A/N: I'd like to thank those who have reviewed this story so far. Thank you animeobsessed3191, Yuiki/Inuyasha/YamiLover, morlana and D-Chan3. I'm only continuing this story because you people are letting me know it's at least being read, maybe liked, otherwise I'm starting to feel that this is just a waste of my time. Without feedback, I just don't see the point putting my heart into my work for nobody to read, anyone who writes should know what I'm talking about, if you don't then you shouldn't be wasting your time. Thanks. Here's your story.

Chapter 4:...Don't humor me...:

The funeral for Shippo began early in the day. His tiny body had been cleaned and his face painted so he didn't look so dead. His skin had turned a shade of grey and blue colored his lips as well around his eyes but with the paint, his color had been greatly improved and his appearance didn't look so traumatic. Kagome, Sango, Miroku, Inuyasha and Kaede were allowed a private moment with the kitsune in Kaede's hut before he was brought out to the village square for public viewing and the ceremony.

Kagome had broken down and cried her heart out. She had never seen anyone close to her dead and this was a new experience. She had been told all her life that death was just a part of life and when her friend's uncle had died, Kagome had been told how 'peaceful' he looked and how he appeared to be 'sleeping'. She hadn't observed any of this with Shippo. Sure he looked at peace, but that was because he was dead and unmoving. What did they expect? Tossing and turning? He didn't look asleep, he just looked dead, all the make up and face paint in the world wouldn't help, it couldn't bring him back, it just reminded Kagome even more of what she had truly loss.

Sango sobbed as well. She stood there with hot tears streaking her cheeks as the monk presiding over the small service, prayed for the little soul to detatch from his friend's sadness and move on to a better place. She silently prayed that Shippo's spirit would some how help them to move on and keep them strong, but with his passing and Inuyasha's transformation into a full demon, she had to wonder, how long they could all hold on together? She figured that Inuyasha's demon side would eventually chase Kagome back down the well, to her era and she'd never return.

After the small service had ended, a couple of the villagers moved the body from Kaede's hut and the group preceded them from the hut and to the village square were all the villagers and others had gathered to pay their respects to the child. People who the Inuyasha clan had met on their travels had shown up from all over. Satsuki, who was Shippo's first crush had shown up. As well as Souten, survivor of the thunder demon tribe and her little dragon minion, Kouryuu. Half demon, Shiori and her mother had come to offer support to the friends that had helped them defeat Shiori's demon grandfather, Taigokumaru, so long ago. Koume was there with her black, two tailed demon, Kuroro. If it hadn't been for Shippo, she wouldn't be alive today and she greatly mourned the passing of her own personal hero. Even the kindly half demon, Jinenji was their with his mother to pay his respects and to offer special healing herbs to his dear friends.

"Look at all the people. He really was a special little guy." Kagome said softly to Inuyasha.

"Kagome! There you are. How are you holding up?" Kouga's familiar voice came from right behind Kagome. Inuyasha stiffened up, he didn't want to create a scene at a time like this, but the last person he really wanted to be around was standing right behind them.

"Oh, Kouga, you showed up. Thank you for coming." Kagome said politely as she turned to greet the wolf demon with a fake smile.

Kouga had seen it and looked sternly down at her and said, "don't smile for my sake. You're hurting and this is a time to grieve so please don't put on a show for me, although I am flattered". Kouga smiled and took her hand and planted a gentle kiss on it.

"Thank you. Your friendship means a lot to me right now, thank you and your tribe for your generous support and prayers at this time." Kagome said and gave him a short bow.

Inuyasha's head was swarming with anger and confusion as his tired mind attempted to catch any underlying tones that could be in Kagome's voice. He was mainly looking for an excuse to be suspicious of her and Kouga and of course if you listen hard enough, you eventually hear what you want to hear, or don't want to hear.

'Hear that? His FRIENDSHIP means A LOT to her. You know, at times of grieving women are emotional and will except comfort from the first man that comes along and offers it. Traitorous wench.' Inuyasha's mystery voice hissed from within.

'She just meant that him being here for US helps her grieving process. It's him I don't trust, not Kagome.' Inuyasha mentally answered back.

'Perhaps, or maybe she is thinking about how happy Kouga and his tribe might make her. You need to be careful of the human girl as well the wolf demon. Remember, human emotions rise like a tide and can easily flood, confusing them and make them vulnerable and weak and Kouga knows that.'

'I'll watch out for Kouga, don't you worry about that, but I'm not going to suspect Kagome of foul play, so leave her out of this!' Inuyasha audibly growled as his mind started to fill him with doubt. He wanted to trust Kagome, but that damn nagging voice kept him from truly trusting the girl and that is a bad recipe for jealousy.

"Inuyasha, are you okay?" Kagome asked in a hush tone so not to disturb funeral that had commenced while Inuyasha had been mentally arguing with himself.

"Fine." Inuyasha snapped back and then cringed when he saw the hurt and confusion on Kaogme's face. "Sorry, just thinking that's all."

"That's okay, I understand." Kagome said sadly.

Kouga watched with curiosity as Inuyasha seemed to be going through conflicting emotions. He had to wonder if the dog mutt had plans to fight him now his blood had changed. He mused over the possibility that Inuyasha thought he could take him on, but Kouga knew better, that it took more than strength to beat an opponent, it also took strategy and Kouga knew that came with training, not brute strength.

The funeral proceeded well into the after noon as the people formed a line to view Shippo before the cremation ceremony began. Kagome shuddered and cried even harder when she touched Shippo for the first time since he died, but it would be the last. His skin felt like a cold sponge and was unmoving under her touch, she couldn't believe that this was once the same little creature that use to sleep with her and keep her warm with his own body only a week ago. She was in agony as she realized that she would never again feel that warmth curled up to her as she slept. He was her living, breathing teddy bear and she was going to miss every little thing about him.

Miroku, who had been holding it together pretty well, started to softly cry as he walked away from the tiny kitsune after saying a prayer and a good bye to him. He, like Sango, prayed that they would some how find closure and move on with the loving memory of Shippo in their hearts. Then he too began to wonder what effects Inuyasha's new form would bring to the group as they started their new journey in life. He hoped that Buddha would have mercy on all of them, but knew that sometimes things happened that even Kami couldn't control. Miroku figured that time would reveal to them what fate has in store for him and his friends.

The group had decided to leave when the presiding monk lit the burning block with a torch, they just didn't have it in them to watch their little friend be cremated. Although it was a part of their culture, they felt that they didn't need to be witness to it.

"Inuyasha?" Inuyasha looked to Kagome when she spoke his name. "I-I think I should go home, just for a little bit today, so I can talk to my mom and bring her up to current events. Okay?" Her voice was strained from crying. He knew it'd do her some good to go home for a bit.

"It's alright. If you want, I can walk you to the well." Inuyasha said.

"I'd like that. Thank you." Kagome said as she gave Inuyasha a genuine smile. His eyes softened upon the sight of the old smile on Kagome's face. One he thought he'd never see again.

They walked in silence to the well, Inuyasha's hands were folded int his sleeves as he walked in deep thought. His face was turned up as he gazed at the passing canopy above them. He marveled at how the light filtered through the trees as the sun started to set, almost making the canopy look like stained glass. It was at that moment that Inuyasha felt truly at peace. His best friend was at his side and she wasn't afraid of his new appearance and seemed even happy for him. Not to mention he was alone with Kagome for the first real time since she recovered from her injuries.

"Inuyasha, thank you." Kagome suddenly said.

"Huh? For what?" Inuyasha responded as he was suddenly broken from his thoughts.

"For walking me here and for every thing else." Kagome said as she approached the well. She sat on the edge and looked up at him.

"It's not a problem. It's what I'm suppose to do, right?" Inuyasha asked as he took a step towards Kagome.

"No." She said flatly.

"Huh?" Inuyasha was a bit confused.

"You chose to do it. I never asked you stay with me after we killed Nuraku. You chose to stay." She smiled.

"Do you want me to stay? Did I do something wrong?" Inuyasha asked uncertain if she was unhappy with his sacrifice or not.

"I wouldn't have changed anything for the world. It made me happy that you wanted to stay with me and let me stay here. I thought maybe I'd remind you too much of what you shared with Kikyo, that it would hurt you if I stayed here." Kagome cast her gaze down as she spoke, knowing that speaking of the miko was painful enough for Inuyasha.

"Is that what you thought? Yes, it hurts that she died as a result of our poor judgment, but I know now she should have never been brought back in the first place. In a way, she never was resurrected really, it was just an animated clay pot, your brother helped me to understand that. And now, being full demon, I just can't stay that emotionally attached now that she's dead and gone. My instincts tell me to remember her, but move on. Weird, huh?" Inuyasha looked at Kagome with a crooked smile.

"Not at all, it's been such a long time, that feeling is natural, even in humans. I'll always miss Shippo, but there will be a time some point in my life that it won't hurt so much to remember him and I'll eventually be able to look back and smile at the memories we shared." A tear worked itself free from Kagome's eye and slid down her cheek as she spoke. "I'm sorry that you had to go through such a drastic change, just to save me. And please know that I don't blame you at all for Shippo's death.

"I know." Inuyasha said as he reached out and captured Kagome around her shoulders and brought her to him in a tight hug and continued to speak. "I tried to help him, but he died as I held him. I just wish I wasn't alone." Inuyasha sighed.

"I'm glad you were with him. If I couldn't have been, I'm happy it was you, I'm sure he was happy too. At least he didn't die alone." Kagome muffled from his shirt. "Thanks Inuyasha."

"No, thank you Kagome." Inuyasha said. He started sniffing the air as a new aroma caught his attention. He was pretty certain who that sent belonged to so he turned back to Kagome, smiling and said, "I think you should return now, it's starting to get late. I'll be here when you return". And helped Kagome up and over the well.

He waited for the light to fade and her sent to disappear before he left the area. He followed the sent down the trail, towards the village and sure enough, he encountered the person it belonged to. Kouga was wandering down the trail, wondering where Kagome disappeared off to, when he saw Inuyasha he stopped dead in his tracks and glared at the hanyou.

"So, where's Kagome? She left without saying anything and we were getting worried." Kouga said.

"She went home for a bit. She'll be back and she's NOT yours to worry about." Inuyasha ground out.

"If she were mine, she would never be put in the way of danger! You almost got her killed and you're saying I shouldn't worry?" Kouga bellowed.

"You think I don't know that? Yes, she almost died, but because of ME, she didn't! I wish I could have kept her out of danger, but that was impossible. Even YOU wouldn't be able to control her and you know it. Now if you'll excuse me, Kagome didn't say when she'd be back, but I promised her that I would be there when she got back and I don't know when that is." Inuyasha growled at Kouga but made no move that showed he intended to start something more.

"Very well then. I will go back to the village and tell your friends where you two are. I will see you later, mutt." Kouga said indigently.

"Actually Kouga, I request that you no longer hang around Kagome. You're presence makes me...uneasy." Inuyasha said in a low tone that almost made the wolf prince shudder.

"I will consider it, but I doubt it. If it makes you feel better, I just won't come around when you're with her. I'll wait until she's alone. Bye Inuyasha." Kouga said and jumped into his whirlwind and took off towards the village. Kouga smirked at the fact he could still aggravate the former hanyou.

"Touch her and die, wolf." Inuyasha growled out, knowing that Kouga couldn't hear him. He turned slowly and made his way back towards the well.

'You gave him fair warning. If he touches her, you should just kill him. Don't give him a chance to take her from you.'

'He won't. I'm going to see to that.' Inuyasha said flatly to the snarling voice that had been tormenting him for the past couple of days.

'He's not your friend, remember he's your rival. Has been from the time you met as he is now. He's been stepping on your toes since day one and the only thing that kept him alive was Kagome. Why do you think she wanted to keep him alive all this time? Maybe she was waiting for her chance to be rid of you so she could go to him. He is quite hansom after all.' The voice dripped with poison as it spoke.

'Lies! She wouldn't plan to just LEAVE me for him! She said herself she was happy here, with me." Inuyasha snarled back.

'She said she was happy for the memories you guys have shared, she said nothing of wanting to stay with you longer. Maybe she's happy here because Kouga gives her the attention she wishes she would receive from you.'

Okay, so that last comment stung. Inuyasha cringed as he sat near the well, waiting for Kagome. He knew that she felt ignored by him and unimportant in his life, she had expressed that feeling earlier that day. Inuyasha started to hate himself for the way he had treated Kagome in the past, he took everything for granted. He just figured that he'd eventually lose it all one day any way. With Shippo's death, Inuyasha realized how much he really took for granted over the past couple of years and he was starting to resent himself for it.

He sat deep in thought, well into the night. He was starting to drive himself insane with guilt and hatred towards himself and his damned past. He wished desperately he could have met Kagome under different circumstances. He wished he had died while pinned to that forsaken tree, then maybe he would have been reincarnated in Kagome's time were they'd eventually find each other and kicked things off from there. No, he was now a full demon, resenting his very existence, waiting for the one girl who made his life worth wild and not even knowing if she wanted to stay with him and develop their relationship into maybe something more.

"Inuyasha, I'm back." Kagome whispered softly as she stood a foot away from Inuyasha, not knowing if he was asleep or not. His eyes were closed, but he was sitting bolt upright. When he didn't respond, she slowly closed the space between them and reached out to touch his shoulder.

Upon contact of her hand on his shoulder, his eyes flew open as he violently lunged at her, pinning her to the forest floor by her shoulder and she found her self in a compromising position under him. His chest heaved as he snarled at her with his teeth fully bared. She looked at him in terror when she saw that he held no recollection of her in his eyes.

"AHHH! Inuyasha! Please!" She cried. When he finally came to his senses and realized what was happening, his eyes widened in shock and horror at what he could have done to the girl. For a moment there he was hell bent on killing her for sneaking up on him. He quickly pushed himself back and crawled to the nearest tree and stared at her in disbelief.

"Kagome, I am so sorry! I didn't mean to! Did I hurt you?" He asked in a panicked tone.

Kagome blinked, stunned at what happened. She sat up and looked at him in utter confusion. "I'm not hurt, but what happened? For a moment there, I was in fear for my life. Inuyasha, are you okay?" She blinked back a couple of tears, but couldn't keep the emotion out of her voice.

"I'm sorry, I didn't even realize it was you. My senses betray me, I didn't even catch your presence, so I thought you were a demon who had snuck up on me. You know I would do anything to hurt you on purpose." Inuyasha looked at her and his face twisted with pain when he saw the fear hadn't subsided in her eyes. He could have really killed her if he hadn't hesitated.

"Inuyasha, you need to be more careful. I know that with your demon body comes new and strange changes, but this is something that you need to control a little better." Kagome stated.

"I'm not going to hurt you. I promise that I'll be more careful, but please do the same yourself. I don't want to lose you too. If you got hurt, I don't think I could go on, specially if you were hurt because of me." Inuyasha's voice cracked as he talked. He was genuinely afraid for Kagome as well as himself. His judgment was clouded by his self loathing and that didn't help his current situation now.

"Inuyasha, I brought something for you." Kagome suddenly changed subjects as if nothing had even happened. She grabbed her big yellow backpack and crawled over to Inuyasha.

"Yea? Like what?" He asked.

Kagome reached into her backpack and quickly retrieved an object and shoved it under Inuyasha's nose crying, "Ramen!". Inuyasha smiled wide, showing his new fangs and his purple on red eyes brightened up and twinkled at the sight of the tasty morsel held under his nose.

"Great! Let's get back and cook some up!" Inuyasha cried as he jumped to his feet, dragging Kagome with him and placing her on his back and started jogging down the trail in the direction of the village.

Kagome giggled at Inuyasha's fast pace. He didn't really run, but he did make haste. She leaned against his back and thought back to how she use to ride like this back when they were journeying for the jewel shards. She smiled as she reflected on the past and just when she thought she could start to relax again, she felt every muscle in Inuyasha's back tighten up as he came skidding to a halt.

"Kouga! Whadda ya want!" Inuyasha angrily cried as his chest erupted with a growl as his demon side screamed at him to kill the wolf prince and he planed to act on that instinct. Inuyasha smiled dangerously at Kouga as his mind screamed, 'He will DIE!' .

A/N: Okay I'm ending it here. Just a matter of time before things inevitably take a turn for the worst. What will happen between the two and how is Kagome going to cope? You'll just have to wait for the next chapter, that is, if there is a next chapter. You're reviews will decide the fate of this story. And if you DON'T like this story, PLEASE tell me why so I can fix it, otherwise I have to assume that this story isn't being read, therefore not worth my time. Thanks to my readers who have graciously reviewed, you're the best!

SunStreak