1 Chapter 3
"I knew it. You would rather have her than me."
"No, Kikyou, please, I will always love you."
"What? Inuyasha? I thought you loved me!"
"Kagome! I–"
"Inuyasha?"
"Inuyasha?"
"Inuyasha?"
He woke with a start. The fire had burned down, leaving orange embers amongst the ash. He slowly got up, and sat down by the fire and added more fuel slowly making the fire build once more. He sat, staring into the flames, as if maybe he could find the answer there. What am I supposed to do? I like Kagome more, but Kikyou is always there. Kagome is so much kinder, Kikyou has a kind of cold love, never coming close. Kikyou was patient, and I loved her, until she shot me to a tree. Kagome is warmer, she is with me almost always, supporting me, no matter what. God she's beautiful, too. And I've hurt her so much, but she still stays with me...
"Inuyasha? Are you hungry? I'll make Ramen." Kagome sat upand looked at Inuyasha. "Huh?..oh, sure, yeah." "What's wrong, Inuyasha?" "Nothing."he said, his voice trailing off. "Oh, Okay." She tookout a small, metal pot. "Inuyasha? Can you hear a river nearby?" He rotated his ears in a full 360 degree circle. "Yea. I'll go get the water." He stood up slowly, and took the pot from Kagome's hand. I wonder what's really wrong with him. He seems so...distant. I wish he would open up more. Maybe he'll feel better if I make him some food. She sat down next to the fire, poking he embers with a sharp stick, waiting for Inuyasha to return with the water. She stood upand walked over to the woodpileselecting two sharp sticks. She walked over to the fire and drove the two sticks int the groundacross from each other. I wonder if he's thinking about Kikyou. Maybe he misses her. But why should I care, I mean it's not like me's mine. But Kami I can hope, right? She then tied a string tightly across the twolimbs, securing itwith heavy knots. "Hey, got the water." "AAAHHH!" she shrieked. Inuyasha jumped backwards, confused. "My Kami, Inuyasha! Don't sneak up on me like that!" "What? I was walking pretty loudly. Don't tell me you're deaf!" "No, Inuyasha I was just thinking." "'bout what?" "Nothing." "Well you were thinking pretty hard for thinking about nothing." He sat down next to the fire, watching the flames dance, deciding not to push the matter. He set the pot of water next to him, on the warm ground.Kagome knelt next to him and turned her head to face him. She looked at his face, taking in every detail. If only...If only he knew. She thought, hoping Inuyasha could hear what she was thinking, just so he would ask. "What?" Inuyasha turned to face her. "Oh...uh" She stood up, taking the pot in hand and turning away from Inuyasha. "Just looking at you." "Man, you're acting weird lately. You're always spacing out or whatever." She shrugged, and turned, kneeling down to her backpack, taking out a package of Ramen. She walked back to the fire, looping the string around the pot handle, making sure it wouldn't fall.She ploppeddown next to Inuyashawatching the pot. The two sat in silence, Kagome getting up once to put the Ramen into the pot, then sitting back down, only to get up when the soup needed to be stirred. Finally the food was ready. She reached into her bag and brought out two clay bowls, smooth from usage. She spooned the Ramen into the bowls ,and sat back down, handing one to Inuyasha. "Thanks." he said. They ate in silence, just minding themselves. Thank you, Kagome. Thank you for just being there. He thought to himself. "Inuyasha? Are you finished?" "Yeah." Kagome took the bowls and wiped them out, placing them back into her backpack. "We should get going, Kagome, or we'll never get to the mountains." "Alright Inuyasha. Hey?" "What?" "Can I walk today? I always feel guilty riding on your back because you have to carry two people." "Sure I guess, but don't feel guilty. You're so slow anyway, it's just faster like that." "Thank you Inuyasha." "For what?" "Everything." she had on of those completely-happy-with-the-world facesstaring ahead Okay, that was strange. Lately she's been kinda...I don't know... so...joyful. She's so pretty when she smiles. Hell, she's pretty all the time. Kagome was getting ahead of him, swinging her arms peacefully. He jogged to catch up with her.Walking next to her, he looked up. The sunlight was streaming through the branches of the trees, making playful shadows on the ground. Only a few leaves had unfolded, but when the light struck them, they glistened like jewels. "Kagome, come here. I want to show you something." he beckoned. Kagome had a questioning look on her face, but went over anyway. "Kagome , do you trust me?" "Why Inuy–" "Kagome, do you trust me?" "Of course Inuyasha, but wh—" He grabbed her around the waist, and jumped into the air, higher that the trees that belittled them. Kagome let out a small shriek, being startled at the suddenness. He landed on the top branch of the tallest tree, facing the horizon. "Look." Kagome turned her head from Inuyasha to the mostly risen sun. The view shocked her. Birds flew over the trees, diving into the forest, then coming up again. She could see for miles, and in the very distance, barley visible, were the mountains. They were slightlymore torwards the north, the direction actually more north-east than north. It was then she realized she was holding her breath. She slowly let it out. "Oh Inuyasha, it's so beautiful." He sat down on the branch, having been crouching for a while. He looked at her, a look so worried it made Kagome wonder if he was okay. This was it. He was going to tell her. "Kagome, there's something I have to tell you, I..." Finally, Kagome could hold it in no longer, it was now or never. She leaned in and kissed him, hoping for a return. Inuyasha was startled, but wasn't unhappy. He returned her kiss, spilling out the emotion that had been building up for as long as he had known her. Neither of them wanted the kiss to end, but we all have to breath sometime. They pulled apart, looking into each other's eyes. "Inuyasha, I love you." She said quietly touching his hand.'I love you too, Kagome" he said, a small smile broke out on his face. He reached out, grasping Kagome in an embrace holding her as if he would never let go. Kagome rested her head under his chin, feeling him all around her.She sighed, nudging closer to him. And there they sat, in each other's arms, looking out into the sun.