A/N: Nothin' much to say…I hope this story is going well…

Chapter 3: Sweet Memories

Kagome's feet hit the ground of the well in the well house. She smiled. Another perfect landing.

As she started climbing the ladder out of the well, she thought to herself, Really now, I'm amazed that this well always works…It never malfunctions and sends me somewhere else…always back to Inuyasha…

As she thought about Inuyasha, that brought about memories of what he said. "Kagome, if I didn't like protecting you, don't you think I would have made it obvious by now?"

She slid open the door to the shrine courtyard, blinking in the sunset. That was so weird…I didn't think he'd like protecting me…I always thought I got in his way…

As Kagome's eyes found Goshinboku, its branches swaying in the wind, and she remembered when he made the vow to always protect her…That seemed only like yesterday, when in reality, it was almost a year ago. He did promise, didn't he?

She sighed. Oh well, nothing to worry about now…now, its time to rest…

"I'm home, Mama!" Kagome called, walking through the door. She grinned. Finally, back where I belong.

In an instant, her mother rushed out of the kitchen, noticing her sudden arrival. "Kagome, I was just making dinner!"

She set down her extremely heavy backpack. It landed with a loud thump. "Thanks, Mama. But I'll go take a bath first. Hot springs are fun, but nothing beats a good old shower." Kagome shuddered at the thought of not getting clean in days.

Her mother couldn't help but laugh at that. "Okay, I'll have dinner on the table." With that, she went back to her cooking as Kagome walked into the living room.

Souta noticed she was home next. He turned from his video game, which he was surely winning. "Nee-chan! You're back!"

"Yeah, and I need a good rest." She replied, heading for the stairs. A nice soft bed, that's good too…

"Wait!" Souta asked, noticing something was wrong. Something was unusual about the way Kagome had returned…"Where's Inuyasha nii-chan?"

Kagome paused. She remembered how she had left him on the other side of the well, looking sad because she was leaving…She snapped, "I left him back there, is that such a big deal?"

"But he usually comes home with you." He pointed out. "Did he not want to come?"

She turned forcefully, and marched up the stairs yelling, "Can't I come home without him for once? This is my home after all!" Still fuming in annoyance, she jerked open the door to her room and shut it tightly, folding her arms and leaning against it.

A scowl formed on her face. Why is it that he always thinks Inuyasha is coming? I mean, Inuyasha does come sometimes, but not always…

Kagome looked up at the ceiling, the frown leaving her face. Because I know that he goes to see Kikyou when I leave.

She bit her lip, thinking of those painful memories. She remembered the time she came back to find them embracing, before Kikyou had fled. That time…that was the time when I realized…

Her eyes darted to the window,giving a spectacular view ofthe setting sun. She yawned, stretching her arms above her head. "No time to worry about that now." She told herself. "Right now, I need a bath."

Hours later, after finishing her almost endless make up work, she lay in her pink bed, snuggling into the soft covers. That softness which she missed dearly in the Sengoku Jidai. After her bath, she had to endure her brother and grandfather asking once again where Inuyasha was.

This is getting annoying…Kagome rolled her eyes, staring across her dark room. After all, I've come home alone before…when we were fighting or something…

She remembered the time when they had their first big fight, after Kouga had declared he loved her. Inuyasha had been hurt because he believed that Kagome loved Kouga, even though she assured him she didn't, and she had been hurt because he told her to go home.

I could barely stand it when we were fighting, always wishing for him to come get me, but I always knew in the end, I would have to apologize…I suppose I should apologize next time for sitting him so many times…

A small smirk found her face. But secretly…maybe I do like it when he demands me to stay there…It means that he doesn't want me to leave his side…And truthfully, I don't want to, I just have so much stuff here that hold me back.

Kagome closed her eyes. If I had a choice…If he asked me, I wouldn't leave him. I'd always stay by his side. She started drifting off to sleep. Because… She pictured Inuyasha in her mind. His beautiful silver hair swaying in the wind, his amber eyes twinkling, that arrogant smirk on his face, and those cute dog ears on top of his head.

I love him…

"Kagome-chan!" Three voices called, over the muffle of noise in front of the school.

Kagome turned, and smiled as she saw her friends. "Yuka-chan, Eri-chan, Ayumi-chan!" she greeted them.

They stared at her. "Kagome," Yuka asked, "Are you feeling better? We heard about your bad case of mumps."

"And that strange case of Ebola. How'd you get that again?" Eri questioned.

Kagome blanched. "Jii-chan…" she muttered under her breath. She changed the subject abruptly. "So, how is everyone?"

But they didn't answer and immediately. "So, how's your violent, jealous, two timing boyfriend?" They asked with wide eyes, eager to hear all the juicy details.

Kagome sighed. Why do they always ask about Inuyasha? "He's fine."

"Are you still with him?" Eri demanded.

Kagome nervously shifted her weight between her feet, looking down. "Y-yeah, I guess…"

Yuka asked, "Why haven't you broken up with him yet?"

"I don't know." Kagome turned and started walking towards the school. It was annoying when they stated asking that question again.

But Ayumi cut her off from going any further. "Well, what's he like, Kagome-chan? Is he still like that?"

Remembering their last meeting, Kagome said, "I suppose so…but he's been a lot nicer lately. He doesn't want me to leave him alone anymore."

Ayumi gave a small sort of squeal, while Yuka and Eri rolled their eyes. "So, now he's overprotective, too?"

Kagome gave a small grunt in pain. Her back started hurting again, even though it had seemed fine the day before. Inuyasha was so worried over my injury…He didn't want me to come home…I guess that is protective, but…it was sweet too. "A bit, but…" a small smile found her face. "I kind of like it. It's nice to know he cares."

"I envy you, Kagome-chan!" Ayumi admitted, still squealing. Yuka and Eri just stared at her.

"Well…if he's being nice to you…" Eri muttered.

"But Houjou-kun's going to be disappointed." Yuka whispered to her. They both nodded in agreement.

The bell suddenly rang, and the girls forgot all questions about Kagome and her boyfriend. "We're going to be late!" Yuka cried, as they dashed towards the school.

Kagome took a breath of relief as they hurried away. Sometimes, I feel like real life is more stressful than the Sengoku Jidai…

Inuyasha paced the grass in front of the well. Damn that Kagome! She's still not back yet. His eyes flew back to the well. I wonder if I should…

That idea went as fast as it came. No! She'll just yell at me…like she always does. Why does she want to go back all the time anyway? He cringed as he remembered all the times she had been furious with him when he came back…and he painfully remembered how many sits he had received because of it.

She'd better be back today, because if that monk says one more thing about me missing her, then I'm gonna snap! He curled his hand into a fist.

He sighed, and looked back at the well. Deciding it was no good to wait around and get teased by the rest of them, the hanyou folded his arm in annoyance and marched back to the village, a scowl on his face.

And nothing could remove his bad mood, either. Whenever Kagome wasn't around, it was as if all light that was in the world was gone. When Kagome wasn't around, there was nothing to be happy about.

When he got to Kaede's hut, he plunked down on the floor, still scowling. Everyone in the hut stared at him, but they didn't need to ask to know what was going on.

Unfortunately, Miroku just had to rub his face in it. "Why so glum, Inuyasha?"

The hanyou glared at him with one of his amber eyes. "None of your business." He growled.

Shippou popped up in his face. "Inuyasha! Kagome isn't going to come back any faster unless you go and get her!"

The kistune didn't seem to notice Inuyasha growling in annoyance, or the vein popping in his forehead. "I don't understand why she wants to come back at all, considering how you treat her!"

Inuyasha exploded. "Shut up!" he yelled, pounding Shippou into the ground with his fist.

"Inuyasha, no need to lose your temper." Kaede said, starting to serve soup from a pot on the fire.

"Indeed." Miroku added, staring into the fire. "With Naraku on the loose, we don't need anyone else to fight."

"You want to start something, monk!" Inuyasha yelled, standing up, baring his fists.

Sango sighed. "I do miss Kagome-chan sometimes. It's a lot quieter around here. After all with her here—" She was cut off when she jumped…feeling Miroku's hand wander once again.

A slap resonated throughout the hut. "Houshi-sama!" she screamed, louder than a rampaging youkai, "How many times have I told you to stop that!"

Miroku put up his hands in a form of surrender, sweat beginning to form on his forehead. He could deal with Sango's usual tirades. But when it seemed like flames were bursting from behind her…well… "Sango, my dear…you know men have desires…and when your form is so appealing…"

"Damn you and your desires!" she screamed. "A curse on you and that hand of yours!"

Inuyasha took a small intake of breath. "Curse you!" floated in his mind…and the memory of that dream…and that miko…If it was only a dream…why did it seem so real? Why couldn't he get it out of his head?

And why was he so frightened by it?

He promptly turned and left the hut, leaving everyone in it confused, even Sango stopped yelling. "Inuyasha?" they asked.

As he walked away from the village, and into the forest, only one thought dominated his brain. Why does that dream bother me so much? Why can't I escape it?

A/N: Oh…what's up with the dream? Well…you're going to have to wait a while to figure it out though…For now,enjoy these pointless, get Kags and Inu together chapters! Yeah!