Chapter 5 - A Harsh Reality

Kagome struggles to get up, Inuyasha watches Kikyo floats off. A gasp escapes her mouth as she realizes one her of her legs is injured. Inuyasha is suddenly besides her, his eyes full of concern.

"What's wrong, Kagome? Are you hurt?"

As he asks his eyes scan over her looking for any sign of an injury, but it's as though he had never even looked at her before.

"What's wrong, Inuyasha? You seem as though you don't even know me."

"I feel like I don't." He replies. "One minute you're going out, whatever that is, with some other guy, and then the next minute you're hugging Kouga. Tell me, how am I supposed to feel."

A hurt look appears on Kagome's face.

Suddenly she sits up and yells, "If you can have Kikyo why can't I have somebody? It's not like you even care for me anyway. I'm just a jewel detector remember!"

Kouga suddenly awakened by the shouting decides to give them some distance.

Maybe he'll be stupid enough to drive her away. Then I can pick up the pieces as she falls apart

He leaves with plans to return later on to see how this new turnabout will end. Kagome and Inuyasha are still going at it as Kouga disappears into the forest.

"You know you mean more to me than a jewel detector to me."

"No, I'm not. The only reason I'm even here now to help you find shards!"

"Is that all you think I care about?"

"I know that's all you care about!"

"You don't know anything!"

"I know more than you think!"

"If you still think that way maybe I should go be with Kikyo!"

"As if you aren't already!"

"I'm not!"

"Quit lying to me!" Yells Kagome close to tears as she tries to get up to head for the Bone-Eaters well.

Grabbing her arm, pleading with her to stay Inuyasha starts to say, "Kagome, you must know by now that I . . . "

Kagome spins around, "You what, Inuyasha?"

He mumbles something incoherently.

"I can't hear you, Inuyasha. What are you trying to say?" says Kagome quietly.

"I said," he yells before whispering so lightly Kagome can barely hear him, "I love you."

Her heart begins palpitating at the mention of those three little words.