My Heart Will Go On

Chapter Five

Comfort

As soon as Souta heard those words, tears began to fill the small boy's eyes. Kagome leaned over and took both of his hands in hers, not wanting to move him much because he was still in bad condition. Inuyasha held her close while she comforted her brother, and it seemed as though all three of them were crying now, but with Inuyasha's face buried into her hair so no one would see it. But Kagome knew he was crying, and just let him hold her for comfort, knowing he needed it. All three of them cried for the loss of their mothers, the loss of their families.

Kagome felt Inuyasha's body trembling as he held her and frowned, turning from Souta once he had calmed down and fallen asleep once again. She stood up from her chair, and Inuyasha seemed reluctant to let go of her even then, keeping a tight grip. Kagome wrapped her own arms around him, giving the comfort he needed at this time. "Shh . . . oh, Inuyasha," Kagome said softly, because as soon as Souta was asleep, he had started to cry more. She moved him so that he was in her arms instead of she in his, and let his head rest on her chest.

Inuyasha hadn't cried like this in years, she probably realized. He had been keeping everything bottled up for years and years, not letting anyone inside to comfort him, for fear if he got too close to them they would leave, just like his mother had. Kagome gently rocked him back and forth, running her hands through his hair, knowing this is what he needed. He gripped the fabric of her school uniform tightly with his clawed hands, which were shaking, his head resting on her chest. Any other time, he would be blushing at being so close to her, especially in THAT area, but not right now.

He was silent the whole time, the only sign that he was even crying was his trembling form in Kagome's arms and the silent tears falling. She gently wiped them away with the pad of her thumb, and used her lips to kiss at the rest. That made the heat rise into his cheeks a bit, and it made Kagome smile softly down at him, glad that he was finally opening up to her.

"There . . . does that feel better now?" Kagome asked in a soft voice as she continued to rock him back and forth. Inuyasha gave a silent nod in response, leaning into her touch as she rubbed at his soft, fuzzy ears. It felt good to be able to finally open up to someone, and he was glad out of all the people in the world, it had been Kagome.

"You don't have to tell me anything," Kagome said softly, leaning down to kiss at his forehead. "But it's just not good to keep all those emotions bottled up for too long."

Inuyasha nodded once more, knowing she was right. But like hell he'd open up to her while anyone else was around. Sure, Sota was here but he was asleep so that didn't really count. But right now, he really needed her by his side. Because . . . even though she was there, he felt so lonely. He figured that she probably felt the same way. Both had no family now except for their brothers - and of course, Souta was ten times (if not twenty) nicer than Sesshomaru ever could be. Unless, of course, that child traveling with him opened up his heart some more. Though he doubted he'd ever be nice to Inuyasha.

He eventually calmed down, and the tears stopped falling after a while. But he never left his place in Kagome's arms. He had never felt so . . . at peace before. It was as though his true place in this world was right there, in her arms, no matter where they were. He blinked. Did that mean his love for Kikyou had died? He still had to choose between them, he realized. He couldn't keep hurting Kagome anymore by going off to see her. She was dead, and as such, she wasn't the true Kikyou. But, he couldn't deny that he would never forget her. She would always have a place in his heart. But Kagome . . . he couldn't find any words to describe it. She was amazing. She accepted him for who he was, she was kind to him, and even comforted him when he needed it, like right now. She didn't ask him to change for her, either. No. . . and to top that, she was beautiful, so much more so than Kikyou could ever hope to be. She was strong and powerful, and he knew that she would surpass Kikyou in power one day.

In his heart, he knew that it had chosen her.

Kagome.

The girl from the future. Kikyou's reincarnation. But to him, she was so much more.

But how to tell her? He couldn't tell her now. It definitely wasn't the right time. Maybe when they were back in his era? Hmm...tomorrow's the new moon, he thought to himself as he made himself more comfortable in her warm embrace. He hadn't really been hugged like this at all since his mother had been alive, and it made his heart skip a beat, to know that he was loved and cared for by such a great and wonderful woman like Kagome. He had a feeling his mother would approve of her, if she were still around.

Inuyasha didn't know how long he stayed like that, in her arms resting, but he felt someone shaking him awake telling him it was time to go. He just groaned and snuggled in closer to Kagome's warmth. Unknown to him, this caused a great big red blush to spread across her cheeks, though she didn't protest. Hey, it's not like he's Miroku, just snuggling so he can grope you later. Inuyasha would never do such a thing . . . she hoped.

"Come on, Inuyasha, we have to go now," Kagome whispered to the sleeping hanyou, or, trying to sleep hanyou. "Visiting hours are over. We have to leave or we'll get kicked out. Or worse stay here for the night." Not that that was a bad thing exactly, but hospitals had always given Kagome the creeps, and to spend the night in one well. . . she didn't quite like the idea.

Inuyasha sighed and opened his tired eyes, rubbing at them with his fingers. Kagome smiled down at him, though her arms never left their place around his waist. "Are you feeling better?" she asked him softly.

"Yeah . . ." he nodded slowly up at her, and his lips twitched, a hint of a smile forming. She blinked at this, because he hardly ever smiled. Well, it was usually more of a smirk where he was concerned.

"Let's go," she said in a soft voice and walked out of the room with him. He was reluctant to leave her arms, but settled for holding nto her hand. Inuyasha couldn't help but blush a bit as the people around them in the building smiled, thinking they were a couple.

When they got home to the well house, he couldn't help but feel relieved, but felt Kagome immediately tense up. He looked over at her, knowing it must be hard to see her home in such a shape. She held onto his hand tightly, and he gave it a small but reassuring squeeze. She looked over to him, and managed a faint smile, squeezing back.

He lead her into the well house and closed the door behind them once they were both in. Kagome sighed once they were in the well house, suddenly feeling relieved, though not knowing why. They both walked over to the well, and then looked towards each other.

"You ready to go back?" he asked her, and she nodded.

"Yeah," Kagome said with a small smile. "I'm ready."

Inuyasha squeezed her hand again, before wrapping his arm around her, pulling her close. The two then jumped down into the bone eater's well, going back five hundred years into the past.

Once there, they were greeted with the usual greetings from Sango and Miroku, and the hyper Shippo who bounced up into her arms. Kagome gave him some pocky and some more crayons from her backpack, and Inuyasha rolled his eyes. She was going to spoil that little brat to death. Her only argument was that he was just a kid.

They all walked to Kaede's hut, only to find that the old priestess wasn't there. She was probably off at a neighboring hut attending to some villagers in need. The group settled down in silence, with Shippo and Kilala on one end of the hut, Kagome and InuYasha leaning against the wall across from the door, and Miroku and Sango in another corner. Kilala had started the fire for them this time, and they just enjoyed the silence.

Kagome stared into the flames of the fire, the lights of them dancing in her eyes. The others may not know it, but they were providing a great comfort for her. Holding Inuyasha had given her strength, and she knew that she wasn't alone. But the others, just by staying with her in the hut that time, gave her piece of mind.

Inuyasha looked over to Kagome after a while, and noticed she was starting to drift off. Allowing the smallest of smiles to twitch at his lips, he slid an arm around her shoulders, bringing her close, not caring what the others reactions to this was. Shippo's eyes immediately went to them, wide as saucers, while Miroku and Sango just smiled knowingly. Something had changed between the two of them, that much was for certain.

Kagome blushed and looked up towards Inuyasha, her eyes starting to close. "Inuyasha?" she asked in a soft, tired voice.

"You're tired, get some sleep," Inuyasha said softly, looking down at her. Before he even finished that sentence, Kagome was asleep in his hold.

"Thank you," she whispered softly, snuggling into him. "For everything, Inuyasha."

A/N: Now...was that too much fluff? :) I don't think so! Thankies for the reviews, though.