Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
A/N: Just a reminder that he still has the mind of a child. He's suffering regression.
After he had managed to break free Inuyasha had run as fast as he could away from them. He took comfort in the trees that he was rushing past. The forest had always been his favorite place, had always provided him with a sense of security. Now he had stopped running and was taking in his surroundings.
They towered over him. Rising higher and higher. Inuyasha leapt up on the branches until he felt he was a safe enough distance from the ground. Only then did make himself comfortable on the large branch he was occupying.
As he sat there his mind raced. Not settling. His thought jumped form one train to another. His emotions varied depending on what though he was. He didn't know how long he sat up in the tree but when he last looked up at the sky he would have guessed at least a few hours.
Then his ears twitched as he thought he heard his name being called. After a few minuets he realized his name was being called and was getting louder every passing minuet. His nose smelt a faint sent of the girl from earlier, Kagome. The one who left. He was starting to feel the familiar constricting of his heart when he caught another sent. Salt water.
Now he was confused. Why was she crying? Was she injured?
All of a sudden the girl broke through some nearby bushes and ran past the tree he was residing in. His eyes widened at the state she was in. Her strange looking outfit was dirty and torn. Her arms and legs bore small scratches but the most painful thing for him to see was her face.
Thos blue eyes of hers were misty from tears and turning red. There were small track marks on her cheeks were some of the tears had escaped. Her breathing pattern was erratic. As if she were holding back, trying to control herself.
Quietly so she wouldn't notice him Inuyasha moved form his spot. He circled around the tree and leapt to another nearby branch so he could keep an eye on her. She only made it a few more feet before she collapsed into the trunk of a big tree.
Inuyasha was surprised she was even standing. By the way her legs and hands were trembling it was a miracle she had made it this far. She lifted up her head and that alone look like it took a lot out of her. "Inuyasha! Damn it, answer me!"
His ears pressed flat against his head. The volume and the raspy sound of her voice made his ears hurt. "I'm sorry! Are you happy now? I'm… s…sor..."
His heart fell into the pit of his stomach as he watched her slump to the ground and try to curl in upon herself. He felt the guilt rise as realization took over. She was worried about him. That desperation he had heard in her voice was for him.
He remembered those night were he had heard his mother cry. She only did it when she was alone and at night. She didn't know that he was awake and could hear through the walls.
Silently and carefully he climbed down from his branch. He walked toward her with small step, tentatively reaching out his hand. As if he feared that he might break her. Finally he was close enough and placed a hand on her shaking shoulder.
Kagome felt the hand on her shoulder and jerked her head upward. Surprise was her first response. Inuyasha was crouching down so he was eye level with her and had placed his right hand on her. His ears dropped and he looked utterly miserable looking at her. Not trusting herself to speak she placed a hand on his cheek. That touch was all she proof she needed that he really was here.
She sprang forward and hugged him tight. The relief of finding him unharmed swept through her as she tightened her hold on him.
When she cries, at night,
and she doesn't think that I can hear her.
She tries, to hide,
all the fear she feels inside.
So I pray, this time,
I can be the man that she deserves.
Cause I die a little each time,
when she cries.
-When She Cries: Restless Heart
