Thanks for all the reviews on the first parts!

As one random note to a couple reviewers- This story has a happy ending- no death, no sealing, etc. Take a look at the author note for the first chapter, and you'll see what I mean.

This fic also sticks to exclusively to the Manga- so any Anime only back-story will not be included in this story. Just a heads up so no one wonders where stuff is. As such this fic takes place during the time span of a couple months at most. The manga gives the impression that the InuYasha and Kikyou relationship occurred within just a spring, unlike the four seasons the Anime presents.

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In More Ways Than One

In Which Companionship is Formed

By Kelly O'Connor

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The mid-afternoon sun shone down on the stream, creating rivulets of yellow-gold in the shallow waters below the cliff Kagome and InuYasha currently occupied. Instead of observing the stream below or the sky above though, Kagome found her attention captured by the strange young man who sat beside her, eating the other half of her mid-day meal.

She'd known he was there since his first appearance outside the village four days ago, but never once had she sensed any possible danger from his presence.

However, until the previous afternoon she hadn't seen him, not having gained even the remotest of glimpses. Kagome had suspected with almost complete certainty he was a Hanyou, the feeling his aura gave her sensitive Miko power was clearly both youkai and human.

But she hadn't at all suspected him to be anything like he was. InuYasha was just a young boy, only looking to be around her own age. And excepting the pair of dog ears that rested on his head as well as what Kagome assumed to be claws on the tips of his fingers, he appeared quite normal.

If he wanted the jewel for acceptance, The Miko contemplated to herself as she watched him finish the last of the onigiri. Then I guess neither human nor youkai accepted him as he is. That must have been hard…

"Neh, InuYasha?" She ventured. In surprise, he snapped his head up.

"Huh?" The boy responded, caught off guard.

Moving to reply, she paused when her gaze met directly with his. Looking into his golden eyes Kagome could discern melancholy reflected within. Does that mean you've always been alone? Before Kagome could gather her wits about herself to continue, InuYasha spoke.

"I'm still after the jewel you know," he muttered. Once again, like she'd done the day before, Kagome reached down and pulled the Shikon no Tama out of her top.

"And it's still here for you to take any time you wish."

"Keh!"

"In the meantime," Kagome smiled in his direction. "You're always welcome here." Eyes widening, InuYasha turned away.

"Why?" He asked in a low tone, tinged with bewilderment. "Why are you doing this?" The Hanyou raised his voice a bit, now edged with frustration. "Feeding me, welcoming me, trusting me?" Kagome just blinked, unfazed.

"Because you haven't given me any reason not to."

Quickly and with little more than a shuffle, InuYasha stood up, his back still to the Miko. "You're just a fool if you think that." He gave her a backward glare and moved to begin walking away. However, before he could do so, Kagome's hand snapped out to grasp his arm.

"Don't leave again InuYasha," she demanded firmly, her tone becoming gentler as she continued. "Don't leave every time I say something that bothers you." He 'Keh-ed' weakly and turned around to face her.

"I'm not angry! You don't even know me."

"Well then let me get to know you!" Kagome retorted and gestured to herself, dropping her hand from InuYasha's arm.

"You don't want to know me!" He yelled in return.

"Yes I do!"

"You shouldn't!"

"Why not?"

"Because I said so," InuYasha crossed his arms in indignation. Kagome let a frown cross her lips.

"Well that's a stupid reason."

"Bah! I'm going." He turned around once more.

"No you're not."

"Yes- I am!" Once more, Kagome's hand snapped out to hold his arm. Only this time, with her brows furrowed and a look of clear aggravation on her face, she looked downright angry.

"Stop it!" She shouted. "Why do you let your pride get in the way when…" Kagome paused and lowered her voice, continuing in an almost shaky manner. "I--I want to help you! I want to know you…" Looking down and loosing her grip on his arm somewhat, the young woman sighed deeply.

"You should hate me," he replied in a raspy voice, shocked at her words. "It's your duty, isn't it?"

"My duty is to protect the Shikon no Tama from whoever would use it for evil. Whether human or youkai," Kagome narrowed her eyes. "But if someone hasn't done anything wrong, no matter who or what they are… then it's not my duty at all."

"Hmph," InuYasha growled, at a loss for words.

"So please InuYasha, don't leave… you seem so lonely and…"

"I don't want your fucking pity!" He spat in bitter aggravation.

"I'm not pitying you!" Kagome snapped. "Why won't you let someone care about you?" InuYasha opened his mouth to reply, but was interrupted by the voice of an approaching young girl.

"Nee-chan!" She called, nearing her sister.

"Kaede," Kagome smiled, dropping InuYasha's arm. "What are you doing out here?" Eyes widening at the man standing next to her sister, Kaede let out a small sound of apparent fear.

"I'll definitely be going now," he grumbled, with what Kagome could clearly tell was disappointment.

"Stay," she requested. "Kaede, this is InuYasha… and InuYasha this is my younger sister Kaede." Realizing that if Kagome had introduced her to him, there was nothing to fear, Kaede cleared her throat and gave him a shy hello. InuYasha gave a "Keh" in return, but relented on leaving. "Now why are you here?"

"Umm," Kaede bit her lip tentatively. "I was out… playing by that one cliff side."

"The one with the small cave below it?"

"Yes…"

"Why were you out playing that far from the village Kaede?"

"Sorry Nee-chan…" She looked down at her feet in shame. Kagome ruffled her hair.

"It's all right, just don't do it again. What happened?"

"I found someone… at the bottom of the cliff."

"What?"

"It was a man, and he looked almost dead and… Nee-chan it was gross!" Kaede explained, her face wrinkling up in disgust. Kagome sighed.

"Thank you for telling me… why don't you go back to the village. I'll go see right now." Kaede nodded in obedience, and shot one last look to the Hanyou as she began to walk back home. Glancing towards InuYasha, Kagome spoke. "So now you know something else about me InuYasha…"

"So what?"

"I have to go check out what Kaede told me about, all right?"

"Why would I care?" He looked away, in false unconcern.

"You can come if you want," she tilted her head and motioned with her hand for him to follow. Crossing his arms into his sleeves, InuYasha made his decision.

Hmph, why not… it gives me something to do.

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Once they'd reached their destination, Kagome's expression turned to horror as she approached the man in question. Battered and burnt to the point of being unrecognizable, his legs appeared broken as if he'd been thrown off the cliff and into the small valley he now resided in.

"Is he alive?" Her question was answered when she saw his one remaining blood shot eye slowly open and turn in her direction. "Alive… he's alive!" Kagome stated relieved, and then turned around to InuYasha, who was standing a considerable distance away. "InuYasha!"

"What?"

"Can you please do something for me?" The Miko pleaded.

"Huh?"

"I know you don't want to but… go catch up to my sister and ask her to go to our hut and get a mat, enough wrappings to cover a grown man, and some salve for burns and wounds." Taking a quick gander at the injured man, InuYasha frowned.

"He looks like he's going to die anyway…"

"If you move quickly, we may be able to save him… please go!" Kagome begged. InuYasha grumbled and nodded in agreement to do so. Pausing a moment, and giving her a furtive glance before beginning to leave.

He went… I'm glad. Kagome thought as the Hanyou sprinted off. Turning her attention back to the injured man, she gulped. "Sir… can you speak?"

"Yes…" He replied after a moment in a raspy struggled voice.

"Well I'm going to help you, okay?"

"Hmph, you save me without knowing who I am?" The man stated sardonically. "Foolish girl." Kagome was confused.

"You're hurt, of course I'd…"

"Although I am a thief and a criminal you would still help me?" Kagome's eyes widened in surprise before she regained her composure.

"I don't care who you are. You need help."

"You are a fool girl, to aid I, Onigumo is not a wise action." Kagome's lips tightened into a somewhat sarcastic smile and she gave the 'thief' a firm glare.

"Onigumo, eh?" She paused and crossed her arms. "It seems you're not the only person who thinks I'm a fool today, but nonetheless… I'm not changing my mind."

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Next Chapter- A growing relationship…