Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or any of its characters, but the characters that I made up belong entirely to me.

Author's Note: Yayy! This chapter contains some fluff! Review, please!

The Course of True Love Ne'er Did Run Smooth…

Chapter 6

Kagome was in a tunnel. It was dark and flooded with water, and she was swimming in it. The water wasn't cold, though. In fact, it didn't really feel like water at all. It was too warm and too thick. In the distance she could see a circle of light, and somehow she knew she had the choice of going toward it or turning and going in the other direction, where there was also a light, but of dimmer, less welcoming kind. She wasn't frightened. It was simply a matter of choice. Either way would be fine.

Then she heard a voice. It was coming from the place where the light was dimmer. She recognized the voice; it was Inuyasha! She tried to move toward the sound, but the water was too thick. It was like glue. She was swimming in glue, and it wouldn't let her through. She tried to call to Inuyasha for help, but she couldn't find her voice. He didn't seem to realize that she was there. He sounded so far away, and Kagome was suddenly worried that he might go and leave her all alone. But now, yes, he was calling her name. And although she still couldn't see a glimpse of his velvety white hair or flashing amber eyes, she knew he was reaching out for her, and if she could only make one final, great effort, maybe the glue would let her through and he could haul her out.

Inuyasha sat by Kagome's side, holding her hand. He had never dared to hold it before when she was awake. He had woken up yesterday in the late afternoon in Kaede's hut, and had learnt that after he collapsed at the edge of the village that night, the villagers had found him and Kagome in the morning and brought them both back to recuperate. Because of his half-demon blood, his wounds had already healed. Unfortunately, Kagome had lost a lot of blood, and she had still been in critical condition when he woke up. Inuyasha had stayed up all day and all night watching over her, and now he was completely exhausted. The good news was that Kaede had said she was almost completely healed earlier this evening. The old priestess had gone to bed hours before.

Now, at three o' clock, with the entire village still sound asleep, Inuyasha was still keeping watch over Kagome, waiting for the time when she would finally open her eyes. He let his own tired, bloodshot eyes roam over the futon she was lying on, letting his eyes linger on her soft, raven-black hair, which was spread out haphazardly all over the pillow like a fan. He gazed intently at her perfectly calm face, looking for any signs of movement. If he hadn't known better, he would have thought that the girl with the skin as pale as wintry cream was only sleeping. There was a faint, peaceful smile on Kagome's face, as if she was thinking of something pleasant. It reminded him of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, one of the 'faerie tails' that Kagome had brought from her time to read to Shippou as bedtime story a couple nights ago. While Shippou had been eager to hear the story, Inuyasha had scoffed and declared that he was too old to listen to little kiddie stories.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*flashback*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Come on, Inuyasha," Kagome said in a cheerful, inviting voice, "Do you want to hear a fairy tale before we go to sleep?" She explained the meaning of a fairy tale before lugging a huge, thick book out of her backpack and opening it to one of her favorite stories, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

"Feh," Inuyasha laughed rudely, "I don't care what you do with Shippou, I'm not listening to some stupid story about a princess or whatever. I'm not a kid." He jumped into the nearest tree branch and pretended to sleep, but kept his ears cocked towards the direction of Kagome's voice and listening with interest as Kagome's melodious, lilting voice began the story:

"Once upon a time, in a faraway kingdom, lived……………………and they lived happily ever after. The End." As Kagome finished the story, with Shippou's eyes already drooped shut, she tucked him into her sleeping bag, then looked up at Inuyasha. "Are you still awake, Inuyasha?"

"Feh," Inuyasha said again, then he paused, and asked in a casual voice, "So why do you like this story anyway?"

Kagome smiled and said in a light teasing tone, "Inuyasha, I thought you said you weren't listening?"

He jumped down from the tree and fixed her with an intense glare, then answered, "I

changed my mind. Now answer my question."

Kagome looked down and blushed, "Well, I loved this story ever since I was a child because I used to imagine I was Snow White and wished for Prince Charming to come a wake me up from a magic spell with a kiss." She sighed sadly, "Unfortunately, now I know that such things don't exist; there never will be a handsome prince to come rescue me."

After everyone had gone to bed, Inuyasha sat in the treetops, looking down at Kagome's sleeping face. His harsh face softened slightly, and he whispered, almost inaudibly, "Don't give up, Kagome. Your prince will come, someday…"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*end of flashback*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Right now," Inuyasha reflected, as he kept a silent vigil over Kagome, "she really does look like Snow White." Her skin was pale and her lips were cherry-colored from her fever. He whispered to himself, "Skin as white as snow, lips as red as blood, and hair as black as ebony…" And when lying there, unmoving on the futon, Kagome looked as if she truly was waiting in a coffin for love's first kiss to awaken her. Inuyasha had the sudden urge to bend down and kiss her, as if he were playing the part of the prince in the fairy tale. He knelt down next to her, and spread his trembling hands wide apart on either side of Kagome's body. Leaning down, careful not to let her stir, 'Prince Inuyasha' slowly, hesitantly, lowered himself down until he was inches from Kagome's face.

"Kagome, please, wake up…" he whispered, then closed his eyes and lightly brushed his lips against hers. It was barely a kiss, hardly noticeable and very delicate, just like the touch of a butterfly's wings. He lifted his head, and unable to resist, bent down and gently but firmly pressed his lips to hers again. The sensation of her tender skin against his, combined with Kagome's sweet, scent of honey and flowers mixed with the smell of spring rain, led him to cup her cheeks loosely and deepen their kiss until he felt as if he were about to explode from lack of air. And yet, he didn't want to move away. Inuyasha felt as if he could drown in the feel of her lips forever, but reluctantly, he slowly pulled back and looked at her tenderly. Suddenly, his golden eyes widened as Kagome's still face twitched once, twice. As the first rays of sunlight peeked over distant mountains, a single beam of sunshine fell through the window and focused on her face like a spotlight. Her thick black eyelashes quivered, and her eyes finally fluttered open. She smiled faintly, and whispered just one word, "Inuyasha." Prince Charming had finally awoken Snow White with true love's first kiss.