InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Talking in His Sleep ❯ Conclusions ( Chapter 10 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

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" " Speaking

[ ] Thoughts

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[He looks so tense]

Kagome watched Kouga's back as he stood looking towards the entrance to the cave. He hadn't turned around since Inuyasha left, nor had he spoken or even moved for that matter. He remained in the same spot, hands fisted at his hips, legs spread in that fighter's stance he always got into when the hanyou was around.

[What is he thinking?]

The same question ran through the wolf's mind while he stood there, listening to the mutt's footsteps receding in the forest. When he was finally sure he was far enough, he allowed himself to turn and inwardly flinched at the look on Kagome's features.

Sitting up weakly, she was pale and drawn, her eyes glossy and expressive as always. Sorrow, hurt, longing, regret, all shown in her chocolate brown orbs, each troubling in its own sense.

"What did he want?"

"To explain things," Kagome whispered, dreading the conversation that was to come. "G-Ginta said I was talking in my sleep."

Silently nodding, Kouga came to her bedding, dropping down to sit cross-legged before her. Finding himself dreading this conversation as well, he knew there was no choice, they'd have to get it over with.

"I don't know where to begin..."

His hand covered her mouth then, head turning to where the other wolves were arriving. They'd defeated the bear clan easily thanks to his shards, although there were still some that were seriously injured. Feeling her lashes touch his thumb, he glanced back to see her drooping forwards slightly to ease the pain from her back.

"We'll talk later, you should lie down now."

Helping her back into bed, Kouga shook his head when she tried to speak, hugging her close for a moment before getting up and going to check on his pack. Exhausted by the highly emotional time she'd had, Kagome allowed her eyes to close and sank into a deep, relaxing sleep.


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"We need to talk"

"We need to talk"

Kagome and Kouga froze, a brief smile appearing on their features for a second before they became serious again. Signaling for her to go first, Kouga crossed his arms and waited.

"Can we do it somewhere private?" Kagome glanced around at the wolves surrounding them. Shippo lay sleeping peacefully beside Ginta, whom he'd grown quite attached to in the time they'd been there.

It had taken over two weeks of bed rest for her back to completely heal, days spent playing with the kitsune, sleeping, joking with Ginta and Hakkaku, or awkwardly with Kouga. Obviously she'd spoken more than enough in those days during her fever and the time had come for their talk. Inuyasha's visit hadn't been mentioned by either of them, although it certainly added to their troubles.

After giving an order to Hakkaku, he lifted her into his arms and carried her out to the cave he'd taken her to the night of her attack. It was a relatively short journey thanks to his speed, but she knew any normal creature would take at least a few hours to get there, if not a full day.

Leaving her on the bedding, he lit the torches on the walls and started up a fire for warmth, bringing her a large fur to serve as a blanket when he saw her shiver. Taking his seat across from her, he waited a while for her to speak again and took her hand into his when he realized how badly she was struggling to get her ideas sorted out.

"You spoke quite a bit in your dreams," he began for her. "Sometimes the topic was silly, squabbles between Inuyasha and the kit, a joke or reprimand for the monk and his woman. But there was one conversation that was troubling and you kept repeating it."

With a small gulp, she bit her lip and motioned for him to continue.

"You were angry, hurt, and accusing," Kouga frowned, holding her hand a little tighter, "And you kept insisting you were not that woman."

"Kikyo" she whispered.

"Hai, the pot of clay and dead bones"

Closing her eyes while taking a deep breath, she decided to just get things over with and tell him the truth. "I wasn't raped by those humans."

Frowning, he waited, heart stopping for a second when her eyes opened and looked into his, tears swimming in them. "I wasn't just sneaking away while Inuyasha slept, I was running from him before he realized what had happened."

"What happened?"

When he released her hand and moved back, she sensed his emotional withdrawal too, but he deserved to know the truth. "We were traveling and stopped at a village to rest, excited when we realized there was a festival going on."

"Inuyasha had run into Kikyo and gone to speak with her, while the others and I settled in at the village and tried to ignore it. When they finished with their talk he came and joined with some of the local men, getting drunk on sake with them."

Kouga huffed, thinking only a lowly half-demon would drink the vile stuff. [Must be from his human side.]

Kagome hesitated a second, before meeting his gaze head on and continuing with the most difficult part of the story. "I went to bed early by myself and he went into the wrong room. He fell to his knees beside me on the futon and one thing led to another and... we slept together."

Flinching at the pain that statement caused, he listened with his eyes closed as her voice softened and she finished explaining. "He was holding me close afterwards when he ruined things by calling out her name."

When his eyes snapped open to look into hers, she saw the anger and shock in them and nodded, "He was my first and he called for her afterwards. That's why I was sneaking away while he slept... I couldn't bear to face him so I ran. I got a ride from Kirara and was knocked off her back when we were almost at the well... you know the rest."

Overwhelmed by the confirmation of his greatest fear, Kouga sat in silence, her words echoing over and over in his mind. [We slept together... He was my first...]

Shaking his head and wanting to howl with the pain of it, he stood and turned away, heading to the doorway of to get some cold air. Kagome followed, much to his dismay, her hands grabbing onto one of his arms as she came to his side.

"Kouga I'm so sorry! I never meant to hurt you! I didn't know it would..."

"You didn't know it would hurt me for you to sleep with the mutt?" Kouga snapped, glaring down at her, "How could you NOT know that? You knew you were my woman!"

Kagome shook her head, "No Kouga! Things were different back then! We weren't as close as we are now, and we'd never spent any time together or really known one another! I didn't take your words seriously!"

"You thought it was a joke?" he looked seriously offended, "Choosing a mate is no laughing matter Kagome. When a wolf claims his mate its for life, and I had claimed you, you knew that."

Sniffling, she continued to shake her head, "No matter, you were never there. How could I believe what you said when you were always away? When you were never around? You just showed up every so often, argued with Inuyasha over me and left to care for your pack. There was no relationship between us before now and you know it."

Understanding the truth in that, he gave a curt nod, "What about your relationship with Inuyasha?"

"It was rocky," she admitted, "Its always been rocky, we're both too stubborn and volatile, but deep down there's always been something."

Kouga's anger cooled a little, sadness replacing it, "Do you love him?"

It took her a little while, her hands still on his arm, her head resting on his shoulder, and when she finally answered her voice was soft and vulnerable as she admitted.

"I don't know"

Waiting a moment, he had to ask, "What did he want? That day when he came here, what did he say?"

"He didn't know," Kagome explained, "The morning after, he didn't know what he'd done, sometimes people forget the things they do when they're drunk, and he thought it was a dream."

"He couldn't smell anything when he woke up?"

"Apparently Sango woke him rather abruptly and they left as soon as they could. I talked to Miroku about it when I got back from my time and he recommended I let the both of you think it was the humans who..."

"Took your virtue"

Nodding, she squeezed his arm, "Kouga, I would never intentionally hurt you. I was in love with Inuyasha for a long time and that night he was finally opening up to me."

Thinking back to the sweetness of his touch and his voice, she blinked back her tears unsuccessfully, "I wanted him to love me so badly, I needed it, and he was finally there. When he kept whispering all those sweet words I was so happy and then he..."

"Stop"

Kagome did, realizing how much her words must hurt him and hating her habit of babbling when she was distraught. When he extricated his arm from her hold, she let him go, stepping back silently to the bedding where she sat down. Closing her eyes, she waited for him to say something but it never came.

Leaning against the wall behind her, she realized she'd fallen asleep when she was snapped out of it by the touch of his body wrapping around hers. Held tightly in his embrace, she felt the tension in him and clung to him tightly as well. With one of his hands gently running through her hair, she snuggled closer, anguished by the whole situation.

Her heartbreak the night she'd made love to Inuyasha.

Kouga's worries and care for her, here in this cave and at the other.

Inuyasha's explanation of his actions.

Kouga's pain now at her confessions.

"Aishiteru"

Giving a small gasp, Kagome raised teary eyes to see his equally troubled features. The sadness, regret, and love mixed in them brought a knot to her chest, catching her throat in her lungs. Shaking her head, she tried to speak but was silenced by a touch on her mouth, his thumb outlining her lower lip.

"It's true, you can't make me take it back," Kouga whispered, gently pulling her closer with the arm wrapped around her shoulders, serving also as a pillow.

They lay face to face, bodies pressed together, their faces mere inches apart while he spoke. "I've loved you for a while now, and my leaving you with the mutt has haunted me for days each time I did it. I knew the risk of leaving you with him, just like I knew you probably didn't understand how serious I was when I claimed you as my woman."

"I'm not going to say I didn't see how things were between you. Each time I came your eyes lit up and you smiled, but it was never like the smiles you gave when he was around." Kouga sighed, nuzzling her cheek, taking in her sweet scent. "Aishiteru Kagome."

When she gave a small whimper and sniffled, he opened his eyes to meet with hers. The sadness in those icy blue orbs struck her almost like a physical blow and wanting nothing more than to wipe it away, she moved instinctively. Cupping his cheek in her right hand, she leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his lips. It was the briefest touch, just a soft, gentle caress meant to serve as a silent apology, and its meaning hit him clearly.

She loved him, but not the way he wanted her to.

With tears spilling from beneath her lashes, Kagome lowered her face to the crook of his neck, crying for all his pain, and hers, and the dreadful guilt that assailed her because she couldn't be what he needed. Nuzzling her hair, he held her and let her cry, taking the opportunity to savor this precious moment with her there. His heart ached at the thought, but even he couldn't deny the truth and he mentally forced himself to accept the parting that was soon to come.

But it hurt like the very devil and he could take advantage of these last moments at least, since they would have to last for the rest of his life. Taking in her scent, her softness, the taste of her lips and the feel of her soft chest and hips pressed against his.

Finally calming herself a little, Kagome kept her arms around him and her head where it was. She lay wanly and realized she needed him to know and understand. To his surprise, she pressed her lips to the base of his neck, where it met with his shoulder, and gave it a soft kiss.

Catching his breath, his body froze around her while she softly explained. "I love you too Kouga, I mean it with all my heart, I love you too."

Knowing he was about to reply, she moved back to where she could meet his gaze, touching his lips like he had. "But its a different kind of love than the one you deserve. I couldn't be a good mate for you, because my feelings aren't that type. In all this time you've cared for me, I have come to love you, but not as a mate should."

"Please don't say any more," Kouga interrupted, brushing his lips over hers, "Even a wolf can dream itoshii, just... give me these last few hours before you go."

Swallowing past the lump that came to her throat again, Kagome nodded, closing her eyes when his lips lingered over her temple. Outside the cave, the gloomy day seemed to match their mood, as the rain that had been threatening all morning finally began to fall.

Held so tenderly in his arms, one of her mother's favorite songs came to mind, the lyrics hitting home perfectly as she remembered them now.

Turn down the lights
Turn down the bed
Turn down these voices, inside my head
Lay down with me
Tell me no lies
Just hold me close
Don't patronize
Don't patronize me

'Cause I can't make you love me
If you don't
You can't make your heart feel
Something that it won't
Here in the dark
In these final hours
I will lay down my heart
And I feel the power
But you won't
No, you won't
And I can't make you love me
If you don't

A bolt of lightning struck outside, causing her to jump and shiver in his arms. Feeling the wetness of her tears again, he inwardly cringed, moving away a little to sit up and pull the fur he'd given her earlier over them both. Taking her into his arms again, he gently kissed her eyelids, taking away the salty moisture there.

I close my eyes
Then I won't see
The love you don't feel
When you're holding me
Morning come
And I'll do what's right
Just give me till then
To give up this fight
And I will give up this fight

"No more tears Kagome"

Giving a nod, she managed to form a brave little smile, although her chin trembled a bit and her lashes sparkled with the droplets that hung on their tips. Rewarding her with his own smile, although a sad one, Kouga gave her cheek one last nuzzle, draped one leg over hers and growled low in his throat. The sound had the desired effect as Kagome gradually relaxed in his arms, her body melting against his until sleep finally overtook her.

'Cause I can't make you love me
If you don't
You can't make your heart feel
Something that it won't
Here in the dark
In these final hours
I will lay down my heart
And I feel the power
But you won't
No, you won't

And I can't make you love me
If you don't

[If only...]

Kouga silently watched while she slept, savoring these last moments with his woman. He knew well enough that morning would come too soon.


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Wakened by a kiss, Kagome blinked, smiling shyly when she realized she was still in his arms. With a gentle smile, Kouga explained that the rain had stopped early in the morning and that they should be going. After they'd gotten up from the bed and cleaned up a little, he lifted her into his arms bridal style and set out, surprising her when he headed in a direction different than the one they'd come from the day before.

"Where are we...?"

"Your village is this way," Kouga kept a steady pace, for once not running so their parting moment could be put off a little longer.

"But Shippo..."

"Has been taken to your friends, Ginta was to drop him off last night."

Relaxing again, Kagome rested her head on his shoulder, uncertain of what was to happen now. The trip didn't take long, despite his slowed pace, and he came to a stop not far from the village. When he set her down on her feet, she hesitated with her hands on his shoulders, afraid of what may come.

"Should you ever need anything, no matter what, you will always be welcomed by my tribe," Kouga whispered, his hands on her waist.

Both seemed reluctant to pull away, but he finally lifted one hand to raise her chin and look into her troubled eyes. "Take care itoshii, you're fighting some powerful evil and the mutt can't always be there."

"Kouga..."

"No tears," he reminded her, dabbing away an errant drop that escaped onto her eyelash, "This isn't good bye Kagome, I'll see you again."

"Will you...?"

"I'll be fine." His smile was brave, but his voice wavered the tiniest bit, betraying his emotions, "Eventually."

"I meant it," Kagome whispered, cupping his face in her hands as she met his eyes and gave him a smile, "Aishiteru Kouga."

Sucking in a breath at the honesty in her expression, Kouga cupped her own face and repeated her words, "Aishiteru Kagome."

Wrapping his arms around her, he lowered his head for one final kiss. Unlike the others he'd given her, which had been tender and chaste, this time he allowed himself to be bolder, if only this once. He couldn't have imagined how it would affect him, all of him, body, mind, and heart. He felt her awareness of his needs as he filled himself with her, savoring her taste and touch.

Finally he pulled back, and after giving her forehead a peck, silently turned and walked away. Kagome watched sadly, he'd been so brave for her, neither angry nor resentful when she'd told him the truth. She touched her lips where she could still feel his kiss and sighed, her whispered words reaching him as the wind carried them his way.

"Ja matta... Kouga-kun."

"Hey mutt, get down from there!"

Kouga's demanding voice brought him out of the goshinboku immediately. Fighting back the urge to grab the wolf's neck and throttle him, Inuyasha growled.

"Where's Kagome?"

"Coming this way from the other side of the village," Kouga blocked his path when he moved to go to her.

Recognizing the scent of her all over the youkai, Inuyasha was growling louder, eyes boring angrily into the blue-eyed jerk's. "So what do you want? Is she just here for her stuff?"

"I wish." Kouga snapped, equally angry but aiming it all towards the hanyou instead of the girl. "I'm here to warn you mutt, if the only thing standing between you and Kagome is your clay pot, I'll kill her the next time she crosses my path."

Inuyasha growled but was silenced almost immediately, "Its time you got it into your head that the bitch is dead. Give her up and stop hurting Kagome. If you don't, and I hear she's cried over you again, I will take her back and make her mine, no matter what."

"Feh, if you feel so strongly why didn't you keep her now?" Inuyasha scowled.

Kouga scowled, hating to have to admit it to his biggest rival, "I'm not the one she wants."

When Inuyasha's eyes widened and began to brighten, he gave a low growl and grabbed the hanyou's collar. "But listen here you bastard. If you hurt her anymore, it won't matter how much she begs, I'll take her back and skin your scrawny hide, got that?"

"Yeah yeah," Inuyasha shoved him away, wincing inwardly at the sound of his haori ripping, "I got it, and believe me, I have no intention of hurting her again Kouga."

Surprised that he used his name, Kouga stepped back while he listened. Inuyasha was completely serious, that much was obvious by his tone and stance.

"I've told her how I feel, if I have to tell you too then fine, I'll tell you if it'll get you off my back. I happen to love the wench, all right? I've nearly died for her, countless times saved her scrawny neck from attacks, carried her around like a mule, been sat by her to the point of breaking my back, and none of it was for my own health."

Inuyasha crossed his arms, features set in a serious, grim expression, "I won't let anyone take her, not after I've finally come to grips with that fact and realized how much she means to me. If you want to take her, you'll have to kill me first."

"We don't need the dramatics just now," Kouga interrupted, "She chose you, despite the fact that I'm the better match, she's loyal, to both of us, but more so to you. Take care of her mutt."

With that he was off, sprinting away towards his den.

Relieved to have that over with, Inuyasha would have rushed to her side if it weren't for his damned insecurities. Could she really have chosen him over Kouga? After all he'd done?

What was he to say?

What would she do?

What would he have to do to make it up to her?

Walking absentmindedly until he reached the well, he was sitting on the edge of it when she came out from the forest to his right. Being caught up in his thoughts though, he missed it and hardly noticed her presence until she took a seat by his side.

Kagome watched quietly while he worried his lower lip, staring down at his feet rather pensively. Not wanting things to be awkward now that they both knew, she wondered how she could get his attention and keep things light. Finally noticing the way he wiggled his toes, she let out a chuckle that brought his head up.

"Missing something?" she teased.

His blank expression was matched by an eloquent, "Huh?"

Chuckling again, she pointed to his toes, "You were staring at them like something was wrong, I figured you must have lost a toe."

"Feh," smiling at her silly joke, he gave a shrug, "Just thinking."

"Hmm... that might be dangerous," Kagome frowned, "Wouldn't want you to hurt yourself."

"Wench"

"Jerk"

"Brat"

"Hmph"

Turning her head away, Kagome crossed her arms and stared out into the forest, surprised when she heard him move and felt his hands on her knees. Lowering her arms and looking down at the boy squatting before her, she gave a small gulp.

"What are you doing?"

Inuyasha shrugged, "I could ask you the same thing."

She nervously licked her lips but managed to shrug, "I have a job to do."

"So you came back for the quest?"

Hearing the slight hurt in his voice, Kagome hesitated a moment before raising a hand to one of the furry triangles atop his head and giving it a soft rub. "I came back to my friends and my obligations here."

Inuyasha held his breath, wondering at the implications of that, "Do you believe me?"

There was a long pause before she shook her head, "I can't say."

"I understand," he sighed, resting his chin on her knee, "Do you love me?"

"Hai"

Her immediate reply pleased him, but he could hear the uncertainty in her voice. She wasn't ready to take things up where they'd left them, and he could understand that perfectly, they needed a clean slate.

"Could we try again? Like new?"

To his dismay, she shook her head again, "It's not so easy Inuyasha, I can't just forgive and forget. You know it too, you don't forget when you're hurt, no matter how badly you want to."

His heart sank at her words but he had to agree, his voice was a barely audible plea when he spoke, with little hope in his tone. "Can't you forgive?"

"I can promise to try," Kagome offered, watching him carefully.

When he nodded in agreement, she smiled as he stood, coming up to her own feet in front of him. Sensing the question lingering in the air when he gave a small sniff, she met his eyes easily.

"I spent the night with Kouga, in his own cave, sharing a blanket and in his arms, but we..."

"Didn't do anything, I know, he smelled like your tears and you just smell like him," Inuyasha saw her frown and explained, "He came to let me know what would happen if I hurt you anymore."

At that, Kagome giggled, "And what would that be?"

"He said he'd take you away and make you his," Inuyasha huffed, "As if he could."

"He could if I s- you," Kagome walked by his side with a bright smile on her face.

Crossing his arms angrily, Inuyasha glared, "And why would you do that?"

Kagome shrugged, "If you were going to hurt him, I would have to, he's my friend after all."

"Your friend?"

The words stopped him in his tracks, making her stop too.

Ignoring the look in his eyes, she gave a nod, "Yes, my friend, he's been an ally to us for some time, even if you do have petty squabbles."

"Petty?!" Inuyasha growled, "We fight over you!"

"Flattering as that may be, I don't like seeing you argue with my friends," Kagome planted her hands on her hips, glaring back when he came face to face with her.

He stopped inches away and bent to look her in the eye, "Does that mean I'm not one of your friends?"

She raised an eyebrow, "Perhaps."

His eyes lowered dangerously, "Then what am I?"

"My..." Kagome drew out the silence, her scathing eyes burning into his for a moment before clearing and getting back their usual twinkle, "Puppy!"

Giving his nose a quick twitch, she turned and ran ahead to the village, her laughter ringing in his ears as he stood dumbfounded where she'd left him. "You are one crazy bitch Kagome."

Hurrying to catch up, he came barreling out of the forest just in time to crash into her and send the poor girl sprawling face-first into a gigantic puddle of mud. Kagome had been trying to avoid it when he carelessly ran into her back.

Finding herself kneeling, absolutely covered in the clumpy brown muck, she rolled onto her back to see him staring wide-eyed in horror at her state. Wiping her face casually with her hands, she gave him a suspiciously sweet smile.

"Inuyasha?"

Bracing himself for what was to come, he stayed where he was and gave a slightly squeaky,"Hai?"

"It's so nice in here, why don't you sit boy..."

Slamming into the mud, he held his breath until the spell subsided, wiping his face with the back of his haori.

"And join me?" Kagome finished sweetly.

"Wench"

"Baka"

"Oh a baka am I?"

With a mock growl, he grabbed her around the waist and rolled her into the mud. They were slipping and sliding, rolling and laughing when Shippo's voice cut into their fun.

"How come you never let me play in the mud Kagome?"

"Shippo!"

Kagome sat up, straddling Inuyasha, the handful of mud she was going to rub into his face still held high above her head. Looking up in horror at her friends, she saw the smirk on both Sango and Miroku's features and blushed beneath the mud covering her face.

"Kagome and Inuyasha are merely following a ritual Shippo-chan," Miroku picked up the kit, "An old courting ritual."

The girls gasped, Inuyasha growled, Kirara gave a mewl and Shippo frowned, "I don't remember seeing anyone else doing that."

"Its an inu-youkai tradition only," the houshi smoothly lied, "Looks like things are going quite well actually, we really should leave them to it."

Giving them both a wink and a Inuyasha nod towards Kagome, he was bonked on the head for the comment and dragged away by Sango while the couple looked down. It seemed the kimono she was wearing had opened up to bare quite a bit of her chest. With an embarrassed squeak, Kagome dropped the mud, closed the kimono and jumped off him.

"Hey wench that got in my eyes!" Inuyasha roared, "Now they sting!"

"Serves you right for staring!" Kagome shouted, glaring when he stood and towered over her, blood-shot eyes in front of hers.

[It does look like they hurt]

"Not like there's anything to see!"

"SIT!"

[Damn]

Face-down in the dirt again, Inuyasha listened to her as she stomped away, warning him not to come near the hot spring if he wanted to live past that day.

"You are helpless Inuyasha," Shippo sighed, "You know, you're lucky she loves you so much."

"You think so?" Inuyasha leaned up on his elbows, interested in the kit's opinion. He had just spent two weeks with Kagome and Kouga after all.

The solemn kitsune nodded, "She definitely loves you, even though Kouga's nicer to her."

"Yeah well, I can be nice," Inuyasha grumbled.

"Yeah right"

"I can too!"

Shippo crossed his arms, "Prove it!"

"All right I will," getting up out of the mud, Inuyasha stomped over to Kaede's hut, grabbed Kagome's bag with her bathing items, and made his way over to the hot spring. Stopping behind a tree, he called out her name.

"Hey Kagome!"

"SIT!"

- wham -

"I'm not spying! I came to give you your stuff!" Inuyasha shouted, glaring at the kitsune stifling giggles by his side. "Cover yourself up wench!"

"What?" Kagome's voice was shrill but she didn't sit him again, coming up to the edge of the pool instead, arms crossed over her upper body to cover herself. "What are you doing Inuyasha?"

"Feh, turn around wench," Inuyasha came over, dropped the bag and squatted down, shuffling through it.

"Why?"

"Just do it!"

"Fine!"

Turning her back, Kagome was grumbling about bossy men and threats to their limbs if they tried anything. To her surprise, his hands came down onto her scalp, smelling of her shampoo. Picking up her hair, he gently spread the slimy stuff through all her tresses and began scrubbing the annoying mud from them.

When his clawed fingertips grazed along her scalp, she shuddered and lay back against the rocks, relaxing completely beneath his minstrations.

"Ahh... that's nice..."

Entranced by her sigh and the feel of her silky strands, Inuyasha forgot about the kitsune watching from the trees. Hands still preserving her modesty, Kagome lay with her eyes closed, savoring the touch in her hair when she felt it. Opening her lips in a silent 'o', she lay there passively while his lips smoothed over her exposed neck.

Giving it a light nip, he ignored her gasp, holding her back when she tried to lift up, his mouth moving back to her ear. Kissing its rim, he whispered quietly, "Arigato."

Kagome blinked, "For what?"

"For coming back," his teeth slid along her neck, stopped beneath her ear where his breath touched and sent a shiver down her spine.

"To the quest?"

"To me," he corrected, "You came back to me."

"Even though you always leave me ?" Kagome snapped, reminding him he wasn't completely forgiven yet.

Releasing her hair, he slipped off his muddy clothes and slid into the water by her side. When she gave a startled cry, he caught her arms and brought her forward, closer but not too close.

His eyes bore into hers when he spoke, "I can't erase the things I've done Kagome, and I won't ask you to forget. What I can ask is for the chance to prove myself from now on."

"Inuyasha..." Kagome whispered, unsettled by their nakedness and his serious expression.

"I'm not letting go until you agree Kagome," Inuyasha warned, "It was hell enough leaving you at Kouga's to think things over, I won't risk losing you again."

When tears formed in her eyes, he saw her fight down a smile and grinned, "Well wench? What do you say? Will you let me prove myself? Let me prove that I really love you?"

"You love me?"

He suddenly growled, hauling her up against him, "I told you that in the cave."

"It was a little too much back then," she admitted, "I told you so."

Forgetting her soapy hair, their nudity, and even their location, he bent his head to give her a teasing kiss on the lips. "Aishiteru."

Kagome smiled, her arms coming up to his shoulders, "What was that?"

"You heard me wench, I love you," Inuyasha nipped her bottom lip, caging her body between himself and the rocks.

Seeming to remember where they were and their circumstances, Kagome would have protested had his mouth not covered hers fully again. At first his kiss was as soft as his touch on her hair, but then his lips took possession of hers with such slow, delicious skill, a flutter of delight ran through her and she slipped her arms around his neck.

Ending the kiss at last, he suckled on her lower lip a moment before nudging her nose with his and pulling back. Smiling, he quietly ordered her to hold her breath while he pulled her under and quickly rinsed the shampoo from her hair. Coming back up when he was done, he surprised her by grabbing the conditioner and slipping it on, leaving it while he scrubbed away the dirt and grime with her lavender soap and her loofa.

"Should you be doing this?" Kagome asked, while he rubbed it over her ribs, blushing as his hand brushed her chest.

"Yes" Inuyasha nodded, finishing off quickly enough. After she was completely done, he scrubbed himself without the smelly soap and climbed out, quickly donning his clothes. Wrapping her in a towel, he held her close and gave her another kiss.

"I like you like this," Kagome whispered, snuggling close into his hold.

"I like you like this too," Inuyasha grinned.

"Wet?"

"I was going to say naked, but wet and naked's good too"

"Hentai!" Kagome pouted, slapping his chest playfully. "I have no idea what's come over you, since when are you so gallant?"

"Since I almost lost you once," he admitted.

Giving a sigh, Kagome smiled when he wrapped his clean hoari around her, lifted her bridal style, and carried her up to the goshinboku.


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"Will you look at that?"

Sango whispered, crouching beside Miroku behind a bunch of shrubs. They had let their friends be and waited up almost all night for them to come back to the hut, but when the first rays of light had shone with no signs of them, they set out to look.

They'd picked up Kagome's things at the hot spring, surprised to find all her clothes there. Miroku gave a lecherous grin, which earned him another concussion and set them back a little, but eventually he'd woken up and they'd continued their search. They could not have expected anything like this however.

Staring out over the forest, with peaceful smile on his face, Inuyasha sat on a high branch of the goshinboku, a sleeping Kagome in his lap. The pair looked completely content, his haori draped over them both, her bare foot showing.

"Well now that they're finally together," Shippo turned to the couple beside him, "When will you two hook up?"

"Shippo!"

"Not so loud!" Miroku covered her mouth, giving a wicked grin when her eyes met his, "So lady Sango, when WILL you agree to bear my child?"

- SLAP -

The sound and ensuing screams brought a grin to Inuyasha's lips as he glanced down to see the monk running from the fuming taijiya. The kitsune and cat followed the entertainment, leaving them alone once again. Feeling Kagome stir a little, he gently rubbed her back beneath the haori, smiling wider when she mumbled his name in her sleep.

"Hai Kagome... I'm right here..."

She mumbled a little more and snuggled closer.

"No... I won't let go..."

"I promise..."


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- Fin -

I know, many are going to hate me for ending it so soon, but I think ten chapters is good, more might ruin the story. Thank you SO much to all of you for the wonderful reviews! I have to tell you how shocked I was by the response this story received. I would never have guessed it would become such a hit!

To be honest I nearly gave up on it for a while there, I just couldn't get things right or even get them going. But alas, I did not and there you have it.

The end.

Much love guys - KawaiiChica