I opened my teary eyes and saw red. My face was against red. I pulled back and was taken by surprise.
"I-InuYasha?"
"Are you alright Kagome? Did he hurt you badly?"
I shook my head, tears still falling from my eyes.
"Why are you here InuYasha? How'd you find me?"
"I was going to go after you last night but your mother said to wait till today. I followed you scent…how did this happen?"
"I don't know…"
I sobbed some more, InuYasha pulling me back into his chest.
"Kai needed some drugs from his supplier so I went with him…but they didn't have the money so he promised the guy a night with me instead…"
I clutched his shirt tightly.
"So you do get drugs from Kai then?"
"Uh-hu…"
I could feel his whole body tense as he pushed me gently back.
"Where the fuck is he?"
His voice was calm but restrained sounding.
"Kai? I'm not sure…what are you going to do?"
"I would normally go and kill that bastard…but I refuse to leave you."
"Why would you hurt Kai? He loves me!"
"Kagome! Listen to yourself! Why would someone that loves you sell you to some sick pig for a good time just so he can get his drugs? He was using you!"
Kai was…using me? He must've not known that Red was so…hands-on. Right? But…he wouldn't listen when I said no…why would he hurt me like that if he loved me?
"Kagome, the guy's bad news. He got you addicted to a hazardous and deadly drug, even though he convinced you it was good. He used you for…for sex, as much as it pains me to even think about. And now he used you to get his drugs. He's a scam and I hate to say it…but he doesn't love you. At all."
I cried again, but not because InuYasha was being mean or a bully… but because he was right.
"How could I have been so stupid?"
InuYasha hugged me again and nuzzled his head in my hair.
"You are everything but stupid. You just went down the wrong road for a while.
"Take me home InuYasha…"
"Anything for you."
We got off the bed and I saw Red on the floor. Red he was, indeed. Or at least the puddle of blood under his lifeless form was red. We stepped around him and walked home, my small hand gripping tightly onto InuYasha's big hand.
"Are you leaving InuYasha?"
I asked later that night, as we sat in my bedroom. I was in a baggy t-shirt and some shorts. InuYasha shook his head.
"I'm not leaving your side for even a minute."
"Don't you have to go back to your…fiancée…?"
"My what?"
"You know…Kikyo? Your betrothed?"
He was silent for a minute, pondering. Then he shook his head again and came close to me and embraced me.
"Kikyo and me? Hell no Kagome."
"W-what? But when I left that one time…"
"When you left I told Kikyo to piss off cause I couldn't go another day with her and without you. You just didn't stay for the good part."
My eyes watered again. She's out of his life…oh…
"Thank God."
I whispered, pressing my face into his haori. He laughed, his chest rumbling against my skin.
"Tell me about it."
"Well I'm glad about that."
I pulled back and smiled at him, then climbed into my bed. InuYasha sat on the floor.
"InuYasha?"
"Mmhmm?"
"Can you please turn off the light?"
"Course."
He flicked the switch, making the room dark.
"And InuYasha?"
"Yes Kagome?"
"…Can you please sleep with me tonight?"
Silence. Then he got up and climbed into my bed, cuddling against me.
"Course."