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Chapter Seven

Some Hearts

The sun began to rise a few hours later, and Kagome stood up, the sad smile back on her face.

"I'd better go now," she said to her human friends, "since I have to say goodbye to Tsubaki and everyone."

Miroku and Sango responded with a nod, and Hojo smiled brightly at her.

Turning and walking into the forest, she folded her arms around her, as the early-morning breeze was strong.

There was a rustling in the trees in front of her, and she stopped short, shivering. "Is someone there?" she called stupidly, then mentally kicked herself. Of course there was no one there! No one ever came into this forest!

So Kagome continued on, brushing a strand of raven black hair behind her ear.

He watched her as she walked, keeping his breathing quiet. She looked beautiful, as always, and she was still in her ornate festival kimono.

Will she love someone else for the rest of her life? He cursed softly and dug his claws into the tree trunk.

He couldn't bear to do this. But he had to.

Kagome shrieked as something dropped to the ground in front of her. Losing her balance, she stumbled and fell backward…

And was caught by the wrist before she hit the ground.

"I-Inuyasha!" she stammered.

He said nothing, just looked down at her with a pained expression on his face.

"Are you all right?" she asked, placing a cautious hand on his arm.

He closed his eyes tight for a moment, then grabbed her around the waist, pulled her close to him, and held her. She didn't even have a chance to react.

And then he took her face in his hands and kissed her. Kagome hesitated for a moment, then wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed back. She found memories of the festival flooding into her mind, but this kiss was nothing like that one. That first kiss had been shrouded in mystery, putting her focus entirely on her mouth entwined with his.

But this time…

It was him she was kissing, letting pour out of her all of the feelings for him she'd harbored over the years, not asking questions, not wondering what he was doing here, not even remembering that she was planning to leave him in anger.

Just kissing him back.

They broke apart and stared at each other. Kagome had tears brimming in her eyes, and, to her shock, it looked like Inuyasha did too.

"Inuyasha," she said softly, letting go of his neck.

Inuyasha caught her wrist gently and her eyes opened wide. "Kagome," he said, one tear escaping his eye, "I…love you."

Kagome opened her mouth to reply, but he screwed his eyes shut and dug his claws into her forearm.

She screamed in pain. "What are you doing!"

He growled and shoved her backwards, making her fall to the ground.

"Inuyasha? What's going on!" she begged, clutching her bleeding arm and looking up at him with a mixture of shock, fear, and confusion.

Ignoring her, Inuyasha raised his claws to strike…

And looked her in the face. Tears were spilling from both their eyes, tears of pain and betrayal and love and every other emotion that they'd ever felt for each other.

His arm fell limply to his side.

Kagome stared at him, trembling.

"Kagome," he murmured, "It's not safe for you anymore. Get the human group out of here, and go back to the human world with them."

"I don't understand," she pleaded, "What's happening?"

"Sesshomaru…ordered me…" he trailed off, his face downcast.

"Inuyasha!" She stood up and looked him straight in the eyes. "What threat are Miroku, Sango, and Hojo? They're just traveling. What's going on! Please tell me!"

"Humans are killing demons now," he muttered, "and Sesshomaru told me it was either your life or the village's. He said that you were a danger to everyone because you could lead the humans right to us."

"He said that?" Kagome said, eyes widening, "But those three aren't slayers!"

"Are you sure?" Inuyasha said, "I don't think you are."

Kagome began to cry again, clutching the front of Inuyasha's shirt. "I put everyone in danger because I'm a human," she murmured, realizing the truth. "Now I see why you didn't want to tell me."

Inuyasha suddenly folded his arms tightly around her again, not denying what she'd just said, not saying anything. He loved her too much.

"Inuyasha," she begged softly, "Let me go. Please, let me go."

"No," he replied, almost growling, and she fell silent.

He held her there for several moments, with eyes closed and mouths silent. Then he finally released her. "Do what you think is right," he muttered, turning to leave, "But don't even think about leading those humans tothe village."

Sesshomaru stared straight ahead, eyes narrowed. He was looking into a sort of crystal ball, one of Tsubaki's numerous trinkets. And indirectly, he was watching his younger brother kiss and embrace the human girl, though he couldn't hear what they were saying.

"There are slayers in the forest, milord?" Jaken asked, and Sesshomaru nodded without looking at him.

"What are we going to do about it?" Jaken pressed on.

"Silence," Sesshomaru snapped, "The opportunity for action has yet to be revealed to me."

He doesn't know, thought Jaken.

"When do you suppose Kagome's coming back?" Sango asked, folding a blanket and stuffing it into her pack.

"No idea," replied Miroku, "but it shouldn't be too much longer. She's still mad at that half-breed, after all."

Just then Kagome appeared between the trees, a distant look on her face.

Hojo ran up to her, and Miroku and Sango exchanged glances.

"Kagome, are you quite all right?" Hojo asked her in alarm. Kagome seemed to come out of a trance.

"Huh? Oh, yeah. I'm fine," she said, then sighed, walking right past him and sitting by the fire.

"Kagome?" Sango asked, a wry smile on her face.

"Yeah?"

"What's wrong with you?'"

Kagome grinned. "Nothing's wrong! I'm fine…I'm great…" The strange faraway look returned to her face and she stared off into space.

Miroku coughed to hide a laugh and said, "You're acting like you're—"

"In love?" Kagome finished, then, realizing, reddened and covered her mouth.

Hojo smiled behind her, and Sango fought back another laugh. "I don't think she means you, Hojo," she said, and Hojo's goofy smile faded.

Miroku looked at her in confusion. "You can't mean the half-breed, can you?"

Kagome didn't answer, but her face grew serious and she looked at him.

Sango scoffed. "She does."

Hojo jumped in front of Kagome, making her jump. "Kagome! He's no good for you! He lied to you about being human, and that has to say something!"

Kagome shook her head. "It's not his fault!" she snapped, "It's because of people like the three of you, coming here to find our village and kill us all!"

Miroku, Sango, and Hojo stopped short, eyes wide.

"Who told you?" Miroku finally asked.

"Take a wild guess!"

"The half-breed," Hojo said bitterly.

Kagome nodded.

"Well then, I personally know who I'm gonna kill first when we find your stupid little village!" Hojo drew his sword and lunged at the open air.

Sango and Miroku looked at him strangely. "Hojo, calm down."

"Don't tell me to be calm!" Hojo retorted.

Kagome, meanwhile, stood up and shoved him roughly backward. "Don't you touch him," she hissed dangerously, "I mean it."

Hojo fell to the ground and wiped his lip, which was bleeding.

Kagome ignored him and turned to Miroku and Sango. "Are you going to attack our village?'

They didn't meet her eyes, but nodded. "We have our orders, and we must follow them," said Miroku.

Kagome closed her eyes painfully for a moment, folding her arms. It suddenly felt cold.

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