Chapter 21

The lyrics for the chapter are from "You and Me" by Lifehouse

Characters © Rumiko Takahashi

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Kagome opened her eyes suddenly after a nightmare, fumbling with the phone she dialed Kaede, "Can you come over?" she asked quietly.

Kaede said she would be there in twenty.

She sat up in bed and covered her face with her hands. God please give me strength, I need you right now. Pulling the covers tightly around her she started to cry softly, "I haven't been coming to you like I should...I don't want to be one of those people that come to you only when I need help or when something goes horribly wrong," she sighed, "But I find myself doing that..."

"Mama?"

Kagome looked up to see Kloie in the doorway dragging her pillow behind her. "Come here, baby," she said taking her little girl in her arms. Kloie put her head against her mother's breast and let out a tiny sigh. "Why are you still awake, honey?"

"I miss Yayaa," Kloie said sleepily.

"I know, honey." I miss him too, She thought.

"What's the point of having a relationship if he doesn't trust me?" Kagome asked. "I can still see him, Kaede, I can still feel his hands on me-" She stopped, wrapping her arms around her body in disgust. Her next words were struggled as if she was about to cry, "Inuyasha put his hands on me for a second I thought he was going to...rape me."

Kaede shook her head, "You know he would never do that."

"I know that!" She was pacing back and forth, "But it's almost like he wanted me to believe that he would do it. I would never cheat on him, Kaede."

The old woman was quiet for a long time.

"Well aren't you going to say anything?" Kagome asked sitting on the couch.

"What do you want, child?"

"This is the part where you give me this heart warming assurance that we'll be okay and to talk to Inuyasha. Why aren't you?"

Kaede smiled almost pitifully, "Kagome, you have to do this on your own. I love you and I want the best for you and Kloie."

Kagome swallowed a lump in her throat, "Maybe we should leave."

"You're serious?"

"I don't want to be here...I mean everyone knows us here." She said, "I don't want Kloie to grow up with everyone talking about the two of us and she wondering why she doesn't have a father."

"Have you ever thought about contacting her biological father?" A glare from Kagome gave the old woman her answer, "You could get support from him if you need help."

"You think I need help? I've been working double shifts for a year to stay here I don't need help from him." Kagome sighed, "I'm sorry I didn't mean to snap...I don't want to leave but I just...I can't live in Vinton if I see Inuyasha everyday."

Kaede nodded, "I can understand."

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Inuyasha drove in silence his jaw set, his eyes straight ahead lost in thought.

What day is it? And in what month?

This clock never seemed so alive

I can't keep up and I can't back down

I've been losing so much time

"So Sesshourmaru knew about Kagome all along," he thought aloud, I do love her I love her more then anything in this world. Two nights ago when he saw her beneath Kouga, Inuyasha couldn't deny the hatred he had felt in that moment. God, what am I supposed to do now? I want to be with her but should I?

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"Where did he go?" Kagome asked finally.

"To his brother's most likely."

"His brother?"

"Half brother. Sesshoumaru stayed with his real mother after Inuyasha's parents died. They've never had a real relationship."

"As interesting as this story is what does this have to do with us and why would Inuyasha visit him?"

Kaede sighed, "They have a strange relationship almost like they wish they could be a closer knit family but they know it's too late."

Kagome raised her eyebrows.

"He obviously felt ashamed and scared after what happened so he went to his brother for advice."

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"So it's over?" Tyler turned to the women on the couch, Sari was in tears holding Kloie.

Kagome nodded, "We're leaving in two weeks," she said.

After they left, Kagome took a shower and got ready for work, she dropped Kloie off with Kaede as usual and went to Charlie's Place.

The night was slow, Kagome cursed lack of customers, at least with more things to do she could forget about him. But her mind kept wandering to him, that night at the Star, their kiss in the church, when he led her to the Lord, their moment by the swings, the first time he said 'I love you' after his sermon, the couch...her eyes glazed over, she blinked them quickly unable to dab at them. God, please help me get through this night!

There were people standing at the door waiting to be seated, she turned, where the hell is Maria? She shook her head when the girl hadn't gone to seat them. She put down the pitcher of iced tea and went to the hostess station, grabbing her pen she looked up.

"May I help-" Oh no...

Cause it's you and me and all of the people with nothing to do

Nothing to lose

And it's you and me and all of the people

And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you

"...you.."

"Hey Kagome."

She blinked, "Wh-what are you doing here?"

Inuyasha chuckled a little, "Well the last time I checked you served food here."

Kagome led him to a booth and left as quickly as she could running off to the waitress station she sat down. Thanks a lot, she thought looking at the ceiling. "Maria, you're doing booth 6 tonight," she told the girl as she passed by.

"Yes, Ma'am."

Racking her fingers through her hair, she stood. Kagome signed the sheet requesting to leave early, she just wanted to get home and be with her daughter. The less she saw of Inuyasha the better.

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Inuyasha knocked on the door, this was the last chance, he had. After this week she would be gone and he would probably never see her and Kloie again.

All of the things that I want to say just aren't coming out right

I'm tripping on words

You've got my head spinning

I don't know where to go from here

The door opened, her brown eyes met his, angry at first then softened. She wore nothing but a blue tank top and black underwear.

Inuyasha blushed.

Without embarrassment Kagome opened the door, "Come in."

He entered the apartment it was clean like always. "Don't be mad, Kags I'm just getting back at you for seeing me in my boxers a while back," she didn't say anything. He hadn't expected her to.

Kloie was playing behind the couch while Kagome went into the back room. "Yaayaa!" Kloie ran around the couch to greet him.

"Hey kid," he said taking her in his arms.

"I missed you," she kissed him on the cheek.

Kagome slipped on a pair of pants listening to them, she smiled Kloie loved him so much. And so do I, she thought. She joined them in the room sitting on the arm of the couch.

Cause it's you and me and all of the people with nothing to do

Nothing to prove

And it's you and me and all of the people

And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you

"Honey, why don't you go in your room," she said, "Inuyasha and Mommy need to talk."

The little girl frowned and did as she was told.

Inuyasha looked at her, his violet eyes meeting her brown ones, "Kagome-"

"Why are you here, Inuyasha, don't you think you've done enough?"

Don't get angry with her. He licked his lips, stalling, "I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what? Accusing me of cheating on you? Or pushing me against the wall like some damned monster?" Kagome said sharply.

Inuyasha looked away, "I know I can't change what happened and no matter what I say can't change the way you feel. I was out of line for thinking you would ever hurt me that way. I was wrong, Kagome. " He sucked in a breath, "I love you, Kagome." He scooted close to her and reached for her hand. "I promise you I will do anything I can to prove to you how sorry I am and how grateful I am that you are in my life. I love you more then anyone I've ever known."

She wanted to accept it, Kagome wanted to hold on to him and kiss him but she couldn't move. "I love you too but-"

"I know we have a lot to work out and I know it will be hard but I want to walk through life with you. I love Kloie to death and I want to be a father to her as well as your husband."

Oh my god. "I-Inuyasha...?"

"Kagome," Inuyasha slipped off the couch and onto his knee in front of her.

Tears filled her eyes, she covered her mouth. "No way..."

"I don't have a ring yet - I will." He took her hands in his and kissed them both, "Kagome Higurashi, will you marry me?"

There's something about you now

I can't quite figure out

Everything she does is beautiful

Everything she does is right

Cause it's you and me and all of the people with nothing to do

Nothing to lose

And it's you and me and all of the people

And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you

and me and all of the people with nothing to do

Nothing to prove

And it's you and me and all of the people

And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you

"Yes! Yes Inuyasha!" She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him until they both were breathless.

What day is it?

And in what month?

This clock never seemed so alive

AUTHOR'S NOTE: One more chapter left. I'm sorry this chapter took so long. I've been rather busy and in all honestly I've been stalling. I don't want this fic to be over. I love the Inuyasha and Kagome of AWBF. There's been some fanart of baby Kloie done that can be found on DeviantART by DarkELF19 she is the greatest.