Chapter 2: Calm Before The Storm
" I don't really have the time to be fighting you right now Sesshomaru. We've got bigger problems then you hating my mother and myself. So if you don't mind let's-" InuYasha was quickly cut off by his older brother smacking the blade of Tetsuiaga into the ground.
" I'm not here to kill you...Little brother." Sesshomaru slowly raised his hand away from Tetsuiaga and looked Inuyasha in his eyes.
" I've heard the fleas stories and as much as I hate to admit it he's right. You. Preistess...Monk...Demon-Slayer. The three of you all feel that demonic aura don't you?" He asked coldly as he walked towards the human around the campfire. Miroku was the first to break the short but uneasy silence.
" I noticed it right after my wind tunnel vanished...everyone else was too concerned about my hand to notice. I have to admit...I've never felt a demonic aura like that before. For it to be across that giant body of water and still be felt...Just what kind of monster is this?" Miroku stood as he spoke.
" InuYasha. Like I said it's time for us to settle the thing between us. By that I mean I'm done trying to kill you. This demon may kill us all." Sesshomaru spoke his words calm and cold.
"I get it Sesshomaru. He's a strong demon. He has to be strong for you to be here asking for help. We haven't had the best relationship and I know my mother was the reason Father died...but it was his choice. He died protecting the woman he loved Sesshomaru. Surely that means something to you now. Wouldn't you do anything to save Rin?" InuYasha spoke calmly as he approached his older brother.
" Yes, I suppose you're right. Before Father died he asked me 'If I had someone to protect' I guess I can see now. You, Father and myself are more alike than I thought. He had your mother, You have that Priestess there and I have Rin. So I suppose I shall acknowledge you as my brother as my father's blood does run through your veins." Sesshomaru turned to see InuYasha's slightly cracked smile.
" Okay. I'll help you if it comes to that, but I need you to promise me something Sesshomaru." InuYasha's toned of voice had turned serious.
" Oh? Well, what would that be InuYasha?" Sesshomaru asked in a more hushed tone.
" If things get bad when this demon shows up. I want you- No, I need you to take Kagome back to the Bone-Eater's Well. I need you to make sure she goes in and-" InuYasha was cut off by Kagome running to his side and grabbing his sleeve.
" No! I won't leave you like that InuYasha! Don't you dare ask him to do something that awful! I..I...thought.." Kagome began to choke on words and her eyes began to swell. InuYasha without even thinking about it or about his surroundings wrapped both arms around Kagome and pulled her into his body.
" Kagome, you know that's not why I'm asking him. It's only if things get bad. If something was to hapen to you, I wouldn't know how to live with myself. If something happened and I couldn't save you...I'd rather die than to live with that in my head. So...please Kagome if things get bad. Promise me, promise me you'll go home. i need you to do that and stay home until I come to get you." InuYasha poured out his thoughts without so much as a single second of thought put into them. This was quite literally InuYasha's heart speaking.
" InuYasha...I...I promise. But what am I suppose to do if I leave and have to wait for you and what if you decide not to come get me?" Kagome asked him with tears still in her eyes. InuYasha lightly smiled to her and slid a falling tear away with his index finger.
" Thats simple stupid. You go fight those..entrance...exam...demons. Like you talked about before. You live a normal life. If I can come get you I will. If not you have to promise me that you'll like a normal life. Promise me." InuYasha looked down to meet her gaze. He began to feel different than he ever did around Kikyo.
" What if you decide...you don't want me around anymore and just leave me there?" She asked sheepishly while begining to blush.
" Don't think like that Kagome. You still have work to do. You're the only one that can find the Shikon Jewel. Besides, I still need...you...here." InuYasha calmly spoke to the young girl in his arms. She pulled herself closer to InuYasha.
"Thank you InuYasha and I promise. I just need you to promise me that no matter what you'll make it back to me." She looked up at his Amber colored eyes. For a moment she swore the only two people in exsistance were her and the man she'd fell in love with.
"I promise Kagome. I promise that I'll come get you if we have you go home." "InuYasha noticed everyone had their eyes fixed on the two of them.
" What are you all gawking at?! Geez. Act like you've never seen me and Kagome talk before. Anyways...Sesshomaru how long til you think this demon shows up? A week or two?" InuYasha spat out as he tried to switch the focus of the group. Sesshomaru scoffed at his embaressed little brother.
"More like tomorrow. By the time the sun is at it's highest point." He answered quite confidentally. Kagome's head shot up and she turned to face Sesshomaru.
" Seriously? That soon...by tomorrow afternoon? Geez that's no time at all to prepare or plan. Althought I guess-" Kagome began to speak and InuYasha spoke with her.
"You can't plan for something you don't know anything about." The pair spoke in almost harmonized tone. The gang then decided it was time to call it a night and try to get some sleep...though noone actually expected sleep to come. Sesshomaru had instructed Rin to stay in the little hut with Kagome, Miroku, Sango and Shippo. He meanwhile returned up to the top of the hill he had Jaken waiting at. InuYasha had leaped up into the tree branch slightly higher than the huts roof. His thoughts were much too active for him to consider sleep.
"I need Kagome...Why did I say that...? Cuz it's the truth...Guess I never really noticed until I had to wrestle with the idea of something happening to her. I need Kagome..I want her by my side. Always...because I lo-" His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a door closing and a very familiar and welcome voice.
"InuYasha...are you asleep up there?" Kagome whispered up to the half-demon in the tree. He looked down at her and shook his head. He hopped down next to her and the two went and sat by the stream just a little aways from the hut.
" So how come you couldn't sleep? You need more rest than all of us I'm sure. Can't sleep cuz of Myoga's story?" Kagome asked politely while a shiver washed over her body. InuYasha noticed the shiver and took his haori and handed it to Kagome.
" You need to stay warm so you don't get sick. To answer you question though...no I couldn't sleep because my head was racing about tomorrow. If this demon shows up tomorrow...I don't know what I'll want to do.." His eyes began to drift to the stars. Kagome wrapped herself in the haori and looked up to the stars along with InuYasha.
" What do you mean InuYasha? What do you mean by 'what you'll want to do'?" Kagome asked puzzled yet curious to hear his answer.
" I don't know for sure myself. I just know for sure I don't want anything to happen to any of you. I wish we could all just disappear to your world Kagome. All this fighting is just...I feel it'd be simpler for us there..." InuYasha sighed as he spoke the final word. Kagome laid her head on his shoulder.
" No Inuyasha..It'd be anything but simple. Honestly, I like it better here with you. No worry about schooling or any of the drama of my world. Plus over there we'd have to cover up those cute dog ears of yours." Kagome giggled as she heard InuYasha groan at the dog ears comment. He looked down at Kagome and noticed her smile as she looked back up at him. He couldn't help but crack a smile at the sight.
" Maybe you're right. Actually you are right...your world smells funny but has good food. Truth is Kagome I just want to be where you are to make sure your safe." InuYasha closed his eyes and began to lean back onto soft grass. He heard Kagome slightly groan and opened his eyes to see her laying down with him.
" What was with the groan Kagome? Are you okay? Did something bite you?" He asked her worringly. She smiled and held her hands up.
" No no. Nothing like that. My back just popped and it caught me by surprise is all. I haven't laid down in grass for awhile. This grass feels pretty soft so...do you mind if I lie here with you for the night InuYasha?" She asked him as she rolled to face him. InuYasha's cheeks began to brighten a light salmon color as he laid back down.
" If it's what you want. You need some rest so it may be better for you to sleep inside with the oth-" Inuyasha was cut off as Kagome kissed him on his cheek and whispered 'Good Night' in his ear. She had curled up next to InuYasha with his arm under her head and her arm spawled over his chest.
"Good night Kagome." He whispered softly to her. He noticed their bodies intertwined together and lightly smiled.
"This feels almost natural...the entire time I was running after Kikyo to be loved and accepted...I never realized I had already found that with you Kagome...If this is what it actually feels like to accepted...to be loved...when this whole ordeal is over...I'll tell you the truth Kagome. You deserve to at least know the truth." Those were his final thoughts before he slipped into sleep with Kagome right next to him.
"Those two make a nice twosome wouldn't you agree?" Shippo stated as he slowly slid back down to his bed as Miroku and Sango got themselves back into bed as well.
"Yes. They do. Unfortunately InuYasha's too stubborn to admit it to himself that Kagome is the one he's looking for and not Kikyo." Miroku sighed. He wanted nothing more than to see his best friend happy but he knows he can't do anything about it.
" Yeah. Well maybe they just need privacy or for Kagome to make the first move...but she's too nervous. I hope those two notice soon though." Sango replied as she took Miroku's hand in her own. The night had suddenly become quite and serene.
A/N: I've decided to take a slightly different approach on the romance of I+K. Rather than just throw it at em...I'm going to follow the story and make it a build up til it eventually happens. Next chapter will be up sometime tomorrow (Friday sometime after 4 p.m. Central:United States time) Hope you're enjoying the story so far. Next chapter things will get exciting. If you've happened to read the previous version of this story (same name without the updated part) you'll notice changes in story telling and this chapter is significantly different than that stories chapter 2. Feel free to read it if you wish just know it will spoil future chapters (they're basically the same story lol just updated more thought-out story) and as always Review, Criticize and Review! Thanks for reading! Also, feel free to pm ideas for the story as it's not 100% finished in my mind and maybe your idea will be added in!
