Hello again. Its been a long time. I've never taken this long before. I didn't really realize how much time school was going to take out of my life.

But, its here now. I hope you like it. There's nothing really important in this chap, its just got some fluff and setting things up for the end of the story.

Its unfortuanate that i have no reviewers to thank individualy...

So, please, read on...

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Chapter 14

Kagome shivered as they sat around the fire, no words spoken due to the earlier feud, and Kagome wouldn't tell Inuyasha she was cold, being she was still angry with him.

Inuyasha saw she was cold without her saying it though, and even though he was still mad at her for sitting him, she was his mate, and it was his responsability to take care of her, so without a sound, he took of his fire-rat kimono and drapped it over her shoulders.

She looked back at him in surprise, eye's meeting his, and she sighed, realizing it really was a stupid arguement. She gave him a soft look, which more or less asked if she could cuddle against him.

His gaze also softened, looking at her. She held such control over him, which was evident as she moved next to him, pressing her side along his and resting her head against his shoulder, "I'm sorry Inuyasha..."

Inuyasha didn't say anything for a moment, then asked quietly, "Are you really that afraid of what will happen?"

Kagome closed her eyes, "I...I'm afraid I'll loose you Inuyasha. I'm not strong enough to handle that...I just can't. I love you too much..."

The half-demon turned his gaze on her and thought back to her dying. He hadn't been strong enough either, and before he knew it, his mouth began moving and he opened up to her, "When you died...I lost control."

Kagome looked up at him and saw the sad look in his eyes.

"I felt like I was dying...without you, everything was so wrong, and I didn't want to live."

Inuyasha felt like a fool as he spoke, listening to his own words, but he couldn't keep himself from continuing. Tears were in Kagome's eye's and he immediatly wondered what he had done, cursing himself for causing them.

Her arms went suddenly around Inuyasha, squeezing his waist tightly, as she cried softly into his kimono, "I understand...Inuyasha. So many times I've seen you almost die, or turn into a demon, and I thought I was going to lose you. All the times you went to Kikyo, I tried to leave, I wanted to leave, but I couldn't, because I couldn't live without you. I still can't...but now we have to fight Naraku AND Akakios. What are we going to do?"

"I'm going to protect you," Inuyasha said shortly, testily, as if the question was stupid, "Go to sleep. I can't let you sleep all morning."

Kagome sighed against him and nodded, understand he was not willing to talk anymore. She didn't want to push her luck. She had already gotten more than she thought she would.

He had actualy told her what he had felt when she died.

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Rin rode on Ah-Un, Lord Sesshomaru's two headed dragon, Jaken trailing behind his Lord without speaking.

The little girl on the other hand was curious to where they were traveling and asked sweetly, "Lord Sesshomaru, where are we going?"

"Do not worry about it Rin," The emotionless Sesshomaru replied, and Jaken 'hmft' at her.

Rin frowned, but said no more.

Sesshomaru was curious himself, wondering why Akakios and his daughters and taken off so quickly, following Inuyasha and company.

Inuyasha was heading towards Naraku, and getting close. Sesshomaru's little brother would get himself killed taking on to such powerful enemies at once and wondered what he was thinking.

Inuyasha was putting his friends in danger.

"Rin, you will stay here with Jaken. You can go no further."

"But Mylord-" The little imp began but was cut off by the lord of the western lands.

"Jaken, you will stay here with Rin and keep her out of trouble."

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"Miroku, don't even think about it..." Sango warned, seeing his hand moving dangerously close to her butt.

Kagome smiled. They had spent another day traveling and they were all exhausted. Kagome cooked the food to keep her mind off her worries.

Inuyasha had been distant all day, barely saying three words to her.

"Inuyasha, why so quiet?" Sango asked him and he grunted.

Kagome pulled her knees to her chin as she stared at her mates back, wondering herself why he was giving her a cold shoulder.

When they prepared to lay down to sleep, Inuyasha had gone to a nearby tree and jumped into it without saying anything, so Kagome rolled out her sleeping bag and with hurt in her voice, said in a whisper, "Goodnight, Inuyasha..."

She fell to sleep, unaware Inuyasha was watching her and had heard her.

He hadn't intended to make her upset, 'I'm sorry Kagome...but we're too close to Naraku now, and Akakios is following us. I have to keep closer watch. I refuse to lose you again.'

Hours passed, and nothing eventful happened, other than Kagome's fitful sleeping.

"Inuyasha."

The half-demon looked down to see Miroku standing there, when he should have been asleep like the others.

"What?"

"I insist you apologize to Kagome. She has tossed and turned all night, incase you havn't noticed, and not only is she not getting sleep that way, but I'm not either," The monk said sternly.

Inuyasha knew, and it had also been bothering him. He'd catch Kagome with her eyes open, starring blankly at the fire and at times, him also.

At the moment, she was asleep, but in another five or so minutes, she would wake up. That had been her pattern thus far.

Miroku sent him a displeased look, "You can easily smell if something is coming. Rest with Kagome so she can sleep."

"Feh, what do you know? Go sleep and let me worry about Kagome."

Inuyasha glared at the lecherous monk as he went back to his spot, and he waited for him to fall to sleep.

The second he had, Inuyasha quietly jumped from the tree, landing beside Kagome, whose eyes fluttered open as she murmered softly, "Inuyasha?"

Sleeping bag and all, Inuyasha picked her up, holding her tightly against himself, then returned to the tree, sitting with his back against the trunk of it and Kagome between his legs, her back against his chest.

She didn't protest in the least, instead, she snuggled in closer to him, closing her eyes with a little smile on her lips. She felt protected again, and warm, and happy Inuyasha hadn't been mad at her after all.

"I love you Inuyasha..." She whispered.

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"Kagura, where are Inuyasha and his companions?" Naraku asked his servant.

Kagura responded crossly, "Their on their way. They should be here by tomorrow night."

"Very good. Kikyo!" Naraku continued from where he sat on his blue mat.

Kikyo entered the room without hesitation, not keeping from Naraku a destaining look, "Naraku, must you repeatedly call me? I find your voice rather dull."

His eyes flashed, but he kept his anger in check, "Inuyasha will be here this next night. Are you prepared to do what you must?"

She smiled, 'As if I wouldn't want to end Inuyasha's life. Naraku, your death is coming too, and I will be free to live in peace then.'

"Don't worry about me, worry about Inuyasha, he's your enemy," Kikyo told Naraku in a steady voice, wishing she could kill him where he stood.

No, she had to let her plan unfold, which it was doing. Soon, she would have what she wanted...Inuyasha and Naraku's deaths.

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"Inuyasha!"

The half-demon jumped awake, along with the priestess leaning againt him. He was immediatly ready to defend her, but looked down and found it was only Shippo, and he threatened, "Whatcha do that for runt! You'll pay for that!"

He made the movement to jump down and go after him, but Kagome grabbed his sleeve and said sleepily, "Inuyasha, just leave him alone..."

Sango walked over, standing nearly under the branch they were sitting on and said, "Its late morning Inuyasha. Do you plan on resting today for us all to regain as much strength as possible before our battle?"

"No, we can't," Inuyasha declared and jumped down with Kagome in his arms then put her down softly, "Akakios and his daughters are following us. We have to keep moving."

"This isn't good Inuyasha," Miroku voiced.

"Do you think I don't know that! What do you want me to do!"

Kagome looked at his troubled face and rolled up her sleeping-bag. So much of this was on his shoulders. He was the strongest of them, and he was the one who would fight Naraku. He was the one who would have to worry about Akakios, Hikari, and Amaya also.

It was so much for him to have to handle, and Kagome understood, going to him and taking one of his hands in hers, "Inuyasha...We'll be there with you, and we'll help you however much we can...we might not be as strong as you are, but we will try our best."

"Kagome is right, Inuyasha," Sango whispered, "We'll be right there beside you. Your not fighting this world youself anymore."

Inuyasha looked into each of their eyes, even Kohaku's, and saw how much they believed in him, "Well, what are we waiting here for? Lets go kill Naraku."

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There you go... Ok, this is getting SO close to being done...

This chapter had quite a bit of fluff. I wasn't exactly impressed with it, but oh well, I wasn't able to focus on it completely anyway.

I would like reviews again please..

Signing out,

Destined