Chapter 8

" I'll always be here next to you…" Kagome smiled at his answer. She knew he'd never respond to her question. So she sighed as she stood up and gazed up at the stars. We fought so hard and won, but I still feel like I lost, thought Kagome.

She began to walk toward the small building that enclosed the well. Inuyasha, like a lost puppy, followed behind her. She paused at the entrance of the building for a moment before walking down the stairs and stopping at the bottom. Kagome turned around and saw Inuyasha standing at the threshold with the moon behind him.

"I know you'd never have me chose you over my family, but I'd never ask you to be something you're not. If you stay here you'd have to lie about being a hanyou. I could never ask that of you. And now that I know for sure that it's the Jewel that keeps the well open, I have to chose between being selfish and keep you here or go back down the well to be with you, but lose my family. Knowing the reason why you are here, night now, would make choosing one or the other a little easier."

"Kagome…" He took a few steps down.

"Do you have something to prove to yourself? Is it a sense of duty? Or is it something else that keeps you next to me?" He looked down at the ground and bit his lip. His feet took the last steps and stopped in front of her. He lifted his eyes to meet her's. He couldn't hide it anymore. If he didn't say it now, he might lose Kagome.

"Because… I love you", he whispered. His arms wrapped around her as he brought her closer to him. Her heart pounded in her chest and she became so nervous, her trembling worsened. While looking in her eyes, he moved his face so close to her's that their lips almost touched and she could feel his warm breath on her skin.

"Inuyasha", she whispered out of surprise. He ignored her and just kissed her softly until she melted into the moment.

At that instant, every worry and problem that plagued her mind disappeared. She felt herself fall into his arms. He had wanted to do this so many times, that feeling her fall deeper into the kiss almost made his heart stop.

"Kagome", Sota yelled from the front steps of the house, "Where are you?" She pulled away nervously. She felt like she had been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. "I'm…I'm over here, Sota! I'll be in in a second!"

"Alright, but mom wants you in now! It's getting late!" Stupid Sota, thought Kagome, so importuning.

She smiled up at Inuyasha; her face became hot and flushed when he took her hand. With a look of complete worry he said, "Kagome, I want you by me."

"I know", she smiled, "Come on. Let's go inside." She began to climb the stairs with Inuyasha behind her.

"Yeah. We'll figure out what we're gonna do tomorrow."

"We?" She suddenly stopped at the top and turned back at him.

"Whatcha starring at? You didn't hear wrong so keep walking", he scowled. She just flashed him the biggest smile she had ever gotten. He smirked as he watched her walk out of the enclosure absolutely giddy. He didn't feel too far off from her state of mind, but he would be damned if he was about to start acting like an idiot.

The next morning, Kagome woke up early and made her way to the bathroom. When she came back to her room, Inuyasha was still in the far corner sitting cross legged. He could smell the soap on her skin as she walked in.

"Inuyasha", she whispered while stopping in front of her desk.

"What", he looked up at her. He had always thought it so hard to get her out of his mind early in the morning.

"I was thinking last night… It's time to go home."

"Huh? You are home."

"No, our home. The one down the well." He was taken back by this. Is she saying what I think she's saying, he thought. She's leaving all this behind. Her family, her friends, everything! And did she just say OUR home. What the hell is that suppose to mean?

"What? What about your family? What about everything you have here?"

"What good is it if you're not around?" He couldn't think of anything to say to her. All he could do was stand up and look at her. "It'll hurt to leave, but it'll hurt a whole lot more to leave you."

"I can't let you do this. Not for me."

"What! LET me? And who do you think you are telling me what I should and shouldn't be doing?" She was completely offended.

"Well, I was just worried about you! You don't have to chew my head off!"

Downstairs, Kagome's mother and Sota were getting the table ready for breakfast when they heard the yelling and screaming upstairs. Which seemed to be getting worse with each passing minute.

"Well, they're up", Sota put a plate down on the table.

"They start early, don't they", Kagome's mother laughed.