A/N: sorry guys, I just realized I had ch 7 posted at the start of this chapter so I fixed it!

~*~Chapter 8 ~*~

"Hello, Earth to Kagome." Sango waved her hand in front of my face and giggled, "are you coming with me or are you going to sit here and stare at him all night."

"Oh" I blushed, "I'm coming" I got to my feet and grabbed my bag. "Hey Inuyasha," I walked over to him and tapped him on the shoulder and he looked up at me, "We are going to bathe, keep Miroku here, and keep these safe please." I handed him the jewel shards and followed Sango and Shippo to the spring.

- back at camp-

"Hey Miroku," Inuyasha whispered once they were alone, "How did you tell Sango you cared for her."

Miroku looked at him for a few moments before answering. "Why? Is it Kagome or Kikyo?"

Inuyasha jumped to his feet. "What does that matter? I was just wondering, I never said I cared about someone like that. Besides, I don't need advice on girls I do fine on my own."

"Calm down Inuyasha. I asked because Kagome is like family to me, and I just don't want to see her hurt again, I think she really cares for you a lot and If you are planning on going off with Kikyo again I am afraid I must advise against it."

"I don't want to hurt her." Inuyasha said quietly his ears down and head bowed. "I'd never hurt Kagome on purpose."

"Do you Love her?" Miroku wiggled his eyebrows.

"Umm... I... I.. What was that?" He sniffed the air a few times, then they heard Kagome scream and Sango yell "Miroku, you pervert!"

Inuyasha looked at Miroku for a moment before taking off in the direction of the springs where the girls were.

- At the springs-

I dunked my head under water and held my breath as long as I could before I came back up. It felt so good, like it was washing all my hurts and worries away. I wiped the water out of my eyes, and looked around out of habit. Thats when I seen a man's back retreating into the cover of the trees and screamed. Sango saw him too and called out, "Miroku, you pervert!"

"Um, Sango, I don't think that was Miroku, that guy was a lot short..EEK." I ducked back down into the water and tried to hide.

Inuyasha and the real Miroku came running into the small clearing, Inuyasha quickly adverted his eyes while Miroku stared until Sango slapped him. Shippo bounded out of the water and ran up to them in a hurry, telling them what happened and what the guy looked like. I turns out he actually got a good look at the guy before he ran off. Miroku went off in the direction of the Peeper.

"Get dressed Kagome" Inuyasha demanded, then peeking up for a half a second, he looked back at his feet and said "Please."

"Shippo, could you please grab the towels out of my bag and bring them to us?"

"Here ya go." he handed us the towels and we covered ourselves.

"Can you please turn around, Inuyasha, so I can get dressed." He turned around and started sniffing around trying to catch the scent of the man that was watching us while Sango and I quickly dressed. Shippo already dressed jumped on Kirara's back and went after Miroku with Sango following quickly after them.

Once it was just Inuyasha and I in the clearing, he made sure I was dressed and then walked over to me and stared into my eyes.

"He didn't hurt you did he?"

"No, just he just startled me."

"Listen, Kagome, can we go somewhere a little more private for a minute? I want to talk to you about something and I don't want to be interrupted or spied on."

"Umm, okay." He was still watching me closely, and his scrutiny made me blush for some reason I didn't understand. He seemed really intense and also slightly bothered by something.

He took me to a deep thicket in the forest and stood me in the middle of three humongous trees. He then proceeded to walk in a big circle around me listening and sniffing around. Once he was satisfied, he came to stand in front of me, and took my hands in both of his. He stared deep into my eyes and said, "I don't really know how to start."

"What's wrong Inuyasha? You know you can tell me anything and everything, right?"

"Yeah, I know. I want to tell you how I've been feeling and, it's just... every time I try we get interrupted."

"Oh, okay." I felt a blush began to creep into my cheeks again.

"Are you embarrassed?" he asked noticing, "Because I'm not when I'm with only you, but... I don't know, It's really hard to put into words."

"Try." I encouraged "Just start with what ever your thinking."

"Well, I feel extremely protective of you, It actually... scared me when you screamed earlier and It's been a really long time since anything has made me feel like that, and I don't like it when other guys look at you either. You are really beautiful you know."

"Oh, Inuyasha" I gasped and wrapped my arms around him in a tight embrace. He hesitantly wrapped his arms around my back and hugged me tightly, It felt nice.

After only a moment, he pulled back his eyebrows furrowed.

"Inuyasha, what's wrong?'

"I want to... " Instead of finishing his sentence he looked into my eyes for a second and then kissed me deeply.

A/N: OK, there it is! He told her how he felt, and they kissed finally without shippo ruining it! It may be a week or so before I can update again, but don't worry, I am working on it. R&R! (Who do you think was spying on the girls?) Thanks for reading!