Disclaimer: don't own Inuyasha or a decent keyboard... bah humbug...
(A/N: I'm gonna keep saying this - my keyboard sucks so you'll have to excuse my speeling and hypos (that was a joke). Plus I broke a nail and I'm getting blood everywhere as I type... yuck... Anyway, you all want waffiness - so the wait is over - and this is a shorter than average chapter just for fluff ^_^)
Two Faced
Forgiveness
Kagome cursed mildly as she tripped over another leaf on the ground. She was down on her luck so far but at least she seemed to be going in the right direction. She'd found the river without too much trouble and had been following it until it had veered off back into the forest, and had instead followed the dirt road that had led out into the open, between meadows of tall grass.
There was light, warm scented breeze that blew in from ahead and she sighed deeply as leaves detached themselves from the odd tree and managed to hit her in the face. She just ignored it since her emotional pain right then was her biggest problem.
She missed her father. She loved him with all her heart... but she was sure he was alive and well. But there had been so many distractions on this mission to find him... the plane had crashed... she'd been kidnapped... Inuyasha had killed all the crew and her only friend, Sango.
Inuyasha... even thinking his name brought a fresh stab of pain in her chest and she had no idea why. She hated him, didn't she? She loathed him and never wanted to see him again!... So why did it hurt every time she thought that she might never see him again. He'd hurt her... but she still... felt something... she couldn't put a name to. It was like yearning... but painful and she knew she missed him. But she'd never admit that aloud to anyone now. So if anyone asked, she hated Inuyasha and hoped he fell in a Volcano.
Yes... that would be a nice end to him...
Kagome stopped suddenly when she reached the peak of the hill she was climbing and looked down at the smooth straight road ahead of her. Trees rose up on either side and from here she could see what could be the village Inuyasha was telling her about in the distance. Further up were rice paddies and more meadows or silvery green grass. But she didn't noticed any of it. More leaves (wet this time) flew up and slapped against her bare legs and arms. She still didn't notice any of it. She just stared off into space using her wooden pole as a support.
He'd said he'd protect her from harm... it was his job and his purpose... and what she thought had been a personal matter as well. She'd thought he'd saved her life when the plane crashed... but he'd only endangered it. Now look where he'd gotten her.
Exactly one week ago she'd been in her hotel room, enjoying proper food, fashion and entertainment on the TV. She'd had all the protection she'd needed from her bodyguards and although she'd been lonely, she'd been safe and loved by her family and Sango.
But in came Inuyasha and within a week she was toiling for her survival. She'd nearly been killed by various creatures/people/objects/vehicles... her only true friend had been murdered... her father probably along with them and she had no way of getting back home as of yet. And Inuyasha had pitied her at the last moment and let her live on in suffering instead of dying. She appreciated it... but he'd just STOOD there while she'd been taunted and bullied.
All that anger and rage at him welled up inside her, along with all the pain she was trying to bottle up. She tried to hold it within her... to tell herself that she didn't need to be feeling this. It wasn't her fault, it was Inuyasha's. she couldn't blame herself... she shouldn't... she'd been duped and had been the one screwed around with. She had to move on and let it go... she couldn't let it get to her otherwise it would eat her up.
But she felt like she was dying... inside.
That horrible feeling seemed to swell just below her ribs and she slowly slipped to the ground, holding her middle tightly and physically trying to stop herself from sobbing. The tears flowed freely... but she couldn't allow herself to sob. To sob would be weak... and she had to have her dignity and show strength in the face of betrayal. She had to save face.
"Screw that..." she choked out and dissolved into sobs - big loud soppy ones that sent the few birds nearby into flight.
So maybe the pain would eat her up if she allowed it to consume her like this... but then maybe it would slowly chew her up on the inside if she didn't let it out. She was so confused! It was in no way her fault! It was all Inuyasha! It had always been Inuyasha. She loved him like the friend she'd always wanted - someone to be close with, to hang around with. Someone that she could trust with anything because he had been paid for it... and because she thought she knew him.
But she'd been wrong...
Slowly she began to realise that she wasn't feeling this pain because she'd been fooled, or because she'd been humiliated and duped. She felt this pain because he had gone and left her... because that safe feeling that she'd felt around him had been false and it had vanished like a puff of smoke, and twice as fragile and hard to contain.
Now that thought just made her plain angry.
With a vicious growl she lunged to her feet and kicked and flayed at the dirt beneath her. "I hate you! I hate you for doing this to me! I thought you were my friend and you betrayed me!"
She picked up her pole and flung it as far and as violently as she could, which was a lot further with her anger fuelled strength. "YOU SAID I COULD TRUST YOU!"
She stood, breathing hard for a moment before she realised she was being foolish and petty... just like Inuyasha had said she was. She slowly sank in on herself and back to her knees, cradling her face in her hands and rocking back and forth. "But I can't..."
She allowed herself to dissolve into sobs again. "I'm such a fool..." she whispered to no one but herself and the breeze... and to something else... some other presence.
She lifted her head slowly, trying to locate what the source of this strange feeling was. It made her spine shiver slightly, but she'd never felt anything like this. At times like this her mother would normally suggest that someone had just walked over her grave. Kagome had always thought that a stupid saying since she wasn't dead yet.
A hand touched her shoulder and instantaneously she knocked it away and staggered to her feet to face him. Her breathing had just pitched faster and those homicidal urges just begged to be acted upon. She just gave him a glare that would scorch even the devil.
Inuyasha stood, looking fairly neutral with his hands stuffed into the pockets of his jacket and with his kendo sword strapped to his back with a sash that went from his shoulder to his side. Kagome waited for him to make his move. To unsheathe that sword and do what he'd been wanting to do from the very start.
He didn't say anything, and she couldn't tell what he was thinking either. Finally, unable to take it anymore she snapped. "Did you want something?" she growled.
He sighed and shifted. "I'm confused."
That's it? He was just 'confused'? He wasn't nearly as half confused as she was. "Confused people take left turns when they should have gone right, Inuyasha!" she snapped at him. "They don't try and kill someone and then murder even more people!!"
Inuyasha quickly glanced over his shoulder, his ears pricked for sounds beyond the forest behind them. Then he finally turned back to her. "I didn't kill anyone."
"Bull!"
"I didn't!"
"What about Kenji?!" Kagome yelled. "Tell him that!"
"He was killed by the demon that attacked - not me! The other's made it out alright!" he defended himself.
"They're alive?" Kagome asked quickly.
"Possibly..."
Unsatisfied with her answer she shook her head and turned away from him. "Excuses... just excuses..." she quickly turned to face him suspiciously, like maybe she didn't trust him enough to turn her back on him just yet.
"I didn't kill them... I had a choice to save either you... or help them..." Inuyasha sighed. "I chose you."
Kagome stared at him. "So you saved my life... again?"
He nodded quickly. "And all those times... was Yura making it all up? About the plane crash and the sniper thing?"
Inuyasha was fed up of lying to her. He dropped his head and she got her answer.
"You, lying, cheating ASSHOLE!" her voice raised in volume and she lunged at him.
He didn't know what she expected to achieve by attacking him but she didn't get what she wanted. He easily knocked her blows away from him and pushed at her kicks, he had to resist the temptation to just push his hand against her head and hold her at arms length... but he knew that would just get her more angry.
"I hate you!" Kagome screamed, tears flying down her cheeks as she furiously tried to scratch or kick him. "I HATE you!"
"Kagome - stop it!" he snapped but she suddenly had a burst of courage and strength and pushed his blocking hands aside landed a lard punch to the face. His head snapped back and was about to repay her for that when her nails lashed out and streaked red lines across his open cheek. But she wasn't sorry.
Inuyasha had been taken by surprise, and had underestimated how angry she was. But now he was liberally having to push her away every time she got close. "You're wild - stop it!"
"Fight me!" she yelled, grazing his ear. "Kill me! Kill me like you want to!"
"I don't want to kill you!" he snarled. "But I'll kick your ass from here to China - you know that!"
"Fight-" she kneed him in the groin. "-Me!"
Inuyasha gasped and sank to his knees.
"Not so tough now, eh?!" Kagome spat at her human punch bag that she was relieving her anger on. She made to attack his back when suddenly he snapped back to his feet, grabbed her arm and spun her around so fast she saw stars. She stopped suddenly when he tugged her back, hard against his chest so that she was trapped with her back against him. He clamped her arms over her chest and held them there and spoke right into her ear.
"I DON'T want to kill you, understand?" he gave her a hard shake.
"Let go of me! Don't TOUCH me!" she screamed and yelled.
He clamped a hand over her mouth. "You're going to calm down and we are going to discuss this like adults! I know I betrayed you... I was wrong... I know I was wrong to do that... and I'm sorry... I hope you can forgive me- "
This only roused fresh screams from her, which were thankfully muffled by his hand.
"Shut up, Kagome! You're acting like a spoiled princess!" he snapped into her ear and she stilled somewhat. "I didn't kill your friends... I've never killed anyone in my life... the only person I tried to kill was you and I don't want to do that anymore - I know you now! I know I was wrong to even hurt you!"
She was shaking in his arms... couldn't she breathe? Was something wrong? Was she having a seizure? He let go of her quickly and stepped back in case he was responsible.
Kagome whirled on him, sobbing her endless supply of tears, but she was still livid with anger. She growled as she threw herself at him and punched his face hard, ignoring the pain in her knuckles for doing so. It was like hitting a brick wall and she was close to breaking her hand doing it... but it felt good. But this time he was making no move to stop her. She growled again and threw another punch at his face before thumping him in the stomach. He didn't double over, or cry out. He just let her do it. For some reason this didn't make her any happier.
"Fight back!"
"No!"
"I'll kill you if I have to!" she spat and slapped his ear, one of the most painful things she could do. He winced and held his arms out to the side.
"I won't fight you!"
"Because I'm weak! Because I'm frail!" she pounded into his chest angrily with each sentence. "Because I'm HUMAN!"
"Yes!" He snapped back.
"Fight me!" The anger was dissipating again, she couldn't hold onto it. "Fight me... I hate you... just do it!"
Her attitude was changing so he just silently stood and let her do what she wanted with a slight worried frown on his face. She pushed him and sobbed at the same time. "Fight me! Please!"
He grabbed her wrists to stop her pounding against his chest. She wasn't even trying anymore. Vaguely she tried to pull away from his grip but she was too broken to really put any effort behind it. "Please... just hate me... I hate you... just kill me..."
"Kagome..." he started softly.
Her brief, weak struggles only seemed to succeed in pulling her closer to him until she could rest her forehead against his collar bone. She cried and pulled at his grip. He released her at last but she had no intention of moving, she just grabbed bunches of his shirt and held on for dear life.
Slowly, feeling a little bewildered he placed his arms around her small frame, cradling her, but not really crushing her to him like he wanted to. He wanted to apologise, make her see that he hated himself for what he'd just put her through... but she wouldn't accept that. It was too late for apologies.
Kagome was collapsing again, and since his hold on her wasn't very strong he had to slide onto his knees to keep up with her. She just slumped between his legs and pressed her hot face against his shirt as the sobs continued to wrack her frame. After a while her hands left his shirt and clamped around him to hold him tightly around his chest, he felt indebted to return the favour and squeezed her tightly to him.
He closed his eyes and frowned as he lowered his chin to rest on the top of her head. he caught the slight whiff of her scented hair and couldn't stop himself from turning his head to press his cheek against her hair and take in the smell. It was enough to ease his subconscious mind that she was here, with him, where she was safe and as long as it stayed that way he could prove to her in time that he would... he would... he would what?
"I'll be there for you..." he whispered almost without realising and lightly pressed his lips against the dusty strands of her hair.
Kagome's body shook with harder sobs. "Don't leave me! Please!"
"I won't!" he said quickly and hugged her tighter. "I'm sorry! You can slap me and punch me as much as you like - I deserve it."
Kagome pulled back slightly, her face flushed a heavy red from crying so much. "I accept your apology..."
His heart literally leapt up into his throat.
"But... while I can forgive you... I can't forget what you've done..." she shook her head and fresh tears spilled down her raw cheeks. "I don't think I can trust you anymore..."
That statement bit down and hurt more than any of her punches or kicks... except maybe for that one in the family jewels. He closed his eyes and Kagome's chin wobbled. "But don't leave me again... please..."
They both fell against each other again, simultaneously and Inuyasha was struggling to hold it together. "I'm sorry... I swear I won't let you down again..."
"I can't believe that..."
"I swear it!" he said fiercely, holding her tighter.
He sounded like he meant it... and she really believed him. But she couldn't bring herself to trust him completely... never again...
"I'm sorry..." she whispered against his shoulder.
He exhaled shakily and kissed her hair again. "I forgive you... I don't blame you..."
(A/N:... next chap... 'Reunited'... I can't really bring myself to say anything constructive after writing that... sorry...)
(A/N: I'm gonna keep saying this - my keyboard sucks so you'll have to excuse my speeling and hypos (that was a joke). Plus I broke a nail and I'm getting blood everywhere as I type... yuck... Anyway, you all want waffiness - so the wait is over - and this is a shorter than average chapter just for fluff ^_^)
Two Faced
Forgiveness
Kagome cursed mildly as she tripped over another leaf on the ground. She was down on her luck so far but at least she seemed to be going in the right direction. She'd found the river without too much trouble and had been following it until it had veered off back into the forest, and had instead followed the dirt road that had led out into the open, between meadows of tall grass.
There was light, warm scented breeze that blew in from ahead and she sighed deeply as leaves detached themselves from the odd tree and managed to hit her in the face. She just ignored it since her emotional pain right then was her biggest problem.
She missed her father. She loved him with all her heart... but she was sure he was alive and well. But there had been so many distractions on this mission to find him... the plane had crashed... she'd been kidnapped... Inuyasha had killed all the crew and her only friend, Sango.
Inuyasha... even thinking his name brought a fresh stab of pain in her chest and she had no idea why. She hated him, didn't she? She loathed him and never wanted to see him again!... So why did it hurt every time she thought that she might never see him again. He'd hurt her... but she still... felt something... she couldn't put a name to. It was like yearning... but painful and she knew she missed him. But she'd never admit that aloud to anyone now. So if anyone asked, she hated Inuyasha and hoped he fell in a Volcano.
Yes... that would be a nice end to him...
Kagome stopped suddenly when she reached the peak of the hill she was climbing and looked down at the smooth straight road ahead of her. Trees rose up on either side and from here she could see what could be the village Inuyasha was telling her about in the distance. Further up were rice paddies and more meadows or silvery green grass. But she didn't noticed any of it. More leaves (wet this time) flew up and slapped against her bare legs and arms. She still didn't notice any of it. She just stared off into space using her wooden pole as a support.
He'd said he'd protect her from harm... it was his job and his purpose... and what she thought had been a personal matter as well. She'd thought he'd saved her life when the plane crashed... but he'd only endangered it. Now look where he'd gotten her.
Exactly one week ago she'd been in her hotel room, enjoying proper food, fashion and entertainment on the TV. She'd had all the protection she'd needed from her bodyguards and although she'd been lonely, she'd been safe and loved by her family and Sango.
But in came Inuyasha and within a week she was toiling for her survival. She'd nearly been killed by various creatures/people/objects/vehicles... her only true friend had been murdered... her father probably along with them and she had no way of getting back home as of yet. And Inuyasha had pitied her at the last moment and let her live on in suffering instead of dying. She appreciated it... but he'd just STOOD there while she'd been taunted and bullied.
All that anger and rage at him welled up inside her, along with all the pain she was trying to bottle up. She tried to hold it within her... to tell herself that she didn't need to be feeling this. It wasn't her fault, it was Inuyasha's. she couldn't blame herself... she shouldn't... she'd been duped and had been the one screwed around with. She had to move on and let it go... she couldn't let it get to her otherwise it would eat her up.
But she felt like she was dying... inside.
That horrible feeling seemed to swell just below her ribs and she slowly slipped to the ground, holding her middle tightly and physically trying to stop herself from sobbing. The tears flowed freely... but she couldn't allow herself to sob. To sob would be weak... and she had to have her dignity and show strength in the face of betrayal. She had to save face.
"Screw that..." she choked out and dissolved into sobs - big loud soppy ones that sent the few birds nearby into flight.
So maybe the pain would eat her up if she allowed it to consume her like this... but then maybe it would slowly chew her up on the inside if she didn't let it out. She was so confused! It was in no way her fault! It was all Inuyasha! It had always been Inuyasha. She loved him like the friend she'd always wanted - someone to be close with, to hang around with. Someone that she could trust with anything because he had been paid for it... and because she thought she knew him.
But she'd been wrong...
Slowly she began to realise that she wasn't feeling this pain because she'd been fooled, or because she'd been humiliated and duped. She felt this pain because he had gone and left her... because that safe feeling that she'd felt around him had been false and it had vanished like a puff of smoke, and twice as fragile and hard to contain.
Now that thought just made her plain angry.
With a vicious growl she lunged to her feet and kicked and flayed at the dirt beneath her. "I hate you! I hate you for doing this to me! I thought you were my friend and you betrayed me!"
She picked up her pole and flung it as far and as violently as she could, which was a lot further with her anger fuelled strength. "YOU SAID I COULD TRUST YOU!"
She stood, breathing hard for a moment before she realised she was being foolish and petty... just like Inuyasha had said she was. She slowly sank in on herself and back to her knees, cradling her face in her hands and rocking back and forth. "But I can't..."
She allowed herself to dissolve into sobs again. "I'm such a fool..." she whispered to no one but herself and the breeze... and to something else... some other presence.
She lifted her head slowly, trying to locate what the source of this strange feeling was. It made her spine shiver slightly, but she'd never felt anything like this. At times like this her mother would normally suggest that someone had just walked over her grave. Kagome had always thought that a stupid saying since she wasn't dead yet.
A hand touched her shoulder and instantaneously she knocked it away and staggered to her feet to face him. Her breathing had just pitched faster and those homicidal urges just begged to be acted upon. She just gave him a glare that would scorch even the devil.
Inuyasha stood, looking fairly neutral with his hands stuffed into the pockets of his jacket and with his kendo sword strapped to his back with a sash that went from his shoulder to his side. Kagome waited for him to make his move. To unsheathe that sword and do what he'd been wanting to do from the very start.
He didn't say anything, and she couldn't tell what he was thinking either. Finally, unable to take it anymore she snapped. "Did you want something?" she growled.
He sighed and shifted. "I'm confused."
That's it? He was just 'confused'? He wasn't nearly as half confused as she was. "Confused people take left turns when they should have gone right, Inuyasha!" she snapped at him. "They don't try and kill someone and then murder even more people!!"
Inuyasha quickly glanced over his shoulder, his ears pricked for sounds beyond the forest behind them. Then he finally turned back to her. "I didn't kill anyone."
"Bull!"
"I didn't!"
"What about Kenji?!" Kagome yelled. "Tell him that!"
"He was killed by the demon that attacked - not me! The other's made it out alright!" he defended himself.
"They're alive?" Kagome asked quickly.
"Possibly..."
Unsatisfied with her answer she shook her head and turned away from him. "Excuses... just excuses..." she quickly turned to face him suspiciously, like maybe she didn't trust him enough to turn her back on him just yet.
"I didn't kill them... I had a choice to save either you... or help them..." Inuyasha sighed. "I chose you."
Kagome stared at him. "So you saved my life... again?"
He nodded quickly. "And all those times... was Yura making it all up? About the plane crash and the sniper thing?"
Inuyasha was fed up of lying to her. He dropped his head and she got her answer.
"You, lying, cheating ASSHOLE!" her voice raised in volume and she lunged at him.
He didn't know what she expected to achieve by attacking him but she didn't get what she wanted. He easily knocked her blows away from him and pushed at her kicks, he had to resist the temptation to just push his hand against her head and hold her at arms length... but he knew that would just get her more angry.
"I hate you!" Kagome screamed, tears flying down her cheeks as she furiously tried to scratch or kick him. "I HATE you!"
"Kagome - stop it!" he snapped but she suddenly had a burst of courage and strength and pushed his blocking hands aside landed a lard punch to the face. His head snapped back and was about to repay her for that when her nails lashed out and streaked red lines across his open cheek. But she wasn't sorry.
Inuyasha had been taken by surprise, and had underestimated how angry she was. But now he was liberally having to push her away every time she got close. "You're wild - stop it!"
"Fight me!" she yelled, grazing his ear. "Kill me! Kill me like you want to!"
"I don't want to kill you!" he snarled. "But I'll kick your ass from here to China - you know that!"
"Fight-" she kneed him in the groin. "-Me!"
Inuyasha gasped and sank to his knees.
"Not so tough now, eh?!" Kagome spat at her human punch bag that she was relieving her anger on. She made to attack his back when suddenly he snapped back to his feet, grabbed her arm and spun her around so fast she saw stars. She stopped suddenly when he tugged her back, hard against his chest so that she was trapped with her back against him. He clamped her arms over her chest and held them there and spoke right into her ear.
"I DON'T want to kill you, understand?" he gave her a hard shake.
"Let go of me! Don't TOUCH me!" she screamed and yelled.
He clamped a hand over her mouth. "You're going to calm down and we are going to discuss this like adults! I know I betrayed you... I was wrong... I know I was wrong to do that... and I'm sorry... I hope you can forgive me- "
This only roused fresh screams from her, which were thankfully muffled by his hand.
"Shut up, Kagome! You're acting like a spoiled princess!" he snapped into her ear and she stilled somewhat. "I didn't kill your friends... I've never killed anyone in my life... the only person I tried to kill was you and I don't want to do that anymore - I know you now! I know I was wrong to even hurt you!"
She was shaking in his arms... couldn't she breathe? Was something wrong? Was she having a seizure? He let go of her quickly and stepped back in case he was responsible.
Kagome whirled on him, sobbing her endless supply of tears, but she was still livid with anger. She growled as she threw herself at him and punched his face hard, ignoring the pain in her knuckles for doing so. It was like hitting a brick wall and she was close to breaking her hand doing it... but it felt good. But this time he was making no move to stop her. She growled again and threw another punch at his face before thumping him in the stomach. He didn't double over, or cry out. He just let her do it. For some reason this didn't make her any happier.
"Fight back!"
"No!"
"I'll kill you if I have to!" she spat and slapped his ear, one of the most painful things she could do. He winced and held his arms out to the side.
"I won't fight you!"
"Because I'm weak! Because I'm frail!" she pounded into his chest angrily with each sentence. "Because I'm HUMAN!"
"Yes!" He snapped back.
"Fight me!" The anger was dissipating again, she couldn't hold onto it. "Fight me... I hate you... just do it!"
Her attitude was changing so he just silently stood and let her do what she wanted with a slight worried frown on his face. She pushed him and sobbed at the same time. "Fight me! Please!"
He grabbed her wrists to stop her pounding against his chest. She wasn't even trying anymore. Vaguely she tried to pull away from his grip but she was too broken to really put any effort behind it. "Please... just hate me... I hate you... just kill me..."
"Kagome..." he started softly.
Her brief, weak struggles only seemed to succeed in pulling her closer to him until she could rest her forehead against his collar bone. She cried and pulled at his grip. He released her at last but she had no intention of moving, she just grabbed bunches of his shirt and held on for dear life.
Slowly, feeling a little bewildered he placed his arms around her small frame, cradling her, but not really crushing her to him like he wanted to. He wanted to apologise, make her see that he hated himself for what he'd just put her through... but she wouldn't accept that. It was too late for apologies.
Kagome was collapsing again, and since his hold on her wasn't very strong he had to slide onto his knees to keep up with her. She just slumped between his legs and pressed her hot face against his shirt as the sobs continued to wrack her frame. After a while her hands left his shirt and clamped around him to hold him tightly around his chest, he felt indebted to return the favour and squeezed her tightly to him.
He closed his eyes and frowned as he lowered his chin to rest on the top of her head. he caught the slight whiff of her scented hair and couldn't stop himself from turning his head to press his cheek against her hair and take in the smell. It was enough to ease his subconscious mind that she was here, with him, where she was safe and as long as it stayed that way he could prove to her in time that he would... he would... he would what?
"I'll be there for you..." he whispered almost without realising and lightly pressed his lips against the dusty strands of her hair.
Kagome's body shook with harder sobs. "Don't leave me! Please!"
"I won't!" he said quickly and hugged her tighter. "I'm sorry! You can slap me and punch me as much as you like - I deserve it."
Kagome pulled back slightly, her face flushed a heavy red from crying so much. "I accept your apology..."
His heart literally leapt up into his throat.
"But... while I can forgive you... I can't forget what you've done..." she shook her head and fresh tears spilled down her raw cheeks. "I don't think I can trust you anymore..."
That statement bit down and hurt more than any of her punches or kicks... except maybe for that one in the family jewels. He closed his eyes and Kagome's chin wobbled. "But don't leave me again... please..."
They both fell against each other again, simultaneously and Inuyasha was struggling to hold it together. "I'm sorry... I swear I won't let you down again..."
"I can't believe that..."
"I swear it!" he said fiercely, holding her tighter.
He sounded like he meant it... and she really believed him. But she couldn't bring herself to trust him completely... never again...
"I'm sorry..." she whispered against his shoulder.
He exhaled shakily and kissed her hair again. "I forgive you... I don't blame you..."
(A/N:... next chap... 'Reunited'... I can't really bring myself to say anything constructive after writing that... sorry...)