Chapter 27.

It all happened so fast.

I was standing in a field, disoriented and unaware of what was going on. In front of me, I recognized Inuyasha's Backlash wave and my sacred arrow, swirling together in perfect harmony.

Déjà vu. I knew what was coming next.

Without even thinking, I threw my body as far as I could to my right, my bow in front of me protectively. The tentacle was shooting towards where I had once been standing but my leap had gotten me out of harm's way. The tentacle, upon failing to reach its target, halted and disintegrated along with the rest of Naraku's body.

It was silent besides the sound of my heart pounding inside of my ears.

"Kagome!"

I looked up and met concerned golden eyes staring down at me. Inuyasha had dropped the tetsusaiga and sprinted to my side, where he was now hovering over me on his knees.

"Kagome, are you alright?"

As I stared up at him, something clenched my heart. I sprung forward, my arms snaking around his neck, and I buried my head in the crook of shoulder. I was sobbing; I couldn't explain why. Inuyasha initially stiffened at my touch but quickly moulded his strong body around my own, his fingers intertwining in my hair as he deeply inhaled my scent.

"Kagome?"

He murmured softly into my hair but I shook my head, unable to explain what was wrong. I just knew that I missed him terribly and had to hold him, have him hold me. I pushed back from our embrace and stared into his golden depths with my teary eyes.

"I'm so happy to be here with you, Inuyasha."

I whispered, my pinkie finger coming up to brush his flushed cheeks. In return, he untangled one of his hands from my hair and smoothed my brow and traced my bottom lip with his fingers. He then leaned in and placed a tentative kiss on my lips.

I felt as though I had been hit by a train.

All at once, images of Inuyasha dead, me crying, countless boys, drugs, alcohol, parties, fights, Frankie, Yuka, Aden, nightmare after nightmare filled my mind and my heart screamed painfully. In a split second, the images were gone and forever forgotten. I blinked in confusion, wondering what had just happened. Instead of further pondering it, I decided to let the feel of Inuyasha's lips against my own take me away. I melted at his touch and placed my hands against his beating heart, the one that was beating for me and for me alone.