Adoration and Fidelity

So you're all aware... Just because this chapter is about the title doesn't mean it's anywhere near the last chapter! I know sometimes people - like me - for example put the title for the last chapter, but this is just going here for my own reasons.

Rating: M for Mature

Warnings: Sexual Content; Extreme violence; Offensive Language

"Talking"

'Thoughts'

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, but I do own the storyline.

Recap: "Why does everything always get blamed on me?" Inuyasha asked, but not to a specific person. He growled and then put his own food down, suddenly realizing all of what Sango had just informed him. She had said Kagome wanted to stay to be with him! Kagome wanted to be with him. This was new news to him. He was excited and also a little angry that Kagome had not just said something earlier. End Recap

Chapter 8: Choosing Between Adoration And Fidelity

It had already been an hour since Kagome had left. Inuyasha's patience had already gone way out the window. The others sat in annoyance as Inuyasha tapped away on the ground.

"Perhaps you should go and find Kagome, Inuyasha. She could be in danger." Miroku suggested, holding in his own irritation. To everyone's surprise Inuyasha got up right away and walked out. No stubbornness included! As soon as he was out the door all the remaining beings in the hut let loose a sigh of the aggravation the hanyou had been causing them over the last hour.

"I wonder what could be taking Kagome so long anyway." Shippo said in a concerned tone.

"I'm sure she's fine." Sango pat the kit on the head and smiled at him. "She probably just wanted some time to think... alone."

"So it probably isn't the best idea for Inuyasha to go to her, but..." Miroku continued. "He is worried about her, so hopefully he shows some civility towards her when he finds her." The others nodded their heads in agreement.

Meanwhile

'Stupid girl.' Inuyasha thought as he followed Kagome's scent. She was close by and since there was no scent of blood or tears he wasn't really worried. Truth was he hadn't been worried at all. He knew the whole time she was alright, because her scent was in range of his sense of smell the whole time. He just couldn't stand to be without her.

The night was a little closer now. It was midday. There was a small chill in the air, but nothing to catch a cold over.

Inuyasha stopped where Kagome was. She was facing away from him, towards a stream. Inuyasha knew she acknowledged his presence even if she was refusing to look his way.

"And just what the hell do you think you're doing out here so long." He sort expected her to bite back, but she didn't... She just pulled her knees to her chest and tears sprung from her eyes. "Hmm?" Inuyasha had not expected the fresh smell of salty tears that had hit his nose.

"Inuyasha, I'm sorry." And he had of course not expected her to cry him an apology. "So sorry..."

"What the hell are you apologizing for?" He started faltering with his speech and steps. "No... no crying!"

"I'm such a baka." She cried. "I've been so mean to you lately. I don't know why. I... I care about you so much. It's just... I'm afraid. I'm scared that you'll leave me and I'll lose you."

Now as expected these words were surprising Inuyasha more and more. His heart was swelling. He felt a little guilty for being so happy when Kagome was so down.

"I'm here because I want to be with you, but I'm acting so selfish... being so sad about leaving my family... when it must be making you feel so bad." Still she continued. "But... but please don't be, because I love you so much that... it hurts when you're hurting." 'She... she said she loves me...' Inuyasha had never had so much hope in his once completely enclosed heart. He felt so secure. He smiled at Kagome's confession and finally found the courage to walk forward.

Kneeling down Inuyasha wrapped his arms around Kagome from behind. After being together so long, this gesture was not as embarrassing as it used to be. They had more trust in one another than they could ever have in any other.

"Kagome... you're right. You are a baka..." He pulled her in a little tighter and kissed the top of her head. "I would never leave you." 'No, never.' At this moment Inuyasha felt so much love for Kagome. In no part of his mind did he have any dreams of leaving Kagome. He had no desire that involved being without her and he had no hopes that this moment would ever pass. Now more than ever he knew he wanted to be with her forever and for always.

Kagome was relieved by his worlds. This was the point when she realized she was in his embrace. Blushing, she found she couldn't pull away. 'He's... so warm.' She thought contently. His presence being so close to her warmed her heart and made all of her regrets disappear.

"Oh, Inuyasha... thank you." 'No, Kagome... thank you...'

Later

Since Kagome was now feeling happier than she had throughout the past few days she decided to make Inuyasha some ramen an hour and a half before dinner. She knew he always got bored and hungry before dinner time, so he would appreciate her supplying him some ramen, which he had been having sparingly since the well was closed.

Everyone was out doing their on thing and that included Inuyasha. Chances were he was sitting in some tree napping. He usually did that on days when no battles took place.

Kagome didn't mind bringing the ramen to him personally. If she was lucky they could even have a real conversation...

Coming to a stop at the Sacred Tree, Kagome looked up into its branches. She knew Inuyasha would probably come down on his own at the smell of both ramen and her.

"Inuyasha!' Kagome called up into the branches. She said no more as Inuyasha came down from the tree and a single leap. He looked at her and crossed his arms.

"What?" He took notice to two things right away. One, the fact that she was smiling. Two, she had a steaming cup of ramen in her hands that she was holding out to him.

"I thought you'd be hungry." Her smile glowed and Inuyasha blushed, excepting the soup and holding it close. As he held it he looked down into it and then curiously towards the girl. "Plus, I wanted to thank you for earlier." This time it was her turn to blush. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other nervously. "Umm... I was just being such a baka and you... you've changed, Inuyasha."

"Feh!"

"And I'm grateful." She kissed his cheek, both blushing. Kagome had been hoping to talk to him a little more, but figured he'd want to eat, so she turned around, intending to walk off.

"Stop." Inuyasha's stopped her with his command. She turned to him once again in wonder. He was still blushing.

"What is it?" She could sense his discomfort and hesitation towards whatever he wanted to do or tell her.

"Ah... Never mind." he looked away from her and down at his ramen again. Kagome was a little disappointed that he still found it hard to say what he wanted to her, but she knew it wouldn't take much more time for him to crack and finally open up to her completely. She sighed and continued walking away.

"Kagome..." Kagome stopped at that cold and familiar voice. It came from not just behind her, but from behind Inuyasha as well. Fear clasped her heart and squeezed tightly. It was just like her nightmare had began. She turned in haste. Inuyasha was also now facing towards Kikyo. "Stay girl."

"Kikyo..." Inuyasha trailed off. She was staring at him, waiting... expecting, but for what? Was Inuyasha the one she came for?

"You seem surprised, Inuyasha. I came. Were you not expecting me after Naraku's defeat?"

"I..."

"I had hoped that you would have come and searched for me. I appeared during your battle with Naraku for a reason."

"Kikyo..." Was all Inuyasha could repeat. Kagome began to worry and Inuyasha could sense it. He dropped the bowel of ramen. It splattered to the ground. It's tiny thud was ignored by the three standing there.

"Come with me Inuyasha. With a dogs fidelity you must stand loyal to your word." She was right! Inuyasha had forgotten that he had already pledged his life to Kikyo. He no longer had the right to make a choice.

The dog hanyou could not bring himself to look towards Kagome. He knew she was standing there waiting and watching. He could sense how jumbled her emotions were.

"Why are you hesitating, Inuyasha?" Kikyo's rage grew and you could hear it clearly in her tone. She gritted her teeth. It was of her hopes that he would come with her happily, but that wasn't the case. Kikyo decided to influence his decision a little more by approaching him.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome called.

"She's right, Kagome." Kikyo stopped and Kagome's body completely froze.

"She's... what?" Kagome took a step back. It was all to much to hope for. How could she have ever expected Inuyasha to choose her over Kikyo.

Kikyo grabbed Inuyasha in an embrace and Kagome hissed from the pain in her heart. A light appeared around Inuyasha and Kikyo.

"I have to stay loyal to my word." Inuyasha finished closing his eyes. A whole opened up beneath him and Kikyo. Kagome wanted to cry. Was this it? The end? After this would she never see Inuyasha again?

"No," Kagome whispered. "Inuyasha, stop!" She didn't know why she felt so childish now, as if what she was crying over was pointless. She ran forward and slid. The hole Inuyasha and Kikyo were going into was slowly getting deeper.

Kagome wouldn't let this happen. Inuyasha was everything to her. She would not allow him to be taken so easily. She reached down and grabbed his haori that clung to his shoulder. He looked up at her teary face in surprise.

"Please, don't go. You don't need to go to hell." Kagome tried convincing him. He looked away. "Inuyasha." Why did he seem so far from her grasp and why did he have to ignore her in such a way?

"I have..."

"No, you can live on. It's true you have a dog-demons fidelity, but you also have a humans adoration!" Inuyasha looked up at her in surprise. "Don't you... don't you..." She closed her eyes. "Love me! And Miroku, and Shippo, and Sango, Kirara, and Kaede!" Kagome let a tear slip from her eyes. She was crying out of pure fear. She was so scared of losing Inuyasha and so close at the same time. She remembered this from her nightmare. "Don't you love me as much as I love you?"

Inuyasha gasped. Now he was being pulled in two different directions. Since what Kagome said was true... about his adoration, he had to choose between adoration and fidelity.

"Kagome..." He hated to see her cry. He felt so bad seeing her there. She was shaking out of fear as he was getting pulled farther and farther away from her. She was so scared and all he wanted to do was hold her and rid her from her fears. All of them.

"Inuyasha, get that girl off you." Kikyo ordered. "Unless of course you want her to die as well...?"

"Kikyo..." Inuyasha struggled with his emotions. He knew what he wanted, but he felt sorry for Kikyo. "Kikyo, let go..." He mumbled. Kikyo's eyes widened and Kagome's as well. "I've changed my mind."

"It's to late for that." Kikyo replied, pulling on him tighter.

"No! It's never to late!" Inuyasha pulled away and jumped out of the hole. Kikyo glared at him.

"Inuyasha! You must keep your word!" Kikyo told him. The hole stopped growing larger.

"I can't go with you. I want to live on. I need to be here."

"You fool." Kikyo allowed her soul gatherers to wrap around her. "As if I will allow you to get off so easily. You forget the only reason I exist once again is to take you with me to hell. I will not give up just because you refuse. If the girl is the problem, perhaps she is the one I should deal with first." With that said she lifted into the sky and floated away. The hole in the ground closed with her exit.

As soon as she was out of site Inuyasha felt a pressure on his back. 'Thank gods...' Kagome thought to herself as she hugged Inuyasha. Her heart was still pounding. She had been so close to losing him there and if she hadn't said anything he wouldn't be with her right now.

"I'm... so glad." Kagome mumbled into Inuyasha's back. "I thought... I was so scared."

"I know." Inuyasha grabbed her hands that were wrapped around him and pulled them off him, turning to face her. "We should get back to the village now."

"You're right. The others are probably worried." Kagome released her hands from Inuyasha's and stood up. She dusted off her skirt and gave Inuyasha a smile as she left.

Kagome stopped upon passing the bowel of soup spilled on the ground. She leaned over and picked up the bowel. It saddened her that Inuyasha had gotten so close to leaving her for Kikyo, but the important thing was that he didn't.

One of the reasons it takes a little longer for me to update is not only school, but also the fact that I have so many other fan fictions that need to be updated including the new one that a lot of you seem to like... 'Tender Passion.'

Does anyone have any idea on what I should do with Kikyo. I really never had anything planned our for her character. I just knew she would appear here and there and cause some conflict, but I've got no serious plans for her and I don't really want her to be the main bad person like she is in some fan fictions.

Questions:

I would like to know what you think is the cutest way for Inuyasha to act...

Protective

Pouting

Brave

Dramatic

Etc.

Random Comments: (Inuyasha: The Castle Beyond The Looking Glass)

Kagome - "I love you. I love you as a half demon Inuyasha."

With these words Inuyasha slowly began to change from a demon to a hanyou as he held onto Kagome.

Princess Kaguya - "What's wrong Inuyasha? Why are you hesitating?" She chants something and Inuyasha digs his claws into Kagome's arms. Kagome winces.

Kagome - "How can I stop him from transforming?" Inuyasha yells out fighting with himself and Kagome looks up at him as a tear falls from her eyes. She leans up, creating an idea and kissed his bottom lip.

Sango - "Kagome..."

Princess Kaguya - "Now, release the beast that lies within you. Give me that young girl's body."

Kagome's Thought - 'Inuyasha... we always want to be together, don't we?' Inuyasha's eyes finally turn back to the amber ones they were. He releases Kagome's arms and all chances of him turning into a demon shatter.

Princess Kaguya - "What is happening?" She looks up to see Inuyasha close his mouth over Kagome's in the light kiss they shared.

Inuyasha's thoughts - 'Kagome.'

Shippo - "What is this?" Inuyasha and Kagome separate and stare at each other.

Kagome - "Inuyasha, you're alright now, aren't you?"

Inuyasha - "Kagome!" Inuyasha wraps his arms around Kagome's head. "Idiot, you're always so reckless... I'll stay a hanyou a little longer for you."

Adoration means Love

Fidelity means Loyalty