Flamez: Aries---I have read the one you used some of my stuff in. I wanted to say more about it but I have limited time on the comp now (to save power to save money). I love your additions to the plot. Inuyasha being a chick is always funny. I love what you did with it. Completely wicked. *Long sigh* This story will briefly go on hiatus (I won't update next week like usual). I got a B in geometry on my progress report *Weeps hysterically*. *Cracks open book* Must study! Must bring up grade!! Also, my parents are trying to save up money to pay for my sister's college so I won't be getting on the computer as often. We didn't even turn on the heat for October and half of November (and believe me, it was pretty cold down here in VA). I don't have gloves or a hat only a jacket and my ass is freezing. I'm running out of sweaters to wear (I have like 3 sweaters that I hope no one notices I keep wearing over and over). My hair is in desperate need of a relaxer and I'm going out of my mind. No heat. Lights off at 11. But thankfully it all ends in February ^-^ and if I survive I have learned a valuable lesson. Never know what you got til it's gone and when I get it back I WILL appreciate HEAT and CLOTHES. I am so thankful that I am blessed and I believe that I am strong and will make it through. I hope.

Chapter 12-Choices choices pt2-the runaway

Someone grabbed Sesshomaru's hair and flung him backwards. He wasn't expecting this so he was sent crashing through a several trees. Ayame stood there, snarling. Her eyes darted to Kouga then to where Sesshomaru landed. The wolf prince looked at her, unsure of what to say. She looked at him one last time before disappearing into the shadows of the forest. Watching Sesshomaru get up, he decided this would be a good time to leave. Seems he was still pissy about the whole tail thing. Kouga ran, kicking up a dirt cloud in his wake.

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There was a rustling noise when someone plopped down next to her. Kagome glanced to her right at Kurama. She turned her gaze back to the horizon, betting that that he only made noise to make his presence known. It was quiet for a while but it was a comfortable silence. They were both wrapped up in their own individual thoughts.

"I don't know why I'm here." Kurama finally broke the silence.

"Let me guess, Youko just skimmed over the facts?"

"You know him well."

Kagome smiled and looked up at the stars. "Not that well."

"You know him better than others." He paused. "Youko wants to know what you are going to do about the trade?"

She laughed bitterly. "He always was direct. I don't know, I wanted to talk with Inuyasha but I just got mad for no reason and left."

"Youko says you could always leave through the well with him."

"I couldn't. I can't."

"He wants to know why."

"Why?" She stood. "You just can't keep running away from your problems Youko! They'll just pile up until you have no where to go. I rather just face it now instead of running in fear of it for the rest of my life." She also had a sinking feeling that Inuyasha would be very disappointed in her.

"He says that if you cross through the well, you'll have nothing to worry about."

"I'll have plenty to worry about. Inuyasha will probably come to get me or yell at me. What if Naraku lives to my time and comes to get me? Besides I think that going back to my time will only make the situation worse."

"He says that's smart of you."

"Leave it to him to say that." She plopped down in her original seat but had turned to face him. "What do I do if I'm traded?"

Kurama's eyes went blank like they always did when he was listening to Youko. Then immediately he grabbed his head in pain. He let go and smiled weakly. "He doesn't seem to like that scenario. He said that he would personally see to it that the bastard is ripped apart and eaten alive."

Her stomach rolled at the thought, her smile was as weak was Kurama's. "Thanks, I think." There was a thunderous sound and a sensation of three jewel shards. But it was her nose that told her first who was approaching.

Kouga stopped abruptly in front of Kagome and Kurama. He eyed demon distastefully before turning a dashing grin to Kagome. "How is my woman tonight?"

"I am not your woman." Came the automatic reply complete with the ever classic eye roll.

He grabbed her hands and pulled her with enough force to smack her into his breastplate. "Kagome, I've made a decision since that mutt didn't. I'm taking you with me, to hell with Naraku."

"I can't leave-"

"Nonsense. You will be safe with me, my clan with protect you."

"What is with guys and wanting to run away from everything?!" Kagome tried to push away but his strong arms locked her in place.

"What's wrong with trying to protect my woman? I just want to make sure you're safe and Inuyasha's been a little flaky lately. I don't know if he will be able to choose."

"I sure whatever happens will be what's best." She said flatly.

"No Kagome!" She looked up at him, startled. "Do you know how much it pisses me off to see you put everyone before yourself?"

"I do no-"

"Yes you do. You're always thinking about everyone else. Will you for once make a decision to help yourself?"

Kagome looked down and whispered, "I can't."

He tilted her chin up, forcing her to look at him. "Yes you can. I will protect you much better than Inuyasha. I love you, Kagome, and I'll do anything to save you."

"I don't need to be saved."

"You need to be saved from yourself."

"What?"

"Yourself." He repeated. "If Inuyasha chooses to trade you, you'll go along with it. You would sacrifice yourself."

"So what if I would?" She asked, irritated.

"Kikyou already had a chance at life, you haven't."

Kagome stayed silent. She had never thought about it that way. She supposed he was right. Kikyou already lived her life but she hadn't finished living hers. Her grandpa had once told her that everyone had a determined time to die. It's determined by the gods before you're born. What if it wasn't her time to go? Going with Naraku will be the equivalent to signing her death warrant. Did she want to die? Would she let herself die because Inuyasha traded her off? Would she die to let Kikyou live? Kagome realized Kouga was making perfect sense. And if she had any sense she would leave with him.

But Kagome didn't have any at the moment. "I have to stay." It was more pleading than a statement. She couldn't let him talk her out of her decision. But she had a sinking feeling that if she let him talk he would convince her to leave.

Kouga crushed her in a massive hug. "You're my woman Kagome, I can't let you stay to die. I love you."

Kagome's statement was muffled by his armor. When he pulled away and asked her to repeat it she shook her head. He asked her again. "I said, you'll have to let me."

"Are you fucking suicidal?!"

"As I tried to point out earlier. Running away solves nothing. What about my friends? Miroku? Sango? Shippou? What will Naraku do to them if I run? They're like my family, I can't leave them to die."

"Maybe he won't kill them." It sounded like he didn't even believe it himself.

She laughed bitterly. "You know what that bastard is capable of. Look Kouga, I appreciate that you want to protect me but I'll have to decline."

He sighed, defeated. "Then I will stay with you. Even if Inuyasha wants that bitch I won't let Naraku have you."

Kagome smiled. "Thank you for understanding."

He smiled back at her. She finally noticed how close they were. She glanced nervously to her side but Kurama wasn't there. Damn, he does move without making a sound. Kagome was starting to get really fidgety, she wanted to leave but her legs wouldn't move. She bit her lip and slowly locked eyes with him. It was amazing what one notices when one gets a close up view. His eyes were a breathtaking royal blue with small flecks of forest green that she never saw before. The weird thing is was that he didn't seem to have pupils, just endless seas of blue.

"AHHHHH!" Came a screech somewhere in the forest below the cliff. A flock of birds rose out of the trees flying frantically off into the night.

Concerned, Kouga tore his eyes from Kagome. "That sounded like Ayame."

Kagome wiggled away from him, glad to escape. "You should go find out what happened." He glanced at her before running down the cliff's side, kicking up rocks and dirt. She rubbed the back of her neck in relief and sighed. It had been a long day and she just wanted some sleep. She would confront Inuyasha in the morning because now she was too damn tired to give a fuck. She started to walk back towards the camp when she saw Sesshomaru go past her. Well actually it was a white blur but she could guess who it was. She shrugged and kept walking but noticed that he was going in the direction of Kouga and Ayame's scents. Kagome sighed again, she could see her good night sleep being shot to hell right before her eyes. She leaped in the direction that Sesshomaru bounded in, effectively cutting him off. Wow, she was getting pretty fast.

He growled at her. "Out of the way, bitch."

Kagome smirked and crossed her arms. "You'll have to go through me." She had NO idea why she was openly challenging him. Hell, she thought she was crazy out her mind (ha sumtin my friend Jilesa says) for even following him. She just felt this compelling urge to get into a fight with him.

He snarled, baring his pearly fangs. He placed a palm on her forehead and pushed her aside. She grabbed his arm and flipped him onto his back. Kagome winked before punching him in his right eye and then his left. He caught her fist before she managed to break his nose. He flipped over so that she was on her back before delivering a crushing blow to her stomach, making a Kagome-sized indent in the dirt. She placed her feet on his stomach and pushed, sending him flying over the edge of the cliff. But he caught her wrist, making her tumble down the cliff with him. She bit her lip as she slammed into rock after rock. Kagome landed on solid ground with an 'oof' only to be landed on by Sesshomaru.

That knocked the wind out of her lungs. She laid there for a moment, desperately filling her lungs with much needed oxygen. Kagome locked eyes with Sesshomaru, just realizing that he was still on top of her. Quickly, she pushed him off and tried to escape. She didn't know if she liked the look in his eyes or not.

Sesshomaru watched her start to walk off. His nostrils twitched as he took in her spicy scent. It was intoxicating. He couldn't ignore it the whole time they were fighting. It was just like the first time he fought her but this time her scent was even more alluring almost demanding. He stood, feeling disconnected from his body and caught her wrist.

She spun around and the next thing she knew, his mouth was on hers. Kagome responded immediately, liking the warm sensation in her body. She threw her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. When they finally stopped for air, she looked over Sesshomaru's shoulder and straight into Inuyasha's eyes.

A part of her wanted to run over to him and tell him that she didn't love Sesshomaru like she loved him. A part of her wanted to tell him that she was sorry for going behind his back and kissing his half brother. But that part was stomped out by another larger part. The bitter part. Why should she apologize to him anyway? Inuyasha had kissed Kikyou with her just standing there like a dumbass. Later she found out that that had been his first kiss which made the whole situation worse. Now it was him who watched while she had her first kiss with Sesshomaru. An eye for an eye Inuyasha, whispered a wicked voice in her head, an eye for an eye.

Sesshomaru started placing hot kisses on her neck. Kagome almost gave in and kissed him again. But it seemed wrong to look someone you loved in the eye and then commenced to kissing someone else. She pulled away from him, slowly, hesitantly. "I have to go." She said hoarsely. 'Do you really want to leave? He is a great kisser. Stay with him.' Kagome did the only thing she could think of. She turned and ran.

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Kouga ran through the forest. "Ayame!" There was no answer but the sounds of curses and struggling told him her location.

He found her dangling by her foot from a very high tree branch. He wondered why she wouldn't just jump down but then he noticed that her whole body was hopelessly ensnared in the tress branches. Blood was rushing to her head, her face was as red as a beet.

"Stop struggling, I'll get you down." He started to climb up the tree.

"I can do it myself." She wheezed, not too assuring.

Kouga balanced on the branch. "Wait, I'll help."

"No, I can do it." She struggled some more, getting no where. He sighed and untangled her despite her objections. He cradled her to his chest jumped down.

Kouga placed her on her feet. "How did that happen?"

She pouted and crossed her arms. "I didn't need your help. I could have gotten down."

"Yeah, sure you could have. I don't doubt that for a second." He said sarcastically.

Ayame frowned. "Whatever." She turned and started walking toward the river.

He jogged to catch up with her. "So..how exactly did you get caught in that tree?"

"I don't want to talk about it." She deadpanned.

"Tell me."

"I will if you can beat me to the river." Ayame took off running before she finished the sentence. Kouga smirked and went after her, like he was going to lose to a woman. He passed her at a light jog, paused to wave, and left her to breathe in his dust. When he was about five feet from the river, Ayame leaped forward until she was right behind him then jumped on his head. She sprang off his skull and plunged into the river. When she surfaced she flashed him a victory sign. "I win."

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Kagome ran through the forest. "Inuyasha!" She ducked the low branches and jumped over logs and rocks. "Inuyasha!"

He practically materialized in front of her. "What?" She smacked into him with an 'oof'. When she got herself together she bit her lip and looked down. She hadn't really thought of what she would say when she actually caught up with him. "Shouldn't you be somewhere fucking Sesshomaru right now?"

Kagome flinched, his words stung. "Maybe I should be, he was already my first kiss, why not make it my first time as well?" Her words were sharp and callous but there was no way to take them back now. She spun on her heel to storm away back to camp.

Inuyasha caught her arm and yanked her back to him. He crushed her mouth to his, putting all his emotions into that one kiss. Anger, jealously, passion. Kagome's knees gave out, she would have fell if he hadn't been holding her up. He ignored the faint taste of his half brother and ran his tongue along her pearly fangs. Both of their hands ran through each other's silver tresses. At first, she ignored the growing pain in her cheek but when she came up air she lifted her hand to her face to smack off the flea.

Inuyasha's growl was so loud that Kagome could feel its vibration on her chest. "What do you want?"

Myouga shifted from foot to foot. "I have found out more about Aisaiga."

His eyes narrowed. "Is that why you flaked on us?"

"I wouldn't call it flaking persay-"

"Out with it."

"Aisaiga gives off some sort of ripples. It's a very powerful sword and when its not being used, the excess power leaks causing the carrier of the sword-" he motion towards Kagome. "-to be affected."

Inuyasha rolled his eyes in impatience. "Affected how?"

"They absorb the power but there's no way of telling the side effects. Luckily, I found Aisaiga's sheath." He pulled a small brown leather thing off his back. It was only three inches bigger than he was.

His eyes narrowed further until they were slits. "I'm supposed to believe that that big ass sword with fit into that small ass sheath?"

Myouga bristled. "I'll just have to show you then. Kagome, if you will."

Kagome looked at him dumbly for a moment before retrieving the sword from her waist. She had almost forgot she had been wearing it. "What do you want me to do?"

"Just hold it level. That's it." The flea slid the sheath over the sword which surprisingly shrunk to be accommodated.

She blinked at the sword that was now dagger sized. "Wow."

Myouga preened. "That's one of the secrets of Aisaiga's power."

Inuyasha started to look interested. "So what are the secrets?"

"Well I..um..don't know at exactly but-"

Inuyasha picked him up from Kagome's palm and flung halfway across the forest. "Stupid parasite."

She yawned widely, trying to vainly cover it. "At least Aisaiga's travel sized now." Kagome sat down against a tree and rested her back on the trunk. She closed her eyes and yawned again. She was way too tired to try to make it back to camp now and the tree was starting to look pretty good.

Inuyasha sat behind her and eased her onto his lap. He rubbed her ears the way he liked his to be rubbed. He smiled when she purred lightly and snuggled into his chest.

"Inuyasha?" She murmured.

"Hn?"

"What are you gonna do about the trade?"

His back stiffed but he kept rubbing her ears. "I don't know."

"I've been thinking....We don't have to go another with what Naraku says. We can find where he's hiding and we can-"

"We can't." His voice was strained.

Kagome stood and turned her golden eyes down on his. "Why not?"

"He might hurt Kikyou if we do that."

She crossed her arms and turned her back to him. "Why is everything always about her? Is the only reason why you even pay attention to me is because I remind you of her? Is that why you don't care about me anymore, because Kikyou is back? I thought-I-I-thought that I-" She turned to face him. For a second her hair turned black and her tear filled eyes chocolaty brown.

It was like seeing a ghost, and for the first time he didn't see Kikyou, he saw Kagome. Just Kagome. Within a blink of an eye, she changed back, her eyes now a sad bronze and her hair silver. Inuyasha shut his eyes. He just realized---no that was wrong. He just admitted to himself that he loved her. Not because she was Kikyou's reincarnate but because she was *her*. He loved her laugh, her smile, her voice. Hell, he even loved it when she argued with him.

He gathered up his courage and pushed away his pride. "At first, I thought the only reason why I always protected you and kept you near me was because you did remind me of Kikyou. But actually, you're nothing like her. That's what I like about you, you're able to be so carefree and just happy. I enjoy just being around you." But when he opened his eyes she was gone. She hadn't heard any of what he said.

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Kagome ran through the woods. It helped, being in her hanyou form. The power coursing through her veins eased her mind if not the pain. The branches slapped at her, she smiled ironically. Here she was running away from Inuyasha just like the day he had turned her into a half demon. Here she was running away from her problem just like she had told Kouga, Kurama, and Youko she wouldn't.

She longed to go find Kouga to talk to but she knew he was with Ayame. He was so easy to talk to, so understanding. Kagome found herself wondering where Sesshomaru had went and whether she should go looking for him.

Kagome stopped in a clearing in the forest. It seems as though every one had someone to talk to but her. Kouga had Ayame, Kurama had Youko, Sesshomaru and Shippou had Rin, and Sango had Miroku. The cogs in her mind started to turn. And soon Inuyasha would have his Kikyou.

She closed her eyes and whispered to the wind. "Naraku, I have made my decision."

Kagome didn't know how she knew they would hear but they did. The wind kicked up and an enormous feather descended from the sky. Kagura stood there silently while Naraku leered down at her. "Yes?"

"I'm coming with you."

Flamez- *Dramatic music plays in background* Noooo! Kagome!!! What will happen to her now? If you want the next chapter you know what to do.