Chapter 5: Tired of This Game

Inuyasha stormed out of Sesshomaru's castle, cringing from the pain of his skin melted wrists. Disappearing into the forest he ran at full speed. His mind wanted to give up and let Sesshomaru have his lifeless body but his heart wouldn't allow it and pushed him to go on further. And so he continued on this dangerous game of deadly hide and seek knowing that sooner or later he would be caught once again.

"Leave Inuyasha alone! Don't kill him!" Kagome's piercing scream wracked through the demon lord's sensitive ears as she struggled against him dragging her along and down the steps that led away from his castle.

He shot a glare at her angered eyes as she tried to dig her nails into his skin till a small amount of his blood dripped down into his hand. "Nothing you do will stop me. Get off before I dispose of you too." With that he threw her into the ground and left her shaken body as he entered the forest, a long bow in hand.

Kagome rose to her feet and clenched her fists. "No!" She hollered. Picking up her dragging dress she chased after him, her heart beating with hate.

"Lord Sesshomaru?" A tiny voice whispered from within the doors of the castle. Peeping her head around the corner, Rin watched as Kagome disappeared into the many trees after Sesshomaru. 'Why is he acting so mean to everyone, he was never like this before. He doesn't even listen to me anymore.' She pondered. "I have to help him." Taking one step onto the cold ground she stopped. "No, I can't, he'll be angered with me again." Turning back she waited in the doors for someone to return.

"I can smell you Inuyasha, I can taste your fear." Sesshomaru said to himself while running at a lightning fast speed, weaving through the trees after his prey. "Above me!" he shouted jumping into the air. Landing on the top branch of a tree he searched the treetops for a fleeing red blur. Spotting a floating figure jump into the trees far in the distance he grinned and brushed back a blowing piece of hair behind his ear. "Inuyasha, you should have known better." Leaping back down into the trees to hide from Inuyasha's view he chased after him again, preparing to strike at any moment. 'Only a few more minutes then Inuyasha will be out of my way forever.'

Kagome ran frantically through the forest on a search for Sesshomaru and Inuyasha. Without demonic powers like either of them, she couldn't tell if she was hot on their tail or not. Pushing branches out of her way, she continued running. Saving Inuyasha was her top priority and nothing was going to stop her, not even threats of death from Sesshomaru. Narrowing her eyebrows she pushed herself to go faster. "Inuyasha where are you!" She screamed, her eyes searching through the empty spaces between the trees as her body kept moving forward. 'Please don't die on me.' Biting her lip she continued searching for Inuyasha.

Kagome's faint scream for him entered his ears as he ran on an endless journey to escape Sesshomaru. Landing back into the shadows of the trees he turned his head in the direction her voice was heard and searched for her scent. 'What if she's in trouble?…No, there's no sign of blood or any smell of Sesshomaru near her.' Narrowing his eyes he thought about what he should do. Going back after her was risky and Sesshomaru could easily sense his change in direction but, Kagome's life was more important to him than anything. If she died he'd be totally lost and would soon die later by the doing of Sesshomaru or even himself. 'I have to get her.' He finally concluded. Checking around him once more for any signs of Sesshomaru, he turned and ran at full speed to Kagome, his red haori blowing against the wind.

A small whimper escaped Kagome's mouth as a sudden rustle in the bushes beside her rattled her nerves. As a squirrel ran out from underneath she groaned. "Stupid squirrel." She mumbled. Sighing, her attention was turned to the sound of running feet stomping atop the dead leaves that scattered along the forest ground. Holding her hand above her eyes to shadow them, she spotted a blurred red figure approaching at a face pace towards her. Feeling her heart beat faster, a smile grew across her face. "Inuyasha! I'm so glad you're whoa!" She screamed while being scooped up into his arms and carried up into the safety of a tree. "Inuyasha?"

"Shhh!" He hissed holding his finger over his lip. Setting her on top of the branch where they now sat, he scanned the surrounding area carefully. Seeing no one or hearing anything he relaxed and leaned against the tree. He let a long sigh of relief escape from his mouth.

"What's wrong Inuyasha?" Kagome asked after she had gained her balance on the branch that supported both their weights. "Inuyasha are you ok?" She whispered leaning forward so that his attention would be brought back to her.

Inuyasha lifted his eyes and nearly fell out of the tree by how close she was to him. "I'm fine, I'm fine ok?" He choked, brushing his hand through his long silver hair. He watched Kagome smile and soon found himself smiling right back. 'Wha-what is this! I can't stop smiling! Kagome just made me feel so happy. Too happy that I can't even wipe it off my face. This is so annoying!' His mind shouted angrily but the beat of his heart told otherwise. After gaining control again of his emotions he spoke. "Who cares about me…what about you?" That deal with Sesshomaru."

Kagome's facial expression saddened and she tried to hold back her tears of hurt and loss. "I…" She swallowed back the lump in her throat that caused the crackling in her voice and started again. "I'm sorry Inuyasha. That wasn't supposed to happen."

He folded his arms and turned his gaze away from her angrily. "Wasn't supposed to happen? You mean me seeing it is that it?" he said harshly, trying to keep his voice down only to a whispered yell. 'How dare she!' His mind screamed.

"No. That's not what I meant." She said, the shakiness in her voice overpowering her, making her tears harder and harder to hold in.

"Whatever." He rose to his feet, preparing to jump off and run away after his final words were spoken. "I hope you enjoyed it."

"Inuyasha!" Kagome sobbed, releasing her tears, allowing them to flow down her pinked cheeks. "I didn't enjoy it. I hated it." She gripped onto the edge of her skirt and clenched her fists. Lowering her head to her chest she hid her face from his view.

Feeling his heart break into a thousand pieces he stopped himself from leaving and kneeled down in front of her. "Kagome." He sighed.

Kagome wiped her face free of wetness. "Every girl always dreams about what their first kiss would be like and hope that it would be with the person they love most. I didn't get that. I wanted my first kiss to be with someone really special to me." She lifted her hazel eyes to meet Inuyasha's curious ones and smiled sweetly. "I really wanted it to be with you Inuyasha."

"M-me?" He choked, feeling his heart beat faster and the hot sweat gather on his forehead from nervousness. "Kagome, I…" He took her hand gently into his own and smiled. "I wanted it that way too." He said, his face now flustered.

Kagome's smile grew larger and she laughed slightly from happiness. "Does this mean that…you love me?" She asked, stroking her thumb over his fingers that entwined with her own.

Inuyasha blushed furiously at the word love but he knew that was how he really felt about her. "Yes I do. I love you Kagome." After saying he loved her he felt so relieved that finally he had let it out after all this time.

A soft rosy red was painted onto Kagome's cheeks after she heard those words said to her and her heart was about ready to explode. "I love you too Inuyasha."

Now was his chance to prove how much he loved her. His nerves danced around inside him with anticipation as he slowly leaned forward and waited for Kagome's soft lips to brush against his own. They had waited for this moment for so long and now it was finally here. In only a few seconds their first kiss to determine everything would be sealed. 'My heart…it feels so hot…is this supposed to happen?' He thought as a burning sensation filled his body.

Kagome opened her eyes as a hissing sound blew past her ear. Seeing what the thing was and where it had hit she gasped. "Inuyasha! You've been shot!" she screamed grabbing onto his shoulders.

Inuyasha's eyes shot open at the volume of Kagome's voice. He peered down at his chest as the pain in his heart increased and he choked as an arrow now protruded from his body. Not being able to withstand the pain anymore he shut his eyes and allowed himself to drift off the edge.

Kagome watched him give up and panicked. "No Inuyasha! Don't fall!" she shouted pulling on his haori to keep him from falling. "Why are you doing this!" She sobbed threw grit teeth. Her grip on him slipped and she began to fall off the branch with him. "Inuyasha!" She screamed as they both fell off and collapsed down to the ground. Kagome lay across Inuyasha's chest after they crashed into the ground. "Inuyasha?" She whispered brushing his hair from his face. Kneeling by his side she touched the arrow that had given him so much pain.

"He should really learn not to let his guard down like that." Sesshomaru said stepping slowly from the trees, a bow in his hand and Jaken who carried the arrows at his side. He grinned and tossed his bow aside. "It's over Kagome. You might as well come with me." Approaching slowly, Sesshomaru stepped by Inuyasha's feet and glared at Kagome as she hung over his brother's chest.

Kagome narrowed her eyes at Sesshomaru. "I will never go anywhere with the likes of you." She spat angrily, taking Inuyasha's cold hand into both of hers to try and warm him up.

Sesshomaru frowned and kicked his brother's lifeless foot. "You are coming with me now!" Stomping over to her side he towered over her body. "Let's go." He watched in anger as she shook her head side to side and wrapped her arms around Inuyasha, burying her face in his chest. Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes in rage and grabbed a bushel of her ravenous hair into his fist. "Leave him, he is now dead because of you! Don't waste your time with him, its time to go!" He shouted pulling her away from him.

A small whimper of pain escaped her mouth as Inuyasha was slowly taken away from her. "Let me go! I don't want to leave him! He could die if I don't help, I-" A strong hand tugged at her hand, not allowing her to be pulled away. Kagome looked down at Inuyasha's half open eyes as he held onto her, determination in his face. "Inuyasha." She whispered.

He held tightly onto her so that they wouldn't be separated. Pain from where the arrow had pierced increased but he wouldn't let go of her. He could feel his death lurking near and he wanted to spend his last moments with her by his side. "Let go of her." He grunted.

Sesshomaru's jaw dropped and he released his grasp on her. Turning around he gasped to see Inuyasha perched upon his elbows, Kagome in his arms. "You…you're alive. That can't be. That arrow was supposed to kill you." He said in shock by his failure. "Jaken, what is the meaning of this!" Shouting, he grabbed onto the toads clothing and shook him around.

"M'lord!" Jaken squealed while being rattled around. "It is going to kill him just be patient, it shall be soon!"

Sesshomaru dropped his henchman and chuckled at the couple who feared him so. "My dear little brother, it was nice knowing you but only the strong can prevail in this world. In this case me. Sleep well Inuyasha." He smirked and turned back in the other direction. "Oh and Inuyasha." Peering over his shoulder he paused. "I'll take good care of Kagome while you're gone." A fang slipped over his lip as he disappeared into the forest from whence he came.

Kagome sighed and lowered her head. 'He's right. If Inuyasha is gone I can't…I have no way of protecting myself and the others. If he does die then I'll have no hope to live.'

Inuyasha coughed and collapsed under his own weight and that of Kagome's. His eyes grew heavy from not being able to bare the pain anymore but he managed to look up once more into Kagome's tear filled eyes and smile. "I'm sorry Kagome, I wanted to-" He winced and put his hand on her cheek. "I wanted to keep you safe…forever." His hand suddenly dropped and he closed his eyes.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome whispered leaning over his side, his hand in hers. "Please don't leave me." A tear rolled down her cheek and dripped onto his neck but he didn't even blink or even twitch. "No Inuyasha!" She screamed.