Comfort in His Arms

When Inuyasha came back from the hot springs, he found Ayame redressed in the same type of clothing. She was sitting by the fire waiting for him. He came in, dripping water all over the floor.

"Oh, hey!" she said, getting up, "Have a good time?"

"Yeah," he replied.

"Here are your dry clothes." She handed him a black kimono. It was almost like his fire rat one only a bit different. Once his other one was dry, he would change back into it. He took the new kimono gratefully, but there was a small problem.

"So…where should I change?" he asked.

"Just change here, I'll promise not to look." Ayame said as she turned around to face the wall.

Inuyasha swallowed hard. "O…Okay," He replied in a very nervous tone. First, he lowered the bamboo sheet that covered the door, and then walked over to a corner of the room. He undid his shirt and cloak and threw the sopping wet pieces of clothing on the floor.

'Ayame, Please don't look!' He pleaded to her in his mind as he undid the knot of his pants. He quickly slipped them off and grabbed for the other pair, hurrying to put them on.

The entire time Ayame had been fighting back her curiosity. 'I wonder how cute of an ass he really has…' she pondered. She thought about it for a while. Look? Or don't look? Look? Or don't look? Finally she had made up her mind. 'One glance can't hurt!' she quickly peeked over her shoulder to see him just about to slip the back of his pants over that delicious rump of his. Ayame turned back around and bit her bottom lip in a smile. 'Pretty cute!' she thought.

Once he was done, Ayame and he both sat by the fire, warming themselves. Ayame threw a few more sticks on the fire and sat there, watching the flames dance.

She looked out the bottom of the door, it was getting late, and she was tired. She walked over to her bed and crawled in.

"Going to bed already?" Inuyasha asked.

"Yeah, I need my rest so I can recover fully. I mean you don't want to stay here tending to me do you?"

"I don't mind it," he said brushing it off, "You get your rest."

Inuyasha watched her as she quietly fell asleep, and once she did, he put out the flame and fell asleep in the corner of the room…

Ayame woke up gasping. She had had another nightmare. Realizing it was just a repeated dream, Ayame looked around the hut. It was still raining, but not as hard. It was dark out, and she was cold. The fire was out, and just past the ashes, she saw Inuyasha in the corner. Sitting cross-legged, cross-armed, and head bowed as he usually sat when he was sleeping. She crawled over to him, the floor creaking beneath her. Once she was near him, she just sat there. He seemed so peaceful as he slept. Ayame gently brushed a lock of hair from his face.

…What he has for you is rare, so don't pass it up too quick…

Sango's word's flashed through her mind. 'Should I?' She thought. But then her promise to her grandfather came back to her. She was so confused. She knew she had a perfectly good man sitting right in front of her, but she had a promise to keep as well, and she couldn't do both. A tear sparkled in her eye. She gently slipped her arms in between his. He woke up and uncrossed his arms. She sat in his lap and huddled herself there.

"Ayame?" he said in drowsy confusion.

"I-I had another dream," she replied.

He gently put his arms around her and held her close to him.

"It's okay, I'm here."

'Thank God,' she almost said aloud.

Huddling herself tighter in his arms, she fell asleep.