At first Kagome felt fairly confident when she announced she'd be confronting Inuyasha but now she wished to retreat or at least go back to fetch Kouga. Fear didn't drive her away, it was the heart ache. This was unlike her. Whenever it came to her emotions she never hesitated to fly off the handle with Inuyasha. Things are different now... now that I know... She forced herself to continue moving forward. Her legs felt like cement with each step she took further in the direction of the sacred tree. She longed for Inuyasha but at the same time she wished to be in the arms of another, the Wolf Prince. The conflicting feelings were taking its toll on the girl. She didn't know what she was going to say to Inuyasha but she couldn't lose him as a friend even if that meant standing aside so he could be with the one he loved even more than her... Kikyo.
She approached the thriving tree adorned with sacred ties, and as her deep brown eyes wondered up the trunk her eyes landed on the white haired dog demon sitting on one of its thick limbs. If only she could rewind, she wouldn't know the truth and the pain would disappear along with the agonizing decisions. Then again, Inuyasha would never truly be happy with her. He was meant to be with the dead priestess. "Inuyasha?" The sound of her voice made his white dog ears twitch and his gaze met hers. Did he feel the heartache too? Yes, she could read it in his eyes. He hopped down, his arms glued to his sides as he gawked at her with a solemn expression. Words, the lack of words was making this awkward yet she couldn't find the right ones to express the pain she felt staring at the man before her.
"Miroku said you went back to your world," Inuyasha mumbled trying his hardest to look at her.
Kagome fixed her eyes on the ground, "Yes, I did, but I came back."
"I was going to come after you..." he whispered softly.
She looked up and his golden hues met hers, this was news to her.
"Why?" she questioned slowly.
He groaned, "Cause' I hate knowing you're hurting! If you heard me that day you know I care about you Kagome!"
Him lashing out at her was a good sign, he was showing his vulnerability.
"Inuyasha, I did hear you that day, you also said if I wasn't in the way you'd be with Kikyo," she spoke calmly. Raising her voice when he was upset only made matters worse.
The hanyou clenched his fists, "But Kagome, you're here! If you hadn't freed me I'd still be on this tree and Kikyo would have never been brought back to life in the first place! Cause' you are here I want to be with you!"
"But if I wasn't you'd be in her arms! If I hadn't come back from the well at all today or ever I know where you would be... That's not what love is supposed to be like Inuyasha! Love is when there is one person who you cherish and adore who they are and they become that ONE person you love for the rest of your life. Someone you know without a circle of a doubt that, that's it, there is no re-bounder!" her voice thundered with passion. What was she saying? Was she doing the same thing to Kouga? No... no she didn't love Kouga but she knew she felt something for him for sure but Inuyasha was her first real love... right? Was it love she felt for Inuyasha? She always imagined herself being with him but with the Wolf Prince in the picture her loyalties were in question. The half-dog demon stared at her not sure of what to say or do. Kagome knew what she had to do, not just for herself but for Inuyasha so he could be happy with his first love. Even if the priestess made of clay wasn't meant to be on this earth his heart belonged to her. Never would Kagome be the owner of his heart.
She sighed, "Inuyasha, I can't love you anymore."
His eyes welled up with tears as he whimpered, "Are you leaving me Kagome? You said you would stay by my side even if... even if..."
"I know what I said Inuyasha," Kagome's woodsy brown eyes began to tear up as well, "I can't bare to lose you, but I know for certain that I can't keep going on like this and pretend like things are okay."
"Kagome-"
She stopped him, "I will be by your side Inuyasha," the hanyou's eyes lit up, "but only as a friend, a companion to travel with and help in search of the Shikon jewels. I'd never abandon my responsibilities."
The dog demon's gaze dropped to the grassy floor beneath his bare feet. He couldn't believe she was actually staying with him and she'd be suffering all the while from the heart ache he had caused her. "That's more than I could ever ask for after the foolish words I've said and the things I've done," he whispered softly reaching out with both of his arms to embrace her.
She allowed him to hug her but only for a moment before she pulled away. "Now, you can't be getting jealous all the time you hear," she warned pointing her index finger at him, "I won't be jealous of Kikyo if you can at least do that for me."
A small smile perked up on his face revealing one of his fangs, "I'll try my best Kagome, its only instinct to want to protect you."
She forced a smile and waved her hand in a "follow me gesture", "Come on, Keade still has some stew left we've been saving for you."
Inuyasha grinned and followed her as they began their journey back to the village.
"What made you come back? Just curious," he added on to his question quickly as she glanced over at him.
She chuckled a genuine smile appearing on her face, "Its actually a funny story, you know how only you and I can get through the bone eater well to my world?"
He nodded slowly raising a brow, "Uh huh..."
"Well, somehow Kouga managed to make it through."
Inuyasha's jaw dropped, "What?!"
Kagome blinked registering the surprised expression on his face, "Miroku seems to think it may have been the jewel shards but no one is for certain, we have a number of theories."
His dark dangerous brows furrowed together, "How in the hell? So you came back because he coaxed you to?!"
An airy chuckle fluttered from her lips once more, "No Inuyasha, if he had his way we'd still be there but I knew seeing you and clearing things up between us was only right. Kouga made me realize this in an unusual way. Besides I told you, you're not allowed to get jealous anymore."
He growled, "I'm trying not to Kagome but we're talking about a guy who kidnapped you and is keeping jewel shards from us!"
She rolled her eyes, "Oh please Inuyasha, he needed my help or else he wouldn't have taken me to begin with and he's changed since then! I'm sure after we defeat Naraku he'd give us the shards of the Shikon no Tama back."
"For his sake he better or else I'll rip off his legs and take them by force!"
Letting out an irritable sigh she pushed forward and felt a great feeling of relief when the village came into view. Within minutes things were beginning to go back to normal, she didn't know whether to find this unsettling or a good thing. Everyone was outside of Keade's hut laughing and exchanging conversation when they approached. Kouga sent her a worried look which she immediately caught and sent him a smile. A weight was lifted off the group of travelers noticing the tension between Kagome and Inuyasha had disappeared as if nothing had ever happened.
"Everything alright you two?" Sango asked boldly stepping forward and sent a threatening glance toward Inuyasha.
The dog demon gulped and took a step back, the cold vibe he was getting from the demon slayer wasn't something he wanted to tango with.
Kagome gave a firm nod, "Yes, we're fine now."
Miroku grinned, "I am glad to hear."
The fox demon shook his head, "None of this would've happened if Inuyasha wasn't such a two timer."
Inuyasha growled at the child, "What did you say about me?!"
"You heard me!" he yelled back.
"Come here ya' little runt!"
"HELP KAGOME!"
Inuyasha chased after the tiny kitskune shouting at him furiously.
Kouga shook his head in agreement with Shippo, "I'd have to say the little tike has a point."
Keade nodded, "Indeed but let us not dwell on the past, Kagome has decided to move forward as should ye."
A small glimmer of hope lit a fire inside Kouga after heeding the elderly woman's words. He finally had his chance to prove to Kagome he was ten times the man that Inuyasha was. The Wolf Prince suddenly couldn't wait to get back to his pack to tell Ginta and Hakkaku everything. For some reason though he had a feeling that Inuyasha wasn't completely over the idea of Kagome after how defensive he got from the child's comment. Then again, no one likes being called a two timer.
The Monk stamped his staff in the ground to gather their groups attention, "So for the next order of business I think we should begin our travels again soon, what do you think Sango?"
Sango smiled, "Yes, definitely but only if Kagome is ready."
The modern day priestess nodded her head, "Sure! I'm packed up and ready to go, since you don't have to return to your tribe yet Kouga you can travel with us if you like," she offered.
This stopped Inuyasha from rubbing his fists into sides of the fox demon's head and dropped him to the ground. "No way I'm traveling with that flea bitten wolf!" he declared glaring at the Youkai.
"Hn, if I had a choice I wouldn't stand within a foot ya, ya dirty mutt, but if Kagome is offering there's no way I'm refusing! Besides someone has to protect her from you," the Wolf Prince retaliated glaring at the half demon.
Too soon? He wondered. His question was answered when anger flashed across the dog demon's face.
This frustrated Kagome as well, "Both of you knock it off! When searching for Naraku the more help the better! It's better we ally our forces rather than separate them!"
Miroku stared in amazement, "That was a very wise statement Kagome and I couldn't agree more."
Kagome blushed, I did sound like Miroku there.
"Fine! But I don't have to like it, one paw on her and I'll bite your head off," he warned the wolf demon.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome threatened.
Kouga clenched his teeth, "I'll put my paws where I want, besides I would never disrespect Kagome ya pervert!"
She began to regret her invitation. The nice, cool collective Kouga was slowly disappearing in the presence of Inuyasha. No doubt they were in for a painful journey while the new Youkai traveled with them.
"It's pretty early, so if we leave in about an hour we could make use of our daylight," the monk suggested.
"Alright, Kagome let's make sure your bag has everything we may need," Sango headed into the hut and Kagome followed. The demon slayer's cat companion, Kirara, who had been avoiding the rambunctious activity going on outside was curled up by the fire napping. Kagome sat down next to Sango as the emptied out her bag and organized their herbs and medicine. A thought came to mind in the process.
"Um... Sango... with you being a demon slayer you must know a lot about the different types and stuff right?" she asked curiously.
"Why, yes Kagome, I'd say I know a fair amount about a variety of demons," she answered going through the tiny first aid kit the school girl carried.
"Even about wolf demons?"
This question made her stop the grouping of their bandages and gave her friend a quizzical expression.
"Sure, I know a little."
Kagome cleared her throat, "Kouga had mentioned something about how wolves mate for life and if they're soul mates the two share a particular scent..."
Sango nodded slowly, "I don't know that for a fact but I have heard that story told to me by my father, he said himself he wasn't for certain of this though, just what he heard."
"D-d-did they have a certain scent? I mean I'm just curious," she stuttered, tripping over her words a small pink tint formulating on her cheeks.
"I was never told what scent, humans don't normally find out about these sorts of tales and traditions because their communication with such demons had been forbidden. Kagome... why do you ask?" she stared at her friend worriedly.
The teenager waved her hands back and forth chuckling nervously, "No reason! I was just curious! Honestly!"
Sango bought her lie, "Okay then, I think Kouga would naturally have more information about it, I'm sure he'd elaborate and tell you more... what was that expression you had said once? Getting it straight from the horse's mouth? In this case wolf's mouth?" She giggled at her own joke.
"Right, right! I just felt weird asking him so I was hoping you'd know."
"I'm sorry Kagome," she smiled, "but if I find out you will be the first I share the new information with."
She smiled at her friend, "Thanks, Sango."