Chapter 12: Blossoming Emotions

Before she knew it, she and Inuyasha were miles beyond Sango's house. She knew her friends had given her the chase, but Inuyasha was relentless in going as humanly fast as possible. It would have been the perfect escape, if she hadn't committed one small mistake; Kagome looked back….

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"Was that…"

"Kagome…" she whispered...

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"Inuyasha, please slow down. They stopped chasing us. I don't think I can run much longer at this pace" she wheezed, short of breath from their incessant running. She felt as if they had been running for hours. They had long passed Sango's house, even past the outskirts of the neighborhood. She had no idea where she was; all Kagome saw were trees as she felt the wet grass beneath her naked, numb feet as she ran and the cool, crisp air as it whipped against her face. She seriously needed to stop running.

"Inuyasha, please, stop…just stop…" her voice a tired whisper. She felt her energy draining. 'I can't run…I can't…' her movements becoming heavier. As if on cue, her left foot tripped over her right and she felt herself falling.

Inuyasha turned back towards Kagome as he felt her hand, still cupped within his own, tug downwards. 'Crap' he thought.

He stopped running and turned around to catch Kagome as she was inches from crashing into the cold, dampen ground. He picked up her bridal style into his arms. He looked down at her; his indigo eyes examining her tired face. Kagome's eyes were half closed and her chest heaved up and down, evidence of her exhaustion. Inuyasha felt horrible in that moment. 'I pushed her too much…she's only human' he thought, his face solemn.

Inuyasha turned away from her face to investigate his surroundings. They had run far enough, he concluded. Surrounding them were high trees and a moonless sky. He honestly had no idea where they were. 'Damn these dull human senses' he thought bitterly. He looked back down at Kagome. She had fallen asleep due to her exhaustion evidenced by her relaxed breathing. Inuyasha knew he had to find a place to crash for the night. His eyes searched up in the sky for the North Star.

'It should lead us back into the city' he mused. The closer to the city he got, the better the chance of finding an empty space to crash for the night. After a few minutes of scrutinizing the sky, his gaze fell upon his chosen light. His tired, numb feet soon began to follow the star back towards the city's outskirts.

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Kagome felt like an autumn leaf slowly spiraling downwards; completely weightless and utterly relaxed. 'Relaxed?...that's odd' she mused dreamily. Her eyebrows furrowed together in objection to the thought. 'Wasn't I running…running with…' Her eyes shot wide open.

"Inuyasha!" she howled as she struggled to move.

"Keh, stop moving will ya?! I'm trying to find the way back" he growled.

Kagome looked up to see the face of the human hanyou. His eyes looked straight ahead, with his eyebrows crossed in concentration. Her azure eyes softened. It was then when she realized she wasn't walking…she was cradled in his arms, still wrapped in the white sheet. A blush blossomed across her face.

"Thank you, Inuyasha" she airily murmured as the rosy tint continued to spread.

Inuyasha looked down at Kagome's face. Her enrapturing, cerulean eyes glimpsed back at him, half hidden underneath lusciously full, dark lashes. He felt his face blaze with crimson embers. He rapidly looked away.

"Keh, whatever. Just go back to sleep. I can see the city lights up ahead. I'll find us a place to sleep for the night" he stated.

Kagome smiled at his response. She snuggled closer into his muscular, naked chest. 'Inuyasha' she mused happily as she inhaled his masculine scent.

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"Why.." her voice barely above a crackled whisper.

Sango sat stiffly on her black, leather couch. 'Kagome…had that really been Kagome? Was she hiding around here this whole time? But why?...' tears pooled on the edge of Sango's hazel irises.

"Sango…don't do that to yourself. Overthinking if it was or was not Kagome won't lead to the answer of why" Miroku sated as a matter-of-factly.

Sango squeezed her eyes tightly shut and hands balled into angry fists, "How can you be so calm right now?! I think I just saw my best friend run away from me and you want me to not think about that?! Don't tell me what to do Miroku!" she shrieked at the calm, collected youth before her.

Sango suddenly felt the wisps of air as she was lunged forward; her high ponytail swished gloriously behind her head. Sango stilled. He was hugging her, Miroku was hugging her.

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Miroku could not bear to see his beloved Sango in such despair over their friend. He loved seeingSango's radiant smile, the blush that shyly creeps across her cheeks when she's embarrassed, and the lovely fury of her deserved slap across his face when he fondles her precious back cheeks.

He knelt down on his knees at face level with her. She was shrieking and crying. He outstretched his finely muscled arms and pulled Sango towards his heart. No, she would not suffer through this ordeal alone.

"I'm here for you Sango, always" he whispered gently into her left ear as he embraced her firmly…lovingly.

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"I'm here for you Sango, always"

Sango felt her heart thunder inside, robust and commanding. Her balled fists unraveled and she let her swirling emotions guide her actions. She enraptured herself in Miroku's arms, fully and wholeheartedly.

'Miroku…' she lovingly reflected as she buried her head in his defined chest.

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A/N: Just pure FLUFF in this chapter. Again, I am just trying to get back into the swing of things. Not much exciting stuff as far as action here but subsequent chapters will be lengthier and meatier. Thank you. Reviews are always appreciated. Until next time bunnies!