Kagome looked hastily around the darkness of the bushes, moving slowly through the water to grab her towel. "InuYasha? That you?" No reply. Keeping her only weapon held high, she pulled herself painfully from the water with one arm. 'InuYasha, you jerk! You would leave me, wouldn't you?' She looked about her quietly, struggling to make it through the brush, unsupported.

'Shit! Shit! Shit!' InuYasha crawled backward on all fours, keeping himself low and out of her view. Her clothes snuggled in the crook of her elbow, Kagome held tightly to the jewel around her neck as she crept toward the sound's source. 'I'll get put ten feet into the ground for this one.'

"Hello?"

"Kagome?"

The young miko turned on a heel, reflexively throwing the rock.

"Ow! What the...I just came to check on you!"

"Kouga..." Kagome breathed a sigh of relief, slumping to the ground.

'Kouga! What's that bastard doing here?' InuYasha resisted the urge to spring forth and strangle the life from that worthless wolf, deciding to listen.

Kouga looked around suspiciously, still rubbing the throbbing spot on his head, before setting his gaze back on Kagome. "Mutt-face abandon you?" Kagome merely nodded. "Figures. I wouldn't have."

"Kouga, I'm not really in the mood for this right now. I need to..."

"Just hear me out, Kagome." He rushed forward, taking her hand in his own. Kagome sighed apprehensively before nodding. "I need to talk to you. I've really missed you these past five years."

"Kouga, you..."

"Just let me finish, please. Now, that I finally have you alone, I wish to make you my mate. I want you to stand beside me and lead my pack." Kagome eyes widened as did InuYasha's.

"My life is nothing without you."

"Kouga, it's really...um...tempting, but...but you don't even know me. All you know is that I'm InuYasha's companion and you would rather die than see him gain the upper hand."

"That's not true! Well, part of it is, but that's not the point! I love you, Kagome! And I'm here to prove it!" Without so much as a warning, his lips crashed against hers. InuYasha fell back, his eyes wide in disbelief.

'He...he's kissing her!'

Kagome did the only thing she knew...she fought the attack. It was an attack, after all. She didn't want to kiss him. She wanted InuYasha to be her first kiss. How she longed for him to kiss her this way. To feel his lips against hers. To set free the passion burning within her only for him. Losing her train of thought, she fell into the moment, relishing her fantasy that it was InuYasha and not Kouga. InuYasha lost his breath, scampering away, a tree blocking his escape. Kouga's eyes opened, drifting from Kagome's contented face to the bush shielding the crushed hanyou.

'Now, you see who she belongs to.' He closed his eyes again, pulling her closer and deepening the kiss.

'She's kissing him back!' Everything he had wanted. Everything he had hoped for. It was all gone. He was left with an empty hole. A knife twisting into his heart...and Kagome was it's wielder. Not knowing of what else to do, he ran. He couldn't watch anymore. Kagome. His Kagome giving in to another man. He ran like he had never ran before, the wind stinging his face. Limbs and thorns tearing at his skin. It was all building up. His blood was boiling. Stopping at a point that was lost even to him, he threw back his head and howled. He screamed as if he could stop time by voice alone, letting everything...every feeling...go with it.

Kagome snapped out of her fantasy, a cry of wretched heartbreak filling her human ears. Opening her eyes, she pulled back, her hand catching Kouga on the mouth before she had even bid it permission.

"Kagome..." The wolf stumbled back, his hand to his lips.

"Leave." Her tone was low and even. Downright scary.

"But, Kagome..."

"I told you I wasn't interested Kouga. You're my friend. Nothing more! So, stop expecting it to be! Now, go!" He had never seen her this mad and thought it best to listen to her warning. Nodding disappointedly, he went on his way. Kagome shook her head in disgust, both at Kouga and herself for allowing it to happen, before again gathering her things and wearily heading back.

She watched InuYasha crumble to his knees, out of breath from his release. "Poor, InuYasha. Betrayed again. The first was not intentional, but scaring enough. Now, by the one you thought had healed those wounds."

"Yes?"

Her head snapped around at her minion, eyes narrowing dangerously. "You failed."

"We were drove back by..."

"You...FAILED!" Her hand rose above her head, dissipating the searcher in a glow of flaming red energy. She turned with a sadistic smirk to those cowering behind her. "Must I do everything myself! You!" She pointed to the closest creature. "Bring me a bow."

"Yes...Kikyo."

Kagome walked turbulently back to the village, recalling the events of just moments ago. 'I can't believe I kissed him...ugh!' She smiled as the lights of the hut came into view, moving a little faster.

"Kagome! What on earth are you doing out here alone!" Sango dashed from the hut, throwing her arm around Kagome's waist.

Kagome threw her a look of distaste. "Where's InuYasha?"

Sango drew back, her brow furrowing in confusion. "I was going to ask you the same question."

"He didn't stay with me. I wonder if he's okay."

"I'm fine." The hanyou approached from the woods, his arms swinging carelessly at his sides.

"And just where have you been?" Kagome put a hand on her hip, hoping he would catch the sarcasm. He didn't. If he did, he certainly didn't show it.

"None of your damn business." He answered smoothly, gliding past her.

"InuYasha, are...are you alright?" Kagome reached a hand to his shoulder. He shrugged it off, turning to her with a growl. 'He...he growled at me.'

"Keep your hands off me, you filthy wench!"

"InuYasha!" Sango stepped forward in her friend's defense only to be stopped by Kagome's outstretched hand.

"It's okay. Just go inside."

"But, Kagome..."

"Just go." Kagome nodded toward the hut, Sango taking the hint. Keeping her eyes locked on InuYasha, Sango reluctantly entered the hut. "InuYasha, what's this about? What's wrong with you?"

"What do you care?" He turned his back on her and continued on his way. Kagome brought a hand to her heart, torn over whether or not to pursue her interrogation.

"InuYasha, wait!"

"Back off!" He spun around, stopping her in her tracks somewhat painfully. She clutched her side, reading into his amber orbs. His cold amber orbs. "I have nothing to say to you."

"You obviously have something to say! You wouldn't act like this if you didn't!"

"Kagome, let it go." His back was again turned as he warned her slowly, through clenched teeth.

"No, tell me what's wrong!"

"You! You're what's wrong!" He slung himself around, pointing an accusing finger in her face.

"Me? What did I do?" She stepped back, obviously offended. InuYasha laughed angrily, her fake innocence adding to his apprehension. He rubbed his temples fiercely, trying to keep his anger in check.

"I don't...just drop it, okay!"

"Not until you tell me what I've done that was so..." She gasped, a hand flying to cover her mouth, "You didn't leave. You saw..."

"Yeah, I saw! I saw everything!"

"Did you see me slap him, then? Wait, why am...why should I feel guilty?"

InuYasha dropped his hands, lifting his head to stare into her now angry orbs. Throwing a hand into the air, he turned away. "You're impossible."

"I'm impossible! I kiss one guy and you expect me to crawl and beg for forgiveness, but you can play hero to a corpse and I'm supposed to look the other way?" She turned around, ignoring the pain, and marched back toward the safety of the hut. "What do you care what I do anyway!" That was it. He peeled forward, snatching her arm and bringing her face inches from his own. Kagome flinched at the anger in his eyes, but refused to back down.

"I care a lot about what you do, you conniving little tramp!" The slap could be heard throughout the village, bringing Miroku and Sango out of the hut. There stood Kagome, her hand still in the air, and InuYasha reeled to the side, a red area already appearing on his cheek.

"You self-serving, egotistical, lying son of a bitch!" All mouths dropped open at the seemingly faultless Kagome's use of words. She really had grown up...and had hung around InuYasha way too long. InuYasha brought a hand to his stinging face, taking a step away from her. She could have slapped him a thousand times and not gotten the drastic effect from her words. She knew his words were usually empty, but he had went too far this time.

"Kagome..."

"I thought I knew you, InuYasha. You want me to leave? I'll leave!" She turned away, her friends immediately resuming their activities in the hut. InuYasha stood, traumatized by her actions.

"You wanna know what happened between me and Kikyo?"

Kagome rotated around to stare at the straightening hanyou, his hand just then leaving his face.

"No, and I don't really care." She turned away again, set on leaving him behind.

"I was going to lay her to rest with the jewel, Kagome. That's why I haven't seen her. Now, if I'm so infatuated with her, why would I send her to Hell?"

Kagome froze, unable to move. Guilt pierced her heart. 'Oh, InuYasha, I'm sorry...' She turned to meet his wide eyes as he looked past her. "InuYasha, what's..."

"Hello, InuYasha."

Kagome turned, instantly backing toward InuYasha in fright.

"K...Kikyo?"