Konnichiwa! I know that last chapter was REALLY long…over 3000 words, actually, and this one will be a little bit shorter…I'm aiming for 2500-3000, but no more. If I go over that, please do not send me flames! They will just be used to make SMORES! Ahem…on with the chappie!

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Inuyasha was the first to wake that morning, as usual. He had been awoken by the early beams of the approaching dawn. Fearing that they would wake Kagome up as well, he shielded her eyes with his haori, resting one of its sleeves gently over her eyelids and leaving his bare chest exposed to the cold of early dawn. He quietly went to the back of the hut and fetched a spare white undershirt identical to the one Kaguya had torn into shreds. He always kept a few extras around, just in case. Crawling back over by Kagome, he relayed the memory of when he held her before he was taken, he had memorized the way she felt, knowing that the chances of her letting him do that again were slim to none. 'But…she felt so…' He shook his head as he sat with his legs under him, watching Kagome sleep, the top half of her head covered by the sleeve of his haori. A light breeze blew through the open window as the sky clouded over. He smelled rain coming, and it would be a downpour judging from the intensity of the scent. He sighed and removed his haori from Kagome's eyes, knowing that the sun wouldn't shine likely all day. He pulled the tattered cloth that served as a shield over the window to keep the rain from coming in when it came. He bowed his head, staring at his feet, his back turned to the sleeping raven haired miko.

"Why is it that I always have feelings for someone that I don't deserve?" He whispered to himself. He figured Kagome would rest a little easier without his youki clouding the air around her, so he walked outside, figuring that he'd best get some exercise in before the rain hit.

Kagome awoke when she felt Inuyasha's youki leaving her range of sense. She sat up, surprised that her miko powers had been refreshed so quickly. She stood and jogged lightly in the direction of Inuyasha's youki, hoping that she wasn't intruding on anything. She kept jogging for a while, but came to an abrupt stop when she spotted the hanyou over by Goshinboku, crouched down as though he were either hiding something or looking for something. Which of the two he was doing Kagome couldn't tell. She backed up and ducked behind a tree, giving him enough room to let him have his privacy but close enough to see and hear what it was he was doing.

(Inuyasha's POV)

I thought about my relationship with Kagome as I wandered deeper into the forest, letting my feet take me wherever they so pleased. I had somehow wandered into the clearing and was now beside the Goshinboku. I thought about whether I should just crash on top of one of its branches until the rain came, but I decided against it. I continued to think about her…her smile, her laugh…just anything about her. I stopped as I wondered how I was going to tell her. I could just flat out say "Hey guess what Kagome I love you!" one day, but everyone (including myself) would begin to question my mental capability. I could just take her to the side one night and blow her away with a kiss, but I know that the only thing that I'll be kissing after that for a while is DIRT. I'm starting to run out of ideas…flowers? Too mushy, too out of character for me. Confession? Well…no duh, now if only I knew how to SAY IT. Flirting? Nah, that'd seem too…I dunno…awkward. What about those "date" things she always talked about? Possibility…if I knew what it was. That's when it hit me: I could just write to her and tell her how I felt in a note! I fumbled around in my haori, pulling out a tiny brush and a bottle of ink that was about half full. Unscrewing the cap of the ink bottle and dipping the tip inside the ink, I plopped myself on one of Goshinboku's great roots as I continued to look around my haori for a piece of parchment. Finding one, I rested the paint covered tip of the brush on the top of the parchment, pausing to think.

What was I going to write? I couldn't just say 'I love you' in big huge letters all across the paper and hand it to her without her questioning my sanity. Nope, I wasn't THAT stupid. I thought long and hard…okay…so maybe I AM that stupid…but…wait! I could tell her how I felt about what happened in Kaguya's Dream Castle…nah…that'd never work…too corny. I thought about what she had said before…that once we had all the shards she might not be coming back here. My face clouded over at the memory of it. Maybe…yeah…that just might work! I began painting the words onto the parchment, mindful to be somewhat neat so that it was legible; I couldn't have Kagome thinking that I was completely illiterate, because that's just not true. The words seemed to flow from the tip of my brush, and before I knew it, I used up half of the ink that I had and I had just about enough room on the SECOND side for…three more sentences. I thought a little about them, wrote them, let the ink dry and folded it neatly. Tucking the other items into my robe, I took the note and headed home, eager to give it to Kagome. I suddenly saw a flash of black, green and white. What was that? I'd better find out; if it was who I think it was, then I can relax. Otherwise…I'll get a good exercise killing a few demons.

(Kagome's POV)

I watched him from behind, trying to see what it was he was doing, then I saw him set a bottle of ink down beside him, and that's when it occurred to me: He's writing something…or perhaps drawing, that could be it, too. I watched with curiosity as his hand swished freely across the parchment, and became horrified as he began to gather his things up. I knew where he was headed, but I also knew he thought that I was still asleep. I turned as he began to head in my direction and ran as fast as my legs could carry me. I froze in my tracks as I heard a twig snap to my left. I had thought for sure that I was alone…I was positive…there was a wave of red as I was about to scream, but I felt a familiar hand rest gently on my lips.

"Don't scream…it's me." I relaxed as I realized that it was Inuyasha, but I was kinda surprised that he didn't yell at me, or call me stupid or anything like that, but he spoke so softly…it was kinda…strange. He was never THIS nice. He put his hand down back to his side as he motioned for me to follow him back to the village.

"What the heck are you doing up, Kagome? You need to rest!" He said as he looked at me while we kept walking.

"I feel fine, really. I'm doing a lot better." He smiled in relief…hey wait a minute…he doesn't SMILE…hardly ever! Okay…who is this guy and what did he do with my Inuyasha?

My Inuyasha…

When the hell did THAT start!

"Kagome? Helloooooooo? Earth to Kagome!" Inuyasha waved a clawed hand in front of my face.

"Huh? Oh…gomen, Inuyasha. I was just…thinking…"

"Keh. Whatever. Let's just get back to the village before it starts raining, slowpoke." So much for NICE…ah well. He's still my Inuyasha, nice or not. He knows it whether he likes it or not; I'm the only one with the control to…

"Inuyasha?"

"Hm?" I smile as I shut my eyes, lifting my head proudly.

"Sit."

BAM!

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Much shorter than the last chapter, I know. What did Inuyasha write, you all ask? You will see in a few chapters…maybe two or three. Like I said: SUSPENSE.