Chapter 6

(A/N: Thank you, faithful readers! Here's Chapter 6!)

Naraku smiled evilly, he knew their secret, thanks to the Sanyosho (poisonous insects). He now knew how to tear them apart. He disguised himself as a woman villager to get close to InuYasha and Kagome. He threw himself down at their feet.

"Please, kind travelers, please help my village."

"What's wrong?" Kagome asked.

"A man named Naraku is terrorizing our village. He steals the women and devours our men. I escaped to find help."

At the mention of 'Naraku', InuYasha jumped up, "Let's go guys."

"Right," everyone nodded. InuYasha and Kagome rushed on ahead, Sango with the woman on Kirara's back. Miroku and Shippo ran alongside InuYasha. The woman started crying.

"What's the matter?" Sango asked.

"I—I have a confession… Half demons are my weakness. I'm a bane in my village because of it. InuYasha is very agreeable to the eye, but his manners are lacking."

Sango chuckled, "Indeed."

"InuYasha?" Kagome whispered.

"Yeah, I knew something was funny," InuYasha nodded, his ears alert; he quickly stopped, claws bared.

Kagome's bow was drawn, "Hit the mark," she whispered as the bow flung the sacred arrow towards the jewel she saw hidden behind Sango. The arrow struck and a flume of miasma came spilling out. Naraku laughed and disappeared. Miroku, Shippo, and Sango stared…They were fooled again, but Sango felt strange.

She looked down and saw an insect hive, then a voice, "Release us to kill the monk, release us."

Sango's eyes glazed over as she threw the hive on the ground, the Sanyosho buzzed towards Miroku. Sango felt hurt, and then she felt an arrow close to the hive, the hive exploded as the Sanyosho fell to the ground one by one. Sango shook her head, "W—what happened?"

Miroku rubbed his arm where the Wind Tunnel was held at bay, "You almost killed me, Sango."

Sango looked shocked, "But… but how?"

"Naraku tricked us again."

She clenched her fist, "Then we must destroy him and soon." The others nodded in agreement.

Back at Kaede's, InuYasha and Kagome were arguing again.

"Why? Why do you always return every chance you get, huh?"

Kagome teared up, "Because my mom worries about me, OK? Why can't you just leave me alone?!"

InuYasha's ears drooped, he spun around and put his arms in his red kimono, "Whatever."

Kagome let out a sob, "InuYasha, I didn't mean to…"

"Listen, why don't you just go back and stay there, OK?"

"InuYasha! That is no way to treat Kagome!"

"Psh, whatever."

Kagome cried and fled the hut. She didn't stop running until she came upon the Sacred Tree. She flung herself at the base of the tree and just cried. InuYasha unwillingly watched her from a safe distance, then he heard her voice.

"InuYasha, I love you. I have always loved you."

InuYasha slumped against the tree he was leaning on, across the way from where Kagome sat on her knees.

"But, if you wish me to leave, I'll go. If you want me to stay, I'll stay."

InuYasha lept and ran to her, picking her up and hugging her, "Stay."

Kagome cried into InuYasha's chest, "Are you sure?" She looked into the hanyou's golden brown eyes.

"Yes," he whispered softly, "I need you, Kagome." They embraced again and laid under the Sacred Tree, "Kagome?"

"Hm?"

"I-If I uh..."

She sat up, "Inu-Yasha? Why are you -"

She never finished her question. InuYasha's mouth was on hers, his hands held her close to him, he gently pushed her onto her back as she silently pleaded with him. His animal behavior overcame him and they made love in the light of the full moon, underneath the Sacred Tree.

"InuYasha!" Kikyo's voice echoed as she drew back her bow. The bow shot the arrow and pierced InuYasha's heart.

"But Kikyo! How could... I thought..." InuYasha's body slumped over in a sleep that should have lasted forever.

"InuYasha!" The dream shifted to Kikyo again, but it wasn't Kikyo, but Kagome. Kagome's sacred arrow shot forth from the bow, pinning InuYasha to the tree. Instead of putting him to sleep, InuYasha was paralyzed as he watched a horrific scene unfold in from of him. Naraku was in the process of absorbing Kikyo. But, InuYasha was powerless to stop him. Kagome's jealous face turned towards him, "You still can't get over her, can you? InuYasha?"

Naraku's voice combined with Kikyo's, "It is useless, half-demon, I will devour you, just as I devoured your love for each other."

"NOOOO!" InuYasha struggled, "Kagome, please! I LOVE YOU! Sure, Kikyo was my first love, but you will always be my only love. I don't understand all your ways, but I do understand that we were meant for each other. Kagome, please..." InuYasha's head dropped from exhaustion, "Release me. I love you, Kagome."

Naraku dropped a dead Kikyo at InuYasha's feet, "InuYasha, you sacrificed her again for your selfish gain to win Kagome's heart. Do you really think she loves you in return?"

InuYasha looked at Naraku, "Damn right, I do!"

InuYasha gasped and sat up. Crickets chirped, an owl hooted and Kagome's warm body lay beside him, "InuYasha?" Her cold hand made him jump, his red kimono being used as a blanket. "What is it?"

InuYasha grinned, the moon full on his face, "I know how to defeat Naraku."