As requested, chapter six! :D

Bold writing is writer's note to the reader or emphasis

'Character thought'

Flash back

Previously, on Kagome's return…

Kaede told me of a person named Lady Yuri, the most powerful and pure priestess known to the world. She resided in the Yuran Forest, nearly half way across Japan. I was told to look for the woman with a silver crescent moon on her forehead, and I was told that she was, indeed, half human, and half demon. She was the ultimate priestess with exceptional powers.

I had smiled at that. I was looking forward to seeing her.

When the sunset came around, I went outside and hopped on my bike with my backpack in my little basket in the front. I had my bow on my back with a quiver stuffed of arrows. I said my last goodbye to Kaede, and then peddled off.

I watched the familiar setting pass by me, and though I was glad I was leaving without a goodbye to the others, I felt bad for leaving without saying something to Inuyasha.

'Would he care if I left?' I wondered. 'Would he be worried, or relieved?'

Suddenly, I saw a flash of red and silver speed past me from within the trees from the corner of my left eye. I slowed my bicycle to a stop as I saw the man stand in front of me with his arms crossed, a frown on his face, and intense golden eyes set on my own brown eyes.

"So, you were going to leave just like that." Inuyasha stated, rather than questioned.

"Yes. It seemed to be a good idea."

"Idiot! I can't let you go off by yourself. There are demons out there who will slaughter you on sight."

My eyes narrowed at his words. "Why do you care? It's not like it matters to you, right?"

He hesitated, and stayed quiet for a few minutes, then sighed. He climbed on the back of my bike, sitting with me. "I do care. I don't know why, but I just can't bear the thought of some petty demon slaughtering you." He looked away and whispered, "I'll protect you, Kagome."

I didn't say anything more, and continued to peddle.

Inuyasha and I have been traveling for about three days now on our own. It hasn't been easy, for due to Inuyasha's cravings, the food that had been rationed out from Kaede is completely gone.

Arguing seems to be a habit neither of us can shake. I felt both relieved and irritated at this knowledge. I felt relieved because it reminded me of old times and I had a hope that in some argument, he would remember something. But, I also felt irritated by how much we argue, and how often.

I mean, think of it. Three whole days set on this journey and we can hardly get along! If some sort of fate or destiny has this set up, I'm pretty sure that if it could laugh, it would.

I slowly came to a stop on my bike, looking to the sky. It was now very dark, with heavy, dark clouds hanging in the sky, hiding the beautiful night sky.

"Why did you stop?" Inuyasha asked, shifting on the bike.

I glanced over my shoulder. "I stopped because it's nighttime, Inuyasha, and we need to stop and rest."

"Keh. If you weren't a lowly, weak human, we could just ride on through the night." Inuyasha scoffed.

That sparked my anger. "You know what, Inuyasha?" I swung my leg over my bike, with him quickly jumping off to avoid the kick, and glared at him. "I'd rather be human then an arrogant jerk like you. Not everyone is capable of traveling at rushed speeds, without sleep for days on end."

"That shows you just how weak humans really are."

I clenched my hands into fists. "Why are you even here?" I demanded through gritted teeth. "If all you're going to do is insult me, then I don't want you here anymore! I can continue this journey on my own!"

I saw something flash through his eyes for just a second, but then faded. I didn't know it had been pain.

"Why are you even going, Kagome?"

I paused, looking away. I couldn't tell him that it was because of Kikyo erasing his memories. I couldn't tell him that it was to become stronger, so I could protect him.

When I didn't answer him, Inuyasha turned away from me, but looked over his shoulder and into my eyes with flaring golden eyes. "Fine. If you think you can survive this forest on your own, prove it. I'll leave you for the night to, only Kami knows what's in this place."

He bounded forward through the tree tops in a blur of silver and red, and within a minute, he vanished.

I stomped through the forest floor while pulling my bike alongside me. 'Just you watch, Inuyasha! I can take care of myself without your help!'

I had some common sense on how to survive in harsh environments... though, it may not be much. When I was eight, I had been sent to camp in the summer to learn about such things. 'If only I could remember everything, though..' I thought with a heavy sigh.

I walked through the forest until I found a little clearing. I parked my bike against a tree, and then immediately scouted around for food. I was in luck, because I did find a berry bush not too far away. It only had a little bit on it, but I could tell they were not poisonous. Though it was hardly satisfied my hunger, I decided that it would be fine for tonight.

A sharp, cold gust of wind suddenly blew through the trees behind me and past me, sending chills down my spine. I looked up to the sky. 'It looks like it will rain.' I thought. I was just starting to miss Inuyasha, thinking of his condition, and if he was alright, when suddenly, his words rang in my head.

'That shows you how weak humans really are.'

That steamed me. 'Why do I need to care for an inconsiderate jerk like him, anyway? If he wants to leave me alone in the first place, then he is not worth my time!' I stomped off to collect woodthat I would later build a fire with and as I did this, I knew that, though my thoughts were wandering that way, I couldn't believe in them. And I felt guilty for it.

Suddenly, just as I was about to create a fire, a loud crash of thunder boomed throughout the forest and a light drizzle of rain began to fall. I couldn't help but let out a scream as a louder, slightly longer boom of thunder rang out.

'You have fought many demons, have been in life threatening places in more times than you can count, having to travel through the well, and have killed Naraku. Of all the things to be afraid of, you choose to be afraid of thunder and lightning?!' I scolded myself.

I screamed again at a crackling sound of lightning. 'I'm scared.' I moved to sit under a very wide old tree, and I leaned against the trunk of it. I pulled my knees up to my chest and clutched onto myself as tightly as I could, squeezing my eyes shut.

"Stop it.." I said, but the thunder rang out again, as if laughing my wish. I didn't even realize I had let out a scream this time. I was too scared and wishing for it to stop.

Inuyasha's POV:

I stayed close to that woman, because even though she said she could take care of herself, I could never believe that. I mean, that woman was just a human! Granted, she was a miko, but obviously not a full miko.

I watched as she fumbled around the forest, getting what little food she could find, then make a fire.

'She eats too little. I'll have pity on this poor wench and fetch her some food.' He smirked. 'And once I fetch food for her and prove her to be as weak as I said. She will not ever resist me again.'

I turned and began to fling my body through trees with ease, using my sense of smell to locate two nearby rabbits and kill them. I was about to hurry back to her side, when something told me, something about the food was wrong. Maybe I needed to clean it? Though I could not understand why I was going through so much trouble for the wench, I decided to go to a small stream and began to clean and skin the food.

Before I could completely finish, I heard her scream echo through the forest and immediately dropped the food, leaving it behind as I jumped as fast as I could through the tree tops, in her direction.

'Damn! You better be safe, Kagome!'

Kagome's POV

"Kagome!"

I didn't look up at the voice I barely heard calling out to me.

Inuyasha suddenly ran up to me, breathing heavily, and had extreme concern, etched in all of his handsome facial features. When he saw me in my huddled form, he was confused. At first, he didn't understand why I was acting this way and he kneeled before me, reaching out a hesitant hand, gently grabbing my arm.

"Kagome?" His voice was soft and full of worry.

I held back a flinch as he touched me and I slowly looked up. His beautiful golden eyes stared into my chocolate brown eyes.

"Kagome, why are you crying?" He whispered, his hand moving from my arm to my cheek, gently stroking it.

I blinked a few times. I didn't even notice I had. I opened my mouth to reply when a sharp crackling sound hissed over the sky above me, and I huddled back tightly into a ball.

It dawned on him then just what was wrong. "Are you afraid of the thunder, Kagome?" He whispered so gently, I was sure this wasn't the arrogant Inuyasha from earlier.

I couldn't answer, so I just nodded. He looked over my form once more, before slowly unraveling me from my ball-like position, and then leaned back. He took off his kimono of the fire rat and draped it over my shoulders. I felt the weight on my shoulders and looked to his kimono and then to him.

"Inuyasha..?"

He didn't say anything, so I took it as a good sign, and put the kimono on properly. I blushed slightly, mumbling a "thank you" to him.

Another alarming thunder boomed, but before I could go into a huddled position, Inuyasha launched himself toward me, grabbing my body and pulling me tightly into his chest. My heart immediately began to beat rapidly as I felt his masculine chest against my cheek.

'He smells nice…' I breathed in deeply, also noting that he was a little wet. After a moment, I relaxed my tense body, and just laid in his grasp.

Eventually, when he noticed I was calm and seeing a pause in the thundering, he gently moved so he could lie down, propped up a bit against the tree trunk. He positioned me to where I was on my side against him, my head on his chest and his arm draped across my waist. Even if I wanted too, I don't think I could be tense. It was so natural, lying beside him like this.

A soft, soothing rumble emitted from his chest, and though I clearly heard the thunder and lightning practically lashing out in a ferocious anger against what Inuyasha had done, I hardly paid attention to it. I have never heard such a sound from him before. His sound was so wonderful to me that I eventually dozed off into a peaceful sleep, ignoring everything but his rumbling and the sound of his heart beat.

Inuyasha had watched me sleep a while, still emitting the soft sound for me, in case I woke up. He didn't understand why he would do such a thing, but he didn't really mind that he had, either. Protecting me from things like this pleased him.

He leaned over and placed a kiss on my forehead, whispering just before he went to sleep, "I'll always protect you, Kagome."

Yes, yes, I know! Short, but it's sweet! I haven't put any lovey-dovey moments like this in yet, so I figured this was just for you, readers! :D I wonder how Kagome will react in the morning… or how she'll survive Inuyasha. Lol! Next chapter coming soon!!