Inuyasha arrived slightly later. "Miroku where is Kagome?" He said as he landed in a tree. He heard her laughter off and Sango's voice. He relaxed slightly knowing that she was safe. He could also smell the hot bath so he figured it out before Miroku answered.
"In the hot bath with Sango. Inuyasha, let me ask you a question. Who would you have chosen if Kagome had not made the decision for you?"
Inuyasha shook his head slightly "I don't know. Probably Kagome, since as long as Naraku possesses Onigumo's heart he is incapable of hurting Kikyo."
Miroku looked closely at his friend. "Is that the only reason?"
Inuyasha blushed and refused to answer. As he stared off to the side, he saw Kagome falling to her death again and again. He stood and started pacing unaware of the Monk watching him closely with a slight smile.
"You were more shaken by Kagome's dear death than Kikyo's were you not?"
"Damn it, Miroku! I don't want to talk about it. Where the hell is Kagome! I need to talk to her now!" He sat down in a huff and crossed his arms. He glanced over at Miroku and saw the slight smile. "If you have something to say then say it!"
At that moment Kagome and Sango returned from the bath. Kagome rushed to his side and knelt down.
"Kikyo.." He glanced over into her big brown eyes and felt his stomach clenched.
"Come with me." He said as he stood and moved away from the group. Kagome looked at him with surprise and followed.
"Okay, you are acting totally weird. Why are we moving away from the group? Did you want to talk to me secretly or something? Is Kikyo okay? Is that what you wanted to tell me…that she…" before she could finished, Inuyasha engulfed her in his arms.
"Kagome! W-why would you do that!"
"I thought you would pick Kikyo and I wanted to make the decision easier for you. I didn't want Naraku to break you or to force you through it."
Inuyasha sat her away from him and stared at her in a mixture of exasperation, hurt and understanding. "Kagome. You idiot. I wouldn't have let you die! How could you even think that! Kikyo and I have a past and a bond but Kagome, I would never have left you behind! If it came down to it, I would have chosen you because Naraku would never have hurt Kikyo and because…" He trailed off and had no idea what to say. He knew what he felt but he didn't know how to say it.
"Inuyasha. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you worry so much."
"What if I didn't catch you in time! Do you know how close you were to the…" He yelled as he suddenly launched himself into the trees. Although, she could barely see him, she knew that he was still close. Kagome was startled at his outburst and she realized with a start how much her decision impacted him. She thought that he would just shrug it off but obviously it had another effect. It shook him up and it shook him up badly.