A/N- Okay here's another chapter. If you're confused by the reason to have this particular witness, or don't know who he is, read the comments below. Other wise, please review. I would love suggestions for future chapters, though I don't know how many more there will be. I would love to hear from you! I want to know what you think!

ON JINENJI- For those who don't know, Jinenji appeared in volume 12 of the manga, I don't know what episode of the anime; I haven't seen it. He's a half demon like Inu-Yasha but nowhere near as pretty! But he was kind and gentle. He had been picked on his whole life but didn't like to scare even those who taunted him. The manga seemed to hint that in the short time he knew her, Kagome became very important to him since she was pretty much the first friend he ever had.

WHY JINENJI- Why would I pick such a minor character? Well, first of all, I just love him. He's so kind and meek and gentle. I also wanted to have Inu-Yasha be jealous, so that he and Kagome could take a shot at dealing with that, since it seems inevitable. I also thought I could add a comparison between the love of Inu-Yasha and Kikyo, into Jinenji's point of view. Confused? Read the story! Still confused? Review and I'll fix it!

And so without further ado… Oh wait! One more thing! Disclaimer: I don't own Inu-Yasha! Sumimasen. I'm just borrowing.

Witness: Jinenji

What a nice smell. I recognize it. Almost like a dream. Warm, it makes me feel warm.  Could it be? Her, I never would forget her scent.  Kagome?

"What was that?"

"Inu-Yasha, I sense a demonic presence…"

"Kirara…"

"Feh. It's nothing. Just the earth boy."

"Jinenji? Where?"

She remembers me…ohh. Should I go over? It's been a while. I only knew her a couple of days.

But before the half-demon could muddle through his anxiety and excitement at the prospect of seeing the girl who had been kind to him as no other save his mother had ever been (and that was different), a slim figure appeared in front of him, slowing from a light run, breathing just a little harder than normal, but smiling and gentle looking just as he remembered she was.

"Jinenji! It is you! Why didn't you come out? You must have heard us! I had no idea we were close to your home!"

She's happy to see me. She's talking to me.

"Sorry…"

"Damn it Kagome! Did you have to run?"

Inu-Yasha, the hanyou…like me but not like me. His mother was not there to protect him in his youth, that much I know. Kagome, she cares for him, a lot. He sees her all the time, they travel together; she sleeps near him, is near him all the time.  What is this feeling? I feel like I am missing something, no, like something has been stolen. And I want…What do I want? To fight? But for what? I've never wanted to fight, save that one time long ago, and that was only to save her…Is it she? Does she make me want to fight?

"Oh please Inu-Yasha, I was barely running, you couldn't possibly have had a reason to worry." The smile she gave him then made Jinenji's heart flutter. He could only imagine how he would feel if it had been him receiving that smile. Indeed, the one it was directed at blushed to his ears and mumbled about not being worried so easily.

"Lady Kagome?" A monk made his way over to the three, gazing questioningly at the large misshapen looking half demon.  Behind him approached a girl, but not like Kagome, a less overtly emotional, wary girl, carrying a large boomerang. Perched on her shoulder was a small cat like demon, ready to transform. A curious looking kitsune leapt onto the shoulder of the monk, who held out a cloth and bead covered hand warily.

A weapon? Who are these people. Do they know Kagome? Oh, that girl she must be a hunter, they must be demon hunters, they're gonna hurt me!

Jinenji raised his large head to cry for his mother. He didn't want to die.

"MA---" But as he uttered the first syllable the dog half demon, who had flattened his ears against the familiar fearful cry, stopped him. Kagome too, looked distressed as Inu-Yasha growled disapprovingly.

"Shut up! What's your problem?! I'm not going to try and kill you, all right? And even if I was that's no excuse! What kind of demon are you---" the large creature sniffed, punctuating what had promised to be a long tirade on the pitfalls of weakness. Kagome made a face of concern and confusion, turning away from the ranting Inu-Yasha to the cowering Jinenji.

"What's wrong Jinenji?"

Her voice is so gentle, like, like a breeze. She really cares. 

"Those people! They're demon hunters! I don't want to die!" He was very close to tears.

"Oh, them?" Kagome smiled at her friends reassuringly, though this did not erase the startled looks from their faces. "Don't worry, they're friends! They wouldn't hurt you. You just have to be properly introduced.  Sango, Miroku, Shippou, this is Jinenji. We met him when we went to get medicine for Kirara when she was poisoned. He's good, he saved my life actually."

Understanding dawned on the faces, all three relaxed. Jinenji, still feeling exposed made a rather ridiculous attempt to hide behind Kagome.

They're staring, staring because they don't know how she can be friends with me. Stop it Jinenji, you don't have to be afraid. Ignore them, that's what Mama says. Oh, but I don't want her friends to hate me. What if Kagome decides not to be my friend any more? And that other half demon, he's angry, always yelling, he wants to hurt me.

A small whimper must have escaped him, because the next minute gentle hands were on his arm. He looked down into soft eyes, beautiful eyes.

"Jinenji?"

Her eyes, her voice, her scent, it all calms me, asks me to be different, to be better.

He felt himself grow less afraid and summoned his strength. Calling on all his strength he spoke, "Y-you are all welcome to stay the night. I-It's not much, but well, you're welcome to stay." He placed a large, misshapen hand over her small delicate ones.

"We'd love to Jinenji. Thank you." Kagome however, was unaware of how the contact and the pretty smile made his heart race, or how it caused her half dog demon companion to bristle, though Jinenji took note of it, even in his euphoria.

So pretty. So delicate. But she doesn't feel what I do. My heart races, her's is calm. This touch is thrilling to me. She just smiles. It's like I don't have to be alone anymore. Lucky I am to have her as a friend, but not so lucky…That dog claims her as more, his body, at this very moment commands me to look away from her. But—I don't want to.

"Feh" Inu-Yasha snorted. "We should keep moving. The Jewel! It's still daylight."

"Inu-Yasha! Who knows when we'll see him again!? He's a friend and we should stay and visit! Besides, it's been a long day. Not all of us are part demon!"

"Feh. Fine, whatever, wench" he leapt up into the nearest tree, trying to hide the fact that he had caved at the girl's tired face and pleading voice, but showcasing that he was highly displeased. Alone and growling incoherent curses he leapt off towards Jinenji's home.

"Inu-Yasha…" the other's followed looking puzzled (and worried in Kagome's case).

She worries for him. She cares for him in the way of the heart racing, and the special smiles she gives him. He, he must feel the same way. Does he see me as a threat? Does he feel this feeling that plagues me now? It's bittersweet, painful, angry, guilty, all at once. Like I want to…to do something…to challenge him, to make her stay with me. But my other half says I've lost her, and I know it's right. I know more about people now, and about demons.  I didn't see it before, that he cares for her and she for him. My feelings are outside this, they make no difference. And could I really care about her as much as him? He's knows her so well.

His thoughts circled around his confusion around his feelings for the girl Kagome all night, through her cheerful conversation, the bickering of the monk and the demon exterminator, and through Inu-Yasha continued sulking and eventual retreat into the forest. And that night, as everyone else slept soundly, something woke him. She had gone outside, out into the cool night air in the odd sleeping clothes that she wore.

It's too dangerous, I'd better follow her. The forest is unpredictable. I don't want her to get hurt. Where could she be going?

He followed at a distance for a ways. Until he caught two familiar scents. She was with him.

I wondered where he went. That dog hanyou, he loves her. That's the word. He loves her and she loves him. She's going to be his mate. A life mate, like mama and papa would have been if he had lived longer. 

He stopped upon hearing voices. It wasn't polite but the jealous part of him, the possessive part of him that wished she would be his mate, kept him there.

"Come on. Don't be such a baby!"

"Feh."

"What's your problem? You could at least be polite!" she kept her voice even, Jinenji could detect the anger.

"To that wimpy half demon whelp? Why should I?" part of Jinenji bristled.

Idiot dog demon! What's his problem? I…I…where did that come from? I've never had rude thoughts like that, is it the demon part of me? Do all these feelings that I can't understand come from the demon part of my heart?

"What's wrong with Jinenji? He's our friend! He saved my life you know! And he was just being nice letting us stay here! You know he doesn't have many friends!"

Do I love her? Is that this feeling? That I want her to stay with me?  To look at me like she looks at him? It is. It's my first love. And she'll never love me back. I feel sad, but, not so sad as I could feel. Maybe--

But his thoughts drifted back to the conversation between the strange girl and her love.

"So you want me to go back and watch you let him make clumsy attempts to begin to claim you? Damn it Kagome! He's almost as bad as the fucking wolf!" Inu-Yasha's voice was boiling, he was nearly yelling.

He's scary. Very fierce. He's more of a demon than me. But…he loves her more doesn't he? I feel like I should be sadder, but instead I just feel, like—like—I can't really say.

Laughing interrupted Jinenji's thoughts.

"Inu-Yasha, you are so stupid!"

"SHUT UP!" his yell broke the night, though it sounded more indignant that angry

"You're jealous! Jealous of Jinenji! You think I'm just going to fall for every half demon I run into?"

"Feh, what have I got to be jealous of? I don't have to worry about that earth boy, not when I could kill him easily."

"You wouldn't really do that Inu-Yasha, would you?" He was now standing in front of her looking like he very likely would "do that" and she hugged him in a kind of fearful plea. Jinenji didn't see. But he could hear the fear in her voice, suspended in the air. And he could tell it was not fear for him, Jinenji, but for her love.

"That's not you Inu-Yasha. Why would you hurt him? For caring about me? You don't even know if he does?"

"He does. I'm not stupid." Faint growling rumbled through the still, relative peace of the forest night.

"That isn't even important! Don't you trust me?"

"Feh, you know I do."

"Then why would you kill him?"

"He looks at you"

"You want to kill him for looking at me?"

"He wants you."

"He probably doesn't even know it! He's been alone for so long! You, of all people should understand about wanting someone to love when you've been alone so long!"

"Don't"

She's defending me. I'm touched. Doesn't he see how much she loves him? I don't understand all these feelings. He's jealous of me and I think I'm jealous of him to. If she was mine, I think- I think I would want to kill him for looking at her to. But, well, this love, it doesn't feel…completely real, it's almost like…like I just don't want to be alone forever, and she's so kind that it makes me feel like if she stayed with me I wouldn't be alone. Is that love?

Deeper in the forest Kagome and Inu-Yasha continued in their small drama, oblivious to the growing number of witnesses.  

"Don't what?"

"Don't bring up Kikyo."

She sighed. Jinenji barely heard it, it hit his ears as the faintest breezes, breezes of late spring, just before summer, a breeze of fading.

"Sorry Inu-Yasha, sorry, but I just don't want you to do this. I want you to trust me. I want to believe that if Naraku set up a trap for us, we wouldn't fall in."

"I do trust---Argh---I just don't want them looking at you! It's not just him! They look and they know that you could do better. I might not even---you know what I might have to do to repay my debt to Kikyo. So why wouldn't you find someone else?"

None of the eavesdroppers, and Jinenji had noted but ignored the others; saw what she did then, though they might have guessed.

She jumped at him. If he had been human he would have fallen. His eyes wide she spoke softly holding him as if it would keep him with her, so that all the listeners had to creep just a little closer to hear.

"I love you Inu-Yasha. Even if you went to hell I would rather be alone. I wouldn't find someone else. I said I'd stay by your side. If you die before me I'll stay alone and I'll stay alive only because I couldn't bear the dishonor and weakness of ending my life. I couldn't do better Inu-Yasha. You can't do better than being with the one you love."

I want to find a love. What they have, I probably won't ever feel that. It makes my heart hurt in so many ways. But part of me, maybe a small part is happy. And if he died, I would care for her. Even if she would never love me. She's my first friend, maybe my first love; I'll be responsible for her. I'll make sure she's okay.  

It was silent for a long while after her words, heartfelt and fluffy as they were.

The stillness was broken by what sounded like a branch breaking and a body hitting the forest floor. Then yet another roar broke through the nighttime stillness.

"DAMN YOU! YOU LECHEROUS BASTARD!"

A pause some rustling and more cursing followed this exclamation.

"DAMN YOU ALL!"

The whole group could soon be heard trooping through the forest. Jinenji turned away in embarrassment, ready to sneak back home, before Inu-Yasha realized that he too had been spying.

He sounds really angry. I shouldn't let him know I listened in. It was really rude. What would Mama say?

But what Inu-Yasha was saying caught his attention. "…Even the old hag. Damn it. What is wrong with you people?"

"Well, Inu-Yasha. You were yelling. I believe we were just curious to see all the commotion was about. And well, you can't blame me for wanting to see what you to were up to. I was only concerned with what you were doing for the purest reasons, as a priest I only wanted to ensure that you were staying within polite bounds.

"Do you actually expect me to believe that? Who knows what your perverted mind thought it'd see. And you lot! What's your excuse?"

But Kagome interrupted him "Jinenji?" he couldn't run away now. Not now that she had spotted him. He should have expected to be seen, his giant profile was well illuminated by the moonlight.

"Kagome, I'm sorry. I just, saw you getting up and I was worried. I shouldn't have listened-I just-I" Inu-Yasha gaped at him, a muscle in his eye twitching.

"You were spying on us to?" his rage seemed inexpressible and he stormed toward the house. Kagome smiled apologetically, her blush just barely visible in the light of the moon.

"You can't blame him. I mean really! Sneaking around in the night! Spying on us! Don't you have your own lives to occupy you?" she looked at Jinenji reassuringly though, as he, and he alone bowed his head in shame. "At least Jinenji followed me out of concern!" She frowned at the others. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go back in."

She excused me, she coddles me. I'm a child to her. But…at least she cares.

And they did go in. Sleeping eventually, many conspiratory  glances, giggles, red faces, and death threats from Inu-Yasha later they all slept. Only Jinenji woke up in the early morning, due to his demon hearing to hear the end of the scene.

"So no more jealousy Inu-Yasha?"

"Feh. What have I got to be jealous of? Idiot." Just who was an idiot was unclear from this statement.

"Inu-Yasha…"

"What?"

I shouldn't listen in.

And he willed himself back into sleep. Dreaming about pretty girls that didn't flinch at his touch, sweet smiles saved for him, love that couldn't do better than him, love that was not based on loneliness and mutual need for emotion, but on something more, he slept.

Jinenji and all the other nighttime witnesses slept as Kagome held out her small hand to Inu-Yasha not for the first or last time. In the darkness of early morning he tried to let go of his jealousy.

That's all for now. Was it okay? Did you understand? Review! Next time I'll pick a more regular character. Maybe Kagome's grandpa? Anyway, until then…