Inuyasha bolted up, he searched the sky but he found no one. He was pretty sure he smelled Kagome's scent a while ago...
Inuyasha's been in the well day and night, hoping he'll run in with Kagome. And when she didn't come, he went through the well to her house. Not wanting her family to worry, he sneaked quietly to her room and to some parts of the house but she's not there. Chrestfallen, he came back to the Bone Eater's Well to his time.
He's been cursing himself for saying those hurtful things towards Kagome. Of course he didn't mean any of it but his temper got the better of him. He's worried to death to where Kagome's gone and it annoys him even more that he can't do anything about it. Yes, he admits it to himself that he still has feelings to Kikyou but he can't deny the Kagome is very special to him to the point that he'll do anything in his power to protect her even if it meant his own life. But he was unable to show this to her, even though they've been together for quite a while now. And because of his ignorance and insensitivity, she ran away, saying over and over again how she hates him...and this breaks his heart...
"Inuyasha?" Miroku and Sango emerged from behind the bushes to find Inuyasha standing, examining the clear-blue sky.
"What's the matter?" Sango asked and looked at the same direction. "What're you looking at?"
"K-Kagome, I smelled her scent." Inuyasha looked at the both of them. "I'm sure of it."
Miroku and Sango looked worriedly at each other.
"Listen, Inuyasha..." Miroku gently pats his friend on the shoulder. "Maybe it's just your imagination. You've been seeing Kagome everywhere since...since she ran away. You just need a rest, you're always here, you've never slept for days."
"Look, I'm not imagining it, I'm REALLY sure it's her." Inuyasha firmly stated.
"Kaede's prepared food and we've come to get you." Sango interrupted. "C'mon..."
"No! There's one more thing, I also smelled another scent along with hers. What if she's been taken hostage by Naraku or...or monsters." Inuyasha looked hysterical now, shaking Miroku's shoulders. "I need to get to her! I need to find her! She needs me, don't you understand! She needs me to protect her!"
"Inuyasha, stop this! Kagome's not the kind of person who'll just give up and let others harass her!" Sango shouted. "She's not a weakling, she's not an ordinary girl! Has it every occured to you Inuyasha that maybe you need her more than she needs YOU?!" She scowled and walked away. "I'll just go ahead, Kirara and I will search for her."
Sango disappeared behind the bushes...
"Inuyasha..." Miroku looked back at him. "I"m sorry, Sango's been quite cranky this past few days because...um..."
"I know..." Inuyasha's voice cracked. He's looking down, his bangs covering his eyes. "She blames me for all of this. Don't worry Miroku, I'm not mad at her 'cause I know it is my fault. If it wasn't for me, Kagome wouldn't have run off..."
Awkward silence filled the air. Miroku doesn't know how to reply to Inuyasha...
"But..." Inuyasha broke the ice. "I promise I'll find her. After that, I'll never hurt her again...I promise.."
Miroku shrugged and looked sadly at Inuyasha. "Inuyasha, as long as you still love Kikyou, you'll always hurt her. I really don't believe at the saying, "promises are meant to be broken" but..." He pats Inuyasha's shoulder again. "In your case, its true. I'm not doing this to hurt you even more but you have to face reality."
When Inuyasha didn't reply, Miroku slowly pulled him. "You need something to eat, c'mon..."
But Inuyasha won't budge and stayed on the spot.
"Kagome wouldn't want you to punish yourself. Beside's starving yourself wouldn't do any good, you'll need your strength to search for her..."
Inuyasha lifted his head and looked Miroku straight in the eye. Miroku held his ground and didn't blink, he looked back with determination and authority. So, Inuyasha shrugged and slowly nodded, letting Miroku pull him back to Kaede's hut...
Kagome and Kaito are back in the cave. Kaito looked worriedly at Kagome because she's been quiet ever since she saw that silver-haired boy.
"K-Kagome?" He peered, trying to see her facial expression.
Kagome lifted her head and smiled gently. "Don't worry, I-I'm fine..."
Kaito shrugged, he stood up and sat beside Kagome. "You can tell me...that is, if you want to..."
"N-No thanks, I'm fine...really, I 'am..."
Kaito didn't pressure her and just sat there in silence. From his peripheral vision, he can see tears falling from Kagome's eyes. He lifted his hand and pulled Kagome's head to his shoulder and lets her cry there. Kagome's didn't pull back and continued to cry silently...
"I-I came from another time, from the future to be precise." Kagome spoke after sometime. "The well we went to a while ago, that's the Bone Eater's Well, it's my gateway to this time.I fell on it and endel up in the Feudal Era. I found Inuyasha binded in a tree by an arrow, he was trussed there by a miko named Kikyou. People here says that I'm her reincarnation and that I look like her..." With this statement, she smiled bitterly but continued anyway. "It was I who freed Inuyasha when a centipede youkai attacked and stole the Shikon no Tama. But more youkai tried to steal it so Inuyasha defended it at all cost. Unfortunately, when a crow youkai stole it, I shot it with an arrow and shattered the Shikon no Tama into a million pieces. That's the reason why I'm here, I can see the Shikon no Tama and I'm helping Inuyasha find all the missing pieces."
Kagome paused for a while...
"And you developed feelings for him, am I right?" Kaito asked.
Unable to answer straightforwardly, Kagome nodded. "But Kikyou came back, she was resurrected. And Inuyasha..." More tears fell from her eyes. "Inuyasha keeps on running for her whenever there's a chance. I-I don't know, I thought there was a special connection between us, I kind of feel that whenever we're together but...I-I'm not so sure about it. I know it's unfair for me to ask more of him. It was Kikyou whom he loves after all, it was just a twist of fate that pulled them apart. And he keeps on telling me, promising me he'll protect me. But I-I don't want him to protect me...I-I want him to love me...I know it sounds stupid...but-"
"No it doesn't..." Kaito cuts her off. She looked at him as he smiles tenderly at her. "Every one deserves to be loved. Don't be ashamed of that..."
"Kaito..." Kagome sniffed.
"I may not know how you really feel but I'll always be here for you. Even though its only been for a short while, I feel like I've known you for a long time. Kagome, from the first time I saw you, I know your special. And now I realized that your a girl whom everyone wants to protect but can really hold herself really well."
"Thank you...Kaito..." Kagome wiped her tears and smiled. "Listen, can I-I go with you...I mean its not for permanent, I just need to think things over."
"Sure, I'll love that." Kaito chortled. "I'll just go over there and catch some fish, I'm really hungry, aren't you?"
And with this, Kagome's stomach grumbled. Both of them laughed.
"I'll take that as a yes." Kaito stood up and went to the river. Shiro then flew to Kagome's shoulder. Kagome smiled and gently pats the white-bird's head.
Two weeks has passed and Kagome and Kaito kept on traveling. Kagome's been on a light mood ever since her talk with Kaito. And it seems like she's enjoying her time with him. She tried to go back to her world, she sneaked up once just to get some clothes and went away in a hurry with Kaito and Shiro waiting for her on the other end of the well. She's also learned that Kaito's not just a doctor but also a well skilled swordsman. She saw Kaito carry a sword when they left the cave but didn't really assume he's skilled with it. She discovered this one day when a group of bandits tried to attack them and Kaito finished them off with one swift of his sword.
"Kaito..." Kagome called, she found him setting up the firewoods. "I need to go back again, I need clothes and I want to visit Mom, Sota and Grandpa again.
Kaito looked up at Kagome and smiled. "Sure, Shiro's always up on a journey."
Kagome smiled back and muttered a thank you. And by minutes, they're soaring up in the sky again, heading for the Bone-Eater's Well. Kagome peered down and made sure that no one's around. She turned to Kaito and nodded an assurance that they can go down.
"I'll just wait for you here..." Kaito said as he helped her down.
"Thanks..." Kagome said before she leaped down and disappeard.
After sometime, Kagome's not back yet. Kaito is waiting patiently by the well stroking Shiro's feathers. Suddenly, a movement from behind the bushes made him jump.
"Who's there?" He demanded, drawing his sword and looking cautiously around.
"Who are you and what are you doing here?" He spun around and saw the silver-haired boy from before.
They stared at each other for quite a while...
"I said who are you?!" He sounded angry now and advanced to Kaito. "I know that smell! I smelled you the same day I sensed Kagome! You were the one with her!" He grabbed him.
Kaito's eyes flashed dangerously and slapped the boy's hand off his collar. "So we've finally met...Inuyasha..." He simply stated.
"Where's Kagome?" Inuyasha's eyes narrowed. "Bring her back...or I"ll killl you!"
Kaito got on his fighting stance. "Why don't you try..."
Inuyasha gritted his teeth. And walked slowly, raising the Tesaiga. "Your going to regret this..."
But a voice made the two of them stop. It came from the well...
"Kaito, can you help me up? I think my foot's stuck."
"K-Kagome..." Inuyasha mumbled, frozen in the spot.
Kaito eyed him before going to the well. But Inuyasha didn't even move a muscle, he's staring at the hand groping the edge of the well for support...he knew that hand so well...
"Can you just untangle this stupid vine?" Kagome reached for his hand to help her up. Kaito then removed her foot from one of the vines and pulled her. "Thanks..." Kagome smiled.
But it instantly vanished when he saw someone, standing close by.
"K-Kagome..." Inuyasha muttered.
Kagome stiffened. They looked at each other in the eye; that lasted for almost like an eternity.
"Kagome...!" Inuyasha shouted. And before he can even stop himself...before Kagome could even move...before Kaito can even respond... Inuyasha dropped the tesaiga and ran to Kagome, embraced her tight...
...and kissed her...
NOTE OF THE AUTHOR: Finally, I updated ., Whew! Thanks for the reviews by the way, don't get tired to push that cute, purple "go" button, ok? thanks for reading .