~Kagome POV~ One week later~

"Alex duck!" I yell as the huge reptilian demon swung this tail in his direction. He ducked in time before the stupid demon beheaded him. Alex cursed and fired a round of bullets right into its stomach pissing off the demon even worse. I told him that bullets didn't kill them…at least not the big ones!

"Damn it Alex! Don't shoot it! You're pissing it off!" I shout at it as I pull my arrow tightly over my bow and summon my powers and shoot it square between his eyes killing it immediately.

"Ahw..you beat me to it" said InuYasha who had taken Kikyo out of harm's way since she was the one who unfortunately ran across the demon while gathering remedial herbs. The demon had taken her by surprise and swiped her leg making a huge gash on it. So I did beat him to the punch I guess.

"Oh boo hoo" I tease him as I go and retrieve my arrow and purify the blood on it before going to Alex who was glaring at InuYasha. I hate it when he does that since InuYasha has been nothing but civil to him. Alex insists that it's an act and that InuYasha was only playing nice to win me over, but I argue back that InuYasha just doesn't have the acting skill to pull it off, plus InuYasha had the shortest temper I ever encountered so playing nice just wasn't in his forte. At least that is what I am telling myself and if I was being honest…I didn't really want to dwell too much on this new founded tolerance of his, I was just happy to have my best friend again. Not only that my relationship with Kikyo has taken a turn for the better that has not only surprised me but gave me a sense of peace deep inside. I have never paid too much attention to her personality and how she thinks so it cracks me up on how eerily similar we are now….Sango thinks it's a hoot on how we sometimes finish each other sentences.

Another thing that I have also noticed is InuYasha's and Kikyo's relationship…or lack thereof. I was prepared to find them lovey dovey and finally together…boy was I surprised. They remind me so much of Souta and me that its hilarious watching them arguing. I didn't know what to feel about it either. I was so sure that InuYasha loved Kikyo completely, so sure that I was just the replacement for the original but now that I saw them together it's hard to forget that he said that I was born his mate and it was never Kikyo. InuYasha never brought it up again though and he hasn't growled, snarled nor threated Alex since last week when I came back.

"Come on, let's go back to the village elder and tell them that the heroes saved the day again" said InuYasha putting Tetsusaiga back into its sheath.

"And while we are there I'm sure they will graciously offer us accommodations for the night" said Miroku making me roll my eyes at him.

"You really should break that habit of yours" commented Kikyo making me smile "yeah, he should…but it also would be nice to take a nice hot bath tonight…eh?" I say nudging her in the ribs making her chuckle "Well…there is that" she says giving me sly look that makes Sango laugh.

"You two are so bad"

"Why?" we both say "It's not like he's going" I say "to stop anytime soon" finishes Kikyo making Alex shake his head at us.

"If I had a dollar every time that monk swindles some poor village for a room and food I think I would have my enough to retire from the military" he says then walked over to where I am and puts his arm around my shoulders.

I'm not uncomfortable that he does this but I noticed the dirty looks I get from Sango and Kikyo every time Alex gets too close to me. It's the most bizarre thing to see both of them so against my relationship with Alex, on more than one occasion I would get a lecture on how it's InuYasha who I was meant to be with making me confused…at least until Alex says just the right thing to make me smile.

By the time we get to the village and Miroku works his magic we are given one of the best rooms in the elder's estate, the women in one room and the men in another. At first I was unsure if this was such a good idea, to have InuYasha and Alex in the same room together for a whole night, but when I don't hear screaming and cursing I assume that they are behaving.

"Ah this feels nice" I say as I sink lower into the hot water spring that that estate has in the back past some woods.

"You said it" says Sango with a little sigh of pleasure.

"Yes, this feels so wonderful after a day of walking…"Says Kikyo "In the dirt" I finish.

We lay in relaxed silence for a while as my mind wonders off into what we would do tomorrow, where we would set off to in this endless search of Naraku. We have been looking for a week and we have yet to run into him or his aura, it was so frustrating.

"Where do you think Naraku could be hiding this time?" asked Sango as she lathered her hair with fragranced oils then passed the small bottle to Kikyo.

"I not come across his aura in four years which is strange" says Kikyo thoughtful "Ever since you left Kagome was the last time I felt him…why would that be? Why go into hiding until your return?"

I shrugged "I honestly don't know, but if he is waiting to hear that I am back then I expect we will see him soon" I say keeping my eyes shut while I lay my head back tying to relax the muscles on my shoulders.

"You are not afraid?" says Sango a frown in her words; I don't look at her when I reply "Nope". I don't know what they want me to do. If I am Naraku's objective then it was a good thing that I spent so much time training, I was going to need it.

"Kagome, I know you have had training and can now protect yourself…but Naraku is a devious demon and he will find a weakness" says Kikyo.

I finally look at them and pinned them with a stare "Look, there is not much I can do, If my fate is to die then I only hope I can bring him down with me. I don't want to die of course and that is why I train so much, why I left to become stronger, I have a fighting chance now"

"What about InuYasha?" says Kikyo making me groan out loud…Oh not this again!

"What about him?" I snap at her making her glare at me "You know what I mean Kagome, he loves you! He has always loved you and he is suffering because of your stubbornness to see that you two are meant for each other"

"I don't want to hear it Kikyo" I warn her, I really didn't like touching this subject, it always managed to confuse me where my feelings for him are concerned "Can we just focus on killing Naraku? You know…the important mission we are trying to accomplish?" I say then go to grab my towel.

"Kagome you can't run or ignore your feelings for him forever" she whispers to me "and trust me when I say that this whole 'him being nice' thing is killing him more than you know"

I shake my head at her as I get out of the hot spring and make my way into our room where I change into some black knit pants and a cobalt blue soft V-neck shirt. I unbraid my hair to air it out to brush it but instead I sigh frustrated and stomp outside for fresh air. I don't bother to pull my hair up so it swings thick around my body down to my waist in waves, I wonder for the millionth time if I should cut it, but for some reason I just can't do it. I walk into the forest and wonder around for bit not caring where I go, it doesn't really matter anyways as long as I'm out side. I feel at home here among the tall trees, the sound of the wind though the branches, the noise the leafs make when I step on them and the sight of the moon high above.

I come to a small patch of flowers surrounded by some willow trees and lay down to look at the stars. I wonder what would become of me once I defeat Naraku…would I take Alex's proposal. As I thought about that my mind couldn't help but wonder to InuYasha. At once I felt my heart tight in my chest, was he just pretending this whole time? Was he acting nice just for me? If that was the case for what reason? I close my eyes and try to block out thoughts of him, I already told myself that as soon as Naraku was dead I was going back home, but that was when I had thought that he was still in love with Kikyo….but now?

"Either you're a tree sprite or just asking to get attacked by demons"

I look up to my right and see InuYasha crouching on a tree branch smirking at me; I sit up and throw a pebble that was right by my hand. He catches it then jumps down and walks over to where I am and sits next to me.

"Is there a reason you are out here all by yourself?" he says softy leaning back, his hands under his head as he looks up at the sky. I follow his lead and lean back as well to gaze at the moon.

"No reason, just needed fresh air and the feel of the woods relax me" he chuckles "I know what you mean, I spend so much time in the trees that I don't feel comfortable in luxury estates. I feel like the walls are closing in on me sometimes"

"Plus Alex is there" I say slyly wanting to see his reaction, he sighs "Yeah that is another reason. I'm making an effort…I never said I was going to become friends with the guy"

I think about it and nod "I know..I don't expect you to be buddy buddy with him; just the fact that you are making an effort t is impressive enough for me"

He doesn't say anything for a long time, and then I feel his claw hand on my hair.

"You grew it out" he murmurs "It's beautiful"

I know I'm blushing, but the complaint is so sincere that I felt my heart flutter for a tiny second.

"Thanks"

"It's just a fact, just like I love it when you wear that color..it brings out your eyes"

He goes back to staring at the night sky "Do you remember when you ended up taking those dried up demons to your school by mistake?" he says making me suddenly laugh at the memory.

"Yeah, I was so worried that people where going to look at you funny when out of everyone there you were actually the most normal looking one out of all the costumes on that day"

"Yeah, it was the first time that you didn't try and hide my ears" he said but I heard an underlying emotion in that sentence.

"I'm not ashamed of your ears InuYasha" I say sitting up so that I could look at him, he continues to look at the stars; his eyes looks like they were a million miles away.

"It's okay Kagome, even if you were ashamed of them…. I think I'm used to it already. Kikyo had wanted me to become human for her; I can understand that it makes people uncomfortable to be around me"

I never heard him being so open and honest with me, it made me happy that he trusted me with his feelings but I didn't like what he was saying to me. He was wrong; I was never uncomfortable around him.

"Well I'm not everyone" I say heatedly "I happen to like your ears"

He looks at me and gives me a sad smile "You and your mom are the few who does, but for most people it is reminder that I'm not completely human"

"I never thought of you as only half human….you are so much more than that. You are more than a stupid label" I say as I reach out and rub one of his ears making him lean into my hand then chuckles.

"You almost have an unnatural obsession with my ears don't ya?" I smile at him, making his golden eyes bright in the moonlight.

"Can't be helped" I say with a shrug "I've always been a bit of a dog person"

He chuckles "Okay can I tell you something?" he says propping himself on his elbow so that he was facing me, I lean down on my elbow so that I'm looking at him.

"Sure"

"Alex snores loudly…part of the reason I need to sleep outside"

I'm so surprised that I crack up "Seriously, poor Miroku as taken to stuffing his ears with some of your tissues that you bring from your era"

"I know" I say "The guys back in our unit use to threaten beating him within an inch of his life if he didn't use his breath right strips…I think he may have forgotten them"

"You mean to tell me that there is a way to get rid of it?"

I nod to him "It's a white strip that goes across your nose and it opens the air way to stop snoring"

"Well I'll be damned…I can always break his nose…problem solved right?"

I laugh at him. It feels so right to be here alone in the forest talking and laughing with him that I realize I don't want to leave. His liquid gold eyes where dancing with laughter, his aura was carefree and happy, and his gruff and guarded attitude vanished leaving behind the InuYasha that I rarely got to see. This is the part of him that I would do anything to protect. For a person who didn't have a whole lot to laugh about in life seeing him happy always triggered a soft part of me that wanted to hold him.

"InuYasha?" I say after a long time of peaceful silence "Hmm?"

"I'm sorry for leaving while you were injured" I finally say softly. I hear his breath hitch a bit "Why are thinking of that now?"

"I don't know" I answer honestly "I never tried to put myself in your shoes and what you must have felt to realize that I felt while you were in that condition…It occurred to me that I never fully apologized or explained what I was going though that day"

"It was devastating Kagome. I almost thought you were killed when I couldn't even smell you near, I was so sure that you would never leave while I was injured, that our friendship was too strong for you to just abandon me"

I felt the sting of tears behind my eyes "I am so sorry InuYasha….when you got injured by Naraku…again for me I realized that if didn't get stronger that maybe one day he would succeed in killing you. I couldn't let that happen"

He cups on cheek in his hand as he looks at me with a frowned expression, then suddenly he pulls me him into his arms for a hug. I cling on to his strong shoulders as I inhale his scent. I feel like I'm home in his arms, he's safe, warm and familiar.

"You should have had faith in me" he whispers in my ear making my eyes water "I never would leave you alone to fend for yourself; you have always been what gives me strength Kagome. Every single battle that I have fought has been for your sake, every technique I would learn with Tetsusaiga was to keep you safe" he pulls back to look into my eyes "Your eyes has seen too much now, you have thrown yourself into a wolf pit to gain strength….but at what cost to yourself? Don't think I don't see the shadows that surround you every time you go into battle mode?"

I gasped, not even Alex picked up on the fact that every battle I fight I feel my soul shriek a bit.

"You can tell?" I see him nod then gives me a sad smile "I can tell….."

I could tell he was going to say more but pulled back "Do you still think I'm your mate?"

He flinches a bit then gets up and walks over a tree and leans on it "Maybe we should get back…Alex will be worried about you" he says avoiding my question but I know the answer already.

"If you still think I'm your mate, then why are you nice and considerate of Alex?" I say almost yelling at him…I don't like how he shut himself off to me right now. I don't like seeing the hurt in his eyes knowing that it was caused by me. He turns and looks at me "Because until you decide that you want me and not him I will respect your decision"

I feel my heart crack a bit…Kikyo was right, he was suffering more that he was letting on. I run to him and wrap my arms around his waist "Don't..please don't be sad…not on my account. You were supposed to be happy with Kikyo….I thought when I left I was leaving the path open for the two of you! Now I'm causing you so much pain…I can't stand it"

I feel his arms surround me as he rests his cheek on the top of my head "It's okay koi, It's my fault for not realizing it sooner just what you are to me, for not putting you first"

I shake my head "Don't blame yourself…this isn't your fault either"

"Kagome….this whole mess could have been avoided if I had listened to my heart long time ago…do you know when I realized you where my mate? The moment I saw you sitting on the well when I was going to say goodbye to you, the sun was kissing your skin making your glow, butterflies surrounded you like a goddess while the birds pecked on the grass so close to you…I have never seen birds do that. Of course everything that was good is drawn to you, then you turned and looked at me…the wind was playing with your hair, you looked more beautiful in that moment that it hit me. The reason it was so hard to say goodbye to you was because I couldn't, you are my mate"

I swallowed the lump in my throat, gods we were both such idiots.

"I never knew" I whispered

"How could you? Even I was blind to it for a while, but I not anymore"

I feel his lips softy against mine for a brief moment before he rests his forehead to mine as he sighs "Sorry" he whispers.

I sniff and shake my head "I didn't mind" I reach up and pull him down to me again kissing him back softy and slowly just enjoying the taste of his lips and the scent of his skin. When I pull back I smile at him "I have to go back" I say as I slip out his arms and walk back towards to estate. As I walk back I think about how much I still do have feelings for InuYasha.

~InuYasha POV~

I breathed in and out trying to control my demon from running after her and crush her lips to mine, from biting on the side of her neck and brand her mine.

It's painful but I eventually win my inner battle. I walk back to where she was laying down and inhale deeply. Her scent still clung to the flowers and grass below, my Kagome.

Tonight went better than I had hoped, she was opening up to me, and I knew that the more she did that the more her soul would see that I was her other half. Tonight she had kissed me out of her own free will leaving her soul open so I reached into my youkai and placed another little claim on her, not strong enough to bind her but just light enough to make her with her noticing.

'Soon' I think to myself as I close my eyes. It was pure torture watching her with that bastard as he hugs her and touches her so freely while I am reduced to watching from the sideline. Kikyo and Sango have noticed and I knew they have talked to her but I know how stubborn she could be. When I saw her walk past by me earlier tonight I was mesmerized by her thick wavy hair as it caressed her body. She grew it long, gods how I wanted to feel her hair on my body, sooth and silky as I make love to her.

I wanted her to get to know me again, to talk to me, to trust me, so for a long while we lay in peaceful silence as our auras mingled together. I don't even think she realized that our souls had merged for a moment in time as we lay there talking.

My Kagome…my mate, we are two halves of the same whole, why couldn't she see that? Feel that? As I made my way back to the estate I reminded myself that the only reason I even stomached being in his presence is for Kagome's sake. I never slept in the same room; I always find some tree that is close to Kagome and sit there until morning. As I walked past the hot springs I hear them talking….

"I was just out for a walk Alex…it's no big deal" I hear Kagome say in exasperation.

"With him?" he says making me almost smirk, I knew he would be crazy jealous "Yes..I will not lie to you, I went out for a walk and ran into him and we talked"

I hear Alex hiss in anger "Right…he just happened to be walking where you were…give me a break. That demon is stalking you"

"Stop calling him that. You call him demon like it's a bad thing"

"It is! He's not human and yet you treat him like he was, he has sharp claws and fangs..that is not normal"

I ignore the jab at my heritage; he was just like everyone else who took one look at me and labeled me dangerous and unfit to live in human society.

"I never pegged you as being prejudiced Alex, you disappointment me. InuYasha is perfect being a half demon, he doesn't abuse his strength and power, he uses it to help people, and I have met far worse humans"

"I knew you still had feelings for him" he says making my ears perk up a bit….would she deny it?

"I never did lie to you" she whispered "I have always loved him, you know that. I won't dispute that we have a romance as well…"

"But you never stopped loving him completely…right?" I hear the hurt and sadness in his voice making me flinch; it almost makes me feel bad for the guy…almost.

"Yes, I'm sorry Alex. I do still love him, and I just don't know what to do about that yet" I feel my heart soar at her admission of her feelings for me, especially in front of him.

I don't catch what Alex says to her but I hear him leaving towards the rooms leaving Kagome standing there for a while until I walk around to corner like I was just coming from the woods.

"Kagome….are you going to bed?" I say walking right next to her to see her head down "Kagome?" I didn't know what was wrong with her..she seemed so sad.

"Gods! I'm the worst! Alex has been nothing but nice and I repay him by breaking his heart! What kind of monster am I?"

I pull her into my arms because I couldn't stand so see her so sad and dejected "You are a wonderful person Kagome" whisper into her ear as I hold her close "You have the purest heart and soul, that I feel blessed to even have you here in my arms. Never doubt that"

"How can I not when I just tramped over his heart?" she says as she lets me carry her to her room which I was grateful it was free of Sango and Kikyo. I sit down on her bed and pull her to my lap and just continue to hold her as I rock her gently.

"It couldn't be helped Kagome….you are my mate…my soul mate, you were born for me, it is something that you can't run away from…I'm sorry"

She looks up at me and nods sadly "I wish I would have known that long time ago and avoided this whole thing..now I just feel like a bitch"

"You're not a bitch…..at least not in that sense" I say making her laugh sadly "Thank you InuYasha" she says as she buries herself closer into my embrace.

I rock her until I hear the even breathing and her chest rise and fall; I look down to see she fell asleep. Kikyo and Sango walk into the room and freeze when they see me sitting on Kagome's bed with her in my arms while she's asleep. They nod to me and they both lay down on their own beds leaving me with Kagome in my arms.

I don't think twice about it as I stretched myself on to her bed and pull her close to me, savoring to feel and scent of her so close to me while she slept. This is what I was missing all those years ago…the feel of my mates body close to me while I watched over her slumber, the warmth and love I felt as she trusted me to keep her safe and sound. Sighing contently I close my eyes and allow myself a moment of peace as pull her closer and tuck her into me, I lean down and lick her neck making her murmur my name.

"InuYasha" she says softly then clutches my haori.

"Sleep my Kagome….I will be right here" I say and fall asleep with my mate in my arms.