Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. Inuyasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi.

A/N: A little quick note that this takes place after Kagome and Inuyasha's three-year seperation.

DAY 5: TRUST

She had made a decision. For so long, even if they had reached the point where they entrusted the other with their lives, she had never showed the one obvious part of trust in their relationship. To be honest, he had long earned her trust the moment he saved her, and almost sacrificed his life for her. It took a while to gain his, but eventually, she did it, and she was glad that she deserved to earn it. Without their trust to one another, everything wouldn't have been this way. If someone asked her whether she trusted him or not – since she was a priestess and he was a half-demon – she would've immediately answered yes. However, they would have doubts in her statement the moment they eyed the beads around Inuyasha's neck. She knew what they were thinking, and it didn't take long before they voice out their opinion on her trust towards the half-demon.

Of course, each time someone voices out their opinion, she felt the urge to remove the beads from Inuyasha's neck. But no matter how hard she pleaded, the half-demon insisted on keeping the beads on him. It would always end up with her giving up. So at last, she let the beads be.

Yesterday was different though. Usually, when someone expresses their curiosity towards her relationship with Inuyasha, they would do it in private. But this time, someone asked her when she was walking with Inuyasha. A villager had asked her whether she trusted Inuyasha or not, while the half-demon was right beside her. Of course she answered yes. But then the villager eyed Inuyasha's Beads of Subjugation, and questioned whether she really trusted him. It took all for her husband not to slam his fist at the man's jaw for questioning their trust in their relationship.

When the man was gone, Inuyasha reassured her that he didn't care about the beads slamming him to the ground. Unfortunately for him, she cared. He doesn't deserve those beads. Not anymore. And right now, things were going to change, no matter what he says. After he had witnessed someone questioning about their trust to each other, she was determined to remove those beads once and for all.

"Inuyasha," she called, easily finding her husband sitting under a tree. He had just returned with Miroku after a demon hunt, and had told her that he wanted some rest. She knew him too well that he would choose a spot near a tree, so she was happy when she found him there. "Can you stand up for a while?"

He opened one eye, and looked at her warily. "What are you planning, woman?"

"Please?" she asked. With a sigh, he reluctantly stood up, and took a few steps forward so that he was right in front of her. She had to tilt her head upwards in order to meet him in the eye. She smiled. "Thanks, now stand still."

He flinched the moment her hands were touching the beads around his neck. He leapt back, and created some distance between her. She frowned at his reaction. "Kagome, what are you doing?"

"I'm going to take off that necklace," she said sternly, and motioned towards him. Unfortunately, he took another few steps back. This was going nowhere if he was going to act like this. "Inuyasha, come on. There's no need for you to wear that necklace anymore. I trust you, and that thing hurts you. If I don't take it off, it means I don't trust you."

"Is it because of what that guy said? Kagome, I don't mind. Besides, the necklace is useful sometimes during battle," he argued, and she watched his body go tense. That kind of posture told her that he was ready to bolt if she makes another step forward. "Who cares what that guy said? You don't have to take it off to prove that you trust me. I already know that you do, even without you doing it."

"But letting you wear that necklace is wrong," she said, and she clenched her fists. "I don't like people thinking that... that I'm treating you like some dog!"

His eyes widened, before his jaw clenched. "Did he say that?"

"It's not just him, Inuyasha. Other people thinks I put that necklace on you because I have to control you. I don't like it when they say that. But you know, maybe they're right." Tears gathered at the corner of her eyes as she remembered each and every person who asked whether or not she was controlling Inuyasha. "I do control you sometimes, don't I? In an argument, I 'sit' you like some–"

Before she could even finish her sentence, her words were cut off when Inuyasha let out a yelp, before his face was slammed to the ground. Quickly wiping the tears off her face, she hurried to him to help him up. When he was off the ground, more tears came out at the sight of his slightly dirt-covered face.

"See? I can't even say the word without slamming you. Sometimes, I do it without meaning to, but most of the time, it's because I want to. It's wrong, Inuyasha," she said, and fingered the necklace. "This... this is wrong. I don't want to control you anymore. I don't want to slam you to the ground whether I want it or not. So please let me remove the necklace."

"Kagome," he said, but her hiccups were making it difficult for her to hear what he wanted to say. She was startled when he wrapped his arms around her. His embrace was warm. So warm. "I don't care what they say, or when you 'sit' me. Sure, getting your face slammed to the ground is annoying, but it tells me when I'm being out of line. You don't have to remove them just because someone says it's because you don't trust me. These beads over here," he pointed to said beads, "these are the ones that teaches me when I do wrong. These are the ones that helps me avoid getting hit during battles. And these are the ones that brought us together. Without it, I'm sure I would've attacked you or that old hag."

She sniffed, and used her hand to wipe her nose. "You wouldn't. You're too nice to attack an old lady."

"Okay, maybe you're right. But it stopped me from getting near the jewel. Imagine if I did get the jewel because you didn't have a command to stop me. Who's going to stop me when I turn into some mindless, merciless monster? No one. So stop thinking that this necklace is just some... thing that slams me to the ground."

He was just too nice. Why she never took the necklace off, she had no idea. She so badly wanted to remove those beads around his neck, especially when he'd lowered his guard, but if he wanted it to stay there, then she'll let it be. People's thoughts, be damned. "But tell me if you want that thing off, okay? I can't promise you that I won't say the word next time, but I'll try not to say it."

He hummed in acknowledgement, and she allowed herself to lean closer to him. He was the best husband she could have. With or without the necklace, she had other ways to show that she trusted him. Marriage was one thing.

Carrying his child was another.

A/N: I wanted to write something related to Inuyasha's human form for trust, but then the beads came up.