For my girl Grapefruit Wannabe, who inspired this with her prompt on tumblr. Thanks love.

-X-

Release

Kagome bit down on her lip as she snuck another glance at the tense half-demon that sat rigidly across the fire from her. Miroku and Sango were silent as they too sat staring into the fire, however occasionally both would glance askance at the silver-haired figure then trade a look amongst themselves. They knew better than to say anything, though, even if their concern for their friend was clear on their faces. Shippou had long ago passed out, his little body exhausted from having kept up his pink balloon form for more than an hour earlier, and if it hadn't been for him, Kagome would probably be a lot worse off than she was now so she let him sleep curled up besides an equally dozing Kirara.

Several times now Kagome opened her mouth to address the pink elephant in the room – er, forest? – but every time the words got caught in her throat and she sighed. It was just as well; she knew he would deny everything she said and he wouldn't want to display his "weakness" anyway, because she knew that's what he viewed it as. He needed to keep up his tough guy act, and Kagome also knew that's all it was – an act. She, and everyone else, could clearly see what had transpired just a few hours ago was really bothering him, and she knew he blamed himself. He hadn't been able to relax since then, and he was bottling up all of that emotion inside. Kagome hadn't failed to notice the way his hands were clenched, how he kept his head bowed, hiding his expression, and there was a fine trembling in his frame, so slight she probably wouldn't have noticed if she wasn't paying close attention. As it was, though, she was worried and as such she'd been keeping a very close eye on him, wanting to help, but not knowing how to go about doing it. The only thing she could think of that would help, she knew he wouldn't do, not where everyone can see.

Kagome paused. Waitaminute…that actually gave her an idea. She bit her lip again and studied the hanyou under her lashes, flicking her gaze to his tightly balled hands where they rested on his knees, his clenched jaw – the only part of his face she could see – and the rigid way he sat, back straight, muscles tensed, ready to bolt at the slightest prodding. While Kagome didn't believe herself to be "special" by any means, she could say without a hint of doubt that she was closest to the hanyou out of all their friends, knew him the best, and she liked to think that only she was privileged enough to see the sides of him he kept private. So knowing this, maybe she could…

Steeling herself, and praying that this would work, Kagome stood up and quietly approached her dear friend, ignoring the curious glances she received from Miroku and Sango. She knew Inuyasha was aware of her coming closer; his ears flicked in her direction then lowered against his head and the low growl that developed in his chest was a not so subtle warning to back off. Still, Kagome bravely drew closer, unafraid of his less than welcoming vibes, and knelt beside him. His growl grew in volume, but then abruptly cut off when she grabbed his hand and stood up, gently urging him to do the same. He was startled enough to allow her to bring him to his feet and wordlessly pull him off into the trees, and by the time he came back to his senses, it was too late to do anything about it, so Inuyasha grudgingly let her drag him further into the privacy of the forest, clueless as to what her intentions were, and yet strangely, the farther they walked, the less tense he became.

If Kagome noticed, she didn't say anything and it wasn't until they were a good distance away from camp that she finally stopped and turned to face him. Inuyasha frowned at her, about to demand just what the hell she thought she was doing, when, still not saying a word, she sat down on the ground and dragged him down with her. Confused as hell, and more than a little irritated at his wench's behavior, Inuyasha dropped down beside her, ready to command she explain herself once more, but before he could utter a single word, Kagome squeezed her hand and shook her head.

"Don't," she whispered and then proceeded to shock the hell out of him by reaching up, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, and bringing him down to rest against her chest. Inuyasha froze as Kagome tucked her face in the space between his ears and tightened her grip when he attempted to jerk away. "Please," she breathed and that stilled him. "Please…don't do this to yourself, Inuyasha," she whispered, her voice wavering slightly and at once alarm bells went off in his head, but he remained still, too stunned, and admittedly, too curious, to move.

He heard her take a breath, and then continue in the same soft, quavering voice. "It wasn't your fault." And with just those four words, he knew what she was talking about and he stiffened again as he sucked in a sharp breath. "Please…you need to stop beating yourself up over this. You did everything you possibly could, Inuyasha, and we all know that. Me, Miroku and Sango, Shippou…and—"

"Don't say it," Inuyasha snapped vehemently as his hands came up to clutch her arms. "Don't—"

"—Akari's parents know it, too," Kagome continued despite his protests and she tightened her arms around him when the half-demon flinched against her, ears pinning down against his head again. Her throat tightening from the obvious distress her hanyou was in, she forged on, determined to get through to him, to let him know it was okay. "There wasn't…there wasn't anything you could have done differently—"

"I wasn't—!" Inuyasha began heatedly, his body rigid in her grasp, his claws digging into her arms but she refused to bring his attention to it lest she add on to the heavy burden resting on his shoulders. Then suddenly with a choked sound echoing in the back of his throat, Inuyasha slumped against her, his hands loosened their grip and a fine tremble developed in his limbs that damn near broke her heart. "I wasn't…strong enough," he finished in a rasp and relief swept through her; at least, she was finally getting through to him.

"You were," Kagome hurriedly countered, running her fingers through his hair now, her eyes feeling hot, the threat of impending tears. Her voice was rough now, the worry, the hurt for her hanyou pouring into her words. "You were—you are so strong, Inuyasha. Don't you realize? To have held in everything you were feeling since it happened for so long, bottling it up inside, letting it eat away at you, the guilt, shame, hurt, anger, the sorrow…" Kagome shook her head, truly amazed at her half-demon's resolve. "It's just…staggering. I would have caved in a long time ago, but you…you're—" Her voice cracked and she shuddered, squeezing her eyes shut and sucking in another shaky breath. "It hurts," she finally managed to rasp out and Inuyasha's eyes shot open in shock, his frame stiffening in alarm. Kagome was shaking now, a find tremble he probably wouldn't have notice had he not been so closely pressed against her and immediately he turned all of his senses on her.

"Seeing you beating yourself up, silently berating yourself for something you had no control over, no matter how hard you tried… Inuyasha, please don't do this to yourself," Kagome pleaded as her hand fisted his fire-rat at his back. "I worry about you so much, and I hate to see you like this. It's not your fault. I don't blame you, the others don't, and…I know…Akari wouldn't want you to blame yourself, either, and you know it, too. So, please…" She squeezed him harder and the scent of salt reached his nose.

"Let it go. It's okay."

Inuyasha swallowed the sudden lump in his throat that was making it hard to breathe as his hands slowly dropped from her arms to land hesitantly on her waist, the lightest grip. Kagome could feel the uncertainty pouring off of him in waves and she mentally soothed him, letting him know that she was there for him, that it was okay to show his weakness in front of her.

Inuyasha made a sound that was between a growl and a gasp, and then, like a switch had been flipped, he suddenly snapped his arms around her and released, everything he'd been holding sweeping rushing out in the form of choked gasps, woeful growls, and shaking shoulders. All the pent up frustration, anger, and sorrow for the little girl he hadn't' been able to save, crushing in its intensity as he finally allowed himself to break down. And, damn, did it feel good.

He crushed her to him desperately as he pressed his face against her chest and his entire body shook with the force of his emotions. Kagome held him back just as tightly, whispering soft reassurances in his ear, rocking him back and forth, feeling when his tears soaked into her shirt and letting her own fall down her cheeks. She was startled when he suddenly sat back, but only to drag her into his lap and press his face against her neck, his arms hauling her tightly against him. Recovering quickly, Kagome cradled him against her, never ceasing her gentle whispers, letting him know she was there, he wasn't alone, and never would be.