A/N: Whew! Made it to chapter 8! For some reason, it feels like this story's taking forever…I guess because it's been dragging lately. Never fear! The plot really takes off from here! This is the…intresting…chapter, I suppose. But I won't say anymore! Read, my minions!

Part II

Chapter 8: Is It Really That Obvious?

"Wait…" Inuyasha said, stopping by the large lake. Everyone in the group stopped behind him. He sniffed the air, checking for the correct scent. He looked out on the water, and his eyes narrowed. "That's it."

Everyone readied their weapons. A youkai had been attacking a nearby village, and they had been called out to exterminate it. By the looks of things, it was a water dwelling youkai.

Inuyasha unsheathed Tessagia, grinning. "I'll just force it out into the open with a little Kaze no Kizu."

"Inuyasha," Kagome came up behind him, keeping her eye on the lake. "Be careful." She whispered with concern.

His eyes shot back to her. "Yeah, I know." He muttered. "Get back." He told her, his voice holding a hint of worry.

She stepped back, as Inuyasha raised his sword. He brought it down with a flash as he yelled, "Kaze no Kizu!"

The wind flew across the water and made a giant rift in the water, creating high waves on each side. The force of the wind was enough so they could see the bottom of the lake.

Suddenly, a dark shape leaped from the water, giving a loud roar as it jumped up. Everyone watched as it leapt into the sky, eventually falling back down in the water, creating a tidal wave. Sango, Miroku, and Shippou jumped on Kirara as Inuyasha yelled, "Kagome!" and pushed her out of the way as the wave sloshed over on to the land.

Inuyasha set Kagome down on a rock that still remained above the water. "You okay?" he asked, watching as the water receded.

"Yeah," she nodded, looking towards the lake as the dark shape emerged.

It was a giant water lizard, with acid green skin. It had two red eyes, which were glazed over with fury. Its tail whipped out behind it, with water rolling off its skin as it flexed its claws. "Who dares awaken me, the Numa-eki?" It asked, its pink tongue flecking out towards its intended prey.

Inuyasha pushed Kagome behind him as he walked towards it, holding Tessaiga ready. "Keh. I do, ya puny lizard." He scoffed.

The Numa-eki's eyes narrowed as it looked at Inuyasha. "What? How dare you call me a small youkai! I have killed many more before you, and—"

"Yeah, yeah, I've heard it before!" Inuyasha yelled, tired with egotistical youkai.

"You…" It muttered, flicking its tongue out at Inuyasha, before its eyes took on an amused look. It laughed. "You wish to challenge me? A hanyou? I am the great Numa—"

"Oh, just die already!" Inuyasha roared, sending another Kaze no Kizu at it. There was an explosion and a great flash of light before anyone knew what happened.

Kagome squinted towards where the light had come from. "Did you hit it?"

But, as it cleared, it was obvious that the Numa-eki had not been hit. It had moved out of the way at the last second. Water sprayed everywhere, as the attack dissipated.

The Numa-eki whipped its tongue out. "I guess you do put up a fight after all, hanyou."

"Keh." Inuyasha glared. "I was about to say the same to you." He jumped towards it, and before the lizard knew it, he was in the air, above him. "Here's where I end this!" he yelled, about to perform Bakuryuuha—

When the Numa-Eki lashed its tail out at Kagome.

In that second, Inuyasha remembered when Naraku had done the same with one of his tentacles causing her almost death…

Before he could get to her, it struck, and she screamed as she was thrown off the rock. Her friends gasped as she fell, urging Kirara to get to her.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha cried, jumping down for her. He grabbed on to her just as they hit the water, both falling under, the cold water rushing above their heads, with bubbles swirling around them as they fell down, their lungs pleading for air.

And finally they resurfaced again, both taking deep breaths as water dripped off their hair. "You all right?" Inuyasha asked Kagome. She nodded. He kept one hand on his sword, one hand protectively around her waist as he swam her over to the rest of the group, floating near just above the surface of the water.

Sango let out a sigh of relief. "Kagome-chan…"

"Here!" Shippou said, transforming into a pink bubble. "Get on."

As she climbed on to him, Kagome said, "Thanks, Shippou-chan."

"Make sure she doesn't get hurt!" Inuyasha ordered, as they flew into the sky and the Numa-eki prepared himself for another attack.

It opened its mouth wide. "You were wrong, hanyou. I am going to be the one to finish this." It lunged for Inuyasha, who barely had time to raise Tessaiga.

Kagome screamed, "Inuyasha!"

But she didn't have to worry. Sango roared, "Hiraikotsu!" And let the boomerang loose. Its aim was true, knocking the giant youkai lizard away far enough that it didn't hit Inuyasha with its attack. Hiraikotsu flew back, Sango catching it.

Coughing, Inuyasha managed to swim towards the rock, pulling himself up on to it. "If there's one thing I hate…" he muttered, pulling Tessaiga up. "It's an insignificant youkai who won't learn when to die!" The wind started swirling around Tessiaga, making Inuyasha's silver hair and red haori whip around in it.

The youkai knew that its time was up. "Wait…you hanyou!"

Jumping up, Inuyasha roared, "Bakuryuuha!" And let loose the attack. The massive power of Tessaiga's ultimate attack was unleashed, spelling instant doom for anything that was in its way. The wind lashed out at it, swirling around in giant tornados of destruction as it ripped the youkai to pieces, it screaming in pain the entire time. In one flash of light, the Numa-eki was ripped apart.

But it was no time to be celebrating. Inuyasha had barely muttered a "Keh." When a giant piece of the youkai hit him unexpectedly, knocking him into the water.

Kagome gasped. "Inuyasha!"

"He'll be fine, Kagome-sama." Miroku said. "It's not like him to be affected by something as little as that."

She waited for Inuyasha to pop back out of the water, sputtering and cursing, but he didn't. The seconds soon turned into minutes. Kagome couldn't take it anymore. "Inuyasha!" she screamed in desperation. "Inuyasha, where are you?"

"Housi-sama!" Sango said, in alarm. "Something's wrong! Use the Kazaana!"

Miroku grabbed the prayer beads that closed the Kazaana in his right hand. "Fine, but I don't know how effective it will be!" He ripped them off his hand and outstretched it, sucking in the water, ready to close it in an instant if he saw a flash of red.

Kagome watched as Miroku sucked the water from the lake, but she saw nothing. Just an endless amount of blue being torn away from the fast draining lake. "Inuyasha…" she whispered, wondering what could have happened.

Suddenly, she saw a flash of red…and then silver. "Miroku-sama!"

"I know!" he closed the Kazaana, and they flew down towards what used to be the lake, which now had a small amount of water in it.

Kagome jumped off Shippou and ran to Inuyasha, who was lying at the very bottom, his body lying in no more than a few inches of water. His eyes were closed, and the giant piece of youkai was lying beside him. It seemed to have knocked him underwater so fast, that he didn't have the chance to take a breath.

She grabbed on to him. "Inuyasha…Inuyasha!" But he didn't move. Tears came to her eyes and fell down her cheeks. "Inuyasha, don't you dare leave me!"

But reality sunk in. He's not breathing…

Her hands started shaking as she gripped his arms, lying on top of him. What can I do? He can't be… Somehow, she knew that he was still alive. But if I don't act quickly…

Kagome's body started shaking even more as she realized what she had to do. No…I…can't…But she looked back at his lifeless face, seeing him look like he was sleeping…just like he looked on the day she met him…and imagining never seeing him smile at her again…

She leaned down closer to his face, a blush deepening on her face. Her heart pounded in her chest. Inuyasha…she closed her eyes, a tear falling and landing on his cheek. Sorry…

Slowly, almost in a dream, Kagome touched her lips with his.

Everyone gasped as they saw this happening. "Kagome…?"

Instantly, Kagome felt on fire, like every part of her was burning. Her heart beat rapidly in her chest, and she wished more than ever that she could stay like this, kissing him, forever. It took all of her self control to remember she was supposed to be reviving him instead of kissing him…

Inuyasha…

Inuyasha, however, had been awake ever since that tear had landed on his cheek. Keh…stupid youkai…He was about to open his eyes, when he felt lips crash down on his own.

All of a sudden, he felt his heart race and a feeling of warmth spread around his body. What…the…hell? What surprised him more was why he felt like returning the kiss.

Damnit, who the hell— His eyes fluttered open, only to grow as wide as dinner plates and feel his face turn as red as his haori.

Kagome broke away from him slowly, a fierce blush on her face as well, and opened her eyes. "Inuyasha?"

They stared at each other, for about a minute, with their blushes growing even deeper. Inuyasha wanted to say something, but it felt as if his windpipe was broken. "Ka…gome..." he said, in a small, squeaky voice.

They again stared at each other, becoming very aware of where their bodies contacted one another…both especially aware that she was lying on top of him, her face very close to his.

"G…g…Get off!" Inuyasha roared, pushing her off with a splash, trying to cover up his blush.

"Hey!" she yelled, her face red with mixed anger and embarrassment. "Is that anyway to treat someone who just saved your life?"

Inuyasha stood up, not offering to help her out of the water. Water dribbled off his clothes as he folded his arms and glared at her. "I'm a hanyou! You thought I would die from that?"

Kagome jumped to her feet, and pointed at him in anger, all embarrassment gone. "You were lying at the bottom of the lake, not breathing! If Miroku-sama hadn't drained the lake—"

"If you all hadn't been so worried—"

"How could we not worry! You weren't coming up after minutes!"

"Well, if you all hadn't wanted to go kill this dumb youkai—"

"Don't go blaming us for you almost dying!"

"I did not almost die!"

Miroku sighed as they jumped off Kirara. "It would seem that Inuyasha's all right."

Sango nodded. "And Kagome seems back to normal as well."

And they went to go break up the fight between their two friends, hoping that this one wouldn't end in a 'sit'.

No one spoke of the event that had transpired in the lake for the rest of the day, but it was all in their minds. Miroku and Sango's eyes kept flashing back to Inuyasha and Kagome as they sat around the campfire that night, obviously remembering it.

As Kagome snuggled in her sleeping bag, she remembered it, feeling a blush come up her face. I'm glad he's alive but… she remembered the softness of his lips, how it almost felt as if he was kissing her back. That was my first kiss…even if it wasn't exactly real…I'm glad it was Inuyasha…

Inuyasha stayed awake the longest, waiting until he was sure everyone else was asleep before moving his fingers to his lips. He sighed, a small smile on his face. Kagome…

A/N: And the "WHOA! Where did that come from?" Authoress strikes again! I bet NO ONE expected that to happen…I didn't expect it myself when I made the story, but I thought it would be a cute tidbit to add…plus, it develops the plot! WOO!

Also…writing this scene gave me flashbacks of that Water God episode from season 1, I didn't expect it to turn out so much like it…O.o

Note: 'Numa-eki' 'Water Lizard' couldn't think of a better name!

Keep reading, this is where the fun begins! Worship the fluff!