WOW!!! O.o I NEVER expected to get THAT many reviews!!! Arigatou!!! You all made me VERY happy!! ^^

DEDICATION: Lady of the Sea (Arigatou for reviewing!! And about the boyfriend thing *starts whistling and goes to next reviewer* ^^), StarSweeper (Arigatou for reviewing ^^), bolty (don't worry. I'll send you the chapters by e-mail k?) Lady Inuyasha (All your questions will be answered in this part and arigatou for reviewing), Jo Yuy (Arigatou for reviewing), KurroNeko-Yasha (Your review made it sound like that fic was the end. It isn't so I hope you're reading this), Purple Rose (arigatou for your review ^^ I read the rest of your fic and I reviewed. And I'm going to repeat that I hope you continue it soon), Harmony McKellin (I did what you wanted because I felt bad. I updated before Monday like you wanted. And now here's the rest. Hope you review again ^^), LinaNverse (here's where your idea comes into play. I hope you like the way I did it and I hope it comes out the way you imagined it), Kimmy (Kagome doesn't even know what Inuyasha did. Besides, she wouldn't care anyway. And the rest of your questions will be answered in this fic), ShortySC22 (Gomen about the length last time. I just wanted to post the rest. But arigatou for the review! ^^), missy-chan (here's the rest. Hope you like it!! ^^)

Now I wanted two separate dedications. For Emmi-chan. Arigatou gozaimasu for your review. You and Lightning-sama have stuck to this fic since the beginning and I REALLY appreciate it. About your question about him being dead. You'll find out in this part. I hope you enjoy and I hope you review again ^^

Last one if for Lightning-sama, queen of Inuyasha fanfiction. You also stuck with me since the beginning and this fic is mostly dedicated to you and Emmi-chan. And I'm sure we all feel the same way about Kagome's step-dad. He deserves to die. Only I wasn't sure if he was tortured enough. Oh, but I sincerely hope that you and the rest of my readers like this part. I was deciding on saving this till the end of the fanfiction but then changed my mind and decided to make it here so there would be more fluff. *hits head* DANG! I think I just gave away the chapter!!!! Evil me!!!!

Disclaimer: In Inu-chan's dreams, she owned Inuyasha…but sadly this is real life and she owns nothing except her anime collection. Takahashi-sama owns Inuyasha. "Takahashi-sama, can I buy Inuyasha off you? Or at least let me have Shippou-chan!" ^^

Love Heals All Wounds

By Inuyasha-loves-Kagome (^^)

Chapter 3: Love Heals All Wounds

A/N: The chapter title means that this is like the climax of the fic.

~**~

Inuyasha took Kagome to the same river where he had first discovered her bruises, and set her down gently on the floor. She was still unconscious and Inuyasha became increasingly worried by the minute. He knew she wasn't dead because she still had a heartbeat. A slow one, but a heartbeat nonetheless. In that he was grateful, but he was also still feeling VERY angry with everyone. He was angry with that bastard, Kagome's mom, Kagome, but mostly with himself.

What a jerk I am he thought sadly as he kneeled next to Kagome and reached out to caress her face. He felt like the most worthless thing there ever was. I'm sorry Kagome. If only… He stopped because he realized that there was nothing he could have done. It didn't seem as if Kagome would ever tell him and if he hadn't followed her, then that bastard would have continued his beatings against her. And who knows what else he's done to her. Inuyasha's eyes set in determination. Once she wakes up, she's going to have to explain everything to me.

With that said, Inuyasha walked towards the lake in order to wet a cloth.

~**~

A car pulled up in the Higurashi driveway and out came out Mrs. Higurashi, wearing her usual pale blue dress and looking a little angry. She had just come from the WORST supermarket sale there ever was! All of the woman in the store were going nuts over everything and trying to get as much as they can. Mrs. Higurashi barely made it out of there alive!

She sighed and unloaded her things. As she was doing that, she noticed that the house was unnaturally quite. This caused a bit of suspicion in her and with the groceries in both hands; she walked into the house.

"Tadaima!" she yelled but got no response. She went over to kitchen and deposited the bags on the counter. Where is everyone? She thought, then decided to check out the back of the house.

She froze…

There, hanging from the tree, blood dripping down from him, his head lolled to one side. He looked absolutely terrible.

Mrs. Higurashi ran into the house and called the ambulance. All the while she was wondering who could have done something so terrible. Who would be so cruel?

She went to meet with the police when they came. It seemed there was going to be some investigating to do.

~**~

Inuyasha had never left Kagome's side the entire time but after a while he decided to just watch over her. She needed rest after such a hard day. But most of all he needed to time to think and right now was the perfect opportunity. He stared into Kagome's angelic face and his heart went out to her.

Kagome…what have you done to me? Why do I care so much about you? Am I actually falling in love with you?

Inuyasha was still in conflict about his feelings, yet he knew one thing. He would do anything for Kagome. He would kill for her if need be.

A part of Inuyasha knew that he had never cared this much about Kikyou. His feelings for Kagome were so very different. They felt purer, innocent, and without guilt. Most of all, Inuyasha remembered that the only reason he had ever cared for Kikyou was because she had been lonely like him. Both felt different from the rest of the world and in that they were similar. But there was still that lack of trust. Inuyasha didn't trust Kikyou with the truth about his "once a month" ordeals and Kikyou didn't trust him enough with her own truths. In fact, she preferred that Inuyasha become human. She was just like the rest of them. She didn't except Inuyasha for who he was. She didn't say, "I don't care that you're a hanyou. I still love you no matter what form you're in."

Yet…Kagome didn't care.

Inuyasha knew from the way she acted, so different from Kikyou, that she never cared if he was human, a hanyou, or a demon. She still wanted to be with him. The only matter was that Kagome was afraid of his demon form. Not his physical self, but his heart. She thought that if became a full youkai, he would forget her and become nothing more than a killing monster who enjoyed it. Inuyasha had told her that he would never forget her, but when he looked into her eyes as she responded, he could tell she was still worried about him.

Kagome loved him.

He knew. Perhaps he always did. It was just something that you could tell. But did he love her?

"Inuyasha…" came Kagome's voice from where she lay.

Inuyasha broke away from his trance and looked towards her body as she lay on the outer part of his yukata. Sweat was pouring from her head and she was moaning, as if in pain. Her face was also contorted in pain and her head moved from side to side.

She was having a nightmare.

Inuyasha rushed over to her side and took her hand, but that didn't calm her down. "Tasukete…Inuyasha…" she continued to moan.

"Sshh," Inuyasha soothed as he wiped some stray hair from her face tenderly.

She still tossed and turned. "Iie…leave me alone…onegai…don't hurt me…"

She must be dreaming about what that bastard did to her he observed. He had the urge to save her from her nightmares but he knew he couldn't until she woke up by her own accord. All he could was wait and hear her painful calls for help.

"Inuyasha…" she continued, and gripped his hand tightly. "Aishiteru (kara)…tasukete…"

Poor Kagome…

Now Kagome's breathing was becoming more shallow and forced. Her head moved from side to side a lot faster, and her yells were louder. "AH!" she screamed and sat up, her eyes wide and darting from side to side as if searching for something.

"Kagome…" Inuyasha whispered, hoping to catch her attention.

She reacted to the sound of his voice and turned towards him. After recognizing him, her eyes scrunched up in sadness, pain, and misery, and she flew into his arms. "Oh Inuyasha!" she sobbed, landing on his hard chest and crying her eyes out.

Inuyasha was shocked for a moment, but he eventually let his arms snake around her and hold her close. Her sweet scent filled his nose and he let a thought enter his mind. One that he would have never have let in before.

He DID love her. Honestly and truly.

Demo…how to tell her? Could he just come right out and say it? Or should he leave it for later?

When Kagome's crying subsided, she got out of his embrace and stood up. Inuyasha was shocked that his arms felt so empty without her there, but he stood up as well, although he just stood there.

"Are you okay now Kagome?" Inuyasha wondered, hoping she would say yes.

She did, naturally. "Un," she responded, refusing to meet his gaze.

Silence fell between them, but then Inuyasha broke it by asking her what had been bothering him for some time now. He looked at her still form as she looked at the water, her hair blowing to one side. "Ne, Kagome, why didn't you tell me about that bastard?" He kept his voice gentle so he didn't scare her.

He got not response.

"Kagome…?" he pressed.

He saw her lift an arm and wipe her eyes with the sleeve. "Gomen nasai Inuyasha. I just…" she sobbed, but immediately recomposed herself. "I just couldn't. My okaa-san was stuck in this perfect fantasy that her husband was the most wonderful man that ever walked the Earth. But the truth was that he was a jerk." She gave an empty chuckle that broke Inuyasha's heart. How he missed her happy self, the one that made him melt. "The weird thing was," she continued, her voice lifeless, "I was the only one he beaten. Souta was his favorite. They would play football together and he would always buy him something. Whenever he bought something for me, it was because he was forced to, but then later he took me where no one saw us, and hit me repeatedly with the belt. Then he sent me to my room so no one would know. It always worked too…" her voice broke and she balled her hands in front of her eyes and began to cry again.

Inuyasha had never heard such a sad story. She had suffered in a few days the equal amount of what he had suffered in a few years. He walked over to her and held her close. "It's okay now Kagome. I'm here and I always will be."

Kagome was tense in his embrace for a while, but then she responded by hugging him back and just enjoying being in his arms. She might never get another opportunity like this one.

They stayed like that for a while before Inuyasha's eyes set into determination and he pulled away. "Kagome," he said and looked into her curious coffee brown eyes. "There's something I need to tell you."

She didn't respond, a way to tell him to continue.

Rather than speak, he decided to show. Slowly, Inuyasha bent his face forward, his eyes glazing and shutting mid-way, as if he was sleepy.

Kagome blinked as Inuyasha's soft lips descended on hers in a gentle caress. Then she too closed her eyes and let herself enjoy the moment.

Inuyasha pulled Kagome closer to him, cradling her small form against his. She felt so right in his arms, as if she belonged there. As if they were one statue one time, but then broken into two pieces, and now they were whole again.

"Aishiteru (kara), Kagome," he whispered against her lips.

Kagome knew there was something she was forgetting when she heard those words, but she didn't care. All she cared about was being with Inuyasha. "Aishiteru (kara) Inuyasha…tsuneni…"

To be continued…

I'm not sure if that counts as a cliffhanger, but oh well.

So, did you all like this part??? I was actually saving the confession till the end but I want to put more Inuyasha/Kagome fluff here. So let them confess now ^^

Next part: Kagome decides to go back and face her family. She's going to tell them the truth and break her mother's heart. :( But Inuyasha goes with her just incase (for support). Can Kagome tell her mom the truth? Or will she wuss out?

Okay, last note…PLEASE REVIEW!!!!