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

A/N: Chapter 7 is on the scene after a ridiculously long wait! (Sorry about that. My first year at college has been tough to say the least.) After giving it some thought, I've decided that I don't buy the whole "mate" thing for demons/half-demons in Inu-Yasha. Maybe it's just in the dubbed anime, so correct me if this is contradicted in the sub or the manga, but whenever Kouga's talking about Kagome or Ayame, he uses the words "fiancée" and "wife," but never "mate." One of the other wolf demons exclaims earlier in the series: "I thought that you were going to eat her, not marry her!" when Kouga decides Kagome would be an advantageous match for him. So, I'm removing any mention of "mate" in this fic and assuming that demons marry like humans. Enjoy and please review when you're done!

Chapter 7: The Feelings

She was running. She was running through a field. Where was she? Where was she going? She tried to decipher what exactly was going on, but she seemed unable to stop.

What's going on? Kagome wondered, looking around wildly. Looking around, she decided she had to be in the Feudal Era. No skyscrapers or cars seemed to be present, unavoidable things in Tokyo. Then she saw him. The half-demon she had freed from the Sacred Tree and pledged her love to: Inu-Yasha.

"Inu-Yasha! Inu-Yasha!" He was… running away from her? Apparently. She picked up her pace.

"INU-YASHA!"

Where was he going? Why couldn't she go with him? And most importantly, why was he running away from her?

"Please come back…" she whispered. The faster she ran, the further away he seemed to become.

He is half-demon, after all… It makes sense that I can't keep up, but what's wrong with him?

Suddenly, he skidded to a halt, a graceful halt, but very sudden halt nonetheless. Kagome, felt herself stopping as well, although she landed hard on her behind instead of staying firmly on her feet like Inu-Yasha. Darn human blood.

"Inu-Yasha… What's going on?" she asked him softly, tugging on his sleeve. He didn't seem to notice her. Either that or he didn't care.

"What's wrong with you?" she grabbed onto both of his shoulders and was shaking him now. Suddenly, out of the mist, Kikyo appeared. She looked more beautiful and pure than ever. But where were her soul collectors?

"It's time, Inu-Yasha…" Kikyo whispered, coming towards them.

"Time? Time for what?" Kagome asked, still confused, and increasingly angry due to everyone ignoring her.

"I'm going to leave with Kikyo now, Kagome." Inu-Yasha told her calmly, breaking her hold on him and pushing her firmly back.

"But what about the jewel shards?"

"I don't need them to become a demon anymore, Kagome. I'm going to hell with Kikyo now."

"But what about Naraku? We still haven't defeated him! You're not going to let him win, are you? What about all of the people who will suffer if he completes the jewel? What about all of the people he's hurt?"

What about me? She pleaded silently.

"I don't really care anymore. Kikyo and I are going to spend eternity together, just like we've always wanted."

"But you… you don't love Kikyo anymore... do you?" She looked up at him desperately.

"Kagome, I've always loved Kikyo. She's always been on my mind. Even when I was with you, I couldn't stop thinking about her. Kikyo and I were destined to be together. I want to be with the woman that I love."

"But Inu-Yasha…" she whispered, eyes filling with tears. "I love you…"

I want you to be happy, but this is more than I can bear…

"I'm sorry, Kagome, but I can never return your feelings. It's time for us to go now."

"No, Inu-Yasha! Please, don't go!"

Don't leave me alone… She reached for him, tears freely flowing down her cheeks as she desperately tried to pull him back to her.

He didn't turn to look back at her as he walked off with Kikyo, the perfect priestess. He seemed to vanish into thin air.

"Wait! Please, wait! INU-YASHA!"

Inu-Yasha blinked experimentally, his eyes longing to drift shut once more. Was that the sun? Why was the sun up at night? It took him a couple of seconds to understand the reality of the situation.

"Damn it…" he cursed, realizing that he had slept through the entire night. He hadn't kept watch for demons or dark priestesses or any of the other enemies the group had managed to make in the last year as their notoriety grew. Even more dangerous than that, he hadn't woken up before morning to sneak away from Kagome. He'd hoped that she'd loosen her grip as the night progressed, but apparently that had been wishful thinking. She had her arms fully wrapped around his upper body and was holding onto him for dear life.

In her sleep she's all over me, but the moment she wakes up she'll 'sit' me for going near her… The world is a cruel and unjust place… He observed her cautiously. Her long-lashed eyes remained thankfully closed as she breathed softly. There even seemed to be a soft smile on her face.

She's really enjoying this, isn't she? He thought. Not sure if he should be running for cover or embracing (literally) the moment. It was rare when he got to be this close to Kagome. He cared for her more than she'd ever know, but he wasn't exactly a touchy-feely kind of guy. That was more Miroku's department.

What if we actually were like this…? Husband and wife? He blushed at the mere thought of such a preposterous idea.

Demons married just like mortals. He was tired of Kouga saying that he was going to make Kagome his wife and almost pitied Ayame who was in love with such a lovesick moron. Kouga and Ayame should have been married by now, but Kouga was too busy flirting with Kagome to honor his promise. As a half-demon, Inu-Yasha always thought that he'd never have that. He never dreamed that he'd have someone to love and care for, certainly not a family of his own. When Kikyo came along, it was like a dream, an unexpected gift. He'd really believed that he could build a life with Kikyo as a human. He'd yearned for such a life ever since he knew what it meant to lead the cursed life of a half-demon. Would he be able to make such an offer to Kagome? Give up his demon heritage and resign himself to life as a mortal?

I would have done it for Kikyo… Why do I feel like I couldn't for Kagome?

Because she loves you as a half-demon. Your heritage has never bothered her. His conscience whispered. He shook his head, ridding his mind of such foolish thoughts. However, Kagome had told him that she loved him. Sometimes, he felt that it was unfair that he had such information, since she had only revealed it to save his soul. She had told him that she loved him and kissed him. It was certainly not his first kiss, but he had tucked it away in his mind as a precious memory. It was a moment, a feeling that he would likely never forget, even if Kagome disappeared down the well tomorrow and never returned to the Feudal Era.

Kagome was the only one who had ever openly accepted his mixed background. But he couldn't ask such a thing of her. What kind of life could he provide a cultured, beautiful girl from the future like Kagome? Even when they completed the jewel, even when they defeated Naraku, he'd still be a half-breed. Demons and humans alike would still scorn him. Could he ever really settle down in a village and lead a normal life? It seemed unlikely. He'd probably wander the Earth for the rest of his painfully long life. Kagome wouldn't want such a nomadic, unpredictable existence. He couldn't give her what she needed. And even if they somehow ended up together, she'd die in less than a century. He'd be alone again. He couldn't stand it. He just couldn't.

"Inu-Yasha… Inu-Yasha…" Kagome suddenly began to toss and turn in her sleep.

"What is it, Kagome?" he asked uncharacteristically softly, watching in concern as sweat beaded on her brow.

"Inu-Yasha… Please stay…" she mumbled.

"For as long as you want me to." He answered, blushing slightly at this unparalleled situation. "You're gonna kill me when you wake up though… Stupid wench." He shook his head.

"KAGOME! KAGOOOOOOOOOOME!" Like a burst of lightning, Shippou suddenly burst through the door, ready to joyfully greet his foster mother. He came to a sudden halt when he saw the compromising position Kagome and Inu-Yasha appeared to be in.

"Hey, what are you guys doing?" He asked innocently enough as Inuyasha turned bright red and Kagome began to awaken from her troubled sleep.

"We weren't doin' nothin'…" Inu-Yasha managed to get out, staring at Shippou with a mixture of disbelief, embarrassment, and anger.

"Sure doesn't like nothing. I didn't realize that you and Kagome had reached that point in your relationship, Inu-Yasha" Shippou commented smartly as Inu-Yasha's eyes widened in a panic.

"What's going on?" Kagome asked dazedly, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She saw Shippou ogling her and finally noticed that she and Inu-Yasha were entwined in an intimate embrace.

"WHAT? WHAT ARE YOU DOING, YOU PERVERT?!"

"Kagome, it's not what it looks like…" Inu-Yasha hurriedly began, pushing himself away from her.

"SIT BOY!"

"AUUGHHH!" Inu-Yasha crashed into the ground, no doubt awakening everyone else in the inn, in the process.

"Wow, Inu-Yasha. In the game of love, you really are a fool." Shippou commented, shaking his head.

When the spell wore off, Inu-Yasha raised his head and began growling at the small fox demon.

"SHIPPOU…! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" He leapt up and took chase after the kit, who quickly scrambled into the hallway.

"What's going on around here?" Kagome wondered aloud. "Why was… Why was Inu-Yasha embracing me like that?" A soft blush stained her cheeks.

At first, I thought that I was still in one of my dreams. Inu-Yasha, he… he's not like that. I have to be at the brink of death to get any sort of affection from him. He's still hung up over Kikyo, and it's, it's wrong of me to try to take him from her. Even if I love Inu-Yasha, he's already in love with someone else. I can't believe that I'm the other woman! Even though it hurts, I should try to detach myself. I promised to be by his side, but I never promised to love him forever. We can still be friends, right? Oh come on, Kagome, old girl, you're insane. Like you could ever stop loving him… She clenched her fist in resolve. But I've got to try… I love him, but Inu-Yasha and I, we were never meant to be together. When the quest is completed, when Naraku is defeated, I can go home and lead a normal life. If Inu-Yasha is happy, then I… Then I think that I can find the strength to move on… someday.

She sighed, wiping the tears from her eyes as she gathered her belongings and changed into her uniform. She exited the room and saw Inu-Yasha pounding Shippou in the corridor.

"Please, cut it out, you guys," she murmured tiredly, continuing to the room where breakfast was being served.

"Wow, Kagome seemed really upset." Shippou commented sadly.

"What does she have to be upset about?" Inu-Yasha shot back.

"Gee, I dunno, maybe because she thinks that you still love Kikyo and it hurts her when you toy with her feelings!"

"I've never toyed with her!" Inu-Yasha roared angrily.

"You won't let any other man come within ten feet of Kagome, you say strange things that make you sound like her suitor, and now you're embracing her while you sleep! Then, two seconds later, you run off with Kikyo and leave Kagome all alone! I'm tired of it! Stop hurting Kagome! I hate you for it! I hate you, Inu-Yasha!" Angry tears began to well up in Shippo's eyes as he ran off, leaving Inu-Yasha standing there stunned.

"Shippou…"

"What's going on out here?" Sango peeked out of her room, eyeing Inu-Yasha warily.

"Nothing." Inu-Yasha replied dully. "Where's the monk?"

"Oh, him? He's been unconscious since last night. I knew that I couldn't trust him." Inu-Yasha glanced into the room to see Miroku lying facedown on the ground, sporting a giant lump on his head.

"Figures." Inu-Yasha rolled his eyes. This morning was shaping up to be a doozy.

Inu-Yasha was walking all by himself. He was really sick of it at this point. He was practically an outcast in his own group. Shippou was still angry at him from before and once Sango and Miroku had figured out that he was the cause of Kagome's significant distress, they too had shunned him.

I need some new friends…

He'd had way too much time to think the last few days. Currently, all Inu-Yasha could think about were Hoshiyomi and Tsukiyomi. The demon and his human lover that they had encountered earlier on their quest. They were two people who had truly loved each other and wanted to spend the rest of their lives together. In so many ways, they reminded Inu-Yasha of himself and Kikyo. They, too, were comrades who had deep feelings for each other and fought evil demons. Like Hoshiyomi, Inu-Yasha would do anything to protect Kikyo. Like Hoshiyomi had changed his name because of Tsukiyomi, Inu-Yasha had been willing to give up his demon heritage to marry Kikyo. Both demons had felt betrayed by the mortal women they loved and this led to their downfall.

What's to say the same thing won't happen to Kagome and me? He looked thoughtfully at the girl walking stoically beside him. She was still upset with him, days after their night at the inn. She wouldn't even take him up on his offer to carry her, even though he knew that she was tired after stubbornly walking for several days. The sun was about to set and he breathed a sigh of relief that the day would soon be over.

Humans are so weak, in both body and heart…

His train of thought was interrupted when Shippo called out, "Hey, you guys! I see a castle and a village up ahead!" Sango and Miroku smiled with relief. They too were weary from the day's travels. Kagome sighed, trying to relieve the tension filling her body. Inu-Yasha visibly stiffened.

"It appears that there are many demons possessing that castle. I will have to offer my services to its inhabitants." Miroku beamed brightly.

"I can't wait to get a nice hot bath!" Kagome smiled happily

This place… I swore that I would never return here… Inu-Yasha thought darkly.

The others in the group noticed Inu-Yasha hanging back.

"Inu-Yasha? Are you okay?" Kagome walked back to where he stood, pale and unmoving. She waved a hand in front of his face. "What's wrong?"

He hesitated for a moment, before whispering, "This is the place where I was born. This is where my mother and father died."

"Inu-Yasha," Kagome murmured sympathetically, apparently deciding to forgive his latest indiscretion in light of this new development.

"We can keep moving," Sango commented. She knew what it felt like to return to a home that no longer felt like home.

"I'm not tired!" Shippou piped in, sensing the tension building.

"I'm sure there is another village nearby," Miroku added.

"There's nothing for miles." Inu-Yasha replied tiredly. "I should have realized that we were in Sesshoumaru's domain, in the Western Lands. I told myself that I'd never return to this place, but I guess that I had to come back eventually. Let's get this over with." He strode forward, trying to bite back the feelings of nausea and sadness that overwhelmed him here.

Welcome home, Inu-Yasha…

A/N: The long-awaited chapter 7 is up! Oh yeah, I'm sorry for any formatting problems. I uploaded the wrong thing the first time, then I noticed a few weird mistakes. Sometimes drives me crazy. I feel like the gang came upon the grave of Inu-Yasha's mother sometime in the anime/movies/manga, but I can't remember when. If anyone could tell me, that would be great. Maybe I've just read too many fanfics and can't keep truth straight from fiction. Sorry that this chapter was kind of short. I thought that this would be a good place to stop. I think that there are probably three chapters left. I'll try to be timelier in my last few updates, but I don't want to make a promise that I can't keep. College keeps me pretty busy. If anyone's still reading this fic, great, if not, oh well. I still enjoy writing it. Please review! Thanks!