A/N: Woo! I got Kingdom Hearts II! And I LOVE it! Roxas is such a cute little emo boy.

And, if you read the first few chapters, you may have noticed that I have started editing them again, just to bring up the quality of this work. The first few chapters needed some major editing, and so I have set out to fix some minor errors and some other things (such as the whole "gods"/"god" thing and the fact that Lord Onigumo came from the SOUTH in the first couple of chapters, but for some reason, now he comes from the NORTH?)

I won't do anything major, so no need to worry about me pulling out some new scenes and crap like that.

Chapter 24: The Demon in Disguise

The two guards of the castle of the Demon Lands kept their eyes trained ahead of them, glancing at anything that could possibly be a target. Not only would the king have their heads if he heard they were slacking off, but also ever since the great clan war of two centuries ago, not all demon clans had been aligned with the king. Even a worthless demon scurrying on the path could be a spy.

The day was quiet, with the sun drawing close to the horizon as time went on. There was no threat as of now, and it was very unlikely there would be a one for some time, since, after all, hardly any clans would dare to oppose King Sesshoumaru, one of the strongest demons alive. After awhile, the two guard demons began to get bored with their task, waiting for dusk when they would be relieved for their replacements for the night.

But, out of the quiet and stillness of the vast, surrounding area, came a small, dust cloud on the approaching hill. Golden eyes were drawn to it as it came closer, and a figure was seen, running fast. An instant later, the figure showed itself as it came to a stop before them, looking weary, yet not daunted. When the hanyou dog ears were seen, both guards knew who they were dealing with.

The gate was opened instantly as both guards stood a bit straighter. "You are back, Prince Inuyasha. Do you wish to see the king?"

Inuyasha was panting slightly—the horse had not been able to cross the rickety bridge into the Midlands, so he had traveled on foot the rest of the way, faster than he had been when he went after Kagome, and not even stopping for one instant. "Where is that bastard?" he muttered, wiping some dirt off his forehead with his red sleeve as he stomped into the courtyard, heading for the castle doors.

They were thrown open with a bang as the hanyou startled the demon courtiers, who each turned to stare. Most, knew whom he was, and turned away without a second thought, but whenever Inuyasha felt a glare from anyone, he answered it with an equal flash of angry, amber eyes.

He had traveled for days without rest just to get here, and speak to someone he hated. Not even Kagome would have been able to cool his temper now.

The golden doors to the throne room were unceremoniously kicked open, with Sesshoumaru being the only one who didn't jump as a dirty, snarling, furious hanyou growled, "Sesshoumaru!"

The king merely raised an eyebrow to his little brother's display. "I believe my little brother would like to see me for a moment. Leave us," he told to his guards, who promptly filed out the exit, having no desire to see both in an angry fight.

Glancing at the leaving guards, Inuyasha accused, "Knew I would be back, huh?"

Sighing and rolling his golden eyes, the king of the demon lands responded, "You wouldn't have left your precious princess unless you had somewhere important to go, little brother. And considering you have no where else to go, you are quite simple to figure out. What is it you want, little brother?"

The hanyou approached his brother's throne, but not at all with the respect everyone else held when getting close to this great king. "You knew there was something going on," Inuyasha growled. "When I told you of Kagome's kidnapping, you didn't tell me everything!"

Sesshoumaru shrugged, "Why should I have? The affairs of this country that you have denounced do not concern you."

"They concern me when Kagome's in danger, damn it!" Inuyasha roared, his voice echoing off the walls.

"And if she is in danger, then why are you here? Shouldn't you be at her side, like a loyal puppy, Inuyasha?"

"You bastard!" Inuyasha's nails bit into his skin as his hands closed into fists. He was already angry at himself for having to leave Kagome as it was. "Just tell me what I need to know so I can go back and protect her! When I told you of the dragon, I saw it in your eyes that you were holding something back! Tell me now, damn it!"

There was a pause, where Inuyasha was afraid his brother would refuse, but then, Sesshoumaru sighed and spoke. "The dragon I told you of, Ryuukossei…you say you killed him?"

"Keh, it was a pushover. Damn thing didn't last more than a few minutes against me."

The king's eyes narrowed as if he didn't believe him. "Of course. But the fact of the matter is…Ryuukossei was the name of a dragon our father fought, long ago."

The hanyou's anger was replaced with shock as his amber eyes widened. "Wait…you mean…But that's—"

"Impossible, yes. But the fact remains, Inuyasha, you fought a beast that was already dead, and probably is still wandering around in a half life as we speak."

Ryuukossei was working for someone! Inuyasha thought. That's why he didn't eat Kagome, and why it made an effort to keep her alive…someone just wanted her out of the way for a while, but why…?

"So, there is more to this than we were supposed to see," Inuyasha muttered, trying to remember small details from before. "But then…how would this relate to Lord Onigumo's death? I saw him die—even if it was an unnatural death by demonic magic, there was no way he could have survived…and yet—"

"What?"

The hanyou folded his arms in thought as he spoke, "Lady Kikyou...she says that even though Lord Onigumo is dead, she's seen his eyes, and she would know better than anyone what those look like…"

Inuyasha looked lost in thought for a moment, and his older brother only granted him a slight pause, before asking, "How exactly did Lord Onigumo die?"

Amber eyes flickered back to the king, looking surprised. Inuyasha didn't expect this kind of question from his 'all knowing-all seeing' brother. "He was possessed by something. Something made him walk out into the gardens late at night when there was a burst of fire from the sky. It completely burned him to the bone, there was nothing left." But, after a second, the hanyou remembered something else…something important. "Wait a minute…after he was burned there was a…a spider shaped burn on the ground."

Sesshoumaru's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Spider shaped?"

"Yeah, and the man that now owns his estates wants to marry Kagome, but looks a bit like Lord Onigumo, even if Onigumo is dead—"

"Wait a minute," the king of the demons cut him off. "His name? What is the lord's name?"

Inuyasha stared, he had never seen his brother so urgent to know something. Ever since he had mentioned the spider shaped burn mark, it was like something had lit behind Sesshoumaru's eyes…some memory, and one not fondly thought of. "His name is Lord Naraku," the hanyou replied, watching his brother carefully.

"Naraku…" Sesshoumaru growled the name with distaste, golden eyes glaring. "So he has appeared again."

"Again?" What was going on here? "Wait, what do you mean? Why is it 'again'?"

But King Sesshoumaru did not answer his brother right away. "So he seeks to challenge me again, does he? Foolish. He doesn't know who he is dealing with."

"What? Why is he foolish? What the Hell is going on?" Inuyasha demanded urgently. He knew now something was wrong with Lord Naraku…and every second wasted meant another second Kagome was in his grasp…

Now, Sesshoumaru focused his attention back on Inuyasha. "Naraku is the name of the demon that led the rebellion against Father two hundred years ago."

Those words made old memories spark within Inuyasha's brain. Memories of screams of terror…the clash of swords…his father yelling for more troops…running through corridors…flashes of images of Sesshoumaru fighting…Sesshoumaru crying in pain, holding the stump of his left arm—

"You mean…at that time…that was Naraku?" the hanyou sputtered, stepping back a moment in shock. "But…how could it be? Naraku isn't a demon! He smells like a human!"

"The spider was Naraku's symbol!" Sesshoumaru countered. "It has to be the same man, it is too much of a coincidence, human scent or not!"

Inuyasha was about to argue back, hoping there was another argument to make so it turned out Kagome's betrothed was indeed not a demon out to kill her, when a voice from above spoke calmly, "Oh, so you figured it out."

Both brothers looked up, towards the stone ceiling. There, next to the chandelier with the dripping candles, sat a smirking Kagura, seated in her large feather. Inuyasha began growling, but Sesshoumaru didn't move a muscle; he had known from before she was there. "Kagura, what are you doing here?" the hanyou snarled, reaching for his Tessaiga.

"Calm down, I'm not here to pick a fight," the wind witch assured him, as she floated down to hover just a few feet above their heads. "But, you already knew that, right, Your Majesty?" Kagura glanced over at Sesshoumaru, but he didn't respond.

"What do you want?" Inuyasha demanded, not even bothering to ask how his brother knew her. "Are you saying Lord Naraku really is this demon?"

Red eyes narrowed. "Why would I lie? I only do his bidding because I'm his slave—now that he's in his human form, without the ability to see, I have more freedom to do what I want, without him butting in."

"Human form?" This time it was Sesshoumaru that asked.

Kagura's gaze focused back on the king. "As you well know, King Sesshoumaru, Naraku was one of the most powerful demons around two hundred years ago, when he led that rebellion against the mighty Inu no Taishou, in hopes of taking the throne of the Demon Lands. He was waiting for revenge for all those years, while thinking of a plan. And with that princess having such a hard time marrying, he finally found one after so long."

"What does he want with Kagome?" The hanyou demanded, his patience waning.

"Naraku used black magic to take the form of that worthless Lord Onigumo, to become human in all aspects, so he could pose as a lord and become betrothed to her. Once married, he would be King of the Human Lands, and could take the Shikon no Tama, and finally, challenge King Sesshoumaru for the throne of the Demon Lands."

Inuyasha felt his heart stop for a moment at hearing the words. "Naraku…wants to use Kagome to take the Shikon no Tama?" he roared, anger and hatred filling him so deeply that Inuyasha felt a pulse from Tessaiga at his side, instantly calming him. "He will kill her just so he can conquer the world?"

Even though the hanyou was in such a raging temper that he looked like he would rip of Naraku's head, if he had been there, Kagura just shrugged. "I don't know about that, you'd have to ask him about the small details."

Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes at his snarling brother, before asking the wind witch, "So, why are you telling us at all, Kagura?"

She turned away for a moment, answering, "I told you, I am his slave. Is it so wrong of me to want to be free once again?"

"A betrayer of your master? You certainly seem like a trustworthy woman," Inuyasha muttered, his temper calmed by the mere thought of getting back and protecting Kagome.

Kagura didn't reply to his comment and warned, "Oh, and you had better find a different way to get back into the palace, hanyou. Naraku has ordered the guards to arrest you on sight if they see you."

With that, Kagura turned, and floated up towards the ceiling, and out of the small window, which she had blown a hole through earlier. That left both brothers in silence, with their new knowledge to think upon. Sesshoumaru sat for a moment calculating, before speaking, "Go back to your princess, Inuyasha. I will handle the security here."

"Yeah…" That's all the hanyou could say to his brother. After all the years of hating each other, now, for one moment, they were comrades, united in this battle against an evil they both should have noticed earlier. Turning away, Inuyasha's mind raced furiously. It was a mistake to leave Kagome like this…If I don't get back there in time, she could be killed by Naraku!

His hand clenched into a fist as the anger bubbled forth again. Naraku…For all this…I will make you pay!

Kagome slowly walked through the halls, her eyes downcast, not even noticing the courtiers that walked by, bowing slightly to her. Inuyasha had been gone for weeks, and now it was three days until the wedding. She had thought—hoped—he would have been back by now. It took a normal man on a horse three weeks to reach the border of the Demon Lands…so how long would it take Inuyasha to get back? What if…what if he didn't get back until after the wedding? How was she to go through with it if he wasn't there at her side?

I need him so much…and I never really got a chance to tell him that…

But as Kagome walked towards her rooms, where she was to have a final fitting of her wedding dress, she looked up, and saw someone else walking in the same, worried manner that she was—Kikyou. Both women glanced at each other for a moment, before Kagome broke the ice. "Kikyou…How are you feeling these days?"

Her cousin answered, "Better…the cool air of fall makes for more chances to venture outside rather than hot summer, don't you think?"

Kagome nodded, with an obviously fake smile on her face. "That's true." But Kikyou had noticed her false happiness, and Kagome knew it, so she turned away.

"I guess I should be asking you that question, Kagome," Kikyou spoke, her voice soft and calm. "You haven' t been looking well at all lately."

The princess shook her head. "It is only pre-wedding jitters, Kikyou, pay it no mind."

Why was her cousin never fooled when she tried to lie like she did to everyone else? Why? "You miss Inuyasha, don't you, Kagome?"

"Don't you, as well?" Kagome countered, making Kikyou's eyes open wider in surprise. "Kikyou…something happened between you and Inuyasha before, right?" Kagome knew about it from Inuyasha, but she wanted to hear the words directly from her normally stoic cousin as well, and perhaps, get the full truth from her.

Kikyou did not expect an argument like this from Kagome. And for a moment, she didn't want to answer. It was her private life, after all, why should she reply? But…perhaps it was only fair, since she had pried into Kagome's a minute before. "It was nothing more than a spring fancy, something we both knew could never be, something that began and ended all too quickly. After all, we lived in two different worlds, so we knew it would never work out in the end."

Kagome's eyes fell downward, as she remembered the time in the Midlands, when she and Inuyasha had both dared to believe that they could be together, until they were brought back to the reality of their different places in life in the Human Lands. The one truth that they both had to live by, and could not break. "True…"

Kikyou's dark eyes narrowed slightly as she stepped closer to Kagome, as if examining her. Kagome was so different from her, dressing simply, for a princess, when she, just the daughter of a duke, wore more finery in her attire than Kagome usually wore for a whole month. Why was it, that if they both looked and acted so different, that Inuyasha seemed to fall for both?

Deciding to ask a question she desperately wanted to know, Kikyou began, "But…I don't think Inuyasha feels that way about me any more…After all, his eyes only seem to glitter when another woman walks into the room."

Kagome's light brown eyes rose to meet Kikyou's. Of course Kikyou was talking about her, but even for what she knew by observation, she didn't know what lay deep within Kagome's heart… "I don't know what you are talking about. If Inuyasha has taken a fancy to me, than I haven't noticed…I merely miss him as a good friend, and loyal in his service."

Kikyou raised a skeptical eyebrow. "I see…"

"It is just as you said, Kikyou—it is something that could never be, not in a million years. So why should I take notice if his eyes have indeed turned to me?" Kagome's response was thick, and full of hidden spite. Even if Inuyasha no longer loved her cousin, he had at one time…making her feel a small, twinge of jealousy in her heart.

Kikyou wasn't betrothed. Kikyou wasn't a princess. If she decided she loved Inuyasha and wanted to marry him, she could, though not without a great struggle. But the fact of the matter was, if Kikyou wanted to marry low for herself, she could, but Kagome didn't have that option, no matter what.

Kikyou could have loved Inuyasha, and yet she did not because she didn't want to go through the shame of marrying too low to have him. If Kagome were in her position, she would have given it all up—her title, her wealth, even her good name—to be with him, because there was nothing besides that preventing it. She would have proved her love by risking it all to have him.

And yet, Kikyou wasn't willing to do it.

"A princess and a knight…something that seems to be only out of fairy tales…something that could never happen in real life. A knight may have his lady, but as long as his lady isn't too high up, then he is free to have her, right Kikyou? But Inuyasha should learn to control his emotions, because he must know he and I could never be."

"And if it could be?" Kikyou replied, her eyes narrowing even further. She knew what Kagome was up to, and wasn't going to take it now.

That question caught Kagome off guard. How was she supposed to answer? If they could be together, than yes, she would have him…if she said that, she would reveal the depth of her feelings, but if she lied, then Kikyou would know it…

Kagome pretended to look as if she suddenly remembered something. "I have to hurry, Kikyou—there is a fitting for my wedding dress, and all—" With that, Kagome ran down the corridor, so fast, that her light blue skirts waved around her ankles to reveal her black dress slippers.

Kikyou watched her leave, finally knowing the truth of it all in her heart. So, Kagome loves him that much, does she? But its tearing her up inside…

Glancing away, towards the setting sun through the thick, glass window, Kikyou closed her eyes for a moment and thought, At least, Kagome doesn't have the heart to turn Inuyasha away because of this…her kind heart won't allow it.

A heart like hers will continue to love him, no matter what.

Hannah gasped as she stepped away from her mistress, clothed in her perfect white gown. "You look stunning My Lady," Hannah replied, the smile on her face accented by her twinkling green eyes. "A fine treat for any man, to be sure."

Kagome glanced at herself in the mirror, hoping she would not be sick at the sight. The gown was indeed beautiful—A perfect white, with a bodice dropping low at the neckline, with pearls and lace sewn in patterns of roses along the bodice and skirt. The sleeves and waist were tight, making her appear thin and composed—the perfect image of a modest, simpering woman when next to a strong man. Her lace veil had patterns of flowers sewn in, all in white, making Kagome look like an angel…if only a smile were on her face at a day supposed to be the happiest in all of her life, it would have been perfect.

But she would not smile—never in this dress and the life after it would Kagome smile. Her smile had faded when Inuyasha left her, and she knew it would never return. The happiness and love was left in the Midlands, gone like the wind that blew across its endless meadows.

Happiness was only an illusion, to be put forth for her friends and family now. And love…to be hidden in her heart, causing her pain as it burned for the rest of her days.

Hannah helped her out of the large dress and back into her simple, green and white gown as she noticed her mistress's sadness. "My Lady, are you all right?"

Kagome shook her head, "No Hannah, I will never be all right," she spoke, as Hannah laced the strings of her bodice from behind. "My life is everything I thought it would be…I am marrying a man I can not love…to be a good, quiet wife until I die…a perfect image of a queen, don't you think?"

Hannah was silent for a moment. "My Lady…isn't this what you wanted? To marry a man so you would no longer be a spinster?"

The princess sighed as she glanced back in the mirror once more, to see the reflection of an ordinary, sad woman, no longer an angel. "Things are different now, Hannah. I learned what it was like to be happy…and now, I will mourn its loss forever."

With that, she turned, and exited her room, leaving a very worried maid behind. Even though it was dark out now, Kagome wanted to walk in the gardens, alone. To look up at the sky and wonder where Inuyasha was; if he was all right. Right now, she wanted to be alone, and cherish these quiet moments until they were no more.

But, as she walked down the dark corridor, no light even coming from the window, she felt a small chill up her spine. She remembered what Inuyasha said, about how Naraku could be after her, and the chill increased as Kagome turned and looked behind her. She saw nothing.

The only sounds Kagome heard were her breathing and the beating of her heart within her chest, but…someone was there, she knew it. Unseen eyes were watching her, giving her that terrible, chilling feeling that she was not alone. "Hello?" she asked softly into the open space, glancing around at the many, closed and locked doors. "Whoever you are, come out this instant!" No answer.

There was a small clatter, and Kagome jumped and whirled around at the sound. A torch had fallen from its wall bracket. But…it had been in it a second ago, how could it have fallen? Kagome slowly walked over towards it, and bent down, picking it up. Gently placing it back, she heard the small sound of a door slightly opening.

Kagome whirled around so fast, her hair whipped around. Her brown eyes glanced at every door, but none were open. Who was there? Her heart was racing so fast that she could hear it pound in her ears, while she felt the chill up her spine increase. It was too weird. And now, she felt frightened and terrified…so alone, without Inuyasha to protect her.

She turned and began to run, past the long corridor filled with locked doors. Her heart raced and raced as she tried to reach the end of the hall, to turn the corner and be free of this frightening place—

A hand shot out from the last door in the hall as she passed by it, covering her mouth. She didn't have time to scream as two arms pulled her through the door, shutting and locking it in an instant.

"Have you seen the half breed?" Lord Naraku asked, walking past the guards of the palace gate. "He was last seen hours ago, heading this way."

The simple men of the gate shook there heads. "We haven't seen anyone with those ugly dog ears, My Lord. Our spears would have cornered him in an instant if we did."

A smirk caught the edge of Naraku's face. "I doubt it, he's strong. But a group of you could have captured him when needed."

"Are you sure we must arrest him, Lord Naraku?" Another guard, his face illuminated by the torchlight asked. He looked towards the city below the castle hill. "After all, the charges—"

"The charge is treason," Naraku spoke, a smirk on his face, with a malicious look in his maroon eyes. "Treason under the crown for threatening the life of the princess. And, there's rumors he was planning on violating her honor as well. I want him behind bars and his head on the block before he gets a chance to harm my wife, understand me?"

A bag of coins was tossed at the three guards, who both looked at the lord with equal grins of mirth on their faces. "Don't worry, Your Lordship. The instant we sight him, we'll call our troops. He'll be in prison by daylight."

"Excellent," Naraku replied, heading back towards the palace. "And remember, more compensation will await you once the job is done. Do not fail."

The three guards bowed, and looked back towards the grounds, eager to get the rest of their pay, even if it meant giving up the life of one worthless hanyou. But then again, the man in question was a half-breed, so what right did he have to live, anyway?

As Naraku glanced back at the men, the smirk transformed into an evil grin. Inuyasha…you will meet your doom before you get the chance to ruin everything…and your princess and the Shikon no Tama will be mine!

Kagome tried to scream, and throw off the strong hand of her attacker, but those arms continued to hold her tight, while she heard a man's voice say. "Hey! Stop it! Calm down, all right!"

"Let go of me!" she managed to say as she got her mouth free, and continued struggling. She couldn't see the scoundrel, but kept kicking and fighting at whoever it was that held her.

Finally, she felt those strong arms turn her around as the man spoke again, "Kagome! It's all right! It's me!" The man wore simple clothes, and had long black hair and brown eyes, but that voice…that soft voice as he assured her things were all right…and those hands as he held her…so familiar…

It can't be… He looked so different but in those brown eyes…there was a look she desperately missed… "Inu…yasha?"

He nodded, and when Kagome looked closer, she saw human ears underneath all that black hair, but it was the same length, and his clothes were the same as the ones he wore on his departure, three weeks earlier. "Wait…how can this…how can this be?" she gasped, stepping back out of his arms a moment. "Inuyasha…are you…are you human?"

Inuyasha sighed. "Yeah…don't worry, its not permanent…sure came in handy tonight, though."

Kagome fought the urge to run into his arms, to be held as she felt all her fears fade...but things were too weird…here he was, showing up after three weeks, in a human form. "Inuyasha, what happened to you? Why are you a human?"

His brown eyes glanced at her for a moment, with an unsure look in them, before turning back. Inuyasha didn't want to tell her, but…he knew he could trust her with his deepest secret. He walked over to the window of the small storeroom, and glanced out. "Do you know what tonight is?"

Kagome shook her head. With his thumb, Inuyasha pointed to the empty sky. "Tonight's the night of the new moon. You see…in every hanyou's life, there is a time when they lose their demon powers and become human…mine is every night of the new moon."

"You're…you're human just for tonight?" she asked, her voice still unsure. This was a whole new side to Inuyasha, something she hadn't expected to find out...Another secret locked tight within the heart of the hanyou, revealed only to her.

He nodded. "Yeah…and every other night of the new moon."

Kagome turned away for a moment, feeling a bit upset at the sudden knowlege. "I see…But…why didn't you tell me before?"

Inuyasha strode over to her, and quickly spoke, "Well…um…you never asked. And, it never came up…and…" One glance at her hurt eyes made him sigh and tell the truth. "This is my biggest secret…I can't tell anyone that I can't trust…I just got used to keeping it to myself…But just so you know, you're the first person I've revealed it to willingly."

Kagome turned back to him, and their eyes met for a moment as she thought over his words. First person I've told to willingly…Inuyasha trusts me…

But there was one other question on her mind, something she thought she should have asked sooner. "Inuyasha…when you said that being human worked out for you tonight, what did you mean?"

He physically tensed up at that. He hated that now, the time had come…he would have to tell her what he found out. But how? How could he tell her her fiancé was planning this to take the Shikon no Tama and possibly kill her? But,he couldn't lie to her either. There was nothing else but the truth now. "Because I was able to slip past the guards, who had orders to arrest 'the hanyou'."

Kagome gasped, her face filled with shock and worry. "Arrest you? But why? You've been nothing but loyal, so why would they—"

"Lord Naraku ordered them to do it, all right!" he blurted out, waiting for her reaction. As he guessed, Kagome did look shocked, and frightened.

A hand lept to her mouth to cover her gasp. "Lord Naraku? I don't understand…why would he…?"

Sighing, Inuyasha glanced down at her and spoke softly, "Listen to me carefully, Kagome. Lord Naraku is a demon that my father fought years ago. He took Lord Onigumo's form in order to become your betrothed and take the Shikon no Tama, to face Sesshoumaru once again." Throughout his speech, Kagome's face became even more and more shocked.

As he suspected, Kagome looked afraid. "Lord Naraku is…wait that's…its impossible! I can't believe it! How can he be…?" Kagome glanced at her betrothal ring, the fiery stone now seeming alit with flame. How could she marry a man who was a demon in disguise? How could she do her duty when her fiancé was a demon? "It's not true…it can't be true…it must be a lie!" Kagome was going into shock at the knowlege, after weeks of her sanity being tried at every turn. "It's a lie!"

"Kagome!" The now human Inuyasha gently grabbed her by one of her arms, to force her to look into his brown eyes. "Kagome, would I lie to you about something like this?"

Her eyes met his, and she instantly felt herself calm. Looking away, she shook her head. "No…you wouldn't lie, Inuyasha…"

"I hoped, for your sake, it wasn't true, Kagome," he answered softly, his sweet voice filling Kagome's ears, as her heart began to race once more. "But the facts are pointing in one direction, one direction I can't overlook when trying to protect you."

"Inuyasha," Kagome began, softly, calmind down as she turned away. "If you say it is true, than it should be but…its hard to accept because of everything going on right now…" her fingers instantly touched the betrothal ring pinching at her skin, a constant reminder of her duty to the crown. "Even if it is true, we cannot accuse him, because no one would believe us. It would only…lead to more trouble for you, Inuyasha, and I don't want to see you hurt because of me."

"Don't, Kagome," Inuyasha spoke, harsher this time. "Don't sacrifice yourself for me…I'm the one protecting you, not the other way around."

She warned, "Inuyasha, if you start causing trouble for him, then Naraku might—"

"He already tried to arrest me for treason, what else can he do?" Inuyasha muttered. "Don't worry, I'll stay in the shadows for a while. I'll watch him…just to make sure you'll be all right. Just Kagome…your life is your own. Don't make any mistakes because of me."

His words penetrated her heart. She knew what he meant. He's telling me not to…feel this way about him. But…I can't…I'm sorry Inuyasha, but…I can't and I won't stop feeling this way about you.

Defiant in her decision, Kagome looked back at him with a small smile on her face, surprising him. "Inuyasha…" She stepped closer, and soon, her arms wrapped around him as she leaned her head against his strong chest. "I'm glad your back."

She clung to him, as if afraid he would disappear again, and Inuyasha realized how hard these three weeks had been for her. It was all right...in this one moment. Gently, his arms held her softly as well, as he replied, "Me too, Kagome…me too."