The words rip her open.
Before she realizes what she's doing, she clings to his neck, unleashing her heartache.
Hard.
"Kagome." There's empathy in his voice. Strong arms coming up to surround her. And he crushes her to his chest as he begins to rock again. "It is alright."
"No." She sniffles and looks up. "It's not."
"Do not dwell on it." He looks back at her, confliction aging him in the span of seconds. But then it disappears beneath raw tenderness.
She's never seen that look before. "What?"
"Miko"—he exhales, eyes closing—"you are allowed to love him."