Later they were all sleeping in an abandoned hut they found just outside the village. Kagome couldn't sleep. She was sitting upright in the hut Inuyasha had been sitting outside on a tree branch all night deep in thought. All this time kagome had been longing to go to him but she didn't want to disturb him. She sensed that he needed to be alone. Just then as if sensing her thoughts Inuyasha came and sat down next to her they sat in silence for a few minutes then Kagome spoke up.

"Inuyasha, is there something you would like to talk about?" Inuyasha remained silent.

"I know your worried about this new threat and the possibility that it could be somehow linked to your father." "But if we're going to be in this…" she hesitated "relationship then you need to be able and willing to be completely and totally open and honest about everything." " If you can't do that than this isn't going to work."

There was more heavy silence.

"Please say something; please…." Kagome thought desperately.

Finally, he spoke.

"I'm worried kagome, really worried." "This could be bigger than Naraku, Kagura, and the band of seven combined." "We just don't know." "That really irks me." "What's really troubling me is the possibility that this thing somehow got a hold of a sword my father made." "Or worse, that he somehow is linked to my father and therefore linked to me."

She could tell he was really upset she'd never seen him this way. She took his hands in hers and looked deep into his eyes.

"It will be ok Inuyasha, whatever it is we will face it together."

He looked at her a wide smile on his face.

"You know I really don't deserve you." "You're so incredible." "I love you more than I thought it was possible to love somebody."

Now the wide smile was on kagome's face.

"Aren't you the sweetest." "I love you to Inuyasha more than you can possibly know." "Everything about you, to me you are perfect."

"That is the nicest thing anyone has or ever could say to me kagome."

They moved closer together and she put her head on his shoulder. That's how the others found them when they awoke in the morning. Inuyasha awoke first and not wanting to wake kagome gently made a pillow for her and laid her down on the hut's floor. When Kagome awoke she was surprised to see everyone already awake. They were eating a breakfast comprised of fish over a makeshift fire.

"Good morning kagome" said miroku cheerfully. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yes very well thank you." "

We saved you some breakfast." Sango said as she pointed to the spare fish on the plate in front of her. "Thanks" answered Kagome. As she moved to get up and dressed something occurred to her.

"Where's Inuyasha?"

"He left early this morning but he didn't say anything about where he was going."

"Oh" Kagome whispered crestfallen.

"Why would he leave like that?" she wondered worried. "I hope he's ok." "I hope nothing happened."

Kagome's mind began to reel with all kinds of horrible scenarios of what could have happened to Inuyasha. To keep her mind off this subject she spent all morning busying her with chores around the camp. The others were doing the same. When he did come back she dropped everything (literally) and ran over to him. They shared a little brief kiss. They were both still a little self conscious around the others. Later as Kagome was finishing up chores around the cabin before packing up and heading off Inuyasha came over and swept her up in a huge hug.

"Oh!" "Inuyasha you startled me." "I'm sorry I didn't mean to."

They kissed innocently yet passionately.

"I got something for you."

"Really?" that's so sweet Inuyasha." "Thank you."

That's what I was doing, why I went off this morning."

He produced a bunch of field flowers from his robe pocket.

"I picked them just for you."

Kagome gasped. She was both ecstatic and shocked she hadn't expected this.

"They're beautiful!" "I love them!"

"Beautiful flowers for a beautiful lady." He said then suddenly became self conscious and embarrassed.

"You are the sweetest little half-demon I've ever met." She said and kissed him on the cheek.

He blushed. He couldn't remember the last time he had felt this lighthearted and happy.

"They smell so good." "I wish I had something to put these in."

"What do you mean?" Inuyasha asked a quizzical look on his face.

"You know like a vase or something."

Inuyasha's quizzical look turned to a look of complete confusion. She could tell he had no idea what she was talking about.

"It's ok don't worry about it I'll find something."

She tugged playfully on his ears and then kissed him on the forehead as she got up. She left the hut and went in search of materials she could use to make a vase or something that could substitute for a vase itself. As she walked through the field in the bright sunshine surrounded by all the beautiful flowers she felt as light as a feather her spirit soared. She was so happy she felt like dancing. She had just begun to skip down the path when she heard someone call her name. \

"Kagome!" "Hey Kagome!" she turned around It was Inuyasha he was running up to her.

"Where are you going?"

"I just wanted to go for a walk for a little while see if I could find something to keep the flowers in.

"Alone? By yourself?" "Without your bow and arrow or anyway to defend yourself?"

"Awww… Kagome thought. That's so cute he's concerned."

"What are u stupid you wanna get hurt or something?" "Kagome's mood quickly went from amused to pissed off. How dare he talk to her like that!

"No I am not stupid Inuyasha."

"Well you must be cause only a stupid person would go wandering off from the camp alone with out and protection."

"I am fully aware of everything that is going on Inuyasha and I can handle myself."

Kagome said growing more and more irritated. When Inuyasha was finished with his diatribe Kagome was beyond furious. She composed herself and said

"INUYASHA, SIT!" Inuyasha slammed hard into the ground and kagome stormed off in the opposite direction quietly fuming. From the corner of her eye she saw Inuyasha running after her.

"Argh!" "What does he want NOW?" she thought annoyed. "Can't he just leave me alone?"

She noticed he wasn't able to move as quickly as usual. "He must be still recovering from his injuries she thought. She was going to "sit" him but then thought better of it. "I'll at least hear him out maybe then he'll leave me alone."

"Kagome!" "Kagome! He shouted. "Wait up!"

She didn't respond she didn't even look at him until he was right on top of her. He was walking right beside her now but she didn't acknowledge or look at him.

"I just came to say I'm sorry about what I said before." "I didn't mean to hurt you." "I was just so concerned about you."

Kagome slowly started to turn and look at him.

"Kagome if I ever lost you I…I don't know what I would do." "I love you so much I was terrified that something might happen to you when you came out here." "I couldn't stand the thought of that." So I came out here to tell you that and to make sure you were ok and it came out all wrong." "I'm sooooo sorry." "Can you forgive me?"

She looked straight at him and he had that adorable puppy dog look on his face again the kind that always made her heart melt and this time was no exception. But she didn't want to give in immediately so instead of saying or doing what she was thinking and feeling she looked down at the ground directly at her feet. He lifted her chin up so that it was level with his

"Please forgive me Kagome?" He said trying to look even more guilty and sorry.

She was still looking at the ground and refused to look at him. After what seemed like an eternity but was in actuality only a few minutes. She looked at him.

"Okay." She said and smiled. "You know I can never resist that look of yours."

He smiled glad that it was over and that she had forgiven him.

"But if you ever treat me like that again it's over." "I deserve to be treated better than that." "I deserve more respect than that." "I will not stand for that kind of treatment you hear me?" "If we are going to be in a serious commited relationship then those are the terms."

"Do you understand?" he nodded sheepishly.

"Can you accept that?" He nodded again more sheepishly this time.

"Alright, I just want to make sure we are on the same page."

"Yes you are...crystal clear."

"Good" Well I'm glad we cleared that up.

"Yah me too."

"Well we should head back see what the others are doing." "Maybe they actually found something useful."

"Yes." "But... " He decided not to finish the thought. "Never mind." "Kagome?"

"Yes Inuyasha?" "I just want you to know that I want this relationship." "I mean i really want it to work." "More than i've ever wanted anything."

"Oh Inuyasha." "That's the best thing you could have ever said to me."

They started back to the hut hand in hand. "You know if you ride on my back it will be faster.

"Ok." Said Kagome.

They arrived back at the hut to find that absolutely nothing had changed. Nothing spectacular had even happened since they had gone. Inuyasha was more than a little peeved when Sango, Miroku and Shippo told him they hadn't found anything out about the mysterious happenings that had been going on.

"So basically you guys have gotten nothing done and we are still exactly where we started from." They all nodded sheepishly. What have you been doing all day playing house?" "Hey, we tried alright!" "There is nothing here, alright nothing!"

"How could you've found nothing you've had all day!

"Hey lay off alright!" shouted Miroku. We've done our best!"

"YOU'RE BEST ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH! Shouted Inuyasha.

"Alright guys, alright let's just cool down ok?" said kagome getting in between the two of them. "Just stop it alright!" "It's late and besides it doesn't matter anymore anyway." "It's late why don't we all just lie down and go to sleep. "We'll get a fresh start in the morning."

"Kagome's right." Said Sango. "We need to get some rest there is nothing more we can do here."

"Fine." Inuyasha said and let out a disgruntled sigh.

"Thank you Inuyasha she said and gave him a big hug and a kiss.

"Hopefully, we'll be able to actually get something accomplished tomorrow" He muttered.

Everyone had begun to settle down for bed when Inuyasha began to stalk off in the other direction. "

Where are you going Inuyasha?" asked Kagome.

"To get some air!" he shouted. He ran and jumped into the highest limb of the tallest tree. He was still sitting there when the others awoke in the morning.

"INUYASHA!" "INUYASHA!" "INUYASHA!" Kagome called to Inuyasha. "INUYASHA! Breakfast is ready!"

"Huh?" "Oh, hi Kagome, when did u get here?"

"Have u been here a while?"

"Are you kidding me?" "I've been calling you for 10 minutes."

"Really?" "Sorry, I guess I was kind of in a daze."

"Do you want some breakfast?" "Sure"

He said as he jumped down from the tree. He put his arm around her as they walked over to the campsite.

"Did you sleep well?" Kagome asked.

"Yes I did thank you"

They sat around the house eating breakfast for most of the morning.

"Let's try and actually get something accomplished today huh guys?"

"Sure. That sounds great Inuyasha" said Kagome.

"We tried to get something accomplished yesterday too. It's not like we did nothing yesterday Inuyasha." Miroku said irritated.

"Sure looks to me like you did nothing."

Miroku opened his mouth to say something but Sango beat him too it.

"It's been such a nice morning. Let's not spoil it eh Miroku?"

"Yah but Sango…" Sango shot him a look which shut him right up.

"Alright fine."

"Well then we should get going don't you think? Let's check out the surrounding area and see if we can find any more evidence."

They all nodded in agreement and headed off for the day.