A/N: Just to let you guys know, I have finals next week, and this year, I actually have to study this year, so I don't know when I'll have time to update. I'll try, but considering that I have a lot to study for, I don't know…

Note: This chapter contains a lot of sexual implications. Not lemons, but implied language as to what is going on within the scene. I apologize if any of you are offended, (However, I don't think it is offensive or distasteful; it doesn't exactly "spell it out", if you get my meaning.)

(GAH! Too many ruler bars!)

Chapter 22: Unsure Heart

Inuyasha whispered, finally able to say it, "I love you."

Kagome's eyes widened in shock, fully comprehending what he had just said. Smiling up at him, she replied, "I love you too."

They both were losing control as love and their desire drove them on, and they came together again in a passionate kiss, pouring out all their love for each other in it…

They broke away from the kiss at the same instant, staring into each other's eyes. Though warning bells clanged through their heads, they did not move from their position. "Kagome…" Inuyasha whispered.

"Yes, Inuyasha?" she asked, not breaking away from his intense gaze.

"I love you, so much." He declared, leaning down and brushing his lips against her neck while she stiffened from the contact. "Kagome…" he whispered in her ear. "I can't live without you…I need you Kagome…I couldn't ever leave you."

She found herself nodding as he said those things, unable to speak. Her whole body was shaking, and her heart beat so loud, she was sure he could hear it.

He pulled back, looking into her eyes. "I couldn't bear to see you die…without being able to show you how much I love you…how much I want to be with you, for the rest of my life." Kagome gave a small gasp as he continued, "Please, Kagome…will you be my mate?"

A tear filled her eye as she realized she couldn't resist. "Yes…" she replied, in a whisper nodding her head.

It took Inuyasha a second to realize that she had agreed. "Yes…" he repeated, as their lips met passionately…

Kagome gaspedonce more as his lips brushed hers, his silver hair tickling her cheeks as it fell all around her. His arms were wrapped around her bare body, his hands—how she loved the touch of those hands!—were caressing her cheeks, as they were unable to break from their tight embrace.

"Kagome…" Inuyasha murmured, like he had done so many times that night, "I love you." Kagome found she could only nod when he said that, trapped in the spell he had her in. When he would lean down for another kiss, she would gladly give it to him, and anything else he wanted. She was under his total control.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome moaned, only to have his lips slam down onto hers. They hardly stopped kissing at all, not wanting let go of each other like this. Their hearts beat as one; one love, one heart, one soul…

Kagome lay on top of Inuyasha, covered by his haori. Her head rested on his chest, her left hand entwined with is right, as it had been the whole night. He looked up at her, a smile on his face, and ran his fingers through her hair. They lay in silence, listening to the whisper of the wind as it blew through the now quiet clearing…

Kagome was surprised when two strong arms wrapped around her from behind. "You stupid girl." Inuyasha said softly. "Do you think that after what happened tonight that I'd leave you? We're mates, Kagome, mates don't leave each other like that. I'll always be by your side…"

"Inuyasha…" Kagome whispered, as she slowly opened her eyes. Her heart sank when she realized she was alone in Kaede's hut, not in her wonderful fantasy. It was mid-afternoon, but the sky was dark with impending rain. Everyone had left her alone, so she could sleep in peace. But she longed for a certain someone to be by her side.

She rolled over, to the spot where Inuyasha had been beside her in her dream. Gently, she reached her left hand out, the hand with the scar, and put her hand over the place where his body should have been. Depression and longing filled her eyes as her heart cried out for him, once more.

It was hardly bearable; she had gotten over the part of him being a youkai, now she just wanted to see him more than ever. It didn't matter that he was currently not himself, Kagome just had to see Inuyasha once more, just to know he was okay. She couldn't take another minute of this loneliness.

And there also was another reason, Kikyou had mentioned a possibility that Inuyasha could be turned back to his former self, because of her. If she saw him, then perhaps he would remember her, at last…and then, maybe his youkai side would leave him, once and for all?

It's worth a try. She thought, sitting up and placing her hands in her lap. It's better than doing nothing at all…

Glancing at his haori, wrinkled from Kagome's constant comfort, she remembered Inuyasha's face when he was a hanyou. How those loving amber eyes sparkled at her with endless depths of his love for her. She wanted more than anything to see those eyes look at her in that way again…To feel his lips against her, once more…Just to live like they should be, finally.

She couldn't bear it if she failed, Inuyasha only running back into the woods, to slaughter more innocent villagers. What would she do if she knew for certain she would never see those eyes again? What if she would never feel his strong arms wrap around her in a protective embrace? What would she do then?

Kikyou had told her to kill him, but Kagome knew she could never do that. It was absolutely out of the question.

But how to cure him? Purifying him might not work, it was known to kill youkai, expelling their souls. How do I do it, then? She wondered. How do I bring him back to what he was?

Suddenly, her left hand twitched. The scar was pulsing…A slightly warmer, calming sensation filled her, as the scar, before her eyes, shone in a gold light.

Knowing what it might mean, Kagome closed her eyes, searching for Inuyasha—stopping dead when she felt him nearby. She could barely sense he was there…not like the night they became mates, it was as if only a small part of him was there, and the rest was not responding. But, no doubt about it, he was there.

Inuyasha…he's calling me…She knew instantly.

She grabbed his haori, and wrapped it around herself,before leaving the vacant hut. She left the village as quickly as she could, not wanting her friends to know where she was going. She knew they would object.

Kagome followed the signal that she felt in her mind, his blood, drawing her too him. She hurried, though her mind told her to stop and not go. He was a youkai, after all, he could hurt her.

It doesn't matter…she told herself. It's Inuyasha, and I don't care…It's driving me crazy not seeing him! I want to see him, more than anything!

She walked into a clearing, where she recognized Goshinboku, the tree Inuyasha had been sealed to, where she had met him almost a year ago—

And there he was.

Kagome gasped as she saw him, and he looked up at her. He was still a youkai, red eyes, purple stripes, fangs and claws, but it didn't matter. He was here, with her…at last.

When Inuyasha saw her, he smirked. "About time you got here, wench." His voice was deep, like she had heard the night he threatened to kill her.

Kagome walked closer, not afraid of him at all. "You know I can't stay away from you for too long." She said, feeling the sink in her heart when she remembered Inuyasha saying those very words to her not long ago.

Flexing his claws idly, Inuyasha said, "Baka. Came when I called you." Chuckling, he told her, raising his right hand and showing her the mating scar. "This thing is quite useful."

Kagome shook her head, not listening to his comments. "I knew you'd be like this, Inuyasha. I didn't come because I thought you would be any different." Lifting up her head with more confidence, she told him, "I came to save you."

He snorted. "Save me?" Another disturbing grin came to his face, his red eyes reflecting his amusement.

Not afraid anymore, knowing he would have already killed her if he meant it, Kagome walked closer to Inuyasha, seeing the uneasiness in his eyes. "I'll make sure you go back to normal, Inuyasha." she said, noticing that he was now trying to do anything but look at her. "Think about this, Inuyasha! This isn't you! You're not a youkai! You're a hanyou, a hanyou that I love!"

He finally looked back at her, his crimson eyes glaring. "I am no hanyou." He replied, his voice deep, with an undertone of anger.

Kagome grabbed on to the white undershirt, begging. "Please, Inuyasha! Don't think that! You're not who you think you are! You told me once that you didn't want to be a youkai, remember? Would that Inuyasha kill innocent villagers? Would that loving Inuyasha forget all about me? About his friends? Inuyasha," she pleaded, tears in her eyes as she looked up at him. "Remember your true self! Remember it and let go of your youkai side!"

Inuyasha's red eyes were unchanged as she continued, her head falling on to his chest, crying. "It's killing me, Inuyasha, seeing you like this! Stop it, just stop being a youkai! Let it go so we can be together happy! Please, remember your human soul!"

Eyes flashing with rage, Inuyasha had heard enough. That girl was ordering him to live like a human. As a hanyou! He couldn't take it anymore, his youkai anger piled up in him, and in a flash, he had Kagome pinned to Goshinboku, his hand locked around her throat, his nails scraping against her neck.

Kagome eyes were open in shock, and she barely had any time to gasp before his hand tightened, she grabbed at it with her hands, as Inuyasha said, in his chilling voice, "My youkai soul will never die. You will."

His nails dug into her throat, droplets of blood forming on them. Kagome begged in a small voice, "Inu…yasha!" her hands scrabbling at his unsuccessfully. She pulled at his hand, but he was too strong. "Inuyasha!" she cried again, softer this time. She looked into his red eyes, glaring at her in anger…the opposite of the ones she longed to see, the amber ones, looking at her lovingly.

Inuyasha suddenly had a sharp intake of breath as his inner self cried in protest against what he was doing. His youkai anger and his determination not to let her thwart him had gotten him this far, but now that he had her in his grasp, his mind retaliated against it.

Looking at her suddenly reminded him of another miko whom he had captured this way…up against a tree, his claws digging in to her throat…he didn't remember, but he knew it didn't lead to any good.

Kagome closed her eyes in pain as she struggled to release herself, now fearful for her life. "Inuyasha!" she called again, feeling his claws dig deeper, her throat being crushed under his grip.

Inuyasha bit his lip, feeling the terrible pain inside as he saw her crying. He was hurting her. He was hurting her. It didn't make sense, but he wanted nothing more but to let go, and take her in his arms, kiss her and promise everything would be all right. His mind was filled with thoughts that he knew he wasn't thinking. Kagome! She's being hurt! Stop! Let her go!

"Inuyasha…" she whispered, with one shaky breath of air, all she had left.

Kagome!

Kagome was suddenly released; she fell to her knees,gasping in surprise. She held a hand to her chest as she breathed deeply, looking down at the leafy ground, thankful he had released her. Why did he let me go? He had every reason to kill me…but why?

Suddenly, a voice she didn't expect to hear sounded in her ears, "Kagome…"

Kagome gasped and looked up, and saw the last person she expected to see,

Inuyasha, but no more a youkai. He was her hanyou, his eyes amber once again, the stripes disappeared, and the fangs and claws normal length. Inuyasha…he's…

She stood up, blinking, trying to determine if it was a dream or not. "Inu…yasha?" she asked, her mouth open in surprise.

Inuyasha looked around, his shining amber eyes litin confusion. "Kagome?" he asked timidly, in a soft voice that melted her heart once again. "Where are we? What's going on? I…can't remember anything…"

Her heart swelling with happiness, Kagome walked towards him, a wide smile brightened by happy tears on her face. He's here…he's finally back! He still looked at her puzzled as she wrapped her arms around him, her joyful tears falling. She shook her head, nearly laughing with delight. "Don't worry about it." She replied in a whisper. "We're safe…you're safe…you're back!"

And then she leaned up and kissed him, another tear falling as she remembered the feeling of him on her lips, a feeling that it seemed like she hadn't felt in ages. Her heart soared when she felt him close his eyes and kiss her back, taking his love once more in his arms.

Nothing mattered now, the lovers were reunited, once again.

Kagome slowly broke the kiss, not opening her eyes. Inuyasha… she thought, a smile of blissful contentmenther face.

But suddenly, she felt a sharp, sudden pain in her stomach and cried out, placing a hand to her stomach in the pain. She looked up, and the last thing she knew was crumpling in a red-eyed Inuyasha's arms…

A/N: Oh, got you on that one there! Just to let you know, you'll know if I'm bluffing or if its real by the amount of description. If it's got a lot on telling his and her feelings, and blah blah, then its likely that its real.

Plus, I said it would be thirty chapters. That should be a BIG indicatior.