Chapter 3 Assessment

It was now sunset and the group was not very happy, anyone could very easily tell by the tension in the air. Kagome was still not talking to Inuyasha, not the way she was supposed to anyway. She would always make short little comments, always agree with him and did whatever he told her to do. That was just so not Kagome. She would usually not be so…agreeing? No that's not the word, she would usually not be so…easy. Inuyasha wasn't sure if this was the right word yet or not, but it basically described what Kagome was acting like right now; always agreeing with whatever his choices were, never doubting his judgment, not to mention poor Shippo was getting hit over the head so many time that even Inuyasha himself was getting worried. But through all of this Kagome remained submissive, which that in itself was very scary. Kagome was never easy because she had to make everything difficult! She never agreed with him when he had an idea, of course his ideas always would always entail killing someone or something when they had a problem with it, but hey! That was the easiest way to get rid of all your problems, wasn't it? Not to mention he would basically tell her off whenever he got the chance and when this happened she became a little less pleasant. She was not one to back down from a good argument! And Shippo was just like her own child and she would always take his side no matter what! But, even though this may sound strange, those were the qualities Inuyasha loved most about her, she was always her own person, very unique, and very protective. And now, she was just another person who couldn't, or wouldn't, think for themselves. Always do what others tell them to do. She wouldn't ignore him, but she wasn't talking to him either. And this in turn bothered Inuyasha, who in turn bothered every body else because he seems to have a major anger management problem…

"Oi! Get a move on you slow pokes, do you want to find a camping spot or not!?" Inuyasha was on his last nerve, Kikyo just needed to go to hell, literally. Kagome wouldn't act her self and believed me, he had tried to so many different things to get sat that even he was so mad at himself, he couldn't believe how much of a jerk he was being. But he needed that reaction, and he would get it! Sango and Miroku was all acting lovey dovey to each other and it was just making him sick. A few weeks ago Miroku had went out and taken Sango somewhere so they could be alone, and when they had come back they were acting like that. He had also noticed that whenever Miroku became perverted to Sango and touch the you know where with the you know what that she would gently play slap him or give him a pitiful glare that was too nice to even be called a glare. And if Inuyasha didn't know any better he would say that she was starting to like it. 'Okay! That is just disgusting!"

"Okay Inuyasha we are going as fast as our feet may take us and even if you are not tired, being a hanyou in all, we are only mere humans and we are exhausted." Miroku had to fight to keep his voice neutral; the hanyou leading the way sure was snippy today. And if Miroku didn't know it, the only one who could make the hanyou this snippy was the little miko walking a little bit behind. Miroku immediately lost all of his thoughts. He hadn't even thought of it until now, Kagome has been withdrawn all day.

"Yeah you big meanie! We're tired!" Shippo of course had to add his two cents, never one to keep silent. Miroku ignored Shippo's comment, along with Inuyasha which was surprising for usually the dog demon roused up to the kitsune's remarks which eventually led to a beating, Miroku was silently hoping the kit would just keep his mouth shut, hadn't he been hit enough today? However, Miroku was still focused on Kagome. She has barely talked to anybody, and she was still lagging a little bit behind. Unfortunately a certain hanyou recognized this as well.

"Wench! Pick up the pace will ya? You are really grating on my nerves moving as slow as a snail demon!" Inuyasha had not given up his mission to try and get the girl pissed off. He never thought he would admit this, but he wanted to get sat, and so badly too. He wished her anything right now, happy, mad, sad, pissed anything would be better than what she was right now…like Kikyo. Now keep in mind that she wasn't all the way like Kikyo just some parts had been mimicked. Kikyo would always show no signs of emotion, she would never laugh, she would never get excited, and most of all she would never get furious. She was as cool and composed as a clay pot, which if you look at it she basically was (a/n: haha). And Kagome seemed to be playing the role quite well and that was what was getting Inuyasha pissed off the most. He growled low in his throat before turning abruptly.

"Alright we will camp here for the night, Miroku go get the fire would. Sango and I can scan the area. Shippo…just stay here. And Kagome you make me Ramen!?! I want all of it made, not just a little, all of it! Understand?"

"Ok Inuyasha." Kagome once again replied like she had been doing all day. He growled low in his throat again…he couldn't believe his future mate was still not talking to him. 'How do you even know that she wants to be your mate? She is sure not acting like it.'

'Feh!' And now he was talking to himself, this just went from bad to worse. Not because he was mad about talking to himself, although that felt a little weird. He was frustrated. It was true, he didn't know if she wanted to become his mate. And this whole ignoring him thing was not the signs he was looking for when trying to decide if she wanted that. He was angry, angry ha! He was furious! But deep down, is where the most of his emotions lay, he was extremely hurt. Kagome would never ignore him, never. And when she did she would always get over it and apologize. This time, though, she didn't seem to be getting over it. And she wasn't ignoring him completely just…somewhat…which made him think what could have changed her?

"Sango you take the North and West, I'll take the East and South." With that said Inuyasha was gone. He loved to run; it got his mind off things, certain girls from the future and what not. It made him feel free, like he could do anything, like there was nothing holding him back. As he leapt from branch to branch, making sure nothing was lurking about he was contemplating what his next move with Kagome should be. By the time he returned, he still didn't have a clue. He had scanned the whole area and by the time he had gotten back Sango was there, the fire was started and Kagome had just finished making him all of the ramen he had wanted. Which included seven packages total because that was all there was left. Now…this truly was going to be difficult on the half demon's part, the thing he loved from the future was staring right back at him, the thing that made his mouth water every time he caught the distinguished scent, most times the thing that kept him going from day to day…ramen.

"Here is your ramen Inuyasha." Kagome murmured while handing him one of the cups, the others sat near the fire so they wouldn't get cold. Inuyasha just glared at it, pretending that it was the most disgusting thing in the world. How hard this next task was going to be for him, but it was either the ramen or Kagome…of course he loved ramen, but he loved Kagome more.

"I don't want it anymore." He said curtly, he knew this was going to get a reaction out of Kagome for sure! Not to mention the rest of his pack. They were all thinking the same thing while giving him various looks of complete and udder shock. What was wrong with him? They never thought they would live to see the day when Inuyasha, the Inuyasha, would turn down ramen. What in the world was going on?! Kagome is withdrawn, and Inuyasha turning down RAMEN! What has this world come to?

"Your cooking sucks, and personally I don't think you made it the way that I like it. This kind is the shrimp kind, I don't like that kind! How stupid can you possibly be?" He was groaning inside, he really didn't want to be this mean, really he didn't. Plus, he was starving and the ramen was there right in front of him. He flinched. But he was so worried about her, yes worried about her! She wasn't the Kagome he loved, she was….something or someone different and that didn't settle with him what so ever. So he was willing to make some sacrifices.

He looked up at Kagome…she wasn't saying anything yet. That kind of worried him considering that she would be quite for like a second and then start yelling or bawling, or both. And she was never this quiet, never had he heard a silence so deafening…

"Kagome….I will have some of the Ramen, your cooking isn't bad, in fact I love the shrimp kind!" Shippo piped up from a top Kirara. He had been so concerned for his adoptive mother today, but warnings from Sango had kept him from going to her like he normally did. She had said that he should just wait until Kagome was back to her normal self and when things had cooled down, whatever that meant. He still didn't understand but if Kagome needed some time alone, he was going to give it to her. Anything to make her happy!

"Yes, I would like some as well Kagome! I am starving!" Sango had been in shocked silence just watching what was happening between her two friends…she was seriously stunned. For one Inuyasha never I repeat never turned down ramen, it was like a sin. And secondly he never treated Kagome that harshly either. He treated her badly, yes, but it was so unlike him to be this particularly harsh, he did have strong feelings for the miko that much she knew, he protected her with his life. He was just too stubborn to actually tell her, which led to many numerous fights, but they all knew he cared about her deeply, well, except for Kagome. But Kagome was a little naïve as well. Neither one knew about the attraction they both had to one another. Hopefully that would change soon enough, but until then, there would always be days like this. But this particular day something was really eating away at Inuyasha, enough for him to turn down his ramen! Sango mentally promised herself to find out later. So finally upon hearing Shippo she decided that she would volunteer as well. Kagome didn't need this right now. "And after we are finished, would you like to accompany me to the hot spring Kagome? I found one while scouting. (a/n: convenient that they are always around eh?)

"I will have some of the delicious food as well Kagome, if I do say so myself your cooking is exquisite." As you all may have guessed, Miroku added his comment in as well, all the while adding a little bit of flirty charm to it. But in the back of his mind, the little wheels were turning. He could not let Inuyasha treat Kagome this way, it wasn't right, especially when she had already been feeling down. She didn't need Inuyasha in her hair right now. He would get to the bottom of this as soon as the girls went to the hot springs.

Speaking of which, Kagome still hadn't said anything. She was just kind of standing there with the Ramen cup still outstretched. Finally she sighed…and took the ramen away from Inuyasha…she had had to count to ten before she could even allow herself to speak. She just couldn't believe what an insensitive jerk he was being! He was being more

Insensitive than usual! She loves him yes, but when he got like this she just wanted to strangle the living daylights outta him! But she had promised herself that she wouldn't yell or lash out at him for it would only cause him to belittle her more.

"If you don't want to eat it Inuyasha then you don't have to, I would offer to make you something else but considering you don't like my cooking then I will let the offer down and let you find food on your own. It is probably better than mine anyway." With that she turned to Sango. "You know what Sango; I think that I would like to go by myself if you don't mind…"

Sango could tell her friend just wanted alone time and she completely felt for her. It was probably best anyway that she didn't go, she would probably just end up bugging her even more. Not to mention, this would also give her time to clobber Inuyasha for what he had said and what he had done all day… 'How could someone be so, so, so thoughtless!?!?'

"Of course Kagome the springs is just over that way, Kirara can go with you and keep an eye out all right?" Hoping that if it was just Kirara going along with her that Kagome wouldn't mind; she did need some protection after all, not liking to admit it, even if it was only to herself, Kagome was a magnet for demons.

Kagome smiled slightly, Sango always knew when she needed some time by her self, and she would thank her later. Kagome left without saying a word.

When she reached the springs she just sat down and looked at her reflection. However what she saw was horrible. Her face was pale, dark circles under her eyes, and looked as if her hair hadn't seen a brush in days, which in all honesty it probably hadn't. 'I bet Kikyo had never looked this repulsive'. She inwardly grimaced, how had they been able to stand her all day? She looked absolutely horrible! But no matter what she looked like or where she was, one thing would always remain the same: she was a substitute, a replacement for someone who was better than her, prettier than her, smarter than her…everything she wasn't. It also seemed that whenever she would look at her reflection, it didn't matter where, all she would see was Kikyo's face staring back at her; taunting her as if to say 'I was here first' And it hurt her more than anything ever would. She brought her hands down and splashed the water, making it ripple. She was only second-rate compared the woman who had had everything first. As she looked down in the water again, she started to cry silently, knowing that she would never be as good as Kikyo, no matter how much she tried. She was confused because it seemed as though people got the two mixed up all of the time, which seemed impossible because of how inaccurately cloned she herself was. 'How could they mix us up when Kikyo is so much better?' She wanted to be Kagome, Ka-Go-Me! But as time progressed, it seemed that she was becoming more and more like that of something that she didn't want to ever become, her proof still staring back at her… a copy.

(a/n: Sorry for such a short chapter, I promise, as the story moves along, the chapters get longer as well!)