A/N: They're a bit OOC, but I don't care enough to fix it... Sorry.
Chapter 14: Epilogue
– One week later –
Kagome leaned her head against Inuyasha's left shoulder. He inhaled sharply, her sweet scent flooding his senses, bringing a rush of contentment. After a moment, he leaned his own head against the top of hers. Perched in a tree not far from Kaede's hut, they watched the setting sun brush vivid paint over the fluffy clouds.
"So, are you really okay now, Inuyasha?" Kagome asked, not moving her head away. "You know that we didn't betray you?"
He tensed. Over the past several days, constant reassurance and explanation had at last convinced him that he'd misinterpreted the situation. He felt like an idiot for it all. There still remained, however, a smidgen of doubt, a readiness for impending pain. He was too accustomed to betrayal for it to ever truly disappear.
He nodded, his face turned away from her.
"Inuyasha, look at me." He did so, reluctantly. She cupped his cheek with her left hand. His golden eyes flinched. She said sadly, "I care for you. I don't want you to feel bad about what you did when you transformed. You saved us, saved yourself." She paused. "Please, you can tell me anything. Anything that's bothering you, anything at all, you can say it." Kagome waited. She sighed when he didn't respond, dropping her hand and gaze. She turned back to watch the sunset, leaning against him once more. "I wish you'd just tell me why you thought… you know," she murmured, more to herself than to him.
His pointed ears flicked guiltily. The ends of his white hair lifted in a gentle breeze, and he sighed. He looked downward, thinking about what she'd said. Suddenly, he muttered, "It's just…." He paused, then finished lamely, "I don't know."
She tilted her head to look up at him. "Yes, you do." She added hurriedly, "Don't worry – I won't judge. Just say what you wanted to say. If you want, I'll just listen. I won't reply or comment." She blinked.
He sighed again, then twisted his lips in defeat and slight amusement. "Okay, then. But only because you won't shut up about it."
She smiled.
He was silent awhile, thinking again. Embarrassment twisted in his chest. "You know I never talk about this stuff," he blurted.
"Yeah," she said softly when he seemed to want a reply. "I know."
"So this is really weird."
She nodded.
He sighed for the third time. "Okay," he muttered, taking a deep breath. "My mother… died when I was young. You know this. My father – I don't remember him at all." He hesitated. "After… she died," he swallowed, "I was alone." His voice broke. "I never… had a proper friend until Kikyo. And then you."
Kagome listened with undivided attention while he spoke, carefully not looking at him. She was afraid that if she did, it would make him uncomfortable, and then he'd clam up. But finally, when nothing more seemed forthcoming, she asked tentatively, "Never?"
He looked to his right, to the northern horizon. He shrugged noncommittally. "Not really."
Silence fell over them. Kagome hesitated before gently probing, "What do you mean by 'not really?'"
His nostrils flared angrily, his suddenly harsh breathing audible. He clenched his jaw. "They… well, let's just say they weren't exactly loyal."
"Oh," she breathed.
"Exactly." His teeth ground together. "They… tricked me," he admitted slowly. "Mostly for their own ends."
Kagome didn't dare say a word. She could feel the tension stealing into his body.
He was losing himself in his words, nearly forgetting that he had an audience. "Sometimes they were demons, sometimes humans. It didn't really matter. They were all the same, anyway." Inuyasha exhaled sharply. "But it doesn't matter anymore. It's gone; it's done; it's over." He shook it away, relaxing his muscles.
Kagome glanced up at him.
He said to her, "Don't worry, Kagome. That will never happen again." He added fiercely, "I won't let it!" He brandished his right fist at the lowering sun for emphasis.
She hugged his left upper arm tightly and leaned against his warmth. "I'm glad."
Sudden applause from below and behind startled them. They jumped. Turning, they saw Sango, Miroku, Shippo, Kirara, Kaede, and Myoga emerging from the forest. They laughed (a bit nervously) together at the enraged look on Inuyasha's face.
"Yay, Inuyasha!" cried Shippo, still clapping his hands together. "You finally opened up!"
Inuyasha growled and shouted furiously, "You'll all regret this!" And he leapt off the bough, landing in a crouch in front of his friends. He snarled. They fled, yelling things like, "No, Inuyasha! Don't! We're just proud of you!"
"Eavesdroppers! Now you're gonna pay!" He chased them. "Get back here!"
Shippo giggled as he ran. "Never!"
"If you guys repeat any of it, I'll kill you!"
Kagome chuckled, watching happily. Inuyasha was returning to his old self.
The golden, shining orb slowly disappeared below the horizon, producing brilliant, fiery shades of red, orange, and yellow across the sky. It pronounced the close in yet another among the endless, rippling string of beautiful days.
- Owari -
