Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters. But the story idea is mine and mine alone… despite the fact that it probably isn't the first time a Sesshoumaru/Kagome fanfic started off this way.
AW: I love this pairing. I think Inuyasha is an idiot and deserves to be with Kikyou. While Kagome should be with Sesshoumaru. You can argue with me otherwise but that's my opinion. Then again, if you're reading this fanfic, you're probably an S&K supporter so thumbs up to you!
Enjoy!
The Truth
The gang was settled in a small clearing which happened to be where they were camping for the night. It was quiet aside from snores (both soft and loud) and the dying crackle of their campfire. Miroku was seated up against a tree, Sango laying not far from him in a sleeping bag, Kirara curled up beside her head. Kagome and Shippou lay across the camp from them, Shippou snuggled against Kagome in her sleeping bag.
Inuyasha, who was perched in a tree looking over the five of them, was still awake and seemed to be waiting for something. His head snapped up at a familiar scent and, with a brief glance at the group (lingering a bit longer in Kagome and Shippou's direction) before bounding off in the direction of the scent.
His exit must have been a bit noisy, because Shippou stirred and sat up slowly, rubbing his half-lidded eyes tiredly. That woke Kagome and she propped herself up on one elbow, struggling to open her own heavy eye lids.
"What's wrong, Shippou?" she looked around, with both her eyes and what little spiritual sense she had, to see if there might be any danger nearby.
The fox kit turned to her, "I thought I heard something…" he replied tiredly.
Kagome, by that time, noticed what the problem might've been.
"Inuyasha's not here." she sat up, much more alert than she was a moment ago.
Shippou also seemed to be more awake, though his alert expression was soon replaced by nervousness.
"He probably just took a walk cause he couldn't sleep or something…" the boy tried not to fidget but it was hard for him when he knew the truth and was partially lying to the one he treated as his adopted parent.
Kagome's eyes narrowed at him slightly, easily able to tell that he was lying to her.
"You know where he is, don't you?"
"Umm… Well… I-" he couldn't finish his sentence and stopped, nodding his head once and leaving it to hang in shame of both lying to her and knowing what Inuyasha was doing.
From his response, Kagome knew exactly what was going on. Her bangs shadowed her eyes, "He's with her, isn't he?"
Shippou remained silent and Kagome stood slowly, causing him to look up in surprise, "What are you gonna do?"
"I have to see it for myself. If he really has chosen her over me, I want to know for sure so that I… what I want to do right now isn't a mistake."
Shippou's expression held question before he followed Kagome into the forest. It took them a bit of wandering before Shippou's nose twitched greatly in disgust with the scent of the undead priestess that was nearby. They got close enough to hear what both of them were saying and they were almost caught by the gasp of shock Kagome barely hid with her hand over her mouth.
"Tomorrow I'll tell everyone that you're joining us. I don't care what anyone says. You're definitely better to have in the group than Kagome. She can barely take care of herself, unlike you."
Tears slowly welled up in her eyes before she ran back to camp. Shippou was torn between yelling at Inuyasha for being an idiot and comforting Kagome. He decided the latter was more important and ran to catch up with her.
"Kagome…" he whimpered, her sorrow causing tears to build up in his eyes.
"It's okay Shippou… I should have expected this… I saw the signs…" she looked down at him. "This isn't the first time I woke to find him missing…"
Shippou was surprised by that.
"Y-you knew too?"
"…yeah. I tried to go on like I didn't know but this… this is the last straw."
They were walking as they were talking, albeit a languid pace, and ended up at the campsite where their three friends were still sleeping and unawares. Kagome slid back into the sleeping bag, Shippou jumping in and hugging himself to her.
"I-I think I'm gonna leave, Shippou…" she whispered absently, gazing at the still dying fire with a faraway look in her eyes.
That caused him to whimper softly, hugging onto her tighter, "But I don't want you to go!" he exclaimed softly, burying his face in her chest, wetting her clothing with his tears.
She held him comfortingly with a smile, her eyes still filled with tears of her own as she looked down at him. "You can come with me, if you want. I wouldn't want you to stay here without my protection from… from that brute." her smile widened slightly at his happy expression.
His smile lessoned a bit as he turned to glance at Miroku, Sango and Kirara.
"But what about them?"
Kagome looked up at them too, and her expression was sad once more.
"They'll be fine. I know they won't be happy about it either but… they wouldn't be comfortable in my time." she let her gaze fall back on Shippou. "You would be able to fit in better. You're still a child and would be able to learn everything."
Shippou looked up at her and nodded, "I guess so…"
She patted him on the head and snuggled into her sleeping bag.
"Let's just go back to sleep. Don't worry about it too much. We can save that for when we break the news to them tomorrow…" she bit her lip slightly in worry, contradicting her words before waiting on Shippou to fall asleep, shutting her eyes and falling into a dreamless sleep not long after.
AW: So, what do you think? Review please ~ I enjoy constructive criticism. It'll help get you guys a better story out of me because I take them to heart. Also, give me an idea of what you want in the next chapter and I'll definitely try to incorporate some of the ideas I think will fit. I already have a rough idea for the next chapter but fleshing it out with some extra scenes wouldn't hurt.
P.S.: Yes, Sesshoumaru does appear in the next chapter and I hope I portray him close enough to how Rumiko Takahashi would.
