Between The Lines

By: Maggz

Disclaimer: InuYasha and Co. © Rumiko Takahashi.

Note: I'll post the author note later…

Epilogue

Five years later

Kagome sat outside the café, sipping a latte and reading the paper. Her usual morning routine usually called for this and today was no different. Turning a page, she took a sip and sat the heavy mug down onto the table. A soft breeze blew across her and she looked up and smiled letting the wind blow warm on her face. It was a beautiful day, a glorious morning after for it had stormed cats and dogs the evening previous. She smiled at the memory…

She'd always been a sucker for a rain storm. Somehow it seemed all cozy and romantic to her and lately she'd found herself in his arms every single time it rained. She chuckled to herself thinking it must've been raining quite a bit lately as she'd been in his arms a lot. Picking up her mug, she let her mind drift lazily over the evening before.

She'd come in from work at the gallery. Pretty soon she'd have her OWN show but for the time being, she was content to work among the paintings and sculptures that surrounded her every single day at work. She'd been commissioned to work for a prominent family in the city- portraits of their three children- and she had been excited and eager to share her news. The paycheck promised to be substantial but the exposure would be huge!

Running through the rain to the apartment, she'd stomped rain off her shoes and went inside. Candles glowed from every surface, no lights other than their soft glow shining throughout. A heavenly smell came from the kitchen and she grinned, slipped off her shoes and prepared to sneak in on him.

Laying her purse and books quietly on the sofa, she had tiptoed to the edge of the kitchen door. He'd had his back to her, busily chopping veggies for one of his world famous salads. His concentration was deeply focused on his task; therefore she could take her time and enjoy watching him.

He still affected her the way he always had, ever since the very first time they'd made love. Sometimes he took her breath away when she thought of how deeply she loved him… most of the time she praised the heavens above for sending him her way.

She stepped away from the door and walked over to the CD player to grab one of her favorite CD's. Natalie Cole's UNFORGETABLE. So romantic! She couldn't count the times he'd made love to her with THAT song in the background and every time she heard it, she got a huge smile on her face and a warm feeling in her tummy.

She slid the CD into the rack and turned it low, sliding out of her new suede jacket as she did. He'd bought the jacket for her as a celebratory treat when she'd worked her first professional portrait. Putting it down, she smiled when her engagement ring sparkled in the lights of the candles he'd lit for them. She held the ring up and felt his arms surround her waist from behind. She leaned back into him and closed her eyes, tears springing to them easily. He kissed her neck and held her against him.

"I've got good news!", she said.

"Yeah? What?" he asked, turning her so that she now faced him.

"The Tarlington's, they've commissioned me to do the portraiture of their children. It wasn't just rumor, it was the TRUTH!", she laughed and flung herself into his arms, kissing over his entire face. He was laughing right along with her, so proud of her, so happy she was happy.

"I'm happy when you're happy, baby. That's wonderful.", he grinned and nipped at her nose. She touched his cheek and pressed her lips fully to his.

"Happy Anniversary!", he said softly and stepped back from her, holding to her hands, then bringing her close once more to breath in the scent of her. Sometimes he still couldn't really believe she was HIS.

"Happy Anniversary to YOU, sweetheart. I love you!", she sighed and then his lips were on hers yet again, kissing her into oblivion.

Three years previous

Kagome had left college, left town and struck out on her own. Taking only a small bag, she'd traveled Europe. She'd then found herself backpacking across beautiful countrysides with an eclectic bunch of people she'd met along what she'd called "her healing journey".

One entire year it had taken her to get over them. Not just get over them but just exist; one entire year of her life to heal.

She'd left them both, writing a letter to each of them to let them know just how much each one had meant in her life. Telling them she realized she needed time to grow up and take responsibility for her own life and begging them to understand that it was better this way… written down, instead of said face to face. She knew if she ever saw either of them one look would've broken her resolve and she just couldn't stay.

It had hurt more than anything in her life- leaving the one sure thing in her life as well as the promise of a deeper love. Putting it completely out of her head was the only way she could handle it so that's what she did. She put both of them far away and concentrated on being Kagome. Concentrated on growing, experiencing, changing and taking responsibility.

After a year, she'd moved to Paris. Art was in her blood and she'd worked for six months in a small café during the day while doing street portraits for passersby in the evenings. She met loads of interesting people, she dated a few interesting men but none that could dare compare to the two men she'd lost her heart to.

Then he had come for her.

In the rain.

…Maybe that was why they both now seemed to have a certain affectation for storms.

She'd just gotten off work, had set up her easel and stool outside the café to work the tourists for portraits and heard the loud boom of thunder as it crashed through the city skyline. Looking up, she'd been dismayed to see dark clouds scudding across the sky; there would be no work for her now.

Turning to put up her things and resigning herself to another lonely evening at home, she'd looked up…

He stood underneath the overhanging shelter outside the café. His wet hair clinging to his skull, his eyes riveted on her. She'd gave a little cry, her hand over her heart, dropping her things on the sidewalk unable to even bend to pick them up. He'd rushed forward, scrambling along the wet pavement after her chalks, charcoals, pencils and inks. She'd watched him, her heart hammering in her chest…

How? How had he found her?

Standing, he scooped up her backpack and stuffed her wet things inside. The last thing he did was fold her easel and pack it into its carrying case before turning to give her a long, smoldering look.

"Your place.", he'd said.

She nodded, skirting him and walking the few blocks to her tiny apartment. She'd found the place purely by luck situated over a nice family restaurant. It was a bit noisy in the evenings but Mr. and Mrs. Riley, the proprietors, were always leaving foil covered dishes of warm, delicious food for her by her door or checking in on her when she might take sick, worrying over the amount of time she seemed to spend alone and never believing her when she told them that was what made her happy.

She'd turned to look back over her shoulder at him as she opened the street door and started up the narrow flight of steps to her place. She could hear the sound of his boots as they hit the stair steps behind her and she shook her head, still unable to fathom how he could be here.

Standing in the hallway, hair dripping wet, clothing soaked through, she'd dug into her backpack dropping it then finally picking it up and reaching her key.

Still he stood, patient, quiet…

She opened the door and went inside, standing to the side to allow him in. He walked past her, rain jacket dripping water on the wooden floors, shoes making faint tracks behind him as he placed her things onto the table.

She'd watched him unable to take her eyes from the sight of him.

Starving, aching, needing…

It was hard to even breathe; he was taking up all the space there in front of her and when he finally turned and lifted his eyes to her she started to cry.

"Kagome.", he mumbled taking a step toward her. She'd held up her hand keeping him away. One touch; that was all it would take… one and she'd crumble in front of him. Every single thing she'd learned about being independent and resourceful would just disappear then what would she be?

"I left…", she said.

"You left ME. You left US." he breathed. It hurt to see her, hurt him so much he felt the pain deep in his chest. How he wanted to just hold her, kiss her and then take her to bed and make love to her until the sun came up. Was it too much to ask?

"I had to, you know I had to. I explained it.", she said, backing away another step from him as he took one toward her.

"You left and gave me no choice. That was unfair, Kagome, grossly unfair. It nearly did me in.", he moaned.

"It was better for you and for me.", she insisted, her heart breaking at the very idea that he'd suffered any more because of her.

"No, you ran and you hid. All I wanted was you. It was all I ever wanted or needed.", he said softly. "I loved you. I still do."

"Oh God, don't say that please. You don't know what you're saying.", she said, her voice trembling.

"I know. I know my own heart and soul. I know I never stopped loving you and I know that I came here to find you and be with you. Tell me you don't love me the same way. TELL ME!", he said, tears standing in his eyes.

"I- oh shit!", she sobbed, turning away from him and wrapping her arms around herself for comfort. It was all she'd had for over a year. She'd taught herself very well or at least she thought she had until he touched her.

His hands on her arms sent shivers rocketing through her body. His lips on her neck made her cry harder.

"I love you so much. I want to be with you. I don't care where you are or what you do. I need you and baby, I know you need me.", he moaned into her ear.

"No, no, no, please. It'll hurt too much!", she wept brokenly. Her knees gave way and he caught her pulling her back against him and turning her toward his warmth and closeness.

"I won't let you run from me again. If I have to lock you into this room until I make you see that we need to be together, I'll do it and you KNOW I will.", he said.

His hand slid through her wet hair, down the back of her soaking t-shirt and around the front of the shirt to stroke over the taut peaks of her nipples. She lay her head back and cried even harder. His hands slid underneath the wet shirt to caress her belly over bare breasts and she heard him grunt softly, felt him pull her tightly to him.

It was moments and they stood naked against each other, both crying, kissing. When he lay her down on the soft rug she kept in front of her sofa she felt something inside her give way once again. Walls she erected had been broken down once before. She'd built more and now they had started to crack as well. The more he touched her, the more he kissed and spoke sweet love words in her ear the harder the walls tumbled to the ground.

When he made love to her it was unlike anything she'd ever known in her entire life. Exploding into a million pieces of stardust, finding his hand and falling back to earth with him.

Afterward he'd refused to allow her up. He'd wrapped his warm, naked body around hers and slept deeply, the first real sleep he'd probably had in over a year.

When she'd tried to move once again after a brief, light sleep he'd cried out and pulled her back down until she'd had to wake him to let him know she needed to run to the bathroom. He'd even gotten up, took her hand and followed her there.

They'd went back to her bed, sliding under the thick mound of blankets together and holding each other close had slept the entire night through and up until lunchtime the next day. Luckily, it had been her free day.

He'd woken her up with kisses all over her body, refusing to let her move or speak until he'd kissed the tiny pinkie toe on her right foot, thus saying he'd kissed every inch of her he'd missed. She'd been warmed by it, her body tingling remembering the feel of his mouth on hers.

Later, he'd taken her into a huge bath full of bubbles and as she soaked there, he'd washed her hair, combed it and then climbed into the bath with her to love her once again.

He hadn't talked much at all. A sad, haunted look in his eyes making her ache for him, making her feel ashamed of herself for ever hurting him at all.

He'd refused to allow her out of his sight; she'd eventually had to call into work for a week's holiday. They never left the apartment. The Riley's, as if sensing something, left huge plates of food by the door all week long.

…And it rained. All. Week. Long.

On Sunday before she was to finally return to work on the following Monday, she'd sat him down, eased herself into his lap, cradled his head and let him cry against her breast. Long, deep, soul aching sobs shook him as he held to her and told her how much he'd missed her, how much he'd wanted her.

She had been strong that day. It was what he'd needed.

She went to work the next day and he'd shown up once her shift was over, shaking his head when she'd started to set up her easel outside.

He'd taken her back to her place, made love to her yet again and told her he wanted to marry her. She hadn't accepted at first. In fact, it had taken her three years to accept his proposal of engagement.

But he never left and neither did she.

It took a long time but eventually his trust returned. He laughed more, played more and she felt her heart lighten.

Just in the last week, he'd given her the ring and she'd cried holding him all night long, telling him just how much she loved him, how she'd never leave again, how she needed him like she needed air to breathe.

Now here he stood with her wrapped in his arms, his lips on hers yet again, his heart beating solidly against her own. She'd never known a love so complete, so all encompassing, so safe…

They had set a date; just a tiny ceremony was enough. It was all they needed.

"It's been a year since I found you again.", he said, his eyes shining down into hers as he fiddled with the CD player, pulling a CD out with a shy grin.

"A wonderful blessed year.", she smiled.

He nodded, sliding the CD into the slot and pushing the display button until it read what he wanted to see. Turning to her, he held out his arms with a soft smile as the opening bars of the song began to drift over them.

Don't pretend you're sorry
I know you're not
You know you got the power
To make me weak inside
And girl you leave me breathless
But it's okay
Cause you are my survival
Now hear me say

I can't imagine
Life without your love
Even forever don't seem like long enough

Every time I breathe I take you in
And my heart beats again
Baby I can't help it
You keep me drowning in your love
Every time I try to rise above
I'm swept away by love
Baby I can't help it
You keep me drowning in your love

Maybe I'm a drifter
Or maybe not
Cause I don't own the safety
Of floating freely in your arms
I don't need another lifeline
It's not for me
Cause only you can save me
Oh can't you see

I can't imagine
Life without your love
And even forever don't seem like long enough

Go on and pull me under
Cover me with dreams, yeah
Love me mouth to mouth now
You know I can't resist
Cause you're the air that I breathe

THE END