Hello, loves. This is the one of my favorite chapters, and it's also where I got the title of this fic from. I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or any characters. All rights to Rumiko Takahashi.

Chapter 4: Heart-to-Heart

Peace had come over our village, and Inuyasha and I began spending the majority of our time together. He came by the house I'd been living in every morning and then we'd go over to the house of whoever was cooking that morning. Kaede, Miroku and Sango, and I all alternated who made which meal. It was nice to have some structure instead of the chaos we used to have while searching for Naraku and the Jewel.

Inuyasha and I also made it a part of our routine to take walks every evening after dinner. Our favorite spot to go was the Sacred Tree. We would find ourselves sitting under it often, just holding hands and enjoying each other's company.

When we sat down at the base of the tree on this night, it was no different. Inuyasha leaned back against it and his arms immediately came around me. He pulled me close so my head was on his chest. We were comfortably silent until I began to laugh quietly.

Inuyasha leaned his head down to look at me. "What's so funny?" he asked. I looked up at him.

"You and me," I replied. He looked confused and I laughed again. "It's just…it's amazing how much everything has changed between us," I explained. I leaned my head back against him. "Remember how we couldn't stand each other when we first met?" I asked. Inuyasha laughed with me. "Oh yeah, I remember," he replied. "But now it's the opposite," I said, growing a bit serious.

Inuyasha nodded against my head. "You're right," he said. "I think that's what's so crazy. If someone had told me on the day we met that I would wind up falling in love with you, I never would've believed it." My eyes widened and I sat up to look at him. "What?" I asked, wanting to hear those words again. Inuyasha looked confused. "What?" he repeated.

"You said…about…falling in…." I stuttered stupidly. Inuyasha's face took on a red hue. "Oh, um," he said, pausing. "Yeah, well as time went on and we were together more often, I stopped seeing you as the weak girl I thought you were. I realized how strong and brave and kind you were. And, I don't know, I just…fell in…" he trailed off. "Love," I finished for him, smiling. He nodded, smiling back.

"Yeah, love. Because…" he paused. "I'm in love with you, Kagome." My eyes widened again at his confession. Inuyasha laughed lightly. "I think I knew I was a goner not long after we met, but it kind of snuck up on me that I actually did have feelings for you. I tried to deny it for a long time, which I'm sure you remember," he said sheepishly.

I definitely did remember. Back then, it was strange and, at times, a little disheartening to see Inuyasha go from insanely protective of me to insanely defensive of his motivation to do so. She's just a jewel detector, he had once said.

That was the one that stuck with me throughout everything. I wasn't mad at him, though. I wasn't even hurt anymore. Honestly, I think that his denial only made me want to fight harder for him and eventually him for me. I think it's made what we have stronger because the change in both of us, in Inuyasha especially, has become so obvious. I smiled a little to myself as Inuyasha continued.

"But then suddenly the most natural thing for me to do was love you," he said. A smile filled his face. "It still is. I love you, Kagome," he finished. I smiled back at him.

"I love you, too, Inuyasha," I replied. He held me close to him and after a minute, he kissed me.

Inuyasha met his lips with my mine in a tender, feather-like kiss. His hands moved to my back and slowly slid up into my hair. He smiled against my mouth as the kiss went on, and I pulled him as close as I could.

This kiss was different from any other that we'd had. Sure, we'd kissed since that first night. Actually, we'd kissed a lot since then. And yet, none of those kisses were like that night under the tree and this one was no different.

We'd been making up for lost time on that first night, but now we were making our own time. We were sealing a promise for our future.

This kiss felt like the first. It felt like a beginning.

When it finally got too chilly to stay outside, Inuyasha walked me back to my house. When we reached the doorway, he looked down at me and smiled. "Good night," he said. I smiled back at him.

"Good night," I replied. "I love you, Inuyasha." His eyes shone and he brought his hand up to touch my cheek. His fingers gently moved against it and he moved his hand into my hair. He tucked a dark lock behind my ear and followed the long strand down to its end. His warmth radiated through my garb, and suddenly the night didn't feel as cold.

Inuyasha smiled as he moved his hand to my neck, and I relished in his tender touch. Despite how gentle his hands were, his eyes remained intense, determined. It made me think that he was going to kiss me again, but he didn't. Instead, his arms came around me and he pulled me to him in a tight hug.

We didn't need to say anything. We both knew.

I closed my eyes and hugged him back with everything I had.

To be continued…

Okay, so that was full of fluff, but I don't think it's possible to write the love confessions without a little cheesiness. Let me know what you think! Much love. :)