Arigatou to all who reviewed!!! You make me happy every time you do!! ^^

DEDICATION: lilaznanigurl (arigatou for reviewing and I think it would be better if you called me Inu-chan. I like that better ^^ I hope you got my e-mail about that), Demon-Wolf (arigatou for the review ^^ And don't worry. I work fast on these chapters), Kimmy (I'm sure of all us agree with you when we say:

INUYASHA AND KAGOME FOREVER!!!!!!! ^^

Anyways, back to the dedications. Thanks again for reviewing. I feel like saying more to your review Kimmy but then I would ruin the rest of the fic), Inuyasha-kun (a new reviewer! Yay!! ^^ Welcome and I hope you enjoy the rest of my fic. Arigatou for reviewing!!), KurroNeko-Yasha (gomen nasai about your cold. I hope you get better :( But Arigatou for reviewing!!), Harmony McKellin (arigatou for reviewing!!), Purple Rose (arigatou for reviewing and I read your fics. I thought they were cute!!! Did you read my reviews??? I'll visit your site today and sign your guestbook k? And when is Bound in Fate going to be continued????), Momo (how is that people can review more than once?? How did you do that??? Demo, arigatou for reviewing anyways!!), alandrem (I know about the button not wanting to let you review. I've had the same problems. Demo, thanks for reviewing!!!), Ferburt05 (another newcomer!!! Welcome and I hope you enjoy the rest of the fic!!! Arigatou for the review!!), ShortySC22 (arigatou for the review!!!), Kumi Bao (Gomen (sorry) about the Japanese words. I'm going to include translations next to the words now k? Demo (But), arigatou (thanks) for the review!!)

Finally, my 4 supporters since the beginning: Lightning-sama, Emmi-chan (you're review was funny ^^), Purple Rose, and Harmony McKellin. A HUGE ARIGATOU to you 4!!!!!!!! This fic is especially dedicated to you 4!!!!!

Love Heals All Wounds

By Inuyasha-loves-Kagome (you all can call me Inu-chan)

Chapter 4: Telling the truth…twice

~**~

After their confession of love, Kagome had stayed in Inuyasha's warm arms, just enjoying being there and trying to get rid of the pain she had been feeling for the past few days. She knew she should have told her mother about that bastard sooner, but she just didn't want to ruin her mother's wonderful illusion that her husband was the greatest man on the planet.

But now Inuyasha was there for her and there was nothing that would separate them. They had each other.

Matte (Wait)… Kagome thought as she was snuggled deep in Inuyasha's arms as he slept against a tree. They had both been sleeping but Kagome had woken up and was now just thinking things over. What about Kikyou? Doesn't Inuyasha love her?

Baka! (Idiot!) A voice scolded. He said he loved you! Why do you doubt his love?

Kagome's eyes saddened. I guess because I want to be sure. I don't want to be a replacement for her. She squeezed her eyes shut tightly and tears began to fall at the thought. I don't want to suffer any more!!

"Kagome…?" called a groggy voice from above her. She tensed as she realized that the smell of her tears must have woken him up. Slowly, she turned her head so that it was resting on his chest, but so that she could look into his warm, love-filled, amber eyes.

Inuyasha had in fact woken up to Kagome's tears. Since she was so close, it was even easier for his nose to pick up on the smell. But now the question was…why? His eyes scrunched in concentration. Is she thinking about that bastard again?

He tenderly freed an arm that was snaked around her and went to wipe her tears. "Doushita (What's wrong), Kagome?" he asked softly, hating to see her cry. He would rather be "sat" a million times before he saw her cry.

Kagome painfully turned her gaze away from Inuyasha. She wasn't sure how to tell him what was bothering her. Knowing him, she knew that he was probably guessing that her tears were because of her step-dad and that she was thinking about him. But then that showed how well he knew her, ne (didn't it)?

"Nanidemonai (Nothing)," Kagome answered. "Daijobu (It's okay). Don't worry about it."

Inuyasha wasn't sure whether to feel angry, or rejected. She didn't want to tell him what was bothering her. Didn't she trust him? Or had he been wrong about the trust part between them?

Rather than feel rejected, Inuyasha decided to dwell on feeling angry. It was the strongest emotion he was feeling anyway. He pushed Kagome away softly and stood up. "Feh. Fine then. See if I care."

How he regretted that.

"Inuyasha…" Kagome moaned in pain, then proceeded with the crying, a sound Inuyasha hated, especially coming from her. He felt guilty and turned around to find her hugging her knees and crying on them. He sighed and went back to her. "Gomen nasai (I'm sorry) Kagome. It's just that…don't you trust me enough with the truth?"

Kagome looked up from her knees and stared at his hurt look. "Oh Inuyasha, I DO trust you…it's just that I'm scared about the answer."

"Continue," Inuyasha urged, looking at her with confusion. Scared about the answer? To what question?

Kagome paused, collecting thoughts, then continued. "I guess I'm scared…that the only reason you love me is because I look like Kikyou. That I'm just a replacement."

"Kagome…" Inuyasha said softly, before he proceeded to pull her into his arms and hold her close. "Didn't I already tell you? Kagome is Kagome. You are your own person. You have your own feelings, attitude, love, thoughts…In fact, your better than she ever was. She never accepted me for me. We were only attracted to each other because we were both lonely. But…we didn't trust each other enough. She wanted me to become human so she could be a regular woman. You, however, love me for being me."

Kagome pulled away so that she was still in his arms but so that she could look at him. She smiled tenderly at him. "Of course Inuyasha. I don't care if you're a human, a hanyou, or even a demon. Aishiteru (I love you)…kirinashi (always)…"

Inuyasha smiled, glad that they had gotten that cleared up. He bent down to capture Kagome's lips in a warm kiss.

Only one thing left to do…

~**~

(A/N: Think of this part as a comical anime scene with funny anime music playing. I don't want people to think that this scene is mean or anything k?)

In Kaede's hut, Sango, Miroku, and Shippou all sat, having a pleasant dinner.

Miroku looked at Sango who was sitting next to him. He looked utterly confused. "Have you noticed that Inuyasha and Kagome-sama still aren't back?"

Sango nodded, all of a sudden wondering the same thing.

There was a long silence before the both of them shrugged and then went back to eating.

(End funny scene. Sorry ^^;;)

~**~

"Are you sure Inuyasha?" an uncertain Kagome asked, taking a few steps back from the well. Was she really ready to go back? What if he was there, wanting revenge?

Inuyasha sighed and went over to Kagome, taking one of her hands in his tenderly. "Hai (Yes) Kagome. Everything will be fine." Especially since I beat the crap out of that guy. "Besides, I'll be there with you."

Kagome smiled at him before she nodded. With him there, everything would be fine.

Together they jumped through the well.

~**~

(A/N: Gomen about bothering again. I don't like doing this while I write a fic but I just needed to say that I forgot that since Kagome's mom married, she was supposed to take her husband's name. Since I forgot, can we pretend that he took HER name instead? Okay, that's all. Go ahead and continue reading.)

During the day, the police had been investigating and the ambulance had taken Mr. Higurashi to the hospital. They had reported that he had deep cut wounds that would take a few days to heal but that they were worried about his head. He seemed to have taken a severe beating and was in a comma. That had not settled well with Mrs. Higurashi and she had cried after the police had all gone.

"Mrs. Higurashi!" a familiar voice yelled from downstairs.

Her head bolted up from the tear soaked pillow. It was Inuyasha! And she knew that if Inuyasha was in the house, then most likely Kagome was as well. Maybe Kagome knew what had happened.

She ran out of the room and down the stairs. Sure enough, the familiar profile of the dog-demon was there, standing at the bottom, looking up at her with a blank expression.

But Kagome wasn't there…

"Where's Kagome?" Mrs. Higurashi asked in puzzlement and worry. Had something happened?

Inuyasha turned his head over his shoulder and Mrs. Higurashi half knew what was going on. Kagome was there…but why was she hiding?

"Come out Kagome," Inuyasha ordered softly.

She refused to come out from behind him.

"Why are you hiding?" he asked.

"I don't want her to see me."

Now Mrs. Higurashi was really puzzled. Was there something wrong?

Inuyasha wouldn't let her just hide forever, so he stepped aside and pulled Kagome forward.

Mrs. Higurashi gasped. Kagome looked terrible! She had a black eye, and there were many purple bruises all over her body. She rushed forward and inspected the wounds closer. "Who did this to you?" she yelled out.

Kagome didn't answer but Inuyasha did. He knew she would be too afraid to tell but he was willing to share every detail so that bastard would suffer even more. "It was that bas—that man you married." He knew not to say swear words to Kagome's mother, especially since he wanted her to like him so she would accept his relationship with Kagome.

Mrs. Higurashi looked at him like he had just told the biggest lie in the world. She shot a dagger look at him. "Please don't fib about such things."

"He's not lying…" Kagome said reluctantly, not wanting Inuyasha to get on her mother's bad side. "It was…Kineo-san." (A/N: the name of her step-dad)

Mrs. Higurashi looked at Kagome with wide eyes. "Hontou ni (Really)?" She just couldn't believe it.

"Hai," Kagome responded, letting her gaze fall to the floor.

There was a silence as Mrs. Higurashi took this all in. Her daughter's appearance and what she and Inuyasha had said. Why should she disbelieve anything her daughter told her? She rarely lied, and knew that that this was especially something she wouldn't lie about. She sighed and walked over to the phone.

Inuyasha came up to Kagome and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder as they both watched Mrs. Higurashi talk to what seemed to be the police.

"Yes officer, this is Mrs. Higurashi…………………..yes, I'm calling in regards of my husband. I found out who did it……..A protector of my daughter. He caught my husband beating on her………..hai……………….Oh arigatou…………thanks again, sayonara." She put the phone down and walked back to Kagome, eyeing that Inuyasha had a hand on her shoulder.

"What he'd say okaa-san (mother)?" Kagome asked curiously.

"Once he's conscious he'll be taken to jail," she sighed out, her eyes saddening. A second failed marriage, although the first had been different.

"Oh okaa-san," Kagome said softly, then went to hug her mom. "It'll be okay…"

"I know."

Inuyasha let them embrace like that, and he actually felt like he was imposing. He was going to turn and leave them alone until Mrs. Higurashi called his attention. She a sinister smile on her face. "So is there something about the two of you that I should know about?"

Both Inuyasha and Kagome nodded. Then Kagome spoke up for both of them. Pointing, she said, "Okaa-san, Inuyasha is my kareshi (boyfriend) now."

Mrs. Higurashi smiled tenderly at the pair. "I was wondering when the two of you would get together." She embraced Kagome again. "I'm happy for you honey."

"Arigatou…And I know that in the future you'll meet someone better than Kineo-san."

"I hope."

The End…Or is it?????

~**~

Okay, I admit it, that's not the end. There's an epilogue describing a certain wedding *wink, wink* ^^ between everyone's favorite characters ^^

So…

Next chapter: Takes place a few years later after the defeat of Naraku and when Kagome is 20. OUR FAVORITE COUPLE IS GETTING MARRIED!!! But will a certain someone crash it?????

One last note: I hope this chapter didn't suck. Personally I didn't like it but I need to type it up and finish it quick because I need to study for my Chemistry test - -;; So I hope at least you liked it!!!!

And as always…..PLEASE REVIEW!!!!

Signed,

Inuyasha-loves-Kagome (Please call me Inu-chan!)

Email: hitomi_fanel1111@yahoo.com