Yeah! Thanks for reviewing! (dances around happily) Ok, now that that's out of my system, here's the third installment, enjoy, and as always, review!

Natirozenu howled in pain, dissolving away in small black sparks. Kagome dropped from the air, catching in her hand the jewel shard she had struck and her arrow, landing neatly on the ground, standing up straight. She had a disdainful look on her face as she watched the bits of Natirozenu drift away. "It was just a puppet test from Naraku, Ryokotsusei's real sire would not have so easy to defeat."

InuYasha gave a slight nod. "Heh, I should of known." He said sheepishly. His normally keen hanyou senses were dulled in this mortal human form of his. Even so, he was determined to get back to the subject about her leaving. "Feh, see what I told you! If you had gone home like I asked, none of this would of happened!" He said in bitterness, still nagging her about going back, even though it was now virtually useless.

Kagome glanced at him, her eyes strangely cold, vaguely reminiscent of Kikyo's eyes. "Go home? Now? No, not when I've finally figured out why all you demons and half-demons crave the Shikon so very much. Power." She held out her forearm, revealing the two shards, glowing pink beneath the surface of her skin. "I was too naive to understand the wonderful sensation of power when the whole Shikon no Tama was around my neck. But now, everything has become so clear. You, InuYasha, are not telling me what to do anymore." She relieved him of her quiver and bow, then set off down the mountain.

His eyes widened. Had the Shikon jewel affected her mind? Without a moment to lose, he followed her quickly. "Kagome! Get those shards out of you arm right now!" He commanded, not wanting her to act this way. It wasn't quite, Kagome. She reminded him of Kikyo... too much of Kikyo... this wasn't the Kagome he knew speaking to him. Somehow that thought scared him more than facing a dozen Riyukotsuseis without his Tetsusaiga.
InuYasha caught up to her and grabbed her arm, spinning her around to face him. "Do as I say, now!" He shouted.

Kagome smiled frostily. "Sit boy."

The rosary beads around his neck glowed purple, responding to Kagome's command, sending Inuyasha slamming face first into the ground. He shakily rose to his feet, growling softly. It seemed that this time the command weakened him, since she had said it while he was still human, making the impact much stronger and more painful. "Kagome..." He said quietly, before dropping to his knees.

A knifelike sensation cut through Kagome at the sight of InuYasha dropping to his knees. "InuYasha!" She ripped the shards from her arm, kneeling by his side, slipping one of his arms over her shoulder to lend support.

InuYasha relaxed, noticing that Kagome was back to normal again. Though the pain that was starting to build up throughout his body was crushing, he ignored it and didn't care, as long as Kagome was safe. Slowly, he rose to his feet, leaning his weight on Kagome, trying not to lean on her too much.

Kagome rose with him, scooping up the three Jewel Shards and placing them in her pocket. No matter how much she hated having them near her again, it would be even worse to leave them behind for Naraku. She did her best to support him, walking extremely slowly weary without the shards to sustain her.

He turned his head to the side to look at her. "I'm glad you're ok Kagome." He said in a low, weak voice. He couldn't wait until he turned back into a half-demon, so he wouldn't have to feel the pain anymore.

"I'm glad you're all right too..." She smiled at him, and eventually they got back to the hut. She built up the fire again and forced InuYasha to lie down, going back to the spring to retrieve the bucket and fill it with water. When Kagome returned, she set about boiling the water adding different tea leaves down from Lady Kaede's stores. "Here Inuyasha." She pushed a steaming earthen mug of tea into his hands.

He sniffed the tea before putting the mug on the ground, pushing it away in decline. "I don't want it." He said stubbornly. Inuyasha sat into a sitting position, his gaze focused upon the dancing flames of the fire, glad to be near the warmth which soothed his aching body. He let out a sigh of contentment, shifting his gaze back to Kagome.

"Inuyasha... I didn't poison it. It will make you feel better." Kagome met his gaze, abruptly picking up the mug, some of its contents splashing onto her. She dropped the mug with a hiss of pain, clapping her right hand over her left forearm.

"Kagome! Are you all right?" He asked, pushing himself off the ground, now sitting right next to her. He picked up the mug, dusting the dirt off of it, before handing it to her, keeping his eyes on her, a bit worried and concerned.

"I-I'm fine." Kagome answered. "The hot water tea just stung the place where the shards were in my arm. I should be the one asking if you're ok." She went to place the mug with the other crockery that needed washing, and then set up a new cup of tea, holding it out to him. "Please drink this InuYasha. Please."

Something in Kagome's voice made him drink it. He grabbed the mug, as he brought it to his mouth, drinking every last drop of it. Setting the mug down, he stuck out his tongue, tasting the bitter aftertaste. However, soon enough, a pleasant warmth spread throughout his limbs and body, relaxing tense muscles and numbing the pain. He glanced to Kagome's arm, then back at her. "Are you sure...? You seemed like a whole different person with the shards in your arm." He said quietly.

At first, she acted like she hadn't heard the question. Kagome pulled her pack over, taking out the first aid kit and took out a linen cloth. She poured some of the hot water into a bowl, swirling it around to cool it off, then dipped the cloth into the now warm water. After wringing it out slightly she dabbed at Inuyasha's cuts and bruises. She moved his red hoari aside, and shifted his shirt to get access to his side wound where Natirozenu's tail spike had stabbed him, being especially gentle at wiping away the dirt and blood. Finishing, she took out a roll of linen bandages and wrapped it around his lower torso, and a few places on his arms and legs, then put it away, finished with her doctoring, and chose to answer his question.
"I'll be fine. When I stuck the shards in my arm, it was of a rash decision, and that's why I changed. The power of the Shikon Jewel does not affect demons and half-demons as strongly as it does humans. It twists their reasoning. Even if I can purify the shards, when I aimed to use them, they responded to my wish. I'm... sorry... that I hurt you." This she said with much sincerity, looking away from him.

He looked down at the ground, listening to her words, a smile still lingering around his lips from watching her fuss over his wounds. Though he would never actually say it out loud, it was kind of... nice. After hearing her apology, he scooted closer to her, as if he was trying to bring her comfort. "It's ok Kagome... It was the shards' effect on you." He replied quietly. With that said, he turned his head, shifting his gaze over to her.

She flushed crimson when he came closer and said quickly, "It's been a long day, and we should both get some rest. I'm going to go change."
Kagome got up and took her sleeping shift from her bag, going into Lady Kaede's room next door to change. "Idiot! Isn't that what you always wanted? To be close to him?" Demanded on voice in her head. "Not if it means breaking my heart again." Answered another. She leaned back against the cool wooden surface of the wall, sliding down to sit on the floor. "I don't know what I want anymore." Kagome whispered to herself, so quietly that the words seemed to be little more than a puff of wind.

Even though those words were quiet, Inuyasha could still hear them. Kagome?" He called out in a quiet voice, before standing up and walking over to the room. "Kagome?" He called out once more. There, by the wall, he saw her. He uttered a soft sigh, walking over to her, and sitting right next to her. "Is there something wrong Kagome?" He asked softly.

"Nothing makes sense right now. Everything is... mixed up in my mind... When I had the Jewel Shards in my arm, I became corrupted, and forgot about everything I cared about, so everything was clear in my mind. I'm going for a walk." She got up and slipped on her shoes and a jacket over her night shift, going to stand by the door. "Don't try to come after me, those herbs in your tea should go into affect pretty soon and you're going to end up falling asleep on your feet. They're in there so that you will sleep and heal."

"No Kagome, I'm coming with you. I don't care if I fall asleep; I have to come with you." He said angrily, raising the volume of his voice. "Even if it means falling asleep in your arms!" After that comment, he paused, realizing what he had just said. He let his gaze drop to the ground in embarrassment. Kagome stared wide-eyed, thinking her ears must have played a trick on her, wondering, "Did he just say... what I think he said?"

"InuYasha... do you really mean that?"

He looked at her, quickly adverting his gaze to the ground again. He found that his voice didn't seem to be working properly after finding no sounds would issue from his mouth, so he settled for actions to do the talking for him. He gave a slight nod in response to Kagome's question.

"... oh... InuYasha..." Kagome came back in from standing near the door and hugged him gently, her chin resting on his shoulder, feeling the rough fire rat fur material of his hoari.

He tensed, feeling Kagome hugging him. Then he relaxed, putting his arms around her, returning the hug, relishing the feel of her silky black locks against his cheek. He tightened the hug, feeling the warmth of her body rubbing off on him.

"He's a lot more emotional when he's in his human form..." She thought. Kagome looked out of the window and saw the large treetop of the Sacred Tree in the distance. She froze, stiffening, her face draining of color and a chill suffusing her body. Like a small movie clip, a scene played out before her eyes. A girl in a white top and red hoari pants, her back against the base of the Sacred Tree, a hanyou half-demon boy with silver hair and dog's ears hugging her even as she beat against his back, bright soul catchers flying around them. Their voices were silent even as their lips moved, the conversation not coming through, but Kagome remembered what words were exchanged. The girl drew a dagger against the boy, soul-catchers lifting her up and disappearing into the night sky as the boy yelled after her, watching helplessly as she left. The boy turned to look at her with a steady gaze, eyes filled with comprehension...
"NO!" Kagome turned her head and wrenched her eyes away from the window, pushing herself away from InuYasha and tearing across the room, scooping up her bow and quiver as well as a pile of clothing and the Jewel shards. She raced out into the night, crashing through the forest, running faster than she ever had with an adrenaline rush she had never experienced before, fading quickly out of sight. Kagome kept going even as her chest tightened, hoping the herbs would work soon, and that she could get away before the sun rose, seeing some of the stars of the night sky start to fade away.

Heehee, things are getting messy in the InuYasha universe! Tune in for the next chapter! Please review, especially you newcomers! For the two faithful members of my audience so far, I salute thee! (mock salutes)