InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Broken ❯ Chapter 22 ( Chapter 22 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the supporting characters.

Broken

Chapter 22

Kagome didn't even make it to her destination before she was attacked by an excited kitsune.

"Kagomeeee!"

Kagome opened her arms and wrapped them around his little body as more tears trickled down her face. Her adrenaline high had begun to dissipate, making her realize just how injured and tired she really is.

She dropped to the ground onto her knees as she held the sobbing kit to her chest. She nuzzled her face to the top of his head, and let out a shuttering breath.

"You're not hurt, right Shippo?"

He shook his head against her warm embrace. "I wanted to help, but Kirara made me stay back." He pulled away from her and looked at her bloody and bruised body. He reached forward and placed a small hand to her uninjured cheek and sniffled a few times. "I wanna help you feel better. I got all the herbs and bandages ready." 

Kagome allowed a small smile to cross her features as she nodded her head. "Thank you, Shippo." She looked up and saw Inuyasha staring down at her. She took a deep breath in as she raised her shaky hand, unable to get up on her own at the moment.

Inuyasha happily took her hand in his own, pulled her to her feet, and wrapped an arm around her waist to keep her standing as they walked the rest of the way to their supplies.

The others stayed quiet, knowing not to interfere at the moment, but hoped that things could only get better now that Naraku is gone for good.

Inuyasha helped Kagome sit down on the grass as he and Shippo got the medical kit out with all the proper herbs.

Sango sat next to Kagome and Miroku sat next to Sango. Sesshomaru was standing near Kagura, just observing while Kohaku was petting a purring Kirara.

Kagome felt as if her skin was crawling. It is like she can still feel him touching her. Kissing her. Whispering into her ear about things that she knows aren't true, but she can't help but believe.

Her eyes forced themselves to close as images from earlier made themselves present unbidden within her mind.

Kagome tried very hard to keep her eye contact hard and unwavering. Her heart is beating out of her chest as her tears are stinging her eyes, but she won't allow them to fall. He is now on top of her, staring down into her eyes, trying to invoke more terror within her. She has to wait for the perfect moment to use her ring, or else he'll know her plan and it will all be for naught.

She shudders as she felt his erection slide along the inside of her thigh. Her eyes involuntarily closed, but the sound of his malicious chuckle had them shooting back open and staring back into his malevolent red eyes.

"Ready for me to give you what your precious mutt refused?"

She put a hand to her head as her eyes tightened further, more recent memories flowing through her quickly.

"Well, isn't this a surprise? They know they can't attack me while I have you as a shield. What should I do to you, my magnificent little whore?"

He raised the hand that wasn't choking her to grasp her breast through the kimono he had her wear, making her eyes shut tight and having her struggle within his grasp.

Inuyasha growled as his hold on Tetsusaiga strengthened. "You fucking coward! Let her go and fight me!"

Naraku continued his caresses as he locked eyes with Inuyasha. "I think I'd rather show you what I can do to her, that you refused to."

Kagome tried to claw his hand and push him off, but his hold was too tight. She tried to utilize her reiki, but it was still rebooting from using everything she had to offer in one go.

"Get the fuck off of me!" She completely stilled when his teeth connected with her jugular vein on the right side of her neck. "No..."

She shook her head to try and rid the memories away, but they kept on coming.

"Are you enjoying yourself, my little Miko? I know you aren't used to an audience, but it could be fun." He thrust against her once more, making a broken sob escape her throat. Her fear is spiking deliciously, making him even hornier than before. "Come on, Ka-go-me... I know you are enjoying this just as much as I am."

Kagome shook her head against the hold he had on her hair. "No." She gasped and her eyes shot open when he twisted her head around to face him.

"You will do as I say bitch. You will take me in front of everyone. You will show them all what a defiled and impure little whore you are. You will scream in ecstasy as I make you cum over and over again." He thrust against her still clothed body as his hand slid underneath her kimono to grasp the naked mound between her thighs.

"No!"

Her eyes shot open as her heart rate escalated. Her chest is heaving from her rapid breathing. She blinked away more tears and stood up abruptly, startling her friends and mate who had been focusing on getting everything for their wounds.

"I... I really need a bath. I can get bandaged afterwards." She tried to look anywhere but directly into his eyes, feeling dirty and unworthy of his attention.

Inuyasha looked at her sadly with his ears drooping. He nodded his understanding as he told Shippo to help the others, then he turned back to Kagome. "There's a hot spring 'bout ten minutes from here. I can carry you."

Kagome's heart began to get faster once again as he shook her head. "I..." She looked over at Sango who had stood next to her to make sure she was okay. "Can you come with me on Kirara?"

Sango nodded as she called for Kirara to transform again. She walked over to Kagome's bag and made sure they had some of the medical supplies to take with them, and also made sure all the bathing supplies were there. Then she put the big yellow bag onto her back and climbed on top of Kirara.

Kagome flinched when Inuyasha grabbed her arm as she was about to walk away. "Kagome..."

She didn't make eye contact with him as she spoke. "I'm fine. I just need a bath... I'll uh... be back soon. Take care of the others." She pulled her arm away before struggling a little to climb on top of the fire cat behind Sango and leaving quickly.

Inuyasha growled as he turned around to face the rest of the group. "What the hell did I do now!?"

Miroku allowed Shippo to clean and bandage his wounds as he spoke. "You didn't do anything wrong, Inuyasha. Kagome just went through a lot. Give her some time."

Inuyasha growled as he began to pace back and forth, wanting to rip his hair out.

Better yet, he wanted to revive that bastard just to kill him again.

Which reminded him...

He turned to Sesshomaru who was just standing there quietly. "What the hell are you even still doing here!? We only agreed to a truce while Naraku was alive." He flexed his claws. "Lookin' to get your ass handed to ya?"

Sesshomaru glanced over at Inuyasha and cocked a brow. "This Sesshomaru shall go to the human village to check on Rin." He purposely ignored the hanyou's empty threat.

Inuyasha growled and stuffed his hands in the sleeves of his Suikan. "Feh. The runt is fine, but do whatever the hell you want." He eyed the woman standing not too far away from his brother. "If you so much as look at my mate the wrong way, I will kill you."

In an instant, Inuyasha was on his back with Sesshomaru's claws to his throat. "Are you so ignorant as to not see that she is the reason Naraku could perish? Without her, his heart would still be hidden, you ungrateful fool. You will not touch her."

Inuyasha's eyes hardened as his growl turned into an enraged snarl. "If it wasn't for her, Kagome wouldn't have been in that position again! That bastard fucking touched her, you fucker!"

Sesshomaru's eyes began to bleed red as his claws dripped small amounts of poison, simmering the flesh of Inuyasha's throat. "This Sesshomaru will not hesitate to kill you if you do not learn your place in the pack."

Inuyasha's eyes flashed red. "What!? You are not pack! I am the alpha of my pack, bastard!"

Before Sesshomaru could retort, Miroku spoke up. "Maybe now is not the time for this discussion. We had a long few days, well, weeks actually, and we all need to just all calm down and relax."

Sesshomaru glanced at the monk before glowering down at the hanyou. He dug his poison claws slightly into Inuyasha's neck, making him growl louder, but not even wince from the obvious pain, before jumping back to his feet, his eyes back to his normal golden hue. "Hn. We will be going."

Kagura's eyes widened as she looked at Sesshomaru. "We?"

Sesshomaru looked at her and gave a curt nod. "Come. This Sesshomaru must go check on Rin."

Kagura nodded, but then looked back at the ruined castle. "I need to check on something first." She grabbed a feather from her hair and flew away without another word.

Inuyasha growled as he stood and began pacing back and forth, mumbling about egotistical bakas.

°•°•°

The ride to the hot springs was silent. When Kirara touched down on the ground in front of the spring, Kagome slid off and immediately ripped off the kimono Naraku had put on her. She winced as she jostled her wounds around, but that was the least of her worries at the moment.

She just needs to get the feeling of him off of her.

Now.

Sango watched as her friend hastily undressed and struggled as she climbed into the hot spring. She had tears in her eyes, watching as Kagome dunked herself under the hot water to try and scrub herself clean. 

She opened the bag and pulled out some soap, shampoo and conditioner, and walked over to the side of the spring next to where Kagome is sitting.

"Here." She placed it on the edge of the spring so Kagome could reach it whenever she needs it.

Kagome nodded her thanks before quickly grabbing the liquid soap, squirting a healthy amount into her hand, and scrubbing herself furiously. It hurt like hell, scrubbing her wounds, but the pain was welcome when the end game was getting the feeling of his revolting touch off of her skin once and for all.

Sango sighed before getting undressed and joining Kagome in the hot water. She looked at her friend worriedly before speaking up cautiously. "Kagome..."

Kagome's watery eyes snapped up to look at Sango. Her bottom lip trembled as she saw the clear worry in her friend's gaze. "I just..." She shook her head as she rinsed more blood and dirt off of her face, then looked back at Sango. "I feel gross..." She shuddered before scrubbing some more.

Sango nodded in understanding as she waded over towards Kagome and sat directly next to her. 

Kagome locked eyes with Sango, allowing more tears to fall. 

Sango took a deep breath in and out. "Why didn't you want Inuyasha to take you here?"

Kagome quickly averted her gaze as more tears escaped her sad eyes. "I didn't want him to see me like this..." She sniffled as she sobbed out the next part. "He already saw..." She put her head in her hands and began to shake with fear and anxiety.

Sango put her right arm around Kagome's shoulders and pulled her in close. She allowed her friend to cry for as long as she needed, and when Kagome's sobs turned into sniffles and slight hiccups, she pulled her face by the uninjured cheek to look at her.

"Kagome... You know nothing that man did is your fault, don't you? Inuyasha isn't upset with you. He wants to help you. He loves you."

Kagome's lip trembled once again as she squeezed her eyes shut tight and took a deep breath in. "I know... It's just..." She opened her eyes once more. "I... I was so weak... I couldn't do anything to stop him. I let him touch me and... and if it wasn't for Kohaku..." She shook her head and looked away. "It was one thing to see it when Naraku showed you all before. My memory was altered. That wasn't me... b-but... I was pathetic and I couldn't even use my powers against him. He would have..." She sobbed into her hands once again. "He would have..." She groaned and shook her head.

Sango squeezed around Kagome's shoulders and pulled her closer so she is resting her head on her shoulder. "Let's just take it one step at a time. Alright? We need to finish getting cleaned up and bandaged, then we need to meet back with the others." She looked over at her Hirakotsu leaning up against the side of the spring and sighed. "Hirakotsu has a crack in it, but I can wait to get it fixed until some other time."

Kagome raised her face to look back at Sango. She shook her head and sighed. "No. You can go to the slayer village to fix it and get more of your supplies, and we'll meet you back at Kaede's."

Sango looked at her apprehensively. "Are you sure? You'll be okay?"

Kagome nodded as she pulled away from Sango's embrace and finished washing all the blood and grime off of her body. "Hai... I'll be okay." She locked eyes with her friend once again. "Thank you... for everything."

Sango gave her a warm smile as she also began to wash herself clean. "I love you, you know. You're the little sister I never had."

Kagome's laugh was a welcome surprise, even as it ended on a small choked sob, but she still gave a watery smile. "I love you too."

°•°•°

Kagura made it through the destroyed castle faster than she had before, knowing exactly where she needs to go.

She walked through the door and saw Kanna sitting on the floor, her mirror shattered next to her.

Kagura gasped as she ran over and crouched down next to her. "What has happened?"

Kanna lifted her dark emotionless eyes to Kagura's anxious ruby ones. "Naraku is dead. I cannot survive."

Kagura's eyes widened. "What? B-But I'm perfectly fine!"

Kanna raised a hand to Kagura's chest and nodded once. "You have a heart."

Kagura nodded in response as she closed her hand around Kanna's. "Hai. After Naraku put my heart where it belongs and killed me, Sesshomaru revived me."

Kanna nodded in understanding before allowing her arm to fall down to her side, pulling away from Kagura's hand in the process. "You are free."

Kagura allowed a single tear to fall as Kanna's body disintegrated directly in front of her wide, sad eyes.

 °•°•°

After Kagome and Sango's bath, they dried off and bandaged themselves up, helping each other with harder to reach places. Kagome was glad she had extra clothes packed in her bag, and got dressed in them before they climbed on top of Kirara to head back to the others.

When they landed in front of the group and slid off of the nekomata, Inuyasha was there and staring down at her. She isn't covered in blood and dirt anymore, but he can clearly see the bruises on her face and around her throat. She had put small bandages on the spots that were cut open, and he can smell the large bandage she had used to wrap around her stomach. Her wrist was also bruised heavily, but at least it wasn't broken anymore.

Kagome looked up into his golden eyes and couldn't stop more tears from falling as she launched herself into his arms. She wrapped her own arms around his middle and cuddled her face into his chest, sobbing even harder than before.

Inuyasha held onto his mate as if his very life depended on it, and allowed his body to fall to the ground in a cross legged position with her straddling his lap. He stroked her hair and nuzzled the top of her head as he allowed his mate rumble out to soothe her.

After a few minutes, he lifted her face by the chin and looked into her anguished brown eyes. "I love you, my beautiful mate."

Kagome took a shuttering breath in to try and calm her frazzled nerves before she grabbed the nape of his neck and pulled his face to hers.

They ignored everyone around them as they were healing together after everything that had happened. Right now, it was just them - Kagome and Inuyasha - and no one else.

Kagome moved her lips against his softly and slowly, enjoying how he is kissing her back just as lovingly. She has tears sliding down her face, but he quickly rectifies that by placing his clawed hands onto her cheeks and wiping the moisture away with the pads of his thumbs, careful not to hurt her injuries further.

Inuyasha lightly kissed her over and over, knowing she needs this just as much as he does. They still need to talk, but that can wait. Right now they need to know that everything is okay. That they are alive and well, while Naraku is dead. They need to feel the other's lips on theirs, and wrap their arms around each other. They need to feel the love of the other in the way they hold one another and press their lips together.

The kind of love that needs no words to be understood. In this moment, they need to allow their actions to speak louder than their words.

Kagome turned her head to get a better angle as she kissed him deeper then before. Nothing sexual is being thought of, just a mutual, loving and tender kiss. She needs him to show her that she isn't all those things Naraku had said. She needs to feel him and to kiss him and to hug him, so she knows that this isn't just a dream. That she is right here, with her mate, Inuyasha, and the battle with Naraku is finally over. 

She grabbed two fist fulls of his hair to pull him even closer as she sighed against his mouth. Her heart rate began to slow back down, and her tears of anguish began to turn into tears of relief and actual happiness. She smiled against his mouth, giving him one more brush of her lips, before pulling back and looking into his eyes.

"I love you, so much."

Inuyasha rested his forehead against hers and sighed, his hot breath tickling her face, making her smile widen. "I love you too, koibito."

°•°•°

When everyone was bandaged, administered any needed herbs, and packed up, they decided on a plan. Kagura had come back just a few minutes before and didn't say much, but is was obvious what had happened. She and Sesshomaru had quickly took off together to go to the human village, leaving the others behind.

Sango has mentioned needing to get her Hirakotsu fixed, and asked Kohaku if he would want to go visit father and the other's graves. The boy nodded sadly as he got onto Kirara behind his sister. Miroku offered to go with them, and Sango gave him a small smile and a nod, before he handed Kagome the Shikon no Tama and climbed up and on top of the fire cat also. 

They said their goodbyes, leaving Inuyasha, Kagome and Shippo behind to head towards Kaede's on their own.

Kagome took a deep breath in as she placed the almost completed jewel in the small zipper in the front of her bag, and then watched her friends leave, knowing she will see them in a few days, and turned to Inuyasha. He looked down at her worriedly, and swiped a strand of hair from her face to behind her ear.

"The sun'll be up soon. Ya need to rest."

Kagome didn't even have the energy to argue. He was right after all. She is overly tired, anxious, her emotions are going haywire, and she had missed two nights of her medications. She needs to sleep and get back on a normal schedule to begin her healing process all over again.

She nodded her head and allowed Inuyasha to help lift her up and onto his back, while Shippo jumped up onto his shoulder and curled up to take a nap also. Inuyasha picked the large yellow bag up and wrapped one of the straps into the crease of his arm while holding onto Kagome's thighs.

"Sleep, 'Gome. I ain't gonna drop ya."

She nodded lazily as a yawn broke free. "I know..."

Inuyasha smiled when he noticed both his kit and mate were already asleep, and he took off at a run to get back quickly. He made sure not to go at top speed, not wanting to jostle them around, but still wanting to make good time. He looked towards the sky, noticing the sun is already beginning to peak above the horizon, and he took in a shaky breath.

'Naraku is finally dead.'

°•°•°

When Inuyasha and the others had run straight to the castle to rescue Kagome, it had taken about twelve hours to get there. Now that he isn't in as big of a rush, he decided to run for six hours, and then take a short break. He hates to admit it, but he is exhausted. He doesn't want to sleep and leave Kagome and Shippo wide open to attack, but he is at least going to rest for a bit.

He found a fairly secluded spot in the woods and decided to stop there. He set Kagome's bag down and layed his mate down carefully on a large patch of grass. She groaned softly, mumbling something incoherent, but otherwise stayed fast asleep. He sighed before laying Shippo with Kagome and taking his Suikan off to wrap them both up in.

Inuyasha sat down against a tree next to Kagome and Shippo, and idly stroked her hair while they rested. He thought about everything that has happened in the last sixish months since he woke up from his long slumber.

He met a beautiful and spunky young girl with the most incredible temper he had ever seen on a woman ever before. 

They fought constantly, but there was always something there. A spark. An obvious attraction. But it was more than that. He knew from the start that she was his youkai's chosen mate, but it only took a few weeks for his human side to agree happily.

How could he not fall in love with someone as pure hearted and amazingly beautiful as Kagome? She is everything he could have ever asked for in a mate, a wife, the mother of his children, and he knows he is the luckiest hanyou to have ever lived.

He looked down at Kagome's serene face, knowing she isn't trapped in another nightmare, and for that, he is grateful. He hopes that now that the threat of Naraku is gone, she can truly heal, and at least try to forget what had happened.

He tries to ignore the pang of regret at giving her to Kagura yesterday. He knows he didn't have any other choice in the matter. He has no doubt about it; if he hadn't done what he did, she would be dead right now.

He bit back his growl at that thought. He did what he needed to do, and now Kagome is safe and back with him. That's all that matters right now. He needs to make sure she stays safe so they can move on with their lives.

That brought a small smile to his lips as he lightly cupped her bruised cheek. Their wedding is only six months away. They will build their hut, get married, complete the mate bond, have pups, and live happily as a family.

A life not meant for a hanyou, but who is he to deny himself this happiness?

The happiness that Kagome actually wants to give him.

Not out of pity or because she feels like she needs to, but because she truly loves him and wants the same thing.

How could she think she isn't pure? He knows she is the most pure hearted woman to have ever lived.

He shook his thoughts free and sighed as he reached over and opened Kagome's bag to pull out some water and a couple cups of Ramen. He stood up carefully, not to wake them up, and began to heat the water up by using Kagome's portable pot.

When he was finished pouring the hot water into the cup noodles, he figured they have slept long enough. He knew Shippo was waking up from the scent of the food, but the little kit was so tuckered out that he only snuggled deeper into Kagome's embrace and sighed happily.

Inuyasha chuckled quietly as he sat in front of the sleeping pair. He stroked Kagome's cheek and leaned in to kiss her on the forehead. He hates to wake her up after the exhausting few days she had, but she has been sleeping for the last seven hours, and the sun is already midway through the sky. He also doubts she ate anything while at the castle, and she was also in a forced sleep for about a day before that too. She needs to get something in her stomach, and as her mate, it is his responsibility to make sure she stays healthy and happy.

"Kagome."

Kagome groaned as she pulled Shippo's small form closer to her body. "Five more minutes, mom..."

Inuyasha smiled as he leaned forward and whispered against her ear. "I ain't your mom. Come on, I know you're hungry."

Kagome's eyes opened, red and puffy from her crying, and she looked into his warm golden gaze. The events from before came back to her in a rush and she whimpered softly as shocks of pain wracked her bruised and battered body.

Inuyasha's ears flattened to his head as he leaned in and nuzzled her face. "Are ya able to sit up?"

Kagome nodded slowly as she forced her body to cooperate. She moved Shippo in the process, making him growl lightly before opening an eye and looking around. His nose twitched and he smiled, showing a small fang, before jumping up and going to where Inuyasha had set the noodles down. He lifted one of the cups up and decided to help Kagome first.

He walked up to his mother just as she got into a sitting position up against Inuyasha's chest, and he held the noodles out for her. "Here you go, Kagome." He puffed his little chest out in pride as he saw the small smile on her face.

Kagome had to hold back more tears at the way her mate and kit are taking care of her. She grabbed the cup happily and nodded her head. "Thank you, Shippo."

Shippo's tail twitched in his happiness as he ran back to the other cup noodles and grabbed one for himself, beginning to wolf it down.

Kagome looked back into Inuyasha's eyes and raised a hand to cup his cheek. "Thank you."

Inuyasha smiled warmly at her before leaning in and giving her a soft kiss, loving Kagome's happy sigh against his lips. When he pulled away, he reached over and grabbed his own Ramen to begin eating as well.

The three of them sat in silence, eating and drinking for about fifteen minutes, before repacking everything. Kagome looked at Inuyasha with a small blush on her cheeks. "I gotta pee."

Inuyasha nodded in response. "Ya ain't goin' alone."

Kagome groaned. "Naraku isn't an issue anymore, Inuyasha. I can take care of this on my own."

Inuyasha growled, but relented. "Keh, fine. But don't go far. If I can't hear ya breathin', you're too far."

Kagome glared at him and crossed her arms. "Then you'll hear everything, baka!"

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "Good. That means I'll know if you're hurt."

Kagome sighed in defeat, knowing he wasn't going to back off from this argument, and held a hand out so he could help her up to stand. He handed her the biodegradable wipes she had brought from the future, and watched as she walked behind a bush not too far away.

Shippo jumped up onto Inuyasha's shoulder, getting ready for the next few hours back to the village.

When Kagome was finished, she came back and dug into her yellow bag for some dry paper towels. She grabbed one and wet it slightly with the little bit of water they had left, and cleaned her face. She felt puffy and gross from all of her crying, and just needed to do something about it. 

When she was done with that, she zipped up her bag and watched as Inuyasha picked it up. He cupped her cheek and gave her a sweet kiss before looking deep into her eyes.

"You're beautiful no matter what, Kagome."

Her bottom lip trembled a little as she gave him a shaky nod. How is it that he knows what she's thinking? She smiled slightly, giving him one more chaste kiss. If he believes that to be true, then she will try and believe it too.

She climbed up and onto his back, wincing a little from the pain, and rested her face into the crook of his neck as he began to run the rest of the way back to the village.

 °•°•°

It was another seven hours before they made it back, and the sun was already setting, but Inuyasha was relieved. They can rest here for a while before tracking down the wolf for the last two shards, then they need to decide how to get rid of the damn thing once and for all.

He moved the reed mat aside and walked into Kaede's hut, sitting Kagome down against the far wall, and sitting next to her with his Tetsusaiga rested against his right shoulder.

Kaede's one good eye widened as she let out a breath of relief. She walked over to the trio and spoke. "Kagome child, how are ye? Do ye need anything for the pain?" She could tell from the bruising and swelling, that the young girl must have been through quite a lot.

Kagome smiled weakly up at the old woman and nodded. "I'm doing alright, Kaede. And yes please, thank you." She yawned as she rested her head onto Inuyasha's shoulder and closed her eyes.

Inuyasha wrapped his left arm around Kagome's shoulders so she could snuggle deeper into the crook of his arm. Shippo moved from Inuyasha's shoulder down to sit on the ground in front of them. He opened Kagome's yellow bag and pulled out his stuffed fox to cuddle with as he curled up between his parents.

When Kaede was done mixing the herbs into a warm tea, she handed it over to the young priestess. Kagome thanked her before sipping on it slowly, loving how it feels trickling down her sore throat.

Inuyasha sniffed the air and looked around. "Oi. Where's Sesshomaru's runt?"

Kaede looked at the hanyou. "Lord Sesshomaru had come to take young Rin and A-Un with him, but he said they will be back in a few days time."

Inuyasha only grunted in response, just glad the kid is okay, and closed his eyes as he rested his head against the wall.

Kagome finished the last of her tea and handed the mug over to Kaede before taking her medication and then snuggling back into Inuyasha's chest. 

They explained a quick version of the events to Kaede. Letting her know that Naraku is indeed dead, and the jewel in almost complete. They told her that Kohaku was saved and Sango, Miroku and the boy went to the old slayers village and should be back in a few days.

Kaede was glad to hear that everything worked out, and she happily congratulated Inuyasha and Kagome on their upcoming wedding. Kagome smiled widely, as she snuggled deeper into her fiancé's chest.

As the sun dipped fully and the moon rose, Kaede went to sleep and Shippo began to snore softly between the couple. Inuyasha looked down at Kagome who was just resting against him, not sleeping, and he could scent her depressive state.

"Kagome..." She lifted her face to lock eyes with his, and he cupped her cheek as he continued. "I'm sorry." At her questioning look, he elaborated. "It was my fault you were there in the first place."

Kagome cocked her head to the side. "What are you talking about?"

Inuyasha sighed as he rested his forehead against hers. "I was able to get Sango to wake up from the damn fly's poison, but you and the monk wouldn't, no matter what. Kagura came and said she had an antidote. She refused to use it on you, but she did use it on Miroku to prove it was the real thing." He pulled back to look into her watery eyes. "I didn't have a choice. If ya didn't go with her... y-you woulda died. I was selfish and I couldn't let that happen. I... I'm sorry. It's my fault that bastard did what he did."

Kagome allowed a single tear to fall as she studied his eyes. She isn't mad at him, even though it does hurt that he gave her over to them. But she does believe that if he hadn't, she wouldn't be alive to hug him, kiss him, marry him... 

She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his lips down to hers. She sobbed quietly against his mouth as she felt his love shine through this simple kiss. She couldn't stop the few tears that fell as she kissed him over and over. She is just so happy she is with him right now and that she will be forever.

She pulled away as she raised her left hand to lightly stroke his furry ear. "I'm not mad. You did what you had to do to save me." She gave him another chaste kiss before snuggling her face back into his warm chest. "I would gladly live through that torture a thousand times, if it meant being with you for the rest of my life."

Inuyasha let out a contented purr as he hugged her as tight as he dared, not wanting to hurt her further. "I ain't gonna let that happen again, 'Gome. I promise you. I love you so much, koibito." He nuzzled the top of her head with his cheek, making her sigh happily.

"I love you too, watashi no saiai no otoko." She let a small, but very real smile break out across her face as she allowed his soft rumble and amazing scent drift her into a relaxing sleep mere moments later.

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A/N: Thanks so much for continuing to read! I hope you are still enjoying this story, because there is still a lot more to come!

Translation: Watashi no saiai no otoko = My beloved man