Disclaimer: I dont own Inuyasha...sigh. Happy now?

Chapter 2 - The Sword

Three days later Inuyasha comes back and hands Kagome a sheathed sword. The sheath is black and a star is centered in the middle. Towards the bottom is blue diagnal line and fire is placed on top of it. It's simple but really elegant and one could tell it was made for a woman. She stared at it for a few moments before she looked up at it's creator. She immediately afterwards wrapped her arms around him in a heartfelt embrace.

"Thanks, Inuyasha. This is so beautiful."

"Unsheath it."

"Huh?..." He pointed to the handle and she grabbed it and unsheathed the sword holding it in the air like a arm attachment. "Wow. This is the first time I've seen a black sword.". Yes. The sword had a black blade. The rim of the bottom was a marble like texture and design. As you looked at the sword, the first thing that stood out and caught your eye was the sphere that was centered on the handle for a firm grip. The sphere was divided in two sections by a curvy line. One side was red and the other side was blue. Right below the sphere was the same star on the sheath.

"You need a little practice with it first. A sword can be much harder than a bow and arrow." She ran her finger over the blade in a consentrated trance and absently pierced her skin causing blood to fall.

"Ouch!" He jumped at the sudden noised she had made after almost 5 minutes in straight silence. He took her hand some-whatdemandingly and brougth it to eyesight. He resisted the sudden urge as his dog demon insticts kicked in making him want to lick her finger. He knew if he licked it that it would heal much faster but Kagome would have a fit. He broke out into a short muffled snicker after staring her finger down for a good ten minutes as if waiting for it to move, while he got wierd looks from all those around him. Especially Kagome. He had be picturing her reaction if he had really licked her finger. She'd probably think I'm possessed. Instead of listening to his other half he ripped a piece of cloth from inside his fire rat robe and wrapped her finger.

"It's ironic how an object that was made to shed blood could be so ultimately captivizing. You did a great job Inuyasha."

"Be careful next time, before there isn't a next time." She turned around so fast in shock, it almost made him smile. Almost.

"Would you really take it back from me?"

"Feh. Maybe."

She smiled being able to translate that to 'of course not. I'd never.' They practiced for at least 6 hours straight, until they were both drenched in sweat. He noticed how much more graceful she was in battle. ' She fights really good' She did alot of jumping and twisting and ducking. It even seemed as if she was able to pridict his moves and her reflexes acted much faster.

"I have to admit, I'm impressed." He took a seat on a boulder. "Of course you can always use practice."

"Thanks. I've never really fought with a sword before like that." She picked up a towel from the ground and wiped her face. She had long ago shed her heavy white blouse and remained in a yellow tank top. Inuyasha had on his usual fire rat pants, but no top. " That was ... energizing."

"You think so?"

"Totally. Aw man. Where's the closest river? I need to refill my water bottle."

" Not too far if your up for a run."

They started running. Kagome was behind a little bit then she took to the trees, jumping from limb to limb. Not too long they reached the river and Kagome sat down at the side.

"Why do you want to become a full demon?" She bluntly asked staring him in the eyes to make sure he was telling her the truth. " Your strong already. Ive seen what happens when you change. You can't even remember me"

"Kagome...I.." he started to talk but couldn't decide what to say. His mouth opened and closed a few times till he looked down at the floor trying to gather his thoughts. He decided not to talk at all and tried to lighten the mood. As soon as she wasn't looking he jumped in the river and splashed her as much as he could. She started laughing forgetting the tension that once held the air.

They played around in the water for a while till Miroku stepped out of the bushes with his well known lechorous smile on his face. Only Miroku could turn this completely innocent splash in the river and turn it into something perverted. He gave Inuyasha a smirk and Kagoem a wink before making a complete about face and walking back into the forest, the smile never escaping his lips. Istead of getting mad like they usually would do, Inuyasha just smiled while Kagome laughed. She was completely drenched from head to toe as well as Inuyasha. They took a seat in the shallow water and began to talk again.

"So how long do yuo think till we find Naraku?"

"I dont know. It could be days, weeks, months.."

"Years..." She looked at him a little worried but his confidence gave her confidence. "but whatever it takes. We will get him. Right?"

"Right." They exchanged smiles which gave Kagome a light blush. She looked up to the sky and memories flashed back to her. Some painful, some not. Come to think of it, me and Inuyasha have shared alot of close times. I've kissed him atleast twice. To no avail- I might add. He's never really told me that he doesnt love me. But he's never said he does either. sigh...

" Kagome?" She snapped out of her trance and stared at his amber eyes and smiled.

"Why are you smiling?" He said getting a little freaked out.

"Because you make me happy."

"I make you happy? How?"

"Well.. she held his arm and rested her head on his shoulder. "First of all, the fact that your here with me now makes me happy. And becasue you put up with Koga (some what) when you apparrently dont have to. And because of who you are in general. I love the way you are."

" love..?" she started blushing realizing her slip of tounge.I wasn't suppose to say that out loud! Ahhh!

"um..yea. love. I guess."

" You love me?" She sat up and leaned off his shoulder with a annoyed/ scared/shocked look on her face.

"MUst we get technical?" She sat so stiff and upright in a sorta defence mode.

"I guess not. but..."

"But what?"

"Nothing."

"Yes. I do love you." Now it was his turn to hold the stiff upright sorta defence mode position with a added dumb look on his face.

"Really?"

"For kami's sake! I won't repeat myself."

"Well then, I guess I love you too."

"This isn't exactly how I pictured you saying that." She relaxxed A a little and lied down on her stomache prompted on her hands and her legs in the air. She smiled anyway. " But now that it's out in the open.."

"I didn't picture it like that either." He kinda drifted off daydreaming after that sentence until Kagome snapped him out of it. She obviously didn't trust the way his mind functioned, figuring he spent too long with Miroku to have his mind at least one inch out of the gutter.

"Inuyasha?" She clapped her hands three times adn he stared at her much too weird for comfort and started to blush. "Sit." Thud. "Get up off the ground and let's head back to camp."

Yah! It's on to the next chapter. I hope you liked it. Thanks for the reviews all those who reviewed. Enjoy the rest of the story.