Here it is. I'm proud to announce the tenth chapter of my fic. Woohoo!

Inuyasha spied Sesshomaru carefully, and made up his mind rather quickly that this was more than likely just a way for him to save his skin. "So, let me get this straight... you expect me to believe that's why you came down here to fight me? You can't be serious." He said in a semi sarcastic tone, as the evidence that pointed to Inuyasha's assumption was a rather large amount.

Sesshomaru stared at his brother from his spot on the ground, and was now ready to do some serious talking. "Inuyasha, ruthless as I am, I am no liar. Surely you know me better than that? And even more so, surely you of all people know that I have respect for great power?"

Inuyasha spit on the ground. "Bah! You mean you respect your OWN power, and if another arises you do your best to trample it out of your way!"

The youkai lord merely stared at Inuyasha and smirked. "You and I BOTH know that you do not believe that." He responded, as he proved he was quite good at mind games. Inuyasha contemplated for a while more. "Well, I DO believe that about you...However, I ALSO believe that you're one of your word. You wouldn't lower yourself as to scheme for you life, at the risk of destroying your reputation amongst other great youkai."

Sesshomaru feh'd and looked off in the distance. "You know your brother well." Inuyasha reached his arm out low enough for Sesshomaru to grab it. "C'mon, get up, cause I ain't carryin' ya." And with that, Sesshomaru's hand met Inuyasha's and he pulled himself up. "I can make it from here." He said, indicating that his pride was already hurt.

Inuyasha feh'd And began walking towards the tent. "Good."

Kagome poked her head out from around the tree she was hiding/praying behind, and managed to locate Sango's head, which was also popped out around another tree's corner. "Hey, you think it's safe to go out now?" she whispered in safest way she could.

Sango merely shrugged her shoulders and gave a looked that kind of said 'I dunno.' Kagome thought for a moment, and after deciding that there really wasn't much else to do, stepped out in a sheer act of curiosity. She whispered. "Hey, Shippo, can you smell Inuyasha anywhere near here?"

Shippo, who was no where in plain sight, but received the question thanks to his youkai enhanced hearing, responded with a rather low whisper as well. "No, he can't be near here."

Kagome sighed, and whispered a prayer on Inuyasha's behalf before speaking. "Well everyone, you can all come out now."

They all gathered in a circle, and began brainstorming about the recent events; Miroku was the first to say anything. "Does anyone have an idea of what that howling, or rather, roaring sound was not too long ago?"
Sango responded, this being her field of knowledge. "I've got a pretty good idea." She began, as she caught everyone's attention. "That was definitely the battle cry of a youkai; more specifically, Inuyasha." Kagome's eyes widened. "THAT was INUYASHA!" She asked in complete surprise, as Shippo felt the urge to but in.

"Well of course, I could of told you that." He commented, giving everyone ample reason to stare at him in surprise. "It's a youkai thing." He said reassuringly. And it was shortly after this moment that a horrible thought came to Kagome's mind. She gasped. "What if Inuyasha found a village, and..." She found herself lost in her own speech as she raced towards Kirara.

"Kirara, take me to Inuyasha, quickly!" and with that, she hopped on the two tailed neko in complete disregard to Miroku and Sango's objections for safety reasons that were more than likely intelligent ideas.

Inuyasha slowed his pace as to allow a badly wounded Sesshomaru to catch up. "Oi..." he mumbled "Can't you go any faster!" Which damaged a quite already badly damaged pride, belonging to Sesshomaru. "Come ON!" he continued to groan.

They walked for a few feet more, when the scent of blood on his nose (of which he received after being smacked into that rather hard boulder) nearly fully dissipated and allowed him to smell as well as he did before. And at this time, Kagome's quite potent scent became even more so potent to him, and he lost all thought and darted off directly towards Kagome.

He flew through the trees and underbrush, as though they were merely dust in his path. Every tree that appeared in front of him was suddenly not so in front of him anymore, as he would zip to either the right or the left, and zip back around in the opposite direction.

His feet scarcely broke silence, as by now possessing the power he had allowed him to move and sound faster and more sound defiantly than even the most powerful of youkai ninja. His instincts seized his thought pattern even more so, as his urge and need to protect the one his mind restled with to be called 'Kagome' grew ever so quickly to be more of a must within him.

As he approached the scent of this human girl, his eyes widened in shock at just how torturous it was that he was not holding her at present. The beauty of this one's scent baffled him to no end, and the fact that he was still somewhat thinking with emotion and remembrance of this person's actions in his life gave him the sudden and pactual truth, that he would not sleep again until this person was safe in his arms.

Kagome flew through the forest on Kirara's back in hope and prayer that Inuyasha hadn't hurt someone, or someones, or even worse, what if he was hurt? If he was dead, could she go on? This person in her life who was by far the most...the most what? Kind, good looking, cool, strong...no. It was more than that. There was something about Inuyasha that Kagome knew deep in the back of her soul. He was the most important. Not particularly why or for what, he was just, the most important.
She could feel the weight and tension of her heart beginning to beat faster and faster, as her genuine concern for this one's safety rose to a climax, well it would be a climax, for most. Her concern for his safety was able to rise so high, that it was FAR beyond that of which most cared for a person. She didn't know why, but that was the way it was.

Kagome knew not of Inuyasha's whereabouts, as she wished to God she had the ability to smell him and find him wherever he may be... but alas, she was human. All she could do was rely on the abilities of a certain neko of which she was currently mounted upon. She didn't realize it, but she had taken this path through the forest so many times that she almost completely knew the way herself. However, that was not important at present, because Kirara had begun to pick up the pace and of course Kagome had no idea as to why, and little to her knowledge it is instinctive for two tailed neko to pick up the pace upon the nearness of their destination.

Kagome's scent became even more potent to Inuyasha, and he ran even faster, (but not too fast as he might startle the one he was trying to keep out of harm's way) no longer being able to stand this separation from her. He cried out. "KAGOME!" This call was loud enough to make just about every animal in the forest to arise from their homes and dart for greater cover.

Kirara stopped where she was, and she stood there almost panicking while her ears twitched about to see if she could detect the sound again. Kagome's eyes widened as her heart beat even faster. She did not know where he was, just his general direction, despite the ringing in her ears, and she instinctively responded out "INUYASHA!" she could feel that she was beginning to cry, not so much in fear, but in happiness that she regained the ability to respond to Him at the call of her name.

The sound of Her voice beckoning his name was nearly too much to handle. He froze in midair, and attempted to savor the sound. This sound, one that was so sacred to him, the sound of Kagome calling out his name, nearly drove him to the brink of insanity. His anger bolted from the abyss into his body and the sweat of which he was covered in sizzled due to the temperature he now was, and all hell would break loose until this question was answered. "WHERE!" he shouted out. 'where where where where where where' 'WHERE IS SHE!' he screamed inside of his mind.

His nose told him where, and without a nanosecond of thought he darted out towards this sound and scent. He raced towards her, more quickly than ever, his mind being even more so oneset. There was a small clearing of trees up ahead, and his nose let him know that she was there. THERE. That's where She is. That is where She is. He nearly teleported up to it and She finally came into his view.

She was standing on one side of the clearing, and He on the other. Their eyes met, and they both ran at eachother at top speed. Well, Kagome would of ran at top speed, had Inuyasha not instantly been in front of her. He look slightly downward at her as to meet Her eyes. They could both tell that they were full of concern for the other, and Kagome smiled.
Inuyasha stared at her for a moment more, and he knew that all would not be right until his question would be answered. "Kagome," he said in between deep breaths. "are you alright?" She stared right back at Him, and as her eyes met His, she quite happily responded. "Yes, I am now." Inuyasha smiled and hugged her. "Good."

They both stood and embraced each other, and for some reason this time around, it wasn't as awkward as it usually was. Sure, there wasn't really too much that was different this time, but still, something told the both of them that it was all right. Inuyasha's head was to the right of Kagome's and vice versa. Kagome felt the need to speak in the position they were in, since she had no desire to leave his arms at the moment.

She whispered into his ear, and was extra careful not to speak to loudly in his quite excellent sound receptors. "Inuyasha," she began. "Yes, Kagome?" "Never do that again." The youkai sighed. "I'll try my best." It wasn't the answer she was looking for, but for some reason since He was the one who said it, it gave her a knew level of comfort, and warmed her heart. "Thank you."

Inuyasha pulled away from her embrace slightly, as to give him visual access to her beautiful and comforting face. "Kagome, I think there's something we need to tell each other." He said softly, catching her attention. 'Is this it? Is this FINALLY IT?' she had waited so long for these words to roll off of his tongue, she had played this scene in her mind more than a thousand times, and all of her waiting and dreaming was finally about to happen. "What, Inuyasha?" and it was just then, that fate would have it's way, and something, it didn't matter what; SOMETHING would come along and disturb this wonderful moment.

And that someone would just happen to be Sesshomaru. "Well brother, I'm not disturbing you, am I?" Inuyasha's ears twitched and turned in Sesshomaru's direction. "Ah, no, not at all." He said in a rather embarrassed tone, as he pulled away from Kagome and turned to his elder sibling. Kagome stood there in shock, and now had a new hatred for Sesshomaru. 'Why you little...son of a...' she thought. 'Do you have ANY IDEA how hard it I for me to catch Inuyasha in that kind of mood?' she screamed out mentally to herself as if she was speaking to Sesshomaru in a mental world.

But all else aside, she realized that Sesshomaru had never come along for mere family reunions. He had never shown his face to them and soon after not fought. Inuyasha forgot the recent happenings for a moment and let his instincts take over him. "You stay away from Kagome." He said firmly, much to the surprise of Sesshomaru. His youkai features had just begun to show themselves when it hit Inuyasha that Sesshomaru was now on their side. "Oh, right. Sorry." He said as his features slowly began to disappear.

Kagome stared at the back of Inuyasha's head in total complete surprise. "What do you mean, 'Oh, right sorry!' Get him!" Inuyasha closed his eyes and smiled, as he turned around to face Kagome. "Ah, yeah, about that. Kagome, say hello to the newest member of the group!"

Dead Silence

More Dead Silence
"...what..."

"Wa wa wa wait a minute Kagome, lemme explain!" he began. "Please do." She responded as she crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.

So, as you guessed, Inuyasha explained to Kagome the gist of what happened, and I'd really rather not bore you with a repeat of the last two chapters. : P

"Uh, huh..." Kagome responded as Inuyasha completed his little summary of the previous events. "So, you with me?" he asked hopefully. Kagome just looked at Inuyasha full of melancholy and smiled. "Well, I guess it's OK, if you think so. I'll trust your judgment." She said as she calmly walked over to his side.

Inuyasha felt relieved, and a bit confused on Kagome's word choice. 'She trusts me...no one's ever...' he pondered. But nonetheless kept his card face and hid his confusion. The three of them silently and slowly walked back to the tent, Kagome keeping her distance from Sesshomaru, but staying as close to Inuyasha as possible, ever so often requesting of him that he pick up the pace.

Inuyasha chuckled. "I thought you trusted my judgment?" Kagome was caught by surprise with this, and quickly said something to reassure him. "I do, why would you say that?" Inuyasha looked back at Sesshomaru and responded with a sigh. "Never mind..."

No one had so much as a clue as to what the other was thinking about, so they all decided to go on and think about something else. Kagome thought about how she was going to get Inuyasha to finally take her out on that date, Inuyasha thought about what he was going to do with her on it, and Sesshomaru, well, he's just Sesshomaru. I'm the writer, and I don't even know what he thinks about.

They eventually made it to the camp and Inuyasha called out to everyone to assemble out by the campfire. Sango was first to emerge from the tent, and did so cautiously because Shippo had informed all who were there that he detected Sesshomaru's scent, and that it was quite strong. Miroku came out next, also cautiously due to the same warning. However, Shippo did not emerge. He was quite satisfied being safely tucked away under a nice few layers of blankets, of which he figured would give him SOME protection from Sesshomaru. And of course they wouldn't, but hey, Shippo's an idiot!

Sesshomaru stood tall to Inuyasha's right side, and Kagome stood meekly next to Inuyasha, as she continued her thoughts of what they were going to do on their date. Inuyasha however, was now trying his best to keep his mind focused on the current situation. Thinking about Kagome would only distract him from giving the explanation he already knew would be sloppy.

Miroku's eyes focused in the sunlight and within a few seconds he saw Sesshomaru, and shortly after his visual receptors had focused, they widened in fear. "Inuyasha to your right!" he exclaimed as he reached over to his prayer beads, ready as ever to quickly remove them and show a certain youkai lord the true meaning of bagless vacuum.

Sango, who was also in surprise and had readied her weapon as well, eyeballed the current situation and quickly made sense of it all. She turned her head towards Miroku. "Calm down, there's something we're missing here." She said in a calm, collective manner. Miroku blinked, and quickly realized that Sesshomaru was standing WITH Inuyasha, not sneaking around to his side.

"Um, I am confused." Said the monk, who obviously sought an answer within his statement. Sesshomaru took this opportunity to calm everyone and explain. "Well, here is the truth..."

And there was much explainnig. I know this is lazy, but I don't really care to write something that doesn't need to be written.

Miroku and Sango looked at Inuyasha and Kagome, full of surprise after the little explanation. The look they gave each was clearly saying, 'Is this true?' and without words being used, both Inuyasha and Kagome nodded at the same time. "Wow." Miroku said. "Well, I guess that's that, no use not believing it. So, when do we start looking for the jewel fragments?"

"YOU won't be. I have found that Inuyasha becomes quite dangerous to us all when this human friend of his becomes threatened." Sesshomaru began, as he pointed to Kagome. And in respondence to this, Inuyasha blushed and retaliated. "Now wait just a-" Kagome shushed him. "Just let him finish, please?" she whispered into his ear. The hanyou looked over his left shoulder and met Kagome's eyes, the one pair of eyes that were unable to take no for an answer. "Oi...alright."

"Anyway, as I was saying," Sesshomaru continued "If anything even comes close to happening to this girl, Inuyasha will become more than enough for the three of us to defeat." He said upon completion. "Is that so?" Kagome said misheiviously as she gave Inuyasha a passionate look. "Umm, I a...I just don't want you getting hurt for things that I drag you into." He said as he did his best to hold his posture and closed his eyes while folding his arms.

He braced himself for a sit, and was seriously hoping to not be, when out of Her mouth came one of his favorite things to hear. "Thank you." His ears twitched, and his eyes widened as he began to lose the posture he so tried to keep. "Ah, sure. No problem." He said with a blush, of course no one noticed it, due to him staring at the ground. And even if they did notice, they would of mistaken it for a shadow because of how dark the redness was.

"Well, Sesshomaru, what do you propose we do to prevent such outbreaks?" asked a quite curious Miroku. "Well, I would suggest that since I know Inuyasha wouldn't be willing to have her just leave the group for a while, that he and she take a short vacation back to her home village." Miroku nodded. "That sounds like an excellent idea. I think we could ALL use a break."

"Yes, a vacation would be nice." Added Sango. And then they all turned to Inuyasha and Kagome. "So, what do you two think about that?" asked Sango. Kagome replied ever so quickly, and was quite happy to finally have a chance to go out on that date with Inuyasha. "I think that'd be a great idea!" she said in a rather up-beat tone. "Come on, Inuyasha, what do you say?"

Everyone one looked at Inuyasha, who was NOT happy at all. Sure, he cared for Kagome's safety, but he was just a TAD bit uncomfortable with everyone's knowledge on the current situation. And were it now for Kagome's so eagerly sounding reply, he'd of said no. But then he turned to look at her, and who could say no to those eyes? "Oi...alright, that sounds fine."

And there it is. A little longer as my way of saying sorry for taking so frickin' long! Lol. Well actually, I just had so much fun writing this chapter I had to MAKE myself stop writing. But then I guess that's good news for all of us, right? Anyway, death threats, other various mean things you might want to say to me, and, y'know, the usual, are all very welcome. Oh, and Foggy Brain, I got your review not too long ago, and I didn't quite understand what you wanted to know how long what was. Did you mean the fic? Sorry if I sound incompetent, but I genuinely didn't understand. Please elaborate! Thx. Next chappy should be up within a week.