Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha or any of its characters

The Art of Breaking

Chapter 4: So close

(InuYasha's POV)

InuYasha felt his heart pound as he smelled Kagome's tears as she ran from the campsite. He had hurt her once again. He was hoping she would take the first part as a joke, but then they both fed the fire and made the argument bigger than what it was suppose to be. He had meant to comfort her, but his demon side just had to come through and he hurt her because of it.

"InuYasha, aren't you going to say sorry to Kagome?" InuYasha heard Shippo ask as he looked at the forest.

Shippo was always on Kagome's side, no matter what it was; Shippo always thought Kagome was right.

"Yeah, InuYasha, you better say something," he heard Miroku say before yawning.

Both the monk and Shippo were right. He knew he needed to say he was sorry, but the question was, could he bring himself to? Usually his demon side had too much pride to announce defeat or say sorry.

"Maybe," he said as he walked out of the clearing and into the forest, taking the path Kagome had taken. Deep inside, he knew he was wrong. It always tore him up to see her cry, but then he would do it no matter what. He knew within the depths of his heart, that he loved her, but he wasn't sure if she felt the same. He wasn't sure if Kagome really loved him for him, or wanted him to change like Kikyo had.

"I guess I really need to apologize, I was the one who was an ass. I wonder what her dream was about. He thought as he continued to go through the forest.

He never quite understood Kagome's thought process, how could she think he still loved Kikyo? Why love someone cold to the touch? Kagome was a bright person and warmed him up every time she spoke. Just the sight of her sent shivers through his body.

InuYasha walked up to another clearing, and watched Kagome as she leaned on the tree that was planted in the middle of it. He could still smell her tears; they were flowing heavier and heavier by the second.

InuYasha felt his heart rip in two as Kagome cried. He just watched as her chest heaved and she sobbed. Even when she was crying she was beautiful in his eyes. Her radiant black hair fell across her face, capturing her gorgeous brown eyes, making his heart melt. He just stood there, listening to ever word that came out of her luscious mouth.

"Why does InuYasha treat me so horrible? I would do anything for him, and yet he treats me like shit. Sometimes I think I should go with Kouga, at least he would treat me with respect," he heard her say as more tears streamed down her face.

He felt anger rise within him at the mere mention of Kouga. InuYasha could not stand him. He couldn't bear to hear anymore, he loved Kagome and could not stand to see her like this.

"Kagome, please stop crying, I can not stand it when you cry," he said as he came up from behind and sat down beside. He removed her beautiful hair from her face.

"I'm sorry Kagome. I didn't mean to make you cry. I was going to try to comfort you, but my stupid demon side had to come out," he replied pulling her into an embrace. It was unusual for him to be this loving and caring, but at the moment, he just wanted to hold and comfort her.

I can't believe I just said sorry. Usually I am too much of a prick. He thought, feeling proud of himself because he was finally able to do something he had always wanted to do, but never could.

"What was your nightmare about anyway?" he asked as he ran his hands through her hair to help calm her and stop the tears from flowing.

Kagome felt her heart skip a beat, should she tell him?

"Oh, it was nothing," she said trying to hide the lie in her voice.

It must really be bothering her, because she is usually very cheerful. Her eyes never look so doubtful. He thought as he looked into her beautiful eyes. He finally decided it was time to tell, her, tell her his true feelings.

"Okay, you can tell me when you are ready, but there is something I have always wanted to tell you…" He said stopping in the middle of his statement, did he really want to tell her? How would she react? Would she say she loved him too, or would she runaway, and never come back? He never knew how he could ever love Kikyo, even when she was alive; she wasn't as cheerful as Kagome.

InuYasha felt his demon side pulse as he smelled a familiar stench fill the air around them.

"I smell that mangy wolf, why is he coming?" he asked as he gripped the hilt of his tetsaiga. He hated that damn wolf; he was always trying to take Kagome away from him. He should know that Kagome would never go to him.

Every time the damn wolf comes around, InuYasha's senses go off, making his demon side want to take completely over. He was sure this time he would put the wolf in his place.

He watched as a swirl of wind came towards the two of them. He stood up so he could look at the worthless excuse for a demon in his eyes.

"So, InuYasha, you really are getting brave, you think you can kill me and stop me from taking Kagome away this time?" InuYasha heard Kouga ask as a smirk formed across his face.

I am going to kill Kouga one way or another. I am tired of him always trying to take my Kagome away. I love her, he doesn't, he just wants her as a piece of ass. InuYasha thought as he pulled his tetsaiga out of its sheath.

"Oh, you think I am scared? Well, just give me my woman, and I will let you live," he said in his normal cocky tone.

"Who says she is your woman, I don't smell your mark on her," InuYasha replied crudely, he would make sure hell would freeze over before the worthless demon got a hold of Kagome.

"Oh, don't worry about that, I can make that happen right now," Kouga replied as a grin formed on his face. Kouga would enjoy taking Kagome by force if he had to, it would add to the pleasure.

InuYasha glanced over at Kagome and expected her to say something, usually when Kouga and he were about to fight, Kagome would try to stop it, but not today. For some reason she looked terrified. He couldn't stand to see that look on Kagome's face; it pissed him off even more to know she was terrified of him having his way with her.

"Over my dead body motherfucker!" InuYasha replied as he raised his tetsaiga over his shoulder and charged. He was sure he would kill Kouga no matter what.

"InuYasha! Stop! He has seven jewel shards now!" he heard Kagome scream as he slashed the air and yelled wind scar, hoping it would slash Kouga to pieces.

"What the fuck?" he said as he saw Kouga dodge the attack with ease.

"I advise you listen to Kagome over there, she is right, there is no way a worthless mutt like you can kill me now that I have a total of seven jewel shards," Kouga said smirking as he charged at InuYasha, planning to punch the hell out of him.

There is no way I am going to let that damn wolf kill me or take Kagome. InuYasha thought as he readied himself for the attack.

(Kagome's POV)

"InuYasha!" Kagome cried as she watched InuYasha skid across the ground from Kouga's deadly punch. She knew that InuYasha would never be able to beat Kouga since he had so many jewel shards now. She didn't even know why he was bothering to even try.

She watched as InuYasha got up from the ground, trying to gain his balance. The last blow had caused his vision to be blurry for a split second and the world to spin for an instant.

"You might as well give up mutt, Kagome's my woman!" Kagome heard Kouga yell harshly as he charged to InuYasha once again, getting ready to take him out any means necessary.

Kagome felt her anger and furry flow through her veins. She was sure she belonged to no one. The only person she would ever really want to be with would be InuYasha. She would never, ever want to be considered Kouga's mate, just the thought sickened her.

"I am not your woman Kouga!" Kagome screamed at the top of her lungs. She would rather die than be Kouga's.

"Oh, I see. InuYasha has taken you, I don't smell a mark yet though, and there won't be one, this is the end of you InuYasha!" She heard Kouga reply as he took charge and ran towards InuYasha, planning to do the finishing blow.

Kagome just stood in terror as she watched Kouga charge the only man she had ever loved. Her jaw dropped as InuYasha tried, once again, to dodge his attack, but wasn't able to. Kouga punched him smack dab in the gut and made him fall to the ground with a hard thud.

I have to do something, or InuYasha will die…my arrows! Kagome thought as she remembered the weapon she had brought with her. She never usually went anywhere on her own without them. The feudal era is too dangerous to go anywhere without anyone unprotected.

She quickly grabbed her bow and an arrow. Kouga had his back to her and was facing the lifeless InuYasha. She could see InuYasha struggling to gain his strength to get up as he used his tetsaiga for support.

This is it. I have only one shot. She thought as she aimed the arrow in the middle of Kouga's back. InuYasha was still on his knees, with only his tetsaiga holding him up and keeping him from falling to the ground.

She quickly pulled back and let go, watching as the arrow flew through the air and started to gain a glowing pink light around it. The arrow would hit him within a matter of seconds; it was already a few inches from his back.

"Stupid wench," she heard Kouga say as he suddenly turned into a gust of wind and disappeared into the forest, all in a split second.

She could see InuYasha now standing, looking at the ground, still using his tetsaiga for support. His sliver hair was covering his golden eyes. He quickly looked up, but too late to move out of the way of Kagome's arrow, which was coming right towards his heart.

"INNNNUUUYYYYYAAAASSSHHHAAA!" she screamed as tears ran down her face as she watched her one true love get hit by her sacred arrow square in the heart.

Yeah, so I hope you like it!! Once again I will say I am sorry for having to re-write my chapters, in my opinion, they sound better this way. Please review and tell me what you think!!