Hey all! You probably hate me now. -.- Anyways…I had decided long ago that I was going to continue. Ok, don't kill me now. Over ecstatic that has people that people want to kill me because I didn't update I am just a lazy bum that never wanted to update…so, forgive me? Puppy eyes
I wanted to apologize about my stupidity. I am having a way stressful year. School is really hard to get used to. It's my first year of having a different teacher for every period. They all decide to give you tons of homework all at the same time. Lovely huh? Anyways, thanks for the reviews, because they really do help, even if it takes me a whole month to update (wow…it has been a month!). So yeah…please don't be too mad.

Shout outs to my reviews!

chibi playing with fire Thanks for being annoyed at me. It got me to shut up and write :) Gives Plushie

anonymous bastard: You are the nicest bastard to ever review sniff Thank you so much for the review! Huggles It means a lot to me.

Alejandra: You're right! I will update as soon as I can (when I actually try). I will never again be stupid and go all depressed. Huggles You are so nice! Gives Inuyasha plushie Thanks for sticking with me through out my…stupid stage.

mynameiskagome357: It was probably your review that encouraged me so much. It wouldn't but me if you did that. I have like 5 other people who did that and I was like…who the heck are you? I'm so sorry. I made this chapter extra long for you. Sorry I was so mean! Gives Plushie.

lady kjerston of the westernHeh ;; Sweat Drop I am continuing, and you really encouraged me! You are so kind to me. I hope you won't be the last reviewer! I'm updating, and I won't get discouraged. I will take your word and talk to you if I get sad (even though we haven't met, it doesn't matter ) Thank you so much! Also gives Inu plushie Thank you for putting up with my stupidity! I'll be better, honest! :)

Gives everyone a cookie Thanks for reviewing and sticky through my tough time. I love you all for it! I am kind of queasy about this chapter. Do you think I should make the rating go up? Tell me please. If you don't like it, tell me and I will try to fix it! Thanks a bunch!
And my last shout out to Ash's Girl!: Thanks so much for yelling at me for making my ears bleed a crimson red. I updated though! And thanks for the commercial! :D

On with the fic!

It's Just That Way

After meeting you,

I saw your fearful face

And on instinct, I wanted to protect

To protect…you

And it's just that way

That's the Way it is

That's the Way it is It's Just that Way

I met you, piece by piece

The dark, the light, the shadows

Flipping through your pages

To see what I would uncover next

We met, we faced, and we stood

Piece by piece, through dark,

The light, the shadows

Together…now…always…

And forever…
Always…And Forever It's Just That Way

We fight and try to avoid

But keep coming back for more

It's an addiction

That will never be satiated

So embrace it…

Don't try to fight it…

Don't try to fight it
Kagome stealthily peeked her head out and scampered out of her hiding place when she saw the cost was clear. Dashing out of the hut, Kagome ran into her dear friends. Glancing around, Kagome looked for the lady in distress that had yelled out that horrendous screech. To her amazement, she could not find the source where the howl had came from.

"Have you guys heard a lady scream?" Kagome asked curiously. A thick tension was in the air. Sango looked at Miroku, Miroku looked across at Inuyasha, who sent a questioning glance to Kouga who in turn shrugged, and looked at Ayame.

"We didn't hear anything," Sango replied. "Are you sure that you are feeling well?" Kagome growled under her breath.

'Hmm…. I'm starting to sound like Inuyasha.' She sighed. 'This sounds like some clichéd plot to a horror/romance novel. A girl hears something. People claims she's insane…everyone else dies except for her and a few chosen people.'

"Of course I'm fine, just shocked that none of you guys heard it. Especially with a youkais and a hanyou." Kagome slumped over in defeat and walked back into the hut. 'Now they definitely must think I'm insane…especially after the incident with the Goober Peanut…' (a/n: to be explained later…)

Sango followed her into the small shack they called home. She found Kagome sitting in the corner of the wall, fingering the old raspy carpet laid out on the floor. Sango took a seat next to her. "Hey Kags." She got a sharp glare from her best friend.

"I'm sorry, the wind must be playing tricks on my hearing…again. I thought I just heard a voice trying to talk to me after ACCUSING me of being insane…again," Kagome answered in a huff, turning to face the opposite wall.

"Kags, that's not what I meant and you know it." Kagome sighed and brushed away a few tears that had accumulated and poured down her now damp check. Raising her knees to her chest, she buried her face in her hands. Somehow, this position made her a tad more relaxed.

"I know Sango-chan. I'm just not having a good day, that's all." Sango turned and hugged her friend.

"I understand," she said, holding her younger friend tenderly. "If it makes you feel any better, at least you're not the only one having a bad day." She grinned slyly. "I mean, think about Inuyasha. Why do you think he always brags about wining in baseball?"

"'Cause he's an arrogant, selfish, bastard?" Kagome asked plainly. They both gave each other silent glances. They burst out into a hearty laugh. Sango replies, catching her breath, "well, besides that. Kagome, you can be so naïve sometimes!" Kagome stuck her tongue out at that.

"Inuyasha is trying to get your attention. Isn't it obvious?" Kagome stayed silent, thinking.

"Why would Inuyasha want my attention?" Sango fell over anime style. She sweat dropped at her friend's sudden stupidity.

"Why else? Because you're smart, quick, beautiful, and god knows you can be a smart ass when you want to be! He doesn't know how to show his feelings. That's why. To top is off, you intrigue him. Today, you tackled him, and embarrassed him to hell. He finds your stubbornness attractive, and any good man…err…hanyou could see that as well." Kagome blushed at all the compliments.

"Ya think so?"

"I know so," Sango replied warmly. "He probably wants to hug you…kiss you," Kagome flared up at her teasing. "Date you, get engaged with you, marry you, do that with you."

"Sango!" Kagome yelled incredulously. Her taunting had made her feel queasy. "Isn't that a bit far?!" Sango chuckled.

"Maybe, but it might not be far from the truth. Anyways, you know how macho Inuyasha can be. Imagine him trying to cope in front of his friends that the girl he likes can make a total ass of him. Maybe he's turned on…" Kagome threw her shoe at her. "But at least you don't have it so bad, huh?" Kagome nodded. "Good. Besides, we can't you being sad on a day like this." Kagome's eyes lit up.

"Today is Sunday Bath!" Now you might be wondering what Sunday Bath IS. Every week, when it lands on Sunday, is the night everyone goes and has a warm bath in a natural hot spring in the forest. After relaxing in the heat and washing up, everyone has a warm meal, talk together, and go to sleep. It was Kagome's favorite day of the week. How could she have forgotten? A light thump was heard as the hut's door swung open. There, a small figure stood, hunched over with all the groceries.

"Kaede!" Kagome yelled with glee. "Welcome home!" Kaede was the caretaker of the orphans. They wouldn't have been able to survive without her. Setting the groceries down slowly on the small table she smiled. Her long gray silvery hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail at the nape of her neck. Her soft skin looked liked leather, worn and sturdy. As Inuyasha had said, she looked a dried prune, but it was obvious the respect and love he held for the elder woman. A dark patch settled over her left eye.

"Would ye two help me being to prepare dinner?"

Kagome, Sango, Ayame, Kouga, Inuyasha, and Miroku headed down to the hot springs. This week was Seshomaru's turn to help Kaede with cooking dinner, every week they would trade off. They walked down a dirt path into the forest. They all talked amiably. Kagome and Inuyasha kept dodging glances. The rest began to notice that they weren't talking directly to each other, but said nothing. They soon reached a fork in the path. The boys took the left, while the girls headed down the right path. After about four meters, they reached the secluded area. Behind some rocks is where the hot spring laid.

"Can I get in first?" Ayame asked cheerfully. The hot spring was only big enough for one person to fit in comfortably. Sango and Kagome bobbed their heads' and let the fiery spirit get the first dip into the hot spring. Kagome and her dear friend engaged themselves in a pointless conversation. A while longer, Ayame came out looking relaxed. Her burning hair had been put out, turning to a dark auburn color. She lifted her damp hair into two piggy tails at either side of her head. Her body was clothed in a light emerald green tank top, and dark forest green flannel pants. Koga had given them to her for Christmas. It looked like it was getting kind of small. Her midriff was showing. Maybe that was intentional…

"Kagome, would you like to go first?" questioned Sango. Kagome shook her head.

"Nah, I'd rather go last like usual. You guys go back when you are done. I feel like thinking tonight, and taking my time, if you know what I mean." Sango nodded understanding, and went to get in the hot spring. Usually, every Sunday, the three would come to the hot spring. Either Ayame, or Sango would go first. When both were done, they would head back together. Kaede had made it a rule that when traveling in the forest, you had to be accompanied by a buddy. For obvious reasons; like safety. So technically, one would think Kagome was breaking a rule. Though if one were to look at the matter closely, that person would see that Kagome would meet Inuyasha at the fork in the path. This was the only time Kagome had to talk to Inuyasha, alone. That had been the real reason that Kagome loved Sunday. It was fun to talk to a more open, sweeter Inuyasha.

As Ayame kept chatting about how amazing Koga was at running, her mind kept drifting. What if Inuyasha didn't meet with her on the way home? Would she have to walk home solo? What if he did show up? How would she talk to him about today's incident?

"Hello!" Ayame waved her hand in front of Kagome's face. "I asked you what you thought about it?"

"Huh?" Kagome thought "Uh oh! I wasn't paying attention!" So Kagome gave the surest answer that she could think of.

"I think…. that you have a thing for Kouga." Ayame's mouth dropped. She started blubbering nonsense.

"I…what…he… huh?" Bingo! Kagome had struck a nerve! Before Ayame could keep making a fool of herself, and convincing Kagome that Ayame indeed had a crush on Kouga, Sango exited from the hot spring.

"Come on Ayame, let's head back." Kagome gave a short snicker to her friend's retreating back. She entered the secluded area. Rocks and trees surrounded the hot spring. She slipped out of her clothing. Staring at the reflection in the water, Kagome noticed the intruding red blotch on the side of her nose. Kagome grimaced. Zits. What a horrid thing to happen to happen to teenagers. Well, no one's complexion is perfect.

Kagome slid slowly into the warm heat of the water. The heat that radiated off the water soothed the cramps Kagome had gotten about midday. She was probably going to get her period soon. Kagome sighed and remembered a fond memory.

Flashback

Kagome, age 13, was taking her bath on Sunday. Feeling quite content, she closed her eyes. With a sharp pain from the cramps she was having that day, her eyes shot opened. The water had a reddish taint, blood spreading through the water. Then she realized she was the one who was bleeding. With a sharp scream, she hid her body under water. Inuyasha, age 15, of course, was near by, and heard her cry of distress. With out a second to loose, he came running.

"Kagome, what's wrong?" He smelled blood on her, though not sure were the wound was. He was more than worried. He did not know how much blood was being shed, and where it was coming from. He then realized the situation. She was naked. The only thing shielding her body from him was the red tainted water. He turned around sharply, a blush spreading across his cheeks as fast as the blood in the water.

"Inuyasha…I'm going to die," Kagome said softly. Inuyasha turned around, too concerned to care if she was naked.

"Why? What's wrong?" Kagome stood up. She showed him the blood that was dripping down her inner thighs. Inuyasha turned around swiftly. He closed his eyes. She obvious hadn't been taught about…her time of month.

"Don't worry. It's natural. I would explain…but I think Kaede could do a better job at that. She'll help you," he responded gruffly.

End of Flashback

Kagome was taught that night about the "time of month." It was indeed a funny memory, if not embarrassing. After cleaning herself, she stood up, and exited the hot spring. She slipped on a loose dark red t-shirt, and stepped into her flannel pajama pants, that were a midnight black. Gathering her stuff into a plastic bag, she headed down the dirt path. She treaded softly against the Earth's moss covered floor. She inhaled a deep breath of fresh air. This was her favorite place ever. A gust of wind blew by, causing her to shiver. She hugged herself to keep herself warm.

"Hey," said a gruff voice from behind her. She jumped, spinning around. There, Inuyasha stood. Letting out a sigh of relief, she smiled genuinely at him. She stretched out an offering hand, asking him silently if he wanted to hold hands. He hesitated, but then stretched out his hand and clasped hands with her. She beamed at him, and then started to walk down the dirt path again, their destination, the hut.

I was thinking of ending it here…but I think you'll like the following part :)

About two minutes of silence later, Kagome started wondering if that was all that was going to happen on their way home.

"Has he forgotten about?" she thought.

" I haven't forgotten about today…" Inuyasha muttered, barely audible to her human ears. She stared gaping at him.

"Damn! Can you read minds or something?" Kagome asked accusingly. He chuckled.

Next thing she knew, she was pushed backwards into the thick bark of the nearby tree. She was pushed gently mind you, but in the process, she dropped all her belongings on the ground. Inuyasha pressed her body flushed against his. Through all the confusion of the current events, Kagome did notice that this wasn't just any tree they were under, it was the goshinboku.

"You made an ass out of me today," he mumbled. His breath lingered over her mouth. He dipped his head down, but instead of kissing her lips, he went for her ear. He gently stroked the outer shell of her ear with his raspy tongue. She gasped. Strangely…it had felt…wonderful. He nibbled down, and she pulled down, trying to get him closer. He lifted his face, and placed a feather light kiss on her lips. Their "moment" was broken when they heard a high, horrendous scream coming from the hut. Inuyasha looked at Kagome. She looked back at him.

"Shit."

Yup. That's it. It's not written very well! I'm sorry! -.- Anyways, that's the most romance that's going to be shown a long time. So…yeah. Thanks again! Love ya all!

Chat-Chan

P.S. I think the stupid star thing (if u press shift-8) doesn't work. So yeah. Actions are supposed to have the Huggles . I hope they appear!