a little too late." She explained in a wicked tone. Inu-Yasha wanted to rip Kikyo's head off, and throw it into the flames below him, but he knew that she couldn't be killed because she was already dead. Her eyes were filled with evil and Inu-Yasha starred in hated for a long while, but then turned back to Kagome. Her eyes read fear. She trembled, and he could almost hear her hear cry out to him to save her. He wanted nothing more then for her to be safe. In a sudden twist though, Kikyo ripped the chains from Kagome's body, and both of them began to plunge into the fire below. Inu-Yasha's heart skipped a beat. He ran to the edge of the cliff once more. Kikyo had fallen the whole way, he could tell, but he didn't see Kagome, even in the flames! "KAGOME!!!!! KAGOME!!!!!!!!!!!! WHERE ARE YOU!!!!!!!!!!" He screamed out. "INU-YASHA!!!!" Her voice called in a frightened voice. He peered over the edge farther to see her hanging onto a small curve in the wall underneath where he stood. He immediately got down onto his hands and knees and reached down to her. "TAKE MY HAND!!! I'LL PULL YOU UP!!!!!" He screamed. Just as Kagome managed to hold up her hand though, a hot chain flew from the flames below her feet, and twisted around her ankle, pulling her down. Her fingers touched Inu-Yasha's, and he grasped onto her hand. The feel of her hand, although it was sweaty and trembling, was a comfort to Inu-Yasha's senses. "I've got you! I won't let Kikyo pull you down!! I swear!" He stated, but Kagome looked up at him with fearful eyes. "Inu-Yasha. She's got me already! Her chain is wrapped around my ankle! It's only a matter of time before she pulls me down!" She explained in a shaky voice. Inu-Yasha starred down to her in worry. "No! I won't let her take you!!!" He shouted. Kagome starred into his face. It was so determined, and so caring at the same time. She didn't know what to think! "Inu-Yasha? Why are you trying to save me? I seriously thought that you hated me in every way possible! You seem so egger for my well being all of a sudden! Why the change of mind?!" She questioned. Inu-Yasha looked down into her eyes once more. "Kagome. I've always cared. I've always wanted you to be safe! I can understand if you don't love me! But you gotta not give up!!!!" He explained. Kikyo's chain pulled harder onto Kagome's leg, and the heat from it burned at hr skin. "AHHHHH!!!! INU-YASHA!!!!! THE CHAIN IS PULLING HARDER!!!!" She cried out. Inu-Yasha felt the extra yanking of the chain too, but he wouldn't give up. Not after he had come so far and went through so much! "Inu-Yasha just let me go! You can be free and live a normal life without me!" Kagome began in a calmer tone. Inu-Yasha starred down in horror at her words. A weak smile spread over Kagome's lips as she spoke, to try and cheer herself up. "You know you don't want me around. It would be better…if I didn't even exist at all. You could have Kikyo! And you wouldn't have to feel sorry for me! What do you say? Cause….I know I'll never make you happy." Kagome's words told a story. Through Inu-Yasha's ears, he heard the tale of how Kagome thought he thought of her! She thought he hated her! And only wanted to be with Kikyo! But that wasn't true! He had never wanted to be away from her at all! And now that Kikyo was gone, no one, and nothing could keep him from her!!! His grip of Kagome's hand tightened as he thought about this. He then looked down to her. "KAGOME!!!!! LISTEN TO ME!!!! SHUT THE HELL UP ABOUT ALL THAT CAUSE IT'S NOT TRUE!!! NON OF IT!!!!!! I'VE NEVER CARED ABOUT ANYONE MORE THEN YOU!!!!!! NOT EVEN KIKYO COULD TAKE YOUR PLACE!!! YOU ARE YOU, AND I LIKE IT THAT WAY!!!!!! THE REASON WHY I WENT TO KIKYO THIS MORNING WAS BECAUSE I HAD TO TELL HER….." He paused. Kagome starred. The chain began to pull again, but Kagome listened carefully. He finally started again. "I HAD TO TELL HER THAT I HAD MADE UP MY MIND FOR GOOD!!! I DON'T WANT TO BE WITH KIKYO!!!! SHE'S NOT THE ONE!!!! I'LL TELL YOU THE TRUTH KAGOME!!! WHEN I WATCHED YOU SLEEP….WITH YOUR GENTLE EXPRESSION, I FOUND THAT WHEN I LOOKED AT KIKYO….I SAW YOU!!!! YOU ARE THE ONE THAT I DESIRE!!! YOU!!!! PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME ALONE ANYMORE!!! KAGOME!!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" He finished screaming out. It almost seemed like time stopped. Kagome looked up at him. Tears formed in he eyes, and they fell down her cheeks, into the fire below. She saw images of him through her mind. *He loves me?! HE LOVES ME!!!!!! All I ever wanted was to hear those words from him, but I was too afraid to tell him how I felt! Afraid cause he loved Kikyo more then me!!! But now he says that he loves ME!! Not Kikyo!! Inu-Yasha…..* Her thoughts stopped as she starred up into his amber eyes. Those eyes she had for so long wanted to stare into and know that they were hers. Hers and no one else's. Her grip onto his hand tightened. "Inu-Yasha…..I love you…..I've always loved you…but….I was too afraid to tell you….until now. Please…..I'm too scared to live without you anymore. I'm afraid now of losing you to time! I want to live! I want to live…..with you!!!" She exclaimed. Suddenly, the chain around Kagome's ankle broken, and fell into the flames without her. Inu-Yasha instantly yanked her up, then with one pull, shoved her into his arms, holding her tightly, not ever wanting to let go, ever. "Is what you said true?" Kagome questioned. Inu-Yasha looked to her. "Was what YOU said true?" He repeated the asking. She smiled up into his face, the face she had wished to b hers. "I…..I love you…I'll love you forever…" Kagome was silenced by Inu-Yasha's finger over her lips. "You don't have to worry about anything anymore. Like I said, I don't want to be with Kikyo anymore! I realized just last night…that I loved you….you and only you! Cause when I saw your face…and smelt your scent….I knew that you were the one I had been searching for all this time. You were the one I've wished for…and wanted to be with!!" He explained. She rested her head onto his shoulder. "But….how can this all be…..real?" She wondered aloud. Inu-Yasha pulled her face up to his. He starred into her eyes, which were filled with tears, and his eyes also filled with them. He then slowly leaned forward, with one tender movement, and laid his lips onto hers. Her eyes widened for a second, but then, as she listened to her heart beating along with his, she knew….she knew hat all this….couldn't be a dream….it was real….it was all real. She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned deeper into the kiss. He too held tighter onto her arms, and pushed her into his heart…tucking her away forever to be safe with him. Then, as they felt their lips against the others, and heard their hearts beating at the same rate, it suddenly didn't matter what happened next, cause no matter what….they would have each other, the one thing….that they had needed…and wished for……all those 2 years so long.

(If you want me to continue, then review me and tell me what you liked about this story, then tell me whether or not you DO want me to continue on with this or not! If you all think I should, please tell me!!! Don't just wish I would! Thanks a bunch!!)

(Chibikagome1@yahoo.com)