Pure Breed: Chapter 14

"Like hell!"

"But Inu-"

"Stay outta this Kagome! It's none of your concern." The irritated Inuyasha shot back at Kagome. Kagura had spent the last thirty minutes explaining her offer of assistance, and Inuyasha, being Inuyasha didn't like the sound of it one bit.

"None of my concern? Last time I checked I was part of this team to. What I don't remember is who voted you leader of this outfit. Considering your amazing people skills, it would probably be better for you to sit out negotiations and leave them to someone more agreeable." Kagome said leaving Inuyasha with a face full of dirt. "Kagura is offering to lead us to Naraku and is asking nothing in return."

"That's the problem!" Inuyasha argued. "It's too easy. This stinks of Naraku's schemes."

"I hate to rush this, but if I don't get back soon Naraku will know something is up. I told him I was going out on a routine possession" Kagura interrupted.

"I have to admit, Rover here has a good point. Why would Kagura offer to lead us to Naraku for nothing?" Koga asked.

"That's should be obvious." Kagura responded with a snort. The team just stared at her blankly. "Don't tell me you have no clue what my motive is for leading you to Naraku's castle."

"So you can stab us in the back at the last second!" Inuyasha yelled at her, earning another thorough sitting.

"You people really think I serve Naraku out of free will? I thought you had more in your heads than air, especially you, monky monk." she taunted, obviously referring to Miroku by using 'monky monk'.

"You haven't had any problems so far." Miroku retorted, not enjoying his new nickname, knowing Shippo, Sango, and Kagome would monopolize off that opportunity.

"That's because he'll kill me if I disobey him. He has my heart, and until Naraku lies dead he has my life in his hands." Kagura explained.

"Why didn't you say so earlier? Let's get moving." Inuyasha said ecstatically, jumping up from his sitting hole. Kagome rolled her eyes at Inuyasha's sudden change of opinion.

"I'll be back sometime this week. Naraku will ask Kanna to monitor me any second, and if he discovers what I'm up to, I'm toast." Kagura bid the group farewell and flew off on her feather. Miroku grinned as the wind sorceress flew away.

"Kagura doesn't seem all too bad." Miroku said nonchalantly. "At least she can recognize a smart fellow when she sees one."

"Whatever monkey monk." Shippo said with a playful grin.

"Don't call me that Shippo." Miroku warned.

"Miroku the monky monk, Miroku the monky monk!" Shippo sang as he bounced about.

"Lets get back to the village. We could use a few days rest before facing Naraku." Sango suggested, saving Miroku more taunting from the energetic kit.

It was night and Koga and the wolf demons slept in one hut, Sango and Miroku in another, and Kagome in a third. Inuyasha was the only one not asleep. He sat in his tree, looking up towards the sky, thinking, as he usually did at night.

"Hey." Kagome called from behind Inuyasha. Inuyasha turned to face Kagome.

"Hey." Inuyasha replied. "I thought you were asleep."

"Nope. I can't sleep. Mind if I join you?" Kagome asked walking to the base of the tree Inuyasha was in.

"Do what you want." Inuyasha said, feigning indifference. He helped Kagome hoist herself up to the low limb Inuyasha sat upon. "What's on your mind? You usually don't have any problems sleeping." Inuyasha asked.

"Since when do you care how I feel?" Kagome responded.

"You can't answer a question with another question and I've cared how you felt since now. Now, spill. What's the problem?" Inuyasha persisted.

"Home." Kagome answered simply.

"What about it?" Kagome gave him a quizzical look.

"You really want to know?" Inuyasha nodded. "Really?" Another nod. "Well," Kagome began, "I'm just wondering what's going to happen after we beat Naraku."

"What would be different about life? I always assumed it would be the same as normal, just we'd be able to relax more." Inuyasha said.

"But what about my home? What about the present?" Kagome cried.

"What about it?" Inuyasha asked once again, being the oh-so intelligent person he is.

"I guess I can go back and finish school." This got Inuyasha's attention.

"What? You can't go back! We need you here!" Inuyasha screamed in despair.

"Why? There won't be anymore shards to find. You guys won't need me."

"Yes we will." Inuyasha protested.

"What for?" Kagome inquired.

"Uh…" Inuyasha mumbled, desperately racking his brain for a reason.

"See? I won't be needed in this era anymore, since you won't need your 'shard detector'." Kagome said plain as day. "I'd still come and visit. I just won't be around as much as I usually am."

"But I want you to stay." Inuyasha began to pout like a spoiled child.

"What for? No more shards remember?"

"You know why." Inuyasha said stubbornly.

"Who, me?" Kagome said innocently. "Oh no. I'm afraid I don't have the slightest idea why you'd want me to stay."

"Do I have to say it?" Inuyasha complained.

"Yes." Kagome said.

"I want you to stay because I…I, I, I, I…" Inuyasha stuttered.

"Cummon, you've already said it once. It can't be that difficult." Kagome commented.

"Gimme a break. I'm new at this." Inuyasha took a big breath and continued. "I want you to stay because I love you Kagome. I love you and I don't know what I'd do with myself if you were to leave. Will you stay?"

"Of course I'll stay! You didn't think I was serious when I said I'd leave did you?" Kagome laughed. Inuyasha turned away and huffed.

"That was a dirty trick." Inuyasha pouted. Kagome grabbed Inuyasha and rolled off the limb they were on. Kagome landed on top of Inuyasha.

"How bout I make it up to you?" Kagome said in a seductive tone. Inuyasha's expression changed to a smirk.

"I think I can live with that."