New Beginnings

Hello again, all! I want to thank all who reviewed my first chapter, I must say it was quite nice to sign on to find such encouragement waiting. Sorry the last one was so short, I will certainly try to make the following chapters longer. Well, here is the next installment of New Beginnings, I hope you enjoy it as much, if not more than the first, and please, keep those ratings and reviews coming!

RavenWind

And oh yeah, much as I might wish, I do not own the Inu Gang *sigh* Shame, though, if I did I might actually have some money, eh?


Inuyasha lept from the branch he had been occupying nearly an hour after Kagome had left the well. He knew she would be safe with the others to protect her. He had been lost in thought since he had heard her speak of her love for him, wondering how he could tell her that he felt the same for her. He knew it would be nigh impossible for him to properly convey what he felt, and much as he would have loved to take her in his arms and kiss away all her tears, he knew his pride and his vow to protect her would never let him. Inuyasha would never be able to keep her safe if he allowed himself to get lost in his love for her. If only he could stop hurting her, saying horrible things only because she scared him, because he thought he could lose her.

I doubt she'll ever know, he thought sadly, and if I were to tell her I love her, it would likely be too little too late. Inuyasha sighed and reached his arms for the sky to stretch, his muscles knotted after sitting so long in the tree. He turned his face up to the warmth of the sun, willing it to wash away the excitement and contentment he felt at knowing she loved him. Contentedness was a new feeling for him, and one he thought he could ill afford. What use did happiness have in battle? No, only anger, ferocity, and hatred could ever help him there. It's too bad, after fighting for so long I almost wish I could live a peaceful life. Not that that will ever happen so long as Naraku is still breathing. For now I have to focus on the jewel, on killing Naraku, and on keeping Kagome safe. Maybe after he's dead I can tell her I love her, maybe then we can both have a peaceful life....maybe even....together.

Inuyasha smiled, what a day that would be!

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"Maybe you should learn to protect your own damn self, wench! It would be nice if you were useful for something other than finding shards, seeing as it's your fault we even need to!" Kagome winced and groaned, wishing Inuyasha's angry words would stop haunting her. She took a deep breath and sunk below the warm, steamy water. Kagome had excused herself to bathe in the hotsprings when she had gotten sick of Sango's worried gaze and Miroku's knowing stare. Inuyasha still hadn't come back before she left and she was beginning to worry, though he was more than likely with his beloved Kikyou.

I wish he would love me instead, she thought, I wish I were the one he goes to in the night, the one that he holds closely against him. I want to be the one he kisses lovingly, but all I get are tears. She burst forth from the water with an explosion of breath, her cheeks ruddy with emotion as much as heat. Damn him! Damn Inuyasha! If I'm so useless I should just leave and let him use Kikyou to find the gods forsaken shards! Of course that will never happen, no no, I'll end up following him around like a lost puppy looking for affection.

Kagome stalked out of the water in irritation, with herself as much as with Inuyasha. She grabbed a fluffy white towel from her bag and wrapped it around her slender, lily-white body. She felt around the bottom of her large knapsack for her school uniform, reminding herself to find something a little more practical to wear. She was getting sick of people staring at her when they went through towns. The all stared enough at Inuyasha, Kilala, and Shippou; and her modern day outfit certainly wasn't helping. She vowed to ask Sango to help her find a more appropriate outfit the next time they stopped in a town somewhere.

After dressing, Kagome began her walk back to the rest of the group, wondering if Inuyasha had finally come back. A soft rustling in the tree to her right drew her attention, and Kagome immediately dropped her bag and knocked an arrow in her longbow. "Who's there?" Her demanding voice rang through the small glade, and she wondered if the others would be able to hear her if she screamed.

The tree rustled once more, and just as Kagome had been ready to send an arrow into the tree as warning, Inuyasha dropped to the ground below. Kagome 'humphed' and returned her bow to her shoulder before sliding the arrow back into her quiver. She turned and continued heading towards the hut, ignoring his presence behind her.

Inuyasha frowned and ran lightly towards her, he couldn't bear to have her so angry with him. He gently grabbed her shoulder with a clawed hand, "Kagome, wait..." Kagome stood stock still as she felt his hand close about her shoulder, pleased by his soft touch. Even as she enjoyed his nearness, her anger returned in full force and she shook him off. "Why should I wait for you to insult me some more? I get it, Inuyasha, and I'll be gone as soon as the shards are collected. I wont bother you anymore."

Inuyasha stood and stared down at his hand, wondering what had made him touch her like that, then turned his gaze back to her. "Please, Kagome," he called, "I want to talk to you..." Kagome was shocked by the gentle tone in his voice, and feeling her anger slip away, she turned back to face him. He walked closer to her and stared her dead in the eye.

"Listen to me, Kagome, please...I didn't mean what I said earlier, it was wrong of me to be so harsh." He struggled for a moment, unused to apologizing for his actions. "You do more than cause trouble, Kagome, and I love.....we love having you around." His heart thudded in his chest, he had come far too close to saying what he really meant. "I mean Shippou looks up to you as a mother, and Sango thinks of you as a true friend. And, I'm sure Miroku would be quite upset with the loss of a lady in the group, the lecher that he is." He was rushing, and he knew it, but he had to cover up what he had almost said.

"That covers the others, Inuyasha, but you said 'we'. Were you lying, or do you actually like having me around. Why not tell me the truth, I'm sure the others put you up to this, anyway." She crossed her arms and stared coldly at him.

"No, they didn't put me up to this, I haven't even been back there yet. I could smell you here, and I wanted to talk to you before we went back to them. I do like having you around, Kagome, you....you...'re nice to be with!" Damn that was terrible! I'm a fool, but I can't tell her why I really want her here...

"Nice, eh? I suppose that's better than nothing." Kagome rolled her eyes, "It's the best apology I've gotten from you yet....maybe because it's the only one." She adjusted her bag and started walking again. I'm amazed that he even came to me, she thought, maybe he does care....no, at best I can hope he sees me as more than a shard detector. At least it's a start...

Inuyasha didn't begrudge her her bitterness, he only wished he hadn't been the cause. He stood and watched her as she walked back, taking in the bounce of her hair, the curve of her hips, and her long, slender legs. She was beautiful, his beloved, and he only wished she were truely his. "I love you, Kagome," he whispered knowing she couldn't hear, "stay with me forever..."


A/N Ok, I know I said I would make this one longer, but it's 3:30 in the morning, and I have a long day tomorrow. I promise I'll find the time to make the next ones longer and more detailed, and I imagine that would require starting them before 2 AM. Keep watching, I might even have one up tomorrow (8/1) since I wont be doing anything after 6:30 or 7 ^_^ It's wonderful to be writting again!