A/N: And the aggravation with manga continues, now with the new chapter for FullMetal Alchemist, which came out today. (Why must you confuse us so, Arakawa-sama?) Has anyone else noticed how manga artists are masters of cliffhangers? It must be a pre-requisite of a mangaka or something…

Chapter 10: Reforging Deep Bonds

Finally, after having spent what seemed like an eternity in the forest landscape, Kagome and Inuyasha found themselves traveling through a grassy field. The change of scenery was welcomed, except for the clouds that hovered over the area, turning the normally blue sky grey.

As they continued on, Kagome allowed her eyes to wander, looking over at Inuyasha once more. Whenever the wind would blow through his silver hair, his eyes looking pensive as he stopped, sniffing the air for any detection of a youkai, Kagome would turn and glance at him, unable to turn away.

He took care of her on this trip, making sure she was safe from any harm. Inuyasha would worry about her, voicing his concerns every so often, but she tried not to let him worry about her. The last thing Kagome wanted was Inuyasha upset on her account.

Inuyasha was mostly worried about Kagome's memories. Whenever she would remember something awful, gasping in the pain of seeing it once again in her mind, he would come up to her and hold her, reminding her he was still near. Though Kagome had been afraid of what would happen before if she allowed him comfort, but now, his comfort helped her through those memories, and she was slowly realizing that he needed her too.

Looking at him once more, her proud lover, who offered her so much comfort, Kagome began to wonder. Inuyasha and I have suffered through so much…and we've both seen pain. And now, we're the only ones who can offer each other comfort.

Why is it that sometimes, its still painful to be near him, to think about what he did to me…and what I did to him, but other times…The breath caught in her throat. It feels like— Inuyasha turned to face her, his amber eyes glowing with sincerity in that one emotion. I might be…

"Kagome," he said softly, in the voice that always caused her heart to beat within her chest, while coming closer to her.

We both might be… Their eyes locked in an unbreakable spell, while the magic made Kagome want to fall in his arms, and be there forever. "Inuyasha…" she murmured back, unable to pull away once the magic had bewitched her.

Falling in—

The spell was broken when Kagome cried out in pain, putting a hand on her back as she crumpled to the ground, the throbbing in her back getting worse.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha yelled in concern, kneeling down beside her, holding her by the shoulders as she took deep breaths, still feeling the ache. "Are you all right?"

Wincing, she replied in short gasps, "No…my back…it hurts…"

"How bad?" he asked, taking off her backpack to ease some of the pain, as she crumpled into his arms, still painting with the sting.

Kagome kept her eyes closed as he held her, his very presence seeming to make the pain start to leave her. She shook her head, still taking deep breaths. "I'll manage…it comes and goes like this."

But Inuyasha wasn't convinced. "If it hurts, you need to get some medicine." One hand held her, while the other rooted through her backpack. "Where's the salve that Kaede gave you?"

"Inuyasha," Kagome protested, using her arms to push herself into a sitting position. "It's okay. If you really want me to use it, then I'll put it on myself, I don't need you to—"

"No, Kagome." he cut her off, his amber eyes blazing in seriousness. "I'll do it; you can't do it by yourself."

"But Inuyasha…" She didn't want him to attend to her like this. She didn't like him to worry, but if she could help it, she never let on how much her back hurt her around him. Kagome didn't want to upset him, since he had been the one to give her the scar in the first place. It was an ugly reminder of a horror that they had both been through, a night that should have never happened, and so many other things that now haunted her nightmares.

It would be almost cruel to let him look upon the scar again, the one that he had created and that also caused her so much pain.

Almost as if reading her mind, Inuyasha told her, "Don't worry about me, Kagome. You don't have to protest for my sake. It doesn't bother me."

Kagome, however, could always read him like a book. It bothers you, a little bit. Sighing, she thought, But he won't give up the fight until I give in…maybe I should just let him, since it'll make us both feel better. She felt another spasm of pain coming on, and that was her final decision.

Looking down, the tragic glint in her eyes once more, Kagome replied, "A-alright…Turn around." A blush came up on her cheeks; another twin blush sprouting on Inuyasha's when he realized what she meant.

"Y-yeah, right…" The flustered hanyou said, turning around as quick as he could, flattening his ears on his head, just in case he heard the sounds of her undressing, knowing the very thought caused his blush to deepen to a bright crimson.

When Kagome was satisfied that he wouldn't peek, she also turned, just in case he did, so he would only get a view of her back. Feeling slightly self-conscious, knowing she would have to take off both her shirt and her bra in order for him to treat her back, she couldn't help but remember the last time he saw her bare back was when—


She gave a small gasp as he continued, "Please Kagome…will you be my mate?"

Kagome took a sharp intake of breath at that memory, of the night that should have never happened. She closed her eyes tightly, trying to shut the memory out, as she slowly lifted her blue high school uniform shirt over her head, keeping it in front of her chest, certain Inuyasha would get no extra views.

One hand kept her shirt in front of her chest, while the other reached back and unclipped her bra, letting it slide limply down her arms until it was off. Another blush came upon Kagome's face, and despite the fact that she had covered up the important areas, she still felt completely naked, as if she had nothing on.

Inuyasha had already seen her completely nude before, and not just on that night, but despite the fact, she could never be comfortable with him like this…it reminded her of what had set off the curse, and what might bring it back.

In a small breath, Kagome whispered, "Okay.", hearing a surprised noise come from the hanyou at that.

Inuyasha turned back to look at her, and his heart gave a pang when he saw the scar, the five claw marks down her back from her left shoulder to her right hip. There was no doubt they were made by his claws, the very same ones that he had promised to protect her with, the ones that held her close, and stroked her skin…the ones that loved her….


There was a fierce growl as everyone backed away, except for Kagome as she clung to him, hoping to keep the youkai inside of him. Before her eyes, her lover transformed into what she had seen for so long, the red eyes with blue pupils, the purple stripes, the long claws and fangs. Tears once again adorned her eyes.

"Inuyasha, please, turn back! Miroku-sama didn't mean it! I need you to come back!" she cried into his haori.

But that was enough for youkai Inuyasha. Here was she, Kagome, pleading for him to turn back into the hanyou, the one she truly loved. But he held no such feelings for her anymore. The releasing of the hanyou separated them; he was a youkai, having no more emotions towards her.

As he raised his claws, Kagome looked up at him, his crimson eyes holding no warmth, her brown eyes flowing tears. "Inuyasha…"

She was cut off as she screamed in pain as Inuyasha's claws dug long, deep gouges into her back.


Inuyasha gave an involuntary shudder, remembering how he had felt such joy as a youkai, when he had sliced her with his claws. He remembered how his brain had hammered the lust for her blood into his thoughts until he could barely stand it…and then the unending torment when he found himself inside his hanyou form to find what he had done…

He sighed, tossing his memories aside for the time being, and came closer to Kagome, who's head was down, her hair falling over her shoulders. He took the small jar of the special salve Kaede had made for Kagome's back, and opened it. "Kagome, I'm going to put some on now, alright?" he asked, hoping not to hurt her.

Kagome said nothing, but only nodded, hugging her shirt closer across her bare chest.

Timidly, he reached out and touched her, spreading some of the balm onto her skin. The instant his fingertips met with the scar, he felt a hot jolt, making him stiffen, but it was gone as quickly as it came. Hoping Kagome had noticed nothing, he continued, feeling an uncontrollable pool of desire well up in him as he stroked her soft skin, having missed the sensation of caressing her as she was in his arms.

Kagome was also hypnotized from the contact. His hand was gentle as it spread the ointment across her back, her pain instantly fading from the medicine, seeming like it was Inuyasha's touch that took it away. Every time his fingertips brushed against her skin, it sent a new jolt of electricity up her veins, and she couldn't deny that at this moment she wanted his touch…his kisses…his love…

The silence that had been in space of a beautiful moment now felt uncomfortable, and Inuyasha spoke up, "Kagome…you don't have to try to keep me from seeing these things. I know what I did…and I don't want to be pitied for it."

"I'm not pitying you." She replied at once, turning her head slightly back at him. "I'm just…I just don't want you to suffer, Inuyasha."

"Suffer?" The hanyou gave a small snort at that. "Kagome, I wouldn't let myself suffer at something like this. I'm better than that."

"I know that!" Snapped Kagome. "It's just…I don't want you to feel guilt. Inuyasha…I don't want you feeling guilty over what happened to me."

Inuyasha could smell her eyes beginning to tear up. "Kagome, you have to understand that I can't help but feel guilty." His voice was sad, and full of emotion. "You were hurt badly Kagome, all because of me. It's not something I can just forgive myself for."

"I forgive you." She spoke up at once, turning back to meet him, Inuyasha's hand no longer on her back.

A half-smile appeared on his face. "I know, Kagome. But it's not just that. What I mostly feel guilt for…" his eyes flickered to her right shoulder, where the oval shaped scar lay under her hair. "Is that you tried to kill yourself because of me."


Kagome cast one last look at her friends, a look of complete sadness and despair, with empty, blank eyes, dead looking ones, those of one who would never be happy again. She turned away and looked down at Inuyasha. "Inuyasha…" she whispered, her voice breaking, a tear escaping her eyelids as she closed them.

And then her friends screamed, "Kagome!" as she plunged the dagger into her flesh.



That memory emerged in her mind, Kagome able to even feel the sharpness of the dagger that pierced her. That memory alone was enough to chill her blood, making her start to tremble as it emerged fresh in her memory.

Inuyasha, seeing her discomfort, wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close, making sure the shirt covering her breasts wasn't disturbed. "Kagome…" he murmured, knowing the memory was hurting her.

After a minute of silence and comforting each other, Kagome whispered, "Don't you understand, Inuyasha? I did it because…I thought you were dead…and I could live without you…I couldn't live with myself, knowing what I had done…"

"Kagome," Inuyasha told her sternly. "Don't ever do that. I don't want you to die for me, Kagome. If I die, then I want you to live."

After a pause, she replied, "I know, Inuyasha, but I did it because I—" she suddenly stopped herself, her eyes widening, looking as if she let something slip. She leaned away, out of his embrace, holding her shirt firmly in place, giving him a view of her scar once more.

"Kagome?" he asked, wondering at her peculiar behavior.

She didn't look back at him as she said in a sad voice, "Inuyasha, turn around again. I have to put my shirt back on."

Sighing, Inuyasha did as he was told, wondering what Kagome had been about to say earlier.


A/N: Some almost-fluff for you! Anyway, this wasn't supposed to take place for a while, but I ended up moving it up in the plot, which makes it flow better, in my opinion.

Just to let all you fluff lovers know, just wait! Fluff is coming soon!