Inuyasha had had a bad day. Kagome knew this the minute he stormed into their hut in a huff, making a point to stomp with each step he took as he made his way to their firepit and plopped down, arms crossed and lips pursed. She knew that pouting stance well and while she wasn't happy that there was something upsetting him, she still found it incredibly endearing in an odd way as it was just so typically Inuyasha.

Despite his coarse, abrasive nature, he really was just a softie in every way. His hair, his ears, the gentle way he would touch her, the way he would talk to her softly when it was just the two of them. He was a walking contradiction and she truly loved every side of him, even the short-tempered grump who sometimes lacked basic verbal communication skills. Inuyasha the hanyou. The warrior. Her hero. Her husband. Her lover.

"Welcome home!" she said cheerily as she offered him a bright smile from where she stood at the counter Inuyasha had built for her to mimic the kitchen from her home in the future, chopping vegetables for the stew she was making for dinner. While she knew she wasn't as good a cook as some of the other wives in the village, she was proud at how much she had improved in just a short span of time.

She had only dreamed of being able to cook for Inuyasha as his wife before, but now it was a reality that she cherished every single day since her return three months ago. They had spent almost every waking moment together when Kagome wasn't in training or Inuyasha wasn't off on an exorcising mission in another village. Even then they would often accompany the other, not bearing being away for too long.

And though they were practically inseparable, they had scarcely fought in that time as when either of them found they were feeling their temper coming on, they both quickly would remember the intense loneliness they had felt in those three years apart and that was enough to squash any qualm they may have had in that moment.

But now Inuyasha was glaring at her from where he sat.

"Oi, Kagome," Inuyasha started.

"Yes, Inuyasha?"

"Do you know who I ran into today?" Kagome put a finger to her chin and looked up at the ceiling as she racked her brain.

"No, I can't think of anyone."

"I'll give you a hint. He stinks of wolf and can't mind his own fucking business."

"Ah, you saw Koga-kun today? I thought he had left with Ayame back to the mountains already. Don't tell me that's why you're pouting."

"I'm not pouting!" he grumbled. "So you admit you knew he was in the area while I was gone with Miroku?"

"Yes, of course. I had them over for dinner while you were away. That was a few days ago though so I guess it slipped my mind, I'm sorry." She shot him an apologetic smile and turned back to the counter to continue making dinner, resuming chopping through the pile of vegetables.

"It slipped your mind? How convenient. What else are you hiding?" Kagome paused mid-slice through a carrot and turned back around to look at him. He was still sitting cross-legged with his hands on his knees and leaning forward in her direction, an accusatory look on his face.

"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked, trying to maintain her composure. Please don't start a fight, she thought. Please don't do this. We were doing so well.

"How long until I was gone did you wait to bring that damn wolf into my home? Don't tell me you liked having him here alone. Did he woo you again with his pretty words?"

"Koga-kun is our friend, Inuyasha. You know this. I hadn't seen him in years so I wanted to catch up. And we weren't alone. Ayame was there, too. You know, his wife," she rolled her eyes at him. "Where is this coming from?"

"Keh!" he let out his signature scoffing noise and jerked his head to the side. "Koga sure had a lot to say about it. Practically rubbed it in my face and I didn't even know about it in the first place. Said you cooked him a nice meal and everything."

"Yes, that's what you do when you have someone over for dinner. Are you seriously jealous right now? It sounds like he was just trying to tease you. You know I'm cooking dinner for you right as we speak." She gestured to the pot of boiling water that he was literally sitting right in front of. He crossed his arms again, not willing to back down just yet.

"Well you made more effort for him! I just eat whatever you feel like throwing together every day. It's not like you're trying that hard or anything. I could make this myself!"

He doesn't mean this. This is only the jealousy talking. But still, she felt the sting of tears welling up in her eyes as well as the deep seated anger that dwelled in the pit of her chest.

"I'm trying, Inuyasha…"

"Well I guess you would rather try harder for that mangy bastard. I knew you always had a thing for him-"

"I did NOT," she emphasized the last word by picking up a potato and chucking it at him. Because she had such terrible aim, however, it sailed right by his head and bounced as it hit the ground. This caused him to stop talking and look her in the eyes again, surprise donning his face.

"Why is it so hard to believe that I don't feel anything for him? I married you, Inuyasha, so stop this! Why do you have to be so stubborn?" A tear fell from her right eye and she quickly swiped it away with the palm of her hand.

"I'm not stubborn!" he retorted as he stood, a fist clenched out in front of him as if to prove a point.

"Yes, you are!"

"Well at least I'm not annoying as hell!"

"What!?"

"Yeah you're always so damn cheery all the time. It's exhausting and you're giving other men the wrong idea! And stop crying, dammit!"

"Well excuse me if I'm just happy to be back here in this time! Why does that even bother you so much? Is it because you're the one that's so angry all the time?"

"Only an idiot would want to live in this time when you were perfectly safe at home!"

"I'm safe here with you, too, stupid! And I can protect myself!" He scoffed.

"Hardly! If it weren't for me, you wouldn't last a week. You can't even sleep in the dark at night. I have to make sure the damn lantern doesn't go out or you freak."

"Oh I'm sorry! I didn't realize that was such a burden for you!" she retorted sarcastically. That one stung a bit. Ever since she had been trapped in the Shikon Jewel, she had developed an intense fear of the dark. In her time, she always slept with her lamp on, but now that she didn't have that option, she found herself more prone to succumbing to her fear.

She gave Inuyasha quite the scare the first week she had returned after waking up surrounded by total darkness and having a panic attack. Since then, he had purchased a lantern just for her and always made sure it was lit throughout the night, even going so far as to remind her to make sure she lit it while he was gone anytime he was leaving the village for an exorcism with Miroku.

Deep down she knew he didn't mean what he was saying. He was just angry and taking that out on her. His emotions ran so wild that he would often get the better of himself when he was in a rage. She loved how deeply he felt things, but he also knew exactly which buttons to press to get a rise out of her and right now her temper was so flared she also was losing sight of what she was even saying. The only thing on her mind was just trying to strike where it hurt.

"Humph. I bet Koga wouldn't complain."

"What did you say?"

"Is that what you wanted to hear from me? That I secretly had some crush on him and was just waiting for you to leave so I could woo him with some chicken I cooked?"

"He said it was yaki-tori or whatever the hell you call it!" Kagome let out a groan of frustration.

"Does that really matter? I had some chicken that I needed to cook and just thought I'd make something before it went bad! If I knew I had to defend myself over it, I would've made something else."

"Well he was bragging that you made him a meal from your homeland like it was special!"

"Because it is from my home. If you wanted some so bad you can just ask instead of pitching a fit! You're acting ridiculous. I swear Shippo is more mature than you sometimes."

"Shaddup!"

"You are so selfish, Inuyasha, I can't stand it. I-I hate you! Sit, boy!" She finally gave in and used her ultimate finishing move. His face slammed into the ground and he glared up at her.

"Damn you, Kagome," he growled out. She wiped another stray tear falling down her cheek and turned back around to the counter, effectively ending the argument with the cold shoulder and resumed making dinner. After a minute, she could tell that the spell had worn off as she heard him get up and storm back out of the hut without saying another word to her.

She dropped her knife and began to sob into her hands, elbows perched on the countertop.

"Stupid, Inuyasha..." she said aloud. "You're such a jerk…"

She allowed herself a few minutes then stood straight, taking up her knife again. She let out a sigh and resumed the chopping, only this time she prepared enough for a single serving.

"You said what to Kagome?" Miroku asked, pausing mid-pour of sake into his friend's cup.

"Shaddup...it's not like I didn't say anything that wasn't true…"

"But that's exactly what you did. You accused her again of having feelings for Koga."

"Keh!" he scoffed as Miroku continued pouring his drink. He took a sip, desperately needing something to take the edge off after his fight with Kagome. He knew he could've approached that whole conversation better but that damn wolf just got under his skin and she had let him into their home while he was away. He had just had a terrible day where seemingly everything happened just to piss him off. First, he had to leave Kagome in the first place to go help the headman build more huts for their growing village. That had gone poorly as he kept hammering his thumb instead of the nails.

Then, he found some traveling old woman that had fallen on the outskirts of the village while he was out on patrol, but she would have rather stayed there and died than have a hanyou help her. Luckily, a villager he was acquainted with happened to be passing by and he was able to carry her back where Kaede tended to her broken ankle. Like she deserved any of the kindness she received.

And then, he ran into that wolf while finishing up his patrol and that had been the last straw.

"Inuyasha, you'll never learn. You really shouldn't take Koga so seriously," he heard Sango chime in as she was changing baby Hisui across the firepit.

"I agree with Sango on this one," Miroku replied. "Kagome-sama has never shown Koga any sort of affection. Not like with you."

"Eh, what do you know…" he said, suddenly wanting to end the conversation as he could feel his cheeks begin to burn with a blush.

"I know Kagome-chan and you really should apologize," said Sango. Inuyasha just chugged the rest of his drink and began to pour another, the social construct of not pouring sake for yourself completely lost on him.

"Trust me, Inuyasha. If there's anything I've learned over the years, it's to listen to Sango," Miroku said as he shot his wife a loving smile. She returned it with a soft look of her own. It made Inuyasha want to puke. He had put up with their lovey dovey relationship that took off after Naraku's defeat. He was truly happy for them as he watched them get married and have children, letting them revel in their hard-earned happiness, but damn did it make him miss Kagome back then.

And that thought brought a pang to his chest as he remembered that seemingly unending loneliness. Only it did end. And she was here in their time right now. And he had royally fucked up. Of course she didn't care about Koga that way. She had come back to be with him. He knew this, but his damn pride kept him rooted to his spot on the floor of Sango and Miroku's hut, trying to drown his guilt in sake.

"Poor Kagome's probably all alone right now," Miroku said as he leaned into Inuyasha, an arm wrapped around his friend's shoulder. "Surely you want to keep her company instead of us. Making up is the best part about fighting! I'm sure you and Kagome would have quite a good time tonight. They say anger gives way to passion-"

"Miroku!" Sango interrupted, saving Inuyasha from further embarrassment as he grimaced and turned beet red at the monk's implication.

"Listen, Inuyasha, "Sango continued as she picked up Hisui and cradled him against her shoulder, bouncing him lightly. "I'm sure Kagome knows you didn't mean what you said. You messed up and that's ok. You just need to talk to her about it."

"Yeah, yeah I know."

"I'm serious, Inuyasha."

"I know, Sango. If I go back now, she'll probably just get mad again."

"Maybe. But you won't know that if you're here." Inuyasha sighed and looked out the window. The sun had set a while ago and it was dark out. He thought of Kagome and hoped she had remembered to light her lantern. He really had not meant to insult her over her fear of the dark. He was more than happy to make sure she had light. That she was safe here and he would always provide for her. Anything she needed, he would do anything to make sure she had it.

His stupid tongue always got away from him whenever he got into a temper. He had managed to not have any huge fights with Kagome since she returned, but anger was just in his nature and he found that he never had to hide it around her. She accepted him as he was, even loved him for it.

Damn, he was an idiot.

He stood up without saying another word and began to run back to his hut. To Kagome. To home. It didn't matter if she yelled at him. He just needed to see her face.

As he ran, however, an unfamiliar scent carried across the wind. He recognized it to be demonic in nature.

"Dammit!" he yelled, skidding to a halt and switching directions into the woods and the source of the scent. Whatever this thing was, it had gotten here fast. He hadn't even caught a whiff of it while on patrol earlier that day.

Bursting through the woods into a clearing, Inuyasha could clearly see this was a hawk demon feasting on its prey. At least it's eating a rabbit and not a human. Yet. He flexed his claws, itching to let out some steam.

"Oi, pigeon!" he mocked and the hawk looked up at him with fierce eyes. "This is human territory. Get out or I'd be happy to clip those wings for you!" It only responded with a shrill shriek and launched itself at the hanyou who leapt at it in turn, striking it down with a single swipe of his Iron Reaver Soul Stealer.

"Heh, wimp. It figures," Inuyasha gloated as he stretched out his arms. "I really could've used more of a fight."

That was when a single sound tearing across the night nearly caused his heart to drop into his stomach. A sound he dreaded hearing, knowing that meant she was in danger. That he had failed to protect her. He could hear Kagome's screams.

Kagome had remembered to light the lantern that night. She had lit it and crawled into the futon that she usually shared with Inuyasha. It was usually so warm and cozy with her hanyou there to pull her into his arms and stroke her hair until she fell asleep. Or there were other nights where they hardly slept at all. They had three years to make up for and were still exploring a new side to their relationship in their newlywed bed. Or against a wall. Or in the grass.

Kagome sighed, wishing he was here. By now, all anger had faded and tonight it just felt cold and empty, his absence leaving her with an uneasy feeling in her chest. She rolled over to one side and laid her hand over the empty space usually occupied by a snoring Inuyasha. Her heart clenched as a tear rolled over the bridge of her nose onto the pillow.

"I'm sorry, Inuyasha," she said aloud, hoping he would somehow hear it from wherever he ran off to. "Please come home soon." And she closed her eyes and began to fall into a restless sleep.

She dreamed of the darkness itself, wholly consuming her and the world around her. She couldn't escape it. Couldn't breathe. Couldn't move her body as it was paralyzed.

I-Inuyasha! She tried to scream but no words could escape her throat. She was all alone. He'll come for me! He always does! But there was no response. She couldn't feel his presence anywhere. He was...gone.

No no no, somebody help! She was choking on the darkness, it filled up the inside of her mouth as she opened it to scream. She wanted to flail her arms, kick her legs, anything to put up a fight against this power that had trapped her, but her body wouldn't respond. She realized there was no escape, hot tears streaming from her eyes. She would die here, alone and afraid. The darkness was closing in on her, almost a tangible force that was suffocating her inside her lungs.

Her body trembled, racked with spasms from the lack of air. She still found herself fluttering her eyes around desperately, searching for some source of light or that bright red and silver frame of her hanyou coming to rescue her. But there was nothing but darkness.

Inuyasha...she thought again. She wanted to see him one last time. For him to hold her in his arms, letting her know she was completely safe. She thought of his amber eyes, bright and full of life. His growls, his laughter, the way her name would fall from his lips. His absence weighed on her as much as the darkness did now. She was so cold. So devastatingly alone. Help me…but the dark consumed her whole.

Kagome shot up from the futon, a breath wrenching itself from her body. She could breathe again and clasped her hands against her throat as she struggled to fill her lungs.

"Inuyasha," she started reaching out to his space on the futon, but coming up empty. "Inuyasha?" she asked again, feeling around for him more desperately this time, patting the cushion, only feeling the cold absence. It was then that she realized she couldn't even see the hands she had reached out. The darkness was still here. Had the light of the lantern fizzled out?

"Inuyasha!" she yelled, the deep seated panic in her belly starting to rise. Though she could breathe now, each breath was beginning to come out in quick, ragged pants. She flung her head around, looking around for any light, anything to help ground her but in her panicked state, all she could see was the nothingness of the darkness. It was going to consume her again.

She scrambled out of the futon, arms reaching out in front of her to try and find anything to grab onto, but all she could only feel dead air. She took several more steps until her foot tripped over something on the ground and she crashed into a heap on the floor, bruising her knees and letting out a throat tearing scream. She curled into a ball and continued screaming, desperate for someone to find her, though how could they in this darkness? She was alone and not even Inuyasha would be able to reach her.

Inuyasha tore through the forest, his legs carrying him faster than he had ever ran before. Dammit! he yelled at himself. I was too late! The trees were nothing but a blur around him until his hut could be seen in the distance, no light to be seen emanating from within.

"Inuyashaaaaa!" that heart piercing scream tore through his heart as he cursed himself and pushed his body to go even faster. He all but tore the screen of the door off as he burst inside with a "Kagome!"

With his enhanced darkvision, he could see her on the floor curled up on her knees with her head in her hands. He wasted no time in running to her and taking her into his arms, cradling her head against his shoulder.

"I'm here now, Kagome," he offered soothingly as she immediately fisted her hands into his haori top and sobbed out his name. He kept one hand on the back of her head and stroked her back with the other.

"I'm so sorry I left. Please forgive me. Forgive me for everything!" he begged. Her only response was to push her face deeper into his chest. He couldn't help but kiss the top of her head as he buried his nose into her hair. He continued to whisper small reassurances to her softly, never releasing the tight hold he had on her. Inuyasha felt so much guilt racking his chest, knowing he never should have left her alone. He couldn't even remember what they were arguing about. That was the furthest thing from his mind right now. He had made her a promise to protect her and to keep her safe, yet he had failed. All he could do now was be there for her as she clung to him.

An idea crossed his mind and he shifted his arms around her to lift her bridal style. She didn't fight or question him, only kept her face buried into his neck, hands still fisted into his fire rat. He carried her outside and ran, the wind whipping around him. He knew she loved it when he carried her as he all but flew through the forest. It made her feel just as light and free as it made him feel. He was so happy to be able to share that with her and hoped that it could help her now.

His feet carried him to their spot without any thought on his part. He immediately leaped into the branches of Goshinboku and perched himself on a branch, leaning his back against its thick trunk. Kagome was settled into his lap, still refusing to remove herself from the safety of his haori. He could tell she was just breathing him in, his earthy scent settling her nerves.

"Kagome, look up," he said softly to her as he brought his hand back to her head and stroked her hair lightly. She shook her head and pulled herself tighter into him.

"Just trust me, Dummy."

And she did. She did with her whole being so she allowed her eyes to open and raised her head to look up at him. He wasn't even looking back at her, but had his face tilted up to the sky. She followed his gaze and immediately gasped. For through the branches, she could see a multitude of stars shining, filling the world with light. Entire galaxies were laid before her as far as she could see.

"Inuyasha, it's...beautiful," were the only words she could manage at the moment.

"Yeah," he agreed as he shifted her so she could rest her back against his chest and wrapped his arms around her front. "Are you ok?" he asked as she leaned her head back to rest on his shoulder.

"Now that you're here, I am. I didn't mean what I said earlier. About me hating you." He simply grunted in response, unable to form any more words. Her eyes glittered in the starlight and he didn't even try resisting placing a kiss on her temple. She turned her head towards him at that, eyes practically begging to kiss her on the lips. And he was happy to oblige.

His heart felt light again, something that only Kagome could do and his lips curled up into a smile against hers.

He didn't plan on going anywhere. The only place he ever wanted to be was by her side.