InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Soul Therapy ❯ Chapter Twenty-Three ( Chapter 23 )

Title: Soul Therapy

 

Author: dolphingirl0113

 

Chapter: Twenty-Three

 

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*~

 

Kagome walked into work with a huge smile on her face, her entire body radiating sunlight. Ayame grinned, and Sango, Miroku, and Kouga just smirked when they saw this, wondering what Inuyasha had done now to make the clinic's best therapist sparkle like a diamond. But then, Kagome had been in a good mood ever since the papers had been signed two weeks ago and the article had come out in the newspaper a week later. It had been exactly what they had all hoped for, painting a picture of an unexpected love story between Kagome and Inuyasha, and how he and Kikyou had unintentionally fallen out of love slowly, and that the accident had simply hastened the process. The papers hadn't stopped printing stories because of it, but they had become a little nicer in regards to Kagome and Naraku.

 

“Okay, what did you two do last night that has you so happy?” Sango asked finally after Kagome had put her purse and keys in her locker and taken out her badge and put it around her neck.

 

“What do you mean?” Kagome replied innocently, but winking to show she knew exactly what her friend meant.

 

“What has you in such a good mood?”

 

Kagome grinned and motioned for Sango to come close, frowning when Miroku and Kouga followed suit. The two men gave her curious, hurtful expressions but backed away, and Kagome smiled again as she whispered what she had discovered the night before.

 

“No way!” Sango exclaimed excitedly. “In his pocket? Are you sure?”

 

“I'm pretty sure. I mean, a guy doesn't just carry around a small velvet box for no reason.”

 

“Oh Kagome! I'm so happy for you!” Sango gave her a huge hug. “When do you think he'll ask?”

 

“Tonight….Today's his final day of therapy, when he'll be getting rid of the cane and finally walking on his own, so he wanted us to go out and celebrate later. I'll bet that's when he'll ask.”

“Ask what?” The girls stopped their squealing long enough to look over at Miroku, who just shrugged and looked innocent. “Hey, as a colleague at work I have a right to know what's going on, as does Kouga.”

 

The man with the ponytail nodded. “That's right.”

 

Kagome glanced at Sango playfully. “Should I tell them?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Okay.” Kagome turned and looked at the two men. “I think Inuyasha's going to propose to me tonight!”

 

Miroku's eyes suddenly opened to twice their normal size, and Kouga started sputtering in shock, trying to say congratulations. “Ho…how do you know this Kagome?”

 

“I found a velvet box in his coat pocket last night, after he was late getting home from the medical school, and when I asked where he had been, he just gave me a smile and said I'd know soon enough,” Kagome explained, recalling the mischievous glint in Inuyasha's eyes.

 

“So did you open the box?” Miroku asked. “What did the ring look like?”

 

“No I didn't open it,” Kagome replied, sounding horrified. “That would be so horrible! I want to be surprised when he proposes, not knowing what the ring already looks like.”

 

“And yet you went snooping through his coat anyway?” Kouga asked playfully, watching as Kagome blushed slightly, playing with her hands.

 

“I wasn't snooping, I was just…hanging up his coat.”

 

“Usually people hang up coats by their hoods, Kagome,” Kouga continued to tease, “Not by their pockets.”

 

“Oh shut up,” Kagome replied, whacking him on the arm. “I'm sure Ayame goes through your stuff all the time.”

 

He nodded, conceding that she had a point. “True.”

 

Sango returned to giggling like an idiot, taking Kagome's hands. “I can't believe it…you're going to be getting married! I'm so happy for you, Kagome! I can't wait to plan your wedding!”

 

Kagome laughed. “Just hold that thought until after he proposes, okay Sango? Then we can plan all we want. And you'll have to be my maid of honor, of course.”

 

The girls continued to talk and giggle and talk some more until Ayame came through the door with a slightly annoyed expression. “As much as I hate to break up this obviously tender moment, you all have patients who are waiting for you in exam rooms, so get moving.”

 

Kouga laughed and kissed the fiery red head on the cheek as he went out the door, followed by Miroku, whose hands she watched carefully. She then turned her green eyes on Kagome and Sango, who were smiling like idiots, and rolled her eyes. “Just tell me later,” she sighed, “You don't have time to tell me now.”

 

The two women nodded and walked out into the clinic to start their day, but never ceasing to pass secretive glances and smiles to each other as they worked with their patients. It got to the point where by the time Inuyasha arrived at 4:00, Sango was so excited that she threw her arms around him in a big hug, to which he responded nervously with a blush on his cheeks.

 

“Um, hi Sango,” he commented in embarrassment, and Sango realized how it must look to him, and instantly pulled away, but still kept a smile on her face.

 

“You must be so excited for today,” she commented, “And…for tonight.” She accented the word tonight in a way that had Inuyasha raising his eyebrows, but as he glanced at Kagome for an explanation she just gave him an innocent look and shrugged her shoulders, so he decided Sango was just in a strange mood.

 

“What has gotten into your friend?” He asked when he finally managed to get over next to Kagome, who helped him onto one of the exam tables. She just shrugged as she pulled out a very familiar bottle of Vaseline.

 

“I don't know, she's just in a mood I guess,” Kagome replied, but Inuyasha didn't miss the way her voice quivered slightly, and her cheeks turned slightly pink in excitement. Women, he decided, were impossible to understand.

 

“What's with the Vaseline?” He asked as she pushed up his shorts so she had access to his thighs. “You haven't given me a massage in weeks.”

 

She shrugged again and winked. “I just figured you'd like your last trip to the clinic to be a pleasant experience, that's all.”

 

“Keh, you sound like a travel agent.”

 

“And what's that supposed to mean?”

 

“Just that you're acting really weird today, Kagome.” He gave her a hard stare, and she looked away, still smiling, and that only frustrated him more. What the hell was going on? Or worse…what had he done?

 

But he quickly forgot about feeling annoyed as Kagome's fingers worked their magic on the muscles in his legs, which were growing stronger by the day. It certainly made a difference now that he could feel her touch, when he could remember the first day he'd been there and couldn't feel a thing. Images of other times when she had given him other massages in other places caused a smile to spread across his face, and Inuyasha loved the fact that, now the divorce papers were signed, he could fantasize about the woman next to him freely, without guilt. How things had changed, in so many ways, from the first time he'd met her.

 

“Okay, what are you thinking about?” Kagome asked after a while, seeing him close his eyes in a gesture that she knew meant he was completely relaxed, and probably dreaming about something.

 

“What?”

 

 

“You heard me, what are you thinking about?”

 

He decided to tease her. “You really want to know?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“A woman.”

 

Kagome raised an eyebrow, pretending to be surprised. “Is that so?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“What does this woman look like?”

 

Inuyasha's smile grew bigger, his eyes still closed as he imagined Kagome as she had been that night at the party when he had come with Kikyou and seen her dancing with the strange man. Only in his fantasies, he was the one dancing with her. “She's very beautiful,” he finally replied, and Kagome beamed.”

 

“What kind of beautiful?”

 

Inuyasha made a face at that. “How should I know what kind of beautiful? Isn't there only one kind?”

 

“Inuyasha!” She smacked him playfully on the leg, only half pretending when her voice sounded somewhat upset, and he opened his eyes in confusion.

 

“What?”

 

Kagome just sighed in frustration, taking deep breaths to ease her temper. She needed to remember that, while handsome and considerate, that didn't mean that Inuyasha was all that great when it came to romantic words and phrases. But then again, if he had been then he wouldn't be Inuyasha. Come on, Kagome, she chided silently as she went back to massaging his legs, if you wanted sappy romance you should have dated Hojo.

 

“I'm looking forward to tonight,” she finally said as she finished the massage and stepped away, grabbing a towel and cleaning off the Vaseline from his legs. She gave him a smile and he returned the gesture as he sat up.

 

“Me too,” he replied, pecking her on the cheek as he grabbed his cane and stood up, immediately walking over to the parallel bars. Kagome grinned and nodded her head in approval.

 

“I've trained you well.”

 

“Keh, no one's trained me, woman,” he replied gruffly, though his eyes were twinkling. Even when he was in a grouchy mood he didn't look as intimidating as he had the first few times they'd been together. Kagome couldn't believe how much things had changed.

 

Shaking her head in exasperation, she walked over to his side, waiting until he was positioned with his hands on the bars, and then took away his cane. “You know the drill…up and down four times.”

 

“Yeah, yeah,” he replied in a tight voice as he moved all his concentration to stepping across the floor, using the bars for support. Kagome couldn't help but beam in triumph, remembering a time when he hadn't been able to make it across the floor once without both the support of the bars and her help.

 

He's come so far, she thought, and felt a swelling of pride in her chest not only for his accomplishments, but also because she knew she had helped. It was the same feeling that overtook her every time she watched a patient walk out of the clinic fully healed, knowing they were not going to come back. Physical therapy was the kind of business where you looked forward to the day when your customers didn't return, not the other way around.

 

Sango came over while Inuyasha started his third lap, and Miroku, Kouga, and Ayame joined them so that by the time Inuyasha finished he had an audience of five. He sent them all a glare, but couldn't hide the slight blush on his cheeks. “What the hell are you doing here? Wanting to make fun of me for something?”

 

“No, we just want to watch you take your first steps, Inuyasha,” Miroku replied innocently, and Kouga nodded.

 

“That's right, we all feel like your parents here, since you're involved with Kagome, so we figured it's only right for the parents to watch the baby spread his wings.”

 

“Shut up, baka,” Inuyasha snapped back, and Kouga just smirked, always knowing what to say to get under the other man's skin. Kagome just rolled her eyes, wondering again why the two always had to argue, and walked over to put a reassuring hand on Inuyasha's arm.

 

“Are you ready?” She asked, her voice completely serious, and he looked at her steadily for a few seconds before sighing and shrugging his shoulders.

 

“I guess. I mean, what the hell, thanks to you I've already fallen flat on my face once before.”

 

Kagome laughed, as did the others, remembering the first time Inuyasha had used the parallel bars, and how Kagome had put her arms around him for support. He had argued with her, telling her it was pointless to make him walk when he wasn't ready, and she had just let go, watching him fall flat on his face. She'd told him then to get a better attitude, and then she'd help him, and that brought a smile to Kagome's face.

 

“I was right then, you know,” she teased, putting a finger to his chest firmly.

 

“Right about what?”

 

“About how I said you could completely recover from the accident.”

 

“Keh, you never said that exactly, wench.”

 

“I did too,” she poked him harder with her finger, “And you know it. As I recall, you were ready to give up on the first day, and weren't even going to come back after your first six weeks when your insurance stopped paying.”

 

The red on his cheeks brightened, and Inuyasha looked away in his way of conceding defeat. “Whatever, lets just do this already, before I lose my nerve.”

 

“No one's stopping you,” Kagome replied, indicating the empty highway-like stretch of carpet before him, framed by the parallel bars. “Just go when you're ready.”

 

“Oh…right…” Inuyasha stared at the ground for several minutes, his grip on the bars tight, his fingers going white from the pressure. But finally, after taking a deep breath, he let go with first his left hand, and then his right, so that he was standing on his own, although he was swaying somewhat, trying to find his balance, and currently resembling a tree in the wind.

 

Kagome felt her own nervousness grow as she watched the man she loved, who had already achieve so much, try and do one last thing, the hardest thing of all. “You can do it,” she whispered in his ear, and a fire seemed to ignite in his eyes at her words.

 

Sucking in a deep breath, Inuyasha nodded, loving how she had so much faith in him. Kagome…his Kagome. He would make her proud.

 

With that thought in mind, Inuyasha slowly slid one foot forward on the ground and, when it was about a step in front of him, stopped. Gathering his courage, he decided to try actually taking a step, and so lifted his left foot into the air and brought it up next to the right so that when he turned around he saw that he had moved about a foot from where he'd started. He met Kagome's eyes, and together it was like they were two children who had received their greatest gifts at Christmas.

 

“Inuyasha…” Kagome felt herself whisper, tears coming to her eyes, and even Ayame sniffled slightly, taking Kouga's hand, while Miroku did the only thing he knew how, which everyone understood when Sango screamed.

 

“Hentai!” Kagome just shook her head and ignored the couple, knowing they'd make up in a few minutes…they always did, now that they were officially dating.

 

Inuyasha could have been walking on the clouds at that moment, he was so elated. It felt wonderful to take steps without the aid of someone or something, and for the first time since his accident, which was almost nine months to the day, he felt his old confidence completely return, and his insecurity vanish. And through it all, he felt more love for Kagome, the woman who had believed in him even before he had, then ever.

 

In total, he made four treks up and down the small space, stumbling twice, before deciding it was time to leave and get ready for dinner. When he reached for the cane, Kagome gave him a mischievous grin and shook her head, holding it just out of his reach.

 

“You should know me better then that,” she scolded sweetly, and he rolled his eyes, realizing it was true, that she never let him return to old habits once he proved they could be broken.

 

“Kagome, please, just this once? I'd like to make it to the car in less then an hour, thank you.”

 

But she just continued shaking her head. “No. And you're going to have to return that car your insurance company has been renting for you, with the gas pedals in the hands.”

 

“Keh,” he looked at the cane with longing, and gave it one last shot. “Please, just one more time? If you don't give it to me now, I'll just walk over and get it.”

 

Kagome looked down at the cane in her hands and then turned to Miroku. “How much do these cost?”

 

He looked surprised at the question. “Um, I don't know, not too much, why?”

 

Kagome looked back at the cane and, with one quick movement, snapped it over her leg, leaving everyone stunned. She raised her head with a smile. “Because now I won't feel guilty about breaking it.”

 

“Wench, why did you do that?” Inuyasha cried desperately.

 

“Because I'm not going to give you any chance of falling back on the easy way out, Inuyasha.” She grinned. “So I suggest you get going so you have time to get to the car and home to change before dinner.”

 

He started muttering to himself, and Kagome just laughed as she watched him walk…slowly…out the door, a huge grin on her face. Yes, that was the man she loved more then life itself, and he was walking again. All by himself. And tonight he was going to propose.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

The rest of the day seemed to take forever to end, so that by the time Kagome was heading out to the car she was feeling very irritable. Why was it that on the days when she was not anxious to get home, her patients were on time and left early, but when she wanted to leave, they arrived on average about ten minutes late, and stayed extra to tell her about their life?

 

“See you tomorrow Kagome,” Ayame called as she and Kouga headed out to the man's black convertible. Kagome smiled and waved.

 

“See you later, Ayame. Kouga, you have got to start bringing an ugly car to work…that convertible of yours makes us all look bad.”

 

He winked at her, though she couldn't see it, and grinned as he unlocked the car with a push of the button on his key chain. “I can't help that I'm rich Kagome. But don't be complaining, as of tonight you'll be engaged to one of the wealthiest families in all of Tokyo.”

 

Kagome blushed as she was reminded of why she had been anxious for the day to end in the first place, and pictured once again the black velvet box she had found in Inuyasha's pocket the night before. But she had to say something to defend herself. “Inuyasha's not the wealthy one, that's Sesshoumaru.”

 

“But you know Inuyasha has a nice nest egg, Kagome,” Ayame added as she stepped into her side of the car. “So stop complaining.”

 

The couple drove off before she could reply, and so instead she just shook her head and stepped into her own run-down vehicle, turning on the engine and letting it warm up for a few minutes as she stepped out to give Sango a hug. “I'll see you tomorrow.”

 

“Yes,” her friend replied with a beaming smile, “And you have to tell me all about it. I want details about how it feels to be proposed to, and then we'll have to start planning your wedding, all the way down to the flowers in the bouquets.”

 

Kagome laughed and hugged her friend again, watching as Miroku was the last to leave, locking the door behind him. He turned to the two women and pretended to be hurt. “Don't I get a hug?”

 

“Not with the way your hands were roaming today,” Kagome replied, and the two women laughed again.

 

“I don't know what you're talking about,” Miroku replied innocently, walking to his car. “Good night, Sango.”

 

“Good night Miroku,” Her voice softened slightly as she watched the man climb into his car, and couldn't stop the grin from spreading across her face, giving Kagome a playful idea.

 

“What, no good night kiss for your girlfriend?” Both turned bright red, and Kagome nearly fell over with laughter. Sango slapped her hard across the arm, but chuckled all the same.

 

“Good night to you too, Kagome,” She said firmly, her eyes twinkling, and walked out to her car.

 

The drive home was easy, thankfully, and Kagome reached her apartment in twenty minutes. Walking in the door, she found Inuyasha lounging on the couch, watching TV, and felt a peaceful smile spread across her face. She loved coming home and having him there to greet her. In some ways, she couldn't understand how Kikyou could have given him up. But then, if you don't love someone, it's not the same.

 

“Hey, I was wondering when you'd get home,” he commented, not taking his eyes away from what looked like a baseball game.

 

“Sorry, work ran late tonight,” she replied, setting her purse down on the kitchen counter. “What time are our reservations?”

 

“7:00, so you have about an hour to get ready.”

 

“Thanks dad,” she replied sarcastically as she headed into the bathroom. “And don't you dare come in here until I'm done.”

 

“I won't so long as you don't take a thirty minute shower,” he called back as she closed the door.

 

The water felt good, and Kagome closed her eyes as she scrubbed the shampoo through her hair, loving the feeling of the soap sliding down her back as she rinsed. Nothing could have ruined her mood any more. Her towels had never felt softer, her dress, a short, strapless black style, had never fit better, and her hair had never cooperated more. She finished by placing the locket Inuyasha had given her around her neck, and slipped into some open-toed black heels.

 

“Well you were certainly efficient tonight,” he commented with a chuckle, coming out of the bedroom twenty minutes after her, dressed in a black jacket, black pants, and blue undershirt. She admired the way he looked without a cane, and couldn't resist walking up and hugging him around the waist. He returned the gesture by pulling her close and taking a long whiff from her hair. “What's this for?”

 

“This is the first time I've ever seen you walk by yourself,” she replied, a smile on her face as she leaned her cheek against his chest. “I like it.”

 

He smiled and pulled away, putting an arm around her waist and heading, slowly, for the door. As always, she didn't rush him or make him feel inadequate, and a wave of gratitude swept through him as he reached for the door and motioned for her to go through.

 

They drove to the same restaurant as before, with the beautiful gardens and antique style of interior decoration. Kagome loved it, and tonight Inuyasha really felt okay when she ordered the beef mignonettes, along with crab cakes as an appetizer, because his brother was paying for it as a reward for making it through physical therapy alive. Even though it had felt like the kind of reward a parent would give a little child, almost like saying `because you were good you get candy', Inuyasha didn't care, appreciating the gesture and knowing his brother was at least trying to act like a normal older sibling.

 

The only problem with knowing his surprise was it meant that Kagome spent most of the evening wondering when he would reveal the box, get down on one knee, and ask the question. Okay, she reasoned, so maybe since he could barely walk he wouldn't get down on one knee, but instead he might put the ring in her dessert like in all the movies. With that thought in mind, she eagerly awaited the arrival of her double chocolate cake.

 

“You must have a sweet tooth tonight,” Inuyasha joked as she eagerly took her cake from the waiter when it finally arrived, and Kagome just gave him a knowing look, to which he responded by looking confused. Taking her fork, she dove into the dessert and tore it to pieces, searching for a ring. Unfortunately, in the end all she got was a cake that was scattered across her plate and part of the table, but no ring.

 

She let out a long sigh, and Inuyasha frowned. “Did they not do a good job on the dessert tonight? I'll order you something else if you'd like.”

 

Kagome gave him a sweet smile, trying not to act disappointed. After all, it wasn't his fault she had a horrible habit of snooping and thus knew what was coming at SOME POINT in the evening. “No, I'm fine.”

 

“Okay,” he gave her a strange look, but eventually turned his attention instead to his own cheesecake. She watched him eat, a smile on her lips, and for a few moments forgot her frustration. He was beautiful to her, even when he was eating, and unlike Inuyasha, she thought he was a specific kind of beautiful. He wasn't beautiful like a woman, but he was beautiful like a man, with handsome, chiseled features and stunning amber eyes that were accented even more by his wealth of silver hair, which every now and then caught the light and shimmered, making her think of water.

 

The waiter came with their check, and once they'd paid Inuyasha stood up and offered her his arm. “Would you like to go out into the gardens for a while?”

 

Excitement filled her eyes, and now Kagome was sure they had reached the moment when he would propose. He was so sweet, taking her out into the gardens. “Yes, I'd like that very much.”

 

They strolled together for a long time, just enjoying the warm night, gazing up at the stars and listening to the fountain dribbling water. At one point Kagome even heard a cricket, and smiled at the cute chirping sound it made.

 

Finally, after a long, comfortable silence, Inuyasha motioned for her to sit down on one of the benches, and she obeyed, watching him sit beside her. He took her hand in his, and kissed her on the lips gently, in a way that stirred her heart and desire into a frenzy.

 

“Kagome,” he began, “There's something I'd like to give you. I saw it and couldn't resist. It's why I was late last night.”

 

It was an interesting way to start a proposal, but Kagome was willing to go along with it, figuring he was probably just nervous. So she nodded and smiled. “Okay, what is it?”

 

He reached into his coat pocket and pulled forth the small black velvet box, to which she gasped dramatically. “Here, this is for you,” he said, almost shyly, and she took it gratefully, savoring the feeling of it in her hands before she opened it. She would want to remember this night for the rest of her life, and so, with reverence she slowly opened the lid, holding her breath, to find…

 

“Oh,” she said, unable to hide a slight twinge of disappointment. “It's beautiful, Inuyasha.” She gazed at the ruby pendant shaped like a rose, encrusted with emeralds that represented petals, remembering how she had admired it in the jewelry store on may occasions when they'd passed by. On any other night she would have been thrilled beyond measure, and even now a small part of her was leaping in excitement to receive such a gift, but at the same time what she had really hoped for was a diamond ring, and now that she didn't have it…

 

“Kagome, is something wrong?” Inuyasha looked like the world was crashing down around his head, and Kagome suddenly felt extremely guilty. He had bought her a gift most women would kill for, and all she could say was `oh it's beautiful', like a Christmas present she didn't really like.

 

“No! I love it, Inuyasha, it's stunning. I…honestly wasn't expecting something like this.” Her voice betrayed her inner thoughts, because his eyes went wide and then narrowed in understanding.

 

“You already knew you were getting it, didn't you?” He sighed in disappointment. “You found it in my pocket last night.”

 

“No,” she said again, but blushed. “Not exactly.”

 

“What does that mean?”

 

“I mean, well…I did find the box, but…I didn't look at what was inside.”

 

“So you knew you were getting a gift,” he summarized. Hope returned to his eyes. “But you didn't know what kind of gift. Okay, I get it now.”

 

“No, Inuyasha, that's not quite true either. I…I didn't know what kind of gift it would be, but I thought it would be something different.”

 

“Different? How? Is that not the one you were wanting?”

 

“No, it is, it's just…” She went silent, too embarrassed by her mistake to continue, and suddenly Inuyasha understood, his mouth forming a silent `o'. Then he blushed too and looked away.

 

“Oh Kagome…” His voice sounded suddenly tired. “You thought I was going to propose.”

 

“I'm sorry, Inuyasha,” now she was feeling really guilty, and like a complete fool for making such an assumption. “I really am. I guess I'm just, well, I'm so in love with you that the thought of marrying you has been on my mind a lot lately, so…I just jumped to a conclusion when I saw the box.”

 

He nodded, still not looking at her. “Kagome, I just got a divorce two weeks ago. I'm not exactly going to be proposing to anyone any time soon.”

 

That comment cut her to the quick, and she felt a part of her heart rip. What was he saying? That she was just his rebound fling before he moved on to someone more serious to get married again? Or worse…was he saying he never wanted to get married again? Both possibilities crushed her, and to cover her sudden unease, Kagome decided to allow her temper to take over.

 

“Well excuse me for being in love,” she snapped, and he looked at her in surprise, feeling suddenly regretful at how his words must have sounded.

 

“Kagome, look, I didn't mean…”

 

She put up a hand for silence, tears coming to her eyes. “Look, unlike you, I haven't been married before. In fact, I haven't even had a serious boyfriend before you. And even though you only became officially divorced two weeks ago, I've known you now for six months, and have loved you for at least five of those six, so to me it feels like we've been together a long time.”

 

“Kagome, I'm sorry about how that sounded, I didn't mean it like that.” He was starting to panic, not liking at all how she was sounding at that moment. “Please just listen to me.”

 

A part of her wanted to say no, but Kagome decided to give him the benefit of the doubt, knowing she'd said things before she didn't mean either. So she nodded, but looked away as he began to speak.

 

“I love you more then anything, Kagome, in a way I never thought possible, even when I was with Kikyou. I wake up every morning, see your beautiful face, and can't help but feel lucky, so lucky to have you in my life. I have a smile on my face throughout the day just because I know I'm coming home to you. I don't want that to ever change. But…” He swallowed, and she turned to look at him, seeing the pain and confusion in his eyes. “It hurt when I realized I didn't love Kikyou any more. It hurt even more when I signed those papers, and, well…”

 

Kagome looked at the ground. “I understand.”

 

“No you don't. It's not because I don't love her. It's because I failed in marriage. I never wanted that. I wanted to get married once and live happily ever after with the love of my life, have lots of children, and watch them grow. But it didn't happen because I made the wrong choice, and now I feel like I don't know what to do any more.”

 

She looked at him as he spoke, and they both stopped talking for several minutes. Finally, she placed a hand on his arm gently. “So, what are you saying, Inuyasha? I need to know, for the sake of this relationship.”

 

He sighed and looked at her, his amber eyes causing her head to spin and her heart to beat faster. “I'm just saying that I need time, Kagome. I know that you've never been married before, but I have, so I just need some time.”

 

“But, if I give you time, do you think you might want to marry me some day?”

 

He laughed at that and pulled her close so that her cheek was against his chest and his chin was resting on the top of her head. She could hear his heartbeat, and felt herself relax slightly. “Maybe marry you? Woman, I'd marry you today, right now, if my logical side wouldn't step in. I love you more then life itself, and I don't want to lose you. I just hope you'll have the patience to wait until I'm ready to go down that road again.”

 

Kagome pulled away and, after staring at him for several minutes, gave him the biggest smile she could, watching as his amber eyes filled with relief. She touched his cheek and kissed him lightly on the lips. “I always want to be at your side, Inuyasha…forever. And if that means I have to wait for you to be ready to marry me, then so be it.” She laughed again and threw her arms around his neck, pulling him close for a passionate kiss.

 

Once he lifted his head, she nestled into his side and together they sat there on the bench under the stars, listening to the sounds of the water and the crickets and the birds, and neither had ever felt more at peace.

 

“I love you, Kagome Higurashi. Never forget that.”

 

She smiled, knowing she would never get tired of hearing that. “I love you too, Inuyasha Takahashi, and I will wait for you forever, if that is what it takes. I will always be with you, so long as you want me.”

 

He smiled and pulled her close, and they both closed their eyes in complete bliss, happy in each other's company, falling asleep on the bench, and Kagome's last thought before she drifted off into dreams was that she didn't know exactly how she would tell her friends the next day that she had been wrong.