From the author: Don't own Inuyasha. If I did, I'd be a much richer (and probably more fufilled) person today...


Chapter 1: Volitility

It was a beautiful, autumn day in the old village of the Feudal Era that Higurashi Kagome had been forced to make into her second home. But it was beautiful all the time here, compared to modern Tokyo. Well, according to her at any rate. There was a crisp bite to the air, hinting at the impending winter that was about to hit them all, but the leaves. Yes, it was the riot of color in the leaves that made it all worth it.

But beneath the pleasant evening facade, trouble was brewing. And it was brewing between Kagome and Inuyasha as had been the norm of late. Inuyasha had grown more moody and brooding, while Kagome had become rather tired of their immature arguments. After all, she'd matured a lot in the two-and-a-half years she'd been traveling with Inuyasha and the gang. However, she felt that she didn't know much more about Inuyasha than when she'd come through the well on her fifteenth birthday. But through time, she had found that she didn't know anything about Inuyasha because he didn't know that much about himself. What he did know, he kept closely to himself. Today, she'd found out once more how little the hanyou knew about his life and how protective he was about it.

Kagome stared in absolute and total incredulity at Inuyasha, her mouth gaping open almost to the point of hitting the floor. Sure, she had always wondered about it, but he really just didn't know!

"Inuyasha, you must be kidding. You don't even know WHEN your birthday is!"

Those golden eyes bored into her with an intensity that he had rarely shown as of late. It was one of those 'leave it alone' expressions. He usually didn't have to use it due to his total inaproachability, but Kagome had the strangest habit of being able to get underneath that cold, angry facade with incredible irritability. So what if he didn't know when his birthday was!

"What's it to you, wench!"

"Don't call me that, Inuyasha!"

"I wouldn't have to if you didn't act like one all of the-"

"OSUWARI!"

Kagome huffed out of Kaede's small little hut, her hands balled up into fists and her cheeks flushed with frustration, while the aforementioned hanyou was on the floor, a face full of wooden planking now keeping him company as opposed to Kagome.

Inuyasha had long since learned the futility of fighting against Kagome's "sit" command. He lay there for a moment, his cheeks flushed and a torrent of curses, insults, and jibes that he could use on her flying through his mind. But the scent in the room had changed. It was devoid of her. The scent that intoxicated him and on more than one occasion had threatened to throw him over the brink of self-control.

When she left like that, it hurt. He hurt. He hated feeling like that. After all, he was supposed to be this famous...Well, infamous was probably the more appropriate word, hanyou who had taken on Naraku and lived to tell the tale. But he was putty in the hands of a human. Or at least he was on the inside. After two years, he had steadily began losing control to her smile, her face, those beautiful brown eyes...He'd finally lost all resolve that one fateful night in Kaguya's castle.

He'd felt that small, slender body crying out to him as she kissed him on the lips. Her scent overwhelmed him. Her lips pressing against his had caused him to lose all coherent thought and he returned the kiss in kind. The feelings that she evoked in him threatened to overwhelm him even now...

He shook off the thoughts, now annoyed with the betrayal of his self-control. Inuyasha stood, stretching out, taking a sniff or two of the air. She was leaving, alright. And she was thoroughly mad at him.

Why can't I just be...Normal!

He shook his head in disgust, wanting nothing more than to run to Kagome and tell her he was sorry...Tell her that he wanted her to be happy...To hug her...To kiss her...

Baka, he thought to himself, keep thinking like that and she'll sit me for sure.

Kagome fumed as she walked towards the Bone Eater's Well, thoroughly frustrated with Inuyasha again. It had become so common that Kagome didn't expect to go through the well anymore without a major fight ensuing between them. Each argument, each insult, each yelling contest was burned firmly in her memory and they all hurt her now as much as they had when they occurred.

Why can't he just learn to be...NORMAL!

But he isn't...That's what you love about him most and you know it. Get a grip, girl.

She sighed and shook her head in annoyance. Now she was arguing with herself. Just great. This man has affected her in more than one way. If she didn't find a way to purify the jewel soon, the hanyou was going to give her a heart attack or nervous breakdown soon.

Her goal had been attained as she trod down the path to the well. She sat on the wooden railing, taking one last look at the place that she had grown to love before sliding off of her perch, making her way back to her own time...To where I belong...

Kagome never did see the molten-gold eyes following her...Never did hear as he flew from one branch to the other as her guardian kept an eye on her, making sure she was safe. Unseen in the darkness of the canopy of trees, a tear gathered in his eye...Gathered and trickled down his cheek.


Alright, so this is my first attempt at a fanfiction. I know its pretty simple in the way of a plotline, but they'll get more complex once I get more familiar with the characters I'm trying to portray. I'd greatly appreciate any creative or constructive criticisim. Flames will probably be ignored outright. But thanks again!