The Road of the Lover's Battle
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, nor the characters.
(This follows the same type of storyline as the anime, same characters, setting would be sometime before defeating Naraku)
Chapter I: Kagome's Tears
It was a cold night in the Feudal era, Kagome wished she would have remembered to have brought her scarf back from home. At least she was lucky that the group found a cozy shelter for the night and Sango was already preparing the miso soup. Kagome felt very under the weather, she wished Inuyasha would notice and be sympathetic but instead the dog demon grunted out, "What's the matter with ya Kagome?" Kagome's face went pale, and was starting the feel the heat in her face from how insensitive he was, but before she could yell a few sit commands, she felt small streams of tears running along her cheeks, she figured she should just take some time to herself. She was too far from the bone eater's well to return home, so she figured sitting out side alone would help her get her thoughts together and remain calm. Kagome without a word got up, looked at Inuyasha with tear filled eyes and walked out of the shelter. Inuyasha was caught off guard at Kagome's attitude. As soon as Kagome was outside, Inuyasha spoke up, "What's the matter with her?" Shippo smacked Inuyasha upside the head. "You really are stupid! You don't know anything!" Inuyasha then returned the smack to Shippo's head. Miroku nodded in agreement, "Ah yes, you just don't understand how to talk to women, especially Kagome." Sango was pouring the soup in the bowls for her friends, she pours one for Inuyasha and hands it to him. Inuyasha, like the animal he is, began devouring it, basically ignoring the event just moments before.
Kagome sat alone in the grass. She managed to walk far enough from the group to still be able to hear their voices, but not quite close enough to be able to hear what they were saying. Kagome wiped the tears off of her cheeks with the sleeve of her school uniform. She doesn't even know what happened. She didn't know why instead of yelling sit commands like usual, she cried in front of Inuyasha and the others. Then she started thinking about how insensitive Inuyasha was. How can she fall for him? She continued to ponder. Quietly Kagome started talking to herself, "I bet if Kikyo looked sick, Inuyasha would go through all the ends of the Earth to find a cure. I bet if Kikyo were here, I sure as heck wouldn't be." Tears started again rolling down her cheek and she buried her face in her crossed arms. Kagome was always considered to be beautiful, confident and kind hearted, but her one insecurity was never being able to live up to Kikyo. She wasn't as powerful, nor skilled, nor as beautiful, and most importantly, not as important to Inuyasha.
Sango poured another soup bowl and handed it to Inuyasha, "Here, take this Inuyasha." Inuyasha wide smiled gladly snatched the bowl out of Sango's hands and was about to dig in before Sango smacked him, "What the hell was that for?" Inuyasha questioned, still holding the soup bowl. Shippo and Miroku shook their heads simultaneously. Sango arched her eyebrow in annoyance, "Bring it to Kagome, stupid." Sango said. Inuyasha moaned, "Why do I always have to fetch her?" Miroku spoke up, "Because you're the one she wants to see." "Yeah, stupid!" Shippo added. Though Inuyasha would never admit it, he was always so glad when the group nominated him to fetch after Kagome, it gave him time to let loose and be with Kagome, without the worry of an excuse. Inuyasha knew he had deep feelings for Kagome, possibly even deeper than what he felt for Kikyo. There were things that kept him from loving Kikyo any further, like the fact she didn't fully accept his demon side. But Kagome was different, she stood by his side in everything, she never once brought up the idea of changing him. After blissfully smiling about the thoughts of Kagome, Inuyasha smirked and walked out side holding the soup bowl.
Inuyasha easily found Kagome sitting alone. Kagome heard the sound of someone sitting beside her, she looked up from her tear stained sleeve to see Inuyasha offering her soup. Kagome looked in the other direction and rested her chin on her crossed arms sitting upon her knees.
"I'm not hungry Inuyasha." She shivered when a gust of cold wind came her direction.
"Just take it. I don't like it when you don't eat.. It concerns me."
Kagome's heart skipped a beat when she heard the words "concerns me" slip so easily out of Inuyasha's lips. He was worried about her. She looked over at him and gave him a faint smile and took the bowl of miso soup and began sipping it. The two stayed quiet for a minute, both admiring the stars in the night sky. Finally Inuyasha broke the silence,
"Why are you always upset at me?"
Kagome didn't answer right away, trying to think of an excuse to give him. She couldn't tell him she was insecure because of Kikyo.
"I don't know, I guess I'm just a grouch. Sorry." Inuyasha could sense her lying. Kagome didn't even try to hid it either. Inuyasha assumed it had to do with Kikyo. It doesn't matter the situation, if Kikyo was involved or even mentioned, he could always sense Kagome's anger and insecurity. He knew this was her weakness, and he wasn't going to force her to admit it. Inuyahsa scooted closer to Kagome, placing his hand over the hand of Kagome's resting in the grass. She looked at him in awe as he gently clenched her hand.
"Inu...yahsa?" Her eyes looking tearfully in his golden ones.
"I'm so happy you're here with me. I want you to know how grateful I am for meeting you, and how lucky I feel that you decided to stay with me."
Kagome still in her trance, "Inuyasha...I.."
"You're really special to me, Kagome."
Kagome leaned in closer to Inuyasha, as he leaned into her. She closed her eyes, hoping soon her lips would touch his. She felt his breath so close to hers, but to her dismay he spoke the words that would rattle her bones.
"Kagome, I'm sorry." Kagome opened her eyes, first she was disappointed, then she let her mind quickly jump to conclusions.
'He had the chance to kiss me but he didn't! If I were Kikyo, he wouldn't have stopped. He's sorry he can't kiss me because he feels obligated to Kikyo. Kikyo, Kikyo, Kikyo!'
Kagome's anger and jealousy was becoming her as her hands loosened from Inuyasha's grip into fists and hit the grass. Kagome got up quickly, she found Inuyasha's hand on her shoulder trying to stop her.
"Get your hands off me Inuyasha." Kagome said rather calmly, hands still clenched by her sides.
"What's your problem?" Inuyasha snarled.
Finally Kagome couldn't take it anymore, tears of anger busted out,
"HOW CAN YOU TELL ME THAT I'M SPECIAL, LUSTING ME IN YOUR GRASP THEN REJECT ME."
"Kagome would you listen..." She cut him off.
"YOU'RE TOYING WITH MY EMOTIONS."
She soon then turned her back on Inuyasha and ran off, under her breath she said to herself, "If I'm not Kikyo, then I'm worthless." Of course Inuyasha was capable of hearing her, thanks to his dog ears. He watched Kagome walk off. His stubbornness got the better of him, and instead of chasing after her, he went back to the shelter, where he found everyone already sleeping. He sat in his corner trying to sleep his anger off but instead he contemplated the argument. He understood why Kagome was upset. He wanted to kiss her. He was just too scared to. He was scared to love and lose. It hurt so badly when he lost Kikyo, but to lose Kagome, who he felt so much more in love with, die...he couldn't bare it. He knew he was selfish for this, but he knew he had to have boundaries between Kagome and him. Besides, it was in her best interest too, though he was extremely cocky, he was still unsure if he'd survive his battle with Naraku, he couldn't leave this Earth with Kagome heartbroken over his death. Quietly to himself, "She has to know I love her."