Disclaimer: Inuyasha and friends were created and lovingly brought to life by Rumiko Takahashi.
Summary: There's a new moon tonight, so Kagome asks Inuyasha to come home with her.
Pairing: Kagome/Inuyasha
Rating: G
Author's Note: Thought expressions are indicated by '_'. A glossary for the Japanese terms is provided at the end.
AT YOUR SIDE
By Ericedwyn
~* Sengoku Jidai *~
"Bye, Sango-chan. Bye, Miroku. Say "goodbye" to Kaede-baachan for me!" Kagome waved cheerfully before scooping up Shippou into her arms.
"You won't stay there long, will you, Kagome?" Shippou asked in a small voice, his green eyes a little misty.
"Only a few days, Shippou-chan, I promise. I'll bring back a treat for you, okay?" Kagome smiled at her young friend.
"You will? Will it be a cherry-flavored lollipop?" Shippou asked excitedly, the mistiness in his eyes gone… his face shining with stark anticipation.
Kagome chuckled as she hugged the little kitsune. "If that is what you want, Shippou-chan, then that's what I will bring back for you."
The young Miko set the happily grinning cub down on the ground before hefting her yellow backpack to her shoulders. "Be good, Shippou-chan! Goodbye!" She waved as she made her way towards the Goshinboku where she knew Inuyasha would be lounging on a limb.
"Inuyasha! I'm leaving now. I'll be back in three days. Thank you again for being understanding." Kagome smiled up at the sour-faced hanyou.
"Feh! I don't know why you like these "tests" so much. Just be sure you get back here in three days. The jewel shards aren't going to find themselves, you know!" Inuyasha retorted without looking down at her. Instead he looked up at the slowly darkening sky, devoid of any presence of the moon.
Kagome followed his gaze and did a quick calculation in her head. 'Oh no! There's a new moon tonight,' she said to herself. Her dark blue-eyes drifted back to the hanyou, this time filled with concern for his well-being and safety.
"Inuyasha?" Kagome asked softly.
"Eh?" Inuyasha looked at her.
Kagome smiled and reached out her hand. "Why don't you come with me?"
Inuyasha stared blankly at her, which made the young Miko self-conscious. Enough so that she felt her cheeks grow hot with embarrassment. She can only imagine how red-faced she was getting. But what she didn't know was…
Inuyasha was overwhelmed. Each new moon brought him inner turmoil, and for some time now, he has been growing more and more uneasy during the first few hours he was in what he considered his "weaker" form. But to be asked… by her… his Kagome… that was sweeter than any honey that any bee can create.
Through the scrutiny, Kagome tried not to look away. Instead, she continued to hold out her hand to her friend. She will remain steadfast.
The young Miko was determined. She will guarantee his safety tonight. "Onegai, Inuyasha?"
Inuyasha nodded and leaped to the ground. He didn't take her proffered hand. Instead, he reached out to take the heavy backpack from her shoulders. "Let's go, Kagome." The hanyou simply said.
Kagome turned her face so that the hanyou wouldn't see the disappointment she was feeling. She made her way to the well.
A moment later, Inuyasha fell into steps with her. With a little tumult in his heart, he reached out towards her hand and loosely clasped it. He waited with bated breath to see what she would do.
Kagome blushed crimson when she felt her hand embraced by his. She looked down, at their clasped hands, unable to look at Inuyasha. Inside, her heart sang a million love songs all at once.
Inuyasha averted his face a little. His felt the warmth on his cheek and prayed that Kagome won't see the pink tingeing his cheeks. But he could have sworn that his heart skipped a beat when he felt her fingers tighten around his. Inside, he felt like he just conquered the world many times over.
Together, hand in hand, they jumped into the well.
~* Higurashi House, 1 a.m. in the morning*~
Kagome yawned after she finished calculating the last math problem on her paper. She turned to look at her alarm clock to check the time. 'Gosh, I've been working for 3 hours straight! I wonder how Inuyasha is…' She looked behind her and smiled.
She got up from her chair and stretched before walking by the side of her bed. She gazed down at the slumbering hanyou, whose face looked so young, innocent, and free of the tension that seemed to follow him everywhere. She smiled as she reached out to brush tendrils of his deep black hair off his face. 'Sleep well, Inuyasha, you're safe now.'
Inuyasha stirred awake. At first he was confused as to where he was and wondered why a blanket covered him.
He felt Kagome's presence and turned to look at her. He found her sitting on the floor with her head tucked in her arms on the side of the bed, fast asleep.
He reached out a clawed hand towards her and brushed his hand over her raven-black tresses. "Arigato, Kagome," he whispered.
Glossary:
Arigato – Thank you
Hanyou – Half-human/Half-demon
Onegai – Please