Disclaimer: I have no possession over InuYashal I never have, and I never will.

Author Note (1): Always remember, friends: constructive criticism is most certainly welcome, and it really helps with the writing. That in mind, read on!

Chapter: Gilded Cage

She was running again, but from what, she wasn't quite certain. The shadows enveloped her mind, bringing her to clamp her eyes shut, determined on seeing nothing around her. Heartbeat pounding in her ears, flashes of memories reeling in her mind, her breathing came in quick, shallow breaths– just enough to keep her moving. Salty tears streamed down her rosy cheeks, her sorrow engulfing her every thought.

She was frantic. Time was running out, and she knew it. The ghosts that haunted her were all too real– predominating every conscious thought she possessed.

"Have to… keep… running…!" Her voice was empty, void of any real feeling save for her rising anxiety– her fear of what was to come. Her breathing was stuttered as she continued panting; gasping for air. The sound of her footfalls steadily weakened as she trudged forward, trying to outrun the demons that plagued the depths of her soul.

Hours seemed to pass as she did everything her body allowed in order to keep running– running from his smile, his voice, his shy, hesitant laughs… and those golden eyes…

She tripped and fell, and without warning, she saw him, but this time– this time… it was different.

He was smiling a brilliant smile, his golden eyes lit with a fire she missed much more than words could ever describe. His silver hair glinted in the fabricated light of the walls around them, and he extended his hand to her.

Slowly, tentatively, she took his hand– and rose. She stood up, bracing herself against him, making certain that he was really there with her; that he wasn't leaving her again…

Without wasting another moment, she threw herself against him, sobbing, laughing, the erratic beat of her heart racing against his. He pulled her closer, resting his chin atop her head with his arms encircled around her. "Don't cry, Kagome. I won't leave you… I promise…"

The early morning rays slipped stealthily through the crevices of the hut, their presence barely noticeable but providing just enough light for Kagome to see. Heartbeat still pounding in her ears, she rose slowly, trying to make as little noise as possible. She noticed InuYasha sleeping some few feet away from her, though his haori had been carefully draped over her shoulders. Smiling softly at his subtle display of kindness, Kagome slipped it off quietly and hurriedly made her way out of the hut.

Slightly chilled by the cool breeze outside, Kagome rubbed her hands against her arms, her thoughts still lost in her dream. What did it mean? She hadn't dreamt anything but one dream for nine years, and for something different to finally happen… Kagome didn't try filling in any blanks. Too scared to set high expectations only to have them broken, she willed herself to push the question to the back of her mind.

She began walking, not knowing or caring where her steps would take her. Relishing the feel of the beauty that surrounded her, Kagome attempted to clear her mind, trying not to worry about the inevitable, knowing it was useless to fight it. At some point, they were going to ask her all the questions to which they had no answers, just like InuYasha had the night before. Tilting her head back, she closed her eyes, sighing as she allowed the breeze to comfort her. 'What will I tell them? I can't… I can't explain what happened. It's just so much more than I can handle…'

"Hey, you."

Whirling around only to find InuYasha standing behind her, the tenseness of her body whooshed out of her as quickly as it had come. Why did he so enjoy sneaking up on her like that? 'I'll never know...'

"Good morning to you, too, sunshine. What are you doing up so early?" she asked, slightly startled by the directness of his clear, golden gaze.

He snorted, slipping his arms into the haori she had left back in the hut. "I could ask you the same thing, wench. Just what do you think you're doing out here with no one to save your pathetic human ass?"

She had to bite her tongue from snapping at him, knowing full well that was his way of expressing concern, even if it didn't seem as much. "I was taking a walk, thanks. I needed to clear my head." Crossing her arms over her chest, she turned around, trying not to seem too rude by ending the conversation at that.

"Hey, that's not good enough, bitch! What if some demon came out here and decided you'd make a good breakfast?" he countered, taking a few large steps to walk on par with her.

His derisive pet name striking a nerve, she stopped abruptly, turning to face him as she tried to keep her rising irritation in check. "Then at least I'd be getting away from you, you jerk!" Sighing in exasperation, she turned back in the direction of the hut, deciding she was better off going back. "I'm not in the mood for this, InuYasha, okay? Ugh!"

Temper piqued, InuYasha watched the retreating girl with mounting displeasure, stomping over to her to get her to see his point. "Fuck that, Kagome! I'm serious! You can't just go outside prancing around whenever you damn well feel like it! You're weak, or don't you get that?"

Feeling a headache rising, she stopped mid-stride, using her fingers to rub her aching temples. "Fine, InuYasha! The next time I so much as want to pee, I'll make sure to make you stop whatever it is you're doing to make sure nothing happens to me, okay?"

Growling in frustration, he knew full well that she was just mocking him. Why didn't she get it? She could have been seriously hurt because of how reckless she was, walking right out in the open like that! Didn't she see? "Listen, bitch," he started, grabbing her by the shoulders and giving her a little shake, "I'm just trying to make sure you don't get yourself killed, all right? Do whatever the hell you want, if it fucking makes you happy." With one last, leering glare, he leapt away, leaving a very angry Kagome in his wake.

"Oooh, the nerve of him! Who does he think he is, ordering me around like that? Just wait till he gets back…" she grumbled haughtily, stomping her way towards Kaede's hut, planning nothing short of giving InuYasha hell the minute he returned. "Stupid baka…"

Sprinting through the trees as quickly as he dared, InuYasha sped along the forest, deciding the run would help him cool off before he tore that girl's head off. 'Keh! That wench can go and piss right off for all I fucking care! Nothing but a headache…'

He stopped suddenly, sniffing out a boar youkai right around him. A small grin escaped him as he cracked his knuckles, a chuckle the only sound besides the rustling of leaves. "I know you're there, you filthy pig. Why don't you come out to play? I could use some exercise."

The demon ambled out of some nearby trees, his massive size not intimidating InuYasha in the slightest. Snorting as he pawed at the ground, he gazed at InuYasha with his blood-red eyes, the orange crescent moon on his forehead practically glowing with the light of the sunrise. "You dare to challenge me? You, a half-breed? Don't make me laugh!"

Flexing his claws, InuYasha bit back the fury that rose upon hearing those words, hating the disdainful tone coming from such a pathetic youkai. "Yeah, say what you will, you disgusting fat ass. Half-breed or not, I'm gonna take you down!"

Without sparing another moment, InuYasha lunged at the youkai, but too slowly. The demon was far quicker than InuYasha had anticipated, and before he had time to pick himself up, he was being tossed aside like a rag doll by the boar's venomous tusks, the burn from the poison on them making the pain that much more unbearable.

Wincing as he was thrown against a spindly, barren tree, InuYasha fell to the ground pathetically, the sound of his fall resounding with a sickening thud. Grunting as he tried to push himself up, InuYasha looked around in a seeming daze, his vision blurred. Ears still working, however, he heard the boar youkai stamping the ground, preparing to charge once more.

Rolling to the side just in time, InuYasha barely missed being crushed between the boar's tusks and the now-cracked tree. "Limping away, dog?"

Mustering the strength to push himself to his feet, InuYasha wobbled as he stood, blood escaping from a scrape on his right cheek. "Keh! As if I'd run from a weakling like you!" he scoffed, spitting on the ground beside him as he finished.

The youkai chuckled at that, the orange crescent glowing more with every second that passed. "Oh really, puppy? It looks to me as though you're all bark and no bite! Filthy hanyou, talking more than you're worth!"

With that, the boar charged at him, hitting him dead on. The blinding pain that overtook him as a venomous tusk pierced into his side forced a small cry from InuYasha, his senses completely engulfed by his current turmoil. The boar finally threw him to the side into a large, nearby rock. The force of the impact drew a grunt from InuYasha, and for just a moment, he wondered if he'd cracked his head open.

"And you expect me to be afraid of you? Foolish dog! Scum like you can never overpower me!" This time, the boar began walking his way over to InuYasha, certain that the hanyou had lost consciousness.

"K…keh."

Halting in his steps, the boar looked at the crumpled form of InuYasha, amazed that he was still alive. "So, you haven't given up yet, puppy? Still wanna play?"

Raising himself to lean on his left knee, InuYasha slowly made his way up again, the right side of his face now completely bruised and bloodied while the left side of his haori was stained scarlet. The determination in his golden eyes, however, gave the boar pause. His voice was low, dripping with malice as he wiped some blood from his mouth. "Call me a puppy one more time, and I swear I'll fucking tear you limb from limb, you nasty hog."

The candor of InuYasha's gaze seemed to still the boar youkai, as though he was frozen to the spot. InuYasha, seeing his opening, seized his chance to attack the boar head-on. Without a moment's hesitation, he sprinted forward, the pain in his side more excruciating than anything he remembered but ignoring it for the time being. Stretching out his claws, InuYasha lunged at the youkai. "Sankon tetsusou!"

Brought back to attention by the white-hot pain rippling through his body, the boar youkai was forced to his knees, bleeding profusely from his back. Before giving him the chance to recover, however, InuYasha spun around, inadvertently causing his broken ribs to rub against each other and likewise wring a cry from him. Praying to any and every god that he didn't miss, InuYasha plunged his claws into his side and swung them back out with the roar, "Hijin ketsusou!"

The boar youkai was completely torn to pieces, his remains exploding into a millions particles of dust lost on the breeze.

All went still in the forest, and InuYasha dropped to the ground, gripping his left side and shutting his eyes closed. 'Well, fuck. That hurt, damn it!'

'Keh! Think I didn't notice?'

'Well, I don't know. You seemed to play it damn well when that hog was around.'

'Yeah? Good. At least he died knowing a hanyou killed him. Fucking bastard.'

'Well, at least one good thing's coming out of this.' His youkai sounded smug, and InuYasha could only wonder what good it could possibly think could come from being beaten to a pulp by a boar demon first thing in the morning.

'And what would that be?'

'Kagome'll be treating our wounds, of course.'

Eyes flying open with the mention of her name, InuYasha hurriedly pulled himself up, breathing stuttered as the pain intensified all over his body. 'What the fuck? Why are you thinking of that wench when I'm dying?'

His youkai snorted, irritating InuYasha beyond belief. 'Because she heals you, you baka.'

"Keh! The day that wench heals me is the day I die!"

Summoning as much dignity as he could, he began limping back the way he came, hating himself for thinking of her, especially since it was her fault this whole ordeal happened in the first place. 'Just wait till I get back… damn wench…'

The invasive silence rang in her ears, preventing any coherent thought from forming.

Far more irritated than she expected to be, Kagome stormed into the hut, not making contact with anyone in sight. Fuming over the events of that morning, she hadn't realized everyone else had woken up, too, and was only more than interested in asking her what was wrong. Sitting down in the far left corner of the hut (incidentally, the one InuYasha usually claimed as his own), Kagome crossed her arms over her chest, a thoroughly livid scowl encompassing her features.

Miroku, casual as ever, coughed inconspicuously into his fist, hiding his unmistakable curiosity. Noting InuYasha's absence and Kagome current irate state, Miroku's curiosity leapt in bounds, mere manner withholding him from questioning the seemingly incensed woman. When the dead silence became more than he could bear, he spoke.

"So, Kagome, how are you this fine morning?"

Kagome's less-than-friendly gaze fell on the monk, immediately convincing him that he was treading in dangerous waters. He laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head with a muttered, "Never mind."

Shippou squirmed uncomfortably and promptly excused himself under the pretense of "looking for firewood." Miroku, feeling Kagome's glare following his every move, followed in suit, claiming he was going to "look for InuYasha." After he left the hut, Kagome finally turned her gaze back down to her feet and sighed, her shoulders slumping ever so slightly.

"Where's Kaede?" Kagome asked, finally realizing that the elderly woman was nowhere to be found.

"A woman came by earlier wondering if Kaede could go with her and prepare her medicines for the sick of her village."

"I see."

Sensing Kagome needed someone to talk to, Sango offered some words of encouragement. "I don't know what it is that happened, but it's obvious InuYasha cares for you. He just… has a funny way of showing it sometimes. He's never been very good with words." Kagome looked at her, eyes brightening as she smiled at her friend, thanking her silently for always knowing what to say.

"I know he isn't… I just wish he'd understand that I need some time by myself sometimes, especially now that everything's so… different." Kagome confessed quietly, any remaining anger seeping out of her.

Sango nodded, understanding Kagome's side, too. "Maybe you should try telling him? He's not very good at catching hints, either." Kagome snorted lightly and rolled her eyes, knowing that all too well for herself. Opening her mouth to comment, Kagome was suddenly cut off from making any sort of reply as Sango continued to speak.

"It's strange, you know? Talking to you like this feels so normal, as though I did it all the time or something, and yet, this is the first time I've ever spoken to you about, well, anything, really." Sango clenched her fist tightly, as though frustrated, but refraining from making further comment all the same. She stared intently at her closed palm, blinking rapidly. Finally, she looked up at Kagome with tears in her eyes, much to the latter's surprise. "It hurts to see you sad, and I don't know why! And I feel as though I should – I really do – but I don't! Since you came to us yesterday, I haven't been able to stop thinking about how I wish I could make you smile, because you're like a sister to me… but see, that doesn't make any sense because I just met you for the first time yesterday! I don't get it!" she yelled, slamming her fist into the wooden floor. "I simply… don't understand," she whispered, a lone tear streaking down her porcelain cheek.

Kagome immediately made her way over to Sango, grasping her in a hug meant to comfort her– meant to let her know that all her words were like a balm on Kagome's heart, soothing the pain that ate at her every moment of every day. Her heart lodged in her throat, all Kagome could do was sit there and hope that Sango understood.

"Thanks, Kagome," Sango muttered, hugging the girl back tightly as though afraid she would disappear.

"No, thank you, Sango. You really don't understand how much you mean to me, but maybe – just maybe – it'll all turn out okay."

Confused eyes met her own, and Kagome smiled nervously. "Um, don't worry about it. Let's just wait for InuYasha to get back, okay? You should probably rest. You look exhausted."

Sango nodded, yawning on cue and further reinforcing Kagome's point. "I think I'll do just that. Wake me up when InuYasha and Miroku get back, okay? Although, knowing them and their penchant for making a ruckus, I probably won't need it."

Kagome nodded with a smile, and with that, Sango flopped down on her side and fell asleep almost instantly. Kagome, releasing one of her trademark sighs, returned to her little corner, waiting for her hanyou to reappear.

Blinking as the memory faded, Kagome looked to the straw mat that served as the hut's door, willing InuYasha to appear there. She progressively became more and more tense as the uncanny suspicion that something had happened to him took hold of her. No longer able to withstand it, she finally stood up and began making her way outside when a booming yell echoed through the nearby trees.

"Sango! Kagome! Somebody please help me!" Miroku's clear, strong voice resonated across to Kaede's hut, making its way to Kagome's ears.

Without so much as a second thought, Kagome sprinted out of the hut, searching frantically for the would-be monk. Eyes darting everywhere in search of his dark robes, Kagome was desperate to find him, knowing full well that the distress in his voice was due to InuYasha, whatever his condition. And knowing how well Miroku usually kept his calm, InuYasha's condition couldn't be good at all.

Dispelling the looming worry from her mind, she listened for Miroku's voice once more and instantly ran after it, trying to locate her companions as quickly as possible. "Miroku? Where are you?" she yelled as loudly as she could, hoping it would be enough for the monk to hear.

Much to her relief, it was. "I'm near Goshinboku, Kagome! Come, quick!"

He didn't need to say that twice. Kagome sped off in the direction of the God Tree, hoping she wouldn't find the worst when she got there. Her breath started coming in short, and she was once again reminded of how out of shape she was. She was reminded of how long it had been since any of them had been on an adventure together. She was reminded of how much time it had been since she had last seen InuYasha.

The thought alone made her sprint faster, and before she knew it, she was bent over the hanyou, carefully moving aside hair and sleeves to take a better look at his various wounds.

"InuYasha! InuYasha? InuYasha, please say something!" she nearly cried, taking serious note of the crimson stains encompassing his left side as well as the cut and scrape on his right cheek. "Oh, this is all my fault!"

Miroku looked over at the seeming stranger, concern awash in his gaze. "Kagome," he started, and he placed a hand on her shoulder as though to emphasize his point, "this isn't your fault. Do you understand? InuYasha always manages to get himself into this kind of trouble all on his own! Don't you remember?" Shock registered in his eyes at what he'd just uttered, and his hand recoiled from the girl's shoulder, as though it somehow burned him. "I'll, uh…"

Kagome shifted her gaze to InuYasha's cheek, pretending not to have noticed Miroku's slip-up. "Why don't you get me some herbs and cloths from Kaede's hut? I'm afraid to be moving InuYasha right now, given his condition. Not to mention that bleeding from his left side doesn't seem to be stopping, and I'm not really sure why…"

"Sure thing, Kagome. I'll be right back." And without another word, he was off.

Turning her attention back to InuYasha's wounds, Kagome sighed. "I'm so sorry, InuYasha… if I hadn't gotten so mad at you this morning, you wouldn't have run off, and this wouldn't have happened." She sniffled as her eyes started tearing up, and she grabbed one of his hands, clasping it between both of hers. "I'm really not mad at you, though. I–"

Her response was cut off by the feeling of InuYasha's hand squeezing hers. "Say, Kagome… isn't this… isn't this the place where we… first met?" his breath came out in a little more than a whisper, but she heard it as clear as day.

She didn't dare believe what he meant, though– at least, not what she hoped he'd meant, anyway. Forcing a chuckle, she gave his hand a little squeeze back and placed it on his leg. He was slouching against the trunk of Goshinboku, and his eyes appeared to be half-closed. "Oh, silly! Of course we did! Yesterday, remember?" It killed her just the slightest bit to say that.

He opened his eyes and, weak though he was, the intensity of his stare never lessened, and he silently dared her to lie. "No, Kagome… we met a long time ago, didn't we? I was… tied up or something, right? I couldn't move for some reason, and I don't know why, but I think I thought you were… someone else…" A sudden tinge of guilt entered his eyes, and they widened noticeably before he cast them down once more, obviously avoiding Kagome's gaze.

No words could rightfully describe the mixed feelings of joy and sadness she felt at that moment. Happy that he could remember the incident but sad that he would remember his mix-up with Kikyou before he'd remember his feelings for her, Kagome wasn't sure what to say, and in the end, said nothing. Instead, she opted to take a better look at his wounds, and proceeded to try to take off InuYasha's haori.

"W-woah there, Kagome! What… are you doing?" InuYasha fumbled for words as his face turned the color of the cloth that was currently being removed.

"Nothing bad, you pervert!" Kagome scolded as her cheeks pinked just a bit. "I'm trying to take off your shirt so I could take a better look at your wounds. Do you mind, or would you rather I left you here to get an infection and die?"

"K-keh! I'm not a pervert! I wasn't thinking of anything like… that… I was just surprised, is all!" InuYasha scoffed, turning his head to the side so Kagome couldn't see his face.

"Mm, hmm… suuuuure, InuYasha. Whatever you say." Kagome returned, and before he could retort in kind, continued taking off his haori, followed by his undershirt.

Upon taking off his undershirt, however, Kagome gasped, covering her mouth at the sight of the deep gash and deep-red blood oozing from it. "Oh, my goodness… InuYasha, what happened? How long ago did this happen?"

"Well, judging from the fact that you woke up at about the crack of dawn, bitched me out about thirty minutes later, and got my ass handed to me about another twenty minutes later…" he drifted off and closed his eyes, then suddenly opened them again, looking directly at Kagome with somewhat of a bored expression, "I'd say about two and a half hours."

"InuYasha!" Kagome nearly yelled, appalled at how much time had passed since he'd received his wounds. "How could you let yourself get so hurt? The blood hasn't stopped flowing from the gash on your side, and I don't know why. This could be really serious!" She'd have throttled him if she could, really.

"Damn it, wench! How was I supposed to know that youkai would beat me so badly? If someone hadn't put me in such a bad mood, maybe this would have never happened!" he shot back, his temper overpowering his need to flop backwards and collapse. "And in case you wanted to know, the bleeding probably hasn't stopped because he was… uhh… a poisonous youkai…"

Not able to properly hear the last few words he muttered, Kagome leaned in closer. "Because he was what? I couldn't listen properly since I was trying to make sense of the part where you getting beat up because of a fight you probably started is my fault."

"I guess you're just not smart enough to understand such complicated ideas, are you, Kagome?" the hanyou snapped back.

"Ohhh, really? All right, well then! Why don't you just clean up your own wounds, dog-boy?" she started as she got on her knees and began to rise. "I hear dog's saliva is great for healing wounds, but sadly for you, I don't think the size of your ego's gonna let you reach anywhere, now is it?"

"F-feh! Nasty bitch! I don't want your help anyway!–" 'What are you talking about? Yes, I do!' "–You'd probably just make these wounds even worse than they already are!" he replied, his youkai scolding him the whole way through.

"Ugh! That's it! I've had it with you and your stupid–"

"Now, now, Kagome, let's not be so rash!" Miroku intoned as he placed his hand on her shoulder to prevent her from leaving. "InuYasha tends to become even more volatile the weaker he is, so umm… how about Sango and I give you a hand with bandaging him up?"

At that instant, Sango came around Kagome's other side, a smile in place as she offered Kagome a towel. "Need help? He's always been a nasty one to clean up after."

"Hey! Who you callin' nasty?"

Shoulders slumping as a resigned sigh escaped her, Kagome took the towel Sango offered her, kneeling down in front of InuYasha with a scowl on her face. "Do either of you have any herbs to extract poison? It seems someone was too full of it to be careful."

A small growl slipped from InuYasha. "Why you–"

"Right here, Kagome!" Miroku interrupted, handing Kagome the necessary herbs. "If you need anything at all, just let me know!"

"Thanks, Miroku, but it's fine. I've got all I need here." Kagome replied. "Feel free to go back to the hut if you want. I'm sure I can handle the rest."

"Are you sure, Kagome?" Sango questioned, sincerely wanting to help her.

"No, it's fine, really. Just leave me the towels and herbs you brought over, and that should be enough. If I need anything, I'll just call or go over," she answered, then smiled.

Miroku and Sango traded worried glances, but didn't dispute Kagome's claim. Both rising, Sango made to turn back as Miroku dusted his robes. "All right then, Kagome. We're only a short ways away, so feel free to call if you need anything!" And with that, they left.

"As for you," she began, turning towards the injured hanyou, "I hope you like your bandages tight, because those insults sure aren't earning you any first-class treatment."

"H-hey! It's not my fault you get offended so easily!" InuYasha answered, scrunching his face up into a pout.

She glared daggers at him in response, grabbing his cheek and cleaning that wound up, first. "No, it isn't your fault I get offended so easily, but it is your fault I get offended, baka!"

"K-keh!"

"I must admit she's right, Master InuYasha. If you weren't so crude in your manner, I highly doubt that–"

Catching the flea demon between his forefinger and thumb, InuYasha effectively cut off Myouga while leering into his small, wizened face. "What the hell do you want, Myouga?"

Kagome's hands stilled as she looked in the direction of the flea demon, unable to believe her ears. "Myouga? Is that really you?"

The flea looked at the inquisitive girl, not knowing who she was but recognizing her all the same. "My, my! Master InuYasha, I must say you do have rather fine taste!"

Flicking him away, InuYasha let out the smallest growl. "Shut it, Myouga."

Picking himself up and dusting the dirt off his clothes, Myouga eyes Kagome questioningly. "You have a distinctive air about you, m'girl. I recognize it, but for some reason, I cannot remember your face. Why is that?" Before he gave Kagome the chance to speak, he turned to InuYasha. "Why, Master InuYasha! I didn't realize! I smell poison in your system!"

"Yeah, so?"

Clearing his throat, a greedy glint entered the flea demon's eye. "I do believe someone should remove that, before it harms you further, don't you think?"

The hanyou snorted and rolled his eyes. "Yeah, and that someone is Kagome, you got that, flea?"

Turning to the girl in question, Myouga crossed his arms. "Kagome? Kagome… Kagome… Merlin's beard, does that name sound familiar! Kagome… " 'The woman we remembered from nine years ago, eh?' He shook his head and sighed. "Sorry, m'lady. It does seem familiar, but with the prospect of sucking InuYasha's blood in mind, I simply cannot concentrate!" Turning to the hanyou, he grinned. "May I?"

Kagome shrugged her shoulders. "Be my guest."

InuYasha started to protest, but Kagome placed her hand on his shoulder to stay him. "Just let him, InuYasha! It'll be a lot faster if he does it." Grumbling but consenting nonetheless, InuYasha muttered unintelligibly while drumming his claws on the ground.

When finally Myouga finished sucking the poison from InuYasha's blood, he dropped to the ground and rolled onto his back, satisfied with his meal. "Aaahhh, now that was an excellent lunch!"

Kagome continued dabbing at InuYasha's wounds, cleaning them up fully now that the bleeding was beginning to slow. "Yeah, yeah," InuYasha drawled, "Why don't you get on out of here, eh, Myouga?"

Smirking at InuYasha, Myouga stood up and bowed. "Why, of course, Master InuYasha! You don't need to say any more! I know how you must like your private time with Miss Kagome–" And before the flea could finish, InuYasha scooped him up with one hand and tossed him away as far as he could. "Keh! That'll teach you to talk! Perverted old flea!"

Blushing slightly, Kagome turned her attention to the hanyou. "InuYasha! That wasn't very nice!"

"Keh! He deserves it, talking nonsense the way he does! Old man doesn't know when to shut his trap!"

A little miffed by his words, Kagome cleaned the last bit of blood up and sat back. "Oh? Nonsense? Is that what he says?"

"Of course!" InuYasha snorted derisively. "As if I'd like spending time with a wench like you." Turning his attention to the floor, the InuYasha continued drumming his claws.

"Really now?" Kagome asked as she grabbed a long, thin towel and wrapped it around his middle to cover his wound.

InuYasha sat up while she did this, and though he sensed the irritation in her tone, his eyes nearly shut as he was bombarded with memories from days long past– from countless times she'd bandaged him up with strange types of cloth that stuck to his skin and wrapped perfectly around his wounds. He remembered all the times she gently treated his cuts and injuries, always making sure that she never did anything to hurt him. A migraine suddenly hit him as the sight of Kagome's tears flashed in front of him. He remembered–

"Kagome–"

"Well, that's just fine by me, dog-boy! I'm outta here." Tying the knot as tightly as she could, Kagome stood up, grabbed the used cloths, and made her way to leave.

"Damn it, Kagome! I'm trying to talk to you!" Rising as quickly as he could, InuYasha grabbed her hand to stop her, clutching his wounded side with his other hand.

She slowly turned back to him, looking first to her hand in his and then to his eyes, confusion and hesitance awash in her gaze. "InuYasha?"

Realizing that he was still holding her hand, InuYasha promptly let go, blushing scarlet as he turned his eyes to hers. "I… Why did you cry for me that one time? I… can't remember…"

Kagome's eyes widened with shock at InuYasha's words. "Why…?"

Frustrated with himself for not remembering, he sat back down, leaning his head and back against Goshinboku, one knee propped up. "I remember seeing your tears… we were fighting some kind of… spider? A spider demon?" He growled slightly. "I can't remember! Damn it!"

Kagome sat down next to him, tears pooling in her eyes. "I… was afraid I'd lose you. I didn't want you to die."

Touched by her words, InuYasha turned to her. She was looking down at the ground, as though afraid to look at him. "Kagome, I…"

Standing up before he could say anything else, Kagome stood up, grabbing InuYasha's hands as she did so and urging him to join her. "Well! I think we should get going! It's almost noon, and I'm starving! Don't you agree, InuYasha?"

"Uh, sure." He stood up and continued to hold her hands. "Kagome…"

Trying her best not to reminisce, the woman looked at him, doing her best to force a smile. "Yes, InuYasha?"

"I… wouldn't want to lose you either."

Stunned by his words, Kagome didn't know what to say. 'InuYasha…'

Blush deepening, InuYasha let go of her hands and started making his way back to the village, crossing his arms in front of him. "Well, it's like you said: it's almost noon, and I haven't eaten a thing! Can you cook, wench?"

Heart beating wildly, head spinning, all Kagome could do was nod.

"Good! I'll go catch some fish while you take care of the rest, okay?" Without another word, he was gone.

Looking at him as he leapt away, Kagome still couldn't believe her ears, an d she wondered for what seemed to have been the millionth time since her arrival in the feudal era whether any of this was really real. 'Maybe… maybe everything really can work out…' And with that, she began her walk back to the village, wondering if Shippou ever got that firewood…

Author's Note (2): Hijin ketsusou: blades of blood, Sankon tetsusou: Soul-Shattering Iron Claw, or more fondly known as Iron Reaver, Soul Stealer

Author's Note (3): I'll try not to make the next chapter so long! I kind of just kept going here, and I mean, with like two years to write, you can't blame me. :P But yeah, I'm back! And kickin'. And I'll be working on the next chapter. Please leave a review if you have the time! I always appreciate them! And if there are any typos or spacing problems, please let me know!

Peace out,

.91.:.