It was now or never.

'I have to do this. I owe her this.'

He swiftly picked up the futuristic girl in his strong arms, his haori still covering her and leaped out of the hut into the darkness, trying to be as silent as possible.

Who knew that humans had such a sharp sense of hearing as well.

Kimiko's ears immediately picked up the sound of the bamboo door curtain being flung open, and so did her eyes.

She scanned her surroundings warily, her fists at ready, waiting for an ambush.

There were no intruders in the hut.

She could make out Kaede's hunched figure, Sango and her exaggerated boomerang, a little ball of fur that was Shippo's tail and the monk with his staff.

But two people were gone.

Her head snapped up in the direction of the door.

…

"Inuyasha… wha-"

He carried her to the well and sat her down gently on its lip.

She realised that his haori was on her, but she did not bother to take it off, as it was chilly.

"What do you want," she said coldly, not bothering to look at him in the eye at all.

"Kagome, I… I know I've screwed up big time, okay? I… I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" her voice picked up by an octave. "You're sorry? Inuyasha, how many more apologies am I going to get from you before there is an end to this bullshit?!"

"I really am… I didn't mean for you to…"

"Of course you didn't," Kagome was practically yelling now. "Which guy in his right frame of mind would want to be caught getting all frivolously chummy with his ex?!" She paused. "Oh, I forgot. I'm just a SHARD DETECTOR."

Beads of tears were now rolling down her face, and her pent up anger overwhelmed her sadness. She stood up and faced him, throwing his haori back at him.

"How silly of me to even think that I was of romantic value to you!" she barked. "Of course, this is all my fault! It was I who came between the both of you! Well guess what! I'm done! But I am still going to stay here and finish my job because I know damn fucking well that I have a responsibility here, and I promise you I will leave you all in peace! Now if you'll excuse me."

She walked past him, when she felt a strong hand grip her arm and pull her back.

He turned her around by the shoulders to face him.

"Kagome," he bore his amber pools into her azure ones, his voice shaking with urgency. "I'm sorry. I really am. Believe me… I've given it quite some thought and I know that I've been a real prat… I know I've been taking advantage of your forgiving nature, and I know I've been selfish. I'm sorry, I just… I just feel that I owe Kikyo something… She died for me, and it is only right that I give my life as well. I… I don't know what to say, honestly… I just… Kagome, I know it's not easy seeing me with her. I promise you I'll never look for her again, and even if I do, I won't do anything funny. Just please…"

He held her closer.

"Don't let go of me. Not yet. I'm trying to let go of Kikyo… please give me more time…"

Kagome didn't say anything, but she rested her small frame against his strong one and continued sobbing. He held her tighter, as though his arms were a barrier, protecting her from the outside world.

Finally, due to the exhaustion of crying and the anger, she fell asleep in his arms. Inuyasha wiped the streaks of tears that stained her face with the sleeve of his haori and draped it over her, picking her up and pressing his lips onto her head.

Rustle.

"What the… who's there?!"

Inuyasha could barely make out the scent of whoever it was in the vicinity thanks to the overpowering smell of Kagome's tears.

"Come on out! Don't be a wimp!" he threatened, brandishing Tetsusaiga.

"Easy man, it's only me," a familiar voice sounded, and a figure stepped out of the comfort of the darkness into the moonlight.

"Kimiko?" Inuyasha put his sword back. "What are you doing here?"

"I didn't know half-demons could be such smooth talkers too," Kimiko shrugged, entirely avoiding the question.

"You… you saw the whole thing?" he cried incredulously.

"If those words were true, you wouldn't be ashamed of having someone else hearing you say them," she responded cryptically.

Inyasha went silent for a moment and looked at her with intense eyes. "I meant everything I said," he finally said firmly. "I won't let Kagome get hurt again."

"Yeah, make sure you do." Kimiko turned and left.