Disclaimer: Nope, don't own him, although I 'congratulated' him this morning (wink wink) for his fine job on the really short chapter yesterday.

~*~Chapter Twelve: Reactions From the Past~*~

They arrived in Keade's village in a matter of minutes and were instantly bombarded with a very hyper kitsune.

"Oh, Kagome you're back and I was so worried about Inu Yasha and that he was dieing and you weren't coming back because of what he said to you about that Hojo guy cause Sango told us when you left and then Myoga showed up from what Miroku said and-"the ranting was cut short as a fist collided with the small skull. Tears came in his eyes from the extra hard blow to the head. "Geesh, Inu Yasha! I was just excited to see you!" Shippo said, sniffling, as he snuggled close to Kagome's breast for comfort. She patted his head and held him. Not only was there a gigantic bump on his head, but also an equally bluish-purple bruise. Kagome suddenly became worried. Never, in all their travels had she seen a bruise on the small boy from Inu Yasha. What was up with him, anyway?

"KAGOME!" Sango squealed, running from Keade's hut to see her friend from the future. Shippo, seeing the exterminator, decided the safest place was set firmly on the ground, so he escaped his perch on Kagome. Almost a split second later, the two females were hugging each other as if they hadn't seen each other in years. Miroku came walking calmly out of the hut with the elder miko. Together they made their way and became part of the welcoming party. Inu Yasha stood a few feet away from them all, with the same cold scowl burning his handsome features. Miroku stood before him; happy to see he was all right.

"Inu Yasha, welcome home," he said a smile across his face. That is, until he noticed the look on his comrade's face. "Is something the matter, Inu Yasha?" he asked, cocking an eyebrow. The reply took him by shock, and gathered the attention of the others.

"Feh, don't ask me damn questions! We have fucking jewel shards to find, incase you forgot! We need to get 'em. Come on." Inu Yasha all but yelled. He quickly disappeared into 'Inu Yasha's Forest' without another look. "If ya ain't coming, I'll just go on without you!" he screamed over his shoulder.

Kagome was the first to react. She ran to the hut and emerged with her bow and arrows draped over her shoulder. Running without falter, surprising considering she was still wearing baggy pants, her path was the same as Inu Yasha's. Getting the message, Miroku, with Shippo on shoulder, and Sango soon followed after saying farewell to Keade. They soon met up with the hanyou and the schoolgirl, who were walking in silence.

The group resituated their walking positions and ended with Kagome, Sango, and Shippo walking behind the two men. (A/N: ok, I am going to cheat you out of the boring stuff and go straight to the camp scene. Just know that nothing happened except the three in the back cracked jokes and told stories while the other two did nothing.)

~*~

The sun was quickly fading past the horizon, painting the gray sky in dull shades of oranges and reds. Kagome sat away from the rest and watched the sunset. The sky knew something was wrong, because ever since Inu Yasha's attitude change, so had it. 'Funny,' she thought, 'how the sky always matches his mood. Just like it, he's more beautiful when he's happy. Heh, beautiful,' Kagome smiled at this. Yes, Inu Yasha was beautiful. His face, hair, body, lips. 'Lips,' she sighed as her thoughts became darker. 'He kissed me twice at home, but then he all together changed. Does he regret it? Oh, Inu Yasha.' She closed her eyes and brought her knees to her chest. She didn't even notice when Sango showed up at her side.

"Kagome, are you ok?" she asked, sitting in a similar position, watching the younger girl's face. "You haven't seemed very happy the whole time. What's bothering you?"

Kagome looked up at Sango and did her damnedest not to cry. "Something's wrong with Inu Yasha. He's not acting like himself." Sango nodded. She had noticed too. She motioned for Kagome to continue. "In my time, he told me he loved me. He opened up to me and told me his fear of losing me. He was human though, so I wasn't sure if he had meant it when he kissed me," she blushed a little but went on. "Then, this morning, he kissed me again. He was normal, so I believed he loved me. I love him so much, and he knows it. I knew he did too, but now I am not so sure." She brought her palm up and picked at the small scab that had formed over her wound. Sango saw and gasped. Even if it was only a little scratch, it surprised her because Inu Yasha would never hurt her, no matter what.

"He didn't do that, did he?" She saw Kagome shrug and a tear fall from her eye.

"He did, I guess. I had gotten a splinter and he pulled it out. Only..." She couldn't finish. Tears were streaming down her face silently. Sango pulled Kagome into a hug, trying to ease her pain. "Oh, Sango it was so weird," Kagome whispered into the taijiya's chest, "he did it without an ounce of care for it. He acted like he didn't want to do it. He changed right there before my eyes. He just dug into my skin and flicked it out. Inu Yasha has me worried, Sango! I don't understand anymore," the last part was hardly audible.

~*~

The fading light was hardly noticeable to him. He stood at a lake, digging his toes into the soft bank, letting the water wash over his feet. His thoughts wandered from one thing to another, none of them being comprehendible. The cool water reflected his features, wavering every so often with the passing of a fish or a blow of the wind. The features, the face that stared back at him was not unlike someone he knew. That someone was not normally considered a friend, and not really a foe. Not lately. But now, he felt as though the two could get along, and not be at battle. They were becoming more alike with each passing hour. The reflection reminded him so much of this other man. In the back of his mind was someone who was so frightened of this image flickering in the fading light. The man in the water was not like him at all, or wasn't. Although he didn't want to become this man, he was destined too, but to him it was an accidental destiny: a fake one. No, this reflection was all wrong. He wasn't what this image showed at all. He sighed heavily as two strange voices became present in his head.

"You know," said the first, weaker voice, "your brother doesn't have to be an enemy, but you don't have to be like him, either."

"But you admire him for his strength, so you do want to become him," the darker, harsher voice commented. "And there is only one way to finally be rid of all your worries and that is to overcome your weakness. That one weakness has more power over you then you realize. And you know how to get rid of it. You almost had, and you experienced the power you could have without it."

He shook his head. He didn't want to think of it now. It was too much battle for him to think of now, or ever. Half of him wanted to go back to the way it was, while a stronger, and now more dominant half wanted to give in to the intensity and joy of not being held down by anything. They continued bickering, despite his desperation of wanting it to end.

"But that one weakness is important to your being. You cant live without it, and if you do give into temptation, you will surely die. Weakness is the one thing that keeps you living, and you want to stay on earth, even if the want is small now, after what had happened in another time."

~*~

A small sucking sound was heard, but a slap seemed to stand out even more. From his perch in a tree, Inu Yasha held his hand out and waited as a floating, paper-light flea fell. Still thinking of earlier, the hanyou broke the silence around them by talking.

"Where the hell have you been? We haven't met up with any demons."

"Lord Inu Yasha, why have you strayed so far from camp?" 'Hm...Inu Yasha has changed more seriously since he left for Kagome a few days ago,' Myoga said, finishing the blood he had removed from his lord.

"Feh, I wasn't doin' nothing. I just sat here, geesh. What? Can a guy not be alone?" Inu Yasha was becoming annoyed, and all too quickly for Myoga's liking.

"Has something happened with Miss Kagome?" a look of worry plagued his old face (A/N: amazing how flea youkai can have facial expressions...^^;) and he waited for his master's reply. Upon not receiving one, he continued talking, hoping to get some kind of reaction. "Lord Inu Yasha, your blood has changed too much. What transpired in Kagome's time?"

"Let it go, damn flea!" the hanyou flicked Myoga, who landed at the camp. Inu Yasha 'feh'-ed and jumped down from his spot. He began walking slowly back to his comrades.

~*~

"Myoga!" Kagome said as the demon landed in her hand. She had been talking and was using her hands to help emphasize her point when a small weight had been added. Sure enough, Myoga had appeared in her palm.

"Miss Kagome," he said, jumping happily. The others watched the ecstatic youkai. "I must speak with you. What had happened in your time?"

Kagome told the keeper of Inu Yasha's father's false grave everything; from the arrival to the horrible transformation, to the rash behavior they were all experiencing from the hanyou. As she wrapped up her schpeel (that's my favorite word, although I prolly spelt it wrong), Myoga's expression became soured.

"Oh, goodness. This isn't good. Kagome, you are the key."

"The key? What are you talking about?" Sango asked. If Kagome was the key to something, then she was important, which meant that she was probably in danger. Her thoughts were confirmed as Myoga continued.

"Alas, she is the only thing that can keep Inu Yasha from giving into his demonic side, thus keeping him alive. If Kagome were to die, he would be swamped with unimaginable power. His thoughts would become scrambled and he would be a dangerous killing machine. Nothing could bring him out of that stage. He would be lost forever. You have all three confirmed that he has changed, becoming colder to all of you. This is a sign that his demonic blood is overruling his human blood. If he is not assured of your love Kagome, then he may go all the way to full youkai. You have told him, now you must show him. You said a male friend showed up there, and Koga is sure to show up here. Inu Yasha must know that you will stay with him, and only him."

Kagome nodded, blushing slightly. How was she supposed to show him she loved him? 'Does that mean I have to...' her face went a dark scarlet as she thought of doing something she had only dreamed about. If what Myoga said was true, then Inu Yasha loved her deeply, as she does him. Maybe she'd have to make her dreams a reality. Upon reaching a decision, she stood, handing Myoga to Sango. Leaving on a hunch to which direction to go, she left the camp sight.

~*~

Kagome had only walked for about ten minutes before she felt his presence. She smiled and became nervous. Inu Yasha was just ahead of her. How was she supposed to go through with her plan? She needed to, for a few reasons. She loved him, and wanted to show him how much he meant to her. He was slipping further away, and this was one way to get him back. Her reasons were good, and if he really loved her, then he shouldn't resist. Her pace quickened as she arrived in a clearing. Inu Yasha emerged from the forest on the other side and watched her.

"Hello, Inu Yasha."

~*~End Chapter~*~

ok, I hope this can hold you guys for a few days. I promise, there will be more, so don't freight. Oh, and sorry for the lack of update on 'You'll Think Of Me,' but I have been on for an hour the past two days, giving me no time to write. The only reason this one isn't very long is because

I have only been writing it for an hour

I want to start writing chapter three for 'You'll Think Of Me'

So, if you guys have any predictions/suggestions for next chapter, or chapter 3 of 'You'll Think Of Me' then give 'em. I am open to ideas!

Ja Ne!

Inu Face