Chapter 18:

Inuyasha and Kagome sat by a fire. Sango and Miroku had gone back to Sango's village so she could take care of the graves and fix her boomerang since it was damaged in a fight with Naraku. Shippo had stayed in the village with Keade because he had gained a crush on a girl in the village and wanted to stay there with Keade. So it was just the two of them. Kagome smiled. It was a lot like how it was before, just not as much fighting as before.

Inuyasha looked at Kagome. "What are you smiling about?" He askeed.

"It seems more like it was before we met Shippo, Miroku, or Sango, you know?" Kagome asked. "When it was just you and me traveling together. It's nice." Kagome said before she looked back up at the night sky. A chill ran up her spine and she shivered before sneezing.

"You're gonna catch a cold Kagome! Why do you always wear the same outfit no matter what the weather it?" Inuyasha asked before he took his robe of the Fire Rat off and covered Kagome's shoulders with it.

"Thanks Inuyasha." Kagome said with a smiled as she pulled her knees to her chest and started to rock back and forth in front of the fire. She looked at Inuyasha. They were alone for once, for the first time in a while, and this is all they were doing? Just sitting around the fire. It was kind of romantic in a way, but nothing kagome had thought about. She hada bunch of love songs running through her head, mainly With You by S Club 7. She started to humm it before Inuyasha looked at her and smiled. She stopped. "What?" She asked.

"Nothing. That was a pretty song you were humming." Inuyasha said, completely surprising Kagome.

"Huh?" Kagome asked.

"Never mind." Inuyasha said as he looked away into the woods.

"Yeah." Kagome said as she looked into the flames. She wondered what Inuyasha was thinking about. Was he thinking of Kikyo, of her, or about Naraku? Kagome could never tell what was runnignt through Inuyasha's head.

Suddenly, Inuyasha started to growl. "What is it?" Kagome asked.

"Quiet." Inuyasha told her curtly. "There's someone in the bushes." He said as he began to stand. but as he stood, the fire grew larger and larger, until fire flew around them and surrounded them, leaving no way for them to escpae.

"EEEEEEKKKKKK!" Kagome screaming as Inuyash wrapped his arms around her.

"Keep the robe on Kagome!" Inuyasha told her.

"Tell her the truth Inuyasha." A dark voice said. "Tell her how you really feel about her, and you'll be freed."

Inuyasha knew who it was, but didn't know why they were doing this. He wasn't ready to tell Kagome how he really felt. He couldn't. He held Kagome tighter, and he felt her arms around his neck tighten "Inuyasha!" He heard her scream. Inuyasha gritted his teeth. If he didn't tell Kagome how he felt abouther, she would get hurt. he could come out fine, but he was afraid for Kagome.

"Kagome." Inuaysah said as he jerked Kagome so she was looking up at her. He could see that her cheeks were wet from tears, and her eyes were watery. Then he pulled her towards him with a forceful kiss. Once their lips touches, the flames rows, and swirled around them as if magic had taken over their camp until the flames were gone, but Kagome and Inuyasha continued to kiss until Kagome pulled away and looked up into Inuyasha's eyes.

"What was that for?" She asked him.

"I umm... I l-love you." Inuyash replied. But as soon as he said it, he froze. Did kagome feel the same way? Or did she only deal with him because she had to stay with him til the hewel was whole again? Then he saw a smile grace her lips, and he felt a little releaved.

"I love you too Inuyasha." Kagome replied.

Inuyasha smiled, glad that he finally had that off his chest. Then his ears twitched at the sound of someone in the woods. It sounded like someone crying, and he smelt tears. "I'll be right back." He said, confusing Kagome, but she let him go into the woods.

With Inuyasha...

Inuyasha followed hs nose until he found the source of the tears. He saw Flara standing there with a smile on her face, but when she saw Inuyasha, the smile got bigger. "I'm so proud of you!" She exclaimed.

"Huh?" Inuyasha asked.

"That you finally told her! I mean, seriously, it was so killing me! Literally, to have to come bug you everyday, and dropping hints all the time." She sighed. "Well, my job here is done. I'll see you around, k?" She said as she started to walk off, but stopped when Inuyasha grabbed her arm and held it tightly.

"Why did you force us into that?" Inuyasha asked.

"I thouht it would be good for the both of you." Flara said. Then she turned around. "And don't DARE get mad at me about it. You know you really are happy about it! You should be thanking me!"

"You didn't have to force us into it though!" Inuyasha yelled.

"Would you have done anything about it if I hadn't?" Flara asked.

Inuyasha stared at Flara blankly for a moment. "Yeah! Eventually. I mean, I would have said or done something eventually, but not yet. Maybe in a month or so I would have... I don't know!" Inuaysha yelled, and got angrier when he saw Flara giggling.

"Don't get mad. Be happy about it." She told him. Then she looked up at the sky. The moon was almost at center alignment. "Well, I better get home. They'll be worried if I don't show up soon. I'll see ya around." She said and dashed off before Inuyasha could say another word.

Inuyasha watched as Flara left, then headed back to Kagome before she got worried. Heh. Maybe Flara was right. Maybe it was a good thing that he and Kagome told each other. Well, he'll find out soon.

AN- Well, now that Inu and kag are out of the way, i just gotta finish up everything with Koga and Flara. Will they fall in love? Will Koga be pissed about Kagome? Will I just have Flara say good-bye to Koga and the pack? Who knows? But we'll see next time I update. Plz R&R. Thanx! TTFN!