Author's Notes: Thanks so much to those who reviewed! I love that you guys enjoyed my story. I could have kept this as a one-shot, but decided not to and continued. There will be 3 chapters to this story, and here's the 2nd one! Enjoy!

~~~

The hanyou stared forlornly into the Bone Eater's Well, as if trying to will her to return. He sat with his arms resting on the edge of the old well, his chin resting in his hands. He stared for a few moment's longer before sighing and giving into defeat.

"You know. she DID say she was coming back TOMORROW. As in, not today," Miroku said casually, walking up to him.

Inuyasha turned sharply and growled at him. "Can't I have a moment alone, monk?"

Miroku studied the half-demon for a moment before sighing. "Inuyasha, if you miss her so much, why don't you just go visit her like you always do?"

Inuyasha turned away from Miroku, staring back at the well.

"I can't."

"What are you talking about? You do it all the time. And she is surely home by now."

"Every time I've gone to 'visit' her, it's just to drag her back here."

"Your point being?"

Inuyasha turned sharply to face the priest.

"I don't want to drag her back! I just want to see her! And. that's why I can't go."

He rested his forehead against the edge of the well. "Just leave me alone, Miroku."

With a silent, knowing nod, Miroku turned and walked away. All this time, Inuyasha. and you still haven't told her how you feel?

~~~

The day seemed to last forever to Inuyasha, but nightfall finally came. He sat with his companions around a small fire, quietly eating as they chattered among themselves. Soon everyone was full and sleep crawled upon them.

With Kagome missing, Shippo curled up next to Kirara for the night as Sango tried to put as much distance as possible between herself and Miroku. Inuyasha sat upright in front of the fire, his eyes closed. He appeared to be asleep, but was anything but. His posture was rigid and tense. He couldn't seem to get himself to relax. Sighing in annoyance, he opened his eyes.

I'm pretty tired, so why can't I fall asleep?, he wondered.

At the thought of being unable to sleep, his mind drifted to last night, when Kagome laid in his arms, only able to fall asleep when doing so.

She seemed so relaxed when I held her, he thought.

As if she knew I would never let anything happen to her..

Realizing he was thinking of Kagome, he berated himself and tried to sleep again. 10 minutes passed.

Then 15.

Then 20.

Miroku stirred in his sleep and opened one eye sleepily just in time to see Inuyasha run into the forest, towards the well. With a knowing smile, Miroku yawned and fell back to sleep.

~~~

Kagome sat at her desk, various books strewn all over the place, along with pencils and papers. She yawned and stretched her arms over her head.

"Man, what a day. One huge exam, and now I have two more to study for."

She glanced at her clock. It read: 12:30 a.m. "Just 30 more minutes of studying, and then I'll hit the hay," she promised herself as she returned her attention to her math book.

Inuyasha jumped into the tree next to Kagome's window. To his great relief, she was still at her desk, studying. Hesitantly, he knocked softly on the glass.

Kagome looked up, startled to see Inuyasha at her window. She stood up and opened it, greeting him with a surprised smile. "Inuyasha! What are you doing here?"

He frowned slightly as he stepped in her room. "Feh! Can't I come visit you when I feel like it?"

She placed a gentle hand on his arm. "Of course you can. I wasn't trying to say otherwise. I just didn't think you would come tonight," she said softly.

He heard her soft tone and blushing slightly, and he moved away from her touch. "Yeah well. I was having some trouble sleeping, so I thought I'd come what you were doing." He moved to sit cross-legged on her bed.

Kagome smiled and plopped back down at her desk. "Studying. As always."

She turned to him. "You can watch some T.V. if you want. I'll be done in a few minutes."

He nodded and took the remote, remembering how Kagome had showed him how it worked. He clicked the T.V. on and watched the moving pictures quietly.

When Kagome finally had enough of studying, she turned to see Inuyasha still sitting with his eyes closed. She frowned slightly.

"Inuyasha?"

His eyes shot open as he turned to look at her. "What?"

Kagome moved her desk and sat next to him on the bed. "Still can't sleep? You look really tense."

He sighed and nodded. "I don't know what's wrong with me. I'm actually pretty tired, but. just can't seem to fall asleep."

Kagome smiled softly at him. She moved to where her back rested against the backboard of her bed, tucking a pillow behind herself. "I know the feeling. remember?"

He nodded, tucked his hands into his sleeves, and stared at the floor, mumbling something.

"I'm sorry, what did you say? I didn't hear you," Kagome said.

"I said.. is it alright.. I mean can I.. will you let me lie on your lap?" he blurted, reddening slightly.

Kagome reddened also, remembering the last time he had made such a request. He was in his human form and quite delusional.

Still blushing, she nodded and crossed her legs.

Inuyasha scooted closer to her, resting his head onto her lap. He sighed softly, enjoying the smell of her comforting scent and snuggled closer to her.

Kagome smiled and began to gently rub one of his ears.

Inuyasha couldn't help but smile as well as a low rumble began within his chest.

Kagome blushed, but continued to rub his ear.

Is this really happening? She wondered.

Inuyasha's never been like this before. What's changed?

"Kagome," he said softly.

"Inuyasha. I've been thinking about last night. How you helped me fall asleep. I fell asleep so easily when you held me because you make feel me safe. I trust you and believe in you. No matter what happens, I always will and. Inuyasha?" She peered down at the hanyou's face to find he had fallen fast asleep.

Kagome smiled and leaned back into the pillow she was resting against, yawning. "Good night, Inuyasha."

~~~

Inuyasha was woken up by a direct beam of sunlight hitting him in the face. The half-demon yawned and stretched, slowly opening his eyes. He blinked in confusion at his surroundings, but quickly remembered he was in Kagome's room.

I came to her last night because I couldn't sleep, he thought.

Inuyasha looked around to find himself alone on Kagome's bed and wondered where she had disappeared to.

At that thought, Kagome appeared in the doorway, already dressed, with a cup of ramen in her hand. She smiled brightly to see that he was awake.

"Good morning, Inuyasha! Ramen?"

She offered him the cup, which he took. Inuyasha ate and watched her silently as she ran about her room, picking up things she decided she would need for her trip back to Feudal Japan.

He observed she was in a good mood and her cheeriness caused him to smile. He liked to see her happy.

When she was done packing her incredibly large yellow pack, Kagome turned to him. "Did you sleep well?"

Inuyasha nodded, placing the empty cup of ramen to the side. "Yeah."

She nodded, picked up her backpack, and moved towards the door. "Let's get going!"

As they stood together in front of the well, Inuyasha suddenly grabbed her arm.

Startled, Kagome turned to him. "Inuyasha?"

He stared at her, and then down at the hand that held her arm. "Kagome. thank you. For last night."

She felt herself beginning to blush and hesitantly took his hand. "Your welcome."

Inuyasha stared at their clasped hands, gave hers a gentle squeeze, and looked up into her eyes.

Kagome smiled warmly at him as they jumped into the Bone Eater's Well, hand in hand.