To Protect the One I Love

Author's Notes:  I warned you I wasn't through with Inuyasha and Kagome.  The more turmoil they go through, makes the ending that much more meaningful.  Inuyasha knows Subaru is watching them and our hanyou wants to take this guy out before he comes after Kagome again.  But with everyone around him susceptible to the monk's mind games, how will he succeed?  The only way he thinks he can…all by himself.

Trust Is as Frail as the Heart That Formed it

            Subaru stood on the grounds of another monastery, deep in thought, as one of the order's monks spoke about the history of each and everything they came across.

            "The great sun goddess herself, Amaterasu, it is said has visited this particular shrine of ours…" The monk said proudly.

            "Yes, yes I would imagine so.  With all the time and care you put into your gardens and shrines, it easily shows how…humble you are in your praise of the gods." Subaru commented.

            The monk gulped down his fear and visibly paled.  Although Subaru hadn't openly berated him, it was obvious the Great One was telling the monk that pride was not their way.  "Um, yes, well lunch should be ready soon.  I shall go check on it for you, Great Subaru-sama."  He bowed and hurried back towards the kitchens.

            Subaru smirked and entered Amaterasu's shrine, immediately spotting the mirror in the center of the shrine.  You see, the sun goddess once had an evil brother, Susa-no-wo, The god of thunder, who despised his sister for all the beautiful things she created and the spotlight she always got with their parents.  So, in hatred, he destroyed all her precious things and in fear, she ran into a cave and covered its entrance with a boulder, throwing the world into complete darkness where evil was allowed to reek havoc on Earth.  When the other gods and goddesses gathered around to try and get Amaterasu out of her cave, they decided to trick her.  Dancing and laughing outside the cave, they pretended they'd found a better more beautiful goddess to replace Amaterasu.  Curious, she stuck her head out of her hiding place and was met with her own reflection in a mirror.  So engrossed in her own beauty, the other gods were able to pull her out, bathing the world in light once more, therefore saving the Earth.  Now every shrine dedicated to Amaterasu had a mirror, in hopes the goddess would come.

            "What luck…" Subaru said to himself as he walked forward and ran a hand over the fine glass.  It shimmered and lit up.  Inuyasha, your friends may have been able to save you before, but my game is far from over, and I will not sleep until that Shikon no Tama is mine.

            Subaru now despised Inuyasha, because unlike Kagome, whom Subaru had a level of respect for – since she was a miko and just below his level of greatness – Inuyasha was a hanyou, with both human and youkai blood flowing through him.  It was an insult of the highest degree that this mutt even think he could stand up against the Great Subaru-sama.  Inuyasha, once I have the jewel, I will send you back to the hell that spawned you before ascending to my heavenly thrown.  I swear it.

            When the mirror died down, an image formed of Miroku, Sango, Shippo and Kirara, and Kouga all sitting in a circle in an unknown room.  Let's see what they're planning to do next…

            Sango turned to Kouga.  "Ne, have you figured out how you got here?"

            Miroku nodded.  "If we found out how you got here, it might help us figure out how Subaru-sama got here as well."

            "Did you come through the well?"  Shippo asked.

            Kouga shook his head.  "I felt that Kagome was in danger and when I stood up, everything around me shifted and warped.  The next thing I knew I was on a rooftop and when I looked over, I saw Dog-Crap in the jaws of that centipede."

            Miroku put a hand to his chin.  "So it was your desire to save Kagome that brought you here."

            "So do you also think it was Subaru's desire for the jewel that made him come here?"  Shippo asked.

            "That would make sense."  Sango agreed.

            "I'll tell you what doesn't make sense."

            Everyone turned and saw Inuyasha at the entrance to the shed they were using for their private meeting.

            "Inuyasha?  How is Kagome-sama?"  Miroku asked.

            "Her mother changed the dressing, but she won't be able to use her arm for a good week, even with my medicine."  Inuyasha sat down and placed his hands in his sleeves calmly.

            "So what doesn't make sense, Inuyasha?"  Sango asked.

            Kouga scoffed.  "Here it comes.  Wisdom from the great mutt."

            "Hey!  Just because you saved my neck once when I was human, doesn't mean I can't kick your ass again right now!"  Inuyasha shouted with a fist.

            "I'd like to see you try!"  Kouga challenged with just as much venom.

            "Trust me, I would usually jump at the chance to skin your ugly fur from your body, but I got better things to do than waste my time with you!"  Inuyasha shouted.

            "What!?"  Kouga was fuming now.

            "Enough!  Both of you!"  Sango shouted.

            Both boys turned away from each other with pouts.

            Miroku cleared his throat.  "Now, Inuyasha, you were about to say?"

            At that moment, Kagome closed the door to her house and started towards the shed.  She knew Inuyasha probably didn't want her out of bed yet, but if they were planning against Subaru, she wanted to be there too.

            "What I was going to say before that wimpy wolf interrupted…" Kouga had to grit his teeth to stay quiet.  "Was that I believe we need to rethink our strategy."

            "How so?"  The monk wondered.

            "Well for one.  We have to stop this."  He eyed everyone.  "Telling each other what we're planning to do."

            Sango's eyes went wide.  "What do you mean?"

            "Look, the Kagome that lured me out into the city while I was human looked, sounded, and smelled just like the real one."

            Outside, Kagome froze at the sound of her name and put her back to the side of the shed, just next to the door and listened carefully.

            "How do we know this guy hasn't done it again with any of you!"  The hanyou accused.

            "Inuyasha, if you're suggesting we split up, I think it's a bad idea."  Sango commented.

            "We are more effective in numbers."  Miroku agreed.

            "Were more effective.  Now, it's something that's working against us.  If such a thing were to happen again, who knows which one of us could be lost?"  Inuyasha gritted his teeth on the inside.  He didn't want to accuse his friends, but this was how it had to be.

            "Who do you think he would impersonate?"  Shippo asked sadly.

            "I don't know, but one thing I do know is this…" He almost stopped, but he knew he had to keep going.  "I don't trust anyone anymore."

            This made the entire room gasp.

            "Not you."  He pointed to Miroku.  "Not you."  He pointed to Sango.  "Not you or you."  Shippo and Kirara.  "And not you."  He pointed to Kouga.

            "What about Kagome-sama?  Do you suspect her as well?"  Miroku said carefully.

            "Especially her."

            That was all Kagome had to hear.  The tears came and Inuyasha heard her small cry.  Spinning around, he immediately regretted his words.  "Oh no."  When he was out of the shed, she was already running to the house, leaving a trail of salty tears behind.

            Kagome, I'm sorry.  It wasn't supposed to be like this.  Inuyasha had planned to leave back to the other world and let Kagome find out later. This way was far too painful.

            Subaru smiled and turned the mirror off.  This is just too perfect.  Now all I have to do is come up with a plan to get the girl on my side and the jewel will be mine.  But don't think I'll let you out of my sights either Inuyasha.  I'll keep a personal eye on you.

            Standing over the well, Inuyasha hesitated.  Even if his plan did work, hurting Kagome like that was a huge sacrifice.  I just hope it was worth it.

            "Oi, Dog Crap."

            Inuyasha didn't bother to turn around at the sound of Kouga's voice.  "Look, I ain't got time to fight with you right now."

            "Then good.  Just listen.  Were you serious when you said you didn't trust Kagome?"  He asked.

            Inuyasha paused, but spoke in a voice so low, he knew only Kouga would be able to hear it.  "No, in fact I trust everyone in there with my life a hundred times over."

            "Then why?"  Kouga spoke in a voice just as quiet.

            "Because I had to make them believe it.  Our enemy can read minds.  If they knew the plan, so would he.  As far as I know, he can only control humans, or he would've tried controlling me already.  Youkai or half youkai seem to be out of his league."

            Kouga came up and looked down the well that connected to his world.  "So what's the plan?"

            "The plan is you stay here and look after Kagome while I'm gone."  Inuyasha said.

            Kouga crossed his arms proudly.  "Oh, really?"

            Eyeing his rival, Inuyasha fingered Tetsusaiga warningly.  "But if you lay one hand on her, I'll gut you myself."

            Kouga scoffed.  "Yeah, whatever."

            "And Kouga."

            "Eh?"  The wolf was at a loss of words.  This was the first time Inuyasha had called him by his real name.

            "Be careful.  Our enemy uses techniques where a sword or fist can't defend against.  Watch your back."  Then he jumped into the well and was gone.

            Sango came out of the room and shook her head sadly.

            Miroku sighed, "I think it's correct to say she heard our conversation."

            "But how can he be so mean as to say such a thing!?  Kagome-chan's been nothing but there for him since the beginning!"  Sango shouted back.

            Miroku put a hand on her shoulder and led her away from the room.  "Inuyasha is used to an enemy he can see and fight.  Subaru-sama works from afar and honestly after what you and I did, who can blame him?  For all we know, Subaru-sama could do it again."

            Sango looked sadly at the ground, but gasped when she saw Kouga coming up the stairs.  "Kouga, I don't think you should…" But she stopped when he opened the door to Kagome's room and slowly shut it behind him.

            Kagome sat on her bed, looking through a photo album she had made of her adventures in Feudal Japan.  The pages were filled with pictures of everyone she'd grown to love from the warring states.  Kaede, Shippo, Kirara, Sango, Miroku, Kimiko, even some of Kouga and Ayame.  But most were of Inuyasha.  She had some with her and some without, group pictures and lone hanyou pictures.  Every now and then, was a picture Kagome had snuck in of Inuyasha's human form, whenever he wasn't looking that is.

            How could he say such a thing?  After everything we're been through?  Has nothing changed?

            Kagome, Shippo, and Inuyasha ran from their enemy and fell to their knees in exhaustion.  "They're not chasing us anymore."  Kagome managed through ragged breaths.

            "D-dammit."  Inuyasha breathed.  His head was bowed and his hair was covered with the sticky webs of the spider demons they had been fighting.

            "Inuyasha, what happened!?"  Kagome demanded.

            "Shut up!"  He growled.

            Kagome paused for only a moment before grabbing the webbing from his head.  "You've been acting weird all day!"  As soon as she pulled it away, her eyes went wide when she saw his hair was no longer white…

            "You guys should worry more about yourselves than me."  He said in a calm voice.

            "What…happened to your hair?"

            Sitting a little ways away from the miko, Inuyasha eyed her as he pulled the rest of the webbing from his now black hair.  "If you think you'll always be protected, you're mistaken."

            Shippo was shocked.  "What's this?"

            Kagome had to sit down.  "Inuyasha…right?"

            He glared back at them.  "What are you staring at?"

            Shippo immediately jumped on his head.  "His ears are gone too!"

            "That form…almost like a human…" Kagome said.

            Grabbing the little kitsune from his head, Inuyasha smacked him to the forest floor.  "On top of that, no more claws nor teeth."

            "What happened Inuyasha!?"  Kagome demanded.

            Appearing on Kagome's shoulder, Myouga began to give an explanation.  Inuyasha was a hanyou and therefore lost his powers once every month.  Since it was a matter of life and death, he always kept it a secret.

            "Inuyasha-sama!  Why didn't you at least tell me!?"  Myouga bounced as he asked.

            "If you knew you would've run away by now."  Replied the human.

            That made the flea stop and cross his arms.  "You cannot even trust me that much?"

            Inuyasha pointed accusingly at the flea.  "It's that pause I can't trust!"

            "What about me!?"  Kagome shouted, bringing Inuyasha's attention back to the miko.  "If I knew about your body, I would've have dragged you to a place full of youkai like this!  You can't even trust me?"

            Angrily, Inuyasha replied.  "I don't trust anyone!"

            Kagome gasped in shock and hurt.

            Turning away, Inuyasha closed his eyes.  "I have lived alone like that until now.  You have no right to complain about it."

            Kagome looked sadly at the ground and fought back her tears.  "I'm sorry, but…you could've been a little kinder about it."

            It was after that I thought I'd earned his trust, but now…does he still not place any faith in me? 

            "What about Kagome-sama?  Do you suspect her as well?"  Miroku had asked.

            "Especially her."

            "I always told you he was a jerk."

            Kagome startled and looked up, surprised to see Kouga standing there.  "Kouga-kun, how long have you been standing there?"  She asked, as she wiped away her tears.

            "Long enough to see that you're hurting."  He took a seat next to her.  "I know what he said must've hurt more than that sword wound ever could, but you can't give up yet."

            "Why not?"  She scoffed, hugging her pillow in her lap.  "He obviously has."

            Kouga fought with his conscience on this one.  If I told her – she'd feel better – but then that guy would find out.  If I keep quiet, she'll think it's over between them and keep crying like this.  "Listen, do you trust me?"

            "Eh?"

            He looked her straight in the eye and repeated.  "Do you trust me?"

            Nodding slowly, Kagome replied, "Of course."

            "Then let me be there for you, while Dog Crap's gone and I promise you, he'll come back."

            "How do you know?"

            "Hey, I thought you said you trusted me!"

            Kagome smiled and leaned her head against him.  "Yeah, I do."  The motion made Kouga blush madly.  "Arigatou, Kouga-kun."

            Gulping, Kouga slowly wrapped one arm around Kagome to comfort her.  Oh man, you better come back soon, shit for brains.  The entire room smelled like the miko and the wolf leader had a hard time controlling himself.  But when he closed his eyes, all he saw was Ayame's smiling face.  Oh man, have I fallen hard…

            Subaru smirked as he watched Kagome fall into a light sleep, her day's tortures still plaguing her during slumber.  "Oh, but the nightmares have only begun, miko…"

            Kagome twisted and turned in her sleep as she fought the paralyzing feeling of Mukotsu's poison preventing her body from moving.

            "Just relax, my dear.  In just a little bit the ceremony will be over and we can continue the consummation of our love during our honeymoon."  The short ugly man smiled and ran a hand down Kagome's hair.

            Looking in her reflection in a mirror nearby, Kagome's eyes widened as she saw she was dressed in a wedding dress, veil and all.  This isn't happening!  This isn't happening! 

            When Mukotsu grabbed her arm and walked up to the shrine he had created, Kagome tried to struggle, but the effects of the poison that had landed her in this situation still paralyzed her body from neck to feet.  The toad-faced poison user had kidnapped Kagome and planned to wed her against her will to become husband and wife.

            "I plan to be the perfect husband for you, dear Kagome.  I promise."  He said as he sat her down next to him.

            I don't want to be your wife!  Somebody save me!  Kagome thought.  A shadow appeared at the doorway and when both Mukotsu and Kagome turned to look, Kagome's heart skipped a beat when she saw it was Inuyasha.

            Inuyasha's here!  I'm saved!

            But instead of pulling her away, Inuyasha crossed his arms and scoffed.  "Keh, serves you right.  I don't trust you enough to even think about being with you.  So you two belong with each other."  Then he turned his back and walked away, Mukotsu's maniacal laughter being heard as he left.

            Kagome was in shock.  No, you can't mean that!  Inuyasha!

            Kagome stood in front of Sango and Miroku.  Shippo and Kirara were off to the side with arrow wounds to the heart.  Tears fell from her eyes as her body refused to listen to her commands and instead pulled back another arrow, this time at Sango.  No, please, somebody lift this curse from me!  I don't want to kill anymore of my friends!

            Tsubaki, the black miko responsible for enchanting Kagome's heart, stood behind her holding the corrupted Shikon no Tama in her hand.  "You cannot fight my spell, reincarnation of Kikyo.  You will kill your friends because I command you to!"  Her shikigami, or snake god, dropped more of Kagome's blood onto the jewel in its mistress' hand and Kagome felt her hand release an arrow not once, but twice, as she struck down both Miroku and Sango who stood frozen in fear and refused to attack their friend.

            Miroku, Sango, no!  Kagome's shaky hands dropped the bow and she fell to the floor in shock.  Tsubaki smiled.  "You may be Kikyou's reincarnation, but you are weak."

            Just then, Inuyasha appeared once again at the doorway and saw everyone dead on the floor, Kagome in the center.  As if he didn't even see Tsubaki, he pulled Tetsusaiga from its sheath and aimed it at Kagome's neck.  "I knew I couldn't trust you."

            No, Inuyasha wait!  It wasn't my fault!

            But she was unable to speak and as Inuyasha raised his weapon above his head, he glared at Kagome with his powerful golden gaze.  "I should've done this a long time ago."

            As the blade came down, Kagome screamed in her mind, No, Inuyasha, you have to believe me!

            Watching her suffer, Subaru smiled and decided that the miko had had enough for now.  Looking at her hurt shoulder, barely exposed above the blankets, the monk shook his head.  "We can't have you injured like that now can we?  It would mess up our plans for later."  So he ran a finger over her wound and it miraculously healed itself.  "The finale I'll save for later."

The next morning Kagome got ready for school like normal and tried to keep in mind what Kouga said.  He'll come back, I promise.  She was barely aware that her shoulder didn't hurt as much and brushed it off as good healing from Inuyasha's medicine.  When she came out of her room and walked down the stairs, she was met by Sango and Miroku.

"Do you feel alright enough to go to school, Kagome-chan?"  Sango asked.

Miroku nodded.  "You could always stay here for a day until you feel better.  You look rather pale."

Forcing a smile, Kagome shook her head.  "No I think school will be good for me, besides, who cares about what Inuyasha thinks anyways?"  Without waiting for a response, Kagome moved passed them and walked outside.

Waiting for her at the entrance to the shrine were Eri, Yuka, and Ayumi.  "Hey, she's actually coming to school today!"  Eri exclaimed.

"It's a good thing too, because we have a chemistry test today!"  Ayumi said excitedly.  "Isn't that great!?"

"Did you study?"  Yuka asked.

Kagome got this depressed look on her face.  "No, I guess I'll have to fit it in during lunch…again."

Kagome didn't want to believe that Inuyasha didn't trust her, but it seemed clear that he had lost faith in her.  I know the imposter looked like me, but can't he feel it inside that I'm the real one?   Kagome stared blankly at the math board in front of her, as her mind battled with her heart, and she began to doubt her hanyou.  How can I know what he's thinking if he never opens up to me?  I wouldn't have even found out if I hadn't come out of the house early.  It was like he was talking about me behind my back!  How can I trust him when he does stuff like that?

He said he didn't trust you, what has he done that has earned him your trust in return?  A deep voice asked back.

            So absorbed in her own thoughts, Kagome didn't even notice it was Subaru's voice, and that slowly he was wrapping her up in another of his enchantments.  Her eyes dulled a little, but not much.

            He hasn't done anything, in fact with him leaving so unexpectedly, how do I know what he's up to now?  Why didn't he tell me?

            He didn't tell you because he thinks you are the enemy, so why not treat him like the enemy?  Inuyasha is your enemy. 

            Inuyasha is my enemy…

Inuyasha traveled as fast as he could towards the home of the creator of Tetsusaiga: Totosai.  The hanyou hoped with his help he'd be able to put an end to Subaru once and for all, without getting Kagome involved anymore.  It would just be him and Inuyasha – one on one.

            As he entered the foreboding-looking domain of the blacksmith, Inuyasha found the old man doing what he did best – sleeping.  Shaking his head, he gave the man a good punch to the head, "Hey wake up, you old geezer!"

            Totosai's wide eyes blinked in surprise as he finally noticed he had a visitor.

            "How you've survived all this time without being killed off is beyond me."  Inuyasha said as he sat down with his sword in his lap.

            "Inuyasha?  What brings you back to my doorstep?"  The blacksmith asked.

            "I need to learn a new technique."

            "What?  You've already learned Kazu-no-Kizu and Bakuryuuha, there's little more I can teach you."

            "This time, my enemy isn't a youkai and none of my attacks will have any effect on him."  He explained.

            "Really?  Hmmm….who is this man?"

            During lunch, Kagome excused herself from her friends and took a seat at one of the empty tables in the cafeteria and tried to study for her chemistry test.  But as she stared at the pages before her, her mind once again began to wonder.  What will I do when he returns?  Can I really stay with him, the enemy, and risk everything?  The jewel, my friends, my family?

            No, you can't.  You have to take care of him.  He is your enemy.

            Something about that didn't sound right, but Kagome was tired and her mind was fuzzy so she couldn't think straight.  My enemy is…

            Your enemy is Inuyasha!  He - who does not trust you.  He - who does not save you when you are lost.  He - who does not love you!

            Doesn't love me… No, he doesn't love me.  How can he?  If he loved me he would trust me.  He is my enemy.  Inuyasha.

            After hearing Inuyasha's tale, Totosai shook his head.  "I don't know why you came to me."

            "Huh?"

            "The power to destroy this enemy you seek was right besides you the whole time."  Totosai stirred his soup as it simmered and blew fresh fire underneath the kettle.

            "Kagome?"  Inuyasha looked sadly down at the rusty sword in his hands.  "But, I was hoping to be able to face off with Subaru without involving Kagome anymore.  That's why I did what I did." Inuyasha's heart sank.  So I hurt Kagome's feelings for nothing.  I'm going to have to tell her my plan after all.  Looking up at the teacher, Inuyasha asked, "Are you sure it's the only way?"

            Sighing, Totosai put his ladle down.  "So clueless these days."  He stuck his hands into his sleeves and faced the hanyou.  "Kagome-sama herself holds the most holy power this age has ever known.  Combining her purity energy with an attack like Kazu-no-Kizu would purify the attack's youki, but also make your monk susceptible to it too."

            "Kagome…" Without even saying thank you, the hanyou jumped to his feet and left the blacksmith behind.  Kagome, when I see you again, I'm going to apologize for everything.  I swear I'll never hurt you like that again.  With our combined strength, Subaru, you will fall just like Naraku before you.

            After school, Kagome walked to the front of school and started when Kouga suddenly jumped in front of her, dressed in normal clothes and ready to take her home.  Her eyes, now completely glazed over, did not recognize Kouga as a friend and she immediately screamed and tried to run away.

            "Hey, Kagome wait!  It's me!"  He grabbed a hold of her wrist and pulled her to him.  "What's gotten into you!?"  He demanded.

            "Let go of me!  I don't know you!"  She struggled against his hold.

            "Kouga!  Remember!?  Kagome snap out of it!  You gotta trust me!"  He didn't know why Kagome was acting so weird, but he knew he had to bring an end to it.

            "I don't trust ANYONE!"

            As Inuyasha jumped into the clearing leading to the well, he bounded one last time and made ready to jump down the portal, when he unexpectantly ran into a pink-hued barrier.  It not only refused to let the hanyou enter, but it threw him back into the grass.

            "What the hell!?"  Inuyasha shouted.  Running forward again, he hit the barrier and tried to push past it, but was once again thrown back.

            "Get away from me!"  Kagome shouted, pushing Kouga back with such force, that her miko energy was activated and it blew the wolf far back into a tree.

            Finally freed, Kagome ran away in fear from the friend she no longer recognized.

            "Having trouble, Inuyasha?"

            Growling, the hanyou pulled out Tetsusaiga and whipped around to face a floating Subaru.  "Subaru, you asshole, what have you done to the well!?"

            Laughing, the monk replied, "Me?  I haven't done anything.  It was your relationship with the miko that allowed you to enter her world in the first place.  She always had the ability to seal it.  She just never knew it."

            "Where's Kagome!?"  He demanded.  Shit, I knew I shouldn't have left her alone.

            Besides Subaru, a round projection of Kagome running through the city streets appeared.  "Frightened of everyone around her, she is running away from all who once knew her.  Including this young demon." 

The image shifted and it showed Kouga recovering from the tree, which was now in two pieces.  He stood up and growled.  "What the hell is wrong with her!?"  Then he got up and took chase.

With a wave of his hand, the image disappeared completely.  "It was your lack of trust in her that made it possible for me to plant suggestions in her mind so easily."

"Kagome!"  Inuyasha shouted.  "You bastard, so you were watching us!"

"Of course!  How can I destroy my enemy, without knowing all I can about them?  Kagome knows no one and trusts no one.  She will come to me like a frightened child.  You have lost her, hanyou."

"No!  Kagome believes in me and always has!"  He shouted. 

"Oh no, you see, she used to believe in you.  Now her heart is filled with doubt and you have no place there anymore."  He laughed.

Growling, Inuyasha powered up Tetsusaiga.  "If I take you out, then Kagome will be freed!"  Jumping up, Inuyasha fired off his attack.  "Kazu-no Kizu!"  The yellow demonic energy flew at Subaru, but it flew through him like nothing. 

"Your pathetic powers will do nothing to me.  Have fun living here forever, Inuyasha!"  Subaru laughed as his form slowly faded away.

"No, Kagome!"  Inuyasha sheathed Tetsusaiga and pounded on the barrier around the well.  "Kagome!  Kagome!!"  The only image going through his mind at that moment was the fearful look in Kagome's eyes as she attempted to run from the world.  "You have to let me in.  KAGOME!!!!"

But as she ran, Kagome's eyes continued to fall with tears.  KAGOME!!!  The name screamed loud in her mind.  It was Inuyasha's voice, but it only sent more fear through her body.  Never again will I make the mistake of turning to you, Inuyasha.  Never again.

Author's Notes:  Okay, I know I'm being kinda mean right now with Kagome and Inuyasha, but we all know Inuyasha does stupid things all the time, and this was one of them.  Will he be able to win back Kagome's trust and love before Subaru gets his hands on her?  Or is Kagome lost to him forever?