The Bridge

Title: The Bridge

Author: Takara

Pairing: Inuyasha + Kagome

Disclaimer: The characters are all owned by the lovely and wonderful Rumiko Takahashi. (I worship you) The plot and some of the settings belong to me personally. If you wish to use them please ask me first.

Warning: Fluff, lots of fluff this time around.

AN: Okay I know this part is short, but it was the best place to break it off and I will possibly have another one out today. Yep this is the fluffy episode (no lemon sorry). It will envolve the dance and what happens after. A bit of Hojo bashing (implied). And some Inu and Kag fluff. Nothing serious, sorry. More like... well you'll see when you read it right?

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Part 5

Well it had come, the night of the dreaded school dance. As much as Kagome wished it would never come it had and so she was currently stuck getting ready in her room. It was ten minutes until Hojo was supposed to arrive and Kagome was just putting on a bit of mascara and lip gloss. Simple but affective.

“Kagome! Hojo is here for you!” Her mother’s voice called up the stairs to her. Well there was no turning back now, she would have to go through with this.

Kagome sighed and grabbed up her white cardigan. After plastering a fake smile on her face she walked out of her room and down the stairs... to what was (in her opinion) her doom.

Hojo was waiting for her in the living room and when she finally appeared he got this look on his ace like he had seen a goddess and drool started dripping from the corner of his mouth. Kagome made a mental note to pick a more modest dress the next time she was forced to go out with him.

“Ready?” She asked, resigned to getting this over with.

“Uh huh. You look... amazing Kagome.” Hojo managed to mumble as he offered her his hand. Kagome reluctantly took it and he led her out to his car.

By the end of the car ride Kagome literally wished she could dig herself a hole and die in it. Hojo had to be the DULLEST guy she had ever met. He was so polite and upbeat and generous. It was just too much for her. Kagome was beginning to realize how much she needed a guy that could at least put up a fight.

“Hey Kagome, we’re here.” Hojo’s voice called her back from her latest fantasy.

“Oh sorry Hojo-kun. Let’s go.” Kagome put a fake smile back on her face and stepped out of the car, resisting the urge to bash him over the head, steal the keys, and drive far, far away.

That urge seemed to get even stronger as the night wore on. Kagome had reluctantly agreed to dance for a little while before sitting it out to talk a bit with her friends. It seemed that someone had spiked the punch so half the people were acting weirder than normal and the teachers all seemed to have disappeared hours ago. Hojo, having most unfortunately, tried some of the punch, was currently in a looney state and was hitting on Yuka who had also had the punch.

Kagome bit her lip and looked from Hojo to her trio of friends only to find everyone occupied. Now was her only chance, if she stayed in this place much longer she was going to suffocate. Hojo probably wouldn’t even remember this tomorrow and she could always make up a little white lie anyway.

She slipped out of the gym where the dance was being held and began to walk in the direction of her house. She shrugged on her sweater after a few minutes, not even realizing how cold it was. The music from the gym was growing softer and the streets darker, although the streetlights provided enough light to get by with.

It was about ten minutes after she started walking when she first got the feeling that something was following her. It was more like a sense than anything else, she could almost feel the malicious aura drawing closer to her.

Fear spiked through her chest but she continued to walk, her house was only another fifteen minutes away, maybe whatever it was would just leave her alone until then. But after another three minutes Kagome knew that it had no intention of leaving her alone. It had slowly circled her so that Kagome could see the gleam of blood red eyes directly in front of her, cutting off any chance of escape.

So Kagome did the only thing she could do. She screamed, and the demon took that chance to pounce at her.

Kagome’s eyes were sealed open as the giant thing came flying at her. A humongous snake demon with blood red eyes and a green, slimy body. Its presence sent waves of fear and nausea through the young woman’s body as she quickly ran to the left to dodge the snake’s attack.

The demon hissed in frustration and lunged again, Kagome let out another piercing scream and ran back to the right. Tears of fear welled up in her eyes as the thought of death clung to her.

And at that precise moment, as Kagome realized death was coming, and just as the snake demon lunged again Kagome was plagued with visions of Inuyasha’s golden eyes and silver hair. Tears flowed down her cheeks as she screamed into the night, “Inuyasha!”

To Kagome’s utter amazement the final strike never came. Instead Kagome saw a bright yellow light through her eyelids and then smelt the metallic scent of the demon’s blood. What had happened? Did someone actually come to save her?

“Kagome!” Kagome gasped in surprise, she knew that voice, knew it and loved it with all her heart. Tears still leaking out of her eyes she raised up her head as her blue eyes sought out the source of the call.

There was Inuyasha standing mere feet away from her, the youkai’s remains scattered about him, the dark blood staining his clothes. Worry and care were apparent in those beautiful golden orbs of his.

“Inu – yasha...” Kagome breathed, a smile creeping onto her face as she brought her hands up to her heart as if to still its rapid beating.

The boy in front of her continued to stare at her before taking a few tentative strides forward until they were mere inches apart. Kagome felt Inuyasha’s strong arms pulling her up so that she was standing once more, and then he did something she would only have dreamed.

“I was... so worried... Kagome.” He murmured, pulling Kagome into the first true embrace she had shared with a male. His breath ticked in her ear and she could feel every single beat of his heart.

More tears welled up in her eyes, but now they were tears of happiness. He cared about her, he worried about her. Nothing else mattered right now. Without even pausing to think of the consequences she reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling them even closer.

“...I’m sorry Inuyasha. I don’t want to make you worry... I – I care about you too much.” Kagome whispered, letting the tears leak from her eyes.

A clawed finger reached over to wipe the tears away from her cheeks. “Don’t cry Kagome. I don’t deserve your tears.” With that Inuyasha released her from his embrace and began to walk away.

Kagome had only seconds to make what might be the most crucial decision of her life. The warmth of Inuyasha’s arms around her waist still lingered even though his presence was no longer there.

It was in that moment the Kagome realized that even if it was wrong, even if it would probably get her killed, and even if he didn’t feel the same way she loved Inuyasha, and she wanted to be with him forever. The thought of being parted was too much sadness to bear. All thoughts of her family and her friends flew from her mind and Kagome took a single step towards Inuyasha and grabbed his wrist.

“Inuyasha please... don’t leave me. I need you...” Kagome’s lower lip quivered and she struggled to say what had been haunting her, “I – I think I’m in love with you. And a part of me is screaming that we are meant to be together. I feel – I feel like we have known each other forever... and I like it that way. Please – I need you.”

“Kagome... I – we – It wouldn’t work. You’re a human and I’m just –“ Inuyasha’s words were cut off as Kagome spun him around and placed a finger against his lips.

“Please Inuyasha, just stay by me.” With those final words Kagome burried her head in his chest and Inuyasha’s arms automatically circled her waist.

Maybe he was just a worthless half breed, and maybe Kagome did deserve better than him, and maybe he would never be able to tell her how much he loved her. But he could at least grant her one wish: to stay by her side... forever.

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AN: Well what I am wondering now is if I should continue this story or start a new one. I was going to continue posting on this one but now as I am looking at it... Well review and tell what you think I should do. I am pretty sure I will continue just because I feel I owe you a lemon, but still. Anyway was that enough fluff to tide you over for a bit? I saw how a few reviews stated that i needed more since i am always warning about it, but come off it. There are 167 Inu episodes, I only have 5 chapters and I have gotten just as far. So please don't complain TOO much I am just trying to keep everyone in character, although I think I overdid Inuyasha a bit. Oh well my excuse is that he was just really worried about Kagome, he never does do well when she cries...