Authors note: yooo, i seem to only get motivated to write when im in study hall at school, so beware, written on my phone.

As they were walking, Kagome noticed Inuyasha was taking every opportunity he had to touch her. When ever their hands brushed together, Inuyasha would take hers into his, and thumb little circles on the back before letting go, he'd brush his fingers along the back of her neck while pulling a stray lea out, he'd pull he into his chest every time she tripped. Usually, he wouldn't be this touchy, he'd pour more leaves on her head, or he'd just catch her by the arm when tripping and tell her how clumsy she was. This was a new thing for Kagome, and she didn't know why he changed all of a sudden, not that she was complaining. She could see him stealing glances at her from the corner of her eye, his expression seemed like he wanted to ask her something. 'Why is he acting so weird? Is it because of last night? Did I do something wrong? No, if id done something wrong he wouldn't be so affectionate. Maybe I should just ask him.' She thought. When she decided to ask him, she figured she'd need a way to ask him. After all, you can't just ask something sensitive out of nowhere, and ask it in the wrong way. While Kagome was lost in though, Inuyasha was having an internal struggle of his own.

'How do I ask her? What do I ask her?' He thought. 'I don't really know anything personal about her... how the hell did I not get to know anything about her, like her favorite food or color, or her birthday? I mean we've been after the shards for what, 2 years?'

"Can we stop and rest for a minute?" Kagome asked the group.

"Yeah, just say when you're ready to go again." Sango replied from behind. Shippo ran ahead to Kagome, jumping on her shoulder.

"Hey Kagome. I've been thinking, what are you gonna do when we get all the shards together?" He asked. The whole group was starring at the two. It was a thought that had crossed all their minds, plenty of times. Kagome however, was in shock. She hadn't thought of what would happen. She just looked at Shippo with a confused look on her face. After a minute, she recovered and scratched the back of her head with an uncomfortable chuckle.

"W-well I hadn't really thought that far ahead, but-" she was interrupted by Shippo.

"You're not gonna leave us are you? You're my only mom, Kagome, you can't leave us." Shippo's voice was trembling.

''Shippo, where I don't know what I'm going to do, I don't plan on leaving. What brought this on?'' She asked.

''Well, its just the more shards we collect, the closer we get to being finished, so I kept getting more and more worried about it.'' He replied. Kagome gave a loving smile.

''Well, just know this. I'm not going anywhere.'' As she said that, the rest of the group let out a sigh of relief. Kagome looked up. ''You all were worried about this?'' She asked.

''Of course we were! You're our dear friend, Kagome. How could we not?" Miroku said.

''I'm sorry if it worried you guys.'' She said smiling. This made her happy, that they didn't want her to leave. ''I think I'm rested enough to walk some more.'' She said standing.

''You guys go ahead, I need to talk to Kagome.'' Inuyasha said, standing. Sango and Miroku nodded, carrying Shippo off with them. Once they were out of sight Kagome began to speak.

''Inuyasha, what-" she was cut off by being engulfed in a hug. She smiled and hugged him back.

''Thank you.. for saying you'll stay..'' he mumbled, his head in the crook of her neck. ''Ive been thinking of ways to ask you if you'd tell me about yourself, but I don't know how.''

''Just ask.'' She replied.

''We been traveling for so long and I don't even know your favorite color.'' He said, pulling away from the hug. ''I don't know your favorite flowers, or food, or even when your birthday is...''

''Well, I don't know about you either.'' She said. ''So why don't we just learn along the way? Ive been meaning to ask, why'd your attitude change, you're so kind and gentle now...''

''Well, honestly I don't know. I have this strong need to be near you, to touch you, to protect you..if it bothers you ill stop, sorry.'' he replied.

''I never said it bothered me.'' She leaned forward and gave him what was suppose to be a quick kiss, but he held her there for a few seconds kissing her back. ''I love you.'' She whispered after she pulled from the kiss.

''I love you too.'' He replied. When he let go of her waist, Kagome began walking to Sango and Miroku, when Inuyasha suddenly picked her up and began running. A few seconds later they were behind them.

An hour later frustration had set in.

''Where. The hell. Is it.'' Kagome said irritated. On cue, the beast appeared. It was as large as a house, with a furry body, a opal scale belly, and a snarled face.

"That is one ugly beast." Miroku commented.

"I'm a bit disappointed." Inuyasha added. " it's scales are so pretty though." Kagome and Sango said in unison.

"Well I guess I can handle him." Inuyasha said.

AN: I realized Inuyasha is really out of character, but yk ~LOVE~