I have created a Spotify Playlist of the songs used, so you don't have to go hunting for them. The Playlist will be updated as the fic is updated, so there'll be no spoilers about what's coming down the road.

***TRIGGER WARNING: This chapter contains graphic descriptions of car accidents and character deaths.***

Inuyasha was wide awake, sitting on the rooftop alone in the middle of the night. He'd been doing this for days, because no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't rest. He couldn't… because she wouldn't let him.

The images of Kikyo were back to haunt him in his nightmares.

Ever since that day in the studio with Kagome, he couldn't sleep a single night in peace. It rocked his reality, after so many months of quiet sanity. He thought he had finally been done with it. But turns out, demons don't just go away because you want them to.

'Is she more important to you than I am?!', he could hear Kikyo's accusatory tone in his head. She'd never said that to him, but his guilt had conjured up this version of her; a version that refused to let him move on… to let him be happy.

He wanted to. He wanted desperately to move on with his life.

When he was with Kagome, he was content. Happy. Free. She was the warm dawn after a bitterly cold, cloudy, moonless night. She never judged him, never feared him, never made him feel unworthy. So why was he feeling guilty that he'd developed feelings for her?

'Because no one could honestly love a half-breed like me...' he reminded himself.

Even if Kagome had made it clear how she felt about him, it only reminded him that at one-time, in the far distant past, Kikyo did love him once too… and look where that got him. Heartbroken and alone.

He didn't deserve to be happy. So why bother pursuing something that'll just end in misery?

That was what he'd rationalized it all to mean, anyways.

He scribbled away in one of his notebooks, trying to ignore the cold, lonely feeling he had. Inuyasha knew he needed to talk to Kagome, but he couldn't bring himself to look at his phone when she texted him or called him. He hated doing it, but he knew it was for the best. The more distance they had from each other, the more time she'd have to realize it was a mistake, and to move on.

'She deserves better…' he told himself.

He bought into his own lie, accepting this guilt he felt, and internalized the hate he'd received all his life. He was a half-breed… undeserving of real love.

And it was better this way…

The subway card swiped through the machine but came up as an error. Frustrated, Kagome tried again, her hand pushing the card back through the slot, allowing her to pass through the stall and onto the subway platform.

Kagome had hardly heard from Inuyasha for two weeks —the only exception being an occasional text telling her he was busy and couldn't do a writing session. Miroku and Sango would confirm that he was doing more studio sessions than usual, so he wasn't lying. But it felt so odd to not be able to talk to him.

'He's ghosting me…' she thought to herself, staring down at her phone solemnly at the unanswered messages while she waited for the next train. She'd tried sending out a one-off text, asking if he would be joining her and Kouga at the studio that day, but again, it went unanswered.

She struggled to keep herself composed — it hurt to know Inuyasha was deliberately ignoring her. Maybe she'd misread him? Maybe he didn't actually feel about her the way she felt about him? In any case, she just wanted to talk to him. She just wanted to understand why…

Was this what their friendship had become? It was her worst nightmare.

She knew she shouldn't have said anything. She liked things the way they were. She liked being able to talk to him. To see him all the time. She liked working with him, and getting to know him. She wouldn't have jeopardized any of that if she'd have known it would've ended up like this.

Before she could get too lost down her spiral, the train arrived.

It wasn't long before she made it to the studio where Kouga wsat eagerly waiting for her at the console, "Hey Kagome!"

Her voice was monotone, "Hey Kouga."

"What? No mutt-fa—I mean, Inuyasha today?" he asked, correcting himself mid-sentence.

She shook her head and answered in a somber tone "No, he couldn't make it today," Kouga didn't need to know the details about what had happened between them. It was best to just glance over it and quick.

"Well, if that's the case, I have something I wanna run by you," he started, pulling up his chair and sitting in front of Kagome.

Her attention focused on him, "Oh? What's that?"

"There's this big event coming up for the studio's New Years Eve party. It's kinda like a debut for new talent in the studio, and I've convinced the exec's to allow you on the set list, if you're interested that is."

Kagome listened carefully and asked, "So, I'd be allowed to perform some of the music we've been working on?"

Kouga nodded, "Yup!"

"How many songs?"

He raised his fingers, "Two songs per artist. Usually it's one that's pitched as a debut single, and another that's a ballad or something slower in general."

Kagome nodded, "And which songs do you think would work best?"

"Glad you asked!" Kouga said eagerly, "I was wondering if we should try something that I've been working on. It's a bit more mainstream than what you've been doing to date, but I think it'll be good for you to showcase your range at the event."

Kagome suspected Kouga had been waiting to talk to her about this for when Inuyasha wasn't around. Inuyasha had always been protective of the songs they'd been writing together, and while Kagome appreciated his fervor in defending their vision, she also wanted Kouga's input as to what the studio executives were looking for. "Well, I guess it can't hurt to try it out. Though, would I have control of my final set list?"

Kouga nodded, "Yes, but you'd have to have them in by the thirtieth. Gotta give the others time to practice the songs for the event and all."

That made sense. Kagome asked, "Will it be Sango and the others doing the instrumentation?"

"Yup, they'll be doing all the artists I've produced on the set list, so you'd be included in that."

'Which means Inuyasha will be there too,' she thought.

A pit in her stomach formed.

She couldn't get too stuck on it before Kouga eagerly started playing her some of the demos he'd made for her to try. They definitely were different from what she would've come up with, but she wanted to give them a shot.

After three sessions of recording with Kouga, Kagome decided to finalize her song choices, and just in time for the deadline he'd given her. One was the song she and Kouga had been working on together, and then there was one she'd written entirely on her own and recorded with Kouga's help. He sent the music to the guys so they could rehearse it, and after that, Kagome just had to wait.

It'd been over a month since that day in the studio, and winter was on its way.

The guys had cancelled time for their own band jam sessions and rehearsals in order to rehearse for the event. Sango had apologized to Kagome profusely and promised to make it up to her when the new year was in.

While Kagome understood that the event was a priority, what she didn't understand was the complete radio silence from Inuyasha.

She wanted answers. It was killing her.

So… on a Wednesday evening, the day they would have normally met up to do some song-writing, Kagome went to Inuyasha's apartment.

She arrived after the shop had already closed up for the day, so all the other guys were gone. She tentatively walked up the iron stairs, her steps tentative. Her stomach was doing somersaults, uncertain what she would find when she actually confronted him.

Could she actually handle it if he told her he never wanted to see her again? She was sure it would utterly destroy her.

But she was here now, and not knowing was somehow even worse than the possibility of being rejected. It was too much to bear.

She bravely raised her hand and went to knock on the door of his apartment. After a moment, and no answer, she tried again. Still nothing.

'Maybe he's out?' she wondered.

Kagome reached out to test the door handle, finding it to be unlocked. She wondered if it was over stepping a boundary to just walk into his apartment unannounced. But what if he was hurt… or needed help?

Again, gaining the small bit of courage she had, she pushed open the door.

The apartment was empty.

Nothing looked out of the ordinary, except the window to the fire escape was open. She closed the door behind her quietly, and walked up to the window. Realizing he must've gone up to the roof, she wondered about going up. She'd come all this way…

Swinging her leg through, Kagome soon made her way up the stairs and peeked over the wall. Lowe and behold, there was Inuyasha, fast asleep.

His back was against the skylight brick, looking like he must've fallen asleep by accident. His head was leaning forward as if he'd nodded off while watching the sunset.

Kagome slowly lifted herself over the wall and softly landed on the gravel covered roof, striding carefully towards him. He hadn't even so much as flinched at her movements.

'He must really be out if he hasn't even sensed my presence,' she thought.

He had his notebook beside him, along with a pen and a can of beer that looked like it'd barely been drank. He couldn't have been up here all that long, considering when he would've gotten off work.

Once she was within range, she knelt down beside him, and only then saw the dark circles under his eyes. Her brow furrowed in worry. He looked exhausted.

'Maybe he has just been busy,' Kagome rationalized, 'It would explain why he looks so run down.'

Kagome could feel her resolve shifting. Suddenly, she felt herself wanting to give him some space. She started regretting bursting into his apartment uninvited as a means to demand answers from him. Who was she to demand anything of him? He didn't owe her an explanation.

But weren't they friends? Weren't they supposed to talk about what was bothering them? Like she had when her father died?

She still wanted to know what was going on, but she no longer felt entitled to an answer.

Kagome quickly retreated from his sleeping form, backing away towards the stairs and leaving him be. As she swung her leg back over the wall to lower herself onto the fire escape, she sat on the ledge for a moment, staring out at the city skyline and let the wind blow through her hair.

'What could be going through his head?' she thought.

Her unique scent wafted through the air, and once it had permeated the area, Inuyasha began to stir and he whispered questioningly, "Ka-gome?"

He was sure he must've hallucinated it again. Why could he smell Kagome's sweet scent? Why was it anxious?

Inuyasha blearily peeled his eyes open, the orange haze of the sunset momentarily blinding him, as he tried to look around. He quickly realized where he was, and as he turned his head to look back, he saw her, "Kagome?"

She was too far away to hear him, letting herself off the edge and down to the fire escape.

Inuyasha was now startled awake and jumped to his feet, chasing after her. He looked over the side, and saw her walking down the stairs, "Kagome!"

Before she could hit the window to let herself back into the apartment, Inuyasha had flung himself over the side of the building, hoping he could catch up with her before she left. He caught himself on the side of the escape directly beside her, causing the metal to clank loudly under the weight, startling her with his near instantaneous appearance.

"Aaahhhh!" her voice was so piercingly loud, it nearly deafened him for a split second, "What the hell, Inuyasha?! Don't scare me like that!"

He lowered himself down onto the landing next to her, causing her to back up a little, his figure looming over her, "Really? You're gonna give me that after you show up at my place without notice?"

"Well, can you blame me?" she handed back, "I was worried!"

Inuyasha cocked his head to the side, "You… You were worried?"

Kagome's cheeks flushed bright red at her sudden declaration. She hadn't intended on saying that, "I—I mean…", she tried to think of something to say, "What else am I supposed to think when you're missing sessions… and ignoring my texts? I assumed you were dead or something."

Well, that wasn't really true, and she knew it. While yes, she had been worried about him once she saw what condition he was in, that wasn't why she was here. But admitting to someone you broke into their house to demand they explain why they've been ignoring you is kind of stalker behavior, and she was only just realizing that.

Inuyasha could smell that she was lying. She didn't do it often, but when she did, it was usually because she was uncomfortable.

His shoulders slumped a little, "You don't have to lie to me."

Kagome sharply turned to look up at him, and defiantly asked, "What makes you think I'm lying?"

"You really have to ask anymore?" he threw back coldly, crossing his arms over his chest.

Kagome's face hardened with defiance, "Look! I came here because I wanted to know what was going on with you, okay?!"

Inuyasha pushed right back, "Nothing goin' on! Everything's fine, just… busy is all."

"Now who's the one lying?" she stated brazenly. She continued, her tone accusatory, "Why do you look like you haven't gotten a decent night's sleep in weeks? And why are you being so avoidant?"

He flinched, not realizing how evident it was on his face, "Ugh…" he hadn't been prepared for this at all.

Kagome let out an exhausted sigh, her shoulders slumping at his lack of response, "Listen, I was hoping… I mean, I—I just thought if something was wrong, you'd tell me. That we could talk it out," Her voice waivered in its irritation, becoming more despondent and sad, "Guess not," she turned to move back through the window, wishing to get herself out of this awkward situation.

However, Inuyasha's hand on her shoulder stopped her, causing her to look back at him. He breathed out, "Wait…"

Kagome stood frozen in place as she watched his mind trying to form the words he was looking for, "It's not that I don't want to…"

Kagome wondered what he was referring to, "Don't want to — what?"

He suddenly nodded his head toward the apartment and asked, "Can we talk inside?"

She could hear the trepidation in his voice. He suddenly sounded so anxious, which wasn't something she was used to. Whatever it was, if it meant they were talking again, she'd agreed to anything, "Of course."

Once they were inside, Kagome moved to sit on the couch while watching as Inuyasha paced uncomfortably around the living area, like he couldn't find a place to stand still.

"Why don't you sit? It'll be more comfortable," she said, moving over a little to give him more space on the couch. He nodded and sat on the chaise part of the L-shaped couch, across from Kagome. She watched as his eyes stayed relatively low, almost avoiding her gaze. She decided it was always best to be patient when he wanted to talk about something.

It wasn't much longer before he started, "I'm… not very good at this sorta thing."

Kagome's head tilted a little, "At what?"

Inuyasha tempted looking up at her, and said bashfully, "What happened between us… a few weeks ago."

Kagome took a deep inhale to steady herself. They were officially going there, and she was preparing herself to hear his rejection, "I'm sorry, if I did anything that made you so uncomfortable that you needed space away from me. It wasn't my intention…"

Inuyasha shook his head, "No! That's not it."

She watched him carefully, as she asked cautiously, "Okay… so what are we talking about then?"

Inuyasha took a deep breath, realizing he needed to be honest with her. It was the only way he could hopefully communicate to her what was going on with him, "How much have Miroku and Sango told you about… well, my… dating experience?"

Kagome thought for a moment, lightly shaking her head, "Not much. Only that you'd had a pretty rocky situation with an ex a while back, but they didn't fill me in on the details."

There was a moment of pause before Inuyasha stood up, walking towards the back area of the apartment where his music set-up was. Kagome heard him open the cabinet and move something around before reappearing shortly after, a small shoebox in his hand. He sat back on the couch and placed the box on the coffee table between him and Kagome, lifting the lid off and exposing a small keepsake box.

Kagome leaned over, silently asking if she could take a look and reached in after he gave a nod of approval. She found a stack of maybe a half-a-dozen photos and started combing through them.

"Is this… your ex?" she asked timidly.

"Yeah," he said softly, "Her name was Kikyo."

Kagome looked at one photo in particular. It was a professional looking portrait of her, and was the most-clear photo of her. Kagome thought, 'She kinda looks like me.'

Inuyasha nodded, "When I first met you, I thought it was her. Took me a minute to realize you were someone else."

A sting in Kagome's heart rushed through her, "Was that why you were so stand-offish when we first met?"

"I hate to admit it, but yeah," he answered carefully, "Even though I could tell your scent was completely different from hers, I thought I was hallucinating. I thought I was seeing a ghost."

"What do you mean a ghost?" Kagome asked, putting the photos on the table and turning her attention back to him fully.

Inuyasha struggled to say, swallowing a lump that had formed in his throat, "Because… she died."

Over ten years ago…

-We met around the time my mother was in the hospital.-

Kikyo, had been a seventeen year-old volunteer at the hospital when she had first seen the young, white-haired, dog-eared man sitting on the floor outside one of the hospital bedrooms. She had quietly approached before kneeling beside him and gently placing her hand on his shoulder. He'd aggressively flinched away from her with a snarl, even though she could see fresh tears at the corners of his eyes.

"It's alright, I just want to help," she'd said in a quiet and soothing voice.

The young man had just retreated into himself further, not engaging with the young woman. She stood up and looked at the chart on the outside of the door, "Is this your mother?" she asked.

He never answered her, but she could see that he'd been through a lot. The chart had read the patient had passed away.

"I'm so sorry for your loss," she comforted him, kneeling beside him again and taking hold of his shoulder, offering him some physical solace before hugging him. He was too emotionally exhausted to fight it, and he accepted her small act of empathy in a world devoid of compassion.

-She helped me through a lot of my initial grief and she was there for me when no one else was.-

Kikyo would regularly meet him at the graveyard where he would pay his respects to his mother, bringing an occasional snack for him as a peace offering. Over time, they formed a small friendship, and he began to enjoy the company. Even started looking forward to seeing her.

She soon started inviting him to join her for coffee at a shop just down the road. Then another time to go and see a movie.

Eventually, they would start going on walks, and one night, when they were in a park walking by a pond, she kissed him. He didn't have a clue as to what to do, and figured it must have been a mistake, but she soon proclaimed, "When I'm with you, I just feel like I can be who I really am."

-She was the one who encouraged me to start working with Totosai at the shop after I finished high school.-

"It'll be good experience, and it'll give you some time to figure out what you want to do with your life," she'd explained to him.

He wasn't making any movement with his music at the time, but he would write an occasional song for her, which she always appreciated. She would tell him, "Even if nothing ever comes of it, in this one moment, your music brought joy into this world."

-She was from a pretty strict family, and was training to become a priestess of a temple her family ran. It was her duty as their first-born to carry on the family tradition.-

Kikyo would come to him sobbing about how much she hated her duties, and how restrictive it all was. She just wanted to lead a more normal life. She wanted to just be her own woman.

-We largely kept things between us a secret... for her sake. -

He would pick her up around the block from her family's temple, and they'd drive around for a while. They'd spent so many nights holed up in his apartment, making love and enjoying the quiet peace they'd seemed to forge together, away from the judging eyes of onlookers and her family.

-She was afraid of how her family would react, but… they eventually found us out.-

He remembered her father accusing him of luring his daughter into a life of debauchery. That she'd never have willingly been with him. She was too pure for that.

But that didn't stop Kikyo from sneaking out one night shortly after that confrontation to Inuyasha's apartment where she cried her eyes out to him.

Inuyasha had asked her, "Why can't we just start over?"

Kikyo would look at him in confusion before he explained, "We could runaway together. Start a new life together."

She'd always ask him what they would do, or how they'd survive. Inuyasha had never been concerned about that. He'd always found a way to survive before, and he knew that as long as they were together, they'd be able to figure it out.

She would always ask if she could think about it more. As much as she wanted to live her own life, she was also deeply devoted to her family, especially her younger sister, Kaede. She couldn't leave and let her sister bear the responsibility that was hers.

He would just remind her that his home was always open to her, and he wouldn't hesitate to leave everything if it meant being with her.

-We were together for about two years before she came to me one night… and told me she never wanted to see me again. That everything we had together had all been a lie.-

"Who could ever love a half-breed like you?!" those words would forever echo in his mind. It became his defining memory of her.

-I didn't want to believe that she'd just end things like that, it didn't sound like her at all. But as time went on, I had no reason to believe things would go back to the way they were.-

He didn't believe it at the time, that something must've happened to make her feel this way. But she never answered him. He'd tried calling her, texting her, but nothing ever came of it.

He'd felt so utterly and completely betrayed. For weeks after that, he was isolated, and cut himself off from the rest of the world. Only because Totosai was so close to his family was he able to eventually resume working with him without incident.

-And then… one day, outta the blue, she texts me.-

:Can we talk?: she'd messaged him.

He was skeptical at first, but she persisted, :I understand if you never want to hear from me again. But I need to talk to you. I need to get something off my chest.:

Against his better judgement, he agreed, :Where?:

-Unfortunately, we never did meet up. I never knew what she wanted to tell me that day.-

Inuyasha had waited for over an hour in the rain, at the park where they'd had their first kiss, just like she'd asked. He grew suspicious and decided to head towards her family's temple.

On the way, he could smell her scent… the scent of her blood.

Kikyo had crossed the road when she shouldn't have, and been hit by a car. She'd been rushing to meet him, and with the rain, a car skidded, and hit her. She'd died almost instantly.

Flashes of the ambulance lights flickered in his memory, a vague haze of seeing her body, covered in her blood, being loaded into a body bag. The rain turned the street red before it faded away, like as if it'd never even been there.

He'd been too stunned in the moment to do anything. He'd felt so conflicted, and as much as he wanted to hate her —for abandoning him, for betraying him, for leaving him alone again — he couldn't. In the end, he only felt guilt.

He'd failed her.

-I went to her wake, but it was obvious I wasn't welcome there. -

Kikyo's mother was distraught, beside herself with grief, while her father would stare him down in rage.

He stalked towards Inuyasha, cursing him, "What makes you think your kind are allowed on these sacred grounds?!"

"Father, stop!" Inuyasha remembered Kaede, Kikyo's younger sister, begging her father to leave him alone, "Please!"

Inuyasha decided to leave… to keep the peace.

He watched from afar as Kikyo's ashes were buried, and he said his goodbyes.

Except… she never really left him.

From then on, her presence followed him.

-Because I never knew what she what she wanted to say to me that day, I live with the version of her that hated me. Despised me. Even now… she haunts me.-

Inuyasha was only shaken from his recounting when he felt a warm hand on his arm. He could smell the saltiness of Kagome's tears. He looked up and saw as some streaks of tears quietly flowed down her cheeks.

He carefully took her hand in his as she cried, stuttering, "I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry th—that..."

Inuyasha was a little stunned by her response. He hadn't expected her to shed tears over this.

"Kagome… you don't have to cry for my sake," he said softly, hoping it would calm her some.

He reached up to wipe the tears from her cheek before she replied, "But, no one deserves that. You didn't deserve that! You deserved to know the truth, to pay your respects, and you deserve… you deserve..."

Her voice cracked and she stuttered off, unable to tell him that he deserved to be loved.

Inuyasha pulled away a little looking down to her as she cried, "I just… I hope this helps you understand where I'm coming from a bit better. That… this kinda stuff, it's hard for me to process."

Kagome took a few deep breathes before she looked up at him, giving him a hesitant nod, "Yes, I think it does. But that still doesn't mean I have to like it."

He gave a small smirk, which made her feel a little more at ease. A beat passed between them before she asked, "So… where does that leave us?"

Inuyasha sat back against the couch, taking a moment to collect his thoughts. Where did this leave them?

"Kagome, when I first met you, I genuinely believed Kikyo had come back to haunt me from the grave. That after so long, being wrapped up in guilt and anger, I thought I'd just lost my damn mind. I was… I was doing what I thought I needed to do to protect myself, because when I saw you, I felt that pain again."

Kagome's shoulders sunk and her eyes lowered, "Of course…"

He was going to tell her that everything that had happened between them was a mistake. She saw that now.

"But…" he continued, "Over the last few months we've spent together, I started noticing all the ways you were different from her. Your scent, your laugh, your energy, your trust. I started to see you as your own person."

Kagome looked back to him as he continued, her eyes unblinking in shock, "Eventually, I just wanted to be near you. I wanted to spend every moment I could with you. Instead of feeling pain, I started to feel… whole. Like this was the way things should have always been. I eventually stopped feeling that haunting presence, and I was just enjoying being with you. I was enjoying being happy."

She could feel her eyes watering all over again, though she tried to restrain it.

He pushed on, the feeling of needing to get this all out overwhelming him, "But… after what happened at the studio, I started having nightmares again. The guilt came back, and suddenly, I felt like I didn't deserve to be happy. Everything just came crashing down all at once, and… I guess, in my head, I thought I was sparing you from a life where you'd be disappointed by me. That eventually… I'd let you down… the same way I let her down."

"Inuyasha, you've never let me down," she argued softly, "If anything, you've only proven that you're someone I can wholly rely on. I can't speak for Kikyo, but… I think she may have had a lot more going on than you think, and beating yourself up for something that wasn't your fault… it's not fair to you. You deserve to be able to move on… and be happy."

He shook his head, "I'm a half-breed. I'm not meant to be happy."

Kagome's reaction was one of pure offense, "Stop it! That's not true!"

Inuyasha snapped his head to match her gaze, and her intense ocean-blue eyes burrowed right back into his own.

She declared, "It's not you that doesn't deserve happiness! If anything, this world doesn't deserve you!"

Inuyasha's mouth opened a gap, dumbfounded by her bold assertion.

It sunk in after a moment what Kagome had just told him, and she felt her cheeks go red. She quickly pulled her eyes away from him, before saying, "In any case… I think I understand you a little more now, and I'm glad you were able to… to talk to me about this. I want you to be able to talk to me about this kind of stuff, and I appreciate that you trust me with this."

Inuyasha, trying to figure out what was going through her mind, nodded, "I'm glad."

Kagome continued, "And… I think… I'll need some time… to kinda process it all."

There it was. Inuyasha's heart sank a little with that sentiment.

She rushed to explain, waving her hands, "It's nothing to do with you, I promise! It's just… it's a lot to take in, and… I just want to think on it all a bit. "

He steeled himself a little, trying to hide his worry, "I—I understand."

'Of course, why wouldn't she want sometime to take this all in?' he realized. Kagome had just basically found out that she heavily resembles Inuyasha's dead ex-girlfriend, and that it had had enough of an impact on him that he was having nightmares or felt like he was hallucinating. Any sane person would want some time to take all that in.

It had been a few awkward seconds before Kagome felt the need to reach out again, placing her hand on Inuyasha's over his knee and drawing his attention back to her. She hesitated for a second before saying, "Inuyasha… I just want you to know that regardless of all of everything… if it's too much for you, I don't want to cause you anymore pain. But… I still want you in my life. Even if we can't be anything more than friends."

Inuyasha's felt a wave of warmth wash over him. Everything from Kagome radiated sincerity. He was overwhelmed by it. Instinctively, he turned his hand and took hold of hers, "Really? You'd… you'd wanna stay with me?"

He saw the sad smile slowly crawl onto her lips as she nodded, "Mmhm."

His thumb brushed over the back of her knuckles as he thought about what she'd said, "I don't know… what I have to offer you…"

Kagome paused for a second before she lifted her hand to his cheek, brushing it affectionately. Leaning in, she left a soft peck on his other cheek, stunning him into silence. Kagome smiled fondly as she replied, "You are enough."

The air felt like it'd been knocked from his chest. He wasn't sure how to react. Was that something people normally say to each other? If so, it was news to him, but it made him feel invincible.

He was shaken when he felt her hand slip from his, watching as she stood her spot on the couch and deciding she needed to leave before she did something stupid. Inuyasha, however, could barely muster any kind of coherence as she made her way towards the door with her things in hand.

"Kagome…?!" he asked quickly, realizing he needed to say something.

Just as she opened the door, her movements stilled temporarily as she listened, her heart pounding in her ears. She needed to leave, but she heard him say something. She quickly nodded before making her exit, her steps reverberating as they faded into the distance.

She nearly ran home, barely able to hold herself together as she collapsed against her door, sliding down to the ground as she wrapped her arms around her knees, trying her best to stave off the intense emotions she'd just experienced.

And yet, all that echoed in her mind was the last thing Inuyasha said to her…

"I want to be the kind of man you deserve."

She felt herself let out a sharp exhale, as if her heart was in pain, at her realization… that she was in love with him.

Ahhh! That one took a while to write. Work has been crazy busy these last few months, and I knew this chapter was gonna be hard to write, so I took my time to make sure I felt like I got it right.

Next 1-2 chapters is the New Years event, so buckle up kids. We're back on the playlist, and there's gonna be some fun times ahead!

Be sure to do all the fun things like Subscribe and Comment if you're enjoying this fic, and hopefully I'll be able to get another chapter out before 2023.

Until Next Time…