I DO NOT OWN INUYASHA OR ANY OF THESE CHARACTERS…WELL CEPT RANDOM DEMONS THAT I STICK IN THERE LOL…THE REST IS PROPERTY OF RUMIKO TAKAHASHI!

What Makes Me Different Makes You Beautiful

Ch. 1

Miroku had walked back into the hut and laid down a while ago on the other side so as not to get killed by the girls during their "time" when Inuyasha peered in.

He had a strange look. It wasn't confusion. It wasn't fear. It was lust. And man, did he have a lot of it. Kagome's scent was driving him insane finally and he couldn't help but want her.

'Stay away.' he reminded himself over and over but at the end, it didn't do any good.

He looked at her.

Watched her.

Wanted her.

He walked in closer to her and knelt down beside her, inhaling strongly her feminine aroma and cursed at himself though he knew it was overpowering him. He couldn't control it. He needed her. To touch her. To FEEL her. His hand met her stomach and it felt as if he had to do more.

Kagome's brow creased while she slept as she brought the blanket up a little more and turned away from him.

Something about the worry in her facial expression made him stop and watch her face, taking his hand away from her body. He brushed back some of her hair and forgot about his lust craves for just a few moments as he gazed on.

"Kagome?" he whispered, so no one else could hear. Sango tossed a bit but no voice was heard by her.

He looked back at Kagome after making sure no one heard and saw beads of sweat dripping down her face. He bent down a bit closer to Kagome's ear and whispered getnlier. "Kagome?"

She bolted straight up and knocked him in the head with her own. "OW!" she cried and grabbed her head as Inuyasha fell backwards with a thud.

He growled a bit and rubbed his head. Looking back up at her, she looked down at him, seeing he was there with his glowing eyes. "Inu…Inuyasha?"

He looked away and "pfft"ed, as though he wasn't wanting to go into it.

She looked away and bit her bottom lip, "Would you like to lay down and sleep?"

"Eh?" Inuyasha looked back at her.

"I mean…well you see…" she looked back at him, half anxious, half scared at what she was asking, "The tree must be uncomfortable."

"Feh." he blew out some air and stood up, walked to a nearby wall and sat against it.

"Alright. Well, if you need a blanket or pillow, just say something."

He wondered why she didn't ask what he was doing there. Why he was so close. What he didn't know…is she knew. She knew why he was there and why he'd gotten so close. She knew it wasn't his fault for wanting to mate, it's in his blood.

"Kagome?" he asked, breaking her thoughts.

"Yes?" she asked, half expecting him to start grumbling about ramen or something.

Inuyasha looked up at her, his orbs shining again, "Why were you sweating? Were you having a nightmare or something that you humans have?"

"I don't remember." Kagome wasn't lying, she just didn't know. And as soon as she thought about sweat, she started shivering.

"Kagome?" Inuyasha bolted up and made her lay back down, "Are you getting sick? Why so cold? You were burning up a minute ago!"

"It's the flashes, I suppose." Kagome shrugged.

Inuyasha blinked, "Flashes?"

"Sometimes, when I'm…you know…" she hinted and he nodded sheepishly, "I get flashes…sometimes I'm hot and others I'm cold."

"Oh." Inuyasha merely said, shrugged and covered her up.

"Inuyasha?"

"Yea?"

"Thanks."

There was a long pause till Inuyasha finally smirked to himself, "Get some rest, Kagome."

Day 2

Kagome awoke while the sun seeped in through the windows. She looked around and didn't see Inuyasha. That worried her. Had he left to try and stay away?

She got up and walked out the door and her jaw dropped. She saw Inuyasha sitting on a branch, foot hanging and back against the trunk. He had a book in his hand.

"How to Approach the One You Love" was the name of it.

"I suppose you will take some of those ideas and use them on Kikyo?" Kagome said, a dry tone in her voice.

Inuyasha's head snapped up as he looked down at her and dropped the book down by her feet. She picked it up and looked at the page he was at. "When she's on her menstrual cycle, how do you stay out of her way?…" she lifted a brow and looked up at him, "Inuyasha?"

He hopped down quickly, grabbed the book and stuck it in his fire rat. "What? You didn't think I could read?"

"No, I didn't think you could read something so stupid."

"What's that supposed to mean!"

"A book is not going to tell you exactly how EVERY girl is, Inuyasha." she pointed out, "Every girl is different. Sides, it's like your time of month when you turn human, every half demon is different as well."

He pondered a moment, "I see…"

"Finally." she muttered and walked down the dirt path that was mistaken as a road.

"Where are you going!"

"I'm going to the river to relax a bit!"

"…" Inuyasha followed, intent on knowing everything he could about this cycle, even though his demonic half was about to eat his soul. He wouldn't let it get the better of him. Kagome was safe around him, now and always.

"Why are you following me?"

"To make sure no other mangy demon comes out of nowhere and tries to attack." he grabbed his tetsaiga and cursed some. It burned his hand. His demon form didn't want that thing around him because as long as the sword harnessed the demonic form, it couldn't get to Kagome.

And Inuyasha wanted it that way.

He ground out another curse when he caught a familiar scent. "Retched Wolf." he muttered and looked to the West and saw a trail of dust run out in front of Kagome.

"EEEEEEEEEEEE!" Kagome squealed and fell backwards.

Inuyasha dove so she wouldn't hit the ground. Instead, she fell against him and he went face down in the dirt while her head went against his shoulder. "Ow." he grunted some.

"Sorry…" Kagome said meekly and stood up, brushing herself off and helping Inuyasha up.

"Feh."

Kagome looked over to, who else? Kouga! That's right ladies, that wolf is in da house! (dancing…kidding.)

"Kagome, why do you constantly hang around this mutt?" Kouga asked and took Kagome by the arm as his eyes started to dilate a little. She knew it would happen. "Kagome, please say you'll accept me as your ma---OW!" Kouga glared at Inuyasha's fist against his head.

"Buzz off Wolf!" Inuyasha gritted his teeth.

"Oh, did you two mate!" Kouga's face was so sad looking, you just had to sniffle! (like Puss in Boots! Think about it! Could you say no?)

"NO!" Inuyasha yelled, a bit too fast.

"What's the matter? Is she not good enough? Like you'd find anyone better, even if they were human. No woman would ever match Kagome!"

Kagome was already walking down towards the river away from the egomaniacal males and looked at the water. 'Why me?'

Inuyasha and Kouga were still bickering when Inuyasha froze. "Wait…if you're attracted more, that could make Naraku want her…he is half demon, sorta."

Kouga growled and threw his fist in the air, "NO WAY IS HE GETTING KAGOME!"

Inuyasha lifted a brow, "Oh? And I suppose you will be the one stopping him?"

"Even at the cost of my life, mutt!" Kouga promised.

"Oh, by all means then, go ahead." Inuyasha smirked.

"Why you! No wonder Kagome doesn't love you!" Kouga charged.

"What's that supposed to mean!"

"You don't care what happens to anyone else but yourself!" Kouga yelled and put his face close up to Inuyasha's.

Inuyasha pushed him away, "Get away, perv. I'm not into the whole threesome thing." he muttered and brushed past Kagome. "Besides, I need to make sure she stays safe."

"And how do you plan to do that?" he asked.

"By protecting her."

"From yourself as well mutt?"

Inuyasha paused, looked back and nodded, "Yes."

Inuyasha joined Kagome by the river and watched her observe the willow growing near the shore.

Kouga walked around the corner and looked at them. 'You know, maybe it is best. Besides, Ayame isn't THAT bad when you get right down to it. She is trustworthy and pure…' he thought 'I wouldn't want my kids raised in a world and shunned like Inuyasha was and still is…I understand now…Inuyasha isn't a dickhead, he's just misunderstood on all counts. Demon and human, he can't win no matter which he chooses to be…and everyone sees him as the opposite of him, but really…he's just like them. Only stronger. He's lived with it all…' and with that thought, Kouga shook his head, senses coming back slowly as he walked back to his two buddies and looked at them.

"Let's find Ayame."

"But what about Kagome?" one of them asked.

"Nah, I'll mate with Ayame. I've got my reasons. That's enough." he said, as a true leader.

"Right!" they both chimed and they all walked in the other direction.

Inuyasha sensed Kouga drawing away. 'Why'd he leave? How come he didn't stay?' he wondered and looked up to Kagome. "Kagome?"

"I'm glad you call me by my name and not Kikyo." she said solemnly.

"Why would I call you Kikyo?"

"Because that is who you think I am." she sighed. "You always look at me like I was the one that shot you with the arrow."

"Kagome…"

"No, let me explain. But the only difference is that you don't look at me like you look at her now. And the way you did then."

"Kagome?"

"Yes, my name is Kagome. You look at her like she's the only one for you. But she's nothing but dirt and memories Inuyasha, she's not me and I'm not her so you can't control who you love." she felt her emotions well up more.

"Yes but…"

"No, I can't do it any more. You love her and I've heard from someone when I was a child, "The hardest thing in life is loving the person right next to you and knowing they love someone else.""

"I love--" Inuyasha wanted to put her straight but she cut back in.

"Kikyo, I know." Kagome didn't know how wrong she really was. She stood up.

"No, wait…"

Kagome swayed some and fell over. "KAGOME!" Inuyasha yelled and caught her limp frame. She was unconscious. He picked her up and ran back to Kaede's hut.

"Old hag? Old hag?" he ran around and looked in the fields to some workers, "Hey! You!" he stopped one.

"Yes?" the man looked up and almost fell over in fear.

"Relax, I'm not going to kill you."

"No, you are Inuyasha. Lady Kaede speaks of you fondly."

Inuyasha lifted a brow, "Somehow I find that hard to believe." he shook his head, "Now, where is the old hag?"

"Lady Kaede?"

"Yea."

"She's back by the corn." the man pointed and in an instant Inuyasha was jumping from field to field looking for the old priestess.

The man that he had asked shook his head, "If only he knew how highly he was thought of here." and went back to work.

Inuyasha found Kaede and grumbled, "Woman, how come whenever I really need you and your magic voodoo stuff, you're never around?"

Kaede looked up and saw Inuyasha holding a limp Kagome. "Oh my, what has happened?"

"She just fell over by the river. What's wrong with her?" Inuyasha demanded.

"Come, let's get back to my home." she said calmly. Inuyasha didn't have time to waste, he didn't know how serious Kagome's fall was. He grabbed Kaede, made her get on his back and ran all the way back.

He let Kaede off his back and laid Kagome down in the hut, making sure she had pillows and blankets surrounding her. He sat there, impatient.

"Well!"

Kaede smiled some, "She's just weakened from loss of iron. She doesn't have the energy she usually does, Inuyasha." she advised something that she hoped Inuyasha would heed, "Do not go adventuring with her, Inuyasha. I don't think she can handle it." and with that, she walked back out to help the farmers again.

"Rrr…" Inuyasha grumbled, "How come this always happens! No wonder we aren't getting the shards as quick as we could!" He then looked back at Kagome. 'But yet, I don't mind. As long as she's not 'sit'ting me…'

He fell asleep beside her, his hand on her wrist, making sure her pulse was fine.

When she awoke, she looked at him and then her gaze shifted around. She sat up and he stirred some. She looked down at her wrist and blushed. 'Why is he holding my arm?' she nudged him some, "Inuyasha?" she asked.

He woke up and looked at her, sitting up and cracking his knuckles, not realizing his hand was still on her wrist. "You're awake. I didn't know how serious your condition was." he looked at her. "What?"

"Why were you holding my wrist?"

"Feeling the pulse."

"Oh."

"Why?"

"Just wondering." she muttered and stretched out some, laying back down. He looked over at her and frowned. "What is it, Inuyasha?"

"Why do your eyes have darker rings under them?"

"Loss of iron." she mumbled before she fell asleep again.

'Iron is really chronic nowadays…' Inuyasha thought and shrugged it off.

While Kagome laid down, resting from what Inuyasha guessed of the "evil iron cold," Inuyasha went to the river with Miroku. Sango had volunteered to stay and watch over Kagome while they went fishing for dinner.

"Why are we having fish again? I thought you liked the ramen and "chips" Kagome brought from her world, Inuyasha." Miroku said calmly and stopped by the river, putting his staff by the tree and kneeling down by the edge of the water.

"That's not the point!" Inuyasha growled as his hand dove into the water and he caught a good sized fish.

"Then what is?" Miroku asked calmly and caught a fish himself, throwing it into the basket on the ground, along with Inuyasha's.

"Kagome is losing iron. The old hag said fish would help! Eh!" Inuyasha grabbed another and tossed it over in the basket.

"Iron? Why is that so bad?" Miroku asked and looked up at Inuyasha who paused and sighed, irritated at the monk.

Inuyasha glared at him and threw a fish in Miroku's face, "Because she's getting weaker and more tired, that's why!"

Miroku got slapped in the face from the fish tail and caught it in his hands as Inuyasha grabbed the basket and started to walk towards the village. Miroku grabbed his staff and looked at the swishing fish, sighing.

Kagome had fallen asleep shortly after Inuyasha and Miroku left and awoke when they were cooking the fish over a fire. She stepped close to the entrance to Kaede's hut and listened to the conversation. Sango was out with Kaede while the boys looked after her…sorta.

"So, you really care for her?" Miroku asked.

"Feh." Inuyasha grunted.

"You love her more than anything, don't you?" Miroku's voice held a statement, not a question.

Inuyasha's ears twitched a bit and he sighed, "Yea monk, leave it alone."

"Is it just because Kagome is starting to act weirder by the day or you loved her before this?"

"Before this…but now that Kagome is being weird about this "menstrual problem," I see that she is dependent as well."

Kagome's breath caught. 'They must be talking about Kikyo.' she went back to sit on the mat and sighed, bringing her knees to her chest and set her chin on top. 'I'm really trying not to depend on everyone else…it's just, it's really hard not to.' a tear slid down her face. 'He's loved Kikyo far more than he'll ever love me.'

Apparently, Kagome didn't understand the whole message that they were talking about her.

Inuyasha walked in and looked at her tear and frowned, "What's the matter now?"

She turned away, "Nothing."

"Nothing?" he set her plate down and looked up close at her face, moving it with his fingers and wiping the tear away, "Doesn't look like nothing to me."

"I said it's nothing!" Kagome pushed him away and grabbed her plate. Inuyasha huffed and walked towards the exit. "Thanks." it was a whisper but he heard it. He nodded and walked out.

"OH I FEEL LIKE I'M GOING TO POP!" Kagome cried and held her stomach.

"Do you want some warm milk, Kagome?" Sango asked, trying to calm her down.

"No!" Kagome pushed away and cradled herself near a corner. "I feel so fat! I am fat!"

"You're not fat, Kagome!" Sango scowled and Inuyasha and Miroku walked in to the commotion.

"Who's saying Kagome is fat?" Miroku asked and looked at Sango.

"She's saying she's fat!" Sango pointed at Kagome.

"Inuyasha, do something!" Shippou cried and climbed up on Inuyasha's shoulder.

"Why is it always me!"

"Because you lov---" Miroku's mouth was covered by Inuyasha.

"Some kind of secrecy would be GREATLY appreciated!" Inuyasha growled, grabbed Kagome by the arm and tugged, "get up!"

"No! I won't! Lemme alone!" Kagome cried and tried to struggle away.

Inuyasha huffed, hefted Kagome on his shoulder and walked out the door, "I'll be back."

Kagome didn't hear "We" so she started freaking out, "YOU'RE GONNA KILL ME, AREN'T YOU!"

Inuyasha rolled his eyes and muttered, "Tempting."

"I knew it! Put me down Inuyasha!" Kagome ordered.

"Are you stupid? You're a basket case right now and--"

"SIT!" Kagome screamed and regretted it as soon as she said it.

THUM---pish…

Inuyasha had actually battled with the command, throwing Kagome away as his other arm gave way and THUD.

Kagome gasped. 'He stopped himself so I wouldn't be hurt…'

Inuyasha sat up after a few moments, his mouth full of leaves that had fallen because of the Autumn months. He glared and spit them out at Kagome.

"Hey!" Kagome cried and threw her hands in front of her face. "Sorry, alright!"

"Feh!" Inuyasha turned and crossed his arms.

Kagome bit her lip and sighed, 'He stopped it…he stopped the command so I wouldn't be hurt. Maybe he does care for me…just a bit. But he loves Kikyo much more.' she paused in her thoughts and made a promise to herself, 'Even if it is possible for him and her to be together…I'll love him. I know it, I'll love him till I die. Even if we go our separate paths, and even if we are with others, he'll always be my first and only love.' and with that, she picked up a bunch of leaves.

Inuyasha heard rustling and looked over to see Kagome toss a handful at him and get him square in the face.

"Hey! What are you doing now!" Inuyasha asked and stood up fast to see Kagome laugh.

"Inuyasha, it's only fun!" Kagome covered her mouth and giggled.

"I'll show you fun!" Inuyasha got a bunch of leaves up and Kagome scurried to get up and ran for the river, laughing.

Inuyasha chased after her, his demon side awakening. 'I won't let you get Kagome! I'll have her fall in love with me and not be scared of you!' he vowed and caught up with her, grabbed her by the hand, spun her around and threw leaves in her face just like she did his.

She shook her head and smiled. He really liked that. His demon side was trying it's damn-dest to get out and Inuyasha held it at bay. He was staring at her eyes. How the moonlight actually illuminated them beyond compare. They shone so bright, he thought the stars themselves were in their deep ends of her pupil.

"uh…Inuyasha?" Kagome blinked and he came out of his daze. She looked up closer at him and looked at his golden orbs.

"What?" Inuyasha stepped back some, skittish now that he was this close and she wasn't terrified of him.

"You're eyes…are turning red?" Kagome blinked and scratched her head. "Why?"

"My demon half is trying to get out." Inuyasha muttered and looked away.

"Oh." Kagome nodded, "Inuyasha, you've got the Tetsaiga so…"

"It doesn't matter." Inuyasha looked back at her apologetically. "The Tetsaiga works only if I have it around."

"But you always have it around."

"No. I don't." Inuyasha gritted out.

"When do you not have it?" she asked, hoping she wasn't around when he didn't.

"I have to bathe sometime." Inuyasha growled.

"Oh." Kagome flushed thinking of the sight of him "nek-kid" just made her blood boil.

"Feh." he crossed his arms, not even wanting to know what she was thinking then.

"Inuyasha, you will be able to fight it, won't you?"

"Yea." Inuyasha said as though he knew he could but the truth is, he knew the demon side would get the better of him. Sooner or later, he'd have to give in. His blood was only so thick.

Kagome smiled and he smirked, "Thanks." Kagome said and looked across the river and gasped, running behind Inuyasha.

"What?" Inuyasha was so relaxed that he didn't realize Sesshoumaru and Jakken were watching the whole scene be played out like a movie reel.

"How adoring." Sesshoumaru said stoically and walked across the bridge with Jakken behind him.

"Shall I kill them, m'Lord?" Jakken asked, excitedly.

"No, I want that girl." Sesshoumaru pointed to Kagome. "I have no use for my brother. You may kill him." Sesshoumaru walked up to them and looked down disgustingly at Inuyasha. "Move aside halfbreed."

Inuyasha's claws clutched the Tetsaiga as he growled and moved a bit, "Stay behind me, Kagome."

"Right!" Kagome moved back some. Inuyasha drew his sword and went to kill Sesshoumaru for even thinking about mating with her, since that's the only reason he could think of for Sesshoumaru to want her for himself. Sesshoumaru's poison claws dug into Inuyasha's stomach and held him up, his eyes in a menacing glare.

"You are nothing but a disgrace to our father and to me. You and your mother." he growled, clutching his claws more.

Kagome ran up and beat on Sesshoumaru's side. "Let him go, you brute!" she cried as Sesshoumaru smirked and threw Inuyasha's weak frame aside, knowing it would take a miracle for him to get up after how much poison was coursing through his veins. He grabbed Kagome by the stomach, hoisted her up and started to walk. She kicked and screamed, "INUYASHA! INUYASHA!" she cried and looked back at his unconscious form.

"Quiet Wench." Sesshoumaru ordered. He gave Jakken a glare telling him to back away from the girl. This was his find. He didn't understand why he wanted her. Whether it was to get back at his brother through ego that he mated the woman he loved or if it was just because she was an odd girl from another world that he may see in his life. But he knew he wanted her then.

Reviews please!

kage1586