Konnichi wa! Ichigo here.

Kaori: We are very frustrated by the apparent disappearance of inuyasha. net. If you have any idea what happened to it, please tell us. Because if it still exists and has simply moved to a different URL, we would very much like to know what it is.

But anyway, here's Chapter 2.

Kaori: Just because we have Inuyasha chained up in our closet doesn't mean we own him.

Inuyasha woke but did not open his eyes. Kagome was absentmindedly stroking his hair. As she did this, she sang quietly. Her voice was enchanting. Her words were melancholy, and the tune was soft and haunting. Inuyasha pretended he was still asleep.

"The poor soul sat sighing by a sycamore tree
Sing all a green willow:
Her hand on her bosom, her head on her knee,
Sing willow, willow, willow."

"What song is that?" Inuyasha asked.

"Oh! I didn't realize you were awake. It's a song from Othello. It's a play by William Shakespeare."

"Who?"

"Shakespeare. He was the greatest poet and playwright of all time." Kagome thought. "What year is it? I don't know if he's even been born yet in this time."

"You know, Kagome," he said, opening his eyes. "I..." But he faltered. His eyes were open, but he saw nothing.

"Yes?" she said, smoothing his hair.

"I'm... I'm blind," he said.

"What?" Kagome looked into Inuyasha's eyes. They were clouded over with a milky white film.

No! A voice inside her screamed. She grabbed Inuyasha and held him to her, not caring that his face was pressed into her breasts.

Whoa, Inuyasha thought. Where did that come from?

Kagome released him and gently rested his head on the floor. "I'm going to find Sango and Miroku," she said. Inuyasha heard the rustle of the door and she was gone.

Inuyasha lay still, not seeing, hardly breathing. But his heart throbbed in his chest. Am I really feeling this way about Kagome? he wondered.

Sango and Miroku were sitting under a tree. They looked up as Kagome approached.

"How is he?" Sango asked.

"He-" Kagome took a deep breath. "He's blind," she managed to say.

Miroku sighed. "I was afraid of that."

Kagome looked around. "Where's Shippou?"

Miroku furrowed his brow. "You know, I haven't seen him. I thought he was inside with you."

A small head popped out of the tree. "Ta daa! I'm up here!"

"Shippou, how long have you been in that tree?" Sango said angrily.

"Long enough to see everything," said Shippou gleefully.

"Shippou, I'm going to kill you!" Sango screamed. Shippou giggled and ran off into the forest.

"What were you two doing, anyway?" Kagome asked. Sango blushed. Miroku turned away and whistled a bit. "And Shippou was watching? Good grief!"

"As far as Inuyasha goes," Miroku said, changing the subject. "I think we should take him to Kaede. She may be able to help him." Sango nodded in agreement.

"I'll tell him the plans," Kagome said.

Inuyasha heard the rustle of the door. "It's me," Kagome said. "I'm alone." She sat down beside him. "Miroku thinks we should ask Kaede. She may know some kind of cure or treatment or something."

"What was all the yelling about?"

Kagome laughed. "Miroku and Sango were doing something under a tree that Shippou was hiding in."

"What were they doing?"

"Oh, I don't know for sure," Kagome said, "but when I asked them they both blushed and kind of looked away."

"And Shippou saw everything? Ha!" Inuyasha gave a hearty laugh. He sat up. He reached out and his hands found her shoulders. "We're alone?"

"Yes," Kagome said, a little confused.

"Good," Inuyasha said. He came a little closer. His hands slid gently down her arms and caught her hands. "I can't help you collect the jewel shards anymore. I'll just be in the way."

That's not true! She screamed inside. Her heart pounded as she gazed into his murky eyes. There was something inside him, in his movements, in his voice, that didn't feel quite right. She didn't know what it was, but it scared her.

"Kagome," Inuyasha said, his voice breaking, "how am I supposed to protect you if I can't see?"

So that's what this is all about, Kagome thought.

Inuyasha twitched his ears a few times. "You sure we're alone?"

"Yes!" Kagome said. "Of course we are."

Inuyasha's hands slid up her arms. They brushed her neck and rested on her face.

"Inuyasha," she said, shifting uneasily, "why are you touching me so much?"

"Because I can't see where you are," he replied.

Kagome was a little disappointed. She had half hoped he would give her a more romantic answer.

"Kagome, I want you to listen to me. I'll go to see Kaede. If she can help me, that's great, but if she can't..."

Kagome knew what he was thinking. "No, Inuyasha!" she said.

"But..."

"I said no! I'm not leaving you behind."

"But I'll just be in the way."

"I said no, Inuyasha! We'll keep looking for a cure, no matter how long it takes."

Inuyasha felt as though some kind of barrier was being strained deep inside him. He knew that the dam that suppressed his feelings soon would break and everything that he had been holding back would come flooding out. "Would you really do that?" he asked, trying to appear skeptical. But Kagome wasn't fooled.

"Of course I would," she said. Her voice was soft and tender. It was all too much. The wall broke. He collapsed onto her as a wave of emotion engulfed him. Love, hatred, pain, fear, desire all coursed through his veins like a poison.

"Are you crying?" Kagome asked.

"No."

"Then why is my skirt wet?" Inuyasha had no answer. "It's okay. I won't tell anyone." She gently wrapped two warm, comforting arms around his shoulders. Inuyasha continued to sob into her knees. "Poor puppy," she murmured. She rocked him in her arms as she hummed the willow song.

And that's Chapter 2. Poor Inu! I love him so much.

Kaori: Ugh.

You love him too, Kaori! Don't try to deny it!

Kaori: Come back for Chapter 3, in which Kagome will say: "You're worse than Miroku!"

Read and review! Thank you!