A/N: This is my first InuYasha story, started a couple of years ago. It fell by the wayside when my obsession for Supernatural took over. While going through files I recovered from my old computer, I found this story.

Inuyasha wanted the day to be perfect. Kagome had gone home for a few days to take more of her tests and was due back tomorrow. They'd survived some serious battles lately and everyone needed a rest. Their dealings with the Band of Seven being most vivid in his mind. He'd almost lost Kagome, as well as Sango and Miroku, when they were poisoned by Mukotsu. He'd almost died at the hands of Jakotsu. They were all overdue for a little peace and quiet. Kagome planned a picnic for her first day back. She'd confided in Inuyasha that she had a surprise to announce during the picnic. Waiting one more night for her return was driving him crazy. He listened for the signs that everyone else was asleep and slipped silently out of Kaede's hut to stay the rest of the night at the well.

Once at the well, he realized he was too nervous to sleep. So he sat next to it, staying alert for the first sign she was back. When she left, she seemed the same as usual. But, as with every other time she left, the fear she would stay in her own era this time gripped him and wouldn't let go until he smelled her scent again, saw her smile. She'd promised to stay with him. But she'd almost died because of his carelessness. He couldn't blame her if she didn't want to put herself in danger anymore. In fact, his own feelings on this were a constant struggle. He wanted her safe, but he wanted her with him as well.

He managed to doze for a couple of hours before the warmth on his face, the sun in his eyes, and a breeze tickling his ears woke him. A quick sniff told him all he needed to know. Kagome hadn't come yet. And the rain they'd had the last several days had finally moved on. Only a slight chill to the early breeze meant the weather would be perfect for the picnic. Nothing would ruin Kagome's return. Now it was just a matter of waiting. He leaned over the edge and sighed, staring into the well, willing her to show up. Patience was never one of his strengths. Finally after an hour of pacing, wondering what was keeping her, he heard the gentle thump of her landing in the well and smelled her familiar scent. He reached down to take her hand and the bag she always carried around as she climbed out. He noticed the bag was a little lighter than usual, but thought nothing of it. The look on her face told him she wasn't expecting him to be there. He tried to pretend it was no big deal.

"You're up kind of early Inuyasha. Whatcha doing out here?"

"Couldn't sleep and I didn't want to wake the others."

He wasn't sure she believed him, but she didn't question it either. They walked back to Kaede's in a comfortable silence. He knew as soon as their friends were awake, the quiet ended. And he was determined not to start any arguments. He had a bad habit of saying the wrong thing, sometimes without ever knowing what he said wrong. The best way to avoid that was to say nothing. The hut was barely in sight when he heard Shippo call out and rush to them.

"Kagome! I'm so glad you're back. We missed you," he said as he hurled himself into Kagome's waiting arms. "Did you bring me some of the ninja snacks like last time?"

"Hey, runt, give it a rest!" He grabbed Shippo by the tail and pulled him from Kagome's arms. "Let her get her stuff settled before you start bugging her for snacks."

"At least I didn't spend the whole night sitting by well waiting for her to get here!"

That runt's gonna get it one of these days. He growled as he tossed the fox kit back to Kagome. He heard a small giggle from Kagome and turned quickly so she wouldn't see him blushing slightly. The last thing he'd wanted was for her to know he was at the well all night. Stupid kid!

They entered the hut, saving him further embarrassment. The others were just waking and didn't know he'd left in the night. He gave Shippo a look that told him, "Say another word and you're dead!" The kit stuck his tongue out at him, but Inuyasha knew he got the message loud and clear. The next couple of hours were a blur as they ate a small breakfast and started readying things for the picnic that afternoon.

He still couldn't believe it. Kagome's surprise was the last thing he'd expected and more than he ever thought to ask. They slowly enjoyed all the wonderful food she prepared. She told more stories about things in her time. They played a few silly games. Then she made her announcement. The tests she'd gone home to take were finals. Kagome would be staying in the feudal era the whole summer!

Now Inuyasha and Kagome were taking a quiet walk through the forest bearing his name. He hated to ruin the perfect afternoon, but knew his question would do just that.

"Hey, Kagome. Can I ask you a question?" It was something that had bothered Inuyasha for a while now. "Why exactly do I have to keep wearing these stupid beads?" He'd asked her this same question several times since she put the necklace back on him after their battle with Takemaru and Sounga.

The Beads of Subjugation. Not just a simple strand of beads, but something much more powerful. They had the power to subdue him with one word from her. The beads had originally been used to keep the newly-awakened half demon from trying to attack Kagome to steal the Sacred Jewel. But now he'd rather die than see her harmed. Though the question had come up several times, she always managed to evade answering it. Not this time. This time I'm getting the truth.

"Well? You gonna answer or what?"

Kagome countered with, "Why do you keep asking me that?"

"Because you never give me an answer!" He could tell she was hiding something and was beginning to get frustrated. "Don't you trust me?"

"Of course I trust you. I know you'd never hurt me."

"So what is it then?" She won't even look at me. Why can't she just answer the question?

The seconds stretched on in silence. This just confirmed in Inuyasha's mind what he believed to be the real reason. This is about control. What else could it be?

"Don't worry about answering. I figured it out on my own. You don't want your dog without his collar. Without the beads, you aren't the one in control," he spat out angrily, ears flattening.

"No, that's not true!" she denied vehemently, tears welling up.

"Isn't it? No one else needs to keep me on a leash." He could feel anger building in her and wondered how she had the nerve to be so mad. He was about to ask her when he realized she wasn't just mad at him. Bracing himself for the "sit" he knew was coming, he felt a moment of something much stronger than anger. Hatred. She hates me?

"Inuyasha! Sit boy! And just stay there a while." She left in a huff not even looking back.

As he felt the familiar tug of the necklace pulling him to the ground, he realized something was very different this time. As she spoke the words, the priestess powers she'd been learning to use flared. He could feel the wave of purifying energy headed straight for him with no way to avoid it. Just as sure as Kikyo's arrow over fifty years ago, he could feel the beads sealing his soul away. Had Kagome waited just a moment more, she would have heard the sound of a breaking heart in his whispered plea, "Kagome?"

On her quiet walk back to the village alone, Kagome realized she'd done it again. His remark about keeping him on a leash had hit a nerve. Her slowly growing guilt had suddenly turned to anger. How dare he bring HER up? Though he didn't mention her specifically, Kagome just knew he was talking about Kikyo. His precious Kikyo. No, she would never "sit" him. Not his perfect Kikyo. She couldn't stop herself. She knew she shouldn't "sit" him when she was so angry, but she did it anyway. And at the moment she spoke the words, she'd let her hatred of Kikyo consume her. Maybe Inuyasha was right. Maybe I really am trying to control him.

"I'll just let him cool off a while. Then I'll apologize," she said aloud, mostly just to make herself feel better. Too bad it didn't work. I should probably butter him up with some ramen before apologizing.

Entering Kaede's hut, she noticed the rest of the day hadn't gone well here either. Sango looked extremely angry. And Miroku sported a fresh hand print on his face, though he didn't seem too upset by it. At least one of us is still enjoying the break. Seeing Shippo happily drawing brought a smile back to her face.

"Hey, Kagome. Look at what I drew for you. Isn't it hilarious?"

What she saw in the drawing broke her heart. But she didn't let it show. The picture was of Inuyasha in the middle being "sat". Shippo's attention to detail had improved quite a bit. He captured a mix of anger and hurt that brought a new rush of guilt. He never told me it hurt him that much and I was too stubborn to notice.

"Thank you very much Shippo. It's lovely."

Kagome busied herself with making dinner for everyone, trying not to think about her fight with Inuyasha. The things he said, the hurt in his voice wouldn't go away. She replayed in her mind some of the times she'd "sat" him. What she remembered didn't make her feel any better. Some of them were accidents, but most she used to end an argument that she wasn't in the mood to deal with. The realization that hurt the most wasn't why she'd done it, but how many times. At least once a day lately and sometimes more. I really need to talk to him. I owe him more than an apology. I owe him an explanation.

"Miroku, will you do me a favor and go get Inuyasha for dinner?"

"I'd be delighted to, Kagome. Do you know where he should be?"

"Thanks. I left him at the Sacred Tree. Be careful though. He may still be angry after our argument. Oh, and take Shippo with you." She needed to talk with Sango alone.

"Come, Shippo. Let's go and fetch Inuyasha."

Shippo snickered at the remark. "Lucky for you Inuyasha didn't hear that. You know he hates dog jokes. Hey, Kirara, wanna come with us?" The two tailed demon cat trilled in response and followed them out of the hut.

"We should take our time finding Inuyasha," Miroku mused aloud.

"Yeah, that'll give the girls plenty of time to talk. Besides, Inuyasha's always in a bad mood after Kagome "sits" him. And he usually takes it out on me!"

"I agree. We may as well enjoy the beautiful day while we can. Maybe we should visit with some of the village wom- I mean villagers first."

Idiot. "You know Sango will find out. Isn't one slap a day enough?" He can be as dense as Inuyasha sometimes. "And they pull on my tail. Let's just go get--" He smelled something that stopped him in his tracks. Then whipsered, "Inuyasha?"

"Shippo? What's wrong?"

"Something doesn't smell right. We need to hurry!" Shippo hopped on Miroku's shoulder while Kirara transformed to her larger form. "Kirara, fly us there as fast as you can!" I just hope I'm wrong.

Something was not right. He couldn't move, speak, or even open his eyes. He panicked for a moment, hoping Kagome wasn't hurt. Then he remembered what happened. She was the reason he couldn't move. But this time is different somehow. He was aware of the passage of time. When Kikyo sealed him to the Sacred Tree, he was gone. Kagome's powers aren't as strong as Kikyo's, so the spell was incomplete. Damn, why does this always happen? Trust. Hate. Then loneliness. A cycle he was all too familiar with. At least no one else died this time.

My mother trusted the villagers. They hated me for being a half-demon and tried to kill us, but I survived. Barely. I let my guard down and trusted Kikyo. Naraku tricked us and we both died. She still hates me. I thought things would be different with Kagome. Does she really hate me? Will the others bother to come looking for me when I don't return? Will I be stuck like this forever? He knew if Naraku or any of his incarnations found him now, the others wouldn't stand a chance. He had to figure a way out of this, but deep down he knew the only one who could help wouldn't. She hated him.

In that moment, with that realization, he did something he'd never done before. For the first time in his life, Inuyasha gave up.