Hello everyone! I'm glad to be writing again! I got awesome reviews, and I am free of my writer's block! Oh, one more thing: Merry Christmas to everyone on Here's my Christmas gift to you! Chappie 8!

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Inuyasha leapt out of the well in the cover of night, hoping that Kagome was home. Sliding the shrine's doors aside, he made his way to the Goshinboku tree and leapt up to its branch that jutted out towards Kagome's window. He couldn't help but look at the old tree's base and grin.

You can sense me, can't you Goshinboku?

There was no response, but the wind had picked up, blowing the branches in his direction. He turned his head to Kagome's window, finding her asleep on her bed, lying perfectly still.

Oh Gods. I hope she can't hear me…

He slid her window aside, being greeted with Kagome's sweet scent of rose pedals and vanilla. But there was a trace of the salty scent of shed tears. This made his heart stop for an instant, but he gathered himself up and pushed on into the room. He tread lightly to her bed, kneeling lightly beside her. She turned in her sleep, facing him. He froze for an instant, but in realizing that she was still asleep, he calmed down. He reached out a clawed hand and began to gently brush her bangs aside. Whether it was his imagination or not, Inuyasha wasn't sure, but it seemed her curved lips began to form…a smile…? He brought his hand back into his sleeve, not realizing the repercussions. Kagome's eyes fluttered slightly from the sudden change of heat where his hand had been.

Crap! She's waking up! What do I do! What do I DO?

Panic swept over him quickly. Before Kagome had opened her eyes so much as a squint, he was out of her window. She sleepily opened her eyes, feeling the cold winter wind blowing out her window.

"I could have sworn I closed that…" She stood and walked over to the window, not realizing that she had fallen asleep in her school uniform. She was about to close the window, but had happened to look down and see…no…that can't be…

"Inuyasha?" She whispered softly. There he was, leaning against The Sacred Tree, his head bowed low. A snowflake rested on his ear, but his ear twitched, flicking it away.

(Inuyasha's POV)

Stupid! Stupid! STUPID! How can I just run away? What kind of a coward am I! I could have just acted completely normal, apologized, maybe stayed a little while with her, then left (hopefully with her). But I just RAN AWAY. My fist clenches as it makes contact with The Sacred Tree over and over again. Snow on the branches sprinkles down around me. Kami, I really am a baka. My knuckles become numb from punching the tree so much. I bow my head low, relaxing my clenched fists. I lean against the Sacred Tree, a familiar sense of loneliness setting in. I hadn't normally felt this way, for I was always with Kagome. Come to think of it, the last time I felt this way this strongly was when Sounga had possessed me and I was sitting in a cave watching the rain fall. That night, the skies seemed to cry for me, but tonight there was no one but me. I was alone…

"Inuyasha…"

(Kagome's POV)

I just watched him from my window. He was punching Goshinboku countless times, but then just bowed his head and leaned against the tree. So, he had come for me. It was then that I knew without a doubt that he was the one who had opened my window. He looked so…empty. Just standing there, snow falling all around in an empty space…poor guy. He feels this way because of me, I bet. Thinking back on how harshly I had spoken to him before coming back here, if I was in his position, I'd think the same, that I was rejected and unwanted. My heart sank deep into a pool of sadness as I watched him make his way back to the shrine. He got about half way there and stopped in his tracks. He turned his head, so I chickened out and ducked before he could see me. I peeked a few seconds later, but there was nothing. He was gone, leaving only footprints in the snow indicating that he was ever there in the first place.

(Inuyasha's POV)

Stupid! You stupid BAKA! I have no clue as to why I just left like that. I climbed out of the well and made my way into the clearing of the forest, not daring to even glance at Goshinboku. I continued walking, my thoughts remaining with my Kagome. I stop in front of the Sacred Tree, stealing a look at the ancient tree. My eyes were instantly drawn to where Kikyo had pinned me fifty years ago. My eyes returned to the floor as I continued to think of my Kagome.

(Kagome's POV)

I left a note on the kitchen table telling Mom where I was. I grabbed my over stuffed backpack and ran outside. I wasn't wearing my school uniform, it was way too fregin' cold! Instead I donned a black turtleneck with ¾ sleeves and a magenta mini skirt about the same size as my school one. I ran outside, my shoes crunching the snow beneath me as I ran outside. For reasons unknown, I ran not to the shrine, but Goshinboku. I stopped at the little fence that surrounded the aged tree looking up at its leaf-less branches, it seemed that the tree was a power of its own.

Why are you hesitating, little child?

Kagome let a gasp escape her throat. Now she KNEW she needed to sleep. It was one thing to fight a talking sword (Sounga), but a talking TREE! She shook her head in an attempt to clear her head. She must be hallucinating.

Inuyasha truly misses you. You must go.

"Whuh…? Goshinboku…how…?"

Inuyasha said the same exact thing.

"How is he? Is he okay?" She rubbed her hands on her arms as she hugged herself, trying to stay warm. She had thought a thicker sweater would have kept her warm, but there was something missing…

"Kagome!" She turned her head in shock.

"Inu…yasha…?'

(Inuyasha's POV)

I managed to summon enough guts to come back to her. I pulled the shrine doors aside, watching the snow fall and swirl around me as I stepped into the white twists of icy wind. I saw someone in the darkness standing by the Sacred Tree. My eyes quickly adjusted to the dark of night as I saw it was none other than Kagome. I could smell the cold and emptiness in her as she hugged herself in an attempt to get warm. I felt so horrible that she was out there freezing. I ran towards her. There was nothing…absolutely NOTHING that was going to stop me from at least telling her how I felt. I thought back to when she was happy when I opened up to her and showed my "soft side" as she put it. Truth be told until I met her, I never really had a "soft side." There was a "hard side" and a "harder side." My legs never moved so fast, and yet it seemed to take hours to get to Kagome. Time itself seemed to take its sweet time. It has a tendency to do that when you need it least, doesn't it?

"Kagome!"

(Regular POV)

Inuyasha ran up to Kagome's side, his eyes sweeping her lithe frame. She looked absolutely breathtaking in that outfit, snowflakes resting in her hair. He took off his red haori, wrapping it around her body, keeping his hands on her hips.

"Are you nuts? With the way you're going on, you'll get sick!" She blushed as she looked at his hands, which were still on her hips. She was thankful for his touch, what little comfort it had given her.

"I know. Couldn't sleep, that's all." Inuyasha snorted. He WAS going to tell her how he felt…eventually.

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IT IS NOT THE END! Only 2 chappies to go! R & R peoples! Oh, and by the way, I wanted to thank all the people who stuck it out and reviewed the new girl. I really appreciate it.