A.N.: hey guys. It's me. Ya girl. I'm back. Heh. I have good news! I've FINISHED WRITING THIS STORY! And I will be uploading ALL the chapters tonight! There are not many, I have three chapters and one epilogue. I know that doesn't seem like much considering where this story is currently at plot wise but this was never meant to be a 'journey to kill Naraku' story. It's a love story (with angst!) and it's already longer than I ever planned lol so buckle up! This train is zooming to the finish TONIGHT! And I have two brand new, really fun projects I'll begin posting on soon, too; keep your eyeballs peeled!

Just before the sun began setting, Inuyasha touched down for the first time since he'd taken off that morning. Cramped and in desperate need of the "little girl's bush," Kagome took a moment to refresh herself.

When she'd had a good stretch and relieved certain natural bodily processes, she expected that they'd take off again and cover more ground before dark truly fell, but instead, Inuyasha carefully, cautiously took her hand, blushing when she merely smiled and didn't yank her hand away, and asked her to follow him.

"Of course." She answered, lacing their fingers together and watching the red on his cheeks darken. He cleared his throat, croaked out a little "this way," and led her a few minutes into the trees to a clearing with a small but warm hot spring.

"A hot spring? Oh my gosh, a hot spring! Thank you Inuyasha!" She threw her arms around his neck and to her surprise he actually hugged her back, wrapping his arms around her waist in a firm embrace that left her a little breathless. She pulled away, smiling widely and hopping around to unlace her shoes.

"I'll be quick so you can get in after, I promise. Man oh man am I excited for warm water!"

He chuckled at her and waved a dismissal of her words.

"No, take as long as you like. We'll camp nearby tonight. But I'm going to stay close in case something tries to sneak up, okay? I'll be in that tree. You won't even have to scream if you need me."

"Alright!"

He jumped up high and settled in a branch that faced away so she could enjoy her warm bath in peace.

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Their little fire crackled warmly in the center of their camp, the leftover carcass from their dinner long burned to ash in the center. Kagome combed her fingers through her damp hair, half wishing she'd had some shampoo or conditioner, but still just so grateful she'd had warm water to wash with for once instead of cold river water. She'd taken Inuyasha's words to heart a little too literally and soaked for probably two hours, not allowing herself to think of anything else but how nice the water felt after how stressful the last 48 hours had been. When she'd got out and redressed, Inuyasha had taken it upon himself to set up a little camp and get dinner going. After they'd eaten, he'd taken his own turn in the spring.

And that had left her time alone with no relaxing water to actually think on some of the things she'd learned and been through. She would have to have a talk with Inuyasha- tonight.

He stalked back into camp after taking a much shorter bath than she had and an idea struck her. Before she could rethink it she blurted it out and hoped the ground wouldn't swallow her with humiliation.

"Can I brush your hair?"

His jaw dropped and his eyes nearly bugged out of his skull.

"Can you... what?"

Sensing he was about to panic and bolt, Kagome decided to lay it all out, hoping that honesty would sooth his fear.

"You have really pretty hair, I've been wanting to touch it for ages. I'll just get the tangles out. Last night doesn't count since it was just plain human hair."

She was surprised that he'd needed no more convincing. In short order he was sitting rigidly in front of her with his back facing her as she ran her fingers through the length of his hair. He thought he might combust on the spot, but the first time her nails scratched against his scalp he'd practically melted instead.

"Your hair is like silk. There's hardly any knots at all!"

"Hmmm..."

She giggled and continued her work, humming under her breath and oozing happiness.

"Inuyasha..."

"Hm?"

"Why... why didn't you tell me you'd be turning human last night?"

He stiffened a little, but he had no intention of leaving now when her nails had found their way to his scalp again.

"I've never told anyone before. Didn't know how I guess."

"You've never told anyone? Not even Kikyo?"

"No. A hanyo's human night is a dangerous secret, and I've never had anyone I trusted enough to share it."

"Huh." She wasn't sure if she should feel touched that he'd alluded to trusting her or sad that he'd always been so alone. Or maybe even bewildered at just what kind of relationship he'd even had with her predecessor if he'd been willing to irrevocably change himself without even trusting her enough to share such an intrinsic part of his identity. She worked up her courage to ask the rest of her questions, desperately hoping she wouldn't push him too far.

"Inuyasha."

"Hmm?"

"Do you... do you think you and Kikyo were... soul mates?"

He snorted harshly and rolled his shoulders, but made no move to remove himself from their current arrangement.

"Why the hell would I believe some bullshit like that?"

She gasped softly, not expecting such an answer, nor that level of vehemence.

"You don't think there's one person out there that fate has set aside for us? You know, someone who's soul completes our own?"

He turned his head marginally, the fire flashing in his eye.

"Why are you asking?"

She blushed and cleared her throat, concentrating on his hair and not his face.

"I just... you must have felt something for her right? If you were going to turn human and marry her. And now... I'm here.. and I have her soul..."

He turned around completely and his molten gold gaze bore into her own. She was completely ensnared, hypnotized by all the dancing flashes of gold as the flames of their campfire reflected back at her.

"Look Kagome, Fate has made it very clear many times in my life that it doesn't want me here. So no, I don't believe for a second it's given me anything like a soul mate. And if it did, it certainly wasn't Kikyo. As far as I'm concerned you've got nothing to do with her at all. And all that reincarnation nonsense?"

He was leaning so close she could feel his breath on her face. Her eyes fluttered and heat spread across her cheeks as she hung on every word he spoke.

"Y..Yes?" She asked, waiting for him to continue and his stare grew more intense.

"It's bullshit."

"W-What?"

"It's bullshit Kagome, all of it. I don't give a shit about your soul or who had it first or last."

"Oh." He was so intense she couldn't think of anything else to say, could feel nothing but his looming presence, sense nothing but his bright, pressing aura. She gulped, completely intoxicated by him, pleasantly surprised by how eloquent he could apparently be when he felt the need, trying not to be disappointed by what he was saying as it tore everything she was raised to know and believe to shreds.

"No, I don't give a single fuck about your recycled soul. All it does is make you're body move. It's your heart I care about Kagome."

He leaned in further and she ceased breathing. Her eyes fluttered closed and her world narrowed to him and only him as she waited on him to close the rest of the distance between them.

Instead he backed away, leaving her feeling cold and exposed.

She opened her eyes again, regretting his retreat, hating the sad, fearful look on his face, wanting to keep him near.

"Can I touch your ears?"

It was the first thing she could think of and she could tell it caught him off guard. He looked up, hopeful and cautious. He must have expected her to be angry with his previous forwardness.

"Why?" His voice was too small, too unsure. He should never sound like that, not with her.

"Because they're a part of you." She answered, heart breaking at his look of awe.

"Also they're just really cute."

He smiled and victory bells rang in her soul. She patted her lap when his posture relaxed and he laid his head down, turning to the side to watch the fire burn. With care and tenderness, Kagome stroked the fur on the back of his ears like she'd longed to do since she'd first noticed them, and Inuyasha's allowed himself to trust another person more than he trusted himself.