IT'S MY BIRTHDAY! I CAN CRY IF I WAN'T TO!

Ahem! Sorry for that random outburst, but it is my birthday, and also thanksgiving, so happy thanks-birth-giving-day to me/you! Whoa, sorry guys. I'm high on chocolate pie. Mmmm… pie.

Anywho, I'm happy 'cause I got an… electric razor, a watch, and clothes. sighs I remember the days when I got Action figures for my birthday. But no… now I just get more and more responsibility, heaped on my already sagging shoulders for all eternity until the day I die. Sulks

Anywhatsit, I'm feeling much better now that I was the last time I updated, but I've got a really busy next two weeks, don't expect to much outta me. Thanks for all your support and prayers. Dances cause of good readers

We're back to InuKag again, and I really like this chapter, so I hope you guys enjoy it. 3nj0y.

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What the hell had he been thinking? InuYasha mentally cursed himself over and over as he meandered down the road, limping slightly, just a little behind Kagome.

The girl was tired, InuYasha could tell. She probably hadn't gotten much sleep last night. Probably because of him. Jeez, what had he been thinking? 'I'll never let you leave me!' Is that what he had declared? The hanyou sulked just a little. How lame was that? He had acted like a love struck teen.

He cast a glance up at the girl, narrowing his eyes. Keh, him, in love with Kagome… yeah right. Well, yes, maybe just a little. He smiled lightly as his eyes traced over her. Even tired, she was a sight to see. InuYasha didn't really know what to call those short pants she wore, the ones that shoed off her legs, but he really didn't care either, as long as she kept wearing them. Her hair had seen better days, but InuYasha didn't really care about that, either.

She turned to look at him smiling just a little. There were dark circles under each eye. "You coming, InuYasha?" She asked, her voice sagging wearily.

InuYasha nodded, and quickened his pace, bringing him up beside her.

Kagome nodded at him, and continued walking at his side, matching his pace with faltering steps. "So, how far are we?" She asked.

InuYasha shrugged. "Tired?" He asked.

"Just a little." The girl admitted. "I didn't sleep that well last night."

InuYasha shook his head. "Jeez wench." He muttered. "You can't even sleep right."

Kagome narrowed her eyes, and punched his side. "I was worrying about you, stupid." She muttered. "You're leg was pretty bad last night."

The hanyou scoffed. "Haven't I told you enough that I'll be fine? My body heals faster than yours does!"

The young miko eyed him skeptically. "Then why are you limping?" She demanded. A look of satisfaction crossed her face when InuYasha couldn't respond to that. His leg did still hurt a little. Okay, it hurt with every step, but he wasn't about to admit that. She would be off worrying about him for hours on end, and start nagging him to rest and take it easy. He couldn't take that crap. Unfortunately, he certainly wasn't the best at masking his thoughts.

"I knew it!" She declared triumphantly, whirling around to face him. "You are hurt!" She grabbed his shoulders, and tried to push him to the ground. "Sit down, and let me look at it. InuYasha, completely oblivious from of her pushing, jumped just a little at the sound of the dreaded word that had once ruled his life. He quickly reached up to his neck, checking to make sure the rosary wasn't there, then with a sigh, he grabbed Kagome's wrists, and lifted her up until she was eye to eye with him. "Listen, wench!" He growled. "I'll be fine! I don't need any of your help."

He dropped her again, and kept on walking, trying to limp as little as possible. Kagome sighed, and fell in pace again, seeming to have dropped the subject. But InuYasha wasn't fooled. She was simply using guerilla tactics. It was how she always argued. She would come back again, later, demanding to see his leg again, and so on until the end of eternity, or until she got her way. Whichever came first? The only thing that irked InuYasha more than the process was the fact that it always worked. In the end, she would win, and he would get his leg wrapped up in all those bandage things she always brought with her everywhere. And they would stick to his skin, and itch, and bother him no matter what he did. He shuddered at the thought.

He walked for just a little while longer crossing his arms, and tried to look unapproachable. Maybe she would be merciful, and actually listen to him for once. A bit of pain lanced up his leg. But then again, maybe getting some attention wouldn't be so bad…

It was, as the hanyou predicted, only about five minutes before Kagome turned to him again, and crossed her arms. "Why do you have to be so stubborn?" She demanded. "Your leg obviously hurts, so just let me see it!"

All she got in response was a stereotypical 'keh.' The hanyou's resolve was wavering, though, partially due to the pain that kept racing up his leg with every step, and partially due to his reluctance to piss Kagome off too much. She could be very scary when she was angry…

He paused suddenly, a feint scent drifting into his nose. He felt a little tug in his gut, and looked up, his throat going dry.

Kagome noticed, and turned to him. "Leg hurting?" She asked archly.

InuYasha shook his head, more of the scent spilling into his nose, raging through his brain. He recognized this scent. It put a little catch in his throat. Almost instinctively, he started walking, trying to make his way towards the scent.

Kagome's voice stopped him for just a moment. "InuYasha?" She asked, her voice just a bit softer. "What is it?"

InuYasha licked his dry lips, and turned back for her, inspecting the girl. He couldn't go running off again. Kagome would be hurt… just like she always was. He turned back again towards the path, looking up to where the road disappeared over a rise. Kagome might even run off. She had done it before. Could he really take the time to go through that? Could he really hurt Kagome like that?

The wind changed just a little, bringing the scent even deeper into his senses, sending his heart into a frenzy. He clenched his jaw for just a moment, then whirled around to Kagome. "C'mon!" He said lowly to her. "We have to go."

"InuYasha?" She queried, blinking as the hanyou grabbed her hand and began to drag her off the path.

"C'mon. We gotta hurry." He said, and began dashing across the rice paddies, dragging her behind.

"What is it?" She demanded, as she tried her best to keep up with him.

"I smelled something." He muttered. "Something we don't have time for right now." As he ran, he tried to convince himself that that was the only reason.

They managed across the rice paddies, and began shadowing along the outlying woods, InuYasha going slow enough for Kagome to keep up. The scent was still in his nose, though, and that bothered him. Were they being followed?

InuYasha's ears twitched at some imperceptible sound, and he stopped suddenly. "Get down!" He shouted, shoving Kagome to the earth. He threw himself down as well, just as an arrow sailed through the air between them, and imbedded itself in a tree some twenty feet beyond. Slowly, the bark of the wood began to melt, and dribble down the trunk.

InuYasha slowly got to his feet, and shifted himself in front of Kagome. Behind him, the girl slowly got to her feet, and stood up behind him. A little gasp caught in her throat when she saw the attacker.

Sable tresses framed a pale, confident face. Bored, dark eyes stared at them from the center of that face. The loose, red and white garb of a miko framed a lithe, slim frame. "What is the matter, InuYasha?" A cool, arrogant voice echoed, with just a hint of feminine charm. "I would have thought that you would have been glad to see me…"

InuYasha blinked slowly, his heart fluttering despite itself. "Kikyo…" he breathed.

The woman smiled lightly at him, slowly taking a step towards the hanyou. "You seem unhappy to see me, InuYasha…" She murmured, her voice blowing from between her lips like a breeze.

InuYasha could only stare as those lips moved. His throat constricted just a bit, his fists tightening until his claws dug into his palms. Gods… he had forgotten… he had forgotten how beautiful she was. The scent was intoxicating, filling his nostrils like a drug. His breath was coming in ragged gasps, and that there was blood on his knuckles.

"Well, InuYasha?" Kikyo breathed, slowly taking a few steps around him. InuYasha remained frozen. She chuckled just a bit, taking her gaze from him to Kagome. "You are still traveling with her…" She whispered. InuYasha turned his gaze. Kagome was also staring at the woman, her mouth hanging slightly open. The hanyou slowly shifted his weight, moving in between Kagome and Kikyo again.

The adult miko chuckled softly. "You protect her so well, InuYasha…" Kikyo said softly. "You used to be that protective of me, if you will remember."

InuYasha swallowed thickly, and took a deep breath. "What do you want, Kikyo…" He demanded, his voice gritty.

Kikyo almost chuckled. "What do I want?" She asked, still circling him. "You ask that so harshly. What happened to the gentleness you once held towards me?"

InuYasha cringed just a little, memories flooding back of all the times he had spent with the woman resting in his arms: the lithe, almost fragile weight against his chest. "I don't have time for this, Kikyo." He rasped, still moving to stay between her and Kagome.

"Really?" The miko whispered in a voice that would put sirens to shame. "You never would have said that before."

"This isn't before Kikyo." There was a little wrench in the hanyou's heart, somewhere. "This is after."

For just a moment, Kikyo's eyes narrowed dangerously, and her fists tightened at her sides. "You would cast me off like a used cloak, InuYasha?" She demanded, her voice stiff.

InuYasha bit his lip, and looked down.

"Fine." This time Kikyo's voice was steely. She slowly lowered her gaze to his leg. "You are hurt."

InuYasha couldn't keep the involuntary 'feh' from coming from his throat. Kikyo smiled for just a moment at him, then she gestured her hand, and InuYasha heard a high, cut off squeal from behind him. Eyes widening, he whipped around to Kagome. A small dome of blue encased the girl, she looked around frantically, pounding on the surface of it.

InuYasha let out a feral growl, and slammed one fist down on the barrier. Stars went through his vision as his hand bounded back, scorched. "Kikyo." He seethed, this time uttering it like a curse. He whirled around. "Let her go!"

The miko merely shook her head. "Or what?" Kikyo murmured. "Would you strike me down, InuYasha?"

The hanyou let out a low, growl, promising bloodshed. "Try me." He rumbled, his hand straying to the Tetsusaiga

For just a moment, Kikyo looked almost shocked. Then her cold, earth brown eyes narrowed, and she scowled. "So, you have fallen so far away from me?" She demanded. "So be it." She gestured fiercely, and InuYasha was suddenly thrown back against the tree. She sneered at him just a bit, her pretty features marred with distaste. "Rest assured, InuYasha. I shall send Naraku to his grave, and then you and I will go to Hell together." She scowled at him once more, and began to turn away.
InuYasha stood up, wiped his sleeve across his face. "Kikyo!" He called after her.

Kikyo froze, and turned her head, her profile etched across the rolling scenery. InuYasha took another stiff breath. The perfect arc of her nose and the pert fullness of her lips beckoned him, calling him to come and take her in his arms. He took a deep breath, and glanced to his side, where Kagome had her hands and face pressed up against the barrier, her own pretty features caught up in fear.

He turned back, and narrowed his eyes. "Set her free." He demanded, his voice rough.

Kikyo sneered. "She is a miko. Let her free herself." She whirled around again, and began to stride away.

With grim determination, InuYasha began to unsheathe his sword. "Kikyo…" he growled warningly. A sudden cracking sound ripped though the air, and both InuYasha and Kikyo stopped, turning towards the blue barrier that held Kagome.

Her hands were still pressed against the blue shell, but this time her face was contorted in anger. With slow, deliberate force she began to push against the glowing blue energy. Kikyo took a step back, her mouth gaping just a moment. Another crack shot out form the barrier, and it pulsed just a little. Kagome tensed, and pushed harder. A third crack, and the barrier shattered like a piece of glass.

The young girl fell forward on her knees, breathing hard. Slowly, she staggered to her feet, and her hands strayed to the quiver of arrows hung over her shoulder. Her eyes focused sharply on Kikyo, her mouth caught up in an angry snarl.

Kikyo gawked for just a moment, then regained her composure. "My, my…" She remarked. "You might have power, but have all the skill of a mere child." She whirled around, and began to slowly stride away. "We shall meet again, InuYasha." Kikyo commented. As she gently walked away, she cast a glance back at InuYasha. Her eyes narrowed, her scowl deepened, and she disappeared into the hills.

InuYasha closed his eyes tightly, and shoved the Tetsusaiga back in his sheath. His jaw tightened, and he turned around suddenly, a growl forming in his chest.

Kagome collapsed to he knees, breathing hard. "InuYasha…" She whimpered, eyes melting like chocolate in the sun.

The hanyou scowled, the growl getting louder. "C'mon wench…" He rumbled, pulling her up by one arm, but not too roughly. "We gotta get going." With a quick efficient yank, he threw the trembling girl over his back, and began walking back towards the path.