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Chapter 5


When they had gotten through the well, Inuyasha began to run--he had no idea where he was going to go. He just ran.

Kagome clutched the thick fabric of his haori. Hehad broke out into a run so suddenly she hardly had time to catch her breath. Everything was blurring at the great speed they were going. She could feel Inuyasha's strong hands grasping her thighs, holding her legs so tightly around him it almost felt painful.

Her heart was racing, even if she wasn't the one running. Even if they were going at a breakneck speed, Kagome wasn't scared. She trusted the hanyou. Tears began to fill her eyes, blurring things even more. She felt really horrible now.

I should have never accused him for doing something he didn't really do. I mean, I know he doesn't really do or talk about these things. How could I accuse him like that? I guess I should never put the blame for my insecurites on him. Poor Inuyasha. Please don't be hurt by what I told you...I really didn't mean to say things like that. I know I mean more to you than a jewel-detector. But I got so angry...We hadn't been making any progress and sometimes you can get so moody. I just wish you'd tell me once in a while that I'm something to you...

A tear rolled down her cheek despite her efforts to try and keep her feelings to herself. Well, at least he can't see them, she thought.

But she was wrong. He could smell the salt of her tears. He knew she was crying. He didn't know why. But he'll find out soon.

Then he felt Kagome's rest against his shoulder blade. She was holding fistfuls of his haori he could feel the tension of thegarmentover his shoulders.

Moments later, he slowed to a jog. They had entered a clearing in the forest and there was a stream running over jutting rocks. The sound of the water trickling over the rocks and the light splashing only made Kagome feel sadder.

Inuyasha stopped and Kagome slid down. She took up a sleeve to her face and she wiped the tears from her face to no avail. She hung her head.

Inuyasha turned to face her. He didn't understand why she was crying.

Kagome was choked with tears. She swallowed. She finally gathered her courage to look the hanyou in the eye.

"Inuyasha...Inuyasha...I'm so sorry..." she whispered, looking at him through shining tears.

He was struck by her apology. The look of sadness in her eyes tore at his heart.

"Kagome...don't apologize."

The girl shook her head. "No, Inuyasha, I was wrong to say all those things to you."

Inuyasha could not accept her words. It was his somewhat caustic actions that led to this. It was also the fact that he hadn't ran after her that this episode had dragged out for that long.

"Kagome, it's my fault. I didn't go after you." Inuyasha was taken aback by his own words. He had never really taken the blame for anything on himself most the time. But this is Kagome, something inside him said.

Kagome shook her head again and ran her sleeve over her face. It was getting drenched.

"Inuyasha...was anything I said true? Am I just a jewel detector to you?"

He instinctly shook his head. "No, Kagome."

"Then I'm sorry I accused you of that...It's just that sometimes..." she paused and coughed, the tears running all over her face. "Sometimes...I don't feel like I'm much more than that. I'm always hoping for something...something more..."

She turned around, away from him and toed at the grass with her bare feet.

"Inuyasha..." she breathed.

"Yes, Kagome?" he replied, hesitantly.

"I need to tell you something..."

Inuyasha's stomach churned and his heart tightened. He really hoped that it wouldn't be anything that would shatter his world.

"What is it, Kagome?" he murmured.

Kagome turned around to face him. But she couldn't bring herself to look at him. She took a deep breath, her heart was racing so quickly she thought it would jump out of her chest.

"Inuyasha...I...," she breathed, choking over the tears. She took a deep breath again.

"I...I love you..." she whispered.

Inuyasha's world shattered. But for the better. Without thinking, he ran up to Kagome and gathered her in his arms. Kagome's heart leapt at his touch. She softened and the tears flowed freely, trailing over Inuyasha's haori, deepening the red hue of the fabric. She reached up behind his back and returned the embrace. Inuyasha put his hand on the back of her head, pressing her to his shoulder.

He brushed at her soft hair and brought his face close to hers.

His heart fluttered a bit. But he had to do it.

He pulled his lips close to her ear.

"I love you, too, Kagome," he whispered, "I love you too..."