I am so so so so sorry that i haven't been able to update until now, but does anyone know what it's like to be hit with midterms and then like 20 projects at once? school was insane and i had like no time to write. well my free time has been extended now yay so i should be posting more often now. enjoy, this is the most fluffy chapter yet.

Chapter 4: Purification

Kagome screamed as she plummeted to the ground. She squeezed her eyes shut and tensed for the impact. But instead of hitting the rocky ground, a strong pair of arms encircled her and lifted her back up. She opened her eyes only to find herself staring into Inuyasha's amber eyes. His eyes met hers only for a brief moment before he looked up.

"IRON REAVER SOUL STEALER!" he cried as he killed the demon in one blow, Kagome still in his arms. He landed lightly on the cliff, not far from where the remnants of the demon lay. Kagome was still surprised by her sudden rescue as Inuyasha set her on her feet.

"Inuyasha. You…you saved me" she said in disbelief.

"You idiot! You could have died, and I wasn't here to protect you" Inuyasha nearly yelled at her

"Inuyasha I-" Kagome didn't finish. She had collapsed on the ground wincing in pain and holding her leg where the demon had cut her.

"I thought I'd smelled your blood" Inuyasha's voice softened instantly. Kagome heard a ripping sound and when she looked up she saw Inuyasha tearing a strip from his white undershirt. He gently wiped the blood from he leg and wrapped the cloth strip around her wound. When Inuyasha looked up he saw tears in Kagome's eyes. Before he could ask what was wrong, Kagome had thrown her arms around his neck.

"Inuyasha, I was so scared" Kagome sobbed.

"Kagome…" Inuyasha said as he hugged her back. 'Maybe it really is too dangerous for you here' he thought. He picked her up and carried her into the forest where the ground wasn't so hard and rocky. Kagome was surprised at his concern for her and wondered why Inuyasha had followed her. He set Kagome down on the ground cushioned with fallen leaves and sat next to her.

'How do I tell her?' he wondered.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome interrupted his thoughts "why did you follow me?"

"Uhhhh…" Inuyasha faltered. He couldn't just tell her flat out, but he couldn't lie to her. "I thought you should know what Kaede told me." It wasn't the whole truth, but it was part of the truth. Fear crept into Kagome's heart.

"She said it would be best for you to go back to your own time" Inuyasha said, confirming Kagome's fears. "And…I think she's right" Inuyasha said hesitantly. Kagome couldn't take it anymore, she burst into tears.

"No! Inuyasha I can't go back. Not when I just realized I…I love you" she cried. When she had realized what she had said she was surprised and blushed. Inuyasha was so stunned that Kagome had said the very thing he had come to tell her. He didn't know what to say or do. Kagome, seeing no reaction from her words, assumed the feeling must not be mutual.

"But I guess…" she said standing up "…you still care for Kikyou." She spoke of the one who could not release Inuyasha's heart even after death should have parted them. Kikyou who was so cold and incapable of love, yet she seemed to be the one who Inuyasha yearned for. Kagome turned and began walking away from Inuyasha. She didn't get far before she felt a hand gently pull on her wrist. She turned and was met with Inuyasha's beautiful amber eyes.

"I do care about Kikyou. But…" he said as he pulled Kagome closer to him. "…I love you." With those words, he bent and lightly kissed her. As Kagome kissed him back the jewel around her neck began to glow. As their kiss deepened, the evil in the jewel dissipated and was replaced by a pure white. What Kagome thought would take her weeks, they together accomplished in seconds. The jewel was completely purified. The couple, however, took no notice of the jewel. When the kiss ended, Inuyasha pulled Kagome into a tight embrace. She leaned her head on his shoulder, taking in all the warmth from his strong arms encircling her.

"Inuyasha, I'll never leave you" she whispered

'You may have to.' He saddened as the thought crossed his mind.

Kagome wanted to stay in Inuyasha's embrace forever, but as she relaxed in his arms, she realized she could no longer feel the darkness of the tainted jewel. Reluctantly, she pulled herself from Inuyasha's comforting grasp and pulled at the chain around her neck on which the jewel was attached. When she freed the chain from her neck, she saw the jewel was now a pure white rather than a tainted swirling miasma.

"Inuyasha, look" Kagome gasped "we purified it" He looked down at the, now white, jewel in her hand and feared Kagome would have to leave him sooner than he thought. Kagome noticed the worry in his eyes "we have to figure out what to do with it" she said quietly. Before Kagome could say anything else, Inuyasha unexpectedly picked her up and jumped onto a high tree branch at the edge of the forest. Looking from above the cliff she almost fell from, Kagome could see the sun just beginning to peek over the horizon. "It's beautiful" she gasped as she saw the lustrous pinks and blues painted across the star flecked sky. Inuyasha pulled Kagome against his chest and she relaxed in his arms. She enjoyed the sense of security and happiness she felt with his arms around her.

'I'm sorry Kagome' Inuyasha thought as he realized what he had to do 'I just can't let you get hurt.' He looked at the gorgeous sunrise and held Kagome closer. As much as he wanted, Inuyasha knew that he could never allow Kagome to live in this dangerous time. He wanted more than anything for her to be safe, even if that meant he would never be able to see her again. But for now all he could do was enjoy the little time they did have left together. After all, if Kagome was safe then he could live without the regret of having another woman be endangered for his sake.

short but sweet. hope you enjoed the fluff R&R plz