Sorry guys for the fading updates and for the shorter chapter. I've had my hands tied with helping Tempest78 with MEMF and drawing blanks on writing in general. This chapter was done five or six times before it came out how I wanted it to. Although a bit shorter, I figure it's a most fitting transition from the first half of the book to the last. Only five more chapters to go until book two, everybody. I hope you guys enjoy.

He allowed the cold night air to brush past him once more before turning to face Kagome.

"I don't normally open up to anybody but Jakotsu." His neutral face turned to a frown.

Kagome looked up into his deep blue eyes with her chocolate brown ones. She gave him a heart warming smile.

"It's okay, Ban. I won't use it against you."

His lips tugged at the corners. A small smile crossed his lips as he pulled Kagome closer to him.

"This isn't easy for me to say..." His smile faded as he noticed the gap in her smile where a tooth once was. "But... I'm sorry." He sighed.

She nuzzled her face into his broad chest as a sign of an accepted apology.

"You must really miss him..."

Bankotsu squeezed Kagome's waist as he felt a constricting hand wrap around his already hurting heart. He moved his hands from her waist to cup Kagome's cheeks and lightly pulled her gaze to his.

"Yeah...Aside from you, he's the only person that's ever showed me any kind of compassion." He noticed Kagome's eyes start to glisten with unshed tears. "I loved him like a brother, just as he had loved me." Bankotsu clenched his jaw as he saw a lone tear fall from Kagome's moon lit face.

Her heart reached out to his. She didn't know what it felt like to be alone for most of her life but she did come close to knowing that Bankotsu was feeling. She understood him now. He may have a strong body and personality, and may even be inhumanely harsh at times, but that was just a facade to hide his broken heart behind. She understood his sadness and remembered Inuyasha being Jakotsu's final undoing. Her heart filled with his anger as well. She felt her heart breaking just as his was. Feeling his breath hitch and his eyes pool with water was her breaking point. Her tears cascaded down her cheeks and onto Bankotsu's hands.

"Hey." His voice was light. "Don't cry, beautiful." He smiled as he wiped away her tears with his thumbs.

Kagome recoiled at his words. "D-did he just call me beautiful...?!" She blushed.

Bankotsu gave a light smirk. His eyes softened and he moved his face closer to hers.

She felt his lips brush against hers and a jolt of electricity ran through her body. Her eyes fluttered shut, as did his. They pushed their lips together. He wrapped his arms around her waist and she wrapped hers around his neck, pulling each other closer and in return, deepening the kiss. They stood locked in that position as their minds raced off to their own peaceful, blissful world. They stopped and broke only for air but after the burning in their lungs stopped, they pushed their faces together once more.

Every emotion they had been bottling up had come to the surface. Happiness, hate, sadness, loneliness, pain, hurt, everything. It all just pooled into one moment. One heart stopping, breath taking moment. As tears fell down both of their cheeks as they parted for the last time, they rested their heads against each other's foreheads. Eventually, their tears ceased to fall and Kagome broke the silence after a long period.

"Come on, Ban. Let's go home."