Kagome stared at the complete jewel in her hands. Its iridescent
glow seeming more taunting than she remembered. She was still clothed
in priestess clothes from the ceremony, in which Keade and herself
had put the last segment of the jewel back together. What now?
She
wasn't a half demon, but it didn't take dog hearing to hear
Inuyasha shuffling outside.
"You can come in." She called.
The rice paper door slid open and revealed a rather blank looking
Inuyasha. "What are you thinking about?" Kagome asked, twirling
the jewel between her fingers. So much war, over this? She had seen
first hand how much damage this could cause. But never, had she seen
it do any good. The only rumors of it being used for something
resembling morality, were tales that fifty years ago Inuyasha had
nearly agreed to make himself human for Kikyou. Of course, he would
never do that now.
The room was silent, and finally Inuyasha sat
cross legged across from her.
"Can I see it?" He asked
finally, without any emotion in his voice. Kagome tossed it at him
with matching blankness, and he caught it with his incredible
reflexes.
When she had first met Inuyasha, he had wanted this
jewel so bad. He had even tried to kill her to get it. How much had
things changed? Kagome loved Inuyasha with all her heart. She had
realized that long ago. They had shared a few kisses, though they
never spoke of them. She also knew that her love would probably never
be fully returned. How did he feel about the jewel now?
"Have you decided what to do with it yet?" He asked, outstretching his hand to give it back. Kagome didn't return the gesture.
"Have you?" She asked, voicing her curiosity. For the first
time she raised her glance to meet his eyes. Inuyasha was trapped in
he gaze for a moment then tore his eyes away, grabbing Kagome's arm
and putting the jewel in her palm. He had, of course, recognized the
indirect question.
"It's not my place." He said simply,
crossing his arms and reverting to his stubborn self. Kagome cracked
a smile.
"You'll never change." It came out sadder than
intended. She hadn't meant to sound so accusing. She had no idea if
he still wanted to become a full demon with the jewel. Inuyasha
stood, not looking angry, or sad. "Inuyasha, I didn't mean-" It
was too late, he was already outside. Insecurity overwhelmed her. She
tightened her grip on the shiko no tama and quickly shoved it in
shirt, then stood to follow him.
Inuyasha's emotions had dulled his senses. It was definitely the only reason he didn't hear or smell Kagome following him. He wasn't sprinting like he usually did, or Kagome would never have been able to keep up. The cold night air nipped at her nose, but luckily the priestess robes were a lot warmer than her school uniform. She watched quietly as Inuyasha sat underneath the god tree, the very tree she had first encountered Inuyasha. She circled the tree silently, and watched as Inuyasha rested his chin on his knees. Frustratedly it seemed, he ran his fingers though his hair, the silver strands glinting in the moonlight. Only when Kagome was a few feet from him did his ears perk in her direction. Kagome giggled, always amused by the canine in him. Other than that, Inuyasha didn't move. Without speaking Kagome got down on her knees and gave him a hug. His hair was cool against her cheek, and his neck warm against hers.
"Would you really want me to become a full demon?" He asked,
not moving. Kagome paused, the began to let go of him. But Inuyasha
put an arm around her and she resumed the caress.
"I want-"
What did she want? "-you to be happy." She said. She wanted to be
with him. But as a demon...would it ever work? In all her encounters
with him in his full demon stage he was always violent and mindless,
was that how it would always be? "Are you sure that being a full
demon would bring that to you?"
"I'm not sure of anything anymore." He let go of her and
Kagome sat back, then repositioned so she too was leaning against the
tree.
"I'd always wanted to become a full demon." He
continued absently stirring a leaf near the root he was sitting on.
"I'd never been more sure of anything." Kagome's stomach
dropped a bit. She didn't say anything though, not that she could
really, with such a large lump growing in her throat. "But now-"
He stopped, then shook his head. "You didn't leave the jewel did
you?"
He said raising an eyebrow. Only hell knows what sort of demons
were lurking, ready to pounce anytime it was without protection.
Kagome hastily shook her head and removed it from her shirt
holding it up for Inuyasha to see. He nodded, and stood up, offering
Kagome a hand. She took it and joined Inuyasha for a walk.
"So...?"
Kagome pushed. She never said she'd let him have the jewel, but if
he asked, she couldn't see herself turning him down.
"So, what?" He said, ignoring the obvious question.
"So what do you want to do with it?" Leaves crunched under her feet interrupted the night, and its quiet whistling of the wind.
"Thats not my place." He repeated. Kagome let her head fall and she stared at the ground. What the hell was she suppose to do with it? How could she make such a decision? A large part of her wanted to destroy it. But some of her knew that if there was some incredibly good thing it could do, she couldn't just throw that away. How could she be expected to make this decision. This wasn't even her time.
It had felt like she belonged here, but she had another life at home. Though it was almost forgotten. Did she belong here? It was all so confusing.
"Do you want to stay with me?" He asked. The question startled
her.
"Y-yes. But how's the question." No need not to be
forward, she told herself. Inuyasha nodded, he looked like he had
decided on something. It had took her a while to realize the had
wandered towards the bone eaters well. Wandered? Or had they
intentionally walked there. She didn't know.
"Kagome, I..." Inuyasha stood in front of her, his amber eyes glinting, moonlight lighting up his face in an almost god like form. " I've never been so happy with anyone as I've been with you." He said. Kagome's heart began to beat rapidly. She felt her cheeks turn red, what did this mean?
"but there's only one way this could ever work..." Kagome
found herself nodding, but then looked up confused.
"wait, what
do you mean?" Inuyasha's hand was under her chin, and her face
felt hotter. "What are you doing?" He didn't say anything, he
just tilted her head down and kissed her. Her heart nearly leaped out
of her chest. His lips were soft and firm, and extremely warm to the
touch. Goosebumps spread across her entire body, and her lips tingled
excitedly. It was all too soon when he pulled away.
He then picked her up, and she was all too confused until he set
her on the edge of the well, her legs pointing towards the middle.
It was then too, she noticed the jewel was gone. "Why?" She
asked, her voice beginning to choke.
"Because I love you." he said, and pushed her in the well.
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