Inuyasha paced impatiently at the edge of the forest, glaring into the trees. The only thing preventing him from following Kagome's scent was Miroku.

"Give her time to miss you, Inuyasha," he had advised, nodding his head wisely.

"But you just said to not let her out of my sight!"

"Let that commence after she wishes to be in your sight."

"…Okay…"

He wasn't really sure Miroku knew what he was talking about, but Inuyasha had even less of a clue than the perverted monk did.

At first, Inuyasha thought Kagome was being all girly and cute with Yukio because she was trying to get back at him. After all, he admitted with a cringe, I was gone with Kikyo for a long time.

But it wasn't as if he and Kikyo had…done anything. They had just talked. Kikyo had even threatened him several times. Okay, yes, they had hugged twice. No big deal.

Inuyasha still wasn't sure how he felt about Kikyo. He loved her. And he hated her. And he desired her. And she disgusted him. Kikyo spun her web and he was the fly who was always caught, but then managed to escape again. It was tainted affection. A very real illusion.

But with Kagome it was so much different. There was laughter, there was joy. She made his chest feel light, his heart warm. Kagome made him want to smile forever, to cry tears of happiness. She was like…like…like the sun to him. He…loved Kagome. He really, truly did. Kagome was truth. She was here, she was now. She was…she was life. His life.

Kagome wouldn't flirt with someone else just to make him jealous, though. She just wasn't like that. And then, that's when Inuyasha began thinking the impossible. Maybe she actually…likes the jerk!

He growled at the idea. Of course not. She had sworn she would never leave him. Right?

Suddenly there was a shift in the air. He inhaled strawberries and rose petals and automatically knew she was near.

"Inuyasha!" She called, running out of the woods. Inuyasha felt immensely glad to see her, and was even about to tell her so, when Yukio loped into view.

Instantly, the hanyou was filled with a resentment so great it made him cringe. Jealousy, too, even though he'd never admit it.

Yukio had just spent the day with Kagome in privacy. They had gone who-knows-where and done who-knows-what together. Inuyasha would have preferred it to be Koga. Seriously.

"Where have you been?" He demanded.

Kagome cleared her throat and grinned up at him sheepishly, almost apologetically, "Yukio showed me his pond."

Oh. Gods. "WHAT?!" Inuyasha exploded, pulling Tessaiga out of its sheath. "I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU SHOWED KAGOME-! YOU DISGUSTING PIECE OF FILTH!"

He charged the stupid brown haired jerk, swinging his sword wildly. Why would Kagome admit that to him? And use such a lame innuendo, at that?

The miko's cheeks colored. "Oh no no no no nononono! Inuyasha, get your mind out of the gutter, for goodness sake! How do you even get…that…out of pond?"

Inuyasha felt his own face heat up, and he shoved the weapon back into place. "Well…well…It's your fault!" He stuttered, his embarrassment quickly turning into anger. "What am I supposed to think?! You've been gone all day with this stranger!"

"I went through a hike in the woods with Yukio and then we sat down by a pond," Kagome heatedly explained, her hands clenching into tiny fists.

"And you didn't think to tell anyone where you were going?!"

"It's no one's business where I go or WHO I GO WITH!"

"It is too!"

"Is not!"

"It's my business, Kagome," Inuyasha growled, stepping closer. Kagome gasped. Was he about to…? Was he going to admit that he was worried about her? That he didn't want her to go off with another man alone?

But then Inuyasha continued, "It's my business, Kagome, because I need to know where my jewel detector is at all times. What if we caught wind of a jewel and you weren't-?"

The half-demon froze midsentence, feeling a wave of terror crash into his spine. Kagome was giving him a death-stare, one he knew all too well. He cursed under his breath.

Kagome inhaled deeply before releasing the full force of her fury. "SIT! SITSITSITSITSITSITSIT! SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT! SIT! SIT! SIT! SITSITSITSIT!"

A little way's away, Yukio flinched. That looked really, really, really painful. Kagome obviously had some sort of strange power over this mutt.

Kagome stepped closer to the poor (but very dense) hanyou and, latching onto an ear, yanked his head off the ground. "You nasty, dirty hypocrite! You were gone with Kikyo all night last night, and then when I go off with a friend who I have no romantic attachment to at all-" and there it was again, that voice in the back of her mind that said yet- "and you get mad! And not even because you don't want me with another man! NO! It's because you're afraid your precious jewel detector will get lost or die or something! You insensitive jerk! SIT!"

Inuyasha involuntarily burrowed even deeper into the soil. Kagome turned to Yukio with an apologetic grimace. "I'm sorry you had to see that."

"Don't be, Lady Kagome," Yukio sneered down at Inuyasha, "He deserved it."

"WHY, YOU!" The half-demon wanted to get up, slash the guy's head off with his sword, and then feed it to Kirara, but the spell hadn't worn off yet.

Kagome turned on her heels and stalked off to the hut, and Yukio continued to smirk at him.

Well, his day definitely sucked.

XXX

The fire crackled softly over the light whistle of the wind. The stars were especially bright that night, scattered across the heavens in lovely little clusters. The grating hum of a cricket chirped quietly in the background.

Kagome knew that this was an excellent opportunity to catch up on some sleep. How often was Feudal Japan this peaceful? But try as she might, she just couldn't achieve slumber. Her mind was racing with the day's events, from the morning, when she was so rudely awakened by Inuyasha, to the evening, when she sat him for being…well…rude. And hypocritical and judgmental and thoughtless. And a jerk. And a angry, verbally abusive pig. And a horrible boyfriend (because she guessed that was technically what he was). And…anyways.

But despite the negative direction her thoughts were taking with Inuyasha, a small smile graced her lips. It struck her as funny that her days began and ended with Inuyasha. Funny, and right. It was supposed to be that way, wasn't it?

A movement to her left caught her attention, and she turned to see that the very subject of her ponderings had leapt down from his position in the trees and was now crouched on the ground. He stood. Probably just going to the bathroom, Kagome thought, stifling a yawn.

But then, to her surprise, he turned and his ocher eyes met hers.

"Kagome," he whispered, "are you awake?"

The girl nodded and sat up in her sleeping bag. "Yeah. What're you doing up?"

Inuyasha's grin made Kagome's heart flop. Not in a nervous way, not the way it did when Yukio smiled, but in a different way, in a way that felt time-worn and practiced. "I could ask you the same question. Wanna come on a walk with me?"

"Okay," Kagome agreed, standing up and skipping over to the hanyou, who in turn chuckled.

"Peppy this night?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

They ventured further into the dark, ominous forest, and Kagome felt no fear, as she knew she would have with Yukio. Inuyasha made her feel safe, protected. "Because…well. I don't really know. I guess I just…I don't know. Ha ha…" She laughed nervously. She knew exactly the reason why, but couldn't bring herself to say it.

"What?" He persisited, nudging her gently.

Well, okay, maybe she could bring herself to say it, after all. "Well, okay, well…Ha ha. Um, you know, I haven't really seen you all day and I guess I'm just…happy…" Her voice faded away unsurely.

"Oh," Inuyasha said, somewhat startled. "Well, you know. I guess…same here."

"Oh." Kagome smiled, and with a sudden spurt of bravery, she grabbed hold of his clawed hand and snuggled her head onto his shoulder. "So how was your day?" She inquired.

Inuyasha hmm-ed thoughtfully.

"So, Miroku, you're sayin' that if, starting when she gets back, I don't ever leave Kagome alone, she'll stop being stupid with the new guy and start paying more attention ta me?"

"Precisely, Inuyasha. The key to a woman's heart is attentiveness. Obsessive attentiveness."

"But, you know, what about baths and stuff?"

"Oh, right, Inuyasha, this is where you swallow your honor and peep on- I mean, keep a protective watch on her in case a pervert comes lurking about."

"Oh, so someone like you?"

"Ah…Anyways, do you understand?"

"I don't think it's a good idea…"

"My dear friend, who is the smarter one of the duo?"

"I'm guessing the answer you're looking for is you?"

"Of course. So, obviously, my advice is solid and should be followed to the dot."

"Right. But if it doesn't work, Miroku, let's just say you're going to become very familiar with an angry female octopus demon in heat."

"…"

Inuyasha shook his head and decided to never, ever tell Kagome about the conversations that had been held with the monk.

The pair continued walking until they came upon a fallen log. Sitting down gently, she pulled Inuyasha next to her. "I'm sorry about today…I mean, using the s-word on you that much was unnecessary."

"It's okay," he murmured, staring out at the sky, "I'm…I guess I'm sorry, too."

Kagome raised an eyebrow. "You guess?"

Inuyasha's voice rose defensively. "Aw, come on, Kags! You know how hard it is for me to say these things…"

The girl laughed, the sound like tinkling bells, before she snuggled into him. "I know, I know, Inuyasha. Don't freak out."

And they sat like that, still and comfortable, silent and content. Not even Inuyasha felt the pair of eyes on their backs.

Hidden in the trees, Yukio scoffed quietly, shaking his head. Oh, no. This would not do. Not at all.

Sorry for the many grammatical errors and stuff in this chapter. Anyways, please review! I know it's not my best...buuuut...haha, I'm proud of myself because I actually got this chapter out in a reasonable amount of time! Like, not next year! :D