Chapter 3: Forever

The midday sun beat down on the back of his neck, and reminded the half-youkai exactly how hot it was. With a quick sweep of his brow, and neck in an attempt remove some of the excess sweat, Inuyasha proceeded to remove his haori, and roll up the sleeves of his white kimono.

Kagome was not far behind him, only a foot or so, allowing him to sneak glances at her every once in a while. She seemed fine. She had told him she was fine with what he did, even happy that she would be able to spend eternity with him. AND she didn't seem the least bit disgusted. But was she really? He couldn't help but wonder. And he also couldn't help but smile at the thought of having Kagome by his side for a all of time. Whether someday she developed feelings for him or not did not matter as much as it did before, instead his heart leaped with joy at the thought of never again being alone. Of having Kagome to himself forever.

Kagome walked, not really caring where her feet or Inuyasha were leading her to. She was thinking. "I'll look sixteen for the rest of time. That's definitely a plus!" Who would want to grow old? "Maybe now I can stay in this Era." Her eyes went to the boy in front of her. "With Inuyasha!" All morning her thoughts had followed the same pattern. All day since they had left the healer's hut, she had been in deep thought. Would she stay here now for five hundred years until she was able to see her family again? Or just go back home after the mission and never look back?

Kagome looked ahead to Inuyasha again, he had shed his haori and she could tell he badly wanted to take the under shirt off too, but had settled for rolling the sleeves as high as they would go. "He is so skinny!" She was always amazed at how lean Inuyasha was beneath his baggy clothing. He wasn't bulky as one would expect from his continuous fighting, but rather lean and well toned.

Would he want her around? Would he leave to hell with Kikyo? What then would she do with her new found immortality? Surely she could not live for millenniums without him.

Suddenly, something wrapped itself around her waist. She looked down to find a pair of claws. Her first thought was that it may be Inuyasha, but he was still in front of her. And then she felt it. The power of two Shikon shards.

"Kouga!" she exclaimed. "What brings you here?" She had managed to slip from his grasp, and turn to face him as she moved back a few feet. "Personal space."

"Well I was in the neighborhood and caught your scent Kagome! Of course it was being spoiled by the stench of that dirty dog!"

Inuyasha had been so deep within his own thoughts of a happily ever after with Kagome, that he hadn't heard Kouga approaching, nor had he smelled him. When Kagome had said his name he was so startled he tripped over a rock and landed face first into the ground.

Quickly getting up and brushing himself off, he jumped to stand between Kagome and Kouga.

"Tripped over a rock, eh dog-turd?" Kouga chuckled, Inuyasha just growled a warning.

"What the hell are you doing here wolf?"

Kouga straightened his shoulders, and crossed his arms across his chest. "Came to see my woman, not that it's any of your business."

~~~

Kagome sat under the shade of a great oak tree at the edge of the clearing, Inuyasha's white shirt in a neat pile next to her. Growls and insults were audible in the background as Kouga and Inuyasha continued their fight. Kagome on the other hand was taking this time for a lunch break, occasionally taking a glance at the fighting demons to make sure they didn't seriously hurt each other.

She leaned back unto the trunk of the tree, and took another bite of the ham sandwich. "Why does Kouga bother him so much? So what if he likes me? Inuyasha has Kikyo!" Her mouth moved as she chewed on the bread. "Why won't he let me be with someone else?" Inuyasha always became jealous when other males took interest in her, even when they looked at her.

What kind of life would she have if he always drove away guys that might want to be with her?

Why did he insist on robbing her of any chances to get over him and find someone new. "Why if he has Kikyo can't I be with Kouga, or even Hojo? Who is he to make these decisions for me?"

She narrowed her eyes angrily. Inuyasha was taking away all her chances of being with someone. "That two-timing jerk! How dare he? Who does he think he is?!!" Kagome swallowed what was left of her sandwich in one gulp, brushed her hands off on her skirt, and raised to her feet. "Inuyasha loves Kikyo! Why is it so horrible that someone might love me?" And as she stomped over to the two demons a low imitation growl could be heard in the back of her throat.

They were facing each other, each preparing to attack when the loud, "SIT!" was shrieked, and a soon following, "Aah!"

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!! What did I do?!!"

"Inuyasha stay there and be quiet!!!" Kagome was starting to scare him. One moment she was peacefully eating her meal by the oak tree and the next anger was overflowing from her tone.

After a few outbursts of laughter, Kouga composed himself enough to address Kagome. "Well Kagome, I see you have finally come to your senses and decided to leave dog-breath over there and come with me."

"Actually Kouga," What was this? Her voice, her eyes, her face. All of a sudden all anger had taken leave and had been replaced by a sickenly, sweet flirtatious voice. "Flirting?! She's flirting with that wolf?!!" "I have a mission to complete, but when that's over, I promise to take your offer into serious consideration." Kagome went unto her toes and as she placed her hands on his shoulders, she gave Kouga's cheek a kiss, leaving a blushing wolf-demon and a furious dog-demon to gape at her actions.

Kouga shook himself of his shock. Kagome had kissed him! KAGOME had KISSED him!!! He was beaming, his woman would soon be his. She even said so. He smiled wide and grasped her hands, bowing and placing a kiss on each one.

"Don't worry Kagome, I'll be back soon to check up on you. Dog-turd better take god care of you until then." With one final kiss to her hands her let them go and left the clearing in a twirling wind, leaving the leaves to flutter by.

Kagome turned around, ready to go back to the tree and wait as Inuyasha ate his lunch. But he wasn't eating. Instead he stood, teeth clenching in anger.

"What do you think you're doing?! What the hell do you mean: "I promise to take your offer into consideration?" The last had been said in an overly high pitched voiced meant to mimic Kagome's, his head being swung girlishly side to side as he clasped his hands together below his chin in forced excitement.

"I hope I don't have to spell it out for you Inuyasha." Her voice was calm, her face relaxed, but her eyes were cold.

Inuyasha was stunned, frozen in place. She had meant it, she wanted to go with Kouga. She wanted to be Kouga's mate and leave him alone again. All the hopes, all the dreams and plans he had thought of that morning were now gone, crushed. They stood, facing each other, looking into the others' eyes for what must have been eternity before Inuyasha shook himself out of his stupor.

"You can't. You can't go with him." Amazingly enough his voice wasn't angry, nor gruff, but serious with what may have been a hint of sadness and betrayal.

"Why can't I go with him Inuyasha? What do you care?" Her voice wasn't but a whisper in the wind. Yet it carried a strange hiss to it, a bitterness that did not belong in her words. Her eyes were narrowing, but he could still see the hurt within them. He could see the glassy appearance the tears gave to her soft brown eyes. "Is that what you want for me? To be alone, not to be loved? Why if you have Kikyo can't I have Kouga?"

Inuyasha's mind went blank, anything he was going to say at the moment forgotten. He turned his head to the side, boring a whole onto the ground. Kagome was right, Kagome was always right. He had denied her everything, he had been selfish with her. He had Kikyo, but he didn't allow her to have anyone. It wasn't fair to her. Shamefully he turned his back on her, and waited till she gathered her things before taking off. He had wanted to eat and rest after the battle with Kouga. It had exhausted him; not that was he going to admit that. And now, now he didn't feel so hungry, or so tired.

~~~

It was quiet, too quiet. Neither had spoken a word since their argument back at the clearing, and the hours seemed to slowly drag along. The sun was low in the horizon now, a promise of evening soon to come. The heat that had been present in the midday was now gone leaving behind cool air.

They weren't mad at each other any more, there were no apologies needed. Things were just awkward. Inuyasha was trying to cope with the fact that if he didn't do anything soon he would lose Kagome to that mangy wolf. He couldn't let that happen. But what could he do?

Kagome was behind Inuyasha, further than usual. Her steps were slow, her eyes fixed on her shoes. She couldn't help but feel bad for what she had said to Inuyasha, even if had been the truth. She couldn't hate him for it, he was too good of a boy. She loved him too much too stay mad, even though she was hurt. What would happen if she went with Kouga? What would her life be like? She knew Kouga loved her, he would cherish her dearly, and he was good looking. He had manners, he was sweet and kind. But Inuyasha's heart was bigger. Although he was rough on the edges, he was the most caring person she knew.

No, not even if she went with Kouga in the end would she be able to forget Inuyasha.

She sighed. It was hopeless, and all this was making her head spin, she was getting tired.

Inuyasha was about to tell her they should stop for the night when he heard it, when he smelled it, and stopped dead in his tracks. His dog-like ears twitched on his head listening for any unusual sounds, as his right hand made its way to the hilt of his sword.

Kagome too stopped when Inuyasha did. She could tell by his movements something was wrong, out of place. When he looked up at the sky and began to growl, she found the reason of his distress. There, amongst the slightly darkened sky; Saimyoushou. With a small gasp of surprised and a quick glance at Inuyasha who stood ready for attack with Tetsusaiga, she went on to draw her bow and arrow.

They stood like that, side be side, each poised and ready for any attack. And then they came; Naraku's army of demons. There must have been thousands, so many and all charging at the same time made it hard to make each one out. They were a blur of seemingly oversized insects flying in a blind fury toward the two waiting companions.

~~~

He landed on his feet, lost his balance, and almost fell backwards. His breath was coming out in short pants, his aching muscles were protesting. "Too many! There are too many!" He would slaughter the youkai, and they would rise again. And then more youkai would arrive, adding to their numbers, all after the demons with the shard.

These youkai had passed the village, they had passed the bodies of the bat-like demons, and they had slaughtered its people. Dry blood was visible under their claws, bits of flesh stuck between their fangs. The scent of human blood heavy on their skin. Now they sensed the shards on the girl who rode on the half-breed's back.

"Kagome! Lets go!"

Kagome looked at him, he was crouched waiting for her to climb on his back so they could outrun the horde of demons. As soon as she was securely on his back, hands clutching his shoulder blades he placed his left arm beneath her legs to support her, while in the other he still clutched Tetsusaiga, and sped off slashing through the demons in their way.

~~~

He bounced of a branch of a tree, spun around and flew at the demon that had been ready to attack. Tetsusaiga's tip went right through the youkai's chest, and as quickly as he had slayed it he turned back around and went on.

Inuyasha had been running non-stop for at least two hours. It was dark now, the stars were clear in the sky. He was starting to tire. His feet were getting clumsy, and he had no idea where he was heading. The fight with Kouga had worn him out, and now the seemingly endless running was starting to take a toll. A demon popped in front of them, but before he could move to attack, Kagome shot it with an arrow from her spot on his back. He kept running. He needed to find a safe place where the demons could not get them.

Another lunged at them from the right and once again Kagome shot it. "She's getting good." he thought.

His lungs were starting to burn within him. He couldn't catch his breath, soon he would just collapse. He leapt from tree to tree, and then back to the ground, nearly losing his balance for the second time that day. How much longer could he keep this up?

A brown, worm-like beast dove at them from the sky, and he jumped up to slice through it. It landed neatly in two piles on the forest floor.

And that's when he saw it. A cave up ahead, maybe fifty yards away or so. The mouth of the cave wasn't very large, just big enough for him to run into it with Kagome on his back. It was their only hope.

With a great difficulty he sped up as more youkai dove at them. His movements were becoming inept, he was getting slow. Exhaustion was catching up with his overworked legs.

As he ran into opening he stuck Tetsusaiga into the ground, creating a barrier to keep out the demons. He lost his footing, and fell, sending Kagome and himself rolling together on the ground. He wound his arms around her, and braced himself as his back collided with the wall of the cave.

Kagome was beneath him now, eyes wide, trying to regain her breath. He too was having difficulty breathing as he looked down at her. His gold eyes darted from her lips to her eyes and before he could stop himself he was kissing her. It was a firm, spontaneous kiss, not meant to last for more than a few seconds. But when Kagome herself started to kiss back, Inuyasha deepened the kiss, and before either of them knew it, they were making out on the floor of a cave. His hand made its way up her blouse, while hers were tangled in his hair. He rubbed up and down her stomach, and she ran her fingers through his silver locks.

The world seemed upside down, their minds were racing, clear thoughts were pushed away. Nothing mattered. Not their friends, or their enemies. Not family, or time. Not any consequences. There were no worries, and no fears. Just each other, just this moment.

If he had waited any longer Kagome would have come to her senses and stopped him, if he had waited any longer, he would have come to his senses and shied away. But he didn't wait, and before either knew it their clothes were gone and scattered about the darkness, their tongues dancing in each other's mouth as Inuyasha entered her.

When it was over he collapsed on her, bracing his weight with his arms which were both positioned besides her head, and burying his head in her neck. They were already half asleep, their eyes drooping. The day and its events catching up with them. Inuyasha reached out and grabbed the first thing he could find; his haori, and draped it over them as he rolled over to lie on his back, pulling Kagome on top of him. And soon, they were blessed with dreamless sleep, and rest for both their tired bodies.

~ * ~ * ~

I can't write a full out lemon, it just feels...unnatural? Anyway, sorry if you wanted one.

RE: Grammar. You all should know that I despise grammar. I tend to put commas in all the wrong places. I've never paid attention in English class, it's always the most boring, annoying class I have, next to Math of course. Anyway please just ignore my mistakes.

This story will have a happy ending...maybe...

-Luminescent