Affections

After about an hour, the sun was setting low in the mountains, and the rest of the group had returned.

Kirara landed softly on the grass near to Inuyasha.

"Is she ok?" Sango asked suddenly. Inuyasha did not answer. He turned his head away from them. His bangs covered his eyes. "Is she?"

"Yeah, from what I've heard from Doctor Kameko. Did you find any survivors?" Sango shook her head sadly. Inuyasha shifted uneasily.

Kagome stood behind Kirara wondering about something. Why did Inuyasha smell Ayame first than Naraku? Usually Inuyasha would have smelt him long before they were even close. 'He does have feelings for her,'

"Inuyasha?" Kagome asked.

"What?"

"Can I speak to you alone for a second?"

"Sure,"

Kagome lead him to a nearby stream in the village and sat down, looking at her reflection in the water.

"I was just wondering, why were you crying when you found Ayame hurt?" she asked, she just wanted to know for sure if he liked her or not.

"I- I thought I was going to lose her," he replied.

"Lose her?" she repeated.

"Yeah," Inuyasha said.

"Inuyasha, you are hiding something from me and I don't like it," she finally said.

"No I'm not!" he snapped.

"What's the matter!"

"Nothing! Just leave me alone!" he yelled turning his head in the total opposite direction of her.

"Just tell me!" She yelled as she grabbed his chin and turned his face towards her. His bangs no longer covered his eyes, for they were clear with tears

"You do like her don't you!" she yelled.

"And what if I do!" he yelled back. He got up and walked away. "There isn't anything you can do about it!"

"We'll see about that…" Kagome said to herself

Inuyasha walked back to the doctor's hut where Sango, Miroku, Kirara, and Shippo waited. Doctor Kameko also waited outside.

"Is she ok?" He asked, looking down at the old woman.

"Yes, she will be fine, but will need some rest." She replied. Doctor Kameko led Inuyasha to where Ayame was. She lay on the mat in less pain than she was before. She slept gently, a peaceful look upon her face.

"May I stay in here in case she wakes?" Inuyasha asked the doctor. She nodded yes. Inuyasha found a corner in the hut and sat there, quietly watching her…

"Huh, what?" Ayame said as she awoke in the morning. Her vision was blurry, and her head felt heavy as she tried to lift it up.

"Ayame?" She heard a voice. Looking around, she regained her vision to see Inuyasha."Ayame? You're awake?" he said as he crawled over to her. He grabbed her hand. "You ok?" he said gently.

"I, I think so." Ayame tried to lift herself up, but a sudden pain shot through her side. "OW!" she cried.

"Don't try to move, you're to injured." He said as he gently eased her back onto her bed.

"Are-are my pack here?" she said looking out the door.

"Naraku, he destroyed them." Inuyasha said, tears swelled in his eyes. He could relate to her, all his family had died when he was young. He had had to survive on his own, but he was going to make sure this did not happen to Ayame. He would promise himself.

A single tear trickled down from his cheek and fell softly upon her hand. That triggered a memory. She remembered feeling that before, but on her cheek.

"Inuyasha, why are you crying?" she asked looking into his eyes.

"Just because, well, I've felt the same pain at one time, where everything I knew was gone." She looked at him now with more understanding.

"Why were you crying before? At my den site? I felt a tear that dropped on my cheek, but it wasn't mine."

"Back there?" He repeated, his cheeks turning red.

She nodded.

"Well, I thought I was going to… lose you," he answered the same way he answered Kagome.

"You- you shed tears for me?"

Inuyasha nodded.

"You are the first man that has ever done that for me, not that I'm implying anything."

'Imply all you want,' he thought.

They sat there for a while, just staring at each other with grins upon there faces.

'She's so pretty,' he thought to himself, 'Even if she is injured, she still has a look about her.' He examined her gleaming, emerald eyes. They were so life-filled. Her skin was the color of cream, all smooth and soft as it lay upon her fine structure of a woman. And her hair, oh one of the most unique colors. It had much bronze in it that mixed with brown, but just a touch of gold that made it shine in the sunlight.

Her gaze suddenly turned from him and to their hands. He had been taking a firmer grasp to her hand that gave Ayame a second thought.

"Oh, sorry!" He said as he released her hand. His cheeks blotched with red and he shifted his weight uncomfortably.

"It's ok," she replied, seeing the embarrassment imprinted on his face. She then looked over his shoulder and to the farther wall of the hut. There lied baskets and pots of all shapes and sizes and with items of varied types.

"Who are those for?" Ayame asked pointing to them. Inuyasha turned to see where she was pointing.

"Oh those? Those are from the villagers, to you."

"But…why?"

"I told them you had slain Jakotsu."

"What? You helped too you know!" she was angry for him letting her take all the credit. "Whatever I get, you take half." She said to him to make it even.

"Well, I don't know how good I would look in these kimonos the women have made for you." He said holding them up and examining them.

He brought all the gifts over to her bed so she could see them. Many of the pots were filled with fish, fruits, or crops. Others filled with orchids and other types of flowers. Some had brought small clay jars filled with medicine or healing herbs for her wounds. Others brought good luck charms. But Ayame's favorite gifts were the kimonos so delicately made. Inuyasha made sure he showed her each and every one. One was a deep blue, like the ocean and therefore had waves that traveled along the silk. Another one was a royal red that had dragons twirling and spitting fire around the sleeves, but Ayame's favorite was the one that was light pink and had cherry blossoms that were scattered across it. It was one of the finest styles, like the ones that princesses wore, with all the different layers.

"Oh! This one is beautiful!" She dazzled at it. Ayame had never had the time to wear such fine clothing, for she was too busy running around doing things for the tribe.

Ayame gently touched the kimono with the tips of her fingers, just to convince herself it was real. Oh, how she could imagine wearing it. How it would gracefully drag the ground, just enough, but not enough to make it dirty. And how the folds would gently topple down from her waist. And how the sleeves would lace her arms and hide them from the outside world. She would then look like a true princess. Ayame could not wait to try it on, but she would have to wait till the next day when her wounds had healed more and she was free to move around.

For the rest of the day, Inuyasha waited on her, doing every little task that she had not even asked him for. And when she had made him stop, he pleaded for more to do. He thought that maybe if he was a slave to her, then maybe he could win her heart. This wasn't how he wished for her to fall for him, but if it were the only way, then he would do it. He hoped that there might have been a slight thought in her mind to his affection that he had feelings for her, but she didn't. She had not the slightest clue, but she would have if she paid more attention to him. She was too busy worrying about her lost tribe and family and how she would have to find a young, strong warrior and marry him, just as she said she would.

It was now night; Ayame grew tired and slipped herself lower into the sheets of the bed. Inuyasha was leaning against the doorframe of the hut, gazing at the full moon that floated upon the night.

'Will she ever have feelings for me?' he thought to himself. 'Will she ever like me?' he was more praying that she would. 'Even if she just thought for the slightest moment that I was attractive.'

Ayame turned to look at him. He seemed deep in thought, but by the look in his eyes, they were not pleasing thoughts. 'What is he thinking about?' she wondered. The moon cast silver beams of light across him, illuminating his body structure, and she noticed. His face was narrow, but not too narrow. He had eyes that were perfect to see the emotions that lie within him and a perfectly pointed chin that gave him boyish and manly characteristics. He was well built, a nice height, and was very fit. He had taken his cloak off earlier, for it was a warm night and therefore she could see his perfectly chiseled chest through the low cut of his undershirt. She also could see how his arms flexed with every motion through his shirt as well. His hair gently fell down the length of his back and a few strands upon his broad shoulders. A strange warmth churned within the depths of her breast and made her heart pound. Inuyasha's last prayer had been answered.

Feeling her gaze upon him, he turned to her.

"What's the matter, Ayame?" he asked, his eyes lighting up a bit. Ayame caught her breath, now looking at him, the feeling grew stronger.

"Oh, nothing," she replied with a little smile and red cheeks.

Inuyasha walked over to a corner of the room and sat in it. It was so dark she could barely see him.

"I'll stay here just in case you need anything in the middle of the night."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah," He said quietly as he rest the Tetsusiaga in the crook of his arm.

"Okay," she said as she rolled over and fell asleep.

Once Inuyasha knew that she was asleep, he crawled over to her. He just sat there, watching her. She seemed so peaceful. She gently stirred in her sleep. Her hand fell from the blankets and rested on the wooden floor. He softly put his hand on hers. How he wanted her. How he wished to kiss her soft lips and taste her.

She stirred once more, turning the total opposite direction of him and taking her hand away. Looking disappointed, he crawled back over to his corner and watched her and without knowing it, he dozed off…