DISCLAIMER:I do NOT own any of the character ideas used in the following fan fiction. It is just an original story idea using the characters of the Manga/Anime.
Other than that I hope you guys enjoy this story being re-made. Having new experiences I am hoping to be able to reach a more realistic aspect to the feelings involved throughout the story. It will be shaped as I go, so I do not yet know the ending anymore. Prepare yourself for an emotional rollercoaster and please, feedback is always good. Just no flames ok?
Orange light filled the forest as the afternoon sun sank low in the sky. Kagome walked alongside Inuyasha as he carried her bike over his shoulders.
"Inuyasha, I can handle my bike you know, you don't have to carry it if you don't want to."
The half-demon glanced sideways at his dark haired companion.
"Never said you couldn't, I'm just trying to be useful for you.." he replied.
"Useful?" Kagome asked herself. "What does he mean useful? He already does most of the heavy lifting anyways, why would he carry my bike for me like this…unless…"
"If I was walking too slow, you should have said something." She stated sourly.
"I could just as easily make it back to town on my own just fine." She resumed.
Inuyasha turned to her annoyed. "Why do you assume I think you're walking too slow?"
She looked back at him curtly. She opened her mouth but instead he continued.
"Also if I was in a rush I would just run there with both you and your bike, Geeze woman." He finished annoyed.
Kagome paused, not knowing how to answer him.
Inuyasha groaned and turned to continue walking. Kagome heaved a deep breath and followed.
They neared the clearing and the bone eaters well filtered out of the woods into view.
Kagome paused….
It had been three years since a demon had pulled her down the well… three years since the Jewel of Four Souls had shattered…. three long, eventful years... "Is it really over now?" she thought to herself.
A hollow feeling entering her stomach as she thought about leaving Feudal Japan for the last time… Kagome turned to watch the final rays of the sun hide behind the Mountain.
"Inuyasha.." she spoke.
The Hanyou stopped and turned to her. His words caught in his throat when he saw her. Surrounded by the suns' rays, her sleek raven black hair shimmering as the wind blew, caressing her soft face. A look of sadness crossed her face and Inuyasha reached for her.
"Kagome….."
They stood there together watching the sun fade behind the mountains. Not saying a word.
Kagome ran through the thoughts in her mind, remembering her first time climbing out of the well… she turned to Inuyasha… remembering when she had discovered Inuyasha impaled by Kikyos' arrow. She smiled and reached up, startling Inuyasha by rubbing his ears between her fingers.
"Hey! Cut that out you!" he cried in annoyance.
"I'm sorry Inuyasha. I couldn't help myself" she giggled. She looked at his sour face and began to laugh harder. Slowly Inuyasha smiled.
Seeing her smile tugged at something in him… "Kagome..."
He set down her bike and pulled her into his arms.
Startled, Kagome looked at Inuyasha's face. He was looking down at her. Not making any expression however, In his eyes… she saw something…
Inuyasha promptly let her go and turned to the well.
"Finally!" he cried. "I thought we wouldn't get here till after dark!" He continued as he walked away from Kagome.
"Inuyasha…" Kagome moved towards him.
"Is something wrong?" she continued. "You can tell me anything you're thinking about."
Inuyasha looked uncomfortable.
"Are you maybe thinking about...us?" she cautiously asked.
"What are you talking about?" he replied.
Kagome grew silent.
"Inuyasha.. we are not children anymore. We need to talk about things that are happening between us. I can't leave here not knowing what we mean to each other… what I mean to YOU. I think we should give it a chance."
He continued to stare at her.
"I can stay here for you. That is, if you want me to." She finished nervously.
Inuyasha stayed silent.
Suddenly he reacted.
"Kagome, what do you want from me? For us to live happily ever after? To forget that you are a human and I am half of that. I'm not a full man and I am not a full demon." He turned away from her. "I can't go through this again."
Kagome flinched at that reminder. A reminder that there had been someone before.
"Have I thought about it? Yes I have. But there are things that just won't work. You're a human. You will die long before I do. Is it really fair to put me through that? To commit to you, only to lose you?
It is better if we finish this and you go home. I can't….I want to...I just wish..." he trailed off.
Kagome continued to look at Inuyasha. No way to explain that they could get around all of that. That she would find a way to be with him. How could she explain that he meant so much to her? That she was willing to go through anything to be with him in that way. "But… is it the same for him?" she wondered.
She moved closer to him and looked up into his eyes.
"It's okay if you don't feel the same way as I do. I don't want to seem like I am pushing my feelings on you. Please understand I am not trying to do that at all."
"I just wanted to make sure that this friendship, was only ever going to be a friendship….so that I would have no regrets when I left."
Inuyasha stared back into her brown eyes… warring inside his mind about telling her the truth. How he had planned to beg her to stay, to stay here with him as long as she could.
He didn't want to lose her, to never see her smile again, or to feel her holding him when he carried her, or to hear her voice yell his name when she was mad… but he couldn't take that chance again.
He had been careless with his heart before, and it had almost cost him his life… He couldn't betray himself that way again. Unless he was beyond certain she wanted him… that she loved him. The way he loved her.
The winds cut off any words she was about to say as a gust pushed past the two bringing them back to reality. Darkness had fallen quickly. Although it was only an hour to town Inuyasha turned to Kagome. "Let's rest here for tonight."
"Here?" Kagome asked glancing at the well. "That thing gives me the creeps. Just thinking about her bones at the bottom while I sleep…I would never shut my eyes."
Inuyasha laughed, "You have nothing to worry about." He looked around, "Well over this way is the shrine for this well." He pointed to their right. "We can stay in there. Plus you won't have to worry about the cold either."
"I would not have to worry about the cold if you slept with me." She stated.
Inuyasha, caught off guard at her remark, gaped open mouth at her. He then started walking in the direction of the shrine muttering under his breath. "Keh,… women."
Soon after they neared the shrine, Inuyasha dropped their things and muttered something about checking the surroundings and walked away into the dark.
Kagome grabbed her bow and arrows, keeping them close by as she cleared a spot for a fire. Wood was stacked nearby from a previous passerby and soon a small but warm fire was blazing in front of her.
Inuyasha still had not returned, so Kagome went about making herself some food. Some cold rice balls alongside some mushroom ramen. As the ramen sat over the fire, she went inside the shrine to lay out the blankets.
The door slid open with ease and the light from the fire filtered in behind her, casting shadows in the small room. Caricatured marks lined the walls, prayers long forgotten by those who left them scattered all over. Kagome turned her attention to the floor where there was a tatami style mat at her feet.
She went to their bags and grabbed two blankets to lay out. She paid quick attention to the ramen, sprinkling a bit of green onion and herbs into the pot before returning to the task at hand.
It was quick work of the makeshift bed. Really just a pile of blankets balled together, slightly bunched at the top to for some elevation for her head. Inuyasha always slept sitting up, so she knew she didn't have to worry about having room for him.
Usually, she and Sango shared a spot, but Sango and Miroku had gone on a side trip days ago, and were probably at the village already.
Kagome returned to the meal she created and looked around. He didn't return to eat.
Kagome ate alone.
She put his dinner on the coals to keep it warm so he could eat when he got back. "I wonder how long he will be gone…"
As Inuyasha walked, so many thoughts filled his mind. It had been a while since he last let himself think about Kagome. About who she was to him. Breathing in the night air, he continued to stare up at the stars as he walked.
"…Inuyasha… we are not children anymore. We need to talk about things…"
Her words echoed in his mind. His steps ceased and he looked towards the ground.
"I know… I know we are not children." He said aloud. "Children don't let things get complicated like this… they don't have these troubles, they just stay ignorant and happy." He finished.
"Pfft that is a lie, and you know it…"
Memories of his childhood began to flood his mind, memories of the cruel words children spoke to him, about how… "NO!" Inuyasha shook his head. "None of that has to do with Kagome…."
A voice from the back of his mind spoke. "It does, if you have children together."
Suddenly Inuyasha pictured little feet. He saw Kagome with two children in front of him. Dark hair and gold eyed children. And Kagome was staring straight at him smiling.
"Could we? Would we even make it that far? Could we have a life together?"
"I couldn't put them through what I went through, the torment, the hatred…I could never do that to my own. Or see Kagome upset because of it. But…I know how I feel about you…"
Inuyasha continued walking, piecing his thoughts together. Trying to make a decision…
"Inuyasha! You're back!" exclaimed Kagome the moment he cleared the trees.
"Kagome...What are you still awake for?" he asked.
"I was waiting for you to return, you really had me really worried. I know I dropped a lot on you and I'm sorry."
Inuyasha just looked at her.
"Well you shouldn't have worried." he said.
Kagome looked at him sourly. "Fine."
"I left some food for you. I didn't know if you'd be hungry." she sighed.
Kagome turned to the shrine and skipped the two steps to the porch. The door remained open as she took off her shoes and laid down.
Kagome turned away from the light of the fire and rested her head on her arm. Tears stung the back of her eyes.
Pain shot through her hands and she balled them into fists. "I will not cry over this!" she scolded herself. "You knew it was a long shot getting him to admit his feelings in the first place…"
Tears quietly fell from her eyes. "Still….it sucks being rejected"