My thanks to: That Bloody Demon, Mangas-Fan, Camthalion23, Coke-48-Kenshin, Sayuri-chan 16, premierarchange, hentail8ancilla, TwilightZelda, and Meatballheadedprincess14.

I've been asked if this is a Kagome-Sesshomaru fiction or a Kagome-Inuyasha fiction...i guess if i had to choose, it'd be a Kagome-Inuyasha fiction.

And thirdly, the next chapter shall be the last of this story. I've really enjoyed telling this story: I've been amazed by the level of support and feedback I've had on this story! It's kept me smiling all week.

Tessadragon

Chapter 9

He wants me to stay with him, Kagome thought numbly. First he saved me from that demon...Sesshomaru saved me from that demon! (On Rin's request, her mind reminded her firmly) and now he wants me to stay with him?

She took a deep breath. I can't. I don't belong here. I belong with Inuyasha...he may be a jerk...but he's my jerk. And, she privately admitted, sometimes I've been a jerk too. Though he's the biggest jerk sometimes... she interrupted her own thoughts, making her way towards Sesshomaru, who turned from where he was standing in the shade of the many trees, eyeing her coolly.

"Why would you want me to stay with you?" Kagome asked bravely.

Sesshomaru impassively watched her. "You saved Rin. You'd have sacrificed yourself for her. That is all."

"Just because I did the decent thing, you'd want me to stay with your group?" Kagome shook her head. "Lord Sesshomaru, that can't be all. If it was, it'd mean you offered a place to everyone who saved Rin's life. Many people care for children and would have done exactly the same thing in my place."

Sesshomaru looked away. "Are you wishing to go back to…Inuyasha?" there was a hint of threat in it, but Kagome ignored it. "Not exactly. I'm just…trying to figure you out." She looked Lord Sesshomaru in the eye. "When we first met, you tried to kill me."

"But you survived."

"Thanks." Kagome slumped to her knees, a confused look on her face; she bit her lip, thinking hard. Inuyasha tried to kill me when we first met…but then again, he'd kinda saved me first. How absurd this all is!

Will she like it? A nervous voice was rattling inside Inuyasha's head as he leapt in his running stride across the land, following Kagome's scent intently. Then he stopped dead, picking up another, very familiar scent.

Sesshomaru...

His upper lip curled in a snarl. The nervous voice in his skull was swallowed by an explosion of worry. Is Kagome alright!

"Kagome," he whispered angrily, then ran faster, his red fire-rat kimono billowing around him. Sesshomaru! If you've hurt Kagome, I'll kill you! No, I'll kill you anyway! Don't even touch her!

"I can't stay with you,"Kagome said finally.

"Not even for Rin?" Sesshomaru eyed her implacably.

"She has you and Jaken," Kagome answered. "Inuyasha needs me."

"Only Inuyasha? You only want to be with a half-demon?"

"He cares for me…and I care for him."

"And you think he can protect you?"

Did Kagome detect derision in Sesshomaru's detached tone?

"He always has," Kagome said quietly.

Sesshomaru came to her, then cupped her chin in his hand. "And did he protect you from those bruises?" he asked, and traced a cold finger down her cheekbones.

Kagome's lips tightened as he traced the bruises from where Inuyasha himself had hurt her by saying 'sit'. She couldn't think of anything to say to Sesshomaru's question.

"Fine." Sesshomaru looked past Kagome, and as smooth as electricity, surged to his feet, his hand at his sword, his face remaining emotionless. "There you are, little brother."

Kagome spun around. Inuyasha watched her, betrayal etched on his face. He'd seen Sesshomaru touch Kagome's face...and he'd seen that Kagome hadn't pushed his older brother away. Kagome stepped back, her eyes wide.

"Sesshomaru! How dare you!" His hand flicked Tetsusaiga from its sheath and then he was running over the dry grass, lunging at Sesshomaru.

The older demon simply stepped back, the blade whistling past his nose. "Little brother, your aim is off. Your heart is ruling your head. As usual."

"How dare you kidnap Kagome!" Inuyasha roared.

"No! Inuyasha!" Without thinking, Kagome threw herself between the two brothers. Inuyasha's tawny-gold eyes widened and in desperation he fought the force he himself had thrown into Tetsusaiga's swing, and the blade slammed into the dirt.

Silence.

Inuyasha's heart beat fast.

Kagome's heart beat faster. "Inuyasha," she whispered.

"You idiot!" he whispered back at her, astounded. "You could have got…" he couldn't bring himself to say it. I could have killed her with my own sword…

Kagome reached her hand forward, grasped his. "I trust you."

"But you could have got killed, stupid!" Inuyasha yelled at her.

Kagome's face darkened. "And I say you wouldn't let me get killed!" I know you, Inuyasha…like you know me.

Inuyasha gritted his teeth and turned to his older brother. "Why'd you kidnap her, anyway?" he spat. "She's just a human…she shouldn't be involved!"

"Inuyasha!" Kagome yelled at him. "He didn't kidnap me!"

The half-demon stared at her. "He didn't?"

"He didn't," Kagome said firmly. "He rescued me from the demon that was really going to kidnap me."

Inuyasha stared at her. "Um…did you get hit on the head? Or have I got hit on the head? I could've sworn you just said Sesshomaru saved you."

"Sesshomaru saved me," Kagome assured him, and smiled nervously. Should I tell him that Sesshomaru's practically asked me to stay with him, Jaken and Rin?

No, a little voice inside said.

She looked at Sesshomaru. "I need to go now. But thank you for saving me. I hope you, Rin and Jaken have good travels, and that you are all safe."

Inuyasha felt like he'd missed something.

"I suggest you go now before I get tired and behead you," Sesshomaru told his little brother calmly, his head of silver hair gleaming in the night air, his immense white furs rippling lightly against the breeze.

Kagome laid her hand on Inuyasha's arm before he could respond. "We should go, please!" she begged.

Inuyasha went red. "Fine," he muttered, then grabbed her and leapt away before his instincts could enrage him into going back to try and beat up Sesshomaru.

"Hey! Where are we going, Inuyasha?" Kagome yelled a few minutes later when she realised that he was going in the exact opposite direction than where everyone had been camped last time she saw.

Oh my god, it's so beautiful, something inside her breathed. It was night; dew-laden air whipped past her as Inuyasha carried her. Stars gleamed bright in the darkness. Her exhilarated laugh was carried away on the wind. Inuyasha grinned, leapt higher than he'd ever done before, forgetting Sesshomaru.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome leaned closer to his ear, talking into it against the wind. "Look ahead! Do you see him?"

"Yes!" Inuyasha yelled back, spotting Jaken, riding A'Houn through the night sky. Inuyasha gave Kagome a grin------

"Stupid humans!" Jaken muttered as A'Houn carried him back towards where Lord Sesshomaru was. He had Kagome's gear stacked behind him: he'd easily stolen it! "How could he even think of this!" His voice rose to a wail. "Oh Lord Sesshomaru!"

A'Houn made a surprised sound as something red leapt at him, then the lizard creature shook himself: the bags on his back were gone and he didn't mind not having to carry so much.

Jaken stared, dumbfounded. "Did I just hear a human laughing?"------

Kagome's laughter carried away on the wind as Inuyasha swept forward on their journey, Kagome's bags on his shoulder. There was a pleased, mischievous look in his tawny-gold eyes as he leapt lower, plunging into forest greenery then leaping from branch to branch, dew-soaked leaves brushing against them both.

Then finally Inuyasha dropped to the ground and set her on her feet in the centre of the clearing. A circle of the night sky, thick with stars, could be seen through the canopy of tree branches and leaves. He hesitated for a moment, then took her by the hand and led her a few steps forward, laying his other hand over Kagome's eyes. She didn't object. Her heart was racing so fast…

"Where are we, Inuyasha?" Kagome asked softly. Inuyasha didn't answer. Kagome took a deep breath and nearly sneezed on the thick scent of flowers wafting around her.

Then Inuyasha took his hand from Kagome's eyes. She blinked, getting accustomed to the darkness, then blinked in amazement. She surrounded by flowers. Crouching, she picked one up. Its petals were so dainty they felt like they'd fall to silky dust in her palm.

"Did you do this, Inuyasha?" she whispered.

"Kaede said girls like flowers," Inuyasha mumbled, going red.

Kagome stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on the mouth. His eyes widened, then he returned the kiss timidly.

"Thank you, Inuyasha," Kagome whispered, turning and gazing at the flowers, completely swept away by how many there were surrounding her. "No one's ever done so much for me."

"And…" Inuyasha scratched the back of his neck, embarrassed now. "I did some food. Are you gonna sit down—"

Bang.

I know many of you think it is cruel to mistreat Kagome in this way. But this one was necessary. You will see why, in the last chapter.

Tessadragon