Disclaimer: I do not own Inu-Yasha or any of its characters. This story is for entertainment purposes only.

A/N: So, it's been a while. I apologize for that. Life has been pretty crazy. We're taking our Group Interpretation, The Arabian Nights to Sectionals tomorrow, and rehearsals have consumed my time. Thanks for your patience. Please review when you're done! Thanks!

Chapter 4: The Question

"Yikes! We're out of ramen!" Kagome yelped, eyes widening in disbelief and horror. More horror than disbelief. Inu-Yasha really was beginning to eat her family out of house and home. At least, in the instant noodles department. It seemed that he had purloined several packages of ramen without her knowledge.

"Well he'll just have to deal with it. When you have eyes bigger than your stomach, you have to face the consequences." She humphed loudly, before a bead of sweat appeared on her forehead.

"I've just gotta find some ramen!"

Even though Inu-Yasha had no reason to be mad at her. Even though Inu-Yasha was a mindless, pig-headed jerk. Even though she should not be making any effort to appease him… she couldn't help it. She hated when Inu-Yasha was angry with her. The best way to a man… or half-man's heart was through his stomach. And without a peace offering of ramen, their travels in the Feudal Era would be filled with tension. She personally got tired of ramen, and longed for her mother's cooking. However, saying anything slightly critical of his beloved ramen would result in Inu-Yasha treating her as though she'd committed sacrilege.

He really does love those stupid noodles… She sighed. Even when she'd slaved over a hot stove to make him a lovely meal several times in the past, he had still asked for the instant noodles in a cup. How insulting could you get? Then again, Inu-Yasha had spent his entire life fending for himself. His mother had died when he was just a child. He had to hunt, gather, or steal to keep himself alive. Even in their travels, unless Miroku conned some unsuspecting headsman to feed them or she brought "ninja food," Inu-Yasha still provided the group the majority of their sustenance. Having a food like ramen that required no work must be a sort of divine luxury to him.

"Oh well… He'll have to settle for potato chips for now…" She grabbed a brightly colored bag and stuffed it into her yellow backpack, hearing the tell-tale crunch. Not that Inu-Yasha wouldn't eat the crumbled chips anyway.

"I think that's everything." She sighed thoughtfully.

She was torn. She loved her family and her well-meaning, ditzy friends, but she found herself more and more yearning to be in the quiet, mystical Feudal Era with a tragic demon slayer, a perverted monk, an orphaned fox demon, a loyal cat demon, an old woman with a single eye, and a stubborn, arrogant, selfish half-dog demon.

Why me? She thought for a moment. Why not?

She made her way to the well house. Arriving there, she carefully balanced on the well's edge before leaping into the portal between two very different worlds. She was certain a peeved half-demon would be waiting for her with that familiar look of disapproval when she emerged from the well. She was not disappointed.

"What took you so long?!" Inu-Yasha demanded.

"Inu-Yasha. I had school! I really messed up on that geometry test though…" She sighed with exhaustion and frustration.

"Plus, I had to gather supplies. You eat more than my entire family combined!" She held out a bag of potato chips as a peace offering and he silently glared at her, but seemingly accepted her bribe. He grabbed the bag, ripped it open, and started devouring the chips as though he hadn't eaten in weeks. She shook her head, smiling slightly at his antics. He was really just a big puppy when you came right down to it.

"Doughnt wuurri uh bout ett." He said between bites. He was completely incomprehensible, of course.

"What?" She asked in confusion.

"I said…" He gulped down the last of the chips as her eyes widened in disbelief at his voracious appetite. He must have really been hungry.

"Don't worry about it."

"Inu-Yasha, how can I not worry about it? I'm barely passing the class as it is with all my absences. And I was never good at math to begin with. I studied so hard for today's test, but when I received it, my mind went completely blank. I guess those tutoring sessions with Houjo haven't helped as much as I thought they would."

"Stupid dark-haired Hobo…" Inu-Yasha muttered under his breath.

"What was that?"

"Oh, nothing. Nothing!" He waved his hands, knowing a sit was in his near future if Kagome knew the angry, possibly violent thoughts coursing through his brain at the mention of that weak, future human. Back to the present. (Not literally of course.) Back to reassuring Kagome that jiohmitree wasn't that big of a deal. Back to trying to convince her to stay in the Feudal Era. Not that it had anything to do with him wanting her to stay. Sango and Shippo would miss her. Yeah, that was it. He had no personal motives for her staying. Yeah, right.

"Why do you take that class anyway? When have you ever used anything you learned?"

"Well I… There was that one time… I… I…" She was quick to defend her course schedule, knowing criticism of all of her classes was soon to follow if she didn't nip this in the bud right now. Unfortunately, she couldn't think of a single time she'd used geometry outside of her stuffy classroom.

"Okay, so I've never needed it… But I might need it, someday."

"So you're agonizing over something that you have never liked, something that you have never used, and something that you probably never will use. Jeez Kagome! You're always criticizing me for never making sense. Listen to yourself! You'd be much better off learning something practical. Like cooking or first aid," he suggested.

"Am I too stupid or something? You don't think I can do it?" She demanded angrily at this apparent backhanded insult.

"No, no! I'm just saying you're wasting your time. You're a woman. You'll never need any of that!" He'd thought he'd saved himself, but apparently he'd just succeeded in enraging her further.

"INU-YASHA! SIT BOY!" He was hammered into the ground, wondering what the hell he did to make her so angry.

"SIT SIT SIT SIT!" She continued to shriek. Wow, a quadruple-sit. She really must have been angry with him.

"Inu-Yasha, you're such a sexist pig!" She hissed, stomping off towards the village. She didn't get far, however, before she stumbled upon a very jostled-looking wolf demon. A very familiar wolf demon.

"Kouga?" She asked, blinking in curiosity, before kneeling down beside her friend.

"Kagome…" He looked a bit pained, but he grinned up at her, noting that she had chosen to drive mutt-face into the ground while speaking sweetly of her concern for him.

"Kouga! What happened to you?"

"Mutt-face, that's what! I fooled him though. Pretending to be injured! Like that moronic cretin could hurt a demon like me!"

"Inu-Yasha!"

"WHAT?!"

"Why did you beat up Kouga?"

"Dog-face did not beat me up!" Kouga reminded her forcefully.

"Shut up you mangy wolf!" Inu-Yasha barked. (No pun intended…)

"He got in the way!"

"How did he possibly get in your way?!" Kagome demanded angrily.

"He… Never mind… You wouldn't understand…"

I can't tell you that I was listening to you talk in your sleep. You probably don't even remember swooning over that stupid wolf… He sighed, looking at her thoughtfully. Kagome was pretty. No one could deny that. He didn't find her more beautiful when she was angry like some odd men though. Kagome was truly a sight to behold when she had that gentle smile on her face. When the wind casually played with her hair. She had a certain glow about her that no one could replicate. He admired Kagome's spirit, but he didn't try to incense her.

"So you're saying you hurt him for no reason then! I can't believe you! Just because you're stronger than Kouga doesn't give you the right to…"

"Hold on a second! That lame excuse for a half-demon is not stronger than me!"

Kagome ignored the wolf demon. She was enraged now. The nerve of Inu-Yasha. Injuring her friend just for spite. She knew Kouga was overbearing at times, but Inu-Yasha couldn't just take out his anger on whoever was unfortunate enough to pass by. It wasn't right.

"I can't believe you…" She murmured, looking at Inu-Yasha with a hint of disgust.

"I didn't think you got your kicks picking on things that were weaker than you!"

"Kagome… I…" He started to reach towards her, but let his hand drop. What was the point? She wouldn't let him get a word in edgewise. Why did she always stick up for that wimpy wolf?

"No more excuses!" She snapped. She turned away from him, and taking Kouga's hand, helped him up. He was blushing in embarrassment. He really hadn't wanted Kagome to see him in such a pathetic state. That mutt must have been angry about something. He'd really let him have it, as much as he hated to admit that a puny half-breed could injure the great Kouga.

"Kagome, you're my woman. I appreciate your concern for my well-being." He grabbed both of her hands as she smiled awkwardly. Why did Kouga always act like this?

"Mutt-face, take care of my Kagome." With a wave, he was off, Inu-Yasha left fuming. He was running off again. Big surprise.

His Kagome? If she belongs to anyone, it's me… His face turned bright red at that thought. Kagome wouldn't like that. He didn't like himself for sinking to the wolf's level either. Kagome wasn't a piece of property. She was a person capable of making her own decisions. She didn't belong to anyone.

Especially me… He thought, as he reassessed his previous statement. Kagome thought he was a two-timing, violent jerk. She stayed by his side and cared for him, but he could never understand why. What made her stay with him?

Stupid Kouga. At least he had a chance with her. The wimpy wolf was like the perverted monk in his pursuit of women. He flattered Kagome with sweet words of love and devotion. He wasn't afraid to say how he felt. In that respect, Inu-Yasha grudgingly admired his rival. Inu-Yasha could never say what he meant. Words tied his tongue and made him feel like a fool. And, on top of that, that damn Kouga was dark-haired. But wait… he had clear blue eyes! Kouga's eyes were no darker than his own! He'd forgotten that park of the fortune. Kagome wouldn't be marrying that lousy excuse for a demon anytime soon! Although the womanizing monk was still a concern. Maybe he should go beat him up again. He wasn't sure if he'd gotten through the first time. His thoughts were interrupted as Kagome's angry tone abruptly brought returned him to the present.

"Why did you do that? You had no reason to hurt Kouga! Even if you don't like him, I care about Kouga! He's nice to me, he… he might even love me!"

"Don't say that again…" Inu-Yasha hissed, grabbing her by the shoulders. It was painful, as he sunk his sharp nails through the fabric of her shirt. She saw a flash of red in his eyes that disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.

"Say what?" She winced. His nails were cutting into her flesh.

"That he loves you…" He whispered.

"Kouga's not a bad guy. He cares about his friends, he's loyal, and he's determined. And he loves me."

"He doesn't!"

"How would you know? It's not as if you and Kouga are pals. So what if he loves me? Why do you care?"

"Because, I just… I just do, alright? I don't want you to see him anymore!"

"Inu-Yasha, Kouga's my friend. You can't just tell me that we're not friends anymore. I can't just stop talking to him. Even if Kouga's not my type, I could never hurt him like that!"

"Maybe he needs to be hurt! You can't marry every guy you meet, but you sure as hell flirt with them all!"

"I do not flirt with every guy I meet!"

"Sure do!"

"Do not!"

"Do too!"

"SIT BOY!"

She was beyond angry. She wanted to strike at him, hurt him, physically and emotionally. Because that seemed to be his favorite past-time when it came to the roller-coaster ride that was their relationship.

If you don't love me… Let me be with someone else. Please, Inu-Yasha. I can't take this anymore. I can't live like this. If Kouga wants me, let him have me. Inu-Yasha already has someone, but I'm all alone. I'm tired of being alone… And Inu-Yasha doesn't care… Stupid Inu-Yasha! Unless he… She stopped, staring at him thoughtfully for a moment as he twitched his ears in irritation, retaining his upright position after his sudden meeting with the ground.

"Inu-Yasha…?"

"What?" He asked rudely, brushing dirt off of his fire rat robe.

"Do you love me?" She asked him plainly. He froze, his face paling. There must have been at least a minute of complete silence. Even the forest seemed to sense the seriousness of the conversation. Not a bird twittered. Not a leaf rustled.

Say something! Please, Inu-Yasha, say something! Anything! She searched his eyes desperately, looking for his answer as she felt her hopes plummet. As she felt her heart break.

He didn't answer her. He couldn't answer her. He pretended he hadn't heard the question and walked past her, back towards the village.

I'm such a jerk… I'm such a god-damned coward… He cursed himself mentally. He had no answer for her.

Answering that question truthfully would pain her deeply. A woman expected a serenade of love. Not a simple, "I don't know. I have to figure out if I still have feelings for a dead woman. Can I get back to you later?"

He would never intentionally hurt Kagome. He could never lie to her.

A/N: Oh, boy… Those of you who wanted a little action, there's some. Things will get better, though. I promise. I am a total IY/Ka devotee as you'll see from my favorite stories list. Things are never easy, though. I may come back and edit this chapter again. I don't have a beta reader, so mistakes are likely. I really want to get this up though, since it's been a few weeks. Again, thank you for your patience. I hope I haven't lost you. On another note, I find it funny that I have almost as many people on story alert for this fic as I have reviews… Please review, it's what makes me want to continue. Without reviews, I lose interest. Even if it's only a word, it makes me want to keep going and write/post the next chapter in a more timely manner. So the lesson of the day is… REVIEW!