Hello again to everyone still reading :) First let's get the fact that I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters in it. I also don't own any references I make to the tv show.

Next, I would like to take a moment to thank everyone for the wonderful reviews:

0yellow0, I am so flattered that you have enjoyed this story thus far! I love that my writing has been enjoyed so much for it to be reread even once, much less five times :D I hope you keep enjoying my story and will keep updating as frequently as possible.

Airi777, thank you for my first review. I really needed that boost in the beginning and it helped me continue writing this story knowing you wanted to read more. It really pushed me to keep writing :)

I will be 38 weeks pregnant this week, so if I randomly stop updating as often as I have been please don't give up reading my story. I probably wouldn't be updating due to delivering my husband's and my first baby :D I will try updating as I can afterwards depending how it goes. Until then, I will write every chance I get and update as many chapters as I can think up.

Without further delay, here is chapter six. Enjoy :)

Chapter Six

Establishing Relationships or Destroying them

The greatest pain I had ever felt slowly started seeping into my senses. My head throbbed with every pulse as I raised my arm to my head. Pressure didn't seem to actually alleviate any of the pain I was feeling, but it was the only thing I could really manage to do. I felt better holding my arm to my head anyways, I thought as a groan formed in the back of my throat.

Memories of what had caused this agony slowly passed through the haze in my mind. Kagome had... Did she try purifying me? Was she a miko?

My eyes slowly fluttered open, allowing my eyes to adjust to a light source nearby. I was still in the same area of the woods from the smell of my surroundings, but I didn't feel a tree at my back. I must have been moved.

No sooner had the revelation passed in my mind I heard voices nearby.

"I really hope he wakes up soon," her concern voiced to the other, "I didn't mean to put quite so much energy into that blast. I only meant to elaborate the seriousness of what he has done and it wouldn't go without consequence. I don't allow senseless killing and that won't change." She sounded resolute in the fact, but it was laced heavily with regret and sadness.

Kagome, I won't ever kill another human without just cause and will be sure my pack is made aware that they aren't as well, I vowed to her and myself silently.

"You know you probably saved him though, Kagome," the other voice mused. "I wouldn't have listened to anything either of you two had said and would have definitely killed him or died trying." She didn't sound the least bit concerned, but merely stating a fact. "I'm still not exactly sure why you, a priestess, are friendly with a demon such as him, but I know now that you wouldn't allow villages to be slain."

I sneaked a glance over at my wild haired woman to see her reactions to everything that was being said, her shadow dancing in the leaves behind her in the darkness of the night from the flickering of the fire in front of us. Apparently I have already decided to make a claim on this woman, my head throbbed harder momentarily and I grimaced reflexively. Even though she is the only one to ever have caused me so much pain, yet I don't want anything to harm her still, I laughed mentally at how far I have fallen for this beautiful creature before me.

"He isn't like that at heart, Sango. I don't know how to really explain it to you, but I can assure you that he is a great and caring guy at his core. Maybe a bit rough on the edges, but a heart of gold underneath. I've seen it in the way he acts for his pack for one and how he considers the smallest details in everything." The demon slayer looked at her curiously at that, hearing the sincerity of the sentiment. My heart swelled with pride at her defense of my character.

"How long have you known him?" Sango had questioned her. She smelled lightly of suspicion and my body tensed in response.

"Oh about three years or so I guess," Kagome looked off seeming to count the time passed in her mind.

"How did you not know he has been pillaging villages during that time?"

Now Kagome looked surprised at the information she had unknowingly given her. She looked down her eyes searching for an answer in the grass beneath her and I took it as my cue to "wake up."

(^u^)

Can I tell Sango the truth?! I glimpsed at my friend from beneath my bangs and quickly decided it wasn't a great idea. She already seemed extremely skeptical of me without adding a seemingly impossible tale of our past to the mix.

Koga's body stirred and I saw his eyes lock on mine. And now he probably hates me to add on top of everything. "She is from a different time and is a priestess that watched over the shikon no tama," he answered for me, but his eyes never wavered from mine. I saw no emotion behind them, just resolute belief in what he said to be truth.

Sango jerked her head in his direction looking ready to laugh at such a statement, but hesitated. "You can't be serious," she paused before reluctantly adding, "could you?"

"He is telling the truth. I wasn't going to tell you because I didn't think you would actually believe me. Around this time I had accidentally shattered the sacred jewel and started my hunt to find all the shards and make the jewel complete once again. That task took three years to complete with the help of friends,"I glanced at Koga before continuing, "and once the jewel was finally whole again I wished it had never came into existence." I watched Sango carefully to see how she was taking this information in.

"If that was the case then why is there legend of it still?" she questioned. Good. Questioning it at least meant she was considering the validity of my words rather than just dismissing it as a tale from an insane person.

"I'm not completely sure how the wish was carried out, it's something I am still trying to figure out for myself. So far I'm the only one with any memories of what had happened before the wish was made." I looked up at the stars. They seemed to shine the way the shards had before, maybe not quite as many stars as there were shards though. The number seemed endless then. "From my understanding the jewel came into existence when Midoriko's soul was fighting that of a demon's soul, waging an indefinite struggle between good and evil. Maybe that never happened. Maybe it did, but the good intentions of the wish gave Midoriko the extra strength she needed to finally defeat the very demon that bit her." I looked back to Sango momentarily before adding, "You are actually the reason I know of the jewel's origins," I smiled at my friend.

Koga still was watching me, but now I could see wonder in the depth of his eyes. Knowledge passed his expression as he suddenly stated, "This Sango is another one of your friends from before isn't she?"

I could feel my expression change to that of shock at his intuition over the matter. "Yes Sango was like a sister and one of the people I would die for. She traveled in our group to get the shard to become whole again..."

"Stop," Sango was holding her hand up, effectively cutting me off. "I'm not listening to any more of this. I'm leaving," she started to rise.

"Wait Sango, I know it sounds impossible..." I started to reach towards her retreating form.

"No. No more. I'll find you if I want to hear anymore," with that she left. I watched her leave without so much as a glance back at me. I felt sadness creep in and suddenly felt much colder than I had moments ago. I scooted closer to the fire to try easing the feeling.

Koga moved to get up and I looked over at him, "I'm sorry I hurt you as much as I did."

(^u^)

She seemed defeated, being rejected by her former sister. I wanted to let her curl up in my lap and wrap my arms around her, to help relax her. I started to get up.

"I'm sorry I hurt you as much as I did," her eyes were gleaming in the firelight from the tears that were starting to form.

"Heh, you can definitely throw a good punch there Kagome," I smirked at her teasingly, trying to reassure her with my humor. As I stood I couldn't hide the wince that crossed my face from the pain in my head.

She grimaced, immediately raised to her feet and went to her yellow bag I just noticed was leaning against a tree. She must have went back to the cave while I was out. I looked around and confirmed my earlier suspicions that I had been moved as well, they must have moved me here to the camp they had made for the night too, I mused.

She pulled out an odd clear container and a cloth and twisted the top off the container before pouring water onto the cloth. I watched her curiously as she reached back in her bag, draping the damp cloth over her left arm as she rummaged out a small white container out of her bag with her right hand. She walked towards me with these items in hand.

She stretched onto the tips of her toes, reaching the damp cloth to my forehead. Realizing what she was doing I grabbed the cloth and her hand with mine. My eyes watched hers intently, seeing them filled with concern, remorse and...love? Her eyes locked with mine momentarily before pulling her arm back with a blush and looking down towards the white container in her hand.

I smiled at her innocence, liking the way the red on her cheeks lit her face up in an entirely new beauty I never noticed in another person before as I pressed the damp cloth to my forehead. She continued to twist the red top off of the container, soft rattling sounds coming from it as she did so. She tilted the container on it's side, tapping it against her opposite palm until two red and white ovals fell into her palm.

I looked at the two ovals curiously. "Here swallow these, it will help with any pain you are having." I eyed them even more warily now as she plopped them in my free hand. I lifted them to my face, sniffing the odorless things. She chuckled and I looked back at her.

"Sorry, you just look a bit silly doing that," she lifted her hand to cover her smiling mouth from view, "they are Tylenol. It's a medicine that takes pain away." She clarified these mysterious things to me.

"I don't have any injuries to need these though," I offered them back to her.

"You winced from SOME kinda pain earlier..." she slowly stated, letting me know she noticed it hurt my head when I stood.

"Yeah a pain in my head, not an injury though. I'm fine, so don't worry about it," I smiled at her concern, but didn't like the idea of taking the "Tylenol."

She chuckled again, quickly covering it with her hand again, "They are good for headaches too, not just for physical injuries. If you don't want to take them that's ok though. If you change your mind just let me know."

I smiled at her, realizing she understood my skepticism. My head IS aching...and I don't want her to think I don't appreciate her concern. What if she no longer believes I trust her because I didn't take them? My tail tucked only by a millimeter, still uncomfortable with the idea as I took the two Tylenols from her before she replaced them back in their container. She smiled and handed me the other container of water.

I took a last glance at her before tossing them in my mouth and swallowing them with the water she handed me. "Thank you Kagome," I smiled at her and instantly felt better. I still felt the throbbing, but it seemed to lessen in comparison to the new emotions this act invoked.

She couldn't possibly know that a gift of such concern was actually starting a courtship with me in the eyes of any demon. I smiled gently at my wonderful Kagome. She returned the smile without any hesitation whatsoever holding my gaze for what seemed like forever. She DEFINITELY wasn't aware of how her actions would be perceived. I'll just have to keep that in mind while I try to explain them to her with my own commitments.

(^u^)

Was it just me, or did I notice a spark of mischief cross his happy expression? My heart sped up, wondering what he was thinking.