Chapter Five: The Steps

Kagome awoke slowly, groaning slightly. She batted at the air.

"Stupid sun...go away..."

"Oh yeah, like you can really make the sun go away." Inu Yasha said, standing up. Actually...she could probably charm it right out of the sky. He turned slightly red, causing Kagome to blink at him as she sat up.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, nothing." She arched an eyebrow at him.

"Okay..." She yawned, glancing around "Well, it looks like everyone is still asleep. Hey...where's Kouga?"

"He left last night..." Inu Yasha looked away. He hoped she wasn't disappointed that he was gone.

"Oh good." He looked back at her with surprise "It was getting too crowded here...I was going to see if I could convince him to leave anyway."

"Oh..." Sniffing slightly, he realized his brother was nearby, probably watching them "Sesshomaru's still around somewhere."

"Oh great. Well, are you going to rudely wake everyone up or what?"

"No..." He shook his head "I kind of like it quiet like this."

"So I suppose you want me to go back to bed?"

"No. I like it better when it's just us." Kagome looked at him with confusion. "What?" he said, a little more harshly than he meant to.

"I thought...you preferred to be alone." She stood and moved next to him.

"I...did." She glanced at him.

"Oh. I see." He sighed, looking down.

"So...are we going after jewel shards?"

"You're giving me the option?" Kagome gave him a puzzled expression "What's wrong with you?"

"Well, Kouga did give you that huge chunk."

"Oh, yeah, but that's not all of it."

"Almost all of it though...we only have a few more, including the ones Kouga has." He said.

"True" she replied, "So what are we going to do today instead?" Inu Yasha took a deep breath and gazed at her.

"You want to go on a walk?" Kagome just stared back "Uh...I mean..."

"I would love to." She gave him a sincere smile and he grinned back. They started walking towards the woods in silence. Once they reached the edge of the leafy area, Inu Yasha stopped and glanced behind them.

"What are you doing?" questioned Kagome.

"Just making sure no one's following us." Then they entered the forest. Somehow it looked prettier than it did the day before, though maybe it was the mood. Inu Yasha stopped near the spot they were the day before and glanced at the girl next to him "Kagome?"

"Hm?"

"What are...you going to do after the jewel has been completed?"

"I don't know...give it to you. You can have your wish."

"What wish?" He asked, absentmindedly.

"To become full demon..."

"Oh yeah..." He stared at the ground uncomfortably "I...don't want to be full demon anymore."

"What do you want?"

"I want...to stay with you." He turned his gaze to her surprised face.

"W-what?"

"I want to stay with you. When the jewel's finished, I don't want you to leave."

"Oh..." She hesitated, before asking "What...about Kikyo?" Inu Yasha huffed in frustration. Did Kagome learn anything? Kikyo tried to kill them both! Like she was even a factor anymore!

"I made a mistake with Kikyo, okay?" Kagome frowned

"How do you know I'm not a mistake too?" Inu Yasha almost growled, but held it back, thinking. How can I tell her what I feel? I'm terrible at this stuff.

He suddenly realized what he should do. He couldn't tell her.

He could show her.

He gently put two fingers under her chin and tilted her head up slowly. Then he brought his lips to hers in a soft kiss. Kagome froze under him, before kissing back, quite passionately.

Definitely not a mistake, thought Inu Yasha.

This has to be a dream...but it's more real than any dream I've ever had, thought Kagome.

They both stood there, not moving for what seemed like an eternity, but was really only a few seconds before slowly breaking apart. Take that Kouga whispered a voice inside Inu Yasha. Kagome looked up at him, her eyes half closed and her face flushed. Inu Yasha thought she never looked more beautiful.

"Kagome..." She gazed at him expectedly. Should he tell her what Kouga and him were discussing the night before? Naw. "I've...wanted to do that for...awhile."

"Me too..." She sighed, a small, happy sigh.

"So..."

"This is awkward..." She looked down "Uh...you think anyone else is awake now?" He shrugged.

"Dunno." She smiled

"Does it matter?"

"Nope." Giggling slightly, she kissed him lightly again, before turning to head back. "Hey Kagome?"

"Yeah?" She looked back at him over her shoulder. Should he...go ahead...with the fifth?

"I...love you." Her eyes fluttered before she responded in a quiet voice

"I love you too..."