Chapter 1 And Then She Woke Up

Disclaimer: Only a loser would actually believe that they own Inuyasha, but then again, believing you own Inuyasha isn't the only thing you could do to prove yourself a loser. Just ask my little sister. Author's notes: I'd just like to thank purple witchy angel and Mikono-Aries for reviewing my last story. So thanxabunch!

"Inuyasha," said Kagome. "What did you want to tell me?" They were standing under the goshinboku. Inuyasha sighed.
"Listen," he began. "I know I've been acting strange lately, yelling at you one minute and stealing kisses from you the next..." He paused as Kagome tried to figure out what he was talking about. "But the truth is," he continued, "I've been unsure about my feelings for you." He took her hands in his. "Being with you makes me feel calm. I like to spend time with you." He pulled her into an embrace. "I hate it when you leave, and it's all I can do not to jump down the well after you. I don't know what I'd do without you." It all seemed too good to be true. He was saying everything she wanted to hear, and all she wanted to do was stay there with him, breathing in his scent of earth and rain.
"Inuyasha," she said slowly, "What are you trying to say?" He looked down at her.
"I love you, Kagome." He bent his head down, placing a clawed finger under her chin. She stood on her toes and closed her eyes, waiting for his lips to meet hers, but it was taking too long.
'Why doesn't he kiss me?' she thought. She waited a few seconds longer, only to be rewarded with the spine-chilling shock of having cold water poured on her. She gasped, and opened her eyes. Inuyasha was on the forest floor under the goshinboku, laughing uncontrollably. Kagome looked around, and found that she was still in her sleeping bag. It slowly began to sink in. She had been asleep...
"Inuyasha!" she yelled angrily. "Why did you-"
"Wait," he gasped, composing himself. "I can explain. You wouldn't wake up, so I had to-"
"OSUWARI!" yelled the dripping wet miko, infuriated that she had been doused with water, and of all things, cold water. The hanyou hit the ground with a loud thud.
"Ow, bitch, that hurt!" he screamed from the forest floor. Kagome stomped off, leaving him at the base of the tree. He sighed. "I guess that wasn't the best way to cheer her up."
~*~
"Kagome-chan," said Sango as they packed to leave the village. "Are you going to be all right? Maybe you should take a few days off and go back home for a while."
"No, Sango," Kagome replied glumly. "I'm fine." She stuffed her wet clothes into her pack, and Inuyasha walked in.
"You guys ready?" he asked nonchalantly.
"Just about," said Sango. Inuyasha was eyeing Kagome, who was pretending not to see him.
"Kagome?" he asked softly. "Are you okay?" She was about to snap at him, but when she turned around to look at him, he looked so concerned! Her eyes clouded up, and before she could stop it, a tear rolled down the side of her face. He looked shocked. She wiped her eyes on the sleeve of her miko's robes before anymore tears could fall. He didn't even get a chance to open his mouth before she said her piece.
"Yes, Inuyasha," she said, smiling. "More than okay." He returned the smile and walked out. *Later...
"Houshi-sama!" yelled Sango. She slapped the monk so hard, he looked as though he might fall over. Once he shook the stars from his eyes, he apologized.
"My apologies, my dear Sango," he said, rubbing his face. "Old habits die hard." Sango rolled her eyes.
"It's so pretty out here," mused Kagome. She stopped, propped her pack up on her bike, and rummaged through it.
"Kagome, what are you doing?" called Inuyasha. He stopped to wait for her. She pulled a rectangular object from the bag. "What the hell is that?"
"I thought I'd take some pictures," said Kagome. Inuyasha looked puzzled.
"Huh?" he asked. She held up the camera and pressed the shutter. The inu-hanyou blocked his face with his hands at the bright flash. "What in the seven hells is that thing?!"
"It's a camera," she explained as she and Inuyasha walked to catch up with the others. "It captures still images." Inuyasha blinked, trying to rid himself of the bright spots in his vision, meanwhile, Kagome took pictures of the surrounding area. Shippo noticed the bright flashes out of the corner of his eye and hopped onto Inuyasha's shoulder. The hanyou grunted, but made no further comment.
"Kagome, what's that?" he asked curiously. She explained what the object was and how it worked, and the young kit proceeded to hop onto the hanyou's head and pose for a picture. He pulled down his lower eyelid and stuck out his tongue. "Niah!" he said. Kagome giggled, and "captured his image". The noise caused the monk and demon slayer to turn and inquire as to what was going on back there. Shippo explained the mechanics of the contraption to the confused pair.
"Interesting," said Miroku thoughtfully. "How about a picture, Sango?" She shrugged.
"I don't mind," she said. She pointed to a tree on the side of the road. "How about over there?" she asked. Miroku nodded. "Come, Kirara." She ran over to the tree and sat at its base, and Kirara jumped into her lap. Miroku followed and leaned against the tree.
"Smile!" said Kagome, and she pressed the shutter. The monk made a face, Sango slapped him for ruining the picture, and they tried it again. "Don't move, Miroku," said Kagome warningly, and after Inuyasha interrupted and joined the picture, Kagome got ready to take the picture. "Shippo, if you're going to be in the picture, you'll need to move over some. Inuyasha, aren't you gonna smile?"
"Feh," said the half demon. Kagome glared at him, and he, resigned to his fate, attempted to smile. The corners of his mouth turned up in a wince- like sort of smirk, and Kagome sighed.
"I guess that'll have to work," she said, and she pressed the shutter.