A/N: Wow! A ton of reviews! All in one day! Keep it up you guys! Your support makes me beat back the writers block to get this out sooner! (Unfortunately, I think several of you will be disappointed in this chapter, however.)

Chapter 7: Just Want to Be With You

Inuyasha sat in a tree a little ways away from the village, staring up at the sky. He took a sniff of the air, yet did not catch that sweet scent…that scent that he loved wrapping around him, letting him know his Kagome was near.

Kagome…

Why was it, that now, after everything they've gone through, he discovered his true feelings, only to know that it was dangerous if he felt them?

It wasn't difficult to discern Kagome's feelings…He had a general idea as to what they were. But he wasn't about to pull a Kouga and declare her his until he knew for certain.

He sighed. Kagome…please come back soon…

"Inuyasha?" A male voice asked. Inuyasha looked down and gave a small growl. It was Miroku, looking slightly concerned.

"What do you want, monk?" he demanded.

"I was going to tell you that Kaede-sama is serving dinner, and unless you'd like to go hungry, you'd better come now." The rather annoyed monk said.

Inuyasha growled, and jumped out of the tree, a scowl etched on his face. Folding his arms, he marched off toward Kaede's hut.

Miroku rolled his eyes. "Inuyasha, I know Kagome-sama isn't here, but there's no reason to take out your bad mood on us."

"Shut it, monk!" Inuyasha roared. He was already overstressed by the events of the previous night. He didn't need his friends getting on his case now.

He pulled back the curtain and stepped into Kaede's hut, sitting down forcefully on the floor, the sour expression still on his face. Everyone in the hut hastily looked away from him when they noticed his bad mood.

Everyone ate in silence for a few minutes, Inuyasha touching nothing, until Kaede spoke up. "I expect you met my sister last night, Inuyasha?"

He exploded at the mention of her. "How do you know I saw her, old hag?"

"It would be the only reason Kagome mysteriously left us." She responded calmly.

That stopped the hanyou's rant. He looked away, the scowl back on his face. "Keh. Why do you want to know about it?"

Miroku sighed. "She means, Inuyasha, did Kikyou-sama have any information for us?" He told the easily angered Inuyasha.

"She usually knows something important." Sango nodded.

Inuyasha's ear twitched; the only sign of his nervousness. She had information all right, but not something he would ever share with them. They didn't need to know all his business. "Nothing but the usual warning." He replied, obviously concealing something.

"And then Kagome saw you with her again, didn't she?" Shippou asked, accusingly. "She keeps leaving us because you keep going to Kikyou rather than her!" the kitsune wailed.

"Shut up already!" The very angry hanyou roared. He didn't want to be reminded that he hurt Kagome because of it right after he discovered he loved her. "What I do is none of your business!"

It was always this way, Kagome would leave, and Inuyasha would get moody. Miroku was sick of it. "Calm yourself, Inuyasha. That's not what Shippou meant."

"Oh yeah?" Inuyasha yelled, pointing one of his long claws at Shippou, now hiding behind Sango. "What did he mean?"

"Do not blame them." Kaede started. "We are all just worried about Kagome."

That got him to calm his temper, for a while at least. He resumed his spot in the hut, once again folding his arms in disgust. "Keh." He muttered. "That's no reason to get into my business. What happened with Kikyou doesn't matter, it won't happen again, got that?"

Only Kaede seemed to notice his unusual wording of the sentence, whether he meant to make it sound that way or not. "Inuyasha, you know you cannot ever be with my sister in this life, don't you?"

That question puzzled the hanyou, but he answered nonetheless. Turning away, he replied. "I guess."

Now it sparked the interest of everyone in the hut. They stared at him, astonished; he had never admitted he couldn't be with Kikyou before.

"And do you still plan on going to hell with her?" The old miko asked.

Inuyasha paused, noticing that everyone was looking, hanging on to his every word. His gaze went downward, looking anywhere but at his surprised friend's faces. "No…not anymore."

"Wait," Shippou asked, popping up. "Does that mean you chose Kagome?"

A blush suddenly sprouted on the hanyou's face, completely aware that everyone, including Kirara, was looking at him. They were all waiting, hopeful, of hearing what he had decided. Of course he had made his decision, but he hadn't planned on being asked this question so soon.

"Keh!" He said, standing up and storming out of the hut, his blush deepening.

As soon as they were sure he was out of earshot, everyone burst out laughing. After so long, he had finally made what appeared to be the right decision. "I knew he'd realize it someday!" Miroku chuckled.

Of course, with his hanyou hearing, he wasn't quite out of earshot. "Shut up!" rang across the village, only serving to further their laughter, to Inuyasha's great embarrassment.

Kagome walked through the door to her house. "I'm home!" she said.

Her brother was the first one that greeted her. "Nee-chan!" He called.

"Hi, Souta." She replied, setting her backpack, down. "How was school?"

He didn't answer, he just cut straight to the subject. "So, are you going to make up with Inuyasha nii-chan? I miss him!"

Kagome stared. She didn't know how her brother knew there was a fight, but it annoyed her to no end. "I don't know! It all depends upon if he apologizes to me!"

She walked into the kitchen, feeling slightly put out. Her mother was there, just getting things ready to make dinner. For once, she didn't ask about school. "Kagome, I think you should forgive Inuyasha-kun." She replied, since she had heard the whole thing.

"Why does everyone know my problems?" Kagome asked, sitting down at the kitchen table.

Her mother smiled. "It's because we care about you, Kagome. And besides that, you should make up with him. After all, you know, Inuyasha-kun likes you."

Kagome's eyes darted to her mothers, and her mother nodded. She slumped back in her chair. True, she knew that Inuyasha must have liked her in a "more than friendly" way, but he had never really done anything about it, which only served to make her feel more rejected. "I know, Mama." She answered. "But that's the problem."

Taking a cup of tea, and passing one to Kagome, her mother sat down. "Why don't you tell me about it, woman-to-woman?"

Kagome kept her eyes downward as she sipped her tea, thinking of the right thing to say. What was she supposed to say? About this whole thing, to her mother? She could barely tell everything to her friends, but to discuss it with her mother…it was a whole other thing entirely. Of course, she was spared the most embarrassing details, since she already knew that Kagome liked Inuyasha and vice versa, but how to explain Kikyou…

Kagome sighed. "It's because Inuyasha also likes someone else, Mama. Before I came along, he loved the miko Kikyou, but she died before they got their chance to be together. Now she's been resurrected, and he still can't let go of her." That was the short version of it, but she hoped it would do. She had been blushing the entire time.

Her mother understood. "I know it must be hard, dealing with that, Kagome, but don't you think Inuyasha might have already moved on?"

Shaking her head, Kagome replied, "No, because I saw him with her last night. I know he still hasn't given up on her."

"It may seem that way, but I think you may very well turn out surprised." Her mother said, standing up and taking her tea with her. Kagome remained at the table, resting her head in her hand and thinking about the whole situation.

As long as Kikyou's around…there is no way Inuyasha and I could ever get together…even if he does decide he likes me. She remembered.

But…I can't blame Kikyou…she was there first. She died for Inuyasha, and I haven't done anything that can compare with that…but, since I now love him, I can't help but be jealous of her.

Her other hand tightened into a fist. But I don't want to be jealous! I hate feeling jealousy over her, I hate getting angry when he goes to her. I hate feeling sad and crying when I realize that he's chosen her, over me…

She closed her eyes. And sometimes, I wish I wasn't in love with Inuyasha…If I didn't love him, I wouldn't care about him going to visit Kikyou. It wouldn't matter if he loved her, and I wouldn't always be so sad and mad at him when he did go to her…

But opening her eyes, she realized the reality of her situation, her love. I'm already too much in love with him. I can't give it up, because, sometimes, it's the best feeling I've ever had…

When he's happy, I'm happy. I will go where he does. I want to see him smile and laugh…and I'm overjoyed whenever he decides to be a bit closer to me…It makes me happier than ever…

It's truly the most wonderful, happiest feeling sometimes, when I realize how much I love him, despite all the pain that comes with it.

And I can't give it up…for anything.

She stood up. "I guess I'll go back there, Mama." Kagome replied. "After all, I left my stuff there too."

Her mother smiled. "Have a good time, and I hope you bring back Inuyasha-kun next time."

She could have sworn she heard Kagome mutter "Me too." As she left the house, making her give a small giggle.

Inuyasha came out of the woods and towards the dry well. As he gazed upon the old wooded well, which looked plain yet held many secrets, he realized what he had to do. I've got to go back there and apologize…I don't care if she uses that dumb command to sit me to the end of the earth…I just have to go get her, before I go insane…

He walked over and placed his hands on the edge about to jump in, when a scent washed over his senses. I know that scent…

Suddenly, Kagome appeared at the bottom of the well, touching down on the old dirt like she had done countless times.

Sputtering, Inuyasha said, "K-Kagome!" Of all the things he had expected, he hadn't expected that.

She looked up at him, as surprised as he was. "Inuyasha…" He jumped down into the well, and instantly noticed that Kagome was avoiding his gaze. "Nice to see you."

Letting her scent wash over him again, it made Inuyasha feel content, perfectly all right. Seeing her again was like a treat for him, his heart soaring that she was finally back. He gazed upon her, taking in her beauty, her soft creamy skin looking so touchable…how much he wanted to feel her form against him, as he hugged her and made everything all right.

He shook himself out of his thoughts. He couldn't think that right now!

Kagome sighed. "I guess I should get right to the point. Inuyasha, I'm—"

"I'm sorry." He cut her off, not looking at her.

That caught her off guard.Did…did Inuyasha just apologize? "Inuyasha…?"

"I'm sorry for making you so upset." He replied, still looking anywhere from her captivating body. "I mean…I know how much it hurts you when I go to see Kikyou…and I'm sorry about that. It won't happen again."

Now Kagome's eyes were bugging out of her head. Inuyasha was not only apologizing, but promising that he wouldn't go see Kikyou again? It wasn't like him at all. But her heart sank. "Inuyasha, that's not true."

Now he looked at her, glaring. "What's not true, woman?"

Sighing, she replied. "That you won't go to see Kikyou. You always do.

That made his sharp temper soar. "How do you know I'm not telling the truth, Kagome?"

"Because that's who you are." She replied, her face falling. "You can't forget about Kikyou…and I'm sorry for getting so angry about it. After all, its not your fault she showed up. It's not your fault you want to see her."

But, there was one unspoken aspect of the situation from the night before...one thing that she had lacked in mentioning. As their eyes met, the memory of what the deceased miko had said passed through them. Feelings for Kagome are dangerous…

After a pause, Kagome said, cheerfully, "So, let's go back to the village! I want to go see Sango-chan and everyone, and apologize for leaving so early."

Inuyasha crouched down, indicating to his back. "Come on, it's faster this way."

Smiling, Kagome climbed on his back, and they took off out of the well. As they journeyed towards the village, Inuyasha sniffed her scent once more, feeling content that she had once more returned to him.

Kagome…you're back with me…

And I promise I'll never make you cry again…

A/N: Okay, who wants to bet he'll break that promise sooner or later? Anyway, this wasn't as fluffy as many were expecting, but it's cute. This is the end of part I. Part II starts out next time with…an interesting occurrence. Please read on and keep reviewing, you are appreciated!