A/N - Thanks for all the reviews.. I had some trouble writing this chapter cause I had to make a lot of adjustment due to some suggestions. I hope you like it. I was told that I needed another villain (since I've done away with Kikyo..) I think, romantically, Inu-yasha is his own worst enemy (see the summary). I hope you enjoy this! This story might be longer than I originally anticipated!

Oh. And I forgot this in earlier chapters:

Disclaimer: I am not creative enough to own or create Inu-yasha's character or story.. This is just a fantasy and a hobby.. Don't sue me.

CHAPTER FOUR - Conversations in the Dark

"Kagome", Inu-yasha whispered again

"hmm?" Kagome murmured, half asleep. When she didn't open her eyes, Inu-yasha tried again,"Kagome, wake up a second…"

She opened her eyes, but found that she couldn't focus them - everything was a blurry golden hue. She blinked trying to clear her vision and found herself eyeball to eyeball with Inu-yasha, who was peeking out over the mattress.

"Why do you keep coming back to my time?" He asked softly, not moving back. Kagome could feel his breath on her face and found that it was interfering with her thought process.

"umm… well, I guess it's because I care about everyone over there, and because you need me to find the jewel shards, I guess… Why?"

"You must be really stupid for coming back.. Don't you realize how much danger you're in. I can't always be around saving your neck" he spat out, finally backing away and putting some distance between them.

"What!" Kagome yelped, bolting upright in her bed. "what the hell does that mean!"

"Well, you slow everybody down and you make things difficult. I can't keep fighting if I have to worry about you all the time." he said, bitterly.

"Listen if you're going to insult me like this, then I'll turn around and go straight back through to the well. I might be able to get some sleep then!"

Inu-yasha laughed, "If you think that I just won't jump in after you, then you're a bigger idiot than I thought"

Kagome's fury hit the ceiling at those words and she glared down at Inu-yasha, who seemed more amused than annoyed.

"Answer me this, then," she hissed through gritted teeth, "if you're so concerned about my being back in your era; if you're so sure you'll be fine without me detecting your shards, then why the hell do you keep coming back for me! Why did you come here tonight, then, if just to torture me with your insults!"

Inu-yasha looked at Kagome blankly, having been caught off guard by her truthful claim.

"Oh, never mind," he mumbled, crawling his way back into the blankets on the floor, "if you're going to be so sensitive about it!"

Kagome huffed furiously, but having no outlet for her aggravation, resigned herself to lay down and kick out the sheets heatedly. She balled her fists in frustration and mumbled curses under her breath. It was many minutes until she was once again able to unwind and relax against the softness of her pillow.

"Kagome," Inu-yasha's pensive voice broke the dark silence

She bolted straight up in bed once again, kicking what was left of her sheets into a ball at the foot of her bed. She stood up, right over Inu-yasha's lying form and glared down at him.

"WHAT DO YOU WANT! JUST SAY IT!" she yelled, her fists resuming their balled up form.

Inu-yasha looked up at her, startled.

"do you really care about us?" he asked meekly

Kagome was taken aback at the gentleness of his voice and almost regretted getting so upset. She ran her fingers through her hair, smoothing it back behind her ears. Breathing deeply, she sat on the bed and looked down at Inu-yasha, who was looking up at her, eyes wide in alarm.

"Yes," she answered slowly "Of course I do. What did you think was bringing me back?"

Inu-yasha pulled himself up to a sitting position on the floor, his arm resting on his bended knee, the other outstretched before him.

"I didn't know. There's so much danger in my time. Sango and Miroku are well prepared, but you are so weak." He paused when he noticed that Kagome resumed her glare, "No, that's not what I meant. I didn't want you to get hurt. If you got hurt, then it would be my fault, cause I let you fall into harms way, do you see? I couldn't live with the guilt if something happened to you" he looked at her intensely, willing her to understand.

"oh," whispered Kagome, "like with Kikyo"

Inu-yasha looked away at Kikyo's name. Kagome slid down, onto the floor once again, so she was level with the boy.

"What happened today, Inu-yasha? What happened with Kikyo?"

"Feh. You saw, didn't you? You were there standing right behind me." he spat out.

Kagome ignored his remark and, frowning, asked "I don't understand why you destroyed her."

Inu-yasha took a deep breath.

"She never would have wanted to live like that, like a mound of clay, killing to survive. She was a really good person. You're a lot like her, even if you don't like hearing it. She was kind and caring…" his voice trailed off, his train of thoughts lost as he watched a pink flush creep up Kagome's neck at his praise.

"Accepting?" Kagome prompted

A dark cloud passed through Inu-yasha's otherwise bright golden eyes, "No. I thought she was accepting of me as a half-demon, but she wasn't really. She wanted me become human for her, even though I never wanted to be human. She was concerned of what the villagers would say about us being together. I would have done it for her, but…."

Kagome placed her hand on Inu-yasha's arm, drawing him away from the unpleasant thought that was plaguing him. To her surprise, he didn't pull away.

"What do you think will happen when the jewel is complete. Will you stay here or will you stay with us?" He asked suddenly.

Kagome was taken aback by the directness of his question.

"I don't know." she replied, "I guess I'll come back here. There's nothing for me in the feudal age, is there?" she asked, eyes wide, begging Inu-yasha to disagree with her.

"Oh," he said, masking his disappointment. "Okay, then."

With that, he turned around suddenly, lying with his back to Kagome, leaving the girl to crawl back into bed, silently, wondering what had just happened. She pulled the sheet back up over her head and lay in bed, waiting for Inu-yasha to call her name once again.. But she fell asleep waiting and woke up to an empty floor besides her.

A/N - I hope you enjoy.. Please Read/Review! I enjoy reading what you have to say!