I broke this into parts to make it easier to read. Thank you!

The Sound of Your Heart

Part I

Kagome was ten years old when Inuyasha was brought to her family's shrine. He was covered in blood and she didn't even remember the man who'd dropped him off. She was lead by her mother into the bathroom to wash him up. Her mother left her to it, reasoning that he might find comfort in someone his own age.

The silver-haired boy stood silently, his long locks stained as well. She took a washcloth she'd dipped in the steaming bath and approached him slowly. He flinched and scowled, but nothing more. She whispered that she was going to touch him. Her eyes glanced up to the dog ears flattened atop his head. It wasn't a time for it, but that's what she really wanted to touch. She resisted, placing her fingers gently on the fabric of his pajamas, the blood began coagulating and it was soaked through.

"Are you hurt?" She asked as she pushed the collar back to check for a wound. He didn't seem to have any. "It's…not mine." He croaked. She only nodded in understanding.

He let her lead him to the tub.

"Can you take this off?" She gently asked, gesturing to his shirt. He nodded and shed the ruined material. "You can get in and I'll scrub you, if it's OK." She offered. He scowled, but he still did as she asked.

When he sat in, the water level rose to his shoulders. He was small for his age, she thought. They were the same height and size even though he was apparently a year older than her. She put some soap on the cloth, moving like a brush on canvas.

She got a little nervous when the water in the tub had turned red. She pulled the plug to drain it. "Let's make sure you're all clean." She muttered. He didn't seem very bothered by the blood as much as she was.

"My name's Kagome," She said, trying to fill the silence, as she worked shampoo into his hair next. "What's yours?" He opened his mouth and made a growling sound. Then, he paused before finally mumbling, "Inuyasha." "Inuyasha," she repeated as she ran her fingers through his hair. "I have to dunk water on your head, OK?" She took a small bucket meant for playing in beach sand and poured it over him. He shook after that and she couldn't help but laugh.

He whipped around, embarrassed and irritated, but when he saw her smiling face, the mirth and light in her eyes like she was having fun his heart melted. He whipped back around and let her finish up. Her ministrations had felt so good, he'd allowed her to continue when she had to dry off his hair.

Her mother brought in fresh clothes for him. Kagome wrapped the towel around his shoulders. "I'll just be right out here and I'll blow dry your hair once you're dressed, OK?" He nodded at her suggestion and she shut the door behind her.

Inuyasha suddenly hated being alone. The memory of his mother's murder flashed in his mind and he quickly slipped out of the wet pants, leaving them on the sopping floor, and threw on the fresh clothes. He wiped away a couple of tears that had forced their way out before reaching for the doorknob. To his relief, Kagome pushed the door open as soon as she heard it click.

He sat in front of her, cross-legged on the floor of the living room. He sat quietly, watching something she'd put on TV, his eyes fixed to the screen. Meanwhile, she dried and brushed his hair.

"Let me show you to your room." She said as she turned off the cartoon. He simply followed her up the stairs. "If you need anything, I'm right across the hall. We have to share a bathroom, so I'll be sure to knock before I come in." A pang hit his chest. He was going to have to sleep. He was going to have to face the memory and the darkness. He shook his head, giving her a pained expression. His ear twitched and both flattened.

She pressed her lips together in a genuine smile. "I can stay with you til you fall asleep." She offered, recognizing that look of hurt. Her mother had only said that his mother had died. Kagome's own father had passed a few years before, so she knew what he must be feeling.

She fluffed his pillow and peeled back the blanket. He just stood there for a moment staring. Her pajamas were as bright as her personality: pink with blue outlines of stars etched on the pants. She climbed in first and rested her head on the large pillow. She smiled at him again. She rested her head on her hands. He sat with his back toward her.

"Inuyasha…" She cooed as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and leaned her head against his. "You're safe now." Was all she could think to say. He responded by placing a hand over hers. She stayed with him throughout that night.

Moments like this would prove to be few and far between as they grew up together.

It turned out her mother was his godmother and that's why when his single mother had been killed, he'd come to live with them. It was apparently a Western tradition (from his father's side) that usually wasn't something that every parent ever really thought had to be followed through on. Kagome had asked why she hadn't met Inuyasha sooner if the Higurashi's were such good friends of his mother's. Her mother only said that people just sometimes lose touch over the years.

It also turned out that Inuyasha was a brat. He was used to being an only child and masked his hurt with a bad attitude. And he only picked fights with Kagome. Other than a "knock it off, you two" her mother didn't interfere. As Souta, Kagome's younger brother, grew up it became two against one. Souta worshipped Inuyasha.

The two played video games together and were boys. Even Buyo, the cat, hung out with them. Kagome had her set of friends, sure, but she wanted in with these two. But, she and Inuyasha could hardly be in the same room together for long before they were bickering over something. To which Souta would ask his sister to please leave and go do some "girl stuff" like chat with her friends on the phone, which she usually ended up doing. She sighed, missing when Inuyasha paid attention to her.

Kagome laid in bed after hanging up with Eri and recalled one time a few years prior, she'd come home from school crying because the other kids were trying to play "Kagome" with her. Inuyasha had kicked them off the property, chasing them down the stairs of the shrine and made her a bowl of ramen. "Comfort food." He'd said.

She shook off the memory and heard a lot of noise coming from the backyard. She peered out her bedroom window to see that Grandpa was having Inuyasha clean out the storage. Gramps had had him help out since Inuyasha was young. But, since Inuyasha'd turned 15, he was strong enough to help him with heavier chores now. The half-demon never complained once.

Inuyasha was scrawny and only a few inches taller than her, but she noticed as he lifted the boxes, his shirt sleeves pushed up, that he'd developed some muscles. Her cheeks flared a bit and she forced herself to look away and delve into her math homework. Inuyasha was like a brother to her. Like a brother. Like….

The next year and a half melted away.

She came home from school, storming up the steps. She knew exactly where to look for Inuyasha. "You shouldn't be hiding up in the Goshinboku! I can't believe you missed your exams!" He jumped down to face her, knowing that if he didn't come down she'd basically climb up there and get him. Last time she'd done that, she'd twisted her ankle and he'd felt guilty as hell, carrying her on his back. He didn't want a repeat of that. Sure, he could've taken off with Miroku, but he decided he'd rather face Kagome now and get it over with. He'd told the guys and Sango he'd meet up with them later.

"Would you shut up! I have another year." He barked back, exasperation prevalent in his tone. "You're going to be behind a year! You trying to wait for Souta?! Cuz you'd have to fall behind 6 more times. You're so capable, Inuyasha. WHY do you do this?!" She ranted. "Are you finished?" He asked impatiently, crossing his arms over his chest. She mirrored him, crossing her arms and scowling, "We aren't through until you give me an explanation." She took a step forward. Her mother was always nice to him. No one listened to her grandfather. No, if anyone was going to have to get through to him, it had to be her.

"Did you even think for a second that I even have a chance?" He challenged. Her blue eyes widened and mouth dropped. She was actually shocked. Was she really so naïve? He thought. He narrowed his gaze at her. "I'm a half-demon. Humans don't want the likes of me in their schools let alone in advanced education. Demons won't accept me. So, unless you're going to open your own university, I may as well milk the education I CAN get and then get some kind of trade job. Besides, I'd be bored as hell working in an office. Thanks for the concern, but worry about yourself."

He pushed past her and went into the storage shed. He took off his school uniform jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his crisp, white shirt. He never wore the tie that he was supposed to, but he undid the first top buttons and got to work on whatever gramps had asked him to do. "Fine. At least we'll be in the same grade and I can help you." She huffed and threw off her jacket and got to work beside him.

"You're in the way!" Inuyasha finally snapped after bumping into Kagome a few times. This time, she'd tripped over his feet and fallen backwards. He'd caught her. But, then he pushed her off him by the shoulders. "Just what the hell is your problem?!" She snapped back. "What the hell is yours?!" He retorted.

"You are!"

"Back at ya!"

"Are you crying?! NO CRYING!" Inuyasha yelled. "You've been so mean to me, I just don't get it. I thought we were friends at least." She started to wipe her eyes. She leaned against the wall and slumped down. "C'mon. Don't cry over me." He practically begged, kneeling beside her. "What else am I supposed to do?!" She was so frustrated and couldn't stop her eyes from leaking.

"Kagome, I just—I'm sorry," he choked out. She hiccupped and looked up at him with watery eyes the blue-gray shade of the ocean. "I just wanted to be in the same grade as you and protect you." He confessed. "What?" She inquired with a squeak. He turned his face away from her and tried to hide under his bangs. When he didn't respond-she wasn't sure if she heard right-she asked anyway, "B-but then why are you so mean to me?" "That—it's not like that." He said as he took her by the hand and leaned in. "Y-you're freaking me out!" She said as she pushed him away and abruptly stood up. "Just wait, would ya!" He called after her.

She stopped mid stride and turned to face him, her face flushed from crying and her racing heart. "It's-This is how it has to be. I know you don't care, but society has prejudices. I don't want you to be a part of it. It's enough that you all took me in. But, I also know which asshole guys are in your grade and if I'm in your class I can look out for you…from afar." He admitted. "If you think it's best, Inuyasha…." Was all she said as she went indoors. He stayed out working in the shed.

She couldn't help but look at him this time from out her window. He was growing up fast. His muscles were more defined and he'd grown a little taller. When he looked at her with those golden eyes it did things to her. Yeah, she agreed silently. It was better to keep her distance.

Inuyasha was in her class in the fall. She walked to school alone, but he wasn't far behind or he made his way along the fences and buildings, which she found ironic if he wanted people to treat him "normally" he sure didn't act like it. But, the things others didn't like about him, she did. She wanted this nonsense to stop, so halfway through the semester, she asked him to study with her.

"I need a little help." She asked one night, slinking into his room. He raised an eyebrow at her from his desk. She leaned over next to him, placing her book beside whatever he was working on. She brushed her hair behind her shoulder as to not get in her way. "Sit." He told her as he got up from the chair.

"Is your brain broken?" He teased as he erased her error on the Punnett square. She nudged him in his side and pouted, her brows knitting together, "Shut up. I just don't understand probabilities and these things." Inuyasha's chest reverberated against her shoulder as he laughed at her. His silver strands tickled her cheek as he leaned over her. His hair was longer than hers. She was a little jealous.

She blinked a few times, realizing she was listening to the sound of his voice, but not what he was saying. "Sorry. Repeat that." She said. "You're a space case today. Even for you." He jeered. She scowled and huffed. "Relax, " he told her as he leaned in closer, one hand leaning on the back of the chair behind her. "Let's review the steps. Tell me what you know."

"What are you guys doing?" Souta asked from the doorway. "Studying!" Kagome snapped. "You're breaking my concentration." "Yeah, she's got a few screws loose today." Inuyasha joked. Her little brother rolled his eyes and continued down the hall.

She turned back to the paper. He now knelt down beside her. Why was her heart racing? Wait, was she supposed to be solving something? "Let's go." His voice broke her out of her musings. "Where?" She asked, confused. "You can't focus. Let's go for a walk." He suggested.

He bent down in front of her and insisted she climb on. She placed her hands on his shoulders tentatively. "You're gonna fall off, stupid. Hang on tight!" He said as he pulled her arms over him.

She hugged his neck from behind as he took off running through rooftops. It was exhilarating. She wasn't scared like she expected to be. She felt his back muscles flexing beneath her. He held onto her thighs securely. She knew she was safe. For a moment, she stopped watching the city fade and just closed her eyes, nuzzling him.

They stopped and he told her to look up. There were hundreds of stars twinkling above them. She could see the city in the near distance, but this was as good as it was gonna get.

"Thank you." She leaned into his side. He leaned back, taking off his red sweatshirt and draping it around her shoulders. She looked into his face as he looked up at the night sky. His eyes were amber even in the darkness. He really was growing into a man now, she could see it being this close to him. He was gorgeous. She felt heat creep into her cheeks, but she couldn't stop looking at him. "What?" He asked harshly, a scowl marring his features. Even with a scowl he looked good. "I think we get along more now, is all." She said sweetly. "Keh! Whatever." He said, not thinking more about it, as he shifted his gaze back upward.