~*~ Ch 9 ~*~
I didn't expect it, but I enjoyed it all the same. It felt natural and right. I felt a warmth in my stomach that had nothing to do with his hands trailing fire over my back. His lips were soft and warm, and they moulded themselves to mine both fiercely and gently at the same time. One hand moved up to his face, while the other wound its self into his hair both seemingly with a mind of their own. He pulled me closer and held me tighter, one of his hands on the small of my back, the other holding the back of my neck. The added contact sent shivers down my spine and even more butterflies into my tummy. My heart was pounding so fast in my chest I wondered if it might not burst. I could kiss him forever. Slowly and all to soon, he pulled back slightly but still held me in the same embrace and rested his forehead on mine, panting.
"Inuyasha, " I sighed and wrapped my arms tightly around him and held him as tightly as I could. "I love you, Inuyasha."
"I... I think... I think I love you too, Kagome. I think I have for a long time now, but I'm just now realizing it."
Those simple words, I love you, sounded like music to my ears to hear him say. I would never admit it before this moment, because I thought It would never happen, but I have dreamed about kissing him and hearing him tell me he loved me for a very long time. We held each other for a moment before he pulled away gently. He kissed me once more very softly on the lips then the forehead and took my hand.
"Lets get back to the others before they start to wonder where we are." He said softly brushing a few strands of hair out of my face.
I just nodded, at a loss for words. When I said it, It just slipped out, I hadn't really meant to say it out loud. Then to hear him say it, I couldn't even put into words just how happy it made me. At that moment, nothing could ruin my happiness.
We made it back to the campsite to find the others arguing. It didn't take long to the the gist of the disagreement. Miroku wanted to look for us immediately but Sango wouldn't let him. She kept telling him that if we went off by ourselves then they should let us have some privacy because Inuyasha could handle anything that might try to attack. Shippo was stuffing his face with some fish he had caught earlier. (He was becoming quite proficient when it came to getting food.)
Everyone looked up and fell silent as we walked over to the fire and sat down together and began to eat our shares.
"Everything alright?" Sango asked, "Did you find something?"
"Why did you just take off like that? We thought something happened to you!" Miroku glared accusingly at Inuyasha for a fraction of a second thinking I wouldn't notice.
"Miroku, they are both adults and free to wonder off if they want." Sango rebuked him.
Ignoring Miroku, I answered, "Everything is fine. We were just..."
"...Looking around to see if there were any signs of a camp or anything." Inuyasha finished for me without missing a beat.
"Oh, Is that all?" Miroku accused
Inuyasha just nodded. "I'm tired, I'm going to bed." I announced. Then to Inuyasha alone I whispered, "Will you stay near me while I sleep? That guy really scared me and I'll sleep much better knowing you'll keep me safe." I turned and began preparing my bed to hide my blush.
"Of course." he answered simply and leaned against a tree right behind me so I was in the middle of him and the fire. Everyone else decided to turn in too and soon the night was full of the calming noised of the fire cracking as it burned down and the slow breathing and soft snores of three other bodies. As I lay there I couldn't stop thinking about that kiss and how special the moment we shared was. It seemed like a long while that I stared up at the stars before I realized Inuyasha still was not asleep. I rolled over onto my side to look at him, because I wanted to know if he was watching me. He was. We silently watched each other for a few minutes before he came over and lay down beside me on the ground.
"What are you thinking about?" He asked me.
"You." I replied simply.
"I like that." He smiled for a second then asked, "Good or bad things?"
"The best."
"Like what?"
"Like how kissing you made me feel."
"How DID it make you feel?"
"Special, and Beautiful, and wanted." I admitted
"You are all of those things to me." He took both my hands in his and kissed them. "I have two more questions for you, and I want you to tell me the truth, I promise It won't hurt my feelings."
"Okay." I was hesitant.
"Did you mean it?"
"Mean what?"
"That you love me. Only my mother has ever told me that before."
"Yes, It is true, I do love you and I have for a while now but I was always afraid you didn't feel the same."
"And my second question, Do you mind if I hold you while you sleep?"
"I think that would be okay, as long as you don't get any crazy ideas." He pulled me into his arms and kissed the top of my head.
"Good night Inuyasha,"
"Good night, Kagome. Sleep well." And I did. I drifted off faster then I ever have before and I wasn't worried about anything for the moment. It was bliss.
A/N: I have an Idea for the next chapter already, but I'm not sure how long it will take to get it out and right, but if it takes a few days, don't worry! It's coming very soon, I Promise! As always R&R the reviews make me want to spend more time writing, so the more reviews I get the faster they will come. Thanks everyone for sticking with me, It means a lot! Also, what do you think of this side of Inuyasha? Its a little out of character but hey, I always knew he had a sweet side and think he should show it a little more often!