Well, it's been forever since I updated this. However, thank you for all the positive feedback you've been given me since doing so. I think this fic is about half over, so here goes. I hope you enjoy. Let me know what you think!

"In More Ways Than One"

-Chapter Five-

In Which the Girl Finds Protection

By Kelly O'Connor

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InuYasha looked to the sun once more. Sure enough, it was in the same place it had been when he'd looked just few moments before- resting comfortably right above the horizon. He growled in the back of his throat. Early morning, that was when she always came.

A twig snapped behind him, his ears catching it right away. He quickly darted into the bushes so she wouldn't think he was waiting for her. But it was just a bird. Keh, what's the point of hiding anyway? You always meet her in the same place. Not like she doesn't know you're waiting for her.

Grumbling, he kicked the dirt below his bare feet. I could be doing something better with my time, couldn't I? His arms crossed in his sleeves, InuYasha furrowed his brows. Nothing else for me to do, there never is. But what am I gaining from staying here? Glancing towards the village, he felt a small smile cross his face, unbidden.

I told her I liked being with her, I meant it… but why?

It had been several days since their encounter in the forest on the new moon, and InuYasha felt himself more drawn to the Miko as the days went on. Every once in a while, as she'd done that night, Kagome would take his hand and he would return the gesture.

InuYasha was no fool; he knew that was a serious display of affection. But Kagome couldn't possibly mean it like that, could she? Glancing down to his own hand, he felt a blush cross his cheeks. "Bah, it's not like I meant it that way!" Shoving the hand in question back in his sleeve, he found himself pacing away from the village. Kagome will show up later on I'm sure, and if she doesn't… InuYasha sighed deeply. I guess I'll go see if she's in the village.

But even though he didn't veer into the village, he still began to search its outskirts for the whereabouts of his near constant companion.

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Kagome rarely had a chance to relax in the manner she currently was. The cool water of the river was filling her with a sense of rejuvenation as it sloshed over her unclad form.

Just a nice peaceful bath… the Miko sighed to herself as she dunked her head underwater, wetting her hair. No distractions at all, no youkai to fight, no one to ward off. She felt a small smile cross her lips. Although admittedly, that has been easier the past days.

Lowering her chin into the water, the dark haired girl exhaled, I wonder what InuYasha is up to anyway… I hope I haven't kept him waiting.

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As InuYasha walked across the grassy field he'd first encountered Kagome in weeks before, his eyes widened when his nose picked up a familiar scent.

Kagome… Running towards the source of her scent, InuYasha found himself at the edge of the cliff at which he'd shared a meal with her many a time before.

Below him, Kagome was snapped out of her thoughts by the sound of someone approaching. Standing up, she turned around as if by instinct in search of the source of the noise.

At the same moment, the sound of water sloshing caused InuYasha to avert his eyes in its direction, and they fell upon Kagome's nude form. Deep blush rising to his cheeks, the Hanyou immediately turned around in effort to calm his nerves. Kagome she's…

The Miko sank back in the water, her cheeks flushing crimson as well.

After several moments of heavy silence, InuYasha cleared his throat. "I—I didn't mean to!" He stammered, blush never leaving his countenance.

Kagome shrunk further into the water, her cheeks remaining pink. However, she couldn't help but let a wry smile cross her face. "I know you didn't, InuYasha."

"No really!" he continued. "I was just looking for you and…"

"InuYasha, I know," the Miko cut in. He was looking for me? It's not even been but a bit later than when I usually show up…

"I'm… sorry," he mumbled, still loud enough for Kagome to hear. "I'll go." The Hanyou took a step away from the cliff.

"Wait InuYasha, no!" Kagome objected, standing up and heading to the edge of the water. Stepping out onto the dry land, she moved to reach for her top. Unfortunately upon doing so, her wet bare feet slipped on one of the rocks that dotted the river's edge. Falling forward, Kagome caught herself. But not before she felt a sharp pain jut up one of her ankles.

Hearing her cry of pain InuYasha's eyes widened and he turned around, bounding down to her side quick as a flash. "Kagome!" He yelled, worry lining his voice. Ignoring the sharp pain, the dark haired girl hurriedly pulled the top on upon seeing InuYasha coming her way. Less than a moment later, she looked up to meet the Hanyou's obviously concerned gaze as he crouched down beside her. "You're hurt…" the silver-haired boy stated the obvious.

Kagome winced. "I'll be all right…"

InuYasha's stare wandered down to her ankle and he gasped. "Shit, Kagome. It's swollen and bleeding!"

Blinking, the Miko gave him a sheepish look. "It does look pretty bad, I guess. I'm sure it will be okay within a day or two. I…"

She was cut off when she heard the ripping of fabric from next to her. A moment later, she felt InuYasha's hands cautiously touch her ankle.

"InuYasha?" She flushed at his touch. Glancing down, her eyes widened at the scrap of red fabric he was preparing to bandage her injury with. "Is that from my…" she smacked her hand to her forehead as she noticed her obviously ripped pants lying in a wad a few feet away, "…Hakama?"

Efficiently, the teenage boy wrapped her ankle with the cloth in a bandage fashion. "It's the only thing I could find!" He replied once he'd finished.

"Yes, but what am I supposed to wear now?"

"Uhh, you want mine?" He offered innocently.

"No!" Kagome eeped.

"Well…"

"Just, don't worry about it. I can put on new ones once we're in the village." Any further speech from Kagome was interrupted when she felt herself unsuspectingly lifted up into the arms of her Hanyou companion. "InuYasha?"

"Keh, you're not walking back." He grumbled and reached to sling her bow and arrows over his shoulder.

Kagome just smiled.

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The blush didn't leave InuYasha's cheeks as he trekked back to the village with Kagome in his arms.

Kagome in his arms, still wet and only in her white shirt.

"Neh uhh Kagome," InuYasha began, scooting his arm down a bit so it wasn't so close to her rear. "Are you cold?"

Shivering a bit, she shook her head. "I'm all right, we'll be there in a…"

Her reply was cut off as she felt InuYasha carefully sit her down on the ground. "Hold on a moment." Glancing up, Kagome's eyes widened as the boy removed the red fire-rat coat he constantly wore. "Here," he shoved it towards her with one hand.

Blinking, Kagome took it from him and pushed her arms through the top of the sleeves, using said sleeves to tie it securely around her waist so it resembled a short summer yukata. "Thank you, InuYasha…"

Picking her up again, he let out a 'Keh,' and began to walk towards the village once more.

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The villagers had seen the Hanyou before, and during those times their suspicions and fears had definitely arisen. Why would the protector of both the Shikon no Tama and their village spend time with such a creature? She clearly treated him with a great amount of benevolence. A few villagers had theorized that he was somehow bewitching her in hopes of gaining the Shikon no Tama from her grasp. One or two thought she had willingly engaged in a love affair with the half youkai. All were too frightened to approach him regarding it. But most were just confused. Their Kagome could never be foolish enough to fall prey to a Hanyou's bewitching, nor could she be filthy enough to be willingly in love with one. Perhaps she did it merely out of pity?

However, upon her entrance into the village that morning… even the most skeptical couldn't help but be suspicious.

They may have wondered if the Hanyou had sexually dishonored her against her own will, if it weren't for the fact that she was smiling contentedly from her place in his arms.

Either way, the villagers were having trouble coming to any conclusion that was flattering to their Miko that could explain as to how she could be willingly half nude in the arms of a Hanyou.

And this made them immensely uncomfortable.

But perhaps not as uncomfortable as said Hanyou was at the moment, as he walked through the village with said Miko in his arms.

He'd contemplated just yelling out "She's hurt!" but figured that could easily backfire on him.

Desperately he looked to Kagome, who gave him a warm smile. "I'll explain it to them later, okay?" Nodding, InuYasha sped up a bit, completing the trek to her hut. Once there, he pushed the flap open and carried the Miko in. "Lay me there," Kagome gestured to the larger futon in the corner of their small home.

Without a word, the silver-haired boy did so. Kagome thanked him then creased her eyebrows. "Kaede, I know you're in here."

Biting her lip, the young girl cautiously stepped out from behind the dressing screen. "Nee-chan… what… what happened?" She inquired, almost afraid.

Kagome took a deep breath, exasperated by the misunderstandings resulting from the situation. "I was bathing. InuYasha was looking for me and found me, but just as I was getting out of the water… I fell and hurt my ankle." She gave InuYasha a bemused look. "Then he decided to bandage me by ripping my hakama."

InuYasha flushed lightly in embarrassment over his blunder.

"So of course he carried me back, gave me his coat to keep me warm, and that's all there is to it." She let out a short nervous laugh.

"That's probably not what they think, Nee-chan," Kaede sighed.

InuYasha flinched. He didn't want to share with the Miko some of the whispering he'd overheard as he carried her to her home. He was sure that those words would be hurtful to even someone as strong as Kagome. "Oi, leave your sister alone!" InuYasha growled.

Kaede went silent, but not before letting out a small gasp of trepidation. The Hanyou caught on to her reaction and clenched his fists tightly.

There was a moment of quiet before Kagome slapped her hand to the ground. "Why are you afraid of him?" She shouted, a light catch in her voice. Scowling, InuYasha stood up to leave before any replies could be given. "You stay!" Kagome demanded of the boy. "I want this resolved."

Kaede bunched her knees against her chest, and InuYasha halted movement.

"Because I don't have any reason not to be," the young girl answered in nary a whisper.

The silver-haired boy flinched. That was the exact thing Kagome had told him when he'd asked why she trusted him, except this time it was stated in the opposite manner.

"What reason do you have to be? Except everyone else is…"

Kaede was silent.

"He's my friend, I trust him, isn't that enough?" Kagome inquired, once again not garnering a reply from her sister. "I'm injured, so can you take care of Onigumo today."

"Okay Nee-chan," Kaede replied, face now buried in her arms. She was startled by her sister's commanding intensity.

"And InuYasha will take you."

Simultaneously, the other two occupants of the hut gaped. However, they knew there was no arguing in this situation. What Kagome says, goes.

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Soon after Kaede and InuYasha had left on their involuntary errand together, Kagome exited her hut, careful not to put much weight on her injured ankle. She'd changed into a new pair of hakama, and decided it best to return to her duties as soon as possible. However, her injury, although minor… posed a bit of a problem. "InuYasha would kill me if he saw that I was already leaving," she felt a wry smile cross her lips as she mused on his overprotective nature, "I suppose I'll get a horse…"

Limping outwards into the village, the Miko found herself swarmed with citizens within moments. She was used to this, but it seemed a bit different this time around. They're wondering about InuYasha and I…

"Miko-sama, are you all right?" A middle-aged man questioned.

Kagome blinked. "I'm fine!" She waved her hands in front of her face and gave everyone an awkward smile. "I hurt my ankle when I was out today, so I was wondering if someone could get me a horse."

With an affirmative nod, the same man who'd inquired of the dark-haired girl walked off to retrieve a horse.

"That's all that happened…" she began quietly a minute or two later, voice rising in timbre as she gained more confidence, "I fell when I was bathing. He found me and carried me back." There was silence among the villagers she spoke to, save for some whispering here and there. Kagome opened her mouth to speak once more, but the whinny of the horse she'd requested interrupted her. Adjusting her bow and quiver, she climbed on to the animal with the assistance of the man who'd obtained it for her.

"InuYasha helped me. He always protects me." Kicking the horse into movement with her good foot, the Miko gave the villagers a resolute expression. "If you want to know, he's my friend." She paused and began to ride off, but was still in ear-shot upon finishing her profession. "He's my best friend."

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Next Chapter- The fear and apprehension Kagome's very sister holds for InuYasha is becoming nothing short of infuriating for him. So when an unintentional opportunity comes to show Kaede why Kagome believes in him, will he take it?