Days passed wearily by. It was all the same routine over and over again. There was danger and excitement but that ebbed away too sooner than they expected. The weekend was over. Kagome needed to go home, no. . .she wanted to go home. She was tired and she haven't seen Sesshoumarou at all. She told her friends the night before that she will go home the next morning. That's why early that morning, she woke up before everyone, grabbed her bag, and walked to the well. She did tell them she was going home and she did say she'll be back soon so there was nothing to be guilty about. She was about to step on the well when suddenly someone grabbed her wrists.

Her brown eyes met with amber ones. Inu-yasha let go of her wrists at once and stood back to face her. "Where do you think you're going?"

"Don't you remember? I'm going home." She didn't want to deal with any argument this morning. She felt so tired. Looking at Inu-yasha, she was always amazed that he can really look very good-looking. He had a well-built body and those amber eyes can really melt a person inside. The added dog ears and white hair only soften his tough exterior and made him look cute. There really was a time that she did fall in love with Inu-yasha. It was a very, very long time. But Inu-yasha was for Kikyo and she was. . .really just a friend. She cried over it for so many days until she recovered eventually mainly because of Sesshoumarou. Now why are her thoughts directed to Sesshoumarou again? She wanted to spank herself but Inu-yasha would think her crazy if she did.

"I don't remember. Don't go." His voice sounded like an order. Hell, she can't go home now! Inu-yasha ignored the fact that she had all the reasons and the rights to go home. There was no danger in any part of the village and she will be gone for only a week after all. A week is too long! He wanted her to stay. He always wanted her to stay. He had heard her perfectly the night before thus he didn't sleep at all but waited until morning to follow her to the well. He knew she looked and felt dead tired but they can always attend to her here. She need not go home if it weren't for that 'school' she had at home. Her family would have understood but that 'school' is too much.

Warning bells sounded off in Kagome's mind. She was getting weary of having to fight with Inu-yasha everytime she goes home. Maybe it's better not to say anything. She can just ignore him and jump into the well at once. No. . .Inu-yasha would probably jump after her. She must resolve whatever argument he'll be flinging at her now. "I have to. Please Inu-yasha. I have school to attend to and I'm running out of ramen." She tossed in the ramen for good measure.

No amount of ramen seemed to deter Inu-yasha. "I don't care. I'll live off the food they have here. Stay Kagome." He didn't elaborate why.

"Why?" Kagome asked the expected question.

"I don't want you to."

"Why?" She really was getting irritated.

"Isn't it enough to tell you that I don't want you to?" He was getting irritated too.

"No, it's not because you're being selfish if that's all the reason you have. I'll come back anyway." The truth was that she was planning to stay at home for a week before coming back. She had to collect her scattered wits before facing the people in this world again. Her nerve ends felt so raw she will crumble if she stayed.

"You sound selfish too, do you know that!? How would I know that you'll come back soon? You're wasting precious days when we could have spent it looking for the shards! Remember this is your responsibility." His voice was raised a tempo too loud.

"Me? Selfish? Look who's talking. Do you doubt me that much, Inu-yasha? Do you think I'm a liar?" She raised her voice a tempo louder than Inu-yasha's. "And I already know it's my responsibility. That's why I'm here!"

"Well you're not doing a good job at it. You spend too much time at your time than you do here. If you didn't go home, we could have found all the shards by now."

"What? I've had enough of this senseless argument! I guess you're just blind enough to see my efforts here!" She turned to step into the well again. Follow if you must, Inu-yasha. I won't entertain you once we get there! She was so mad, the back of her neck felt hot.

"We're not yet finished." Inu-yasha wrapped his arms around Kagome's waist, preventing her from doing anything. Kagome started to thrash and tried pry herself from Inu-yasha's grasp. Unfortunately, this was a half-demon she was dealing with who's strength is a hundred times greater than hers. But it did not stop her from trying. Maybe she can irritate him enough to set her free.

Kagome did not notice him walking toward the tree where they first met. Inu-yasha pinned her to the tree, his hands gripping her wrists. She tried to kick him but his other hand gripped her ankles. Now he was restraining her with one hand gripping both her wrists and the other hand gripping his ankles. It was like she was being tied and she did not like it.

"INU-YASHA SI-AHMMM!"

A hand suddenly clammed her mouth shut. Her eyes widened in surprise. She had slipped from the tree to Inu-yasha's lap, the nook of his arms restraining his legs, a hand holding unto her wrist and the other hand stopping her mouth. She felt kidnapped or taken out of her will. She tried to wiggle herself free but it was like battling a wall. She was fast getting tired and the tears were starting to gather in her eyes. Soon, her attempts slowed and she was sobbing. Let me go, Inu-yasha. Let me go.

"Kagome" He held her for a few while, allowing her to sob and he let go of the hand stopping her mouth. Already in the throes of despair, Kagome did not bother to fight against him and just turned her head to his chest and sobbed into his clothes, wetting it with her tears. She was thoroughly crying now, not only because of her current situation but including her frustration of balancing her home life and life here, her helplessness, her lost love for Inu-yasha and for Sesshoumarou. Everything bursted out of her system and she couldn't stop the tears from falling anymore.

Inu-yasha felt her sadness. He understand that Kagome did not like being hostaged this way but he felt there was another thing bothering her. She was trembling all over and Inu-yasha's heart ached at her pain. He held her even closer, his head almost touching her head. "Kagome" He didn't know how to console her and right now, he felt helpless again. "Kagome, I'll do anything for you. Just tell me." All he can do is tell the truth.

"Why would you do that? Just because of the shards?" Kagome said between sobs. She was grateful. A good cry is what she wanted now and it seemed Inu-yasha knew that. She inwardly shook her head at the thought. He couldn't possibly know that. Maybe it was just his instincts. Thank goodness for his instincts. He was always good with that.

"No, because I love you. That's why."

Kagome stiffened. Am I hearing him right? She raised her tear-stained face up to him. His face was as arrogant as ever but his amber eyes were unusually clear. He wasn't smiling. He looked really serious and she entertained the thought that he must be joking. But there was something else in that face, a ray of hope that she would return his love too. He was not lying. His face says it all.

"Inu-yasha?" This couldn't be happening. The once object of her affections is telling her that he loves her! His hold on her body had loosened and she uneffortlessly, slipped from his arms. She shakily stood up and looked back at him. She wanted to cry again. What is she going to do? "Can I go home now?"

Inu-yasha looked at her. "I told you I don't want you to go home."

"I don't care." Even though he had just said some revelation, he was still acting the same Inu-yasha earlier. She did not want to be tied up again. He might do something else. . like. . kiss her! She really had to stop him. Now that he wasn't holding her back, she can say the words she wanted to say. "INU-YASHA SIT!!!"

He fell flat on the ground. "No, Kagome!" He tried to free himself but he was glued to the ground now. He struggled. He fights with monsters with bigger strengths than this spell but he couldn't even free himself now. "Don't do this to me!?"

"Likewise." Kagome did not look back but ran straight to the well and jumped.

"Kagome!"