-blushes deeply- Ooohhh...I am most sorry for not updating! For the last six days I have been as ill as can be! Oh, it was horrid! -giggles and bows- Thankfully I am feeling much better now, and have rushed to the nearest computer to update for my beloved readers! I hope this makes up for the long absence!

—

Forgotten

Chapter Twelve: Confession

---

The night air is cold, chilling her to the bone. Kagome shivers and wraps her jacket around her shoulders, trying hard to shield herself from the frosty air. Winter has hit both time eras with full force, and they're all feeling it terribly. Shippo's caught a small cold, proving that even demons get sick. Sango, still rather worried about Miroku, sleepily asked him to join her, and, with Shippo and Kirara snuggling in between them, they fell asleep together again, sharing their body heat.

Kagome peers up at the moon, the mist swirling around the glowing orb mystically. Inuyasha had been asleep as well, leaning against the wall when she left, his head bowed and his arms crossed. It had been hard not to wake him. The young miko gives a slight sniff and shivers slightly as she tromps through the snow. It's getting even colder, and the blankets they have aren't going to be enough. So, naturally, she's decided to go and retrieve a few extremely fluffy and warm blankets from her own time. The last thing they need is to freeze to death.

"Wench!" Startled, Kagome gives a gasp and stumbles in the snow, almost falling down. Instantly she finds herself being tugged back before she manages to hit the freezing cold pile of ice crystals at her feet. "What were you thinkin'?" It takes her a moment to place the fact that the one scolding her has yet to remove his hands from her waist. "Runnin' off in the middle of the night! What are you, crazy?" Kagome blinks, startled, as she's spun around to face her 'captor'.

"Inuyasha! I…it was cold and…"

"So you decided t' go outside an' freeze!" His tone is so harsh and cruel that Kagome has to fight hard not to get offended.

"No! I went for more blankets!" The hanyou growls softly, softening up slightly. Pulling back, he crosses his arms and shuffles a bit in the snow, his bare feet being to really feel the cold.

"Keh…." Kagome shivers and tugs her coat tighter. Deep brown eyes gaze almost sadly up at him. "…Why didn't you wake me?" A bit confused, Kagome cocks her head and starts to question him. He cuts her off shortly. "I could've gone instead." Again she finds herself stopped short before she can reply as Inuyasha growls almost threateningly and grabs her by the waist. Startled, she lets out a soft gasp and almost stumbles before she suddenly finds herself being shoved onto his back. "Now com'on…lets git 'em an' git back." Kagome smiles softly as she drapes her arms around his neck and lays her head on his shoulder, enjoying his warmth and eager to share hers with his.

"…Thanks…" He merely growls in acknowledgement, but she can sense the faint smirk flickering under glittering fangs.

---

"Mom?" Shivering, Kagome slips into the warmth of her house, Inuyasha sneaking in behind her. It's just as cold in the present as it is in his time, and as much as he hates to admit it, he's freezing. It's bitter cold outside, and even full demons are prone to fall to this weather. "Moooommmm…" Inuyasha growls faintly, shaking his head as Kagome calls out again. Snowflakes flutter down from his silver-white hair to melt in mid-fall. Growling softly he shakes his head again and then plops down to sit next to the young miko. Kagome glances down at him in surprise and then finds herself giggling as he growls lowly and begins scratching at an ear with a cold foot.

He growls even more threateningly, scratching harder. His ears are unbelievably cold, leaving them stiff, sore, and itchy. "Where is your mother anyway?" Kagome doesn't answer. Instead she leans over and begins to rub his ears almost amorously, trying to help him warm them up. He goes to snap at her, but then the tender rubbing begins to sink in. Her touch is so warm… so soothing…and he finds himself relaxing greatly. Those golden eyes grow sleepy, fluttering halfway shut as his shoulders slump, a faint growl rumbling in his throat, so soft and gentle it's almost a purr. Kagome gazes at him in amazement.

"…Oh…wow." His thoughts exactly. Without thinking he leans over a bit, moving into her touch. Kagome kneels besides him and smiles warmly, her cheeks flushing. He doesn't really notice, too lost in the extraordinary sensation overwhelming his senses. Abruptly Kagome pulls her hand away and stands up as the sound of footsteps catch her attention. Inuyasha growls lightly, his gaze still sleepy as he blinks up at her and frowns softly.

"Heeeyyy…" He growls, shaking his head a bit. "…Why'dcho stop?" His words are a bit slurred, and Kagome has to struggle not to burst out laughing. He sounds so disoriented it's absolutely adorable. He blinks suddenly and lets out a sharp growl. "Hey! What did you do?" He questions demandingly as he finally regains his rationality. Kagome just giggles harder and places her hands over her flushed cheeks.

"Oh my goodness! That was so kawaii!" The hanyou stares at her for a moment before scrambling to his feet and glowering at her. Baring his fangs, he goes to snap some sharp retort, but someone interrupts.

"Kagome, dear? And Inuyasha! What are you two doing here so late? It's almost midnight!" Kagome blushes slightly as her mother shuffles into the room, her nightgown draped over her arm. Apparently she was finally about to head for bed.

"Sorry, Mom, but it was so cold…and we don't have enough blankets." Mrs. Higurashi smiles softly and gives a brief nod before quickly moving down the hall.

"I see, sweetie. Now don't worry, I've got just the thing! Why don't you two get something hot to drink and warm up? I'll be right back!" She makes her departure a moment later, leaving the two teens in the hall silent and slightly confused. After a moment or two Kagome turns to her hanyou friend and grins almost sheepishly.

"Sooo…ya want some hot coco?"

---

Inuyasha sniffs at the drink cautiously, poking at the hard ceramic surface with a claw, the hard nail clicking against the warm mug. "Wuz this again?" He questions curiously, taking the mug in hand at long last. Kagome grins and sips her own drink slowly, savoring the warm liquid happily.

"It's hot coco. Try it!" He wrinkles his nose slightly, still not showing much interest in the drink. "Oh come on!" Kagome smirks at him and leans over the table to add a marshmallow to the steaming beverage. He sniffs at it with little interest. "Would I ever give you something that wasn't tasty?" The hanyou pauses at this valid point. She wouldn't...at least...not to his current knowledge, anyway. A moment later he finally takes a sip of the sweet hot chocolate; he growls his approval and Kagome giggles as he quickly downs the hot beverage. The savory liquid warms him greatly, sending away the chills from earlier.

"Keh…it's alright," he grumbles with a smirk as he snags another marshmallow with a claw. The fluffy white squares are rather addicting. Kagome grins at him.

"Just alright?" With a giggle she dodges the marshmallow tossed at her. "Hey!" Picking up another, she flings it at the hanyou. He moves out of instinct to catch it, and he does…in his mouth. Letting out a rumbling growl he sits back down and munches leisurely on the sugary snack, letting it dissolve slowly in order to catch all of its sweet flavor. "Nice catch," Kagome comments, leaning over the table to set her elbows down in order to rest her chin in her hands. The hanyou cocks a brow. A second later another marshmallow comes her way. Giggling, she leans back to catch it. It lands in her hair instead. "Ewwww!" She pouts, trying to tug it out. Suddenly Inuyasha's at her side, poking at the offending white puffy square with a claw.

"Nice catch." He quips, unable to hold back a smirk. Kagome rolls her eyes and holds still as he pulls it out for her. "There…happy?" Dropping the marshmallow on the table, he moves to sit back down. Kagome doesn't let him. Acting upon pure emotion alone, she suddenly scrambles to her feet and reaches up to tug gently on a doggie ear. The hanyou growls sharply and turns to face in her surprise. She grins rather impishly at him.

"Catch me if you can!" She offers, blowing him a quick kiss before suddenly darting out of the kitchen. Inuyasha can only stand there in shock for a moment. She didn't just…blow a kiss at him…then invite him to…play…did she? "Come on, slow poke!" Her call sets him back in motion. Letting out a playful growl he suddenly finds himself chasing after her. Upon entering the living room he finds her leaning over a chair, her brown eyes glowing with a vivacity he's never really seen before. He grins at her, flashing a fanged smile before leaping over the coffee table and making a snatch for her. She dodges his claws with ease, mainly because he purposefully lets her escape. "Gotta do better then that!" She taunts, racing off towards the family room, her footsteps light and hardly heard. Thankfully they both know how to move silently. The hanyou follows without hesitation.

In perfect honesty...he's not sure why he's even playing her silly game. After all, he certainly isn't the type to just fool around! However...her laughter...her smile...her very presence...all grant a sense of warmth that not even the thickest blanket could provide; and so, despite his usual attitude, and much to his own surprise, he finds himself willing and rather...eager...to play. Upon entering the darkened back room, he doesn't even need to search for her. That glorious scent of hers almost overwhelms him, but instead of ignoring it as usual, he takes advantage of it, using it to locate her. A second later he pounces on her, pinning her down.

"Got you!" He growls, pride tinting his usual arrogant tone as he announces his triumphant capture. Kagome laughs at the childish antics slipping through his manner. As much as it pleases her, it also brings back sad memories. Inuyasha never really had a chance to have fun as a child, not with others. This must be one of the first times he's actually played around with someone else. "You call that a chase?" His grumbled statement brings her back to the present. Kagome blinks and looks up at the hanyou with surprise. He smirks at her, his golden gaze pleased and rather playful, a side she rarely gets to see…if ever.

"I'm sorry," she giggles, not squirming at all despite the fact that Inuyasha's got her pinned down with his hands on her wrists as he straddles her, leaving her no choice but to stay where she is. "Next time I'll try harder not to be such easy prey." He growls his approval, his golden eyes growing slightly hazy. Kagome cocks her head, curious as to why he's suddenly growing so content. Much to her surprise he leans forward and begins to nuzzle her neck, a gentle growl rumbling in his throat.

"…That scent…" His voice is so soft that she almost misses it. What scent? Her scent? The hanyou shivers slightly and nuzzles her neck again, his grip on her wrists loosening up. That's what's driving him wild? Her scent? Kagome lets out a faint gasp as the hanyou frees a hand to graze her cheek, his claws gentle against her skin. She shudders, not in fear, but rather surprise. Does this mean…that he…truly cares for her? Desires her? Brown eyes widen in shock.

"Inu…Inuyasha!" She gasps, suddenly aware that he's no longer pinning her down, but rather…snuggling…with her. The hanyou grumbles something, but it's much too soft for her to catch. "…W-what?" He growls faintly and nuzzles her neck again, trembling slightly when he lets out a faint sound much like a purr.

"…Be mine." Kagome gasps again, unable to believe her ears. "…Be my mate, Kagome…be mine…always…" She's not sure what's caused this sudden change in behavior, or why he's chosen now of all times to become so affectionate, or even why she suddenly had the urge to tease him so, but she's not complaining in the least. For the longest time she found herself in love with the hanyou, but they remained caught up in a fragile relationship, with so many up and downs, and so many tears and pain-filled nights along the way. After losing him, forgetting the warmth and sense of completion that he provides, she was miserable. Now that she has him back...she doesn't want to let him go. Tears well up in her eyes as she struggles to reply, to give out her answer, but suddenly Inuyasha yanks back sharply, his golden gaze wide and shocked. Pulling away, he shuffles back a few paces and plops down on the ground in astonishment.

"Kagome, dear…Inuyasha. Are you two ready to leave?" Mrs. Higurashi pops her head in and grins at the two dazed teens sitting on the floor. Kagome gives a meek nod as Inuyasha quickly gets to his feet in order to accept the blankets and the packed bags of who knows what from the kind mother.

---

The walk to the well, and then the climb back out of it is completely silent. Neither teen seems to know what to say or even do; the quiet is almost sickening. Kagome glances over at the hanyou, who just keeps walking, not reacting to her at all. In truth he's completely shocked at his own actions. He really has no idea as to why he suddenly spilled out his true feelings. That's not something he just does in the spur of the moment! Normally he's calm and at least semi-collected around her…but that time he just lost control. Suddenly Kagome comes to a full stop and drops her bag in the snow. Startled, Inuyasha turns to face her.

"Wench! What are you…?" She doesn't give him a chance to finish. In one swift movement she shoves the blankets out of his hands and jumps up to wrap her arms around his neck. Startled, he reacts out of instinct, wrapping his own arms around her waist as she presses her lips against his in a fiery kiss. Golden eyes snap open in shock. It takes a moment, but he returns the romantic gesture quite avidly. When they finally pull apart, breathless, he can only stare at her. Her warm brown eyes sparkle as she blushes faintly before giving one more kiss, this time a mere peck.

"…Baka…" She practically purrs, gazing up at him lovingly when she pulls back slightly. "…I've always been yours. You just didn't see it…" He can only stare at her for a moment, but then he growls affectionately and nuzzles her neck, pulling her close as he agrees in full…

—

-beams and blushes deeply- Wow! Fear the fluff, no? -giggles and claps her hands- And though it seems the climax, it is a climax, but not the climax! There is more to come! Including a deceased miko, a near death, and the revealing of who is responsible for the entire bout of amnesia! -grins and waves- So stay tuned! And thank you all for your wonderful reviews! -bows deeply- You are too kind! Know that I enjoy them greatly! Until next time, my friends! Je ne!