Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

With You

He awoke to a stiff neck and the scent of midnight mixed with dust. A sneeze escaped him, startling Kagome.

He lowered his eyes, his ears followed.

"I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" What had he done to be sorry about?

"Running off…" Was Kagome really that lenient?

"Oh, Inuyasha. You were upset. If anything, I should apologise for making you read a story that would make you sad."

"Kagome…do princesses still exist?"

"Err…" She tried to think, but it was such an odd topic. "I…yes…some…a few…"

"Here?"

"Erm…not quite, kinda…um…sorta."

"Oh." His ears drooped.

"But…there are some left…in the world…I think."

"Do you think…?" He began but stopped suddenly. "Never mind."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Mm."

"Inuyasha…I'm sorry for making you read that play. I didn't think it would upset you…I didn't think…" He shook in her arms.

"I…am happy." He sighed softly. "I am happy you gave me a chance to do something for you and…I'm sorry I ruined it."

She resisted her tears bravely, knowing how much they would hurt him.

"You're welcome." She willed her voice to stay steady.

"Kag'me…" His heart was thrumming against her arm like a trapped bird. "Can…May I…Am I allowed to be happy?"

Her mind stilled. The softly-uttered words echoed in her head, pounded her shaking heart.

"Yes! Yes!" He wrinkled his nose at the scent of her tears. "Yes! You can! You will! Don't listen to anyone who tells you otherwise!"

"Okay then." His voice was demure. "I will…well, to be honest, I have been." He stopped carefully. "I've been real happy since Kag'me took me in." Tears continued to plop in his hair.

"Kag'me is nice. She cares about me…she…she looks after me. I mayn't like it but she cries for me because she cares…and I'm happy." His face grew instantly warm. "Happy that…that she cares…not that she…she is cryin'.
"I know, I know…" She murmured.

"And, Kag'me is…well…she's very kind…and I am very happy." He relaxed under the gentle sliding of her hands down the length of his hair. "Very…"

She scattered soft kisses on his head and the tips of his ears, laughing softly when they began to twitch madly.

"Kagome is happy that you're happy."

"Mmmhmmm…" His ears twitched again.

"Are you listening for anything?"

"Huh?"

"I was just wondering…your ears…they're twitching like they usually do when you're looking out for something."

"Oh…no. I…um…well…I'm not used to it."

"Used to what?"

"This…" He confessed shyly. "Being treated nice-like. Kagome is the first to not pull them…y'know since momma…but they're still skittish."

"Pull them?!!!"

"Yeh…villagers did. And twisted…cut the left one..."

Kagome's voice died in her throat.

"Kagome…she never hurt them…but they're still not used to it…"

"They c-c-ut…off…?" Her finger brushed against his ear softly. "They…?" She couldn't get the words out.

"No…they just…slashed…I mean…it got slashed…when they locked me in the dungeon…but…but don't cry K'g'me. Don't cry, please…" The fragility in his voice was oddly reminiscent of past admonishments despite its timbre.

"I'm sorry, Inuyasha. I'm so very sorry."

He shrugged further in her embrace.

"Kagome cares." He smiled amid tears. "Kagome really cares."

More kisses rained on him.

"Yes. Very much so."

"Good." He whispered. "Inuyasha cares about Kagome too. Lots."

Author's Note: So, here we are, crisis resolved. I just realized I was putting the apostrophe in Kagome's name in the wrong place. Sorry. Her name is stressed on the first syllable so it's the "go" that would get abbreviated. My apologies. On another topic altogether, to those of you constantly asking why I'm not updating, the answer is because I'm busy. Even a word nymph has jobs to do, people to see, words to craft, etc. Moreover I'm quite frustrated with the complete (and I mean complete) lack of reviews for chapter 10. Zero reviews really is no motivation. At any rate, rest assured I have learned my lesson and won't be uploading any more chapters in series. In saying that I'd very much like to thank all of you who have reviewed (chapter 11), and rest assured this story will be continued. I'm currently working out the denouement. :3