Disclaimer: Hey, what's up guys? I am EXTREMELY sorry for not updating sooner. Really, you can't imagine how mad I am at myself at the moment. The problem was, there was a lot of ideas for this chapter. I couldn't pick which one, though. But, in the end, I finally chose and I mixed it in with some Koga "conflict" stuff, since I have been ignoring Koga. So, here's chapter eight. Oh! Before I forget, you guys can go on my profile and check out the story ideas I have. I have a poll at the top of my profile page. Click on it and vote for the story idea you like best. Second place will also be made into a story. Please vote. Now, with that said, on with the story!

Damn. Another problem. This one is bad. Everywhere I go, I will be attacked. But, there is only one thing you can do at a time like this. Sacrifice. It's a tough decision, but, it's better than giving up.

Slowly, I moved my hand towards the checker board layed out in front of me. I moved my checker piece forward so it was exactly across from another checker piece and sighed. When I looked up, I saw a smirk on Kagome's face. She took her checker piece and jumped over mine, taking yet again another checker piece. But, she wasn't done just yet. Then, she jumped over another one of my checker pieces. I slapped myself on the forehead. I hate double-jumps. Now, I was left with two checker pieces, a king and a regular one. On the other hand, she had five kings and one regular one.

It was still a mystery how easily she could beat me at a game like this. I have to admit, I was a little jealous of Kagome at first. It's not hard to be jealous of a smart, funny, kind, and beautiful person, such as herself. But, then I got to thinking, I could do something better than be jealous of her. I could be her friend. I never though I would fall in love with her, though.

"You know, you could give up." Kagome offered, that smirk still on her face. "Everywhere you move, I'll jump you."

She did have a pointed. I clenched my jaw, deciding whether to surrender or to keep fighting. I really hated that power she had over me. Whatever she wanted from me, she would always get. Finally deciding, I unclenched my jaw and sighed.

"Fine, you win." A grin spread across her face and she cleared the checker board. I leaned back in my chair and chuckled. "Still undefeated. I still can't believe no one has beat you at this game."

"That's because everyone's dumb." She answered and smiled. I chuckled as I watched her put our chips aside. "Are you coming to my family's New Year's party?"

It was the middle of December. Time certainly did fly by fast. I had still thought often about that snow day in November and what Kagome had said to me before I left still did affect me very much. Koga did still appear from time to time, but Kagome seemed to ignore him as if he was a dust bunny in her way. That calmed me down. At least she wasn't falling in love with anyone else.

"Yeah, of course." I answered her question.

"Good. I would have been bored there with out you." She said to me with a smile. I smiled right back at her. There she goes again, giving me that irresistible smile. Why does she always have to do that?

I looked away from her for a second and my eyes went to the board. I smirked and looked at her again.

"Best 2 out of 3?"

Her smirk matched mine and I grinned.

"You are so--"

"Hey, Kagome." Oh, great. The last voice I wanted to hear. Out of nowhere, Koga sat down in the seat next to Kagome.

"Oh, uh, hey Koga." Kagome said. I could tell she was surprised. I was just plain annoyed.

"I need your help with something. Do you think you can check it out?"

Kagome looked over to me and bit her lip before looking back to him. "Koga, I was sort of in the middle of--"

"It's okay, Kagome." I interrupted her as I stood from my seat. "I have to go somewhere, anyway." I threw my bookbag over my shoulder.

"Inuyasha, you don't have to--" I put my hand up before she could finish.

"It's fine. Just... Be with him. I'm going somewhere else. Don't bother me, okay?" Right before she could say anything else, I turned and left. When I was far enough, I went to the nearest wall and banged my head continuously against it.

What the hell was that!? I am such a freakin' ass! She didn't even do a thing and I had to go off and be an a-hole. This is why I'm not with her. Because I am a fucking jack-ass. I stopped banging my head against a wall. It was probably red. I walked off and found my way to the library. I sat all the way in the back and rested my head on the table.

This was just like a replay of what happened last year. Except this time, I might lose her for good. She doesn't need me. Next year, she's going to college. She'll forget all about me in that time and I'll never see her again.

Me and my damn jealousy. We were fine a few minutes ago and it all went to crap in a matter of seconds because of Koga. Can't I do anything right?

I lay my head there for a while and thought about it over and over again. Suddenly, I found a new fear. What if she didn't care? What if she was ignoring the whole conflict? What if she would start ignoring me? All these 'What if?' questions ran through my head that I didn't notice someone come in and pull out a chair. I looked up and a confused expression came on to my face. It wasn't Koga, thank Kami. But, it wasn't Kagome either. Surprisingly, it was Sango.

"You look terrible." She said as she sat down.

"Thanks." I muttered before laying my head back down.

"What happened? Kagome told me you were mad."

"Well, she's right. I'm pissed."

"At her?"

I looked up again and sighed. "I could never be mad at her."

A smile suddenly appeared on her face. "You're in love with her, aren't you?"

What the hell? How did she know? I smiled and chuckled before laying my head back down. "Is it that obvious?" I asked, even though I already knew the answer. "Yeah, I'm in love with her. And, I'm not ashamed of it, either."

"Why don't you tell her?" Sango asked me.

"She doesn't love me, Sango. Not like I love her." We both knew that truth.

"She's worried, Inuyasha." I looked up, confused yet again. "She thinks you're mad at her."

"But, I'm not."

"I know that."

"Then, tell her."

"She won't believe me. She wants you to tell her."

I sighed and stared at the table. Now I really hated myself. I'm making Kagome suffer. She doesn't deserve to suffer. Not for a person like me.

"I'll talk to her after school when I take her home, okay?"

Sango gave me a smile and nodded. "Don't hurt her, Inuyasha. You mean a lot to her. More than you think."

I nodded. "Thanks, Sango." And with that, she got up and left.I looked up towards the clock to find another surprise. It was 3 o'clock exactly. I got up from my chair, grabbed my book bag, and dashed out of the library and outside.

When I got outside, I immediately searched for Kagome. She wasn't wearing pink, today. Today, she was wearing a white sweater. My eyes darted from left to right as I searched for her color clothing. Suddenly, they stopped. I found her. She was near another exit from the school, looking around for something. Maybe she was looking for me, too. I ran towards her as fast as I could. She must have caught sight of me, too, because she was running towards me. I stopped when she was right in front of me.

"Hey." I said, slightly out of breath. Man, I need to get in shape.

"Hi." She said, just as breathless. I stared at her for a long time, wondering about certain things. Wondering what she was thinking about. What if she didn't want me to take her home?

"Do you still want me to take you home?" I asked her, hoping she would say 'Yes'. This time, my hopes came true. She nodded her head, but she refused to make eye-contact. I sighed and turned around before walking towards my car. I knew she was right behind me.

Well, at least she still wants me to take her home. You can't have it all. Remember that, Inuyasha. Be grateful for what you already have. Wait, what am I thinking? I am greatful! I'm greatful for my mom, for my house, for my life. I am especially grateful for Kagome...

We both got into the car. I opened her door, as always, and she said a small and barely audible 'thank-you'. I got into the driver's seat and I drove her home.

The drive was silent. There was no music on. It didn't feel right to put it on. She didn't talk to me. She did look at me now and then, but she never said a word. I tried to talk, but I didn't know what to say. I was still trying to figure out how to apologize. Heh, some friend I am. I don't even know how to say 'I'm sorry'. I spent the whole drive trying to think of how to apologize to her.

When we got to her house, I offered to walk her to the porch again. She simply nodded and got out of the car before I could open her door. I had to literally sprint to get to her. Was she trying to avoid me? I would understand if she was. After today, I would avoid me, too.

We reached the porch in no time at all. She took her keys out and began to unlock the door. This was it. This was the time I had to apologize to her. It was now or never. I took in a deep breath.

"Kagome?"

She looked away from her keys and looked up at me.

"Yeah?"

"I-I'm sorry about today. I shouldn't have done that. I don't even know why I did that."

"It's okay." She whispered. "Just, please... Can you tell me what I did wrong?"

"You didn't do anything wrong, Kagome."

"Yeah, I did, or you wouldn't have gotten mad."

"It wasn't you I was mad at."

"Tomorrow, okay? You can tell me then what happened."

"But--" Before I could finish, she caught by surprise with two actions she did. One, she gave me a hug. And, the second one, she gave me a kiss on the cheek. I stood there, completely frozen. She opened the door and gave me a small smile.

"Good-night, Inuyasha." She whispered before closing the door.

"G-G-Good-night." I said like five seconds after. Kami, I am a moron. Lucky, but still a moron.

I walked off her porch and towards my car, thinking about what just happened. Surprisingly, I cared more about what she said more then what she did. I thought she would have been furious. And, yet, she was probably even more worried then me. She actually thought I was mad at her. In her own way, she was saying sorry when I did the flaw.

I opened the driver's side door and plopped down into the seat, a soft smile on my face. I shook my head. You see? It's things like what she just said that makes me fall in love with her even more than I already am, if that's even possible. I really don't deserve Kagome. I really really don't deserve her. I don't even know why she's my friend in the first place. I don't even know why she still bothers to be my friend. There is one thing I am completely sure about, though.

I will neverstop loving Kagome Higurashi. Not for as long as I live.