-MALLORY

Disclaimer: the usual, blah blah blah, don't own inuyasha...so yeah

AHHH i am ALIVE and u guys r very angry, and i lost a lot of names of reviewers! so now u will be super p'ed off, and i'm sry, but i've been busy with freshman yr at high, and serious, and i mean...serious...writers block and i'm sry if this chapter is a lil messed up, but i'm just writing out of my head as usual and it will be odd as usual...

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Chapter Twelve

Birds singing brought a heavy-minded Kagome back to reality. A soft sigh escaped her lips, as the memories had not yet dawned on her. It took what felt like a strenuous effort to open her eyes to the dark abyss of the room. She had awoken in the night from drifting in and out of sleep early that day.

The events slowly filled her mind one by one, yet all at once. But no emotion surfaced in her eyes. She was getting quite used to this feeling. Her insides felt in turmoil, like they were about to landslide to her feet. As quietly as she could, Kagome removed the warm covers of the futon to move slowly out of the hut for some fresh air.

'I don't understand. What's wrong with me? What's wrong with him. I thought I pushed my feelings for him away. Why is this so confusing? Why so hard?' Kagome thought as she leaned against the frame of the hut. Her eyes slipped over every identifiable object she could see in the ebony night. The only source of light was coming from the moon, a few days away from being full.

Her head fell back slightly, resting against the wall as her thoughts ran wild. So many emotions. It was as if all these emotions were filling her and just fusing into one feeling that fell like an ache, and she just wanted to succumb to herself and fall on her knees and let a river of tears cascade down her cheeks.

'I can't let that happen again. I'm not going to let him take advantage of me like that. I wasn't stable. I could hold my ground.'

'He was so intoxicating' Her mind fought back.

She shook her head slightly.

'No. He knew what he was doing, he knew how to get to me. He must want something more? But what is left to give?'

'Your love and affection. He wants them, and he'll get them.'

'Not again. I'm not opening myselft to that kind of pain again. My heart is guarded, and I'll guard it well.'

'I don't want to fight him. What's life without pain? A boring life. What doesn't break you will only make you stronger.' Her mind threw at her.

She sighed as the inner battle continued.

In a tree, not far away from the village, two eyes roamed. They landed on a figure emerging from a hut, leaning against the wall.

A smirk plastered itself across the features as an instinctive growl began to surface. Only the sense to be quiet kept it from being heard aloud. Sharp claws adorned the hands of this strong creature as they groped the limbs to get a better look of the enchantress holding its gaze.

Ready to pouce at any moment, the hidden creature's breathing became shallow and only one word was uttered into the night,

"Mine."

Kagome felt the chill of the night and decided it was about time she settled back inside. Just as she was about to turn inside, she was met by clearing of a throat. She jumped slightly and looked to make out who or what it was.

"Kagome, how are you feeling?" came the voice of the young monk.

"Oh, Miroku, it's you." Kagome sighed, feeling relieved

"I'm feeling better, a little confused, but better." she replied quietly.

"Uh, Kagome, if you don't mind, I want to talk to you." Miroku announced, not bothering to beat around the bush.

"Sure," She replied, still keeping her voice in a whispered hush.

"Tell me what happened earlier today Kagome. When you saw InuYasha. What did he do to you? Did he hurt you? What did he say Kagome?" Miroku began the interrogation.

Kagome shook her head. "No, he didn't hurt me. I'm fine. Thanks for asking though." she paused and took a breath, reinacting the earlier events in her mind.

"Kagome?" Miroku prodded.

She released a sigh. "Miroku, he didn't do anything. He caught me off guard relaxing at the lake that you and Sango were telling me about. This weird demon thing was going to attack me and then out of no where, InuYasha killed it, but he was in his demon form. He handed me the jewel and told me to be careful and go back to the village. He said he was going to gain my trust and stuff back and was going to look out for me. He told me he wasn't himself when he wanted the jewel. That he was being greedy yet wanted to protect me at the same time." she explained, leaving out the more personal details.

"Greedy I can understand, but protect you? How did he figure that. I hardly think slicing open his girlfriends' side is being protective." Miroku spat.

"I know I know. That's what I told him, but he said he was getting the jewel before another demon could." she answered back

"Kagome, he used, you. Don't you understand? He just wanted the jewel, and I'm sorry." Miroku spoke softer now.

"No Miroku. He said he was sorry, that's why he gave the jewel back. I know it's going to take time to trust him again, but I know that how I feel for him is stronger than anything I have ever felt before. I'm hurt, yes, but what he told me and how he held me made everything disappear and everything just felt better." Kagome admitted, to herself as well as Miroku.

They were both silent. Miroku let out a heavy sigh.

"Ok, Kagome, but I can tell you that I can't exactly forgive him like you. There are still hard feeling between us, and I would rather not see him for a while. While you were gone, Sango and I were discussing this, and she feels the same, but you might want to tell her all of this. Probably talking to a girl will be better help than me." Miroku smiled as did Kagome.

"Thanks Miroku." she said and gave him a hug. They both walked into the hut to finish their sleep.

A growl came from a short distance from the hut, and it would have been heard by anyone standing outside. Just as the creature was about the jump into the village, the monk appeared and started talking to what was his. His anger rose slightly as the annoyance of not getting to get to his prey made him stay in the tree, watching and waiting.

It watched silently as the two vanished into the safety of their hut and it moved to a different tree, a little farther away to catch some sleep as well, but keeping it's senses open for any possible danger.

"Hey, Kagome...wake up," a soft voice careened.

"Five more minutes..."

Sango sighed and shook the sleeping girl lightly.

"Hmmmph...Uh...morning.." came the drowsy voice of Kagome.

"You mean afternoon." Sango replied

"What? It couldn't be the after...nevermind. Guess I was tired." she laughed

"Yeah, well, you had a few things on your mind probably. After breakfast, er...I mean lunch, do you want to go for a walk? I'll understand if you don't want to, but come one, I know your dieing to give me the juicy details." Sango smiled at her best friend.

"Yeah, sounds good. Besides, I know you can't wait to hear them, even though your really mad at InuYasha, but I wanna get these things off my chest." Kagome smiled

"It's not that I'm absolutely furious, but I'm more mad for you than anything. You know that if Miroku did something to hurt me, you would do what I would do. You would want to make every better right, with some ice cream of course." Sango laughed

"Yeah, I guess you're right. Thanks for being my best friend, I don't know what I would do without you, or Miroku. He was acting just like a mad brother when I woke up last night."

"He told me about that. Let's get something to eat, I'm hungry, and by the sound of your stomach, I'm guessing you are too." she pointed out. Kagome blushed and nodded, uncovering herself from the warm haven.

"Mmmm...that homemade stuff the Kaede made was great." Sango said, patting her full stomach.

"Yeah, I need to see if my mom could make that." Kagome laughed.

"So, what happed yesterday after you left?" Sango asked, wanting to know what had happened to her friend.

"Well, I found that lake that you and Miroku were talking about. It's very relaxing by the way. But I was just sitting there and this weird, ugly little demon thing jumped out of the bushes and I guess was going to attack me. I'm not used to the arrows yet, so I was pretty defenseless I guess. But these claw mark things shot through the air at the little demon and it was killed. So I thought that someone passing by happened to help me so I turned to say thanks, and it was InuYasha." she started.

Sango nodded, now very interested. They stopped at a small boulder, not far off from the village.

"Go on," Sango urged.

"So, I was shocked it was InuYasha, because I figured that he was gone, you know. But he said that he didn't want to be away from me. Then I got really mad because he even bothered to come back. He told me that I was his, and his alone, and that he would show me how much he wanted me. He said he wanted to hold me and kiss me and stuff," she blushed. "that was when I noticed he was all demon, like at his house that one time, but it was different...he was more in control this time. I tried to run away from him, but he grabbed my arm and told me that I wasn't getting away from him...it was like he knew that I was beside myself the whole time...I was so confused." she sighed.

"It's ok Kagome. What happed next." Sango pressed.

"Then he uh, started kissing me, and I couldn't push him away, he had me against him like chains. I told him how much he hurt me, and that I wasn't even sure if he had ever loved me. That got him mad though. He told me to never rethink how he felt for me. That if he didn't care, he wouldn't have came back, gave me the jewel, or claimed me as his, jewel or not. Now don't tell Miroku this, because I don't know what he would do, but InuYasha knew where I was staying. He wanted me to give the jewel back to Kaede. I asked him how he knew where I was, and he said he had followed us, and he had, and will be watching us. Then, he started kissing me again, and I just gave in. I didn't want to let him go this time. I was so scared to lose him, but so confused." Kagome shook her head.

"Well of course you were. Now, I'm started to see everything differently. Though I am still a little angry with InuYasha, I still want what's best for you, and I want you to be happy." Sango patted Kagome's hand.

"But when I was kissing him, everything felt better. I didn't want to let go, he was so...so...intoxicating, you know?"

Sango nodded, sighing happily.

"Then he walked me a safe distance to the village and then I came to the hut, gave back the jewel, and I felt as if I was drained. I don't think I can explain it." Kagome smiled.

"Well, don't try Kagome. What happens will happen. We can't stop it. Do you think you'll see InuYasha anytime soon?" Sango asked.

"I don't know. Definitely not with Miroku around. He'd never let me close to him. He's the one whose furious. Well, come to think of it, InuYasha betrayed all of us in a way." Kagome said.

"Yeah, seems that way, huh?" Sango added.

"It seems as though you had a fun, yet not a fun time yesterday. Can't object to the kissing though, you know you loved it." Sango laughed and Kagome blushed, a clear yes sign.

"I do want to see him again. But I don't know what to do, or what to say. I don't think I'm even ready to see him yet." Kagome sighed.

"Do you really think you'll ever be ready right now. I just think your nervous. Don't be, he's still the same InuYasha, just different emotions between you now. So what he's a little more possessive, you'll manage. Be glad he's got eyes for you and you only." Sango said, stretching her arms.

"Yeah, when you think of it that way, it does feel a little better. Thanks Sango. I like having these talks with you. Anything juicy happen between you and Miroku?" Kagome asked, now curious of her friends love life.

"Hm...just the usual. A look here, a kiss there...throw in a slap across the face or two, and there's Miroku and I for you." she laughed.

"But really, it's going good. I think I really do love him. Even though he's a pervert at times, he's a really awsome guy. I wouldn't trade him...ever." she smiled, thinking to give him a random kiss when they got back.

"That sounds great. You guys look perfect together."

"Thanks. Same goes for you and InuYasha. Your a lucky girl, and he's a really really lucky guy." Sango laughed and so did Kagome as they started on their way back to Kaede's hut.

"I kinda want to go to that lake again. Just to see if he would come, but I don't want to leave you." Kagome voiced.

"No, it's fine. But we'd have to go back to Kaede's to get your arrows. Besides, I think I'm going to get my exterminator outfit and that huge boomerang thing and walk around the village. Maybe I'll get more information about these people. Who knows, I could have an ancestor around here. Miroku wont be as suspicious this way." Sango smiled.

"Thanks Sango."

"Ready?" Kagome asked after she found her bows and had practiced a little.

"Yep. I love these clothes! They look and feel so cool." Sango laughed

"They do look awesome. I'm not gonna change, just take these." she held up her bow and arrow.

"Practice does do wonders. I'm getting closer to the target. I'm hitting it now. How's it going with your weapons?" Kagome added.

"Same. Getting better, but still really bad." the two laughed as they headed out of the door.

"Where are you two going?" Miroku appeared beside them.

"I'm going to take a look around the village." Sango told him.

"Going to practice my shooting, we're meeting up when we're done." Kagome smiled.

"Are you sure Kagome? I could go with either of you if you guys wanted me too. Especially when InuYasha could come out at any time." Miroku offered.

"Young man, you're going to stay here, and I'm going to teach you some more of these chants and protection spells. You're a monk after all, you need to practice." Lady Kaeda butted in. She gave a secret wink to Sango and Kagome. They smiled back at her.

"Ok, ok, you guys be careful." Miroku said.

"We will. I'll see you later." Kagome said, and started ahead.

"I'll see you later, Miroku." Sango said. She walked up to him and gave him a kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"What's that for?" he smiled, kissing the tip of her nose.

"Oh, just a little something. I've got to go now." She ended it with a chaste kiss before catching up with Kagome. They both waved bye to him.

"Kaede is great." Kagome smiled

"Yep. So, I guess, we'll meet up soon." Sango said at the entrance of the village.

"Thanks Sango. I'll see you later. I'll just come looking for you, or you can come looking for me whenever your ready ok?"

"Ok."

The two of them parted to their seperate ways. Kagome slowly left the village and started to her destination of the lake. She remembered the scenic path in which she took last time. Every breath felt fresher than the last.

'I'm so nervous. What if he doesn't come? What if he does? I did admit to Miroku, and mostly myself that I didn't want to let him go. Just like he's not going to let me go. Gosh...I hate feeling hurt and confused. Whenever I think about him, I always have that day stuck in the back of my mind. I just want to forget that he did that. I just want everything back to normal.' she thought

'I like his possessiveness now. It was like electricity went up my spine when he told me that I was his, and only his. I don't know how to explain it, it was exciting and scary at the same time.'

Kagome blushed a light pink and a small smile curved its way into place.

She heard light rustling behind her, but when she turned to look, nothing was there, much to her relief...and disappointment.

A sigh escaped her delicate lips as she found a nice spot where she could practice her shooting. She picked a target and readied her bow. Pulling back the string, she aimed, and shot.

"Getting closer." she said aloud to herself. Kagome readied her bow again, aimed, and shot. This time, she was merely inches from her target. In a fight, that could either be close or far off, depending on if she was trying to hurt or kill the demon.

Trying yet again, she aimed at her target, and in the middle of a thought she shot, now centimeteres away.

Kagome pulled out another arrow from her quiver, aimed and got ready to shoot. A feeling, like adrinalin rushed through her veins. It was an ordinary feeling, but it was strong and made her feel tougher, braver, and ready.

She let this arrow fly, and a light emitted from her hands to the bow, and to the flying arrow, hitting the target with precise accuracy. The light faded and Kagome's eyes grew wide as did her smile.

"Finally!" she laughed exitedly.

A sharp noise came from behind her, and she turned, her hand for some reason instinctively going for an arrow.

"Kagome, what are you doing out here?" came the voice of the full demon InuYasha.

Her voice wouldn't come, and her knees began to buckle.

'Why do I feel like this now?' she thought.

InuYasha walked toward her, eyes more piercing with every step.

"I...I..." she tried.

"You, you, what?" he mocked.

Kagome sighed and she looked up at him.

"I came out here to practice my shooting." she bit back.

"And..." InuYasha smirked and took another step toward her.

"And what? That's all." she fought defensively.

"Sure. Don't you know it's dangerous out here?" his voice dropped to a hoarse whisper.

"I thought you were always watching?" Kagome crossed her arms and looked away, now annoyed that he thought she couldn't take care of herself.

"No, not from them, Kagome...from me."

As she uncrossed her arms and gave him an odd stare, he closed the distance between them, locking her in his vice like grip. Tilting her chin up roughly, he started his assult on her lips. InuYasha pulled her toward him, molding her body to his. Kagome's arms found their way around his neck. Pulling him to her, not wanting him to relent.

'This is what I was talking about. I...am...his.'

She did not argue back.

InuYasha grazed his teeth against her bottom lip, pulling it into his mouth. After, he pushed his tongue between her lips, making an entrance for himself. The hand that rested on the small of her back pushed with a little more force, telling her to play back. This time she complied. She could feel his smirk, and stepped into him as much as she could.

She found herself being pushed backwards, until her back met with a tree. InuYasha broke the kiss so they could get air. He looked into her eyes.

"Mine." he proclaimed, but did not start kissing her again. It was a question in the form of a statement.

"Yours." Kagome answered back with a small smile. She saw a flicker of relief in his eyes before he went back to her mouth more forcefully, yet in a gentle way. His hands began to travel up and down her body, exploring his possession.

Kagome's hands traveled upward and entertangled in his hair, taking two fist fulls as he brought out so many emotions and so much pleasure.

InuYasha's mouth left hers and continued his reign on her neck, lightly biting here and there. He let his mouth travel lower, to where her shirt met her colar bone. He moved the edge of fabric as much as he could and swirled his tongue around a small spot before sucking on her flesh there. Kagome's breath came in raspy gasps. She could feel his hands travel up her shirt and feel every inch of skin below her breasts. Every now and then, his fingers would run against the edge of her bra.

One stealthy hand traveled down her hip to the end of her skirt. His mouth met hers yet again. InuYasha's hand started to gently slide up her inner thigh and his other hand had found the soft flesh of her rump.

Kagome broke the kiss and quickly grabbed the hand under her skirt before it found its destination. She looked at InuYasha, whose breath was coming in hoarse gasps that matched her quick raspy ones.

"No...I'm not ready, I told you." she breathed out, putting her head against his shoulder.

"I just want you, Kagome. It's hard to control myself when I'm with you." he put both his arms around her, in a tight hug, never wanting to let her go.

"But...I'm sorry." he let out as he breathed in the scent of her hair.

Kagome leaned up and placed a small kiss on his throat, then went back to resting her head on his shoulder.

"I need to go." he said abruptly, starting to push her away.

"What, why?" she asked, not ready for him to leave her.

"Kagome, unless you want me to throw you down, rip off your clothes, and take you on the forest floor where we stand, I need to leave you for now." the predatory look in his eyes grew.

Her cheeks were tainted a deep crimson as she nodded.

"I'll be back soon, until then..." he grabbed her roughly and kissed her hard and deep, leaving off his meaning of want.

He turned and disappeared into the forest. Kagome sighed happily and started toward the village.

"So, how did the shooting go?" Sango asked after they reunited at a small shop. ((what do u call those things that are out in the open again...? sry!))

"Finally hit the target, but this weird light came from my hands to the arrow...it was weird." Kagome explained.

"Did he come?" she cut the chase.

Kagome blushed and nodded.

"What happened?" Sango squealed

Kagome explained everything to her friend, leaving nothing out. Their converstation ended with a huge blush that seemed permanent on Kagome's face.

"I did think you looked a little ravished..." Sango laughed as her friends' blushed darkened and she started smoothing her clothes.

"Did you find out anyting about the exterminators?" Kagome asked.

"Yeah, atctually this one lady who I was talking to before you came has family and friends in the village where they live. She told me I should go visit them sometime. Other than that, she just explained what they did, and what she knew of most of these weapons and other things. I'll explain it while we eat so Miroku won't get anymore suspicious than he is." Sango smiled.

"Thanks."

"No problem."

The two of them headed off to Kaede's hut. The sun was beginning to fall behind the horizon, and two eyes watched as the two women vanished into the hut.

THATS IT! DID U LIKE IT? R U STILL MAD? PLEASE DON'T B! i'll tell u what, a surprise character is going to be in the next chapter...maybe...if i can find some way to fit them in...i don't know, but MAYBE!

I tried hard, and i still want u guys to review review review!

suggestions and criticism of course always welcome, and tell me what u think so far!

THANKS TO ALL MY LOYAL READERS WHO NAGGED AND YELLED AT ME TO GET THIS DONE! U AND THE FALL OF A TEMP. WRITERS BLOCK HELPED ME OUT

and i did see the wonderful numbers of alerts and favs that u guys have put me on and stuff! and i THANK u bunches! i was so happy and excited that u guys wanted to read my story that much! i'll love u guys forever!

please review and give feedback, suggestions, or criticism...

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-ja na