Yosei: lalalalalalalala!!!

Ambereyes: dumdeedumdaadumdeedumdeedum…

Jade: focus!!!!!

Yosei&ambereyes: ignoring her

Jade: whatever. Heres the next chapter. We don't own any of the inuyasha charaters or any of the original plot. But we take full credit for this plotline and the way the words are arranged.

Yuka raised her hands over her head and stretched out her body. Eri stifled and yawn and Ayumi rubbed her legs trying to get feeling back into them. Kagome just stood there looking rather haggard. The exams had been a little harder than expected, but she knew she did alright. Then again that didn't stop her from being exhausted.

"Well I think I did alright how about you guys?"

Ayumi looked up with a smile at her ill friend.

"Passed no sweat!"

"Ditto!"

"Me three!"

Kagome smiled brightly.

"So we have History and Science in the bag!"

All four girls cheered, and high fived each other. Something Eri's American cousin had taught then to do upon her last visit. Kagome yawned and stretched a little.

"Well I'll see you guys tomorrow. I have to study for Math. Its my worst subject."

Yuka patted her on the shoulder.

"Don't worry Kagome-chan, you'll do fine."

Ayumi suddenly remembered something, her eyes got wide and she let out an 'ah' sound.

"Oh Kagome! Hojo is asking around school again. To see if your seeing anyone. He wanted me to ask you if you were!"

Kagome blanched. Three years, and none of them had ever gotten a hint.

"Uh guys…"

"Kagome. Are you still seeing that two-timer?"

"The one with the violent personality? Girl you got to dump him he's bad news!"

Kagome held up her hands and smiled.

"NO you guys! He's a good guy really! And as it happens he's no longer seeing his old girlfriend."

All three girls were floored. Kagome had come to school more than once depressed about the violent jerk and his evil ex from hell. News that he was no longer hung up on her was defiantly new.

"What?! Details!!"

Kagome froze, her brain moving quickly as she formulated a way to translate what had really happened into a believable half-truth. Not to mention she would have to tone down on the violence a lot. And cut out a few people. Like a certain baboon wearing freak…Kagome thought back to what had happened. It had only been a couple of weeks ago, part of why Inuyasha was so willing to let Kagome come to her time for the exams. Was he was sorta of going through the morning period he had never gotten for Kikyo. Kagome found herself flashing back to that fateful night…

flashback

"Inuyasha! I got Kanna get Kagome!!"

Miroku shouted as he made sure Kanna didn't interfere with the fight going on. The emotionless girl didn't give much of a fight, but Kagura kept trying to reach her sister proving to be quite a menace for Sango, Kirara and Shippou.

Naraku had surprised them with another of his puppets, and during the fight he had stolen Kagome away, by putting her to sleep and then escaping. Now the miko of the future was wide awake and trying desperately to use her miko powers to hurt her captor. But for some reason they were not answering her call. So she struggled physically against the disgusting man that held her.

"Inuyasha!!!"

The half demon let out a furious battle cry and charged at Naraku. No one took Kagome and walked away unscathed. But the evil demon merely let loose a hoard of demons forcing Inuyasha to destroy them before he could come after Naraku. A series of Kaze no Kizu's later Inuyasha stood even more pissed off.

"Let her go Naraku!"

"Kukuku…Inuyasha, you really think I would go to the trouble of stealing her to simply hand her over. You're more stupid than I thought."

Inuyasha tightened his grip on the Tetsuaiga and stood his ground. He knew if he charged again, the evil half demon would simple release more demons. He had to find a way to get close enough to grab Kagome…

"You see Inuyasha…I needed her…"

"For what?"

Inuyasha could feel Naraku smirk behind his mask.

"A choice of course."

Naraku moved to the right slightly, it was a signal. Kohaku stepped out of the mansion behind Naraku, he was leading someone very familiar.

"K-Kikyo?"

The un-dead miko looked terrible. Her skin was cracked, like a dry pot, and her dark eyes looked even duller and more dead than usual. Her kimono was dirty and soiled, and her hair was not tied back like it usually was. It was hanging loose, it was matted and knotted. She looked like she had been prisoner for along time. Apparently her soul skimmers had been unable to bring her the stolen souls that sustained her. And now she was crumbling away.

"I-Inuyasha…help me…"

"Don't listen to her Inuyasha! it's a trick! A ruse! She hasn't been held prisoner! She's working with him!!"

Kagome screamed at the top of her lungs as she fought violently with Naraku. Tears were coming down her face. Inuyasha stood completely still.

"W-what?"

"Kikyo gave Naraku her jewel shards in exchange for this scenario! She's just putting on an act!"

Kagome hissed. Naraku chuckled and yanked the young miko back. Kagome yelped at the sudden force and fell backwards. She landed roughly on her back and hit her head. Inuyasha started towards her to try and catch her but Naraku un sheathed a sword and held it at the now wounded girl. The force made Kagome's head hurt and the world suddenly slid out of focus. She moaned.

"I-Inuyasha…save me…please…"

Kikyo called out weakly. Her hand extended towards him and she stumbled going down on her knees. Kohaku held his scythe at the miko's neck. Inuyasha was torn in the worst way…

He desperately looked over his shoulder hoping his friends would be of some help to him, but Kagura and Kanna were keeping them busy. They were so focused he didn't think they could even risk a glance his way.

Inuyasha tilted his head down, his bangs covering his amber eyes. So that no one would see his decision had long ago been made. But that didn't make it any easier. Ages ago, when Miroku had told him about how he believed the Shikon no Tama was cursed and that it destroyed all its protectors. He knew he couldn't let that happen to Kagome. He wouldn't let anything hurt his Kagome, not as long as he breathed. It was just reflexes, it had taken him sometime to realize his feelings for the miko of the future.

"NOW CHOOSE INUYASHA!"

Naraku shouted, he swung his katana, his target the young girl that had suddenly come back into reality just in time to watch the deadly weapon swing. At the exact same second, across the yard Kohaku pulled back his arm to make the killing blow to the undead miko.

Naraku watched Inuyasha as he dealt the killing blow, but he gasped as the half demon literally disappeared. On moment he had been there, the next he turned into a red blur that moved to fast for his eyes to follow. Naraku's eyes widened as suddenly the hanyou appeared in front of him with fist pulled back. Naraku never had the chance to block, Inuyasha just landed a solid punch in the villains face. Naraku went flying backwards, sword, skin and all and he crashed into the mansion going straight through it.

And the half demon looked up just in time to see Kikyo disappear into a cloud of earth and dust. A look of anger and pure hatred on her face, and Inuyasha knew what Kagome had said was true. She had planned it with Naraku, she had grown arrogant and believed he would save her instead of Kagome.

Kagome on the other hand was looking up at him with a stunned face. Tears were still in her eyes and now the flowed renewed. She sat up, and Inuyasha fell to his knees, Kikyo was gone, for the second time…he felt like in some way he let her down. Even though he didn't regret the choice. It still hurt to loose her again, to have not been able to help her, to save her.

"Inuyasha. I'm sorry! If I hadn't gotten kidnapped then you wouldn't-"

"Shut up Kagome…I would have had to make the decision eventually, so just shut up."

His voice was gruff but it lacked its usual edge and sharpness. His eyes were stinging with tears, and his lips were pressed to a thin line. And his face held no emotion, it was just blank. Kagome suddenly reached out and hugged her protector and friend. And the half demon let her, he just let himself be comforted by her. It was one of those rare times when he felt small and insignificant. Kagome moved so she could hold him properly, she pulled him into her lap which was awkward because he was bigger than she, but she mainly supported his upper body with her own. She wrapped her arm around his shoulders and the other lay across his chest holding him to her. Inuyasha was just limp in her arms.

The moment the that Naraku had been hit, Kagura and Kanna both escaped from Sango, Miroku, Shippou and Kiara. All four were beaten and battered as they watched their enemies escape again. They turned to see what had happened to Kagome and Inuyasha and were shocked to find a limp Inuyasha in Kagome's arms. Fearing the worst the began to run over to their friends but stopped short when suddenly Inuyasha began to move. He sat up, they thought he was going to stand, but instead he turned in the miko's arms and buried his face in the crook of her neck. Then he pulled his arms against his chest and sequestered them between their bodies. Kagome found it easier to hold the broken half demon now. She locked her arms around his back and pulled him close.

His body was shaking slightly, as he held back his cries and tears. Kagome pulled her legs under her so she could bring him closer without him sitting on her legs. And the two sat like that, Kagome saying nothing but gentle words. And Inuyasha saying nothing but breathing heavily.

Miroku and Sango looked at each other and nodded. They both entered the mansion that luckily turned out to be not a part of Naraku's illusion but a real mansion to look for supplies and a place to stay. Shippou only once started out to perhaps also comfort the man that he had come to see as his adoptive father, but Miroku had placed a hand on his should and told him to let them be. That Inuyasha would be likely to close up should they approach. Shippu nodded, but he never let the two leave his sight for the entire time. He very quietly filled in as guard.

Inuyasha's breathing eventually evened out and after a while he gently pulled back from Kagome's embrace. He looked at her with his open amber eyes. For once letting her see him, without barriers or defenses. Kagome smiled very softly at him, and reached up to brush some of the bangs from his eyes.

"You'll be okay, Inuyasha."

The half demon was silent for a long while before speaking. His voice sent shivers up her spine because it held no gruffness or any of his usual edge.

"Thank you, Kagome."

This time Kagome hugged him out of her own need to do so. And this time Inuyasha returned the gesture. When they pulled back, the events of the day finally caught up with her and she started to feel a little woozy, sensing her dilemma, the half demon stood and then picked her up bridal style. They began walking towards the mansion where the rest of their group resided.

"Thank you Inuyasha…"

Kagome said quietly, she wasn't looking at him, she was looking at her hands which rested against her stomach. Inuyasha could hear her tone, and he knew she wasn't talking about helping her get inside. He just cleared his throat and smirked.

"Keh. Weak wench, like I'd do anything else. You'd probably just collapse before you got to the steps."

Kagome smiled, she could hear his tone. He wasn't talking about carrying her either. Neither of them said anything more to each other, and both of them walked inside for some deserved rest.

end flashback

Yosei&Ambereyes: still ignoring jade

Jade: -.-;; just review.

Oh for the record, I don't hate kikyo, I think she was a good person that just couldn't accept Inuyasha as a hanyou because of the way she was raised. But the evil walking clay pot is NOT kikyo, I believe her to simply be the worst part of the human race. Hate, anger, and malice.