I do not own Inuyasha or any of the supporting characters.

Sorry for the delay in getting the latest chapter out to you all, the holidays have really taken much of my time. I hope you all had and are having a great holiday! The new year is almost here! I hope to have the next chapter out to you all before the year ends! Enjoy, and don't forget to leave a review, I love hearing from you all! :) Without further ado, let us continue where we left off...

Chapter 5

His golden eyes stared up at her, one was still mostly closed because of the swelling, but still his eye was bright like always. Some of his injuries were no longer that swollen due to his healing ability, but he was still a good way from being fully healed.

"K-K…" he was trying to speak, but though his eyes were on her, he didn't appear fully alert and awake.

"Shhh… it's okay Inuyasha, get some rest" she soothed as she continued to clean the dried blood off him. He was probably trying to call out for Kikyo. She pushed aside the hurt and just continued to clean him. His eyes had closed but his breathing was starting to be labored, almost as if he was having a bad dream.

"Shhhh…" she soothed as she simply sat there smoothing his hair, softly touching near his ears. Ever since the first day she met him, she was drawn to his ears, so soft. Once she saw that he was completely calm, she took another look at him, the blood was gone, any other blood he has on him, he can remove when he cleans himself later. Looking at him, her heart ached for him. Why did things have to be this way? Why couldn't he choose her? Caressing his forehead one more time, allowing herself the selfish luxury, she removed her hand and prepared to get up.

As she stood up, she started gathering all of the dirty rags and was about to turn away when a hand firmly held onto her wrist. Turning she saw his eyes still closed, "no, don't go. Please don't leave me," his words sounded broken and in pain. "Don't leave me, please."

"Shhh it's okay, go to sleep." She tried to pull her hand away, but he held on firmly. She sat next to him again, and he took full advantage, pulling her to his side.

"No, Inuyasha, your injuries," she said as she tried to get up. He wouldn't have it though, his eyes were now open, and he pulled her against him. They were now lying down, he was on his back and had his arm along her back as her right hand was on his chest, being careful not to put any pressure on his chest wound.

Their faces were so close together that he simply looked at her. "Please Kagome, please don't go, please stay with me. I need you. Don't go" he begged. She felt like his eyes were looking into her soul. She wanted to stay; she wanted so much to be here with him. But she knew that as soon as he was healed, they would be back to the same thing. If anything, this would only make things worse for her emotionally.

"Inuyasha, you're still healing, and we can't do this. I only brought you here to make sure you were okay and that you wouldn't be alone. This doesn't change anything."

He closed his eyes tightly as if in pain, "No, please don't say no," he begged. With his left hand, he caressed the right side of her face and slowly brought it closer to his. Lost in the moment, she let it happen. Slowly she felt his lips touch hers, he was so gentle, afraid if he went further, she would disappear. With each gentle kiss, he said "please" softly in between each caress of their lips. The gentleness of his lips and his words tore at her heart, it reminded her of everything she ever wanted with him, the reason she stayed in the past, it was a kiss of promise, a kiss of love. Deep down she knew his heart belonged to Kikyo, but a part of her didn't care, she knew he cared for her in his own way. Her right hand came up to caress his face as she deepened the kiss.

Feeling her kiss him back, he felt the pain of the last few days slowly ebbing away. The pain from today's wounds was nothing compared to the pain he had been feeling in his heart and soul these last few weeks. This was how things were supposed to be, him and Kagome. Only them, no one else. He had to stop seeing Kikyo, he knew she was still looking for a way to be free, and was close, but the more he helped her, the more Kagome turned away from him. He couldn't lose her. He had made his choice.

Deepening the kiss, he slowly used his tongue to make his way into her mouth. As she opened, he moaned and allowed his tongue to explore her mouth. Feeling her tongue along his was a feeling like no other. The other night he had kissed her in anger, but this was different. Last time the kiss was a punishment and staking a claim on his woman, especially after smelling that damn wolf all over her. The thought alone brought to mind the territorial feelings all over again. Pulling her closer to him, he pushed the thoughts away, she was here with him now. She was his.

Her right hand that was on his cheek made its way to his hair, then his ears. She slowly caressed his right ear, and she felt him pull her closer to him with his right arm as his left hand caressed her body. Slowly he used his claws to caress her and make her shiver softly as if a chill was in the room. She moaned into his mouth as he continued to touch her. When she needed a breath, she turned her face to the right, allowing him to continue kissing along her cheek and neck. With careful movements, he turned them until he was on top of her. His movements were still slow because of his injuries, but that still didn't stop him. He slowly pulled up her tank top and kissed along her stomach and on the top curves of her breasts. He pulled down the bra cups and simply looked at her with a hunger like no other. She was beautiful, he thought, and all his.

Kagome was breathing deeply, feeling his hot breath on her skin was doing so much to her, it was driving her crazy with lust. When he moved his head down to take one of her nipples in his mouth, she moaned and arched her back, but she still saw him wince in pain. He was still hurting, his well-being taking the forefront of her mind, she grabbed his face and brought it up for another kiss. Separating her lips from his, she said, "You're still hurting Inuyasha, you need to rest."

Kissing her again he said, "I need you more."

"I'm not going anywhere. I'll still be here, but I need you to heal, please, I don't like seeing you hurt."

Pulling back, he looked her straight in the eyes and said, his voice full of emotion, "Since you left me, I am always hurting Kagome. I don't want to give you time to think and change your mind."

Caressing his face softly, "I won't change my mind, Inuyasha. I know you won't choose, but I will. I know you can't leave Kikyo, and I get that she is trying to be at peace, but we don't know how long that will take, and I don't want to waste another minute without you. I choose you, Inuyasha."

"Kagome," he said her name with so much emotion, and took her lips in a passionate kiss. So many emotions were flooding through him as he heard her words. She was willing to wait, she chose him. At the same time, he felt a heavy guilt because she was willing to do this, when he was not willing to make the choice before. He loves Kagome, and made the decision today to choose her, and he would stick with it. For years she suffered seeing him go after Kikyo, not bothering to look back at the woman who loved him and was silently suffering. Next time he saw Kikyo, he would tell her that he couldn't help her anymore, that he hoped she finds her peace. The group would always be there if she needed anything, but not him alone anymore. Kagome was worth it, she was his mate, and it was only a matter of time before they made it official. He slowly kissed his way down to her throat and licked the spot he would soon be biting to leave his mark. With the mark, the world and any others would know she is his. Especially that damn wolf.

"You don't know how you make me feel Kagome." He said as he kissed her lips once more before laying back and pulling her along his side.

Resting her head on his shoulder, she got comfortable as they settled on the bed together, "I do know how you feel, because I know I feel the same way whenever you are near me."

"So, does this mean you're not going to go with the wolf anymore?"

"Just don't give me a reason to" she joked.

"I won't," he said firmly. "From now on, it's just you and me Kagome. And as soon as I'm fully healed, and we finish what we started tonight, I'll show you just how much you mean to me."

Blushing, she softly kissed his chest. "Please don't tempt me, and don't make me promises you may not be able to keep. Let's just take things a day at a time. I know Kikyo will still be around, but I can push through. Just be a little considerate of my feelings when you leave to be with her."

"You don't have to worry about that, I won't be seeing her anymore. You were right, we defeated Naraku, I avenged her death and what was done to us so many years ago. I have to let her find her own peace."

Smiling, she gave him a kiss on his cheek as she settled further into his side. She felt him relaxing against her, and felt as he started to fall asleep, feeling fully at peace with Kagome in his arms.

She was worried about what she was doing. For years she always felt hurt when Inuyasha would leave her for Kikyo. The moment Kikyo returned to life with her soul, a piece which she still had, she had started her suffering. Before Kikyo was in the picture, things were fine, but after, any progress made with Inuyasha was damaged. It was always one step forward, two steps back where Kikyo was concerned. And now, she was opening herself up to this again. She only hoped and prayed he meant it when he said he wouldn't see her anymore. She was gambling with her heart, a heart that had many scars from this relationship as it was.

Hearing his breathing even out, she knew he had fallen asleep. Pushing her fears to the side, she allowed herself to relish in the feel of his arms around her and fell asleep as well. Tomorrow would be a new day, hopefully with new beginnings for them.

Next chapter should be uploaded before the end of the year (3 days)... Fingers crossed, and don't worry, I won't be abandoning this story, for one, it's my first fan fiction, and two, like many of you, I hate when a story is left unfinished, so there will be an end to this story in the upcoming chapters. Thank you all for the follows and for wanting to read more. :)