Chapter 40: Starting Over.
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.
A piecing scream echoed throughout the house waking all of it's occupants. Rushing to Kagome's room Inuyasha, his parents, Hiro and Aya all saw Kagome sitting up in bed with her eyes squeezed shut, sweat trickling down her face and her blankets in a white knuckle grip. Running to the side of the bed Inuyasha knelt in front of her and reached up to cup her cheek with his hand. "Kagome, it's okay, everything is okay. Please, wake up."
When Inuyasha touched Kagome's cheek she started to panic even more, thrashing more and screaming for them not to hurt her. Inuyasha snatched his hand back-not wanting to upset her further, but he kept talking to her in a low reassuring voice. After about five minutes she started to calm down, still breathing hard she jolted awake frantically looking around. Coming eye to eye with Inuyasha, Kagome cried harder and threw herself at him in a desperate hug that Inuyasha instantly returned.
"They're back. The nightmares." Kagome whispered, she hadn't had a bad nightmare is such a long time-sure she still had flashes of a bad dream but not enough to make her wake up screaming. "I'm sorry for waking you all up." She said wiping her tears away.
"Are you okay, mommy?" Hiro asked while both Aya and he crawled up on the bed.
Kagome looked at her children and wanted to cry all over again, she hated that they had to witness her in this condition. Instead, she reached out and drug both of them in a reassuring hug that, perhaps, she needed more than them. "Yes, I'm okay. Come on let's get you both back in bed. I'm sorry that I woke you both up." She stood up and went to tuck her children back into bed.
Walking back into her room, Kagome saw that Inuyasha was still in her room sitting on her bed while Iziyoi and Taisho were not there anymore. Inuyasha opened his arms for her to crawl into his lap, with her curled up against him with her head tucked under his chin-she let her tears run unchecked down her face. Inuyasha didn't mind, he'd sit here as long as she needed him to while he whispered reassurances in her ear. He felt her as she slowly started to relax, her breathing start to even out and her heartbeat slow down-he looked down and realized she had fallen asleep. He smiled, leaned down to place a soft kiss to her temple and laid her down and covered her up. He moved to sit on the floor right by her bed, wanting to stay close-but not wanting to risk laying down beside her and cause another trigger to her already fragile state of mind-to her incase she needed him. He would move mountains for her if only to see her smile, seeing her like this broke his heart and he vowed to do whatever she needed him to do just to make her happy again.
Kagome woke up the next morning and gasped as she saw Inuyasha leaning up against her wall with his head bowed. Remembering what happened last night a small smile curled up at the corner of her lips. She reached out, gently grabbed a furry ear and rubbed the base between her fingers. Her smile widened when she heard a sound that sounded a mixture of a soft growl and a purr.
Inuyasha's eyes blinked open, when had he fallen asleep? He lifted his head to look at Kagome, feeling a little upset that she lowered her hand from his ear, but smiled a soft smile. "How are you feeling? Are you in pain? Do you need me to do anything?"
Kagome smiled. "Um, yeah, I hurt could you grab me my pain med?"
Inuyasha nodded and left to get her the required pill. Coming back into Kagome's room he saw her standing in front of her long mirror without her shirt on. He watched as she ran her fingers along the still healing scars on her face, chest and stomach. He watch as she moved from the scars to the still angry looking bruises on both of her sides, her broken ribs still trying to come back together.
Kagome didn't notice Inuyasha walking back into the room, she was so caught up in taking in her injuries that she didn't hear the door close or him walking to stand beside her. She did, however, feel as a hand touched her shoulder making her jump out of her skin. She looked at Inuyasha as he automatically removed his hand from her shoulder. She sighed, she was angry that she basically had to start all over with Inuyasha, as well as everybody else! It's been so long since she had jumped just by a simple touch and now it's like she's been kicked back to the start of the board game.
Inuyasha, Kagome noticed, didn't look offended or mad-he looked patient and accepting that they would have to start over with everything. For that Kagome was thankful that he wanted to stay by her side, but, she also felt guilty at having to put him through this once again. She had tried apologizing to him and everyone else, but, they wont even stand to hear it. Saying that she didn't need to apologize for anything and that they would be there by her side as long as she wanted them to.
Kagome smiled. Forever. I want them by my side for forever.
"Are you sure you want to go to school today? We can wait awhile longer if you want to." Inuyasha whispered to her.
Kagome smiled and shook her head. "No, I need to go back today. I'll be okay as long as you, Sango and Miroku are by my side."
Inuyasha smiled and brushed Kagome's hair away from her face, she flinched but it was barely noticeable and he didn't let it get to him. Still, his heart still squeezed painfully and he felt anger lick at him. Not anger at Kagome, of course, but anger towards the bastards that did this to her. They better be lucky that they were already dead because if they weren't he would torture them just like they did with his precious Kagome. He barely stifled a murderous growl, not wanting her to think she was the cause behind the growl and think he was mad at her.
"We will always be by your side." Inuyasha promised and reveled in the bright smile Kagome sent his way.
"I love you, Inuyasha" Kagome whispered.
"As I love you." Inuyasha replied taking her in his arms, loving the way she melted against him. He placed a kiss on the top of her head then left the room while she finished getting ready.
Please review. Until next time, bye!
