**I'm so happy with all the positive feedback. Thank you very much.
I buried my face in the folds of his kimono and I felt his grip tighten around me, almost like he was afraid of letting go. He said he was sorry. I know apologies are hard to come by from Inuyasha, but that really wasn't what I was looking for. I just wanted to know, once and for all, what his feelings were towards me. Was I just filling a void left by someone else or did he love me? Suddenly, his arms loosened around me and I looked up at him. I must have been a horrible sight after all that crying. My face was probably stained with tears and my eyes were likely puffy and red. He wiped the remaining tears from my face and then took one of my hands, holding it tight.
"I heard everything you said to that dumb cat," he said
I looked up at him and his expression seemed filled with anger. It scared me a little. Was he angry because I confessed my love for him or was it something else? Maybe he was mad because I mentioned Kouga or maybe he thought I was in love with Houjo. He started talking again, interrupting my speculation.
"Do you really feel that way about me?"
"Yes," I said, but no other words would come out. I wanted to tell him so much more, but I was at a loss for what to say now. I looked away from him, scared of what he might say or do.
"What about that Houjo guy?"
I almost smiled as I picked up the slightest hint of jealousy in his tone.
"He's just a friend from school. Whenever he hears that I'm sick, he'll bring some kind of old remedy or something to try to make me feel better. He's very nice and I think he likes me, but I don't feel the same way towards him. I'd rather just be his friend."
"And what of Kouga?"
He had to be kidding right? Kouga? I mean I always appreciated his will to protect me, but I never felt anything other that friendship for him. Besides, who was Inuyasha to interrogate me about my feelings for others?
"What about Kouga? You think I like him? Maybe as a friend, but nothing more. How can you ask me about other boys with such contempt in your tone? What about you and Kikyou?"
He gave a heavy, almost frustrated sigh.
"I told you Kagome. Yes, a part of me still has feelings for Kikyou and even if I never see her again, they may never go away. I can't rest until she is free from her torment."
Anger filled my heart. If he was so in love with Kikyou then why was he even here with me? Why did he kiss me?
"You say those things and yet you're here? Why? If you love her so much why are you here? Why are you showing me feelings that you don't even have for me? I won't be a replacement!"
I got up abruptly and started to run. I suddenly had to get away from him, as far away as I could. I ran down the stairs and out the front door. I didn't care that I was in my pajamas or that I had no shoes on. After a while I found myself at the God Tree.
"How symbolic," I thought bitterly as I kicked the tree.
I sank to my knees and cried. Hot tears flowed down my face as I looked up into the night sky. Soon Inuyasha would be there telling me not to cry and that he hates seeing women cry. If he hates it so much then why does he insist on making me cry? As I expected I heard his bare footsteps cautiously approaching.
"Kagome?"
"Just go away Inuyasha. Please just leave me alone."
Of course he didn't leave. Instead, he knelt down next to me. Does he enjoy torturing me?
"Kagome, I don't want you to be upset any more. I hate seeing you like this."
"I wouldn't be upset if you would just admit what I really am to you. Admit that I'm just a replacement for someone else. That's all I want. Then I'll feel a little better. I might still be sad, but then I would know the truth. I just want the truth."
I looked at him with pleading eyes. He turned to face me and he put his hands on my arms, holding me in place, probably making sure that I would stay to listen rather than run.
"The truth is Kagome, that you could never be a replacement for Kikyou."
I closed my eyes tight to hold back the impending wave of tears, but they still managed to leak out.
"You and Kikyou are so different. Kikyou was a woman surrounded by an aura of sadness and seriousness. Sadness because she could never be a regular woman and seriousness because of her duties as a miko. She had this ere of beauty and mystery. I loved her because she befriended me. She didn't shy away in fear and she helped to open my heart to love again.
By this time I had slumped down in defeat and listened wordlessly as he continued on about why he loved Kikyou. My tears stopped falling. I think I might have run out of tears to cry. And yet he still continued, unphased.
"Your different from her. You may look a little like her, but I could never see you as a replacement. You've got your own beauty and appeal. You have such a free spirit and usually wherever you are, happiness isn't far behind. You've opened a whole new world of feelings to me and you've taught me so much."
I tilted my head up to see him and his expression was soft and kind. He took my hands and continued.
"After Kikyou sealed me away, all the old feelings of hatred towards humans came back. I lost my ability to trust anyone. Love was the furthest thing from my mind.
He cupped my face with his hand, wiping away my tears with his thumb.
"Then through this journey with you, I learned how to trust and love all over again. I even have something that's pretty close to a family and it's all because of you. You trusted me with your life. You believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. Most importantly you gave me your love and acceptance. You showed me that no matter how I looked, whether my youkai blood took over, whether I was human or hanyou, that you could love me for what I was. You accept me for what I am. That's why I love you."
He said it. He really said it. I couldn't believe my ears, but when I saw the look in his eyes I knew it was true. He really did love me.
"So do you understand? You're not a replacement. You've helped to mend my soul in a way no one else could. Though there is a part of me that still loves Kikyou, if I were given the choice of Hell with Kikyou or life with you, I would choose life with you."
After he said that I threw my arms around him and he wrapped his arms around me, lifting me from the ground and carrying me towards the house.
"Now let's get you back inside. It's too cold for you to be running around out side in that," he said referring to my pajamas.
I smiled and leaned into him, enjoying the warmth. He carried me inside and took me upstairs to my room. Then he gently put me on my bed, putting the covers over me.
"When do you have that test thing?"
"Monday"
"When's that?"
"Oh, sorry, it's the day after tomorrow."
"Okay, then why don't you rest now and study for it tomorrow."
He went to my yellow backpack and pulled out the futon I use when I go to his time, but I didn't want him to be so far away now. I wanted to be close to him, even in my sleep.
"Inuyasha?"
"Hmm"
"Could you sleep here with me?"
His eyes went wide and though my room was dark I could tell he was a bit embarrassed.
"Please Inuyasha? Besides, I'm cold and I could use a cute doggy like you to keep me warm.
"Nani! Don't treat me like a dog!"
That pissed him off. He stomped over to my bed and shoved me over while getting under the covers.
"Good boy," I said as I patted him on the head.
"Feh," was his only response as he pulled me toward him.
I couldn't help but giggle at him. Same old Inuyasha.
"Goodnight Inuyasha. I love you," I said, kissing him softly on the lips.
"Goodnight you silly wench," he said.
Then he leaned his head toward my ear and whispered, "I love you too." I nearly died.
**End of Flashback**
So that's how it all happened. I finally found out that he loved me. Maybe Kikyou will always hold a piece of his heart, but I know he loves me too. I could never ask anything more of him. I'll love him no matter what he is or what he does. As I ponder I take a moment to look outside. Golden rays of sunlight appear on the horizon and the colors of dawn overtake the colors of night in the sky. Any minute now, Inuyasha will change back to his normal self. I return my gaze to Inuyasha waiting for the transformation to begin. His hair turned back to silvery white and his ears returned to the top of his head. Though I've seen this happen so many times, it still amazes me. Inuyasha stirred and then opened his golden eyes to the new day.
"Oi Kagome, what are you looking at?"
"Nothing," I said, smiling.
"Feh, stupid wench."
"What did you say!"
He climbed out of my bed and smirked at me.
"I called you a stupid wench! Now what do you have to say about that?"
"Inuyasha?"
"Yeah?"
"OSUWARI!"
I watched him plummet to the ground and shook my head. Perhaps our love was out in the open, but some things will never change.
THE END
**All done. I'm already starting work on another Inuyasha fic called Dog's Den. I hope to have it up soon. Thanks for readingJ