AN: I know I know! dodges flying fruit, knives and bombs, and Sess's boa thing Wait I want the boa thing, oh well. I know it's been like two months since I last updated and I'm really sorry, but I have a good reason. In May, I had 3 ISU's (those are Independent study units or major projects that are worth like 10-20% of your final mark!) Plus I had tests, and I mean TESTS! Being a grade 12 student is hard, but I'm finally graduating! does a happy dance Ok, well where was I? Then in June I had exams, but I was going to post it up a week before exams, but my beta reader and I sort of thought the ending was rushed, so we extended it. Oh ya, I'm sorry again and here is your next chapter!

Translations:

youkai: demon

miko: priestess

houshi: monk

-sama: respectable term

inuyoukai: dog demon

kitsune: fox demon

Review responses

chrisy12: thanxs for the review and hey if I ever make Kagome go back to her time, u know she'll do everything to get back! She's just as stubborn as dog boy! lol Hey, sorry for the long wait, but you read the above right? I'm really glad you like how I wrote Sesshoumaru in this story, plus, you'll like this chapter as well! Enjoy and review!

swimchick1614: Ya it would be sad if she left, well, um.........don't' kill me I mean she will get back to the time, hehehe! Ya, Inu is getting soft, but he's in LOVE! Hope you like this chapter and review again!

"........." talk

'.........' thought

scene change or time pass

bows low "Because of the long wait, I would like to dedicate this chapter to chrisy12 and swimchick1614 for reviewing chapter 8. I know they have been dying for my next update, so enjoy and I'll try to update soon!

Last time on Freedom Of Choice......................................................

"Kagome, never, ever, do that again!" He said in an angry, yet concerned voice.

"I'm sorry Inuyasha, but if I didn't you........."

"What would have been the point of saving me if you were killed in the process!" He cried out and pulled her away so he could look into her eyes.

Tears lined the edges of Kagome's eyes as she stared at him. One lone tear trailed down her right cheek before Inuyasha brushed it away.

"And what would have I done if you had died?" She whispered as tears glistened and fell from her eyes.

Inuyasha had nothing to say to that. What she had said was true. She did the same thing that he would have done if she were in danger. For years, it was he that protected her, but no one had protected him. Now, here came Kagome and she came to protect him from danger. If it was possible, he had fallen deeper in love with her. Without another second to waste, he gathered her in his arms and dried her tears.

"Don't cry Kagome. You know how I hate it when you cry." He said as he brushed the stray tears that were left on her face. She sniffed a couple of times before she snuggled close to him again. He wrapped his arms around her and took in her scent. He loved her scent.

"I'm sorry Kagome. I understand now." He said as he rested his chin on her head again. She drew her arms around his chest and hugged him, letting him know by the gesture that she understood and forgave him as well.

Chapter 9: Following Through

Steam rose throughout the medium size room, giving off a comforting atmosphere. Water swished throughout the indoor hot springs as the figure sat leaning against the edge, resting her healing body. Kagome sat there reflecting on the past week.

It had been a couple of days since Kagome had woken up. She was completely healed and her wounds were but small scars that would disappear in a week or so. Of course, with Inuyasha frequently hovering over her to see if she was all right and taking care of her, it wasn't a wonder that she didn't heal.

It was Rin's birthday a few days ago. They had decorated the dining room up with streamers and balloons that Kagome had brought to the past, since they were going to stop by for her birthday before they were attacked. I guess it did all work out after all. They had a great time and Rin loved her gifts. Shippo had given her a picture that he drew of her, but she was a cat in that picture. Every since that episode with Kagome and Inuyasha arguing over Kouga and Shippo drawing them for Kaede, he had drawn all his character like that. Miroku had given her a hair clip from one of his leching rounds of 'exorcism'. Sango, being a demon exterminator, had given her an exquisite dagger with a couple of topaz jewels embroiled onto the handle, seeing as she didn't even have one weapon. Inuyasha, with the help of Kagome, had given her a kimono from the future. It was made from pure silk and was white in colour with a blue dragon winding around the kimono. No one knew what Sesshoumaru had given her; it was a private affair.

Kagome had taken Rin away and taken her to Rin's room when she was giving her, the present.

FLASHBACK

"What is it?" Rin said excitedly as she bounced on her bed, her orange and checkered kimono ruffling around her.

"Open it and see!" Kagome said while placing the present in front of her and smothering her pale blue dress that she had on for the occasion that was thin strapped and went straight down to her knees. Rin gave a gasp as she gazed at the present covered in shiny blue wrapping paper. After she had her fill with the sight, she tore into the present and opened up the box. Inside was a pair of modern day clothes. Rin took out a pair of low- rise jeans that flared at the bottom. She then took out two tops. One was a short sleeve orange shirt that had a picture of chibi girl in a fighting pose and knocking out a chibi boy. It read, 'anything you can do I can do better!' (A/N: Don't own the phrase) The other shirt was a fitted black sleeveless shirt that hugged her curves. With the shirt was a knee length skirt that had a floral design to them.

"Oh! I love them. I always wanted to wear some clothes from your time!" She exclaimed.

"Well, only the best for my imoudo, right?" Kagome said, a smirk in place of her usual warm smile. Rin gave a side look at Kagome, getting very suspicious of her behaviour.

"All right! What are you getting on about?" Rin questioned Kagome.

"Well, if I am so-called going to be Inuyasha's mate soon, shouldn't I get better acquainted with my sister-in-law?"

"S-sister–in-law?"

"Yes, sister-in-law. I mean you and Sesshoumaru are going to be mated very soon." Kagome calmly said as she stared at the red and spluttering Rin.

"M-mate? I'm not going to be Sesshoumaru's mate." She squeaked out, her face redder than a tomato.

"You're so delusional Rin?" Kagome said and was met with a pillow in the face. She gave a laugh at Rin's pout before the pout was replaced with a smirk.

"At least you admitted that you're going to be Inuyasha's mate." Rin said confidently with her arms crossed and her eyes shut. Kagome gave a gasp before throwing the pillow back at Rin and hitting her in the face. Rin quietly stood up and gently placed her gift on her dresser before sitting quietly back down on the bed. Kagome had taken back the stray pillow in case Rin had wanted to retaliate. Suddenly Rin grabbed another pillow on her bed and hit Kagome with it. A full-blown pillow fight ensued with screams and laughter filling throughout the room.

Suddenly the two heard the creak of the door opening up and they stopped hitting each other, feathers strewn throughout the bed and floor, and their eyes glanced towards the door. There stood Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha with a look of amusement clearly written on their faces at the sight of the two young ladies covered in feathers. Rin and Kagome glanced back at each other and with a silent confirmation, they launched their pillows at the unsuspected inuyoukais, hitting them squarely in their faces and covering them in feathers. Kagome and Rin laughed out at the sight before them, nearly falling off the bed amidst their laughter. Japan's two most stubborn demons stood by the door with shock written over their faces. They looked like a pair of chickens. It truly was a sight to be seen. The two brothers looked at one another and with the confirmation of nodding their heads, they launched themselves at the still laughing and unsuspecting young ladies.

Sesshoumaru picked up a stray pillow and gently, for him though, threw the pillow at Rin. It smacked her in the face making her fall off the bed. Her laughter had stopped and she stared wide-eyed at the demon before her with a pillow in his hands. She suddenly broke out in a smile.

"I'll get you back for that Sesshoumaru!" She yelled out before she too picked up a pillow and smacked it at the Demon Lord. The two continued their playful pillow fight, feather gently surrounding them.

Inuyasha meanwhile quietly walked up to Kagome with a pillow in his hands and smacked her with it. She gave a cry as she fell off the bed. Inuyasha gave a laugh at the young miko who slowly sat up from the floor, her hair covering her face. She gave a few sniffles that made Inuyasha's laughter die in his throat. He got down on all four and worriedly tried to see Kagome's face, though he wasn't very successful. Suddenly the side of his face was met with a pillow and he fell back onto his back. A laugh filled his head and he looked up at a smirking Kagome.

"You were faking!" He yelled out at her.

"HA! I know your weakness Inuyasha!" She said before Inuyasha launched a pillow at her. Just like the other two, they started their own playful pillow fight and amidst their fight, the feathers cascaded down towards them.

END FLASHBACK

".........Sesshoumaru is getting soft. Rin you won't know what hit you when he tells you his feelings." Kagome murmured as she relaxed in the water.

Right now, Kagome was in one of the indoor hot springs in the palace relaxing. The others had told her how she had fallen into a coma with the huge amount of blood loss, and when she was out of it, she stayed unconscious for a week.

As she was resting in the hot springs, the steam drifting off the water and condensing in the air, Kagome couldn't help but feel that something was nagging at the back of her mind. She knew it was something that happened in the battle, but the battle was still fuzzy in her head. She remembered seeing the others down and Inuyasha getting knocked away. She also remembered picking up her bow and using her miko powers to destroy the creature before he killed Inuyasha. She had then picked up the shards.........

"THE SHARDS!" She screamed out standing up out of the hot springs, the top half of her body meeting the moist air, while the bottom was still submerged in the warm water. She heard quickened footsteps coming towards the hot springs before Inuyasha burst through the doors. Kagome turned towards him, not taking in mind her nakedness, but more importantly what had happened to the shards.

"Inuyasha, where are the shards that were in Sasori? I don't remember putting them in my vial!" Kagome cried out to him. She looked at him and saw that he was avoiding eye contact and his face was flushed.

"Um.........Kagome?" He said turning his back towards her.

"What is it Inuyasha? Why aren't you looking at me? What happened to the shards? Don't tell me you don't know where they are, you're always the one to remind me to take care of the shards and now you don't even know where they are?" She yelled at him. Inuyasha whirled around, a scowl in place of the blush.

"FEH! Bitch, if your brain wasn't broken maybe you would know that you're NAKED! And I do know where your shards are! I put them in the vial when you were still recovering! I saw them clutched in your hands!" He yelled at her.

Kagome dropped into the hot spring and turned around. Her face was red from the embarrassment and she chided herself for her forgetfulness.

"Sorry Inuyasha." She apologized to the still agitated hanyou who was glaring at her back. She felt the glaring stop and she slowly peered over her shoulder to see the inuyoukai leaning against the wall with his eyes closed. She knew he wouldn't peek so she started to finish her bath. She noticed that he hadn't said anything about her apology and then she remembered what he called her.

"Hey! You could at least forgive me. I can't really remember everything about the battle you know, so I can make a mistake! And I am not a BITCH!" She yelled at him. There, after three years she had said the word. Well actually, she had cursed. There was a first for everything.

Inuyasha's molten eyes snapped open and looked at her in disbelief. Kagome's face was flushed when she had said the word 'bitch'.

"Kagome.........you cursed." He said still with his amber eyes wide open. Kagome's face flushed even more and she slowly sunk further into the hot spring. It was a couple of minutes before they snapped out of their trance.

"Um.........I forgive you." Inuyasha said awkwardly. Kagome nodded at his statement.

"What about the.........bitch part." She whispered to him.

"I didn't mean it as a curse. I AM an inuyoukai, so females are called bitches, remember?" He calmly said to her as if it was an everyday occurrence. She blushed as she remembered the day that he had explained to her why he sometimes called her a bitch.

"Sorry, I forgot." She apologized to him. He nodded his head in understanding. A few seconds passed before the room was filled with Kagome's giggles.

"What's wrong with you?" Inuyasha asked the hysterical miko.

"Inuyasha, you need to think up more insults." She managed to get out of her giggles. He scoffed and glared at her as she tried to take a bath.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"I meant the comment about my brain being broken, you've said that before." She said as her giggles died down. Inuyasha had a look of confusion on his face before his eyes lit up as he remembered the incident. A smirk slowly made its way to his lips.

"Feh! Your brain was broken if you thought I was going to protect you." He teased Kagome. Kagome huffed and threw a stray bar of soap at him, in which he jumped out of the way laughing.

"Why you!?" Kagome growled as she got a dark look in her eyes. This stopped Inuyasha in his tracks. He had recognized that look from a long time ago and was well aware of what was going to occur in a few seconds. He tensed up for the oncoming sit, but it didn't come. Instead, rich, soft laughter filled the indoor hot springs room. He looked over at the young woman in the water laughing and clutching onto the side of the hot spring so she wouldn't slip.

"I can't believe you fell for that!" Kagome muffled her laughter. Inuyasha glared at her, though she hadn't noticed, before the glare turned into a look of mischief. Inuyasha quietly took a stray bucket from the corner of the hot spring containing cold water. He walked over to Kagome who was still laughing in the water, her head and shoulder showing, and dumped the cold water on top of her.

"AHHHHHHHHHHH!" She screamed as the icy water made contacted with her flushed skin. Inuyasha howled with laughter as he saw the now shivering miko.

"Feh! You deserved it!" Inuyasha said to her.

"Keh! Now my head is cold and if I catch a cold it'll be your fault!" Responded Kagome.

"Did you just say 'Keh'?" He asked.

"Yes I did. It's a counterpart to your 'feh'."

"Feh!" Inuyasha said before he grabbed Kagome's head and pulled it into the warm water. He let go as she came up spluttering water. Inuyasha looked on in amusement as Kagome scrubbed her eyes, getting the water out.

"Inuyasha, what was that for?"

"Woman, I was just trying to help." He told her, a smirk gracing his lips.

"Helping how?"

"Is your head cold now?"

"No.........oh be quiet and let me finish my bath now!"

"Nope!"

"You know what, I hate you!"

"I hate you too!"

Silence filled the room after this was said as the two glared at one another. Then they both burst out laughing.

"Thanks Inuyasha, I needed that laugh." Kagome gasped out.

"Feh!" Inuyasha retorted as his laughter subsided.

"Keh!" Kagome shot back before falling into a fit of giggles. The dog demon shook his head at her behaviour, a genuine smile lighting his face. He began making his way to the door so the young miko could finish her bath.

"Are you well rested?" He asked out of the blue as he placed his hand on the doorknob.

"Yes. Why?" Kagome asked.

"Well, we should leave today if you want to make it to see your father." Kagome's eyes lit up at that statement.

"Oh! I forgot! Thank-you Inuyasha. I will be ready in a while." She told him softly. She smiled at him as he turned his head back towards her. He offered her a small smile in return before he left. Once he was gone, Kagome went back to relaxing in the hot springs. She held the vial of the shikon shards gracefully in her hands as she studied them. Sure enough, there were the five extra shards that she had gotten from the previous fight, purified and intact. She scolded herself for not looking at the vial beforehand instead of screaming her head off, but after thinking about it for a moment, she didn't regret it. She was glad she screamed, because she had a pleasant moment with Inuyasha, even if it held an embarrassing moment as well. God, she loved him so much.

As Kagome got out of the springs after cleaning herself up, there was still a kind of nagging feeling from before. She got into a pair of beige- coloured kapris with a sleeveless red top that read 'kawaii!'. She left the hot springs and quietly walked to her room, well, actually Inuyasha's room. She packed up everything that was strewn across the room that belonged to her. When she was done she flopped down and sank into the warm comfy bed. She grabbed a pillow that was above her head and lay there hugging the pillow as she tried to recall the fight. She knew that the rest of the gang was out of commission after Sasori tossed Sango aside, then she remembered Inuyasha being knocked over as well..........then it suddenly came back to her.

FLASHBACK

Inuyasha dodged at their attacks and striked back with his own attacks, which the others blocked.

This went on for the next couple of minutes, until the scorpion managed to unarm the monk. He quickly swung at Miroku. Before anybody knew what happened, the monk went sailing into a tree. An enraged Sango went after Sasori and that was her mistake, attacking in rage. He quickly ripped Hiraikotsu from her and grabbed her in between his pincers and squeezed a little before he threw her into a tree. Blood was pouring from her wounds and Kagome looked on in horror. She grabbed her arrows, just in time to see the hanyou and Kirara receiving the same treatment. As the evil demon's eyes set on her, she pulled back her arrow and let loose; he quickly dodged the arrows on account of the shards increasing his speed. He caught Kagome in his pincers and snapped shut; blood began dripping from the wounds she received from the pincers.

Kagome faintly heard the yells of Shippo and Inuyasha as she willed herself to raise the bow in her arms, which she hadn't let go in the pain. She grabbed an arrow from her quiver and pulled back and let loose at point blank range. It hit dead centre as she was released from the pincers. She heard Inuyasha call out the wind scar and destroy the demon. All five shards landed close to the miko and she reached out to collect them in her right hand, purifying them instantly.

Her vision was getting a little bit blurry from the blood loss; she needed to be bandaged up. A face blocked her vision. Instantly she knew who it was. It was Inuyasha with his amber coloured eyes. He looked down at her with a concerned face, yet his gaze had that softened look. Then, it hit her. Her father always looked at her mother like that, the look of undying love. With that thought racing through her mind, she fell into unconsciousness.

END FLASHBACK

She remembered the look that he had given her. It was the look that was nagging her. Though laced with fear, it was the same look she had often seen in her father's eyes when he looked at her mother, the look of love. Was it true? Was Inuyasha truly in love with her? Kagome sighed as she clutched the pillow tighter. She wished it was true, but now was not the time to be thinking about this. She would find out if it was true, later. Now, she had to get ready as well as talk to a certain monk about a certain issue of avoidance.

As Inuyasha closed the door to the hot springs, leaving Kagome to finish her bath, he walked down through the maze of hallways until he reached the foyer. There, the rest of the gang was gathered waiting for him.

"So, are we still going to go through with it?" Sango asked nervously, shifting her Hiraikotsu into a more comfortable position on her back and straightening her kimono.

"Ya, but there might be a problem." Inuyasha responded.

"What now? It's already going to be hard to tell Kagome to leave. What else could be wrong?" Shippo asked.

"Her not listening to us and staying here." He explained. The others stilled at the statement as it dawned on them. Kagome was stubborn and if they told her that they wanted her to leave so she wouldn't get hurt, she would never listen to them. She would stay no matter what. The houshi's voice broke through the intense silence as he gave his say to the problem.

"Well, we could always tell her that we don't want her anymore because she slows us down. Plus, we could tell her that this isn't her time and that she should leave. Yes, she would be mad, but we'll get her back once this is over." Miroku calmly spoke as the others bristled as the notion of lying to Kagome.

"But what if she doesn't want to come back afterwards? I hate lying to Kagome." Sango said worriedly.

"But we have to do it, even if we don't want to. Ok?" Inuyasha asked as the others agreed. "Then, when she's gone through the well, Miroku will seal it in case she tries to come back." Inuyasha finished. The others knew this was killing him, but they all had to be strong; it was for Kagome. They gathered the rest of their supplies as they heard footsteps echoing through the hallway towards them. Rin came into the foyer with a pout, followed by Sesshoumaru.

"Are you really leaving?" Rin said, sadness creeping into her voice.

"Yup, but we'll be back soon. Oh ya, I'm also taking my bike that I left here from the previous visit." Kagome said as she walked into the foyer from behind Sesshoumaru and Rin.

"All right, and you better visit. We don't always want to be the ones that visit." Rin said warmly, her sadness disappearing from what Kagome had said. The others collected their belongings and headed out of the palace with Sesshoumaru and Rin following them behind.

As they walked out of the gate waving back at the two, Rin and Sesshoumaru couldn't help but feel that the others were keeping something from them. Rin sighed, knowing that she wouldn't be able to do anything about this mysterious situation that the others didn't tell them about. She really thought that even Kagome didn't know what the others were going to do. She shrugged it off and turned to the Demon Lord. He was staring off at the distance where the others' figures could still be faintly seen. However, Rin knew that with his youkai sight, he could probably see them as clearly as if they were still in front of him. She smiled up at him and grabbed his hand, clasping them together. He looked down at the young woman and offered her a small smile. Rin had really softened him up in the past three years and she was glad that she had met him; she loved him after all, though he didn't know that.

She turned towards the castle, her hand still clasped in his, and together they walked home.

Some time later..................

The gang continued to make their way towards Kaede's village, walking silently throughout the path. Inuyasha, with Shippo on his right shoulder, led the way with Sango and Kirara following him. Behind her was Miroku lost in his thoughts and behind them all was Kagome walking and rolling her bike beside her happily and enjoying the scenery.

Kagome looked away from the forest to the side off the path and looked ahead of her. There she saw Miroku and remembered that she had to talk to him about Sango. She recalled the conversation she and Inuyasha had about Miroku and Sango about his plan to make Sango hate him.

FLASHBACK

"What did he say?" Kagome said as she started to wash herself, seeing that Inuyasha had his back to her.

"All he said was that he had to make Sango hate him. He couldn't let her get close to him, whatever that means." Inuyasha said.

"Really? Well, whatever his plan is sort of working. Sango feels that either Miroku is in love with someone else or her, though she really thinks that he loves someone else." Kagome stated, a puzzled look on her face. They both pondered this for a couple of seconds, before it dawned on them, well Kagome actually.

"OH! He doesn't want Sango to get close to him, because he's afraid that he's going to die soon and doesn't want to leave her heartbroken." She told the hanyou.

"Well, he's leaving her heartbroken anyways." He growled out.

"Ya, but it'll hurt less than if they were together and admitted their feelings and then he died."

"How would it be worse?"

"It would be worse because then she would always wonder how their family would have been like, how many children they would have had, their lost love and other stuff. If he doesn't tell her, then she would be saved from an even bigger heartbreak since he hasn't made his feelings known."

"OH! Is that a good thing?"

"No Inuyasha! Miroku isn't going to die anytime soon. We'll kill Naraku before that time." Kagome said confidently.

END FLASHBACK

She still believed that what Miroku was doing was wrong and that he shouldn't push Sango away. Even though it might hurt, he was hurting both Sango and him by breaking them apart.

"Miroku?"

"Yes, Kagome-sama?"

"You know your plan involving Sango........."

"I have no idea what you are talking about."

"Oh, be quiet Miroku! I know you're trying to push Sango away." Kagome scolded him. He gave a sigh and his shoulder slumped.

"Is it that obvious?"

"Sort of, but that's not important. The important thing is that what you are doing is wrong. Have you ever heard of the phrase, 'it is better to have loved than to never have been loved at all?' Stopping yourself from loving Sango and depriving Sango from loving you is only hurting both of you."

"But........."

"No buts. Have you ever thought that by stopping yourself from loving another, it's giving Naraku extra power? By stopping yourself from loving because of the Wind Tunnel that Naraku gave you, it's like he's controlling your life. Are you a puppet, Miroku?" She finished off and left him gaping at the information as it shuttled throughout his brain.

Kagome walked further up and began walking beside Inuyasha and Shippo and started humming. She looked at the hanyou and noticed that he hadn't acknowledged her presence. He was lost in his thoughts and by the look on his face they weren't pleasant. Kagome decided to leave him alone for once, seeing that if she disturbed him, he might start yelling at her and she was in too good of a mood to waste it on a fight.

However, Inuyasha's thought was revolving around the miko that was walking beside him. He really didn't want her to leave him. After all, he did admit it to himself that he loved her, but it was for her safety. The worst part of the problem was that the group had to tell her that she was a burden to them. Inuyasha really didn't want to do that. He never liked lying to Kagome. That was why he either told her the truth or nothing at all. It was easier since he was never a good liar. He cringed at the thought of Kagome crying. He knew she would start crying and he didn't think that he would be able to handle it if she started crying.

That night..........

They decided to stop at a clearing for the night and set up camp. As Kagome placed her bag down to rummage for some ramen, she couldn't help but feel that something was wrong. The others hadn't talk to her once, except for the talk that she had with Miroku. Also, unlike what they usually do, when she rode her bike, she didn't have Shippo for company. It was like they were all rejecting her or something. Kagome shook her head at the ridiculous idea. They were her friends after all. When she found the ramen, she looked up and saw Inuyasha coming into the clearing with a doe that he hunted. He placed it down and Sango immediately went to prepare it in front of the fire that Miroku and Shippo had made. Kagome had a puzzled look on her face. She thought that Inuyasha would love to have ramen after all those meals at Sesshoumaru's palace. She brushed it off and placed the ramen back into her bag. She went over to lend a hand to Sango, but Sango told her that she didn't need any help and placed the meat on the fire.

After the meal was cooked, they ate in silence and went to sleep afterwards. Kagome looked over to see where Shippo was when she found him curled up beside Sango instead of with her. She settled into her sleeping bed and couldn't have felt more alone.

The next day............

Kagome woke up to the smell of breakfast and rubbed her sleepy eyes. She looked by the fire and saw the rest of her friends up and eating breakfast. She couldn't help herself when the feeling of rejection loomed into her heart again. Her friends didn't even wake her up for breakfast. She knew it wasn't because of her injuries, since she was completely healed now. She got up and sat down by the fire and ate her breakfast silently, while the others talked to themselves on how long it would take to get to Kaede's village.

Kagome looked over to Inuyasha who was talking with Miroku and couldn't help but feel that yesterday at the hot springs was a dream.

'Maybe he was just acting like that and looking after me, so I could get better faster. Maybe I am a burden to them. I made them wait two, no three weeks at Sesshoumaru's place. We could have gone shard hunting in that time. I can fight, but they don't know that because I hide it. I can't let them know, we need something that Naraku doesn't know about and that's my powers.' However, no matter what she thought, only one word passed through her head over and over again.

'Burden.'

After some time of walking, none talking to Kagome, they reached the well and started to slow down as they neared it. Inuyasha took in a deep breath and let it out. After all, the 'show' was going to begin.

"So I'll be back in a few days. I have to tell my dad about the time- travelling thing. Just in case if he doesn't believe me, I'll have him meet Inuyasha, right Inuyasha?" Kagome said as she looked at her friends. None of them were making eye contact and they were shuffling their feet. It was like they were hiding something. Kagome really didn't like the dreadful feeling she was getting.

"Guys?"

"Look Kagome-sama, we really think you shouldn't come around anymore. You're a burden to us, plus you don't even belong in this time." Miroku said.

"Yes, Kagome, you need to stay in your time. It would be less distractive if we fight without having to constantly watching if you are in danger." Sango said. The words pierced Kagome's heart and she had to will herself from sobbing out.

"If you guys are trying to protect me because I got hurt then........."

"No Kagome. That was only one of the things that made us come to this conclusion. This is a dangerous place, a dangerous time and you don't belong here. You don't have to deal with this. You should go home." Inuyasha calmly said, even though in his mind he was denying everything he said.

Kagome stared at them, standing a couple of feet in front of the well and with her friends in front of her. She couldn't believe what they had said. It was like they had ripped out her heart, stomped on it, and then placed the battered heart back in. All that went through her head were the thoughts of 'burden' and 'they think I am weak'. Her worst nightmare had come true.

Then Kagome did something that shocked them. She picked up her bag and turned around. They gazed at her in astonishment as she walked towards the well and threw her bag into it, her back still to them. They had expected her to start crying and denying it, but she didn't. She just left without saying a word. Now they all felt terrible. Inuyasha felt worse than the others since he already felt terrible before. He could faintly smell salt water in the air, Kagome's tears that she was holding back. He understood that she didn't want to cry in front of them. All he wanted to do was go up to her and hold her.

Kagome didn't look back at them or say anything. She felt betrayed and she wanted to go home before she started to cry. She jumped into the well and took the risk of glancing back up.

There stood Inuyasha, looking at her with a look of remorse, guilt, and was that love? However, before she could question it, an intense blue light surrounded her and all she heard before she landed in her time was the faint whisper of:

"I love you........."

A/N: Bet you guys didn't see that coming. I'll try to update soon, but next week is them exams, so don't bet on next week. I know it's sort of a cliffhanger and some might hate me now, but DON"T WORRY! I mean, in the end they do have to get together. Remember, this is also an action/adventure, so it's going to begin soon. Hehehehe, I can't wait! It's going to be so good. I hope you like this chapter, it's a little bit longer than what I normally have, but considering that I was so late with my update, I sort of make up for it, right? -- Or maybe not!

Anyways, review if you guys want anything to happen, I might just consider putting it in my story.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: I'm starting another Inuyasha story. It won't disrupt this one so don't worry. It's just that my cousin, neoblue, came up with this really good idea, so we're writing the story. It's an AU, I'll give you guys a summary before I start posting it up.

R & R PLEASE!

Ja ne!