I'm soooo sorry for being late on this. I've had crisis after crisis the past few days and I've had no time to write up till now. Hope you'll forgive, and now that work is over, maybe I'll be able to get more chapters in quicker. Enjoy and respond.

Chapter 23: Midsummer's Night

Upon a midsummer's night, she came back to him. Somewhere between the battle, the sudden spontaneous kiss, and her hasty departure, it had been awoken. Her insistent need to be with him. How many times had she thought that a friend would be enough? How many times did she convince herself that he was too free a spirit for her? His heart, like salt, cascaded through and around her fingers. Bitter, lifeless. Never could she catch it, no matter how much she wished it. It was an impossible dream. How many times had she said that?

For a good half hour, she stared at the door to the hut. The beaded curtain that seemed now to be made of stone. No way was it physically possible for her to pass through that gate to her own fears. The action would kill her, or if not, maim her beyond repair. The fear held her back by the knees, and reminded her silently of the hanyou who had broken her heart. Unknowingly… but nonetheless tattered her spirit. The options were against her, as they often were. To choose, how could she choose? She'd rather not have him come back to reality, only to deny the very thing she coveted above all else. She'd rather not fall under his spell again only to lose her inhibitions to him forever.

In the end, for whatever reason, she came through that seemingly insurmountable entrance, and didn't even pause as she approached the sleeping dog-demon. Especially in his sleep, the forbidden fruit was too beautiful to her. For reassurance, she looked at her clothing. After what had happened, she had demanded her old clothes back, even if they were still slightly damp. Anything to get her identity back, anything to discern herself from the dead miko that held his future in her cold gasp. The green and white reminded her instead where she had come from, and the people who she knew were missing her. Of that, she was always certain. But here, she was never certain. Somehow she would never be a true part of this world, even if she were to be loved. The others, no matter how hard they tried, it just wasn't enough anymore, was it?

'Inuyasha… I'm… I'm…'

She took in a shaky breath as she sank down next to him. The way he looked now, he seemed completely unmoved from the battle that had nearly claimed him. She knew by his wounds and his… behavior, he had been closer to death than any other time before. How it frightened her to see him soaked in blood, to see that glazed look on his face. It was like he wasn't even there anymore. She supposed he wasn't, judging from his words, and his kiss.

One tear fell on her pale cheek, followed by another on the other. She didn't even notice. She leaned forward and pressed herself against his exposed chest, splaying hers across him, and her face lay haphazardly on his shoulder. Her face was turned away from him, for she was fearful of what he might do if he woke to see her face. Her arms wrapped around him while still being careful on his wounds. For a few moments longer than necessary, she eyed the bandages on his shoulder, the wound where the poison had entered his body. Silently, she cursed it for not only feeding on the hanyou's senses, but also for stabbing her straight through the heart.

'Inuyasha... Forgive me. I just want to feel a little bit of what I felt before. The feeling when you kissed me,' Kagome begged him with her thoughts, 'I need you to tell me that I'm needed here, that you'll take care of me always.'

She stiffened as he moved. The game was up. It had to be. Instantly, she became bombarded with self-loathing, and she began to search for ways she could talk her way out of this one. But it subsided, only to make her blush, as his arms wrapped around her cold wet body. She whimpered only as far as a whisper. It was all she could do to hold back a sob. But he was still silent, and she could hear his light snoring. That baka was still asleep.

Though now that she thought of it, she was feeling rather tired herself. The miko stifled a yawn as her eyes fluttered shut. In the back of her mind, she murmured, 'I won't fall asleep. I just… need to be with him for a few minutes longer. I'll get up and leave him be, but not just yet. I need this. More than ever.'

The last thought she had was a prayer, maybe more to herself than to the hanyou she addressed, 'Onegai, Inuyasha. Just this once, know that it's me beside you. Don't think I'm Kikyo. I beg of you.'

She was already lost. Within her own inner desires, her dreams took full control. There was nothing she could have done to stop it. In truth, it didn't even matter.

Upon a mid-summer's night, the warmth invaded him. His shivering body shook with the release. How it longed for the presence. When he slowly awoke from his dreams, he didn't open his eyes, perhaps due to the pounding in his head. It had started with the headache, then moved to the warmth on his hair due to a nearby fire. He recognized it well, the deathly, yet life-giving fire. One element composed of good and evil, greeting him in words of kindness but with use of a hard weapon. After the fire, his wounds. They weren't as bad as they were before, he thought. His hanyou immune system was working hard. Thank God he was a hanyou again.

Then her scent.

His eyes fluttered open, daring to believe the impossible. His lungs still worked. Still, they took their fill of the smell of wildflowers in her hair. Still alive. His heart… still beating, pressed up against her chin, as though she had been whispering sweet nothings to it. Defying the headache, he looked downward to her raven hair, which cascaded with the moonlight coming from the nearby window. The outline of it seemed almost purple due to its intense blackness. It was mere inches from his nose. How well he could taste the scent.

Unbeknownst to even himself, he smiled dreamily and turned his head to one side. In doing so, he buried his nose within the back of her neck. The sweetness overwhelmed his nose, as well as the rest of his senses.

He then noticed that his arms were already around her protectively. Funny, even in his sleep, he never let go of his promise to protect her. But, why was she there? After he had kissed…

He tensed and blushed. Oh God, he didn't? Had he truly…? His eyes trembled, as did his arms. 'What… will she do? She must hate me now for violating her like that. Oh God, Kagome… please forgive me.'

Though he had no idea why he chose to take up this conversation with himself rather than her, he continued berating himself, 'Baka, baka, baka… what have you done?'

The miko sighed deeply in her sleep, and it brought back his attention. It seemed… so content. As if nothing could touch her when she was like that. Had he even ever heard the sound before, so welcoming. If she was mad at him, why was she holding him like this? His eyes faltered, and he resolved to rest the side of his skin against her head. 'Thank you, Kagome.'

Between their auras rang out the chant: love me, comfort me, protect me, bring me to God. Together, they shined in an invisible gold, a sight only meant for the holy. The perfect peace, within the embrace. It made him woozy, but in a wonderful way. The drip-drop of water fell from the roof, echoing lightly between the walls. The flutter of wind hummed along. It was their lullaby, Kagome's and Inuyasha's. Humble earth bestowed upon them this blessing, leaving behind the earth of storm and sword. It promised, in more ways than it could ever now, unto a mere hanyou beneath the hut… there will be rest, and sure stars shining.

For then, his throbbing heart it moves. His grasp tightened, cradled, nurtured the only way it knew how. His breath came in slow and hard, making his chest rise higher and higher. When he released the sigh, its sound echoed back to him as well. The same warmth that he had heard from her, echoing back in his own voice. It was because of her, that silly Kagome, who moved the earth itself.

Her eyes, her hair, her lips declare what he was worth, what mattered. If any worth, if it meant her glory kept intact, it was all he really needed.

Upon a mid-summer's night, he felt something strange. A tickle on his shoulder. Only once, but then again in two fast movements, then moments later repeated. Realization soon struck him. Between his thoughts, her eyelashes swept across his skin as she blinked. He blushed and tensed, 'Shit, what should I do?'

She felt him stiffen beneath her, and it filled her with fear all over again. Any second, she suspected him to move away from him, returning to his usual rudeness. She couldn't take that now. It would tear her apart. She unknowingly clutched him tighter and buried her nose deeper into his skin. For a few moments, he remained in that state of uncertainty. But after a while, he relaxed again, and squeezed her back. She knew… he was fully awake, and whether the poison had completely worn out yet was something she didn't have to heart to find out.

He didn't know why he didn't move away. It probably would have been best. Who knew what Kagome thought of him now? What was she thinking as she saw his arms around her? Then again, what was she doing with her arms around him?

For a long time they stayed in happy silence. Neither faltered, nor spoke. Voices timid, hearts palpitating, what could they do but hold on tighter? Would it not quell their fears? Perhaps not, but it was all they had. Kagome's wide eyes blinked but a few times, thus tickling Inuyasha's skin. It made his heart do somersaults all the way down to his stomach. Hapless fate which planned this for him, if he could fight against it, he would. More and more, she butterfly kissed against his chest, pursuing what lay beneath. Thus, his hold on her seemed to grow. Some wild thing demanded that he submit to its whim, and slowly cave into himself until nothing was left but the memory of this moment. If he let go, would he not crumble? And was he even willing to take such chances anymore?

Kagome, who felt the heat of the room suddenly swell, fell deeper into his body. Her eyes darted around the room in search of something, anything that could save her. No, nothing could rescue her from Inuyasha. There was nothing but an empty, cold night outside his embrace. But here, everything seemed soft, fragile, tender, powerful in its own unique way. Her chest was harvested with many rhythms, most of which she could not even make out against the others. And so, she remained ever silent, and finally relaxed with this peace. It mattered not what they said, what she said to a delirious hanyou.

Perhaps it was that it didn't matter at all that gave her the courage to finally speak. Her soft was just above a window, but strummed nicely within his demon ears, "You're awake."

It was an obvious statement, which was met by an equally obvious answer, "So are you."

She smiled shyly. His voice seemed back to normal, but what about his sense of self? If she looked up to him again for reassurance, could he not claim her soul with his kiss once again? She wouldn't risk it. Not for anything in the world. It was all she took to even speak to him.

But something touched her hair, and pressed down ever so slightly. She recognized the feeling well. That of his hands. Even those monstrous hands had a protective character encompassing them. The taste in her mouth suddenly became bitter. She hesitantly gulped to erase the rising motion in her stomach. Not now. She couldn't afford to be taken in again. Even when his breath fell on her neck, even when his fingers intertwined a little with her hair, she couldn't give up.

Her eyes focused on his bandage, and she was reminded of how close he had come to death. "Inuyasha?"

"Hm?"

"How are you feeling?"

He hesitated for but a moment as he dropped his nose into the back of her neck. It was where the intoxication resided in her scent, where the hair met the skin. He breathed in, and exhaled; breathed in, and exhaled, then sighed and looked up at the ceiling in content. "I'm much better now."

She sighed in contentment. It incinerated what was left of the room, and moved on to the part of him that was she. The delirious burn on the skin became smokeless, now that his nerves were shot with too much fire to survive. The invisible glow therefore never left him. Trying to figure out the light his love provided, he sighed as well. He knew by the sound that the poison was not purged from his body, but at least he had sense enough not to try anything crazy.

How thankful he was that she had not run from him. He had expected it so. And yet, he was fearful. Why had she come back? His fingers tenderly caressed her head. "What is it, Kagome? Did something scare you?"

She didn't miss his other hand grip tighter around her waist. She could have cried out loud. 'YES!'

"I…"

Kagome gulped and took in a few small breaths. But Inuyasha took the silence in bad stride. She heard him snarl lightly, and realized she had to set him straight before he jumped to the wrong conclusion. "No," she lied, "I just…"

Speak again, and she could lose everything. Hold her tongue, and she could upset him. Through the window came the first breath of morning. So crisp and swift, it could be perceived as winter. The last remnants of the moon shown still by the corner of the sky, amber as the hanyou it kissed with light. Never could she escape that color, that captive color. Even his hold on her felt golden. Every word she knew ran through her head as she searched for herself. It couldn't be helped. "… I just wanted to be with you. It makes me happy."

The bitter-sweetness love provides redefined this warring union, the battle between head and heart. The newly risen sun echoed with the emptiness that was suddenly filled. Warm in its ecstasy. The greatest energy that would never be unleashed. So great it could crush any warrior, but it knew it had no place in such a paradise as this. Any war within himself disappeared out of even memory. They didn't matter anymore. Something lodged in his throat struggle to be released, and only came out as a hard exhale of air. It was all he could dare to do.

Somehow he wanted more, he wanted to do more. To maybe catch her gaze again, maybe to kiss her once more, or even just to feel her some more, just so he could reach the new horizon. Never would he risk to move. It was all he needed, all he would ever need. He nuzzled his cheek slightly against her cheek.

He didn't want his mind back yet. If he could only be in this sickened state for a little longer, maybe even keep himself from healing, he wouldn't become so afraid of her. And how he prayed that her words would mean the same to him even when he recovered, because he didn't want to. His nose inhaled her scent, and his eyes fluttered shut, one thought reverberating through his mind, 'I've done it. I've won.'

She soon followed to the same place he ventured.

Throughout the mid-summer's morning in Feudal Japan, there would be rest. And sure stars shining, over the rooftops crowned in sun. A reign of rest; serene forgetting. The music of stillness, holy and low. Out of a dream in their lonely minds, they would find the meaning of peace. Stars, they would find.

To be continued…

Trekker4life: I'm glad I did too, for both you and me. (hugs)

MoonKitii: Fluff is my favorite. Thank you. (hugs)

Princess of stars: Aww, don't cry. I'll definitely make it all better. (hugs)

HelikaAkileh: Haha, I figured I needed to put in the hint or I would be killed in my sleep for doing that to them. Haha! (hugs)

Kawaiibritt: Good thing I went with the hint then. Just to make sure you all didn't kill me. (hugs)

NeuroticallyDignified: Wow, I'm amazed you actually put in the effort to listen to the song. I wanted people to, but I totally wasn't expected it. (hugs)

Hanyouxmiko990: Teehee, I'm so evil. Don't worry. I'll fix it. (hugs)

Lacey Beans: Whenever I write a song in the chapter, I always get worried that people will hate it. I'm glad you're not all annoyed by it, because it's such a big part of my life that I want to share it with everyone. Thank you. (hugs)

Laura: Haha, yeah. It would ruin it. Kagome no baka! I'll make it better though. Promise. (hugs)

Fanficluv7Inu: Actually, I wanted to be sure he didn't say her name, because then she would know that he was thinking about her instead of Kikyo. And I can't have that just yet. Not yet. Soon though. (hugs)

A100rinchhead: I totally think they are both stupid, not just Inuyasha. But he's definitely the bigger one. (hugs)

JediK1: Don't fret! Help is on the way! (hugs)

Cynbad146: Awww, tears? I'm touched. Thank you. (hugs)

Srg1: No way I would ever forget that. It's gonna be so freakin awesome, I can't wait for it. And thank you, it really is like a social life. Glad that there are people to talk to here. (hugs)

Kawaii-CherryWolf: If it was up to me, I'd be having a chapter out per day. So…. Tired… driving for…. 11 hours… (hugs)

Star+Robin: You too? I'm about dead. But I must write….. must write…. (hugs)

Kamira: I like the way he says her name, which made it so hard for me not to have him say it and blow his cover. Argh! (hugs)

RobinRox13: I'm so evil! Tears? Awww, I'll make it better. (hugs)

InuyashaGal: Yeah! I love fluff dances! Thank you, darlin'. (hugs)

KOalaPaNda: Me love fluff! Me post more and more! Teehee! (hugs)

Tsuchii: Rich isn't one I've heard before, but that's definitely the characteristic I was going for. Thank you for thinking so highly of it, and for your support. (hugs)

Kikioh7: Run away? Oh no! I won't ever do that! Haha, me love fluff too. (hugs)

Reina no Taisho: Wow! An award? That makes me soooo happy! I'm not sure how I go about finding it, but I guess I'll try to find your site to see it. Wow, this is so cool! Thank you, thank you, thank you! OMG… two of them? Hurray! This totally rocks! (hugs)

-Key of Minds-: I'll be picking you back up shortly, then. (hugs)

Lord of the Blades: Insanely long! Sooo much I can barely keep up. I may shorten them a bit again, because it gets overwhelming writing so much. It just depends on if I can get some good breaking points. (hugs)

Simplydabest: …….. Ah. I, uh… wow. I better get going then. Haha. (hugs)

Jenn-silent breed: As of now, I will have some light stuff, but it will definitely focus on Inuyasha and Kagome. (hugs)

Squidy: The Spanish is there because the language is a huge part of my life as well as music, and I include it only when a song was a tremendous inspiration for the chapter and I want to recommend it to other music freaks. I know, it's totally unorthodox to do this in a story, especially since the language has nothing to do with Japan, but it is my passion. And NO WAY are the songs in any way shape or form about racism! They are love songs! I'm rather curious how you got that sort of translation, because I know for a fact the songs aren't about that at all. Anyway, thank you for your support, and your patience. (hugs)

Forever-inuyasha-kagome: Nooooo! (leaps forward with chapter). Was I in time? Scary… (hugs… and CPR)