Okay, so... waves meekly hi?... ducks onslaught of flying tomatoes Okay, okay, I know I haven't updated in a bit... ducks more tomotes ...alright, maybe a big bit... but, in my defense, I've been going through a butt-load of crap, and it's... been really hard...

With that in mind, I want to immediately thank absolutely everyone who reviewed over the last few months. As miraculous as this sounds and as crazy as I've been, no one sent me a flame! Everyone was super nice, and kept saying things like "Can't wait to read the next chapter" or "Hope you feel better" or "Just take your time". I swear, I almost wanted to cry... it really made me feel good in the midst of all the crap that had been going on, so I want to take the time to thank you all.

This chapter is especially dedicated to Knock-on-Wood because she was awesome and mentioned this story in her profile, and to the ever spectacular Mayy-chan for simply keeping me company via random emails. Thank you!

hEyKyRa13

Protect Me

Chapter 15

Tears

The night came and passed without event; in other words, the plate of cookies was finished off without the need to sever limbs. Ah, but with the morning comes a promise of new beginnings: beginning of a new day, beginning of a new routine, beginning of a new slew of arguments…

"Inuyasha, you lying little prick!"

"What the hell are you yelling at me for, now?"

"Because you're a lying little prick. Didn't you hear me the first time?"

A snort preceded the hanyou's mock hurt comment. "I'm offended. I think I deserve a little more credit than that."

"Fine then… you're a lying big prick."

"That's better."

Kagome sighed. "Males and their egos. You're even worse than Miroku."

"No, I'm better."

"You're a better perverted liar than Miroku?"

"Hey! I'm not a-"

"Inuyasha, I can see the evidence sticking out! Right there between your legs."

"What are you doing looking there, anyway? You're the pervert, here, not me."

"Well, it's kind of hard to miss the way it just sticks out so openly. Geez, you can at least be a little more discreet."

"I think you're just making up excuses to stare at me. Not that I blame you, of course."

Kagome was the one to snort this time. "Like I said- a lying big prick!" And with that comment, she leaned forward and plucked the card from his lap, holding it in front of his face with a triumphant smirk. "Ah hah! See? I knew you were cheating!"

Inuyasha scoffed at the card, rolling his eyes. "Puh-lease. I don't know how that got there."

"Of course," Kagome replied sarcastically, taking the card into her own hand. "It just mysteriously materialized in your lap."

"I still think you strategically placed it there to have an excuse to grab me," the dog demon protested smugly. "Besides, what are you doing putting it in your hand?"

Kagome fixed him with a mild glare. "Because it's a two, and I asked you for your two's last turn. Therefore, that makes it my rightful property."

Inuyasha rolled his eyes a second time before returning his gaze to his own hand. "Whatever."

Kagome grinned as she put her pair of two's into her growing pile of cards. "Don't be such a spoiled sport, Inuyasha," she teased. "Go fish isn't for everyone."

Inuyasha eyed her from over his fan of cards. "Maybe I wouldn't be such a spoiled sport if you weren't gloating like an arrogant bitch!"

With a chuckle, Kagome winked at him. "Now you know what I go through everyday."

"Whatever," was his intelligent response as he tossed his cards aside and got to his feet.

Kagome frowned. "Hey, you can't give up, now!"

Inuyasha turned to frown at her. "I don't give up on anything. I'm hungry and I want something to eat."

"Sure you do," Kagome replied, but set down her own cards nonetheless to join him.

Inuyasha pulled his head out of the refrigerator long enough to throw the girl a smirk. "Can't stay away from me, can you?"

Kagome rolled her eyes, seating herself at the bar. "Like I said… just as bad as Miroku," she muttered dryly.

"Sure," Inuyasha replied, diving back into the fridge. "You keep telling yourself that."

"Think whatever you want, dog boy," Kagome retorted, leaning her cheek into her palm as she watched her roommate move around the kitchen. "You know, Shippo asked about you, today."

The hanyou snorted indignantly. "The kid can't take a hint, can he? You would think that throwing him away from me time and time again would be obvious."

Kagome giggled. "So one would think. But nonetheless, he continues to adore you. Can't imagine why, though."

"What are you talking about?" Inuyasha scoffed, smirking back at her as he moved to the cupboards, evidently searching for his favorite food lodged there. "What's not to adore?"

The girl narrowed her eyes, grinning wickedly. "Do you really want me to answer that?"

The restless flickering of his ears was the tell-tale sign of his apprehension, though he cleverly masked it by casually replying, "Feh."

"Feh," repeated Kagome mockingly, giggling in spite of herself. "You know, you've gotten Shippo saying that, too."

Inuyasha shrugged indifferently as he removed a package of ramen from its compartment. "Can't blame the kid if he wants to be like me."

Kagome rolled her eyes. "Kaede says he's been saying it at every opportunity. Apparently, he brought a new classmate of his home, a cute little girl if I recall, and the first words out of his mouth were 'Feh! Granny, my friend's here!'"

The dog-demon nodded solemnly, ripping the paper covering from the top of the ramen to begin filling it with water. "It's a proper enough greeting, don't you agree?"

"Hardly," Kagome retorted. "Just yesterday, he held up another drawing of his and said, 'Don't you think it looks really "Feh", Kikyo?'"

SPLASH!

Kagome jumped up, startled. Looking down, she saw the cup on the ground, water and noodles alike leaking onto the hardwood floor. Slowly, she pulled her eyes up to look at the hanyou that dropped the cup, a firm scowl on his face and clawed hands held at his sides.

"Inuyasha?"

Not even the barest flicker of a fuzzy white ear indicated that he heard her. His dark, stormy eyes remained locked ahead.

The girl's brows lowered and she lowered her gaze, staring at her fingers.

It came out before she knew what she was saying. She blamed her stubborn curiosity that always got the better of her for it. If only she had kept her big mouth shut! But no… she had to go and say it… she had always wondered…

"Inuyasha, why won't you call me Kikyo?"

Inside her mind, she felt herself cursing the sinful words almost as soon as they left her lips as she clasped her hands over her mouth, eyes wide in shock. The hanyou himself didn't move. This did nothing to ease Kagome's nerves or guilt.

Pulling her hand away, she began to stammer, "Inuyasha, I'm… I'm s-sorry… I didn't… I m-mean… you d-don't have to-"

"Kikyo."

Kagome froze, staring at Inuyasha incredulously. He stood in the same fierce, unmoving position that she began to wonder if she had heard anything at all. Frowning, she whispered, "What did you say?"

His gaze refused to turn away, continuing to keep his back to the girl as he replied quietly.

"Kikyo Itsumi… she's… was… the reason I was in jail… I was accused of murdering her…"

Kagome's eyes widened. "She… she was? … But… but my file… why change my name to-"

"Because," Inuyasha interrupted, almost angrily, "you… you look… just like her… my brother used her identification records- medical, dental, even school history- for your file…"

The girl nodded numbly, slowly processing the information. Almost without warning, another question popped into her head, and this time, she spoke without hesitation.

"Did you?"

A roar and a pair of slammed fists against the cupboards was her instant response, followed by- "Of course not! I would never… never… not… not to Kikyo… never…"

Another numb nod, and suddenly, the pieces began to fall into place. With a wry grin, Kagome stared and her own hands once again, examining them curiously.

"It was Naraku… wasn't it?"

This time, his feral growl was the only response he offered.

Closing her eyes, Kagome sighed and pushed away from the bar. "I'm sorry… forgive me for asking… it wasn't my business to-"

"The hell it wasn't!" Inuyasha snapped, spinning around to face her for the first time. "Like it or not, her death now has everything to do with you, thanks to me, and thanks to that damn Naraku. For gods' sakes, Kagome, you're life is falling apart around you and the only thing you can think to say is 'forgive me'!"

Slowly, Kagome stood, not rising against his challenging tone like she normally would. "What else do you want me to say, Inuyasha? Sango, Miroku and Sesshoumaru are working hard to get that trial for me, so all I can do is sit and wait it out."

Inuyasha sneered disgustedly. "And since when the hell did you become such a pansy?"

For the briefest of moments, her blue eyes darted to meet his golden orbs, almost defiantly holding his gaze for a few firm moments before turning away, retreating to her room. Not one to be turned away so easily, Inuyasha followed behind, stopping at her doorway.

Inside, he could see Kagome on her knees, her head and arms halfway under her bed reaching for something. Stuck between thinking she was a lunatic and trying to keep his eyes away from her protruding backside, he was caught by surprise when she finally pulled away, producing a tattered, stained brown leather jacket.

When she go to her feet and turned around, she was hardly surprised to see him standing in her doorway. Stepping up to him, she smiled softly, hugging the worn fabric to her chest fondly.

Inuyasha quirked an eyebrow. "And that would be…"

Despite the fact that her smile did not drop, when Kagome looked up at him, her eyes suddenly seemed sallow and tired, lacking their usual vibrancy.

"It's a coat, stupid," she replied in a brilliantly false tone.

As much as he wanted to respond to the insult, the expression in her eyes concerned him more, so for once, he indulged her. "Alright, then. Fine. It's a coat."

Kagome's smile grew, but at the same time, her eyes seemed to sink deeper in despair. "It was… Hojo's coat…"

For a moment, Inuyasha's eyes widened in understanding, and he suddenly found himself looking down at the tattered fabric, unable to maintain eye contact with her. Kagome understood, fingering the coat fondly as she brought it against her cheek. Standing aside, she held the door open to invite him in which he did rather timidly, eyes constantly looking around her room to avoid looking directly at her.

The poor hanyou was so uneasy, her voice behind him all but sent him jumping in alarm.

"Inuyasha, do you know what happened that night?"

Spinning around, he saw that she had the coat around her shoulders, hugging it to her tightly with her hands under her arms. With an audible gulp, Inuyasha shook his head slowly.

Kagome smiled her all-too familiar sad smile before replying, turning her head to rub her nose against the soft leather. "That day, I was bringing Hojo home for the first time to meet my family- just my mom, my grandpa, and my little brother, Souta. They were finally going to meet my fabulous boyfriend I had been raving about in my letters."

"Hojo was a nervous wreck… he couldn't stop fidgeting the entire way there, thinking that my family would hate him or something. I'll be the first to admit that it was a tad irritating… but that's just the way Hojo is… was…"

The brief correction halted Kagome's recount, and for a moment, Inuyasha was afraid she was going to cry. He never could deal with sobbing women, and Kagome's tears always seemed to hit him in his particularly soft spot. The dog demon nearly breathed a sigh of relief when she took a deep breath and continued.

"But, of course, they all loved him. Grandpa found someone to talk to who wouldn't tell him to shut up, and Souta thought he was some life-sized action figure with the sole purpose in life of playing with him. After dinner, they wrestled for hours."

"Mom liked him too… but I remember her saying something about him being a bit too… perfect. She told me my 'perfect someone' doesn't have to be a 'perfect' someone… I didn't quite know what that meant, but I kept on thinking about it all night… up until it happened."

Another pause, and Kagome turned away to stare out her balcony window, eyes glassy with tears that threatened to spill. Inuyasha noticed this, and felt his insides crumble, but said nothing, allowing the girl to finish. At the rate she was going, he figured it'd be better to let her spill her guts… afterall, spilling guts always made him feel better… although, not quite in the same manner…

"That's when he gave me his jacket," Kagome commented, hugging the garment even closer to her as if it had suddenly grown cold. "We were walking around the neighborhood, and he gave me this so that I wouldn't get sick. The goof said something or other about not wanting Grandpa to be mad at him for bringing me back with a cold. He said-"

Delicate brows furrowed, and she lowered her eyes to the ground, voice lowering to a bare whisper. "He said he wanted to take care of me," she said softly, slipping her hands into the pockets. "He always was saying silly, romantic things like that… and… huh?"

Frowning, Kagome paused and stared curiously at the left pocket, fingers moving around experimentally.

"What's wrong?" Inuyasha asked.

"There's something in… in… oh my god…"

"What?" Inuyasha demanded. "What is it?"

The young man was alarmed by the fact that Kagome's face suddenly paled, her fingers still moving slowly and carefully. It looked like she was rubbing the object, whatever it was, but he still couldn't figure out what caused her startled, jaw-dropped expression… not until she slowly withdrew it to confirm her suspicions.

"He… he… didn't…" she whispered, staring at the tiny black box, thumb running over its velvety surface. Tears were springing forth, now, but it seemed only Inuyasha was aware of them as Kagome stared blindly at the box, slowly lifting the top with trembling fingers. Sure enough, laying on a red satin pillow was a small ring, gold in color with nothing more than a single, well-cut diamond seated in a bed of sapphires.

"Oh my god," Kagome choked, bringing her free hand to her mouth as she stared blindly at what was supposed to be an engagement ring. Her engagement ring… her engagement to…

"Oh, Hojo!" she exclaimed, falling to her knees, cradling the box against her chest as she burst into heaving sobs.

If there was one thing Inuyasha hated more than anything in the world, it was to feel helpless. So, dammit, why the hell should he be feeling that way now? Kagome was at his feet, sobbing uncontrollably, and there was nothing he could do about it.

Not that he certainly didn't want to do anything. On the contrary, the voices in his head were coming up with many rather tempting ideas- shoving Naraku's head in a toilet, strangling his brother's neck and demanding he get that stupid trial, ripping Mr. Hobo-whatsis-face's body out of the ground and order him to make Kagome stop crying, beating the living shit out of that flea-bitten wolf. But, despite his overwhelming desire to beat something up, he had to finally face the fact that it would only relieve his own discomfort, but do hardly anything for Kagome.

S-so… what am I supposed to do? he thought desperately, staring down at the trembling girl before him, for once begging the voices in his head to give him direction. But, once again, they seemed to vanish at the most emotionally crippling moment.

In his head, the movie from the previous night randomly seemed to pop in his head, and, in spite of his better judgement, he took his cue from the sensitive doctor guy. Taking a deep breath, he carefully lowered himself to Kagome's level, ears eventually resorting to flattening themselves to offer protection against the girl's wailing, and slowly stretched an arm toward her. His hand hesitated just over her shoulder, silently contemplating the possible consequences, both good and really really bad, of what he was proposing.

Screw the consequences! Ordered one of the voices firmly, finally making itself present. So, with a thick gulp, the half-demon gently rested his arm around the girl's shoulders.

Unfortunately, the action resulted in two actions that he had already listed under the bad category- one, she began to cry even harder, and two, she promptly spun around and latched onto his waist, spilling tears onto his shirt. It was as if she was releasing all of her unshed tears from the last few months in a wave upon his innocent clothing. It was gonna take forever to get that smell out.

Forget your clothes, moron, scolded the voice irritably. Kagome's more important. Your making progress!

You call this making progress? Inuyasha argued incredibly, casting a skeptical eye down at the raven head currently imbedded in his chest.

Just stay with her, you idiot.

If you say so, he finally consented, and so, with a sigh, he tried to make himself comfortable leaning against the side of her bed and allowed her to continue sobbing against him, keeping his arm about her.

He vowed then and there that he'd never understand girls and their brilliant ideas of ignoring their need to cry. If she needed to cry so badly, then why the hell didn't she just do it? But that would be a question reserved for later. For now, all he could do was hold onto her and let her release her finally freed tears.

AN: Yes, so, major mushying going on. And for those who mentioned Kagome wasn't exactly freaked out enough, this is my solution. More will be explained in the next chapter... which hasn't even been started on, so I'm afraid no chapter preview for ya. And, at least for now, I'm going to have to stall on the review responses, simply because I have so many of them, not to mention the fact that I have an appointment with my counselor in fifteen minutes. Just wanted to get this chapter out for ya. I'll probably replace this with a copy that has review responses on it sometime in the near future, so if anyone actually bothers to read them, keep an eye out for 'em.

Again, my supreme thanks and eternal gratitude go out to you all!