I know its been over a week since the last update but writing it and having time to write it were difficult! But I have successfully finished this chapter, albeit shorter than others. But I will make up for that in the chapters to come! Yes, there will be more fluff and romance! And the lemon won't come for a long while but be patient! I know there are a lot of lemon lovers out there(including myself)! Okay anyway, here's chapter eleven!

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Disclaimer: I don't own the sexy(and HOT) hanyou. Any and all characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi. Akio and the plot belong to me!

"To love a person is to learn the song that is in their heart, and to sing it to them when they have forgotten." -Author Unknown

Chapter 11

The wind blew threw manes of black and silver, as one carried his precious cargo across woods and more woods as the girl on his back held onto him, her arms around his strong neck and her legs clamped to his hips. Brown eyes were slightly closed, the wild odor of her hanyou causing a brief smile to appear. And after a brief kiss to his cheek, Kagome snuggled closer to him.

Inuyasha; having gotten used to such affection, only squeezed her legs, to let her know he felt the same way. But having to feel the silky bare skin of her thighs, and to feel her hot breath against his neck after a small kiss, the hanyou found it rather difficult to concentrate. Never had he felt such things towards another being before; and he was still trying to get all together, if was real or just some messed up fantasy. But the proof of his desire to live and the joy he felt when he woke up every morning made him erase such thoughts.

Her arms never left his neck and her face near his, wanting to be as close to nature as he was. It felt more different than when she walked the forest floor alone, before everything happened. Now it was like the only way she would appreciate such true beauty was if her hanyou was there seeing it with her. It seemed he loved the forest as much as she did.

It was quiet as two hearts that beat as one while they raced towards their destination. Every time they went somewhere further than Silver Eyes, it excited Kagome as well as making her curious. InuYasha told her he knew this forest like the back of hand, that he knew where the best places to be alone without any interruptions. And so it made her mouth drop when InuYasha touched down in a large clearing where a huge, old-as-time tree lay.

"Wow." She breathlessly admired as her companion set her down. "I never knew trees could get so big; let alone get uprooted." She saw the roots to her left, how humongous they were as well as the spot where the tree once stood.

"Yeah, it's pretty big, perfect for climbing."

She looked at him, then back at the tree, which had a good 10 feet between it and the ground. "It's pretty high."

He chuckled at her facial expression then scooped her up and jumped up onto the broad trunk of the tree, where after a moment he set her down next to him, and watched her legs dangle gracefully while he sat cross-legged.

Both sat as the sun breached through the leaves and the birds sang their songs while they enjoyed each others company. Kagome couldn't think of another place she'd rather be now. Having someone who understood her and her him. He has quickly come and occupied a huge place in her heart, a space that only he would ever remain in and hold. Grabbing his hand, she placed it on her lap and felt the rough skin of his hand and the claws that adorned his fingers. They were beautiful hands; ones that carried her, protected her. Hands that she wouldn't ever fear of harming her. She trusted him with her life. And with his relaxed posture, she felt pretty sure he knew it too.

"So, InuYasha tell me, how do you know so much?" She asked; looking into his unique eyes that made her feel safe.

Unlike many times before, InuYasha felt uncomfortable talking about his past. His heart just beat with so much pain and memories it overwhelmed him to the point of losing it. But now, when Kagome knew what happened to his mother, and many sorrowful tales after that, the hanyou knew he could tell his companion without shutting down. He felt the complete faith and comfort in her touch and in her eyes; which to him was the easiest way to view her emotions completely; aside from her scent.

"Well, my mother came from a royal bloodline. She was a princess from a very wealthy family; and that allowed her the pleasures of reading and learning how to write, as well as having many tutors. When I was old enough, she began teaching me how to do all that, and learn about the world itself. She also taught me her favorite subject; which were the flowers and herbs in the vast gardens and their properties. I was about 7 when she started teaching me and then when I was about ten or so then…"

Kagome nodded, knowing exactly what occurred then. He didn't look so traumatized now and that gave her the notion that he was starting to heal inside. "What about your father?"

"I never knew him. He died when I was born, or that was what my mother told me. I could tell she still loved him; with the way she talked about him. And she always told me I looked liked him."

She then gently swept some bangs from his forehead. "I can't image not knowing who your father was. But I know your mother must have been beautiful, inside and out."

He hummed in response.

Then, a sudden thought occurred to her. "InuYasha, how old are you exactly? I know that demons age differently than humans but you're a mix of both. How does that work?"

"How old do you think I am?" He asked with a glint in his eye.

Kagome only shrugged. "If I had to guess, in human years you look no more than 18, 20 at the most."

"Well, I really don't understand it all myself." He narrowed his eyes in thought. "I manage to keep track of the seasons and the events in that season, using that as a calendar of sorts. It's been many seasons and many moons, but if I had to say, in demon years, I would probably be…150 years old maybe? Around that area?"

"Whoa! 150 years old? You don't look a day over 18 though." She blew out a breath, letting her shock and amazement out. "That's unbelievable."

He nodded silently. His ears flicked occasionally, listening to the sounds of the forest while listening to his companion's lovely heartbeat and her soft breathing. His gaze slid over her and stopped at her face. The sun lit her skin, making it appear more like a shimmering tan, and her eyes that were normally a dark brown, there were now flecks of yellow in her now lighter eyes. Her hair blew against her face, a black curtain with stray tendrils grazing her cheeks.

Kagome felt his stare but did nothing to stop him. She just sat back, her hands supporting her as she let the sun heat her flesh and letting her eyes roam their surroundings. She had to admit it was gorgeous out here. An ancient tree, younger trees that encircled their clearing, a chorus of birds among the trees and the clear blue skies above. It felt like she was somewhere outside her familiar boundaries, a place that was perfect for her. And ever since she's befriended InuYasha, any place outside her bedroom walls was like an adventure.

"You know one day, I'd like to see more of the world. I want to go on a journey, explore the many wonders out there. I'd see new places, meet new people, experience a whole new life." She took a pause, then looked at her hanyou next to her. " But I can't because I feel like I'm trapped in my current life. I mean there's a whole world out there…" She gestured with her hands; beyond them and beyond the woods. "But it's so out of reach for me."

He knew the freedom she spoke of. He's lived it most of his life. He could go anywhere he chose, leave anytime he wanted to. There were many sights ,sounds, smells and tastes out there, even if he was being chased out by some angry, prejudiced villagers. Inuyasha had many years of freedom, but he spent it alone and feared any human contact. But now when heard such a dream from his only friend, it occurred to him that maybe, he could one day share his freedom with her. He could hear her passion for it and knew she wanted it more than anything.

Without another thought, his hand then reached for hers; covering it completely and grasping it. Her head turned quickly, silent wonder on her face. Her mouth went from a quiet gasp to a soft, loving smile. Then Kagome rested her head on his shoulder, as his lips sweetly kissed her forehead while bringing both their hands onto his leg. She scooted closer to get comfortable and felt his arm embrace her shoulders. Her free hand went to rest exactly above his heart, feeling it underneath his red kimono.

Inuyasha always thought of himself as two halves of two different species. He never felt he belonged anywhere, feeling incomplete and all alone in his misery. But as he held her small, frail yet soft body to his, his lips descending from the skin of her forehead to her lips, relishing her taste and her invigorating scent, for the first time in his life he felt…whole? Undivided? Maybe it was both. It was Kagome that would always make him feel so right and complete, but only if she was by his side, because she didn't make him feel like the freakish half blooded monster he was dubbed…but like a regular person; someone with purpose.

"I just…I just feel so lost." Her voice made him look down at her. Seeing the confusion and pain swirling in her eyes, he just had to erase any trace of those emotions.

"Why? Why do you feel that way?" He held her in his arms, soothing her nerves and easing her stress. With all the time he's spent with her, Inuyasha knew what made her comfortable again.

She sighed a heavy breath, one that spoke of frustration and anger. "I just…I want to be my own person, be who I want to be; without any other influence telling me what to do! I've been trying to please my mother and father, making them believe that I'm what they want: a perfect daughter with no error or flaws." Her hand gripped his robe as her head rested on his shoulder; feeling his strength, the power that he gave her. To admit something that she kept secret from anyone else. Not even Souta knew the full extent of her turmoil; even with what little she gave him. No, this was a man that she had bonded with, a man that has been misunderstood by the world. In some ways, they were exactly alike.

"I try and strive to be a better person and make them see what they want to see. Its like I can't reach for what I want, no matter how near it is. I'm trapped and I want out, but I can't see it. Life keeps getting in the way. I want to be able to live and seek who I really am; who I was born to be and live a life without regret, doubt or fear. But I can't…it's useless."

Inuyasha could feel the passion and desire in her words. A life that she didn't want but was still living it because she couldn't see a way out. He's never heard her so distraught and sounding so hopeless before. He pulled her into him where she nestled comfortably in his lap. He didn't know any words to respond to her confession so he embraced her and gave soothing motions up her neck and down her back. It gave him a chance to feel her smooth as silk head of hair.

"I feel as though I'm running though a mist." She whispered, her voice low but sounding so lost. Her fingers trailed up his chest and to his neck; a sudden, subconscious whim. "I don't know exactly what I want but all I know is that I want to be free but its so hard to get there. I don't know my way out and the path ahead is so blurry I can barely see it."

Her nimble fingers caressing his neck was not only comforting but also alluring. It sent pleasurable tingles through his system and caused his face to flush. Why could she drive him crazy with only a simple touch? Her scent already drove his mind wild with fantasies that until recently were impossible. But with her scent devoid of happiness and joy, Inuyasha would do whatever he could to make her smile again. Her depression and lack of hope were pushing him to do something…but what?

Feeling the bark of the tree jolted him and suddenly he got an idea. He caught her hand in mid-stroke which caused her to look up at him. Without a word, he lifted her up from their position to where they were standing on the tree.

"Uh, InuYasha…." She trailed off as she looked down; ten feet from the ground. She wasn't afraid of heights, but the thought made her a bit uneasy. "It's…I don't-what are we doing?"

He turned her around so her back was facing him and made her outstretch her arms for balance and finally held her hands in his. Her discomfort slowly eased, her trust never wavering. "What you said about running blindly through a mist?" He saw her nod. "Well think of this tree as a future path and what you want is beyond the end of this clearing."

Kagome could feel his breath on her neck which made it harder to concentrate on balancing. But his words kept herself in check. His hands confidently and sweetly held hers, sensing the safety he gave her, that he wouldn't let her fall.

"Okay, lean against me and start walking." When her back pressed against his chest, he could hear her heart beating faster…or was that his heart? His hands gripped hers reassuringly and urged her to take a step.

The seventeen year old was hesitant but she took her right foot and inched forward. She trembled and wobbled but InuYasha remained firm in keeping her steady. Feeling more confident, she took another, wavering step. It was a good thing she decided not to wear shoes today and the bark was smooth, not rough. After a few more steps, she began to notice that her footing was getting better but still feeling a wobble now and then.

When InuYasha noticed that she was improving, he spoke again. "Now think of this as your path…" Slowly he started to back away. "You'll have uncertainty, fear and hopelessness at times, but eventually you'll start to find your way, with less and less trouble getting there." Once they were halfway, he dropped her hands and dropped them to her waist. "At the beginning, it may seem way too far out of your reach…"

It felt a bit scary when he started drifting away from her, but when she felt his hands at her waist, Kagome's confidence, as well as her heart, skyrocketed. It was making sense the further they went on. This was a different side of Inuyasha, a more knowledgeable and inspiring one. He was like her teacher…and she was unknowingly his.

As they reached the end it narrowed and lowered to the ground. She almost lost her footing after slipping but thankfully her hanyou caught her. His arms were wrapped securely around her waist, his head next to hers. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm okay." Her eyes closed, trying to calm herself. "I thought I was going to fall for a second there."

Without realizing it, his hands started rubbing her arms as his lips pressed against her ear. "I would never let you fall, Kagome. Never."

His promising words and his lips touching the shell of her ear made Kagome melt. Somehow, it made sense to what he was saying. He didn't mean just falling from a tree but as long as he remained with her, as long as she had him in her life, Inuyasha wouldn't let her fall or give up or fail.

Once upon a time, Kagome never even dreamed of finding a way out. Of course she loved her family more than anything but she felt there was something more out there for her. And it was so hard because she didn't know what it was. Her life was a mist, causing her to lose her way, running blindly and hopelessly. She never saw what was at the end. But now she could see, or was starting to. She could see a figure, in the form of a red Fire Rat Kimono and waving moonlight hair. It was InuYasha, waiting for her at the end of the path. It was like a guiding light, after years of futilely searching for a sign to lead her from her dreams and into reality. Her hanyou was her beacon, she realized! Inuyasha was guiding her out! Her savior came in the form of a person that was neither demon nor human but a wonderful combination of both.

She turned around in his arms, seeing nothing but this amazing man in front of her. It was like the shy, scared and cautious hanyou he was when they first met disappeared. And here was someone strong, courageous, bold and daring. His eyes held no more hesitancy or insecurity. They were shining with life as the sunlight beaming down on them, into his own eyes of the sun. Her hand went to cup his cheek and made a promise of her own.

"Nor will I." If he could prevent her from falling, then she could do the same for him. She stood on her toes to reach his lips and met him halfway. Each time they kissed it was like learning something new, exploring what the other had to offer. And as she pulled him closer to her, Kagome now knew, she could never let him go. He was her support, her rock, her promising light home. The mist she always felt surrounding her life was slowly beginning to fade, as long as InuYasha was by her side. She needed him as much he needed her.

Another complete chapter! I hope you enjoyed reading this! Next chapter...someone discovers Kagome's secret! But who? You have to wait and see! If you love this story, as well as a major fan of InuYasha/Kagome romance, read my new Christmas one-shot if you want! Anyway, until the next (hopefully longer) chapter...

Ja Ne and Happy New Year!