Hey, L.A. here...

I am So Sorry for not posting upon my return as promised! (hides behind the big pink toy dog recieved for valentine's day) PLEASE don't kill me! sniffle I meant to, really I did! But, once I returned, it seemed like all hell broke loose! I never noticed how much stress I carry around daily, but damn, I sure did after that...

So now, I have finally written the last of this chapter, almost finished up 'The Deadly Game' (about 70-80 percent done), and have the next few chapters for this one already thought up:D

However, it may be a small while before I update thisstory again, with how things are going right now. I still have a good portion on my plate, so to say, to get through...

Also, I am leaving town again this weekend. I know, Ijust got back,and Ileave again, right? Sorry, but this trip is truly needed. I've fought long and hard for this, and I'm going! lol. But, I will post upon my return (well, where have we heard That before?) No, really... I mean it this time!

Okay, well here we go! (I am so gonna get flamed for this and the next few chapters... lol)

Chapter 18: And So It Begins

Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha! Although, after this weekend, I'll own a whole lot more than I do now!

Kagome's jaw nearly dropped to the ground as she witnessed the scene in front of her.

Lysi giggled as InuYasha took a grape from her fingers, his fangs gently nipping at her fingertips.

A low growl grew in Kagome's throat as she started forward, intent on destroyinng this girl who dared to flirt with 'her' InuYasha. Before she made it very far, however, Miroku picked her up and sped away from the camp site. Kagome, shocked by this turn of events, didn't say anything until Mikoru set her down, several lengths from their friends.

"How dare you stop me! She's touching my InuYasha! In ways he never allows me to! I'm gonna make her pay!" Kagome raged. Her frustration and anger were apparent as she attempted to untangle herself from Miroku's strong grasp.

"Kagome! Settle down!" Miroku demanded harshly. "Just listen to yourself! This isn't the Kagome that we all know and love." He hated seeing his friend in distress, and in turn hated InuYasha, but mostly Lysi, for causing it.

Kagome's struggles slowed at his words, until she simply stood, breathing heavy, in his arms.

"Oh, Mikoru!" She cried suddenly, burying her face in his chest, his long robes clutched in her small hands. Miroku instinctively wrapped his arms around her, trying to comfort her. He could feel her chest-wrenching sobs as she silently weeped and he pulled her closer, rocking her and whispering words of comfort like one would with a favorite child.

"I'm so sorry," She hiccuped, trying to push away her tears. "I-I know it's foolish of me to cry about something so silly, but Miroku, I can't take it... I love him!" She moaned, sobs still escaping her.

A soft smile graced Miroku's face at those words. She finally accepted and admitted a fact he had known for quite a while.

"And he loves you. Believe me, Kagome." He said softly, seeing the disbelief cross her pretty face. "He truly does. He's told me so. He just doesn't know how to tell you... And this Lysi girl? He saved her life, Kagome, and she's just being grateful. That's all there is to that. He feels nothing for her, except for friendship."

Kagome scowled at his last words, but did feel a whole lot better.

She wiped her tears away and smiled ruely.

"She shouldn't even be that..." She said gruffly, letting out the last of her frustration.

Miroku chuckled and put his arm around her shoulders.

"Come on, Kagome. Everyone's waiting for you."

InuYasha smiled at Lysi, then politely declined the offered grape in her petite hand. (He had only accepted the first few because, in his mind's eye, he saw Kagome feeding them to him.) After several minutes, however, he realized that Miroku still had yet to appear with his before mentioned love.

Trying to fight back any inappropriate thoughts, InuYasha gently pushed away from Lysi and stood up. Ignoring the youkai's disgruntled protests at his movement, he quickly hurried out to the clearing that he had seen Miroku enter only a small while ago. He saw the two people he sawt and smiled.

"Hey Kagome!" He called, waving her over. "Hurry up! I have someone for you to meet!"

Kagome groaned softly and looked up at Miroku at those words. His soft smile reassured her, however, and she turned to smile at InuYasha.

"Coming, InuYasha!" She called sweetly, trying her hardest to act like she knew nothing of this new arrival, and that she herself had just came back from her time.

She hurried to his side, and smiled up at him. "Who is it, InuYasha?" She asked curiously, following him through the bushes that lined their camp. Upon stepping through, she saw the culprit and narrowed her eyes slightly. InuYasha, lost in his excitment, didn't notice as he hurried to Lysi's side. He pulled her up and over to Kagome, who stood rigid beside the small morning fire.

"This, is Lysi." He announced happily, not noticing how bubbling he seemed. "She's a dog demon, like me." He pointed to her ears, then smiled at Kagome. He was rewarded by a dumbfounded look from the young girl. Lysi simply giggled, and stepped closer to InuYasha.

"Pleased to meet you..."

Kagome shook herself from her stump and smiled at the dog demon.

"Kagome." She said primly. "Pleased to meet you, Lysi. May I inquire as of why we are graced by your presence?" She fought back her hostility as much as possible, but some leaked into her words.

Lysi, quite easily picking up on Kagome's poorly suppressed anger, smiled.

"Oh, it's simple really. You see, InuYasha here bravely saved me from a ravanous pack of wolves. He's my hero!" At this, the small female dog demon grasped onto InuYasha's sleeve, turning soft, adoring eyes on him.

A blush crept to InuYasha's cheeks immediately, as he mummbled. "It was no big deal, really."

"Yeah, he does it all the time. Don't get false hope." At this point, Kagome was livid. She clenched her hands tightly, gritting her teeth.

Lysi turned her adoring gaze to Kagome, but once it landed on her, it changed to quiet hostility that only Kagome herself noticed. For, when Lysi spoke, her voice dripped with sweet innocence.

"Oh, no. Of course not! It's just that he's so cute, and nice... I was lucky he came along, or I would of died!" The young girl's body shuddered, and her delicate dog ears drooped, as if in dulled terror.

Kagome sniffed indignantly, keeping her eyes locked with Lysi's. 'Wouldn't have beenany great lose...' She growled in her head.

A long silence stretched across the camp, as the two girl gazed at each other with icy hatred. Suddenly, Kagome broke the cold silence by announcing she was taking a bath. She flounced away, after grabbing her bag from Miroku, then hawling Sango off with her.

"How can he act like that! Over that- that, flooze!"

Sango blinked as she watched her friend's rage.

"She's not that bad." She said in quiet defense of Lysi. This, apparently, was the wrong thing to say. For Kagome whirled on her, water spraying from her wet locks.

"What!" She practically screamed in the startled girl's face. "How can you say that! Did you not see how she was acting around him? And worse! The way he acted back!" She flung her hands up in the air in a desperately frustrated gesture.

Sango couldn't help but feel small remorse for the girl.

"Kagome," she said softly, "She was merely being grateful. That's all..."

Kagome huffed, and Sango immediately got the point that trying to reason with this frustrated girl was only a waste of her time. So, she simply sat back and let her friend vent in peace...

Hope you enjoyed that! And now, I will see you when I return:D

Please review!

L.A.

P.S. Heh, I just noticed that I have been numbering my chapters wrong... Since "Chapter 9" is actually only some side notes for this story, I'm really only on Chapter 17... Oh well. Just thought I'd clear that up, and maybe I'll fix it later. ;)