EDIT: 7.13.17
You will probably be getting alerts regarding updated chapters, I want to review my story and make some minor corrections and changes. I will let you know beforehand if any are important to the story, but I don't foresee that many changes. I hope to have a new chapter posted shortly. Thank you for your support.

Well enjoy!

Chapter 1: It's Complicated

Kagome adjusted the strap of her rather large yellow backpack over her shoulder once more. Her shoulders felt sore and stiff no matter how much she tried stretching out her shoulders the pain would not subside. Inuyasha was lurking up further ahead, occasionally sniffing the ground hoping to catch a scent of anything suspiciously related to another half-demon they knew. For the past several weeks, Kagome hadn't been able to sense any jewel shards. Not even a small glimmer of power from a single shard. This was something Kagome was grateful for, she definitely was happy to be free of fighting and demons. Even if it was only for a little while.

The same couldn't be said for Inuyasha however, she could tell he was just itching for a fight. Miroku slowed his own pace down to that of the exhausted priestess, "Lady Kagome, perhaps I should carry your bag for you. It seems rather tiring."

Kagome shook her head smiling wearily, "Thanks. I think if we stopped for just a little while, I'd be fine for the rest of the day." She knew Inuyasha could hear her perfectly well, and as much as she wished he was gracious enough to pick up on the hint, she knew he would choose to ignore it.

She gave him the benefit of the doubt, but after a few minutes he continued on as if she hadn't spoken a word. She sighed dramatically. "Allow me to talk to our canine companion." Miroku offered.

Kagome smiled at him, "Thanks, but I've got this covered." She sauntered over to Inuyasha, giving Sango and Shippo a small smile as she passed them up. "Inuyasha..." she started softly, but he continued forward ignoring her. She breathed heavily, trying to suppress her frustration, "Inuyasha!"

His ears twitched and her turned around to face her. "What do you want?" he asked rather gruffly.

"She ignored his rudeness, "Don't you think we should stop and rest for a little. We're all tired."

"He scrunched his nose, "I'm not tired. I don't see why I should have to stop just cause you weakling humans can't keep up!"

"You know that isn't our fault!" she growled softly, "Why can't you for once just be considerate and agree, instead of getting pissed off?"

"You know what? I just don't care! Now start moving or I'm going to leave you'll behind!" he retorted and started moving forward again.

Shippo hopped off Sango's shoulder and walked over towards Kagome, in glee of knowing full well what would happen next. "Inuyasha!" Kagome called at him angrily.

He turned around dramatically clearly not in the mood to hear her nag, "What?"

She clenched her fists, "You take one more step, and I will 'it' you so hard you won't be able to walk on your own for days!"

He visibly gulped. "F-fine. But we're only stopping because I'm thirsty as hell and there's a stream nearby!" he barked as he marched back over to the group.

Kagome turned and faced her other companions giving them a tired smile, "Anyone up for lunch?"

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The group all rested around a small fire, the humans were much more tired than they had anticipated. And despite the complaints of a certain hanyou, they all agreed to spend the night. So long as they left as soon as dawn broke. Inuyasha took his place in a tree, obviously mad that he had been outnumbered by the rest of the group. Sango leaned against a tree beside Miroku, she brushed Kirara's hair while Miroku closed his eyes enjoying the cool breeze. Shippo laid curled up in Kagome's tent, already fast asleep.

Kagome mused that she should probably sleep as well, but many unpleasant thoughts clouded her mind. She suddenly found her throat dry, and she remembered the stream Inuyasha spoke of earlier. She stood up, "I'll be back in a few minutes, I'm going to head over to the stream."

"Shall I head out with you?" Sango looked up at her friend a little concerned.

Kagome smiled and shook her head, "It's fine, I just wanted to get a drink of water." She waved as she made her way to the stream, and she could use the time to be alone. Sometimes she needed to be away from the others. How Inuyasha would make her feel was unbearable, even worse was that the rest of her group knew of her current situation. Kagome felt their pity, but she didn't want that, she just wanted to be able to be alone and think without having to worry about what the others thought.

She walked towards the edge of the stream, and knelled down towards it. Cupping water in her hands she drank from it until her thirst was quenched. She looked back at the reflection in the water, it just reminded her how much she looked like Kikyo.

She sighed bitterly, she was letting other people's thoughts into her head again. Sure, they had the same face, but they weren't completely identical. Kagome took pride in the fact that their personalities were so different, she felt sometimes though she was the only reason people set them apart. She supposed that wasn't entirely true. The rest of her group knew she was Kagome, but she couldn't honestly say Inuyasha thought the same.

She let her thoughts slip to ones about herself, Kikyo, and Inuyasha. All the things the three had been through, the horrible past Inuyasha and Kikyo had shared. It wasn't something she thought in a million years would happen to her, yet here she was.

Kagome pondered her feelings for Inuyasha there was no doubt that she loved him, he was her first and only love. While this was true, she could help but think. Don't I deserve more than this? She understood that Kikyo's and Inuyasha's relationship was...complicated. But she knew she didn't deserve this. This wasn't right or fair for her.

She let her mind slip to the thought of letting him go, a future in which didn't involve Inuyasha. At least not in the way she had always dreamed of. It hurt, it hurt a lot to think that way. She didn't want that, she wanted nothing more than to be in his loving embrace. For him to swear his love for her and her alone, but the more time passed the more she feared it would never happen.

Kagome shook her head furiously, she knew she wouldn't reach an answer or conclusion tonight. She already spent too much time by the stream, at this rate someone would come looking for her concerned.

She stood up and took in a deep breath, exhaling slowly. She put on the biggest smile she could muster and started walking back towards camp, though smiling was the last thing she really wanted to do.

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The next morning, just as the hanyou had demanded they were all up by the crack of dawn. Unfortunately for Kagome she hadn't slept a wink, she couldn't get her dumb mind to give it a rest. The entire night it was a battle between her mind and her heart, and she was scared. She was scared because her mind made a lot of sense.
Inuyasha, like the day before, was ahead of the group but today he felt something was off. He hesitantly looked back at the group, more specifically the priestess who walked alone obviously lost in deep thought.

He glanced at the monk and Shippo whom were giving him knowing looks, looks that motioned that he should probably talk to Kagome. He growled slightly embarrassed, though he wouldn't admit it, and turned back to his search for Naruku half-heartily as his thoughts wandered to that of the priestess from the future.
Shippo hopped over to him and landed on his shoulder, "Inuyasha, why don't you go and talk to Kagome? She doesn't look very happy today."

"What do you know, runt?" he said annoyed.

"I know that you're the only one who makes her sad. And you're also the only one who can make it better!" Shippo admitted begrudgingly.
Inuyasha looked at Shippo than quickly glanced at Kagome, he thought for a moment before growling. He walked towards the back of the group and threw Shippo at Sango and Miroku.

"You guys go on ahead. We'll catch up." he called over his shoulders.

Sango gave Miroku a concerned look, he smiled comfortingly placing a hand on the small of her back gently pushing her forward.
"Those two need some time to talk, they'll be fine." he added.

Sango looked at him in a new light, the monk knew how to calm her nerves. She smiled back at him shyly. Though her smile turned a face full of rage as his hand slowly slipped cupping her bottom.

"Way to ruin it." Shippo muttered to no one in particular, as he watched Sango slap Miroku in the face.

Inuyasha ignored the bumbling idiots he called his friends and stopped in front of Kagome, whom was so engrossed in her thoughts that she hadn't noticed him until she bumped into him.

She looked up at him surprised, "Inuyasha?"

He looked down at her, ready to say something. But he quickly turned around and noticed the rest of the group walking painfully slow and within hearing range. He growled, "Will you three scram already!"

Sango, Miroku, and Shippo reluctantly picked up pace. Once they were out of sight Inuyasha turned his attention back towards Kagome. She was watching him curious about why he stopped her all of a sudden, and why he sent their friends away.

"Kagome…." he started unsure of where he was going with this, "...is something the matter?" He wasn't stupid, he knew something was bugging her, and it was a big deal he figured. He probably already knew what it was, but he couldn't admit it to himself.

Kagome watched him for a few moments, was something the matter? Of course, what a stupid question to ask. Her relationship to Inuyasha was a joke, or at least she was the laughing-stock. She would idly stand by as Inuyasha would stomp on her heart and then proceed to make her fall for him even more, repeat this scenario again and again.
She looked into his concerned eyes, as she contemplated what to do. But she knew exactly what she should do. Kagome was afraid she couldn't, not anymore. She couldn't let herself forgive Inuyasha, as much as she wanted to. She needed to do it for herself.

"Inuyasha, there's something we need to talk about." she started slowly.

For some reason, it hit him. Hard. It was a simple phrase, but he knew it wasn't good. Not at all. He braced himself for the worst. Suddenly Inuyasha's ears twitched, out in the distance he could hear their companions in the mist of what seemed like an argument. With a rather large crowd.

"We need to go." Inuyasha stated quickly, grabbing Kagome and carrying her towards their friends.

A.N.

Thank you for reading and your your new or continued support!

Any additional notes will now be written at the end of the chapter, but I will try to keep this to minimum.

Thank you again.