I know this chapter moves fast, but I hope it's not too fast. If you like it, or even if you don't, please review.

Darkest Fears

The next few days were filled with attacks. Never again did youkai come in those numbers, however.

Inuyasha had recovered slower than usual, but still quicker than any human could have. But, while he was bedridden, Inuyasha was more agitated than ever. Normally, all he did was sit outside and complain.

"Kagome, I'm fine now, let me get up and scout around. I smell youkai all over the place." Inuyasha whined, repeating an argument he had used ten times before.

"Inuyasha! You are so mulish! If you scout around you'll hurt yourself, and we'll have to go through this whole process again," she explained and then added in a whisper, "And I won't be so forgiving next time."

"Feh, you forgiving, well then I'm a full blooded youkai." He muttered under his breath, and then slowly to got up.

"I'm going Kagome, I can make my own decisions."

"Inuyasha, sit!"

"Great, I'm not well enough to scout, but I'm well enough to be told 'sit'," Inuyasha grumbled, obviously in pain.

Forgetting her anger, Kagome ran over to him. "Oh Inuyasha, I'm so sorry, I forgot."

Inuyasha muttered something that she couldn't quite here, but she got the gist of it.

"Inuyasha, really, I'm sorry. Here," she held out her hand and helped him up.

"Let's take a walk, you could scout on the way," She offered, trying to be nice.

"Fine, let's go then."

They walked past the Goshinboku (the Sacred God Tree) and into the forest. They went in silence, but it was not an awkward silence, but a companionable silence. Their argument was already long in the past.

"Inuyasha, do you smell anything?" Kagome asked tentatively.

"Yeah, plenty of youkai, but none near enough to be a threat."

"That's good. Do you think they will attack tonight? The sun's almost down."

"No, but it seems like they're waiting for something."

"But what?"

"I don't know, but they are definitely waiting."

"Well, let's not worry about that tonight. Okay?"

"Alright," he agreed.

The forest was quiet. All the animals had been scared away by the youkai, so Kagome and Inuyasha had the forest to themselves. Kagome wished it could be like that more often, just her and Inuyasha.

Glancing over at Inuyasha, Kagome noticed he wasn't limping anymore. He recovers so quickly, it's only been five days.

"What are you looking at?" Inuyasha asked, interrupting her thoughts.

"Umm, nothing…" Kagome looked away, blushing, but then asked, "Inuyasha, do you miss fighting with the youkai?"

He looked thoughtful for a moment and then sat down in the soft grass, motioning for her to join him. "I don't miss the fighting exactly. I guess you could say I feel left out."

"Left out how? I just don't see how fighting can solve anything."

"I know you don't understand, Kagome. Here, let me ask you this, have you ever felt helpless during a battle?"

Kagome smiled, "Of course I do, all the time. I mean, with Sango, Miroku, and you around, how can I not feel helpless sometimes. It took me awhile to accept it, but I love having friends that will stand up for me."

They lapsed into a silence again until a thought struck Kagome, "Inuyasha, do you feel helpless when you can't protect us?"

Inuyasha looked at her, his look begging her to understand. The mood had grown almost solemn. "When I was really little, my mom died, and I could do nothing to prevent it. I was left with family that was indifferent at best, hateful at worst. It was then, even as young as I was, that I decided never to let anyone I cared for be hurt again. That was when I first resolved to be a full youkai.

"Then, when I was older, I met Kikyou. I had trusted few people since my vow, and more than anyone else, I trusted her. She thought me compassion and how to care for people, and convinced me to become human, but then…Naraku played his trick. When I was sealed to that tree, I was left with so much bitterness that I couldn't stand it. My heart broke at that moment, and I truly believed it would never be mended."

He paused and Kagome urged him on gently, "And then?"

"Then, fifty years later, I met you. I was cold to you at first, but then…you mended my heart. You made me care about you; you made me care what happened to you. Before you, I had never been able to protect those I loved, but I promised myself again, that with you it would be different. I won't let you be hurt, Kagome, I promise you, I will be there for you. My greatest fear is…that I won't be strong enough to protect you.

Kagome looked at Inuyasha and realized that he had tears in his eyes. He has been through so much, and yet he still cares. He has told me his deepest secret, and now, I should tell him mine.

Taking his hand, Kagome began to shakily talk. "I did not know what life was, before I met you, Inuyasha. I was a silly school girl. All I cared about was my grades and my friends. I thought I knew what life was about, but I didn't. You taught me how to live, that life is about more than meaningless grades. It is about virtue, protecting your loved ones, and most importantly, putting others before yourself.

"Now, when you go into battle, you rarely battle for yourself, but battle instead for your friends and companions. I realize now that this is what life is about, but despite this belief, I still harbor one selfishness. Inuyasha, if I lose you, I will die. I cannot go back to how I lived before, you opened my eyes to life…and love. Please, don't leave me."

Tears cascaded down Kagome's face and he held her close. Tilting her chin up towards his face, he did something unexpected, he kissed her. Passionately and deeply they kissed.

Slowly, the kiss progressed. There was urgency behind their movements as Kagome began to strip off Inuyasha's haoris. So long, they had kept their emotions just beneath the surface of their lives, and now they were unleashed. They quickly stripped out of the rest of their clothes and merged. Kagome was careful even in the moment, not to injure Inuyasha.

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Later, Kagome lay across Inuyasha's chest, both of them were breathing hard. Forcing her breath to come slower, Kagome asked, "Inuyasha, do you still wish to become a youkai?"

"I want only to protect you." He murmured, kissing her again.

Reaching up to her neck, Kagome undid the string holding the Shikon no Tama. "Here Inuyasha, after what we have been through I trust you completely. Just remember, there is more to true power than strength. Once, you believed a priestess who told you the joys of being human. I ask now, only that you remember your old conviction."

Taking the jewel of her neck, she retied it around Inuyasha's, "I have purified it, but it is yours now, do what you will with it."

Inuyasha was speechless. All he could do was stare at Kagome in utter amazement. For as long as he had known her, Kagome had protected the jewel, not only from youkai trying to steal it, but also from him.

And now, when I no longer desire the jewel and the strength it represents, she gives it to me. As much as I love Kagome, I will never understand her.

Looking down, Inuyasha noticed that Kagome had fallen asleep. He smiled, happy for the first time in five days, because he finally had admitted his love for Kagome, and his feelings had been returned. Wrapping his arms around her, Inuyasha let his head relax and was asleep within minuets.