Inuyasha's Confessions and Kagome's Compassion.

Ch.1

"Kagome! Hey Kagome!"

Kagome slowly opened her eyes and tried to focus on the voice coming outside of Kaede's hut. "Shippo..." she mumbled sleepily as she rolled over and pulled the blanket back over her head and proceeded to ignore the kitsune's shouts.

"Leave her alone runt! She needs her rest!" snapped another highly irritated voice.

Inuyasha...she thought with a trace of a smile.

The hanyou and kitsune continued to bicker. Loudly.

"I guess I'd better get up." she muttered.

Tossing back the blanket Kagome crawled over to her backpack and pulled out her hairbrush. After dragging the brush through her hair for a few minutes she stepped outside to an all out skirmish betweeen Shippo and Inuyasha.

"Why can't I get her up?! It's past noon already!"

"I told you! She needs her rest! She was hurt ya know!"

Kagome coughed delicately.

Both of them stopped arguing and turned to face her.

"Kagome! I'm so glad you're up!" squealed Shippo.

"Kagome! What are you doing up? You should be resting!" snapped Inuyasha.

Kagome lightly touched her side where a deep gash courtesy of Naraku was slowly but surely healing.

"I'm feeling much better now Inuyasha...I just need some fresh air that's all." smiled Kagome. "Besides, it's been days since this happened."

The hanyou scowled. "Well, try not to move around too much. You don't want that wound to reopen."

"I'll be careful." Kagome assured him with a light smile.

He still didn't seem satisfied with her assurances but he didn't press the issue. Kagome was glad for that at least. She didn't feel like arguing so early in the morning but...

"Um..hey Inuyasha?"

"hmmm?"

Kagome took a deep breath. "Would you mind taking me back to my time later today? We're almost out of supplies in the first aid kit and I'd like to get some stuff to eat too."

"Yeah, we can go after breakfast."

Kagome blinked in surprise. -Wow not even a little bit of an arguement out of him. Shocker-
"Great!" She said outloud. "We can even stop by the store and you can pick out whatever ramen you want ok?"

A grunt was his only reply.

After breakfast Kagome snuck a peek at the cut at her side. -It doesn't look so bad anymore- she decided. With a combination of things from her first aid kit and some of Kaede's herbal ointments it was healing rather quickly. -Thank goodness- she thought to herself. -With the way Inuyasha goes on about it you'd think that I'd broken a leg or something.- Secretly she was pleased with his concern though. It made the miko glad that he was always looking out for her. -My hero- she thought wryly as she watched the said hero who was currently engaged in a tug of war over the last slice of bacon with an equally determined Shippo.

"Hey Inuyasha do you want to go soon?" she asked aloud

Distracted by her question his chopsticks slipped and the bacon fell prey to Shippo who quickly stuffed it in his mouth with a triumphant smile.

"Dammit!" he growled. "Look what you made me do..."

"Oh hush." she admonished "I'll fix you some more when we go back to my place ok?"

Grumbling he stood up.

"Fine fine...let's just get going already ok?"

Smiling Kagome stood up and went to retrieve the heavy yellow backpack but Inuyasha beat her to it.

"I'm carrying it. I don't want you to reopen that cut." he said firmly

"All right...no complaining here." Kagome said secretly glad to not have to shoulder the heavy thing.

They walked in comfortable silence to the well. Inuyasha shouldered the backpack and scooped Kagome up. Not expecting it she giggled.

"What's this all about?" she asked

The faintest tinge of a blush rose to Inuyasha's cheeks.

"I don't want you landing roughly after we pass through. That's all."

She laughed and leaned closer. "Whatever you say."

With a "Keh" he leaped through the well.

Going through the time slip never failed to make Kagome marvel. The light blue, white, and purple lights surrounded them as the fell gently as a feather through the streams of time.

-I wonder how long I'll be able to pass through the ages like this?- Kagome wondered. She secretly feared that one day she'd go home and suddenly find herself unable to go back. It was horrible enough getting stuck when the Tree of Ages grew through the well after the huge mess with the moth demons. The thought that she would never see the friends she now viewed as family again just made her heartsick. Silently she gazed up at Inuyasha as they fell. -I wonder if he'd miss me.- she thought.

Finally they landed through to the other side. Inuyasha still holding Kagome leaped out of the well and put her down. They walked outside of the well house in the direction of the house.

Taking off her shoes at the entrance Kagome shouted "I'm home! Anyone here?"

Silence greeted her as she walked into the kitchen and found a note.

Kagome,
Uncle Yoshi had a mild stroke yesterday so we're staying with your Aunt Midori for the weekend to help her out. Don't worry, Uncle is doing fine. There's medical supplies in the bathroom and I left you grocery shopping money on your desk in your room. Take care!
love, Mom.

-Poor Uncle Yoshi.- Kagome thought sadly. Her grandfather's brother been in poor health the past few months and now was in the hospital. -I'll pick him up a get well card when we get groceries- she decided.

She turned to Inuyasha only to discover he wasn't there. Walking into the living room she saw him standing by the shelves displaying her family's photographs peering intently at them. His gaze lingered on one in particular. He almost seemed to have a sad look in his eyes. -I wonder what he's thinking?- she thought. Out loud she said "Inuyasha?"

He jerked out of his reverie and turned to her. "Where is everyone?" he asked.

"Staying with my Aunt. Turns out my Uncle had a stroke so they're staying with her. Mom left me grocery money upstairs so we can just go grab it and go if you like."

"Sounds good." He said.

"Um...go ahead upstairs. I forgot something in the kitchen. I'll be right up."

Giving her a quizzical look but complying anyways,Inuyasha tromped upstairs. Kagome turned to look at what picture had held his interest so much. It was the one of her when she was about five standing with her mother and Souta when he was a baby. They were both dressed for the spring festival in their spring kimonos. Kagome had her arms thrown around her mothers legs and Mrs. Higurashi was holding Souta and laughing,her then-long hair blowing in the wind. Kagome smiled sadly. The picture had been taken by her father right before he had passed away and right after Souta had been born.

Shaking the sad thoughts away with a toss of her head Kagome headed upstairs.