Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha

Chapter 4 – Rescue

The group had decided to stop for the night after an unsuccessful day of shard hunting. Kagome hadn't sensed any shards all day. To make matters worse, she and Inuyasha seemed a little agitated towards each other, which had much to do with Kagome's bitter attitude towards him. Inuyasha tried his best to keep his temper, but it just wasn't his nature. Meanwhile, Sango was still angry over Miroku's mad groping, which seemed to be at its worse today.  After her unkind words, the monk had directed his attention towards Kagome. However, he didn't dare try anything with Inuyasha there, who was watching the girl's every move.

"I'm going to go look for some firewood," offered Sango. Miroku didn't bother trying to go with her, but simply decided to set out on his own.

Kagome took a seat on a nearby log, rubbing her aching feet which had been peddling her bike over a harsh terrain for hours. Inuyasha watched curiously. "Do your feet hurt you?" he asked.

"Yeah," replied Kagome, massaging them profusely. "This is a rough area."

"Feh. Should have left that bike behind. It's bad enough you had to cart that lech around all day." Inuyasha crossed his arms and glared in the other direction.

"What's wrong with offering Miroku a ride? At least he's nice to me."

"He's making you do all the work!" snapped Inuyasha. "What's so "nice" about that?"

It was true—somewhat. Kagome had done all of the peddling. She and Miroku had changed places momentarily, until he had tipped the bike over a couple of times, sending them both crashing towards the ground. Maybe next time I'll bring him back some training wheels… Kagome smiled at the thought of Miroku peddling around a kiddy bike with training wheels and streamers.

Sango returned with the firewood and stacked it into a neat little pile.

"Hey, Sango. I'm going down to the creek to wash up, do you wanna come?" Kagome asked her friend. "I'm so sore; my feet could really use a long soaking!"

"Where's Miroku?" she asked, looking at the area around them.

"I don't know. He took off somewhere."

Sango shook her head. "No thanks. I'm not taking any chances with him around."

Kagome smiled. "Alright, I'll see you guys after a bit." She grabbed a towel out of her bag along with a bottle of shampoo and headed towards the creek.

*-*-*

Kagome walked down to the bank of the creek and removed her shoes, soaking her feet in the cool water. She let out a sigh of relief. Her poor feet were killing her. She removed her school uniform, grabbed her shampoo and headed out into deeper water. It was almost dark and she couldn't see much of anything around her; however, she could hear Inuyasha and Sango's conversation in the distance.

Kagome soaked her hair by dunking her head under the water a couple of times. She was beginning to apply her shampoo when she heard a strange noise followed by some splashing. She could feel her heart starting to beat faster as the sound became louder. Someone is approaching. Kagome wasn't sure what to do, so she froze and listened. What is it? A demon? The sound suddenly became very loud as she found herself face to face with someone and let out a blood curdling scream.

"Kagome?" It was Miroku, and he looked almost as scared as she felt. He was naked, and standing waste-deep in the water in front of Kagome.

"Miroku! What are you doing here?"

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you, Lady Kagome." The monk grinned at her, and that's when she realized she was also waste-deep in the water wearing nothing but the Shikon shards around her neck.

"Miroku! Turn around!" she demanded, crossing her arms over her chest. The monk obediently did so as Kagome charged up towards the bank where Inuyasha was now standing. Before he could say a word Kagome "sat" him. The hanyou fell from the bank into the shallow water. Kagome grabbed her clothing off of a nearby rock and quickly dressed herself.

"Dammit" cried Inuyasha when the spell wore off. He was now soaked. "What was that for? I could have drowned, you wench."

"You were spying on me!"

"I was not," he argued. "I heard your screams. I thought you were in trouble." Miroku, who was now dressed, made his way to the bank where the two were standing. Inuyasha growled angrily at the monk.

"He was spying on you!" he exclaimed. "I was trying to save you!"

"Hey, I wasn't spying on her," Miroku argued, "She was spying on me!" He pointed a blaming finger at Kagome who was now blushing.

"You what?" Inuyasha looked angry and surprised at the same time.

"It was an accident! I swear! I didn't know you were here, Miroku." Kagome's face was bright red.

"Sure," replied Miroku with a wink.

*-*-*

The three made their way back to the camp, where Sango sat by the fire with Shippou on her shoulder. She looked at the three questionably as they walked up to their campsite. "What happened?" she asked. "Nothing," Inuyasha and Kagome replied at the same time; they were both scowling. Miroku, however, was grinning happily. "I had a most delightful swim." Sango groaned.

Inuyasha and Kagome went there separate ways: Inuyasha climbing into a tree, and Kagome climbing into her sleeping bag with Shippou. Neither of them spoke a word to the other. Kagome shut her eyes and fell asleep as the hanyou watched her from above.

*-*-*

Kagome walked through a foggy field of wildflowers where she met her dog demon companion. The air was humid, almost unbearable.

"Inuyasha." She breathed his name. "Inuyasha, I love you"

The hanyou said nothing, but stared at her.

"Inuyasha, say something!"

Still…nothing. He only stared her in the eyes.

"I am confessing my love to you." A tear rolled down her cheek.

"Kagome, I have no feelings for you. You are only a shard detector."

"That's not true."

"It is, Kagome. Someday I will leave you. You serve only one purpose, and that is to find the shards of the Shikon no Tama."

Tears flowed from Kagome's eyes. This wasn't happening again! Inuyasha only stared at her, straight-faced. His expression was so still, so unloving. Kagome could not breathe…

"Kagome! Wake up!" a voice shouted into her ear. Kagome awoke in utter confusion. It was Shippou shouting. She could feel something wrapped around her neck. It was a fist! What is going on? Someone was standing above her, but she couldn't make out who it was. Kagome tried to scream as the person's other hand grabbed for the jewel shards which hung around her neck—but she couldn't scream, she couldn't talk, she couldn't even breathe. Inuyasha, where are you?

The face came closer to hers. "Give me the shards, bitch!" The creature had the most intense expression on his face. It appeared to some type of demon, which was now in its human form. Shippou tried to pounce on the creature. "Leave her alone!" The demon grabbed the young fox demon by the tail sending it through the air where he landed several feet away. Kagome grabbed the demon's wrist and try to free her neck of his grip. She squirmed and kicked at him, trying just to get away. It was useless, he had her pinned. Tears rolled down her cheek. Where is Inuyasha? Someone help! Kagome began to feel light-headed.

Miroku was awaken by the scuffle. "Kagome!" he ran as quick as he could to the girl's sleeping bag. "Kagome!" he cried. He arrived to see something crouching over her, suffocating the girl. Without a second thought he pierced the demon's back with his staff, sending him to the ground with a painful moan. Miroku knelt next to Kagome. "Kagome!? Are you okay? Speak to me!" He laid his head on her chest—she was breathing, but very shallowly. He lifted the girl onto his lap. "Kagome?" He looked at her face, but she was out cold.

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